כִּ֤י זָרִ֨ים קָ֤מוּ עָלַ֗י וְֽ֭עָרִיצִים בִּקְשׁ֣וּ נַפְשִׁ֑י לֹ֤א שָׂ֨מוּ אֱלֹהִ֖ים לְנֶגְדָּ֣ם סֶֽלָה׃
For strangers have risen against me, and ruthless ones have sought my life; they have not set God before them. Sela.
| # | Hebrew | Transliteration | Literal Gloss | Morph Tag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | כִּי | ki | “for” | Conjunction |
| 2 | זָרִים | zarim | “strangers” | N(mp) |
| 3 | קָמוּ | qamu | “they have risen” | Qal perfect 3mp |
| 4 | עָלַי | ʿalay | “against me” | Prep עַל + suff 1cs |
| 5 | וְעָרִיצִים | ve-ʿaritsim | “and ruthless ones” | Conj וְ + N(mp) |
| 6 | בִּקְשׁוּ | biqshu | “they have sought” | Piel perfect 3mp |
| 7 | נַפְשִׁי | nafshi | “my life” | N(fs) + suff 1cs |
| 8 | לֹא | lo | “not” | Negative particle |
| 9 | שָׂמוּ | samu | “they have set” | Qal perfect 3mp |
| 10 | אֱלֹהִים | ʾElohim | “God” | N(mp) |
| 11 | לְנֶגְדָּם | le-negdam | “before them” | Prep לְ + N(ms) + suff 3mp |
| 12 | סֶלָה | selah | “Selah” | Liturgical term |
Morphology
- כִּי (ki) – Root: —; Root Type: Particle (Strong); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for”; Notes: Introduces the reason for the plea.
- זָרִים (zarim) – Root: זר (z-r); Root Type: Strong; Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “strangers”; Notes: Foreign or hostile individuals.
- קָמוּ (qamu) – Root: קום (q-w-m); Root Type: Hollow; Binyan: Qal; Form: Perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they have risen”; Notes: Indicates hostile action initiated against the speaker.
- עָלַי (ʿalay) – Root: על (ʿ-l); Root Type: Particle (Strong); Form: Preposition עַל + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “against me”; Notes: Specifies the direction of hostility.
- וְעָרִיצִים (ve-ʿaritsim) – Root: ערץ (ʿ-r-ts); Root Type: II-Guttural; Form: Conjunction וְ + noun masculine plural; Translation: “and ruthless ones”; Notes: Describes violent and oppressive enemies.
- בִּקְשׁוּ (biqshu) – Root: בקשׁ (b-q-š); Root Type: Strong; Binyan: Piel; Form: Perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they have sought”; Notes: Indicates intentional pursuit.
- נַפְשִׁי (nafshi) – Root: נפשׁ (n-p-š); Root Type: Strong; Form: Noun feminine singular + suffix 1st person common singular; Translation: “my life”; Notes: Refers to the speaker’s life or soul.
- לֹא (lo) – Root: —; Root Type: Particle (Strong); Form: Negative particle; Translation: “not”; Notes: Negates the following verb.
- שָׂמוּ (samu) – Root: שׂים (ś-y-m); Root Type: Hollow; Binyan: Qal; Form: Perfect 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “they have set”; Notes: Refers to placing or considering.
- אֱלֹהִים (ʾElohim) – Root: אלה (ʾ-l-h); Root Type: I-Guttural (א); Form: Noun masculine plural (used as singular for God); Translation: “God”; Notes: The object whom they disregard.
- לְנֶגְדָּם (le-negdam) – Root: נגד (n-g-d); Root Type: Strong; Form: Preposition לְ + noun masculine singular + suffix 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “before them”; Notes: Indicates presence or consideration.
- סֶלָה (selah) – Root: —; Root Type: Particle (Strong); Form: Liturgical term; Translation: “Selah”; Notes: Likely a musical or reflective pause.