A Prayer of David.
1-7 Incline Your ear, Adonai, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. 2 Guard my soul, for I am devout [חסיד, chasid]. Save Your servant, who trusts in You – O You, my God. 3 Be gracious to me, O Master (אדון, Adon), for to You do I cry all the day. 4 Gladden the soul of Your servant, for to You, O Master, I lift up my soul. 5 For You, O Master, are good and forgiving, abounding in lovingkindness to all who call upon You. 6 Give ear, Adonai, to my prayer; listen to the voice of my pleas. 7 In the day of my distress I call upon You, for You will answer me.
8-10 There is none like You among the elohim, O Master, nor are there any works like Yours. 9 All the nations that You made shall come and bow down before You, O Master, and shall glorify Your name. 10 For You are great and do wondrous things. You alone are God.
11-13 Teach me Your way, Adonai, that I may walk in Your truth. Unite my heart to fear Your name.
לבב (levav)
לב (lev)
I give thanks to You, O Master, my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify Your name forever. 13 For great is Your lovingkindess toward me, and You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.
14-17 O God, insolent men have risen up against me; a band of ruthless men seeks my soul, and they do not set You before them. 15 But You, O Master, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. 16Turn to me and be gracious to me; give Your strength to Your servant, and save the son of Your maidservant. 17 Show me a sign for good, that those who hate me may see and be ashamed because You, Adonai, have helped me and comforted me.
REFERENCES:
Verse 2
Jeremiah 3:12 “Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, “‘Return, faithless Israel’, declares Adonai. ‘I will not look on you in anger, for I am devout [חסיד, chasid], declares Adonai. I will not be angry forever.’”
R’ S.R. Hirsch: חסיד [chasid] is the selfless man, who does not assert his own rights, his own advantages and his own personality; in short, [he is] one who “gives himself up” entirely… David says: “Guard my soul, for I let everything pass over me. I do not defend myself, nor do I fight for my rights.”
Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth. Like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth.
From the morning prayers: “My God, guard my tongue from evil and my lips from deceitful speech. To those who curse me, let my soul be silent; may my soul be to all like the dust. Open my heart to Your Torah and let my soul pursue Your commandments.” (From The Koren Shalem Siddur, p.134)
Verse 5
Exodus 34:6 Then Adonai passed by in front of him and proclaimed, “Adonai, Adonai, God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth…”
Verse 8
Exodus 15:11 “Who is like You among the gods, O Adonai? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, awesome in praises, working wonders?”