1. What is "Pesukei deZimra"?
אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי: יְהֵא חֶלְקִי מִגּוֹמְרֵי הַלֵּל בְּכׇל יוֹם. אִינִי?! וְהָאָמַר מָר: הַקּוֹרֵא הַלֵּל בְּכׇל יוֹם הֲרֵי זֶה מְחָרֵף וּמְגַדֵּף! כִּי קָאָמְרִינַן — בִּפְסוּקֵי דְזִמְרָא.
Rabbi Yosei [2nd c. CE] said: May my portion be among those who complete [DR: recite] Hallel every day.
The Gemara is surprised at this: Is that so? Didn’t the Master say: One who reads Hallel every day is tantamount to one who curses and blasphemes God. He displays contempt for Hallel by not reserving it for days on which miracles occurred.
The Gemara answers: When we say this statement of Rabbi Yosei, we are referring to the verses of praise [pesukei dezimra], recited during the morning service, not to hallel (Psalms 113–118) recited on special days.
ה"ז מחרף כו'. משום דהלל נתקן בימים מיוחדים על הנס לפרסם כי הקב"ה הוא בעל היכולת לשנות טבע הבריאה ששינה בימים אלו ונמצא מי שאומרו בכל יום לא יתפרסם אומרו על הנס גם בימים הראוים לפרסם נסי הש"י וה"ז כמחרף ומגדף שאין בידו חלילה לשנות טבע הבריאה ומשני בפסוקי דזמרה כפירש"י ב' מזמורים של הלולים כו' דאינן באים לפרסם נסיו אלא שהם דברי הלול ושבח דבעי בכל יום כדאמרי' לעולם יסדר אדם שבחו של מקום ואח"כ יתפלל וק"ל:
"Novellae on the Non-Legal Portions of the Talmud." Written by Rabbi Shmuel Eliezer Edels, the Maharsha (1555 – 1631, Poland), Chidushei Aggadot is a commentary on the aggadic (non-legal) portions of the Talmud.
[The Talmud says: One who reads hallel every day] is tantamount to one who curses and blasphemes God:
Hallel (Psalms 113-118) was established for days distinguished by a miracle in order to publicize that the Holy One is capable of changing the nature of creation, as he changed nature on these [unique] days.
Consequently, one who recites Hallel daily will not be understood to be reciting Hallel in response to a miracle even on days when it is fitting to publicize the miracles of God. Such a person as it were curses and blasphemes [God, implying ] that He does not have the power, Heaven forfend, to change the nature of creation.
[The Talmud] resolves [this problem by explaining that 'Hallel' here refers to] Pesukei deZimra/Verses of Song...which do not come to publicize His miracles. Rather, [these passages] are expressions of praise and acclaim that one ought to make daily, as the Talmud (Berachot 32a) says, "one ought to set in order his praise of HaMakom (God) and then pray." This is easy to understand.
The Root הלל / h.l.l.
להלל / le-hallel - to praise
הלל / Hallel - Hallel ("Praise" / Psalms 113-118, recited on holidays)
תהלה / Tehillah - praise. "My mouth shall utter the praise of the Lord," Psalm 145:21
הללוי-ה / Hallelujah / Halleluyah - "Praise Yah/God"
In the Eyes of the Artist: David Plays the Harp in Nature
UNKNOWN ITALIAN ARTIST [VENETO]
King David, from The Rothschild Miscellany, c.1479, Illumination on vellum, 21 x 15.9 cm, The Israel Museum, Jerusalem, MS 180.51 fol.1b, B61.09.0803o.s., Zev Radovan / Art Resource, NY
[Accessed at The Visual Commentary on Scripture, https://thevcs.org/blessed-and-wicked/fruit-its-season]
The Hebrew word אשרי / Ashrei / "Happy" refers to Psalm 1:1.
