Psalm 37 Text
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Psalm 37/Text
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They will soon wither
Psalm 37
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| Simple Reading (Hebrew) |
Simple Reading (English) |
| Dramatic Reading (Hebrew) |
Dramatic Reading (English) |
Text Only (Hebrew and English) The text below is divided according to the psalm's poetic lines. For additional information, see our Poetic Structure layer.
| Text (Hebrew) | Verse | Text (CBC) The Close-but-clear translation (CBC) exists to provide a window into the Hebrew text according to how we understand its syntax and word-to-phrase-level semantics. It is not intended to be used as a stand-alone translation or base text, but as a supplement to Layer-by-Layer materials to help users make full use of these resources. |
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׀
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1a | David
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אַל־תִּתְחַ֥ר
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1b | about those who act wickedly;
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עַוְלָֽה׃
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1c | not
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כֶ֭ יִמָּ֑לוּ
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2a | wither like grass,
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וּ דֶּ֝֗שֶׁא יִבּוֹלֽוּן׃
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2b | and green leaves on plants.
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| 3a | Trust and
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שְׁכָן־ וּרְעֵ֥ה
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3b | Reside in graze
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| 4a | then
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ךָ׃
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4b | desires. you will
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גּ֣וֹל דַּרְכֶּ֑
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5a | to your Commit
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וּבְטַ֥ח וְ
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5b | and him,
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וְ כָא֣וֹר צִדְקֶ֑ךָ
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6a | like make will
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כַּֽצָּהֳרָֽיִם׃
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6b | justice your will
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דּ֤וֹם ׀ לַ
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7a | him! and silent Be
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בְּ דַּרְכּ֑
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7b | successful, way his makes get
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מְזִמּֽוֹת׃
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7c | out
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אַף וַעֲזֹ֣ב
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8a | wrath and of Let
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אַל־ הָרֵֽעַ׃
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8b | to upset, get
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מְ֭רֵעִים
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9a | be will
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וְ אָֽרֶץ׃
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9b | in
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מְ֭עַט אֵ֣ין רָשָׁ֑ע
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10a | will
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וְ מְקוֹמ֣וֹ נּוּ׃
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10b | there. be and place at you And
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וַ
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11a | |
וְ֝הִתְעַנְּג֗וּ עַל־רֹ֥ב
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11b | delight
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רָ֭שָׁע
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12a | righteous plotting
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| 12b | him. teeth grinding
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אֲדֹנָ֥י ל֑
