TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 66

Listen to this chapter in Hebrew:

1For the leader. A song. A psalm. Raise a shout for Hashem, all the earth;

אלַמְנַצֵּחַ שִׁיר מִזְמוֹר הָרִיעוּ לֵאלֹהִים כָּל־הָאָרֶץ׃

2sing the glory of His name, make glorious His praise.

בזַמְּרוּ כְבוֹד־שְׁמוֹ שִׂימוּ כָבוֹד תְּהִלָּתוֹ׃

3Say to Hashem, “How awesome are Your deeds, Your enemies cower before Your great strength;

גאִמְרוּ לֵאלֹהִים מַה־נּוֹרָא מַעֲשֶׂיךָ בְּרֹב עֻזְּךָ יְכַחֲשׁוּ לְךָ אֹיְבֶיךָ׃

4all the earth bows to You, and sings hymns to You; all sing hymns to Your name.” Selah.

דכָּל־הָאָרֶץ יִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לְךָ וִיזַמְּרוּ־לָךְ יְזַמְּרוּ שִׁמְךָ סֶלָה׃

5Come and see the works of Hashem, who is held in awe by men for His acts.

הלְכוּ וּרְאוּ מִפְעֲלוֹת אֱלֹהִים נוֹרָא עֲלִילָה עַל־בְּנֵי אָדָם׃

6He turned the sea into dry land; they crossed the river on foot; we therefore rejoice in Him.

ha-FAKH YAM l'-ya-ba-SHAH ba-na-HAR ya-av-RU v'-RA-gel SHAM nis-m'-khah BO

והָפַךְ יָם לְיַבָּשָׁה בַּנָּהָר יַעַבְרוּ בְרָגֶל שָׁם נִשְׂמְחָה־בּוֹ׃

66:6   Turned the sea into dry land

The amount of produce that the Land of Israel gives is a direct response to the behavior of its inhabitants. Hashem makes this point very clear throughout the Bible, specifically in Sefer Devarim (11:13-15), in which He links the concept of reward and punishment with the successful produce of the land. If the children of God veer from His path and reject Him for idolatry, divine anger will arise and the land will not give its produce. This reaction is actually a blessing, since the inhabitants of Eretz Yisrael are thereby granted a barometer for their spiritual behavior. If there is famine and drought, they know that Hashem is angry, and they must inspect their actions. If there is plenty, God is happy with His nation and it is appropriate to sing praises to the Lord for His wonderful bounty.

7He rules forever in His might; His eyes scan the nations; let the rebellious not assert themselves. Selah.

זמֹשֵׁל בִּגְבוּרָתוֹ עוֹלָם עֵינָיו בַּגּוֹיִם תִּצְפֶּינָה הַסּוֹרְרִים אַל־ירימו [יָרוּמוּ] לָמוֹ סֶלָה׃

8O peoples, bless our God, celebrate His praises;

חבָּרְכוּ עַמִּים אֱלֹהֵינוּ וְהַשְׁמִיעוּ קוֹל תְּהִלָּתוֹ׃

9who has granted us life, and has not let our feet slip.

טהַשָּׂם נַפְשֵׁנוּ בַּחַיִּים וְלֹא־נָתַן לַמּוֹט רַגְלֵנוּ׃

10You have tried us, O Hashem, refining us, as one refines silver.

יכִּי־בְחַנְתָּנוּ אֱלֹהִים צְרַפְתָּנוּ כִּצְרָף־כָּסֶף׃

11You have caught us in a net, caught us in trammels.

יאהֲבֵאתָנוּ בַמְּצוּדָה שַׂמְתָּ מוּעָקָה בְמָתְנֵינוּ׃

12You have let men ride over us; we have endured fire and water, and You have brought us through to prosperity.

יבהִרְכַּבְתָּ אֱנוֹשׁ לְרֹאשֵׁנוּ בָּאנוּ־בָאֵשׁ וּבַמַּיִם וַתּוֹצִיאֵנוּ לָרְוָיָה׃

13I enter Your house with burnt offerings, I pay my vows to You,

יגאָבוֹא בֵיתְךָ בְעוֹלוֹת אֲשַׁלֵּם לְךָ נְדָרָי׃

14[vows] that my lips pronounced, that my mouth uttered in my distress.

ידאֲשֶׁר־פָּצוּ שְׂפָתָי וְדִבֶּר־פִּי בַּצַּר־לִי׃

15I offer up fatlings to You, with the odor of burning rams; I sacrifice bulls and he-goats. Selah.

טועֹלוֹת מֵחִים אַעֲלֶה־לָּךְ עִם־קְטֹרֶת אֵילִים אֶעֱשֶׂה בָקָר עִם־עַתּוּדִים סֶלָה׃

16Come and hear, all Hashem-fearing men, as I tell what He did for me.

טזלְכוּ־שִׁמְעוּ וַאֲסַפְּרָה כָּל־יִרְאֵי אֱלֹהִים אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה לְנַפְשִׁי׃

17I called aloud to Him, glorification on my tongue.

יזאֵלָיו פִּי־קָרָאתִי וְרוֹמַם תַּחַת לְשׁוֹנִי׃

18Had I an evil thought in my mind, Hashem would not have listened.

יחאָוֶן אִם־רָאִיתִי בְלִבִּי לֹא יִשְׁמַע אֲדֹנָי׃

19But Hashem did listen; He paid heed to my prayer.

יטאָכֵן שָׁמַע אֱלֹהִים הִקְשִׁיב בְּקוֹל תְּפִלָּתִי׃

20Blessed is Hashem who has not turned away my prayer, or His faithful care from me.

כבָּרוּךְ אֱלֹהִים אֲשֶׁר לֹא־הֵסִיר תְּפִלָּתִי וְחַסְדּוֹ מֵאִתִּי׃