How to Read Tehillim Correctly
1) Tehillim is read during daylight hours: from dawn until sunset. And at midnight, if you didn't manage to during the day.
The concept of "Chatzot Layla" (midnight) in Judaism depends on the length of the day - it's best to check a halachic calendar. The length of the day is divided into 12 parts, so in summer such an "hour" is longer, and in winter - shorter. Also, when clocks change to daylight saving time, everything shifts by an hour.
If you didn't manage to read your daily portion of Tehillim, you may confidently read it at midnight (since the Jewish day changes with dawn - the morning prayer).
Reading Tehillim at Night
Several poskim, including Rabbeinu Chida (Rabbi Chaim Yosef David Azulai, 1724-1806) and the Ben Ish Chai (Rav Yosef Chaim of Baghdad, 1833-1909), teach that one should not read Tanach, including Tehillim, after nightfall on weekdays - from sunset until midnight.
On the night of Shabbat and Yom Tov it is permitted to read Tehillim and Tanach.
The Arizal (may his merit protect us) mentions the custom of reading the 26th chapter of Tehillim on Thursday night, as written in the text "Chok LeYisrael", and therefore some poskim state that if one is permitted to read Psalm 26, then reading the entire Tanach is permitted as well.
Indeed, in "Chesed LaAlafim" Rav Eliezer Papo points out that Thursday night is regarded, in this respect, as equivalent to Friday evening. Therefore, those who wish to read Psalms on Thursday evening have a basis to rely on. This is the ruling of Ner LeTzion.
(dailyhalacha.com)
2) Before reading chapters of Tehillim, we must always read the opening and closing verses. The sages teach that if you were coming for an audience with an earthly king, you would first greet him - address him with words such as: "Your Highness"... etc. And if an earthly king deserves such greetings, how much more so must we address the King of Kings?
Structure of Reading Tehillim:
Introduction: Psalm 95:1-3. Conclusion: Psalm 14:7, Psalm 37:39,40. Each consists of 3 verses.
On every Rosh Chodesh, during illness, on difficult days (many have made it a practice to read daily for their children and loved ones) - it is customary to read the psalm corresponding to one's age - the number of full years lived + 1 year.
This beautiful tradition - reading Psalms according to one's age - is known to us from the Alter Rebbe (Baal HaTanya), who received it from his Rebbe, the Maggid of Mezritch, who received it from his teacher - the Baal Shem Tov, who received from his teacher (the prophet Achiyah HaShiloni) that one must read one's own psalm according to age, adding 1 year, and study that chapter with Rashi's commentary every Rosh Chodesh.
During illness, Psalm 119 is read (according to Rabbeinu Chida - for details on Tehillim according to the Chida, see the section "Which Tehillim for Which Problems"). It is arranged so that its 22 sections correspond to the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Each section corresponds to each letter of the alphabet. So, first we read from Psalm 119 the letters of the sick person's name, then the letters of the phrase "Kra Satan" - (tear apart Satan). After that, Psalms 20, 121, and 130 are read. And finally, the psalm corresponding to one's age.
On Rosh Chodesh (the New Month) we read: 1) Psalm 104 - the psalm of Creation. Verses 2-6 - describe the 1st Day of Creation; verses 7-13 - the 2nd Day of Creation; verses 14-18 - the 3rd Day of Creation; verses 19-24 - the 4th Day of Creation; verses 25-26 - the 5th Day of Creation; verses 27-35 - the 6th Day of Creation.
2) We read the "Great Hallel" (Great Praise): Psalms 113-118, (Psalms 115 and 116 are read in their shortened form).
3) We read the psalms according to age for all family members.
