א׳
לָ֭מָּה רָגְשׁ֣וּ גוֹיִ֑ם וּ֝לְאֻמִּ֗ים יֶהְגּוּ־רִֽיק׃
1
Why do nations assemble,
and peoples plot vain things;
1
Why are the nations in an uproar? And why do the peoples mutter in vain?
לָמָּה רָגְשׁוּ גוֹיִם. רַבּוֹתֵינוּ (ברכות ז:) דָּרְשׁוּ אֶת הָעִנְיָן עַל מֶלֶךְ הַמָּשִׁיחַ, וּלְפִי מַשְׁמָעוֹ וּלִתְשׁוּבַת הַמִּינִים יִהְיֶה נָכוֹן לְפוֹתְרוֹ עַל דָּוִד עַצְמוֹ, כְּעֵין שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ פְלִשְׁתִּים כִּי מָשְׁחוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת דָּוִד לְמֶלֶךְ עֲלֵיהֶם וַיִּקָּבְצוּ פְלִשְׁתִּים אֶת מַחֲנֵיהֶם״ (שמואל ב ה:יז), וְנָפְלוּ בְיָדוֹ, וַעֲלֵיהֶם אָמַר לָמָּה רָגְשׁוּ גוֹיִם וְנִתְקַבְּצוּ כֻּלָּם:
Why have nations gathered Our Sages (Ber. 7b) expounded the passage as referring to the King Messiah, but according to its apparent meaning, it is proper to interpret it as referring to David himself, as the matter is stated (II Sam. 5:17): “And the Philistines heard that they had anointed David as king over Israel, and all the Philistines went up to seek, etc.,” and they fell into his hands. Concerning them, he says, “Why have nations gathered,” and they all gathered.
וּלְאֻמִּים יֶהְגּוּ. בְּלִבָּם רִיק:
and kingdoms think vain things in their heart.
וּלְאֻמִּים. מְנַחֵם פָּתַר לְאֻמִּים וְאֻמִּים וְגוֹיִם כֻּלָּם קְרוֹבֵי עִנְיָן:
and kingdoms Heb. ולאמים. Menachem interprets לאמים, אמות, and גוים as all closely related.
ב׳
יִ֥תְיַצְּב֨וּ ׀ מַלְכֵי־אֶ֗רֶץ וְרוֹזְנִ֥ים נֽוֹסְדוּ־יָ֑חַד עַל־יְ֝הוָה וְעַל־מְשִׁיחֽוֹ׃
2
kings of the earth take their stand,
and regents intrigue together
against the LORD and against His anointed?
2
The kings of the earth stand up, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the LORD, and against His anointed:
יִתְיַצְּבוּ מַלְכֵי אֶרֶץ וְרוֹזְנִים נוֹסְדוּ יָחַד וְגוֹ׳. וְרוֹזְנִים. שִׁינְיוֹ״רְשׁ בְּלַעַ״ז:
Kings of a land stand up and nobles take counsel, etc. Heb. רוזנים, senors (seigneurs) in Old French, lords.
נוֹסְדוּ. לְשׁוֹן סוֹד, פורקונשילרוו״ט בְּלַעַ״ז. וּמַה הִיא הָעֵצָה?
take counsel Heb. נוסדו, an expression of counsel (סוד), furt konsilez in Old French (furent conseilles), they hold counsel (see below 55:15). And what is the counsel?...
ג׳
נְֽ֭נַתְּקָה אֶת־מֽוֹסְרוֹתֵ֑ימוֹ וְנַשְׁלִ֖יכָה מִמֶּ֣נּוּ עֲבֹתֵֽימוֹ׃
3
“Let us break the cords of their yoke,
shake off their ropes from us!”
3
'Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.'
נְנַתְּקָה אֶת מוֹסְרוֹתֵימוֹ. דִּישְׁרוֹנְפְרוֹיְמ״שׁ לוֹיְקוֹרַאנְגְל״שׁ בְּלַעַ״ז, אֵלּוּ רְצוּעוֹת שֶׁקּוֹשְׁרִין הָעוֹל בָּהֶם:
Let us break their bands Deronproms lor koyongles in Old French (as in Jer. 27:2). These are the bands with which the yoke is tied.
