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| Source (Hebrew) | Translation (English) |
|---|---|
לַמְנַצֵּ֤חַ ׀ לְעֶ֥בֶד יְהֹוָ֗ה לְדָ֫וִ֥ד אֲשֶׁ֤ר דִּבֶּ֨ר ׀ לַיהֹוָ֗ה אֶת־דִּ֭בְרֵי הַשִּׁירָ֣ה הַזֹּ֑את בְּי֤וֹם הִֽצִּיל־יְהֹוָ֘ה אוֹת֥וֹ מִכַּ֥ף כׇּל־אֹ֝יְבָ֗יו וּמִיַּ֥ד שָׁאֽוּל׃ |
David the servant This is what he said about God when he offered this song to YaH, because God saved him from all his enemies, from Saul’s hands. |
וַיֹּאמַ֡ר אֶרְחׇמְךָ֖ יְהֹוָ֣ה חִזְקִֽי׃ יְהֹוָ֤ה ׀ סַ֥לְעִ֥י וּמְצוּדָתִ֗י וּמְפַ֫לְטִ֥י אֵלִ֣י צ֭וּרִי אֶֽחֱסֶה־בּ֑וֹ |
How much I love You, God; You are the source of my strength. You are my rock, my fortress, my helper— my strong God in whom I put my trust. |
מָֽגִנִּ֥י וְקֶֽרֶן־יִ֝שְׁעִ֗י מִשְׂגַּבִּֽי׃ |
You are my shield, the power of our salvation, who raises me high; |
מְ֭הֻלָּל אֶקְרָ֣א יְהֹוָ֑ה וּמִן־אֹ֝יְבַ֗י אִוָּשֵֽׁעַ׃ אֲפָפ֥וּנִי חֶבְלֵי־מָ֑וֶת וְֽנַחֲלֵ֖י בְלִיַּ֣עַל יְבַֽעֲתֽוּנִי׃ חֶבְלֵ֣י שְׁא֣וֹל סְבָב֑וּנִי קִ֝דְּמ֗וּנִי מ֣וֹקְשֵׁי מָֽוֶת׃ |
I call on YaH, who helps me— even through my enemies. I am entangled in bonds of death; they tied me up. I am scared to my core. |
בַּצַּר־לִ֤י ׀ אֶ֥קְרָ֣א יְהֹוָה֮ וְאֶל־אֱלֹהַ֢י אֲשַׁ֫וֵּ֥עַ יִשְׁמַ֣ע מֵהֵיכָל֣וֹ קוֹלִ֑י וְ֝שַׁוְעָתִ֗י לְפָנָ֤יו ׀ תָּב֬וֹא בְאׇזְנָֽיו׃ |
In my oppression, I call out to You, YaH; I will plead with You, my God, From Your Sanctuary, You hear my voice; my cry will come to Your hearing. |
וַתִּגְעַ֬שׁ וַתִּרְעַ֨שׁ ׀ הָאָ֗רֶץ וּמוֹסְדֵ֣י הָרִ֣ים יִרְגָּ֑זוּ וַ֝יִּתְגָּֽעֲשׁ֗וּ כִּי־חָ֥רָה לֽוֹ׃ עָ֘לָ֤ה עָשָׁ֨ן ׀ בְּאַפּ֗וֹ וְאֵשׁ־מִפִּ֥יו תֹּאכֵ֑ל גֶּ֝חָלִ֗ים בָּעֲר֥וּ מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃ וַיֵּ֣ט שָׁ֭מַיִם וַיֵּרַ֑ד וַ֝עֲרָפֶ֗ל תַּ֣חַת רַגְלָֽיו׃ |
[Then He showed me Her power in Nature.] The earth shook and trembled; the foundations of the mountains moved and were shaken, because He was angry. Smoke went out from His nostrils, and a devouring fire from Her mouth; coals were kindled by it. He lowered the Heavens, and came down; darkness was under Her feet. |
וַיִּרְכַּ֣ב עַל־כְּ֭רוּב וַיָּעֹ֑ף וַ֝יֵּ֗דֶא עַל־כַּנְפֵי־רֽוּחַ׃ יָ֤שֶׁת חֹ֨שֶׁךְ ׀ סִתְר֗וֹ סְבִֽיבוֹתָ֥יו סֻכָּת֑וֹ חֶשְׁכַת־מַ֝֗יִם עָבֵ֥י שְׁחָקִֽים׃ |
He rode on a Keruv, and flew; She soared on the wings of the wind. He made darkness His secret place; His pavilion around Him was dark with waters and thick clouds of the skies. |
מִנֹּ֗גַהּ נֶ֫גְדּ֥וֹ עָבָ֥יו עָבְר֑וּ בָּ֝רָ֗ד וְגַֽחֲלֵי־אֵֽשׁ׃ וַיַּרְעֵ֬ם בַּשָּׁמַ֨יִם ׀ יְֽהֹוָ֗ה וְ֭עֶלְיוֹן יִתֵּ֣ן קֹל֑וֹ בָּ֝רָ֗ד וְגַֽחֲלֵי־אֵֽשׁ׃ |
