By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation.
Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and—Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me “to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:”
Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favor, able interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquillity, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted; for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.
And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech Him to pardon our national and other trangressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally, to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.
Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.
Go. Washington
William Bradford, Of Plymouth Plantation
May not and ought not the children of these fathers rightly say: "Our fathers were Englishmen which came over this great ocean, and were ready to perish in this wilderness; but they cried unto the Lord, and he heard their voice, and looked on their adversity, etc. Let them therefore praise the Lord, because he is good, and his mercies endure forever. Yea, let them which have been redeemed of the Lord, show how he hath delivered them from the hand of the oppressor. When they wandered in the desert wilderness out of the way, and found no city to dwell in, both hungry, and thirsty, their soul was overwhelmed in them. Let them confess before the Lord loving kindness, and his wonderful works before the sons of men."
(א) הֹד֣וּ לַה' כִּי־ט֑וֹב כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃ (ב) יֹ֭אמְרוּ גְּאוּלֵ֣י ה' אֲשֶׁ֥ר גְּ֝אָלָ֗ם מִיַּד־צָֽר׃ (ג) וּֽמֵאֲרָצ֗וֹת קִ֫בְּצָ֥ם מִמִּזְרָ֥ח וּמִֽמַּעֲרָ֑ב מִצָּפ֥וֹן וּמִיָּֽם׃ (ד) תָּע֣וּ בַ֭מִּדְבָּר בִּישִׁימ֣וֹן דָּ֑רֶךְ עִ֥יר מ֝וֹשָׁ֗ב לֹ֣א מָצָֽאוּ׃ (ה) רְעֵבִ֥ים גַּם־צְמֵאִ֑ים נַ֝פְשָׁ֗ם בָּהֶ֥ם תִּתְעַטָּֽף׃ (ו) וַיִּצְעֲק֣וּ אֶל־ה' בַּצַּ֣ר לָהֶ֑ם מִ֝מְּצֽוּקוֹתֵיהֶ֗ם יַצִּילֵֽם׃ (ז) וַ֭יַּֽדְרִיכֵם בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ יְשָׁרָ֑ה לָ֝לֶ֗כֶת אֶל־עִ֥יר מוֹשָֽׁב׃ (ח) יוֹד֣וּ לַה' חַסְדּ֑וֹ וְ֝נִפְלְאוֹתָ֗יו לִבְנֵ֥י אָדָֽם׃ (ט) כִּי־הִ֭שְׂבִּיעַ נֶ֣פֶשׁ שֹׁקֵקָ֑ה וְנֶ֥פֶשׁ רְ֝עֵבָה מִלֵּא־טֽוֹב׃ (י) יֹ֭שְׁבֵי חֹ֣שֶׁךְ וְצַלְמָ֑וֶת אֲסִירֵ֖י עֳנִ֣י וּבַרְזֶֽל׃ (יא) כִּֽי־הִמְר֥וּ אִמְרֵי־אֵ֑ל וַעֲצַ֖ת עֶלְי֣וֹן נָאָֽצוּ׃ (יב) וַיַּכְנַ֣ע בֶּעָמָ֣ל לִבָּ֑ם כָּ֝שְׁל֗וּ וְאֵ֣ין עֹזֵֽר׃ (יג) וַיִּזְעֲק֣וּ אֶל־ה' בַּצַּ֣ר לָהֶ֑ם מִ֝מְּצֻֽקוֹתֵיהֶ֗ם יוֹשִׁיעֵֽם׃ (יד) יֽ֭וֹצִיאֵם מֵחֹ֣שֶׁךְ וְצַלְמָ֑וֶת וּמוֹסְר֖וֹתֵיהֶ֣ם יְנַתֵּֽק׃ (טו) יוֹד֣וּ לַה' חַסְדּ֑וֹ וְ֝נִפְלְאוֹתָ֗יו לִבְנֵ֥י אָדָֽם׃ (טז) כִּֽי־שִׁ֭בַּר דַּלְת֣וֹת נְחֹ֑שֶׁת וּבְרִיחֵ֖י