Psalms

Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.

1Save me from my enemies, my God. Keep me safe from those who rise up against me.

2Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men.

2Save me from people who do evil. Rescue me from men who want to spill blood.

3For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O LORD.

3Look, they hide and wait to take my life. Strong men are joining together against me. I have done nothing wrong, LORD.

4They run and prepare themselves without my fault: awake to help me, and behold.

4I am not at fault, yet they run to get ready to attack. Wake up, come help me, and look at this.

5Thou therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah.

5LORD God of armies, God of Israel, wake up and punish all the nations. Show no mercy to those who do wrong and break faith. Selah.

Note"Heathen" in the KJV simply means the other nations, the peoples outside Israel. "Selah" is a mark in the music; nobody today is certain what it told the singers to do.

6They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.

6Every evening they come back. They snarl like dogs and prowl around the city.

7Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips: for who, say they, doth hear?

7Listen to what pours out of their mouths. Their words cut like swords. They say, "Who can hear us?"

8But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision.

8But you, LORD, laugh at them. You make fun of all the nations.

9Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence.

9You are my strength, so I will watch and wait for you. God is my safe, high place.

10The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies.

10My God, who loves me and stays with me, will come out to meet me. God will let me see my enemies defeated.

NoteIn 1611 "prevent" meant to go ahead of someone or come out to meet them. It did not mean to stop something from happening.

11Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord our shield.

11Do not kill them all at once, or my people will forget. Use your power to scatter them and bring them down, Lord, our shield.

12For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak.

12Their mouths sin, and the words of their lips trap them in their pride, along with the curses and lies they speak.

13Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be: and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of the earth. Selah.

13Burn them up in your anger. Burn them up until they are gone. Then everyone on earth will know that God rules over Jacob. Selah.

14And at evening let them return; and let them make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.

14Every evening let them come back, snarling like dogs and prowling around the city.

15Let them wander up and down for meat, and grudge if they be not satisfied.

15Let them wander around looking for food, and growl when they do not get enough.

Note"Meat" in the KJV means food of any kind, not just the meat of animals.

16But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.

16But I will sing about your strength. In the morning I will sing out loud about your faithful love. You have been my safe place and my shelter when trouble came.

17Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.

17I will sing to you, my strength. God is my safe place, the God who loves me and stays with me.