עֲבוֹתֵימוֹ. לוֹיִקוֹרְדוֹ״שׁ בְּלַעַ״ז:
their cords Heb. עבתימו, lor kordes (leur cordes) in Old French.
ד׳
יוֹשֵׁ֣ב בַּשָּׁמַ֣יִם יִשְׂחָ֑ק אֲ֝דֹנָ֗י יִלְעַג־לָֽמוֹ׃
4
He who is enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord mocks at them.
4
He that sitteth in heaven laugheth, the Lord hath them in derision.
יִשְׂחָק, יִלְעַג, יְדַבֵּר. לְשׁוֹן הֹוֶה הֵם מְשַׁמְּשִׁין:
laughs...mocks...speaks They are meant as the present tense.
ה׳
אָ֤ז יְדַבֵּ֣ר אֵלֵ֣ימוֹ בְאַפּ֑וֹ וּֽבַחֲרוֹנ֥וֹ יְבַהֲלֵֽמוֹ׃
5
Then He speaks to them in anger,
terrifying them in His rage,
5
Then will He speak unto them in His wrath, and affright them in His sore displeasure:
אָז יְדַבֵּר אֵלֵימוֹ. כְּמוֹ עֲלֵיהֶם, וּמַה הוּא הַדִּבּוּר?
Then He speaks to them Heb. אלימו, like אליהם. And what is the speech?...
ו׳
וַ֭אֲנִי נָסַ֣כְתִּי מַלְכִּ֑י עַל־צִ֝יּ֗וֹן הַר־קָדְשִֽׁי׃
6
“But I have installed My king
on Zion, My holy mountain!”
6
'Truly it is I that have established My king upon Zion, My holy mountain.'
וַאֲנִי נָסַכְתִּי מַלְכִּי. לָמָּה רְגַשְׁתֶּם, וַאֲנִי מִנִּיתִי לִי אֶת זֶה לִנְסֹךְ וְלִמְלֹךְ עַל צִיּוֹן הַר קָדְשִׁי?
But I have enthroned My king Why have you gathered together? I have appointed this one for Me to govern and to reign on Zion, My holy mount.
ז׳
אֲסַפְּרָ֗ה אֶֽ֫ל חֹ֥ק יְֽהוָ֗ה אָמַ֘ר אֵלַ֥י בְּנִ֥י אַ֑תָּה אֲ֝נִ֗י הַיּ֥וֹם יְלִדְתִּֽיךָ׃
7
Let me tell of the decree:
the LORD said to me,
“You are My son,
I have fathered you this day.
7
I will tell of the decree: The LORD said unto me: 'Thou art My son, this day have I begotten thee.
אֲסַפְּרָה אֶל חוֹק. אָמַר דָּוִד: חֹק קָצוּב הוּא, וּמְקַבֵּל עָלַי לְסַפֵּר זֹאת וּלְהוֹדִיעַ:
I will tell of the decree Said David, “This is an established decree, and [one] that I have received to tell this and to make known.”
ה׳ אָמַר אֵלַי. עַל יְדֵי נָתָן וְגָד וּשְׁמוּאֵל (שמואל ב ז:ד; שמואל א ג:כא):
The Lord said to me through Nathan, Gad, and Samuel.
בְּנִי אַתָּה. רֹאשׁ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, הַקְּרוּיִין בַּתּוֹרָה ״בְּנִי בְכוֹרִי״ (שמות ד:כב), וְהֵם יִתְקַיְּמוּ עַל יָדְךָ. כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בְּאַבְנֵר (שמואל ב ג:יח): ״כֹּה אָמַר ה׳ בְּיַד דָּוִד עַבְדִּי אוֹשִׁיעַ אֶת עַמִּי יִשְׂרָאֵל״, וּבִשְׁבִילָם אַתָּה לְפָנַי כְּבֵן, שֶׁכֻּלָּם תְּלוּיִין בְּךָ:
You are My son The head over Israel, who are called “My firstborn son.” And they will endure through you, as is stated concerning Abner (II Sam. 3:18): “for God said, etc., ‘By the hand of My bondsman David shall I deliver...Israel.’” And for their sake, you are before Me as a son because they are all dependent upon you.