בַרְזֶ֣ל גִּדֵּֽעַ׃ (יז) אֱ֭וִלִים מִדֶּ֣רֶךְ פִּשְׁעָ֑ם וּֽ֝מֵעֲוֺֽנֹתֵיהֶ֗ם יִתְעַנּֽוּ׃ (יח) כָּל־אֹ֭כֶל תְּתַעֵ֣ב נַפְשָׁ֑ם וַ֝יַּגִּ֗יעוּ עַד־שַׁ֥עֲרֵי מָֽוֶת׃ (יט) וַיִּזְעֲק֣וּ אֶל־ה' בַּצַּ֣ר לָהֶ֑ם מִ֝מְּצֻֽקוֹתֵיהֶ֗ם יוֹשִׁיעֵֽם׃ (כ) יִשְׁלַ֣ח דְּ֭בָרוֹ וְיִרְפָּאֵ֑ם וִֽ֝ימַלֵּ֗ט מִשְּׁחִיתוֹתָֽם׃ (׆) (כא) יוֹד֣וּ לַה' חַסְדּ֑וֹ וְ֝נִפְלְאוֹתָ֗יו לִבְנֵ֥י אָדָֽם׃ (׆) (כב) וְ֭יִזְבְּחוּ זִבְחֵ֣י תוֹדָ֑ה וִֽיסַפְּר֖וּ מַעֲשָׂ֣יו בְּרִנָּֽה׃ (׆) (כג) יוֹרְדֵ֣י הַ֭יָּם בָּאֳנִיּ֑וֹת עֹשֵׂ֥י מְ֝לָאכָ֗ה בְּמַ֣יִם רַבִּֽים׃ (׆) (כד) הֵ֣מָּה רָ֭אוּ מַעֲשֵׂ֣י ה' וְ֝נִפְלְאוֹתָ֗יו בִּמְצוּלָֽה׃ (׆) (כה) וַיֹּ֗אמֶר וַֽ֭יַּעֲמֵד ר֣וּחַ סְעָרָ֑ה וַתְּרוֹמֵ֥ם גַּלָּֽיו׃ (׆) (כו) יַעֲל֣וּ שָׁ֭מַיִם יֵרְד֣וּ תְהוֹמ֑וֹת נַ֝פְשָׁ֗ם בְּרָעָ֥ה תִתְמוֹגָֽג׃ (כז) יָח֣וֹגּוּ וְ֭יָנוּעוּ כַּשִּׁכּ֑וֹר וְכָל־חָ֝כְמָתָ֗ם תִּתְבַּלָּֽע׃ (כח) וַיִּצְעֲק֣וּ אֶל־ה' בַּצַּ֣ר לָהֶ֑ם וּֽ֝מִמְּצֽוּקֹתֵיהֶ֗ם יוֹצִיאֵֽם׃ (כט) יָקֵ֣ם סְ֭עָרָה לִדְמָמָ֑ה וַ֝יֶּחֱשׁ֗וּ גַּלֵּיהֶֽם׃ (ל) וַיִּשְׂמְח֥וּ כִֽי־יִשְׁתֹּ֑קוּ וַ֝יַּנְחֵ֗ם אֶל־מְח֥וֹז חֶפְצָֽם׃ (לא) יוֹד֣וּ לַה' חַסְדּ֑וֹ וְ֝נִפְלְאוֹתָ֗יו לִבְנֵ֥י אָדָֽם׃ (לב) וִֽ֭ירֹמְמוּהוּ בִּקְהַל־עָ֑ם וּבְמוֹשַׁ֖ב זְקֵנִ֣ים יְהַלְלֽוּהוּ׃ (לג) יָשֵׂ֣ם נְהָר֣וֹת לְמִדְבָּ֑ר וּמֹצָ֥אֵי מַ֝֗יִם לְצִמָּאֽוֹן׃ (לד) אֶ֣רֶץ פְּ֭רִי לִמְלֵחָ֑ה מֵ֝רָעַ֗ת יֹ֣שְׁבֵי בָֽהּ׃ (לה) יָשֵׂ֣ם מִ֭דְבָּר לַֽאֲגַם־מַ֑יִם וְאֶ֥רֶץ צִ֝יָּ֗ה לְמֹצָ֥אֵי מָֽיִם׃ (לו) וַיּ֣וֹשֶׁב שָׁ֣ם רְעֵבִ֑ים וַ֝יְכוֹנְנ֗וּ עִ֣יר מוֹשָֽׁב׃ (לז) וַיִּזְרְע֣וּ שָׂ֭דוֹת וַיִּטְּע֣וּ כְרָמִ֑ים וַ֝יַּעֲשׂ֗וּ פְּרִ֣י תְבֽוּאָה׃ (לח) וַיְבָרֲכֵ֣ם וַיִּרְבּ֣וּ מְאֹ֑ד וּ֝בְהֶמְתָּ֗ם לֹ֣א יַמְעִֽיט׃ (לט) וַיִּמְעֲט֥וּ וַיָּשֹׁ֑חוּ מֵעֹ֖צֶר רָעָ֣ה וְיָגֽוֹן׃ (׆) (מ) שֹׁפֵ֣ךְ בּ֭וּז עַל־נְדִיבִ֑ים וַ֝יַּתְעֵ֗ם בְּתֹ֣הוּ לֹא־דָֽרֶךְ׃ (מא) וַיְשַׂגֵּ֣ב אֶבְי֣וֹן מֵע֑וֹנִי וַיָּ֥שֶׂם כַּ֝צֹּ֗אן מִשְׁפָּחֽוֹת׃ (מב) יִרְא֣וּ יְשָׁרִ֣ים וְיִשְׂמָ֑חוּ וְכָל־עַ֝וְלָ֗ה קָ֣פְצָה פִּֽיהָ׃ (מג) מִי־חָכָ֥ם וְיִשְׁמָר־אֵ֑לֶּה וְ֝יִתְבּֽוֹנְנ֗וּ חַֽסְדֵ֥י ה'
(1) “Praise the LORD, for He is good; His steadfast love is eternal!” (2) Thus let the redeemed of the Lord say, those He redeemed from adversity, (3) whom He gathered in from the lands, from east and west, from the north and from the sea. (4) Some lost their way in the wilderness, in the wasteland; they found no settled place. (5) Hungry and thirsty, their spirit failed. (6) In their adversity they cried to the Lord, and He rescued them from their troubles. (7) He showed them a direct way to reach a settled place. (8) Let them praise the Lord for His steadfast love, His wondrous deeds for mankind; (9) for He has satisfied the thirsty, filled the hungry with all good things. (10) Some lived in deepest darkness, bound in