When we read an alphabetical psalm in English, we miss the fact that each verse begins with a new letter of the Hebrew alphabet. I have found one way to get around this, which is for the leader to announce something relevant about each letter before reading his half of the verse.

For instance, in Psalm 145, which I provide in an uncopyrighted translation here, the leader would begin by saying: “Psalm 145. A praise-psalm of David. [pause]  `Aleph is for exaltation: I will exalt You, My God, the King.” The congregation would respond with the second half of the verse, as always. In this case, the first word in the verse begins with the letter `aleph, and that word means “I will exalt.”

The second verse begins with the letter beth, which in this case is not part of a word but a prepositional particle indicating “in.” The introductory line spoken by the leader points to this meaning. And so forth.
Feel free to reproduce the psalm on the next page and use it in worship, and see how it works for you.

Psalm 145

A Praise-psalm of David.
‘Aleph is for exaltation:
I will exalt You, My God, the King,
        And I will praise Your name everlastingly and forever.
Beth indicates context:
In every day I will praise You,
        And I will extol Your name everlastingly and forever.
Gimel is for great:
Great is Yahweh, and He is praised greatly,
        And His greatness no one can fathom.
Daleth is for generation:
One generation to another will commend Your works,
        And Your mighty acts they will tell.
He is for splendor:
The splendor of Your glorious majesty,
        And the deeds of Your wonders I shall contemplate.
Vav is for and:
And the power of Your awesome works they will tell,
        And Your great deed I shall proclaim.
Zayin is for memory:
The memory of Your abundant goodness they will celebrate,
        And of Your righteousness they will sing.
Heth is for grace:
Gracious and compassionate is Yahweh,
        Slow of anger and rich in lovingkindness.
Teth is for goodness:
Good is Yahweh to all,
        And His compassions are upon all of His works.
Yodh indicates the future:
They will praise You, Yahweh – all You have made,
        And Your beloved ones will extol You.
Kaph is for glory:
The glory of Your kingdom they will tell,
        And of Your might they will speak.
Lamedh indicates purpose:
To make known to the sons of man His mighty acts,
        And the glory of His kingdom’s splendor.
Mem is for kingdom:
Your kingdom is a kingdom of all ages,
        And Your dominion is in every generation and all generations.
Nun indicates a participle:
Faithful is Yahweh to all His promises,
        And loving toward all His works.
Samekh is for upholding:
An Upholder is Yahweh for all those who fall,
        And a Lifter of all those bowed down.
`Ayin is for eyes:
The eyes of all look to You,
        And You are giving them their food in due season.
Pe is for opening:
Opened is Your hand,
        And satisfying for every living thing its desire.
Tsaddeh is for righteousness:
Righteous is Yahweh in all of His ways,
        And loving toward all His works.
Qoph is for nearness:
Near is Yahweh to all those calling on Him,
       To all who call on Him in truth.
Resh is for desire:
The desire of those fearing Him He fulfills.
       And their cry He hears, and He saves them.
Shin is for watching:
Yahweh is watching over all who love Him,
       But all the wicked He will destroy.
Tav indicates a gerund:
The praise of Yahweh my mouth will speak,
       And let every creature praise His holy name everlastingly and forever.

This article was originally published at Biblical Horizons.