
TORAH
NEVI'IM
KETUVIM
Chapter 109
Translation and Transliteration of
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1For the leader. Of David. A psalm. O God of my praise, do not keep aloof,
la-m'-na-TSE-akh, l'-da-VID, miz-MOR, e-lo-HEI te-hi-LA-tee, al te-khe-RASH
אלַ֭מְנַצֵּחַ לְדָוִ֣ד מִזְמ֑וֹר אֱלֹהֵ֥י תְ֝הִלָּתִ֗י אַֽל־תֶּחֱרַֽשׁ׃
2for the wicked and the deceitful open their mouth against me; they speak to me with lying tongue.
ki fi ra-SHA u-fi-mir-MAH a-LAI pa-TA-khu, di-B'-ru i-TI l'-SHON sha-KER
בכִּ֤י פִ֪י רָשָׁ֡ע וּֽפִי־מִ֭רְמָה עָלַ֣י פָּתָ֑חוּ דִּבְּר֥וּ אִ֝תִּ֗י לְשׁ֣וֹן שָֽׁקֶר׃
3They encircle me with words of hate; they attack me without cause.
v'-di-v'-RAY sin-AH s'-va-VOO-nee va-yi-la-kha-MU-nee khee-NAHM
גוְדִבְרֵ֣י שִׂנְאָ֣ה סְבָב֑וּנִי וַיִּֽלָּחֲמ֥וּנִי חִנָּֽם׃
4They answer my love with accusation but I am all prayer
TA-khat a-ha-va-TEE yis-t'-NU-nee va-a-NEE t'-fi-LAH
דתַּֽחַת־אַהֲבָתִ֥י יִשְׂטְנ֗וּנִי וַאֲנִ֥י תְפִלָּֽה׃
109:4 I am all prayer

Rabbi Samson R. Hirsch (1808-1888)
According to Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch, this psalm is about evil people trying to eradicate David’s very essence. Despite the love he has shown them and the good he has done for them, they pour curses and ridicule created from lies and hatred upon him. This psalm most likely refers to the events recorded in Shmuel II 16, when David flees his kingdom to escape his son Avshalom who wants to kill him. On his way out of the city, Shim’i the son of Gera from the house of Shaul spews vile curses at him, which the king accepts with resignation. This psalm, however, begins with David turning to Hashem with a plea not to stay silent. Only God’s justice can eliminate the lies directed against David. Instead of hatred and vitriol, David says “I am all prayer.” Only through God’s intervention will his name be cleared.
5They repay me with evil for good, with hatred for my love.
vai-YA-si-MU a-LAI ra-AH ta-KHAT to-VAH v'-sin-AH ta-KHAT a-ha-va-TEE
הוַיָּ֘שִׂ֤ימוּ עָלַ֣י רָ֭עָה תַּ֣חַת טוֹבָ֑ה וְ֝שִׂנְאָ֗ה תַּ֣חַת אַהֲבָתִֽי׃
6Appoint a wicked man over him; may an accuser stand at his right side;
ha-f'-KED a-LAV ra-SHA v'-sa-TAN ya-a-MOD al-y'-mi-NO
והַפְקֵ֣ד עָלָ֣יו רָשָׁ֑ע וְ֝שָׂטָ֗ן יַעֲמֹ֥ד עַל־יְמִינֽוֹ׃
7may he be tried and convicted; may he be judged and found guilty.
b'-hi-shafto yay-TSE ra-SHA, u-t'-fi-LA-to ti-HEH la-cha-ta-AH
זבְּ֭הִשָּׁ֣פְטוֹ יֵצֵ֣א רָשָׁ֑ע וּ֝תְפִלָּת֗וֹ תִּֽהְיֶ֥ה לַחֲטָאָֽה׃
8May his days be few; may another take over his position.
y'-hi-YU ya-MAV m'-a-TIM p'-ku-DA-to yi-KAKH a-KHER
חיִֽהְיוּ־יָמָ֥יו מְעַטִּ֑ים פְּ֝קֻדָּת֗וֹ יִקַּ֥ח אַחֵֽר׃
9May his children be orphans, his wife a widow.
y'-hi-VU va-NAV ye-TO-meem v'-ish-TO al-ma-NAH
טיִֽהְיוּ־בָנָ֥יו יְתוֹמִ֑ים וְ֝אִשְׁתּ֗וֹ אַלְמָנָֽה׃
10May his children wander from their hovels, begging in search of [bread].
v'-NO-a ya-NU-u va-NAV v'-shi-E-lu v'-dar-SHU may-kho-r'-vo-TAY-hem
יוְנ֤וֹעַ יָנ֣וּעוּ בָנָ֣יו וְשִׁאֵ֑לוּ וְ֝דָרְשׁ֗וּ מֵחׇרְבֽוֹתֵיהֶֽם׃
11May his creditor seize all his possessions; may strangers plunder his wealth.
