נִסְפָּח ד׳ · תְּהִלִּים לְדָוִד / Appendix D · The Psalms of David
Eight times in this story, David opened his mouth and what came out was a psalm — a verse frozen at a Shabbat table, four verses at sunset over Jerusalem, a whole storm counted out on Tamar’s fingers. In the chapters you met those psalms the way David’s countrymen mostly meet them: in pieces, at the moment the piece was needed. Here they stand entire, in the order of the Psalter, so that you can do the thing this book has been training you for — sit down with a complete Hebrew text and read.
The guest list is strict, and it is not this book’s invention. Each psalm below carries in its own first verse the formula לְדָוִד — “of David,” the lamed of authorship — the Masoretic text’s oldest catalogue entry. That superscription is the credential this book has trusted throughout (it is why the wilderness psalm of Chapter 9 is Psalm 63 and not the psalm of a later singer), and it is the admission ticket here. What the story kept out stays out: Psalm 46 belongs to the sons of Korah, singers of a later house — Chapter 15 says so in as many words; and the psalm of the rivers of Babylon, which closes Chapter 18, was composed four centuries after David went home, by the children of his children’s children. He never heard it. And the new song he wrote on the balcony is Chapter 13’s and stays there — his psalms of the other times are what this appendix keeps.
How to read a page: Hebrew first, whole, with nothing between the lines — by the end of Part Three that order stopped being a courtesy and became your right. The English follows as a separate paragraph, and follows the Hebrew verse numbers, which is a thing to know when you carry this appendix into other company: the Masoretic text counts the superscription as verse 1, and English Bibles usually do not — so where a psalm has a separate superscription verse (19, 39, 63 below), English chapter-and-verse runs one behind, and the citation line says so. The verse letters in the Hebrew — (א), (ב) — are the traditional Hebrew numerals, letters wearing their number-hats exactly as Chapter 7 taught you with the calendar’s dates.
Two last conventions. The text is printed as Hebrew is printed everywhere in this book: fully pointed, without the accent marks — and it is worth knowing that the accents these psalms actually carry in a printed Tanakh are a different system from the prose accents of Samuel and Genesis, a poets’ notation reserved for Psalms, Job, and Proverbs (Appendix F tells that story). And where the written text and the read text disagree, this appendix prints what is read — the qere. You will use that equipment immediately: the choirmaster’s name in the superscription of Psalm 39 is the very Ketiv-Qere that Chapter 17 called the last piece of equipment you need before opening a real Tanakh alone.
Psalm 19 · הַשָּׁמַיִם מְסַפְּרִים
Chapter 10’s central text — the heavens’ speech that uses no words, the psalm of a man who watched the sky over his flock at night.
(א) לַמְנַצֵּחַ מִזְמוֹר לְדָוִד׃
(ב) הַשָּׁמַיִם מְסַפְּרִים כְּבוֹד־אֵל וּמַעֲשֵׂה יָדָיו מַגִּיד הָרָקִיעַ׃
(ג) יוֹם לְיוֹם יַבִּיעַ אֹמֶר וְלַיְלָה לְּלַיְלָה יְחַוֶּה־דָּעַת׃
(ד) אֵין־אֹמֶר וְאֵין דְּבָרִים בְּלִי נִשְׁמָע קוֹלָם׃
(ה) בְּכָל־הָאָרֶץ יָצָא קַוָּם וּבִקְצֵה תֵבֵל מִלֵּיהֶם לַשֶּׁמֶשׁ שָׂם־אֹהֶל בָּהֶם׃
(ו) וְהוּא כְּחָתָן יֹצֵא מֵחֻפָּתוֹ יָשִׂישׂ כְּגִבּוֹר לָרוּץ אֹרַח׃
(ז) מִקְצֵה הַשָּׁמַיִם מוֹצָאוֹ וּתְקוּפָתוֹ עַל־קְצוֹתָם וְאֵין נִסְתָּר מֵחַמָּתוֹ׃
