א׳
אָ֭הַבְתִּי כִּֽי־יִשְׁמַ֥ע ׀ יְהוָ֑ה אֶת־ק֝וֹלִ֗י תַּחֲנוּנָֽי׃
1
I love the LORD
for He hears my voice, my pleas;
1
I love that the LORD should hear my voice and my supplications.
אָהַבְתִּי כִּי יִשְׁמַע ה׳ אֶת קוֹלִי. כָּךְ אָמַר דָּוִד לְאַחַר שֶׁנִּפְטַר שָׁאוּל וְהוּא מָלַךְ, שׁוּבִי נַפְשִׁי לִמְנוּחָיְכִי כִּי ה׳ גָּמַל עָלָיְכִי, חֶסֶד, וְלָךְ קוֹנִי אֲנִי מִתְאַוֶּה, כִּי חִלַּצְתָּ נַפְשִׁי מִמָּוֶת:
I wished that the Lord would hear my voice So did David say after Saul’s demise, when he became king, “Return, my soul, to your resting place, for the Lord has bestowed kindness upon you.” And to You, my Master, I pine, for You extricated my soul from death.
אָהַבְתִּי כִּי יִשְׁמַע ה׳. תָּאַבְתִּי שֶׁיִּשְׁמַע ה׳ אֶת קוֹלִי (ס״א אינו):
I wished that the Lord would hear Heb. אהבתי, I wished (תאבתי) that God would hear my voice.
ב׳
כִּֽי־הִטָּ֣ה אָזְנ֣וֹ לִ֑י וּבְיָמַ֥י אֶקְרָֽא׃
2
for He turns His ear to me
whenever I call.
2
Because He hath inclined His ear unto me, Therefore will I call upon Him all my days.
וּבְיָמַי אֶקְרָא. בִּימֵי צָרָתִי אֶקְרָאֶנּוּ, וּבִימֵי גְּאֻלָּתִי אֲשַׁבְּחֶנּוּ (תנחומא, יתרו טז):
and I shall call out in my days In the days of my distress I shall call Him, and in the days of my redemption I shall praise Him.
ג׳
אֲפָפ֤וּנִי ׀ חֶבְלֵי־מָ֗וֶת וּמְצָרֵ֣י שְׁא֣וֹל מְצָא֑וּנִי צָרָ֖ה וְיָג֣וֹן אֶמְצָֽא׃
3
The bonds of death encompassed me;
the torments of Sheol overtook me.
I came upon trouble and sorrow
3
The cords of death compassed me, And the straits of the nether-world got hold upon me; I found trouble and sorrow.
חֶבְלֵי מָוֶת. חֲבוּרוֹת אוֹיְבֵינוּ הַמְּבַקְשִׁים לַהֲמִיתֵנִי:
bands of death Heb. חבלי, bands of enemies who sought to kill me.
חֶבְלֵי מָוֶת. ״חֶבְלֵי שְׁאוֹל״ (תהלים יח:ו) – כֻּלָּם לְשׁוֹן חֲבוּרוֹת הֵם, כְּמוֹ ״חֶבֶל נְבִיאִים״ (שמואל א י:ה):
[The expressions] חבלי מות, חבלי שאוֹל, are all an expression of bands, like (I Sam. 10:5): “a band of (חבל) prophets.”
וּמְצָרֵי שְׁאוֹל. גְּבוּלֵי שְׁאוֹל:
ד׳
וּבְשֵֽׁם־יְהוָ֥ה אֶקְרָ֑א אָנָּ֥ה יְ֝הוָ֗ה מַלְּטָ֥ה נַפְשִֽׁי׃
4
and I invoked the name of the LORD,
“O LORD, save my life!”
4
But I called upon the name of the LORD: 'I beseech thee, O LORD, deliver my soul.'
ה׳
חַנּ֣וּן יְהֹוָ֣ה וְצַדִּ֑יק וֵ֖אלֹהֵ֣ינוּ מְרַחֵֽם׃
5
The LORD is gracious and beneficent;
our God is compassionate.
