Psalms for Mental Health/תהילים לבריאות הנפש

(א) לְדָוִ֨ד ׀ יהוה ׀ אוֹרִ֣י וְ֭יִשְׁעִי מִמִּ֣י אִירָ֑א יהוה מָעוֹז־חַ֝יַּ֗י מִמִּ֥י אֶפְחָֽד׃

(1) Of David. HaShem is my light and my help; whom should I fear? HaShem is the stronghold of my life, whom should I dread?

Recited during the High Holy Day season
Ibn Ezra (12th cent. Spain)psalm poses question and answer, when afraid what should I do? affirm God is my light/help/stronghold
Malbim (19th cent. Ukraine) difference between fear ( אִירָ֑א) and dread (אֶפְחָֽד), fear = a known threat, dread = an unknown threat

תהילים ו׳

(ז) יָגַ֤עְתִּי ׀ בְּֽאַנְחָתִ֗י אַשְׂחֶ֣ה בְכׇל־לַ֭יְלָה מִטָּתִ֑י בְּ֝דִמְעָתִ֗י עַרְשִׂ֥י אַמְסֶֽה׃

Psalms 6

((7) I am weary with groaning; every night I drench my bed, I melt my couch in tears.

Recited during weekday shacharit and mincha services

My alternative translation: "My heart is worn out and I swim all night in my bed. My tears dissolve my bed."

Radak (12th/13th cent. France) "He weeps at night because his household is asleep and no one sees him."

תהילים צ״ו

(א) שִׁ֣ירוּ לַ֭יהוה שִׁ֣יר חָדָ֑שׁ שִׁ֥ירוּ לַ֝יהוה כׇּל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (ב) שִׁ֣ירוּ לַ֭יהוה בָּרְכ֣וּ שְׁמ֑וֹ בַּשְּׂר֥וּ מִיּֽוֹם־לְ֝י֗וֹם יְשׁוּעָתֽוֹ׃ (ג) סַפְּר֣וּ בַגּוֹיִ֣ם כְּבוֹד֑וֹ בְּכׇל־הָ֝עַמִּ֗ים נִפְלְאוֹתָֽיו׃ (ד)

Psalms 96

(1) Sing to the LORD a new song, sing to the LORD, all the earth. (2) Sing to the LORD, bless His name, proclaim His victory day after day. (3) Tell of His glory among the nations, His wondrous deeds, among all peoples.

Recited during Kabbalat Shabbat
Ibn Ezra "the word sing appears twice which means we should always sing"...or maybe always look for reasons to sing
Malbim "sing a new song because every day God renews creation"

תהילים מ״ו:י״א

(יא) הַרְפּ֣וּ וּ֭דְעוּ כִּֽי־אָנֹכִ֣י אֱלֹהִ֑ים אָר֥וּם בַּ֝גּוֹיִ֗ם אָר֥וּם בָּאָֽרֶץ׃

Psalms 46:11

(11) “Desist! Realize that I am God! I dominate the nations; I dominate the earth.”

the word " הַרְפּ֣וּ" can also mean "be still" or "relax"
original context warning other nations against attacking Israel
"don't go to war", literal war? verbal war with family/friends/neighbors? internal war with yourself?
check out main idea of Mel Robbins's self-help book "Let Them"
Take the message, "you're not God" to heart

תהילים ק״א:ב׳

(ב) אַשְׂכִּ֤ילָה ׀ בְּדֶ֬רֶךְ תָּמִ֗ים מָ֭תַי תָּב֣וֹא אֵלָ֑י אֶתְהַלֵּ֥ךְ בְּתׇם־לְ֝בָבִ֗י בְּקֶ֣רֶב בֵּיתִֽי׃

Psalms 101:2

(2) I will study the way of the blameless; when shall I attain it? I will live without blame within my house.

word "בְּתׇם" can also mean "healthfully" or with "integrity"
Rashi (11th cent. France) "I shall walk with the integrity of my heart even within my house, in private as well as in public."
Radak "When I study the ways of integrity it helps me watch for the "רוח הקודש" (Sacred Presence) to approach
maintaining integrity as compass during challenging times