Rashi on TanakhPsalms 5

on nehiloth Menachem interpreted all of them: nehiloth, alamoth, gittith, jeduthun, that they are all names of musical instruments, and the melody of the psalm was according to the melody fit for that instrument. However, [in the] Midrash Aggadah (Mid. Ps. 5:1,2,4) some explain “nehiloth” as an expression of heritage, but that is not the meaning of the word; moreover, the contents of the psalm do not deal with heritage. It is, however, possible to interpret נחלות as troops, like “a swarm (נחיל) of bees,” (Bava Kamma 114a, 81b), and like (II Sam. 22:5), “Bands (נחלי) of scoundrels would affright me,” which Jonathan renders: Bands (סיען) of sinners. [This is] a prayer concerning the bands of the enemies that come upon Israel, and the Psalmist recited this psalm on behalf of all Israel.

Give ear to my words, O Lord when I have strength to ask before You and, when I have no strength to pray before You and the worry is confined to my heart...consider my meditation Heb. בינה. Consider the meditation of my heart. So it is explained in Midrash [Psalms 5:6]: In every [instance of] בינה in Scripture, the accent is under the “nun,” except this one and its fellow (in Job 34: 16): “And if you wish, understand (בִּנָה), hearken to this,” which is not a noun but an expression of “understand,” like (Prov. 23:1): “you should understand well (בין תבין) who is in front of you.” Therefore, the accent is under the “beth.”

in the morning You shall hearken to my voice In the morning, I call out to You about them, because it is a time of judgment for the wicked, as it is stated (below 101:8): “Morning by morning will I destroy all the wicked of the land”; (Isa: 33:2), “Be their arm every morning”; (ibid. 28:19), “for every morning it shall pass.”

in the morning I shall arrange to You my prayer concerning this. [The word]: אערך is an expression of arrangement (מערכה). Menachem (p. 138) classifies it in this manner.

and I shall look forward that You execute justice upon them.

For You are not a God Who desires wickedness Therefore, I arrange my prayer to You in the morning (appears only in certain editions) and it befits You to destroy wickedness from the world.

evil does not abide with You Heb. יגרך, it will not abide beside You.

Confused people who make themselves mad, and in the language of the Mishnah, מערבבין, confused.

a man of blood and deceit This [refers to] Esau and his descendants.

I...shall enter Your House to thank You for Your great loving-kindness that You have wondrously bestowed upon us, to grant us revenge upon them.

those who lie in wait for me Heb. שוררי, those who look after me, who look forward to my betraying You, so that You should forsake me. [The word] שוררי is like (Num. 24:17): “I behold it (אשורינו), but it is not near.”

For there is no sincerity in his mouth They appear as friends but they are enemies.

there is malice in their heart Their thoughts are deceitful.

their throat is an open grave to swallow others’ toil, like a grave that swallows up the body.

they make their tongue smooth with words of flattery.

by their own counsels which they formulate against Israel. Then all who take shelter in You shall rejoice.

and You shall shelter them You shall shield and shelter them.

exult in You when they see that You bless the righteous man, Jacob, and his seed.

like a shield which encompasses a man from three sides.

will satisfaction, apayement in Old French; appeasement, kindness, peace of heart.

You shall encompass him תעטרנו, You shall encompass him (in Sam. 23:26): “but Saul and his men were encircling (עוטרים) David and his men.”