(ח) תּוֹרַת יְהוָה תְּמִימָה מְשִׁיבַת נָפֶשׁ עֵדוּת יְהוָה נֶאֱמָנָה מַחְכִּימַת פֶּתִי׃
(ט) פִּקּוּדֵי יְהוָה יְשָׁרִים מְשַׂמְּחֵי־לֵב מִצְוַת יְהוָה בָּרָה מְאִירַת עֵינָיִם׃
(י) יִרְאַת יְהוָה טְהוֹרָה עוֹמֶדֶת לָעַד מִשְׁפְּטֵי־יְהוָה אֱמֶת צָדְקוּ יַחְדָּו׃
(יא) הַנֶּחֱמָדִים מִזָּהָב וּמִפַּז רָב וּמְתוּקִים מִדְּבַשׁ וְנֹפֶת צוּפִים׃
(יב) גַּם־עַבְדְּךָ נִזְהָר בָּהֶם בְּשָׁמְרָם עֵקֶב רָב׃
(יג) שְׁגִיאוֹת מִי־יָבִין מִנִּסְתָּרוֹת נַקֵּנִי׃
(יד) גַּם מִזֵּדִים חֲשֹׂךְ עַבְדֶּךָ אַל־יִמְשְׁלוּ־בִי אָז אֵיתָם וְנִקֵּיתִי מִפֶּשַׁע רָב׃
(טו) יִהְיוּ־לְרָצוֹן אִמְרֵי־פִי וְהֶגְיוֹן לִבִּי לְפָנֶיךָ יְהוָה צוּרִי וְגֹאֲלִי׃
(תְּהִלִּים י״ט:א׳–ט״ו / Psalm 19:1–15; English Bibles 19:1–14)
(1) For the choirmaster. A psalm of David. (2) The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims the work of His hands. (3) Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. (4) There is no speech, there are no words; their voice is not heard. (5) Yet their line goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world; in them He has set a tent for the sun, (6) and it is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, rejoicing like a strong man to run his course. (7) Its rising is from one end of the heavens, and its circuit to their other end; nothing is hidden from its heat.
(8) The Torah of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the Lord is faithful, making wise the simple. (9) The precepts of the Lord are upright, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, giving light to the eyes. (10) The fear of the Lord is clean, standing forever; the judgments of the Lord are true — righteous altogether, (11) more desirable than gold, than much fine gold, and sweeter than honey and the drippings of the comb.
(12) Your servant too is warned by them; in keeping them is great reward. (13) Who can discern errors? Clear me of hidden faults. (14) Hold Your servant back from the insolent as well — let them not rule over me. Then I shall be whole, and clean of great transgression. (15) May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable before You, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Psalm 23 · יְהוָה רֹעִי
Chapter 7, the song at the Shabbat table that closed David’s throat; Chapter 14, the radio duet — a stranger’s voice singing the first verse, David giving back the second in the old shepherd melody.
(א) מִזְמוֹר לְדָוִד יְהוָה רֹעִי לֹא אֶחְסָר׃
(ב) בִּנְאוֹת דֶּשֶׁא יַרְבִּיצֵנִי עַל־מֵי מְנֻחוֹת יְנַהֲלֵנִי׃
(ג) נַפְשִׁי יְשׁוֹבֵב יַנְחֵנִי בְמַעְגְּלֵי־צֶדֶק לְמַעַן שְׁמוֹ׃
(ד) גַּם כִּי־אֵלֵךְ בְּגֵיא צַלְמָוֶת לֹא־אִירָא רָע כִּי־אַתָּה עִמָּדִי שִׁבְטְךָ וּמִשְׁעַנְתֶּךָ הֵמָּה יְנַחֲמֻנִי׃
(ה) תַּעֲרֹךְ לְפָנַי שֻׁלְחָן נֶגֶד צֹרְרָי דִּשַּׁנְתָּ בַשֶּׁמֶן רֹאשִׁי כּוֹסִי רְוָיָה׃
(ו) אַךְ טוֹב וָחֶסֶד יִרְדְּפוּנִי כָּל־יְמֵי חַיָּי וְשַׁבְתִּי בְּבֵית־יְהוָה לְאֹרֶךְ יָמִים׃
(תְּהִלִּים כ״ג:א׳–ו׳ / Psalm 23:1–6)
(1) A psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not lack. (2) In green pastures He makes me lie down; beside still waters He leads me. (3) He restores my soul; He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. (4) Even when I walk in the valley of the shadow of death I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff — they comfort me. (5) You set a table before me in the presence of my foes; You have anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows. (6) Surely goodness and lovingkindness will pursue me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for length of days.
