Chapter 20

Translation and Transliteration of

Listen to this chapter in Hebrew:

1For the leader. A psalm of David.

la-menat-TSE-akh, miz-MOR, l'-da-VID

אלַמְנַצֵּ֗חַ מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד׃

2May Hashem answer you in time of trouble, the name of Yaakov's Hashem keep you safe.

ya-an-KHA a-do-NAI b'-YOM tza-RAH, y'-sa-GEV-kha SHAYM e-lo-HAY ya-a-KOV

ביַֽעַנְךָ֣ יְ֭הֹוָה בְּי֣וֹם צָרָ֑ה יְ֝שַׂגֶּבְךָ֗ שֵׁ֤ם ׀ אֱלֹהֵ֬י יַעֲקֹֽב׃

3May He send you help from the sanctuary, and sustain you from Tzion.

yish-LAKH-ez'-RE-kha mi-ko-DESH u-mi-TZI-yon yis-a-DE-kha

גיִשְׁלַֽח־עֶזְרְךָ֥ מִקֹּ֑דֶשׁ וּ֝מִצִּיּ֗וֹן יִסְעָדֶֽךָּ׃

4May He receive the tokens of all your meal offerings, and approve your burn offerings. Selah.

yiz-KOR kol-min-KHO-te-KHA v'-o-la-TE-kha y'-da-sh'-NEH se-LAH

דיִזְכֹּ֥ר כׇּל־מִנְחֹתֶ֑ךָ וְעוֹלָתְךָ֖ יְדַשְּׁנֶ֣ה סֶֽלָה׃

5May He grant you your desire, and fulfill your every plan.

YIT-ten l'-KHA kheel-va-VE-kha v'-kol a-tza-t'-KHA ye-ma-LAY

היִֽתֶּן־לְךָ֥ כִלְבָבֶ֑ךָ וְֽכׇל־עֲצָתְךָ֥ יְמַלֵּֽא׃

6May we shout for joy in your victory, arrayed by standards in the name of our God. May Hashem fulfill your every wish.

n'-ra-n'-NAH bi-SHU-a-TE-kha u-v'-SHEM e-lo-HE-nu nid-GOL, ye-ma-LAY a-do-NAI kol-mish-a-LO-te-KHA

ונְרַנְּנָ֤ה ׀ בִּ֘ישׁ֤וּעָתֶ֗ךָ וּבְשֵֽׁם־אֱלֹהֵ֥ינוּ נִדְגֹּ֑ל יְמַלֵּ֥א יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה כׇּל־מִשְׁאֲלוֹתֶֽיךָ׃

7Now I know that Hashem will give victory to His anointed, will answer him from His heavenly sanctuary with the mighty victories of His right arm.

a-TAH ya-DA-tee KEE ho-SHEE-a a-do-NAI m'-shee-KHO ya-a-NAY-hu mi-sh'-MAY kod-SHO big-vu-ROT YAY-sha y'-mee-NO

זעַתָּ֤ה יָדַ֗עְתִּי כִּ֤י הוֹשִׁ֥יעַ ׀ יְהֹוָ֗ה מְשִׁ֫יח֥וֹ יַ֭עֲנֵהוּ מִשְּׁמֵ֣י קׇדְשׁ֑וֹ בִּ֝גְבֻר֗וֹת יֵ֣שַׁע יְמִינֽוֹ׃

20:7 Hashem will give victory to His anointed

Tomb of King David in Jerusalem

The Torah predicts a time when the Children of Israel, settled in the Land of Israel, will seek a king (Deuteronomy 17:14). God acquiesces to the request on condition that His anointed will be different from the kings of the other nations, in that he will be chosen by God (verse 15). This prediction came true in the times of the prophet Shmuel (I Samuel 8), as Shaul, followed by David and Shlomo, were chosen by Hashem as the first Jewish kings. The selection and anointing of the monarch reflects the vital relationship that the Jewish king must have with the priest, who is also anointed, and the prophet, God’s messenger who selects and anoints the king. Together, these three represent the political, ritual and spiritual leadership of Israel. In order to lead the nation on the right path, the three leaders must work together and recognize the importance of each one’s role. When, as in the case of David, the nation reveres the king and he, in turn, recognizes that his power comes from the Holy One, then “Hashem will give victory to His anointed.”

8They [call] on chariots, they [call] on horses, but we call on the name of Hashem our God.

AY-leh va-RE-khev v'-AY-leh va-su-SEEM va-a-NAKH-nu b'-shem a-do-NAI e-lo-HAY-nu naz-KHEER

חאֵ֣לֶּה בָ֭רֶכֶב וְאֵ֣לֶּה בַסּוּסִ֑ים וַאֲנַ֓חְנוּ ׀ בְּשֵׁם־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣ינוּ נַזְכִּֽיר׃

9They collapse and lie fallen, but we rally and gather strength.

HEM-MAH kor-U v'-na-FA-lu va-a-na-KH'-NU kam-NU va-nit-o-DAD

טהֵ֭מָּה כָּרְע֣וּ וְנָפָ֑לוּ וַאֲנַ֥חְנוּ קַּ֝֗מְנוּ וַנִּתְעוֹדָֽד׃

10Hashem, grant victory! May the King answer us when we call.

a-do-NAI ho-SHI-a, ha-ME-lekh ya-a-NE-nu b'-yom-kor-E-nu.

ייְהֹוָ֥ה הוֹשִׁ֑יעָה הַ֝מֶּ֗לֶךְ יַעֲנֵ֥נוּ בְיוֹם־קׇרְאֵֽנוּ׃