TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS
Chapter 9
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1For the leader; ‘almuth labben. A psalm of David.
אלַמְנַצֵּחַ עַלְמוּת לַבֵּן מִזְמוֹר לְדָוִד׃
2I will praise You, Hashem, with all my heart; I will tell all Your wonders.
באוֹדֶה יְהֹוָה בְּכָל־לִבִּי אֲסַפְּרָה כָּל־נִפְלְאוֹתֶיךָ׃
3I will rejoice and exult in You, singing a hymn to Your name, O Most High.
גאֶשְׂמְחָה וְאֶעֶלְצָה בָךְ אֲזַמְּרָה שִׁמְךָ עֶלְיוֹן׃
4When my enemies retreat, they stumble to their doom at Your presence.
דבְּשׁוּב־אוֹיְבַי אָחוֹר יִכָּשְׁלוּ וְיֹאבְדוּ מִפָּנֶיךָ׃
5For You uphold my right and claim, enthroned as righteous judge.
הכִּי־עָשִׂיתָ מִשְׁפָּטִי וְדִינִי יָשַׁבְתָּ לְכִסֵּא שׁוֹפֵט צֶדֶק׃
6You blast the nations; You destroy the wicked; You blot out their name forever.
וגָּעַרְתָּ גוֹיִם אִבַּדְתָּ רָשָׁע שְׁמָם מָחִיתָ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד׃
7The enemy is no more— ruins everlasting; You have torn down their cities; their very names are lost.
זהָאוֹיֵב תַּמּוּ חֳרָבוֹת לָנֶצַח וְעָרִים נָתַשְׁתָּ אָבַד זִכְרָם הֵמָּה׃
8But Hashem abides forever; He has set up His throne for judgment;
חוַיהֹוָה לְעוֹלָם יֵשֵׁב כּוֹנֵן לַמִּשְׁפָּט כִּסְאוֹ׃
9it is He who judges the world with righteousness, rules the peoples with equity.
v'-HU yish-pot tay-VAYL b'-TZE-dek ya-DEEN l'-u-MEEM b'-may-sha-REEM
טוְהוּא יִשְׁפֹּט־תֵּבֵל בְּצֶדֶק יָדִין לְאֻמִּים בְּמֵישָׁרִים׃
9:9 It is He who judges the world
PM David Ben Gurion signing the Declaration of Independence
The Sages comment that Hashem judges the nations of the world according to their capabilities, but at the same time reminds them of the position of righteous gentiles in Israel’s history. God asks the nations, “why have you not come close to me?” If they say I was too iniquitous, idolatrous or distant from You, He responds, “were you more iniquitous than Rahab the harlot who ultimately came close to Israel and produced prophets and righteous people? Were you more idolatrous than Jethro the priest who came close and produced prophets and righteous people? Were you more distant than Rut the Moabite who came close and produced kings of Israel?” The desire for the nations of the world to work together and establish positive relationships with the Nation of Israel was echoed in Israel’s Declaration of Independence: “We extend our hand to all neighboring states and their peoples in an offer of peace and good neighborliness, and appeal to them to establish bonds of cooperation and mutual help with the sovereign Jewish people settled in its own land.”
10Hashem is a haven for the oppressed, a haven in times of trouble.
יוִיהִי יְהֹוָה מִשְׂגָּב לַדָּךְ מִשְׂגָּב לְעִתּוֹת בַּצָּרָה׃
11Those who know Your name trust You, for You do not abandon those who turn to You, Hashem.
יאוְיִבְטְחוּ בְךָ יוֹדְעֵי שְׁמֶךָ כִּי לֹא־עָזַבְתָּ דֹרְשֶׁיךָ יְהֹוָה׃
12Sing a hymn to Hashem, who reigns in Tzion; declare His deeds among the peoples.
יבזַמְּרוּ לַיהֹוָה יֹשֵׁב צִיּוֹן הַגִּידוּ בָעַמִּים עֲלִילוֹתָיו׃
13For He does not ignore the cry of the afflicted; He who requites bloodshed is mindful of them.
יגכִּי־דֹרֵשׁ דָּמִים אוֹתָם זָכָר לֹא־שָׁכַח צַעֲקַת עניים [עֲנָוִים׃]
14Have mercy on me, Hashem; see my affliction at the hands of my foes, You who lift me from the gates of death,
ידחָנְנֵנִי יְהֹוָה רְאֵה עָנְיִי מִשֹּׂנְאָי מְרוֹמְמִי מִשַּׁעֲרֵי מָוֶת׃
15so that in the gates of Fair Tzion I might tell all Your praise, I might exult in Your deliverance.
טולְמַעַן אֲסַפְּרָה כָּל־תְּהִלָּתֶיךָ בְּשַׁעֲרֵי בַת־צִיּוֹן אָגִילָה בִּישׁוּעָתֶךָ׃
16The nations sink in the pit they have made; their own foot is caught in the net they have hidden.
טזטָבְעוּ גוֹיִם בְּשַׁחַת עָשׂוּ בְּרֶשֶׁת־זוּ טָמָנוּ נִלְכְּדָה רַגְלָם׃
17Hashem has made Himself known: He works judgment; the wicked man is snared by his own devices. Higgaion. Selah.
יזנוֹדַע יְהֹוָה מִשְׁפָּט עָשָׂה בְּפֹעַל כַּפָּיו נוֹקֵשׁ רָשָׁע הִגָּיוֹן סֶלָה׃
18Let the wicked be in Sheol, all the nations who ignore Hashem!
יחיָשׁוּבוּ רְשָׁעִים לִשְׁאוֹלָה כָּל־גּוֹיִם שְׁכֵחֵי אֱלֹהִים׃
19Not always shall the needy be ignored, nor the hope of the afflicted forever lost.
יטכִּי לֹא לָנֶצַח יִשָּׁכַח אֶבְיוֹן תִּקְוַת ענוים [עֲנִיִּים] תֹּאבַד לָעַד׃
20Rise, Hashem! Let not men have power; let the nations be judged in Your presence.
כקוּמָה יְהֹוָה אַל־יָעֹז אֱנוֹשׁ יִשָּׁפְטוּ גוֹיִם עַל־פָּנֶיךָ׃
21Strike fear into them, Hashem; let the nations know they are only men. Selah.
כאשִׁיתָה יְהֹוָה מוֹרָה לָהֶם יֵדְעוּ גוֹיִם אֱנוֹשׁ הֵמָּה סֶּלָה׃
