Corpus Psalterium · Vol. V
Psalm CVI (106)
Cantillated — Communal Confession Lament
Paul Whitehorn
Study the Word
Psalm 106 in Hebrew and English, and the words as they are sung.
Praise Yahweh! Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.
הַֽלְלוּ יָ֨הּ ׀ הוֹד֣וּ לַיהוָ֣ה כִּי־ט֑וֹב כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃
Who can utter the mighty acts of Yahweh, or fully declare all his praise?
מִ֗י יְ֭מַלֵּל גְּבוּר֣וֹת יְהוָ֑ה יַ֝שְׁמִ֗יעַ כָּל־תְּהִלָּתֽוֹ׃
Blessed are those who keep justice. Blessed is one who does what is right at all times.
אַ֭שְׁרֵי שֹׁמְרֵ֣י מִשְׁפָּ֑ט עֹשֵׂ֖ה צְדָקָ֣ה בְכָל־עֵֽת׃
Remember me, Yahweh, with the favor that you show to your people. Visit me with your salvation,
זָכְרֵ֣נִי יְ֭הוָה בִּרְצ֣וֹן עַמֶּ֑ךָ פָּ֝קְדֵ֗נִי בִּישׁוּעָתֶֽךָ׃
that I may see the prosperity of your chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation, that I may glory with your inheritance.
לִרְא֤וֹת ׀ בְּט֘וֹבַ֤ת בְּחִירֶ֗יךָ לִ֭שְׂמֹחַ בְּשִׂמְחַ֣ת גּוֹיֶ֑ךָ לְ֝הִתְהַלֵּ֗ל עִם־נַחֲלָתֶֽךָ׃
We have sinned with our fathers. We have committed iniquity. We have done wickedly.
חָטָ֥אנוּ עִם־אֲבוֹתֵ֗ינוּ הֶעֱוִ֥ינוּ הִרְשָֽׁעְנוּ׃
Our fathers didn’t understand your wonders in Egypt. They didn’t remember the multitude of your loving kindnesses, but were rebellious at the sea, even at the Red Sea.
אֲב֘וֹתֵ֤ינוּ בְמִצְרַ֨יִם ׀ לֹא־הִשְׂכִּ֬ילוּ נִפְלְאוֹתֶ֗יךָ לֹ֣א זָ֭כְרוּ אֶת־רֹ֣ב חֲסָדֶ֑יךָ וַיַּמְר֖וּ עַל־יָ֣ם בְּיַם־סֽוּף׃
Nevertheless he saved them for his name’s sake, that he might make his mighty power known.
וַֽ֭יּוֹשִׁיעֵם לְמַ֣עַן שְׁמ֑וֹ לְ֝הוֹדִ֗יעַ אֶת־גְּבוּרָתֽוֹ׃
He rebuked the Red Sea also, and it was dried up; so he led them through the depths, as through a desert.
וַיִּגְעַ֣ר בְּיַם־ס֭וּף וַֽיֶּחֱרָ֑ב וַיּוֹלִיכֵ֥ם בַּ֝תְּהֹמ֗וֹת כַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃
He saved them from the hand of him who hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.
וַֽ֭יּוֹשִׁיעֵם מִיַּ֣ד שׂוֹנֵ֑א וַ֝יִּגְאָלֵ֗ם מִיַּ֥ד אוֹיֵֽב׃
The waters covered their adversaries. There was not one of them left.
וַיְכַסּוּ־מַ֥יִם צָרֵיהֶ֑ם אֶחָ֥ד מֵ֝הֶ֗ם לֹ֣א נוֹתָֽר׃
Then they believed his words. They sang his praise.
וַיַּאֲמִ֥ינוּ בִדְבָרָ֑יו יָ֝שִׁ֗ירוּ תְּהִלָּתֽוֹ׃
They soon forgot his works. They didn’t wait for his counsel,
מִֽ֭הֲרוּ שָׁכְח֣וּ מַעֲשָׂ֑יו לֹֽא־חִ֝כּ֗וּ לַעֲצָתֽוֹ׃
but gave in to craving in the desert, and tested God in the wasteland.
