Corpus Psalterium · Vol. I
Psalm XI (11)
Cantillated — Declarative Confidence
Paul Whitehorn
Study the Word
Psalm 11 in Hebrew and English, and the words as they are sung.
For the Chief Musician. By David.
In Yahweh, I take refuge. How can you say to my soul, “Flee as a bird to your mountain”?
לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַ לְדָ֫וִ֥ד בַּֽיהוָ֨ה ׀ חָסִ֗יתִי אֵ֭יךְ תֹּאמְר֣וּ לְנַפְשִׁ֑י נודו הַרְכֶ֥ם צִפּֽוֹר׃
For, behold, the wicked bend their bows. They set their arrows on the strings, that they may shoot in darkness at the upright in heart.
כִּ֤י הִנֵּ֪ה הָרְשָׁעִ֡ים יִדְרְכ֬וּן קֶ֗שֶׁת כּוֹנְנ֣וּ חִצָּ֣ם עַל־יֶ֑תֶר לִיר֥וֹת בְּמוֹ־אֹ֝֗פֶל לְיִשְׁרֵי־לֵֽב׃
If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?
כִּ֣י הַ֭שָּׁתוֹת יֵֽהָרֵס֑וּן צַ֝דִּ֗יק מַה־פָּעָֽל׃
Yahweh is in his holy temple. Yahweh is on his throne in heaven. His eyes observe. His eyes examine the children of men.
יְהוָ֤ה ׀ בְּֽהֵ֘יכַ֤ל קָדְשׁ֗וֹ יְהוָה֮ בַּשָּׁמַ֪יִם כִּ֫סְא֥וֹ עֵינָ֥יו יֶחֱז֑וּ עַפְעַפָּ֥יו יִ֝בְחֲנ֗וּ בְּנֵ֣י אָדָֽם׃
Yahweh examines the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and him who loves violence.
יְהוָה֮ צַדִּ֪יק יִ֫בְחָ֥ן וְ֭רָשָׁע וְאֹהֵ֣ב חָמָ֑ס שָֽׂנְאָ֥ה נַפְשֽׁוֹ׃
On the wicked he will rain blazing coals; fire, sulfur, and scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.
יַמְטֵ֥ר עַל־רְשָׁעִ֗ים פַּ֫חִ֥ים אֵ֣שׁ וְ֭גָפְרִית וְר֥וּחַ זִלְעָפ֗וֹת מְנָ֣ת כּוֹסָֽם׃
For Yahweh is righteous. He loves righteousness. The upright shall see his face.
כִּֽי־צַדִּ֣יק יְ֭הוָה צְדָק֣וֹת אָהֵ֑ב יָ֝שָׁ֗ר יֶחֱז֥וּ פָנֵֽימוֹ׃
Hebrew: Westminster Leningrad Codex (public domain), from the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible. English: World English Bible (public domain). Verse numbers follow the English Bible; the Hebrew numbering is shown beneath where it differs.
In the Lord
I take refuge
How can you say to me
"Flee like a bird
to your mountain"
The wicked bend the bow
They set their arrows
on the string
To shoot in the dark
At the upright
in heart
If the foundations
are destroyed
What can the righteous do
What can the righteous do
The Lord is in His temple
The Lord is on His throne
The Lord is in His temple
His eyes see
His eyes see
His eyes examine
The sons of men
The Lord tests the righteous
But the wicked
And those who love violence
His soul hates
He will rain coals
on the wicked
Fire and sulfur
A burning wind
Their portion
their cup
The Lord is righteous
He loves righteousness
The upright
will see His face
The Lord is on His throne
The Lord is on His throne
The Lord is righteous
The upright
will see His face
In the Lord
I take refuge
Lyrics by Paul Whitehorn: a singable English rendering of the Hebrew, as sung on this recording.
Corpus Psalterium sets each psalm to music by its Hebrew grammar. Didactic psalms teach; Cantillated psalms are spoken, sung or performed before God. Hear all 150 psalms free.