Psalms
Chapter 62
David says he waits quietly for God alone, calling him his rock, his rescue, and his safe place. He describes people who plot against him, blessing him out loud while cursing him inside, and says they will fall. He then turns to the listeners: trust God at all times, don't count on people or on money, because power and faithful love both belong to God, who repays each person for what they do.
Plain reading written for preteens. Clear and complete, at about a fifth grade reading level.
Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.
1I wait quietly for God alone. My rescue comes from him.
2He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.
2He alone is my rock and my rescue. He is my safe high place. I will not be badly shaken.
3How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? ye shall be slain all of you: as a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence.
3How long will you plan harm against one man? All of you will be struck down. You will be like a leaning wall, like a fence about to fall.
"Imagine mischief" in the King James Version does not mean daydreaming. It means plotting harm.
4They only consult to cast him down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.
4Their whole plan is to pull him down from his high place. They love lies. Their mouths say kind words, but inside they are cursing him. Selah.
"Selah" is a mark in the Hebrew text, probably a direction for the music or a pause. Nobody today knows exactly what it told the singers to do.
5My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.
5Wait quietly for God alone, my soul. My hope comes from him.
6He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.
6He alone is my rock and my rescue. He is my safe high place. I will not be shaken.
7In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
7My rescue and my honor rest on God. He is my strong rock. He is the place I go to be safe.
8Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.
8Trust him at all times, all you people. Pour out your heart to him. God is a safe place for us. Selah.
9Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity.
9Ordinary people are only a breath. Important people are a lie. Weighed on a scale, all of them together weigh less than a breath.
"Vanity" here does not mean being stuck on yourself. It means something as light and short-lived as a puff of breath. The scale in this verse is a balance, the kind used to weigh things against a known weight.
10Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.
10Do not trust in pushing others around. Do not put your hope in stolen things. If your money grows, do not set your heart on it.
11God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.
11God has said one thing, and I have heard it twice: power belongs to God.
12Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.
12And faithful love belongs to you too, Lord. You pay back each person for what they have done.
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