140:1 חַלְּצֵ֣נִי ֖יְהֹוָה מֵאָדָ֣ם רָ֑ע מֵאִ֖יש חֲמָסִ֣ים תִּנְצְרֵֽנִי׃
Chaletzeni YHWH me'adam ra me'ish chamasim tintzereni.
Deliver me, O YHWH (יהוה), from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man;
140:2 אֲשֶ֤ר חָשְבוּ֣ רָעוֹ֣ת בְּלֵ֑ב כׇּל-֜יוֹ֗ם יָ֘גוּ֥רוּ מִלְחָמוֹֽת׃
Asher chashevu ra'ot belev kol-yom yaguru milchamot.
Who plan evil things in their hearts; They continually gather together for war.
140:3 שָנֲנוּ֣ לְשוֹנָם֘ כְּמוֹ-נָ֥חָ֥ש חֲמַ֥ת עַכְשוּ֑ב תַּ֖חַת שְׂפָתֵ֣ימוֹ סֶֽלָה׃
Shananu leshonam kemo-nachash chamat achshuv tachat sefateimo Selah.
Selah indicates a pause in the text, it is a synonym of Hebrew words that mean forever. Selah is a derivative of the Hebrew root salal (note the s and l), which means to raise voices in praise or make the instruments louder. Selah is an acronym for a phrase in Numbers 14:19 (if available), Please forgive the sins of this people (this option is found mainly in rabbinic tradition).
They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison
[is] under their lips. Selah.
細拉
140:4 שָמְרֵ֤נִי יְהֹוָ֨ה ׀ מִ֘ידֵ֤י רָשָ֗ע מֵאִ֣יש חֲמָסִ֣ים תִּנְצְרֵ֑נִי אֲשֶ֥ר ֜חָשְבוּ֗ לִדְחוֹ֥ת פְּעָמָֽי׃
Joh 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
Shamereni YHWH midei rasha me'ish chamasim tintzereni asher chashevu lidchot pe'amai.
Keep me, O YHWH (יהוה), from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.
140:5 טָמְנוּ֣ גֵאִים֘ ׀ פַּח-לִ֗י וַחֲבָ֥לִ֥ים פָּ֣רְשׂוּ ֖רֶשֶת לְיַ֣ד מַעְגָּ֑ל מֹקְשִ֖ים שָתוּ-לִ֣י סֶֽלָה׃
Tamenu ge'im pach-li vachavalim paresu reshet leyad ma'gal mokeshim shatu-li Selah.
The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins 圖謀 for me. Selah.
細拉
140:6 אָמַ֣רְתִּי ֖לַיְהֹוָה אֵ֥לִי אָ֑תָּה הַ֘אֲזִ֥ינָה ֜יְהֹוָ֗ה קוֹ֣ל תַּחֲנוּנָֽי׃
Amarti lYHWH ELi atah ha'azinah Adonai kol tachanunai.
I said unto YHWH (יהוה), You are my EL (אל): Hear the voice my supplications, O Adonai (יהוה).
140:7 יְהֹוִ֣ה ֖אֲדֹנָי עֹ֥ז יְשוּעָתִ֑י סַכּוֹ֥תָה ֜לְרֹאשִ֗י בְּיוֹ֣ם נָֽשֶק׃
YHWH Adonai oz yeshu'ati sakotah leroshi beyom nashek.
O YHWH (יהוה) Adonai (אדני), the strength of my Salvation, You have covered my head in the day of battle.
140:8 אַל-תִּתֵּ֣ן ֖יְהֹוָה מַאֲוַיֵּ֣י רָשָ֑ע זְמָ֘מוֹ֥ אַל-֜תָּפֵ֗ק יָ֘רוּ֥מוּ סֶֽלָה׃
Al-titen YHWH ma'avayei rasha zemamo al-tafek yarumu Selah.
Grant not, O YHWH (יהוה), the desires of the wicked; Do not further his wicked scheme, Lest they be exalted. Selah.
細拉
140:9 רֹ֥אש מְסִבָּ֑י עֲמַ֖ל שְׂפָתֵ֣ימוֹ יְכַסֵּומוֹ יְכַסֵּֽמוֹ׃
Rosh mesibai amal sefateimo yechasevmo yechasemo.
"As for the head of those who surround me, Let the evil of their lips cover them;
140:10 יִמֹּ֥יטוּ יִמּוֹ֥טוּ עֲלֵיהֶ֗ם גֶּחָ֥לִ֥ים בָּאֵ֥ש יַפִּלֵ֑ם ֜בְּמַהֲמֹרוֹ֗ת בַּל-יָקוּֽמוּ׃
Yimoitu yimotu aleihem gechalim ba'esh yapilem bemahamorot bal-yakumu.
