Hebrew Text · Translation · Interlinear · Discourse Structure

The Book of Psalms, Chapter 120תהלים 120

Each verse opens with the running Hebrew, an English translation, and a discourse note (its connective, relation, and role in the argument). Below follows the word-by-word breakdown in six tiers: gloss, case/state or parsing, syntax, semantic force, and a lexical note.

Case Nominative Genitive Dative Accusative Vocative Verb (no case) Indeclinable

Discourse notes head each verse: relation · connective · clause-flow. Indentation marks prominence — flush-left = main line of argument; indented = supporting / subordinate material.

Theme

Psalms 120 (7 verses in the MT) opens: [A Song of degrees.] In my distress I cried to YHWH, and he heard me. The middle of the chapter continues: Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper. It closes: I peace: but when I speak, they for war.

Translation & textual notes

The Hebrew base text here follows the Masoretic Text in the Leningrad tradition as represented by the Westminster Leningrad Codex / MorphHB diplomatic stream imported from OSHB; distinctively copyrighted apparatus from BHS or BHQ is not reproduced. Psalms 120 comprises 7 verses in MT order. Movement I (vv. 1-4) — [A Song of degrees. [A Song of degrees.] In my distress I cried to YHWH, and he heard me. Deliver my soul, O YHWH, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue. What shall be given to you? or what shall be done to you, you false tongue? Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper. Movement II (vv. 5-7) — Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, I dwell in the tents of Kedar!. Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, I dwell in the tents of Kedar! My soul has long dwelt with him that hateth peace. I peace: but when I speak, they for war. Where English printed Bibles divide verses differently, this annotation follows MT versification throughout.

1

שִׁ֗יר הַֽמַּ֫עֲל֥וֹת אֶל יְ֭הוָה בַּצָּרָ֣תָה לִּ֑י קָ֝רָ֗אתִי וַֽיַּעֲנֵֽנִי

[A Song of degrees.] In my distress I cried to YHWH, and he heard me.

Qatal — perfective or stative predicationasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Qatal — perfective or stative predication. Lead predicate is 'I have called'. Opens the chapter. Speech formula or quoted address.
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
שִׁ֗ירa songN c · שִׁירָה (H7892)Construct chain (genitival)שִׁירָה (H7892) 'a song'.
הַֽמַּ֫עֲל֥וֹתby stepsart + N com f pl abs · מַעֲלָה (H4609)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)מַעֲלָה (H4609) 'by steps'.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Particle or relational elementאֶל (H413) 'to'.
יְ֭הוָהYHWHN · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'YHWH'.
בַּצָּרָ֣תָהand troublesprep + art + N com f sg abs + Sh · צָרָה (H6869)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)צָרָה (H6869) 'and troubles'.
לִּ֑יto meprep + sfx 1csParticle or relational elementFunction word: 'to me'.
קָ֝רָ֗אתִיI have calledQal perf 1cs · קָרָא (H7121)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actקָרָא (H7121) 'I have called'.
וַֽיַּעֲנֵֽנִיand answeredconj וְ + Qal wayyiqtol 3ms + sfx 1cs · עָנָה (H6030)Predicate verb (wayyiqtol of narrative sequence)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceעָנָה (H6030) 'and answered'.
2

יְֽהוָ֗ה הַצִּ֣ילָה נַ֭פְשִׁי מִשְּׂפַת שֶׁ֑קֶר מִלָּשׁ֥וֹן רְמִיָּֽה

Deliver my soul, O YHWH, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue.

Imperative — volitional addressasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Imperative — volitional address. Lead predicate is 'has delivered'.
Word-by-word analysis· 7 words
יְֽהוָ֗הYHWHN · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'YHWH'.
הַצִּ֣ילָהhas deliveredHiphil impv 2ms + Sh · נָצַל (H5337)Predicate verb (imperative)→ Volitional: imperativeנָצַל (H5337) 'has delivered'.
נַ֭פְשִׁיmy soulN c · נֶפֶשׁ (H5315)Construct chain (genitival)נֶפֶשׁ (H5315) 'my soul'.
מִשְּׂפַתthe edge ofprep + N com f sg constr · שָׂפָה (H8193)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)שָׂפָה (H8193) 'the edge of'.
שֶׁ֑קֶרfalsehoodN c · שֶׁקֶר (H8267)Construct chain (genitival)שֶׁקֶר (H8267) 'falsehood'.
מִלָּשׁ֥וֹןfrom the bay ofprep + N com c sg constr · לָשׁוֹן (H3956)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)לָשׁוֹן (H3956) 'from the bay of'.
רְמִיָּֽהdeceit(-fulN c · רְמִיָּה (H7423)Construct chain (genitival)רְמִיָּה (H7423) 'deceit(-ful'.
3

מַה יִּתֵּ֣ן לְ֭ךָ וּמַה יֹּסִ֥יף לָ֗ךְ לָשׁ֥וֹן רְמִיָּֽה

What shall be given to you? or what shall be done to you, you false tongue?

Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-orientedasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-oriented. Lead predicate is 'would give'.
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
מַהwhatinterrog. · מָה (H4100)Particle or relational elementמָה (H4100) 'what'.
יִּתֵּ֣ןwould giveQal impf 3ms · נָתַן (H5414)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalנָתַן (H5414) 'would give'.
לְ֭ךָto youprep + sfx 2msParticle or relational elementFunction word: 'to you'.
וּמַהand whatconj וְ + interrog. · מָה (H4100)Particle or relational elementמָה (H4100) 'and what'.
יֹּסִ֥יףhe shall add [exceed]Hiphil impf 3ms · יָסַף (H3254)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalיָסַף (H3254) 'he shall add [exceed]'.
לָ֗ךְto youprep + sfx 2fsParticle or relational elementFunction word: 'to you'.
לָשׁ֥וֹןtongueN c · לָשׁוֹן (H3956)Construct chain (genitival)לָשׁוֹן (H3956) 'tongue'.
רְמִיָּֽהdeceit(-fulN c · רְמִיָּה (H7423)Construct chain (genitival)רְמִיָּה (H7423) 'deceit(-ful'.
4

חִצֵּ֣י גִבּ֣וֹר שְׁנוּנִ֑ים עִ֝֗ם גַּחֲלֵ֥י רְתָמִֽים

Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper.

