Tzamah Nafshi

צמאה נפשי

Visible layers

Ps. 42Ps. 84

Hebrew

צָמְאָה נַפְשִׁי לֵאלֹהִים לְאֵל חָי:
לִבִּי וּבְשָׂרִי יְרַנְּנוּ אֶל אֵל־חָי:
אֵל אֶחָד בְּרָאָנִי, וְאָמַר חַי אָנִי
כִּי לֹא־יִרְאַנִי הָאָדָם וָחָי:
צָמְאָה נַפְשִׁי לֵאלֹהִים לְאֵל חָי, לִבִּי וּבְשָׂרִי יְרַנְּנוּ אֶל אֵל־חָי.

Sephardi

Tzamah nafshi l'Elohim le'El chai:
Libi uvesari yeranenu el El-chai:
Eil echad bera'ani, ve'amar chai ani
Ki lo-yir'ani ha'adam vachai:
Tzamah nafshi l'Elohim le'El chai, libi uvesari yeranenu el El-chai.

English

My soul thirsts for God, the living God. My heart and flesh will sing joyfully to the living God. The One God created me, and said “As I live, No one shall see Me and live.” My soul thirsts for God, the living God My heart and flesh will sing joyfully to the living God.

Hebrew

בָּרָא כֹל בְּחָכְמָה, בְּעֵצָה וּבִמְזִמָּה
מְאֹד נֶעְלָמָה מֵעֵינֵי כָל חָי:
רָם עַל כָּל כְּבוֹדוֹ, כָּל פֶּה יְחַוֶּה הוֹדוֹ
בָּרוּךְ אֲשֶׁר בְּיָדוֹ נֶפֶשׁ כָּל חָי:
צָמְאָה נַפְשִׁי לֵאלֹהִים לְאֵל חָי, לִבִּי וּבְשָׂרִי יְרַנְּנוּ אֶל אֵל־חָי.

Sephardi

Bara chol bechochmah, be'etzah uvemizimah
Me'od ne'lamah me'einei chol chai:
Ram al kol kevodo, kol peh yechaveh hodo
Baruch asher beyado nefesh kol chai:
Tzamah nafshi l'Elohim le'El chai, libi uvesari yeranenu el El-chai.

English

He created all with wisdom, design and deliberation, Deeply hidden though it is from the eyes of all that live. His glory is high above all, every mouth makes known His splendor, Blessed is He in whose hands is the life-force of all that lives. My soul thirsts for God, the living God My heart and flesh will sing joyfully to the living God.

Hebrew

הִבְדִּיל בְּנֵי תָם, חֻקִּים לְהוֹרוֹתָם
אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשֶׂה אוֹתָם הָאָדָם וָחָי:
מִי זֶה יִצְטַדָּק, נִמְשָׁל לְאָבָק דָּק
אֱמֶת, כִּי לֹא־יִצְדַּק לְפָנֶיךָ כָל חָי:
צָמְאָה נַפְשִׁי לֵאלֹהִים לְאֵל חָי, לִבִּי וּבְשָׂרִי יְרַנְּנוּ אֶל אֵל־חָי.

Sephardi

Hivdil benei tam, chukim lehorotam
Asher ya'aseh otam ha'adam vachai:
Mi zeh yitztadak, nimshal le'avak dak
Emet, ki lo-yitzdak lefanecha chol chai:
Tzamah nafshi l'Elohim le'El chai, libi uvesari yeranenu el El-chai.

English

He set apart the quiet one’s offspring, to teach them decrees, Which if one performs them, thereby he shall live. Who can vindicate himself? We are like specks of dust, Truly none can vindicate itself before You, nothing that lives. My soul thirsts for God, the living God My heart and flesh will sing joyfully to the living God.

Hebrew

בַּלֵּב יֵצֶר חָשׁוּב כִּדְמוּת חֲמַת עַכְשׁוּב
וְאֵיכָכָה יָשׁוּב הַבָּשָׂר הֶחָי:
נְסוֹגִים אִם אָבוּ, וּמִדַּרְכָּם שָׁבוּ
טֶרֶם יִשְׁכְּבוּ בֵּית מוֹעֵד לְכָל חָי:
צָמְאָה נַפְשִׁי לֵאלֹהִים לְאֵל חָי, לִבִּי וּבְשָׂרִי יְרַנְּנוּ אֶל אֵל־חָי.

Sephardi

Balev yetzer chashuv kidmut chamat achshuv
Ve'eichachah yashuv habasar hechai:
Nesogim im avu, umidarcham shavu
Terem yishkevu beit mo'ed lechol chai:
Tzamah nafshi l'Elohim le'El chai, libi uvesari yeranenu el El-chai.

English

In the heart, the inclination is like a viper’s poison, How then can we return, and be like flesh that lives? Those who have gone astray, if they wished, could turn from their way, Before they go to their rest in the place destined for all that lives. My soul thirsts for God, the living God My heart and flesh will sing joyfully to the living God.

Hebrew

עַל כָּל אוֹדֶךָ, כָּל פֶּה תְיַחֶדְךָ
פּוֹתֵחַ אֶת־יָדֶךָ וּמַשְׂבִּיעַ לְכָל־חָי:
זְכֹר אַהֲבַת קְדוּמִים, וְהַחֲיֵה נִרְדָּמִים
וְקָרֵב הַיָּמִים אֲשֶׁר בֶּן־יִשַׁי חָי:
צָמְאָה נַפְשִׁי לֵאלֹהִים לְאֵל חָי, לִבִּי וּבְשָׂרִי יְרַנְּנוּ אֶל אֵל־חָי.

Sephardi

Al kol odecha, kol peh teyachedcha
Pote'ach et-yadecha umasbia lechol-chai:
Zechor ahavat kedumim, vehachayeh nirdamim
Vekarev hayamim asher Ben-Yishai chai:
Tzamah nafshi l'Elohim le'El chai, libi uvesari yeranenu el El-chai.

English

For everything, I shall thank You, every mouth shall declare Your Oneness, You who open Your hand and satisfy all that lives. Recall the love of ancient times, and revive those who slumber, Bring near the days when the Messiah shall live. My soul thirsts for God, the living God My heart and flesh will sing joyfully to the living God.

Hebrew

רְאֵה לִגְבֶרֶת אֱמֶת, שִׁפְחָה נוֹאֶמֶת
לֹא כִי, בְנֵךְ הַמֵּת וּבְנִי הֶחָי:
אֶקֹּד עַל אַפִּי, וְאֶפְרֹשׂ לְךָ כַפִּי
עֵת אֶפְתַּח פִּי בְּנִשְׁמַת כָּל חָי:
צָמְאָה נַפְשִׁי לֵאלֹהִים לְאֵל חָי, לִבִּי וּבְשָׂרִי יְרַנְּנוּ אֶל אֵל־חָי.

Sephardi

Re'eh ligveret emet, shifchah no'emet
Lo chi, venech hamet uveni hechai:
Ekod al api, ve'efros lecha chapi
Et eftach pi benishmat kol chai:
Tzamah nafshi l'Elohim le'El chai, libi uvesari yeranenu el El-chai.

English

See who is the true mistress, when the handmaid says, “No, your son is dead while my son lives.” I will bow face down and spread my hands toward you, When I open my mouth to say: “The soul of all that lives.” My soul thirsts for God, the living God My heart and flesh will sing joyfully to the living God.