א׳
שִׁגָּי֗וֹן לְדָ֫וִ֥ד אֲשֶׁר־שָׁ֥ר לַיהוָ֑ה עַל־דִּבְרֵי־כ֝֗וּשׁ בֶּן־יְמִינִֽי׃
1
Shiggaion of David, which he sang to the LORD, concerning Cush, a Benjaminite.
1
Shiggaion of David, which he sang unto the LORD, concerning Cush a Benjamite.
שִׁגָּיוֹן לְדָוִד. מְנַחֵם אָמַר שֶׁגַּם זֶה אֶחָד מִשְּׁמוֹת הַזֶּמֶר עַל שֵׁם הַכְּלִי, וְכֵן פֵּרֵשׁ ״עַל שִׁגְיֹנוֹת״ (חבקוק ג:א), וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ פֵּרְשׁוּ לְשׁוֹן מִשְׁגֶּה שֶׁנִּתְוַדָּה וְנִתְפַּלֵּל עַל הַשִּׁגָּיוֹן שֶׁאָמַר שִׁירָה עַל מַפַּלְתּוֹ שֶׁל שָׁאוּל כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וַיְדַבֵּר דָּוִד לַה׳ וְגוֹ׳״ (שמואל ב כב:א), אֲבָל עִנְיַן הַמִּזְמוֹר אֵינוֹ מוֹכִיחַ עַל כָּךְ. וְאוֹמֵר אֲנִי שֶׁאֲמָרוֹ עַל עִסְקֵי יִשְׁבִּי בְנֹב (שמואל ב כא:טז) שֶׁבָּא עָלָיו עַל עָנְשׁוֹ שֶׁל שָׁאוּל כְּמוֹ שֶׁפֵּרְשׁוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ שֶׁאָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עַל יָדְךָ נִטְרַד דּוֹאֵג הָאֲדוֹמִי עַל יָדְךָ נֶהֱרַג שָׁאוּל וּבָנָיו כוּ׳ (כִּדְאִיתָא בְּחֵלֶק שְׁגִיאוֹת שֶׁבִּקֵּשׁ דָּוִד לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְהִמָּסֵר בְּיַד שׂוֹנֵא וְלֹא יִכְלֶה זַרְעוֹ ס״א אינו), וְהָפַךְ דָּוִד אֶת תְּפִלָּתוֹ וְהִתְפַּלֵּל שֶׁלֹּא יִפֹּל בְּיַד אוֹיֵב. וְכֵן פִּתְרוֹנוֹ מִשְׁגֶּה שָׁר דָּוִד לַה׳ עַל שֶׁשָּׁגַג לוֹמַר לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְמָסְרוֹ בְּיַד אוֹיֵב עַל דִּבְרֵי שָׁאוּל שֶׁנֶּהֱרַג עַל יָדוֹ. דָּבָר אַחֵר: עַל שִׁגָּיוֹן כְּנַף הַמְּעִיל אֲשֶׁר כָּרַת לְשָׁאוּל (שמואל א כד:ה):
A shiggayon of David Menachem says (p. 170) that this, too, is one of the names of a melody named for the instrument, and so he explained “on shigyonoth,” [in Habakkuk 3:1]. But our Sages (Mid. Ps. 7:18) explained it as an expression of error, that he confessed and prayed about the error that he had [committed by] reciting a song upon Saul’s downfall, as it is stated (in II Sam. 22:1): “And David spoke to the Lord, etc.” The contents of the psalm, however, do not indicate this, because it speaks of the nations (in verse 9): “May the Lord judge the peoples.” I, therefore, say that he recited it concerning Ishbi in Nob (II Sam. 21:16), who came upon him as a punishment for Saul; as our Rabbis explained, that the Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, “Through you, Doeg the Edomite was banished; through you, Saul and his sons were slain, etc.” as is stated in “Chelek” (Sanh. 95a). The errors that David asked of the Holy One, blessed be He, [were] that he [himself] be delivered into the hands of his enemies and that his descendants should not be destroyed. (The last sentence does not appear in all editions.) [Therefore, because his life was endangered,] David reversed his prayer and prayed that he should not fall into the hands of his enemies. Now this is its meaning: An error that David sang to the Lord because he had erred in saying to the Holy One, blessed be He, to deliver him into the hands of his enemies on account of Saul, who was slain because of him. Another explanation: Concerning the error of the skirt of Saul’s coat, which he had severed.
