Here was a lowly man who called, and the LORD listened,

may what I prayed for happen to me!
Here was a lowly man who called,
and the LORD listened,
and delivered him from all his troubles.
my tongue shall recite Your beneficent acts,
Your praises all day long.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
those crushed in spirit He delivers.
Many are the persecutions of the righteous.
Though the misfortunes of the righteous be many,
the LORD will save him from them all,
Keeping all his bones intact,
not one of them being broken.
One misfortune is the deathblow of the wicked;
the foes of the righteous shall be ruined.
The LORD redeems the life of His servants;
all who take refuge in Him shall not be ruined.
The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous,
His ears attentive to their cry.
The face of the LORD is set against evildoers,
to erase their names from the earth.
O LORD, strive with my adversaries,
give battle to my foes,
take up shield and buckler,
and come to my defense;
ready the spear and javelin
against my pursuers;
tell me, “I am your deliverance.”
Let those who seek my life
be frustrated and put to shame;
let those who plan to harm me
fall back in disgrace.
Let them be as chaff in the wind,
the LORD’s angel driving them on.
Let their path be dark and slippery,
with the LORD’s angel in pursuit.
For without cause they hid a net to trap me;
without cause they dug a pita for me.
Let disaster overtake them unawares;
let the net they hid catch them;
let them fall into it when disaster [strikes].
Psalms 34 Sefaria
1
לְדָוִ֗ד בְּשַׁנּוֹת֣וֹ אֶת־טַ֭עְמוֹ לִפְנֵ֣י אֲבִימֶ֑לֶךְ וַ֝יְגָרְשֵׁ֗הוּ וַיֵּלַֽךְ׃
Of David, when he feigned madness in the presence of Abimelech, who turned him out, and he left.-a
2
אֲבָרְכָ֣ה אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה בְּכׇל־עֵ֑ת תָּ֝מִ֗יד תְּֽהִלָּת֥וֹ בְּפִֽי׃
I bless the LORD at all times;
praise of Him is ever in my mouth.
3
בַּ֭יהֹוָה תִּתְהַלֵּ֣ל נַפְשִׁ֑י יִשְׁמְע֖וּ עֲנָוִ֣ים וְיִשְׂמָֽחוּ׃
I glory in the LORD;
let the lowly hear it and rejoice.
4
גַּדְּל֣וּ לַיהֹוָ֣ה אִתִּ֑י וּנְרוֹמְמָ֖ה שְׁמ֣וֹ יַחְדָּֽו׃
Exalt the LORD with me;
let us extol His name together.
5
דָּרַ֣שְׁתִּי אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה וְעָנָ֑נִי וּמִכׇּל־מְ֝גוּרוֹתַ֗י הִצִּילָֽנִי׃
I turned to the LORD, and He answered me;
He saved me from all my terrors.
6
הִבִּ֣יטוּ אֵלָ֣יו וְנָהָ֑רוּ וּ֝פְנֵיהֶ֗ם אַל־יֶחְפָּֽרוּ׃
Men look to Him and are radiant;
let their faces not be downcast.
7
זֶ֤ה עָנִ֣י קָ֭רָא וַיהֹוָ֣ה שָׁמֵ֑עַ וּמִכׇּל־צָ֝רוֹתָ֗יו הוֹשִׁיעֽוֹ׃
Here was a lowly man who called,
and the LORD listened,
and delivered him from all his troubles.
8
חֹנֶ֤ה מַלְאַךְ־יְהֹוָ֓ה סָ֘בִ֤יב לִירֵאָ֗יו וַֽיְחַלְּצֵֽם׃
The angel of the LORD camps around those who fear Him
and rescues them.
9
טַעֲמ֣וּ וּ֭רְאוּ כִּֽי־ט֣וֹב יְהֹוָ֑ה אַֽשְׁרֵ֥י הַ֝גֶּ֗בֶר יֶחֱסֶה־בּֽוֹ׃
Taste and see how good the LORD is;
happy the man who takes refuge in Him!
10
יְר֣אוּ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה קְדֹשָׁ֑יו כִּי־אֵ֥ין מַ֝חְס֗וֹר לִירֵאָֽיו׃
Fear the LORD, you His consecrated ones,
for those who fear Him lack nothing.
