Commentaire sur Les Psaumes 17:3

You have tried my heart, etc. I know that I am guilty of a transgression, and, if the judgment of its punishment comes before You, I will not be declared innocent in the judgment, for You have already tried my heart.

Thou hast proved my heart; Thou hast visited me by night; Thou hast tried me, and findest nothing: – In that night Thou didst prove, and visit my heart, and try me and didst not find me clean. And he says:

You have visited [upon me] at night at eventide for the iniquity of Bathsheba, concerning which it is stated (in II Sam. 11:2) “And it came to pass at the time of evening, that David arose, etc.”

I purposed let not my mouth transgress ! – What I thought to say was: " Examine me, O Lord, and prove me" (ibid. 26:2). Oh that my mouth had not transgressed, and that I had not been one to say this thing of which I boasted and at which I stumbled ! And he says:

You have refined me You have tested me.

and not found You have not found in me Your desire.

If I think, let it not pass my mouth If it enters my thoughts again to be tried before You, let it not pass my mouth to say again, “Try me, O Lord, and test me,” as I have already said, as is written (26:2) “Try me, O Lord, and test me,” for David asked the Holy One, blessed be He, “Why do they say, ‘the God of Abraham,’ yet they do not say, ‘the God of David’?” He replied, “I tested him with ten tests, and he was found perfect.” He [David] said, “Try me and test me,” as appears in tractate Shabbath (?).