Psalm 29 · הָבוּ לַיהוָה
Chapter 13’s central text — the psalm David wrote at seventeen, in a storm, with the flock and no tent, and gave to Tamar line by line against the thunder.
(א) מִזְמוֹר לְדָוִד הָבוּ לַיהוָה בְּנֵי אֵלִים הָבוּ לַיהוָה כָּבוֹד וָעֹז׃
(ב) הָבוּ לַיהוָה כְּבוֹד שְׁמוֹ הִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לַיהוָה בְּהַדְרַת־קֹדֶשׁ׃
(ג) קוֹל יְהוָה עַל־הַמָּיִם אֵל־הַכָּבוֹד הִרְעִים יְהוָה עַל־מַיִם רַבִּים׃
(ד) קוֹל־יְהוָה בַּכֹּחַ קוֹל יְהוָה בֶּהָדָר׃
(ה) קוֹל יְהוָה שֹׁבֵר אֲרָזִים וַיְשַׁבֵּר יְהוָה אֶת־אַרְזֵי הַלְּבָנוֹן׃
(ו) וַיַּרְקִידֵם כְּמוֹ־עֵגֶל לְבָנוֹן וְשִׂרְיֹן כְּמוֹ בֶן־רְאֵמִים׃
(ז) קוֹל־יְהוָה חֹצֵב לַהֲבוֹת אֵשׁ׃
(ח) קוֹל יְהוָה יָחִיל מִדְבָּר יָחִיל יְהוָה מִדְבַּר קָדֵשׁ׃
(ט) קוֹל יְהוָה יְחוֹלֵל אַיָּלוֹת וַיֶּחֱשֹׂף יְעָרוֹת וּבְהֵיכָלוֹ כֻּלּוֹ אֹמֵר כָּבוֹד׃
(י) יְהוָה לַמַּבּוּל יָשָׁב וַיֵּשֶׁב יְהוָה מֶלֶךְ לְעוֹלָם׃
(יא) יְהוָה עֹז לְעַמּוֹ יִתֵּן יְהוָה יְבָרֵךְ אֶת־עַמּוֹ בַשָּׁלוֹם׃
(תְּהִלִּים כ״ט:א׳–י״א / Psalm 29:1–11)
(1) A psalm of David. Ascribe to the Lord, O sons of the mighty, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. (2) Ascribe to the Lord the glory of His name; bow down to the Lord in the splendor of holiness. (3) The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders — the Lord, upon many waters. (4) The voice of the Lord in power; the voice of the Lord in majesty. (5) The voice of the Lord breaks cedars; the Lord shatters the cedars of Lebanon. (6) He makes them skip like a calf — Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild ox. (7) The voice of the Lord hews out flames of fire. (8) The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. (9) The voice of the Lord makes the deer writhe and strips the forests bare — and in His temple, all of it says: “Glory.” (10) The Lord sat enthroned at the Flood; the Lord sits as King forever. (11) The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace.
Psalm 39 · אֶשְׁמְרָה דְרָכַי
Chapter 17’s central text — the sojourner’s prayer, the truest sentence a man between the times ever prayed. Its superscription carries the Ketiv-Qere that chapter taught: the choirmaster’s name written one way and read another.
