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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 69

Translation and Transliteration of 

1For the leader. On shoshannim. Of David.

la-menatze-ACH al-sho-SHA-nim le-DA-vid

אלַמְנַצֵּ֬חַ ׀ עַֽל־שׁוֹשַׁנִּ֬ים לְדָוִֽד׃

2Deliver me, O Hashem, for the waters have reached my neck;

ho-SHI-e-NI e-lo-HIM, KI ba-U MA-yim ad-NA-fesh

בהוֹשִׁיעֵ֥נִי אֱלֹהִ֑ים כִּ֤י בָ֖אוּ מַ֣יִם עַד־נָֽפֶשׁ׃

3I am sinking into the slimy deep and find no foothold; I have come into the watery depths; the flood sweeps me away.

ta-BA-ti b'-yu-VEN m'-tzu-LAH v'-AYN mo-a-MAD, ba-TI b'-ma-a-ma-KEI-MA-yim v'-shi-BO-let sh'-ta-FA-t'-ni

גטָבַ֤עְתִּי ׀ בִּיוֵ֣ן מְ֭צוּלָה וְאֵ֣ין מׇעֳמָ֑ד בָּ֥אתִי בְמַעֲמַקֵּי־מַ֝֗יִם וְשִׁבֹּ֥לֶת שְׁטָפָֽתְנִי׃

4I am weary with calling; my throat is dry; my eyes fail while I wait for Hashem.

ya-GA-ti b'-kor-EE ni-KHAR g'-ro-NEE ka-LU e-NAI m'-ya-KHEL le-lo-HAI

דיָגַ֣עְתִּי בְקׇרְאִי֮ נִחַ֢ר גְּר֫וֹנִ֥י כָּל֥וּ עֵינַ֑י מְ֝יַחֵ֗ל לֵאלֹהָֽי׃

5More numerous than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without reason; many are those who would destroy me, my treacherous enemies. Must I restore what I have not stolen?

ra-BU mi-sa-a-ROT ro-SHI so-NE-a-KHEE khee-NAHM o-tse-MU matz-mee-TAI o-y'-VAI she-KER a-SHER lo-ga-ZAL-tee az a-SHEEV

הרַבּ֤וּ ׀ מִשַּׂעֲר֣וֹת רֹאשִׁי֮ שֹׂנְאַ֢י חִ֫נָּ֥ם עָצְמ֣וּ מַ֭צְמִיתַי אֹיְבַ֣י שֶׁ֑קֶר אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־גָ֝זַ֗לְתִּי אָ֣ז אָשִֽׁיב׃

6Hashem, You know my folly; my guilty deeds are not hidden from You.

E-lo-HIM a-TAH ya-DA-at l'-i-vu-l'-TI v'-ash-mo-TAI mi-m'-KHA lo-nikh-KHA-du

ואֱֽלֹהִ֗ים אַתָּ֣ה יָ֭דַעְתָּ לְאִוַּלְתִּ֑י וְ֝אַשְׁמוֹתַ֗י מִמְּךָ֥ לֹֽא־נִכְחָֽדוּ׃

7Let those who look to You, O Hashem, God of hosts, not be disappointed on my account; let those who seek You, O God of Yisrael, not be shamed because of me.

al-YE-vosh-u vi KO-ve-KHA, a-do-NAI, YE-ho-VAH t'-va-OT, al-yi-KAL-mu vi m'-vak-SHE-kha, e-lo-HEI yis-ra-AYL.

זאַל־יֵ֘בֹ֤שׁוּ בִ֨י ׀ קֹוֶיךָ֮ אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִ֗ה צְבָ֫א֥וֹת אַל־יִכָּ֣לְמֽוּ בִ֣י מְבַקְשֶׁ֑יךָ אֱ֝לֹהֵ֗י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

8It is for Your sake that I have been reviled, that shame covers my face;

ki-a-LE-kha na-SA-tee kher-PAH ki-s'-TAH k'-li-MAH fa-NAI

חכִּֽי־עָ֭לֶיךָ נָשָׂ֣אתִי חֶרְפָּ֑ה כִּסְּתָ֖ה כְלִמָּ֣ה פָנָֽי׃

9I am a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my kin.

MU-ZAR ha-YI-ti l'-e-KHA-yi, v'-NO-kh'-REE liv-NAY i-MI.