cruel irons, (11) because they defied the word of God, spurned the counsel of the Most High. (12) He humbled their hearts through suffering; they stumbled with no one to help. (13) In their adversity they cried to the Lord, and He rescued them from their troubles. (14) He brought them out of deepest darkness, broke their bonds asunder. (15) Let them praise the Lord for His steadfast love, His wondrous deeds for mankind, (16) For He shattered gates of bronze, He broke their iron bars. (17) There were fools who suffered for their sinful way, and for their iniquities. (18) All food was loathsome to them; they reached the gates of death. (19) In their adversity they cried to the Lord and He saved them from their troubles. (20) He gave an order and healed them; He delivered them from the pits. (21) Let them praise the Lord for His steadfast love, His wondrous deeds for mankind. (22) Let them offer thanksgiving sacrifices, and tell His deeds in joyful song. (23) Others go down to the sea in ships, ply their trade in the mighty waters; (24) they have seen the works of the Lord and His wonders in the deep. (25) By His word He raised a storm wind that made the waves surge. (26) Mounting up to the heaven, plunging down to the depths, disgorging in their misery, (27) they reeled and staggered like a drunken man, all their skill to no avail. (28) In their adversity they cried to the Lord, and He saved them from their troubles. (29) He reduced the storm to a whisper; the waves were stilled. (30) They rejoiced when all was quiet, and He brought them to the port they desired. (31) Let them praise the Lord for His steadfast love, His wondrous deeds for mankind. (32) Let them exalt Him in the congregation of the people, acclaim Him in the assembly of the elders. (33) He turns the rivers into a wilderness, springs of water into thirsty land, (34) fruitful land into a salt marsh, because of the wickedness of its inhabitants. (35) He turns the wilderness into pools, parched land into springs of water. (36) There He settles the hungry; they build a place to settle in. (37) They sow fields and plant vineyards that yield a fruitful harvest. (38) He blesses them and they increase greatly; and He does not let their cattle decrease, (39) after they had been few and crushed by oppression, misery, and sorrow. (40) He pours contempt on great men and makes them lose their way in trackless deserts; (41) but the needy He secures from suffering, and increases their families like flocks. (42) The upright see it and rejoice; the mouth of all wrongdoers is stopped. (43) The wise man will take note of these things; he will consider the steadfast love of the Lord.
