ื‘ืกืดื“

Kavanot: The Way of All Flesh

Thoughts on Tanach and the Davening

Weโ€™ve looked at Davidโ€™s final instructions to Shlomo:

ื ื•ื™ืงืจื‘ื• ื™ืžื™ ื“ื•ื“ ืœืžื•ืช; ื•ื™ืฆื• ืืช ืฉืœืžื” ื‘ื ื• ืœืืžืจืƒ ื‘ ืื ื›ื™ ื”ืœืš ื‘ื“ืจืš ื›ืœ ื”ืืจืฅ; ื•ื—ื–ืงืช ื•ื”ื™ื™ืช ืœืื™ืฉืƒ

ืžืœื›ื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื‘

But what is involved in ื”ื™ื™ืช ืœืื™ืฉ? What would David say is the right way for a person to live? What is the good life?

Mongol General: Conan, what is best in life?

Conan: To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women.

Conan The Barbarian

But we are not Conan. For us, being a mensch means something different. There are three ืคืจืงื™ ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื that I think represent the Psalmistโ€™s answer to that question.

ื ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ืœื“ื•ื“; ื”ืณ ืžื™ ื™ื’ื•ืจ ื‘ืื”ืœืš; ืžื™ ื™ืฉื›ืŸ ื‘ื”ืจ ืงื“ืฉืšืƒ ื‘ ื”ื•ืœืš ืชืžื™ื ื•ืคืขืœ ืฆื“ืง; ื•ื“ื‘ืจ ืืžืช ื‘ืœื‘ื‘ื•ืƒ ื’ ืœื ืจื’ืœ ืขืœ ืœืฉื ื• ืœื ืขืฉื” ืœืจืขื”ื• ืจืขื”; ื•ื—ืจืคื” ืœื ื ืฉื ืขืœ ืงืจื‘ื•ืƒ ื“ ื ื‘ื–ื” ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ื• ื ืžืืก ื•ืืช ื™ืจืื™ ื”ืณ ื™ื›ื‘ื“; ื ืฉื‘ืข ืœื”ืจืข ื•ืœื ื™ืžืจืƒ ื” ื›ืกืคื• ืœื ื ืชืŸ ื‘ื ืฉืš ื•ืฉื—ื“ ืขืœ ื ืงื™ ืœื ืœืงื—; ืขืฉื” ืืœื” ืœื ื™ืžื•ื˜ ืœืขื•ืœืืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ื˜ื•

The question of ืžื™ ื™ื’ื•ืจ ื‘ืื”ืœืš is very similar to the question in the ืฉื™ืจ ืฉืœ ื™ื•ื ืœื™ื•ื ืจืืฉื•ืŸ, which we are all familiar with:

ื’ ืžื™ ื™ืขืœื” ื‘ื”ืจ ื”ืณ; ื•ืžื™ ื™ืงื•ื ื‘ืžืงื•ื ืงื“ืฉื•ืƒ ื“ ื ืงื™ ื›ืคื™ื ื•ื‘ืจ ืœื‘ื‘; ืืฉืจ ืœื ื ืฉื ืœืฉื•ื ื ืคืฉื™; ื•ืœื ื ืฉื‘ืข ืœืžืจืžื”ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ื›ื“

But that is an abbreviated version of our perek. The gemara sees our perek as Davidโ€™s summary of all the mitzvot:

ื‘ื ื“ื•ื“ ื•ื”ืขืžื™ื“ืŸ [ืชืจื™ืดื’ ืžืฆื•ื•ืช] ืขืœ ืื—ืช ืขืฉืจื” ื“ื›ืชื™ื‘ (ืชื”ืœื™ื ื˜ื•:ื) โ€ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ืœื“ื•ื“ ื”ืณ ืžื™ ื™ื’ื•ืจ ื‘ืื”ืœืš ืžื™ ื™ืฉื›ื•ืŸ ื‘ื”ืจ ืงื“ืฉืš ื”ื•ืœืš ืชืžื™ืโ€ฆโ€œ

ืžื›ื•ืช ื›ื“,ื

Itโ€™s notable that these eleven principles are mostly ื‘ื™ืŸ ืื“ื ืœื—ื‘ืจื•. These are the things that are โ€œbest in lifeโ€, not to crush our enemies but to elevate them.

The gemara goes on to give examples of each:

ื”ื•ืœืš ืชืžื™ื: ื–ื” ืื‘ืจื”ื ื“ื›ืชื™ื‘ (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื™ื–:ื) ื”ึดืชึฐื”ึทืœึผึตืšึฐ ืœึฐืคึธื ึทื™ ื•ึถื”ึฐื™ึตื” ืชึธืžึดื™ื.

ืžื›ื•ืช ื›ื“,ื

ื”ื•ืœืš ืชืžื™ื means to have the serenity to accept whatever happens.

ืชืžื™ื ืชื”ื™ื” ืขื ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ืš: ื”ืชื”ืœืš ืขืžื• ื‘ืชืžื™ืžื•ืช, ื•ืชืฆืคื” ืœื•, ื•ืœื ืชื—ืงืจ ืื—ืจ ื”ืขืชื™ื“ื•ืช, ืืœื ื›ืœ ืžื” ืฉื™ื‘ื ืขืœื™ืš ืงื‘ืœ ื‘ืชืžื™ืžื•ืช ื•ืื– ืชื”ื™ื” ืขืžื• ื•ืœื—ืœืงื•.

ืจืฉืดื™, ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื™ื—:ื™ื’

ืคื•ืขืœ ืฆื“ืง: ื›ื’ื•ืŸ ืื‘ื ื—ืœืงื™ื”ื•.

ืžื›ื•ืช ื›ื“,ื

ืคื•ืขืœ ืฆื“ืง doesnโ€™t mean โ€œto act with justiceโ€, but โ€œto be a just, honest, workerโ€.

