Corpus Psalterium · Vol. III
Psalm LXIII (63)
Cantillated — Desire Praise
Paul Whitehorn
Study the Word
Psalm 63 in Hebrew and English, and the words as they are sung.
A Psalm by David, when he was in the desert of Judah.
מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִ֑ד בִּ֝הְיוֹת֗וֹ בְּמִדְבַּ֥ר יְהוּדָֽה׃
God, you are my God. I will earnestly seek you. My soul thirsts for you. My flesh longs for you, in a dry and weary land, where there is no water.
אֱלֹהִ֤ים ׀ אֵלִ֥י אַתָּ֗ה אֲֽשַׁחֲ֫רֶ֥ךָּ צָמְאָ֬ה לְךָ֨ ׀ נַפְשִׁ֗י כָּמַ֣הּ לְךָ֣ בְשָׂרִ֑י בְּאֶֽרֶץ־צִיָּ֖ה וְעָיֵ֣ף בְּלִי־מָֽיִם׃
So I have seen you in the sanctuary, watching your power and your glory.
כֵּ֭ן בַּקֹּ֣דֶשׁ חֲזִיתִ֑יךָ לִרְא֥וֹת עֻ֝זְּךָ֗ וּכְבוֹדֶֽךָ׃
Because your loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise you.
כִּי־ט֣וֹב חַ֭סְדְּךָ מֵֽחַיִּ֗ים שְׂפָתַ֥י יְשַׁבְּחֽוּנְךָ׃
So I will bless you while I live. I will lift up my hands in your name.
כֵּ֣ן אֲבָרֶכְךָ֣ בְחַיָּ֑י בְּ֝שִׁמְךָ אֶשָּׂ֥א כַפָּֽי׃
My soul shall be satisfied as with the richest food. My mouth shall praise you with joyful lips,
כְּמ֤וֹ חֵ֣לֶב וָ֭דֶשֶׁן תִּשְׂבַּ֣ע נַפְשִׁ֑י וְשִׂפְתֵ֥י רְ֝נָנ֗וֹת יְהַלֶּל־פִּֽי׃
when I remember you on my bed, and think about you in the night watches.
אִם־זְכַרְתִּ֥יךָ עַל־יְצוּעָ֑י בְּ֝אַשְׁמֻר֗וֹת אֶהְגֶּה־בָּֽךְ׃
For you have been my help. I will rejoice in the shadow of your wings.
כִּֽי־הָיִ֣יתָ עֶזְרָ֣תָה לִּ֑י וּבְצֵ֖ל כְּנָפֶ֣יךָ אֲרַנֵּֽן׃
My soul stays close to you. Your right hand holds me up.
דָּבְקָ֣ה נַפְשִׁ֣י אַחֲרֶ֑יךָ בִּ֝֗י תָּמְכָ֥ה יְמִינֶֽךָ׃
But those who seek my soul to destroy it shall go into the lower parts of the earth.
וְהֵ֗מָּה לְ֭שׁוֹאָה יְבַקְשׁ֣וּ נַפְשִׁ֑י יָ֝בֹ֗אוּ בְּֽתַחְתִּיּ֥וֹת הָאָֽרֶץ׃
They shall be given over to the power of the sword. They shall be jackal food.
יַגִּירֻ֥הוּ עַל־יְדֵי־חָ֑רֶב מְנָ֖ת שֻׁעָלִ֣ים יִהְיֽוּ׃
But the king shall rejoice in God. Everyone who swears by him will praise him, for the mouth of those who speak lies shall be silenced.
וְהַמֶּלֶךְ֮ יִשְׂמַ֪ח בֵּאלֹ֫הִ֥ים יִ֭תְהַלֵּל כָּל־הַנִּשְׁבָּ֣ע בּ֑וֹ כִּ֥י יִ֝סָּכֵ֗ר פִּ֣י דֽוֹבְרֵי־שָֽׁקֶר׃
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 are my God
Early I seek You
early I seek You
My soul thirsts
for You
My flesh longs
for You
In a dry land
weary
No water
So I have seen You
in the holy place
To behold
Your power
Your glory
Your steadfast love
is better than life
My lips
will praise You
I will bless You
all my life
In Your name
I lift my hands
I will bless You
all my life
My soul satisfied
in You
My soul satisfied
in You
Like rich food
my soul is filled
With joyful lips
my mouth will praise
When I remember You
on my bed
Through the watches
of the night
I meditate
on You
For You have been
my help
In the shadow
of Your wings
I sing
I will bless You
all my life
In Your name
I lift my hands
I will bless You
all my life
My soul satisfied
in You
My soul satisfied
in You
My soul clings
to You
Your right hand
holds me
But they seek
my life
To destroy it
They go down
to the depths
Given to the sword
A portion
for jackals
But the king
will rejoice in God
All who swear
by Him
Will glory
The mouths of liars
will be stopped
I will bless You
all my life
In Your name
I lift my hands
I will bless You
all my life
My soul satisfied
in You
My soul satisfied
in You
O God
You are my God
Early I seek You
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.