(א) לַמְנַצֵּחַ לִידוּתוּן מִזְמוֹר לְדָוִד׃
(ב) אָמַרְתִּי אֶשְׁמְרָה דְרָכַי מֵחֲטוֹא בִלְשׁוֹנִי אֶשְׁמְרָה לְפִי מַחְסוֹם בְּעֹד רָשָׁע לְנֶגְדִּי׃
(ג) נֶאֱלַמְתִּי דוּמִיָּה הֶחֱשֵׁיתִי מִטּוֹב וּכְאֵבִי נֶעְכָּר׃
(ד) חַם־לִבִּי בְּקִרְבִּי בַּהֲגִיגִי תִבְעַר־אֵשׁ דִּבַּרְתִּי בִּלְשׁוֹנִי׃
(ה) הוֹדִיעֵנִי יְהוָה קִצִּי וּמִדַּת יָמַי מַה־הִיא אֵדְעָה מֶה־חָדֵל אָנִי׃
(ו) הִנֵּה טְפָחוֹת נָתַתָּה יָמַי וְחֶלְדִּי כְאַיִן נֶגְדֶּךָ אַךְ כָּל־הֶבֶל כָּל־אָדָם נִצָּב סֶלָה׃
(ז) אַךְ־בְּצֶלֶם יִתְהַלֶּךְ־אִישׁ אַךְ־הֶבֶל יֶהֱמָיוּן יִצְבֹּר וְלֹא־יֵדַע מִי־אֹסְפָם׃
(ח) וְעַתָּה מַה־קִּוִּיתִי אֲדֹנָי תּוֹחַלְתִּי לְךָ הִיא׃
(ט) מִכָּל־פְּשָׁעַי הַצִּילֵנִי חֶרְפַּת נָבָל אַל־תְּשִׂימֵנִי׃
(י) נֶאֱלַמְתִּי לֹא אֶפְתַּח־פִּי כִּי אַתָּה עָשִׂיתָ׃
(יא) הָסֵר מֵעָלַי נִגְעֶךָ מִתִּגְרַת יָדְךָ אֲנִי כָלִיתִי׃
(יב) בְּתוֹכָחוֹת עַל־עָוֺן יִסַּרְתָּ אִישׁ וַתֶּמֶס כָּעָשׁ חֲמוּדוֹ אַךְ הֶבֶל כָּל־אָדָם סֶלָה׃
(יג) שִׁמְעָה־תְפִלָּתִי יְהוָה וְשַׁוְעָתִי הַאֲזִינָה אֶל־דִּמְעָתִי אַל־תֶּחֱרַשׁ כִּי גֵר אָנֹכִי עִמָּךְ תּוֹשָׁב כְּכָל־אֲבוֹתָי׃
(יד) הָשַׁע מִמֶּנִּי וְאַבְלִיגָה בְּטֶרֶם אֵלֵךְ וְאֵינֶנִּי׃
(תְּהִלִּים ל״ט:א׳–י״ד / Psalm 39:1–14; English Bibles 39:1–13)
(1) For the choirmaster, for Jeduthun. A psalm of David. (2) I said: I will guard my ways from sinning with my tongue; I will keep a muzzle on my mouth while the wicked one is before me. (3) I was mute with silence; I held my peace, even from good — and my pain was stirred. (4) My heart grew hot within me; as I mused, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue:
(5) Let me know, O Lord, my end, and the measure of my days, what it is; let me know how fleeting I am. (6) Behold, You have made my days mere handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before You; surely all humanity, standing firm, is only breath. Selah. (7) Surely man walks about as a shadow; surely for breath they are in turmoil — he heaps up, and does not know who will gather them.
(8) And now, what do I wait for, O Lord? My hope — it is in You. (9) From all my transgressions deliver me; do not make me the scorn of the fool. (10) I was mute; I did not open my mouth, for You Yourself have done it. (11) Remove Your stroke from me; by the hostility of Your hand I am consumed. (12) With rebukes for iniquity You chasten a man, and like a moth You melt away what he treasures; surely every man is breath. Selah.
(13) Hear my prayer, O Lord; give ear to my cry; do not be silent at my tears. For I am a sojourner with You, a settler like all my fathers. (14) Look away from me, that I may brighten — before I go, and am no more.
Psalm 63 · צָמְאָה לְךָ נַפְשִׁי
Chapter 9, at sunset on a Jerusalem overlook — drawn “from the wilderness, from thirst, from desperate longing.” Its watches-verse opens the First Watch. The superscription names the setting itself: when he was in the wilderness of Judah.
