Psalms

Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul.

1LORD, I lift up my whole self to you.

2O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.

2My God, I trust you. Do not let me be put to shame. Do not let my enemies win over me.

Note"Be ashamed" here does not mean feeling embarrassed. It means being publicly let down or disgraced after trusting someone.

3Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.

3No one who waits for you will be put to shame. Shame belongs to those who betray others for no reason.

4Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.

4Show me your ways, LORD. Teach me your paths.

5Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.

5Guide me in your truth and teach me, because you are the God who saves me. I wait for you all day long.

6Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.

6Remember, LORD, how tender and loving you are. You have been that way from long ago.

7Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O LORD.

7Do not remember the sins I did when I was young, or the times I turned against you. Remember me with your love, because you are good, LORD.

8Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.

8The LORD is good and does what is right. So he shows sinners which way to go.

9The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.

9He guides humble people to do what is right. He teaches them his way.

Note"Meek" in the KJV does not mean weak or timid. It means humble, not proud.

10All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.

10Everything the LORD does is loving and faithful toward those who keep his agreement and his rules.

11For thy name’s sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.

11LORD, for the sake of your own name, forgive my sin, even though it is great.

12What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.

12Who is the person who honors the LORD with awe? God will teach him the path he should take.

13His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.

13He will live well and at peace, and his children after him will receive the land.

14The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.

14The LORD shares his close thoughts with those who honor him. He shows them his agreement.

Note"The secret of the LORD" means the close, trusted talk a friend shares only with people near to him.

15Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.

15My eyes are always on the LORD, because he will pull my feet out of the trap.

16Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted.

16Turn toward me and be kind to me, because I am alone and hurting.

17The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses.

17The troubles in my heart keep growing. Please bring me out of my distress.

18Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins.

18Look at my pain and my suffering, and forgive all my sins.

19Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred.

19Look at my enemies. There are many of them, and they hate me with a cruel hatred.

20O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee.

20Guard my life and rescue me. Do not let me be put to shame, because I trust in you.

21Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.

21Let honesty and right living keep me safe, because I wait for you.

22Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.

22God, rescue Israel out of all its troubles.