אֲנִי הַיּוֹם. שֶׁהִמְלַכְתִּיךָ עֲלֵיהֶם:
this day have I for I have enthroned you over them.
יְלִדְתִּיךָ. לִהְיוֹת קָרוּי בְּנִי, וְחָבִיב עָלַי כְּבֵן בִּשְׁבִילָם; כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברי הימים א יד:ב) ״וַיֵּדַע דָּוִיד כִּי הֱכִינוֹ ה׳ לְמֶלֶךְ עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל וְכִי נִשֵּׂאת מַלְכוּתוֹ בַּעֲבוּר עַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל״, וּמָצִינוּ בְּמַלְכֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל הַחֲבִיבִין לְפָנָיו שֶׁקְּרוּיִין בָּנִים, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמואל ב ז:יד) בִּשְׁלֹמֹה ״הוּא יִהְיֶה לִּי לְבֵן וַאֲנִי אֶהְיֶה לּוֹ לְאָב״. וְעוֹד מָצִינוּ בְּדָוִד בְּמִזְמוֹר פ״ט ״הוּא יִקְרָאֵנִי אָבִי אָתָּה אֵלִי וְצוּר יְשׁוּעָתִי״ (תהלים פט:כז):
begotten you to be called My son and to be beloved to Me as a son for their sake, as it is stated (I Chronicles 14:2): ‘And David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, and that his kingdom was highly exalted for the sake of His people Israel.’ And we find that the kings of Israel who were beloved before Him were called sons, as it is stated (II Sam. 7:14) concerning Solomon: “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to Me a son.” We find further concerning David (Ps. 89:27) “He shall call Me, ‘You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation.’”
ח׳
שְׁאַ֤ל מִמֶּ֗נִּי וְאֶתְּנָ֣ה ג֭וֹיִם נַחֲלָתֶ֑ךָ וַ֝אֲחֻזָּתְךָ֗ אַפְסֵי־אָֽרֶץ׃
8
Ask it of Me,
and I will make the nations your domain;
your estate, the limits of the earth.
8
Ask of Me, and I will give the nations for thine inheritance, and the ends of the earth for thy possession.
שְׁאַל מִמֶּנִּי. הִתְפַּלֵּל אֵלַי בְּכָל עֵת שֶׁאַתָּה בָּא לְהִלָּחֵם בְּאוֹיְבֶיךָ:
Request of Me Pray to Me whenever you come to battle your enemies.
ט׳
תְּ֭רֹעֵם בְּשֵׁ֣בֶט בַּרְזֶ֑ל כִּכְלִ֖י יוֹצֵ֣ר תְּנַפְּצֵֽם׃
9
You can smash them with an iron mace,
shatter them like potter’s ware.”
9
Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.'
תְּרֹעֵם. תְּרוֹצְצֵם:
You shall break them Heb. תרעם [like] תרוצצם.
בְּשֵׁבֶט בַּרְזֶל. הִיא הַחֶרֶב:
with an iron rod That is the sword.
תְּנַפְּצֵם. תְּשַׁבְּרֵם, וְהוּא לְשׁוֹן נָפוֹץ בְּכָל הַמִּקְרָא: חֶרֶס הַמְּשֻׁבָּר לִשְׁבָרִים דַּקִּים:
you shall shatter them Heb. תנפצם, you shall break them, and that is the expression of נפוץ throughout the Scriptures, a potsherd that is bro ken into fine pieces.
י׳
וְ֭עַתָּה מְלָכִ֣ים הַשְׂכִּ֑ילוּ הִ֝וָּסְר֗וּ שֹׁ֣פְטֵי אָֽרֶץ׃
10
So now, O kings, be prudent;
accept discipline, you rulers of the earth!