y'-na-KESH NO-sheh l'-kol a-SHER-lo, v'-ya-VO-zu za-REEM ye-gi-O
יאיְנַקֵּ֣שׁ נ֭וֹשֶׁה לְכׇל־אֲשֶׁר־ל֑וֹ וְיָבֹ֖זּוּ זָרִ֣ים יְגִיעֽוֹ׃
12May no one show him mercy; may none pity his orphans;
al-y'-HEE-lo mo-SHEKH kha-SED v'-al-y'-HEE kho-NAYN li-to-MA-yav
יבאַל־יְהִי־ל֭וֹ מֹשֵׁ֣ךְ חָ֑סֶד וְֽאַל־יְהִ֥י ח֝וֹנֵ֗ן לִֽיתוֹמָֽיו׃
13may his posterity be cut off; may their names be blotted out in the next generation.
y'-HI a-kha-REE-to l'-hakh-REET b'-DOR a-KHAYR yi-MAKH sh'-MAM
יגיְהִֽי־אַחֲרִית֥וֹ לְהַכְרִ֑ית בְּד֥וֹר אַ֝חֵ֗ר יִמַּ֥ח שְׁמָֽם׃
14May Hashem be ever mindful of his father's iniquity, and may the sin of his mother not be blotted out.
YIZ-za-KHER a-VON a-vo-TAV el a-do-NAI v'-cha-TAT i-MO al ti-MAKH
ידיִזָּכֵ֤ר ׀ עֲוֺ֣ן אֲ֭בֹתָיו אֶל־יְהֹוָ֑ה וְחַטַּ֥את אִ֝מּ֗וֹ אַל־תִּמָּֽח׃
15May Hashem be aware of them always and cause their names to be cut off from the earth,
y'-HI-n'-g'-d a-do-NAI ta-MEED v'-yakh-RET me-E-retz zikh-RAM
טויִהְי֣וּ נֶגֶד־יְהֹוָ֣ה תָּמִ֑יד וְיַכְרֵ֖ת מֵאֶ֣רֶץ זִכְרָֽם׃
16because he was not minded to act kindly, and hounded to death the poor and needy man, one crushed in spirit.
ya-AN a-SHER lo za-KHAR a-SOT kha-SED va-yi-r'DOF eesh-a-NEE v'-ev-YON v'-nikh-EH lay-VAV l'-mo-TET
טזיַ֗עַן אֲשֶׁ֤ר ׀ לֹ֥א זָכַר֮ עֲשׂ֢וֹת חָ֥֫סֶד וַיִּרְדֹּ֡ף אִישׁ־עָנִ֣י וְ֭אֶבְיוֹן וְנִכְאֵ֨ה לֵבָ֬ב לְמוֹתֵֽת׃
17He loved to curse—may a curse come upon him! He would not bless—may blessing be far from him!
vai-ye-a-HAV k'-la-LAH va-t'-bo-E-hu, v'-lo-cha-FAYTS bi-v'-ra-KHA va-tir-KHAK mi-ME-nu
יזוַיֶּאֱהַ֣ב קְ֭לָלָה וַתְּבוֹאֵ֑הוּ וְֽלֹא־חָפֵ֥ץ בִּ֝בְרָכָ֗ה וַתִּרְחַ֥ק מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃
18May he be clothed in a curse like a garment, may it enter his body like water, his bones like oil.
vai-YIL-bash k'-la-LAH k'-ma-DO va-TA-vo kha-MA-yim b'-kir-BO v'-kha-SHE-men b'-a-tz'-mo-TA-yu
יחוַיִּלְבַּ֥שׁ קְלָלָ֗ה כְּמַ֫דּ֥וֹ וַתָּבֹ֣א כַמַּ֣יִם בְּקִרְבּ֑וֹ וְ֝כַשֶּׁ֗מֶן בְּעַצְמוֹתָֽיו׃
19Let it be like the cloak he wraps around him, like the belt he always wears.
ti-HEE-lo ke-VE-ged ya-TEH, u-le-ME-zakh ta-MEED ya-KHE-ge-RA
יטתְּהִי־ל֭וֹ כְּבֶ֣גֶד יַעְטֶ֑ה וּ֝לְמֵ֗זַח תָּמִ֥יד יַחְגְּרֶֽהָ׃
20May Hashem thus repay my accusers, all those who speak evil against me.
