Corpus Psalterium · Vol. V
Psalm CXXV (125)
Cantillated — Declarative Confidence
Paul Whitehorn
Study the Word
Psalm 125 in Hebrew and English, and the words as they are sung.
A Song of Ascents.
Those who trust in Yahweh are as Mount Zion, which can’t be moved, but remains forever.
שִׁ֗יר הַֽמַּ֫עֲל֥וֹת הַבֹּטְחִ֥ים בַּיהוָ֑ה כְּֽהַר־צִיּ֥וֹן לֹא־יִ֝מּ֗וֹט לְעוֹלָ֥ם יֵשֵֽׁב׃
As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so Yahweh surrounds his people from this time forward and forever more.
יְֽרוּשָׁלִַ֗ם הָרִים֮ סָבִ֪יב לָ֥הּ וַ֭יהוָה סָבִ֣יב לְעַמּ֑וֹ מֵ֝עַתָּ֗ה וְעַד־עוֹלָֽם׃
For the scepter of wickedness won’t remain over the allotment of the righteous, so that the righteous won’t use their hands to do evil.
כִּ֤י לֹ֪א יָנ֡וּחַ שֵׁ֤בֶט הָרֶ֗שַׁע עַל֮ גּוֹרַ֪ל הַֽצַּדִּ֫יקִ֥ים לְמַ֡עַן לֹא־יִשְׁלְח֖וּ הַצַּדִּיקִ֨ים בְּעַוְלָ֬תָה יְדֵיהֶֽם׃
Do good, Yahweh, to those who are good, to those who are upright in their hearts.
הֵיטִ֣יבָה יְ֭הוָה לַטּוֹבִ֑ים וְ֝לִֽישָׁרִ֗ים בְּלִבּוֹתָֽם׃
But as for those who turn away to their crooked ways, Yahweh will lead them away with the workers of iniquity. Peace be on Israel.
וְהַמַּטִּ֤ים עַֽקַלְקַלּוֹתָ֗ם יוֹלִיכֵ֣ם יְ֭הוָה אֶת־פֹּעֲלֵ֣י הָאָ֑וֶן שָׁ֝ל֗וֹם עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
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.
Whoever leans
on the LORD
is a Zion mountain
nothing can rock it
it sits in its place
for all time
Hills stand in a ring
around Jerusalem
so the LORD
rings His people round
starting today
and never ending
The wicked one's sceptre
will not stay
on the ground
the righteous were given
or the righteous
might put out their hands
to evil
Be good, LORD
Be good, LORD
to the good
to those whose hearts
run straight
But those who bend off
onto twisted paths
the LORD will march them out
with those who work evil
Whoever leans
on the LORD
is a Zion mountain
nothing can rock it
it sits in its place
for all time
Peace
Peace
over Israel
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.