א׳
תְּפִלָּ֗ה לְדָ֫וִ֥ד שִׁמְעָ֤ה יְהוָ֨ה ׀ צֶ֗דֶק הַקְשִׁ֥יבָה רִנָּתִ֗י הַאֲזִ֥ינָה תְפִלָּתִ֑י בְּ֝לֹ֗א שִׂפְתֵ֥י מִרְמָֽה׃
1
A prayer of David.
Hear, O LORD, what is just;
heed my cry, give ear to my prayer,
uttered without guile.
1
A Prayer of David. Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry; Give ear unto my prayer from lips without deceit.
ב׳
מִ֭לְּפָנֶיךָ מִשְׁפָּטִ֣י יֵצֵ֑א עֵ֝ינֶ֗יךָ תֶּחֱזֶ֥ינָה מֵישָׁרִֽים׃
2
My vindication will come from You;
Your eyes will behold what is right.
2
Let my judgment come forth from Thy presence; Let Thine eyes behold equity.
מִלְּפָנֶיךָ מִשְׁפָּטִי יֵצֵא. עֲבֵירוֹת שֶׁבְּיָדִי, שֶׁאֲנִי רָאוּי לְהִשָּׁפֵט עֲלֵיהֶם בְּיִסּוּרִין, יֵצְאוּ מִלְּפָנֶיךָ, וְלֹא יָבוֹאוּ לְפָנֶיךָ בַּדִּין:
May my judgment come forth from before You May the sins for which I deserve to be judged with torments, go forth from before You and not come before You in judgment.
עֵינֶיךָ תֶּחֱזֶינָה מֵישָׁרִים. אִם יֵשׁ בְּיָדִי זְכֻיּוֹת, בָּהֶן תֶּחֱזֶינָה בְּמֵישָׁרִים עֵינֶיךָ:
may Your eyes see [my] upright acts If I have merits, may Your eyes see the upright acts.
ג׳
בָּ֘חַ֤נְתָּ לִבִּ֨י ׀ פָּ֘קַ֤דְתָּ לַּ֗יְלָה צְרַפְתַּ֥נִי בַל־תִּמְצָ֑א זַ֝מֹּתִ֗י בַּל־יַעֲבָר־פִּֽי׃
3
You have visited me at night, probed my mind,
You have tested me and found nothing amiss;
I determined that my mouth should not transgress.
3
Thou hast tried my heart, Thou hast visited it in the night; Thou hast tested me, and Thou findest not That I had a thought which should not pass my mouth.
בָּחַנְתָּ לִבִּי וְגוֹ׳. יָדַעְתִּי כִּי יֵשׁ עֲבֵירָה בְּיָדִי, וְאִם מִשְׁפַּט עָנְשִׁי יָבֹא לְפָנֶיךָ לֹא אֶצְדַּק בַּדִּין, אֲשֶׁר כְּבָר בָּחַנְתָּ לִבִּי:
You have tried my heart, etc. I know that I am guilty of a transgression, and, if the judgment of its punishment comes before You, I will not be declared innocent in the judgment, for You have already tried my heart.
פָּקַדְתָּ לַּיְלָה. לְעֵת הָעֶרֶב בַּעֲוֹן בַּת שֶׁבַע, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וַיְהִי לְעֵת הָעֶרֶב וַיָּקָם דָּוִד וְגוֹמֵר״ (שמואל ב יא:ב):
You have visited [upon me] at night at eventide for the iniquity of Bathsheba, concerning which it is stated (in II Sam. 11:2) “And it came to pass at the time of evening, that David arose, etc.”
צְרַפְתַּנִי. נִסִּיתַנִי:
You have refined me You have tested me.
בַּל תִּמְצָא. לֹא מָצָאתָ בִּי חֶפְצְךָ:
and not found You have not found in me Your desire.