ืื‘ื ื—ืœืงื™ื” ื‘ืจ ื‘ืจื™ื” ื“ื—ื•ื ื™ ื”ืžืขื’ืœ ื”ื•ื”, ื•ื›ื™ ืžืฆื˜ืจื™ืš ืขืœืžื ืœืžื™ื˜ืจื ื”ื•ื• ืžืฉื“ืจื™ ืจื‘ื ืŸ ืœื’ื‘ื™ื” ื•ื‘ืขื™ ืจื—ืžื™โ€ฆืื–ื•ืœ ื‘ื“ื‘ืจื ื•ืืฉื›ื—ื•ื” ื“ื”ื•ื” ืงื ืจืคื™ืง, ื™ื”ื‘ื• ืœื™ื” ืฉืœืžื ื•ืœื ืืกื‘ืจ ืœื”ื• ืืคื™ื”โ€ฆืืžืจื• ืœื™ื”: ื™ื“ืขื™ื ืŸ ื“ืžื™ื˜ืจื ืžื—ืžืช ืžืจ ื”ื•ื ื“ืืชื, ืืœื ืœื™ืžื ืœืŸ ืžืจ ื”ื ื™ ืžื™ืœื™ ื“ืชืžื™ื”ื ืœืŸ: ืžืื™ ื˜ืขืžื ื›ื™ ื™ื”ื™ื‘ื ื ืœืžืจ ืฉืœืžื ืœื ืืกื‘ืจ ืœืŸ ืžืจ ืืคื™ื”? ืืžืจ ืœื”ื•: ืฉื›ื™ืจ ื™ื•ื ื”ื•ืื™, ื•ืืžื™ื ื: ืœื ืื™ืคื’ืจ.

ืชืขื ื™ืช ื›ื’,ื-ื‘

ื•ื“ื•ื‘ืจ ืืžืช ื‘ืœื‘ื‘ื•: ื›ื’ื•ืŸ ืจื‘ ืกืคืจื.

ืžื›ื•ืช ื›ื“,ื

We use the expression ื“ื•ื‘ืจ ืืžืช ื‘ืœื‘ื‘ื• in davening:

ืœึฐืขื•ึนืœึธื ื™ึฐื”ึตื ืึธื“ึธื ื™ึฐืจึตื ืฉืึธืžึทึฝื™ึดื ื‘ึผึฐืกึตึฝืชึถืจ ื•ึผื‘ึทื’ึผึธืœื•ึผื™ ื•ึผืžื•ึนื“ึถื” ืขึทืœ ื”ึธืึฑืžึถืช ื•ึฐื“ื•ึนื‘ึตืจ ืึฑืžึถืช ื‘ึผึดืœึฐื‘ึธื‘ื•ึน ื•ึฐื™ึทืฉืึฐื›ึผึตื ื•ึฐื™ึนืืžึทืจ:

ืจึดื‘ึผื•ึนืŸ ื›ึผึธืœ ื”ึธืขื•ึนืœึธืžึดื™ื ืœึนื ืขึทืœ ืฆึดื“ึฐืงื•ึนืชึตึฝื™ื ื•ึผ ืึฒื ึทึฝื—ึฐื ื•ึผ ืžึทืคึผึดื™ืœึดื™ื ืชึผึทื—ึฒื ื•ึผื ึตึฝื™ื ื•ึผ ืœึฐืคึธื ึถึฝื™ืšึธ ื›ึผึดื™ ืขึทืœ ืจึทื—ึฒืžึถึฝื™ืšึธ ื”ึธืจึทื‘ึผึดื™ื

ืกื™ื“ื•ืจ ืืฉื›ื ื–, ืชืคื™ืœืช ืฉื—ืจื™ืช,ืงื‘ืœืช ืขื•ืœ ืžืœื›ื•ืช ืฉืžื™ื

which has the sense of โ€œdonโ€™t be a hypocrite with G-dโ€. But the gemara says it means โ€œdonโ€™t be a hypocrite with peopleโ€.

ืจื‘ ืกืคืจื: ื‘ืฉืืœืชื•ืช ื“ืจื‘ ืื—ื (ืฉืื™ืœืชื ืœื•): ื•ื”ื›ื™ ื”ื•ื” ืขื•ื‘ื“ื ื“ืจื‘ ืกืคืจื. ื”ื™ื” ืœื• ื—ืคืฅ ืื—ื“ ืœืžื›ื•ืจ, ื•ื‘ื ืื“ื ืื—ื“ ืœืคื ื™ื• ื‘ืฉืขื” ืฉื”ื™ื” ืงื•ืจื ืงืดืฉ, ื•ืืžืจ ืœื• ืชืŸ ืœื™ ื”ื—ืคืฅ ื‘ื›ืš ื•ื›ืš ื“ืžื™ื, ื•ืœื ืขื ื”ื• ืžืคื ื™ ืฉื”ื™ื” ืงื•ืจื ืงืดืฉ. ื›ืกื‘ื•ืจ ื–ื” ืฉืœื ื”ื™ื” ืจื•ืฆื” ืœื™ืชื ื• ื‘ื“ืžื™ื ื”ืœืœื•, ื•ื”ื•ืกื™ืฃ. ืืžืจ ืชื ื”ื• ืœื™ ื‘ื›ืš ื™ื•ืชืจ .ืœืื—ืจ ืฉืกื™ื™ื ืงืดืฉ, ืืžืจ ืœื•: ื˜ื•ืœ ื”ื—ืคืฅ ื‘ื“ืžื™ื ืฉืืžืจืช ื‘ืจืืฉื•ื ื”, ืฉื‘ืื•ืชืŸ ื“ืžื™ื ื”ื™ื” ื“ืขืชื™ ืœื™ืชื ื ืœืš.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืžื›ื•ืช ื›ื“,ื

ืœื ืจื’ืœ ืขืœ ืœืฉื•ื ื•: ืื ืงื•ืฉืดื [encusa] ื‘ืœืขื– ื›ืžื• (ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื™ื˜:ื›ื—) ื•ึทื™ึฐืจึทื’ึผึตืœ ื‘ึผึฐืขึทื‘ึฐื“ึผึฐืšึธ. ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ื–ื” ืœื”ื•ื“ื™ืข ืžื“ืช ื—ืกื™ื“ื•ืช.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืžื›ื•ืช ื›ื“,ื

That is ืคืฉื˜. Donโ€™t say ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื”ืจืข. We have seen so many ืคืจืงื™ ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื focusing on the evils of ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื”ืจืข.

ืœื ืขืฉื” ืœืจืขื”ื• ืจืขื”: ืฉืœื ื™ืจื“ ืœืื•ืžื ื•ืช ื—ื‘ื™ืจื•.

ืžื›ื•ืช ื›ื“,ื

ืขืฉื” ืœืจืขื”ื• ืจืขื” refers specifically to unfair competition. Honesty in business is more than being honest with customers and suppliers; it means being honest with competitors.

ื•ื—ืจืคื” ืœื ื ืฉื ืขืœ ืงืจื•ื‘ื•: ื–ื” ื”ืžืงืจื‘ ืืช ืงืจื•ื‘ื™ื•.

