Psalm 5 is one of the prayers found in the Psalms. What Jews have known for thousands of years has now been scientifically proven: prayer helps. It is difficult to determine whether praying will make you live longer as scientists think. That fate is in the hands of HaShem. What is certain is that we must use the time we spend here on earth positively to get closer to HaShem by fighting evil tendencies.
- Text Psalm 5
- The Hebrew text of Psalm 5 – תהילים ה
- Listen to Psalm 5
- Explanation of Psalm 5 by Rabbi Yitzchok Rubin
- Rashi’s commentary on Psalm 5
- Further explanation of the above Jewish comments
- Psalm 1 to 92
Text Psalm 5
A Psalm of David. Hear my words, O Lord, heed my complaints. Listen to my cry for help, my king and my God, to You I direct my prayer. In the morning I turn to You and wait. You are a God who does not delight in evil, and crime is not welcome with You. The unscrupulous cannot stand under the gaze of Your eyes.
……….Make them pay, G-d, let them fall into their own trap. Cast them away because of their great misdeeds, for they are rebellious against You. There is joy among all who take refuge in You, Eternal jubilation because You protect them, those who love Your name rejoice in You ! You bless the righteous, O Lord; Your mercy covers them as a shield.
The Hebrew text of Psalm 5 – תהילים ה
A Psalm to David. At my words the Lord listened and understood my thoughts. C Listening to the voice of my Lord, my King and my God, for to you I will pray. D Jehovah in the morning hear my voice in the morning I will prepare for you and I will wait. Because God did not desire evil, he will not bring you evil. And they will not set themselves up against your eyes, the hatred of all the workers of iniquity. 7 Perish the false words of a man of blood and deceit, Jehovah will abhor. And I, in the abundance of your grace, will come to your house and bow down to your temple in your fear. 9 Yahweh, rest me in your righteousness for the sake of the righteous (straight) before your way. Because there is no truth in his mouth, this is an open grave, their throats for their tongues to slip. O God, let the sinners fall from their counsels in the multitude of their sins, for they have sinned against You. 12 And let all my lords rejoice in you for ever, let them rejoice, and let them rise above me and exult in you, the lovers of your name. 13 Because you will bless the righteous, Jehovah, as you will adorn us.
Listen to Psalm 5
Listen to Psalm 5 in Hebrew
Explanation of Psalm 5 by Rabbi Yitzchok Rubin
Scientific evidence: prayer helps!
Two different studies have shown that prayer helps. To a Jew this sounds foolish. After centuries of reciting Psalms, Jews have long been convinced of the positive effects of prayer. What stood out in the studies is that the effects are visible when the prayers are recited with others (which is good for one’s health) and that what is recited must be understood (which is good for one’s positive emotions).
Psalm 5 on two levels Many people do not understand certain texts of the Psalms. One such text is Psalm 5. It is spoken on two levels. David describes one who is loyal to the Torah and exclaims, “When I can speak, HaShem, listen, and even when I cannot express my concerns in words, they understand.” He then goes on to speak of those who are insincere in their commitment to the Torah and their prayers, so that HaShem drives them away. HaShem abhors bloodthirsty and deceitful people. King David asks HaShem to guide him in the path of His righteousness and to smooth the path for him, because his enemies are watching his every step. How can an ordinary Jew identify with David?
Find Yourself in Each Psalm Rabbi Nachman of Breslov says that the essence of reciting the Psalms is to find yourself in each Psalm. For the Psalms are made for the entire Community of Israel and each individual in particular. All the evil tendencies that each person faces are explained in the Psalms. David prayed to HaShem to be saved from evil inclinations. Although you may not be pursued by people who want to kill you as was the case with David, you are still troubled by evil tendencies within yourself. You must ask HaShem for help. HaShem protects with a shield against evil tendencies. There is no reason to despair because David has given us hope. We must speak to our hearts with the unique words of David.
Getting closer to HaShem through prayer Whether prayer makes you live longer, as scientists think , is difficult to determine. That fate is in the hands of HaShem. What is certain is that we must use the time we spend here on earth positively to get closer to HaShem by fighting evil tendencies. The search for HaShem will hopefully lead to protection of HaShem. In the words of Deuteronomy 4:29 ,And there you shall seek the Lord your God, and you shall find Him, when you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.,
Rashi’s commentary on Psalm 5
Per verse the commentary of Rashi, the Jewish Bible commentator who lived from 1040-1105. Rashi is considered the teacher of teachers. All traditional Jews regard Rashi as an authority on the Jewish Bible and Talmud. Hence it is important to record his commentary on the Psalms. Rashi uses new Hebrew supplemented with Old French words. His language is sometimes somewhat oracularly short. For further explanation it is wise to consult an orthodox Jewish rabbi.
