Psalm 5

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Kind David contemplates the righteousness and holiness of G-d in contradiction to the wickedness and evil of those who come against him. The Psalm starts with a self-reflection, a reminder to himself and to all who read, that G-d likes righteousness and despises wickedness, blood thirsty people and malignant behaviour. It is almost as if King David does not fully believe his words, he is praying to G-d to show him that this is in fact the truth: “Listen to the yearning voice, my King and G-d, for to You I pray.”

After affirming his own belief, David is strengthened and now turns to pray to G-d with more conviction: “G-d, lead me in Your righteousness, for those who come against me, straighten before me Your ways.” David pleads with G-d to judge, rebuke and demolish his enemies, and strengthen His own people, G-d’s people, the righteous men who fight for G-d’s name. For at the end of this war, as in all wars who are fought for the Name of G-d, G-d “...will bless the righteous man… as a vessel of [G-d] … [He] will adorn him.”

לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ אֶֽל־הַנְּחִיל֗וֹת מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד׃

To the conductor, 

The path towards the inheritance,

A song for David,

אֲמָרַ֖י הַאֲזִ֥ינָה ׀ ה’ בִּ֣ינָה הֲגִֽיגִי׃

Hear what I say, G-d, understand my meditations.

הַקְשִׁ֤יבָה ׀ לְק֬וֹל שַׁוְעִ֗י מַלְכִּ֥י וֵאלֹקי כִּֽי־אֵ֝לֶ֗יךָ אֶתְפַּלָּֽל׃

Listen to the yearning voice, my King and G-d,

For to You I pray.

ה’ בֹּ֭קֶר תִּשְׁמַ֣ע קוֹלִ֑י בֹּ֥קֶר אֶֽעֱרָךְ־לְ֝ךָ֗ וַאֲצַפֶּֽה׃

G-d, in each morning You hear my voice,

Each morning I prepare to You and wait in expectation. 

כִּ֤י ׀ לֹ֤א אֵֽל־חָפֵ֘ץ רֶ֥שַׁע ׀ אָ֑תָּה לֹ֖א יְגֻרְךָ֣ רָֽע׃

For You are not a G-d seeking evil,

No wickedness dwells in You.

לֹֽא־יִתְיַצְּב֣וּ הֽ֭וֹלְלִים לְנֶ֣גֶד עֵינֶ֑יךָ שָׂ֝נֵ֗אתָ כָּל־פֹּ֥עֲלֵי אָֽוֶן׃

Unruly people will not stand before You eyes,

You hate all actions of malignancy.

תְּאַבֵּד֮ דֹּבְרֵ֪י כָ֫זָ֥ב אִישׁ־דָּמִ֥ים וּמִרְמָ֗ה יְתָ֘עֵ֥ב ׀ ה’׃

Lost will be the utterances of lies,

Men who thirst for blood and fraudulency will be despised by G-d.

וַאֲנִ֗י בְּרֹ֣ב חַ֭סְדְּךָ אָב֣וֹא בֵיתֶ֑ךָ אֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֥ה אֶל־הֵֽיכַל־קָ֝דְשְׁךָ֗ בְּיִרְאָתֶֽךָ׃

And I, in all Your righteousness, will come to Your house,

I will bow to Your Holy Temple in Your awe.

ה’ ׀ נְחֵ֬נִי בְצִדְקָתֶ֗ךָ לְמַ֥עַן שׁוֹרְרָ֑י הושר [הַיְשַׁ֖ר] לְפָנַ֣י דַּרְכֶּֽךָ׃

G-d, lead me in Your righteousness,

For those who come against me, straighten before me Your ways.

כִּ֤י אֵ֪ין בְּפִ֡יהוּ נְכוֹנָה֮ קִרְבָּ֪ם הַ֫וּ֥וֹת קֶֽבֶר־פָּת֥וּחַ גְּרוֹנָ֑ם לְ֝שׁוֹנָ֗ם יַחֲלִֽיקוּן׃

For his mouth holds no truth,

Their internal essence is like an open grave,

Their throats cause their tongues to slither.

הַֽאֲשִׁימֵ֨ם ׀ אֱ‍ֽלֹקים יִפְּלוּ֮ מִֽמֹּעֲצ֪וֹתֵ֫יהֶ֥ם בְּרֹ֣ב פִּ֭שְׁעֵיהֶם הַדִּיחֵ֑מוֹ כִּי־מָ֥רוּ בָֽךְ׃

G-d has accused them,

They will fall from their own governance which is filled with crimes,

Dispose of them all for they have rebelled against You.

וְיִשְׂמְח֨וּ כָל־ח֪וֹסֵי בָ֡ךְ לְעוֹלָ֣ם יְ֭רַנֵּנוּ וְתָסֵ֣ךְ עָלֵ֑ימוֹ וְֽיַעְלְצ֥וּ בְ֝ךָ֗ אֹהֲבֵ֥י שְׁמֶֽךָ׃

And all who find shelter in You for eternity will rejoice,

And You will bring down Your shield over us all,

And those who find happiness in You will love Your name.

כִּֽי־אַתָּה֮ תְּבָרֵ֪ךְ צַ֫דִּ֥יק ה’ כַּ֝צִּנָּ֗ה רָצ֥וֹן תַּעְטְרֶֽנּוּ׃

For You will bless the righteous man of G-d,

As a vessel of Your will You will adorn him.