אַשְׁרֵי
Recited three times daily — twice in Shacharis (morning) and once in Mincha (afternoon)
Ashrei is Psalm 145, an alphabetical praise of Hashem. The Talmud says that one who says Ashrei three times a day is assured a place in the World to Come.
This psalm covers every letter of the Hebrew aleph-bet (except Nun) — a complete, all-encompassing praise of God. It's a spiritual warmup before the Amidah.
אַשְׁרֵי יוֹשְׁבֵי בֵיתֶךָ עוֹד יְהַלְלוּךָ סֶּלָה
Ashrei yosh'vei veitecha, od y'hal'lucha selah
Praiseworthy are those who dwell in Your house; they will yet praise You, Selah
This opening verse (Psalm 84:5) sets the scene — those who are always in God's presence are the truly happy ones.
אַשְׁרֵי הָעָם שֶׁכָּכָה לּוֹ אַשְׁרֵי הָעָם שֶׁה׳ אֱלֹקָיו
Ashrei ha'am shekachah lo, ashrei ha'am she'Adonai Elokav
Praiseworthy is the people for whom this is so; praiseworthy is the people whose God is the Lord
From Psalm 144:15. We are fortunate that Hashem is our God.
תְּהִלָּה לְדָוִד אֲרוֹמִמְךָ אֱלוֹקַי הַמֶּלֶךְ וַאֲבָרְכָה שִׁמְךָ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד
T'hilah l'David. Aromimcha Elokai haMelech, va'avar'chah shimcha l'olam va'ed
A psalm of David. I will exalt You, my God the King, and I will bless Your Name forever and ever
Psalm 145 begins. Each verse starts with a successive letter of the aleph-bet. א (Aleph).
בְּכָל יוֹם אֲבָרְכֶךָּ וַאֲהַלְלָה שִׁמְךָ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד
B'chol yom avar'cheka, va'ahal'lah shimcha l'olam va'ed
Every day I will bless You, and I will praise Your Name forever and ever
ב (Bet) — a commitment to praise Hashem every single day, not just when things are good.
גָּדוֹל ה׳ וּמְהֻלָּל מְאֹד וְלִגְדֻלָּתוֹ אֵין חֵקֶר
Gadol Adonai um'hulal m'od, v'ligdulato ein cheiker
Great is the Lord and much praised, and His greatness is beyond investigation
ג (Gimel) — God's greatness is literally immeasurable; no human mind can fathom it.
דּוֹר לְדוֹר יְשַׁבַּח מַעֲשֶׂיךָ וּגְבוּרֹתֶיךָ יַגִּידוּ
Dor l'dor y'shabach ma'asecha, ug'vurotecha yagidu
Each generation will praise Your deeds to the next, and tell of Your mighty acts
ד (Dalet) — the chain of praise from generation to generation, parent to child.
הֲדַר כְּבוֹד הוֹדֶךָ וְדִבְרֵי נִפְלְאוֹתֶיךָ אָשִׂיחָה
Hadar k'vod hodecha, v'divrei nifl'otecha asichah
The splendor of Your glorious majesty and Your wondrous deeds I will speak of
ה (Hei) — meditating on God's majestic splendor and wonders.
וֶעֱזוּז נוֹרְאוֹתֶיךָ יֹאמֵרוּ וּגְדֻלָּתְךָ אֲסַפְּרֶנָּה
Ve'ezuz nor'otecha yomeiru, ug'dulat'cha asap'renah
They will speak of the might of Your awesome deeds, and I will tell of Your greatness
ו (Vav) — others will speak of God's power, and I personally will recount His greatness.
זֵכֶר רַב טוּבְךָ יַבִּיעוּ וְצִדְקָתְךָ יְרַנֵּנוּ
Zeicher rav tuv'cha yabi'u, v'tzidkat'cha y'raneinu
They will express the memory of Your abundant goodness, and sing joyfully of Your righteousness
ז (Zayin) — remembering God's goodness brings spontaneous joyful song.
חַנּוּן וְרַחוּם ה׳ אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם וּגְדָל חָסֶד
Chanun v'rachum Adonai, erech apayim ug'dal chased
Gracious and merciful is the Lord, slow to anger and great in kindness
ח (Chet) — one of the 13 Attributes of Mercy. God is patient and overflowing with kindness.
טוֹב ה׳ לַכֹּל וְרַחֲמָיו עַל כָּל מַעֲשָׂיו
Tov Adonai lakol, v'rachamav al kol ma'asav
The Lord is good to all, and His mercy is upon all His works
ט (Tet) — God's goodness extends to every creature, not just the righteous.
יוֹדוּךָ ה׳ כָּל מַעֲשֶׂיךָ וַחֲסִידֶיךָ יְבָרְכוּכָה
Yoducha Adonai kol ma'asecha, va'chasidecha y'var'chuchah
All Your works will thank You, Lord, and Your pious ones will bless You
י (Yod) — all of creation, plus the righteous, express gratitude to Hashem.
כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתְךָ יֹאמֵרוּ וּגְבוּרָתְךָ יְדַבֵּרוּ
K'vod malchut'cha yomeiru, ug'vurat'cha y'dabeiru
They will speak of the glory of Your kingdom, and tell of Your might
כ (Kaf) — proclaiming God's sovereignty and power to the world.
לְהוֹדִיעַ לִבְנֵי הָאָדָם גְּבוּרֹתָיו וּכְבוֹד הֲדַר מַלְכוּתוֹ
L'hodia livnei ha'adam g'vurotav, uch'vod hadar malchuto
To make known to mankind His mighty deeds, and the glorious majesty of His kingdom
ל (Lamed) — the purpose: so that all people recognize God's greatness.
מַלְכוּתְךָ מַלְכוּת כָּל עוֹלָמִים וּמֶמְשַׁלְתְּךָ בְּכָל דּוֹר וָדוֹר
Malchut'cha malchut kol olamim, u'memshalt'cha b'chol dor vador
Your kingdom is a kingdom of all worlds, and Your dominion is in every generation
מ (Mem) — God's kingdom is eternal, spanning all time and all worlds.
סוֹמֵךְ ה׳ לְכָל הַנֹּפְלִים וְזוֹקֵף לְכָל הַכְּפוּפִים
Someich Adonai l'chol hanoflim, v'zokeif l'chol hak'fufim
The Lord supports all who fall, and straightens all who are bent over
ס (Samech) — God lifts up those who stumble and gives strength to the downtrodden. (The נ/Nun verse is omitted in the psalm.)
עֵינֵי כֹל אֵלֶיךָ יְשַׂבֵּרוּ וְאַתָּה נוֹתֵן לָהֶם אֶת אָכְלָם בְּעִתּוֹ
Einei chol eilecha y'sabeiru, v'Atah notein lahem et ochlam b'ito
The eyes of all look to You with hope, and You give them their food in its time
ע (Ayin) — every creature depends on God for sustenance, and He provides at exactly the right moment.
פּוֹתֵחַ אֶת יָדֶךָ וּמַשְׂבִּיעַ לְכָל חַי רָצוֹן
Pote'ach et yadecha, umasbi'a l'chol chai ratzon
You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing
פ (Pei) — THE key verse of Ashrei. God sustains all life. Say it with extra concentration (kavanah). If you missed it, go back and say it again.
צַדִּיק ה׳ בְּכָל דְּרָכָיו וְחָסִיד בְּכָל מַעֲשָׂיו
Tzadik Adonai b'chol d'rachav, v'chasid b'chol ma'asav
Righteous is the Lord in all His ways, and kind in all His deeds
צ (Tzadi) — everything God does is righteous and kind, even when we don't understand it.
קָרוֹב ה׳ לְכָל קֹרְאָיו לְכֹל אֲשֶׁר יִקְרָאֻהוּ בֶאֱמֶת
Karov Adonai l'chol kor'av, l'chol asher yikra'uhu ve'emet
The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth
ק (Kuf) — God is close to anyone who sincerely reaches out to Him.
רְצוֹן יְרֵאָיו יַעֲשֶׂה וְאֶת שַׁוְעָתָם יִשְׁמַע וְיוֹשִׁיעֵם
R'tzon y'rei'av ya'aseh, v'et shav'atam yishma v'yoshi'eim
He fulfills the desire of those who fear Him, and hears their cry and saves them
ר (Reish) — God responds to those who revere Him and cry out to Him.
שׁוֹמֵר ה׳ אֶת כָּל אֹהֲבָיו וְאֵת כָּל הָרְשָׁעִים יַשְׁמִיד
Shomeir Adonai et kol ohavav, v'eit kol har'sha'im yashmid
The Lord guards all who love Him, and all the wicked He will destroy
ש (Shin) — God protects those who love Him.
תְּהִלַּת ה׳ יְדַבֶּר פִּי וִיבָרֵךְ כָּל בָּשָׂר שֵׁם קָדְשׁוֹ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד
T'hilat Adonai y'daber pi, vivareich kol basar shem kodsho l'olam va'ed
My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, and all flesh will bless His holy Name forever and ever
ת (Tav) — the final letter of the aleph-bet. The psalm concludes with a vision of all living things praising God together.
וַאֲנַחְנוּ נְבָרֵךְ יָהּ מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם הַלְלוּיָהּ
Va'anachnu n'vareich Kah me'atah v'ad olam, Hal'luyah
And we will bless God from now until forever, Halleluyah
Psalm 115:18 — added as the closing verse after Psalm 145. We pledge to continue praising Hashem forever.