שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת אַשְׁרֵי כָּל יְרֵא ה' הַהֹלֵךְ בִּדְרָכָיו

A song of ascents. Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in His ways.

יְגִיעַ כַּפֶּיךָ כִּי תֹאכֵל אַשְׁרֶיךָ וְטוֹב לָךְ

Such people are not necessarily occupied with great, grandiose matters. Rather, when You eat of the labor of your hands, you are happy. Happiness is the lot of a simple, ordinary person who enjoys the fruits of his labor. And it is good for you, for honest physical labor provides spiritual tranquility as well as the basic necessities.

אֶשְׁתְּךָ כְּגֶפֶן פֹּרִיָּה בְּיַרְכְּתֵי בֵיתֶךָ בָּנֶיךָ כִּשְׁתִלֵי זֵיתִים סָבִיב לְשֻׁלְחָנֶךָ

Your wife is like a fruitful vine by the side of your house. The wife is likened to this nourishing vine. Your children are like young olive trees surrounding your table. The children are depicted as young olive shoots sitting serenely around their father’s table. This latter image is true to nature: When left undisturbed, an olive tree often sprouts sprigs from its roots that encircle its trunk.

הִנֵּה כִי כֵן יְבֹרַךְ גָּבֶר יְרֵא ה'

Indeed, so shall a man who fears the Lord be blessed. The blessing is that of a serene and happy domestic life.

יְבָרֶכְךָ ה' מִצִּיּוֹן וּרְאֵה בְּטוּב יְרוּשָׁלִָם כֹּל יְמֵי חַיֶּיךָ

May the Lord bless you from Zion; may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life. This is an additional blessing addressed to the God-fearing man mentioned in the previous verse.

וּרְאֵה בָנִים לְבָנֶיךָ שָׁלוֹם עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל

To this are added other blessings: And may you see the children of your children. This God-fearing man will also merit seeing the continuity of generations, not only children but also grandchildren. And finally, peace to Israel, a concluding blessing that encompasses everything.