זַמֹּתִי בַּל יַעֲבָר פִּי. אִם תַּעֲלֶה עוֹד בְּמַחֲשַׁבְתִּי לִיבָּחֵן לְפָנֶיךָ, בַּל יַעֲבָר פִּי לוֹמַר עוֹד בְּחָנֵנִי וְנַסֵּנִי, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַרְתִּי כְּבָר כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״בְּחָנֵנִי ה׳ וְנַסֵּנִי״ (תהלים כו:ב). שֶׁאָמַר דָּוִד לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: מִפְּנֵי מָה אוֹמְרִים אֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם וְאֵין אוֹמְרִים אֱלֹהֵי דָוִד? אָמַר לוֹ: אֲנִי בְּחַנְתִּיו בְּעֶשֶׂר נִסְיוֹנוֹת וְנִמְצָא שָׁלֵם. אָמַר בְּחָנֵנִי וְנַסֵּנִי, כִּדְאִיתָא בְּמַסֶּכֶת שַׁבָּת (שבת קנג:):
If I think, let it not pass my mouth If it enters my thoughts again to be tried before You, let it not pass my mouth to say again, “Try me, O Lord, and test me,” as I have already said, as is written (26:2) “Try me, O Lord, and test me,” for David asked the Holy One, blessed be He, “Why do they say, ‘the God of Abraham,’ yet they do not say, ‘the God of David’?” He replied, “I tested him with ten tests, and he was found perfect.” He [David] said, “Try me and test me,” as appears in tractate Shabbath (?).
ד׳
לִפְעֻלּ֣וֹת אָ֭דָם בִּדְבַ֣ר שְׂפָתֶ֑יךָ אֲנִ֥י שָׁ֝מַ֗רְתִּי אָרְח֥וֹת פָּרִֽיץ׃
4
As for man’s dealings,
in accord with the command of Your lips,
I have kept in view the fate of the lawless.
4
As for the doings of men, by the word of Thy lips I have kept me from the ways of the violent.
לִפְעֻלּוֹת אָדָם בִּדְבַר שְׂפָתֶיךָ וְגוֹ׳, תָּמוֹךְ אֲשׁוּרַי וְגוֹ׳. מֵאָז וָהָלְאָה לְכָל פְּעֻלַּת אָדָם שֶׁבָּאתִי לִפְעֹל, אֲנִי שָׁמַרְתִּי בִּשְׁבִיל דְּבַר שְׂפָתֶיךָ אָרְחוֹת פָּרִיץ לִנְטוֹת מֵהֶם, שֶׁלֹּא אֵלֵךְ בָּהֶם, אַךְ לִתְמֹךְ אֲשׁוּרַי תָּמִיד בְּמַעְגְּלוֹתֶיךָ, לֹא נָמוֹטוּ מֵהֶם פְּעָמַי. פֵּרוּשׁ אַחֵר: לִפְעֻלּוֹת אָדָם בִּדְבַר שְׂפָתֶיךָ וְגוֹ׳, לְפִי שֶׁצָּרִיךְ אָדָם לְהִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בִּפְעֻלּוֹתָיו לְפִי יִשְׁרַת דְּבַר שְׂפָתֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר אָמַרְתָּ ״לֹא תִנְאָף״ (שמות כ:יג), אֲנִי שָׁמַרְתִּי אָרְחוֹת פָּרִיץ אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁעָשִׂיתִי שֶׁלֹּא כָּרָאוּי בְּטוֹבָתְךָ:
As for man’s deeds, because of the word of Your lips, etc. To support my feet, etc. From then on, for every deed of man that I came to perform, I watched myself because of the word of Your lips; [I watched] the ways of the profligate, to turn away from them, so that I should not walk in them, but [would] support my feet constantly in Your paths, that my feet should not falter from them. Another explanation: For the deeds of man according to the word of Your lips, etc. Since a person must use his deeds according to the uprightness (decree - early editions) of the word of Your lips, as You said, “You shall not commit adultery,” I kept myself from the ways of the profligate although I behaved unseemly according to the good You have done.
ה׳
תָּמֹ֣ךְ אֲ֭שֻׁרַי בְּמַעְגְּלוֹתֶ֑יךָ בַּל־נָמ֥וֹטּוּ פְעָמָֽי׃
5
My feet have held to Your paths;
my legs have not given way.
5
My steps have held fast to Thy paths, My feet have not slipped.
תָּמוֹךְ אֲשֻׁרַי וְגוֹ׳. מֵאָז וָהָלְאָה לְכָל פְּעֻלַּת אָדָם שֶׁבָּאתִי לִפְעוֹל אֶת הַמֵּישָׁרִים תֶּחֱזֶינָה עֵינֶיךָ, וְהַמִּשְׁפָּט מִלְּפָנֶיךָ יֵצֵא:
To support my feet From then on, for every deed of man that I did improperly, may Your eyes see the upright deeds, but my judgment shall go forth from before you.
ו׳
אֲנִֽי־קְרָאתִ֣יךָ כִֽי־תַעֲנֵ֣נִי אֵ֑ל הַֽט־אָזְנְךָ֥ לִ֝֗י שְׁמַ֣ע אִמְרָתִֽי׃
6
I call on You;
You will answer me, God;
turn Your ear to me,
hear what I say.