Participle — attendant circumstance or substantival actorasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Participle — attendant circumstance or substantival actor. Lead predicate is 'I sharpen'.
Word-by-word analysis· 6 words
חִצֵּ֣יmy arrowsN c · חֵץ (H2671)Construct chain (genitival)חֵץ (H2671) 'my arrows'.
גִבּ֣וֹרmightyAdj · גִּבּוֹר (H1368)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)גִּבּוֹר (H1368) 'mighty'.
שְׁנוּנִ֑יםI sharpenQal ptc mp · שָׁנַן (H8150)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorשָׁנַן (H8150) 'I sharpen'.
עִ֝֗םwithprep · עִם (H5973)Particle or relational elementעִם (H5973) 'with'.
גַּחֲלֵ֥יcoals ofN c · גַּחֶלֶת (H1513)Construct chain (genitival)גַּחֶלֶת (H1513) 'coals of'.
רְתָמִֽיםjuniperN c · רֶתֶם (H7574)Construct chain (genitival)רֶתֶם (H7574) 'juniper'.
5

אֽוֹיָה לִ֭י כִּי גַ֣רְתִּי מֶ֑שֶׁךְ שָׁ֝כַ֗נְתִּי עִֽם אָהֳלֵ֥י קֵדָֽר

Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, I dwell in the tents of Kedar!

Qatal — perfective or stative predicationasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Qatal — perfective or stative predication. Lead predicate is 'I sojourned'.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
אֽוֹיָהwoeparticle · אוֹיָה (H190)Particle or relational elementאוֹיָה (H190) 'woe'.
לִ֭יto meprep + sfx 1csParticle or relational elementFunction word: 'to me'.
כִּיforconj וְ · כִּי (H3588)Particle or relational elementכִּי (H3588) 'for'.
גַ֣רְתִּיI sojournedQal perf 1cs · גּוּר (H1481)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actגּוּר (H1481) 'I sojourned'.
מֶ֑שֶׁךְand MeshechN · מֶשֶׁךְ (H4902)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)מֶשֶׁךְ (H4902) 'and Meshech'.
שָׁ֝כַ֗נְתִּיto make dwellQal perf 1cs · שָׁכַן (H7931)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actשָׁכַן (H7931) 'to make dwell'.
עִֽםwithprep · עִם (H5973)Particle or relational elementעִם (H5973) 'with'.
אָהֳלֵ֥יthe tents ofN c · אֹהֶל (H168)Construct chain (genitival)אֹהֶל (H168) 'the tents of'.
קֵדָֽרand KedarN · קֵדָר (H6938)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)קֵדָר (H6938) 'and Kedar'.
6

רַ֭בַּת שָֽׁכְנָה לָּ֣הּ נַפְשִׁ֑י עִ֝֗ם שׂוֹנֵ֥א שָׁלֽוֹם

My soul has long dwelt with him that hateth peace.

Qatal — perfective or stative predicationasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Qatal — perfective or stative predication. Lead predicate is 'to make dwell'.
Word-by-word analysis· 7 words
רַ֭בַּתmanyAdj · רַב (H7227)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)רַב (H7227) 'many'.
שָֽׁכְנָהto make dwellQal perf 3fs · שָׁכַן (H7931)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actשָׁכַן (H7931) 'to make dwell'.
לָּ֣הּto herprep + sfx 3fsParticle or relational elementFunction word: 'to her'.
נַפְשִׁ֑יmy soulN c · נֶפֶשׁ (H5315)Construct chain (genitival)נֶפֶשׁ (H5315) 'my soul'.
עִ֝֗םwithprep · עִם (H5973)Particle or relational elementעִם (H5973) 'with'.
שׂוֹנֵ֥אhatingQal ptc ms · שָׂנֵא (H8130)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorשָׂנֵא (H8130) 'hating'.
שָׁלֽוֹםpeaceN c · שָׁלוֹם (H7965)Construct chain (genitival)שָׁלוֹם (H7965) 'peace'.
7

אֲֽנִי שָׁ֭לוֹם וְכִ֣י אֲדַבֵּ֑ר הֵ֝֗מָּה לַמִּלְחָמָֽה

I peace: but when I speak, they for war.

Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-orientedasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-oriented. Lead predicate is 'I speak'. Closes the chapter.
Word-by-word analysis· 6 words
אֲֽנִיIpron 1cs · אֲנִי (H589)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)אֲנִי (H589) 'I'.
שָׁ֭לוֹםpeaceN c · שָׁלוֹם (H7965)Construct chain (genitival)שָׁלוֹם (H7965) 'peace'.
וְכִ֣יand ifconj וְ + conj וְ · כִּי (H3588)Particle or relational elementכִּי (H3588) 'and if'.
אֲדַבֵּ֑רI speakPiel impf 1cs · דִּבֶּר (H1696)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalדִּבֶּר (H1696) 'I speak'.
הֵ֝֗מָּהtheypron 3mp · הֵמָּה (H1992)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)הֵמָּה (H1992) 'they'.
לַמִּלְחָמָֽהfor battleprep + art + N com f sg abs · מִלְחָמָה (H4421)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)מִלְחָמָה (H4421) 'for battle'.