Delight Yourself in Yahweh
(1 Kings 2:1–9)

לְדָוִ֨ד׀ (Of David).

1אַל־ (Not) תִּתְחַ֥ר (fret) בַּמְּרֵעִ֑ים (ove those doing evil),

אַל־ (and not) תְּ֝קַנֵּ֗א (be jealous) בְּעֹשֵׂ֥י (of the workers) עַוְלָֽה׃ (of iniquity).

2  כִּ֣י (For) כֶ֭חָצִיר (like the grass), מְהֵרָ֣ה (soon) יִמָּ֑לוּ (they are cut off),

וּכְיֶ֥רֶק (and like the green) דֶּ֝֗שֶׁא (of the herb) יִבּוֹלֽוּן׃ (they shall wither).

3  בְּטַ֣ח (Trust) בַּֽ֭יהוָה (in YHWH) וַעֲשֵׂה־ (and do) ט֑וֹב (good);

שְׁכָן־ (dwell) אֶ֝֗רֶץ (in the land) וּרְעֵ֥ה (and graze) אֱמוּנָֽה׃ (in faithfulness).

4  וְהִתְעַנַּ֥ג (And delight yourself) עַל־ (in) יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH),

וְיִֽתֶּן־ (and He will give) לְ֝ךָ֗ (to you) מִשְׁאֲלֹ֥ת (the desires) לִבֶּֽךָ׃ (of your heart).

5  גּ֣וֹל (Roll) עַל־ (upon) יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH) דַּרְכֶּ֑ךָ (your way),

וּבְטַ֥ח (and trust) עָ֝לָ֗יו (in Him) וְה֣וּא (and He) יַעֲשֶֽׂה׃ (will act).

6  וְהוֹצִ֣יא (And He will bring forth) כָא֣וֹר (like the dawn) צִדְקֶ֑ךָ (your righteousness),

וּ֝מִשְׁפָּטֶ֗ךָ (and your justice) כַּֽצָּהֳרָֽיִם׃ (like the noonday sun).

7  דּ֤וֹם׀ (Be still) לַיהוָה֮ (before YHWH)

וְהִתְח֪וֹלֵ֫ל (and wait patiently) ל֥וֹ (for Him);

אַל־ (not) תִּ֭תְחַר (fret) בְּמַצְלִ֣יחַ (over the one succeeding) דַּרְכּ֑וֹ (in his path),

בְּ֝אִ֗ישׁ (over the man) עֹשֶׂ֥ה (making) מְזִמּֽוֹת׃ (schemes).

8  הֶ֣רֶף (Cease) מֵ֭אַף (from anger), וַעֲזֹ֣ב (and leave behind) חֵמָ֑ה (wrath);

אַל־ (not) תִּ֝תְחַ֗ר (should you burn)— אַךְ־ (it only) לְהָרֵֽעַ׃ (causes harm).

9  כִּֽי־ (For) מְ֭רֵעִים (those doing evil) יִכָּרֵת֑וּן (will be cut off),

וְקֹוֵ֥י (and those waiting on) יְ֝הוָ֗ה (YHWH), הֵ֣מָּה (they) יִֽירְשׁוּ־ (will inherit) אָֽרֶץ׃ (the land).

10  וְע֣וֹד (And in yet) מְ֭עַט (a little while), וְאֵ֣ין (and is no more) רָשָׁ֑ע (the wicked man),

וְהִתְבּוֹנַ֖נְתָּ (and you will look) עַל־ (for) מְקוֹמ֣וֹ (his place), וְאֵינֶֽנּוּ׃ (and it is no more).

11  וַעֲנָוִ֥ים (And the meek) יִֽירְשׁוּ־ (will inherit) אָ֑רֶץ (the land),

וְ֝הִתְעַנְּג֗וּ (and they will delight) עַל־ (in) רֹ֥ב (the abundance) שָׁלֽוֹם׃ (of peace).

12  זֹמֵ֣ם (Is plotting) רָ֭שָׁע (The wicked man) לַצַּדִּ֑יק (against the righteous one)

וְחֹרֵ֖ק (and is gnashing) עָלָ֣יו (at him) שִׁנָּֽיו׃ (with his teeth).

13  אֲדֹנָ֥י (The Lord) יִשְׂחַק־ (laughs) ל֑וֹ (at him),

כִּֽי־ (for) רָ֝אָ֗ה (He sees) כִּֽי־ (that) יָבֹ֥א (is coming) יוֹמֽוֹ׃ (his day).