11
כְּ֭פִירִים רָשׁ֣וּ וְרָעֵ֑בוּ וְדֹרְשֵׁ֥י יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה לֹא־יַחְסְר֥וּ כׇל־טֽוֹב׃
Lions have been reduced to starvation,
but those who turn to the LORD shall not lack any good.
12
לְֽכוּ־בָ֭נִים שִׁמְעוּ־לִ֑י יִֽרְאַ֥ת יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה אֲלַמֶּדְכֶֽם׃
Come, my sons, listen to me;
I will teach you what it is to fear the LORD.
13
מִֽי־הָ֭אִישׁ הֶחָפֵ֣ץ חַיִּ֑ים אֹהֵ֥ב יָ֝מִ֗ים לִרְא֥וֹת טֽוֹב׃
Who is the man who is eager for life,
who desires years of good fortune?
14
נְצֹ֣ר לְשׁוֹנְךָ֣ מֵרָ֑ע וּ֝שְׂפָתֶ֗יךָ מִדַּבֵּ֥ר מִרְמָֽה׃
Guard your tongue from evil,
your lips from deceitful speech.
15
ס֣וּר מֵ֭רָע וַעֲשֵׂה־ט֑וֹב בַּקֵּ֖שׁ שָׁל֣וֹם וְרׇדְפֵֽהוּ׃
Shun evil and do good,
seek amity and pursue it.
16
עֵינֵ֣י יְ֭הֹוָה אֶל־צַדִּיקִ֑ים וְ֝אׇזְנָ֗יו אֶל־שַׁוְעָתָֽם׃
The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous,
His ears attentive to their cry.
17
פְּנֵ֣י יְ֭הֹוָה בְּעֹ֣שֵׂי רָ֑ע לְהַכְרִ֖ית מֵאֶ֣רֶץ זִכְרָֽם׃
The face of the LORD is set against evildoers,
to erase their names from the earth.
18
צָ֭עֲקוּ וַיהֹוָ֣ה שָׁמֵ֑עַ וּמִכׇּל־צָ֝רוֹתָ֗ם הִצִּילָֽם׃
They cry out, and the LORD hears,
and saves them from all their troubles.
19
קָר֣וֹב יְ֭הֹוָה לְנִשְׁבְּרֵי־לֵ֑ב וְֽאֶת־דַּכְּאֵי־ר֥וּחַ יוֹשִֽׁיעַ׃
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
those crushed in spirit He delivers.
20
רַ֭בּוֹת רָע֣וֹת צַדִּ֑יק וּ֝מִכֻּלָּ֗ם יַצִּילֶ֥נּוּ יְהֹוָֽה׃
Though the misfortunes of the righteous be many,
the LORD will save him from them all,
21
שֹׁמֵ֥ר כׇּל־עַצְמוֹתָ֑יו אַחַ֥ת מֵ֝הֵ֗נָּה לֹ֣א נִשְׁבָּֽרָה׃
Keeping all his bones intact,
not one of them being broken.
22
תְּמוֹתֵ֣ת רָשָׁ֣ע רָעָ֑ה וְשֹׂנְאֵ֖י צַדִּ֣יק יֶאְשָֽׁמוּ׃
One misfortune is the deathblow of the wicked;
the foes of the righteous shall be ruined.
23
פֹּדֶ֣ה יְ֭הֹוָה נֶ֣פֶשׁ עֲבָדָ֑יו וְלֹ֥א יֶ֝אְשְׁמ֗וּ כׇּֽל־הַחֹסִ֥ים בּֽוֹ׃ {פ}
The LORD redeems the life of His servants;
all who take refuge in Him shall not be ruined.
Psalm 35
1
לְדָוִ֨ד ׀ רִיבָ֣ה יְ֭הֹוָה אֶת־יְרִיבַ֑י לְ֝חַ֗ם אֶת־לֹחֲמָֽי׃
Of David.
O LORD, strive with my adversaries,
give battle to my foes,
2
הַחֲזֵ֣ק מָגֵ֣ן וְצִנָּ֑ה וְ֝ק֗וּמָה בְּעֶזְרָתִֽי׃
take up shield and buckler,
and come to my defense;
3
וְהָ֘רֵ֤ק חֲנִ֣ית וּ֭סְגֹר לִקְרַ֣את רֹדְפָ֑י אֱמֹ֥ר לְ֝נַפְשִׁ֗י יְֽשֻׁעָתֵ֥ךְ אָֽנִי׃
ready the spear and javelin
against my pursuers;
tell me, “I am your deliverance.”
