א׳
לְדָוִ֗ד בְּשַׁנּוֹת֣וֹ אֶת־טַ֭עְמוֹ לִפְנֵ֣י אֲבִימֶ֑לֶךְ וַֽ֝יְגָרֲשֵׁ֗הוּ וַיֵּלַֽךְ׃
1
Of David, when he feigned madness in the presence of Abimelech, who turned him out, and he left.
1
[A Psalm] of David; when he changed his demeanour before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.
בְּשַׁנּוֹתוֹ אֶת טַעְמוֹ. כְּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמואל א כא:יד) ״וַיְתָו עַל דַּלְתוֹת הַשַּׁעַר וְגוֹ׳ וַיְשַׁנּוּ אֶת טַעְמוֹ בְּעֵינֵיהֶם״, שֶׁשִּׁנָּה דְּבָרוֹ וְטַעְמוֹ וְעָשָׂה עַצְמוֹ שׁוֹטֶה וְהוֹרִיד רִירוֹ עַל זְקָנוֹ (ס״א אינו):
when he disguised his sanity as the matter that is stated (in I Sam. 21:14): “And he changed his speech before their eyes, etc. And he scribbled upon the doors of the gates.” That he disguised his speech and his sanity and feigned madness and let his saliva run down upon his beard.
לִפְנֵי אֲבִימֶלֶךְ. כָּךְ כָּל מַלְכֵי פְלִשְׁתִּים נִקְרָאִים, וְכָל מַלְכֵי מִצְרַיִם פַּרְעֹה. וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁשְּׁמוֹ אָכִישׁ, קוֹרִין לוֹ אֲבִימֶלֶךְ. וּמִדְרַשׁ אַגָּדָה: שֶׁהָיָה צַדִּיק כַּאֲבִימֶלֶךְ (בראשית כ) שֶׁלֹּא רָצָה לְהָרְגוֹ, וַאֲנָשָׁיו אוֹמְרִים לוֹ ״הֲלֹא זֶה דָּוִד מֶלֶךְ הָאָרֶץ״ (שמואל א כא:יב), כִּדְאִיתָא בְּמִדְרַשׁ תְּהִלִּים:
before Abimelech All Philistine kings were called thus, and all Egyptian kings [were called] Pharaoh. Although his name was Achish, he was called Abimelech. The Midrash Aggadah explains that he was as righteous as Abimelech (mentioned in the Torah in relation to Sarah), for he did not want to kill him although his men said to him, “Is this not David, the king of the land?” As is stated in Midrash Psalms (34:1).
ב׳
אֲבָרֲכָ֣ה אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה בְּכָל־עֵ֑ת תָּ֝מִ֗יד תְּֽהִלָּת֥וֹ בְּפִֽי׃
2
I bless the LORD at all times;
praise of Him is ever in my mouth.
2
I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
ג׳
בַּ֭יהוָה תִּתְהַלֵּ֣ל נַפְשִׁ֑י יִשְׁמְע֖וּ עֲנָוִ֣ים וְיִשְׂמָֽחוּ׃
3
I glory in the LORD;
let the lowly hear it and rejoice.
3
My soul shall glory in the LORD; The humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
בַּה׳ תִּתְהַלֵּל נַפְשִׁי. מִתְפָּאֵר אֲנִי וּמִתְהַלֵּל שֶׁיֵּשׁ לִי פַּטְרוֹן כָּזֶה לְהוֹשִׁיעַ וּלְהָגֵן:
My soul boasts of the Lord I boast, and praise myself that I have a patron like this to save me and protect me.
תִּתְהַלֵּל נַפְשִׁי. שֶׁפּוֹרְוְונְטְרָ״א בְּלַעַ״ז:
I will boast. Se porvantera in French.
יִשְׁמְעוּ עֲנָוִים. נִפְלָאוֹת שֶׁעָשָׂה לִי, מִתּוֹךְ מַהֲלָלִי יָבִינוּ אוֹתָם וְיִשְׂמָחוּ:
may the humble hear the wonders that He did for me. Through my praise, they will understand it and rejoice.
ד׳
גַּדְּל֣וּ לַיהוָ֣ה אִתִּ֑י וּנְרוֹמְמָ֖ה שְׁמ֣וֹ יַחְדָּֽו׃
4
Exalt the LORD with me;
let us extol His name together.
4
O magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together.
ה׳
דָּרַ֣שְׁתִּי אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה וְעָנָ֑נִי וּמִכָּל־מְ֝גוּרוֹתַ֗י הִצִּילָֽנִי׃
5
I turned to the LORD, and He answered me;
He saved me from all my terrors.
5
I sought the LORD, and He answered me, And delivered me from all my fears.
מְגוּרוֹתַי. לְשׁוֹן פַּחַד, כְּמוֹ ״וַיָּגָר מוֹאָב״ (במדבר כב:ג):
my terrors Heb. מגורותי, an expression of fear, as (in Num. 22:3): “and Moab became terrified (ויגר) .”
