Psalms 146:1–2
I will praise YHWH while I live, and sing to my God as long as I exist
Study it word by word1Praise Yah. Praise YHWH, my soul.
2I will praise YHWH as long as I live; I will sing psalms to my Elohim while I still exist.
In its context
…
3Do not trust in nobles, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.
4His breath goes out; he returns to his ground; on that day his thoughts perish.
Its words in the original
- הַלְלוּhallu· praise; boast
Praise, extol. "Hallelujah" comes from this verb. In other forms, boast; also act like a madman.
- יָהּyah· Yah
Yah: the short form of the name YHWH. It is the form found in "Hallelujah" ("praise Yah").
- נַפְשִׁnafshi· soul, living being, life
A breathing being, a living being. It is translated "living being" (people and animals), "life" (when living or dying is at stake), "person" (in counts and laws), "soul" (the person at the innermost: desires, joy, anguish) or "myself". In the Old Testament it names the whole living being, not only a part of it.
- יְהוָהyehva· YHWH
The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.
- חַיָּchaya· living, animal, life
Living, alive; also fresh (of water). As a noun, "living thing" or "animal" (above all wild animals); in the plural, "life".
- אֲזַמְּרָהazamra· sing praise, make music
Sing praise: sing or play a stringed instrument in praise. The word for "psalm" comes from it.
- אלֹהַloha· Elohim, God, gods
The Hebrew word usually translated "God". This translation keeps "Elohim" when it speaks of the one true God, the Creator, the God of Israel. The word ends like a plural, but it does not mean several: for him the verb is singular ("Elohim created"); the plural form expresses greatness. The same word as a common noun names the "gods" of other peoples, and there it is a true plural, translated "gods". It is also used of mighty ones or judges.