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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 121

Translation and Transliteration of 

1A song for ascents. I turn my eyes to the mountains; from where will my help come?

SHEER la-ma-a-LOT e-SA ay-NAI el he-ha-REEM may-A-yin ya-VO ez-REE

אשִׁ֗יר לַֽמַּ֫עֲל֥וֹת אֶשָּׂ֣א עֵ֭ינַי אֶל־הֶהָרִ֑ים מֵ֝אַ֗יִן יָבֹ֥א עֶזְרִֽי׃

 121:1   I turn my eyes to the mountains

Mount Chermon

When he composed this psalm, the psalmist might have been standing at the foot of a large mountain, perhaps the Chermon mountain range, about to embark on a long journey. As he looks up to the mountains, he stands in awe of their beauty, their massiveness, their sheer greatness. It makes him feel meek, and he wonders: From where did they come? Who is behind them? Who will protect him on his journey through them? When looking at the diverse natural wonders found in Israel, such as the majestic Chermon mountain, the Banyas waterfalls or the great Carmel forest, how many times do we stop and acknowledge the Creator who sustains it all? When travelling throughout the beautiful Land of Israel, how often do we call out, “My help comes from Hashem, Maker of heaven and earth”?

2My help comes from Hashem, maker of heaven and earth.

e-Z'-ri me-im a-do-NAI o-SEH sha-MA-yim va-A-retz

בעֶ֭זְרִי מֵעִ֣ם יְהֹוָ֑ה עֹ֝שֵׂ֗ה שָׁמַ֥יִם וָאָֽרֶץ׃

3He will not let your foot give way; your guardian will not slumber;

al-yi-TEN la-MOT rag-LE-kha, al-ya-NUM shom-RE-kha

גאַל־יִתֵּ֣ן לַמּ֣וֹט רַגְלֶ֑ךָ אַל־יָ֝נ֗וּם שֹׁמְרֶֽךָ׃

4See, the guardian of Yisrael neither slumbers nor sleeps!

hi-NEH lo-ya-NUM v'-lo yi-SHAN sho-MER yis-ra-AYL

דהִנֵּ֣ה לֹֽא־יָ֭נוּם וְלֹ֣א יִישָׁ֑ן שׁ֝וֹמֵ֗ר יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

5Hashem is your guardian, Hashem is your protection at your right hand.

a-do-NAI sho-M'-RE-kha, a-do-NAI tsi-l'-KHA al-yad ye-mee-NE-kha

היְהֹוָ֥ה שֹׁמְרֶ֑ךָ יְהֹוָ֥ה צִ֝לְּךָ֗ עַל־יַ֥ד יְמִינֶֽךָ׃

6By day the sun will not strike you, nor the moon by night.

yo-MAM ha-SHE-mesh lo ya-KE-ka, va-ya-RAY-akh ba-la-y'-LA

ויוֹמָ֗ם הַשֶּׁ֥מֶשׁ לֹֽא־יַכֶּ֗כָּה וְיָרֵ֥חַ בַּלָּֽיְלָה׃

7Hashem will guard you from all harm; He will guard your life.

a-do-NAI yish-MOR-kha mi-KOL ra, yish-MOR et-NAF-she-kha

זיְֽהֹוָ֗ה יִשְׁמׇרְךָ֥ מִכׇּל־רָ֑ע יִ֝שְׁמֹ֗ר אֶת־נַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃

8Hashem will guard your going and coming now and forever.

a-do-NAI yish-MOR tzei-t'-KHA u-vo-E-kha me-a-TAH v'-ad-o-LAM.

חיְֽהֹוָ֗ה יִשְׁמׇר־צֵאתְךָ֥ וּבוֹאֶ֑ךָ מֵ֝עַתָּ֗ה וְעַד־עוֹלָֽם׃