כּוּשׁ. מַה כּוּשִׁי מְשֻׁנֶּה בְּעוֹרוֹ, אַף שָׁאוּל מְשֻׁנֶּה בְּמַעֲשָׂיו (מועד קטן טז:):
Cush Just as a Cushite has unusual skin, so did Saul have unusual deeds.
ב׳
יְהוָ֣ה אֱ֭לֹהַי בְּךָ֣ חָסִ֑יתִי הוֹשִׁיעֵ֥נִי מִכָּל־רֹ֝דְפַ֗י וְהַצִּילֵֽנִי׃
2
O LORD, my God, in You I seek refuge;
deliver me from all my pursuers and save me,
2
O LORD my God, in Thee have I taken refuge; Save me from all them that pursue me, and deliver me;
ג׳
פֶּן־יִטְרֹ֣ף כְּאַרְיֵ֣ה נַפְשִׁ֑י פֹּ֝רֵ֗ק וְאֵ֣ין מַצִּֽיל׃
3
lest, like a lion, they tear me apart,
rending in pieces, and no one save me.
3
Lest he tear my soul like a lion, Rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.
פּוֹרֵק. לְשׁוֹן ״פָּרְקוּ נִזְמֵי הַזָּהָב״ (שמות לב:ב):
rending it to pieces Heb. פרק, an expression of (Exod. 32:2): “Break off (פרקו) the golden rings.”
ד׳
יְהוָ֣ה אֱ֭לֹהַי אִם־עָשִׂ֣יתִי זֹ֑את אִֽם־יֶשׁ־עָ֥וֶל בְּכַפָּֽי׃
4
O LORD, my God, if I have done such things,
if my hands bear the guilt of wrongdoing,
4
O LORD my God, if I have done this; If there be iniquity in my hands;
אִם עָשִׂיתִי זֹאת. מַה שֶּׁמְפֹרָשׁ אַחֲרָיו:
if I have done this What is delineated after it.
ה׳
אִם־גָּ֭מַלְתִּי שֽׁוֹלְמִ֥י רָ֑ע וָאֲחַלְּצָ֖ה צוֹרְרִ֣י רֵיקָֽם׃
5
if I have dealt evil to my ally—
I who rescued my foe without reward—
5
If I have requited him that did evil unto me, Or spoiled mine adversary unto emptiness;
אִם גָּמַלְתִּי שׁוֹלְמִי רָע. אִם גְּמַלְתִּיו כִּגְמוּלוֹ:
if I repaid the one who did evil to me If I repaid him according to his deeds.
וָאֲחַלְּצָה צוֹרְרִי רֵיקָם. שִׁחַתִּי אֶת חֲלִיצָתוֹ בְּכָרְתִּי אֶת כְּנַף מְעִילוֹ, אִם לְהַשְׁחִית וּלְחַלְּצוֹ וּלְהַעֲמִידוֹ רֵיקָם וּבְשִׂנְאָה עָשִׂיתִי? אֶלָּא לְהוֹדִיעוֹ, שֶׁהָיָה מָסוּר בְּיָדִי לְהָרְגוֹ וְלֹא הֲרַגְתִּיו. וָאֲחַלְּצָה לְשׁוֹן הַפְשָׁטָה:
and I stripped my adversary into emptiness I destroyed his garment when I severed the skirt of his coat. Did I do it to destroy and to strip him and cause him to stand empty, and [was it done] with hatred? Only to let him know that he was delivered into my hand to kill him, and I did not kill him. [The word] חלצה is an expression of stripping off clothing.
ו׳
יִֽרַדֹּ֥ף אוֹיֵ֨ב ׀ נַפְשִׁ֡י וְיַשֵּׂ֗ג וְיִרְמֹ֣ס לָאָ֣רֶץ חַיָּ֑י וּכְבוֹדִ֓י ׀ לֶעָפָ֖ר יַשְׁכֵּ֣ן סֶֽלָה׃
6
then let the enemy pursue and overtake me;
let him trample my life to the ground,
and lay my body in the dust. Selah.
