Corpus Psalterium · Vol. III
Psalm LX (60)
Cantillated — Communal Lament
Paul Whitehorn
Study the Word
Psalm 60 in Hebrew and English, and the words as they are sung.
For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “The Lily of the Covenant.” A teaching poem by David, when he fought with Aram Naharaim and with Aram Zobah, and Joab returned, and killed twelve thousand of Edom in the Valley of Salt.
לַ֭מְנַצֵּחַ עַל־שׁוּשַׁ֣ן עֵד֑וּת מִכְתָּ֖ם לְדָוִ֣ד לְלַמֵּֽד׃
בְּהַצּוֹת֨וֹ ׀ אֶ֥ת אֲרַ֣ם נַהֲרַיִם֮ וְאֶת־אֲרַ֪ם צ֫וֹבָ֥ה וַיָּ֤שָׁב יוֹאָ֗ב וַיַּ֣ךְ אֶת־אֱד֣וֹם בְּגֵיא־מֶ֑לַח שְׁנֵ֖ים עָשָׂ֣ר אָֽלֶף׃
God, you have rejected us. You have broken us down. You have been angry. Restore us, again.
אֱ֭לֹהִים זְנַחְתָּ֣נוּ פְרַצְתָּ֑נוּ אָ֝נַ֗פְתָּ תְּשׁ֣וֹבֵ֥ב לָֽנוּ׃
You have made the land tremble. You have torn it. Mend its fractures, for it quakes.
הִרְעַ֣שְׁתָּה אֶ֣רֶץ פְּצַמְתָּ֑הּ רְפָ֖ה שְׁבָרֶ֣יהָ כִי־מָֽטָה׃
You have shown your people hard things. You have made us drink the wine that makes us stagger.
הִרְאִ֣יתָה עַמְּךָ֣ קָשָׁ֑ה הִ֝שְׁקִיתָ֗נוּ יַ֣יִן תַּרְעֵלָֽה׃
You have given a banner to those who fear you, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.
נָ֘תַ֤תָּה לִּירֵאֶ֣יךָ נֵּ֭ס לְהִתְנוֹסֵ֑ס מִ֝פְּנֵ֗י קֹ֣שֶׁט סֶֽלָה׃
So that your beloved may be delivered, save with your right hand, and answer us.
לְ֭מַעַן יֵחָלְצ֣וּן יְדִידֶ֑יךָ הוֹשִׁ֖יעָה יְמִֽינְךָ֣ ועננו׃
God has spoken from his sanctuary: “I will triumph. I will divide Shechem, and measure out the valley of Succoth.
אֱלֹהִ֤ים ׀ דִּבֶּ֥ר בְּקָדְשׁ֗וֹ אֶ֫עְלֹ֥זָה אֲחַלְּקָ֥ה שְׁכֶ֑ם וְעֵ֖מֶק סֻכּ֣וֹת אֲמַדֵּֽד׃
Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine. Ephraim also is the defense of my head. Judah is my scepter.
לִ֤י גִלְעָ֨ד ׀ וְלִ֬י מְנַשֶּׁ֗ה וְ֭אֶפְרַיִם מָע֣וֹז רֹאשִׁ֑י יְ֝הוּדָ֗ה מְחֹֽקְקִי׃
Moab is my wash basin. I will throw my sandal on Edom. I shout in triumph over Philistia.”
מוֹאָ֤ב ׀ סִ֬יר רַחְצִ֗י עַל־אֱ֭דוֹם אַשְׁלִ֣יךְ נַעֲלִ֑י עָ֝לַ֗י פְּלֶ֣שֶׁת הִתְרֹעָֽעִֽי׃
Who will bring me into the strong city? Who has led me to Edom?
מִ֣י יֹ֭בִלֵנִי עִ֣יר מָצ֑וֹר מִ֖י נָחַ֣נִי עַד־אֱדֽוֹם׃
Haven’t you, God, rejected us? You don’t go out with our armies, God.
הֲלֹֽא־אַתָּ֣ה אֱלֹהִ֣ים זְנַחְתָּ֑נוּ וְֽלֹא־תֵצֵ֥א אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים בְּצִבְאוֹתֵֽינוּ׃
Give us help against the adversary, for the help of man is vain.
הָֽבָה־לָּ֣נוּ עֶזְרָ֣ת מִצָּ֑ר וְ֝שָׁ֗וְא תְּשׁוּעַ֥ת אָדָם׃
Through God we will do valiantly, for it is he who will tread down our adversaries.
בֵּֽאלֹהִ֥ים נַעֲשֶׂה־חָ֑יִל וְ֝ה֗וּא יָב֥וּס צָרֵֽינוּ׃
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 God
You have rejected us
You have broken us
You were angry
Restore us
You have shaken the earth
You have torn it open
Heal its fractures
for it trembles
You have shown Your people
hard things
You made us drink
wine of staggering
You have given a banner
to those who fear You
That it may be lifted high
before truth
Save with Your right hand
answer us
That Your beloved
may be delivered
God has spoken — in holiness
Divide Shechem — measure Succoth
Gilead Mine
Manasseh Mine
Ephraim — strength on My head
Judah — scepter in hand
Moab — washbasin
Edom — throw My shoe
Philistia — I shout over you
Who will bring me
to the fortified city
Who will lead me
to Edom
Have You not rejected us
O God
You do not go out
with our armies
Give us help
against the adversary
For vain
is the salvation of man
Through God
we shall do valiantly
He will tread down
our adversaries
Through God
we shall do valiantly
He will tread down
our adversaries
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.