Beatitudes in the psalms

Who is the object of happiness? The answer is full of variety. The opening frame of psalms 1 and 2 approach the subject negatively and in the name of protection, certainly a need for all. The contrast in these verses is again between the singular and the plural. (As an aside, 2:12 agrees in form with 128:1. To be consistent with my overall desire for concordance, I should translate 2:12 as all. There is a conflict between my chosen style in psalms 1 and 2 and this analysis. In psalms 1 and 2, I am, at the beginning, emphasizing the one and the many. If the many be the all, so be it.)

אַשְׁרֵי הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר לֹא הָלַךְ בַּעֲצַת רְשָׁעִים וּבְדֶרֶךְ חַטָּאִים לֹא עָמָד וּבְמוֹשַׁב לֵצִים לֹא יָשָׁב	1.1	Happy the one who does not walk in the advice of the wicked and in the way of sinners does not stand and in the seat of the scornful does not sit
נַשְּׁקוּ-בַר פֶּן-יֶאֱנַף וְתֹאבְדוּ דֶרֶךְ כִּי-יִבְעַר כִּמְעַט אַפּוֹ אַשְׁרֵי כָּל-חוֹסֵי בוֹ	2.12	Kiss, aflame yourself pure lest he face you and you perish in your way kindled with a touch of his anger Happy! the many who find this protection

In the remaining psalms of Book 1, there are several benedictions including the first of three which are given to the human אָדָם, the earthling, the child of the dust.  Then in 33 we have the nation as object (distinguish this from the people - still to come).  Then we have the first of three for הַגֶּבֶר which I have translated with a root related to the valiant. This is applied equally to male and female. There are also 3 of these.

לְדָוִד מַשְׂכִּיל אַשְׁרֵי נְשׂוּי פֶּשַׁע כְּסוּי חֲטָאָה	32.1	Of David an insight happy lifted up transgression covered sin
אַשְׁרֵי אָדָם לֹא יַחְשֹׁב יְהוָה לוֹ עָו‍ֹן וְאֵין בְּרוּחוֹ רְמִיָּה	32.2	happy the human to whom יְהוָה will not consider iniquity and without deceit in his spirit
אַשְׁרֵי הַגּוֹי אֲשֶׁר יְהוָה אֱלֹהָיו הָעָם בָּחַר לְנַחֲלָה לוֹ	33.12	happy the nation where יְהוָה is its God the people chosen as his inheritance
טַעֲמוּ וּרְאוּ כִּי טוֹב יְהוָה אַשְׁרֵי הַגֶּבֶר יֶחֱסֶה בּוֹ	34.9	taste and see for יְהוָה is good happy the valiant that take refuge in him
אַשְׁרֵי הַגֶּבֶר אֲשֶׁר שָׂם יְהוָה מִבְטַחוֹ וְלֹא פָנָה אֶל רְהָבִים וְשָׂטֵי כָזָב	40.5	happy the valiant who makes יְהוָה his trust and does not turn to the proud falling away to a lie
אַשְׁרֵי מַשְׂכִּיל אֶל דָּל בְּיוֹם רָעָה יְמַלְּטֵהוּ יְהוָה	41.2	Happy the one giving insight to the weak in the day of evil יְהוָה will let him escape
יְהוָה יִשְׁמְרֵהוּ וִיחַיֵּהוּ וְאֻשַּׁר בָּאָרֶץ וְאַל תִּתְּנֵהוּ בְּנֶפֶשׁ אֹיְבָיו	41.3	יְהוָה will guard him and keep him alive and he will be considered happy in the earth and you will not give him into the throat of his enemies

Books 2 to 4 are not so well populated with happiness. Except psalm 84, a bit of respite in the lament of Book 3.  n psalm 89 we get the first, again of three, addressed to the nation.