ZOT p'-u-LAT so-t'-NAI me-ET a-do-NAI v'-ha-do-ve-REEM RA al-NAF-shee
כזֹ֤את פְּעֻלַּ֣ת שֹׂ֭טְנַי מֵאֵ֣ת יְהֹוָ֑ה וְהַדֹּבְרִ֥ים רָ֝֗ע עַל־נַפְשִֽׁי׃
21Now You, O Hashem, my Lord, act on my behalf as befits Your name. Good and faithful as You are, save me.
v'-a-TAH a-do-NAI a-do-NAI a-SEH-i-TEE l'-ma-AN sh'-ME-kha, kee-TOV khas-DE-kha ha-tsee-LAY-nee
כאוְאַתָּ֤ה ׀ יֱ֘הֹוִ֤ה אֲדֹנָ֗י עֲֽשֵׂה־אִ֭תִּי לְמַ֣עַן שְׁמֶ֑ךָ כִּי־ט֥וֹב חַ֝סְדְּךָ֗ הַצִּילֵֽנִי׃
22For I am poor and needy, and my heart is pierced within me.
ki-a-NEE v'-ev-YON a-NO-khee v'-li-BEE kha-LAL b'-kir-BEE
כבכִּי־עָנִ֣י וְאֶבְי֣וֹן אָנֹ֑כִי וְ֝לִבִּ֗י חָלַ֥ל בְּקִרְבִּֽי׃
23I fade away like a lengthening shadow; I am shaken off like locusts.
k'-TZEIL k'-in-TO-to ne-he-LAKH-ti, nin-a-AR-ti ka-ar-BEH
כגכְּצֵל־כִּנְטוֹת֥וֹ נֶהֱלָ֑כְתִּי נִ֝נְעַ֗רְתִּי כָּאַרְבֶּֽה׃
24My knees give way from fasting; my flesh is lean, has lost its fat.
bi-r'-KHAI ka-SHU-lu mi-TZOM u-ve-sa-REE ka-KHASH mi-sha-MEN
כדבִּ֭רְכַּי כָּשְׁל֣וּ מִצּ֑וֹם וּ֝בְשָׂרִ֗י כָּחַ֥שׁ מִשָּֽׁמֶן׃
25I am the object of their scorn; when they see me, they shake their head.
va-a-NEE ha-YEE-tee kher-PAH la-HEM, yir-U-NEE ye-nee-UN ro-SHAM
כהוַאֲנִ֤י ׀ הָיִ֣יתִי חֶרְפָּ֣ה לָהֶ֑ם יִ֝רְא֗וּנִי יְנִיע֥וּן רֹאשָֽׁם׃
26Help me, Hashem, my God; save me in accord with Your faithfulness,
o-Z'-RE-nee a-do-NAI e-lo-HAI ho-SHEE-e-NEE k'-khas-DE-kha
כועׇ֭זְרֵנִי יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהָ֑י ה֖וֹשִׁיעֵ֣נִי כְחַסְדֶּֽךָ׃
27that men may know that it is Your hand, that You, Hashem, have done it.
v'-ye-D'-u ki-ya-d'-KHA zot a-TAH a-do-NAI a-see-TAH
כזוְֽ֭יֵדְעוּ כִּי־יָ֣דְךָ זֹּ֑את אַתָּ֖ה יְהֹוָ֣ה עֲשִׂיתָֽהּ׃
28Let them curse, but You bless; let them rise up, but come to grief, while Your servant rejoices.
y'-ka-l'-LU he-MA, v'-a-TAH t'-va-REKH, ka-MU, va-YE-v'-SHU, v'-a-v'-DE-kha yis-MAKH
כחיְקַֽלְלוּ־הֵמָּה֮ וְאַתָּ֢ה תְבָ֫רֵ֥ךְ קָ֤מוּ ׀ וַיֵּבֹ֗שׁוּ וְֽעַבְדְּךָ֥ יִשְׂמָֽח׃
29My accusers shall be clothed in shame, wrapped in their disgrace as in a robe.
yil-B'-shu so-T'-nai k'-li-MAH v'-ya-a-TU kham-M'-EEL bo-SH'-tam
כטיִלְבְּשׁ֣וּ שׂוֹטְנַ֣י כְּלִמָּ֑ה וְיַעֲט֖וּ כַמְעִ֣יל בׇּשְׁתָּֽם׃
30My mouth shall sing much praise to Hashem; I will acclaim Him in the midst of a throng,
o-DE a-do-NAI m'-OD b'-fi u-v'-TOKH ra-BEEM a-ha-LE-le-NU
לא֘וֹדֶ֤ה יְהֹוָ֣ה מְאֹ֣ד בְּפִ֑י וּבְת֖וֹךְ רַבִּ֣ים אֲהַלְלֶֽנּוּ׃
31because He stands at the right hand of the needy, to save him from those who would condemn him.
ki-ya-a-MOD li-MEEM e-vi-YON l'-ho-SHEE-a mi-sho-f'-TAY naf-SHO.
לאכִּֽי־יַ֭עֲמֹד לִימִ֣ין אֶבְי֑וֹן לְ֝הוֹשִׁ֗יעַ מִשֹּׁפְטֵ֥י נַפְשֽׁוֹ׃