6
Let the enemy pursue my soul, and overtake it, And tread my life down to the earth; Yea, let him lay my glory in the dust. Selah
ז׳
ק֘וּמָ֤ה יְהוָ֨ה ׀ בְּאַפֶּ֗ךָ הִ֭נָּשֵׂא בְּעַבְר֣וֹת צוֹרְרָ֑י וְע֥וּרָה אֵ֝לַ֗י מִשְׁפָּ֥ט צִוִּֽיתָ׃
7
Rise, O LORD, in Your anger;
assert Yourself against the fury of my foes;
bestir Yourself on my behalf;
You have ordained judgment.
7
Arise, O LORD, in Thine anger, Lift up Thyself in indignation against mine adversaries; Yea, awake for me at the judgment which Thou hast commanded.
קוּמָה ה׳ בְּאַפֶּךָ. עַל שׂוֹנְאַי, כְּגוֹן יִשְׁבִּי וְאֶחָיו וּפְלִשְׁתִּים (שמואל ב כא:טז), שֶׁלֹּא אֶמָּסֵר בְּיָדָם:
Arise, O Lord, with Your wrath against my enemies, such as Ishbi and his brothers and the Philistines, that I should not be delivered into their hands.
הִנָּשֵׂא. הִתְפָּאֵר לְהַרְאוֹת נִקְמַת עֶבְרָה בְּהִתְעַבֶּרְךָ עֲלֵיהֶם:
exalt Yourself boast, to show me the revenge of Your anger when You become angry with them.
וְעוּרָה אֵלַי. שֶׁאוּכַל לַעֲשׂוֹת בָּהֶם מִשְׁפָּט נְקָמָה אֲשֶׁר צִוִּיתָ, וְהֵיכָן צִוִּיתָ? ״תְּרֹעֵם בְּשֵׁבֶט בַּרְזֶל״ (תהלים ב:ט), ״וְאָיַבְתִּי אֶת אֹיְבֶיךָ״ (שמות כג:כב). זֶה מָצָאתִי בַמִּדְרָשׁ:
and awaken for me that I should be able to execute upon them the judgment of revenge that You commanded. Now where did You command [it]? “You shall break them with an iron rod” (above 2:9). “Then I will be an enemy to your enemies” (Exod. 23:22). I found this in the Midrash (Mid. Ps. 7:6; Tan. Ki Thissa 20, Buber 13 with variations).
ח׳
וַעֲדַ֣ת לְ֭אֻמִּים תְּסוֹבְבֶ֑ךָּ וְ֝עָלֶ֗יהָ לַמָּר֥וֹם שֽׁוּבָה׃
8
Let the assembly of peoples gather about You,
with You enthroned above, on high.
8
And let the congregation of the peoples compass Thee about, And over them return Thou on high.
וַעֲדַת לְאֻמִּים תְּסוֹבְבֶךָּ. אִם יַחְזְרוּ אַחֲרֶיךָ לְהוֹשִׁיעָם אַל תִּשְׁמַע לְקוֹלָם, הִתְרַחֵק מֵעֲלֵיהֶם וְשׁוּב וְשֵׁב בִּמְקוֹמְךָ בַּמָּרוֹם רפיש״א בְּלַעַ״ז. דָּבָר אַחֵר: לַמָּרוֹם שׁוּבָה לְהַרְאוֹת לָהֶם שֶׁיָּדְךָ עֶלְיוֹנָה:
And [if] a congregation of kingdoms surrounds You If troops of nations follow You to save them, do not hearken to their voice. Distance Yourself from them and go back to sit in Your place on high; repoxa in Old French, repose. Another interpretation: Return on high to show them that You have the upper hand.
ט׳
יְהוָה֮ יָדִ֪ין עַ֫מִּ֥ים שָׁפְטֵ֥נִי יְהוָ֑ה כְּצִדְקִ֖י וּכְתֻמִּ֣י עָלָֽי׃
9
The LORD judges the peoples;
vindicate me, O LORD,
for the righteousness and blamelessness that are mine.
9
O LORD, who ministerest judgment to the peoples, Judge me, O LORD, According to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.