14  חֶ֤רֶב׀ (The sword) פָּֽתְח֣וּ (have drawn out) רְשָׁעִים֮ (the wicked),

וְדָרְכ֪וּ (and have bent) קַ֫שְׁתָּ֥ם (their bows),

לְ֭הַפִּיל (to cast down) עָנִ֣י (the poor) וְאֶבְי֑וֹן (and needy),

לִ֝טְב֗וֹחַ (and to slay) יִשְׁרֵי־ (those upright in) דָֽרֶךְ׃ (the path).

15  חַ֭רְבָּם (Their sword) תָּב֣וֹא (will come into) בְלִבָּ֑ם (their own heart),

וְ֝קַשְּׁתוֹתָ֗ם (and their bows) תִּשָּׁבַֽרְנָה׃ (will be broken).

16  טוֹב־ (Better) מְ֭עַט (is the little) לַצַּדִּ֑יק (of the righteous)

מֵ֝הֲמ֗וֹן (than the riches) רְשָׁעִ֥ים (wicked) רַבִּֽים׃ (many).

17  כִּ֤י (For) זְרוֹע֣וֹת (the arms) רְ֭שָׁעִים (of the wicked) תִּשָּׁבַ֑רְנָה (will be broken),

וְסוֹמֵ֖ךְ (and upholds) צַדִּיקִ֣ים (the righteous) יְהוָֽה׃ (YHWH).

18  יוֹדֵ֣עַ (Knows) יְ֭הוָה (YHWH) יְמֵ֣י (the days) תְמִימִ֑ם (of the blameless),

וְ֝נַחֲלָתָ֗ם (and their inheritance) לְעוֹלָ֥ם (forever) תִּהְיֶֽה׃ (will be).

19  לֹֽא־ (Not) יֵ֭בֹשׁוּ (they will be ashamed) בְּעֵ֣ת (in a time) רָעָ֑ה (of evil),

וּבִימֵ֖י (and in days) רְעָב֣וֹן (of famine) יִשְׂבָּֽעוּ׃ (they will be satisfied).

20  כִּ֤י (But) רְשָׁעִ֨ים׀ (the wicked) יֹאבֵ֗דוּ (shall perish),

וְאֹיְבֵ֣י (and the enemies) יְ֭הוָה (of YHWH)

כִּיקַ֣ר (like the splendor) כָּרִ֑ים (of the meadows) כָּל֖וּ (they will be consumed);

בֶעָשָׁ֣ן (with the smoke) כָּֽלוּ׃ (they will be consumed).

21  לֹוֶ֣ה (Borrows) רָ֭שָׁע (the wicked) וְלֹ֣א (and not) יְשַׁלֵּ֑ם (does he repay),

וְ֝צַדִּ֗יק (and the righteous one) חוֹנֵ֥ן (is gracious) וְנוֹתֵֽן׃ (and giving).

22  כִּ֣י (For) מְ֭בֹרָכָיו (those being blessed by Him) יִ֣ירְשׁוּ (will inherit) אָ֑רֶץ (the land),

וּ֝מְקֻלָּלָ֗יו (and those being cursed by Him) יִכָּרֵֽתוּ׃ (will be cut off).

23  מֵ֭יְהוָה (By YHWH) מִֽצְעֲדֵי־ (the steps) גֶ֥בֶר (of a man) כּוֹנָ֗נוּ (are established),

וְדַרְכּ֥וֹ (and in his way) יֶחְפָּֽץ׃ (He delights).

24  כִּֽי־ (Though) יִפֹּ֥ל (he falls), לֹֽא־ (not) יוּטָ֑ל (will he be cast down);

כִּֽי־ (for) יְ֝הוָ֗ה (YHWH) סוֹמֵ֥ךְ (is upholding) יָדֽוֹ׃ (his hand).

25  נַ֤עַר׀ (Young) הָיִ֗יתִי (I have been), גַּם־ (and) זָ֫קַ֥נְתִּי (I am old);

וְֽלֹא־ (and not) רָ֭אִיתִי (have I seen) צַדִּ֣יק (the righteous) נֶעֱזָ֑ב (forsaken),

וְ֝זַרְע֗וֹ (and his seed) מְבַקֶּשׁ־ (seeking) לָֽחֶם׃ (bread).

26  כָּל־ (All) הַ֭יּוֹם (the day) חוֹנֵ֣ן (he is gracious) וּמַלְוֶ֑ה (and lending),

וְ֝זַרְע֗וֹ (and his seed) לִבְרָכָֽה׃ (are a blessing).

27  ס֣וּר (Turn away) מֵ֭רָע (from evil) וַעֲשֵׂה־ (and do) ט֗וֹב (good),

וּשְׁכֹ֥ן (and you will dwell) לְעוֹלָֽם׃ (forever).

