Psalm 1 describes the importance of taking the way of the righteous. We must stay away from the way of the wicked because it negatively affects a healthy spiritual life. The first step to holiness is to become aware of the negative forces – evil, sin and cynicism – that pull us away from our Source. We must break free from these negative forces. How did Rabbi Yitzchok Rubin, a modern-day Hasidic rabbi, and Rashi, the medieval Jewish Bible commentator (1040-1105), explain Psalm 1?
- Text Psalm 1
- Hebrew text of Psalm 1 – תהילים א
- Listen to Psalm 1
- Explanation of Psalm 1 by Rabbi Yitzchok Rubin
- Rashi’s commentary on Psalm 1
- Psalm 1 to 92
Text Psalm 1
Blessed is the man who does not join in with those who do evil, who does not walk in the way of sinners, who does not sit at table with scoffers, but who delights in the law of the Eternal and devours his law day and night. He will be like a tree planted by flowing waters. It bears fruit in time, its leaves do not wither. Everything he does comes to fruition. Not so the lawless ones! They are like chaff that blows in the wind. Lawless people do not stand where justice reigns, nor sinners in the circle of the righteous. The Eternal protects the way of the righteous, the way of the lawless is a dead end.
Hebrew text of Psalm 1 – תהילים א
- Blessed is the man who has not walked in the counsel of the wicked and in the way of sinners has not stood and in the seat of tyranny has not sat. 2 Because if it is in Jehovah’s law that he desires, and in his law he will rule day and night. 3 And he was like a tree planted by the streams of water, whose fruit it will give in its season, and there will be no seed on it, and everything he does will succeed. 4 Not so the wicked, because only a few of you will bury a spirit. Therefore, evildoers will not stand up in judgment and sinners in the company of the righteous. And because Jehovah knows the way of the righteous and the way of the wicked you will perish.
Listen to Psalm 1
Listen to Psalm 1 in Hebrew.
Explanation of Psalm 1 by Rabbi Yitzchok Rubin
Spiritually healthy living: avoid evil and do good.
To build a spiritually healthy life, we must first of all stay away from negative influences. The canvas on which we paint our lives can become stained by the darkness that the wicked produces. It is difficult to paint over such a stain and the pure, bright colors of HaShem will be dull. As King David later tells us, “depart from evil and do good” (Psalm 34:15). Doing good begins with turning away from evil. Rashi translates the opening words ashrei ha’iesh as ,the praises of man,. Turning away from evil not only makes a person happier, but one who is also praiseworthy.
Contempt In the complex world we live in, it is all too easy to fall into the trap of contempt. Brutality is a commodity sold to hordes of people who are too afraid to think for themselves. Even in the home we can find contempt, ridicule and insolence.
Forward Rabbi Shimson Rafael Hirsch notes that the root of the word ashrei is “ashur,” which means “to push forward.” The wicked claims that a Torah-compliant lifestyle is old-fashioned, a step backwards. They try to convince us that the Torah ideals are diametrically opposed to our happiness, and that the laws of the Torah are harsh and outdated. However, King David tells us the truth. The only way to move forward in life is to live by the values of the Torah. The Zohar (kabbalistic book) tells us that a pagan once asked why the Jews always live in difficult conditions while the other nations have peace? The answer is that the Jews are the human heart that feels all pain and sorrow. The other nations are equal to the other parts of the body.
Releasing the Negative Forces Sfas Emes explains that our souls feel the spiritual pain in the same way. But because we allow materialistic goals into our hearts, we have become desensitized to spiritual matters and no longer feel pain. But King David says we can avoid this trap. The first step to holiness is to become aware of the negative forces – evil, sin and cynicism – that pull us away from our Source. We must break free from these negative forces.
Rashi’s commentary on Psalm 1
Per verse the commentary of Rashi, the Jewish Bible commentator who lived from 1040-1105. Rashi is considered the teacher of teachers. All traditional Jews regard Rashi as an authority on the Jewish Bible and Talmud. Hence it is important to record his commentary on the Psalms. Rashi uses new Hebrew supplemented with Old French words. His language is sometimes somewhat oracularly short. For further explanation it is wise to consult an orthodox Jewish rabbi.
Verse 1
Blessed is the man who does not follow evildoers, who does not walk in the way of sinners, who does not sit at table with scoffers.
Happy Man : This book was composed of ten songs: 1) with the performance of 2) with melody 3) with musical accompaniment, 4) with song, 5) with praise, 6) with prayer, 7) with blessing, 8) with thanksgiving, 9) with praise and 10) with “praise God.” These correspond to the ten men who composed them: 1) Adam, 2) Malchizedek, 3) Abraham, 4) Moses, 5) David, 6) Solomon, 7) Asaph, and 8-10) the three sons of Korah. As for Jeduthun, there is a dispute. Some say that Jeduthun was a man, as recorded in Chronicles. Others argue that Jeduthun mentioned in this book means nothing more than the ordinances (דתות) and laws of the decrees that passed over him and over Israel.
Happy is the man : Hebrew אשרי (happy are those) les felicements (?) in old French. The praises of a man, and these are the praises of a man: that he followed not, because he followed not he stood not, and because he stood not he sat not.
Mockers : (Old French, gabors)
Verse 2
But delight in the law of the Eternal, and dwell in his law day and night.
But find joy in the law of the Eternal : Hence you learn that the company of scoffers leads to neglect of Torah study.
and immerses himself in his law : In the beginning it is called the law of the Lord, and after he has learned to master it, it is called his own Torah.
oneself : Hebrew יהגה (to ponder). Every expression of הגה refers to the heart, as you say (under Psalm 19:15): ,the meditations (והגיון) of my heart,; (Isaiah 33:18), “With pain in your heart you will remember the horrors”; (Proverbs 24:2), “For they intend evil.”
Verse 3
He will be like a tree planted by flowing waters. It bears fruit in time, its leaves do not wither. Everything he does comes to fruition.
planted : Hebrew שתול (planted), plonte in Old French (plant).
running water : ruyseys in Old French, (ruisseaux), rivulets (as in Ezekiel. 32:6).
its leaves do not wither : even the inferior part of it serves a purpose. The conversation of Torah scholars is essential and requires study.
do not wither : Hebrew יבול (crop), an expression of withering, fleistre in Old French.
Verse 4
Not so the lawless! They are like chaff that blows in the wind.
Like chaff : an expression of straw, come bale in Old French (comme paille), like straw.
Verse 5
Lawless people do not stand where justice reigns, nor sinners in the circle of the righteous.
Therefore, etc. : This refers to the verse that follows it.
Verse 6
The Eternal protects the way of the righteous, the way of the lawless is a dead end.
The Eternal protects the way : Because He knows the way of the righteous, and it is constantly recognizable to Him; the way of the wicked is hateful to Him, and He removes it from Him. Therefore the foot of the wicked will not rise on the Day of Judgment, and sinners will not be enrolled in the congregation of the righteous.
Psalm 1 to 92
Would you like to read more Psalms with a Jewish interpretation? Go to: Psalms 1 through 92.