| 1. For the conductor, on machalath, a maskil of David. |
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א. |
| on machalath: The name of a musical instrument. Another explanation: concerning the malady (מחלתן) of Israel when the Temple will be destroyed. He already recited another psalm resembling this one (above 14): “The fool said in his heart, ‘there is no God, etc.’”, One relates to the destruction of the First Temple and this one, to the Second Temple. |
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| 2. The fool said in his heart, "There is no God"; they have dealt corruptly; they have committed abominable injustice; no one does good. |
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| The fool said in his heart: This is Titus; when he cut into the curtain and his sword was dripping with blood, he said that he had killed [God] Himself. |
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| 3. God looked down from heaven upon the sons of men to see whether there is a man of understanding, who seeks God. |
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| 4. They are all dross; together they have spoiled; no one does good, not even one. |
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| dross: Heb. סג, an expression of סיגים, dross. |
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| not even one: of all his armies will protest against his deeds. |
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| 5. Did not the workers of iniquity know? Those who devoured My people partook of a feast; they did not call upon the Lord. |
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| Did not: Should not those who devour My people like a meal of bread, and who did not call upon the Lord, know that ultimately they will experience there a great fear at the end of days? |
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| 6. There they were in great fear; there was never such fear, for God scattered the bones of those who camp around you; You have put them to shame, for God rejected them. |
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| there was never such fear: This fear was not like the first fear that came over Belshazzar, for in this redemption the Holy One, blessed be He, scattered the bones of חוֹנָ, those who camp around you, Jerusalem, as the matter that is stated (Zech. 14:12): “His flesh will waste away, etc.” Menachem (p. 91) interpreted it that way, but Dunash (pp. 63f.) interpreted it as (Prov. 22:6): “Train (חנך) a child according to his way” ; the “chaph” of חוֹנָ is a radical as the “chaph” of חֲנֹ, train. |
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| You have put them to shame: You, O Lord, have put all my enemies to shame, for You have rejected them. |
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| 7. O that the salvations of Israel would come out of Zion; when God returns the captivity of His people, Jacob will rejoice, Israel will be glad. |
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