ืžื›ื•ืช ื›ื“,ื

Kindness is no less a mitzvah, no less powerful when done for members of our immediate family. In fact the opposite is true.

Our family is our first responsibility. They are the most dependent on our chesed. Giving to them should be our greatest pleasure.

It doesnโ€™t get us honored at banquets. We may not experience the same show of gratitude. But we certainly reap the rewards.

Emuna Braverman, Kindness Begins at Home

ื ื‘ื–ื” ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ื• ื ืžืืก: ื•ืกืคืจ ืžืžื“ื•ืชื™ื• ื”ื˜ื•ื‘ื•ืช ืขื•ื“: ื›ื™ ืืฃ ืขืœ ืคื™ ืฉื”ื•ื ื”ืœืš ืชืžื™ื ื•ืคืขืœ ืฆื“ืง ื•ื“ื‘ืจ ืืžืช ืื™ื ื• ืžืชื’ืื” ื‘ื–ื”, ืืœื ื ื‘ื–ื” ื”ื•ื ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ื• ื•ื ืžืืก, ื•ื—ื•ืฉื‘ ื‘ืœื‘ื‘ื• ื›ื™ ืœื ื™ืขืฉื” ืื—ืช ืžื ื™ ืืœืฃ ืžืžื” ืฉื™ืฉ ืขืœื™ื• ื—ื•ื‘ื” ืœืขืฉื•ืช ืœื›ื‘ื•ื“ ื”ื‘ื•ืจื.

ืจื“ืดืง, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื˜ื•:ื“

ื•ืืช ื™ืจืื™ ื”ืณ ื™ื›ื‘ื“:โ€ฆื•ื”ื˜ื•ื‘ื•ืช ืฉื™ืขืฉื” ื–ื•ืœืชื• ื™ื—ืฉื‘ืŸ ืœื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื’ื“ื•ืœื™ื. ื•ื™ื—ืฉื•ื‘ ืฉื™ืฉ ืœื™ืจืื™ ื”ืณ ื–ื•ืœืชื• ืžืขืœื” ืขืœื™ื•, ื•ืฉื”ื ื™ืจืื™ื ื”ืฉื ื™ื•ืชืจ ืžืžื ื• ื•ื ื•ืชืŸ ืœื”ื ืžืขืœื” ืขืœื™ื• ื•ืžื›ื‘ื“ ืื•ืชื.

ืจื“ืดืง, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื˜ื•:ื“

These two are about modesty. Virtue signaling is no virtue.

[ื ืฉื‘ืข ืœื”ืจืข] ื•ืœื ื™ืžืจ: ืžื” ืฉื ืฉื‘ืข ืืฃ ืขืœ ืคื™ ืฉืžืจื™ืข ืœื’ื•ืคื•. ื•ืœื ื™ืžืจ, ืืœื ื™ืงื™ื ื›ืžื• ืฉืืžืจ.

ืจื“ืดืง, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื˜ื•:ื“

This is the one that is mentioned in ืคืจืง ื›ื“.

ื ืงื™ ื›ืคื™ื ื•ื‘ืจ ืœื‘ื‘; ืืฉืจ ืœื ื ืฉื ืœืฉื•ื ื ืคืฉื™; ื•ืœื ื ืฉื‘ืข ืœืžืจืžื”

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื›ื“:ื“

Keep your word, even if you will have to pay a price for it.

ื›ืกืคื• ืœื ื ืชืŸ ื‘ื ืฉืš: ืืคื™ืœื• ื‘ืจื‘ื™ืช ืขื•ื‘ื“ ื›ื•ื›ื‘ื™ื.

ืžื›ื•ืช ื›ื“,ื

This ืคืจืง isnโ€™t about explicit sins. We know that we shouldnโ€™t take interest. David is adding here that interest is problematic even when it is legal.

ื•ื”ืชื•ืจื” ืœื ืืกืจื” ืืœื ืœื™ืฉืจืืœ, ืื‘ืœ ืœื ื›ืจื™ ืžื•ืชืจ ื›ืžื• ืฉื ืืžืจ (ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื›ื’:ื›ื): ืœึทื ึผื‡ื›ึฐืจึดื™ ืชึทืฉืึผึดื™ืšึฐ. ื•ืœื ื ืืžืจ ื›ืŸ ื‘ื’ื–ืœื” ื•ื’ื ื‘ื” ื•ื‘ืื‘ื“ื” ื•ื‘ื”ื•ื ืื”, ื›ื™ ืืคื™ืœื• ืœื ื›ืจื™ ืืกื•ืจ ืœื”ื•ื ื•ืชื• ืื• ืœื’ื–ืœื• ืื• ืœื’ื ื•ื‘ ืžืžื•ื ื•; ืื‘ืœ ื”ื ืฉืš ืฉื”ื•ื ืœื•ืงื— ืžืžื ื• ื‘ืจืฆื•ื ื• ื•ื‘ื“ืขืชื• ืžื•ืชืจ.

ืจื“ืดืง, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื˜ื•:ื”

ืžืœื•ื” ื‘ืจื™ื‘ื™ืช: ืื—ื“ ื”ืžืœื•ื” ื•ืื—ื“ ื”ืœื•ื”. ื•ืื™ืžืชื™ ื—ื–ืจืชืŸ? ืžืฉื™ืงืจืขื• ืืช ืฉื˜ืจื™ื”ืŸ, ื•ื™ื—ื–ืจื• ื‘ื”ืŸ ื—ื–ืจื” ื’ืžื•ืจื”, ืืคื™ืœื• ืœื ื›ืจื™ ืœื ืžื•ื–ืคื™.

ืกื ื”ื“ืจื™ืŸ ื›ื”,ื‘

ื“ืืคื™ืœื• ืœื ื›ืจื™: ืฉื™ืฉืชื›ื— ืฉื ืจื™ื‘ื™ืช ืžืคื™ื”ื; ื“ืชื• ื•ื“ืื™ ืœื ื”ื“ืจื™ ืœืงืœืงื•ืœื™ื™ื”ื•.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืกื ื”ื“ืจื™ืŸ ื›ื”,ื‘

The psalmist sees ืจื™ื‘ื™ืช, interest, as a moral failing rather a financial tort. The halacha clearly thinks that it is, because it is forbidden even if both parties agree, and both parties are liable for violating it. I can agree to overpay for an item, but I cannot agree to overpay for a loan.