10
Now therefore, O ye kings, be wise; be admonished, ye judges of the earth.
וְעַתָּה מְלָכִים הַשְׂכִּילוּ. נְבִיאֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אַנְשֵׁי רַחֲמִים, וּמוֹכִיחִים אֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם לָסוּר מֵרָעָתָם (תנחומא, בלק א), שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא פּוֹשֵׁט יָד לָרְשָׁעִים וְלַצַּדִּיקִים:
And now, [you] kings, be wise The Jewish prophets are merciful people. They reprove the heathens to turn away from their evil, for the Holy One, blessed be He, extends His hand to the wicked and to the righteous.
י"א
עִבְד֣וּ אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה בְּיִרְאָ֑ה וְ֝גִ֗ילוּ בִּרְעָדָֽה׃
11
Serve the LORD in awe;
tremble with fright,
11
Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
וְגִילוּ בִּרְעָדָה. כְּשֶׁתָּבוֹא אוֹתָהּ רְעָדָה שֶׁכָּתוּב בָּהּ (ישעיהו לג:יד) ״אָחֲזָה רְעָדָה חֲנֵפִים״, תָּגִילוּ וְתִשְׂמְחוּ אִם עֲבַדְתֶּם אֶת ה׳:
and rejoice with quaking When the quaking, about which it is written (Isa. 33:14): “Trembling seized the flatterers,” comes, you will rejoice and be happy if you have served the Lord.
י"ב
נַשְּׁקוּ־בַ֡ר פֶּן־יֶאֱנַ֤ף ׀ וְתֹ֬אבְדוּ דֶ֗רֶךְ כִּֽי־יִבְעַ֣ר כִּמְעַ֣ט אַפּ֑וֹ אַ֝שְׁרֵ֗י כָּל־ח֥וֹסֵי בֽוֹ׃
12
pay homage in good faith,
lest He be angered, and your way be doomed
in the mere flash of His anger.
Happy are all who take refuge in Him.
12
Do homage in purity, lest He be angry, and ye perish in the way, when suddenly His wrath is kindled. Happy are all they that take refuge in Him.
נַשְּׁקוּ בַר. זָרְזוּ עַצְמְכֶם בְּבַר לֵב. (נוסח אחר) נַשְּׁקוּ בַר. אַרְנִישְׁמְנְט בְּלַעַ״ז, וּמְנַחֵם פָּתַר אוֹתוֹ לְשׁוֹן תַּאֲוָה כְּמוֹ ״וְאֶל אִישֵׁךְ תְּשׁוּקָתֵךְ״ (בראשית ג:טז):
Arm yourselves with purity Arm yourselves with purity of the heart. Some explain נשקו as garnimont in Old French, equipping. (This is from the verb, garnir. Garnimont means to provide, as in Gen. 41:40). Menachem (p. 179) interprets it as an expression of desire, as (in Gen. 3:16): “Your longing (תשוקתך) shall be for your husband.”
פֶּן יֶאֱנַף. פֶּן יִקְצֹף:
lest He become angry Heb. יאנף, lest He become angry.
וְתֹאבְדוּ דֶרֶךְ. כְּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וְדֶרֶךְ רְשָׁעִים תֹּאבֵד״ (תהלים א:ו):
and you perish in the way Like the matter that is stated (above 1:16): “but the way of the wicked shall perish.”
כִּי יִבְעַר כִּמְעַט אַפּוֹ. כִּי בְרֶגַע מוּעָט יִבְעַר אַפּוֹ עֲלֵיכֶם פִּתְאוֹם, וְאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה אַשְׁרֵי כָּל חוֹסֵי בוֹ – יִהְיוּ נִכָּרִים אִשּׁוּרֵי הַחוֹסִים בּוֹ:
for in a moment His wrath will be kindled For in a short moment His wrath will suddenly be kindled against them, and at that time, the praises of all those who take refuge in Him will be discerned, the praises of all who take refuge in Him.