וַיִּתְאַוּ֣וּ תַ֭אֲוָה בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר וַיְנַסּוּ־אֵ֝֗ל בִּֽישִׁימֽוֹן׃
He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul.
וַיִּתֵּ֣ן לָ֭הֶם שֶׁאֱלָתָ֑ם וַיְשַׁלַּ֖ח רָז֣וֹן בְּנַפְשָֽׁם׃
They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron, Yahweh’s saint.
וַיְקַנְא֣וּ לְ֭מֹשֶׁה בַּֽמַּחֲנֶ֑ה לְ֝אַהֲרֹ֗ן קְד֣וֹשׁ יְהוָֽה׃
The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram.
תִּפְתַּח־אֶ֭רֶץ וַתִּבְלַ֣ע דָּתָ֑ן וַ֝תְּכַ֗ס עַל־עֲדַ֥ת אֲבִירָֽם׃
A fire was kindled in their company. The flame burned up the wicked.
וַתִּבְעַר־אֵ֥שׁ בַּעֲדָתָ֑ם לֶ֝הָבָ֗ה תְּלַהֵ֥ט רְשָׁעִֽים׃
They made a calf in Horeb, and worshiped a molten image.
יַעֲשׂוּ־עֵ֥גֶל בְּחֹרֵ֑ב וַ֝יִּשְׁתַּחֲו֗וּ לְמַסֵּכָֽה׃
Thus they exchanged their glory for an image of a bull that eats grass.
וַיָּמִ֥ירוּ אֶת־כְּבוֹדָ֑ם בְּתַבְנִ֥ית שׁ֝֗וֹר אֹכֵ֥ל עֵֽשֶׂב׃
They forgot God, their Savior, who had done great things in Egypt,
שָׁ֭כְחוּ אֵ֣ל מוֹשִׁיעָ֑ם עֹשֶׂ֖ה גְדֹל֣וֹת בְּמִצְרָֽיִם׃
wondrous works in the land of Ham, and awesome things by the Red Sea.
נִ֭פְלָאוֹת בְּאֶ֣רֶץ חָ֑ם נ֝וֹרָא֗וֹת עַל־יַם־סֽוּף׃
Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had Moses, his chosen, not stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, so that he wouldn’t destroy them.
וַיֹּ֗אמֶר לְֽהַשְׁמִ֫ידָ֥ם לוּלֵ֡י מֹ֘שֶׁ֤ה בְחִיר֗וֹ עָמַ֣ד בַּפֶּ֣רֶץ לְפָנָ֑יו לְהָשִׁ֥יב חֲ֝מָת֗וֹ מֵֽהַשְׁחִֽית׃
Yes, they despised the pleasant land. They didn’t believe his word,
וַֽ֭יִּמְאֲסוּ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ חֶמְדָּ֑ה לֹֽא־הֶ֝אֱמִ֗ינוּ לִדְבָרֽוֹ׃
but murmured in their tents, and didn’t listen to Yahweh’s voice.
וַיֵּרָגְנ֥וּ בְאָהֳלֵיהֶ֑ם לֹ֥א שָׁ֝מְע֗וּ בְּק֣וֹל יְהוָֽה׃
Therefore he swore to them that he would overthrow them in the wilderness,
וַיִּשָּׂ֣א יָד֣וֹ לָהֶ֑ם לְהַפִּ֥יל א֝וֹתָ֗ם בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃
that he would overthrow their offspring among the nations, and scatter them in the lands.
וּלְהַפִּ֣יל זַ֭רְעָם בַּגּוֹיִ֑ם וּ֝לְזָרוֹתָ֗ם בָּאֲרָצֽוֹת׃
They joined themselves also to Baal Peor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.
וַ֭יִּצָּ֣מְדוּ לְבַ֣עַל פְּע֑וֹר וַ֝יֹּאכְל֗וּ זִבְחֵ֥י מֵתִֽים׃
Thus they provoked him to anger with their deeds. The plague broke in on them.
וַ֭יַּכְעִיסוּ בְּמַֽעַלְלֵיהֶ֑ם וַתִּפְרָץ־בָּ֝֗ם מַגֵּפָֽה׃
Then Phinehas stood up and executed judgment, so the plague was stopped.
