Shir Shel Yom

The "Shir Shel Yom" is a prayer recited daily at the end of the Jewish morning prayer service. Each day of the week possesses a distinct "Shir Shel Yom" and each day's "Shir Shel Yom" is a different paragraph of Psalms. [Artscroll Women's Siddur, page 128]

Although fundamentally similar to the Levite's song that was sung at the Holy Temple in Jerusalem in ancient times, there are some differences between the two.

ongs for the days of the week

* Sunday: Psalm 24
* Monday: Psalm 48
* Tuesday: Psalm 82
* Wednesday: Psalm 94, followed by the first three verses of Psalm 95
* Thursday: Psalm 81
* Friday: Psalm 93
* Saturday: Psalm 92

Rationale

Each days' "Shir Shel Yom" was chosen for its ties to that days' significance in the week of Creation, as explained by the Beraisa who quotes Rabbi Yehuda in the name of Rabbi Akiva: [Rosh Hashana 31a (translation provided by Artscroll edition)]

*On Sunday, "L'Hashem ha'aretz u'melo'ah" (לה׳ הארץ ומלואה, "For God is the land and its fullness") is recited, in reference to the first day of Creation, on which God acquired the universe, bequethed it to mankind and ruled over His world by Himself.

*On Monday, "Gadol Hashem u'mehulal me'od" (גדול ה׳ ומהלל מאד, "Great is God and much praised") is recited, in reference to the second day of Creation, on which He separated the things that he made (the heavens from the earth) and reigned over them.

*On Tuesday, "Elokim nitzav ba'adat Keil" (אלוקים נצב בעדת קל, "God stands in the divine asembly") is recited, in reference to the third day of Creation, on which He exposed the land with His wisdom, thus preparing the world for His assembly.

*On Wednesday, "Keil nikamot Hashem" (קל נקמות ה׳, "Hashem is a God of vengeance") is recited, in reference to the fourth day of Creation, on which He created the sun and the moon and how he will ultimately exact punishment from those who worship them.

*On Thursday, "Harninu lei'lokim uzeinu" (הרנינו לאלוקים עוזנו, "Sing joyously to the God of our might") is recited, in reference to the fifth day of Creation, on which He created the birds and the fish to give praise to his name.

*On Friday, "Hashem malach gei'ut laveish" (ה׳ מלך גאות לבש, "Hashem has reigned, he had donned grandeur") is recited, in reference to the sixth day of Creation, on which He completed his work and reigned over his creations.

*On the Sabbath, "Mizmor shir leyom haShabbat" (מזמור שיר ליום השבת, "A song, a hymn for the Sabbath day") is recited, in reference to the seventh day of Creation, which is a day that is entirely Sabbath.

References