פשר תהילים (4Q171)
The Commentary on Psalms — Pesher Psalms in Hebrew — is one of the richest of the sectarian pesharim from Qumran. Four fragments from Cave 4 preserve a sustained commentary on Psalm 37, together with shorter sections on Psalms 45 and 60. In the Qumran method, each verse of scripture is quoted, then decoded: the words of the ancient psalmist are read as prophecy addressed to the sect's own time.
The scroll names its central figures in code: the Teacher of Righteousness, the priest who founded and led the sect; the Wicked Priest, the Jerusalem high priest who persecuted him; and the Man of the Lie, the community's internal opponent. These are the three figures who stand at the origin of the movement — one faithful, one corrupt from without, one a betrayer from within.
Psalm 37 is the natural text for this pesher. The psalm is a meditation on trust in the face of the wicked's prosperity: fret not because of evildoers, for they will wither like grass. For the Qumran community, living in the wilderness under pressure from Jerusalem, the psalm's vindication of the righteous and doom of the wicked spoke directly to their condition.
This is a Good Works Translation by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, translated directly from the Hebrew of 4Q171 (García Martínez & Tigchelaar, Dead Sea Scrolls Study Edition, Brill, 1997). No existing English translation was consulted.
Fragments 1–2, Column I
[The column is fragmentary at the top. The commentary begins on Psalm 37:7–9.]
[Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not over the man who prospers on his way, over the man who carries out evil devices.]
Its interpretation concerns those who turn from wickedness and keep the commandment, who do not [fret and do not forsake] the way of [truth...] [...]
[Refrain from anger and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.]
Its interpretation: all those who return to the Law [...] its interpretation [concerns] the congregation of the poor ones, who accept the appointed time of fasting [and will be saved from all the traps of Belial...] [...]
[For the wicked shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall possess the land.]
Its interpretation: [...] a brief moment [...] and the wicked of Ephraim and Manasseh shall be cut off [...]
Fragments 1–2, Column II
[The commentary continues on Psalm 37:10–20.]
Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there. But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.
Its interpretation concerns the congregation of the poor, who will accept a time of trial and will be saved from all the traps of Belial. Afterwards all who possess [the earth] will delight in and be refreshed by all [...] peace forever.
The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him. But the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming.
Its interpretation: the wicked are the ruthless ones of the covenant who are in the house of Judah, who shall plot to destroy those who observe the Law and who are in the council of the community. God will not abandon them into their hand.
The wicked draw the sword and bend their bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those who walk uprightly. Their sword shall enter their own heart and their bows shall be broken.
Its interpretation concerns the wicked ones of Ephraim and Manasseh, who shall seek to lay their hand on the Priest and on the men of his counsel during the time of testing that will come upon them. God will redeem them from their hand. Afterwards they shall be delivered into the hand of the ruthless Gentiles for judgment.
Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous.
Its interpretation: the many wicked are the ruthless of the covenant [...] the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but God will uphold [the righteous...]
The Lord knows the days of the blameless, and their inheritance will be forever. They shall not be put to shame in evil time; in the days of famine they shall have abundance.
Its interpretation concerns the returnees of the wilderness, who shall live by [... a thousand] generations, and to whom all the glory of Adam belongs, as God swore to them by the hand of Ezekiel the prophet: The priests and the Levites and the sons of Zadok who kept the charge of my sanctuary when the sons of Israel strayed far from me — they shall offer me fat and blood.
The priests are the returnees of Israel who went out of the land of Judah, and [the Levites are those who joined them.] The sons of Zadok are the chosen ones of Israel, those called by the name, who will arise at the end of days.
Fragments 1–2, Column III
[The commentary continues on Psalm 37:21–33.]
The wicked borrows and does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives.
Its interpretation: this is the Wicked [Priest] who watched the Teacher of Righteousness and his council, seeking to kill them [...]
For those blessed by him shall inherit the land, and those cursed by him shall be cut off.
Its interpretation: they are the congregation of the poor, who inherit the entire world. They shall possess the high mountain of [Israel...] and enjoy [his holy] mountain [...]
The Lord directs the steps of a man, and he delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.
[Its interpretation] concerns the Priest, the Teacher of Righteousness, [whom God] established [to build for himself a congregation...] [...]
I have been young, and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging bread. He is always lending generously, and his children become a blessing.
Its interpretation [concerns...] those who keep the Law, [who shall not be abandoned...] who are strengthened and renewed [...]
Turn away from evil and do good; so shall you dwell forever. For the Lord loves justice; he will not forsake his faithful ones. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off. The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever.
Its interpretation: those who keep the Law shall dwell in their allotted place [... and all who forsake it] shall be cut off from the midst of [the earth...]
The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice. The Law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip.
Its interpretation concerns [the Teacher of Righteousness ...who meditates on the Law...] and whose steps [do not slip from the way of truth...]
The wicked watches for the righteous and seeks to put him to death. The Lord will not abandon him to his power or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial.
