Psalms

Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.

1LORD, listen to my case, because it is just. Pay attention to my cry. Hear my prayer. It does not come from lying lips.

2Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.

2Let your decision about me come from you yourself. Let your eyes see what is fair.

Note"Let my sentence come forth" does not mean a punishment. In 1611 a "sentence" was any verdict a judge gave, so David is asking God to decide his case.

3Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.

3You have tested my heart. You came to me in the night. You examined me and found nothing wrong. I have decided that my mouth will not sin.

4Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.

4As for what people do, I have used your own words to keep myself away from the paths of violent people.

5Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.

5Keep my steps on your paths, so that my feet do not slip.

6I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.

6I have called out to you, God, because I know you will answer me. Bend down close to me and hear what I say.

7Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.

7Show me your amazing, faithful love. You rescue with your strong right hand the people who trust you and run to you from their attackers.

8Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,

8Guard me the way you guard the center of your own eye. Hide me in the shadow of your wings.

Note"The apple of the eye" is an old way of saying the pupil, the dark center of the eye. It is the part a person protects fastest of all.

9From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.

9Keep me safe from the wicked people who attack me, from the enemies who want me dead and who surround me.

10They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.

10They have shut their hearts tight and feel nothing. Their mouths say proud, boastful things.

Note"Inclosed in their own fat" pictures a heart wrapped in thick fat so nothing reaches it. It means they have become hard and unfeeling, not that they are overweight.

11They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;

11They have tracked us down, and now they close in around us. They watch for the moment to throw us to the ground.

12Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.

12They are like a lion hungry for the animal it hunts, like a young lion crouching in a hiding place.

13Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:

13Get up, LORD! Face him and bring him down. Save my life from the wicked man with your sword.

NoteThe Hebrew here can be read two ways: the wicked man is God's sword, or God's sword is the weapon that rescues David. Translators are divided.

14From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.

14Save me by your hand, LORD, from people of this world whose whole share is this life and nothing more. You fill their stomachs with the good things you have stored up. They have many children, and they leave what is left to their little ones.

15As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

15But I will see your face, and I will be right with you. When I wake up, seeing what you are like will be enough for me.