Out of the brightness that was before Her, His thick clouds passed— hail stones and coals of fire. YaH also thundered in the heavens, and the Most High One gave His voice— hail stones and coals of fire. |
וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח חִ֭צָּיו וַיְפִיצֵ֑ם וּבְרָקִ֥ים רָ֝֗ב וַיְהֻמֵּֽם׃ |
He sent out his arrows, and scattered them and He shot out lightning bolts, and confounded them. |
וַיֵּ֤רָא֨וּ ׀ אֲפִ֥יקֵי מַ֗יִם וַֽיִּגָּלוּ֮ מוֹסְד֢וֹת תֵּ֫בֵ֥ל מִגַּעֲרָ֣תְךָ֣ יְהֹוָ֑ה מִ֝נִּשְׁמַ֗ת ר֣וּחַ אַפֶּֽךָ׃ |
Then flashfloods were seen, and the foundations of the world were laid bare at Your rebuke, O YaH, at the blast of the breath of Your nostrils. |
יִשְׁלַ֣ח מִ֭מָּרוֹם יִקָּחֵ֑נִי יַֽ֝מְשֵׁ֗נִי מִמַּ֥יִם רַבִּֽים׃ יַצִּילֵ֗נִי מֵאֹיְבִ֥י עָ֑ז וּ֝מִשֹּׂנְאַ֗י כִּֽי־אָמְצ֥וּ מִמֶּֽנִּי׃ יְקַדְּמ֥וּנִי בְיוֹם־אֵידִ֑י וַֽיְהִי־יְהֹוָ֖ה לְמִשְׁעָ֣ן לִֽי׃ וַיּוֹצִיאֵ֥נִי לַמֶּרְחָ֑ב יְ֝חַלְּצֵ֗נִי כִּ֘י חָ֥פֵֽץ בִּֽי׃ |
He, from above, took me up; He drew me out of the vast waters. She saved me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me. They were too strong for me; they ambushed me when I was most vulnerable. But YaH was my defender— He brought me forth into a safe place; She saved me, because She cares for me. |
יִגְמְלֵ֣נִי יְהֹוָ֣ה כְּצִדְקִ֑י כְּבֹ֥ר יָ֝דַ֗י יָשִׁ֥יב לִֽי׃ כִּֽי־שָׁ֭מַרְתִּי דַּרְכֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה וְלֹֽא־רָ֝שַׁ֗עְתִּי מֵאֱלֹהָֽי׃ כִּ֣י כׇל־מִשְׁפָּטָ֣יו לְנֶגְדִּ֑י וְ֝חֻקֹּתָ֗יו לֹא־אָסִ֥יר מֶֽנִּי׃ וָאֱהִ֣י תָמִ֣ים עִמּ֑וֹ |
YaH rewards me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands, He recompenses me. This is because I have kept the ways of YaH and have not wickedly turned away from my God. All His just laws were before me and I did not abandon Her statutes; I was upright before Him, |
וָ֝אֶשְׁתַּמֵּ֗ר מֵעֲוֺנִֽי׃ וַיָּֽשֶׁב־יְהֹוָ֣ה לִ֣י כְצִדְקִ֑י כְּבֹ֥ר יָ֝דַ֗י לְנֶ֣גֶד עֵינָֽיו׃ |
I kept myself from my iniquity; therefore, YaH deals with me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands, which He sees. |
עִם־חָסִ֥יד תִּתְחַסָּ֑ד עִם־גְּבַ֥ר תָּ֝מִ֗ים תִּתַּמָּֽם׃ עִם־נָבָ֥ר תִּתְבָּרָ֑ר וְעִם־עִ֝קֵּ֗שׁ תִּתְפַּתָּֽל׃ כִּֽי־אַ֭תָּה עַם־עָנִ֣י תוֹשִׁ֑יעַ וְעֵינַ֖יִם רָמ֣וֹת תַּשְׁפִּֽיל׃ |
With a kind person, You will show yourself kind; with an upright one, You will show Yourself upright. With the pure, You will show yourself pure; but with the stubborn, You will show Yourself cunning, because You will save the people who are hurting, but will bring down the arrogant. |