Let burning coals fall upon them; Let them be cast into the fire, Into deep pits, that they rise not up again.
140:11 אִ֥יש לָשוֹן֘ בַּל-יִכּוֹ֪ן בָּ֥אָ֥רֶץ אִיש-חָמָ֥ס רָ֑ע ֜יְצוּדֶ֗נּוּ לְמַדְחֵפֹֽת׃
Ish lashon bal-yikon ba'aretz ish-chamas ra yetzudennu lemadchefot.
Let not a slanderer be established in the earth; Let evil hunt the violent man to overthrow him."
140:12 יָדַ֗עְתִּ יָדַ֗עְתִּי כִּי-יַעֲשֶׂ֣ה ֖יְהֹוָה דִּ֥ין עָנִ֑י ֜מִשְפַּ֗ט אֶבְיֹנִֽים׃
Yada'ti yada'ti ki-ya'aseh YHWH din ani mishpat evyonim.
I know that YHWH (יהוה) will maintain The cause of the afflicted, And justice for the poor.
140:13 אַ֣ךְ ֖צַדִּיקִים יוֹדוּ֣ לִשְמֶ֑ךָ יֵשְבוּ֥ ֜יְשָרִ֗ים אֶת-פָּנֶֽיךָ׃
Ach tzadikim yodu lishmecha yeshevu yesharim et-paneicha.
Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your Name; The upright shall dwell in Your Presence.
Sefer 1 1,
2,
3,
4,
5,
6,
7,
8,
9,
10,
11,
12,
13,
14,
15,
16,
17,
18,
19,
20,
21,
22,
23,
24,
25,
26,
27,
28,
29,
30,
31,
32,
33,
34,
35,
36,
37,
38,
39,
40,
41,
Sefer 2
42,
43,
44,
45,
46,
47,
48,
49,
50,
51,
52,
53,
54,
55,
56,
57,
58,
59,
60,
61,
62,
63,
64,
65,
66,
67,
68,
69,
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71,
72,
Sefer 3 73,
74,
75,
76,
77,
78,
79,
80,
81,
82,
83,
84,
85,
86,
87,
88,
89,
Sefer 4 90,
91,
92,
93,
94,
95,
96,
97,
98,
99,
100,
101 ,
102,
103,
104,
105,
106,
Sefer 5
107,
108,
109,
110,
111,
112,
113,
114,
115,
116,
117,
118,
119,
120,
121,
122,
123,
124,
125,
126,
127,
128,
129,
130,
131,
132,
133,
134,
135,
136,
137,
138,
139,
140,
141,
142,
143,
144,
145,
146,
147,
148,
149,
150
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The thought and language of this group are similar.
Deliver (140:1; 142:6; 143:9).
Keep (140:4; 141:3, 9).
Wicked (140:4, 8; 141:4, 10).
Snare (140:5; 142:3).
Gins (140:5; 141:9).
Supplications (140:6; 143:1).
Pit (140:10; 143:7).
Affliction (140:2; 143:12).
Righteous (140:13; 141:5; 142:7).
Cried (141:1, 1; 142:1, 5, 6).
Hear (140:6; 141:6; 143:1, 7, 8).
Overwhelmed (142:3; 143:4).
"Selah" appears 74 times in the Tenakh and it is 71 times frequent in the Tehillim (Psalms) and three times in Havakuk, but its precise meaning has been a subject of much debate and discussion among Rabbinical scholars throughout the ages. There isn't a single, universally agreed-upon definition, but here are some prominent Rabbinical traditions and understandings of the word "Selah":
Common Interpretations:
- Pause for Reflection: The most common understanding is that "Selah" signifies a pause. This pause may be for several reasons:
- Musical Interlude: It could indicate a musical interlude or instrumental break during the recitation or singing of the psalm.
- Silent Meditation: It could be an instruction to pause and reflect silently on the preceding verses, allowing the meaning to sink in more deeply.
- Elevation or Ascent: Some Rabbinical authorities interpret "Selah" as a word meaning "to elevate" or "to ascend." This could refer to:
- Raising the Voice: During the recitation, it might indicate that the voice should be raised or emphasized in the following verses.
- Spiritual Ascent: Symbolically, it could suggest an ascent of the soul, a call to elevate one's thoughts and emotions to a higher spiritual plane.
- Truth or Certainty: Another interpretation connects "Selah" with the idea of truth, permanence, or certainty. It could be akin to saying "Amen" or "Indeed," affirming the validity and importance of the preceding words.
- End of a Section: Some suggest that "Selah" marks the end of a section or stanza within the psalm, signaling a transition to a new theme or idea.