Verse 1
To the conductor, to Nehiloth, a song of David.
on nehiloth : Menachem interpreted them all: nehiloth, alamoth, gittith, jeduthun, that they are all names of musical instruments, and the melody of the psalm was according to the melody suitable for that instrument. However, [in the] Midrash Aggadah (Psalm 5:1,2,4) some explain ,nehiloth, as a term of heritage, but that is not the meaning of the word; furthermore, the content of the psalm does not address heritage. However, it is possible to interpret נחלות as troops, such as ,a swarm (נחיל) of bees, (Bava Kamma 114a, 81b) and the like (II Sam. 22:5), ,Troops (נחלי) of villains would fear me, , which Jonathan returns: Troops (סיען) of sinners. [This is] a prayer about the forces of the enemies coming upon Israel, and the Psalmist recited this psalm on behalf of all Israel.
Verse 2
Listen to my words, O Lord; consider my meditation.
Listen to my words, O Lord : when I have the strength to ask for You and, when I have not the strength to pray for You and the cares are confined to my heart…
consider my meditation : Hebrew בינה. Consider the meditation of my heart. This is how it is explained in Midrash [Psalm 5:6]: in every [instance of] בינה in Scripture the accent is under the “nun,” except this one and his fellow (in Job 34:16): “And if you wish , understand (בִּנָה), listen to this, “which is not a noun but an expression of “understand,” as (Proverbs 23:1): “you must clearly understand (בין תבין) who is standing before you.” Therefore it lies accent under the ,beth,.
Verse 4
O Lord, in the morning you will hear my voice; In the morning I will arrange [my prayer] for you, and I will look forward.
In the morning You will listen to my voice : In the morning I cry to You over them, because it is a time of judgment for the wicked, as it is written (under 101:8): ,Tomorrow morning I will destroy all the wicked of the land, ; (Isaiah: 33:2), “Be their arm every morning”; (ibid., 28:19), “for every morning it will pass away.”
In the morning I will arrange for you : my prayer about this. [The word]: אערך is an expression of arrangement (מערכה). Menachem (p.138) classifies it this way.
and I will see to it that you will execute justice upon them.
Verse 5
For you are not a God who desires wickedness; evil does not remain with you.
For You are not a G-d who desires wickedness : therefore I arrange my prayer to You in the morning (appears only in certain editions) and it behooves You to destroy wickedness from the world.
evil will not remain with you : Hebrew יגרך, it will not remain with you.
Verse 6
Confused people will not stand before Your eyes; You hate all workers of iniquity.
Confused people : who makes himself man, and in the language of the Mishnah, מערבבין, confused.
Verse 7
You destroy those who speak lies; the Lord abhors a man of blood and deceit.
a man of blood and deceit : this [refers to] Esau and his descendants.
Verse 8
But I will enter Your house with Your great loving-kindness; I will throw myself before Your Holy Temple in the fear of You.
I … will enter Your House : to thank You for Your great loving-kindness which You have wonderfully bestowed upon us, to give us vengeance on them.
Verse 9
O Lord, guide me in Your righteousness; because of those who wait for me, make Your way straight before me.
those who wait for me : Hebrew שוררי, those who care for me, who look for my betrayal of You so that You would abandon me. [The word] שוררי is as (Numbers 24:17): “I behold it (אשורינו), but it is not nigh.”
Verse 10
For there is no sincerity in his mouth; there is malice in their hearts; their throat is an open grave; they smooth their tongues.
For there is no sincerity in his mouth : they appear as friends, but they are enemies.
there is malice in their hearts : their thoughts are deceitful.
their throat is an open grave : the toil of others, like a grave that swallows up the body.
they smooth their tongues : with words of flattery.
Verse 11
Condemn them, O G-d; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them down in the multitude of their transgressions, for they have rebelled against You.
by their own counsels : which they formulate against Israel. Then all who take refuge in You will rejoice.
Verse 12
And let all who take refuge in You rejoice; may they ever shout for joy, and You will shelter them and let all who love Your name rejoice in You.
and You will shelter them : You will protect them and shelter them.
rejoice in You when they see You bless the righteous Jacob and his descendants.
Verse 13
For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; You will enclose him with will like a shield.
like a shield : that encloses a man from three sides.
wants : satisfaction, apayement in Old French; reconciliation, kindness, peace of mind.
You will encircle him : תעטרנו, You will encircle him (in Sam. 23:26): ,but Saul and his men surrounded David with his men, (עוטרים).
Further explanation of the above Jewish comments
Many people think that prayer does not help. However, they do not know the power of prayer. Orthodox Jews pray three times a day. The prayers are fixed so that thoughts do not wander and the prayers are said in plural so that people do not think in an egocentric way. Jews have been praying for centuries. If it didn’t help, they wouldn’t do that anymore. Prayer only works when it is prayed directly to G-d. A mediator, such as in Christianity, does not know Judaism. Only G-d can forgive sins and provide help. Whether someone will live longer through prayer or whether he will be cured of an illness cannot be proven. That is in the hands of G-d. But it is certain that prayer brings man closer to G-d. And that is exactly what G-d requires of man.
Psalm 1 to 92
Would you like to read more Psalms with a Jewish interpretation? Go to: Psalms 1 through 92.