Hebrew Text · Translation · Interlinear · Discourse Structure

The Book of Psalms, Chapter 125תהלים 125

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 125 (5 verses in the MT) opens: [A Song of degrees.] They that trust in YHWH as mount Zion, cannot be removed, abideth for ever. The middle of the chapter continues: For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands to iniquity. It closes: As for such as turn aside to their crooked ways, YHWH shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: peace upon Israel.

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 125 comprises 5 verses in MT order. Movement I (vv. 1-4) — [A Song of degrees. [A Song of degrees.] They that trust in YHWH as mount Zion, cannot be removed, abideth for ever. As the mountains round about Jerusalem, so YHWH round about his people from henceforth even for ever. For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands to iniquity. Do good, O YHWH, to good, and. Movement II (vv. 5) — As for such as turn aside to their crooked ways, YHWH shall lead them fo. As for such as turn aside to their crooked ways, YHWH shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: peace upon Israel. Where English printed Bibles divide verses differently, this annotation follows MT versification throughout.

1

שִׁ֗יר הַֽמַּ֫עֲל֥וֹת הַבֹּטְחִ֥ים בַּיהוָ֑ה כְּֽהַר צִיּ֥וֹן לֹא יִ֝מּ֗וֹט לְעוֹלָ֥ם יֵשֵֽׁב

[A Song of degrees.] They that trust in YHWH as mount Zion, cannot be removed, abideth for ever.

Participle — attendant circumstance or substantival actorasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Participle — attendant circumstance or substantival actor. Lead predicate is 'trusting'. Opens the chapter.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 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'.
הַבֹּטְחִ֥יםtrustingart + Qal ptc mp · בָּטַח (H982)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorבָּטַח (H982) 'trusting'.
בַּיהוָ֑הagainst YHWHprep + N proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'against YHWH'.
כְּֽהַרthe mountainprep + N com m sg constr · הַר (H2022)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)הַר (H2022) 'the mountain'.
צִיּ֥וֹןZionN · צִיּוֹן (H6726)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)צִיּוֹן (H6726) 'Zion'.
לֹאnotneg. · לֹא (H3808)Particle or relational elementלֹא (H3808) 'not'.
יִ֝מּ֗וֹטshall slipN · מוֹט (H4131)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)מוֹט (H4131) 'shall slip'.
לְעוֹלָ֥םforeverprep + N com m sg abs · עוֹלָם (H5769)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)עוֹלָם (H5769) 'forever'.
יֵשֵֽׁבdwellingQal impf 3ms · יָשַׁב (H3427)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalיָשַׁב (H3427) 'dwelling'.
2

יְֽרוּשָׁלִַ֗ם הָרִים֮ סָבִ֪יב לָ֥הּ וַ֭יהוָה סָבִ֣יב לְעַמּ֑וֹ מֵ֝עַתָּ֗ה וְעַד עוֹלָֽם

As the mountains round about Jerusalem, so YHWH round about his people from henceforth even for ever.

Nominal or particle frameasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Nominal or particle frame.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
יְֽרוּשָׁלִַ֗םJerusalemN · יְרוּשָׁלִַם (H3389)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְרוּשָׁלִַם (H3389) 'Jerusalem'.
הָרִים֮hillsN c · הַר (H2022)Construct chain (genitival)הַר (H2022) 'hills'.
סָבִ֪יבall aroundN c · סָבִיב (H5439)Construct chain (genitival)סָבִיב (H5439) 'all around'.
לָ֥הּto herprep + sfx 3fsParticle or relational elementFunction word: 'to her'.
וַ֭יהוָהand YHWHconj וְ + N proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'and YHWH'.
סָבִ֣יבall aroundN c · סָבִיב (H5439)Construct chain (genitival)סָבִיב (H5439) 'all around'.
לְעַמּ֑וֹthe peopleprep + N com m sg constr + sfx 3ms · עַם (H5971)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)עַם (H5971) 'the people'.
מֵ֝עַתָּ֗הand nowprep + art · עַתָּה (H6258)Particle or relational elementעַתָּה (H6258) 'and now'.
וְעַדand toconj וְ + prep · עַד (H5704)Particle or relational elementעַד (H5704) 'and to'.
עוֹלָֽםperpetuityN c · עוֹלָם (H5769)Construct chain (genitival)עוֹלָם (H5769) 'perpetuity'.
3

כִּ֤י לֹ֪א יָנ֡וּחַ שֵׁ֤בֶט הָרֶ֗שַׁע עַל֮ גּוֹרַ֪ל הַֽצַּדִּ֫יקִ֥ים לְמַ֡עַן לֹא יִשְׁלְח֖וּ הַצַּדִּיקִ֨ים בְּעַוְלָ֬תָה יְדֵיהֶֽם

For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands to iniquity.

Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-orientedwə
kî-clause (causal, recitative, or evidential). Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-oriented. Lead predicate is 'may rest'.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
כִּ֤יforconj וְ · כִּי (H3588)Particle or relational elementכִּי (H3588) 'for'.
לֹ֪אnotneg. · לֹא (H3808)Particle or relational elementלֹא (H3808) 'not'.
יָנ֡וּחַmay restQal impf 3ms · נוּחַ (H5117)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalנוּחַ (H5117) 'may rest'.
שֵׁ֤בֶטthe tribe ofN c · שֵׁבֶט (H7626)Construct chain (genitival)שֵׁבֶט (H7626) 'the tribe of'.
הָרֶ֗שַׁעtheir wickednessart + N com m sg abs · רֶשַׁע (H7562)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)רֶשַׁע (H7562) 'their wickedness'.
עַל֮onprep · עַל (H5921)Particle or relational elementעַל (H5921) 'on'.
גּוֹרַ֪לa lotN c · גּוֹרָל (H1486)Construct chain (genitival)גּוֹרָל (H1486) 'a lot'.
הַֽצַּדִּ֫יקִ֥יםrighteousart + Adj · צַדִּיק (H6662)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)צַדִּיק (H6662) 'righteous'.
לְמַ֡עַןso thatprep · לְמַעַן (H4616)Particle or relational elementלְמַעַן (H4616) 'so that'.
לֹאnotneg. · לֹא (H3808)Particle or relational elementלֹא (H3808) 'not'.
יִשְׁלְח֖וּand he sentQal impf 3mp · שָׁלַח (H7971)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalשָׁלַח (H7971) 'and he sent'.
הַצַּדִּיקִ֨יםrighteousart + Adj · צַדִּיק (H6662)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)צַדִּיק (H6662) 'righteous'.
בְּעַוְלָ֬תָהinjusticeprep + N com c sg abs + Sh · עָוֶל (H5766)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)עָוֶל (H5766) 'injustice'.
יְדֵיהֶֽםtheir handsN c · יָד (H3027)Construct chain (genitival)יָד (H3027) 'their hands'.
4

הֵיטִ֣יבָה יְ֭הוָה לַטּוֹבִ֑ים וְ֝לִֽישָׁרִ֗ים בְּלִבּוֹתָֽם

Do good, O YHWH, to good, and upright in their hearts.

Imperative — volitional addresswə
wə-chaining from the preceding clause. Imperative — volitional address. Lead predicate is 'and it may be well'.
Word-by-word analysis· 5 words
הֵיטִ֣יבָהand it may be wellHiphil impv 2ms + Sh · טוֹב (H2895)Predicate verb (imperative)→ Volitional: imperativeטוֹב (H2895) 'and it may be well'.
יְ֭הוָהYHWHN · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'YHWH'.
לַטּוֹבִ֑יםgoodprep + art + Adj · טוֹב (H2896)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)טוֹב (H2896) 'good'.
וְ֝לִֽישָׁרִ֗יםrightconj וְ + prep + Adj · יָשָׁר (H3477)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יָשָׁר (H3477) 'right'.
בְּלִבּוֹתָֽםheartprep + N com f pl constr + sfx 3mp · לִבָּה (H3826)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)לִבָּה (H3826) 'heart'.
5

וְהַמַּטִּ֤ים עַֽקַלְקַלּוֹתָ֗ם יוֹלִיכֵ֣ם יְ֭הוָה אֶת פֹּעֲלֵ֣י הָאָ֑וֶן שָׁ֝ל֗וֹם עַל יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

As for such as turn aside to their crooked ways, YHWH shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: peace upon Israel.

Participle — attendant circumstance or substantival actorwə
wə-chaining from the preceding clause. Participle — attendant circumstance or substantival actor. Lead predicate is 'stretch out'. Closes the chapter.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
וְהַמַּטִּ֤יםstretch outconj וְ + art + Hiphil ptc mp · נָטָה (H5186)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorנָטָה (H5186) 'stretch out'.
עַֽקַלְקַלּוֹתָ֗םcrookedAdj · עֲקַלְקַל (H6128)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)עֲקַלְקַל (H6128) 'crooked'.
יוֹלִיכֵ֣םand he wentHiphil impf 3ms + sfx 3mp · הָלַךְ (H3212)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalהָלַךְ (H3212) 'and he went'.
יְ֭הוָהYHWHN · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'YHWH'.
אֶתwithprep · אֵת (H854)Particle or relational elementאֵת (H854) 'with'.
פֹּעֲלֵ֣יdidQal ptc mp · פָּעַל (H6466)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorפָּעַל (H6466) 'did'.
הָאָ֑וֶןiniquityart + N com m sg abs · אוֹן (H205)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)אוֹן (H205) 'iniquity'.
שָׁ֝ל֗וֹםpeaceN c · שָׁלוֹם (H7965)Construct chain (genitival)שָׁלוֹם (H7965) 'peace'.
עַלonprep · עַל (H5921)Particle or relational elementעַל (H5921) 'on'.
יִשְׂרָאֵֽלIsraelN · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478) 'Israel'.