28  כִּ֤י (For) יְהוָ֨ה׀ (YHWH) אֹ֘הֵ֤ב (loves) מִשְׁפָּ֗ט (justice),

וְלֹא־ (and not) יַעֲזֹ֣ב (does He forsake) אֶת־ (-) חֲ֭סִידָיו (His holy ones);

לְעוֹלָ֣ם (forever) נִשְׁמָ֑רוּ (they are preserved),

וְזֶ֖רַע (and the seed) רְשָׁעִ֣ים (of the wicked) נִכְרָֽת׃ (will be cut off).

29  צַדִּיקִ֥ים (The righteous) יִֽירְשׁוּ־ (will inherit) אָ֑רֶץ (the land)

וְיִשְׁכְּנ֖וּ (and they will dwell) לָעַ֣ד (forever) עָלֶֽיהָ׃ (in it).

30  פִּֽי־ (The mouth) צַ֭דִּיק (of the righteous) יֶהְגֶּ֣ה (muses) חָכְמָ֑ה (wisdom),

וּ֝לְשׁוֹנ֗וֹ (and his tongue) תְּדַבֵּ֥ר (speaks) מִשְׁפָּֽט׃ (justice).

31  תּוֹרַ֣ת (The law) אֱלֹהָ֣יו (of his God) בְּלִבּ֑וֹ (is in his heart);

לֹ֖א (not) תִמְעַ֣ד (shall slip) אֲשֻׁרָיו׃ (his steps).

32  צוֹפֶ֣ה (Is keeping watch) רָ֭שָׁע (the wicked) לַצַּדִּ֑יק (on the righteous)

וּ֝מְבַקֵּ֗שׁ (and he is seeking) לַהֲמִיתוֹ׃ (to kill him).

33  יְ֭הוָה (YHWH) לֹא־ (not) יַעַזְבֶ֣נּוּ (will leave him) בְיָד֑וֹ (in his hand),

וְלֹ֥א (and not) יַ֝רְשִׁיעֶ֗נּוּ (will declare him wicked) בְּהִשָּׁפְטֽוֹ׃ (in his being judged).

34  קַוֵּ֤ה (Wait) אֶל־ (on) יְהוָ֨ה׀ (YHWH) וּשְׁמֹ֬ר (and keep) דַּרְכּ֗וֹ (His way),

וִֽ֭ירוֹמִמְךָ (and He will exalt you) לָרֶ֣שֶׁת (to possess) אָ֑רֶץ (the land);

בְּהִכָּרֵ֖ת (in the cutting off) רְשָׁעִ֣ים (of the wicked),

תִּרְאֶֽה׃ (you will see it).

35  רָ֭אִיתִי (I have seen) רָשָׁ֣ע (a wicked) עָרִ֑יץ (ruthless one),

וּ֝מִתְעָרֶ֗ה (spread out) כְּאֶזְרָ֥ח (like a native tree) רַעֲנָֽן׃ (luxuriant).

36  וַ֭יַּֽעֲבֹר (And he passed away) וְהִנֵּ֣ה (and behold), אֵינֶ֑נּוּ (he was no more);

וָֽ֝אֲבַקְשֵׁ֗הוּ (and indeed I sought him) וְלֹ֣א (and not) נִמְצָֽא׃ (could he be found).

37  שְׁמָר־ (Observe) תָּ֭ם (a blameless one) וּרְאֵ֣ה (and see) יָשָׁ֑ר (an upright one),

כִּֽי־ (for) אַחֲרִ֖ית (the end) לְאִ֣ישׁ (of the man) שָׁלֽוֹם׃ (is well-being).

38  וּֽ֭פֹשְׁעִים (And those transgressing) נִשְׁמְד֣וּ (will be destroyed) יַחְדָּ֑ו (together);

אַחֲרִ֖ית (the end) רְשָׁעִ֣ים (for the wicked man) נִכְרָֽתָה׃ (is cut off).

39  וּתְשׁוּעַ֣ת (And the salvation) צַ֭דִּיקִים (of the righteous) מֵיְהוָ֑ה (is from YHWH);

מָֽ֝עוּזָּ֗ם (He is their stronghold) בְּעֵ֣ת (in time) צָרָֽה׃ (of distress).

40  וַֽיַּעְזְרֵ֥ם (Helps them) יְהוָ֗ה (YHWH) וַֽיְפַ֫לְּטֵ֥ם (and rescues them);

יְפַלְּטֵ֣ם (He shall rescue them) מֵ֭רְשָׁעִים (from the wicked) וְיוֹשִׁיעֵ֑ם (and save them)

כִּי־ (because) חָ֥סוּ (they have taken refuge) בֽוֹ׃ (in Him).