לַמְנַצֵּחַ מִזְמוֹר לְדָוִד

For the chief musician, a psalm by David.

חַלְּצֵנִי ה' מֵאָדָם רָע מֵאִישׁ חֲמָסִים תִּנְצְרֵנִי

Rescue me, Lord, from evil people; protect me from unjust men,

אֲשֶׁר חָשְׁבוּ רָעוֹת בְּלֵב כָל יוֹם יָגוּרוּ מִלְחָמוֹת

those who devise wicked plans in their hearts, each day provoking wars. It is as if they live their lives in continual warfare.

שָׁנְנוּ לְשׁוֹנָם כְּמוֹ נָחָשׁ חֲמַת עַכְשׁוּב תַּחַת שְׂפָתֵימוֹ סֶלָה

They sharpen their tongues like a serpent. In the book of Psalms and elsewhere in the Bible, the serpent’s tongue symbolizes slander. The venom of spiders is under their lips, Selah.

שָׁמְרֵנִי ה' מִידֵי רָשָׁע מֵאִישׁ חֲמָסִים תִּנְצְרֵנִי אֲשֶׁר חָשְׁבוּ לִדְחוֹת פְּעָמָי

Guard me, Lord, from the hands of the wicked; protect me from unjust men who seek to trip my feet.

טָמְנוּ גֵאִים פַּח לִי וַחֲבָלִים ; פָּרְשׂוּ רֶשֶׁת לְיַד מַעְגָּל ; מֹקְשִׁים שָׁתוּ לִי סֶלָה

Such men attempt to bring about my downfall, and for this purpose they use all manner of cunning tricks. The arrogant laid a trap for me; they spread a net with cords by the wayside.Animals are often trapped in this fashion; their feet get entangled in netting that is put near places that they frequent. And set snares for me, Selah. The psalmist is referring to various traps that his enemies set for him.

אָמַרְתִּי לַה' אֵלִי אָתָּה הַאֲזִינָה ה' קוֹל תַּחֲנוּנָי

At such times, the psalmist has no recourse other than prayer. I said to the Lord: You are my God; listen, Lord, to the sound of my pleas.

אלוהים אֲדֹנָי עֹז יְשׁוּעָתִי סַכֹּתָה לְרֹאשִׁי בְּיוֹם נָשֶׁק

Lord, my Lord, strength of my deliverance, You shielded my head on the day of battle.

אַל תִּתֵּן ה' מַאֲוַיֵּי רָשָׁע זְמָמוֹ אַל תָּפֵק יָרוּמוּ סֶלָה

Lord, do not grant the desires of the wicked. Do not bring their scheme to fruition. Do not allow the wicked to succeed in carrying out their evil plans. May they depart from me, Selah.

רֹאשׁ מְסִבָּי עֲמַל שְׂפָתֵימוֹ יְכַסֵּמוֹ

May the mischief of their lips cover the heads of those who surround me. The essence of David’s request is that the evildoers be brought down by their own evil.

יִמּוֹטוּ עֲלֵיהֶם גֶּחָלִים ; בָּאֵשׁ יַפִּלֵם בְמַהֲמֹרוֹת ; בַּל יָקוּמוּ

May burning coals fall on them; may they be cast into the fire, into deep pits, another means of trapping animals, never to rise.

אִישׁ לָשׁוֹן בַּל יִכּוֹן בָּאָרֶץ אִישׁ חָמָס רָע יְצוּדֶנּוּ לְמַדְחֵפֹת

May slanderers have no place in the land; may evil trap unjust men and thrust them into the depths.

יָדַעְתִּ כִּי יַעֲשֶׂה ה' דִּין עָנִי מִשְׁפַּט אֶבְיֹנִים

In contrast to the fate of the wicked, who are brought down by their own evil deeds, the righteous will eventually be aided and rescued. I know the Lord will minister justice to the poor, and mete out fair judgment to the needy.

אַךְ צַדִּיקִים יוֹדוּ לִשְׁמֶךָ יֵשְׁבוּ יְשָׁרִים אֶת פָּנֶיךָ

And after the enemy has collapsed, the righteous will surely give thanks to Your name; the upright will dwell in peace in Your presence.