| 1 |
לַמְנַצֵּחַ לְדָוִד בַּיהוָה חָסִיתִי אֵיךְ תֹּאמְרוּ לְנַפְשִׁי נוּדוּ הַרְכֶם צִפּוֹר׃ |
Lamnatséakh ledavid, baAdonai khasíti, ekh tomrú lenafshí núdu harkhem tsipór. |
For the leader. Of David. In the LORD I take refuge; how can you say to my soul: flee to your mountain like a bird? |
| 2 |
כִּי הִנֵּה הָרְשָׁעִים יִדְרְכוּן קֶשֶׁת כּוֹנְנוּ חִצָּם עַל־יֶתֶר לִירוֹת בְּמוֹ־אֹפֶל לְיִשְׁרֵי־לֵב׃ |
Ki hinnéh haresha'ím yidrekhún qéshet, konenú khitsám 'al-yéter, lirót bemo-ófel leyishré-lev. |
For behold, the wicked bend the bow; they have fitted their arrow to the string, to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart. |
| 3 |
כִּי הַשָּׁתוֹת יֵהָרֵסוּן צַדִּיק מַה־פָּעָל׃ |
Ki hashátot yeháresun, tsadík mah-pa'ál. |
When the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do? |
| 4 |
יְהוָה בְּהֵיכַל קָדְשׁוֹ יְהוָה בַּשָּׁמַיִם כִּסְאוֹ עֵינָיו יֶחֱזוּ עַפְעַפָּיו יִבְחֲנוּ בְּנֵי אָדָם׃ |
Adonai behekhál qodshó, Adonai bashamáyim kiss'ó, 'eináv yekhezú, 'af'appáv yivkhanú bené adám. |
The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD's throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His gaze examines the children of men. |
| 5 |
יְהוָה צַדִּיק יִבְחָן וְרָשָׁע וְאֹהֵב חָמָס שָׂנְאָה נַפְשׁוֹ׃ |
Adonai tsadík yivkhán, verashá' veohév khamás san'áh nafshó. |
The LORD tests the righteous, but His soul hates the wicked and the lover of violence. |
| 6 |
יַמְטֵר עַל־רְשָׁעִים פַּחִים אֵשׁ וְגָפְרִית וְרוּחַ זִלְעָפוֹת מְנָת כּוֹסָם׃ |
Yamtér 'al-resha'ím pakhím, esh vegofrit verúakh zil'afót menát kosám. |
He will rain coals upon the wicked; fire and brimstone and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup. |
| 7 |
כִּי־צַדִּיק יְהוָה צְדָקוֹת אָהֵב יָשָׁר יֶחֱזוּ פָנֵימוֹ׃ |
Ki-tsadík Adonai, tsedaqót ahév, yashár yekhezú fanémo. |
For the LORD is righteous; He loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold His face. |
Brief Commentary
When advisers urge flight like a frightened bird, David answers that his refuge is in the LORD. Though the foundations themselves seem destroyed, the LORD remains enthroned in His holy temple, His eyes examining the children of men.
The psalm trusts that God tests the righteous and that the upright will at last behold His face.