לַמְנַצֵּחַ אֶל הַנְּחִילוֹת מִזְמוֹר לְדָוִד

For the chief musician, for neḥilot accompaniment, a psalm by David. Although we do not know the exact meaning of neḥilot, it is reasonable to assume that it was a musical instrument used to accompany this psalm. Some commentators say that it made a buzzing sound like that of a swarm [neḥil] of bees. Others believe it refers to an ancient melody known as El HaNeḥilot to which the words of this psalm were sung. Like the preceding psalms, this takes the form of a prayer, though it does not specify the psalmist’s troubles. Instead, the psalmist presents the various ways in which people go astray, reiterating for himself and for others the importance of desiring closeness with God and choosing the right path.

אֲמָרַי הַאֲזִינָה ה'; בִּינָה הֲגִיגִי

Give ear to my words, Lord; consider my meditation. Please listen, God, to prayers of the heart as well as to those uttered by one’s lips.

הַקְשִׁיבָה לְקוֹל שַׁוְעִי מַלְכִּי וֵאלֹהָי כִּי אֵלֶיךָ אֶתְפַּלָּל

Listen to the voice of my cry, my King and my God, for to You I pray. The emphasis is on “to You”; I pray only to You, not to others.

ה'בֹּקֶר תִּשְׁמַע קוֹלִי בֹּקֶר אֶעֱרָךְ לְךָ וַאֲצַפֶּה

In the morning, each morning, day after day, Lord, You hear my voice. In the morning, each morning, I direct my prayer to You and await Your response. These are the words of someone who is wholeheartedly set on choosing the right path to follow, someone who knows that the choice of any other path would defy the will of God.

כִּי לֹא אֵל חָפֵץ רֶשַׁע אָתָּה לֹא יְגֻרְךָ רָע

For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness. God’s will is opposed to evil. No evil dwells with You.

לֹא יִתְיַצְּבוּ הוֹלְלִים לְנֶגֶד עֵינֶיךָ שָׂנֵאתָ כָּל פֹּעֲלֵי אָוֶן

The foolish, those who act impulsively, lack direction, and go astray, will not stand before Your eyes. You do not want them near You, for You hate all evildoers.

תְּאַבֵּד דֹּבְרֵי כָזָב אִישׁ דָּמִים וּמִרְמָה יְתָעֵב ה'

You destroy those who speak falsehood; the Lord abhors a man of bloodshed and deceit.

וַאֲנִי בְּרֹב חַסְדְּךָ אָבוֹא בֵיתֶךָ אֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶה אֶל הֵיכַל קָדְשְׁךָ בְּיִרְאָתֶךָ

But as for me, through Your abundant kindness, I will enter Your House. The psalmist knows fully that he is not perfect. What matters is that he is trying to choose the right path. The fact that he is allowed to enter God’s House is an expression of God’s kindness toward him. I will bow to Your Holy Temple in reverence to You.

ה' נְחֵנִי בְצִדְקָתֶךָ לְמַעַן שׁוֹרְרָי הַיְשַׁר לְפָנַי דַּרְכֶּךָ

Lead me, Lord, in Your righteousness. Place me on the right path, guide me in Your righteous ways, so that I will be able to choose the appropriate way to stand against my foes. When surrounded by enemies, a person does not always have the ability to know how to act. It is precisely then that he needs guidance in how to remain on the proper path. Straighten Your path before me so that I will be able to walk easily in the path of righteousness.

כִּי אֵין בְּפִיהוּ נְכוֹנָה קִרְבָּם הַוּוֹת קֶבֶר פָּתוּחַ גְּרֹנָם; לְשׁוֹנָם יַחֲלִיקוּן

There is no truth in what they say. In contrast with the divine path mentioned in the previous verse, the path of the enemies is marked by deceit. Their inner being is misfortune. All that is found within them is the disaster and trouble that they plot for others. Their throat is an open grave. Their mouths are likened to open tombs: They exude an inner decay; moreover, they entice and seduce others to fall within. They deceive with their tongue, frequently making use of deceptive accusations rather than honest argumentation.

הַאֲשִׁימֵם אֱלֹהִים יִפְּלוּ מִמֹּעֲצוֹתֵיהֶם בְּרֹב פִּשְׁעֵיהֶם הַדִּיחֵמוֹ כִּי מָרוּ בָךְ

Condemn them, God. Judge them as they deserve to be judged, and find them guilty. Let them fall by their own devices. Alternatively, let them fall away from their schemes and conspiracies. Cast them out for their many transgressions, for they have rebelled against You and are consequently deserving of punishment. Pesha, translated here as “transgression,” indicates a sin committed deliberately.

וְיִשְׂמְחוּ כָל חוֹסֵי בָךְ לְעוֹלָם יְרַנֵּנוּ וְתָסֵךְ עָלֵימוֹ וְיַעְלְצוּ בְךָ אֹהֲבֵי שְׁמֶךָ

The psalmist concludes on a more positive note: But let all who put their trust in You rejoice; let them sing for joy forever, and You will shelter them. Those who love Your name will exult in You.

כִּי אַתָּה תְּבָרֵךְ צַדִּיק ה' כַּצִּנָּה רָצוֹן תַּעְטְרֶנּוּ

For it is You who blesses the righteous man, Lord, surrounding him with favor, like a large shield [tzina] that covers the entire body like a suit of armor. This is how God loves and is close to the righteous.