| 1 |
לַמְנַצֵּחַ מִזְמוֹר לְדָוִד׃ |
Lamnatséakh mizmor ledavid. |
For the leader. A psalm of David. |
| 2 |
עַד־אָנָה יְהוָה תִּשְׁכָּחֵנִי נֶצַח עַד־אָנָה תַּסְתִּיר אֶת־פָּנֶיךָ מִמֶּנִּי׃ |
'Ad-ánah Adonai tishkakhéni nétsakh, 'ad-ánah tastír et-panékha miménni. |
How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? |
| 3 |
עַד־אָנָה אָשִׁית עֵצוֹת בְּנַפְשִׁי יָגוֹן בִּלְבָבִי יוֹמָם עַד־אָנָה יָרוּם אֹיְבִי עָלָי׃ |
'Ad-ánah ashít 'etsót benafshí, yagón bilbaví yomám, 'ad-ánah yarúm oyeví 'aláy. |
How long shall I take counsel in my soul, with sorrow in my heart by day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? |
| 4 |
הַבִּיטָה עֲנֵנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהָי הָאִירָה עֵינַי פֶּן־אִישַׁן הַמָּוֶת׃ |
Habbítah 'anéni Adonai Eloháy, ha'írah 'eináy pen-íshan hammávet. |
Look upon me and answer me, O LORD my God; give light to my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, |
| 5 |
פֶּן־יֹאמַר אֹיְבִי יְכָלְתִּיו צָרַי יָגִילוּ כִּי אֶמּוֹט׃ |
Pen-yomár oyeví yekhaltív, tsaráy yagílu ki emmót. |
lest my enemy say: I have prevailed against him, and my foes rejoice when I am shaken. |
| 6 |
וַאֲנִי בְּחַסְדְּךָ בָטַחְתִּי יָגֵל לִבִּי בִּישׁוּעָתֶךָ אָשִׁירָה לַיהוָה כִּי גָמַל עָלָי׃ |
Va'aní bekhasdékha vatákhti, yaguél libbí bishu'atékha, ashírah laAdonai ki gamál 'aláy. |
But I have trusted in Your kindness; my heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, for He has dealt bountifully with me. |
Brief Commentary
One of the shortest yet most intense laments, beginning four times with How long? as the soul feels forgotten and the enemy exalted. The darkness is real and unhurried.
Yet the psalm turns on a single act of trust in God's kindness, ending with a heart that rejoices and a song to the LORD who has dealt bountifully.