MAKING HASTE FROM BABYLON
The Mayflower Pilgrims and Their World: A New History
Nick Bunker, pg. 66
If you were English, and you wished to express gratitude to God, you would turn to one majestic Biblical text before any other. It speaks about the wilderness of the Sinai, about danger and deliverance, about the journey of the Israelites across the Red Sea, and about the duty to give thanks when the exodus is complete. The text is Psalm 107. In the reign of Elizabeth I, when the realm survived a plot, a plague, or the Spanish Armada, her subjects went to church and gave thanks to the Almighty, using the same psalm: “ We will offer unto him the sacrifice of Thanksgiving: and tell out his works with gladness.”
Inside the head of William Bradford, the Pilgrims mimed out these episodes of sacred history. When they reached dry land, they recited another ancient formula. At Provincetown, the Pilgrims fell on their knees and thanked God, says Bradford. Again, behind this narrative lies a Hebrew model. It came by way of Bradford's knowledge of a Jewish ritual, the birkat ha-gomel, a ceremony of thanksgiving.
Commentary to the Bible, Henry Ainsworth
And from this Psalme, and this verse of it, the Hebrues have this Canon; Foure must confess (unto God): The sick, when he is healed; the prisoner when he is released out of bonds; they that goe down to sea, when they are come up (to land); and wayfaring men, when they are come to the inhabited land. And they must make confession before ten men, and two of them wise men, Psal. 107. 32. And the manner of confessing and blessing is thus; He standeth among them and blesseth the Lord, the King eternal, that bounteously rewardeth good things unto sinners, etc. Maimony in Misn. Treat. Of Blessings, chap. 10, sect. 8.
(ח) ארבעה צריכין להודות חולה שנתרפא וחבוש שיצא מבית האסורים ויורדי הים כשעלו והולכי דרכים כשיגיעו לישוב וצריכין להודות בפני עשרה ושנים מהם חכמים שנאמר וירוממוהו בקהל עם ובמושב זקנים יהללוהו וכיצד מודה וכיצד מברך עומד ביניהן ומברך ברוך אתה ה' אלקינו מלך העולם הגומל לחייבים טובות שגמלני כל טוב וכל השומעין אומרים שגמלך טוב הוא יגמלך סלה.
(8) Four [categories of people] are required to give thanks [with Birchat haGomel]: A sick person who was healed, a prisoner who was released, someone who went to sea upon reaching dry land, and a traveler upon reaching a settlement. All of these must give thanks in front of ten Jewish men, two of whom must be scholars as it says "Let them exalt Him also in the assembly of the people, and praise Him in the seat of the elders." And this is [the formula for] how he gives thanks: "Blessed are You, O God, King of the Universe who does good to the undeserving and has done me only good" and everyone answers "May He who as done you good grant you only good forever."