טמ֭וּזָר הָיִ֣יתִי לְאֶחָ֑י וְ֝נׇכְרִ֗י לִבְנֵ֥י אִמִּֽי׃

10My zeal for Your house has been my undoing; the reproaches of those who revile You have fallen upon me.

ki-KIN-at b'-te-KHA a-ka-LA-t'-NI, v'-kher-POT kho-r'-FE-kha na-F'-lu a-LAI

יכִּֽי־קִנְאַ֣ת בֵּיתְךָ֣ אֲכָלָ֑תְנִי וְחֶרְפּ֥וֹת ח֝וֹרְפֶ֗יךָ נָפְל֥וּ עָלָֽי׃

11When I wept and fasted, I was reviled for it.

va-e-v'-KEH va-TZOM naf-SHEE va-t'-HEE la-cha-RA-fot li

יאוָאֶבְכֶּ֣ה בַצּ֣וֹם נַפְשִׁ֑י וַתְּהִ֖י לַחֲרָפ֣וֹת לִֽי׃

12I made sackcloth my garment; I became a byword among them.

va-e-t'-NAH l'-bu-SHEE sak va-e-HI la-HEM l'-ma-SHAL

יבוָאֶתְּנָ֣ה לְבוּשִׁ֣י שָׂ֑ק וָאֱהִ֖י לָהֶ֣ם לְמָשָֽׁל׃

13Those who sit in the gate talk about me; I am the taunt of drunkards.

ya-see-KHU vi yo-SHE-vay sha-AR u-n'-gi-NOT sho-TEI she-KHAR

יגיָשִׂ֣יחוּ בִ֭י יֹ֣שְׁבֵי שָׁ֑עַר וּ֝נְגִינ֗וֹת שׁוֹתֵ֥י שֵׁכָֽר׃

14As for me, may my prayer come to You, Hashem, at a favorable moment; O Hashem, in Your abundant faithfulness, answer me with Your sure deliverance.

va-a-NEE t'-fee-LA-tee-l'-KHA a-do-NAI, AYT ra-TSON e-lo-HEEM b'-rov khas-DE-kha, a-NE-ni b'-e-MET yish-E-kha

ידוַאֲנִ֤י תְפִלָּֽתִי־לְךָ֨ ׀ יְהֹוָ֡ה עֵ֤ת רָצ֗וֹן אֱלֹהִ֥ים בְּרׇב־חַסְדֶּ֑ךָ עֲ֝נֵ֗נִי בֶּאֱמֶ֥ת יִשְׁעֶֽךָ׃

15Rescue me from the mire; let me not sink; let me be rescued from my enemies, and from the watery depths.

ha-TZI-le-ni mi-TIT v'-al et-BA-a, i-na-TZ'-la mi-sho-NE-a-i u-mi-ma-a-MA-kei MA-yim

טוהַצִּילֵ֣נִי מִ֭טִּיט וְאַל־אֶטְבָּ֑עָה אִנָּצְלָ֥ה מִ֝שֹּׂנְאַ֗י וּמִמַּ֖עֲמַקֵּי מָֽיִם׃

16Let the floodwaters not sweep me away; let the deep not swallow me; let the mouth of the Pit not close over me.

al-tish-te-FE-ni shi-BO-let MA-yim v'-al-tiv-la-E-ni m'-tzu-LAH v'-al-te-ETAR-a-LAI b'-EIR pi-HA

טזאַל־תִּשְׁטְפֵ֤נִי ׀ שִׁבֹּ֣לֶת מַ֭יִם וְאַל־תִּבְלָעֵ֣נִי מְצוּלָ֑ה וְאַל־תֶּאְטַר־עָלַ֖י בְּאֵ֣ר פִּֽיהָ׃

17Answer me, Hashem, according to Your great steadfastness; in accordance with Your abundant mercy turn to me;

a-NE-ni a-do-NAI kee-TOV khas-DE-kha ke-ROV ra-kha-ME-kha pe-NEH e-LAI

יזעֲנֵ֣נִי יְ֭הֹוָה כִּי־ט֣וֹב חַסְדֶּ֑ךָ כְּרֹ֥ב רַ֝חֲמֶ֗יךָ פְּנֵ֣ה אֵלָֽי׃

18do not hide Your face from Your servant, for I am in distress; answer me quickly.

v'-al-tas-TEIR pa-NE-kha me-a-v'-DE-kha, kee-TZAR-LEE ma-HER a-NE-ni

יחוְאַל־תַּסְתֵּ֣ר פָּ֭נֶיךָ מֵעַבְדֶּ֑ךָ כִּי־צַר־לִ֝֗י מַהֵ֥ר עֲנֵֽנִי׃

19Come near to me and redeem me; free me from my enemies.

