The King’s Heart
(Psalm 21:1–13)

1  פַּלְגֵי־ (Channels) מַ֣יִם (of water) לֶב־ (is the heart) מֶ֭לֶךְ (of a king) בְּיַד־ (in the hand) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH);

עַֽל־ (upon) כָּל־ (all) אֲשֶׁ֖ר (that) יַחְפֹּ֣ץ (He wishes), יַטֶּֽנּוּ׃ (He stretches it out).

2  כָּֽל־ (Every) דֶּרֶךְ־ (way) אִ֭ישׁ (of a man) יָשָׁ֣ר (is right) בְּעֵינָ֑יו (in his own eyes),

וְתֹכֵ֖ן (is measuring) לִבּ֣וֹת (hearts) יְהוָֽה׃ (YHWH).

3  עֲ֭שֹׂה (To do) צְדָקָ֣ה (righteousness) וּמִשְׁפָּ֑ט (and justice)

נִבְחָ֖ר (is chosen) לַיהוָ֣ה (of YHWH) מִזָּֽבַח׃ (above sacrifice).

4  רוּם־ (Loftiness) עֵ֭ינַיִם (of eyes), וּרְחַב־ (and broadness) לֵ֑ב (of heart)—

נִ֖ר (the guides) רְשָׁעִ֣ים (of the wicked)— חַטָּֽאת׃ (are sin).

5  מַחְשְׁב֣וֹת (The plans) חָ֭רוּץ (of the diligent) אַךְ־ (are surely) לְמוֹתָ֑ר (to abundance),

וְכָל־ (and everyone) אָ֝֗ץ (hurrying about), אַךְ־ (surely) לְמַחְסֽוֹר׃ (to poverty).

6  פֹּ֣עַל (Working for) א֭וֹצָרוֹת (treasures) בִּלְשׁ֣וֹן (by a tongue) שָׁ֑קֶר (of deception)

הֶ֥בֶל (is a vapor) נִ֝דָּ֗ף (driven away) מְבַקְשֵׁי־ (of those seeking) מָֽוֶת׃ (death).

7  שֹׁד־ (The violence) רְשָׁעִ֥ים (of the wicked) יְגוֹרֵ֑ם (will drag them away)

כִּ֥י (for) מֵ֝אֲנ֗וּ (they refuse) לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת (to do) מִשְׁפָּֽט׃ (justice).

8  הֲפַכְפַּ֬ךְ (Crooked is) דֶּ֣רֶךְ (the way) אִ֣ישׁ (of a man) וָזָ֑ר (guilty),

וְ֝זַ֗ךְ (and for a pure one)— יָשָׁ֥ר (upright) פָּעֳלֽוֹ׃ (is his work).

9  ט֗וֹב (Better) לָשֶׁ֥בֶת (to sit) עַל־ (on) פִּנַּת־ (the corner) גָּ֑ג (of a roof)

מֵאֵ֥שֶׁת (than with a woman) מִ֝דְיָנִ֗ים (of quarrels) וּבֵ֥ית (and a house) חָֽבֶר׃ (of company).

10  נֶ֣פֶשׁ (The soul) רָ֭שָׁע (of a wicked one) אִוְּתָה־ (desires) רָ֑ע (evil);

לֹא־ (not) יֻחַ֖ן (shall find favor) בְּעֵינָ֣יו (in his eyes) רֵעֵֽהוּ׃ (his neighbor).

11  בַּעְנָשׁ־ (By fining) לֵ֭ץ (a mocker), יֶחְכַּם־ (is made wise) פֶּ֑תִי (a simple one),

וּבְהַשְׂכִּ֥יל (and in giving understanding) לְ֝חָכָ֗ם (to a wise one), יִקַּח־ (he receives) דָּֽעַת׃ (knowledge).

12  מַשְׂכִּ֣יל (Considers) צַ֭דִּיק (the Righteous One) לְבֵ֣ית (the house) רָשָׁ֑ע (of the wicked),

מְסַלֵּ֖ף (overthrowing) רְשָׁעִ֣ים (the wicked) לָרָֽע׃ (for wickedness).

13  אֹטֵ֣ם (One shutting) אָ֭זְנוֹ (his ears) מִזַּעֲקַת־ (to the cry) דָּ֑ל (of the poor),

גַּֽם־ (also) ה֥וּא (he) יִ֝קְרָ֗א (will cry out) וְלֹ֣א (and not) יֵעָנֶֽה׃ (will be answered).

14  מַתָּ֣ן (A gift) בַּ֭סֵּתֶר (in secret) יִכְפֶּה־ (subdues) אָ֑ף (anger),

וְשֹׁ֥חַד (and a bribe) בַּ֝חֵ֗ק (in the bosom) חֵמָ֥ה (averts rage), עַזָּֽה׃ (strong).

15  שִׂמְחָ֣ה (A joy) לַ֭צַּדִּיק (for the righteous) עֲשׂ֣וֹת (is doing) מִשְׁפָּ֑ט (justice),

וּ֝מְחִתָּ֗ה (and a terror) לְפֹ֣עֲלֵי (for the workers) אָֽוֶן׃ (of iniquity).