Its interpretation concerns the Wicked Priest, who [laid in wait for the Teacher of Righteousness and sought to put him to death...] and the Law which he [the Teacher] sent to him [the Wicked Priest]. God will not [abandon him... into the hand of the Wicked Priest. But in the court of his exile...] [...]
Fragments 3–4, Column IV
[Fragmentary. The commentary continues on Psalm 37:34–40, then begins Psalms 45 and 60.]
Wait for the Lord and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off.
Its interpretation: [those who wait for God are the congregation of his chosen, who keep] the commandments in the time of distress. All who do wickedness [shall be cut off...] [...]
I have seen a wicked ruthless man, spreading himself like a green laurel tree. But he passed away, and behold, he was no more; though I sought him, he could not be found.
Its interpretation concerns the Man of the Lie, who [spoke against the Teacher of Righteousness and led many astray with false words, so that they chose worthless things and heeded not] the voice of [the Teacher of Righteousness...] [...]
Mark the blameless man and observe the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace.
Its interpretation concerns the Teacher of Righteousness, about whom God will reveal [to his community the hidden things of the words of his servants the prophets...] [...]
But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed; the future of the wicked shall be cut off. The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; he is their stronghold in the time of trouble. The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.
Its interpretation [concerns the congregation of the poor...] who are saved in the appointed time, from the hand of [the wicked ones of the nations...] [...]
[Fragments 3–4 then contain short sections on Psalm 45 and Psalm 60, preserved only in isolated phrases that are too fragmentary for continuous translation.]
[...] the king [...] his beauty [...] [Psalm 45:...]
[...] its interpretation [...] the Teacher [...] [...]
[...] God has spoken [...] Shechem [...] [Psalm 60:...]
[...] its interpretation concerns [...] [...]
Colophon
Text: Commentary on Psalms (פשר תהילים, 4Q171), Fragments 1–4 (Columns I–IV)
Source Language: Late Second Temple Hebrew (Qumran scribal dialect)
Original Manuscript: Qumran Cave 4, discovered 1952
Source Transcription: García Martínez, F. & Tigchelaar, E.J.C., The Dead Sea Scrolls Study Edition, Brill, 1997
Translation: New Tianmu Anglican Church (Good Works Translation), 2026
Translation Method: Translated directly from the Hebrew transcription. No existing English translation was consulted during drafting. Biblical lemmas (the Psalm verses) are also translated fresh from the Hebrew. Brackets mark text that is clearly lost; heavily damaged portions are noted. The pesher commentary is continuous where the Hebrew permits; fragmentary sections are noted.
Register: Gospel (plain, direct, warm)
Compiled and formatted for the Good Work Library by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026.
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Source Text: פשר תהילים (4Q171)
Hebrew transcription from García Martínez, F. & Tigchelaar, E.J.C., The Dead Sea Scrolls Study Edition, Brill, 1997. Presented here for reference, study, and verification alongside the English translation above.
Fragments 1–2, Column I
[Commentary on Psalm 37:7–9]
]...[אשר לוא ישוב מן הרשעה כי אם שמרו המצוה אשר לוא ]יחרה[ ולוא יעז]בו[ דרך ]האמת...[ 1
]...[פשרו על עדת האביונים אשר יקבלו את מועד התענית ואשר ינצלו מ]כל פחי בליעל...[ 2
]...[פשרו ]...[ ברגע ק]טן[ וכרתו רשעי אפרים ומנשה ]...[ 3
Fragments 1–2, Column II
[Commentary on Psalm 37:10–20]
עוד מעט ואין רשע והתבוננת על מקומו ואיננו 1