5
Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; Yea, our God is compassionate.
ו׳
שֹׁמֵ֣ר פְּתָאיִ֣ם יְהֹוָ֑ה דַּ֝לּוֹתִ֗י וְלִ֣י יְהוֹשִֽׁיעַ׃
6
The LORD protects the simple;
I was brought low and He saved me.
6
The LORD preserveth the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me.
ז׳
שׁוּבִ֣י נַ֭פְשִׁי לִמְנוּחָ֑יְכִי כִּֽי־יְ֝הוָ֗ה גָּמַ֥ל עָלָֽיְכִי׃
7
Be at rest, once again, O my soul,
for the LORD has been good to you.
7
Return, O my soul, unto Thy rest; For the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee.
ח׳
כִּ֤י חִלַּ֥צְתָּ נַפְשִׁ֗י מִ֫מָּ֥וֶת אֶת־עֵינִ֥י מִן־דִּמְעָ֑ה אֶת־רַגְלִ֥י מִדֶּֽחִי׃
8
You have delivered me from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling.
8
For thou hast delivered my soul from death, Mine eyes from tears, And my feet from stumbling.
ט׳
אֶ֭תְהַלֵּךְ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה בְּ֝אַרְצ֗וֹת הַֽחַיִּֽים׃
9
I shall walk before the LORD
in the lands of the living.
9
I shall walk before the LORD In the lands of the living.
בְּאַרְצוֹת הַחַיִּים. אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁגֵּרְשׁוּנִי אוֹיְבַי וְרוֹדְפַי מִמֶּנָּה בִּימֵי שָׁאוּל, וְעַל כָּרְחָם חָזַרְתִּי:
in the lands of the living The land of Israel, for my enemies and my pursuers chased me out of it in the days of Saul, and against their will, I returned.
י׳
הֶ֭אֱמַנְתִּי כִּ֣י אֲדַבֵּ֑ר אֲ֝נִ֗י עָנִ֥יתִי מְאֹֽד׃
10
I trust [in the LORD];
out of great suffering I spoke
10
I trusted even when I spoke: 'I am greatly afflicted.'
הֶאֱמַנְתִּי כִּי אֲדַבֵּר. הֶאֱמַנְתִּי אֶת דִּבְרֵי צִיבָא שֶׁאָמַר עַל מְפִיבֹשֶׁת, כְּשֶׁאֲדַבֵּר ״הִנֵּה לְךָ כֹּל אֲשֶׁר לִמְפִיבֹשֶׁת״ (שמואל ב טז:ד). אָז אֲנִי עָנִיתִי מְאֹד. דִּבַּרְתִּי קָשֶׁה וְנַעֲנֵיתִי לְךָ:
I believed so that I spoke I believed the words of Ziba which he spoke about Mephibosheth, so that I should say (II Sam. 16:4), “Behold, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.” Then I humbled myself exceedingly. I had spoken harshly, and I submitted myself to you [Mephibosheth].
י"א
אֲ֭נִי אָמַ֣רְתִּי בְחָפְזִ֑י כָּֽל־הָאָדָ֥ם כֹּזֵֽב׃
11
and said rashly,
“All men are false.”
11
I said in my haste: 'All men are liars.'
אֲנִי אָמַרְתִּי בְחָפְזִי. לָנוּס מִפְּנֵי אַבְשָׁלוֹם (שמואל ב טו:יד):
I said in my haste to flee from before Absalom.
