Hebrew Text · Translation · Interlinear · Discourse Structure

The Book of Psalms, Chapter 13תהלים 13

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 13 (6 verses in the MT) opens: [To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.] How long will you forget me, O YHWH? for ever? how long will you hide your face from me? The middle of the chapter continues: Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved. It closes: I will sing to YHWH, because he has dealt bountifully with me.

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 13 comprises 6 verses in MT order. Movement I (vv. 1-4) — [To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. [To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.] How long will you forget me, O YHWH? for ever? how long will you hide your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me? Consider hear me, O YHWH my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the death; Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed. Movement II (vv. 5-6) — But I have trusted in your mercy; my heart shall rejoice in your salvati. But I have trusted in your mercy; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to YHWH, because he has dealt bountifully with me. Where English printed Bibles divide verses differently, this annotation follows MT versification throughout.

1

לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַ מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד

[To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.] How long will you forget me, O YHWH? for ever? how long will you hide your face from me?

Participle — attendant circumstance or substantival actorasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Participle — attendant circumstance or substantival actor. Lead predicate is 'excel'. Opens the chapter.
Word-by-word analysis· 3 words
לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַexcelprep + art + Piel ptc ms · נָצַח (H5329)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorנָצַח (H5329) 'excel'.
מִזְמ֥וֹרpsalmN c · מִזְמוֹר (H4210)Construct chain (genitival)מִזְמוֹר (H4210) 'psalm'.
לְדָוִֽדtoprep + N proper · דָּוִד (H1732)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)דָּוִד (H1732) 'to'.
2

עַד אָ֣נָה יְ֭הוָה תִּשְׁכָּחֵ֣נִי נֶ֑צַח עַד אָ֓נָה תַּסְתִּ֖יר אֶת פָּנֶ֣יךָ מִמֶּֽנִּי

How long shall I take counsel in my soul, sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?

Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-orientedasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-oriented. Lead predicate is 'you forget'.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
עַדuntilprep · עַד (H5704)Particle or relational elementעַד (H5704) 'until'.
אָ֣נָהwhereart · אָנָה (H575)Particle or relational elementאָנָה (H575) 'where'.
יְ֭הוָהYHWHN · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'YHWH'.
תִּשְׁכָּחֵ֣נִיyou forgetQal impf 2ms + sfx 1cs · שָׁכַח (H7911)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalשָׁכַח (H7911) 'you forget'.
נֶ֑צַחalwayN c · נֶצַח (H5331)Construct chain (genitival)נֶצַח (H5331) 'alway'.
עַדuntilprep · עַד (H5704)Particle or relational elementעַד (H5704) 'until'.
אָ֓נָהwhereart · אָנָה (H575)Particle or relational elementאָנָה (H575) 'where'.
תַּסְתִּ֖ירI will hideHiphil impf 2ms · סָתַר (H5641)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalסָתַר (H5641) 'I will hide'.
אֶת(obj)obj marker · אֵת (H853)Particle or relational elementאֵת (H853) '(obj)'.
פָּנֶ֣יךָyour faceN c · פָּנִים (H6440)Construct chain (genitival)פָּנִים (H6440) 'your face'.
מִמֶּֽנִּיfrom meprep + sfx 1cs · מִן (H4480)Particle or relational elementמִן (H4480) 'from me'.
3

עַד אָ֨נָה אָשִׁ֪ית עֵצ֡וֹת בְּנַפְשִׁ֗י יָג֣וֹן בִּלְבָבִ֣י יוֹמָ֑ם עַד אָ֓נָה יָר֖וּם אֹיְבִ֣י עָלָֽי

Consider hear me, O YHWH my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the death;

Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-orientedasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-oriented. Lead predicate is 'I will put'.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
עַדuntilprep · עַד (H5704)Particle or relational elementעַד (H5704) 'until'.
אָ֨נָהwhereart · אָנָה (H575)Particle or relational elementאָנָה (H575) 'where'.
אָשִׁ֪יתI will putQal impf 1cs · שִׁית (H7896)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalשִׁית (H7896) 'I will put'.
עֵצ֡וֹתcounselN c · עֵצָה (H6098)Construct chain (genitival)עֵצָה (H6098) 'counsel'.
בְּנַפְשִׁ֗יyour soulprep + N com c sg constr + sfx 1cs · נֶפֶשׁ (H5315)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)נֶפֶשׁ (H5315) 'your soul'.
יָג֣וֹןin sorrowN c · יָגוֹן (H3015)Construct chain (genitival)יָגוֹן (H3015) 'in sorrow'.
בִּלְבָבִ֣יyour heartprep + N com m sg constr + sfx 1cs · לֵבָב (H3824)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)לֵבָב (H3824) 'your heart'.
יוֹמָ֑םby dayart · יוֹמָם (H3119)Particle or relational elementיוֹמָם (H3119) 'by day'.
עַדuntilprep · עַד (H5704)Particle or relational elementעַד (H5704) 'until'.
אָ֓נָהwhereart · אָנָה (H575)Particle or relational elementאָנָה (H575) 'where'.
יָר֖וּםand tallQal impf 3ms · רוּם (H7311)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalרוּם (H7311) 'and tall'.
אֹיְבִ֣יmy enemiesQal ptc ms + sfx 1cs · אֹיֵב (H341)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorאֹיֵב (H341) 'my enemies'.
עָלָֽיagainst meprep + sfx 1cs · עַל (H5921)Particle or relational elementעַל (H5921) 'against me'.
4

הַבִּ֣יטָֽה עֲ֭נֵנִי יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהָ֑י הָאִ֥ירָה עֵ֝ינַ֗י פֶּן אִישַׁ֥ן הַמָּֽוֶת

Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.