ה׳ יָדִין עַמִּים. הֲפוֹךְ הַדִּין מֵעָלֵינוּ וּתְנֵהוּ עַל הָרְשָׁעִים:
May the Lord judge the peoples Reverse the sentence from upon us and place it upon the nations.
יָדִין. לְשׁוֹן יִסּוּרִין:
judge An expression of chastisements.
שָׁפְטֵנִי ה׳ כְּצִדְקִי. שְׁפוֹט לְפִי מַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים שֶׁבְּיָדָם וְלֹא לְפִי הָעֲבֵירוֹת:
judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness But judge Israel according to the good deeds they have done and not according to the sins.
י׳
יִגְמָר־נָ֬א רַ֨ע ׀ רְשָׁעִים֮ וּתְכוֹנֵ֪ן צַ֫דִּ֥יק וּבֹחֵ֣ן לִ֭בּ֗וֹת וּכְלָי֗וֹת אֱלֹהִ֥ים צַדִּֽיק׃
10
Let the evil of the wicked come to an end,
but establish the righteous;
he who probes the mind and conscience is God the righteous.
10
Oh that a full measure of evil might come upon the wicked, And that Thou wouldest establish the righteous; For the righteous God trieth the heart and reins.
יִגְמָר. לְשׁוֹן כִּלָּיוֹן, וְכֵן פָּתַר מְנַחֵם ״גָּמַר אֹמֶר״ (תהלים עז:ט), ״גָּמַר חָסִיד״ (תהלים יב:ב), וְכֵן כֻּלָּם (ס״א אינו):
destroy Heb. יגמר, lit. finish. An expression of destruction, and so did Menachem (p. 57) interpret: (77:9), “destroyed (גמר) His word”; (12:2), “a pious man has perished (גמר),” and so all of them. (This does not appear in certain editions.)
וּתְכוֹנֵן צַדִּיק וּבֹחֵן לִבּוֹת. אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ מִי הוּא הַצַּדִּיק שֶׁתְּכוֹנְנֵהוּ:
and may You establish the righteous...tests the hearts You know who is the righteous man that You may establish him.
אֱלֹהִים צַדִּיק. כֵּן שְׁמֶךָ:
the righteous God That is Your name.
י"א
מָֽגִנִּ֥י עַל־אֱלֹהִ֑ים מ֝וֹשִׁ֗יעַ יִשְׁרֵי־לֵֽב׃
11
I look to God to shield me;
the deliverer of the upright.
11
My shield is with God, Who saveth the upright in heart.
י"ב
אֱ֭לֹהִים שׁוֹפֵ֣ט צַדִּ֑יק וְ֝אֵ֗ל זֹעֵ֥ם בְּכָל־יֽוֹם׃
12
God vindicates the righteous;
God pronounces doom each day.
12
God is a righteous judge, Yea, a God that hath indignation every day:
שׁוֹפֵט צַדִּיק. אַתָּה לִשְׁפּוֹט צֶדֶק:
a righteous judge are You to judge with righteousness.
זוֹעֵם בְּכָל יוֹם. כְּשֶׁרוֹאֶה אֶת מַעֲשֵׂה הָרְשָׁעִים:
is incensed every day when He sees the deed of the wicked.
י"ג
אִם־לֹ֣א יָ֭שׁוּב חַרְבּ֣וֹ יִלְט֑וֹשׁ קַשְׁתּ֥וֹ דָ֝רַ֗ךְ וַֽיְכוֹנְנֶֽהָ׃
13
If one does not turn back, but whets his sword,
bends his bow and aims it,
13
If a man turn not, He will whet His sword, He hath bent His bow, and made it ready;
אִם לֹא יָשׁוּב. הָרָשָׁע מֵרִשְׁעוֹ:
If he does not repent [i.e., if] the wicked [does not repent] of his wickedness.
חַרְבּוֹ יִלְטוֹשׁ. הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עָלָיו יִלְטוֹשׁ, פוֹרְבִּירָ״א בְּלַעַ״ז, וְיִדְרֹךְ קַשְׁתּוֹ:
He will whet His sword The Holy One, blessed be He, [will whet His sword] for him. ילטוש means forbira in Old French, to polish, furbish; and He will tread His bow.
