‫ ֭ ַל ְמנֵַּצ ַח עַל־אֶַּי ֥לֶת ה ַַּׁ֗ש חַר ִמז ְ֥מֹור לְדָ וִ ֽד׃‬1 122

.To the choirmaster according to the doe of the morning. A song of David
3
‫ א ִֵל֣י ֭ ֵאלִי ל ָ ָ֣מה ֲעזַ ְבָּת ֑ נִי ָרח֥ ֹוק ֝מִ ֽיׁשּועָתִ֗ י ִּד ב ֵ ְ֥רי ַׁש ֲאגָתִ ֽי׃‬22
My God, my God, why have You forsaken/abandoned [Qal Per 2ms] me? [Why are you]
?far from my salvation, [from] the words of my roaring
‫ וְֹל֣ א תַ ע ֲֶנ֑ה ְ֝ו ַ֗ליְלָה וְ ֹֽלא־דֽ ּומִָּי ֥ה לִ ֽי׃‬5‫ ֱֽאֹל ַ֗הי ֶאק ָ ְ֣רא י֖ ֹומָם‬43
My God, I cry out [Qal Per 1cs] by day, but You do not answer [Qal Impf 2ms]. And by
.night but no rest to me
‫ְִׂשראֵ ֽל ׃‬
ָ ‫ י‬7‫ ְּת הִּל֥ ֹות‬6‫ֹוֵׁש ב‬
֗ ֝‫ ְואַָּת ֥ה ק ָ֑דֹוׁש י‬4
.But You [are] holy, dwelling [Qal Ptc ms] the praises of Israel
‫ְַּלטֽמֹו׃‬
ֵ ‫ וַ ְּֽת פ‬8‫ ְּ֭ב ָך ָּב טְח֣ ּו אֲב ֵ ֹ֑תינּו ָּ֝ב ט ְ֗חּו‬5
In You our fathers trusted [Qal Per 3cp], they trusted [Qal Per 3cp] and You delivered
.them [Piel Impf 2ms]
‫ א ֵֶל֣יָך זָע ֲ֣קּו ְונִמ ְָל֑טּו ְּבָך֖ ָבטְח֣ ּו וְֹלא־בֹֽוׁשּו׃‬96
To you they cried out [Qal Per 3cp] and they were delivered [Ni Per 3cp]. In You they
.trusted [Qal Per 3cp] and they were not put to shame [Qal Per 3cp]
‫ ֝ ָאדָ֗ ם ּו ְבזּ֥וי ָעֽם׃‬10‫ְֹלא־איׁש ח ְֶרַּפ ֥ת‬
ִ֑ ‫תֹולעַת ו‬
֣ ַ ‫ וְָאנ ִֹכ֣י‬7
But I [am] a worm and not a man, a reproach of mankind and despised [Qal Pass Ptc ms]
.by people
‫ ֽר ֹאׁש׃‬11‫ ָּכל־רַֹ֭אי יַל ִ ְ֣עגּו ִל֑י יַפ ְִט֥ירּו ֝ ְבָׂש ָ֗פה י ָ ִנ֥יעּו‬8
All who see [Qal Ptc mp] mock [Hifil Impf 3mp] me. They open wide [Hifil Impf 3mp]
.their lip, they shake [Hifil Impf 3mp] their head
‫ ּבֹֽו׃‬14‫ ֝י ִַּצי ֵ֗להּו ִּכ֘ י ָח֥פֵ ֽץ‬13 ‫ְַּלטהּו‬
֑ ֵ ‫ְהו֣ה יְפ‬
ָ ‫ אֶל־י‬12‫ ֹּ֣גל‬9
He rolls over/trusts [Qal Impv 2ms] to YHWH, let Him deliver [Piel Impf 3ms] him. Let
.Him save [Hifil Impf 2ms] him because He delights [Qal Pf 3ms] in him

1
Psalter structure: Ps 21 – King exalts in God’s strength and power; Ps 22 – lament because of strength/power of enemies; Ps 23 –
Lord is shepherd; Ps 24 – King is coming
2
Temporally but not utterly forsaken, else why pray? This shows that the Psalmist is trusting in God though He feels forsaken. My
God = 1st Commandment; Quoted by Jesus on cross in Matt 27.46//Mk 15.34
3
Cf. Ps 32.3; 38.8
4
Rest = figurative language for answered prayer; God has not provided comfort or assurance of hearing or acting to correct the
situation
5
Cf. Ps. 88:1
6
Cf. Ps. 80:1; 99:1
7
Cf. Ps. 9:11, 14; 65:1; 102:21; 147:12
8
Cf. Ps. 25:2; 31:1; 71:1
9
So why not me? cry out = trust
10
Cf. Ps. 69:19; 109:25
11
Cf. Ps. 109.25; 44.14
12
Cf. Ps. 37:5
13
Cf. Ps. 91:14
14
Cf. Ps. 18:19
 ‫ַל־ְׁשד֥י אִִּמ ֽי׃‬
ֵ ‫ִּכ ֽי־ ַאָּת ֣ ה ג ִ ֹ֣חי ִמָּב ֑ טֶן ֝ ַמ ְבטִי ִ֗חי ע‬ 10
But You [are] the one who pulled [me] out [Qal Ptc ms] from the womb. You caused me to
.trust [Hifil Ptc ms] [You] upon the breasts of my mother
‫ְָׁשלכְִּת י מ ָ ֵ֑רחֶם מִֶּב ֥ טֶן ֝ ִאִּמ֗ י ֵ ֣אלִי אָ ָּֽת ה׃‬
֣ ַ ‫֭ ָעלֶיָך ה‬ 11
15

Upon You I was cast [Hifil Pf 1cs] from the womb. From the belly of my mother You
.[have been] my God
‫ְרֹובה ִּכי־אֵ ֥ין עֹו ֵז ֽר׃‬
֑ ָ ‫ַאל־ִּת ְר ַ ֣חק ֭ ִמֶּמִּני ִּכי־צ ָ ָ֣רה ק‬ 12
16

Do not be far [Qal Impf 2ms] from me for distress [is] near. For there is not a helper [Qal
.Ptc ms]
‫ִַּבירי ָבָׁש ֣ ן ִּכְּת ֽרּונִי׃‬
֖ ֵ ‫ָּפרים ַרִּב ֑ ים א‬
֣ ִ ‫֭ ְסבָבּונִי‬ 13
.Many bulls surround [Qal Pf 3cp] me. Strong of Bashan surround [Piel Pf 3cp] me
‫ִּפיהם ֝ ַא ְר ֵ֗יה ט ֵ ֹ֥רף ְוֹׁשאֵ ֽג ׃‬
֑ ֶ ‫ָּפצ֣ ּו ע ַָל֣י‬ 14
17

They open [Qal Pf 3cp] upon me their mouths, [like] a tearing [Qal Ptc ms] and roaring
.[Qal Ptc ms] lion
‫ְּבתֹוְך מ ֵָעֽי׃‬
֣ ‫ּדֹונ֑ג ֝נָ ֵ֗מס‬
ָ ‫ֹות֥י ָה ָי֣ה ֭ ִלִּבי ַּכ‬
ָ ‫ַּכַּמ ֥ י ִם נְִׁשַּפ כְִּת ֮י ְוהִתְ ָּפ ְֽר ֗דּו ָּכ ֽל־ ַעצ ְ֫מ‬ 15
I am poured out [Nifal Pf 1cs] like water and all my bones are dislocated [Hithpael Pf 3cp].
.My heart is [Qal Pf 3ms] like wax. It is melted [Niphal Pf 3ms] within my inward part
‫ְׁשְּפתֽנִי׃‬
ֵ ‫ְקֹוחי וְ ֽ ַל ֲעפַר־מָ ֥ וֶת ִּת‬
֑ ָ ‫ָ֘י ֵ ֤בׁש ַּכ ֶ֨ח ֶרׂש׀ ֹּכ ִ֗חי ּו֖ לְׁשֹונִי מֻדְ ָּב ֣ ק ַמל‬ 16
My strength is dry [Qal Pf 3ms] like pottery and my tongue clings [Hofal Ptc ms] to my
.jaw. To the dirt of death You lay down [Qal Impf 2ms] me
‫ִִּקיפּונִי ָּ֝כ א ֲִ֗רי י ַ ָ֥די ו ְַרגְלָ ֽי׃‬
֑ ‫ִּכ ֥י ְסב ָ֗בּונִי ְּכ ָ֫ל ִב֥ים ע ַ ֲ֣דת ֭ ְמ ֵרעִים ה‬ 17
Because dogs surround [Qal Pf 3cp] me, a company of evildoers [Hifil Ptc mp] enclose
.[Hifil Pf 3cp] me. Like a lion my hands and my feet
‫ְמֹותי ֵהָּ֥מה ֝י ִַּב֗ יטּו י ְִראּו־בִ ֽי׃‬
֑ ָ ‫ֲאסֵַּפ ֥ר ָּכל־ ַעצ‬ 18
I can count [Piel Impf 1cs] all my bones. They look upon [Hifil Impf 3mp] and they look
.[Qal Impf 3mp] at me
‫גֹורל׃‬
ֽ ָ ‫בּוִׁש י יִַּפ ֥ילּו‬
֗ ‫ְַּלקּו ְבג ַ ָ֣די ל ֶ ָ֑הם ְועַל־ ֝ ְל‬
֣ ‫יְח‬ 19
They divide [Piel Impf 3mp] my garments for themselves. And upon my clothing they cast
.[Hifil Impf 3mp] a lot
‫ְו ַאָּת ֣ ה ֭ י ְהוָה ַאל־ִּת ְר ָ ֑חק ֝ ֱאי ָלּותִ֗ י ְל ֶעז ָ ְ֥רתִ י חּֽוָׁשה׃‬ 20
But You, O YHWH, do not be distant [Qal Impf 2ms]. O my strength, rush [Qal Impv ms]
.to my help
‫ִַּיד־ֶּכ לֶב יְחִידָ תִ ֽי ׃‬
֗ ֝ ‫ַהִּצ ֣ילָה מ ֶ ֵ֣ח ֶרב נַ ְפִׁש ֑ י מ‬ 21
18

15
Long-standing relationship, covenant appeal
16
No human helper, so needs God’s help
17
Vv13-14 use emotive language
18
Not denigrating to call them animal names because he is likening their oppression to strong, overwhelming animals.
 Deliver [Hifil Impv ms] my life from the sword. From the hand of the dog, my only one
.[life]
‫ִיתנִי׃‬
ֽ ָ ‫ִַּקר ֵנ֖י ֵר ִ ֣מים ֲענ‬
ְ ‫ַאר ֵי֑ה ּומ‬
ְ ‫֭הֹוִׁשי ֵענִי ִמִּפ ֣י‬ 22
Save me [Hifil Impv] from the mouth of the lion. From the horns of the wild ox you
.answered [Qal Pf 2ms] me
‫ְּבתֹוְך ק ָ ָ֣הל ֲא ַהלְלֶ ָּֽך׃‬
֖ ‫ְַּפרה ִׁש מְָך֣ ְלא ָ ֶ֑חי‬
֣ ָ ‫ֲאס‬ 23
I will tell [Piel Impf 1cs] Your names to my brothers within the assembly. I will praise
.[Piel Impf 1cs] You
‫ַּכְּבדּוהּו ְוג֥ ּורּו ֝ ִמֶּמ֗ ּנּו ָּכל־ ֶז ַ֥רע‬
֑ ‫ י ְִר ֵ ֤אי י ְה ֨ ָוה׀ הַ ֽל ְ֗לּוהּו ָּכל־ ֶז ַ֣רע יַע ֲ֣ק ֹב‬24
‫ְִׂשראֵ ֽל׃‬
ָ ‫י‬
In the fear of YHWH, praise [Piel Impv mp] Him. All the seed of Jacob glorify [Piel Impv
.mp] Him. Stand in awe [Qal Impv mp] of Him, all the seed of Israel
‫ְַׁשְּועֹו א ֵָל֣יו‬
֖ ‫ָּפנ֣יו ִמֶּמ ֑ ּנּו ּֽוב‬
ָ ‫ ִּכ ֤י ֹלֽא־ ָב ָ֨זה ו ְֹ֪לא ִׁשַּק֡ ץ עֱנ֬ ּות ָע ִ֗ני וְֹלא־ ִה ְסִּת ֣ יר‬25
‫ָׁשמֵ ֽ ַע׃‬
For He has not despised [Qal Pf 3ms] and He has not detested [Piel Pf 3ms] the affliction
of the afflicted/poor and He has not hidden [Hifil Pf 3ms] His face from him. When he
.calls for help [Piel Infc] to Him, He hears [Qal Pf 3ms]
‫מֵ ֥ אְִּת ָ֗ך תְ ֽהִָּל֫ ִת֥י ְּב קָהָ ֥ל ָ ֑רב נְדָ ַ ֥רי ֝ ֲאַׁשֵּל֗ ם ֶ ֣נגֶד י ְֵראָ ֽיו׃‬ 26
19

