Psalms · Chapter 51 — Open Pardes

א׳ לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַ מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד׃

1 For the leader. A psalm of David,

1 For the Leader. A Psalm of David;

ב׳ בְּֽבוֹא־אֵ֭לָיו נָתָ֣ן הַנָּבִ֑יא כַּֽאֲשֶׁר־בָּ֝֗א אֶל־בַּת־שָֽׁבַע׃

2 when Nathan the prophet came to him after he had come to Bathsheba.

2 when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bath-sheba.

ג׳ חָנֵּ֣נִי אֱלֹהִ֣ים כְּחַסְדֶּ֑ךָ כְּרֹ֥ב רַ֝חֲמֶ֗יךָ מְחֵ֣ה פְשָׁעָֽי׃

3 Have mercy upon me, O God,
as befits Your faithfulness;
in keeping with Your abundant compassion,
blot out my transgressions.

3 Be gracious unto me, O God, according to Thy mercy; According to the multitude of Thy compassions blot out my transgressions.

ד׳ הרבה [הֶ֭רֶב] כַּבְּסֵ֣נִי מֵעֲוֺנִ֑י וּֽמֵחַטָּאתִ֥י טַהֲרֵֽנִי׃

4 Wash me thoroughly of my iniquity,
and purify me of my sin;

4 Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.

ה׳ כִּֽי־פְ֭שָׁעַי אֲנִ֣י אֵדָ֑ע וְחַטָּאתִ֖י נֶגְדִּ֣י תָמִֽיד׃

5 for I recognize my transgressions,
and am ever conscious of my sin.

5 For I know my transgressions; And my sin is ever before me.

וְחַטָּאתִי נֶגְדִּי תָמִיד. מִתּוֹךְ שֶׁאֲנִי מִתְחָרֵט וְדוֹאֵג עָלָיו, דּוֹמֶה לִי כְּאִלּוּ הוּא לְפָנַי תָּמִיד כָּל שָׁעָה:

and my sin is always before me Since I regret [my sin] and worry about it, it is as though it is constantly before me, always.

ו׳ לְךָ֤ לְבַדְּךָ֨ ׀ חָטָאתִי֮ וְהָרַ֥ע בְּעֵינֶ֗יךָ עָ֫שִׂ֥יתִי לְ֭מַעַן תִּצְדַּ֥ק בְּדָבְרֶ֗ךָ תִּזְכֶּ֥ה בְשָׁפְטֶֽךָ׃

6 Against You alone have I sinned,
and done what is evil in Your sight;
so You are just in Your sentence,
and right in Your judgment.

6 Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, And done that which is evil in Thy sight; That Thou mayest be justified when Thou speakest, And be in the right when Thou judgest.

לְךָ לְבַדְּךָ חָטָאתִי. לְפִיכָךְ בְּיָדְךָ לִסְלֹחַ, וְאַף מַה שֶׁהֲרֵעוֹתִי לְאוּרִיָּה (שמואל ב יא) לֹא חָטָאתִי אֶלָּא לְךָ, שֶׁהִזְהַרְתָּ עַל הַדָּבָר:

Against You alone have I sinned Therefore, it is in Your power to forgive [me]. Even in my sin against Uriah, I sinned against You, for You warned against the matter.

לְמַעַן תִּצְדַּק בְּדָבְרֶךָ. כְּמוֹ בְּמִנְהָגְךָ (ס״א אינו), כֹּחַ הָיָה לִי לְהִתְגַּבֵּר עַל יִצְרִי אֶלָּא שֶׁלֹּא יֹאמְרוּ הָעֶבֶד נִצַּח אֶת רַבּוֹ, שֶׁאָמַרְתִּי לְפָנֶיךָ בְּחָנֵנִי וְנַסֵּנִי (תהלים כו:ב) וּבְחַנְתַּנִי וְלֹא נִמְצֵאתִי שָׁלֵם כְּדֵי שֶׁתִּצְדַּק אַתָּה וְלֹא אֲנִי (סנהדרין קז.). דָּבָר אַחֵר לְמַעַן תִּצְדַּק בְּדָבְרֶךָ, אִם תִּמְחֹל לִי, תִּצְדַּק בְּדִינְךָ לְנֹכַח כָּל הָרְשָׁעִים שֶׁאֵינָם שָׁבִים, שֶׁלֹּא יוּכְלוּ לוֹמַר כְּאִלּוּ עָשִׂינוּ תְּשׁוּבָה לֹא הוֹעַלְנוּ:

