1
ומי ישבע להביט תואר תואר מרום רקיע על טוהר. ועצם שמים מרבים הדרו, ולכל צרך הכל ישמע. כלם שונים זה מזה, ולא עשה מהם שיסוף.
And who can be satisfied with beholding form upon form? The height of the firmament in its purity — and the body of the heavens, how great is its splendour! For every need all of it obeys. All of them differ one from another, and he made none of them in vain.
Γαυρίαμα ὕψους, στερέωμα καθαριότητος, εἶδος οὐρανοῦ ἐν ὁράματι δόξης.
The pride of the height, the clear firmament, The beauty of heaven, with his glorious show;
2
שמש מביע בצורתו וחמה, מה נורא מעשי ה'.
The sun, when it appears in its form, pours forth heat: how awesome are the works of the Lord!
Ἥλιος ἐν ὀπτασίᾳ διαγγέλλων ἐν ἐξόδῳ, σκεῦος θαυμαστὸν, ἔργον ὑψίστου.
The sun when it appeareth, declaring at his rising A marvelous instrument, the work of the most High:
3
בהצהירו ירתיח תבל, לפני חרבו מי יתכלכל.
At noon it makes the world boil; before its heat who can endure?
Ἐν μεσημβρίᾳ αὐτοῦ ἀναξηραίνει χώραν, καὶ ἐναντίον καύματος αὐτοῦ τίς ὑποστήσεται;
At noon it parcheth the country, And who can abide the burning heat thereof?
4
כור נפוח מחם מצוק, שולח שמש ידליק הרים. לשאון מאור תגמר נושבת, ומנורה תכוה עין.
A blown furnace heats a casting; the sun's ray sets the mountains ablaze. A tongue of light consumes the inhabited land, and its lamp scorches the eye.
Κάμινον φυσῶν ἐν ἔργοις καύματος, τριπλασίως ἥλιος ἐκκαίων ὄρη· ἀτμίδας πυρώδεις ἐμφυσῶν, καὶ ἐκλάμπων ἀκτίνας ἀμαυροῖ ὀφθαλμούς.
A man blowing a furnace is in works of heat, But the sun burneth the mountains three times more; Breathing out fiery vapors, And sending forth bright beams, it dimmeth the eyes.
5
כי גדול ה' עושהו, ובדבריו ינצח אביריו.
For great is the Lord who made it, and at his word it hastens on its course.
Μέγας Κύριος ὁ ποιήσας αὐτὸν, καὶ ἐν λόγοις αὐτοῦ κατέσπευσε πορείαν.
Great is the Lord that made it; And at his commandment it runneth hastily.
6
וגם ירח ירח עתות שבות, ממשלת קץ ואות עולם.
And the moon too marks the times in their turn, a rule for the season and an eternal sign.
Καὶ ἡ σελήνη ἐν πᾶσιν εἰς καιρὸν αὐτῆς, ἀνάδειξιν χρόνων, καὶ σημεῖον αἰῶνος.
He made the moon also to serve in her season For a declaration of times, and a sign of the world.
7
בם מועד וזמני חוק, וחפץ עשיו בתקופתו.
By it are the festivals and appointed times, and it delights in its course.
Ἀπὸ σελήνης σημεῖον ἑορτῆς, φωστὴρ μειούμενος ἐπὶ συντελείας.
From the moon is the sign of feasts, a light that decreaseth in her perfection.
8
חדש בחדשו הוא מתחדש, מה נורא בהשתנותו. כלי צבא נבלי מרום, מרצף רקיע מזהירתו.
Month by month it renews itself — how awesome in its changing! A vessel of the hosts on high, paving the firmament with its brightness.
Μὴν κατὰ τὸ ὄνομα αὐτῆς ἐστιν, αὐξανομένη θαυμαστῶς ἐν ἀλλοιώσει· σκεῦος παρεμβολῶν ἐν ὕψει, ἐν στερεώματι οὐρανοῦ ἐκλάμπων·
The month is called after her name, increasing wonderfully in her changing, Being an instrument of the armies above, shining in the firmament of heaven;
9
תואר שמים והדר כוכב, ואורו מזהיר במרומי אל.
The beauty of the heavens and the splendour of the stars, its light shining in the heights of God.
κάλλος οὐρανοῦ, δόξα ἄστρων, κόσμος φωτίζων, ἐν ὑψίστοις Κύριος.
The beauty of heaven, the glory of the stars, An ornament giving light in the highest places of the Lord.
10
בדבר אל יעמד חק, ולא ישח באשמרותם.
At the word of God they stand in their order, and they do not grow weary at their watches.
Ἐν λόγοις ἁγίου στήσονται κατὰ κρίμα, καὶ οὐ μὴ ἐκλυθῶσιν ἐν φυλακαῖς αὐτῶν.
At the commandment of the Holy One they will stand in their order, And never faint in their watches.
11
ראה קשת וברך עושיה, כי מאד נאדרה בהוד.
