Transliteration English translation

1 Hodu ladoshem ki tov ki le'olam hasdo. 2 Yomar na yisra'el ki le'olam hasdo. 3 Yomru na belt aharon ki le'olam hasdo. 4 Yomru na yir'el adoshem ki le'olam hasdo. 5 Min hametsar karati yah; anani vamerhav yah. 6 Adoshem li lo ira; mah ya'aseh li adam. 7 Adoshem li be'ozrai; va'ani er'eh beson'al.

1 I give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; because his mercy endureth for ever. 2 Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth for ever. 3 Let the House of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever. 4 Let them now that fear the Lord say, that his mercy endureth forever. 5 I called upon the Lord in distress: the Lord answered me and set me in a large place. 6 The Lord is on my side; I Will not fear: what can man do unto me? 7 The Lord taketh my part with them that help me; therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.


Introducing and framing the offerings that follow are plainchant melodies for Psalm 118 devised by N. Janis around motifs found in the Lasso and Palestrina motets. The Hebrew plainchant is sung by Janis and the English by Rosenwald, with harp accompaniment by Rupert. Many of the chanted verses are preceded by fragments of melodies, played on the flute by Bloom, that are familiar musical settings for these verses in contemporary synagogues and temples.



Transliteration English translation Vulgate

14 Ozi vezimrat yah; vayehi li lishu'ah. 15 Kol rinah vishu'ah be'oholei tsadikim; yemin adoshem osah hayil. 16 Yemin adoshem romemah; yemin adoshem osah hayil. 17 Lo amut ki ehyeh; va'asaper ma'asei yah.

14 The LORD is my strength and song; he has become my salvation. 15 The sound of joyful salvation in the tents of the just; the LORD's right hand does deeds of valor. 16 The LORD's right hand is exalted; the LORD's right hand does deeds of valor. 17 I shall not die but live and tell the works of the LORD.

14 Fortitudo mea et laus mea Domi- nus; et factus est mihi in salutem. 15 Vox exultationis et salutis in tabernaculis justorum. 16 Dextera Domini fecit virtutem, dextera Domini exaltavit me; dextera Domini fecit virtutem. 17 Non moriar, sed vivam; et narrabo opera Domini.

17 Ich werde nicht sterben, sondern leben, und des Herren Lob verkündigen. [Schütz' text]


Transliteration English translation Vulgate

18 Yasor yisrani yah; velamavet lo netanani. 19 Pithu li sha'arei tsedek; avo vam odeh yah. 20 Zeh hasha'ar ladoshem; tsadikim yavo'u vo. 21 Odekha ki anitani; vatehi li lishu'ah. 22 Even ma'asu habonim hayetah lerosh pinah. 23 Me'et adoshem hayetah zot; hi niflat be'eineinu. 24 Zeh hayom asah adoshem; nagilah venismehah vo. 25 Ana adoshem hoshi'ah na; ana adoshem hatslihah na.

18 The LORD chastened me severely, but gave me not over to death. 19 Open for me, gates of justice; I will enter and thank the LORD. 20 This is the gate of the LORD where the just shall enter. 21 I will thank you for you answered me, and became my salvation. 22 The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. 23 This is the LORD's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. 24 This is the day the LORD made; let's rejoice and be glad on it. 25 Please LORD save us; please LORD make us prosper.

18 Castigans castigavit me Dominus, et morti non tradidit me. 19 Aperite mihi portas justitiae; ingressus in eas, confitebor Domino. 20 Haec porta Domini, justi intrabunt in eam. 21 Confitebor tibi quoniam exaudisti me, et factus es mihi in salutem. 22 Lapidem quem reprobaverunt aedificantes, hic factus est in caput anguli. 23 A Domino factus est istud, et est mirabile in oculis nostris. 24 Haec est dies quam fecit Dominus; exultemus, et laetemur in ea. 25 O Domine, salvum me fac; o Domine, bene prosperare.

25 O Herr hilf, o Herr, lass wohl gelingen. [Schütz' text]


Transliteration English translation Vulgate

26 Barukh haba beshem adoshem; berakhnukhem mibeit adoshem. 27 El adoshem vaya'er lanu; isru hag ba'avotim ad karnot hamizbeah. 28 Eli atah ve'odeka; elokay va'aromemeka. 29 Hodu ladoshem ki tov; ki le'olam hasdo

26 Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD; we bless you from the house of the LORD. 27 The LORD is God and has given us light; bind the offering with cords to the horns of the altar. 28 You are my God and I will thank you; my God, and I will exalt you. 29 Thank the LORD for he is good; for his kindness is forever.

26 Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini; benediximus de domo Domini. 27 Deus Dominus, et illuxit nobis; constituite diem solmnem in condensis usque ad cornu altaris. 28 Deus meus es tu, et confitebor tibi; Deus meus es tu, et exaltabo te. 29 Confitemini Domino, quoniam bonus, quoniam in saeculum misericordia eius.