in order that You be justified in Your conduct like במנהגך, in Your conduct. I had the strength to overpower my evil inclination, but, so that they should not say, “The servant overpowered his master,”for I said to You (Ps. 26: 2), “Test me, O Lord, and try me,” and You tested me and I was not found perfect, in order that You should be justified and not I (Sanh. 107a). Another explanation: in order that You be justified in Your conduct If You forgive me, You will be justified in Your judgment against all the wicked who do not repent, so that they will not be able to say, “If we had repented, it would not have availed us.”

ז׳ הֵן־בְּעָו֥וֹן חוֹלָ֑לְתִּי וּ֝בְחֵ֗טְא יֶֽחֱמַ֥תְנִי אִמִּֽי׃

7 Indeed I was born with iniquity;
with sin my mother conceived me.

7 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.

הֵן בְּעָווֹן חוֹלָלְתִּי. וְאֵיךְ לֹא אֶחֱטָא וְעִקַּר יְצִירָתִי עַל יְדֵי תַשְׁמִישׁ הוּא, שֶׁכַּמָּה עֲוֹנוֹת בָּאִים עַל יָדוֹ (ויקרא רבה יד:ה). דָּבָר אַחֵר: עִקַּר יְצִירָתִי מִזָּכָר וּנְקֵבָה, שֶׁכֻּלָּם מְלֵאִים עָוֹן. יֵשׁ מִדְרָשִׁים לְמִקְרָא זֶה, וְאֵינָם מִתְיַשְּׁבִים לְפִי עִנְיַן הַמְדַבֵּר בַּמִּזְמוֹר:

Behold, with iniquity I was formed Now how could I not sin when the main part of my creation was through coitus, the source of many iniquities? Another explanation: The main part of my creation is from a male and a female, both of whom are full of iniquity. There are many midrashim to this verse, but they do not fit the context of the psalm.

יֶחֱמַתְנִי. לְשׁוֹן חֲמִימוּת, כְּמוֹ (בראשית ל:לח) ״וַיֵּחַמְנָה הַצֹּאן בְּבֹאָן לִשְׁתּוֹת״ (ס״א אינו):

conceived me Heb. יחמתני, an expression of heat, as (Gen. 30:38): “And they came into heat (ויחמנה) when they came to drink.”

ח׳ הֵן־אֱ֭מֶת חָפַ֣צְתָּ בַטֻּח֑וֹת וּ֝בְסָתֻ֗ם חָכְמָ֥ה תוֹדִיעֵֽנִי׃

8 Indeed You desire truth about that which is hidden;
teach me wisdom about secret things.

8 Behold, Thou desirest truth in the inward parts; make me, therefore, to know wisdom in mine inmost heart.

הֵן אֱמֶת חָפַצְתָּ בַטֻּחוֹת. וַהֲרֵינִי מוֹדֶה עַל הָאֱמֶת, כִּי חָטָאתִי:

Behold, You desired that truth be in the hidden places and behold, I confess to the truth, that I sinned.

בַּטֻּחוֹת. אֵלּוּ כְּלָיוֹת, שֶׁהֵן חֲלָקוֹת. וּמְנַחֵם חִבְּרוֹ עִם ״כִּמְטַחֲוֵי קֶשֶׁת״ (בראשית כא:טז), וְכֵן ״מִי שָׁת בַּטֻּחוֹת חָכְמָה״ (איוב לח:לו). פִּתְרוֹנוֹ לְשׁוֹן מֶשֶׁךְ: כִּי כַּאֲשֶׁר יֵשׁ לַקֶּשֶׁת מֶשֶׁךְ, כֵּן יֵשׁ מֶשֶׁךְ לַדַּעַת (ס״א אינו):

in the hidden places Heb. בטחות. These are the reins, which are smooth. Menachem (p. 97), however, associated it with (Gen. 21:16): “as it were a bowshot (כמטחוי קשת)”; and so (Job 38: 36): “Who placed wisdom in the inward parts (בטחות).” And their interpretation is an expression of drawing, for just as a bow is drawn, so is their yearning for knowledge.

