Happy is the man who has not followed the counsel of the wicked,
or taken the path of sinners,
or joined the company of the insolent;
Rashi’s Commentary
- The praises of a man This book was composed with ten expressions of song: 1) with conducting, 2) with melody, 3) with musical accompaniment, 4) with song, 5) with praise, 6) with prayer, 7) with blessing, 8) with thanksgiving, 9) with praises, 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. Concerning Jeduthun, there is a dispute. Some say that Jeduthun was a man, as is written in Chronicles. Others maintain that Jeduthun mentioned in this Book means nothing else but the ordinances (דתות) and laws of the decrees that were passed over him and over Israel.
- The praises of a man Heb. אשרי les felicements(?) in Old French. The praises of a man, and these are the praises of a man: that he did not follow, because since he did not follow, he did not stand, and since he did not stand, he did not sit.
- scorners (Old French, gabors.)
אַשְׁרֵי־הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר לֹא הָלַךְ בַּעֲצַת רְשָׁעִים וּבְדֶרֶךְ חַטָּאִים לֹא עָמָד וּבְמוֹשַׁב לֵצִים לֹא יָשָׁב׃
רש"י
- אשרי האיש. בעשרה לשונות של זמר נאמר ספר זה, בנצוח, בנגון, במזמור, בשיר, בהלל, בתפלה, בברכה, בהודאה, באשרי, בהללויה, כנגד עשרה בני אדם שאמרוהו, אדם, מלכי צדק, אברהם, משה, דוד, שלמה, אסף, ושלשה בני קרח, וחלוקין על ידותון י"א אדם היה כמש"כ בד"ה, וי"א אין ידותון שבספר זה אלא ע"ש הדתות והדינים של גזירות שעברו עליו ועל ישראל
- אשרי האיש. (לישפלישמנ"ץ בלעז) אשוריו של איש ותהלותיו של אדם אלו הם אשר לא הלך כי מתוך שלא הלך לא עמד ומתוך שלא עמד לא ישב:
- לצים. (גאבור"ש בלעז. מלה נישנת גאבערס בל"א שפעטטער:)
rather, the teaching of the LORD is his delight,
and he studies that teaching day and night.
Rashi’s Commentary
- But his desire is in the law of the Lord Hence you learn that the company of scorners brings one to neglect the study of Torah.
- and in his law he meditates In the beginning, it is called the law of the Lord, and after he has toiled to master it, it is called his own Torah.
- he meditates Heb. יהגה. Every expression of הגה refers to the heart, as you say (below 19:15): “and the meditation (והגיון) of my heart”; (Isa. 33:18), “Your heart shall meditate (יהגה) in fear”; (Prov. 24:2), “For their heart thinks (יהגה) of plunder.”
כִּי אִם־בְּתוֹרַת יְהֹוָה חֶפְצוֹ וּבְתוֹרָתוֹ יֶהְגֶּה יוֹמָם וָלָיְלָה׃
רש"י
- כי אם בתורת ה' חפצו. הא למדת שמושב הלצים מביאו לידי בטול תורה:
- ובתורתו יהגה. בתחלה היא נקראת תורת ה' ומשעמל בה היא נקראת תורתו:
- יהגה. כל ל' הגה בלב הוא כד"א (לקמן יט) והגיון לבי (ישעיהו ל״ג:י״ח) לבך יהגה אימה, (משלי כ״ד:ב׳) כי שוד יהגה לבם:
He is like a tree planted beside streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season,
whose foliage never fades,
and whatever it produces thrives.
Rashi’s Commentary
- planted Heb. שתול, plonte in Old French (plante).
- rivulets ruyseys in Old French, (ruisseaux), brooks (as in Ezek. 32:6).
- and its leaves do not wilt Even the inferior part of it serves a purpose. The conversation of Torah scholars is essential and requires study.
- do not wilt Heb. יבול, an expression of wilting, fleistre in Old French.
For the LORD cherishes the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked is doomed.
Rashi’s Commentary
- For the Lord knows the way, etc. Because He knows the way of the righteous, and it is before Him to recognize it constantly; the way of the wicked is hateful to Him, and He removes it from before Him. Therefore, the foot of the wicked will not stand up on the day of judgment, neither shall the sinners be written in the congregation of the righteous.