6
As for me, I call upon Thee, for Thou wilt answer me, O God; Incline Thine ear unto me, hear my speech.
כִּי תַעֲנֵנִי אֵל. כִּי בָּטוּחַ אֲנִי שֶׁתַּעֲנֵנִי:
because You shall answer me, O God Because I am confident that You will answer me.
ז׳
הַפְלֵ֣ה חֲ֭סָדֶיךָ מוֹשִׁ֣יעַ חוֹסִ֑ים מִ֝מִּתְקוֹמְמִ֗ים בִּֽימִינֶֽךָ׃
7
Display Your faithfulness in wondrous deeds,
You who deliver with Your right hand
those who seek refuge from assailants.
7
Make passing great Thy mercies, O Thou that savest by Thy right hand From assailants them that take refuge in Thee.
הַפְלֵה חֲסָדֶיךָ. דֵּשִׁיבְרָ״א בְּלַעַ״ז, כְּמוֹ ״וְנִפְלִינוּ אֲנִי וְעַמְּךָ״ (שמות לג:טז). מוֹשִׁיעַ בִּימִינְךָ אֶת הַחוֹסִים בְּךָ מִמִּתְקוֹמְמִים עֲלֵיהֶם. הַפְלֵה חֲסָדֶיךָ מוֹשִׁיעַ חוֹסִים הֲרֵי זֶה מִקְרָא מְסֹרָס: הַפְלֵה חֲסָדֶיךָ לְהוֹשִׁיעַ בִּימִינְךָ אֶת הַחוֹסִים וְגוֹ׳:
Distinguish Your kind acts Heb. הפלה, esevre in Old French, to separate, as (in Exod. 33:16): “and I and my people will be distinguished (ונפלינו).” With Your right hand You save those who take refuge in You from those who rise up against them. (This does not appear in manuscripts or in most early editions.) [The literal meaning is:] Distinguish Your kind acts, You Who save those who take refuge, etc. This is a transposed verse, meaning: Distinguish Your kind acts to save with Your right hand those who take refuge, etc.
ח׳
שָׁ֭מְרֵנִי כְּאִישׁ֣וֹן בַּת־עָ֑יִן בְּצֵ֥ל כְּ֝נָפֶ֗יךָ תַּסְתִּירֵֽנִי׃
8
Guard me like the apple of Your eye;
hide me in the shadow of Your wings
8
Keep me as the apple of the eye, Hide me in the shadow of Thy wings,
כְּאִישׁוֹן. הוּא הַשָּׁחוֹר שֶׁבָּעַיִן, שֶׁהָאוֹר תָּלוּי בּוֹ. וְעַל שֵׁם שַׁחֲרוּרִיתוֹ הוּא קָרוּי אִישׁוֹן, לְשׁוֹן חֹשֶׁךְ (משלי כ:כ). וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא הֵכִין לוֹ שׁוֹמֵר, אֶת רִיסֵי הָעַיִן הַמְכַסִּין אוֹתוֹ תָּמִיד:
as the apple Heb. (כאישון). That is the pupil (lit. the black) of the eye, on which the vision depends. Because it is black, it is called אישון, an expression of darkness, and the Holy One, blessed be He, prepared a guard for it, viz. the eyelids, which constantly cover it.
ט׳
מִפְּנֵ֣י רְ֭שָׁעִים ז֣וּ שַׁדּ֑וּנִי אֹיְבַ֥י בְּ֝נֶ֗פֶשׁ יַקִּ֥יפוּ עָלָֽי׃
9
from the wicked who despoil me,
my mortal enemies who encircle me.
9
From the wicked that oppress, My deadly enemies, that compass me about.
זוּ שַׁדּוּנִי. בִּשְׁבִיל זֹאת שֶׁשּׁוֹדְדִים אוֹתִי אוֹיְבַי, אֲשֶׁר בְּנֶפֶשׁ יַקִּיפוּ עָלָי. לִטּוֹל נַפְשִׁי:
who have robbed me Because of this: my enemies, who encompass me to take my life, rob me.
י׳
חֶלְבָּ֥מוֹ סָּגְר֑וּ פִּ֝֗ימוֹ דִּבְּר֥וּ בְגֵאֽוּת׃
10
Their hearts are closed to pity;
they mouth arrogance;
10
Their gross heart they have shut tight, With their mouth they speak proudly.
