TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 29

Listen to this chapter in Hebrew:

1A psalm of David. Ascribe to Hashem, O divine beings, ascribe to Hashem glory and strength.

אמִזְמוֹר לְדָוִד הָבוּ לַיהֹוָה בְּנֵי אֵלִים הָבוּ לַיהֹוָה כָּבוֹד וָעֹז׃

2Ascribe to Hashem the glory of His name; bow down to Hashem, majestic in holiness.

בהָבוּ לַיהֹוָה כְּבוֹד שְׁמוֹ הִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לַיהֹוָה בְּהַדְרַת־קֹדֶשׁ׃

3The voice of Hashem is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, Hashem, over the mighty waters.

KOL a-do-NAI al ha-MA-yim ayl ha-ka-VOD hir-EEM a-do-NAI al MA-yim ra-BEEM

גקוֹל יְהֹוָה עַל־הַמָּיִם אֵל־הַכָּבוֹד הִרְעִים יְהֹוָה עַל־מַיִם רַבִּים׃

 29:3   The voice of Hashem is over the waters

According to Rabbi Matityahu Glazerson, the word for ‘water,’ mayim (מים), provides an interesting example of the unique way in which the Hebrew word expresses the essence of the object it names. This word is spelled with two instances of the letter mem (מ), and one letter yud (י) in between them. Science tells us that a water molecule, represented by the notation H2O, is made up of two atoms of hydrogen surrounding one atom of oxygen. In the Hebrew word, this exact structure is reflected; the letter ‘מ’ represents the hydrogen while the ‘י’ represents the oxygen.

4The voice of Hashem is power; the voice of Hashem is majesty;

דקוֹל־יְהֹוָה בַּכֹּחַ קוֹל יְהֹוָה בֶּהָדָר׃

5the voice of Hashem breaks cedars; Hashem shatters the cedars of Lebanon.

הקוֹל יְהֹוָה שֹׁבֵר אֲרָזִים וַיְשַׁבֵּר יְהֹוָה אֶת־אַרְזֵי הַלְּבָנוֹן׃

6He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, Sirion, like a young wild ox.

ווַיַּרְקִידֵם כְּמוֹ־עֵגֶל לְבָנוֹן וְשִׂרְיֹן כְּמוֹ בֶן־רְאֵמִים׃

7The voice of Hashem kindles flames of fire;

זקוֹל־יְהֹוָה חֹצֵב לַהֲבוֹת אֵשׁ׃

8the voice of Hashem convulses the wilderness; Hashem convulses the wilderness of Kadesh;

חקוֹל יְהֹוָה יָחִיל מִדְבָּר יָחִיל יְהֹוָה מִדְבַּר קָדֵשׁ׃

9the voice of Hashem causes hinds to calve, and strips forests bare; while in His temple all say “Glory!”

טקוֹל יְהֹוָה יְחוֹלֵל אַיָּלוֹת וַיֶּחֱשֹׂף יְעָרוֹת וּבְהֵיכָלוֹ כֻּלּוֹ אֹמֵר כָּבוֹד׃

10Hashem sat enthroned at the Flood; Hashem sits enthroned, king forever.

ייְהֹוָה לַמַּבּוּל יָשָׁב וַיֵּשֶׁב יְהֹוָה מֶלֶךְ לְעוֹלָם׃

11May Hashem grant strength to His people; may Hashem bestow on His people wellbeing.

יאיְהֹוָה עֹז לְעַמּוֹ יִתֵּן יְהֹוָה יְבָרֵךְ אֶת־עַמּוֹ בַשָּׁלוֹם׃