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13a | him, Lord
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כִּֽי־ יוֹמֽ
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13b | come. time because
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׀
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14a | |
קַ֫שְׁתָּ֥ם
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14b | bows their
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הַפִּיל עָנִ֣י
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14c | and afflicted who the down order in
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לִ֝טְב֗וֹחַ יִשְׁרֵי־
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14d | is conduct those slaughter order in
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תָּב֣וֹא ם
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15a | own go will swords
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| 15b | broken. be
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טוֹב־מְ֭עַט לַ
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16a | better is to A
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| 16b | wicked many the than
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כִּ֤י תִּשָּׁבַ֑רְנָה
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17a | will wicked the arms the
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יְהוָֽה׃
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17b | the upholding is YHWH but
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יְ֭הוָה יְמֵ֣י תְמִימִ֑ם
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18a | the
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וְ֝נַחֲלָתָ֗ם עוֹלָ֥ם
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18b | |
יֵ֭בֹשׁוּ בְּעֵ֣ת
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19a | hard to not They
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| 19b | they and
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כִּ֤י רְשָׁעִ֨ים ׀
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20a | will
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וְ כִּיקַ֣ר
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20b | in like perish] YHWH’s and
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כָּל֖וּ
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20c | like
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רָ֭שָׁע וְלֹ֣א יְשַׁלֵּ֑ם
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21a | is The
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וְ֝ וְנוֹתֵֽן׃
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21b | righteous
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כִּ֣י מְ֭בֹרָכָיו
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22a | the possess will by blessed those
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וּ֝מְקֻלָּלָ֗יו יִכָּרֵֽתוּ׃
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22b | cursed and
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| 23a | steadfast steps When
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דַרְכּ֥וֹ יֶחְפָּֽץ׃
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23b | with will
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כִּֽי־ לֹֽא־
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24a | he he
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סוֹמֵ֥ךְ
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24b | hand. supporting YHWH
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נַ֤עַר ׀ גַּם־
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25a | old, am a I
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רָ֭אִיתִי צַדִּ֣יק נֶעֱזָ֑ב
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25b | person righteous seen have
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זַרְע֗וֹ
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25c | for his or
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כָּל־ חוֹנֵ֣ן
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26a | always
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וְ֝זַרְע֗
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26b | a his
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ס֣וּר רָע
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27a | good, and from