אַשְׁרֵי תִּבְחַר וּתְקָרֵב יִשְׁכֹּן חֲצֵרֶיךָ נִשְׂבְּעָה בְּטוּב בֵּיתֶךָ קְדֹשׁ הֵיכָלֶךָ	65.5	Happy the one chosen and made near who will dwell in your courts We will be satisfied in the good of your house your holy temple
יְהִי שְׁמוֹ לְעוֹלָם לִפְנֵי שֶׁמֶשׁ יִנּוֹן שְׁמוֹ וְיִתְבָּרְכוּ בוֹ כָּל גּוֹיִם יְאַשְּׁרוּהוּ	72.17	his name will be forever his name will continue in the presence of the sun and they will bless themselves in him - all nations will call him happy
יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת אַשְׁרֵי אָדָם בֹּטֵחַ בָּךְ	84.13	יְהוָה of hosts happy the human who trusts in you
אַשְׁרֵי יוֹשְׁבֵי בֵיתֶךָ עוֹד יְהַלְלוּךָ סֶּלָה	84.5	Happy those sitting in your house ever they will praise you Selah
אַשְׁרֵי אָדָם עוֹז לוֹ בָךְ מְסִלּוֹת בִּלְבָבָם	84.6	Happy the human whose strength is in you with a highway in their heart
אַשְׁרֵי הָעָם יֹדְעֵי תְרוּעָה יְהוָה בְּאוֹר פָּנֶיךָ יְהַלֵּכוּן	89.16	Happy the people knowing the jubilation of יְהוָה In the light of your face they will walk
אַשְׁרֵי הַגֶּבֶר אֲשֶׁר תְּיַסְּרֶנּוּ יָּהּ וּמִתּוֹרָתְךָ תְלַמְּדֶנּוּ	94.12	Happy the valiant whom you chastise Yah and from your instruction you teach them
אַשְׁרֵי שֹׁמְרֵי מִשְׁפָּט עֹשֵׂה צְדָקָה בְכָל עֵת	106.3	happy those keeping judgment doing righteousness at all times

In psalm 112, and 119, I translate to the constraint of the acrostic. Psalm 128 gives us a universal. Psalm 137 is enigmatic, as usual. Dashes uniquely matches the smashed pots of psalm 2 - so bear the tension.

הַלְלוּ יָהּ אַשְׁרֵי אִישׁ יָרֵא אֶת יְהוָה בְּמִצְו‍ֹתָיו חָפֵץ מְאֹד	112.1	Hallelu Yah A happy person fears יְהוָה By his commandments he has much delight
אַשְׁרֵי תְמִימֵי דָרֶךְ הַהֹלְכִים בְּתוֹרַת יְהוָה	119.1	All joy for those who are the complete of the way who walk in the teaching of יְהוָה
אַשְׁרֵי נֹצְרֵי עֵדֹתָיו בְּכָל לֵב יִדְרְשׁוּהוּ	119.2	All joy for those observing his testimonies with a whole heart they seek him
אַשְׁרֵי הַגֶּבֶר אֲשֶׁר מִלֵּא אֶת אַשְׁפָּתוֹ מֵהֶם לֹא יֵבֹשׁוּ כִּי יְדַבְּרוּ אֶת אוֹיְבִים בַּשָּׁעַר	127.5	happy the valiant who filled his quiver with them he will not be ashamed when he speaks with enemies at the gate
שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת אַשְׁרֵי כָּל יְרֵא יְהוָה הַהֹלֵךְ בִּדְרָכָיו	128.1	A song of the steps Happy all fearing יְהוָה those walking in his ways
יְגִיעַ כַּפֶּיךָ כִּי תֹאכֵל אַשְׁרֶיךָ וְטוֹב לָךְ	128.2	for you will eat the labour of your hands your happiness and good for you
בַּת בָּבֶל הַשְּׁדוּדָה אַשְׁרֵי שֶׁיְשַׁלֶּם לָךְ אֶת גְּמוּלֵךְ שֶׁגָּמַלְתְּ לָנוּ	137.8	Devastating daughter of Babel happy the one who makes peace with you even weans you as you weaned us
אַשְׁרֵי שֶׁיֹּאחֵז וְנִפֵּץ אֶת עֹלָלַיִךְ אֶל הַסָּלַע	137.9	happy the one who holds and dashes your unweaned against the cliff
אַשְׁרֵי הָעָם שֶׁכָּכָה לּוֹ אַשְׁרֵי הָעָם שֱׁיְהוָה אֱלֹהָיו	144.15	happy the people who are like this to him happy the people who have יְהוָה as their God
אַשְׁרֵי שֶׁאֵל יַעֲקֹב בְּעֶזְרוֹ שִׂבְרוֹ עַל יְהוָה אֱלֹהָיו	146.5	Happy the one who has the God of Jacob for its help Its hope is in יְהוָה its God

There are several of these macarisms that are action based. If we would be happy then we may do these 10 things among other thoughts. Treat them as mitzvot and be joyful.

• fear יְהוָה, 
• observe the testimonies, 
• be complete in the way, 
• walk in the teaching of יְהוָה, 
• keep judgement,
• trust in יְהוָה of hosts, 
• sit in יְהוָה's house, 
• have strength in יְהוָה,
• be chosen and made near, 
• give insight to the weak.