2. Our Psalm: Psalm 147
(א) הַ֥לְלוּ־יָ֨הּ ׀
כִּי־ט֭וֹב זַמְּרָ֣ה אֱלֹקֵ֑ינוּ כִּי־נָ֝עִ֗ים נָאוָ֥ה תְהִלָּֽה׃
(ב) בּוֹנֵ֣ה יְרֽוּשָׁלַ֣͏ִם ה' נִדְחֵ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל יְכַנֵּֽס׃ (ג) הָ֭רֹפֵא לִשְׁב֣וּרֵי לֵ֑ב וּ֝מְחַבֵּ֗שׁ לְעַצְּבוֹתָֽם׃ (ד) מוֹנֶ֣ה מִ֭סְפָּר לַכּוֹכָבִ֑ים לְ֝כֻלָּ֗ם שֵׁמ֥וֹת יִקְרָֽא׃
(ה) גָּד֣וֹל אֲדוֹנֵ֣ינוּ וְרַב־כֹּ֑חַ לִ֝תְבוּנָת֗וֹ אֵ֣ין מִסְפָּֽר׃
(ו) מְעוֹדֵ֣ד עֲנָוִ֣ים ה' מַשְׁפִּ֖יל רְשָׁעִ֣ים עֲדֵי־אָֽרֶץ׃
(ז) עֱנ֣וּ לַֽה' בְּתוֹדָ֑ה זַמְּר֖וּ לֵאלֹקֵ֣ינוּ בְכִנּֽוֹר׃
(ח) הַֽמְכַסֶּ֬ה שָׁמַ֨יִם ׀ בְּעָבִ֗ים הַמֵּכִ֣ין לָאָ֣רֶץ מָטָ֑ר הַמַּצְמִ֖יחַ הָרִ֣ים חָצִֽיר׃
(ט) נוֹתֵ֣ן לִבְהֵמָ֣ה לַחְמָ֑הּ לִבְנֵ֥י עֹ֝רֵ֗ב אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִקְרָֽאוּ׃
(י) לֹ֤א בִגְבוּרַ֣ת הַסּ֣וּס יֶחְפָּ֑ץ לֹא־בְשׁוֹקֵ֖י הָאִ֣ישׁ יִרְצֶֽה׃
(יא) רוֹצֶ֣ה ה' אֶת־יְרֵאָ֑יו אֶת־הַֽמְיַחֲלִ֥ים לְחַסְדּֽוֹ׃
(יב) שַׁבְּחִ֣י יְ֭רוּשָׁלַ͏ִם אֶת־ה' הַֽלְלִ֖י אֱלֹקַ֣יִךְ צִיּֽוֹן׃
(יג) כִּֽי־חִ֭זַּק בְּרִיחֵ֣י שְׁעָרָ֑יִךְ בֵּרַ֖ךְ בָּנַ֣יִךְ בְּקִרְבֵּֽךְ׃
(יד) הַשָּׂם־גְּבוּלֵ֥ךְ שָׁל֑וֹם חֵ֥לֶב חִ֝טִּ֗ים יַשְׂבִּיעֵֽךְ׃
(טו) הַשֹּׁלֵ֣חַ אִמְרָת֣וֹ אָ֑רֶץ עַד־מְ֝הֵרָ֗ה יָר֥וּץ דְּבָרֽוֹ׃
(טז) הַנֹּתֵ֣ן שֶׁ֣לֶג כַּצָּ֑מֶר כְּ֝פ֗וֹר כָּאֵ֥פֶר יְפַזֵּֽר׃
(יז) מַשְׁלִ֣יךְ קַֽרְח֣וֹ כְפִתִּ֑ים לִפְנֵ֥י קָ֝רָת֗וֹ מִ֣י יַעֲמֹֽד׃
(יח) יִשְׁלַ֣ח דְּבָר֣וֹ וְיַמְסֵ֑ם יַשֵּׁ֥ב ר֝וּח֗וֹ יִזְּלוּ־מָֽיִם׃
(יט) מַגִּ֣יד דְּבָרָ֣ו לְיַעֲקֹ֑ב חֻקָּ֥יו וּ֝מִשְׁפָּטָ֗יו לְיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
(כ) לֹ֘א עָ֤שָׂה כֵ֨ן ׀ לְכׇל־גּ֗וֹי וּמִשְׁפָּטִ֥ים בַּל־יְדָע֗וּם הַֽלְלוּ־יָֽהּ׃ {פ}
(1) Hallelujah.
It is good to chant/zamerah hymns to our God;
it is pleasant to sing glorious praise / tehillah.
(2) The LORD rebuilds Jerusalem/boneh Yerushalayim;
He gathers in the exiles of Israel.
(3) He heals their broken hearts,
and binds up their wounds.
(4) He reckoned the number/mispar of the stars;
to each He gave its name.
(5) Great is our Lord and full of power;
His wisdom is beyond reckoning/mispar.
(6) The LORD gives courage to the lowly,
and brings the wicked down to the dust.
(7) Sing to the LORD a song of praise/todah,
chant a hymn/zameru with a lyre to our God,
(8) who covers the heavens with clouds,
provides rain for the earth,
makes mountains put forth grass;
(9) who gives the beasts their food,
to the raven’s brood what they cry for.
(10) He does not prize the strength of horses,
nor value the fleetness of men;
(11) but the LORD values those who fear Him,
those who depend on His faithful care.
(12) O Jerusalem, glorify the LORD;
praise/haleli (feminine) your God, O Zion!
(13) For He made the bars of your gates strong,
and blessed your children within you.
(14) He endows your realm with well-being/shalom,
and satisfies you with choice wheat (lit. 'cream of wheat').
(15) He sends forth His word to the earth;
His command/devaro דברו runs swiftly.
(16) He lays down snow like fleece,
scatters frost like ashes.
(17) He tosses down hail like crumbs—
who can endure His icy cold?
(18) He issues a command/devaro/דברו—it melts them;
He breathes—the waters flow.
(19) He issued His commands/devarav/דברו to Jacob,
His statutes and rules to Israel.