כִּֽי־אַ֭תָּה תָּאִ֣יר נֵרִ֑י יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱ֝לֹהַ֗י יַגִּ֥יהַּ חׇשְׁכִּֽי׃ כִּֽי־בְ֭ךָ אָרֻ֣ץ גְּד֑וּד וּ֝בֵֽאלֹהַ֗י אֲדַלֶּג־שֽׁוּר׃ |
You will light my candle; YaH, my God, You will enlighten my darkness. With your help I can run the race; with your help, my God, I can leap over a wall. |
הָאֵל֮ תָּמִ֢ים דַּ֫רְכּ֥וֹ אִמְרַֽת־יְהֹוָ֥ה צְרוּפָ֑ה מָגֵ֥ן ה֝֗וּא לְכֹ֤ל ׀ הַחֹסִ֬ים בּֽוֹ׃ |
Your way, God, is perfect: Your word, YaH, is proven. You are a shield to all those who trust in You. |
כִּ֤י מִ֣י אֱ֭לוֹהַּ מִבַּלְעֲדֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה וּמִ֥י צ֝֗וּר זוּלָתִ֥י אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃ הָ֭אֵל הַמְאַזְּרֵ֣נִי חָ֑יִל וַיִּתֵּ֖ן תָּמִ֣ים דַּרְכִּֽי׃ מְשַׁוֶּ֣ה רַ֭גְלַי כָּאַיָּל֑וֹת וְעַ֥ל בָּ֝מֹתַ֗י יַעֲמִידֵֽנִי׃ מְלַמֵּ֣ד יָ֭דַי לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה וְֽנִחֲתָ֥ה קֶֽשֶׁת־נְ֝חוּשָׁ֗ה זְרוֹעֹתָֽי׃ |
For who is God but YaH? Who is a rock but our God? It is God, who girds me with strength, and makes my way perfect; She makes my feet fleet, like the feet of a gazelle, and makes me achieve my potential. He teaches my hands how to wage war, so that I can even draw a bow of bronze. |
וַתִּתֶּן־לִי֮ מָגֵ֢ן יִ֫שְׁעֶ֥ךָ וִֽימִינְךָ֥ תִסְעָדֵ֑נִי וְֽעַנְוַתְךָ֥ תַרְבֵּֽנִי׃ תַּרְחִ֣יב צַעֲדִ֣י תַחְתָּ֑י וְלֹ֥א מָ֝עֲד֗וּ קַרְסֻלָּֽי׃ אֶרְדּ֣וֹף א֭וֹיְבַי וְאַשִּׂיגֵ֑ם וְלֹֽא־אָ֝שׁ֗וּב עַד־כַּלּוֹתָֽם׃ אֶ֭מְחָצֵם וְלֹא־יֻ֣כְלוּ ק֑וּם יִ֝פְּל֗וּ תַּ֣חַת רַגְלָֽי׃ וַתְּאַזְּרֵ֣נִי חַ֭יִל לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה תַּכְרִ֖יעַ קָמַ֣י תַּחְתָּֽי׃ וְֽאֹיְבַ֗י נָתַ֣תָּה לִּ֣י עֹ֑רֶף |
You have protected me with the shield of Your Salvation; Your right hand has supported me and Your gentleness has made me great. You have firmed up the steps under me, so that my feet did not slip. I have pursued my enemies, and overtaken them and did not turn back till they were disarmed; I have humbled them, so that they were not able to rise. They have submitted to me, for You have girded me with strength to do battle; You have subdued them under me. You have also made my enemies run away from me. |
וּ֝מְשַׂנְאַ֗י אַצְמִיתֵֽם׃ יְשַׁוְּע֥וּ וְאֵין־מוֹשִׁ֑יעַ עַל־יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה וְלֹ֣א עָנָֽם׃ וְֽאֶשְׁחָקֵ֗ם כְּעָפָ֥ר עַל־פְּנֵי־ר֑וּחַ כְּטִ֖יט חוּצ֣וֹת אֲרִיקֵֽם׃ |