וַיַּעֲמֹ֣ד פִּֽ֭ינְחָס וַיְפַלֵּ֑ל וַ֝תֵּעָצַ֗ר הַמַּגֵּפָֽה׃
That was credited to him for righteousness, for all generations to come.
וַתֵּחָ֣שֶׁב ל֭וֹ לִצְדָקָ֑ה לְדֹ֥ר וָ֝דֹ֗ר עַד־עוֹלָֽם׃
They angered him also at the waters of Meribah, so that Moses was troubled for their sakes;
וַ֭יַּקְצִיפוּ עַל־מֵ֥י מְרִיבָ֑ה וַיֵּ֥רַע לְ֝מֹשֶׁ֗ה בַּעֲבוּרָֽם׃
because they were rebellious against his spirit, he spoke rashly with his lips.
כִּֽי־הִמְר֥וּ אֶת־רוּח֑וֹ וַ֝יְבַטֵּ֗א בִּשְׂפָתָֽיו׃
They didn’t destroy the peoples, as Yahweh commanded them,
לֹֽא־הִ֭שְׁמִידוּ אֶת־הָֽעַמִּ֑ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר אָמַ֖ר יְהוָ֣ה לָהֶֽם׃
but mixed themselves with the nations, and learned their works.
וַיִּתְעָרְב֥וּ בַגּוֹיִ֑ם וַֽ֝יִּלְמְד֗וּ מַֽעֲשֵׂיהֶֽם׃
They served their idols, which became a snare to them.
וַיַּעַבְד֥וּ אֶת־עֲצַבֵּיהֶ֑ם וַיִּהְי֖וּ לָהֶ֣ם לְמוֹקֵֽשׁ׃
Yes, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons.
וַיִּזְבְּח֣וּ אֶת־בְּ֭נֵיהֶם וְאֶת־בְּנֽוֹתֵיהֶ֗ם לַשֵּֽׁדִים׃
They shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan. The land was polluted with blood.
וַיִּֽשְׁפְּכ֨וּ דָ֪ם נָקִ֡י דַּם־בְּנֵ֘יהֶ֤ם וּֽבְנוֹתֵיהֶ֗ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר זִ֭בְּחוּ לַעֲצַבֵּ֣י כְנָ֑עַן וַתֶּחֱנַ֥ף הָ֝אָ֗רֶץ בַּדָּמִֽים׃
Thus they were defiled with their works, and prostituted themselves in their deeds.
וַיִּטְמְא֥וּ בְמַעֲשֵׂיהֶ֑ם וַ֝יִּזְנוּ֗ בְּמַֽעַלְלֵיהֶֽם׃
Therefore Yahweh burned with anger against his people. He abhorred his inheritance.
וַיִּֽחַר־אַ֣ף יְהוָ֣ה בְּעַמּ֑וֹ וַ֝יְתָעֵ֗ב אֶת־נַחֲלָתֽוֹ׃
He gave them into the hand of the nations. Those who hated them ruled over them.
וַיִּתְּנֵ֥ם בְּיַד־גּוֹיִ֑ם וַֽיִּמְשְׁל֥וּ בָ֝הֶ֗ם שֹׂנְאֵיהֶֽם׃
Their enemies also oppressed them. They were brought into subjection under their hand.
וַיִּלְחָצ֥וּם אוֹיְבֵיהֶ֑ם וַ֝יִּכָּנְע֗וּ תַּ֣חַת יָדָֽם׃
He rescued them many times, but they were rebellious in their counsel, and were brought low in their iniquity.
פְּעָמִ֥ים רַבּ֗וֹת יַצִּ֫ילֵ֥ם וְ֭הֵמָּה יַמְר֣וּ בַעֲצָתָ֑ם וַ֝יָּמֹ֗כּוּ בַּעֲוֺנָֽם׃
Nevertheless he regarded their distress, when he heard their cry.
וַ֭יַּרְא בַּצַּ֣ר לָהֶ֑ם בְּ֝שָׁמְע֗וֹ אֶת־רִנָּתָֽם׃
He remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses.
