Corpus Psalterium · Vol. I
Psalm XXI (21)
Cantillated — Royal Praise
Paul Whitehorn
Study the Word
Psalm 21 in Hebrew and English, and the words as they are sung.
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.
לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַ מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד׃
The king rejoices in your strength, Yahweh! How greatly he rejoices in your salvation!
יְֽהוָ֗ה בְּעָזְּךָ֥ יִשְׂמַח־מֶ֑לֶךְ וּ֝בִישׁ֥וּעָתְךָ֗ מַה־יגיל מְאֹֽד׃
You have given him his heart’s desire, and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah.
תַּאֲוַ֣ת לִ֭בּוֹ נָתַ֣תָּה לּ֑וֹ וַאֲרֶ֥שֶׁת שְׂ֝פָתָ֗יו בַּל־מָנַ֥עְתָּ סֶּֽלָה׃
For you meet him with the blessings of goodness. You set a crown of fine gold on his head.
כִּֽי־תְ֭קַדְּמֶנּוּ בִּרְכ֣וֹת ט֑וֹב תָּשִׁ֥ית לְ֝רֹאשׁ֗וֹ עֲטֶ֣רֶת פָּֽז׃
He asked life of you and you gave it to him, even length of days forever and ever.
חַיִּ֤ים ׀ שָׁאַ֣ל מִ֭מְּךָ נָתַ֣תָּה לּ֑וֹ אֹ֥רֶךְ יָ֝מִ֗ים עוֹלָ֥ם וָעֶֽד׃
His glory is great in your salvation. You lay honor and majesty on him.
גָּד֣וֹל כְּ֭בוֹדוֹ בִּישׁוּעָתֶ֑ךָ ה֥וֹד וְ֝הָדָר תְּשַׁוֶּ֥ה עָלָֽיו׃
For you make him most blessed forever. You make him glad with joy in your presence.
כִּֽי־תְשִׁיתֵ֣הוּ בְרָכ֣וֹת לָעַ֑ד תְּחַדֵּ֥הוּ בְ֝שִׂמְחָ֗ה אֶת־פָּנֶֽיךָ׃
For the king trusts in Yahweh. Through the loving kindness of the Most High, he shall not be moved.
כִּֽי־הַ֭מֶּלֶךְ בֹּטֵ֣חַ בַּיהוָ֑ה וּבְחֶ֥סֶד עֶ֝לְי֗וֹן בַּל־יִמּֽוֹט׃
Your hand will find out all of your enemies. Your right hand will find out those who hate you.
תִּמְצָ֣א יָ֭דְךָ לְכָל־אֹיְבֶ֑יךָ יְ֝מִֽינְךָ תִּמְצָ֥א שֹׂנְאֶֽיךָ׃
You will make them as a fiery furnace in the time of your anger. Yahweh will swallow them up in his wrath. The fire shall devour them.
תְּשִׁיתֵ֤מוֹ ׀ כְּתַנּ֥וּר אֵשׁ֮ לְעֵ֪ת פָּ֫נֶ֥יךָ יְ֭הוָה בְּאַפּ֣וֹ יְבַלְּעֵ֑ם וְֽתֹאכְלֵ֥ם אֵֽשׁ׃
You will destroy their descendants from the earth, their posterity from among the children of men.
פִּ֭רְיָמוֹ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ תְּאַבֵּ֑ד וְ֝זַרְעָ֗ם מִבְּנֵ֥י אָדָֽם׃
For they intended evil against you. They plotted evil against you which cannot succeed.
כִּי־נָט֣וּ עָלֶ֣יךָ רָעָ֑ה חָֽשְׁב֥וּ מְ֝זִמָּ֗ה בַּל־יוּכָֽלוּ׃
For you will make them turn their back, when you aim drawn bows at their face.
כִּ֭י תְּשִׁיתֵ֣מוֹ שֶׁ֑כֶם בְּ֝מֵֽיתָרֶ֗יךָ תְּכוֹנֵ֥ן עַל־פְּנֵיהֶֽם׃
Be exalted, Yahweh, in your strength, so we will sing and praise your power.
ר֣וּמָה יְהוָ֣ה בְּעֻזֶּ֑ךָ נָשִׁ֥ירָה וּֽ֝נְזַמְּרָה גְּבוּרָתֶֽךָ׃
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.
O LORD
in Your strength
the king rejoices
in Your salvation
how greatly he exults
You have given
his heart's desire
You have not withheld
the request of his lips
You meet him
with blessings of good
You place on his head
a crown of pure gold
He asked You
for life
You gave it
length of days forever
Glory
and honor
You lay upon him
You have lifted him
You have crowned him
You have filled him
with joy
You have blessed him
forever
forever
forever
The king trusts
in the LORD
Through the steadfast love
of the Most High
he will not
be shaken
Your hand
will find all enemies
Your right hand
will find those who hate You
You will make them
like a blazing furnace
at Your appearing
O LORD
in Your wrath
You will consume them
fire will devour
their strength
their offspring
will be cut off
from the earth
They planned evil
but they will not prevail
They devise
but cannot stand
You will aim
You will rise
You will confront them
Rise up
O LORD
in Your strength
rise up
rise up
Be exalted
in Your power
We will sing
we will praise
Your might
Your might
Your might
We will sing
we will praise
Your strength
forever
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.