Corpus Psalterium · Vol. I
Psalm XX (20)
Cantillated — Communal Intercession
Paul Whitehorn
Study the Word
Psalm 20 in Hebrew and English, and the words as they are sung.
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.
לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַ מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד׃
May Yahweh answer you in the day of trouble. May the name of the God of Jacob set you up on high,
יַֽעַנְךָ֣ יְ֭הוָה בְּי֣וֹם צָרָ֑ה יְ֝שַׂגֶּבְךָ֗ שֵׁ֤ם ׀ אֱלֹהֵ֬י יַעֲקֹֽב׃
send you help from the sanctuary, grant you support from Zion,
יִשְׁלַֽח־עֶזְרְךָ֥ מִקֹּ֑דֶשׁ וּ֝מִצִּיּ֗וֹן יִסְעָדֶֽךָּ׃
remember all your offerings, and accept your burned sacrifice. Selah.
יִזְכֹּ֥ר כָּל־מִנְחֹתֶ֑ךָ וְעוֹלָתְךָ֖ יְדַשְּׁנֶ֣ה סֶֽלָה׃
May he grant you your heart’s desire, and fulfill all your counsel.
יִֽתֶּן־לְךָ֥ כִלְבָבֶ֑ךָ וְֽכָל־עֲצָתְךָ֥ יְמַלֵּֽא׃
We will triumph in your salvation. In the name of our God, we will set up our banners. May Yahweh grant all your requests.
נְרַנְּנָ֤ה ׀ בִּ֘ישׁ֤וּעָתֶ֗ךָ וּבְשֵֽׁם־אֱלֹהֵ֥ינוּ נִדְגֹּ֑ל יְמַלֵּ֥א יְ֝הוָ֗ה כָּל־מִשְׁאֲלוֹתֶֽיךָ׃
Now I know that Yahweh saves his anointed. He will answer him from his holy heaven, with the saving strength of his right hand.
עַתָּ֤ה יָדַ֗עְתִּי כִּ֤י הוֹשִׁ֥יעַ ׀ יְהוָ֗ה מְשִׁ֫יח֥וֹ יַ֭עֲנֵהוּ מִשְּׁמֵ֣י קָדְשׁ֑וֹ בִּ֝גְבֻר֗וֹת יֵ֣שַׁע יְמִינֽוֹ׃
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we trust in the name of Yahweh our God.
אֵ֣לֶּה בָ֭רֶכֶב וְאֵ֣לֶּה בַסּוּסִ֑ים וַאֲנַ֓חְנוּ ׀ בְּשֵׁם־יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣ינוּ נַזְכִּֽיר׃
They are bowed down and fallen, but we rise up, and stand upright.
הֵ֭מָּה כָּרְע֣וּ וְנָפָ֑לוּ וַאֲנַ֥חְנוּ קַּ֝֗מְנוּ וַנִּתְעוֹדָֽד׃
Save, Yahweh! Let the King answer us when we call!
יְהוָ֥ה הוֹשִׁ֑יעָה הַ֝מֶּ֗לֶךְ יַעֲנֵ֥נוּ בְיוֹם־קָרְאֵֽנוּ׃
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.
May the LORD answer you
in the day of trouble
May the name
of the God of Jacob
protect you
May He send you help
from the sanctuary
May He support you
from Zion
May He remember
all your offerings
May your burnt sacrifice
be accepted
May He grant you
your heart's desire
May He fulfill
all your plans
We will shout
for your victory
We will lift
the name of our God
We will stand
We will stand
May the LORD
fulfill your requests
Now I know
The LORD saves
His anointed
He answers him
from His holy heaven
With mighty victories
by His right hand
Some trust
in chariots
In chariots
Some trust
in horses
In horses
But we
But we
call on the name
of the LORD
They collapse
they fall
But we rise
We stand firm
We will shout
for your victory
We will lift
the name of our God
We will stand
We will stand
We will stand
We will stand
O LORD save
Let the King answer us
when we call
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.