ืžื“ื•ืข ืงื™ื™ื ืื™ืกื•ืจ ืจื™ื‘ื™ืช ื“ื•ื•ืงื ื‘ื”ืœื•ื•ืื”? ื”ืจื™, ื‘ืžืงืจื” ืฉืื“ื ืžื•ื›ืจ ื—ืคืฅ ืžืกื•ื™ื ืœืื“ื ืื—ืจ, ืžื•ืชืจ ืœื• ืœื”ืขืœื•ืช ืืช ื”ืžื—ื™ืจ ื•ืœื”ืจื•ื•ื™ื— ืžืŸ ื”ืžื›ื™ืจื” (ื‘ื›ืคื•ืฃ ืœื”ืกื›ืžืช ื”ืงื•ื ื”). ืžื“ื•ืข, ื‘ื ื™ื’ื•ื“ ืœืฉืืจ ื”ืชื—ื•ืžื™ื ื”ืžืžื•ื ื™ื™ื, ืืกื•ืจ ืœืื“ื ืฉืžืœื•ื•ื” ื›ืกืฃ ืœื”ืจื•ื•ื™ื— ืžื”ืœื•ื•ืืชื•?

ื”ืจื‘ ื™ื•ืกืฃ ืฆื‘ื™ ืจื™ืžื•ืŸ, ืœืžื” ื”ืชื•ืจื” ืืกืจื” ืœืงื—ืช ืจื™ื‘ื™ืช?

The problem is that it represents a dangerous attitude about money. Money should be a tool for accomplishing goals, not a goal into itself. Paying for things is how the world works; paying for money means Iโ€™m interested in some number that makes me better than others. I think Aristotle said it best:

[U]sury is most reasonably hated, because its gain comes from money itself and not from that for the sake of which money was invented. For money was brought into existence for the purpose of exchange, but interest increases the amount of the money itselfโ€ฆconsequently this form of the business of getting wealth is of all forms the most contrary to nature.

Aristotle, Politics, 1:1258b

ืื ื›ืกืฃโ€‰ ืชืœื•ื” ืืช ืขืžื™ [ืืช ื”ืขื ื™ ืขืžืš]: ืคื™ืจื•ืฉ ืื ืจืื™ืช ืฉื”ื™ื” ืœืš ื›ืกืฃ ื™ืชืจ ืขืœ ืžื” ืฉืืชื” ืฆืจื™ืš ืœืขืฆืžืš, ืฉืืชื” ืžืœื•ื” ืœืขืžื™, ืชื“ืข ืœืš ืฉืื™ืŸ ื–ื” ื—ืœืง ื”ืžื’ื™ืขืš ืืœื ื—ืœืง ืื—ืจื™ื ืฉื”ื•ื โ€ื”ืขื ื™ ืขืžืšโ€œ, ื•ื‘ื–ื” ืจืžื– ื›ื™ ืฆืจื™ืš ืœืคืชื•ื— ืœื• ืžืฉืœื•.

ืื•ืจ ื”ื—ื™ื™ื, ืฉืžื•ืช ื›ื‘:ื›ื“

ื•ืฉื•ื—ื“ ืขืœ ื ืงื™ ืœื ืœืงื—: ื›ื’ื•ืŸ ืจืณ ื™ืฉืžืขืืœ ื‘ืจืณ ื™ื•ืกื™.

ืžื›ื•ืช ื›ื“,ื

ืจื‘ื™ ื™ืฉืžืขืืœ ื‘ืจื‘ื™ ื™ื•ืกื™, ื”ื•ื” ืจื’ื™ืœ ืืจื™ืกื™ื” ื“ื”ื•ื” ืžื™ื™ืชื™ ืœื™ื” ื›ืœ ืžืขืœื™ ืฉื‘ืชื ื›ื ืชื ื“ืคื™ืจื™. ื™ื•ืžื ื—ื“ ืื™ื™ืชื™ ืœื™ื” ื‘ื—ืžืฉื” ื‘ืฉื‘ืชื. ืืžืจ ืœื™ื”: ืžืื™ ืฉื ื ื”ืื™ื“ื ื? ืืžืจ ืœื™ื”: ื“ื™ื ื ืื™ืช ืœื™, ื•ืืžื™ื ื, ืื’ื‘ ืื•ืจื—ื™ ืื™ื™ืชื™ ืœื™ื” ืœืžืจ. ืœื ืงื‘ื™ืœ ืžื™ื ื™ื”. ืืžืจ ืœื™ื”: ืคืกื™ืœื ื ืœืš ืœื“ื™ื ื.

ื›ืชื•ื‘ื•ืช ืงื”,ื‘

These are all about our relationship with other people, treating other people with respect.

[A]ll ethics derive from a confrontation with an other. This other, with whom we interact concretely, represents a gateway into the more abstract Otherness.

The distinction between totality and infinity divides the limited world, which contains the other as a material body, from a spiritual world. Subjects gain access to this spiritual world, infinity, by opening themselves to the Otherness of the other.

Summary of Levinasโ€™s Totality and Infinity, from Wikipedia, Totality and Infinity

Since the perek sets a standard that is far too high for any human being to reach, the gemara reassures us that achieving any of these is a good thing:

ื›ืชื™ื‘ โ€ืขื•ืฉื” ืืœื” ืœื ื™ืžื•ื˜ ืœืขื•ืœืโ€œ. ื›ืฉื”ื™ื” ืจืดื’ ืžื’ื™ืข ืœืžืงืจื ื”ื–ื” ื”ื™ื” ื‘ื•ื›ื”; ืืžืจ: ืžืืŸ ื“ืขื‘ื™ื“ ืœื”ื• ืœื›ื•ืœื”ื• ื”ื•ื ื“ืœื ื™ืžื•ื˜ ื”ื ื—ื“ื ืžื™ื ื™ื™ื”ื• ื™ืžื•ื˜! ืืžืจื• ืœื™ื”: ืžื™ ื›ืชื™ื‘ โ€ืขื•ืฉื” ื›ืœ ืืœื”โ€œ; โ€ืขื•ืฉื” ืืœื”โ€œ ื›ืชื™ื‘; ืืคื™ืœื• ื‘ื—ื“ื ืžื™ื ื™ื™ื”ื•.

ืžื›ื•ืช ื›ื“,ื

There is another perek with a very similar theme.