kor-VAH el-NAF-shee ge-a-LAH l'-ma-AN o-y'-VAI pe-DAY-nee

יטקׇרְבָ֣ה אֶל־נַפְשִׁ֣י גְאָלָ֑הּ לְמַ֖עַן אֹיְבַ֣י פְּדֵֽנִי׃

20You know my reproach, my shame, my disgrace; You are aware of all my foes.

a-TAH ya-DA-at kher-PA-tee u-vo-SH'-tee u-k'-li-MA-tee ne-g'-DE-kha kol-tzo-r'-RAI

כאַתָּ֤ה יָדַ֗עְתָּ חֶרְפָּתִ֣י וּ֭בׇשְׁתִּי וּכְלִמָּתִ֑י נֶ֝גְדְּךָ֗ כׇּל־צוֹרְרָֽי׃

21Reproach breaks my heart, I am in despair; I hope for consolation, but there is none, for comforters, but find none.

kher-PAH sha-VE-RAH li-BEE va-a-NU-sha va-a-ka-VEH la-NUD va-a-YIN v'-lam-na-kha-MEEM v'-LO ma-TZA-tee

כאחֶרְפָּ֤ה ׀ שָׁ֥בְרָ֥ה לִבִּ֗י וָאָ֫נ֥וּשָׁה וָאֲקַוֶּ֣ה לָנ֣וּד וָאַ֑יִן וְ֝לַמְנַחֲמִ֗ים וְלֹ֣א מָצָֽאתִי׃

22They give me gall for food, vinegar to quench my thirst.

vai-yi-t'-NU b'-va-ru-TEE rosh v'-litz-ma-EE yash-KU-nee kho-METS

כבוַיִּתְּנ֣וּ בְּבָרוּתִ֣י רֹ֑אשׁ וְ֝לִצְמָאִ֗י יַשְׁק֥וּנִי חֹֽמֶץ׃

23May their table be a trap for them, a snare for their allies.

yi-SHU-l'kha-NAM lif-NE-hem l'-FAKH v'-lish-lo-MEEM l'-mo-KESH

כגיְהִי־שֻׁלְחָנָ֣ם לִפְנֵיהֶ֣ם לְפָ֑ח וְלִשְׁלוֹמִ֥ים לְמוֹקֵֽשׁ׃

24May their eyes grow dim so that they cannot see; may their loins collapse continually.

tekh-SHAKH-nah e-NE-hem me-re-OT u-mot-NE-hem ta-MEED ha-ma-AD

כדתֶּחְשַׁ֣כְנָה עֵ֭ינֵיהֶם מֵרְא֑וֹת וּ֝מׇתְנֵיהֶ֗ם תָּמִ֥יד הַמְעַֽד׃

25Pour out Your wrath on them; may Your blazing anger overtake them;

sh'-POKH a-LE-hem za-ME-kha va-kha-RON a-P'-kha ya-see-GEM

כהשְׁפׇךְ־עֲלֵיהֶ֥ם זַעְמֶ֑ךָ וַחֲר֥וֹן אַ֝פְּךָ֗ יַשִּׂיגֵֽם׃

26may their encampments be desolate; may their tents stand empty.

ti-HEE ti-RA-tam n'-sha-MAH b'-o-he-LE-hem al y'-hi yo-SHEV

כותְּהִי־טִירָתָ֥ם נְשַׁמָּ֑ה בְּ֝אׇהֳלֵיהֶ֗ם אַל־יְהִ֥י יֹשֵֽׁב׃

27For they persecute those You have struck; they talk about the pain of those You have felled.

ki-a-TAH a-SHER hi-KI-ta ra-DA-fu v'-el-makh-ov kha-la-LE-kha y'-sa-PAY-ru

כזכִּי־אַתָּ֣ה אֲשֶׁר־הִכִּ֣יתָ רָדָ֑פוּ וְאֶל־מַכְא֖וֹב חֲלָלֶ֣יךָ יְסַפֵּֽרוּ׃

28Add that to their guilt; let them have no share of Your beneficence;

te-NAH a-VON al a-o-NAM v'-al ya-VO-u b'-tzid-ka-TE-kha

כחתְּֽנָה־עָ֭וֺן עַל־עֲוֺנָ֑ם וְאַל־יָ֝בֹ֗אוּ בְּצִדְקָתֶֽךָ׃

29may they be erased from the book of life, and not be inscribed with the righteous.