וּבְסָתוּם חָכְמָה תוֹדִיעֵנִי. וּבַלֵּב שֶׁהוּא סָתוּם, הוֹדַעְתַּנִי חָכְמָה לְהִתְוַדּוֹת:

and in the concealed part You teach me wisdom And in the heart, which is concealed, You have taught me wisdom to confess.

ט׳ תְּחַטְּאֵ֣נִי בְאֵז֣וֹב וְאֶטְהָ֑ר תְּ֝כַבְּסֵ֗נִי וּמִשֶּׁ֥לֶג אַלְבִּֽין׃

9 Purge me with hyssop till I am pure;
wash me till I am whiter than snow.

9 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

תְּחַטְּאֵנִי בְאֵזוֹב. כְּמוֹ שֶׁמְּטַהֵר הַמְּצֹרָע וְטָמֵא מֵת (ויקרא יד:ד; במדבר יט:ו):

Purify me with a hyssop As one purifies the “mezora” and the one who became unclean through contact with a corpse.

י׳ תַּ֭שְׁמִיעֵנִי שָׂשׂ֣וֹן וְשִׂמְחָ֑ה תָּ֝גֵ֗לְנָה עֲצָמ֥וֹת דִּכִּֽיתָ׃

10 Let me hear tidings of joy and gladness;
let the bones You have crushed exult.

10 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which Thou hast crushed may rejoice.

תַּשְׁמִיעֵנִי שָׂשׂוֹן וְשִׂמְחָה. סְלִיחַת הֶחָטְא:

Make me hear joy and gladness The forgiveness of the sin.

עֲצָמוֹת דִּכִּיתָ. כְּשֶׁכָּעַסְתָּ עָלַי:

the bones that You crushed when You were wroth with me.

י"א הַסְתֵּ֣ר פָּ֭נֶיךָ מֵחֲטָאָ֑י וְֽכָל־עֲוֺ֖נֹתַ֣י מְחֵֽה׃

11 Hide Your face from my sins;
blot out all my iniquities.

11 Hide Thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

י"ב לֵ֣ב טָ֭הוֹר בְּרָא־לִ֣י אֱלֹהִ֑ים וְר֥וּחַ נָ֝כ֗וֹן חַדֵּ֥שׁ בְּקִרְבִּֽי׃

12 Fashion a pure heart for me, O God;
create in me a steadfast spirit.

12 Create me a clean heart, O God; and renew a stedfast spirit within me.

לֵב טָהוֹר בְּרָא לִי אֱלֹהִים. שֶׁלֹּא אֶכָּשֵׁל עוֹד:

Create for me a pure heart, O God so that I do not stumble again.

י"ג אַל־תַּשְׁלִיכֵ֥נִי מִלְּפָנֶ֑יךָ וְר֥וּחַ קָ֝דְשְׁךָ֗ אַל־תִּקַּ֥ח מִמֶּֽנִּי׃

13 Do not cast me out of Your presence,
or take Your holy spirit away from me.

13 Cast me not away from Thy presence; and take not Thy holy spirit from me.

וְרוּחַ קָדְשְׁךָ אַל תִּקַּח מִמֶּנִּי. שֶׁלֹּא יְהֵא רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ מְרֻחָק מִמֶּנִּי (ס״א אינו):

and do not take Your holy spirit from me that the holy spirit should not be withdrawn from me.

י"ד הָשִׁ֣יבָה לִּ֭י שְׂשׂ֣וֹן יִשְׁעֶ֑ךָ וְר֖וּחַ נְדִיבָ֣ה תִסְמְכֵֽנִי׃

14 Let me again rejoice in Your help;
let a vigorous spirit sustain me.

14 Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation; and let a willing spirit uphold me.

הָשִׁיבָה לִּי שְׂשׂוֹן יִשְׁעֶךָ. רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ שֶׁנִּסְתַּלְּקָה מֵעָלַי (סנהדרין קז.):

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation The holy spirit, which has left me.

נְדִיבָה. לְשׁוֹן נְדִיבוּת, קְצִינוּת:

noble Heb. נדיבה, an expression of nobility and leadership.

