Psalm 31 Text

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Text Only (Hebrew and English) The text below is divided according to the psalm's poetic lines. For additional information, see our Poetic Structure layer.

Text (Hebrew) Verse Text (CBC)
לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַ מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד׃ 1a For the director. A psalm by David.
בְּךָ֖ יְהוָ֣ה חָ֭סִיתִי 2a I have taken shelter in you, YHWH.
אַל־אֵב֣וֹשָׁה לְעוֹלָ֑ם 2b Do not let my shame continue forever!
בְּצִדְקָתְךָ֥ פַלְּטֵֽנִי׃ 2c Rescue me in your righteousness!
הַטֵּ֤ה אֵלַ֨י ׀ אָזְנְךָ֮ 3a Listen to me!
מְהֵרָ֪ה הַצִּ֫ילֵ֥נִי 3b Rescue me quickly!
הֱיֵ֤ה לִ֨י ׀ לְֽצוּר־מָ֭עוֹז 3c Be a rock of refuge for me,
לְבֵ֥ית מְצוּד֗וֹת לְהוֹשִׁיעֵֽנִי׃ 3d and a fortress to deliver me!
כִּֽי־סַלְעִ֣י וּמְצוּדָתִ֣י אָ֑תָּה 4a Because you are my rock and my stronghold.
וּלְמַ֥עַן שִׁ֝מְךָ֗ תַּֽנְחֵ֥נִי וּֽתְנַהֲלֵֽנִי׃ 4b And for the sake of your name, you must carefully guide me.
תּוֹצִיאֵ֗נִי מֵרֶ֣שֶׁת 5a You must save me from the net
ז֭וּ טָ֣מְנוּ לִ֑י 5b which they hid for me,
כִּֽי־אַ֝תָּה מָֽעוּזִּֽי׃ 5c because you are my refuge.
בְּיָדְךָ֮ אַפְקִ֪יד ר֫וּחִ֥י 6a I entrust my spirit into your hand.
פָּדִ֖יתָ אוֹתִ֥י יְהוָ֗ה אֵ֣ל אֱמֶֽת׃ 6b You have redeemed me, YHWH, God of faithfulness.
שָׂנֵאתָ* הַשֹּׁמְרִ֥ים הַבְלֵי־שָׁ֑וְא* 7a You hate those who worship worthless idols,
וַ֝אֲנִ֗י אֶל־יְהוָ֥ה בָּטָֽחְתִּי׃ 7b but I trust YHWH.
אָגִ֥ילָה וְאֶשְׂמְחָ֗ה בְּחַ֫סְדֶּ֥ךָ 8a I will be glad and rejoice on account of your faithfulness,
אֲשֶׁ֣ר רָ֭אִיתָ אֶת־עָנְיִ֑י 8b that you saw my affliction.
הוֹשַׁעְתָּ* בְּצָר֥וֹת נַפְשִֽׁי׃* 8c You saved my life from distress.
וְלֹ֣א הִ֭סְגַּרְתַּנִי בְּיַד־אוֹיֵ֑ב 9a And you did not let any enemy capture me.
הֶֽעֱמַ֖דְתָּ בַמֶּרְחָ֣ב רַגְלָֽי 9b You set my feet in a broad place.
חָנֵּ֥נִי יְהוָה֮ כִּ֤י צַ֫ר־לִ֥י 10a Be gracious to me, YHWH, because I am in distress.
עָשְׁשָׁ֖ה בְכַ֥עַס עֵינִ֗י נַפְשִׁ֥י וּבִטְנִֽי׃ 10b My eye, my throat, and my belly waste away because of anger.
כִּ֤י כָל֪וּ בְיָג֡וֹן חַיַּי֮ 11a Because my life fades away with grief,
וּשְׁנוֹתַ֪י בַּאֲנָ֫חָ֥ה 11b and my years [fade away] with groaning.
כָּשַׁ֣ל בַּעֲוֺנִ֣י כֹחִ֑י 11c My strength has failed because of my iniquity,
וַעֲצָמַ֥י עָשֵֽׁשׁוּ׃ 11d and my bones waste away.
מִכָּל־צֹרְרַ֨י הָיִ֪יתִי חֶרְפָּ֡ה 12a I have been scorned by all of my adversaries
וְלִשֲׁכֵנַ֨י ׀ מְאֹד֮ 12b and [I have] greatly [become an object of scorn] to my neighbors,
וּפַ֪חַד לִֽמְיֻדָּ֫עָ֥י 12c and [I have become] an object of fear to my friends.
