Chapter 55
David
composed this psalm upon escaping from Jerusalem in the face of the slanderers,
Doeg and Achitofel, who had declared him deserving of death. David had
considered Achitofel a friend and accorded him the utmost honor, but Achitofel
betrayed him and breached their covenant. David curses all his enemies, so that
all generations should "know, and sin no more."
1. For the Conductor,
with instrumental music, a maskil by David. 2. Listen to my prayer, O G-d, do
not hide from my pleas. 3. Pay heed to me and answer me, as I lament in my
distress and moan - 4. because of the shout of the enemy and the oppression of
the wicked; for they accuse me of evil and hate me passionately. 5. My heart
shudders within me, and the terrors of death have descended upon me. 6. Fear
and trembling penetrate me, and I am enveloped with horror. 7. And I said,
"If only I had wings like the dove! I would fly off and find rest. 8.
Behold, I would wander afar, and lodge in the wilderness forever. 9. I would
hurry to find shelter for myself from the stormy wind, from the tempest.” 10.
Consume, O Lord, confuse their tongue; for I have seen violence and strife in
the city.1 11. Day and night they encircle her upon her walls,
and iniquity and vice are in her midst. 12. Treachery is within her; fraud and
deceit never depart from her square. 13. For it is not the enemy who taunts
me-that I could bear; nor my foe who raises himself against me, that I could
hide from him. 14. But it is you, a man of my equal, my guide and my intimate.
15. Together we took sweet counsel; we walked with the throng to the house of G-d.
16. May He incite death upon them, let them descend to the pit alive; for there
is evil in their dwelling, within them. 17. As for me, I call to G-d, and the
Lord will save me. 18. Evening, morning and noon, I lament and moan-and He
hears my voice. 19. He redeemed my soul in peace from battles against me,
because of the many who were with me. 20. May G-d-He who is enthroned from the
days of old, Selah-hear and humble those in whom there is no change, and who do
not fear G-d. 21. He extended his hands against his allies, he profaned his
covenant. 22. Smoother than butter are the words of his mouth, but war is in
his heart; his words are softer than oil, yet they are curses. 23. Cast your
burden upon the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous
man falter. 24. And You, O G-d, will bring them down to the nethermost pit;
bloodthirsty and treacherous men shall not live out half their days; but I will
trust in You.
Chapter 56
David
composed this psalm while in mortal danger at the palace of Achish, brother of
Goliath. In his distress David accepts vows upon himself.
1. For the Conductor, of
the mute dove1 far away. By David, a michtam, 2 when the Philistines seized him in Gath. 2. Favor
me, O G-d, for man longs to swallow me; the warrior oppresses me every day. 3.
My watchful enemies long to swallow me every day, for many battle me, O Most
High! 4. On the day I am afraid, I trust in You. 5. [I trust] in G-d and praise
His word; in G-d I trust, I do not fear-what can [man of] flesh do to me? 6.
Every day they make my words sorrowful; all their thoughts about me are for
evil. 7. They gather and hide, they watch my steps, when they hope [to capture]
my soul. 8. Should escape be theirs in reward for their iniquity? Cast down the
nations in anger, O G-d! 9. You have counted my wanderings; place my tears in
Your flask-are they not in Your record? 10. When my enemies will retreat on the
day I cry out, with this I will know that G-d is with me. 11. When G-d deals
strictly, I praise His word; when the Lord deals mercifully, I praise His word.
12. In G-d I trust, I do not fear-what can man do to me? 13. My vows to You are
upon me, O G-d; I will repay with thanksgiving offerings to You. 14. For You
saved my soul from death-even my feet from stumbling-to walk before G-d in the
light of life.
Chapter 57
David
composed this psalm while hiding from Saul in a cave, facing grave danger. Like
Jacob did when confronted with Esau, David prayed that he neither be killed nor
be forced to kill. In the merit of his trust in G-d, G-d wrought wonders to
save him.
1.
For the Conductor, a plea to be spared destruction. By David, a michtam, when
he fled from Saul in the cave. 2. Favor me, O G-d, favor me, for in You my soul
took refuge, and in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge until the
disaster passes. 3. I will call to G-d the Most High; to the Almighty Who
fulfills [His promise] to me. 4. He will send from heaven, and save me from the
humiliation of those who long to swallow me, Selah; G-d will send forth His
kindness and truth. 5. My soul is in the midst of lions, I lie among fiery men;
their teeth are spears and arrows, their tongue a sharp sword. 6. Be exalted
above the heavens, O G-d; let Your glory be upon all the earth. 7. They laid a
trap for my steps, they bent down my soul; they dug a pit before me, [but] they
themselves fell into it, Selah. 8. My heart is steadfast, O G-d, my heart is
steadfast; I will sing and chant praise. 9. Awake, my soul! Awake, O harp and
lyre! I shall awaken the dawn. 10. I will thank You among the nations, my Lord;
I will praise You among the peoples. 11. For Your kindness reaches till the
heavens, Your truth till the skies. 12. Be exalted above the heavens, O G-d;
let Your glory be over all the earth.
TIKKUN HAKLALI
Chapter 59
12. Do not kill them, lest my nation forget; drive them about with Your
might and impoverish them, O our Shield, my Master, 13. [for] the sin of their
mouth, the word of their lips; let them be trapped by their arrogance. At the
sight of their accursed state and deterioration, [people] will recount. 14.
Consume them in wrath, consume them and they will be no more; and they will
know that G-d rules in Jacob, to the ends of the earth, Selah.
PSALM 89
20. Then You spoke in a vision to Your pious ones and said: "I have
granted aid to [David] the mighty one; I have exalted the one chosen from among
the people.
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