Chapter 60
This psalm tells of when Joab, David's general, came to Aram Naharayim for war and was asked by the people: "Are you not from the children of Jacob? What of the pact he made with Laban?" Not knowing what to answer, Joab asked the Sanhedrin. The psalm includes David's prayer for success in this war.
1For the Conductor, on the shushan eidut. A michtam by David, to instruct,
2when he battled with Aram Naharayim and Aram Tzovah, and Joab returned and smote Edom in the Valley of Salt, twelve thousand [men].
3O God, You forsook us, You have breached us! You grew furious-restore us!
4You made the earth quake, You split it apart-heal its fragments, for it totters!
5You showed Your nation harshness, You gave us benumbing wine to drink.
6[Now] give those who fear You a banner to raise themselves, for the sake of truth, Selah.
7That Your beloved ones may be delivered, help with Your right hand and answer me.
8God said with His Holy [Spirit] that I would exult; I would divide Shechem, and measure out the Valley of Succot.
9Mine is Gilead, mine is Menasseh, and Ephraim is the stronghold of my head; Judah is my prince.
10Moab is my washbasin, and upon Edom I will cast my shoe; for me, Philistia will sound a blast [of coronation].
11Who will bring me into the fortified city? Who will lead me unto Edom?
12Is it not You, God, Who has [until now] forsaken us, and did not go forth with our legions?
13Grant us relief from the oppressor; futile is the salvation of man.
14With God we will do valiantly, and He will trample our oppressors.
Chapter 61
David composed this prayer while fleeing from Saul. The object of all his thoughts and his entreaty is that God grant him long life-not for the sake of pursuing the pleasures of the world, but rather to serve God in awe, all of his days.
1For the Conductor, on the neginat, by David.
2Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer.
3From the end of the earth I call to You, when my heart is faint [with trouble]: Lead me upon the rock that surpasses me!
4For You have been a refuge for me, a tower of strength in the face of the enemy.
5I will dwell in Your tent forever; I will take refuge in the shelter of Your wings, Selah.
6For You, God, heard my vows; You granted the inheritance of those who fear Your Name.
7Add days to the days of the king; may his years equal those of every generation.
8May he sit always before God; appoint kindness and truth to preserve him.
9Thus will I sing the praise of Your Name forever, as I fulfill my vows each day.
Chapter 62
David prays for the downfall of his enemies. He also exhorts his generation that their faith should not rest in riches, telling them that the accumulation of wealth is utter futility.
1For the Conductor, on the yedutun, a psalm by David.
2To God alone does my soul hope; my salvation is from Him.
3He alone is my rock and salvation, my stronghold; I shall not falter greatly.
4Until when will you plot disaster for man? May you all be killed-like a leaning wall, a toppled fence.
5Out of their arrogance alone they scheme to topple me, they favor falsehood; with their mouths they bless, and in their hearts they curse, Selah.
6To God alone does my soul hope, for my hope is from Him.
7He alone is my rock and salvation, my stronghold; I shall not falter.
8My salvation and honor is upon God; the rock of my strength-my refuge is in God.
9Trust in Him at all times, O nation, pour out your hearts before Him; God is a refuge for us forever.
10Men are but vanity; people [but] transients. Were they to be raised upon the scale, they would be lighter than vanity.
11Put not your trust in exploitation, nor place futile hope in robbery. If [corrupt] wealth flourishes, pay it no heed.
12God spoke one thing, from which I perceived two: That strength belongs to God;
13and that Yours, my Lord, is kindness. For You repay each man according to his deeds.
Chapter 63
Hiding from Saul, and yearning to approach the place of the Holy Ark like one thirsting for water, David composed this prayer on his behalf and against his enemy.
1A psalm by David, when he was in the Judean desert.
2O God, You are my Almighty, I seek You! My soul thirsts for You, my flesh longs for You; [like one] in a desolate and dry land, without water,
3so [I thirst] to see You in the Sanctuary, to behold Your might and glory.
4For Your kindness is better than life; my lips shall praise You.
5Thus will I bless you all my life, in Your Name I will raise my hands [in prayer].
6As with fat and abundance my soul is sated, when my mouth offers praise with expressions of joy.
7Indeed, I remember You upon my bed; during the watches of the night I meditate upon You.
8For You were a help for me; I sing in the shadow of Your wings.
9My soul cleaved to You; Your right hand supported me.
10But they seek desolation for my soul; they will enter the depths of the earth.
11They will drag them by the sword; they will be the portion of foxes.
12And the king will rejoice in God, and all who swear by Him will take pride, when the mouths of liars are blocked up.
Chapter 64
The masters of homiletics interpret this psalm as alluding to Daniel, who was thrown into the lion's den. With divine inspiration, David foresaw the event and prayed for him. Daniel was a descendant of David, as can be inferred from God's statement to Hezekiah (himself of Davidic lineage), "And from your children, who will issue forth from you, they will take, and they (referring to, amongst others, Daniel) will be ministers in the palace of the king of Babylon."
1For the Conductor, a psalm by David.
2Hear my voice, O God, as I recount [my woes]; preserve my life from the terror of the enemy.
3Shelter me from the schemes of the wicked, from the conspiracy of evildoers,
4who have sharpened their tongue like the sword, aimed their arrow-a bitter word-
5to shoot at the innocent from hidden places; suddenly they shoot at him, they are not afraid.
6They encourage themselves in an evil thing, they speak of laying traps; they say: "Who will see them?”
7They sought pretexts; [and when] they completed a diligent search, each man [kept the plot] inside, deep in the heart.
8But God shot at them; [like] a sudden arrow were their blows.
9Their own tongues caused them to stumble; all who see them shake their heads [derisively].
10Then all men feared, and recounted the work of God; they perceived His deed.
11Let the righteous one rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in Him, and let them take pride-all upright of heart.
Chapter 65
This psalm contains awe-inspiring and glorious praises to God, as well as entreaties and prayers concerning our sins. It declares it impossible to recount God's greatness, for who can recount His mighty acts? Hence, silence is His praise.
1For the Conductor, a psalm by David, a song.
2Silence is praise for You, O God [Who dwells in] Zion; and to You vows will be paid.
3O Heeder of prayer, to You does all flesh come.
4Matters of sin overwhelm me; You will pardon our transgressions.
5Fortunate is [the nation] whom You choose and draw near, to dwell in Your courtyards; may we be sated with the goodness of Your House, with the holiness of Your Sanctuary.
6Answer us with awesome deeds as befits Your righteousness, O God of our salvation, the security of all [who inhabit] the ends of the earth and distant seas.
7With His strength He prepares [rain for] the mountains; He is girded with might.
8He quiets the roar of the seas, the roar of their waves and the tumult of nations.
9Those who inhabit the ends [of the earth] fear [You] because of Your signs; the emergences of morning and evening cause [man] to sing praise.
10You remember the earth and water it, you enrich it abundantly [from] God's stream filled with water. You prepare their grain, for so do You prepare it.
11You saturate its furrows, gratifying its legions; with showers You soften it and bless its growth.
12You crown the year of Your goodness [with rain], and Your clouds drip abundance.
13They drip on pastures of wilderness, and the hills gird themselves with joy.
14The meadows don sheep, and the valleys cloak themselves with grain; they sound blasts, indeed they sing.
Tehillim Ohel Yoseph Yitzchok,
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