TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS
Chapter 118
Translation and Transliteration of
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1Praise Hashem, for He is good, His steadfast love is eternal.
HO-du la-a-do-NAI kee-TOV kee l'-o-LAM khas-DO.
אהוֹד֣וּ לַיהֹוָ֣ה כִּי־ט֑וֹב כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃
2Let Yisrael declare, “His steadfast love is eternal.”
yo-MAR-na yis-ra-AYL ki l'-o-LAM khas-DO
ביֹאמַר־נָ֥א יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃
3Let the house of Aharon declare, “His steadfast love is eternal.”
yo-M'-ru-NAH vayt-a-ha-ROn, KEE l'-o-LAM khas-DO
גיֹאמְרוּ־נָ֥א בֵֽית־אַהֲרֹ֑ן כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃
4Let those who fear Hashem declare, “His steadfast love is eternal.”
yo-M'-ru-NA yir-EI a-do-NAI, ki l'-o-LAM khas-DO
דיֹאמְרוּ־נָ֭א יִרְאֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃
5In distress I called on Hashem; Hashem answered me and brought me relief.
min ha-may-TZAR ka-RA-tee YAH a-NA-nee va-mer-KHAV YAH
המִֽן־הַ֭מֵּצַר קָרָ֣אתִי יָּ֑הּ עָנָ֖נִי בַמֶּרְחָ֣ב יָֽהּ׃
118:5 In distress I called on Hashem
Psalm 118 is recited towards the end of the Pesach seder, and uses a word that is central to the themes of Pesach: ‘Maytzar’ (מצר), meaning ‘straits’ or ‘distress.’ This word is closely related to the Hebrew word for Egypt, Mitzrayim (מצרים). On an emotional level, Egypt symbolizes the agonizing straits that constrict us. Each of us occasionally finds ourselves trapped. Sometimes this happens due to physical causes like poverty or illness, and sometimes for psychological reasons, such as depression or anxiety. Pesach is the festival of freedom and faith, teaching that the Almighty saves all from each of life’s narrow confines. As the psalmist notes, “In distress I called on Hashem; Hashem answered me and brought me relief.”
6Hashem is on my side, I have no fear; what can man do to me?
a-do-NAI LEE lo ee-RA, ma YA-a-SEH LEE a-DAM
ויְהֹוָ֣ה לִ֭י לֹ֣א אִירָ֑א מַה־יַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה לִ֣י אָדָֽם׃
7With Hashem on my side as my helper, I will see the downfall of my foes.
a-do-NAI li b'-o-z'-RAI, va-a-NEE er-EH b'-so-NEE
זיְהֹוָ֣ה לִ֭י בְּעֹזְרָ֑י וַ֝אֲנִ֗י אֶרְאֶ֥ה בְשֹׂנְאָֽי׃
8It is better to take refuge in Hashem than to trust in mortals;
TOV la-cha-SOT ba-do-NAI, mi-b'-TO-ach ba-a-DAM.
חט֗וֹב לַחֲס֥וֹת בַּיהֹוָ֑ה מִ֝בְּטֹ֗חַ בָּאָדָֽם׃
9it is better to take refuge in Hashem than to trust in the great.
TOV la-cha-SOT ba-do-NAI, mi-b'-TO-akh bin-di-VIM
טט֗וֹב לַחֲס֥וֹת בַּיהֹוָ֑ה מִ֝בְּטֹ֗חַ בִּנְדִיבִֽים׃
10All nations have beset me; by the name of Hashem I will surely cut them down.
KOL-go-YIM se-va-VOO-nee b'-SHEM a-do-NAI kee a-mee-LAM
יכׇּל־גּוֹיִ֥ם סְבָב֑וּנִי בְּשֵׁ֥ם יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה כִּ֣י אֲמִילַֽם׃
11They beset me, they surround me; by the name of Hashem I will surely cut them down.
sa-BU-nee gam-s'-va-BOO-nee b'-SHEM a-do-NAI kee a-mee-LAM
יאסַבּ֥וּנִי גַם־סְבָב֑וּנִי בְּשֵׁ֥ם יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה כִּ֣י אֲמִילַֽם׃
12They have beset me like bees; they shall be extinguished like burning thorns; by the name of Hashem I will surely cut them down.
sa-BU-nee khee-d'-vo-REEM do-a-KHU k'-ESH ko-TSEEYM b'-SHEM a-do-NAI kee a-mee-LAM
יבסַבּ֤וּנִי כִדְבוֹרִ֗ים דֹּ֭עֲכוּ כְּאֵ֣שׁ קוֹצִ֑ים בְּשֵׁ֥ם יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה כִּ֣י אֲמִילַֽם׃
13You pressed me hard, I nearly fell; but Hashem helped me.
da-KHO d'-khee-TA-nee lin-POL va-a-do-NAI a-za-RA-nee
יגדַּחֹ֣ה דְחִיתַ֣נִי לִנְפֹּ֑ל וַ֖יהֹוָ֣ה עֲזָרָֽנִי׃
14Hashem is my strength and might; He has become my deliverance.
OZ-zi v'-zim-RAT ya, va-YA-hee-li li-y'-shu-AH
ידעׇזִּ֣י וְזִמְרָ֣ת יָ֑הּ וַֽיְהִי־לִ֝֗י לִישׁוּעָֽה׃
15The tents of the victorious resound with joyous shouts of deliverance, “The right hand of Hashem is triumphant!