ט"ו אֲלַמְּדָ֣ה פֹשְׁעִ֣ים דְּרָכֶ֑יךָ וְ֝חַטָּאִ֗ים אֵלֶ֥יךָ יָשֽׁוּבוּ׃

15 I will teach transgressors Your ways,
that sinners may return to You.

15 Then will I teach transgressors Thy ways; and sinners shall return unto Thee. .

אֲלַמְּדָה פוֹשְׁעִים דְּרָכֶיךָ. וּמִמֶּנִּי יִלְמְדוּ וְיָשׁוּבוּ, אִם יִרְאוּ שֶׁתִּסְלַח לִי:

I will teach transgressors Your ways and they will learn from me. They will repent if they see that You forgive me.

ט"ז הַצִּ֘ילֵ֤נִי מִדָּמִ֨ים ׀ אֱ‍ֽלֹהִ֗ים אֱלֹהֵ֥י תְּשׁוּעָתִ֑י תְּרַנֵּ֥ן לְ֝שׁוֹנִ֗י צִדְקָתֶֽךָ׃

16 Save me from bloodguilt,
O God, God, my deliverer,
that I may sing forth Your beneficence.

16 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, Thou God of my salvation; so shall my tongue sing aloud of Thy righteousness.

הַצִּילֵנִי מִדָּמִים. שֶׁלֹּא אָמוּת בַּחֶרֶב, עַל עָנְשׁוֹ שֶׁל אוּרִיָּה שֶׁהָרַגְתִּי (שמואל ב יא:טו,יז):

Save me from blood that I should not die by the sword as a punishment for Uriah, whom I killed.

י"ז אֲ֭דֹנָי שְׂפָתַ֣י תִּפְתָּ֑ח וּ֝פִ֗י יַגִּ֥יד תְּהִלָּתֶֽךָ׃

17 O Lord, open my lips,
and let my mouth declare Your praise.

17 O Lord, open Thou my lips; and my mouth shall declare Thy praise.

אֲדֹנָי שְׂפָתַי תִּפְתָּח. מְחוֹל לִי, וִיהִי לִי פִּתְחוֹן פֶּה לְהַגִּיד תְּהִלָּתֶךָ:

O Lord, You shall open my lips Forgive me so that I will be able to open my lips to recite Your praise.

י"ח כִּ֤י ׀ לֹא־תַחְפֹּ֣ץ זֶ֣בַח וְאֶתֵּ֑נָה ע֝וֹלָ֗ה לֹ֣א תִרְצֶֽה׃

18 You do not want me to bring sacrifices;
You do not desire burnt offerings;

18 For Thou delightest not in sacrifice, else would I give it; Thou hast no pleasure in burnt-offering.

כִּי לֹא תַחְפֹּץ זֶבַח. שֶׁאֵין זֶבַח חַטָּאת בָּא עַל הַמֵּזִיד:

For You do not wish a sacrifice Because a sacrifice of a sin offering is not brought for a willful transgression.

וְאֶתֵּנָה. שֶׁאִם תַּחְפֹּץ אֶתְּנֶנּוּ לְךָ:

or I should give it For if You desired it, I would give it to You.

י"ט זִֽבְחֵ֣י אֱלֹהִים֮ ר֪וּחַ נִשְׁבָּ֫רָ֥ה לֵב־נִשְׁבָּ֥ר וְנִדְכֶּ֑ה אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים לֹ֣א תִבְזֶֽה׃

19 True sacrifice to God is a contrite spirit;
God, You will not despise
a contrite and crushed heart.

19 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.

כ׳ הֵיטִ֣יבָה בִ֭רְצוֹנְךָ אֶת־צִיּ֑וֹן תִּ֝בְנֶ֗ה חוֹמ֥וֹת יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃

20 May it please You to make Zion prosper;
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

20 Do good in Thy favour unto Zion; build Thou the walls of Jerusalem.

הֵיטִיבָה. לִבְנוֹת בֵּית מִקְדָּשְׁךָ בְּתוֹכָהּ בִּימֵי שְׁלֹמֹה בְּנִי:

do good to build Your Temple in its midst in the days of my son, Solomon.

כ"א אָ֤ז תַּחְפֹּ֣ץ זִבְחֵי־צֶ֭דֶק עוֹלָ֣ה וְכָלִ֑יל אָ֤ז יַעֲל֖וּ עַל־מִזְבַּחֲךָ֣ פָרִֽים׃

21 Then You will want sacrifices offered in righteousness,
burnt and whole offerings;
then bulls will be offered on Your altar.

21 Then wilt Thou delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, in burnt-offering and whole offering; Then will they offer bullocks upon Thine altar.

Psalms · Chapter 51

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