(א) מִזְמוֹר לְדָוִד בִּהְיוֹתוֹ בְּמִדְבַּר יְהוּדָה׃
(ב) אֱלֹהִים אֵלִי אַתָּה אֲשַׁחֲרֶךָּ צָמְאָה לְךָ נַפְשִׁי כָּמַהּ לְךָ בְשָׂרִי בְּאֶרֶץ־צִיָּה וְעָיֵף בְּלִי־מָיִם׃
(ג) כֵּן בַּקֹּדֶשׁ חֲזִיתִךָ לִרְאוֹת עֻזְּךָ וּכְבוֹדֶךָ׃
(ד) כִּי־טוֹב חַסְדְּךָ מֵחַיִּים שְׂפָתַי יְשַׁבְּחוּנְךָ׃
(ה) כֵּן אֲבָרֶכְךָ בְחַיָּי בְּשִׁמְךָ אֶשָּׂא כַפָּי׃
(ו) כְּמוֹ חֵלֶב וָדֶשֶׁן תִּשְׂבַּע נַפְשִׁי וְשִׂפְתֵי רְנָנוֹת יְהַלֶּל־פִּי׃
(ז) אִם־זְכַרְתִּיךָ עַל־יְצוּעָי בְּאַשְׁמֻרוֹת אֶהְגֶּה־בָּךְ׃
(ח) כִּי־הָיִיתָ עֶזְרָתָה לִּי וּבְצֵל כְּנָפֶיךָ אֲרַנֵּן׃
(ט) דָּבְקָה נַפְשִׁי אַחֲרֶיךָ בִּי תָּמְכָה יְמִינֶךָ׃
(י) וְהֵמָּה לְשׁוֹאָה יְבַקְשׁוּ נַפְשִׁי יָבֹאוּ בְּתַחְתִּיּוֹת הָאָרֶץ׃
(יא) יַגִּירֻהוּ עַל־יְדֵי־חָרֶב מְנָת שֻׁעָלִים יִהְיוּ׃
(יב) וְהַמֶּלֶךְ יִשְׂמַח בֵּאלֹהִים יִתְהַלֵּל כָּל־הַנִּשְׁבָּע בּוֹ כִּי יִסָּכֵר פִּי דוֹבְרֵי־שָׁקֶר׃
(תְּהִלִּים ס״ג:א׳–י״ב / Psalm 63:1–12; English Bibles 63:1–11)
(1) A psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. (2) O God, You are my God; earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. (3) So I have looked upon You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory. (4) Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips will praise You.
(5) So I will bless You as long as I live; in Your name I will lift up my hands. (6) As with fat and richness my soul is satisfied, and with lips of glad song my mouth gives praise. (7) When I remember You upon my bed, I meditate on You through the watches of the night. (8) For You have been my help, and in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy. (9) My soul clings close behind You; Your right hand holds me fast.
(10) But they seek my life for destruction; they will go down into the depths of the earth. (11) They will be poured out by the sword; they will be the jackals’ portion. (12) And the king will rejoice in God; everyone who swears by Him will glory — for the mouth of the speakers of lies will be stopped.
Psalm 110 · נְאֻם יְהוָה
Chapter 12’s central text — the psalm in which David calls someone “my lord,” and three thousand years of readers have asked whom he meant.