רֹאַ֥י בַּח֑וּץ נָדְד֥וּ מִמֶּֽנִּי׃ 12d Those who see me in the street have fled from me.
נִ֭שְׁכַּחְתִּי כְּמֵ֣ת מִלֵּ֑ב 13a I have been forgotten like a dead person [is forgotten] from memory.
הָ֝יִ֗יתִי כִּכְלִ֥י אֹבֵֽד׃ 13b I have become like a broken vessel.
כִּ֤י שָׁמַ֨עְתִּי ׀ דִּבַּ֥ת רַבִּים֮ 14a because I heard the slander of many people
מָג֪וֹר מִסָּ֫בִ֥יב 14b –terror is on every side–
בְּהִוָּסְדָ֣ם יַ֣חַד עָלַ֑י 14c when they conspired together against me.
לָקַ֖חַת נַפְשִׁ֣י זָמָֽמוּ׃ 14d They plotted to take my life.
וַאֲנִ֤י ׀ עָלֶ֣יךָ בָטַ֣חְתִּי יְהוָ֑ה 15a But I trust you, YHWH.
אָ֝מַ֗רְתִּי אֱלֹהַ֥י אָֽתָּה׃ 15b I say, “You are my God.”
בְּיָדְךָ֥ עִתֹּתָ֑י 16a My times are in your hand.
הַצִּ֘ילֵ֤נִי מִיַּד־א֝וֹיְבַ֗י וּמֵרֹדְפָֽי׃ 16b Deliver me from the hand of my enemies and from my pursuers!
הָאִ֣ירָה פָ֭נֶיךָ עַל־עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ 17a Shine your face upon your servant!
ה֖וֹשִׁיעֵ֣נִי בְחַסְדֶּֽךָ׃ 17b Save me by your faithfulness.
יְֽהוָ֗ה אַל־אֵ֭בוֹשָׁה 18a YHWH, do not let me be ashamed
כִּ֣י קְרָאתִ֑יךָ 18b because I have called you!
יֵבֹ֥שׁוּ רְ֝שָׁעִ֗ים 18c May the evil ones be ashamed!
יִדְּמ֥וּ לִשְׁאֽוֹל׃ 18d May they go silently to Sheol!
תֵּ֥אָלַ֗מְנָה שִׂפְתֵ֫י שָׁ֥קֶר 19a May lying lips be unable to speak
הַדֹּבְר֖וֹת עַל־צַדִּ֥יק עָתָ֗ק בְּגַאֲוָ֥ה וָבֽוּז׃ 19b –those that speak insolence against the righteous, with arrogance and contempt.
מָ֤ה רַֽב־טוּבְךָ֮ 20a How many are your good things
אֲשֶׁר־צָפַ֪נְתָּ לִּֽירֵ֫אֶ֥יךָ 20b which you have stored up for those who fear you,
פָּ֭עַלְתָּ לַחֹסִ֣ים בָּ֑ךְ 20c [and which] you have performed for those who take refuge in you
נֶ֝֗גֶד בְּנֵ֣י אָדָם׃ 20d for all people to see!
תַּסְתִּירֵ֤ם ׀ בְּסֵ֥תֶר פָּנֶיךָ֮ מֵֽרֻכְסֵ֫י אִ֥ישׁ 21a You shelter them from people’s schemes in the cover of your presence;
תִּצְפְּנֵ֥ם בְּסֻכָּ֗ה מֵרִ֥יב לְשֹׁנֽוֹת׃ 21b You hide them in a shelter from contentious people.
בָּר֥וּךְ יְהוָ֑ה 22a Blessed is YHWH,
כִּ֥י הִפְלִ֘יא חַסְדּ֥וֹ לִ֝֗י בְּעִ֣יר מָצֽוֹר׃ 22b because he has wonderfully shown his faithfulness to me in a city under siege.
וַאֲנִ֤י ׀ אָ֘מַ֤רְתִּי בְחָפְזִ֗י 23a Even though I thought in my panic
נִגְרַזְתִּי֮ מִנֶּ֪גֶד עֵ֫ינֶ֥יךָ 23b I had been cut off from your sight.
אָכֵ֗ן שָׁ֭מַעְתָּ ק֥וֹל תַּחֲנוּנַ֗י בְּשַׁוְּעִ֥י אֵלֶֽיךָ׃ 23c However, you heard the sound of my pleading when I cried out to you.