חֶלְבָּמוֹ סָגְרוּ. בְּחֶלְבָּם וּבְשֻׁמָּנָם סָגְרוּ לִבָּם וְעֵינֵיהֶם מֵהַבִּיט אֶל פָּעֳלְךָ לִירָאָה מִפָּנֶיךָ:
[With] their fat, they closed themselves up With their fat, they closed their heart and their eyes from looking at Your deeds, in fear of You.
י"א
אַ֭שֻּׁרֵינוּ עַתָּ֣ה סבבוני [סְבָב֑וּנוּ] עֵינֵיהֶ֥ם יָ֝שִׁ֗יתוּ לִנְט֥וֹת בָּאָֽרֶץ׃
11
now they hem in our feet on every side;
they set their eyes roaming over the land.
11
At our every step they have now encompassed us; They set their eyes to cast us down to the earth.
אַשֻּׁרֵינוּ עַתָּה סְבָבוּנוּ. אֶת עֲקֵבֵנוּ עַתָּה סְבָבוּנוּ הָאוֹיְבִים, וְעֵינֵיהֶם יָשִׁיתוּ לִנְטוֹת בָּאָרֶץ לִפְשֹׁט בָּאָרֶץ. וְנִרְאֶה לִי שֶׁנִּתְפַּלֵּל דָּוִד תְּפִלָּה זוֹ לְאַחַר שֶׁבָּא לְיָדוֹ מַעֲשֶׂה שֶׁל אוּרִיָּה, וְיוֹאָב וְיִשְׂרָאֵל הָיוּ בְּאֶרֶץ בְּנֵי עַמּוֹן צָרִים עַל רַבָּה (שמואל ב יא:א), וַיִּירָא דָּוִד שֶׁלֹּא יִכָּשְׁלוּ שָׁם בִּשְׁבִיל עֲבֵרָה שֶׁבְּיָדוֹ, וְיִשְׁמְעוּ פְלִשְׁתִּים וּמוֹאָב וֶאֱדוֹם וְכָל שְׁכֵנֵי אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל הָרָעִים הַמְצַפִּים לְיוֹם אֵידָם, וְיָבֹאוּ עֲלֵיהֶם:
[By] our footsteps they surround us now By our footsteps, the enemies surround us now, and they set their eyes roaming over the land, to raid the land. It appears to me that David prayed this prayer after the incident of Uriah and Joab had happened to him, and the Israelites were in the land of the children of Ammon besieging Rabbah (II Sam. 11), and David feared that they would be defeated there because of the sin that he had committed, and the Philistines, Moab, Edom, and all the evil neighbors of Eretz Israel, who looked forward to the day of their misfortune, would hear and march against them.
י"ב
דִּמְיֹנ֗וֹ כְּ֭אַרְיֵה יִכְס֣וֹף לִטְר֑וֹף וְ֝כִכְפִ֗יר יֹשֵׁ֥ב בְּמִסְתָּרִֽים׃
12
He is like a lion eager for prey,
a king of beasts lying in wait.
12
He is like a lion that is eager to tear in pieces, And like a young lion lurking in secret places.
יִכְסוֹף. יַחְמוֹד, כְּמוֹ ״כִּי נִכְסֹף נִכְסַפְתָּ״ (בראשית לא:ל):
which yearns Heb. יכסף, yearns, as (in Gen. 31:30): “for you yearned (נכסף נכספתי).”
י"ג
קוּמָ֤ה יְהוָ֗ה קַדְּמָ֣ה פָ֭נָיו הַכְרִיעֵ֑הוּ פַּלְּטָ֥ה נַ֝פְשִׁ֗י מֵרָשָׁ֥ע חַרְבֶּֽךָ׃
13
Rise, O LORD! Go forth to meet him.
Bring him down;
rescue me from the wicked with Your sword,
13
Arise, O LORD, confront him, cast him down; Deliver my soul from the wicked, by Thy sword;
קַדְּמָה פָנָיו. שֶׁל אוֹיֵב:
confront him The enemy.
הַכְרִיעֵהוּ. קַפַּח אֶת רַגְלָיו וְיִכְרַע וְיִפּוֹל:
bring him down to his knees Beat his legs, and he will kneel and fall.
פַּלְּטָה נַפְשִׁי. מִכָּל רָשָׁע שֶׁהוּא חַרְבְּךָ, שֶׁאַתָּה מַשְׁלִיטוֹ לִיפָּרַע מִן הַמְחֻיָּבִים לְךָ:
rescue my soul from every wicked man who is Your sword, for You give him the power to rule, to requite those who are bound to You.
