Corpus Psalterium · Vol. III
Psalm LXX (70)
Cantillated — Urgent Lament
Paul Whitehorn
Study the Word
Psalm 70 in Hebrew and English, and the words as they are sung.
For the Chief Musician. By David. A reminder.
לַ֝מְנַצֵּ֗חַ לְדָוִ֥ד לְהַזְכִּֽיר׃
Hurry, God, to deliver me. Come quickly to help me, Yahweh.
אֱלֹהִ֥ים לְהַצִּילֵ֑נִי יְ֝הוָ֗ה לְעֶזְרָ֥תִי חֽוּשָֽׁה׃
Let them be disappointed and confounded who seek my soul. Let those who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace.
יֵבֹ֣שׁוּ וְיַחְפְּרוּ֮ מְבַקְשֵׁ֪י נַ֫פְשִׁ֥י יִסֹּ֣גוּ אָ֭חוֹר וְיִכָּלְמ֑וּ חֲ֝פֵצֵ֗י רָעָתִֽי׃
Let them be turned because of their shame who say, “Aha! Aha!”
יָ֭שׁוּבוּ עַל־עֵ֣קֶב בָּשְׁתָּ֑ם הָ֝אֹמְרִ֗ים הֶ֘אָ֥ח ׀ הֶאָֽח׃
Let all those who seek you rejoice and be glad in you. Let those who love your salvation continually say, “Let God be exalted!”
יָ֘שִׂ֤ישׂוּ וְיִשְׂמְח֨וּ ׀ בְּךָ֗ כָּֽל־מְבַ֫קְשֶׁ֥יךָ וְיֹאמְר֣וּ תָ֭מִיד יִגְדַּ֣ל אֱלֹהִ֑ים אֹ֝הֲבֵ֗י יְשׁוּעָתֶֽךָ׃
But I am poor and needy. Come to me quickly, God. You are my help and my deliverer. Yahweh, don’t delay.
וַאֲנִ֤י ׀ עָנִ֣י וְאֶבְיוֹן֮ אֱלֹהִ֪ים חֽוּשָׁ֫ה־לִּ֥י עֶזְרִ֣י וּמְפַלְטִ֣י אַ֑תָּה יְ֝הוָ֗ה אַל־תְּאַחַֽר׃
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
deliver me
O Lord
make haste
to help me
Let them be ashamed
and confounded
who seek my life
Let them turn back
and be disgraced
who delight in my harm
Let them turn back
because of their shame
Those who say
“Aha, aha”
Let all who seek You
rejoice in You
Let them say always
God be magnified
Let all who love
Your salvation say
God be magnified
God be magnified
But I am poor
and needy
O God
hurry to me
You are my help
You are my deliverer
O Lord
do not delay
Do not delay
O Lord
do not delay
Hurry to me
My help
My deliverer
Let all who seek You
rejoice in You
Let them say always
God be magnified
Let all who love
Your salvation say
God be magnified
God be magnified
O God
deliver me
O Lord
make haste
to help me
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.