I did disarm those who hate me. They cried, but there was none to save them; they cried to YaH, but He did not answer them. I crushed them as the dust before the wind; I cast them as the dirt in the streets. |
תְּפַלְּטֵנִי֮ מֵרִ֢יבֵ֫י־עָ֥ם תְּ֭שִׂימֵנִי לְרֹ֣אשׁ גּוֹיִ֑ם |
You have saved me from the plots of the rabble and You have made me the head of nations. |
עַ֖ם לֹא־יָדַ֣עְתִּי יַֽעַבְדֽוּנִי׃ לְשֵׁ֣מַֽע אֹ֭זֶן יִשָּׁ֣מְעוּ לִ֑י בְּנֵֽי־נֵ֝כָ֗ר יְכַחֲשׁוּ־לִֽי׃ בְּנֵי־נֵכָ֥ר יִבֹּ֑לוּ וְ֝יַחְרְג֗וּ מִֽמִּסְגְּרֽוֹתֵיהֶֽם׃ |
Strange people shall become my subjects; as soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me. The strangers shall submit themselves to me; the strangers shall give up the resistance, and come trembling out of their hiding. |
חַי־יְ֭הֹוָה וּבָר֣וּךְ צוּרִ֑י וְ֝יָר֗וּם אֱלוֹהֵ֥י יִשְׁעִֽי׃ הָאֵ֗ל הַנּוֹתֵ֣ן נְקָמ֣וֹת לִ֑י וַיַּדְבֵּ֖ר עַמִּ֣ים תַּחְתָּֽי׃ מְפַלְּטִ֗י מֵאֹ֫יְבָ֥י |
YaH lives! Blessed is my Rock: let the God of my salvation be exalted. It is God who avenges me and subdues the peoples under me; Me saves me from my enemies. |
אַ֣ף מִן־קָ֭מַי תְּרוֹמְמֵ֑נִי מֵאִ֥ישׁ חָ֝מָ֗ס תַּצִּילֵֽנִי׃ עַל־כֵּ֤ן ׀ אוֹדְךָ֖ בַגּוֹיִ֥ם ׀ יְהֹוָ֑ה וּלְשִׁמְךָ֥ אֲזַמֵּֽרָה׃ |
You lift me up above those who rise up against me; You save me from violent attackers: therefore among the nations, I will give thanks to You, O YaH, and sing praises to Your Name. |
מַגְדִּל֮ יְשׁוּע֢וֹת מַ֫לְכּ֥וֹ וְעֹ֤שֶׂה חֶ֨סֶד ׀ לִמְשִׁיח֗וֹ לְדָוִ֥ד וּלְזַרְע֗וֹ עַד־עוֹלָֽם׃ |
Great deliverance He gives to his king; He shows loving kindness to His anointed, to David and to his descendants, for evermore. |
Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi’s translation and reworking of Psalms 18 was first published in Psalms in a Translation for Praying (Alliance for Jewish Renewal, Philadelphia: 2014), pp. 22-27.
Reb Zalman was, in 2009, an early advocate of the Open Siddur Project and generously shared his liturgical and prayer work with the project following his vision of a common “Database Davvenen.” I have set his translation opposite the Masoretic Hebrew text of the psalm according to the phrasing he provided. –Aharon Varady
“תהלים י״ח | Psalms 18, a shir by David translated by Rabbi Zalman Schachter Shalomi” is shared through the Open Siddur Project with a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International copyleft license.
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