י"ד
מִֽמְתִ֥ים יָדְךָ֨ ׀ יְהוָ֡ה מִֽמְתִ֬ים מֵחֶ֗לֶד חֶלְקָ֥ם בַּֽחַיִּים֮ וצפינך [וּֽצְפוּנְךָ֮] תְּמַלֵּ֪א בִ֫טְנָ֥ם יִשְׂבְּע֥וּ בָנִ֑ים וְהִנִּ֥יחוּ יִ֝תְרָ֗ם לְעוֹלְלֵיהֶֽם׃
14
from men, O LORD, with Your hand,
from men whose share in life is fleeting.
But as to Your treasured ones,
fill their bellies.
Their sons too shall be satisfied,
and have something to leave over for their young.
14
From men, by Thy hand, O LORD, From men of the world, whose portion is in this life, And whose belly Thou fillest with Thy treasure; Who have children in plenty, And leave their abundance to their babes.
מִמְּתִים יָדְךָ. מִן הַמֵּתִים בְּיָדְךָ עַל מִטָּתָם אֲנִי בּוֹחֵר לִהְיוֹת:
Of those who die by Your hand I choose to be one of those who die by Your hand on their bed.
מִמְּתִים מֵחֶלֶד. מֵאוֹתָם שֶׁמֵּתִים בְּזִקְנָה, מִשֶּׁהֶעֱלוּ חֲלֻדָּה, רְדוּיִילָ״א בְּלַעַ״ז, וּמִן הַצַּדִּיקִים אֲשֶׁר חֶלְקָם בַּחַיִּים:
of those who die of old age Heb. מחלד. Of those who die of old age, after they have “rusted” (חלודה), rodijjl in Old French, [rouille in Modern French] rust, and of the righteous, whose share is in life.
וּצְפוּנְךָ תְּמַלֵּא בִטְנָם. וּמֵאוֹתָם אֲשֶׁר תְּמַלֵּא מְעֵיהֶם מִטּוּבְךָ אֲשֶׁר צָפַנְתָּ לִירֵאֶיךָ (תהלים לא:כ):
and whose belly You will fill with Your hidden treasure And of those whose innards You will fill with Your good, which You have hidden for those who fear You.
יִתְרָם. נִכְסֵיהֶם אֲשֶׁר יַשְׁאִירוּ בְּמוֹתָם:
their abundance Their property that they leave over when they die.
ט"ו
אֲנִ֗י בְּ֭צֶדֶק אֶחֱזֶ֣ה פָנֶ֑יךָ אֶשְׂבְּעָ֥ה בְ֝הָקִ֗יץ תְּמוּנָתֶֽךָ׃
15
Then I, justified, will behold Your face;
awake, I am filled with the vision of You.
15
As for me, I shall behold Thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness.
אֲנִי בְּצֶדֶק אֶחֱזֶה פָנֶיךָ. לֶעָתִיד, אוֹ בְּצֶדֶק אֶחֱזֶה פָנֶיךָ מִשְׁפָּטִי הוֹצֵא מִלְּפָנֶיךָ, וְהַצְּדָקוֹת שֶׁבְּיָדִי אֱחוֹז, וּבָהֶם אֶחֱזֶה פָנֶיךָ:
I will see Your face with righteousness In the future, take my judgment away from before You and grasp the righteous deeds that I have performed, and through them I will see Your face.
אֶשְׂבְּעָה בְהָקִיץ תְּמוּנָתֶךָ. אֶשְׂבְּעָה מֵרְאִיַּת תְּמוּנָתְךָ בְּהָקִיץ הַמֵּתִים מִשְּׁנָתָם. לָשׁוֹן אַחֵר: אֶשְׂבְּעָה מֵרְאוֹת פָּנֶיךָ בְּהָקִיץ הַמֵּתִים מִשְּׁנָתָם, שֶׁהֵם בִּדְמוּת תְּמוּנָתְךָ, שֶׁכֵּן נֶאֱמַר ״כִּי בְּצֶלֶם אֱלֹהִים עָשָׂה אֶת הָאָדָם״ (בראשית ט:ו):
I will see Your face with righteousness in the future (Mid. Ps. 17:13), or I will see Your face with righteousness Take my judgment away from before You and grasp the righteous deeds that I have performed, and through them I will see Your face. In other editions, this is one interpretation: I will be satisfied with Your image upon the awakening I will be satisfied with the vision of Your image when the dead awaken from their sleep. In many editions, the following appears at this point: Another explanation: I will be satisfied from seeing Your face when the dead awaken from their sleep, for they are in the likeness of Your image, for so it is stated (in Gen. 9:6): “For in the image of God, He made man.”