Corpus Psalterium · Vol. I
Psalm XVII (17)
Cantillated — Lament Vindication
Paul Whitehorn
Study the Word
Psalm 17 in Hebrew and English, and the words as they are sung.
A Prayer by David.
Hear, Yahweh, my righteous plea. Give ear to my prayer that doesn’t go out of deceitful lips.
תְּפִלָּ֗ה לְדָ֫וִ֥ד שִׁמְעָ֤ה יְהוָ֨ה ׀ צֶ֗דֶק הַקְשִׁ֥יבָה רִנָּתִ֗י הַאֲזִ֥ינָה תְפִלָּתִ֑י בְּ֝לֹ֗א שִׂפְתֵ֥י מִרְמָֽה׃
Let my sentence come out of your presence. Let your eyes look on equity.
מִ֭לְּפָנֶיךָ מִשְׁפָּטִ֣י יֵצֵ֑א עֵ֝ינֶ֗יךָ תֶּחֱזֶ֥ינָה מֵישָׁרִֽים׃
You have proved my heart. You have visited me in the night. You have tried me, and found nothing. I have resolved that my mouth shall not disobey.
בָּ֘חַ֤נְתָּ לִבִּ֨י ׀ פָּ֘קַ֤דְתָּ לַּ֗יְלָה צְרַפְתַּ֥נִי בַל־תִּמְצָ֑א זַ֝מֹּתִ֗י בַּל־יַעֲבָר־פִּֽי׃
As for the deeds of men, by the word of your lips, I have kept myself from the ways of the violent.
לִפְעֻלּ֣וֹת אָ֭דָם בִּדְבַ֣ר שְׂפָתֶ֑יךָ אֲנִ֥י שָׁ֝מַ֗רְתִּי אָרְח֥וֹת פָּרִֽיץ׃
My steps have held fast to your paths. My feet have not slipped.
תָּמֹ֣ךְ אֲ֭שֻׁרַי בְּמַעְגְּלוֹתֶ֑יךָ בַּל־נָמ֥וֹטּוּ פְעָמָֽי׃
I have called on you, for you will answer me, God. Turn your ear to me. Hear my speech.
אֲנִֽי־קְרָאתִ֣יךָ כִֽי־תַעֲנֵ֣נִי אֵ֑ל הַֽט־אָזְנְךָ֥ לִ֝֗י שְׁמַ֣ע אִמְרָתִֽי׃
Show your marvelous loving kindness, you who save those who take refuge by your right hand from their enemies.
הַפְלֵ֣ה חֲ֭סָדֶיךָ מוֹשִׁ֣יעַ חוֹסִ֑ים מִ֝מִּתְקוֹמְמִ֗ים בִּֽימִינֶֽךָ׃
Keep me as the apple of your eye. Hide me under the shadow of your wings,
שָׁ֭מְרֵנִי כְּאִישׁ֣וֹן בַּת־עָ֑יִן בְּצֵ֥ל כְּ֝נָפֶ֗יךָ תַּסְתִּירֵֽנִי׃
from the wicked who oppress me, my deadly enemies, who surround me.
מִפְּנֵ֣י רְ֭שָׁעִים ז֣וּ שַׁדּ֑וּנִי אֹיְבַ֥י בְּ֝נֶ֗פֶשׁ יַקִּ֥יפוּ עָלָֽי׃
They close up their callous hearts. With their mouth they speak proudly.
חֶלְבָּ֥מוֹ סָּגְר֑וּ פִּ֝֗ימוֹ דִּבְּר֥וּ בְגֵאֽוּת׃
They have now surrounded us in our steps. They set their eyes to cast us down to the earth.
אַ֭שֻּׁרֵינוּ עַתָּ֣ה סבבוני עֵינֵיהֶ֥ם יָ֝שִׁ֗יתוּ לִנְט֥וֹת בָּאָֽרֶץ׃
He is like a lion that is greedy of his prey, as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.
דִּמְיֹנ֗וֹ כְּ֭אַרְיֵה יִכְס֣וֹף לִטְר֑וֹף וְ֝כִכְפִ֗יר יֹשֵׁ֥ב בְּמִסְתָּרִֽים׃
Arise, Yahweh, confront him. Cast him down. Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword,
קוּמָ֤ה יְהוָ֗ה קַדְּמָ֣ה פָ֭נָיו הַכְרִיעֵ֑הוּ פַּלְּטָ֥ה נַ֝פְשִׁ֗י מֵרָשָׁ֥ע חַרְבֶּֽךָ׃
from men by your hand, Yahweh, from men of the world, whose portion is in this life. You fill the belly of your cherished ones. Your sons have plenty, and they store up wealth for their children.
מִֽמְתִ֥ים יָדְךָ֨ ׀ יְהוָ֡ה מִֽמְתִ֬ים מֵחֶ֗לֶד חֶלְקָ֥ם בַּֽחַיִּים֮ וצפינך תְּמַלֵּ֪א בִ֫טְנָ֥ם יִשְׂבְּע֥וּ בָנִ֑ים וְהִנִּ֥יחוּ יִ֝תְרָ֗ם לְעוֹלְלֵיהֶֽם׃
As for me, I shall see your face in righteousness. I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with seeing your form.
אֲנִ֗י בְּ֭צֶדֶק אֶחֱזֶ֣ה פָנֶ֑יךָ אֶשְׂבְּעָ֥ה בְ֝הָקִ֗יץ תְּמוּנָתֶֽךָ׃
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.
Hear me, LORD
Listen to what is right
Give ear to my cry
Hear my prayer
from lips without deceit
Let my vindication
come from You
Let Your eyes
see what is right
You have tested my heart
You have examined me
You find nothing
no evil passes my lips
By the word of Your lips
I have kept my way
from the paths
of the violent
My steps hold firm
to Your paths
My feet
do not slip
Hear me, God
Answer me
Turn Your ear
hear my voice
Show Your love
save me now
By Your hand
I stand
I call to You
because You answer me
Turn Your ear
and hear my words
Show me
the wonder of Your love
You who save
those who take refuge
Keep me
as the apple of Your eye
Hide me
in the shadow of Your wings
From the wicked
who surround me
From enemies
closing in
They close their hearts
they speak with pride
They track me
they surround me
Like a lion
hungry to tear
Like a predator
waiting in hiding
Rise up, LORD
confront them
bring them down
Deliver me
from the wicked
by Your sword
Rise up now
stand before me
Deliver me
set me free
You are my God
You are my judge
I will stand
I will stand
As for me
in righteousness
I will see Your face
When I awake
I will be satisfied
with Your presence
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.