Corpus Psalterium · Vol. VI
Psalm CXXXII (132)
Cantillated — Royal Processional
Paul Whitehorn
Study the Word
Psalm 132 in Hebrew and English, and the words as they are sung.
A Song of Ascents.
Yahweh, remember David and all his affliction,
שִׁ֗יר הַֽמַּ֫עֲל֥וֹת זְכוֹר־יְהוָ֥ה לְדָוִ֑ד אֵ֝ת כָּל־עֻנּוֹתֽוֹ׃
how he swore to Yahweh, and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob:
אֲשֶׁ֣ר נִ֭שְׁבַּע לַיהוָ֑ה נָ֝דַ֗ר לַאֲבִ֥יר יַעֲקֹֽב׃
“Surely I will not come into the structure of my house, nor go up into my bed;
אִם־אָ֭בֹא בְּאֹ֣הֶל בֵּיתִ֑י אִם־אֶ֝עֱלֶ֗ה עַל־עֶ֥רֶשׂ יְצוּעָֽי׃
I will not give sleep to my eyes, or slumber to my eyelids,
אִם־אֶתֵּ֣ן שְׁנַ֣ת לְעֵינָ֑י לְֽעַפְעַפַּ֥י תְּנוּמָֽה׃
until I find out a place for Yahweh, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”
עַד־אֶמְצָ֣א מָ֭קוֹם לַיהוָ֑ה מִ֝שְׁכָּנ֗וֹת לַאֲבִ֥יר יַעֲקֹֽב׃
Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah. We found it in the field of Jaar.
הִנֵּֽה־שְׁמַֽעֲנ֥וּהָ בְאֶפְרָ֑תָה מְ֝צָאנ֗וּהָ בִּשְׂדֵי־יָֽעַר׃
“We will go into his dwelling place. We will worship at his footstool.”
נָב֥וֹאָה לְמִשְׁכְּנוֹתָ֑יו נִ֝שְׁתַּחֲוֶ֗ה לַהֲדֹ֥ם רַגְלָֽיו׃
Arise, Yahweh, into your resting place, you, and the ark of your strength.
קוּמָ֣ה יְ֭הוָה לִמְנוּחָתֶ֑ךָ אַ֝תָּ֗ה וַאֲר֥וֹן עֻזֶּֽךָ׃
Let your priests be clothed with righteousness. Let your saints shout for joy!
כֹּהֲנֶ֥יךָ יִלְבְּשׁוּ־צֶ֑דֶק וַחֲסִידֶ֥יךָ יְרַנֵּֽנוּ׃
For your servant David’s sake, don’t turn away the face of your anointed one.
בַּ֭עֲבוּר דָּוִ֣ד עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ אַל־תָּ֝שֵׁ֗ב פְּנֵ֣י מְשִׁיחֶֽךָ׃
Yahweh has sworn to David in truth. He will not turn from it: “I will set the fruit of your body on your throne.
נִשְׁבַּֽע־יְהוָ֨ה ׀ לְדָוִ֡ד אֱמֶת֮ לֹֽא־יָשׁ֪וּב מִ֫מֶּ֥נָּה מִפְּרִ֥י בִטְנְךָ֑ אָ֝שִׁ֗ית לְכִסֵּא־לָֽךְ׃
If your children will keep my covenant, my testimony that I will teach them, their children also will sit on your throne forever more.”
אִֽם־יִשְׁמְר֬וּ בָנֶ֨יךָ ׀ בְּרִיתִי֮ וְעֵדֹתִ֥י ז֗וֹ אֲלַ֫מְּדֵ֥ם גַּם־בְּנֵיהֶ֥ם עֲדֵי־עַ֑ד יֵ֝שְׁב֗וּ לְכִסֵּא־לָֽךְ׃
For Yahweh has chosen Zion. He has desired it for his habitation.
כִּֽי־בָחַ֣ר יְהוָ֣ה בְּצִיּ֑וֹן אִ֝וָּ֗הּ לְמוֹשָׁ֥ב לֽוֹ׃
“This is my resting place forever. I will live here, for I have desired it.
זֹאת־מְנוּחָתִ֥י עֲדֵי־עַ֑ד פֹּֽה־אֵ֝שֵׁ֗ב כִּ֣י אִוִּתִֽיהָ׃
I will abundantly bless her provision. I will satisfy her poor with bread.
צֵ֭ידָהּ בָּרֵ֣ךְ אֲבָרֵ֑ךְ אֶ֝בְיוֹנֶ֗יהָ אַשְׂבִּ֥יעַֽ לָֽחֶם׃
I will also clothe her priests with salvation. Her saints will shout aloud for joy.
וְֽ֭כֹהֲנֶיהָ אַלְבִּ֣ישׁ יֶ֑שַׁע וַ֝חֲסִידֶ֗יהָ רַנֵּ֥ן יְרַנֵּֽנוּ׃
I will make the horn of David to bud there. I have ordained a lamp for my anointed.
שָׁ֤ם אַצְמִ֣יחַ קֶ֣רֶן לְדָוִ֑ד עָרַ֥כְתִּי נֵ֝֗ר לִמְשִׁיחִֽי׃
I will clothe his enemies with shame, but on himself, his crown will shine.”
א֭וֹיְבָיו אַלְבִּ֣ישׁ בֹּ֑שֶׁת וְ֝עָלָ֗יו יָצִ֥יץ נִזְרֽוֹ׃
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.
LORD
don't forget David
all the trouble
he went through
He gave his word to the LORD
he promised
the Strong One of Jacob
No roof over my head
no pillow for my head
no sleep for my eyes
no rest for my eyelids
till I find the LORD a place
a tent for Jacob's Strong One
In Ephrathah
we heard the news
out in the forest fields
we found it
come, we'll go into His tent
we'll kneel down
where His feet rest
Get up, LORD
come to Your rest
You
and the ark that holds Your strength
Dress Your priests
in goodness
and let the ones who love You
sing out loud
For the sake of David
Your servant
don't send Your chosen one away
The LORD gave David His word
and He won't go back on it
A son from your own line
will sit on your throne
if your children hold to My covenant
and the truths I teach
their children too will rule after you
for all time
The LORD picked Zion
He longed to live there
Here I rest
for good
here I stay
because I long for her
I will load her table
with blessing
I will feed her poor
until they're full
I will wrap her priests
in rescue
and her faithful
will sing and sing again
Here a strength will grow
for David
a light is ready
for My chosen king
his enemies
will wear disgrace
but his crown
will blaze
Get up, LORD
come to Your rest
Here I rest
for good
Get up, LORD
come to Your rest
Here I rest
for good
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 150 psalms free.