אֶֽהֱב֥וּ אֶת־יְהוָ֗ה כָּֽל־חֲסִ֫ידָ֥יו 24a Love YHWH, all his loyal ones!
אֱ֭מוּנִים נֹצֵ֣ר יְהוָ֑ה 24b YHWH is watching over the faithful,
וּמְשַׁלֵּ֥ם עַל־יֶ֝֗תֶר עֹשֵׂ֥ה גַאֲוָֽה׃ 24c and he abundantly repays those who act pridefully.
חִ֭זְקוּ וְיַאֲמֵ֣ץ לְבַבְכֶ֑ם 25a Be strong so your hearts may take courage,
כָּל־הַ֝מְיַחֲלִ֗ים לַיהוָֽה׃ 25b all who wait for YHWH.

Structure Overlay Below, the text has been overlaid with our summary structural analysis. For details on the structure, see the Structure At-a-Glance here.

Text (Hebrew) Verse Text (CBC)
לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַ מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד׃ 1a For the director. A psalm by David.
בְּךָ֖ יְהוָ֣ה חָ֭סִיתִי 2a I have taken shelter in you, YHWH.
אַל־אֵב֣וֹשָׁה לְעוֹלָ֑ם 2b Do not let my shame continue forever!
בְּצִדְקָתְךָ֥ פַלְּטֵֽנִי׃ 2c Rescue me in your righteousness!
הַטֵּ֤ה אֵלַ֨י ׀ אָזְנְךָ֮ 3a Listen to me!
מְהֵרָ֪ה הַצִּ֫ילֵ֥נִי 3b Rescue me quickly!
הֱיֵ֤ה לִ֨י ׀ לְֽצוּר־מָ֭עוֹז 3c Be a rock of refuge for me,
לְבֵ֥ית מְצוּד֗וֹת לְהוֹשִׁיעֵֽנִי׃ 3d and a fortress to deliver me!
כִּֽי־סַלְעִ֣י וּמְצוּדָתִ֣י אָ֑תָּה 4a Because you are my rock and my stronghold.
וּלְמַ֥עַן שִׁ֝מְךָ֗ תַּֽנְחֵ֥נִי וּֽתְנַהֲלֵֽנִי׃ 4b And for the sake of your name, you must carefully guide me.
תּוֹצִיאֵ֗נִי מֵרֶ֣שֶׁת 5a You must save me from the net
ז֭וּ טָ֣מְנוּ לִ֑י 5b which they hid for me,
כִּֽי־אַ֝תָּה מָֽעוּזִּֽי׃ 5c because you are my refuge.
בְּיָדְךָ֮ אַפְקִ֪יד ר֫וּחִ֥י 6a I entrust my spirit into your hand.
פָּדִ֖יתָ אוֹתִ֥י יְהוָ֗ה אֵ֣ל אֱמֶֽת׃ 6b You have redeemed me, YHWH, God of faithfulness.
שָׂנֵאתָ* הַשֹּׁמְרִ֥ים הַבְלֵי־שָׁ֑וְא* 7a You hate those who worship worthless idols,
וַ֝אֲנִ֗י אֶל־יְהוָ֥ה בָּטָֽחְתִּי׃ 7b but I trust YHWH.
אָגִ֥ילָה וְאֶשְׂמְחָ֗ה בְּחַ֫סְדֶּ֥ךָ 8a I will be glad and rejoice on account of your faithfulness,
אֲשֶׁ֣ר רָ֭אִיתָ אֶת־עָנְיִ֑י 8b that you saw my affliction.
הוֹשַׁעְתָּ* בְּצָר֥וֹת נַפְשִֽׁי׃* 8c You saved my life from distress.
וְלֹ֣א הִ֭סְגַּרְתַּנִי בְּיַד־אוֹיֵ֑ב 9a And you did not let any enemy capture me.
הֶֽעֱמַ֖דְתָּ בַמֶּרְחָ֣ב רַגְלָֽי 9b You set my feet in a broad place.
חָנֵּ֥נִי יְהוָה֮ כִּ֤י צַ֫ר־לִ֥י 10a Be gracious to me, YHWH, because I am in distress.
עָשְׁשָׁ֖ה בְכַ֥עַס עֵינִ֗י נַפְשִׁ֥י וּבִטְנִֽי׃ 10b My eye, my throat, and my belly waste away because of anger.
