Hebrew
אַחַת שָׁאַלְתִּי מֵאֵת יְיָ, אוֹתָהּ
אֲבַקֵּשׁ, שִׁבְתִּי בְּבֵית יְיָ<sup>1</sup> כָּל יְמֵי
חַיַּי, לַחֲזוֹת בְּנֹעַם יְיָ וּלְבַקֵּר
בְּהֵיכָלוֹ: כִּי יִצְפְּנֵנִי בְּסֻכּוֹ בְּיוֹם
רָעָה, יַסְתִּרֵנִי בְּסֵתֶר אָהֳלוֹ, בְּצוּר
יְרוֹמְמֵנִי: וְעַתָּה יָרוּם רֹאשִׁי עַל
אֹיְבַי סְבִיבוֹתַי, וְאֶזְבְּחָה בְאָהֳלוֹ
זִבְחֵי תְרוּעָה, אָשִׁירָה וַאֲזַמְּרָה
לַייָ: שְׁמַע יְיָ קוֹלִי אֶקְרָא, וְחָנֵּנִי
וַעֲנֵנִי: לְךָ אָמַר לִבִּי בַּקְּשׁוּ פָנָי,
אֶת פָּנֶיךָ יְיָ אֲבַקֵּשׁ: אַל תַּסְתֵּר
פָּנֶיךָ מִמֶּנִּי, אַל תַּט בְּאַף עַבְדֶּךָ,
עֶזְרָתִי הָיִיתָ, אַל תִּטְּשֵׁנִי וְאַל
תַּעַזְבֵנִי אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׁעִי: כִּי אָבִי
וְאִמִּי עֲזָבוּנִי, וַייָ יַאַסְפֵנִי: הוֹרֵנִי
יְיָ דַּרְכֶּךָ, וּנְחֵנִי בְּאֹרַח מִישׁוֹר,
לְמַעַן שׁוֹרְרָי: אַל תִּתְּנֵנִי בְּנֶפֶשׁ
צָרָי, כִּי קָמוּ בִי עֵדֵי שֶׁקֶר וִיפֵחַ
חָמָס: לוּלֵא הֶאֱמַנְתִּי לִרְאוֹת
בְּטוּב יְיָ בְּאֶרֶץ חַיִּים: קַוֵּה אֶל
יְיָ, חֲזַק וְיַאֲמֵץ לִבֶּךָ, וְקַוֵּה אֶל יְיָ:
Sephardi
Achat sha'alti me'et Adonai, otah
avakkesh, shivti beveit Adonai<sup>1</sup> kol yemei
chayai, lachazot beno'am Adonai u-levakker
beheichalo: ki yitzpeneni besukko beyom
ra'ah, yastireni beseter ohalo, betzur
yeromemeni: ve-atah yarum roshi al
oyvai sevivotai, ve-ezbechah be'ohalo
zivchei teru'ah, ashirah va-azammerah
la-adonai: shema Adonai koli ekra, ve-chonneni
va-aneni: lecha amar libi bakkeshu fanai,
et panecha Adonai avakkesh: al taster
panecha mimeni, al tat be'af avdecha,
ezrati hayita, al tittesheni ve-al
ta'azveni Elohei yish'i: ki avi
ve-immi azavuni, va-Adonai ya'asfeni: horeni
Adonai darkecha, u-necheni be'orach mishor,
lema'an shorerai: al titteneni b'nefesh
tzarai, ki kamu vi edei sheker vife'ach
chamas: lulei he'emanti lir'ot
betuv Adonai be'eretz chayim: kavveh el
Adonai, chazak veya'ametz libecha, vekavveh el Adonai:
English
<b>I have asked the Lord for</b> only <b>one thing,</b> it is something that I <b>seek:</b> to be free from any worries so I can <b>sit in the house of the Lord</b><sup>1</sup> and serve Him <b>all the days of my life; to see the pleasantness of the Lord and to learn</b> Torah <b>in His sanctuary.</b> God <b>will hide me in His shelter on a day of danger,</b> when enemies want to attack me. <b>He will hide me in the hidden</b> places <b>in His tent. He will lift me onto a rock</b> so my enemies cannot reach me. <b>And then my head will be proudly raised above my enemies around me,</b> for I will have defeated them, <b>and I will offer sacrifices</b> in the Sanctuary, God's holy tent, with <b>joyous song. I will sing and play music to the Lord</b> for saving me. <b>Lord, hear my voice</b> when I <b>call; be gracious to me and answer me.</b> God, <b>my heart</b> speaks <b>for You</b> and says, <b>"Seek My presence and look for Me."</b> And yes, <b>Lord, I</b> do <b>seek Your presence. Do not hide Your presence from me. Do not throw Your servant away in anger.</b> You <b>have been my rescuer</b> from my enemies; now help my soul find You. <b>God of my salvation, do not abandon me or forsake me.</b> Although <b>my father and mother have forsaken me</b> when they sent me out on my own, <b>the Lord will take me in</b> and never abandon me. <b>Lord, teach me Your way and lead me in the straight</b> and righteous path of Torah, <b>because my enemies who watch me</b> will celebrate if I sin. God, <b>do not give me over to</b> my enemies; do not let me be controlled by the <b>will of my oppressors, because false witnesses have come up</b> to testify <b>against me, and they speak evil.</b> My enemies would have crushed me <b>if I would not have believed that I would see the Lord's goodness</b> in the World to Come, which is called <b>"the land of life."</b> <b>Have hope in the Lord; be strong, let your heart be brave, and have hope in the Lord.</b>