מִכְתָּם לְדָוִד שָׁמְרֵנִי אֵל כִּי חָסִיתִי בָךְ

An instruction by David. Almighty, protect me, for I take refuge in You.

אָמַרְתְּ לַה' אֲדֹנָי אָתָּה טוֹבָתִי בַּל עָלֶיךָ

You, my soul, said to the Lord: You are my Lord. I have no goodness but from You. The literal meaning of this last phrase is “My goodness is not upon You,” an obscure expression. It could mean the following: It is not incumbent upon You to bestow goodness on me. That is, I cannot consider myself virtuous and deserving of reward from You for having chosen to cling to You, for the goodness You have already bestowed upon me is boundless.

לִקְדוֹשִׁים אֲשֶׁר בָּאָרֶץ הֵמָּה וְאַדִּירֵי כָּל חֶפְצִי בָם

I join myself with the holy of the earth, righteous men, as opposed to the holy beings in heaven, the angels. And the majestic ones, all my wishes are to be counted with them. In contrast, the psalmist notes what he wishes to entirely avoid:

יִרְבּוּ עַצְּבוֹתָם אַחֵר מָהָרוּ בַּל אַסִּיךְ נִסְכֵּיהֶם מִדָּם וּבַל אֶשָּׂא אֶת שְׁמוֹתָם עַל שְׂפָתָי

They are engaged in many mundane matters, they who have dealings with strange things, literally, “other things,” meaning idols, which are often termed “other gods.” I will not pour their libations of blood or even carry their names on my lips. The psalmist desires to thoroughly distance himself from anything related to idol worship.

ה'מְנָת חֶלְקִי וְכוֹסִי אַתָּה תּוֹמִיךְ גּוֹרָלִי

Unlike them, the Lord is my lot and my portion; You sustain my fate.

חֲבָלִים נָפְלוּ לִי בַּנְּעִמִים אַף נַחֲלָת שָׁפְרָה עָלָי

With regard to his choice of acknowledging God, the psalmist says: The lots [h·], which can refer to portions of land, lottery slips, or the actual winnings of a lottery, that have fallen to me are pleasant. Since “You sustain my fate” (verse 5), I am assured that the portions that have fallen to me are the best. My estate, all that I have been fortunate to receive, is lovely.

אֲבָרֵךְ אֶת ה' אֲשֶׁר יְעָצָנִי אַף לֵילוֹת יִסְּרוּנִי כִלְיוֹתָי

I bless the Lord who counsels me, whose guidance has prevented me from choosing the wrong path. Even on nights when my thoughts are anguished, I am continually focused on finding the right path, and I regret the poor choices I have made in the past.

שִׁוִּיתִי ה' לְנֶגְדִּי תָמִיד כִּי מִימִינִי בַּל אֶמּוֹט

I set the Lord before me always. He is on my right, always coming to my assistance; I will not stumble.

לָכֵן שָׂמַח לִבִּי וַיָּגֶל כְּבוֹדִי אַף בְּשָׂרִי יִשְׁכֹּן לָבֶטַח

Because of this, God’s help, my heart is glad. My being is joyous; my body rests securely.

כִּי לֹא תַעֲזֹב נַפְשִׁי לִשְׁאוֹל לֹא תִתֵּן חֲסִידְךָ לִרְאוֹת שָׁחַת

For You will not abandon me to the netherworld; You will not allow Your devoted one to see the grave.

תּוֹדִיעֵנִי אֹרַח חַיִּים שׂבַע שְׂמָחוֹת אֶת פָּנֶיךָ נְעִמוֹת בִּימִינְךָ נֶצַח

May You show me the path of life, through which I may attain abundance and joy in Your presence. Eternal pleasure is by Your right hand. As you are my portion (verse 5), I forever merit the good and pleasure that result from being with you.