כָּל הָאָדָם כֹּזֵב. וּבוֹגֵד בְּאוֹהֵב בּוֹ, כִּי רָאִיתִי אֶת בְּנִי בּוֹגֵד בִּי וּמְבַקֵּשׁ אֶת נַפְשִׁי, וְכָל יִשְׂרָאֵל גּוֹמְלִים לִי רָעָה תַּחַת טוֹבָה. לְפִיכָךְ הֶאֱמַנְתִּי לְצִיבָא וְאָמַרְתִּי: אַף מְפִיבֹשֶׁת כּוֹזֵב וּבוֹגֵד בִּי (שמואל ב טז:ד). כָּל לְשׁוֹן כָּזָב אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא לְשׁוֹן חֶסְרוֹן מִבְטָח שֶׁבָּטְחוּ עָלָיו, פילנ״צא בְּלַעַ״ז, כְּמוֹ (ישעיה נח:יא) ״אֲשֶׁר לֹא יְכַזְּבוּ מֵימָיו״. וְיֵשׁ פּוֹתְרִין אוֹתוֹ אֲנִי אָמַרְתִּי בְחָפְזִי בְּסֶלַע הַמַּחְלְקוֹת, שֶׁהָיוּ שָׁאוּל וַאֲנָשָׁיו עוֹטְרִין עָלַי וְאֶל אֲנָשַׁי לְתָפְשֵׂנִי, וְשָׁם נֶאֱמַר ״וַיְהִי דָוִד נֶחְפָּז לָלֶכֶת״ (שמואל א כג:כו). כָּל אָדָם כֹּזֵב, אַף שְׁמוּאֵל הַנָּבִיא שֶׁהוּא נֶאֱמָן לְנָבִיא אַף הוּא כּוֹזֵב, שֶׁמְּשָׁחַנִי לְמֶלֶךְ (מצאתי):
“All men are liars” Heb. כזב, [meaning that one] betrays his friend, for I saw my son betray me and seek my life, and [I saw] all Israel repay me with evil for good; therefore, I believed Ziba and said that Mephibosheth also lies and betrays me. Every expression of כָּזָב is purely an expression of lack of trust that they trusted in him; falenze in Old French, betrayal, deceit, like (Isa. 58:11): “whose water does not fail (יכזבו).” Others interpret it: I said in my haste at the Rock of the Divisions, when Saul and his men were encircling me and my men, to seize me, and there it says (I Sam. 23:26): “and David was hastening to get away.” “All men are liars” Even the prophet Samuel, who is faithful as a prophet, even he is a deceiver, for he anointed me king.
י"ב
מָֽה־אָשִׁ֥יב לַיהוָ֑ה כָּֽל־תַּגְמוּל֥וֹהִי עָלָֽי׃
12
How can I repay the LORD
for all His bounties to me?
12
How can I repay unto the LORD All His bountiful dealings toward me?
י"ג
כּוֹס־יְשׁוּע֥וֹת אֶשָּׂ֑א וּבְשֵׁ֖ם יְהוָ֣ה אֶקְרָֽא׃
13
I raise the cup of deliverance
and invoke the name of the LORD.
13
I will lift up the cup of salvation, And call upon the name of the LORD.
כּוֹס יְשׁוּעוֹת אֶשָּׂא. אָבִיא הַנְּסָכִים עַל הַתּוֹדוֹת שֶׁנָּדַרְתִּי, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר לְךָ אֶזְבַּח זֶבַח תּוֹדָה, וְעַל אוֹתוֹ הַכּוֹס בְּשִׁמְךָ אֶקְרָא עַל הַיְשׁוּעָה זוֹ. שֶׁכֵּן אֵין הַלֵּוִי אוֹמֵר שִׁירָה אֶלָּא עַל הַיַּיִן:
I shall lift up a cup of salvations I shall bring the libations for the thanksgiving offerings that I vowed, as he says, “To You I shall slaughter a thanksgiving offering,” and on that cup I shall call out about this salvation, for the Levite does not recite a song unless over the wine [libations].
י"ד
נְ֭דָרַי לַיהוָ֣ה אֲשַׁלֵּ֑ם נֶגְדָה־נָּ֝֗א לְכָל־עַמּֽוֹ׃
14
I will pay my vows to the LORD
in the presence of all His people.
14
My vows will I pay unto the LORD, Yea, in the presence of all His people.
נֶגְדָה נָּא לְכָל עַמּוֹ. נֶגֶד כָּל עַמּוֹ:
in the presence of all His people Heb. נגדה, in the presence of (נגד) all His people.