KOL ri-Nah vi-yi-shu-AH b'-o-he-LEI tza-DEE-KEEM, ye-MEEN a-do-NAI o-SA kha-YIL
טוק֤וֹל ׀ רִנָּ֬ה וִישׁוּעָ֗ה בְּאׇהֳלֵ֥י צַדִּיקִ֑ים יְמִ֥ין יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה עֹ֣שָׂה חָֽיִל׃
16The right hand of Hashem is exalted! The right hand of Hashem is triumphant!”
Y'-min a-do-NAI ro-ME-mah, y'-min a-do-NAI o-SA kha-YIL.
טזיְמִ֣ין יְ֭הֹוָה רוֹמֵמָ֑ה יְמִ֥ין יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה עֹ֣שָׂה חָֽיִל׃
17I shall not die but live and proclaim the works of Hashem.
lo-a-MUT ki-e-KHE-yah va-a-sa-PER ma-a-SEI yah
יזלֹא־אָמ֥וּת כִּֽי־אֶחְיֶ֑ה וַ֝אֲסַפֵּ֗ר מַעֲשֵׂ֥י יָֽהּ׃
18Hashem punished me severely, but did not hand me over to death.
ya-SOR yi-s'-RA-ni YA, v'-la-ma-VET lo ne-ta-NA-ni
יחיַסֹּ֣ר יִסְּרַ֣נִּי יָּ֑הּ וְ֝לַמָּ֗וֶת לֹ֣א נְתָנָֽנִי׃
19Open the gates of victory for me that I may enter them and praise Hashem.
pit-KHU-li sha-a-rei-TZE-dek, a-VO-bam o-DEH ya
יטפִּתְחוּ־לִ֥י שַׁעֲרֵי־צֶ֑דֶק אָבֹא־בָ֝֗ם אוֹדֶ֥ה יָֽהּ׃
20This is the gateway to Hashem— the victorious shall enter through it.
ZEH-ha-sha-AR la-a-do-NAI, tza-DEE-keem ya-VO-u BO.
כזֶה־הַשַּׁ֥עַר לַיהֹוָ֑ה צַ֝דִּיקִ֗ים יָבֹ֥אוּ בֽוֹ׃
21I praise You, for You have answered me, and have become my deliverance.
o-de-KHA ki a-nee-TA-nee, va-t'-HEE-lee lee-shu-AH
כאא֭וֹדְךָ כִּ֣י עֲנִיתָ֑נִי וַתְּהִי־לִ֝֗י לִישׁוּעָֽה׃
22The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.
e-VEN ma-a-SU ha-bo-NIM, ha-y'-TAH l'-ROSH pi-NAH.
כבאֶ֭בֶן מָאֲס֣וּ הַבּוֹנִ֑ים הָ֝יְתָ֗ה לְרֹ֣אשׁ פִּנָּֽה׃
23This is Hashem's doing; it is marvelous in our sight.
me-ET a-do-NAI ha-Y'-ta ZOT he-YA nif-LAT b'-ay-NAY-nu
כגמֵאֵ֣ת יְ֭הֹוָה הָ֣יְתָה זֹּ֑את הִ֖יא נִפְלָ֣את בְּעֵינֵֽינוּ׃
24This is the day that Hashem has made— let us exult and rejoice on it.
zeh-ha-YOM a-SAH a-do-NAI na-GI-lah v'-nish-m'-HA bo
כדזֶה־הַ֭יּוֹם עָשָׂ֣ה יְהֹוָ֑ה נָגִ֖ילָה וְנִשְׂמְחָ֣ה בֽוֹ׃
25Hashem, deliver us! Hashem, let us prosper!
a-NA a-do-NAI ho-SHI-a NA, a-NA a-do-NAI hatz-LEE-kha NA
כהאָנָּ֣א יְ֭הֹוָה הוֹשִׁ֘יעָ֥ה נָּ֑א אָנָּ֥א יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה הַצְלִ֘יחָ֥ה נָּֽא׃
26May he who enters be blessed in the name of Hashem; we bless you from the House of Hashem.
ba-RUKH ha-BA b'-SHEM a-do-NAI be-RAKH-nu-KHEM mi-BAYT a-do-NAI
כובָּר֣וּךְ הַ֭בָּא בְּשֵׁ֣ם יְהֹוָ֑ה בֵּ֝רַ֥כְנוּכֶ֗ם מִבֵּ֥ית יְהֹוָֽה׃
27Hashem is Hashem; He has given us light; bind the festal offering to the horns of the mizbayach with cords.
EL a-do-NAI, va-YA-er-LA-nu is-ru-KHAG ba-a-vo-TEEM, ad kar-NOT ha-miz-BAY-akh
כזאֵ֤ל ׀ יְהֹוָה֮ וַיָּ֢אֶ֫ר־לָ֥נוּ אִסְרוּ־חַ֥ג בַּעֲבֹתִ֑ים עַד־קַ֝רְנ֗וֹת הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃
28You are my God and I will praise You; You are my God and I will extol You.
E-li AT-ta v'-o-DE-kha, e-lo-HAI a-ro-m'-ME-kha.
כחאֵלִ֣י אַתָּ֣ה וְאוֹדֶ֑ךָּ אֱ֝לֹהַ֗י אֲרוֹמְמֶֽךָּ׃
29Praise Hashem for He is good, His steadfast love is eternal.
HO-du la-a-do-NAI kee-TOV kee l'-o-LAM khas-DO.
כטהוֹד֣וּ לַיהֹוָ֣ה כִּי־ט֑וֹב כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃
