Psalms

תהילים

A song of ascents, by David. In a certain sense, this psalm of thanksgiving comes as a response to the previous psalm of supplication, as it mentions not only a prayer to God but also His resulting salvation. While it does not describe complete salvation, it does depict extrication from a dire predicament. Let Israel now say: Had it not been for the Lord, who was with us. This song of gratitude is written on the part of the entire nation, as indicated by the phrase “Let Israel now say.”

שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת לְדָוִד. לוּלֵי ה' שֶׁהָיָה לָנוּ, שתמך בנו – יֹאמַר נָא עם יִשְׂרָאֵל –

שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת לְדָוִד לוּלֵי ה' שֶׁהָיָה לָנוּ יֹאמַר נָא יִשְׂרָאֵל

Had it not been for the Lord, had God, who was with us, not supported our cause when men rose against us, to fight against us and disparage us,

לוּלֵי ה' שֶׁהָיָה לָנוּ בְּקוּם, כאשר התקומם עָלֵינוּ אָדָם להילחם בנו ולהשפילנו,

לוּלֵי ה' שֶׁהָיָה לָנוּ בְּקוּם עָלֵינוּ אָדָם

they would have swallowed us alive when their anger was kindled against us.

אֲזַי חַיִּים בְּלָעוּנוּ בַּחֲרוֹת אַפָּם בָּנוּ, בזעמם של אויבינו עלינו.

אֲזַי חַיִּים בְּלָעוּנוּ בַּחֲרוֹת אַפָּם בָּנוּ

Then, if God had not come to our aid, the waters would have engulfed us. We would have been washed away by the “waters” of hordes of many nations;<footnote data-lang="eng" data-id="5657" data-num="83"/> the torrent would have swept over us.

אֲזַי הַמַּיִם – דימוי לעמים הרבים העומדים עלינו לכלותנו,<footnote data-lang="heb" data-id="6422" data-num="20"/> שְׁטָפוּנוּ, היו שוטפים אותנו, נַחְלָה, זרימתם כנחל עָבַר, הייתה עוברת עַל נַפְשֵׁנוּ.

אֲזַי הַמַּיִם שְׁטָפוּנוּ נַחְלָה עָבַר עַל נַפְשֵׁנוּ

Then the wicked waters would have swept over us. Since the waters mentioned in these verses are a metaphor for an outpouring of malice and evil, the word “wicked” is appropriate here.

אֲזַי עָבַר, היו עוברים עַל נַפְשֵׁנוּ הַמַּיִם הַזֵּידוֹנִים, שטף הזדון והרשעות.

אֲזַי עָבַר עַל נַפְשֵׁנוּ הַמַּיִם הַזֵּידוֹנִים

Now follows a more explicit expression of thanks to God: Blessed be the Lord, who did not give us over as prey to their teeth. Although our enemies continually lie in wait, God does not allow them to trap us.

בָּרוּךְ ה' שֶׁלֹּא נְתָנָנוּ טֶרֶף לְשִׁנֵּיהֶם, כפי שזממו לעשות.

בָּרוּךְ ה' שֶׁלֹּא נְתָנָנוּ טֶרֶף לְשִׁנֵּיהֶם

We were like a bird escaping from a trapper’s snare. Occasionally a bird caught in a snare manages to break free of it. In our case as well, the snare broke, and we escaped.

נַפְשֵׁנוּ כְּצִפּוֹר שנִמְלְטָה מִפַּח יוֹקְשִׁים, ממלכודת שנלכדה הציפור אליה. הַפַּח שבו נלכדנו נִשְׁבָּר באופן לא צפוי, וַאֲנַחְנוּ נִמְלָטְנוּ.

נַפְשֵׁנוּ כְּצִפּוֹר נִמְלְטָה מִפַּח יוֹקְשִׁים הַפַּח נִשְׁבָּר וַאֲנַחְנוּ נִמְלָטְנוּ

This miraculous rescue occurred to us because our help is in the name of the Lord, Maker of heaven and earth.

נחלצנו מצרתנו בנס מכיוון שעֶזְרֵנוּ בְּשֵׁם ה', עֹשֵׂה שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ.

עֶזְרֵנוּ בְּשֵׁם ה' עֹשֵׂה שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ

A song of ascents, by David. In a certain sense, this psalm of thanksgiving comes as a response to the previous psalm of supplication, as it mentions not only a prayer to God but also His resulting salvation. While it does not describe complete salvation, it does depict extrication from a dire predi