ט"ו
יָ֭קָר בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה הַ֝מָּ֗וְתָה לַחֲסִידָֽיו׃
15
The death of His faithful ones
is grievous in the LORD’s sight.
15
Precious in the sight of the LORD Is the death of His saints.
יָקָר בְּעֵינֵי ה׳. הֶרְאַנִי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, שֶׁדָּבָר קָשֶׁה וְכָבֵד הוּא בְּעֵינָיו לְהָמִית אֶת חֲסִידָיו:
Difficult in the eyes of the Lord The Holy One, blessed be He, showed me that it is a difficult thing and heavy in His eyes to kill His pious ones.
הַמָּוְתָה. הַמָּוֶת, כְּמוֹ ״הַבַּיְתָה״ (בראשית לט:יא), ״הַחוּצָה״ (בראשית לט:יב):
the death המותה, the death (המות), [the final “hey” being superfluous] like (Gen. 39:11, 12): “into the house (הביתה)...outside (החוצה).”
ט"ז
אָֽנָּ֣ה יְהוָה֮ כִּֽי־אֲנִ֪י עַ֫בְדֶּ֥ךָ אֲֽנִי־עַ֭בְדְּךָ בֶּן־אֲמָתֶ֑ךָ פִּ֝תַּ֗חְתָּ לְמוֹסֵרָֽי׃
16
O LORD,
I am Your servant,
Your servant, the son of Your maidservant;
You have undone the cords that bound me.
16
I beseech Thee, O LORD, for I am Thy servant; I am Thy servant, the son of Thy handmaid; Thou hast loosed my bands.
עַבְדְּךָ בֶּן אֲמָתֶךָ. אֵינוֹ דּוֹמֶה תַּרְבּוּת עֶבֶד הַלָּקוּחַ מִן הַשּׁוּק לִילוּד מִשְׁפָּחָה שֶׁבַּבַּיִת:
Your servant the son of Your maidservant There is no comparison between the training of a slave who was bought in the market and one who was born to a maidservant in the house.
פִּתַּחְתָּ לְמוֹסֵרָי. הִתַּרְתָּ מֵעַל צַוָּארִי מוֹסֵרוֹת וּמוֹטוֹת:
You loosed my thongs You untied from my neck the bars and the thongs.
י"ז
לְֽךָ־אֶ֭זְבַּח זֶ֣בַח תּוֹדָ֑ה וּבְשֵׁ֖ם יְהוָ֣ה אֶקְרָֽא׃
17
I will sacrifice a thank offering to You
and invoke the name of the LORD.
17
I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, And will call upon the name of the LORD.
זֶבַח תּוֹדָה. זִבְחֵי הוֹדָיָה עַל הַנִּסִּים שֶׁעָשִׂיתָ לִי:
thanksgiving Sacrifices of thanksgiving for the miracles that You performed for me.
י"ח
נְ֭דָרַי לַיהוָ֣ה אֲשַׁלֵּ֑ם נֶגְדָה־נָּ֝֗א לְכָל־עַמּֽוֹ׃
18
I will pay my vows to the LORD
in the presence of all His people,
18
I will pay my vows unto the LORD, Yea, in the presence of all His people;
נְדָרַי. קָרְבָּנוֹת שֶׁנָּדַרְתִּי:
my vows The sacrifices that I vowed.
י"ט
בְּחַצְר֤וֹת ׀ בֵּ֤ית יְהוָ֗ה בְּֽת֘וֹכֵ֤כִי יְֽרוּשָׁלִָ֗ם הַֽלְלוּ־יָֽהּ׃
19
in the courts of the house of the LORD,
in the midst of Jerusalem.
Hallelujah.
19
In the courts of the LORD’S house, In the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Hallelujah.
בְּתוֹכֵכִי. כְּמוֹ בְּתוֹכֵךְ:
in your midst Heb. בתוככי, like בְּתוֹכֵךְ.