Corpus Psalterium · Vol. III
Psalm LXIV (64)
Cantillated — Imprecatory Lament Turning
Paul Whitehorn
Study the Word
Psalm 64 in Hebrew and English, and the words as they are sung.
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.
לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַ מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד׃
Hear my voice, God, in my complaint. Preserve my life from fear of the enemy.
שְׁמַע־אֱלֹהִ֣ים קוֹלִ֣י בְשִׂיחִ֑י מִפַּ֥חַד א֝וֹיֵ֗ב תִּצֹּ֥ר חַיָּֽי׃
Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked, from the noisy crowd of the ones doing evil;
תַּ֭סְתִּירֵנִי מִסּ֣וֹד מְרֵעִ֑ים מֵ֝רִגְשַׁ֗ת פֹּ֣עֲלֵי אָֽוֶן׃
who sharpen their tongue like a sword, and aim their arrows, deadly words,
אֲשֶׁ֤ר שָׁנְנ֣וּ כַחֶ֣רֶב לְשׁוֹנָ֑ם דָּרְכ֥וּ חִ֝צָּ֗ם דָּבָ֥ר מָֽר׃
to shoot innocent men from ambushes. They shoot at him suddenly and fearlessly.
לִיר֣וֹת בַּמִּסְתָּרִ֣ים תָּ֑ם פִּתְאֹ֥ם יֹ֝רֻ֗הוּ וְלֹ֣א יִירָֽאוּ׃
They encourage themselves in evil plans. They talk about laying snares secretly. They say, “Who will see them?”
יְחַזְּקוּ־לָ֨מוֹ ׀ דָּ֘בָ֤ר רָ֗ע יְֽ֭סַפְּרוּ לִטְמ֣וֹן מוֹקְשִׁ֑ים אָ֝מְר֗וּ מִ֣י יִרְאֶה־לָּֽמוֹ׃
They plot injustice, saying, “We have made a perfect plan!” Surely man’s mind and heart are cunning.
יַֽחְפְּֽשׂוּ־עוֹלֹ֗ת תַּ֭מְנוּ חֵ֣פֶשׂ מְחֻפָּ֑שׂ וְקֶ֥רֶב אִ֝֗ישׁ וְלֵ֣ב עָמֹֽק׃
But God will shoot at them. They will be suddenly struck down with an arrow.
וַיֹּרֵ֗ם אֱלֹ֫הִ֥ים חֵ֥ץ פִּתְא֑וֹם הָ֝י֗וּ מַכּוֹתָֽם׃
Their own tongues shall ruin them. All who see them will shake their heads.
וַיַּכְשִׁיל֣וּהוּ עָלֵ֣ימוֹ לְשׁוֹנָ֑ם יִ֝תְנֹדֲד֗וּ כָּל־רֹ֥אֵה בָֽם׃
All mankind shall be afraid. They shall declare the work of God, and shall wisely ponder what he has done.
וַיִּֽירְא֗וּ כָּל־אָ֫דָ֥ם וַ֭יַּגִּידוּ פֹּ֥עַל אֱלֹהִ֗ים וּֽמַעֲשֵׂ֥הוּ הִשְׂכִּֽילוּ׃
The righteous shall be glad in Yahweh, and shall take refuge in him. All the upright in heart shall praise him!
יִשְׂמַ֬ח צַדִּ֣יק בַּ֭יהוָה וְחָ֣סָה ב֑וֹ וְ֝יִתְהַֽלְל֗וּ כָּל־יִשְׁרֵי־לֵֽב׃
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.
Hear my voice
O God
In my complaint
hear me
Preserve my life
from fear
From fear
of the enemy
Hide me
from secret counsel
From the crowd
of those who do wrong
They sharpen
their tongue like a sword
They aim
their bitter words
They shoot in secret
at the blameless
Suddenly
they strike
They do not fear
they do not fear
But You, O God
You will answer
You will rise
You will act
You will turn
their words upon them
All will see
what You have done
All will see
what You have done
They hold fast
to evil plans
They speak
of hidden snares
They say
“Who will see us?”
The heart of man
runs deep
They search out
their hidden ways
They plan
in secret still
But suddenly
You answer
But You, O God
You will answer
You will rise
You will act
You will turn
their words upon them
All will see
what You have done
All will see
what You have done
All mankind
will fear
They will tell
of Your works
They will see
and understand
What Your hand
has done
The righteous
will rejoice in You
They will take
refuge in You
The upright
will glory
You, O God
You have answered
You have risen
You have acted
You have turned
the plans against them
All will see
what You have done
All will see
what You have done
Hear my voice
O God
Preserve my life
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.