(20) He did not do so for any other nation;
of such rules they know nothing.
Hallelujah.
3. Parallel Texts
Psalms 147:1 in the Septuagint (so also the openings of Psalms 146, 148, 149)
Hallelouia "of Haggaios and Zacharias" in edition of Alfred Rahlfs (p. 542, http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/nets/edition/24-ps-nets.pdf)
O herald of joy to Zion;
Raise your voice with power,
O herald of joy to Jerusalem—
Raise it, have no fear;
Announce to the cities of Judah:
Behold your God! (10) Behold, the Lord GOD comes in might,
And His arm wins triumph for Him;
See, His reward is with Him,
His recompense before Him. (11) Like a shepherd He pastures His flock:
He gathers the lambs in His arms
And carries them in His bosom;
Gently He drives the mother sheep.
(12) Who measured the waters with the hollow of His hand,
And gauged the skies with a span,
And meted earth’s dust with a measure,
And weighed the mountains with a scale
And the hills with a balance? (13) Who has plumbed the mind of the LORD,
What man could tell Him His plan? (14) Whom did He consult, and who taught Him,
Guided Him in the way of right?
Who guided Him in knowledge
And showed Him the path of wisdom?
Who created these?
He who sends out their host by count,
Who calls them each by name:
Because of His great might and vast power,
Not one fails to appear.
the sky proclaims His handiwork.
renewing life;
the decrees of the LORD are enduring,
making the simple wise;
to His servant Abraham, (43) He led His people out in gladness,
His chosen ones with joyous song. (44) He gave them the lands of nations;
they inherited the wealth of peoples, (45) that they might keep His laws
and observe His teachings.
Hallelujah.
וְלִירוּשָׁלַֽיִם עִירְ֒ךָ בְּרַחֲמִים תָּשׁוּב וְתִשְׁכּוֹן בְּתוֹכָהּ כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבַּֽרְתָּ וּבְנֵה אוֹתָהּ בְּקָרוֹב בְּיָמֵֽינוּ בִּנְיַן עוֹלָם וְכִסֵּא דָוִד מְהֵרָה לְתוֹכָהּ תָּכִין: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' בּוֹנֵה יְרוּשָׁלָֽיִם:
And return in mercy to Jerusalem, Your city, and dwell therein as You have spoken; and rebuild it soon, in our days, as an everlasting structure, and may You speedily establish the throne of David therein. Blessed are You, Adonoy, Builder of Jerusalem/boneh Yerushalayim.
רַחֵם ה' אֱלֺקֵֽינוּ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵל עַמֶּֽךָ וְעַל יְרוּשָׁלַֽיִם עִירֶֽךָ וְעַל צִיּוֹן מִשְׁכַּן כְּבוֹדֶֽךָ וְעַל מַלְכוּת בֵּית דָּוִד מְשִׁיחֶֽךָ וְעַל־הַבַּֽיִת הַגָּדוֹל וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ שֶׁנִּקְרָא שִׁמְךָ עָלָיו אֱלֺקֵֽינוּ אָבִֽינוּ רְעֵֽנוּ זוּנֵֽנוּ פַּרְנְ֒סֵֽנוּ וְכַלְכְּ֒לֵֽנוּ וְהַרְוִיחֵֽנוּ וְהַרְוַח־לָֽנוּ ה' אֱלֺקֵֽינוּ מְהֵרָה מִכָּל־צָרוֹתֵֽינוּ וְנָא אַל־תַּצְרִיכֵֽנוּ ה' אֱלֺקֵֽינוּ לֺא לִידֵי מַתְּ֒נַת בָּשָׂר וָדָם וְלֺא לִידֵי הַלְוָאָתָם כִּי אִם לְיָדְ֒ךָ הַמְּלֵאָה הַפְּ֒תוּחָה הַקְּ֒דוֹשָׁה וְהָרְ֒חָבָה שֶׁלֺּא נֵבוֹשׁ וְלֺא נִכָּלֵם לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד:
Have compassion, Adonoy, our God, on Israel, Your people, on Jerusalem, Your city, on Zion, the dwelling place of Your glory, on the kingship of the house of David, Your anointed; and on the great and holy House upon which Your Name is called. Our God, our Father tend us, nourish us, maintain us, sustain us, relieve us and grant us relief Adonoy, our God, speedily from all our troubles. Adonoy, our God—may we never be in need of the gifts of men nor of their loans, but only of Your hand which is full, open, holy and generous, so that we may not be shamed nor humiliated forever and ever.
וּבְנֵה יְרוּשָׁלַֽיִם עִיר הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ בִּמְהֵרָה בְיָמֵֽינוּ: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' בּוֹנֵה בְרַחֲמָיו יְרוּשָׁלָֽיִם, אָמֵן:
Rebuild Jerusalem, city of the Holy Sanctuary, speedily, in our days. Blessed are You, Adonoy, Builder of Jerusalem/boneh [verachamav] Yerushalayim in His mercy. Amein.