Pay
The face of HaShem is against those who do evil,
To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
Psalms 34:16 (34:17 Hebrew)

Tzadi
The righteous cry out, and HaShem hears,
And delivers them out of all their troubles.
Psalms 34:17 (34:18 Hebrew)

Introduction

• Last week we saw how the samech stanza shows how G-d sustains and supports those who lean on [samach] Him – but the double-minded are not supported.
• We saw how the ayin stanza shows that G-d gives understanding to His servants and reveals [ayin, the eye] His salvation to them.

Pay: P’laot= “Wonderful” ( Verses 129-136)

• Pay = speak, word, open, blow, scatter
• Picture = mouth, source (river head)
• Spelling = pay-ayin
• Value = 80
• Sound = p, f
• Meaning = G-d speaks and His words impact the lives of His servants
• This stanza shows that G-d’s testimonies, precepts, commands give light to G-d’s people. They open their mouths and receive from His mouth (Deut 30:14).
  
  Note: Pay pictures a complete mouth structure (lips, teeth, tongue). Within its shape is the outline of the letter bet further emphasizes the relationship to the Word and “G-d made manifest” (John 1:1, Heb 1:2-3)

 Pay Words

pay words italicized
129 Your Edut are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps [natsar [1] ] them.
130 The entrance of Your Davar gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.
131 I opened my mouth and panted, for I longed for Your Mitzvot.
132 Look upon me and be merciful to me, as Your custom is toward those who love Your name.
133 Direct my steps by Your Imrah, and let no iniquity have dominion over me.
134 Redeem me from the oppression of man, that I may keep Your Pikudim.
135 Make Your face shine upon Your servant, and teach me Your Chukim.
136 Rivers of water run down from my eyes, because men do not keep Your Torah.

[1] less used word natsar = loyally keep/guard 

Tzadi: Tzadik atah HaShem = “Righteous are You, O HaShem” ( Verses 137-144)

• Tzadi = righteous, hunt/snare, desire, chase (Matt 5:6)
• Picture = a fishhook         
• Spelling = tzadi-dalet-yod
• Value = 90
• Sound = ts as in “hats”
• Meaning = G-d draws His servants into righteousness. He causes the righteous to be zealous in pursuit of Him.
• This stanza shows that we are “hooked” or drawn by G-d’s words and transformed by them.

Tzadi Words

tzadi words italicized
137 Righteous are You, O HaShem, and upright are Your Mishpatim.
138 Your Edah, which You have commanded, are righteous and very faithful.
139 My zeal has consumed me, because my enemies have forgotten Your Davar.
140 Your Imrah is very pure; therefore Your servant loves it.
141 I am smalland despised, yet I do not forget Your Pikudim.
142 Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your Torah is truth.
143 Trouble and anguish have overtaken me, yet Your Mitzvot are my delights.
144 The righteousnessof Your Edut is everlasting; give me understanding, and I shall live.

Summary                                                              

• We saw how the pay stanza shows that G-d’s testimonies, precepts, commands give light to G-d’s people. They open their mouths and receive from His mouth
• We saw how the tzadi stanza shows that we are “hooked” or drawn by G-d’s words and transformed by them.