ועניים יירשו ארץ והתענגו על רוב שלום 2
פשרו על עדת האביונים אשר יקבלו את מועד העינוי ואשר ינצלו מכל פחי 3
בליעל ואחר כן יתענגו כל ]יורשי[ הארץ והשתעשעו בכל ]...[ שלום לעד 4
רשע זמם לצדיק וחורק עליו שניו 5
אדני ישחק לו כי ראה כי יבוא יומו 6
פשרו הרשעים הם עריצי הברית אשר בבית יהודה אשר יזמו לכלות את שומרי התורה 7
אשר בעצת היחד ואל לא יעזבם בידם 8
חרב פתחו הרשעים ודרכו קשתם להפיל עני ואביון לטבוח ישרי דרך 9
חרבם תבוא בלבם וקשתותם תשברנה 10
פשרו על רשעי אפרים ומנשה אשר יבקשו לשלוח יד בכוהן ובאנשי עצתו בעת הניסיון 11
הבאה עליהם ואל יפדם מידם ואחר כן ינתנו ביד עריצי הגויים למשפט 12
טוב מעט לצדיק מהמון רשעים רבים 13
כי זרועות הרשעים תשברנה ואדני סומך צדיקים 14
פשרו הרבים הרשעים הם עריצי הברית ]...[ זרועות הרשעים תשברנה ואל יסמוך ]הצדיקים[ 15
ידע אדני ימי תמימים ונחלתם לעולם תהיה 16
לא יבושו בעת רעה ובימי רעבון ישבעו 17
פשרו על שבי המדבר אשר יחיו ]... אלף[ תדרות ואשר להם כל כבוד אדם כאשר נשבע להם 18
האל ביד יחזקאל הנביא לאמור הכוהנים והלוים ובני צדוק אשר שמרו את משמרת מקדשי 19
בתעות בני ישראל מעלי המה יקריבו לי חלב ודם 20
הכוהנים הם שבי ישראל היוצאים מארץ יהודה ו]הלוים הם הנלווים עליהם[ 21
ובני צדוק הם בחירי ישראל קריאי השם העומדים לאחרית הימים 22
Fragments 1–2, Column III
[Commentary on Psalm 37:21–33]
לוה רשע ולא ישלם וצדיק חונן ונותן 1
פשרו על ]ה[כוהן הר]שע[ אשר ארב לכוהן הצדק ולאנשי עצתו ויבקש להמיתם 2
]...[ 3
כי מבורכיו יירשו ארץ ומקוללו יכרתו 4
פשרו הם עדת האביונים ]א[שר ינחלו כל העולם כלו ]...[ יתענגו בהר ]ה[קדש ]של[ו ]...[ 5
מאדני מצעדי גבר כוננו ודרכו יחפץ 6
כי יפול לא יוטל כי אדני סומך ידו 7
]פשרו[ ]...[ על הכוהן מורה הצדק ]אשר הכינו לו האל לבנות לו קהל...[ ]...[ 8
נער הייתי גם זקנתי ולא ראיתי צדיק נעזב וזרעו מבקש לחם 9
כל היום חונן ומלוה וזרעו לברכה 10
פשרו ]...[ שומרי התורה ]אשר לא יעזבו...[ ]...[ 11
סור מרע ועשה טוב ושכון לעולם 12
כי אדני אהב משפט ולא יעזוב חסידיו 13
לעולם נשמרו וזרע רשעים נכרת 14
צדיקים יירשו ארץ וישכנו לעד עליה 15
פשרו שומרי התורה ישכנו בחלק מגורלם ]...[ וכל המעזבים אותה יכרתו מקרב ]הארץ[ 16
]...[ 17
פי צדיק יהגה חכמה ולשונו תדבר משפט 18
תורת אלוהיו בלבו לא תמעד אשריו 19
פשרו ]...[ על ]מורה הצדק ...אשר יהגה בתורה...[ ואשר ]אשוריו לא ימעדו מדרך האמת[ 20
]...[ 21
צופה רשע לצדיק ומבקש להמיתו 22
אדני לא יעזבנו בידו ולא ירשיענו בהשפטו 23
פשרו על הכוהן הר]שע[ אשר ]ארב למורה הצדק ובקש להמיתו ...[ 24
ו]ה[תורה אשר שלח אליו ו]בית גלותו... אל לא יעזבנו... ביד הכוהן הרשע...[ 25
Fragments 3–4, Column IV
[Commentary on Psalm 37:34–40; fragments of Psalms 45 and 60]
קוה אל אדני ושמור דרכו וירוממך לרשת ארץ בהכרת רשעים תראה 1
פשרו ]...[ שומרי המצוות בעת הצרה וכל עושי רשעה ]יכרתו...[ 2
]...[ 3
ראיתי רשע עריץ ומתערה כאזרח רענן 4
ויעבור והנה איננו ואבקשהו ולא נמצא 5
פשרו על איש הכזב אשר ]התל ברבים בדברי שוא ובחר בדברי הבל ולא שמע בקול[ 6
]מורה הצדק...[ ]...[ 7
שמר תם וראה ישר כי אחרית לאיש שלום 8
פשרו על מורה הצדק אשר ]יגלה לו האל כל רזי דברי עבדיו הנביאים...[ 9
]...[ 10
ופושעים נשמדו יחדו אחרית רשעים נכרתה 11
ותשועת צדיקים מאדני מעוזם בעת צרה 12
ויעזרם אדני ויפלטם יפלטם מרשעים ויושיעם כי חסו בו 13
פשרו ]...[ על עדת האביונים ]...[ ינצלו במועד מיד ]רשעי הגויים...[ 14
]...[ 15
[Fragments of Psalm 45 — too fragmentary for continuous translation]
]... מלך[ ]... יפיו...[ ]...[
[Fragments of Psalm 60 — too fragmentary for continuous translation]
]... אלוהים דבר[ ]... שכם...[ ]...[
Source Colophon
Script: Late Second Temple Hebrew (Qumran scribal hand)
Source Manuscript: 4Q171 (4QpPsalmsa), Qumran Cave 4 (discovered 1952)
Transcription: García Martínez, F. & Tigchelaar, E.J.C., The Dead Sea Scrolls Study Edition, Brill, 1997
Palaeographic Date: c. 50–70 CE (Herodian period)
Scribe: Good Works Translation Lineage, New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026
The Hebrew text is in the public domain, being over two thousand years old.
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