4
יֵבֹ֣שׁוּ וְיִכָּלְמוּ֮ מְבַקְשֵׁ֢י נַ֫פְשִׁ֥י יִסֹּ֣גוּ אָח֣וֹר וְיַחְפְּר֑וּ חֹ֝שְׁבֵ֗י רָֽעָתִֽי׃
Let those who seek my life
be frustrated and put to shame;
let those who plan to harm me
fall back in disgrace.
5
יִֽהְי֗וּ כְּמֹ֥ץ לִפְנֵי־ר֑וּחַ וּמַלְאַ֖ךְ יְהֹוָ֣ה דּוֹחֶֽה׃
Let them be as chaff in the wind,
the LORD’s angel driving them on.
6
יְֽהִי־דַרְכָּ֗ם חֹ֥שֶׁךְ וַחֲלַקְלַקֹּ֑ת וּמַלְאַ֥ךְ יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה רֹדְפָֽם׃
Let their path be dark and slippery,
with the LORD’s angel in pursuit.
7
כִּֽי־חִנָּ֣ם טָֽמְנוּ־לִ֭י שַׁ֣חַת רִשְׁתָּ֑ם חִ֝נָּ֗ם חָפְר֥וּ לְנַפְשִֽׁי׃
For without cause they hid a net to trap me;
without cause they dug a pita for me.
8
תְּבוֹאֵ֣הוּ שׁוֹאָה֮ לֹֽא־יֵ֫דָ֥ע וְרִשְׁתּ֣וֹ אֲשֶׁר־טָמַ֣ן תִּלְכְּד֑וֹ בְּ֝שׁוֹאָ֗ה יִפׇּל־בָּֽהּ׃
Let disaster overtake them unawares;
let the net they hid catch them;
let them fall into it when disaster [strikes].
9
וְ֭נַפְשִׁי תָּגִ֣יל בַּיהֹוָ֑ה תָּ֝שִׂ֗ישׂ בִּישׁוּעָתֽוֹ׃
Then shall I exult in the LORD,
rejoice in His deliverance.
10
כׇּ֥ל־עַצְמוֹתַ֨י ׀ תֹּאמַרְנָה֮ יְהֹוָ֗ה מִ֥י כָ֫מ֥וֹךָ מַצִּ֣יל עָ֭נִי מֵחָזָ֣ק מִמֶּ֑נּוּ וְעָנִ֥י וְ֝אֶבְי֗וֹן מִגֹּֽזְלֽוֹ׃
All my bones shall say,
“LORD, who is like You?
You save the poor from one stronger than he,
the poor and needy from his despoiler.”
11
יְ֭קוּמוּן עֵדֵ֣י חָמָ֑ס אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־יָ֝דַ֗עְתִּי יִשְׁאָלֽוּנִי׃
Malicious witnesses appear
who question me about things I do not know.
12
יְשַׁלְּמ֣וּנִי רָ֭עָה תַּ֥חַת טוֹבָ֗ה שְׁכ֣וֹל לְנַפְשִֽׁי׃
They repay me evil for good,
[seeking] my bereavement.
13
וַאֲנִ֤י ׀ בַּחֲלוֹתָ֡ם לְב֬וּשִׁי שָׂ֗ק עִנֵּ֣יתִי בַצּ֣וֹם נַפְשִׁ֑י וּ֝תְפִלָּתִ֗י עַל־חֵיקִ֥י תָשֽׁוּב׃
Yet, when they were ill,
my dress was sackcloth,
I kept a fast—
may what I prayed for happen to me!-
14
כְּרֵעַ־כְּאָ֣ח לִ֭י הִתְהַלָּ֑כְתִּי כַּאֲבֶל־אֵ֝֗ם קֹדֵ֥ר שַׁחֽוֹתִי׃
I walked about as though it were my friend or my brother;
I was bowed with gloom, like one mourning for his mother.
15
וּבְצַלְעִי֮ שָׂמְח֢וּ וְֽנֶ֫אֱסָ֥פוּ נֶאֶסְפ֬וּ עָלַ֣י נֵ֭כִים וְלֹ֣א יָדַ֑עְתִּי קָרְע֥וּ וְלֹא־דָֽמּוּ׃
But when I stumble, they gleefully gather;
wretches gather against me,
I know not why;
cthey tear at me without end.