ื ืœื“ื•ื“ ืžื–ืžื•ืจ; ื—ืกื“ ื•ืžืฉืคื˜ ืืฉื™ืจื”; ืœืš ื”ืณ ืื–ืžืจื”ืƒ ื‘ ืืฉื›ื™ืœื” ื‘ื“ืจืš ืชืžื™ื ืžืชื™ ืชื‘ื•ื ืืœื™; ืืชื”ืœืš ื‘ืชื ืœื‘ื‘ื™ ื‘ืงืจื‘ ื‘ื™ืชื™ืƒ ื’ ืœื ืืฉื™ืช ืœื ื’ื“ ืขื™ื ื™ ื“ื‘ืจ ื‘ืœื™ืขืœ; ืขืฉื” ืกื˜ื™ื ืฉื ืืชื™; ืœื ื™ื“ื‘ืง ื‘ื™ืƒ ื“ ืœื‘ื‘ ืขืงืฉ ื™ืกื•ืจ ืžืžื ื™; ืจืข ืœื ืื“ืขืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืงื

ืืชื”ืœืš ื‘ืชื ืœื‘ื‘ื™ is the ื”ื•ืœืš ืชืžื™ื of the perek above. But here David is talking about himself, not the abstract โ€œืžื™ ื™ืฉื›ืŸ ื‘ื”ืจ ืงื“ืฉืšโ€. And he is talking about his everyday existence, in his own home: ื‘ืงืจื‘ ื‘ื™ืชื™. The way to achieve this ื“ืจืš ืชืžื™ื is to remove all the distractions that are keeping me from reaching my potential.

ืžืชื™ ืชื‘ื ืืœื™: ื”ื˜ืขื: ื›ื™ ื”ื•ื ื™ืฉื›ื™ืœ ืชืžื™ื“ ื‘ื›ืœ ืจื’ืข ืœื”ืจื’ื™ืœ ืขืฆืžื• ืœืœื›ืช ื‘ื”, ืขื“ ืฉืœื ื™ื™ื’ืข ืœืœื›ืช, ื•ื›ืื™ืœื• ื”ื“ืจืš ืชื‘ื ืืœื™ื• ืžืืœื™ื”, ื›ื“ืจืš ื”ื›ื™ื ื•ืจ ืžืจื•ื‘ ื”ืจื’ื™ืœื•ืชโ€ฆื™ื“ื‘ืจ ืขืœ ืขืช ื”ืชื‘ื•ื“ื“ื• ื•ื”ื‘ื“ืœื•.

ืื‘ืŸ ืขื–ืจื, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืงื:ื‘

ื•ืจื‘ื™ ืžืฉื” ืืžืจ: ืฉืชืฉืจื” ื”ืจื•ื— ื”ืงื“ืฉ ืขืœื™ื• ื‘ื‘ื™ืชื• ื‘ื”ืชื‘ื•ื“ื“ื• ืžื‘ื ื™ ืื“ื, ื•ื“ื™ื ื™ื”ื ื•ืจื™ื‘ื.

ืื‘ืŸ ืขื–ืจื, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืงื:ื‘

He wants simply to practice being good, but thatโ€™s hard when he has to deal with real-world politics.

ื›ื™ ืืชื”ืœืš ื‘ืชื ืœื‘ื‘ื™ ื›ื•ืณ: ื•ื”ื•ื ื›ื™ ืืคื ื” ืœื‘ื™ ืžื›ืœ ืžื—ืฉื‘ื•ืช ื•ื”ืจื”ื•ืจื™ื ื•ื”ืงืคื“ื•ืช ื’ื ื›ื™ ื™ืฆืจื• ืื•ืชื™ ื‘ื ื™ ืื“ื ืื• ื™ืกื•ืจื™ืŸ ื™ื‘ืื• ืืœื™ ื”ืฉืชื™ ื™ืฆืจื™ื ื”ื ื›ืœืœื™ื ื‘ืืžื•ืจ ืœื‘ื‘ื™ ื™ื—ื“ ืฉืžื”ื ื™ื”ื™ื• ื”ื•ืœื›ื™ื ื•ืžืชื ื”ื’ื™ื.

ืืœืฉื™ืš, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืงื:ื‘

ื‘ื›ืœ ืœื‘ื‘ืš: ื‘ืฉื ื™ ื™ืฆืจื™ืš, ื‘ื™ืฆืจ ื˜ื•ื‘ ื•ื‘ื™ืฆืจ ื”ืจืข.

ื‘ืจื›ื•ืช ื ื“,ื

ืขึฒืฉื‚ึนื”ึพืกึตื˜ึดื™ื means โ€œbeing distractedโ€. David says he hates that.

ืกื˜ื™ื: ืขื ื™ื ื• ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื”ืกืจื™ื ืžื“ืจืš ื”ื ื›ื•ื—ื” ื›ืžื• (ืžืฉืœื™ ื–:ื›ื”) ืึทืœ ื™ึตืฉื‚ึฐื˜ึฐ ืึถืœ ื“ึผึฐืจึธื›ึถื™ื”ึธ. .

ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ืฆื™ื•ืŸ, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืงื:ื’

This is something only possible after his retirement. As king, there is not getting away from ื‘ื ื™ ืื“ื, ื•ื“ื™ื ื™ื”ื ื•ืจื™ื‘ื.

The perek then repeats the theme of ืคืจืง ื˜ื• but in the negative: these are the people who I donโ€™t want in my house. It has a chiastic structure, centered around the same ื”ืœืš ื‘ื“ืจืš ืชืžื™ื.

ื” ืžืœื•ืฉื ื™ (ืžืœืฉื ื™) ื‘ืกืชืจ ืจืขื”ื• ืื•ืชื• ืืฆืžื™ืช;

ื’ื‘ื” ืขื™ื ื™ื ื•ืจื—ื‘ ืœื‘ื‘ ืืชื• ืœื ืื•ื›ืœืƒ

ื• ืขื™ื ื™ ื‘ื ืืžื ื™ ืืจืฅ ืœืฉื‘ืช ืขืžื“ื™;

ื”ืœืš ื‘ื“ืจืš ืชืžื™ื ื”ื•ื ื™ืฉืจืชื ื™ืƒ

ื– ืœื ื™ืฉื‘ ื‘ืงืจื‘ ื‘ื™ืชื™ ืขืฉื” ืจืžื™ื”;

ื“ื‘ืจ ืฉืงืจื™ื ืœื ื™ื›ื•ืŸ ืœื ื’ื“ ืขื™ื ื™ืƒ

ื— ืœื‘ืงืจื™ื ืืฆืžื™ืช ื›ืœ ืจืฉืขื™ ืืจืฅ;


ืœื”ื›ืจื™ืช ืžืขื™ืจ ื”ืณ ื›ืœ ืคืขืœื™ ืื•ืŸืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืงื

ืืฆืžื™ืช is usually translated โ€œcut offโ€ (Koren) or โ€œdestroyโ€ (JPS) but the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon connects it to the Arabic โ€œุตูŽู…ูŽุชูŽโ€, samat, โ€œsilenceโ€. I think that fits the context here better, because I think this description of ืžืœืฉื ื™ ื‘ืกืชืจ ืจืขื”ื• and the sinners is metaphoric. David is looking at himself and trying to suppress his own ื™ืฆืจ ื”ืจืข to ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื”ืจืข and ืฉืงืจ, because he wants to end up in a state of (ืชื”ืœื™ื ื›ื–:ื“)โ€Ž ืฉึดืื‘ึฐืชึดึผื™ ื‘ึฐึผื‘ึตื™ืช ื”ืณ ื›ึธึผืœ ื™ึฐืžึตื™ ื—ึทื™ึทึผื™.

