Table of Contents
Psalm 128
Psalm 128
1 Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways.
2 For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.
3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.
4 Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord.
5 The Lord shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.
6 Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, and peace upon Israel.
Notes
Cross Reference
Concordance
Commentary
Rashi
Verse 1
<html><b>A song of ascents. Praiseworthy is every man who fears the Lord</b> All of these are admonitions and disciplines. Because it is written, “Praiseworthy is the man,” “Praiseworthy is a man,” it therefore says here “every,” to include a woman.</html>
Verse 2
<html><b>If…the toil of your hands</b> He who benefits from the toil of his hands inherits two worlds. In Tractate Berachoth (8a).</html>
Verse 3
<html><b>as a fruitful vine</b> Every woman whose blood is abundant will have many children. <b>in the innermost parts of your house</b> Because it is customary to have marital relations in secret. Another explanation: <b>in the innermost parts</b> If your wife is menstruating, put her into the innermost parts of your house so that you will not become accustomed to being with her. <b>your sons will be like olive shoots</b> Just as olive trees cannot be grafted, so will your sons not have any disqualification.</html>
Verse 5
<html><b>from Zion</b> which is the gate of heaven. Moreover, in the merit of Zion they would be fruitful and multiply, as it is written (I Kings 4:20): “Judah and Israel [were] many.” <b>the good of Jerusalem</b> And you shall rejoice with all the good.</html>
Verse 6
<html><b>And may you see children [born] to your children</b> and they shall not come to quarrel about halitzah, [since that is performed only if there are no children,] and then there will be peace upon Israel (addendum). <b>children [born] to your children</b> They will inherit the estate, and no woman will be subject to the levir [in a levirate marriage]. Then there will be peace in the world.</html>