לְדָוִ֗ד מִ֫זְמ֥וֹר חֶֽסֶד־וּמִשְׁפָּ֥ט אָשִׁ֑ירָה לְךָ֖ יְהוָ֣ה אֲזַמֵּֽרָה׃
De David. Psaume. Je veux chanter la bonté et la justice: à toi, Éternel, j’adresse mon cantique.
Vayikra Rabbah
Rabbi Berekhya said in the name of Rabbi Levi: That is what is written: “You, Lord, are forever exalted” (Psalms 92:9). Your hand is always uppermost. The way of the world is that a flesh and blood king sits in judgment; when he issues a positive ruling, the entire people lauds him. When he issues a death sentence, there is no creature that lauds him because they know that there is impulsiveness in his ruling. But the Holy One blessed be He is not so; rather, whether with an attribute of goodness or with an attribute of punishment, “You, Lord, are forever exalted,” Your hand is always uppermost.
Rav Huna said in the name of Rav Aḥa: It is written: “A psalm of David. I sing kindness and justice; to You, Lord, I sing praises” (Psalms 101:1). David said before the Holy One blessed be He: ‘Master of the universe, if You perform kindness with me, I sing; in any case I sing praises.’ Rabbi Tanḥum ben Rabbi Yudan said: It is written: “I praise the word of God; I praise the word of the Lord” (Psalms 56:11); whatever the case, I praise His word.1Whether He acts with the attribute of justice, represented by the name God (Elohim), or the attribute of mercy, represented by the name Lord, the Tetragrammaton. The Rabbis say: It is written: “I will encounter distress and sorrow and I will call in the name of the Lord” (Psalms 116:3–4). “I will raise a cup of salvation, and I will call in the name of the Lord” (Psalms 116:13). I any case, I will call in the name of the Lord.
Rabbi Yudan ben Rabbi Pilya said: That is what Job said: “The Lord has given, the Lord has taken, may the name of the Lord be blessed” (Job 1:21). When He gives, He gives with mercy; when He takes, He takes with mercy. Moreover, when He gave, He did not consult anyone, but when He took, He consulted with His heavenly court. Rabbi Elazar said: Everywhere that you find “and the Lord,” it is He and His court.2The word “and” implies God and his court. The paradigm of them all: “And the Lord spoke ill of you” (I Kings 22:23).
Rabbi Yudan said: “You [Lord] are [forever] exalted.” You practice exaltedness in Your world. You granted priesthood to Aaron forever: “It is an [everlasting] covenant of salt” (Numbers 18:19). You granted kingdom to David forever, as it is stated: “Do you not know that the Lord, God of Israel, gave kingship [over Israel to David forever]” (II Chronicles 13:5). You granted holiness to Israel forever, as it is stated: “You shall be holy” (Leviticus 19:2).
Rav Huna said in the name of Rav Aḥa: It is written: “A psalm of David. I sing kindness and justice; to You, Lord, I sing praises” (Psalms 101:1). David said before the Holy One blessed be He: ‘Master of the universe, if You perform kindness with me, I sing; in any case I sing praises.’ Rabbi Tanḥum ben Rabbi Yudan said: It is written: “I praise the word of God; I praise the word of the Lord” (Psalms 56:11); whatever the case, I praise His word.1Whether He acts with the attribute of justice, represented by the name God (Elohim), or the attribute of mercy, represented by the name Lord, the Tetragrammaton. The Rabbis say: It is written: “I will encounter distress and sorrow and I will call in the name of the Lord” (Psalms 116:3–4). “I will raise a cup of salvation, and I will call in the name of the Lord” (Psalms 116:13). I any case, I will call in the name of the Lord.
Rabbi Yudan ben Rabbi Pilya said: That is what Job said: “The Lord has given, the Lord has taken, may the name of the Lord be blessed” (Job 1:21). When He gives, He gives with mercy; when He takes, He takes with mercy. Moreover, when He gave, He did not consult anyone, but when He took, He consulted with His heavenly court. Rabbi Elazar said: Everywhere that you find “and the Lord,” it is He and His court.2The word “and” implies God and his court. The paradigm of them all: “And the Lord spoke ill of you” (I Kings 22:23).
Rabbi Yudan said: “You [Lord] are [forever] exalted.” You practice exaltedness in Your world. You granted priesthood to Aaron forever: “It is an [everlasting] covenant of salt” (Numbers 18:19). You granted kingdom to David forever, as it is stated: “Do you not know that the Lord, God of Israel, gave kingship [over Israel to David forever]” (II Chronicles 13:5). You granted holiness to Israel forever, as it is stated: “You shall be holy” (Leviticus 19:2).
Midrash Tehillim
I will sing of kindness and justice to David. As it is written (Isaiah 5:16), "And the Lord of hosts will be exalted in justice." If in justice, then the Lord of hosts will be exalted in justice. If in righteousness, the Holy God will be sanctified in righteousness. Rabbi Huna said in the name of Rabbi Acha, "If in kindness, I will sing. If in justice, I will sing. To you, Lord, I will sing praises." Rabbi Yehuda bar Shila said (Job 1:21), "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away." Whether He gives or takes, blessed be the name of the Lord. In any case, to you, Lord, I will sing praises. Rabbi Berechiah said in the name of Rabbi Levi (Psalm 92:9), "You are exalted, Lord, forever." Your hand, Lord, is lifted high for justice. Blessed be the good and benevolent One for the good, and concerning evil, one says, "Blessed be the true Judge." Rabbi Tanhuma bar Rabbi Yudan said, "One verse says (Psalm 56:11), 'In God I will praise His word,' and another verse says (Psalm 52:11), 'In the Lord I will praise His word.'" If judgment comes upon me, I will praise His word. If mercy comes upon me, I will praise His word. In any case, I will praise His word. The rabbis said (Psalm 116:3-4), "The sorrows of death encompassed me, and the pains of hell got hold of me; I found distress and sorrow. Then I called upon the name of the Lord; 'O Lord, I beseech You, deliver my soul!'" I will lift up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. In any case, to you, Lord, I will call out (sing praises)....