י"ד
וְ֭לוֹ הֵכִ֣ין כְּלֵי־מָ֑וֶת חִ֝צָּ֗יו לְֽדֹלְקִ֥ים יִפְעָֽל׃
14
then against himself he readies deadly weapons,
and makes his arrows sharp.
14
He hath also prepared for him the weapons of death, Yea, His arrows which He made sharp.
וְלוֹ. וְלָרָשָׁע הֵכִין הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא כְּלֵי מָוֶת:
And...for him And for the wicked man, the Holy One, blessed be He, has prepared deadly weapons.
לְדֹלְקִים. לְרוֹדְפִים, כְּמוֹ ״כִּי דָלַקְתָּ אַחֲרָי״ (בראשית לא:לו). וְכֵן פֵּרוּשׁוֹ: חִצָּיו לַהֲרֹג אֶת הָרְשָׁעִים הַדּוֹלְקִים אֶת הַצַּדִּיקִים יִפְעַל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וְיַזְמִינֵם לַהֲמִיתָם. כָּל דְּלִיקָה לְשׁוֹן רְדִיפָה הִיא:
for pursuers Heb. לדלקים, for pursuers, as (in Gen. 31:36): “that you pursued (דלקת) me.” And this is its meaning: His arrows to slay the wicked who pursue the righteous, the Holy One, blessed be He, will make and prepare them to slay them. Every [instance of] דליקה is an expression of pursuit.
ט"ו
הִנֵּ֥ה יְחַבֶּל־אָ֑וֶן וְהָרָ֥ה עָ֝מָ֗ל וְיָ֣לַד שָֽׁקֶר׃
15
See, he hatches evil, conceives mischief,
and gives birth to fraud.
15
Behold, he travaileth with iniquity; Yea, he conceiveth mischief, and bringeth forth falsehood.
יְחַבֶּל. לְשׁוֹן הֵרָיוֹן וְלֵידָה, כְּמוֹ ״שָׁמָּה חִבְּלַתְךָ אִמֶּךָ״ (שיר השירים ח:ה):
Behold, he travails Heb. יחבל an expression of conception and birth, as (in Song 8:5): “there your mother was in travail with you (חבלתך).”
וְהָרָה עָמָל וְיָלַד שָׁקֶר. כָּל מַה שֶּׁהוּא מוֹלִיד וְיָגֵעַ – הַכֹּל מְשַׁקֵּר בּוֹ, שֶׁאֵינוֹ מִתְקַיֵּם בְּיָדוֹ; מַתְלָא אָמַר : כָּל מַה דְּשִׁקְרָא מוֹלִיד, פַּחְתָּא נָסְבָא:
he conceives mischief, and gives birth to lies Whatever he begets and toils, everything betrays him. The adage says: Whatever lies beget, diminution takes.
ט"ז
בּ֣וֹר כָּ֭רָֽה וַֽיַּחְפְּרֵ֑הוּ וַ֝יִּפֹּ֗ל בְּשַׁ֣חַת יִפְעָֽל׃
16
He has dug a pit and deepened it,
and will fall into the trap he made.
16
He hath digged a pit, and hollowed it, And is fallen into the ditch which he made.
י"ז
יָשׁ֣וּב עֲמָל֣וֹ בְרֹאשׁ֑וֹ וְעַ֥ל קָ֝דְקֳד֗וֹ חֲמָס֥וֹ יֵרֵֽד׃
17
His mischief will recoil upon his own head;
his lawlessness will come down upon his skull.
17
His mischief shall return upon his own head, And his violence shall come down upon his own pate.
י"ח
אוֹדֶ֣ה יְהוָ֣ה כְּצִדְק֑וֹ וַ֝אֲזַמְּרָ֗ה שֵֽׁם־יְהוָ֥ה עֶלְיֽוֹן׃
18
I will praise the LORD for His righteousness,
and sing a hymn to the name of the LORD Most High.
18
I will give thanks unto the LORD according to His righteousness; And will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.
אוֹדֶה ה׳ כְּצִדְקוֹ. כְּשֶׁיַּצְדִּיק הַדִּין הַגָּמוּר לִשְׁפּוֹט הָרְשָׁעִים כְּרִשְׁעָם:
I will thank the Lord according to His righteousness When He executes strict justice with righteousness, to judge the wicked according to their wickedness.