לְדָוִד מַשְׂכִּיל אַשְׁרֵי נְשׂוּי פֶּשַׁע כְּסוּי חֲטָאָה

A contemplation, by David. The word maskil, translated here as a “contemplation,” apparently describes a type of psalm that is primarily introspective in nature, thoughts to be pondered rather than a psalm of prayer. Some commentators, however, suggest that maskil refers to the name of a particular melody. Happy is he whose crime is forgiven, whose sin is pardoned. The phrase kesuy ḥata’a, translated here as “whose sin is pardoned,” literally means “who is covered up from sin”; it is as if he is protected from any connection with sin.

אַשְׁרֵי אָדָם לֹא יַחְשֹׁב ה' לוֹ עָוֹן וְאֵין בְּרוּחוֹ רְמִיָּה

Happy is the man in whom the Lord sees no iniquity and in whose spirit there is no deceit. The psalmist admits: I do not always feel that I have attained the spiritual height of being without iniquity, but at least I honestly try to achieve repentance.

כִּי הֶחֱרַשְׁתִּי בָּלוּ עֲצָמָי בְּשַׁאֲגָתִי כָּל הַיּוֹם

His sins have caused him physical suffering: When I kept silent, my bones wasted away; so too when I roared in prayer throughout the day. Whether I am silent or I cry out in prayer, my suffering does not abate.

כִּי יוֹמָם וָלַיְלָה תִּכְבַּד עָלַי יָדֶךָ נֶהְפַּךְ לְשַׁדִּי בְּחַרְבֹנֵי קַיִץ סֶלָה

For day and night Your hand weighed upon me. As I endured painful experiences and physical punishments, I felt as if a heavy hand was putting pressure on me. My moisture, my vitality, has left me as if by summer heat, Selah.

חַטָּאתִי אוֹדִיעֲךָ וַעֲוֹנִי לֹא כִסִּיתִי אָמַרְתִּי אוֹדֶה עֲלֵי פְשָׁעַי לַה' וְאַתָּה נָשָׂאתָ עֲוֹן חַטָּאתִי סֶלָה

I acknowledged my sin to You; I did not hide my iniquity. I said: I will confess my transgressions to the Lord. And You forgave the guilt of my sin, Selah.

עַל זֹאת יִתְפַּלֵּל כָּל חָסִיד אֵלֶיךָ לְעֵת מְצֹא רַק לְשֵׁטֶף מַיִם רַבִּים אֵלָיו לֹא יַגִּיעוּ

Therefore, everyone who is devoted to You should pray at the time of searching, in times of crisis or when he is at a crossroads in life, so the torrent of mighty waters does not reach him, so that he does not end up in a situation where he is drowning, as it were, in a torrent of surging water, hopelessly overwhelmed by troubles.

אַתָּה סֵתֶר לִי; מִצַּר תִּצְּרֵנִי ; רָנֵּי פַלֵּט תְּסוֹבְבֵנִי סֶלָה

You are my hiding place; protect me from enemies. Surround me with songs of deliverance and gratitude, which will come in the wake of Your salvation, Selah.

אַשְׂכִּילְךָ וְאוֹרְךָ בְּדֶרֶךְ זוּ תֵלֵךְ ; אִיעֲצָה עָלֶיךָ עֵינִי

In this next verse, the psalmist quotes what would be God’s response to him: I will instruct you and direct you in the path you should take. I will advise you, as My eye is upon you.

אַל תִּהְיוּ כְּסוּס כְּפֶרֶד אֵין הָבִין בְּמֶתֶג וָרֶסֶן עֶדְיוֹ לִבְלוֹם בַּל קְרֹב אֵלֶיךָ

This verse, shifting from singular to plural, is directed not just to the psalmist, but to all people: Do not be like a horse or a mule, who, as mere animals, are without understanding, whose wildness must be restrained with bit and bridle lest it approach you and injure you.

רַבִּים מַכְאוֹבִים לרָשָׁע וְהַבּוֹטֵחַ בַּה' חֶסֶד יְסוֹבְבֶנּוּ

In summation: There are many maladies for the wicked, but one trusting in the Lord is enveloped in kindness.

שִׂמְחוּ בַה' וְגִילוּ צַדִּיקִים וְהַרְנִינוּ כָּל יִשְׁרֵי לֵב

Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous ones; sing out with joy, all you whose hearts are upright.