ืžืจ ืจื‘ ื—ืกื“ื ื•ืื™ืชื™ืžื ืžืจ ืขื•ืงื‘ื: ื›ืœ ืื“ื ืฉื™ืฉ ื‘ื• ื’ืกื•ืช ื”ืจื•ื—, ืืžืจ ื”ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ื•ื: ืื™ืŸ ืื ื™ ื•ื”ื•ื ื™ื›ื•ืœื™ืŸ ืœื“ื•ืจ ื‘ืขื•ืœื. ืฉื ืืžืจ: โ€ืžืœืฉื ื™ ื‘ืกืชืจ ืจืขื”ื• ืื•ืชื• ืืฆืžื™ืช; ื’ื‘ื” ืขื™ื ื™ื ื•ืจื—ื‘ ืœื‘ื‘ ืืชื• ืœื ืื•ื›ืœโ€œ ืืœ ืชืงืจื™ ืึนืชื•ึน ืืœื ืึดืชึผื•ึน ืœื ืื•ื›ืœ.

ืกื•ื˜ื” ื”,ื

So he will silence the source of evil ืœื‘ืงืจื™ื, which means โ€œevery morningโ€, in the sense that every day is a new start.

ื›ื‘ ื—ืกื“ื™ ื”ืณ ื›ื™ ืœื ืชืžื ื• ื›ื™ ืœื ื›ืœื• ืจื—ืžื™ื•ืƒ ื›ื’ ื—ื“ืฉื™ื ืœื‘ืงืจื™ื ืจื‘ื” ืืžื•ื ืชืšืƒ

ืื™ื›ื” ืคืจืง ื’

ื™ื– ืžื” ืื ื•ืฉ ื›ื™ ืชื’ื“ืœื ื•; ื•ื›ื™ ืชืฉื™ืช ืืœื™ื• ืœื‘ืšืƒ ื™ื— ื•ืชืคืงื“ื ื• ืœื‘ืงืจื™ื; ืœืจื’ืขื™ื ืชื‘ื—ื ื ื•ืƒ

ืื™ื•ื‘ ืคืจืง ื–

Every morning is a chance to get things right or to mess them up again. This perek is Davidโ€™s version of Groundhog Day.

The conclusion, the goal of Davidโ€™s ื”ืชื‘ื•ื“ื“ื• ื•ื”ื‘ื“ืœื• is the final half-verse: ืœื”ื›ืจื™ืช ืžืขื™ืจ ื”ืณ ื›ืœ ืคืขืœื™ ืื•ืŸ. That is what is โ€œbest in lifeโ€.

ืชื ื ื“ื‘ื™ ืจื‘ื™ ืืœืขื–ืจ ื‘ืŸ ื™ืขืงื‘: ื›ืœ ืžืงื•ื ืฉื ืืžืจ โ€ื ืฆื—โ€œ โ€ืกืœื”โ€œ โ€ื•ืขื“โ€œ, ืื™ืŸ ืœื• ื”ืคืกืง ืขื•ืœืžื™ืช; โ€ื ืฆื—โ€œ, ื“ื›ืชื™ื‘ (ื™ืฉืขื™ื”ื• ื ื–:ื˜ื–) ื›ึดึผื™ ืœึนื ืœึฐืขื•ึนืœึธื ืึธืจึดื™ื‘ ื•ึฐืœึนื ืœึธื ึถืฆึทื— ืึถืงึฐึผืฆื•ึนืฃ.

ืขื™ืจื•ื‘ื™ืŸ ื ื“,ื

ื”ื ื” ืืžืจื• ืจื–ืดืœ ืคื” ืื—ื“ ื”ืกื›ื™ืžื• ื›ื™ ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ื–ื” ืขืœ ืื“ื ื”ืจืืฉื•ืŸ ื™ื“ื‘ืจ.

ืืœืฉื™ืš, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืงืœื˜:ื

(ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื”:ื) ื–ื” ืกืคืจ ืชื•ืœื“ื•ืช ืื“ื: ื”ืขื‘ื™ืจ ืœืคื ื™ื• ื›ืœ ื”ื“ื•ืจื•ืช. ื”ืจืื”ื• ื“ื•ื“ ื—ื™ื™ื ื—ืงื•ืงื™ืŸ ืœื• ื’ืณ ืฉืขื•ืช. ืืžืจ ืœืคื ื™ื•: ืจื‘ื•ื ื• ืฉืœ ืขื•ืœื, ืœื ืชื”ื ืชืงื ื” ืœื–ื”? ืืžืจ: ื›ืš ืขืœืชื” ื‘ืžื—ืฉื‘ื” ืœืคื ื™. ืืดืœ: ื›ืžื” ืฉื ื™ ื—ื™ื™? ืืดืœ: ืืœืฃ ืฉื ื™ื. ืืดืœ: ื™ืฉ ืžืชื ื” ื‘ืจืงื™ืข? ืืดืœ: ื”ืŸ. ืืดืœ: ืขืณ ืฉื ื™ื ืžืฉื ื•ืชื™ ื™ื”ื™ื• ืœืžื–ืœ ื–ื”.

ื™ืœืงื•ื˜ ืฉืžืขื•ื ื™ ืขืœ ื”ืชื•ืจื” ืžืดื

Metaphorically, David is a little piece of ืื“ื ื”ืจืืฉื•ืŸ, living a normal life ((ืชื”ืœื™ื ืฆ:ื™)โ€Ž ื™ึฐืžึตื™ ืฉึฐืื ื•ึนืชึตื™ื ื•ึผ ื‘ึธื”ึถื ืฉึดืื‘ึฐืขึดื™ื ืฉึธืื ึธื”). He is everyman, and ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื is meant to be the story of everyone. This perek is a ื ืฆื— about the purpose of human existence.