On Shabbat HaKodesh it is not customary to ask the Creator for help, since the Light of Shabbat itself possesses boundless power - we simply read Tehillim. On Kabbalat Shabbat (welcoming Shabbat) we read: Psalm 95 - corresponds to the 1st day of the week; Psalm 96 - the 2nd day of the week; Psalm 97 - the 3rd day of the week; Psalm 98 - the 4th day of the week; Psalm 99 - the 5th day of the week. Psalm 29 - the 6th day of the week (said standing - corresponding to the "Shemoneh Esrei" and "Ana BeKoach"); Then follows the kabbalistic prayer "Ana BeKoach" - (regarding the correspondence of this prayer to Psalm 29, see the section "The Hidden Meaning of Tehillim"). The hymn "Lecha Dodi". And the 2 Shabbat psalms - 92 and 93. During the day on Shabbat, from Rosh Hashanah to Pesach - it is customary to read "Shir HaMaalot" - "Song of Ascents" - these are the 15 psalms of David HaMelech (120-134), while from Pesach to Rosh Hashanah "Pirkei Avot". is read.
Shir HaMaalot and the Levites:
In the time of the Temple, a choir of Levites stood on the 15 steps leading from the Women's Courtyard of the Temple into the inner courtyard. The number of steps - 15 - corresponded exactly to the number of psalms titled "Song of Ascents." Chazal teach that the Levites sang these 15 psalms while drawing water from a deep well during the festival of Shmini Atzeret. This water was then poured onto the altar - just as wine was poured on other days of the year. (Talmud, Sukkah 5:4)
In the time of the Jerusalem Temple, the Levites read a specific psalm corresponding (in meaning and content) to the "spirit" of the day of the week: On the 1st day of the week (Sunday) - they read Psalm 24, on the second (Monday) - Psalm 48, on the third - Psalm 82, on the fourth - Psalm 94, on the fifth - Psalm 81, on the sixth - Psalm 93, on the seventh (Shabbat) - Psalm 92.On Rosh Hashanah, reading Tehillim from Psalm 1 through 4 inclusive - neutralizes the effect of the "Samech Mem" (the Accusing Angel).
(from the lesson of Rav Tzvi Nsanzon, "The Zohar on Rosh Hashanah")On Yom Kippur it is obligatory to read the entire Book of Tehillim.
The root letters of the word "Kippur" - kaf, pei, reish - have a gematria of 300; on this basis, the sages teach that on Yom Kippur the entire Book of Tehillim should be read twice: 150 psalms + 150 psalms = 300. On Yom Kippur, Tehillim should be read with ease - for this is the only day of the year when the Yetzer Hara (also known as Samech Mem) has no power over the world. As a clearer example: the word "HaSatan" (with the definite article) has a gematria of 364 (השטן), where ה=5, ש=300, ט=9, נ=50, and this number (364) implies that Samech Mem holds power over all the days of the year but one (364 = 365-1). And the sages teach that this one day is Yom Kippur, which has no place in time, just as the Aron Kodesh (which stood in the Kodesh HaKodashim) occupied no place in space.
(Rabbanit Chava Kuperman, from a lesson for Yom Kippur)
When it feels like "the waters have risen to your neck," when your heart is heavy and it seems there is no way out and that G-d has forsaken you (chas v'shalom) - open the book of Tehillim, the eternal redeemer of our people from all troubles, turn to the Almighty just as David HaMelech did, and the answer will come without delay. 1. Begin with the introduction; 2. Read the chapters that speak of Hashgacha Pratit - Divine Providence: 23, 91, 118, 145; 3. Read chapter 67 of Tehillim, picturing the text in the shape of a Menorah - a symbol of miracles; 4. Read your psalm according to age (full years lived + 1); 5. Reinforce with psalms of protection and help: 20, 121, 130; 6. Thank the Creator, reading the 3 closing verses.
Say the name of the greatest defender of the Jewish people - "Sanigor shel Yisrael" - Rabbi Levi Yitzchak ben Sarah Sosha of Berditchev - this is a great segula connected with the reading of Tehillim. Simply saying the name of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak works wonders, all the more so after reading Tehillim.
When you have prayed for something for a long time and your prayers have been heard, and the Creator has granted you the desire of your heart - open the book of Tehillim, read Psalm 100 (the Psalm of Thanksgiving) - thank the Creator of the Universe, for all He, blessed be He, wants from us is gratitude for the wonders He sends us every single second, since a person could not live even a minute without His will. Be grateful to Him for everything.
(Based on materials from the "Sila Tehilim" group on "Odnoklassniki" and "Facebook")
