מזמור זה אמרו שלמה בשעה שהכניס הארון לבית קודש הקודשים, ולא נענה עד שהזכיר זכות דוד. ולפי שכל פסוקי דזמרה הם פסוקי דוד המלך, לפיכך הקדימו מקודם מזמור זה שבו נגלה צדקתו (ערוה"ש נ, ד) Psalm 30, once used to inaugurate the Holy Temple, is used today to inaugurate our daily prayers, for the synagogue is a “Holy Temple in miniature” and our prayers take the place of the sacrifices. It is both a prayer for success and a declaration of thanksgiving.
מִזְמוֹר שִׁיר־חֲנֻכַּת הַבַּֽיִת לְדָוִד: אֲרוֹמִמְךָ יְהֹוָה כִּי דִלִּיתָֽנִי וְלֹא־שִׂמַּֽחְתָּ אֹיְ֒בַי לִי: יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהָי שִׁוַּעְתִּי אֵלֶֽיךָ וַתִּרְפָּאֵֽנִי: יְהֹוָה הֶעֱלִֽיתָ מִן־שְׁאוֹל נַפְשִׁי חִיִּיתַֽנִי מִיָּרְ֒דִי־בוֹר: זַמְּ֒רוּ לַיהוָֹה חֲסִידָיו וְהוֹדוּ לְזֵֽכֶר קָדְשׁוֹ: כִּי רֶֽגַע בְּאַפּוֹ חַיִּים בִּרְצוֹנוֹ בָּעֶֽרֶב יָלִין בֶּֽכִי וְלַבֹּֽקֶר רִנָּה: וַאֲנִי אָמַֽרְתִּי בְשַׁלְוִי בַּל־אֶמּוֹט לְעוֹלָם: יְהֹוָה בִּרְצוֹנְ֒ךָ הֶעֱמַֽדְתָּה לְהַרְרִי עֹז הִסְתַּֽרְתָּ פָנֶֽיךָ הָיִֽיתִי נִבְהָל: אֵלֶֽיךָ יְהֹוָה אֶקְרָא וְאֶל־אֲדֹנָי אֶתְחַנָּן: מַה־בֶּֽצַע בְּדָמִי בְּרִדְתִּי אֶל שָֽׁחַת הֲיוֹדְ֒ךָ עָפָר הֲיַגִּיד אֲמִתֶּֽךָ: שְׁמַע יְהֹוָה וְחָנֵּֽנִי יְהֹוָה הֱיֵה־עֹזֵר לִי: הָפַֽכְתָּ מִסְפְּדִי לְמָחוֹל לִי פִּתַּחְתָּ שַׂקִּי וַתְּ֒אַזְּ֒רֵֽנִי שִׂמְחָה: לְמַֽעַן יְזַמֶּרְךָ כָבוֹד וְלֹא יִדֹּם יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהַי לְעוֹלָם אוֹדֶֽךָּ: A Psalm, a song for the inauguration of the Temple, by David.1Solomon built the Temple. Why, then, is its inauguration attributed to David? Rashi explains: David composed the song which would be sung at the inauguration later, in Solomon’s days. I will exalt You, Adonoy, for You have upheld me,2Radak writes that the Hebrew word דליתני is an expression used to describe either a down-trodden or an uplifted state. The downtrodden state of the Jewish people is actually part of their uplifting says the Sfas Emes, as it is said, “when I was brought low, He delivered me” (Psalms 116:6). “My downtrodden state was the cause of my salvation,” proclaims David, just as when one lowers a bucket (דלי) into a well in order to bring up the water. and not let my foes rejoice over me. Adonoy, my God, I cried out to You, and You healed me. Adonoy, You have raised my soul from the lower world. You have kept me alive, lest I descend to the Pit. Sing to Adonoy, [you,] His pious ones, and give thanks to His holy Name.3The literal translation of זכר קודשו is His ׳holy remembrance,’ but it refers to His Name; for the titles we bestow upon Him are our means of remembering Him.— Radak For His anger lasts only a moment,4A moment is a measure of time. God’s anger is limited to time (be it long or short) but God’s favor is unlimited.—Sfas Emes but there is [long] life, in His conciliation. In the evening, one retires weeping, but in the morning there is [a cry of] joy! I said, in my serenity, I would never be moved. [But,] Adonoy, it was Your will [alone] that established my mountain as a stronghold. When You concealed Your Presence, I was terrified. To You, Adonoy, I called, and my Master I beseeched. What gain is there in [the shedding of] my blood? In my going down to destruction? Will the dust acknowledge You? Will it proclaim Your truth? Hear [me] Adonoy, and be gracious to me, Adonoy, be a help to me. You have turned my mourning into dancing, You have loosened my sackcloth and supported me with joy. In order that my soul5The literal translation of כבוד is glory. Rabbi Yerucham Levovitz explained that the soul is called כבוד because its only function is to give glory to God. might sing to You and not be stilled, Adonoy, my God, forever will I thank You.