ื ืœืžื ืฆื— ืœื“ื•ื“ ืžื–ืžื•ืจ; ื”ืณ ื—ืงืจืชื ื™ ื•ืชื“ืขืƒ ื‘ ืืชื” ื™ื“ืขืช ืฉื‘ืชื™ ื•ืงื•ืžื™; ื‘ื ืชื” ืœืจืขื™ ืžืจื—ื•ืงืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืงืœื˜

ืœืจืขื™. ืœืจืขื™ื•ื ื™, ื›ืžื• (ืคืกื•ืง ื™ื–) ื•ึฐืœึดื™ ืžึทื” ื™ึผึธืงึฐืจื•ึผ ืจึตืขึถื™ืšึธ ืึตึพืœ.

ืžืœื‘ื™ืดื ื‘ืื•ืจ ื”ืžื™ืœื•ืช, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืงืœื˜:ื‘

ืืจื—ื™ ื•ืจื‘ืขื™ ื–ืจื™ืช; ื•ื›ืœ ื“ืจื›ื™ ื”ืกื›ื ืชื”ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืงืœื˜:ื’

ืืจื—ื™ ื•ืจื‘ืขื™: ื“ืจื›ื™ ื•ืจื‘ืฆื™ ืกื‘ื‘ืช ื•ื’ื“ืจืช ืœื”ื ื—ื•ืง ื•ื’ื‘ื•ืœ ื•ืœื ื™ืขื‘ื•ืจ. ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืงืœื˜:ื’

This is more than ื”ืณ watching; ื–ืจื™ืช means โ€œyou encircled meโ€; (ืฉืžื•ืช ื›ื”:ื™ื)โ€Ž ื•ืขืฉื™ืช ืขืœื™ื• ื–ืจ ื–ื”ื‘ ืกื‘ื™ื‘. Your knowledge of me limits me. We know this as a philosophical problem:

ื”ื›ืœ ืฆืคื•ื™, ื•ื”ืจืฉื•ืช ื ืชื•ื ื”, ื•ื‘ื˜ื•ื‘ ื”ืขื•ืœื ื ื“ื•ืŸ. ื•ื”ื›ืœ ืœืคื™ ืจื•ื‘ ื”ืžืขืฉื”.

ืื‘ื•ืช ื’:ื˜ื•

But the message here is not about predestination and free will, but the fact that I cannot hide from You and that awareness keeps me in control.

ื“ ื›ื™ ืื™ืŸ ืžืœื” ื‘ืœืฉื•ื ื™; ื”ืŸ ื”ืณ ื™ื“ืขืช ื›ืœื”ืƒ ื” ืื—ื•ืจ ื•ืงื“ื ืฆืจืชื ื™; ื•ืชืฉืช ืขืœื™ ื›ืคื›ื”ืƒ ื• ืคืœื™ืื” ื“ืขืช ืžืžื ื™; ื ืฉื’ื‘ื” ืœื ืื•ื›ืœ ืœื”ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืงืœื˜

ืื—ื•ืจ ื•ืงื“ื, โ€future and pastโ€œ means that ื”ืณ is omniscient in time as well as space. Now David is talking does realize that this limits his free will (ืชืฉืช ืขืœื™ ื›ืคื›ื”) but that is a dialectic that he will never understand; ืคืœื™ืื” ื“ืขืช ืžืžื ื™. But I canโ€™t escape it.

ื– ืื ื” ืืœืš ืžืจื•ื—ืš; ื•ืื ื” ืžืคื ื™ืš ืื‘ืจื—ืƒ ื— ืื ืืกืง ืฉืžื™ื ืฉื ืืชื”; ื•ืืฆื™ืขื” ืฉืื•ืœ ื”ื ืšืƒ ื˜ ืืฉื ื›ื ืคื™ ืฉื—ืจ; ืืฉื›ื ื” ื‘ืื—ืจื™ืช ื™ืืƒ ื™ ื’ื ืฉื ื™ื“ืš ืชื ื—ื ื™; ื•ืชืื—ื–ื ื™ ื™ืžื™ื ืšืƒ ื™ื ื•ืืžืจ ืืš ื—ืฉืš ื™ืฉื•ืคื ื™; ื•ืœื™ืœื” ืื•ืจ ื‘ืขื“ื ื™ืƒ ื™ื‘ ื’ื ื—ืฉืš ืœื ื™ื—ืฉื™ืš ืžืžืš; ื•ืœื™ืœื” ื›ื™ื•ื ื™ืื™ืจ ื›ื—ืฉื™ื›ื” ื›ืื•ืจื”ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืงืœื˜

But what that all leads to is that I cannot escape the consequences of my own actions. ืืฉื ื›ื ืคื™ ืฉื—ืจ; ืืฉื›ื ื” ื‘ืื—ืจื™ืช ื™ื refers to the furthest east and west. ื•ืœื™ืœื” ืื•ืจ ื‘ืขื“ื ื™ means โ€œthe night will provide me with darknessโ€; in an unfortunate irony, ืื•ืจ in Aramaic means โ€œnightโ€.

ื•ืœื™ืœื” ืื•ืจ ื‘ืขื“ื ื™: ื•ื”ืœื™ืœื” ื™ื”ื™ ืžืืคื™ืœ ืœื ื’ื“ื™, ืื•ืจ ื–ื” ืœืฉื•ืŸ ืื•ืคืœ ื”ื•ื ื›ืžื• (ืื™ื•ื‘ ืœื–:ื™ื) ื™ึธืคึดื™ืฅ ืขึฒื ึทืŸ ืื•ึนืจื•ึน, ื•ื›ืŸ (ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืงืžื—:) ื›ึผึธืœ ื›ึผื•ึนื›ึฐื‘ึตื™ ืื•ึนืจ, ื•ื›ืŸ (ืฉืžื•ืช ื™ื“:) ื•ึทื™ึผึธืึถืจ ืึถืช ื”ึทืœึผึธื™ึฐืœึธื”.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืงืœื˜:ื™ื

This has halachic implications.

ืžืชื ื™ืชืŸ: ืื•ืจ ืœืืจื‘ืขื” ืขืฉืจ ื‘ื•ื“ืงื™ืŸ ืืช ื”ื—ืžืฅโ€ฆ

ื’ืžืจื: ืžืื™ โ€ืื•ืจโ€œ? ืจื‘ ื”ื•ื ื ืืžืจ: ื ื’ื”ื™, ื•ืจื‘ ื™ื”ื•ื“ื” ืืžืจ: ืœื™ืœื™.