YIM-ma-KHU mi-SE-fer cha-YIM v'-IM tza-DEE-KEEM al yi-ka-TE-vu

כטיִ֭מָּח֥וּ מִסֵּ֣פֶר חַיִּ֑ים וְעִ֥ם צַ֝דִּיקִ֗ים אַל־יִכָּתֵֽבוּ׃

30But I am lowly and in pain; Your help, O Hashem, keeps me safe.

va-a-NEE a-NEE v'-ko-EV ye-shu-a-te-KHA e-lo-HEEM t'-sa-g'-VE-nee

לוַ֭אֲנִי עָנִ֣י וְכוֹאֵ֑ב יְשׁוּעָתְךָ֖ אֱלֹהִ֣ים תְּשַׂגְּבֵֽנִי׃

31I will extol Hashem's name with song, and exalt Him with praise.

a-hal-LAH shem-E-lo-HEEM b'-SHEER va-a-ga-d'-LE-nu b'-to-DAH

לאאֲהַלְלָ֣ה שֵׁם־אֱלֹהִ֣ים בְּשִׁ֑יר וַאֲגַדְּלֶ֥נּוּ בְתוֹדָֽה׃

32That will please Hashem more than oxen, than bulls with horns and hooves.

v'-ti-TAV la-a-do-NAI mi-SHOR PAR mak-RIN maf-RIS

לבוְתִיטַ֣ב לַ֭יהֹוָה מִשּׁ֥וֹר פָּ֗ר מַקְרִ֥ן מַפְרִֽיס׃

33The lowly will see and rejoice; you who are mindful of Hashem, take heart!

RA-u a-na-VIM yis-ma-KHU dor-SHEI e-lo-HIM vi-KHI l'-va-v'-KHEM

לגרָא֣וּ עֲנָוִ֣ים יִשְׂמָ֑חוּ דֹּרְשֵׁ֥י אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים וִיחִ֥י לְבַבְכֶֽם׃

34For Hashem listens to the needy, and does not spurn His captives.

ki-SHO-mea el-ev-YO-nim a-do-NAI v'-et-a-see-RAV lo-va-ZAH

לדכִּי־שֹׁמֵ֣עַ אֶל־אֶבְיוֹנִ֣ים יְהֹוָ֑ה וְאֶת־אֲ֝סִירָ֗יו לֹ֣א בָזָֽה׃

35Heaven and earth shall extol Him, the seas, and all that moves in them.

y'-ha-l'-lu-HU sha-MA-yim va-A-retz ya-MIYM v'-kol-ro-MES baM

להיְֽ֭הַלְלוּהוּ שָׁמַ֣יִם וָאָ֑רֶץ יַ֝מִּ֗ים וְֽכׇל־רֹמֵ֥שׂ בָּֽם׃

36For Hashem will deliver Tzion and rebuild the cities of Yehuda; they shall live there and inherit it;

KEE e-lo-HEEM yo-SHEE-a tzi-YON v'-yiv-NEH a-RAY y'-hu-DAH v'-YA-sh'-vu SHAM vee-ray-SHU-ha

לוכִּ֤י אֱלֹהִ֨ים ׀ י֘וֹשִׁ֤יעַ צִיּ֗וֹן וְ֭יִבְנֶה עָרֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֑ה וְיָ֥שְׁבוּ שָׁ֝֗ם וִירֵשֽׁוּהָ׃

 69:36   They shall live there and inherit it

Historically, the Israelites lived and prospered in the central mountain region of Israel, the area of Judea and Samaria. Avraham traveled from the north through the Samarian hills down to Chevron, his future eternal resting place. Yitzchak and Yaakov, as well as King David and the Maccabees, hovered around the mountainous area, with its springs and grass for grazing. The psalmist reminds us of the close connection Israel has with the hills of Judea, and delivers a charge to settle the mountains and redeem them as their inheritance. An ancient road traverses the hilltops of Judea, connecting Yerushalayim with the southern Chevron hills. This road is called the Path of the Patriarchs, as it is most probably the route taken by Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov when traveling between Beersheva, Chevron, Mount Moriah, Beit El, and Shechem. Walking on it, one finds Roman milestones, an ancient ritual bath and archaeological remnants of years past. One also sees the beautiful, populated, modern cities of Efrat, Neve Daniel, Elazar, Alon Shevut, K’far Etzion and many other settlements in the area of Judea.

A Roman milestone on the Path of the Patriarchs

A young boy admires the vastness of the Judean desert.

37the offspring of His servants shall possess it; those who cherish His name shall dwell there.

v'-ZE-ra a-va-DAV yin-kha-LU-ha, v'-o-ha-VAY sh'-MO yish-KE-nu-VAH. (P)

לזוְזֶ֣רַע עֲ֭בָדָיו יִנְחָל֑וּהָ וְאֹהֲבֵ֥י שְׁ֝מ֗וֹ יִשְׁכְּנוּ־בָֽהּ׃