Why Do You Boast of Evil?
(1 Samuel 22:6–23)

לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַ (For the one directing). מַשְׂכִּ֥יל (A Maskil) לְדָוִֽד׃ (of David), בְּב֤וֹא׀ (in the coming of) דּוֹאֵ֣ג (Doeg) הָאֲדֹמִי֮ (the Edomite), וַיַּגֵּ֪ד (when he announced) לְשָׁ֫א֥וּל (to Saul) וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (and said) ל֑וֹ (to him), בָּ֥א (Has gone) דָ֝וִ֗ד (David) אֶל־ (to) בֵּ֥ית (the house) אֲחִימֶֽלֶךְ׃ (of Ahimelech).

1מַה־ (Why) תִּתְהַלֵּ֣ל (do you boast) בְּ֭רָעָה (in evil), הַגִּבּ֑וֹר (O mighty man)?

חֶ֥סֶד (The loving devotion) אֵ֝֗ל (of God) כָּל־ (is all) הַיּֽוֹם׃ (the day).

2  הַ֭וּוֹת (Destruction) תַּחְשֹׁ֣ב (devises) לְשׁוֹנֶ֑ךָ (Your tongue),

כְּתַ֥עַר (like a razor) מְ֝לֻטָּ֗שׁ (sharp), עֹשֵׂ֥ה (working) רְמִיָּֽה׃ (deceit).

3  אָהַ֣בְתָּ (You love) רָּ֣ע (evil) מִטּ֑וֹב (more than good),

שֶׁ֓קֶר׀ (lying) מִדַּבֵּ֖ר (more than speaking) צֶ֣דֶק (righteousness).

סֶֽלָה׃ (Selah)

4  אָהַ֥בְתָּ (You love) כָֽל־ (all) דִּבְרֵי־ (words) בָ֗לַע (of devouring),

לְשׁ֣וֹן (O tongue) מִרְמָֽה׃ (of deceit).

5  גַּם־ (Also) אֵל֮ (God) יִתָּצְךָ֪ (will tear you down) לָ֫נֶ֥צַח (forever);

יַחְתְּךָ֣ (He will take you up) וְיִסָּחֲךָ֣ (and pluck you out) מֵאֹ֑הֶל (of the tent),

וְשֵֽׁרֶשְׁךָ֨ (and uproot you) מֵאֶ֖רֶץ (from the land) חַיִּ֣ים (of the living).

סֶֽלָה׃ (Selah)

6  וְיִרְא֖וּ (will see) צַדִּיקִ֥ים (the righteous) וְיִירָ֗אוּ (and fear),

וְעָלָ֥יו (and at him) יִשְׂחָֽקוּ׃ (they shall laugh):

7  הִנֵּ֤ה (Behold) הַגֶּ֗בֶר (the man)

לֹ֤א (who not) יָשִׂ֥ים (did set) אֱלֹהִ֗ים (God) מָֽע֫וּזּ֥וֹ (as his refuge),

וַ֭יִּבְטַח (and trusted) בְּרֹ֣ב (in the abundance) עָשְׁר֑וֹ (of his wealth)

יָ֝עֹ֗ז (and took strength) בְּהַוָּתֽוֹ׃ (by destruction).

8  וַאֲנִ֤י׀ (And I am) כְּזַ֣יִת (like an olive tree)

רַ֭עֲנָן (green) בְּבֵ֣ית (in the house) אֱלֹהִ֑ים (of God);

בָּטַ֥חְתִּי (I trust) בְחֶֽסֶד־ (in the loving devotion) אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים (of God)

עוֹלָ֥ם (forever) וָעֶֽד׃ (and ever).

9  אוֹדְךָ֣ (I will confess You) לְ֭עוֹלָם (forever),

כִּ֣י (because) עָשִׂ֑יתָ (You have done it).

וַאֲקַוֶּ֖ה (And I will call on) שִׁמְךָ֥ (Your name),

כִֽי־ (for) ט֝֗וֹב (it is good) נֶ֣גֶד (in front) חֲסִידֶֽיךָ׃ (of Your holy ones).