כִּ֤י כָל֪וּ בְיָג֡וֹן חַיַּי֮ 11a Because my life fades away with grief,
וּשְׁנוֹתַ֪י בַּאֲנָ֫חָ֥ה 11b and my years [fade away] with groaning.
כָּשַׁ֣ל בַּעֲוֺנִ֣י כֹחִ֑י 11c My strength has failed because of my iniquity,
וַעֲצָמַ֥י עָשֵֽׁשׁוּ׃ 11d and my bones waste away.
מִכָּל־צֹרְרַ֨י הָיִ֪יתִי חֶרְפָּ֡ה 12a I have been scorned by all of my adversaries
וְלִשֲׁכֵנַ֨י ׀ מְאֹד֮ 12b and [I have] greatly [become an object of scorn] to my neighbors,
וּפַ֪חַד לִֽמְיֻדָּ֫עָ֥י 12c and [I have become] an object of fear to my friends.
רֹאַ֥י בַּח֑וּץ נָדְד֥וּ מִמֶּֽנִּי׃ 12d Those who see me in the street have fled from me.
נִ֭שְׁכַּחְתִּי כְּמֵ֣ת מִלֵּ֑ב 13a I have been forgotten like a dead person [is forgotten] from memory.
הָ֝יִ֗יתִי כִּכְלִ֥י אֹבֵֽד׃ 13b I have become like a broken vessel.
כִּ֤י שָׁמַ֨עְתִּי ׀ דִּבַּ֥ת רַבִּים֮ 14a because I heard the slander of many people
מָג֪וֹר מִסָּ֫בִ֥יב 14b –terror is on every side–
בְּהִוָּסְדָ֣ם יַ֣חַד עָלַ֑י 14c when they conspired together against me.
לָקַ֖חַת נַפְשִׁ֣י זָמָֽמוּ׃ 14d They plotted to take my life.
וַאֲנִ֤י ׀ עָלֶ֣יךָ בָטַ֣חְתִּי יְהוָ֑ה 15a But I trust you, YHWH.
אָ֝מַ֗רְתִּי אֱלֹהַ֥י אָֽתָּה׃ 15b I say, “You are my God.”
בְּיָדְךָ֥ עִתֹּתָ֑י 16a My times are in your hand.
הַצִּ֘ילֵ֤נִי מִיַּד־א֝וֹיְבַ֗י וּמֵרֹדְפָֽי׃ 16b Deliver me from the hand of my enemies and from my pursuers!
הָאִ֣ירָה פָ֭נֶיךָ עַל־עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ 17a Shine your face upon your servant!
ה֖וֹשִׁיעֵ֣נִי בְחַסְדֶּֽךָ׃ 17b Save me by your faithfulness.
יְֽהוָ֗ה אַל־אֵ֭בוֹשָׁה 18a YHWH, do not let me be ashamed
כִּ֣י קְרָאתִ֑יךָ 18b because I have called you!
יֵבֹ֥שׁוּ רְ֝שָׁעִ֗ים 18c May the evil ones be ashamed!
יִדְּמ֥וּ לִשְׁאֽוֹל׃ 18d May they go silently to Sheol!
תֵּ֥אָלַ֗מְנָה שִׂפְתֵ֫י שָׁ֥קֶר 19a May lying lips be unable to speak
הַדֹּבְר֖וֹת עַל־צַדִּ֥יק עָתָ֗ק בְּגַאֲוָ֥ה וָבֽוּז׃ 19b –those that speak insolence against the righteous, with arrogance and contempt.
מָ֤ה רַֽב־טוּבְךָ֮ 20a How many are your good things
אֲשֶׁר־צָפַ֪נְתָּ לִּֽירֵ֫אֶ֥יךָ 20b which you have stored up for those who fear you,
פָּ֭עַלְתָּ לַחֹסִ֣ים בָּ֑ךְ 20c [and which] you have performed for those who take refuge in you
נֶ֝֗גֶד בְּנֵ֣י אָדָם׃ 20d for all people to see!
תַּסְתִּירֵ֤ם ׀ בְּסֵ֥תֶר פָּנֶיךָ֮ מֵֽרֻכְסֵ֫י אִ֥ישׁ 21a You shelter them from people’s schemes in the cover of your presence;
תִּצְפְּנֵ֥ם בְּסֻכָּ֗ה מֵרִ֥יב לְשֹׁנֽוֹת׃ 21b You hide them in a shelter from contentious people.
