Lord of the storm

Psalms for the 5th Day
24 25 26 27 28 29

Psalm 29
Hymn to the Lord of the storm

Pay tribute to Yahweh, you sons of God,

tribute to Yahweh of glory and power,

tribute to Yaheweh of the glory of His name,

worship Yahweh in His sacred court.

The voice of Yahweh over the waters!

Yahweh over the multitudinous waters!

The voice of Yahweh in power!

The voice of Yahweh in splendour!

The voice of Yahweh shatters the cedars,

Yahweh shatters the cedars of Lebanon,

making Lebanon leap like a calf,

Sirion like a young wild bull.

The voice of Yahweh sharpens lightning shafts!

The voice of Yahweh sets the wilderness shaking.

Yahweh shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

The voice of Yahweh sets the terebinths shuddering,

stripping the forests bare.

The God of glory thunders.

In His palace everything cries, ‘Glory!’

Yahweh sat enthroned for the Flood,

Yahweh sits enthroned as a king for ever.

Yahweh gives strength to His people,

Yahweh blesses His people with peace.

This psalm is one I love for its majesty and might. The Jerusalem Bible translation of the psalms is rhythmical, and this is an example of one of the best and tightest rhythms, almost rappable, although it doesn't have end rhymes as hip-hop poetry does. This psalm is very special to me, even as poetry, and so I am going to post the original Hebrew, for those who might like to read it.

הָבוּ לַיהוָה, בְּנֵי אֵלִים; הָבוּ לַיהוָה, כָּבוֹד וָעֹז

הָבוּ לַיהוָה, כְּבוֹד שְׁמוֹ; הִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לַיהוָה, בְּהַדְרַת-קֹדֶשׁ

קוֹל יְהוָה, עַל-הַמָּיִם

אֵל-הַכָּבוֹד הִרְעִים; יְהוָה, עַל-מַיִם רַבִּים

קוֹל-יְהוָה בַּכֹּחַ; קוֹל יְהוָה, בֶּהָדָר

קוֹל יְהוָה, שֹׁבֵר אֲרָזִים; וַיְשַׁבֵּר יְהוָה, אֶת-אַרְזֵי הַלְּבָנוֹן

וַיַּרְקִידֵם כְּמוֹ-עֵגֶל; לְבָנוֹן וְשִׂרְיֹן, כְּמוֹ בֶן-רְאֵמִים

קוֹל-יְהוָה חֹצֵב; לַהֲבוֹת אֵשׁ

קוֹל יְהוָה, יָחִיל מִדְבָּ; יָחִיל יְהוָה, מִדְבַּר קָדֵשׁ

קוֹל יְהוָה, יְחוֹלֵל אַיָּלוֹת--ַיֶּחֱשֹׂף יְעָרוֹת

וּבְהֵיכָלוֹ-- כֻּלּוֹ, אֹמֵר כָּבוֹד

יְהוָה, לַמַּבּוּל יָשָׁב; וַיֵּשֶׁב יְהוָה, מֶלֶךְ לְעוֹלָם

יְהוָה--עֹז, לְעַמּוֹ יִתֵּן; יְהוָה, יְבָרֵךְ אֶת-עַמּוֹ בַשָּׁלוֹם

Havú l’Adonáy, b’ney Elím

Havú l’Adonáy kavód va’óz

Havú l’Adonáy k’vod sh’mó

Hishtachavú l’Adonáy b’hadrát kódesh

Kol Adonáy al ha-máyim

Él ha-kavód hir’ím

Adonáy al máyim rabbím

Kol Adonáy bakóach

Kol Adonáy behadár

Kol Adonáy shovér arazím

Vay’shabér Adonáy et ar’zéy ha-Levanón

Vayar’kidém k’mo égel

Levanón v’Siryón k’mo ven re’emím

Kol Adonáy chotsév lahavót eysh

Kol Adonáy yachíl midbár

Yachíl Adonáy midbár Kadésh

Kol Adonáy y’cholél ayalót

Vayechesóf ye’arót

Uv’heykaló kulló omér kavód

Adonáy lammabbúl yasháv

Vayéshev Adonáy mèlech l’olám

Adonáy oz l’ammó yitén

Adonáy y’varéch et ammó bashalóm