Thirsting for God
(2 Samuel 15:30–37)

מִזְמ֥וֹר (A Psalm) לְדָוִ֑ד (of David), בִּ֝הְיוֹת֗וֹ (in his being) בְּמִדְבַּ֥ר (in the wilderness) יְהוּדָֽה׃ (of Judah).

1אֱלֹהִ֤ים׀ (O God), אֵלִ֥י (my God) אַתָּ֗ה (You are);

אֲ‍ֽשַׁחֲ֫רֶ֥ךָּ (I seek after You);

צָמְאָ֬ה (thirsts) לְךָ֨׀ (for You) נַפְשִׁ֗י (My soul).

כָּמַ֣הּ (Longs) לְךָ֣ (for You) בְשָׂרִ֑י (My flesh),

בְּאֶֽרֶץ־ (in a land) צִיָּ֖ה (dry) וְעָיֵ֣ף (and weary), בְּלִי־ (without) מָֽיִם׃ (waters).

2  כֵּ֭ן (So) בַּקֹּ֣דֶשׁ (in the sanctuary) חֲזִיתִ֑יךָ (I have seen You),

לִרְא֥וֹת (to behold) עֻ֝זְּךָ֗ (Your power) וּכְבוֹדֶֽךָ׃ (and Your glory).

3  כִּי־ (Because) ט֣וֹב (is better) חַ֭סְדְּךָ (is Your loving devotion) מֵֽחַיִּ֗ים (than life),

שְׂפָתַ֥י (my lips) יְשַׁבְּחֽוּנְךָ׃ (will praise You).

4  כֵּ֣ן (So) אֲבָרֶכְךָ֣ (I will bless You) בְחַיָּ֑י (in my life);

בְּ֝שִׁמְךָ (in Your name) אֶשָּׂ֥א (I will lift up) כַפָּֽי׃ (my hands).

5  כְּמ֤וֹ (As) חֵ֣לֶב (with milk) וָ֭דֶשֶׁן (and fatness) תִּשְׂבַּ֣ע (is satisfied) נַפְשִׁ֑י (My soul),

וְשִׂפְתֵ֥י (and with lips) רְ֝נָנ֗וֹת (of joyful shouts) יְהַלֶּל־ (will praise You) פִּֽי׃ (my mouth).

6  אִם־ (When) זְכַרְתִּ֥יךָ (I remember You) עַל־ (on) יְצוּעָ֑י (my bed),

בְּ֝אַשְׁמֻר֗וֹת (through the watches of the night) אֶהְגֶּה־ (I meditate) בָּֽךְ׃ (on You).

7  כִּֽי־ (For) הָיִ֣יתָ (You have been) עֶזְרָ֣תָה (a help) לִּ֑י (to me),

וּבְצֵ֖ל (and in the shadow) כְּנָפֶ֣יךָ (of Your wings) אֲרַנֵּֽן׃ (I will shout for joy).

8  דָּבְקָ֣ה (Clings) נַפְשִׁ֣י (My soul) אַחֲרֶ֑יךָ (to You);

בִּ֝֗י (of me) תָּמְכָ֥ה (has taken hold) יְמִינֶֽךָ׃ (Your right hand).

9  וְהֵ֗מָּה (And those who) לְ֭שׁוֹאָה (for desolation) יְבַקְשׁ֣וּ (seek) נַפְשִׁ֑י (my soul)

יָ֝בֹ֗אוּ (they will go) בְּֽתַחְתִּיּ֥וֹת (into the depths) הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (of the earth).

10  יַגִּירֻ֥הוּ (They will fall) עַל־ (by) יְדֵי־ (the hand) חָ֑רֶב (of the sword);

מְנָ֖ת (a portion) שֻׁעָלִ֣ים (for foxes) יִהְיֽוּ׃ (they will become).

11  וְהַמֶּלֶךְ֮ (And the king) יִשְׂמַ֪ח (will rejoice) בֵּאלֹ֫הִ֥ים (in God);

יִ֭תְהַלֵּל (will exult) כָּל־ (everyone) הַנִּשְׁבָּ֣ע (swearing) בּ֑וֹ (by Him),

כִּ֥י (but) יִ֝סָּכֵ֗ר (will be stopped up) פִּ֣י (the mouth) דֽוֹבְרֵי־ (of those speaking) שָֽׁקֶר׃ (lies).