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עוֹלָֽם׃
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27b | forever! will
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׀ אֹ֘הֵ֤ב
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28a | justice, YHWH
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לֹא־יַעֲזֹ֣ב אֶת־
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28b | him. to are
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נִשְׁמָדוּ*
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28c | Wrong-doers
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רְשָׁעִ֣ים
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28d | wicked of the and
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| 29a | the possess The
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לָעַ֣ד עָלֶֽיהָ׃
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29b | and
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יֶהְגֶּ֣ה חָכְמָ֑ה
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30a | wise, what utters person’s righteous
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וּ֝לְשׁוֹנ֗
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30b | speaks his and
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תּוֹרַ֣ת וֹ
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31a | his is God instruction
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לֹ֖א תִמְעַ֣ד אֲשֻׁרָי
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31b | not steps
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רָ֭שָׁע
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32a | righteous watching
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הֲמִיתֽ
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32b | kill
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יְ֭הוָה נּוּ וֹ
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33a | hand, his him not will
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לֹ֥א
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33b | into enters as condemned him let will
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דַּרְכּ֗וֹ
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34a | way, his YHWH in
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וִֽ֭ךָ
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34b | you and
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בְּ
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34c | You
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רָשָׁ֣ע
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35a | wicked saw I
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וּ֝ כְּאֶזְרָ֥ח רַעֲנָֽן׃
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35b | like
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וְ נּוּ*
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36a | gone; and — get by,
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וָֽ֝אֲבַקְשֵׁ֗הוּ
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36b | not and him, looked
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וּרְאֵ֣ה יָשָׁ֑ר
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37a | upright the at and one, blameless to attention
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| 37b | is [blameless]
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נִשְׁמְד֣וּ יַחְדָּ֑ו
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38a | exterminated! completely are who those But
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| 38b | destroyed! is wicked of
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צַ֭דִּיקִים יְהוָ֑ה
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39a | YHWH, from
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ם צָרָֽה׃
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39b | of
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וַֽיַּעְזְרֵ֥ם יְהוָ֗ה יְפַ֫לְּטֵ֥
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40a | them YHWH and
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יְפַלְּטֵ֣ם וְם
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40b | will
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כִּי־
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40c | refuge they
