Psalms
Chapter 63
David prays to God from a dry desert place, saying he wants God the way a thirsty person wants water. He remembers seeing God's power at the sanctuary, and he praises God at night from his bed because God's steady love means more to him than life itself. The psalm ends with David sure that the enemies hunting him will be destroyed, while the king will have reason to be glad.
Plain reading written for preteens. Clear and complete, at about a fifth grade reading level.
O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
1God, you are my God. I look for you from the moment I wake. My whole self is thirsty for you. My body aches for you, like a person in dry land where there is no water.
2To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.
2I want to see your power and your greatness, the way I once saw you in your holy place of worship.
3Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.
3Your faithful love is better than life itself, so my lips will praise you.
4Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.
4So I will thank you as long as I live. I will lift my hands when I pray to you.
5My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:
5I will be as satisfied as if I had eaten the richest food. My mouth will praise you with happy lips.
The King James Version says "marrow and fatness." In that time, the fattest meat was the best part of a meal, so this means the richest, most filling food there is.
6When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.
6I do this when I remember you while lying in bed, and think about you through the hours of the night.
7Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.
7You have been the one who helps me. So I sing for joy, safe in the shadow of your wings.
8My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.
8I hold on to you and stay close behind you. Your strong right hand holds me up.
9But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth.
9But those who hunt me down and want to kill me will go down into the depths of the earth.
"The lower parts of the earth" means the grave. He is saying his enemies will die.
10They shall fall by the sword: they shall be a portion for foxes.
10They will be killed by the sword. Wild animals will feed on their bodies.
The King James Version says "foxes." The animals meant are jackals, wild dogs that ate the bodies of the dead left lying on a battlefield.
11But the king shall rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by him shall glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.
11But the king will be glad because of God. Everyone who makes promises in God's name will be proud of him, while the mouths of liars will be shut.
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