Psalms 111:1

With the Hebrew beneath

Psalms 111:1, word by word

Praiseהַלְלוּhallu

praise

To celebrate someone's greatness with voice and song, above all YHWH's.

Where else “hallu” appears

Yahיָהּyah

Yah

Yah: the short form of the name YHWH. It is the form found in "Hallelujah" ("praise Yah").

Where else “yah” appears

I will give thanksאוֹדֶהode

give thanks

To thank YHWH and praise him aloud for what he did.

Where else “ode” appears

to YHWHיְהוָהyehva

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.

Where else “yehva” appears

my heartלֵבָבlevav

heart

The deepest part of a person: where they think, desire and decide.

Where else “levav” appears

in the councilסוֹדsod

circle

The circle of people who gather to talk or to make merry.

Where else “sod” appears

of the uprightיְשָׁרִיםyesharim

upright

Acting well before YHWH, without bending.

Where else “yesharim” appears

and in the communityעֵדָהeda

community

Israel gathered as one people; or a band of people.

Where else “eda” appears

Translation note

This psalm is an acrostic: after “Praise Yah,” each half line begins in Hebrew with a letter of the alphabet, in order. Psalm 112 is made the same way and repeats several of its phrases.

The context