בָּר֥וּךְ יְהוָ֑ה 22a Blessed is YHWH,
כִּ֥י הִפְלִ֘יא חַסְדּ֥וֹ לִ֝֗י בְּעִ֣יר מָצֽוֹר׃ 22b because he has wonderfully shown his faithfulness to me in a city under siege.
וַאֲנִ֤י ׀ אָ֘מַ֤רְתִּי בְחָפְזִ֗י 23a Even though I thought in my panic
נִגְרַזְתִּי֮ מִנֶּ֪גֶד עֵ֫ינֶ֥יךָ 23b I had been cut off from your sight.
אָכֵ֗ן שָׁ֭מַעְתָּ ק֥וֹל תַּחֲנוּנַ֗י בְּשַׁוְּעִ֥י אֵלֶֽיךָ׃ 23c However, you heard the sound of my pleading when I cried out to you.
אֶֽהֱב֥וּ אֶת־יְהוָ֗ה כָּֽל־חֲסִ֫ידָ֥יו 24a Love YHWH, all his loyal ones!
אֱ֭מוּנִים נֹצֵ֣ר יְהוָ֑ה 24b YHWH is watching over the faithful,
וּמְשַׁלֵּ֥ם עַל־יֶ֝֗תֶר עֹשֵׂ֥ה גַאֲוָֽה׃ 24c and he abundantly repays those who act pridefully.
חִ֭זְקוּ וְיַאֲמֵ֣ץ לְבַבְכֶ֑ם 25a Be strong so your hearts may take courage,
כָּל־הַ֝מְיַחֲלִ֗ים לַיהוָֽה׃ 25b all who wait for YHWH.

Expanded paraphrase The expanded paraphrase seeks to capture the implicit information within the text and make it explicit for readers today. It is based on the CBC translation and uses italic text to provide the most salient background information, presuppositions, entailments, and inferences.

Text (Hebrew) Verse Expanded Paraphrase
לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַ מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד׃ 1 For the director. A psalm by David.
בְּךָ֖ יְהוָ֣ה חָ֭סִיתִי אַל־אֵב֣וֹשָׁה לְעוֹלָ֑ם בְּצִדְקָתְךָ֥ פַלְּטֵֽנִי׃ 2 At times such as when King Saul became angry with me and desired to kill me, and I lied to Ahimelech to acquire food and weapons. Now, Saul believed reports that I was trying to kill him, and I heard he was hoping to capture and kill me. That's why I have taken shelter in you. I may not have physical safety, but I know you can protect my life, YHWH. I am destitute and, so do not let my shame continue forever! I am afraid you may not deliver me. Rescue me in your righteousness!
הַטֵּ֤ה אֵלַ֨י ׀ אָזְנְךָ֮ מְהֵרָ֪ה הַצִּ֫ילֵ֥נִי הֱיֵ֤ה לִ֨י ׀ לְֽצוּר־מָ֭עוֹז לְבֵ֥ית מְצוּד֗וֹת לְהוֹשִׁיעֵֽנִי׃ 3 You listen to those who pray to you, so listen to me! Rescue me quickly! Just like people hide in rocks and fortresses for safety, I take shelter in you, so be a rock of refuge for me because large rocks can provide an object to hide behind so my enemies cannot attack me, and a fortress, which is a structure designed to withstand attacks, to deliver me from King Saul and his men who seek to kill me!
כִּֽי־סַלְעִ֣י וּמְצוּדָתִ֣י אָ֑תָּה 4 Because you are my rock and my stronghold, and —I know you care about your reputation—so for the sake of your name you must carefully guide me out of this dangerous situation in Keilah and into safety.
תּוֹצִיאֵ֗נִי מֵרֶ֣שֶׁת ז֭וּ טָ֣מְנוּ לִ֑י כִּֽי־אַ֝תָּה מָֽעוּזִּֽי׃ 5 I am in danger because Doeg has lied about me to Saul, so you must save me from the net just like the ones hunters set out to catch unsuspecting wild animals, which they; i.e., Saul and his armies hid for me by trying to surround Keilah, because you are my refuge and you know all things including how they plan to trap me in Keilah.