ו׳
הִבִּ֣יטוּ אֵלָ֣יו וְנָהָ֑רוּ וּ֝פְנֵיהֶ֗ם אַל־יֶחְפָּֽרוּ׃
6
Men look to Him and are radiant;
let their faces not be downcast.
6
They looked unto Him, and were radiant; And their faces shall never be abashed.
הִבִּיטוּ אֵלָיו. כָּל אוֹתָם שֶׁהִבִּיטוּ אֵלָיו מִתּוֹךְ צָרָתָם:
They looked to Him All those who looked to Him out of their trouble.
וְנָהָרוּ. הֵאִירוּ פְנֵיהֶם:
and they became radiant Their faces shone.
יֶחְפָּרוּ. יִתְבַּיְּשׁוּ, כְּמוֹ ״וְחָפְרָה הַלְּבָנָה וּבוֹשָׁה הַחַמָּה״ (ישעיהו כד:כג):
be ashamed Heb. יחפרו, they will be ashamed, as (in Isa. 24:23): “And the moon shall be ashamed (וחפרה) and the sun shall be abashed.”
ז׳
זֶ֤ה עָנִ֣י קָ֭רָא וַיהוָ֣ה שָׁמֵ֑עַ וּמִכָּל־צָ֝רוֹתָ֗יו הוֹשִׁיעֽוֹ׃
7
Here was a lowly man who called,
and the LORD listened,
and delivered him from all his troubles.
7
This poor man cried, and the LORD heard, And saved him out of all his troubles.
ח׳
חֹנֶ֤ה מַלְאַךְ־יְהוָ֓ה סָ֘בִ֤יב לִֽירֵאָ֗יו וַֽיְחַלְּצֵֽם׃
8
The angel of the LORD camps around those who fear Him
and rescues them.
8
The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear Him, And delivereth them.
ט׳
טַעֲמ֣וּ וּ֭רְאוּ כִּי־ט֣וֹב יְהוָ֑ה אַֽשְׁרֵ֥י הַ֝גֶּ֗בֶר יֶחֱסֶה־בּֽוֹ׃
9
Taste and see how good the LORD is;
happy the man who takes refuge in Him!
9
O consider and see that the LORD is good; Happy is the man that taketh refuge in Him.
טַעֲמוּ וּרְאוּ כִּי טוֹב ה׳. טַעֲמוּ דְּבָרוֹ:
Comprehend and see that the Lord is good Comprehend His word.
י׳
יְר֣אוּ אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה קְדֹשָׁ֑יו כִּי־אֵ֥ין מַ֝חְס֗וֹר לִירֵאָֽיו׃
10
Fear the LORD, you His consecrated ones,
for those who fear Him lack nothing.
10
O fear the LORD, ye His holy ones; For there is no want to them that fear Him.
יִרְאוּ. יִהְיוּ יְרֵאִים, לְשׁוֹן צִוּוּי:
Fear Heb. יראו. Be afraid, the imperative form.
י"א
כְּ֭פִירִים רָשׁ֣וּ וְרָעֵ֑בוּ וְדֹרְשֵׁ֥י יְ֝הוָ֗ה לֹא־יַחְסְר֥וּ כָל־טֽוֹב׃
11
Lions have been reduced to starvation,
but those who turn to the LORD shall not lack any good.
11
The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger; But they that seek the LORD want not any good thing.
רָשׁוּ. לְשׁוֹן דַּלּוּת:
suffer want Heb. רשו, an expression of poverty.
כָּל טוֹב. נִיסוֹ״ן בִּי״ן בְּלַעַ״ז, כְּמוֹ ״כָּל מְלָאכָה״ (שמות יב:טז):
no good Heb. כל טוב, nient bon, any good, as (in Exod. 12:16): “any work (כל-מלאכה).”
י"ב
לְֽכוּ־בָ֭נִים שִׁמְעוּ־לִ֑י יִֽרְאַ֥ת יְ֝הוָ֗ה אֲלַמֶּדְכֶֽם׃
12
Come, my sons, listen to me;
I will teach you what it is to fear the LORD.
12
Come, ye children, hearken unto me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
י"ג
מִֽי־הָ֭אִישׁ הֶחָפֵ֣ץ חַיִּ֑ים אֹהֵ֥ב יָ֝מִ֗ים לִרְא֥וֹת טֽוֹב׃
13
Who is the man who is eager for life,
who desires years of good fortune?
13
Who is the man that desireth life, and loveth days, That he may see good therein?
י"ד
נְצֹ֣ר לְשׁוֹנְךָ֣ מֵרָ֑ע וּ֝שְׂפָתֶ֗יךָ מִדַּבֵּ֥ר מִרְמָֽה׃
14
Guard your tongue from evil,
your lips from deceitful speech.
14
Keep thy tongue from evil, And thy lips from speaking guile.
ט"ו
ס֣וּר מֵ֭רָע וַעֲשֵׂה־ט֑וֹב בַּקֵּ֖שׁ שָׁל֣וֹם וְרָדְפֵֽהוּ׃
15
Shun evil and do good,
seek amity and pursue it.