(א) לְדָוִד מִזְמוֹר נְאֻם יְהוָה לַאדֹנִי שֵׁב לִימִינִי עַד־אָשִׁית אֹיְבֶיךָ הֲדֹם לְרַגְלֶיךָ׃
(ב) מַטֵּה־עֻזְּךָ יִשְׁלַח יְהוָה מִצִּיּוֹן רְדֵה בְּקֶרֶב אֹיְבֶיךָ׃
(ג) עַמְּךָ נְדָבֹת בְּיוֹם חֵילֶךָ בְּהַדְרֵי־קֹדֶשׁ מֵרֶחֶם מִשְׁחָר לְךָ טַל יַלְדֻתֶיךָ׃
(ד) נִשְׁבַּע יְהוָה וְלֹא יִנָּחֵם אַתָּה־כֹהֵן לְעוֹלָם עַל־דִּבְרָתִי מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק׃
(ה) אֲדֹנָי עַל־יְמִינְךָ מָחַץ בְּיוֹם־אַפּוֹ מְלָכִים׃
(ו) יָדִין בַּגּוֹיִם מָלֵא גְוִיּוֹת מָחַץ רֹאשׁ עַל־אֶרֶץ רַבָּה׃
(ז) מִנַּחַל בַּדֶּרֶךְ יִשְׁתֶּה עַל־כֵּן יָרִים רֹאשׁ׃
(תְּהִלִּים ק״י:א׳–ז׳ / Psalm 110:1–7)
(1) Of David, a psalm. The Lord’s utterance to my lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” (2) The Lord will send forth your mighty scepter from Zion: “Rule in the midst of your enemies!” (3) Your people will offer themselves willingly on the day of your power, in holy splendor; from the womb of the dawn, to you belongs the dew of your youth. (4) The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind: “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”
(5) The Lord is at your right hand; He shatters kings on the day of His wrath. (6) He will judge among the nations, heaping up the dead; He shatters the head over the wide earth. (7) From the brook by the way he will drink; therefore he will lift up his head.
Psalm 122 · שָׂמַחְתִּי בְּאֹמְרִים לִי
Chapter 9 — whispered on the climb to Jerusalem, “words he had sung climbing these very hills,” until the past tense of the second verse broke his voice.
(א) שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת לְדָוִד שָׂמַחְתִּי בְּאֹמְרִים לִי בֵּית יְהוָה נֵלֵךְ׃
(ב) עֹמְדוֹת הָיוּ רַגְלֵינוּ בִּשְׁעָרַיִךְ יְרוּשָׁלָ͏ִם׃
(ג) יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם הַבְּנוּיָה כְּעִיר שֶׁחֻבְּרָה־לָּהּ יַחְדָּו׃
(ד) שֶׁשָּׁם עָלוּ שְׁבָטִים שִׁבְטֵי־יָהּ עֵדוּת לְיִשְׂרָאֵל לְהֹדוֹת לְשֵׁם יְהוָה׃
(ה) כִּי שָׁמָּה יָשְׁבוּ כִסְאוֹת לְמִשְׁפָּט כִּסְאוֹת לְבֵית דָּוִד׃
(ו) שַׁאֲלוּ שְׁלוֹם יְרוּשָׁלָ͏ִם יִשְׁלָיוּ אֹהֲבָיִךְ׃
(ז) יְהִי־שָׁלוֹם בְּחֵילֵךְ שַׁלְוָה בְּאַרְמְנוֹתָיִךְ׃
(ח) לְמַעַן אַחַי וְרֵעָי אֲדַבְּרָה־נָּא שָׁלוֹם בָּךְ׃
(ט) לְמַעַן בֵּית־יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ אֲבַקְשָׁה טוֹב לָךְ׃
(תְּהִלִּים קכ״ב:א׳–ט׳ / Psalm 122:1–9)
(1) A song of ascents, of David. I rejoiced when they said to me: “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” (2) Our feet were standing within your gates, O Jerusalem. (3) Jerusalem, built up like a city joined fast together, (4) where the tribes went up, the tribes of the Lord — a testimony for Israel — to give thanks to the name of the Lord. (5) For there the thrones of judgment were set, the thrones of the house of David.
(6) Ask for the peace of Jerusalem: “May those who love you be at ease. (7) May there be peace within your rampart, tranquility in your palaces.” (8) For the sake of my brothers and my friends, let me say: “Peace be within you.” (9) For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good.
Psalm 144 · שִׁיר חָדָשׁ
Chapter 13 — the line that rose in David on the balcony, three thousand years old or not yet written, and began the new song.