בְּיָדְךָ֮ אַפְקִ֪יד ר֫וּחִ֥י פָּדִ֖יתָ אוֹתִ֥י יְהוָ֗ה אֵ֣ל אֱמֶֽת׃ 6 Unlike the Moabites and Philistines who worship multiple gods, I entrust my spirit into your hand. You have redeemed me, YHWH, God of faithfulness.
שָׂנֵאתָ* הַשֹּׁמְרִ֥ים הַבְלֵי־שָׁ֑וְא* 7 You hate those who worship worthless idols which are false gods even though people still worship them, but I trust YHWH even though I have been forced to hide among the Moabites and Philistines while running from Saul.
אָגִ֥ילָה וְאֶשְׂמְחָ֗ה בְּחַ֫סְדֶּ֥ךָ אֲשֶׁ֣ר רָ֭אִיתָ אֶת־עָנְיִ֑י הוֹשַׁעְתָּ* בְּצָר֥וֹת נַפְשִֽׁי׃* 8 You watch over the righteous, so I will be glad and rejoice on account of your faithfulness, that is that you saw my affliction when my enemies tried to capture me. You saved my life from distress because my enemies threatened my well-being.
וְלֹ֣א הִ֭סְגַּרְתַּנִי בְּיַד־אוֹיֵ֑ב הֶֽעֱמַ֖דְתָּ בַמֶּרְחָ֣ב רַגְלָֽי 9 And you did not let any enemy capture me. You set my feet in a broad place, which contrasts with being sieged in the walls Keilah.
חָנֵּ֥נִי יְהוָה֮ כִּ֤י צַ֫ר־לִ֥י עָשְׁשָׁ֖ה בְכַ֥עַס עֵינִ֗י נַפְשִׁ֥י וּבִטְנִֽי׃ 10 Since I have taken shelter in you, I ask for you to be gracious to me, YHWH, because I am in distress. Metaphorically speaking, my eye, my throat, and my belly are waste d away because of Saul's anger towards me, which is why I am on the run with limited supplies.
כִּ֤י כָל֪וּ בְיָג֡וֹן חַיַּי֮ וּשְׁנוֹתַ֪י בַּאֲנָ֫חָ֥ה וַעֲצָמַ֥י עָשֵֽׁשׁוּ׃ 11 Because my life fades away with grief, and my years [fade away] with groaning. My strength has failed because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away. My desperate situation can be compared to someone who is physically deteriorating, and is effectively a social outcast.
מִכָּל־צֹרְרַ֨י הָיִ֪יתִי חֶרְפָּ֡ה וְלִשֲׁכֵנַ֨י ׀ מְאֹד֮ וּפַ֪חַד לִֽמְיֻדָּ֫עָ֥י רֹאַ֥י בַּח֑וּץ נָדְד֥וּ מִמֶּֽנִּי׃ 12 I acted like a madman to save my life from Achish of Gath, and so I have been understandably scorned by all of my adversaries which compares with all of the false accusations against me, and [I have] greatly [become] [an object of scorn] to my neighbors, and [I have become] an object of fear to my friends, that is my men, who are scared Saul will kill them because of their association with me. Whenever I walk outside those who see me in the street; i.e., the residents of Keilah have fled from me. Therefore, I am a social outcast.
נִ֭שְׁכַּחְתִּי כְּמֵ֣ת מִלֵּ֑ב הָ֝יִ֗יתִי כִּכְלִ֥י אֹבֵֽד׃ 13 Since I am a social outcast I have been forgotten like a dead person [is forgotten] from memory.After all, dead people are not remembered by the living. I have become like a broken vessel. Just as a broken vessel is useless, I feel useless.
כִּ֤י שָׁמַ֨עְתִּי ׀ דִּבַּ֥ת רַבִּים֮ מָג֪וֹר מִסָּ֫בִ֥יב בְּהִוָּסְדָ֣ם יַ֣חַד עָלַ֑י 14 Because I heard the slander of many people like Doeg and the Ziphites —terror is on every side because Saul and his army pursues me everywhere I run —when they conspired against me. They plotted to take my life and Saul has taken their word, even though their case against me is built upon lies.
וַאֲנִ֤י ׀ עָלֶ֣יךָ בָטַ֣חְתִּי יְהוָ֑ה אָ֝מַ֗רְתִּי אֱלֹהַ֥י אָֽתָּה׃ 15 But I trust you, YHWH. I refuse to trust any other god. I say, "You are my God."