See the rainbow and bless its maker, for it is exceedingly majestic in splendour.
Ἴδε τόξον, καὶ εὐλόγησον τὸν ποιήσαντα αὐτὸ, σφόδρα ὡραῖον ἐν τῷ αὐγάσματι αὐτοῦ.
Look upon the rainbow, and praise him that made it; Very beautiful it is in the brightness thereof.
12
חוק הקיפה בכבודה, ויד אל נטתה בגבה.
It encircles the sky with its glory, and the hand of God has stretched it out in its height.
Ἐγύρωσεν οὐρανὸν ἐν κυκλώσει δόξης, χεῖρες ὑψίστου ἐτάννυσαν αὐτό.
It compasseth the heaven about with a glorious circle, And the hands of the most High have bent it.
13
גבורתו תתוה ברק, ותנצח זיקות במרום.
His might marks out the lightning and makes the flashes shine on high.
Προστάγματι αὐτοῦ κατέσπευσε χιόνα, καὶ ταχύνει ἀστραπὰς κρίματος αὐτοῦ.
By his commandment he maketh the snow to fall apace, And sendeth swiftly the lightnings of his judgment.
14
למען ברא אוצר, ויעף עבים כצפרים.
For his purpose he created a storehouse, and he makes the clouds fly like birds.
Διὰ τοῦτο ἠνεῴχθησαν θησαυροὶ, καὶ ἐξέπτησαν νεφέλαι ὡς πετεινά.
Through this the treasures are opened: And clouds fly forth as fowls.
15
[בכחו יתן לענן עז, להשליך אבני אלגביש].
[By his power he gives the cloud strength to hurl down hailstones.]
Ἐν μεγαλείῳ αὐτοῦ ἴσχυσε νεφέλας, καὶ διεθρύβησαν λίθοι χαλάζης.
By his great power he maketh the clouds firm, And the hailstones are broken small.
16
Καὶ ἐν ὀπτασίαις αὐτοῦ σαλευθήσεται ὄρη, ἐν θελήματι πνεύσεται νότος.
At his sight the mountains are shaken, And at his will the south wind bloweth.
17
קול רעמו יחיל ארצו, זלעפות צפון סופה וסערה. ברשף יניף שלגו, וכארבה ישכון דירתו.
The sound of his thunder makes his earth tremble; the north wind, the hurricane and the storm. Like flames he scatters his snow, and like locusts it settles in its place.
Φωνὴ βροντῆς αὐτοῦ ὠδίνησε γῆν, καὶ καταιγὶς Βορέου καὶ συστροφὴ πνεύματος· ὡς πετεινὰ καθιπτάμενα πάσσει χιόνα, καὶ ὡς ἀκρὶς καταλύουσα ἡ κατάβασις αὐτῆς.
The noise of the thunder maketh the earth to tremble: So doth the northern storm and the whirlwind: As birds flying he scattereth the snow, And the falling down thereof is as the lighting of grasshoppers:
18
תואר לבנה יגהה עינים, וממטרו יהמה לב.
The beauty of its whiteness dazzles the eyes, and the heart marvels at its falling.
Κάλλος λευκότητος αὐτῆς ἐκθαυμάσει ὀφθαλμὸς, καὶ ἐπὶ τοῦ ὑετοῦ αὐτῆς ἐκστήσεται καρδία.
The eye marveleth at the beauty of the whiteness thereof, And the heart is astonished at the raining of it.
19
אד כפור כמלח ישכון, ויציץ כתמר ציצים.
He spreads frost like salt, and it blossoms with flowers like a thorn bush.
Καὶ πάχνην ὡς ἅλα ἐπὶ γῆς χέει, καὶ παγεῖσα γίνεται σκολόπων ἄκρα.
The hoarfrost also as salt he poureth on the earth, And being congealed, it becometh sharp peaks.
20
צינת רוח צפון ישיב, וכרקב יקפיא מקורו. על כל מעמד מים יקרים, וכשריון ילבש מקוה.
The cold north wind he makes return, and freezes its spring like a clod; over every pool of water it spreads, and the pond puts it on like a coat of mail.
Ψυχρὸς ἄνεμος Βορέης πνεύσει, καὶ παγήσεται κρύσταλλος ἀφʼ ὕδατος· ἐπὶ πᾶσαν συναγωγὴν ὕδατος καταλύσει, καὶ ὡς θώρακα ἐνδύσεται τὸ ὕδωρ.
When the cold north wind bloweth, And the water is congealed into ice, It abideth upon every gathering together of water, And clotheth the water as with a breastplate.
21
יבול הרים בחרב ישיק, ונוה צמחים בלהבה.
It scorches the produce of the mountains like drought, and the pasture of plants like a flame.
Καταφάγεται ὄρη, καὶ ἔρημον ἐκκαύσει, καὶ ἀποσβέσει χλόην ὡς πῦρ.
It devoureth the mountains, and burneth the wilderness, And consumeth the grass as fire.
22
מרפא כל – מערף ענן טל, פורע לדשן שרב.
