TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS
Chapter 149
Translation and Transliteration of
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1Hallelujah. Sing to Hashem a new song, His praises in the congregation of the faithful.
HAL-le-lu-YAH, shi-ru la-a-do-NAI, shi-ir cha-DASH, te-hi-LA-to bik-hal cha-see-DEEM.
אהַ֥לְלוּ־יָ֨הּ ׀ שִׁ֣ירוּ לַֽ֭יהֹוָה שִׁ֣יר חָדָ֑שׁ תְּ֝הִלָּת֗וֹ בִּקְהַ֥ל חֲסִידִֽים׃
2Let Yisrael rejoice in its maker; let the children of Tzion exult in their king.
YIS-makh yis-ra-AYL b'-o-SA-yav, b'-nay tzi-YON ya-GI-lu b'-mal-KAM.
ביִשְׂמַ֣ח יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל בְּעֹשָׂ֑יו בְּנֵֽי־צִ֝יּ֗וֹן יָגִ֥ילוּ בְמַלְכָּֽם׃
3Let them praise His name in dance; with timbrel and lyre let them chant His praises.
ye-hal-LU sh'-MO ve-ma-KHOL, be-TOF ve-ki-NOR ye-za-ME-ru-LO
גיְהַלְל֣וּ שְׁמ֣וֹ בְמָח֑וֹל בְּתֹ֥ף וְ֝כִנּ֗וֹר יְזַמְּרוּ־לֽוֹ׃
4For Hashem delights in His people; He adorns the lowly with victory.
ki-ro-TZE a-do-NAI b'-a-MO, y'-fa-ER a-na-VEEM bi-shu-AH
דכִּֽי־רוֹצֶ֣ה יְהֹוָ֣ה בְּעַמּ֑וֹ יְפָאֵ֥ר עֲ֝נָוִ֗ים בִּישׁוּעָֽה׃
5Let the faithful exult in glory; let them shout for joy upon their couches,
ya-l'-ZU kha-see-DEEM b'-ka-VOD, y'-ra-ne-NU al m'-sh'-k'-vo-TAM
היַעְלְז֣וּ חֲסִידִ֣ים בְּכָב֑וֹד יְ֝רַנְּנ֗וּ עַל־מִשְׁכְּבוֹתָֽם׃
6with paeans to Hashem in their throats and two-edged swords in their hands,
ro-m'-MOT AYL big-ro-NAM v'-KHE-rev pee-fi-YOT b'-ya-DAM
ורוֹמְמ֣וֹת אֵ֭ל בִּגְרוֹנָ֑ם וְחֶ֖רֶב פִּיפִיּ֣וֹת בְּיָדָֽם׃
149:6 And two-edged swords in their hands
Israel wants to live in peace in the Promised Land, but sometimes they are threatened by nations attempting to destroy them and their country. Israel can respond with might or with spirit, and it must do both, because each response is insufficient on its own. Psalm 149 emphasizes the true synthesis of power and prayer. This verse reminds us of the judge, Ehud the son of Gera, who, after killing the king of Moab with a double edged sword, rallied the People of Israel to fight, shouting “Follow me closely, for Hashem has delivered your enemies, the Moabites, into your hands” (Judges 3:28). The men Ehud rallied sought to elevate God’s name in the world, eradicate evil and bring justice to the land. This is the message of the penultimate chapter in the book of Psalms.
7to impose retribution upon the nations, punishment upon the peoples,
la-a-SOT n'-KA-mah ba-go-YIM to-KHE-khot bal-u-MEEM
זלַעֲשׂ֣וֹת נְ֭קָמָה בַּגּוֹיִ֑ם תּ֝וֹכֵח֗וֹת בַּלְאֻמִּֽים׃
8binding their kings with shackles, their nobles with chains of iron,
le-SOR mal-khay-HEM b'-zi-KIM v'-nikh-b'-DE-hem b'-khav-LEI bar-ZEL
חלֶאְסֹ֣ר מַלְכֵיהֶ֣ם בְּזִקִּ֑ים וְ֝נִכְבְּדֵיהֶ֗ם בְּכַבְלֵ֥י בַרְזֶֽל׃
9executing the doom decreed against them. This is the glory of all His faithful. Hallelujah.
la-a-SOT ba-HEM mish-PAT ka-TOV ha-DAR HU l'-KOL cha-see-DAV hal-lu-YAH.
טלַעֲשׂ֤וֹת בָּהֶ֨ם ׀ מִשְׁפָּ֬ט כָּת֗וּב הָדָ֣ר ה֭וּא לְכׇל־חֲסִידָ֗יו הַֽלְלוּ־יָֽהּ׃