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Structure Overlay Below, the text has been overlaid with our summary structural analysis. For details on the structure, see the Structure At-a-Glance here.
| Hebrew | Verse | Close-but-clear |
|---|---|---|
| לְדָוִ֨ד ׀ | 1a | By David |
| אַל־תִּתְחַ֥ר בַּמְּרֵעִ֑ים | 1b | Do not get upset about those who act wickedly; |
| אַל־תְּ֝קַנֵּ֗א בְּעֹשֵׂ֥י עַוְלָֽה׃ | 1c | Do not be jealous of those who do wrong. |
| כִּ֣י כֶ֭חָצִיר מְהֵרָ֣ה יִמָּ֑לוּ | 2a | For they will soon wither like grass, |
| וּכְיֶ֥רֶק דֶּ֝֗שֶׁא יִבּוֹלֽוּן׃ | 2b | and they will fade like green leaves on plants. |
| בְּטַ֣ח בַּֽ֭יהוָה וַעֲשֵׂה־ט֑וֹב | 3a | Trust in YHWH and do good! |
| שְׁכָן־אֶ֝֗רֶץ וּרְעֵ֥ה אֱמוּנָֽה׃ | 3b | Reside in the land and graze securely! |
| וְהִתְעַנַּ֥ג עַל־יְהוָ֑ה | 4a | And then you will delight yourself in YHWH, |
| וְיִֽתֶּן־לְ֝ךָ֗ מִשְׁאֲלֹ֥ת לִבֶּֽךָ׃ | 4b | and he will give you your heart’s desires. |
| גּ֣וֹל עַל־יְהוָ֣ה דַּרְכֶּ֑ךָ | 5a | Commit your way to YHWH, |
| וּבְטַ֥ח עָ֝לָ֗יו וְה֣וּא יַעֲשֶֽׂה׃ | 5b | and trust in him, and he will act, |
| וְהוֹצִ֣יא כָא֣וֹר צִדְקֶ֑ךָ | 6a | and he will make your righteousness known like the light |
| וּ֝מִשְׁפָּטֶ֗ךָ כַּֽצָּהֳרָֽיִם׃ | 6b | and [he will make] your justice [known] like midday. |
| דּ֤וֹם ׀ לַיהוָה֮ וְהִתְח֪וֹלֵ֫ל ל֥וֹ | 7a | Be silent before YHWH and wait for him! |
| אַל־תִּ֭תְחַר בְּמַצְלִ֣יחַ דַּרְכּ֑וֹ | 7b | Do not get upset about someone who makes his way successful, |
| בְּ֝אִ֗ישׁ עֹשֶׂ֥ה מְזִמּֽוֹת׃ | 7c | about a person carrying out schemes. |
| הֶ֣רֶף מֵ֭אַף וַעֲזֹ֣ב חֵמָ֑ה | 8a | Let go of anger and leave wrath behind! |
| אַל־תִּ֝תְחַ֗ר אַךְ־לְהָרֵֽעַ׃ | 8b | Do not get upset, only to act wickedly! |
| כִּֽי־מְ֭רֵעִים יִכָּרֵת֑וּן | 9a | For those who act wickedly will be destroyed; |
| וְקֹוֵ֥י יְ֝הוָ֗ה הֵ֣מָּה יִֽירְשׁוּ־אָֽרֶץ׃ | 9b | but those who hope in YHWH—they will possess the land. |
| וְע֣וֹד מְ֭עַט וְאֵ֣ין רָשָׁ֑ע | 10a | And just a little bit longer, and the wicked person will be gone; |
| וְהִתְבּוֹנַ֖נְתָּ עַל־מְקוֹמ֣וֹ וְאֵינֶֽנּוּ׃ | 10b | And you will look closely at the place where he was, and he will not be there. |
| וַעֲנָוִ֥ים יִֽירְשׁוּ־אָ֑רֶץ | 11a | But the humble will possess the land |
| וְ֝הִתְעַנְּג֗וּ עַל־רֹ֥ב שָׁלֽוֹם׃ | 11b | and delight themselves in great prosperity. |
| זֹמֵ֣ם רָ֭שָׁע לַצַּדִּ֑יק | 12a | The wicked person is plotting against the righteous person |
| וְחֹרֵ֖ק עָלָ֣יו שִׁנָּֽיו׃ | 12b | and grinding his teeth at him. |
| אֲדֹנָ֥י יִשְׂחַק־ל֑וֹ | 13a | The Lord laughs at him, |
| כִּֽי־רָ֝אָ֗ה כִּֽי־יָבֹ֥א יוֹמֽוֹ׃ | 13b | because he sees that his time will come. |
| חֶ֤רֶב ׀ פָּֽתְח֣וּ רְשָׁעִים֮ | 14a | The wicked have drawn swords |
| וְדָרְכ֪וּ קַ֫שְׁתָּ֥ם | 14b | and strung their bows |
| לְ֭הַפִּיל עָנִ֣י וְאֶבְי֑וֹן | 14c | in order to bring down the one who is afflicted and poor, |
| לִ֝טְב֗וֹחַ יִשְׁרֵי־דָֽרֶךְ׃ | 14d | in order to slaughter those whose conduct is upright. |
| חַ֭רְבָּם תָּב֣וֹא בְלִבָּ֑ם | 15a | Their swords will go into their own hearts |
| וְ֝קַשְׁתּוֹתָ֗ם תִּשָּׁבַֽרְנָה׃ | 15b | and their bows will be broken. |
| טוֹב־מְ֭עַט לַצַּדִּ֑יק | 16a | A little belonging to the righteous person is better |
| מֵ֝הֲמ֗וֹן רְשָׁעִ֥ים רַבִּֽים׃ | 16b | than the abundance of many wicked people. |
| כִּ֤י זְרוֹע֣וֹת רְ֭שָׁעִים תִּשָּׁבַ֑רְנָה | 17a | For the arms of the wicked will be broken, |
| וְסוֹמֵ֖ךְ צַדִּיקִ֣ים יְהוָֽה׃ | 17b | but YHWH is upholding the righteous. |
| יוֹדֵ֣עַ יְ֭הוָה יְמֵ֣י תְמִימִ֑ם | 18a | YHWH knows the days of the blameless, |
| וְ֝נַחֲלָתָ֗ם לְעוֹלָ֥ם תִּהְיֶֽה׃ | 18b | and their inheritance will be forever. |
| לֹֽא־יֵ֭בֹשׁוּ בְּעֵ֣ת רָעָ֑ה | 19a | They will not come to shame during hard times, |
| וּבִימֵ֖י רְעָב֣וֹן יִשְׂבָּֽעוּ׃ | 19b | and they will eat their fill during times of famine. |
| כִּ֤י רְשָׁעִ֨ים ׀ יֹאבֵ֗דוּ | 20a | For the wicked will perish, |
| וְאֹיְבֵ֣י יְ֭הוָה כִּיקַ֣ר כָּרִ֑ים | 20b | and YHWH’s enemies [will perish] like flowers in a pasture. |
| כָּל֖וּ *כֶעָשָׁ֣ן* כָּֽלוּ׃ | 20c | They are finished like smoke! They are finished! |
| לֹוֶ֣ה רָ֭שָׁע וְלֹ֣א יְשַׁלֵּ֑ם | 21a | The wicked person is borrowing and will not repay, |
| וְ֝צַדִּ֗יק חוֹנֵ֥ן וְנוֹתֵֽן׃ | 21b | but the righteous person is giving generously. |
| כִּ֣י מְ֭בֹרָכָיו יִ֣ירְשׁוּ אָ֑רֶץ | 22a | For those blessed by him will possess the land, |
| וּ֝מְקֻלָּלָ֗יו יִכָּרֵֽתוּ׃ | 22b | and those cursed by him will be destroyed. |
| מֵ֭יְהוָה מִֽצְעֲדֵי־גֶ֥בֶר כּוֹנָ֗נוּ | 23a | When a person’s steps are made steadfast by YHWH, |
| וְדַרְכּ֥וֹ יֶחְפָּֽץ׃ | 23b | then he will be pleased with his way. |
| כִּֽי־יִפֹּ֥ל לֹֽא־יוּטָ֑ל | 24a | When he falls, he will not fall flat, |
| כִּֽי־יְ֝הוָ֗ה סוֹמֵ֥ךְ יָדֽוֹ׃ | 24b | because YHWH is supporting his hand. |
| נַ֤עַר ׀ הָיִ֗יתִי גַּם־זָ֫קַ֥נְתִּי | 25a | I was once a young man, and now I am old, |
| וְֽלֹא־רָ֭אִיתִי צַדִּ֣יק נֶעֱזָ֑ב | 25b | and I have not seen a righteous person abandoned |
| וְ֝זַרְע֗וֹ מְבַקֶּשׁ־לָֽחֶם׃ | 25c | or his children looking for food. |
| כָּל־הַ֭יּוֹם חוֹנֵ֣ן וּמַלְוֶ֑ה | 26a | He is always lending generously, |
| וְ֝זַרְע֗וֹ לִבְרָכָֽה׃ | 26b | and his children will become a blessing. |
| ס֣וּר מֵ֭רָע וַעֲשֵׂה־ט֗וֹב | 27a | Turn away from evil and do good, |
| וּשְׁכֹ֥ן לְעוֹלָֽם׃ | 27b | and you will reside forever! |
| כִּ֤י יְהוָ֨ה ׀ אֹ֘הֵ֤ב מִשְׁפָּ֗ט | 28a | For YHWH loves justice, |
| וְלֹא־יַעֲזֹ֣ב אֶת־חֲ֭סִידָיו | 28b | and he will not abandon those who are loyal to him. |
| פִּֽי־צַ֭דִּיק יֶהְגֶּ֣ה חָכְמָ֑ה | 30a | A righteous person’s mouth utters what is wise, |
| וּ֝לְשׁוֹנ֗וֹ תְּדַבֵּ֥ר מִשְׁפָּֽט׃ | 30b | and his tongue speaks what is just. |
| תּוֹרַ֣ת אֱלֹהָ֣יו בְּלִבּ֑וֹ | 31a | The instruction of his God is in his heart. |
| לֹ֖א תִמְעַ֣ד אֲשֻׁרָיו׃ | 31b | His steps will not slip. |
| *עַוָּלִים נִשְׁמָדוּ* | 28c | Wrong-doers are exterminated, |
| וְזֶ֖רַע רְשָׁעִ֣ים נִכְרָֽת׃ | 28d | and the children of the wicked are destroyed! |
| צַדִּיקִ֥ים יִֽירְשׁוּ־אָ֑רֶץ | 29a | The righteous will possess the land |
| וְיִשְׁכְּנ֖וּ לָעַ֣ד עָלֶֽיהָ׃ | 29b | and reside on it forever. |
| צוֹפֶ֣ה רָ֭שָׁע לַצַּדִּ֑יק | 32a | The wicked person is watching for the righteous person |
| וּ֝מְבַקֵּ֗שׁ לַהֲמִיתֽוֹ׃ | 32b | and trying to kill him. |
| יְ֭הוָה לֹא־יַעַזְבֶ֣נּוּ בְיָד֑וֹ | 33a | YHWH will not abandon him into his hand, |
| וְלֹ֥א יַ֝רְשִׁיעֶ֗נּוּ בְּהִשָּׁפְטֽוֹ׃ | 33b | and he will not let him be condemned as guilty when he enters into judgment. |
| קַוֵּ֤ה אֶל־יְהוָ֨ה ׀ וּשְׁמֹ֬ר דַּרְכּ֗וֹ | 34a | Hope in YHWH and keep his way, |
| וִֽ֭ירוֹמִמְךָ לָרֶ֣שֶׁת אָ֑רֶץ | 34b | and he will exalt you to possess the land. |
| בְּהִכָּרֵ֖ת רְשָׁעִ֣ים תִּרְאֶֽה׃ | 34c | You will see when the wicked are destroyed. |
| רָ֭אִיתִי רָשָׁ֣ע עָרִ֑יץ | 35a | I once saw a ruthless wicked person, |
| וּ֝מִתְעָרֶ֗ה כְּאֶזְרָ֥ח רַעֲנָֽן׃ | 35b | and he was ascending like a native tree. |
| וָאֶעֲבֹר* וְהִנֵּ֣ה אֵינֶ֑נּוּ* | 36a | Then I passed by, and—get this!—he was gone; |
| וָֽ֝אֲבַקְשֵׁ֗הוּ וְלֹ֣א נִמְצָֽא׃ | 36b | then I looked for him, and he was not found. |
| שְׁמָר־תָּ֭ם וּרְאֵ֣ה יָשָׁ֑ר | 37a | Pay attention to the blameless one, and look at the upright one, |
| כִּֽי־אַחֲרִ֖ית לְאִ֣ישׁ שָׁלֽוֹם׃ | 37b | because the future of a [blameless] person is peace. |
| וּֽ֭פֹשְׁעִים נִשְׁמְד֣וּ יַחְדָּ֑ו | 38a | But those who rebel are completely exterminated! |
| אַחֲרִ֖ית רְשָׁעִ֣ים נִכְרָֽתָה׃ | 38b | The future of the wicked is destroyed! |
| וּתְשׁוּעַ֣ת צַ֭דִּיקִים מֵיְהוָ֑ה | 39a | But the salvation of the righteous comes from YHWH, |
| מָֽ֝עוּזָּ֗ם בְּעֵ֣ת צָרָֽה׃ | 39b | their fortress during times of trouble, |
| וַֽיַּעְזְרֵ֥ם יְהוָ֗ה וַֽיְפַ֫לְּטֵ֥ם | 40a | and YHWH helps them and rescues them. |
| יְפַלְּטֵ֣ם מֵ֭רְשָׁעִים וְיוֹשִׁיעֵ֑ם | 40b | He will rescue them from the wicked and save them, |
| כִּי־חָ֥סוּ בֽוֹ׃ | 40c | because they have sought refuge in him. |
Expanded paraphrase The expanded paraphrase seeks to capture the implicit information within the text and make it explicit for readers today. It is based on the CBC translation and uses italic text to provide the most salient background information, presuppositions, entailments, and inferences.
This resource is forthcoming.
Participant Tracking Text Participant Analysis focuses on the characters in the psalm and asks, “Who are the main participants (or characters) in this psalm, and what are they saying or doing? Our full analysis can be found in the Participant Analysis layer.