הרב יואל בן-נון, ראש ישיבת הקיבוץ הדתי בעין צורים
ראשי הרבנים לארץ ישראל ביום קום המדינה, הרב הרצוג והרב עוזיאל, ואיתם רבנים חשובים, התקינו ליום העצמאות את מזמור ק"ז, אכן ראוי המזמור ליום זה ביותר. זהו מזמור נבואי אשר חובר מראש ("יאמרו גאולי ה'"), לגאולת קיבוץ הגלויות שבימינו, שיום העצמאות הוא הביטוי העיקרי שלה. ממזמור זה לומדת הגמרא (ברכות נד, ע"ב) מקור לארבעה שצריכים להודות לה' על ישועתם - יורדי הים, הולכי המדברות, מי שהיה חולה ונתרפא ומי שהיה חבוש בבית האסורים ויצא. ואין זה מקור כדרך האסמכתות, כי המעיין במזמור יראה שהלכה זו כתובה בו ומפורשת - "ויצעקו אל ה' בצר להם, ממצוקותיהם יצילם. יודו לה' חסרו ונפלאותיו לבני אדם". הלכה זו אשר תופסת בכל המקרים השייכים לארבעת הסוגים, ולדעת קצת מהראשונים גם במקרים נוספים (שו"ע, או"ח סימן ריט) - בין אם הם בא"י, ובדרך אליה, או בחו"ל, ובדרכים לחו"ל - יוצרת לעיתים תחושה של פרטיות כעניין ההודאה - כל תחוייב עומד לבדו עם ניסו לפני ה'. אם נשוב למקור נלמד יסוד חשוב, אין ההודאה הפרטית אלא תולדה של ההודאה הכללית בגאולתה של האומה.
The Psalm that United the Continental Congress: A Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams September 16th, 1774 Having a Leisure Moment, while the Congress is assembling, I gladly embrace it to write you a Line. When the Congress first met, Mr. Cushing made a Motion, that it should be opened with Prayer. It was opposed by Mr. Jay of N. York and Mr. Rutledge of South Carolina, because we were so divided in religious Sentiments, some Episcopalians, some Quakers, some Aanabaptists, some Presbyterians and some Congregationalists, so that We could not join in the same Act of Worship. Mr. S. Adams arose and said he was no Bigot, and could hear a Prayer from a Gentleman of Piety and Virtue, who was at the same Time a Friend to his Country. He was a Stranger in Phyladelphia, but had heard that Mr. Duche (Dushay they pronounce it) deserved that Character…Mr. Randolph our President, waited on Mr. Duche, and received for Answer that if his Health would permit, he certainly would. Accordingly next Morning he…read several Prayers, in the established Form; and then read the Collect for the seventh day of September, which was the Thirty fifth Psalm. You must remember this was the next Morning after we heard the horrible Rumour, of the Cannonade of Boston. I never saw a greater Effect upon an Audience. It seemed as if Heaven had ordained that Psalm to be read on that Morning… I must beg you to read that Psalm. …It will amuse your Friends to read this Letter and the 35th Psalm to them… I long to see my dear Family. God bless, preserve and prosper it. Adieu. John Adams __________
