לְדָוִד מִזְמוֹר

A psalm of David. I sing kindness and justice; to You, Lord, I sing praises.

חֶסֶד וּמִשְׁפָּט אָשִׁירָה; לְךָ ה' אֲזַמֵּרָה אַשְׂכִּילָה בְּדֶרֶךְ תָּמִים מָתַי תָּבוֹא אֵלָי

I ponder the path of integrity. As I attempt to understand, to seek the right path and act with integrity, I ask of God: When will You come and reveal Yourself to me? David begins to describe his virtuous personal life: I walk in the innocence of my heart in my house.

אֶתְהַלֵּךְ בְּתָם לְבָבִי בְּקֶרֶב בֵּיתִי לֹא אָשִׁית לְנֶגֶד עֵינַי דְּבַר בְּלִיָּעַל עֲשׂה סֵטִים שָׂנֵאתִי לֹא יִדְבַּק בִּי

I set nothing contemptible before my eyes, attempting to avoid even witnessing anything sinful. I hate perversity; it does not cling to me. I have nothing to do with it.

לֵבָב עִקֵּשׁ יָסוּר מִמֶּנִּי; רָע לֹא אֵדָע

A crooked heart stays far away from me. I attempt to know no evil.

מְלָשְׁנִי בַסֵּתֶר רֵעֵהוּ אוֹתוֹ אַצְמִית גְּבַהּ עֵינַיִם וּרְחַב לֵבָב אֹתוֹ לֹא אוּכָל

One who secretly slanders his neighbor, I will cut him down. Not only will I keep such a person out of favor, I will seek to destroy him. I will not tolerate anyone with a proud demeanor or a lustful heart.

עֵינַי בְּנֶאֶמְנֵי אֶרֶץ לָשֶׁבֶת עִמָּדִי הֹלֵךְ בְּדֶרֶךְ תָּמִים הוּא יְשָׁרְתֵנִי

My eyes are instead on the faithful and upright people of the land, insisting that only they will dwell with me. He who walks in the path of integrity, it is only he who will serve me.

לֹא יֵשֵׁב בְּקֶרֶב בֵּיתִי עֹשֵׂה רְמִיָּה דֹּבֵר שְׁקָרִים לֹא יִכּוֹן לְנֶגֶד עֵינָי

No deceiver or liar will dwell in my house; he will not stand firm before me.

לַבְּקָרִים אַצְמִית כָּל רִשְׁעֵי אָרֶץ לְהַכְרִית מֵעִיר ה'כָּל פֹּעֲלֵי אָוֶן

Every morning I cut down all the wicked of the land, ridding the city of the Lord, Jerusalem, of all evildoers.