בְּיָדְךָ֥ עִתֹּתָ֑י הַצִּ֘ילֵ֤נִי מִיַּד־א֝וֹיְבַ֗י וּמֵרֹדְפָֽי׃ 16 I know you are in control, and so I know my times are in your hand. Deliver me from the hand of my enemies and from my pursuers!
הָאִ֣ירָה פָ֭נֶיךָ עַל־עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ 17 Shine your face upon your servant, which is a sign of your grace in my life! Save me by your faithfulness.
יְֽהוָ֗ה אַל־אֵ֭בוֹשָׁה כִּ֣י קְרָאתִ֑יךָ יֵבֹ֥שׁוּ רְ֝שָׁעִ֗ים יִדְּמ֥וּ לִשְׁאֽוֹל׃ 18 YHWH, do not let me be ashamed as if I were like the idol worshippers because I have called you in my distress! May the evil ones who are lying about me to Saul be ashamed. Do not let my shame continue! May they e.g., Doeg and the Ziphites go silently to Sheol (לִשְׁאֹֽול), rather than speaking lies to Saul (לְשָׁא֔וּל)!
תֵּ֥אָלַ֗מְנָה שִׂפְתֵ֫י שָׁ֥קֶר 19 May the lying lips of Doeg and the Ziphites be unable to speak—those that speak insolence against the righteous; i.e., me and those who follow me, with arrogance and contempt.
מָ֤ה רַֽב־טוּבְךָ֮ אֲשֶׁר־צָפַ֪נְתָּ לִּֽירֵ֫אֶ֥יךָ פָּ֭עַלְתָּ לַחֹסִ֣ים בָּ֑ךְ נֶ֝֗גֶד בְּנֵ֣י אָדָם׃ 20 You do good things when you provide security for your people. How many are your good things which you have stored up for those who fear you, [and which] you have performed for those who take refuge in you for all people to see! They take refuge in you because they are in dangerous situations caused by the wicked.
תַּסְתִּירֵ֤ם ׀ בְּסֵ֥תֶר פָּנֶיךָ֮ מֵֽרֻכְסֵ֫י אִ֥ישׁ תִּצְפְּנֵ֥ם בְּסֻכָּ֗ה מֵרִ֥יב לְשֹׁנֽוֹת׃ 21 You shelter them from people's schemes in the cover of your presence; You hide them in a shelter from contentious people. Just like you preserved my life when Saul sought to kill me in Keilah.
בָּר֥וּךְ יְהוָ֑ה 22 Blessed is YHWH, because he has wonderfully shown his faithfulness to me when I was in Keilah, a city under seige. You answered my prayer and let me know that the people of Keilah would hand me over to Saul. Also, you enabled my escape from Saul into the wilderness and sustained me even there.
נִגְרַזְתִּי֮ מִנֶּ֪גֶד עֵ֫ינֶ֥יךָ אָכֵ֗ן שָׁ֭מַעְתָּ ק֥וֹל תַּחֲנוּנַ֗י בְּשַׁוְּעִ֥י אֵלֶֽיךָ׃ 23 Even though I thought in my panic when Saul tried to surround me that I had been cut off from your sight. I was afraid you would not see my situation. However, you heard the sound of my pleading, which was directed towards your ears, when I cried out to you and you did not let Saul capture me.
אֶֽהֱב֥וּ אֶת־יְהוָ֗ה כָּֽל־חֲסִ֫ידָ֥יו אֱ֭מוּנִים נֹצֵ֣ר יְהוָ֑ה וּמְשַׁלֵּ֥ם עַל־יֶ֝֗תֶר עֹשֵׂ֥ה גַאֲוָֽה׃ 24 Some people are loyal to YHWH and others are not. Love YHWH, all his loyal ones! He watches the faithful to the thousandth generation. YHWH is watching over the faithful, and he abundantly repays those who act pridefully. That is why I would not attack Saul when I had the chance, and I trust YHWH will judge Doeg and the Ziphites.
חִ֭זְקוּ וְיַאֲמֵ֣ץ לְבַבְכֶ֑ם כָּל־הַ֝מְיַחֲלִ֗ים לַיהוָֽה׃ 25 Remember the story of how God protected me when Saul tried to capture me in Keilah, and be strong so your hearts may take courage, all who wait for YHWH. YHWH is faithful to save you from your enemies.

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Psalm 031 - PA Sets List .jpg

Psalm 031 - Updated Participant Analysis Table 31.jpg