Jeremías 20:13 Midrash: Midrash Tehillim

Psalm of Ascents to the Lord in its distress. Jeremiah said (Jeremiah 20:13) "Sing to the Lord, praise the Lord". Why and for what reason? Because He saved the soul of the poor from the hands of the wicked. When the Lord redeemed Israel, not only did they give thanks, but everyone gave thanks. First, He redeemed them from Egypt and Jethro praised Him, as it is said (Exodus 18:9-11) "Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness that the Lord had done to Israel, whom He had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians...Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods". Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were rescued from the furnace, and everyone praised Him, as it is said (Daniel 3:28) "Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, 'Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him'". This is true for the past and the future, when they emerge from distress and exile, they say praises, as it is said, "Psalm of Ascents". It is not written here "Psalm of Ascent", but "Psalm of Ascents". When Israel ascends, they do not ascend one ascent, but many ascents. As it is said (Deuteronomy 28:13) "You shall ascend higher and higher". And it is written (Song of Songs 3:6) "Who is this coming up from the wilderness, like columns of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense?". And when they descend, they do not descend one descent, but (Deuteronomy 28:43) "You shall come down lower and lower". And it is said (Lamentations 2:1) "He cast down from heaven to earth". And when they ascend ascents, they ascend in praise, therefore it is said "Psalm of Ascents"....

"Hallelujah, my soul, etc." Jeremiah said (Jeremiah 20:13), "Sing to the Lord, praise the Lord." Why? Because He saved the soul of the poor from the hand of evildoers. When God sends the wicked to Gehenna and saves the righteous, they praise Him, and they give Him praise that never leaves the poor. It is also said (Isaiah 57:19), "I create the praise of the lips." Not only I myself, but "Let all flesh bless His holy name." Therefore we say, "I will praise the Lord in my life; I will sing to my God as long as I exist." Solomon said (Ecclesiastes 9:12), "For man also does not know his time." If one does not praise while he is alive, when will he praise? Not when he dies, as it is said (Psalm 115:17), "The dead do not praise the Lord." And it is written (Psalm 6:6), "In death there is no memory of You." And who will praise You? But we will bless the Lord, "He who is alive, He who will praise You," not in Sheol. And it is said (Ecclesiastes 9:10), "For there is no work, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in Sheol." Therefore we say, "I will praise the Lord in my life," etc. Thus David said, "Do not trust in princes, in mortal man, in whom there is no salvation" (Psalm 146:3). A person should not say, "Ishmael can say, 'Abraham is my father, and he will save me,' or Esau can say, 'Jacob was righteous, and he will save me, and I will escape through his merit.'" As it is said (Psalm 49:8), "No man can redeem the life of another." No one's brother can redeem him. If a person does not do good in this world, he cannot rely on the deeds of his ancestors. Therefore it is said, "Do not trust in princes." On what should you rely? On your own deeds. As it is said (Proverbs 9:12), "If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, and if you scoff, you alone will bear it." Similarly, it is said (Proverbs 16:26), "A laborer's appetite works for him; his hunger urges him on." A person cannot eat from his father's actions in the future, but rather each person eats from their own actions, as it is said (Ecclesiastes 6:7), "All man's labor is for his mouth," and (ibid. 3:22), "So I saw that there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work." A person has no share except in their toil, as it is said (Psalm 128:2), "When you eat the toil of your hands, you are praiseworthy, and it is well with you." Therefore, it is said, "Do not rely on princes."