16  אָדָ֗ם (A man) תּ֭וֹעֶה (wandering) מִדֶּ֣רֶךְ (from the way) הַשְׂכֵּ֑ל (of understanding)

בִּקְהַ֖ל (in the assembly) רְפָאִ֣ים (of Rephaim) יָנֽוּחַ׃ (will come to rest).

17  אִ֣ישׁ (Is a man) מַ֭חְסוֹר (of need) אֹהֵ֣ב (is the one loving) שִׂמְחָ֑ה (pleasure);

אֹהֵ֥ב (the one loving) יַֽיִן־ (wine) וָ֝שֶׁ֗מֶן (and oil) לֹ֣א (not) יַעֲשִֽׁיר׃ (will become rich).

18  כֹּ֣פֶר (A ransom) לַצַּדִּ֣יק (for a righteous one) רָשָׁ֑ע (a wicked one),

וְתַ֖חַת (and for) יְשָׁרִ֣ים (upright ones), בּוֹגֵֽד׃ (the one acting treacherously).

19  ט֗וֹב (Better) שֶׁ֥בֶת (to dwell) בְּאֶֽרֶץ־ (in a land) מִדְבָּ֑ר (of wilderness)

מֵאֵ֖שֶׁת (than with a woman) מְדוֹנִים (of quarrels) וָכָֽעַס׃ (and provocation).

20  אוֹצָ֤ר׀ (Treasure) נֶחְמָ֣ד (to be desired) וָ֭שֶׁמֶן (and oil) בִּנְוֵ֣ה (are in the dwelling) חָכָ֑ם (of a wise one),

וּכְסִ֖יל (and a foolish) אָדָ֣ם (man) יְבַלְּעֶֽנּוּ׃ (swallows it up).

21  רֹ֭דֵף (One pursuing) צְדָקָ֣ה (righteousness) וָחָ֑סֶד (and loving devotion)

יִמְצָ֥א (will find) חַ֝יִּ֗ים (life), צְדָקָ֥ה (righteousness), וְכָבֽוֹד׃ (and honor).

22  עִ֣יר (A city) גִּ֭בֹּרִים (of mighty ones) עָלָ֣ה (ascends) חָכָ֑ם (a wise one)

וַ֝יֹּ֗רֶד (and he brings down) עֹ֣ז (the stronghold) מִבְטֶחָֽה׃ (of its confidence).

23  שֹׁמֵ֣ר (The one guarding) פִּ֭יו (his mouth) וּלְשׁוֹנ֑וֹ (and his tongue)

שֹׁמֵ֖ר (is guarding) מִצָּר֣וֹת (from distress) נַפְשֽׁוֹ׃ (his soul).

24  זֵ֣ד (The arrogant), יָ֭הִיר (and haughty one)— לֵ֣ץ (Mocker) שְׁמ֑וֹ (is his name)—

ע֝וֹשֶׂ֗ה (he is acting) בְּעֶבְרַ֥ת (in the outpouring) זָדֽוֹן׃ (of pride).

25  תַּאֲוַ֣ת (The desire) עָצֵ֣ל (of the lazy one) תְּמִיתֶ֑נּוּ (brings him death),

כִּֽי־ (for) מֵאֲנ֖וּ (refuse) יָדָ֣יו (his hands) לַעֲשֽׂוֹת׃ (to work).

26  כָּל־ (All) הַ֭יּוֹם (the day) הִתְאַוָּ֣ה (he has desired), תַאֲוָ֑ה (his desire);

וְצַדִּ֥יק (while the righteous one) יִ֝תֵּ֗ן (gives) וְלֹ֣א (and not) יַחְשֹֽׂךְ׃ (does withhold).

27  זֶ֣בַח (The sacrifice) רְ֭שָׁעִים (of wicked ones) תּוֹעֵבָ֑ה (is an abomination)—

אַ֝֗ף (how much more) כִּֽי־ (when) בְזִמָּ֥ה (in wickedness) יְבִיאֶֽנּוּ׃ (he brings it)?

28  עֵד־ (A witness) כְּזָבִ֥ים (of falsehood) יֹאבֵ֑ד (will perish),

וְאִ֥ישׁ (and the man) שׁוֹמֵעַ (being attentive) לָנֶ֥צַח (forever) יְדַבֵּֽר׃ (will speak).

29  הֵעֵ֬ז (Strengthens) אִ֣ישׁ (a man) רָשָׁ֣ע (wicked) בְּפָנָ֑יו (his face),

וְ֝יָשָׁ֗ר (and an upright one)— ה֤וּא׀ (he) יָכִין (establishes) דְּרָכָיו׃ (his way).

30  אֵ֣ין (There is no) חָ֭כְמָה (wisdom) וְאֵ֣ין (and no) תְּבוּנָ֑ה (understanding)

וְאֵ֥ין (and no) עֵ֝צָ֗ה (counsel) לְנֶ֣גֶד (against) יְהוָֽה׃פ (YHWH).

31  ס֗וּס (The horse) מ֭וּכָן (is prepared) לְי֣וֹם (for the day) מִלְחָמָ֑ה (of battle),

וְ֝לַֽיהוָ֗ה (and of YHWH is) הַתְּשׁוּעָֽה׃ (the victory).