Psalm 11: In A World of Manipulation

This Psalm opens with the question of how one can remain or hope to become elevated, when there are those who seek to hurt him. Whether the arrows aimed at us are literal weapons of war, or figuratively describing toxic and abusive actions and communication in our daily relationships -- the task a righteous person has, to stay aligned with the good, with G-d, with the divine inside us, is no small task. 

The psychological attack that evil forces have on even the most pious and righteous of people, will come crumbling down when faced with an attack on the very morals and principles that govern the values that run our lives and the systems that govern our communities and governments: “For once they destroy our foundational principles, a righteous person will not know how to act.”

King David explains that in such times of confusion, it is G-d we must cling to for judgment. When it becomes difficult to distinguish right from wrong, evil from good, we must look to G-d in prayer and ask Him to be the judge on our part: “His eyes will witness, His eyelashes will judge men.” The all seeing eye of G-d will be able to see who the true evil doer is, and who the true just man is. Then, with His eyelashes; eye-lashes, He will bring down His judgment onto the men who spread evil and darkness around the world. 

David ends with a reminder that G-d is a just G-d. He likes acts of righteousness and good deeds. All one needs to do to find the goodness of the Divine judgement is act in righteous ways, and walk the path of the just -- and look to find His divinity within. 

לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַ לְדָ֫וִ֥ד בַּֽה’ ׀ חָסִ֗יתִי אֵ֭יךְ תֹּאמְר֣וּ לְנַפְשִׁ֑י נודו [נ֝֗וּדִי] הַרְכֶ֥ם צִפּֽוֹר׃

For the conductor of David,

In G-d I have taken shelter, 

How can you tell my soul:

“Move as a bird over the mountains”

כִּ֤י הִנֵּ֪ה הָרְשָׁעִ֡ים יִדְרְכ֬וּן קֶ֗שֶׁת כּוֹנְנ֣וּ חִצָּ֣ם עַל־יֶ֑תֶר לִיר֥וֹת בְּמוֹ־אֹ֝֗פֶל לְיִשְׁרֵי־לֵֽב׃

For here are the evildoers,

stringing their bows, nocking their arrows, 

preparing to shoot with the darkest intentions,

onto those with righteous hearts. 

כִּ֣י הַ֭שָּׁתוֹת יֵֽהָרֵס֑וּן צַ֝דִּ֗יק מַה־פָּעָֽל׃

For once they destroy our foundational principles,

A righteous person will not know how to act. 

ה’ ׀ בְּֽהֵ֘יכַ֤ל קָדְשׁ֗וֹ ה’ בַּשָּׁמַ֪יִם כִּ֫סְא֥וֹ עֵינָ֥יו יֶחֱז֑וּ עַפְעַפָּ֥יו יִ֝בְחֲנ֗וּ בְּנֵ֣י אָדָֽם׃

G-d in the halls of His Holiness,

G-d, in the skies His sitting place is, 

His eyes will witness, 

His eyelashes will judge men.

ה’ צַדִּ֪יק יִ֫בְחָ֥ן וְ֭רָשָׁע וְאֹהֵ֣ב חָמָ֑ס שָֽׂנְאָ֥ה נַפְשֽׁוֹ׃

G-d will see into the righteous and the evildoer,

And the ones who love violence [literally; Hammas], His soul He will hate.

יַמְטֵ֥ר עַל־רְשָׁעִ֗ים פַּ֫חִ֥ים אֵ֣שׁ וְ֭גָפְרִית וְר֥וּחַ זִלְעָפ֗וֹת מְנָ֣ת כּוֹסָֽם׃

He will rain down onto the wicked mines [explosives] of sulfur and fire,

And hitting winds of terror will fill their cup [their portion in life].

כִּֽי־צַדִּ֣יק ה’ צְדָק֣וֹת אָהֵ֑ב יָ֝שָׁ֗ר יֶחֱז֥וּ פָנֵֽימוֹ׃

For G-d is righteous,

He loves acts of righteousness and kindness,

Those who walk in His straight path,

will find Him within themselves.