Amidora

Amidora · Library

Psalm 148

Ashkenaz · Weekday · Shacharit · Pesukei Dezimra · Psalm 148

Nusach
Ashkenaz
Edition
Translation based on the Metsudah linear siddur, by Avrohom Davis, 1981

Psalm 148

Praise God. Praise Adonoy from the sky; Praise Him in the heights! Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His hosts! Praise Him, sun and moon; Praise Him, all the stars of light. Praise Him, skies of skies, and the waters that are above the skies. They will praise the Name of Adonoy, for He commanded it and they were created. He established them for all time, for as long as the world exists; He decreed it and it is unalterable. Praise Adonoy from the earth, sea-monsters and all [that dwell in] the depths. Fire and hail, snow and vapor, stormwind, [all] fulfilling His word. The mountains and all the hills, fruit trees and all cedars. Wild beasts and all animals, creeping things and winged fowl. Earthly kings and all peoples, ministers and all earthly judges. Young men and also maidens, elders together with lads. They will praise the Name of Adonoy, for His Name alone is exalted; His majesty is over the earth and the skies. He will raise the might of His people, [which is] praise for all His pious ones, for the Children of Israel, the people near to Him. Praise God.

Genesis 1:6-7 indicates that there are waters above the heavens.

The heavenly bodies, unlike humans and earthly things, were created from materials that do not deteriorate.—Kuzari

None of the heavenly bodies transgresses the Divine decree about its functions in the role for which it was created. The sun never violates its mandate to serve by day or the moon by night. According to Ibn Ezra, the verse might also be translated “He issued a decree which will not pass away,” for God’s decree is permanent and immutable.

Elders and youngsters praise God together while the young men must be separated from the maidens. In the Temple separate facilities were erected for the women. So too must there be separate seating in our synagogues.

The fulfillment of the last two verses will take place in the Messianic era.

Where it comes in the siddur

Texts and sources

Every prayer text in Amidora comes from openly licensed editions published on Sefaria. Only editions released under CC-BY, CC0 or the public domain are included.