From You [is] my song of praise in the great assembly. My vow I will pay [Piel Impf 1cs]
.before fearers of Him
‫י ֹאכ ְ֬לּו ֲענָ ֨ ִוים׀ ְוי ְִׂשָּב֗ עּו י ְהַ ֽלְל֣ ּו ֭ י ְהוָה ֹּ֣ד ְרָׁש ֑ יו י ִ ְ֖חי ְל ַבב ְֶכ֣ם ל ַָעֽד׃‬ 27
The afflicted/poor will eat [Qal Impf 3mp] and they will be satisfied [Qal Impf 3mp].
Seekers of Him will praise [Piel Impf 3mp] YHWH. May your heart live [Qal Juss 3ms]
.evermore
‫ֵי־א ֶרץ וְ ִיְֽׁשַּת חֲו֥ ּו ֝ ְל ָפ ֶ֗ניָך ָּכ ֽל־מְִׁשְּפח֥ ֹות‬
֑ ָ ‫ֶל־י ְהוָה ָּכל־ַא ְפס‬
֭ ‫ְּכרּו׀ ְויָֻׁש ֣ בּו א‬
֤ ְ‫ יִז‬28
‫ּגֹו ִי ֽם׃‬
All the ends of the earth will remember [Qal Impf 3mp] and they will turn/return [Qal Impf
3mp] to YHWH. All the families of the nations will bow down [Hishtafel Impf 3mp]
.before You
‫ְַּמלּוכ֑ה ּו֝ מ ֹ ֵׁ֗ש ל ַּבּגֹו ִי ֽם׃‬
ָ ‫ִּכ ֣י ֭ ַליהוָה ה‬ 29
.For to YHWH [is] the kingship and dominion/rule [Qal Ptc ms] over the nations
‫יֹור ֵ ֣די ע ָ ָ֑פר ְ֝ונַפ ְׁ֗שֹו ֹל֣ א‬
ְ ‫ ָאכ ְ֬לּו וִַּי ְֽׁשַּת חֲּו֨ ּו׀ ָּכ ֽל־ִּד ְׁש נֵי־ ֶ֗א ֶרץ ְלפ ָָנ֣יו ֭ י ִכ ְְרעּו ָּכל־‬30
‫חִָּי ֽה׃‬
All the fat/juicy of the earth will eat [Qal Pf 3cp] and bow down [Hishtafel Impf 3mp]
before Him. All who go down [Qal Ptc mp] [to] dust will kneel down [Qal Impf 3mp] and
.his life he will not keep alive [Piel Pf 3ms]
19
Is this vow mentioned previously in this Psalm, in a prior Psalm, or a reference to something not seen in the text?
 ‫ֶז ַ֥רע ַי ֽ ַעב ֶ ְ֑דּנּו י ְ ֻסַּפ ֖ ר לַ ֽאד ָֹנ֣י לַּדֽ ֹור׃‬ 31
A seed will serve [Qal Impf 3ms] Him. It will be told [Pual Impf 3ms] of the Lord to the
.generation
‫֭ י ָב ֹאּו ְויִַּג ֣ידּו צִדְ ק ָ֑תֹו ל ְַע֥ם ֝נֹו ָ֗לד ִּכ ֣י עָָֽׂשה׃‬ 32
They will come [Qal Impf 3mp] and they will tell [Hifil Imperfect 3mp] [of] His
.righteousness to a people being born [Nifal Ptc ms] what He has done [Qal Pf 3ms]