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At the end of bentching we say that "I was young, and I also became old, and I never saw a righteous person be abandoned, and his children asking for bread" (Tehillim 37:25).


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@DoubleAA also, I'm more upset by the implications of misinterpreting this (wealth has some correlation with righteousness or a very narrow definition of tzadik) than I am about altering the (admittedly strong) minhag. – Charles Koppelman Jan 30 '13 at 21:49

A couple of possibilities, culled from midrashim and commentaries:




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I thought it was read:


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I wonder if "Na'ar" and "zakein" are significant in this possuk. And also, it seems to be missing out a reference to the middle of his life? Perhaps these are two stages of life at which one can see beyond, to some degree.

So I suggest Dovid Hamelech did have a vision that went beyond what most of us humans can see. And he realized that Tzadikim are never abandoned. And so when we affirm that by saying the Posuk, we create more sustenance for ourselves on a day to day level.

I've heard that we say these pesukim at the end of Benching as a segula for Parnassa. And yes, it brings heartache for some to say this, as it reminds one of the Holocaust, and more. Yet, if one affirms the positivity verbally, and even emotionally, as seen by Dovid Hamelech, this can gradually manifest as visible to all.

Only after you're prepared to distrust your perception - for a minute - and affirm this statement with all your heart, may we perhaps be open to perceiving its veracity in real life.

We say this at the end of Benching, when we have eaten at least a k'zayis, that Hashem in His kindness provided for us. We perhaps then have enough Hakoras Hatov to suspend judgement and believe it is true on some level. At this point you can ask, HOW can it be true, instead of, it's not true.

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perhaps it means regarding his mental state as the Chovos Halevavos writes in the intro to the shaar bitachon:

One who trusts in G-d is secure against mishaps, and his heart is assured against future (potential) bad things. Whatever comes to him from G-d, he will accept with joy and gladness and his livelihood comes to him peacefully, quietly, and happily, as written "He causes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters" (Tehilim 23:2)

Pas Lechem commentary there:

"whatever comes to him from G-d gives him joy..." is an explanation of the previous statement "his heart is assured against bad things..." because certainly it cannot be taken literally, that for one who trusts in G-d, no bad things will ever happen to him, since what our eyes see contradicts this. Rather, after he trusts in G-d that He will not do to him anything that is not for his good, if so, "whatever comes to him from G-d, he will accept with joy and gladness, as the Talmud says in Berachos 54a, therefore it is correct to say that no bad things ever happen to him.

The Chovos Halevavos continues a bit later:

But one who trusts in G-d, has strong peace of mind that G-d will provide for him at any time He wishes and in any place... and "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread" (Tehilim 37:25)...

But one who trusts in G-d, is immune from sickness and disease except as an atonement or to increase his reward...

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In Devarim (Deuteronomy) 18:

Verse 21:




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@DoubleAA Who me? I haven't argued anything! /innocent face. Now that you mention it though, that sounds like a good question. – HodofHod Jan 31 '13 at 7:14

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