(א) לְדָוִד בָּרוּךְ יְהוָה צוּרִי הַמְלַמֵּד יָדַי לַקְרָב אֶצְבְּעוֹתַי לַמִּלְחָמָה׃
(ב) חַסְדִּי וּמְצוּדָתִי מִשְׂגַּבִּי וּמְפַלְטִי־לִי מָגִנִּי וּבוֹ חָסִיתִי הָרוֹדֵד עַמִּי תַחְתָּי׃
(ג) יְהוָה מָה־אָדָם וַתֵּדָעֵהוּ בֶּן־אֱנוֹשׁ וַתְּחַשְּׁבֵהוּ׃
(ד) אָדָם לַהֶבֶל דָּמָה יָמָיו כְּצֵל עוֹבֵר׃
(ה) יְהוָה הַט־שָׁמֶיךָ וְתֵרֵד גַּע בֶּהָרִים וְיֶעֱשָׁנוּ׃
(ו) בְּרוֹק בָּרָק וּתְפִיצֵם שְׁלַח חִצֶּיךָ וּתְהֻמֵּם׃
(ז) שְׁלַח יָדֶיךָ מִמָּרוֹם פְּצֵנִי וְהַצִּילֵנִי מִמַּיִם רַבִּים מִיַּד בְּנֵי נֵכָר׃
(ח) אֲשֶׁר פִּיהֶם דִּבֶּר־שָׁוְא וִימִינָם יְמִין שָׁקֶר׃
(ט) אֱלֹהִים שִׁיר חָדָשׁ אָשִׁירָה לָּךְ בְּנֵבֶל עָשׂוֹר אֲזַמְּרָה־לָּךְ׃
(י) הַנּוֹתֵן תְּשׁוּעָה לַמְּלָכִים הַפּוֹצֶה אֶת־דָּוִד עַבְדּוֹ מֵחֶרֶב רָעָה׃
(יא) פְּצֵנִי וְהַצִּילֵנִי מִיַּד בְּנֵי־נֵכָר אֲשֶׁר פִּיהֶם דִּבֶּר־שָׁוְא וִימִינָם יְמִין שָׁקֶר׃
(יב) אֲשֶׁר בָּנֵינוּ כִּנְטִעִים מְגֻדָּלִים בִּנְעוּרֵיהֶם בְּנוֹתֵינוּ כְזָוִיֹּת מְחֻטָּבוֹת תַּבְנִית הֵיכָל׃
(יג) מְזָוֵינוּ מְלֵאִים מְפִיקִים מִזַּן אֶל־זַן צֹאונֵנוּ מַאֲלִיפוֹת מְרֻבָּבוֹת בְּחוּצוֹתֵינוּ׃
(יד) אַלּוּפֵינוּ מְסֻבָּלִים אֵין־פֶּרֶץ וְאֵין יוֹצֵאת וְאֵין צְוָחָה בִּרְחֹבֹתֵינוּ׃
(טו) אַשְׁרֵי הָעָם שֶׁכָּכָה לּוֹ אַשְׁרֵי הָעָם שֱׁיְהוָה אֱלֹהָיו׃
(תְּהִלִּים קמ״ד:א׳–ט״ו / Psalm 144:1–15)
(1) Of David. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock, who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for war — (2) my lovingkindness and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield in whom I take refuge, who subdues my people under me. (3) O Lord, what is man, that You know him — the son of man, that You take account of him? (4) Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow.
(5) O Lord, bend Your heavens and come down; touch the mountains, and they will smoke. (6) Flash lightning and scatter them; send Your arrows and rout them. (7) Send Your hands from on high; rescue me and deliver me from many waters, from the hand of the sons of the foreigner, (8) whose mouth speaks emptiness, and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
(9) O God, a new song I will sing to You; on a ten-stringed harp I will make music to You — (10) who gives victory to kings, who rescues David His servant from the evil sword. (11) Rescue me and deliver me from the hand of the sons of the foreigner, whose mouth speaks emptiness, and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
(12) So that our sons may be like saplings, grown tall in their youth; our daughters like corner-pillars, carved after the pattern of a palace; (13) our storehouses full, supplying kind after kind; our flocks bearing thousands, ten thousands in our open fields; (14) our cattle heavy with young; no breach and no going out, and no cry of alarm in our squares. (15) Happy the people for whom it is so; happy the people whose God is the Lord.
Eight psalms, whole. Read them again in a year, in a printed Tanakh with the accents on, and they will be a little different — because you will be. That is not a flaw in the text; it is what a psalm is for.