I wished that the Lord would hear my voice So did David say after Saul’s demise, when he became king, “Return, my soul, to your resting place, for the Lord has bestowed kindness upon you.” And to You, my Master, I pine, for You extricated my soul from death.

I wished that the Lord would hear Heb. אהבתי, I wished (תאבתי) that God would hear my voice.

and I shall call out in my days In the days of my distress I shall call Him, and in the days of my redemption I shall praise Him.

bands of death Heb. חבלי, bands of enemies who sought to kill me.

[The expressions] חבלי מות, חבלי שאוֹל, are all an expression of bands, like (I Sam. 10:5): “a band of (חבל) prophets.”

in the lands of the living The land of Israel, for my enemies and my pursuers chased me out of it in the days of Saul, and against their will, I returned.

I believed so that I spoke I believed the words of Ziba which he spoke about Mephibosheth, so that I should say (II Sam. 16:4), “Behold, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.” Then I humbled myself exceedingly. I had spoken harshly, and I submitted myself to you [Mephibosheth].

I said in my haste to flee from before Absalom.

“All men are liars” Heb. כזב, [meaning that one] betrays his friend, for I saw my son betray me and seek my life, and [I saw] all Israel repay me with evil for good; therefore, I believed Ziba and said that Mephibosheth also lies and betrays me. Every expression of כָּזָב is purely an expression of lack of trust that they trusted in him; falenze in Old French, betrayal, deceit, like (Isa. 58:11): “whose water does not fail (יכזבו).” Others interpret it: I said in my haste at the Rock of the Divisions, when Saul and his men were encircling me and my men, to seize me, and there it says (I Sam. 23:26): “and David was hastening to get away.” “All men are liars” Even the prophet Samuel, who is faithful as a prophet, even he is a deceiver, for he anointed me king.

I shall lift up a cup of salvations I shall bring the libations for the thanksgiving offerings that I vowed, as he says, “To You I shall slaughter a thanksgiving offering,” and on that cup I shall call out about this salvation, for the Levite does not recite a song unless over the wine [libations].

in the presence of all His people Heb. נגדה, in the presence of (נגד) all His people.

Difficult in the eyes of the Lord The Holy One, blessed be He, showed me that it is a difficult thing and heavy in His eyes to kill His pious ones.

the death המותה, the death (המות), [the final “hey” being superfluous] like (Gen. 39:11, 12): “into the house (הביתה)...outside (החוצה).”

Your servant the son of Your maidservant There is no comparison between the training of a slave who was bought in the market and one who was born to a maidservant in the house.

You loosed my thongs You untied from my neck the bars and the thongs.

thanksgiving Sacrifices of thanksgiving for the miracles that You performed for me.

my vows The sacrifices that I vowed.

in your midst Heb. בתוככי, like בְּתוֹכֵךְ.