15
Depart from evil, and do good; Seek peace, and pursue it.
בַּקֵּשׁ שָׁלוֹם. בִּמְקוֹמְךָ:
seek peace in your place.
וְרָדְפֵהוּ. בְּמָקוֹם אַחֵר (תנחומא, חקת כב):
and pursue it elsewhere.
ט"ז
עֵינֵ֣י יְ֭הוָה אֶל־צַדִּיקִ֑ים וְ֝אָזְנָ֗יו אֶל־שַׁוְעָתָֽם׃
16
The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous,
His ears attentive to their cry.
16
The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous, And His ears are open unto their cry.
י"ז
פְּנֵ֣י יְ֭הוָה בְּעֹ֣שֵׂי רָ֑ע לְהַכְרִ֖ית מֵאֶ֣רֶץ זִכְרָֽם׃
17
The face of the LORD is set against evildoers,
to erase their names from the earth.
17
The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
פְּנֵי. פָּנִים שֶׁל זַעַם לִישַׁאיְרָא״שׁ בְּלַעַ״ז, כְּמוֹ (ויקרא כ:ה) ״וְשַׂמְתִּי פָנַי בָּאִישׁ הַהוּא״, כָּךְ חִבְּרוֹ מְנַחֵם:
The face of the Lord His angry face, les ires in Old French, ire, as (in Lev. 20:5): “And I will direct My face, etc.” So did Menachem (p. 143) associate it.
י"ח
צָעֲק֣וּ וַיהוָ֣ה שָׁמֵ֑עַ וּמִכָּל־צָ֝רוֹתָ֗ם הִצִּילָֽם׃
18
They cry out, and the LORD hears,
and saves them from all their troubles.
18
They cried, and the LORD heard, And delivered them out of all their troubles.
צָעֲקוּ. הַצַּדִּיקִים וַה׳ שָׁמֵעַ:
They cry out i.e., the righteous, and the Lord hearkens.
י"ט
קָר֣וֹב יְ֭הוָה לְנִשְׁבְּרֵי־לֵ֑ב וְֽאֶת־דַּכְּאֵי־ר֥וּחַ יוֹשִֽׁיעַ׃
19
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
those crushed in spirit He delivers.
19
The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, And saveth such as are of a contrite spirit.
כ׳
רַ֭בּוֹת רָע֣וֹת צַדִּ֑יק וּ֝מִכֻּלָּ֗ם יַצִּילֶ֥נּוּ יְהוָֽה׃
20
Though the misfortunes of the righteous be many,
the LORD will save him from them all,
20
Many are the ills of the righteous, But the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
רַבּוֹת רָעוֹת צַדִּיק. הַרְבֵּה רָעוֹת וּפְחָדִים בָּאוֹת עָלָיו, וּמִכֻּלָּם נִצּוֹל:
Many evils befall the righteous Many evils and terrors befall him, and he is saved from all of them.
כ"א
שֹׁמֵ֥ר כָּל־עַצְמוֹתָ֑יו אַחַ֥ת מֵ֝הֵ֗נָּה לֹ֣א נִשְׁבָּֽרָה׃
21
Keeping all his bones intact,
not one of them being broken.
21
He keepeth all his bones; Not one of them is broken.
שׁוֹמֵר. הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא כָּל עַצְמוֹתָיו:
He guards The Holy One, blessed be He, [guards] all his bones.
כ"ב
תְּמוֹתֵ֣ת רָשָׁ֣ע רָעָ֑ה וְשֹׂנְאֵ֖י צַדִּ֣יק יֶאְשָֽׁמוּ׃
22
One misfortune is the deathblow of the wicked;
the foes of the righteous shall be ruined.
22
Evil shall kill the wicked; And they that hate the righteous shall be held guilty.
תְּמוֹתֵת רָשָׁע רָעָה. תְּמוֹתֵת אֶת הָרָשָׁע הָרָעָה שֶׁהוּא עוֹשֶׂה:
Evil will kill the wicked The evil that the wicked man does will kill him.
תְּמוֹתֵת. תָּמִית:
will kill Heb. תמותת, [equivalent to] תמית.
כ"ג
פּוֹדֶ֣ה יְ֭הוָה נֶ֣פֶשׁ עֲבָדָ֑יו וְלֹ֥א יֶ֝אְשְׁמ֗וּ כָּֽל־הַחֹסִ֥ים בּֽוֹ׃
23
The LORD redeems the life of His servants;
all who take refuge in Him shall not be ruined.
23
The LORD redeemeth the soul of His servants; And none of them that take refuge in Him shall be desolate.
לֹא יֶאְשְׁמוּ. לֹא יִתְחָרְטוּ לֵאמֹר: אָשַׁמְנוּ שֶׁחָסִינוּ בְּךָ; רִיפוֹנְטִירוֹנְ״ט בְּלַעַ״ז:
shall not be accounted guilty They will not regret saying, “We are guilty, because we took shelter in You.” Repontiront in Old French, se repentiront: they repent.