Imperative — volitional addressasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Imperative — volitional address. Lead predicate is 'from looking'. Speech formula or quoted address.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
הַבִּ֣יטָֽהfrom lookingHiphil impv 2ms + Sh · נָבַט (H5027)Predicate verb (imperative)→ Volitional: imperativeנָבַט (H5027) 'from looking'.
עֲ֭נֵנִיand answeredQal impv 2ms + sfx 1cs · עָנָה (H6030)Predicate verb (imperative)→ Volitional: imperativeעָנָה (H6030) 'and answered'.
יְהוָ֣הYHWHN · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'YHWH'.
אֱלֹהָ֑יthe God ofN c · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Construct chain (genitival)אֱלֹהִים (H430) 'the God of'.
הָאִ֥ירָהto give lightHiphil impv 2ms + Sh · אוֹר (H215)Predicate verb (imperative)→ Volitional: imperativeאוֹר (H215) 'to give light'.
עֵ֝ינַ֗יthe eyes ofN c · עַיִן (H5869)Construct chain (genitival)עַיִן (H5869) 'the eyes of'.
פֶּןlestconj וְ · פֶּן (H6435)Particle or relational elementפֶּן (H6435) 'lest'.
אִישַׁ֥ןand grow long settledQal impf 1cs · יָשַׁן (H3462)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalיָשַׁן (H3462) 'and grow long settled'.
הַמָּֽוֶתdeathart + N com m sg abs · מָוֶת (H4194)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)מָוֶת (H4194) 'death'.
5

פֶּן יֹאמַ֣ר אֹיְבִ֣י יְכָלְתִּ֑יו צָרַ֥י יָ֝גִ֗ילוּ כִּ֣י אֶמּֽוֹט

But I have trusted in your mercy; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.

Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-orientedwə
wə-chaining from the preceding clause. Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-oriented. Lead predicate is 'he says'. Speech formula or quoted address.
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
פֶּןlestconj וְ · פֶּן (H6435)Particle or relational elementפֶּן (H6435) 'lest'.
יֹאמַ֣רhe saysQal impf 3ms · אָמַר (H559)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalאָמַר (H559) 'he says'.
אֹיְבִ֣יmy enemiesQal ptc ms + sfx 1cs · אֹיֵב (H341)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorאֹיֵב (H341) 'my enemies'.
יְכָלְתִּ֑יוthey were ableQal perf 1cs + sfx 3ms · יָכֹל (H3201)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actיָכֹל (H3201) 'they were able'.
צָרַ֥יnarrowN c · צַר (H6862)Construct chain (genitival)צַר (H6862) 'narrow'.
יָ֝גִ֗ילוּbe gladQal impf 3mp · גִּיל (H1523)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalגִּיל (H1523) 'be glad'.
כִּ֣יforconj וְ · כִּי (H3588)Particle or relational elementכִּי (H3588) 'for'.
אֶמּֽוֹטshall slipN · מוֹט (H4131)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)מוֹט (H4131) 'shall slip'.
6

וַאֲנִ֤י בְּחַסְדְּךָ֣ בָטַחְתִּי֮ יָ֤גֵ֥ל לִבִּ֗י בִּֽישׁוּעָ֫תֶ֥ךָ אָשִׁ֥ירָה לַיהוָ֑ה כִּ֖י גָמַ֣ל עָלָֽי

I will sing to YHWH, because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Qatal — perfective or stative predicationwə
wə-chaining from the preceding clause. Qatal — perfective or stative predication. Lead predicate is 'trusting'. Closes the chapter.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
וַאֲנִ֤יand Iconj וְ + pron 1cs · אֲנִי (H589)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)אֲנִי (H589) 'and I'.
בְּחַסְדְּךָ֣in your steadfast loveprep + N com m sg constr + sfx 2ms · חֶסֶד (H2617)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)חֶסֶד (H2617) 'in your steadfast love'.
בָטַחְתִּי֮trustingQal perf 1cs · בָּטַח (H982)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actבָּטַח (H982) 'trusting'.
יָ֤גֵ֥לbe gladQal impf 3ms · גִּיל (H1523)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalגִּיל (H1523) 'be glad'.
לִבִּ֗יmy heartN c · לֵב (H3820)Construct chain (genitival)לֵב (H3820) 'my heart'.
בִּֽישׁוּעָ֫תֶ֥ךָhis salvationprep + N com f sg constr + sfx 2ms · יְשׁוּעָה (H3444)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְשׁוּעָה (H3444) 'his salvation'.
אָשִׁ֥ירָהI will singQal cohortative 1cs · שִׁיר (H7891)Predicate verb (weqatal / cohortative)→ Weqatal/cohortative: sequential or volitionalשִׁיר (H7891) 'I will sing'.
לַיהוָ֑הto YHWHprep + N proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'to YHWH'.
כִּ֖יforconj וְ · כִּי (H3588)Particle or relational elementכִּי (H3588) 'for'.
גָמַ֣לdo you repayQal perf 3ms · גָּמַל (H1580)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actגָּמַל (H1580) 'do you repay'.
עָלָֽיagainst meprep + sfx 1cs · עַל (H5921)Particle or relational elementעַל (H5921) 'against me'.