Lord, remember David (Psalm 132)

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Psalm 132 is a part of the Songs of Ascents, a collection of psalms sung by pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem. This psalm has two main sections: verses 1-10, which are a petition for God to remember David's devotion and promises concerning the ark of the covenant; and verses 11-18, which recount God's promises to David regarding the establishment of his dynasty and the blessings associated with Zion, God's chosen dwelling place.

Psalm 132 emphasizes the mutual commitment between God and David. On the one hand, it reminds (זָכַר [zakar]) God of David's zeal to establish a dwelling place (מָעוֹן [ma'on]) for the ark, symbolizing divine presence (מִשְׁכָּן [mishkan]). On the other hand, it reiterates God's covenant promises to David about the perpetuity of his dynasty, contingent upon obedience.

This psalm underscores the importance of covenant fidelity, both divine and human. The reference to Zion as God's chosen dwelling place (מְנוּחָה [menuhah]) ties the Davidic covenant to a specific location, reinforcing Jerusalem's centrality in Israelite worship and messianic expectations.

Additionally, the psalm speaks of divine faithfulness to promises (אֱמֶת [emet]), showing that God's commitment to David and Zion is unshakable. The "horn of David" mentioned in verse 17 symbolizes strength and the messianic hope that a future king from David's line will restore God's people.

Overall, Psalm 132 presents a powerful reminder of the enduring nature of God's promises, the conditional nature of human obedience, and the ultimate hope in God's chosen king and kingdom centered in Zion.

Vocabulary

Word Meaning
שִׁיר chanson
הַ l'article défini
מַעֲלָה montée, marche, escalier
זכר se souvenir
יְהוָה Seigneur
לְ à
דָּוִד David
אֵת l'accusatif
כֹּל chaque
ענה répondre; humilier, opprimer; violer; inquiet; chanter, hurler

Biblical text

132:1שִׁ֗יר הַֽמַּ֫עֲל֥וֹת זְכוֹר־יְהוָ֥ה לְדָוִ֑ד אֵ֝ת כָּל־עֻנּוֹתֽוֹ׃2אֲשֶׁ֣ר נִ֭שְׁבַּע לַיהוָ֑ה נָ֝דַ֗ר לַאֲבִ֥יר יַעֲקֹֽב׃3אִם־אָ֭בֹא בְּאֹ֣הֶל בֵּיתִ֑י אִם־אֶ֝עֱלֶ֗ה עַל־עֶ֥רֶשׂ יְצוּעָֽי׃4אִם־אֶתֵּ֣ן שְׁנַ֣ת לְעֵינָ֑י לְֽעַפְעַפַּ֥י תְּנוּמָֽה׃5עַד־אֶמְצָ֣א מָ֭קוֹם לַיהוָ֑ה מִ֝שְׁכָּנ֗וֹת לַאֲבִ֥יר יַעֲקֹֽב׃6הִנֵּֽה־שְׁמַֽעֲנ֥וּהָ בְאֶפְרָ֑תָה מְ֝צָאנ֗וּהָ בִּשְׂדֵי־יָֽעַר׃7נָב֥וֹאָה לְמִשְׁכְּנוֹתָ֑יו נִ֝שְׁתַּחֲוֶ֗ה לַהֲדֹ֥ם רַגְלָֽיו׃8קוּמָ֣ה יְ֭הוָה לִמְנוּחָתֶ֑ךָ אַ֝תָּ֗ה וַאֲר֥וֹן עֻזֶּֽךָ׃9כֹּהֲנֶ֥יךָ יִלְבְּשׁוּ־צֶ֑דֶק וַחֲסִידֶ֥יךָ יְרַנֵּֽנוּ׃10בַּ֭עֲבוּר דָּוִ֣ד עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ אַל־תָּ֝שֵׁ֗ב פְּנֵ֣י מְשִׁיחֶֽךָ׃11נִשְׁבַּֽע־יְהוָ֨ה ׀ לְדָוִ֡ד אֱמֶת֮ לֹֽא־יָשׁ֪וּב מִ֫מֶּ֥נָּה מִפְּרִ֥י בִטְנְךָ֑ אָ֝שִׁ֗ית לְכִסֵּא־לָֽךְ׃12אִֽם־יִשְׁמְר֬וּ בָנֶ֨יךָ ׀ בְּרִיתִי֮ וְעֵדֹתִ֥י ז֗וֹ אֲלַ֫מְּדֵ֥ם גַּם־בְּנֵיהֶ֥ם עֲדֵי־עַ֑ד יֵ֝שְׁב֗וּ לְכִסֵּא־לָֽךְ׃13כִּֽי־בָחַ֣ר יְהוָ֣ה בְּצִיּ֑וֹן אִ֝וָּ֗הּ לְמוֹשָׁ֥ב לֽוֹ׃14זֹאת־מְנוּחָתִ֥י עֲדֵי־עַ֑ד פֹּֽה־אֵ֝שֵׁ֗ב כִּ֣י אִוִּתִֽיהָ׃15צֵ֭ידָהּ בָּרֵ֣ךְ אֲבָרֵ֑ךְ אֶ֝בְיוֹנֶ֗יהָ אַשְׂבִּ֥יעַֽ לָֽחֶם׃16וְֽ֭כֹהֲנֶיהָ אַלְבִּ֣ישׁ יֶ֑שַׁע וַ֝חֲסִידֶ֗יהָ רַנֵּ֥ן יְרַנֵּֽנוּ׃17שָׁ֤ם אַצְמִ֣יחַ קֶ֣רֶן לְדָוִ֑ד עָרַ֥כְתִּי נֵ֝֗ר לִמְשִׁיחִֽי׃18א֭וֹיְבָיו אַלְבִּ֣ישׁ בֹּ֑שֶׁת וְ֝עָלָ֗יו יָצִ֥יץ נִזְרֽוֹ׃