(א) לְדָוִ֨ד ׀ רִיבָ֣ה ה' אֶת־יְרִיבַ֑י לְ֝חַ֗ם אֶת־לֹֽחֲמָֽי׃ (ב) הַחֲזֵ֣ק מָגֵ֣ן וְצִנָּ֑ה וְ֝ק֗וּמָה בְּעֶזְרָתִֽי׃ (ג) וְהָ֘רֵ֤ק חֲנִ֣ית וּ֭סְגֹר לִקְרַ֣את רֹדְפָ֑י אֱמֹ֥ר לְ֝נַפְשִׁ֗י יְֽשֻׁעָתֵ֥ךְ אָֽנִי׃ (ד) יֵבֹ֣שׁוּ וְיִכָּלְמוּ֮ מְבַקְשֵׁ֪י נַ֫פְשִׁ֥י יִסֹּ֣גוּ אָח֣וֹר וְיַחְפְּר֑וּ חֹ֝שְׁבֵ֗י רָעָתִֽי׃ (ה) יִֽהְי֗וּ כְּמֹ֥ץ לִפְנֵי־ר֑וּחַ וּמַלְאַ֖ךְ ה' דּוֹחֶֽה׃ (ו) יְֽהִי־דַרְכָּ֗ם חֹ֥שֶׁךְ וַחֲלַקְלַקּ֑וֹת וּמַלְאַ֥ךְ ה' רֹדְפָֽם׃ (ז) כִּֽי־חִנָּ֣ם טָֽמְנוּ־לִ֭י שַׁ֣חַת רִשְׁתָּ֑ם חִ֝נָּ֗ם חָפְר֥וּ לְנַפְשִֽׁי׃ (ח) תְּבוֹאֵ֣הוּ שׁוֹאָה֮ לֹֽא־יֵ֫דָ֥ע וְרִשְׁתּ֣וֹ אֲשֶׁר־טָמַ֣ן תִּלְכְּד֑וֹ בְּ֝שׁוֹאָ֗ה יִפָּל־בָּֽהּ׃ (ט) וְ֭נַפְשִׁי תָּגִ֣יל בַּה' תָּ֝שִׂישׂ בִּישׁוּעָתֽוֹ׃ (י) כָּ֥ל עַצְמוֹתַ֨י ׀ תֹּאמַרְנָה֮ ה' מִ֥י כָ֫מ֥וֹךָ מַצִּ֣יל עָ֭נִי מֵחָזָ֣ק מִמֶּ֑נּוּ וְעָנִ֥י וְ֝אֶבְי֗וֹן מִגֹּזְלֽוֹ׃ (יא) יְ֭קוּמוּן עֵדֵ֣י חָמָ֑ס אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־יָ֝דַ֗עְתִּי יִשְׁאָלֽוּנִי׃ (יב) יְשַׁלְּמ֣וּנִי רָ֭עָה תַּ֥חַת טוֹבָ֗ה שְׁכ֣וֹל לְנַפְשִֽׁי׃ (יג) וַאֲנִ֤י ׀ בַּחֲלוֹתָ֡ם לְב֬וּשִׁי שָׂ֗ק עִנֵּ֣יתִי בַצּ֣וֹם נַפְשִׁ֑י וּ֝תְפִלָּתִ֗י עַל־חֵיקִ֥י תָשֽׁוּב׃ (יד) כְּרֵֽעַ־כְּאָ֣ח לִ֭י הִתְהַלָּ֑כְתִּי כַּאֲבֶל־אֵ֝֗ם קֹדֵ֥ר שַׁחֽוֹתִי׃ (טו) וּבְצַלְעִי֮ שָׂמְח֪וּ וְֽנֶאֱ֫סָ֥פוּ נֶאֶסְפ֬וּ עָלַ֣י נֵ֭כִים וְלֹ֣א יָדַ֑עְתִּי קָֽרְע֥וּ וְלֹא־דָֽמּוּ׃ (טז) בְּ֭חַנְפֵי לַעֲגֵ֣י מָע֑וֹג חָרֹ֖ק עָלַ֣י שִׁנֵּֽימוֹ׃ (יז) אדושם כַּמָּ֪ה תִּ֫רְאֶ֥ה הָשִׁ֣יבָה נַ֭פְשִׁי מִשֹּׁאֵיהֶ֑ם מִ֝כְּפִירִ֗ים יְחִידָתִֽי׃ (יח) א֭וֹדְךָ בְּקָהָ֣ל רָ֑ב בְּעַ֖ם עָצ֣וּם אֲהַֽלְלֶֽךָּ׃ (יט) אַֽל־יִשְׂמְחוּ־לִ֣י אֹיְבַ֣י שֶׁ֑קֶר שֹׂנְאַ֥י חִ֝נָּ֗ם יִקְרְצוּ־עָֽיִן׃ (כ) כִּ֤י לֹ֥א שָׁל֗וֹם יְדַ֫בֵּ֥רוּ וְעַ֥ל רִגְעֵי־אֶ֑רֶץ דִּבְרֵ֥י מִ֝רְמוֹת יַחֲשֹׁבֽוּן׃ (כא) וַיַּרְחִ֥יבוּ עָלַ֗י פִּ֫יהֶ֥ם אָ֭מְרוּ הֶאָ֣ח ׀ הֶאָ֑ח רָאֲתָ֥ה עֵינֵֽינוּ׃ (כב) רָאִ֣יתָה ה' אַֽל־תֶּחֱרַ֑שׁ אדושם אֲל־תִּרְחַ֥ק מִמֶּֽנִּי׃ (כג) הָעִ֣ירָה וְ֭הָקִיצָה לְמִשְׁפָּטִ֑י אֱלֹקַ֖י וַֽאדושם לְרִיבִֽי׃ (כד) שָׁפְטֵ֣נִי כְ֭צִדְקְךָ ה' אֱלֹקָ֗י וְאַל־יִשְׂמְחוּ־לִֽי׃ (כה) אַל־יֹאמְר֣וּ בְ֭לִבָּם הֶאָ֣ח נַפְשֵׁ֑נוּ אַל־יֹ֝אמְר֗וּ בִּֽלַּעֲנֽוּהוּ׃ (כו) יֵ֘בֹ֤שׁוּ וְיַחְפְּר֨וּ ׀ יַחְדָּו֮ שְׂמֵחֵ֪י רָעָ֫תִ֥י יִֽלְבְּשׁוּ־בֹ֥שֶׁת וּכְלִמָּ֑ה הַֽמַּגְדִּילִ֥ים עָלָֽי׃ (כז) יָרֹ֣נּוּ וְיִשְׂמְחוּ֮ חֲפֵצֵ֪י צִ֫דְקִ֥י וְיֹאמְר֣וּ תָ֭מִיד יִגְדַּ֣ל ה' הֶ֝חָפֵ֗ץ שְׁל֣וֹם עַבְדּֽוֹ׃ (כח) וּ֭לְשׁוֹנִי תֶּהְגֶּ֣ה צִדְקֶ֑ךָ כָּל־הַ֝יּוֹם תְּהִלָּתֶֽךָ׃
