Corpus Psalterium · Vol. II
Psalm XLIII (43)
Cantillated — Lament Turning
Paul Whitehorn
Study the Word
Psalm 43 in Hebrew and English, and the words as they are sung.
Vindicate me, God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation. Oh, deliver me from deceitful and wicked men.
שָׁפְטֵ֤נִי אֱלֹהִ֨ים ׀ וְרִ֘יבָ֤ה רִיבִ֗י מִגּ֥וֹי לֹא־חָסִ֑יד מֵ֤אִישׁ־מִרְמָ֖ה וְעַוְלָ֣ה תְפַלְּטֵֽנִי׃
For you are the God of my strength. Why have you rejected me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
כִּֽי־אַתָּ֤ה ׀ אֱלֹהֵ֣י מָֽעוּזִּי֮ לָמָ֪ה זְנַ֫חְתָּ֥נִי לָֽמָּה־קֹדֵ֥ר אֶתְהַלֵּ֗ךְ בְּלַ֣חַץ אוֹיֵֽב׃
Oh, send out your light and your truth. Let them lead me. Let them bring me to your holy hill, to your tents.
שְׁלַח־אוֹרְךָ֣ וַ֭אֲמִתְּךָ הֵ֣מָּה יַנְח֑וּנִי יְבִיא֥וּנִי אֶל־הַֽר־קָ֝דְשְׁךָ֗ וְאֶל־מִשְׁכְּנוֹתֶֽיךָ׃
Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my exceeding joy. I will praise you on the harp, God, my God.
וְאָב֤וֹאָה ׀ אֶל־מִזְבַּ֬ח אֱלֹהִ֗ים אֶל־אֵל֮ שִׂמְחַ֪ת גִּ֫ילִ֥י וְאוֹדְךָ֥ בְכִנּ֗וֹר אֱלֹהִ֥ים אֱלֹהָֽי׃
Why are you in despair, my soul? Why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God! For I shall still praise him: my Savior, my helper, and my God.
מַה־תִּשְׁתּ֬וֹחֲחִ֨י ׀ נַפְשִׁי֮ וּֽמַה־תֶּהֱמִ֪י עָ֫לָ֥י הוֹחִ֣ילִי לֵֽ֭אלֹהִים כִּי־ע֣וֹד אוֹדֶ֑נּוּ יְשׁוּעֹ֥ת פָּ֝נַ֗י וֵֽאלֹהָֽי׃
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.
Vindicate me, O God
Plead my cause
Vindicate me, O God
Plead my cause
Against an unfaithful nation
Rescue me
From deceit
From unjust men
You are my stronghold
Why have You rejected me
Why do I walk in sorrow
Under the enemy
Send out Your light
Send out Your truth
Let them lead me
Let them lead me
Lead me to Your holy hill
Lead me to Your dwelling
Lead me to Your holy hill
Bring me back again
Bring me back again
Then I will go
To the altar of God
To God, my joy
My exceeding joy
I will praise You
With the harp
O God, my God
Send out Your light
Send out Your truth
Let them lead me
Let them lead me
Lead me to Your holy hill
Lead me to Your dwelling
Lead me to Your holy hill
Bring me back again
Why are you cast down, O my soul
Why are you cast down
Why are you restless within me
Hope in God
Hope in God
Hope in God
Hope in God
I will praise Him again
Lead me to Your holy hill
Lead me to Your dwelling
Lead me to Your holy hill
Bring me back again
I will praise Him again
I will praise Him again
My salvation
My God
My salvation
My God
Hope in God
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.