16
בְּ֭חַנְפֵי לַעֲגֵ֣י מָע֑וֹג חָרֹ֖ק עָלַ֣י שִׁנֵּֽימוֹ׃
With impious, mocking grimace-c
they gnash their teeth at me.
17
אֲדֹנָי֮ כַּמָּ֢ה תִּ֫רְאֶ֥ה הָשִׁ֣יבָה נַ֭פְשִׁי מִשֹּׁאֵיהֶ֑ם מִ֝כְּפִירִ֗ים יְחִידָתִֽי׃
O Lord, how long will You look on?
Rescue me cfrom their attacks,-c
my precious life, from the lions,
18
א֭וֹדְךָ בְּקָהָ֣ל רָ֑ב בְּעַ֖ם עָצ֣וּם אֲהַלְלֶֽךָּ׃
that I may praise You in a great congregation,
acclaim You in a mighty throng.
19
אַֽל־יִשְׂמְחוּ־לִ֣י אֹיְבַ֣י שֶׁ֑קֶר שֹׂנְאַ֥י חִ֝נָּ֗ם יִקְרְצוּ־עָֽיִן׃
Let not my treacherous enemies rejoice over me,
or those who hate me without reason wink their eyes.
20
כִּ֤י לֹ֥א שָׁל֗וֹם יְדַ֫בֵּ֥רוּ וְעַ֥ל רִגְעֵי־אֶ֑רֶץ דִּבְרֵ֥י מִ֝רְמ֗וֹת יַחֲשֹׁבֽוּן׃
For they do not offer amity,
but devise fraudulent schemes against harmless folk.
21
וַיַּרְחִ֥יבוּ עָלַ֗י פִּ֫יהֶ֥ם אָ֭מְרוּ הֶאָ֣ח ׀ הֶאָ֑ח רָֽאֲתָ֥ה עֵינֵֽנוּ׃
They open wide their mouths at me,
saying, “Aha, aha, we have seen it!”
22
רָאִ֣יתָה יְ֭הֹוָה אַֽל־תֶּחֱרַ֑שׁ אֲ֝דֹנָ֗י אַל־תִּרְחַ֥ק מִמֶּֽנִּי׃
You have seen it, O LORD;
do not hold aloof!
O Lord, be not far from me!
23
הָעִ֣ירָה וְ֭הָקִיצָה לְמִשְׁפָּטִ֑י אֱלֹהַ֖י וַאדֹנָ֣י לְרִיבִֽי׃
Wake, rouse Yourself for my cause,
for my claim, O my God and my Lord!
24
שׇׁפְטֵ֣נִי כְ֭צִדְקְךָ יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהָ֗י וְאַל־יִשְׂמְחוּ־לִֽי׃
Take up my cause, O LORD my God, as You are beneficent,
and let them not rejoice over me.
25
אַל־יֹאמְר֣וּ בְ֭לִבָּם הֶאָ֣ח נַפְשֵׁ֑נוּ אַל־יֹ֝אמְר֗וּ בִּֽלַּעֲנֽוּהוּ׃
Let them not think,
“Aha, just what we wished!”
Let them not say,
“We have destroyed him!”
26
יֵ֘בֹ֤שׁוּ וְיַחְפְּר֨וּ ׀ יַחְדָּו֮ שְׂמֵחֵ֢י רָעָ֫תִ֥י יִֽלְבְּשׁוּ־בֹ֥שֶׁת וּכְלִמָּ֑ה הַֽמַּגְדִּילִ֥ים עָלָֽי׃
May those who rejoice at my misfortune
be frustrated and utterly disgraced;
may those who vaunt themselves over me
be clad in frustration and shame.
27
יָרֹ֣נּוּ וְיִשְׂמְחוּ֮ חֲפֵצֵ֢י צִ֫דְקִ֥י וְיֹאמְר֣וּ תָ֭מִיד יִגְדַּ֣ל יְהֹוָ֑ה הֶ֝חָפֵ֗ץ שְׁל֣וֹם עַבְדּֽוֹ׃
May those who desire my vindication
sing forth joyously;
may they always say,
“Extolled be the LORD
who desires the well-being of His servant,”
28
וּ֭לְשׁוֹנִי תֶּהְגֶּ֣ה צִדְקֶ֑ךָ כׇּל־הַ֝יּ֗וֹם תְּהִלָּתֶֽךָ׃ {פ}
while my tongue shall recite Your beneficent acts,
Your praises all day long.