ืคืกื—ื™ื ื‘,ื

Then we have the volta: from ื”ืณ's omniscience about my deepest thoughts to the fact that I cannot begrudge You that; You made me.

ื™ื’ ื›ื™ ืืชื” ืงื ื™ืช ื›ืœื™ืชื™; ืชืกื›ื ื™ ื‘ื‘ื˜ืŸ ืืžื™ืƒ ื™ื“ ืื•ื“ืš ืขืœ ื›ื™ ื ื•ืจืื•ืช ื ืคืœื™ืชื™; ื ืคืœืื™ื ืžืขืฉื™ืš; ื•ื ืคืฉื™ ื™ื“ืขืช ืžืื“ืƒ ื˜ื• ืœื ื ื›ื—ื“ ืขืฆืžื™ ืžืžืš; ืืฉืจ ืขืฉื™ืชื™ ื‘ืกืชืจ; ืจืงืžืชื™ ื‘ืชื—ืชื™ื•ืช ืืจืฅืƒ ื˜ื– ื’ืœืžื™ ืจืื• ืขื™ื ื™ืš ื•ืขืœ ืกืคืจืš ื›ืœื ื™ื›ืชื‘ื•; ื™ืžื™ื ื™ืฆืจื•; ื•ืœื (ื•ืœื•) ืื—ื“ ื‘ื”ืืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืงืœื˜

ื’ืœืžื™ means literally, โ€œmy golemโ€, my inert body before I was born. David then gets back to the predestination/free will dialectic:

ื™ืžื™ื ื™ืฆืจื• ื•ืœื ืื—ื“ ื‘ื”ื: ื›ืœ ืžืขืฉื” ื”ืื“ื ื•ืชื›ืœื™ืชื™ื”ื ื’ืœื•ื™ื ืœืคื ื™ืš ื›ืื™ืœื• ื™ื•ืฆืจื• ื›ื‘ืจ, ืืขืดืค ืฉืœื ื”ื™ื” ืื—ื“ ืžื›ื•ืœื ื•ืœื ื”ื™ื” ืขื“ื™ื™ืŸ ื›ืื—ื“ ื‘ืขื•ืœื. ื•ืืœื• ื”ื ืคืœืื™ ืžืคืขืœื•ืช ืืœืงื™ื ื•ืžืฉืคื˜ ื’ื‘ื•ืจืชื• ืฉืขืชื™ื“ื•ืช ื’ืœื•ื™ื ืœืคื ื™ื• ื˜ืจื ืชื‘ืื ื”.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืงืœื˜:ื˜ื–

The ื›ืชื™ื‘-ืงืจื™ of ื•ืœื-ื•ืœื• weโ€™ve seen before:

ื“ืขื• ื›ื™ ื”ืณ ื”ื•ื ืืœืงื™ื; ื”ื•ื ืขืฉื ื• ื•ืœื (ื•ืœื•) ืื ื—ื ื• ืขืžื• ื•ืฆืืŸ ืžืจืขื™ืชื•ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืง:ื’

And here it has a similar double meaning: Rashiโ€™s โ€œYou know me as though you already created the days of my life, even though they donโ€™t exist yetโ€ and โ€œYou created the days of my life and You own every one of themโ€.

ื™ื– ื•ืœื™ ืžื” ื™ืงืจื• ืจืขื™ืš ืึพืœ; ืžื” ืขืฆืžื• ืจืืฉื™ื”ืืƒ ื™ื— ืืกืคืจื ืžื—ื•ืœ ื™ืจื‘ื•ืŸ; ื”ืงื™ืฆืชื™ ื•ืขื•ื“ื™ ืขืžืšืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืงืœื˜

The perek started with ื‘ื ืชื” ืœืจืขื™, โ€You know my thoughtsโ€œ, and ends with ื•ืœื™ ืžื” ื™ืงืจื• ืจืขื™ืš: โ€Your thoughts are too deep for meโ€œ.

Then David turns to a prayer: You know everything. Punish sinners; I may be aware of their evil but I cannot do anything to them. That is on you.

ื™ื˜ ืื ืชืงื˜ืœ ืืœื•ึพื” ืจืฉืข; ื•ืื ืฉื™ ื“ืžื™ื ืกื•ืจื• ืžื ื™ืƒ ื› ืืฉืจ ื™ืžืจื•ืš ืœืžื–ืžื”; ื ืฉื•ื ืœืฉื•ื ืขืจื™ืšืƒ ื›ื ื”ืœื•ื ืžืฉื ืื™ืš ื”ืณ ืืฉื ื; ื•ื‘ืชืงื•ืžืžื™ืš ืืชืงื•ื˜ื˜ืƒ ื›ื‘ ืชื›ืœื™ืช ืฉื ืื” ืฉื ืืชื™ื; ืœืื•ื™ื‘ื™ื ื”ื™ื• ืœื™ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืงืœื˜

ื™ืžืจื•ืš ืœืžื–ืžื”: ืžื–ื›ื™ืจื™ื ืฉืžืš ืขืœ ื›ืœ ืžื—ืฉื‘ื•ืช ืจืขืชื ื•ืžื›ื ื™ื ืืœืงื•ืชืš ืœืขืดื’.

ื ืฉื•ื ืœืฉื•ื: ื›ืžื• ื ืฉืื• ืœืฉื•ื.

ืขืจื™ืš: ืื•ื™ื‘ื™ืš, ื ืฉืื• ืœืฉื•ื ืื•ื™ื‘ื™ืš ืืช ืฉืžืš.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืงืœื˜:ื›

And the perek ends with a prayer that echoes the beginning: it started with ื”ืณ ื—ืงืจืชื ื™ and now,

ื›ื’ ื—ืงืจื ื™ ืึพืœ ื•ื“ืข ืœื‘ื‘ื™; ื‘ื—ื ื ื™ ื•ื“ืข ืฉืจืขืคื™ืƒ ื›ื“ ื•ืจืื” ืื ื“ืจืš ืขืฆื‘ ื‘ื™; ื•ื ื—ื ื™ ื‘ื“ืจืš ืขื•ืœืืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืงืœื˜

I do my best, but I canโ€™t predict the future. Only you know ืื ื“ืจืš ืขืฆื‘ ื‘ื™. Help me make the right choices, because human ethics is by definition impossible.

consequentialism

SMBC, Consequentialism