Praise, Sacred Text

Praise God!

High Holy Days 2023

Psalm 150

Hallelujah! Praise God in God’s sanctuary; praise God in the sky, God’s stronghold!

Praise God for God’s mighty acts; praise God for God’s exceeding greatness!

Praise God with blasts of the horn; praise God with harp and lyre!

Praise God with timbrel and dance; praise God with lute and pipe!

Praise God with resounding cymbals; praise God with loud-clashing cymbals!

Let all that breathes praise God! Hallelujah!

הַלְלוּ יָהּ הַלְלוּ־אֵל בְּקָדְשׁוֹ הַלְלוּהוּ בִּרְקִיעַ עֻזּוֹ׃

הַלְלוּהוּ בִגְבוּרֹתָיו הַלְלוּהוּ כְּרֹב גֻּדְלוֹ׃

הַלְלוּהוּ בְּתֵקַע שׁוֹפָר הַלְלוּהוּ בְּנֵבֶל וְכִנּוֹר׃

הַלְלוּהוּ בְתֹף וּמָחוֹל הַלְלוּהוּ בְּמִנִּים וְעוּגָב׃

הַלְלוּהוּ בְצִלְצְלֵי־שָׁמַע הַלְלוּהוּ בְּצִלְצְלֵי תְרוּעָה׃

כֹּל הַנְּשָׁמָה תְּהַלֵּל יָהּ הַלְלוּ־יָהּ׃

Psalm 150 marks the last text in the Book of Psalms, and it makes for quite the finale. The song implores each and every one of us to offer praise to God. The listing of sacred instruments summons the assembly of a holy symphony with which to create the most passionate (and loudest) prayer possible. Psalm 150 remains a staple of our morning liturgy, and invites the reader to think about the many meaningful ways in which an individual can enthusiastically offer gratitude.