The Hurtful Tongue
(James 3:1–12)

לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַ (For the one directing). מִזְמ֥וֹר (A Psalm) לְדָוִֽד׃ (of David).

1שְׁמַע־ (Hear), אֱלֹהִ֣ים (O God), קוֹלִ֣י (my voice) בְשִׂיחִ֑י (in my complaint);

מִפַּ֥חַד (from the dread) א֝וֹיֵ֗ב (of the enemy) תִּצֹּ֥ר (may You preserve) חַיָּֽי׃ (my life).

2  תַּ֭סְתִּירֵנִי (Hide me) מִסּ֣וֹד (from the counsel) מְרֵעִ֑ים (of the wicked),

מֵ֝רִגְשַׁ֗ת (from the mob) פֹּ֣עֲלֵי (of workers) אָֽוֶן׃ (of iniquity),

3  אֲשֶׁ֤ר (who) שָׁנְנ֣וּ (sharpen) כַחֶ֣רֶב (like a sword) לְשׁוֹנָ֑ם (their tongue),

דָּרְכ֥וּ (and aim) חִ֝צָּ֗ם (as their arrow) דָּבָ֥ר (a word) מָֽר׃ (bitter),

4  לִיר֣וֹת (to shoot) בַּמִּסְתָּרִ֣ים (in secret) תָּ֑ם (at the blameless);

פִּתְאֹ֥ם (suddenly) יֹ֝רֻ֗הוּ (they shoot at him) וְלֹ֣א (and not) יִירָֽאוּ׃ (do they fear).

5  יְחַזְּקוּ־ (They strengthen) לָ֨מוֹ׀ (themselves) דָּ֘בָ֤ר (a word of) רָ֗ע (evil);

יְֽ֭סַפְּרוּ (they recount) לִטְמ֣וֹן (the hiding) מוֹקְשִׁ֑ים (of snares);

אָ֝מְר֗וּ (they say), מִ֣י (Who) יִרְאֶה־ (is looking) לָּֽמוֹ׃ (at them).

6  יַֽחְפְּֽשׂוּ־ (They search out) עוֹלֹ֗ת (injustice):

תַּ֭מְנוּ (We have perfected) חֵ֣פֶשׂ (plot) מְחֻפָּ֑שׂ (a searching).

וְקֶ֥רֶב (And the inner) אִ֝֗ישׁ (man) וְלֵ֣ב (and the heart) עָמֹֽק׃ (is deep).

7  וַיֹּרֵ֗ם (And will shoot at them) אֱלֹ֫הִ֥ים (God) חֵ֥ץ (an arrow);

פִּתְא֑וֹם (suddenly) הָ֝י֗וּ (they will be) מַכּוֹתָֽם׃ (wounded).

8  וַיַּכְשִׁיל֣וּהוּ (They will be made to stumble)

עָלֵ֣ימוֹ (against them being) לְשׁוֹנָ֑ם (their own tongue);

יִ֝תְנֹדֲד֗וּ (will flee) כָּל־ (all) רֹ֥אֵה (those looking) בָֽם׃ (on them).

9  וַיִּֽירְא֗וּ (Will fear) כָּל־ (all) אָ֫דָ֥ם (mankind)

וַ֭יַּגִּידוּ (and they will declare) פֹּ֥עַל (the work) אֱלֹהִ֗ים (of God);

וּֽמַעֲשֵׂ֥הוּ (and His deed) הִשְׂכִּֽילוּ׃ (they will wisely consider).

10  יִשְׂמַ֬ח (Will be glad) צַדִּ֣יק (a righteous one) בַּ֭יהוָה (in YHWH)

וְחָ֣סָה (and he will take refuge) ב֑וֹ (in Him);

וְ֝יִתְהַֽלְל֗וּ (and let exult) כָּל־ (all) יִשְׁרֵי־ (the upright) לֵֽב׃ (in heart).