A cure for all is the dripping of cloud and dew, bringing refreshment after the heat.
Ἴασις πάντων κατὰ σπουδὴν ὁμίχλη, δρόσος ἀπαντῶσα ἀπὸ καύσωνος ἱλαρώσει.
A present remedy of all is a mist coming speedily: A dew coming after heat refresheth.
23
מחשבתו משיק רבה, ויט בתהום איים.
By his plan he stills the great deep, and planted islands in the abyss.
Λογισμῷ αὐτοῦ ἐκόπασεν ἄβυσσον, καὶ ἐφύτευσεν αὐτὴν Ἰησοῦς.
By his counsel he appeaseth the deep, And planteth islands therein.
24
יורדי הים יספרו קצהו, לשמע אזנינו נשתומם.
Those who go down to the sea tell of its extent, and we are astonished at what our ears hear.
Οἱ πλέοντες τὴν θάλασσαν διηγοῦνται τὸν κίνδυνον αὐτῆς, καὶ ἀκοαῖς ὠτίῳν ἡμῶν θαυμάζομεν.
They that sail on the sea tell of the danger thereof; And when we hear it with our ears, we marvel thereat.
25
שם פלאות תמהי מעשהו, מין כל חי וגבורות רבה.
There are wonders, marvels among his works, every kind of living thing and mighty creatures.
Καὶ ἐκεῖ τὰ παρὰδοξα καὶ θαυμάσια ἔργα, ποικιλία παντὸς ζώου, κτίσις κητῶν.
For therein be strange and wondrous works, Variety of all kinds of beasts, the race of whales.
26
למענו יצלח מלאך, ובדבריו יפעל רצון.
For his sake the messenger succeeds, and by his word he does his will.
Διʼ αὐτὸν εὐοδία τέλος αὐτοὺ, καὶ ἐν λόγῳ αὐτοῦ σύγκειται πάντα.
By him the end of them hath prosperous success, And by his word all things consist.
27
עוד כאלה לא נוסף, וקץ דבר הוא הכל.
More like these we will not add; the end of the matter is: he is all.
Πολλὰ ἐροῦμεν καὶ οὐ μὴ ἐφικώμεθα, καὶ συντέλεια λόγων τὸ πᾶν ἐστιν αὐτός.
We may speak much, and yet come short; Wherefore in sum, he is all.
28
נגדלה עוד כי לא נחקור, והוא גדול מכל מעשיו.
Let us praise him further, for we cannot fathom him; he is greater than all his works.
Δοξάζοντες ποῦ ἰσχύσωμεν; αὐτὸς γὰρ ὁ μέγας παρὰ πάντα τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ.
How shall we be able to magnify him? For he is great above all his works.
29
נורא ה' מאד מאד, ונפלאות דבריו.
The Lord is exceedingly awesome, and wonderful are his words.
Φοβερὸς Κύριος καὶ σφόδρα μέγας, καὶ θαυμαστὴ ἡ δυναστεία αὐτοῦ.
The Lord is terrible and very great, And marvelous is his power.
30
מגדלי ה' הרימו קול, בכל תוכלו כי יש עוד. מרומים החליפו כח ואל תלאו, כי לא תחקרו.
You who magnify the Lord, lift up your voice with all your power, for there is still more. Exalt him, renew your strength and do not grow weary, for you cannot fathom him.
Δοξάζοντες Κύριον ὑψώσατε καθόσον ἂν δύνησθε, ὑπερέξει γὰρ καὶ ἔτι· καὶ ὑψοῦντες αὐτὸν πληθύνατε ἐν ἰσχύϊ, μὴ κοπιᾶτε, οὐ γὰρ μὴ ἐφίκησθε.
When ye glorify the Lord, exalt him as much as ye can; For even yet will he far exceed: And when ye exalt him, put forth all your strength, And be not weary; for ye can never go far enough.
31
Τίς ἑώρακεν αὐτὸν καὶ ἐκδιηγήσεται; καὶ τίς μεγαλύνει αὐτὸν καθώς ἐστι;
Who hath seen him, that he might tell us? And who can magnify him as he is?
32
רוב נפלאות כאלה, מעט ראיתי ממעשיו.
Many are the wonders like these; I have seen only a few of his works.
Πολλὰ ἀπόκρυφά ἐστι μείζονα τούτων, ὀλίγα γὰρ ἑωράκαμεν τῶν ἔργων αὐτοῦ.
There are yet hidden greater things than these be, For we have seen but a few of his works.
33
את הכל עשה ה', וליראיו נתן חכמה שבח אבות עולם.
The Lord has made everything, and to those who fear him he has given wisdom. In praise of the fathers of old.
Πάντα γὰρ ἐποίησεν ὁ Κύριος, καὶ τοῖς εὐσεβέσιν ἔδωκε σοφίαν. ΠΑΤΕΡΩΝ ὝΜΝΟΣ.
For the Lord hath made all things; And to the godly hath he given wisdom.