Be Merciful to Me, O God
(1 Samuel 21:8–15)

לַמְנַצֵּ֤חַ׀ (For the one directing) עַל־ (according to) י֬וֹנַת (A Dove) אֵ֣לֶם (of Oaks) רְ֭חֹקִים (Distant). לְדָוִ֣ד (Of David) מִכְתָּ֑ם (a Miktam), בֶּֽאֱחֹ֨ז (in the seizing of) אֹת֖וֹ (him) פְלִשְׁתִּ֣ים (by the Philistines) בְּגַֽת׃ (in Gath).

1חָנֵּ֣נִי (Show favor to me) אֱ֭לֹהִים (O God),

כִּֽי־ (for) שְׁאָפַ֣נִי (would swallow me up) אֱנ֑וֹשׁ (man);

כָּל־ (all) הַ֝יּ֗וֹם (the day) לֹחֵ֥ם (fighting) יִלְחָצֵֽנִי׃ (he oppresses me).

2  שָׁאֲפ֣וּ (Swallow me up) שׁ֭וֹרְרַי (my enemies) כָּל־ (all) הַיּ֑וֹם (the day),

כִּֽי־ (for) רַבִּ֨ים (many) לֹחֲמִ֖ים (are fighting) לִ֣י (against me) מָרֽוֹם׃ (proudly).

3  י֥וֹם (On the day) אִירָ֑א (I am afraid),

אֲ֝נִ֗י (I) אֵלֶ֥יךָ (in You) אֶבְטָֽח׃ (will trust).

4  בֵּאלֹהִים֮ (In God of whom) אֲהַלֵּ֪ל (I praise) דְּבָ֫ר֥וֹ (His word),

בֵּאלֹהִ֣ים (in God) בָּ֭טַחְתִּי (do I trust);

לֹ֣א (not) אִירָ֑א (I will fear)—

מַה־ (what) יַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה (can do) בָשָׂ֣ר (flesh) לִֽי׃ (to me).

5  כָּל־ (All) הַ֭יּוֹם (the day) דְּבָרַ֣י (my words) יְעַצֵּ֑בוּ (they wrest);

עָלַ֖י (against me) כָּל־ (all) מַחְשְׁבֹתָ֣ם (their thoughts are) לָרָֽע׃ (for evil).

6  יָג֤וּרוּ׀ (They gather together), יַצְפִּינוּ (they hide),

הֵ֭מָּה (they) עֲקֵבַ֣י (my steps) יִשְׁמֹ֑רוּ (mark)

כַּ֝אֲשֶׁ֗ר (when) קִוּ֥וּ (they lie in wait for) נַפְשִֽׁי׃ (my soul).

7  עַל־ (Over) אָ֥וֶן (iniquity) פַּלֶּט־ (bring escape) לָ֑מוֹ (for them);

בְּ֝אַ֗ף (in your anger) עַמִּ֤ים׀ (the nations) הוֹרֵ֬ד (may You cast down), אֱלֹהִֽים׃ (O God).

8  נֹדִי֮ (My wanderings) סָפַ֪רְתָּ֫ה (have counted) אָ֥תָּה (You).

שִׂ֣ימָה (Put) דִמְעָתִ֣י (my tears) בְנֹאדֶ֑ךָ (in Your bottle)—

הֲ֝לֹ֗א (are not they) בְּסִפְרָתֶֽךָ׃ (in Your book)?

9  אָ֥֨ז (Then) יָ֘שׁ֤וּבוּ (will turn) אוֹיְבַ֣י (my enemies) אָ֭חוֹר (back)

בְּי֣וֹם (on the day) אֶקְרָ֑א (I cry out).

זֶה־ (This) יָ֝דַ֗עְתִּי (I have known), כִּֽי־ (that) אֱלֹהִ֥ים (God is) לִֽי׃ (for me).

10  בֵּֽ֭אלֹהִים (In God for whom) אֲהַלֵּ֣ל (I do praise) דָּבָ֑ר (His word))

בַּ֝יהוָ֗ה (in YHWH for whom) אֲהַלֵּ֥ל (I praise) דָּבָֽר׃ (whose word))—

11  בֵּֽאלֹהִ֣ים (in God) בָּ֭טַחְתִּי (I have put my trust); לֹ֣א (not) אִירָ֑א (will I be afraid).

מַה־ (What) יַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה (can do) אָדָ֣ם (man) לִֽי׃ (to me).

12  עָלַ֣י (Upon me) אֱלֹהִ֣ים (O God) נְדָרֶ֑יךָ (Your vows)

אֲשַׁלֵּ֖ם (I will give) תּוֹדֹ֣ת (thank offerings) לָֽךְ׃ (to You).

13  כִּ֤י (For) הִצַּ֪לְתָּ (You have delivered) נַפְשִׁ֡י (my soul) מִמָּוֶת֮ (from death),

הֲלֹ֥א (Do You not) רַגְלַ֗י (my feet) מִ֫דֶּ֥חִי (keep from falling),

לְ֭הִֽתְהַלֵּךְ (that I may walk) לִפְנֵ֣י (before) אֱלֹהִ֑ים (God)

בְּ֝א֗וֹר (in the light) הַֽחַיִּֽים׃ (of the living)!