(1) Of David. O LORD, strive with my adversaries, give battle to my foes, (2) take up shield and buckler, and come to my defense; (3) ready the spear and javelin against my pursuers; tell me, “I am your deliverance.” (4) Let those who seek my life be frustrated and put to shame; let those who plan to harm me fall back in disgrace. (5) Let them be as chaff in the wind, the LORD’s angel driving them on. (6) Let their path be dark and slippery, with the LORD’s angel in pursuit. (7) For without cause they hid a net to trap me; without cause they dug a pit for me. (8) Let disaster overtake them unawares; let the net they hid catch them; let them fall into it when disaster [strikes]. (9) Then shall I exult in the LORD, rejoice in His deliverance. (10) All my bones shall say, “LORD, who is like You? You save the poor from one stronger than he, the poor and needy from his despoiler.” (11) Malicious witnesses appear who question me about things I do not know. (12) They repay me evil for good, [seeking] my bereavement. (13) Yet, when they were ill, my dress was sackcloth, I kept a fast— may what I prayed for happen to me! (14) I walked about as though it were my friend or my brother; I was bowed with gloom, like one mourning for his mother. (15) But when I stumble, they gleefully gather; wretches gather against me, I know not why; they tear at me without end. (16) With impious, mocking grimace they gnash their teeth at me. (17) O Lord, how long will You look on? Rescue me from their attacks, my precious life, from the lions, (18) that I may praise You in a great congregation, acclaim You in a mighty throng. (19) Let not my treacherous enemies rejoice over me, or those who hate me without reason wink their eyes. (20) For they do not offer amity, but devise fraudulent schemes against harmless folk. (21) They open wide their mouths at me, saying, “Aha, aha, we have seen it!” (22) You have seen it, O LORD; do not hold aloof! O Lord, be not far from me! (23) Wake, rouse Yourself for my cause, for my claim, O my God and my Lord! (24) Take up my cause, O LORD my God, as You are beneficent, and let them not rejoice over me. (25) Let them not think, “Aha, just what we wished!” Let them not say, “We have destroyed him!” (26) May those who rejoice at my misfortune be frustrated and utterly disgraced; may those who vaunt themselves over me be clad in frustration and shame. (27) May those who desire my vindication sing forth joyously; may they always say, “Extolled be the LORD who desires the well-being of His servant,” (28) while my tongue shall recite Your beneficent acts, Your praises all day long.