וַיִּזְכֹּ֣ר לָהֶ֣ם בְּרִית֑וֹ וַ֝יִּנָּחֵ֗ם כְּרֹ֣ב חסדו׃
He made them also to be pitied by all those who carried them captive.
וַיִּתֵּ֣ן אוֹתָ֣ם לְרַחֲמִ֑ים לִ֝פְנֵ֗י כָּל־שׁוֹבֵיהֶֽם׃
Save us, Yahweh, our God, gather us from among the nations, to give thanks to your holy name, to triumph in your praise!
הוֹשִׁיעֵ֨נוּ ׀ יְה֘וָ֤ה אֱלֹהֵ֗ינוּ וְקַבְּצֵנוּ֮ מִֽן־הַגּ֫וֹיִ֥ם לְ֭הֹדוֹת לְשֵׁ֣ם קָדְשֶׁ֑ךָ לְ֝הִשְׁתַּבֵּ֗חַ בִּתְהִלָּתֶֽךָ׃
Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, from everlasting even to everlasting! Let all the people say, “Amen.” Praise Yah!
בָּר֤וּךְ־יְהוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֵ֪י יִשְׂרָאֵ֡ל מִן־הָ֤עוֹלָ֨ם ׀ וְעַ֬ד הָעוֹלָ֗ם וְאָמַ֖ר כָּל־הָעָ֥ם אָמֵ֗ן הַֽלְלוּ־יָֽהּ׃
Hebrew: Westminster Leningrad Codex (public domain), from the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible. English: World English Bible (public domain). Verse numbers follow the English Bible; the Hebrew numbering is shown beneath where it differs.
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Give thanks to the LORD
for He is good
His loyal love
is forever
Who can tell
the LORD's mighty deeds
or sound out
all His praise
Happy are those
who keep justice
who do right
at all times
Remember me, LORD
when You favor Your people
visit me
with Your saving help
let me see
the good of Your chosen
let me rejoice
in the joy of Your nation
and glory
with Your inheritance
We have sinned
with our fathers
we have done wrong
we have acted wickedly
we have sinned
In Egypt our fathers
did not grasp Your wonders
they forgot
Your many kindnesses
they rebelled at the sea
the Sea of Reeds
yet He saved them
for His name's sake
He rebuked the sea
and it dried up
He led them through the deep
as through a desert
the waters covered their foes
not one was left
then they believed His words
they sang His praise
They soon forgot His works
they would not wait for His counsel
they craved in the wilderness
and tested God in the wasteland
He gave them what they asked
and sent leanness to their souls
they envied Moses in the camp
and Aaron, the LORD's holy one
the earth opened and swallowed Dathan
and covered Abiram's band
fire blazed among them
flame burned up the wicked
They made a calf at Horeb
and bowed to a cast image
they traded their Glory
for the likeness of an ox that eats grass
they forgot God their Savior
who did great things in Egypt
He said He would destroy them
had not Moses His chosen one
stood in the breach before Him
to turn His wrath away
They despised the pleasant land
they did not trust His word
they grumbled in their tents
and would not hear the LORD
they joined themselves to Baal of Peor
and ate the offerings of the dead
a plague broke out among them
then Phinehas stood and stepped in
and the plague was stopped
it was counted to him as righteousness
for all generations
At Meribah's waters they angered Him
and it went badly for Moses
they mixed with the nations
and served their idols
they sacrificed their sons
and their daughters to demons
they poured out innocent blood
and the land was defiled with blood
so the LORD's anger burned
He gave them to the nations
many times He rescued them
but they rebelled in their schemes
and sank low in their guilt
Yet He looked on their distress
when He heard their cry
He remembered His covenant
and relented in His great loyal love
He made their captors
show them mercy
Save us, LORD our God
gather us from the nations
to give thanks to Your holy name
to glory in Your praise
Blessed be the LORD
the God of Israel
from forever
to forever
and let all the people say
Amen
Hallelujah
Lyrics by Paul Whitehorn: a singable English rendering of the Hebrew, as sung on this recording.
Corpus Psalterium sets each psalm to music by its Hebrew grammar. Didactic psalms teach; Cantillated psalms are spoken, sung or performed before God. Hear all 125 psalms free.