שָׁפְטֵ֤נִי אֱלֹהִ֨ים וְרִ֘יבָ֤ה רִיבִ֗י מִגֹּ֥וי לֹא־חָסִ֑יד מֵ֤אִישׁ־מִרְמָ֖ה וְעַוְלָ֣ה תְפַלְּטֵֽנִי׃
Judge me, O God, and contend my cause from a nation not faithful; from a man of deceit and injustice deliver me.
| # | Hebrew | Transliteration | Literal Gloss | Morph Tag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | שָׁפְטֵנִי | shofṭeni | “judge me” | Qal imperative 2ms + suff 1cs |
| 2 | אֱלֹהִים | ʾElohim | “God” | N(mp) |
| 3 | וְרִיבָה | ve-rivah | “and contend” | Qal imperative 2ms |
| 4 | רִיבִי | rivi | “my cause” | N(ms) + suff 1cs |
| 5 | מִגֹּוי | mi-goy | “from a nation” | Prep מִן + N(ms) |
| 6 | לֹא | lo | “not” | Negative particle |
| 7 | חָסִיד | ḥasid | “faithful” | Adj(ms) |
| 8 | מֵאִישׁ | me-ʾish | “from a man of” | Prep מִן + N(ms construct) |
| 9 | מִרְמָה | mirmah | “deceit” | N(fs) |
| 10 | וְעַוְלָה | ve-ʿavlah | “and injustice” | Conj וְ + N(fs) |
| 11 | תְפַלְּטֵנִי | tefalleteni | “deliver me” | Piel imperfect 2ms + suff 1cs |
Morphology
- שָׁפְטֵנִי (shofṭeni) – Root: שׁפט (sh-p-ṭ); Root Type: Strong; Binyan: Qal; Form: Imperative 2nd person masculine singular + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “judge me”; Notes: A plea for divine justice.
- אֱלֹהִים (ʾElohim) – Root: אלה (ʾ-l-h); Root Type: I-Guttural (א) (weak); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “God”; Notes: The plural form expresses majesty, referring to the one God.
- וְרִיבָה (ve-rivah) – Root: ריב (r-y-b); Root Type: Hollow (weak); Binyan: Qal; Form: Conjunction וְ + imperative 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “and contend”; Notes: Requests God to take up the psalmist’s legal case.
- רִיבִי (rivi) – Root: ריב (r-y-b); Root Type: Hollow (weak); Form: Noun masculine singular + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “my cause”; Notes: Refers to a legal dispute or plea.
- מִגֹּוי (mi-goy) – Root: גוי (g-w-y); Root Type: Hollow (weak); Form: Preposition מִן + noun masculine singular; Translation: “from a nation”; Notes: Indicates the source of opposition.
- לֹא (lo) – Root: —; Root Type: Particle (Strong); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Negates the following adjective.
- חָסִיד (ḥasid) – Root: חסד (ḥ-s-d); Root Type: Strong; Form: Adjective masculine singular; Translation: “faithful”; Notes: Describes one lacking covenant loyalty.
- מֵאִישׁ (me-ʾish) – Root: אישׁ (ʾ-y-sh); Root Type: I-Guttural (א) (weak); Form: Preposition מִן + noun masculine singular construct (state: construct); Translation: “from a man of”; Notes: Introduces the description of the adversary.
- מִרְמָה (mirmah) – Root: רמה (r-m-h); Root Type: III-He (weak); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “deceit”; Notes: Characterizes the adversary’s nature.
- וְעַוְלָה (ve-ʿavlah) – Root: עול (ʿ-w-l); Root Type: I-Guttural (ע) (weak); Form: Conjunction וְ + noun feminine singular; Translation: “and injustice”; Notes: Adds further description of wrongdoing.
- תְפַלְּטֵנִי (tefalleteni) – Root: פלט (p-l-ṭ); Root Type: Strong; Binyan: Piel; Form: Imperfect 2nd person masculine singular + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “deliver me”; Notes: A request for rescue from danger.