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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 32

Translation and Transliteration of 

Listen to this chapter in Hebrew:

1Of David. A maskil. Happy is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered over.

l'-da-VID mas-KEEL ash-RAY n'-suy PE-sha k'-SUY kha-ta-AH

אלְדָוִ֗ד מַ֫שְׂכִּ֥יל אַשְׁרֵ֥י נְֽשׂוּי־פֶּ֗שַׁע כְּס֣וּי חֲטָאָֽה׃

 32:1   Happy

The word ashrei (אשרי), ‘happy,’ which begins this psalm, reminds us of the first word of the opening chapter of the book of Tehillim, which speaks of the happy person who veers away from sin and chooses the godly path. Unlike Psalm 1, which refers to the person who avoids sin, this psalm expresses the power of repentance, referring to the individual who already sinned and suffers punishment. However, if he returns to God, he, too, is happy, since his sins are forgiven and he can again enjoy a close relationship with the Almighty. Two of the metaphors used to describe the process of sin and repentance relate to weather conditions in Israel. The “summer drought” (verse 4) and the “rushing mighty waters” (verse 6) refer to Israel’s semi-arid and desert areas, and to the mountainous regions where waters rush through streams. Both environments play a role in the physical and spiritual cleansing of the individual in the Land of Israel.

2Happy the man whom Hashem does not hold guilty, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

a-SH'-ray a-DAM lo yakh-SHOV a-do-NAI lo a-VON v'-AYN b'-ru-KHO r'-mi-YAH

באַ֥שְֽׁרֵי אָדָ֗ם לֹ֤א יַחְשֹׁ֬ב יְהֹוָ֣ה ל֣וֹ עָוֺ֑ן וְאֵ֖ין בְּרוּח֣וֹ רְמִיָּֽה׃

3As long as I said nothing, my limbs wasted away from my anguished roaring all day long.

ki-he-RE-sh'-TEE BA-lu a-tza-MAI, b'-sha-a-GA-tee kol ha-YOM

גכִּֽי־הֶ֭חֱרַשְׁתִּי בָּל֣וּ עֲצָמָ֑י בְּ֝שַׁאֲגָתִ֗י כׇּל־הַיּֽוֹם׃

4For night and day Your hand lay heavy on me; my vigor waned as in the summer drought. Selah.

KI yo-MAM va-la-YE-laH tik-BAD a-LAI ya-DE-kha neh-PAKH l'-sha-DEE b'-khar-vo-NEI ka-YITZ se-LAH

דכִּ֤י ׀ יוֹמָ֣ם וָלַיְלָה֮ תִּכְבַּ֥ד עָלַ֗י יָ֫דֶ֥ךָ נֶהְפַּ֥ךְ לְשַׁדִּ֑י בְּחַרְבֹ֖נֵי קַ֣יִץ סֶֽלָה׃

5Then I acknowledged my sin to You; I did not cover up my guilt; I resolved, “I will confess my transgressions to Hashem,” and You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah.

kha-ta-TEE o-di-a-KHA va-a-VO-NEE lo-ki-SEE-tee a-mar-TEE o-DEH a-LEI f'-sha-AI la-a-do-NAI v'-a-TAH na-SA-ta a-VOON kha-ta-TEE se-LAH

החַטָּאתִ֨י אוֹדִ֪יעֲךָ֡ וַעֲ֘וֺנִ֤י לֹֽא־כִסִּ֗יתִי אָמַ֗רְתִּי אוֹדֶ֤ה עֲלֵ֣י פְ֭שָׁעַי לַיהֹוָ֑ה וְאַתָּ֨ה נָ֘שָׂ֤אתָ עֲוֺ֖ן חַטָּאתִ֣י סֶֽלָה׃

6Therefore let every faithful man pray to You upon discovering [his sin], that the rushing mighty waters not overtake him.

al-ZOT yit-pa-LEL kol-kha-SEED e-LE-kha l'-ET m'-TZO rak l'-she-TEF ma-YIM ra-BEEM e-LA-yu lo ya-gi-U

ועַל־זֹ֡את יִתְפַּלֵּ֬ל כׇּל־חָסִ֨יד ׀ אֵלֶיךָ֮ לְעֵ֢ת מְ֫צֹ֥א רַ֗ק לְ֭שֵׁטֶף מַ֣יִם רַבִּ֑ים אֵ֝לָ֗יו לֹ֣א יַגִּֽיעוּ׃

7You are my shelter; You preserve me from distress; You surround me with the joyous shouts of deliverance. Selah.

a-TAH SE-ter LEE mi-TZAR ti-tze-RE-nee ra-NEI fa-LET t'-so-ve-VE-nee SE-la

זאַתָּ֤ה ׀ סֵ֥תֶר לִי֮ מִצַּ֢ר תִּ֫צְּרֵ֥נִי רׇנֵּ֥י פַלֵּ֑ט תְּס֖וֹבְבֵ֣נִי סֶֽלָה׃

8Let me enlighten you and show you which way to go; let me offer counsel; my eye is on you.

a-s'KI-le-KHA v'-o-r'-KHA b'-de-REKH-zu te-LEKH, i-a-TZA a-LE-kha e-YE-nee

חאַשְׂכִּֽילְךָ֨ ׀ וְֽאוֹרְךָ֗ בְּדֶֽרֶךְ־ז֥וּ תֵלֵ֑ךְ אִיעֲצָ֖ה עָלֶ֣יךָ עֵינִֽי׃

9Be not like a senseless horse or mule whose movement must be curbed by bit and bridle; far be it from you!

al-ti-HEE k'-SUS k'-fe-RED, AYN ha-VEEN b'-ME-teg va-RE-san, ED-yo li-v'-LOM, BAL k'-ROV e-LE-kha

טאַל־תִּהְי֤וּ ׀ כְּס֥וּס כְּפֶרֶד֮ אֵ֤ין הָ֫בִ֥ין בְּמֶתֶג־וָרֶ֣סֶן עֶדְי֣וֹ לִבְל֑וֹם בַּ֝֗ל קְרֹ֣ב אֵלֶֽיךָ׃

10Many are the torments of the wicked, but he who trusts in Hashem shall be surrounded with favor.

ra-BEEM makh-o-VIM la-ra-SHA v'-ha-bo-TE-aKH ba-do-NAI khe-SED ye-so-VE-ven-NU

ירַבִּ֥ים מַכְאוֹבִ֗ים לָ֫רָשָׁ֥ע וְהַבּוֹטֵ֥חַ בַּֽיהֹוָ֑ה חֶ֝֗סֶד יְסוֹבְבֶֽנּוּ׃

11Rejoice in Hashem and exult, O you righteous; shout for joy, all upright men!

siM-KHU va-do-NAI v'-gi-LU tza-DEE-KEEM v'-har-nee-NU kol-yish-ray-LEV.

יאשִׂמְח֬וּ בַיהֹוָ֣ה וְ֭גִילוּ צַדִּיקִ֑ים וְ֝הַרְנִ֗ינוּ כׇּל־יִשְׁרֵי־לֵֽב׃