While much of the Kabbalat Shabbat service (service to greet the Sabbath) was implemented by the Kabbalists in Tzefat in the 16th century, Psalm 92 has been recited on Friday nights since ancient times. This Psalm focuses on how the world that God created can bring much joy to one who truly seeks righteousness.

Mizmor shir l’yom ha’Shabbat. Tov l’hodot la’Ah’doh’nai ul’zamayr l’shim’cha ehl’yon. l’ha’geed ba’boker chas’deh’cha veh’eh’munateh’cha ba’laylot. Ah’lay ah’sohr va’ah’lay na’vel ah’lay hee’ga’yon b’chee’nor. Kee s’mach’tanee Ah’doh’nai b’fa’ah’lecha b’ma’a’say ya’decha a’ra’nayn. Mah god’loo ma’a’secha Ah’doh’nai m’od amkoo mach’sh’vo’techa. Eesh ba’ar lo yay’da u’ch’seel lo yah’veen et zoat. Bif’roach r’sha’eem kmo ay’sev va’yah’zi’tzu kol po’ahlay a’ven l’hee’sham’dahm ahday ad. V’Ahtah ma’rom l’olam Ah’doh’nai. Kee heenay oy’veh’cha A’doh’nai kee heenay oy’veh’cha yo’vaydu yit’pardu kol po’a’lay aven. Va’tarem kir’aym kar’nee ba’loh’tee b’shemen ra’a’nan. Va’ta’bayt aynee b’shoorai ba’ka’meem a’lai m’rayeem tish’ma’na aznai. Tzah’deek ka’ta’mar yif’rach k’erez bal’vanon yis’geh. Sh’tooleem b’vayt Ah’doh’nai b’chatzrot Eh’lo’hay’nu yaf’reechoo. Ohd y’noovoon b’sayva d’shayneem v’ra’a’na’neem yee’yu. L’hagid kee yashar Ah’doh’nai tzooree v’lo av’la’ta bo.

A psalm. A song for the Sabbath day. It is good to thank the Lord and sing psalms to Your name, Most High – to tell of Your loving-kindness in the morning and Your faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp. For You have made me rejoice by Your work, O Lord; I sing for joy at the deeds of Your hands. How great are Your deeds, Lord, and how very deep Your thoughts. A boor cannot know, nor can a fool understand, that though the wicked spring up like grass and all evildoers flourish, it is only that they may be destroyed forever. But You, Lord, are eternally exalted. For behold Your enemies, Lord, behold Your enemies will perish; all evildoers will be scattered. You have raised my pride like that of a wild ox; I am anointed with fresh oil. My eyes shall look in triumph on my adversaries, my ears shall hear the downfall of the wicked who rise against me. The righteous will flourish like a palm tree and grow tall like a cedar in Lebanon. Planted in the Lord’s House, blossoming in our God’s courtyards, they will still bear fruit in old age, and stay vigorous and fresh, proclaiming that the Lord is upright: He is my Rock, in whom there is no wrong.

–Translation reproduced with permission from The Koren Sacks Siddur,
© Koren Publishers Jerusalem Ltd.