Psalms

O LORD my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me:

1LORD my God, I run to you for safety. Save me from everyone chasing me, and set me free.

2Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.

2If you don't, my enemy will tear me apart like a lion, and no one will rescue me.

3O LORD my God, if I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands;

3LORD my God, if I have really done what they say, if my hands have done wrong,

4If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:)

4if I paid back evil to a friend who was at peace with me — in fact I rescued the man who hates me for no reason —

5Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Selah.

5then let my enemy chase me down and catch me. Let him trample my life into the ground and leave my honor in the dust. Selah.

Note"Selah" is a word left untranslated. It seems to be a music direction, maybe a pause or a swell in the instruments.

6Arise, O LORD, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded.

6Get up, LORD, in your anger. Rise up against my raging enemies. Wake up for me, and give the judgment you ordered.

7So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about: for their sakes therefore return thou on high.

7Let the crowds of people gather all around you. Take your seat high above them.

8The LORD shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.

8The LORD judges the peoples. Judge me, LORD, by how right I am and how honest I have been.

9Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.

9Please put an end to the evil that wicked people do, and make good people secure. God is right and fair, and he tests what is inside a person.

NoteThe KJV says God tests "the hearts and reins." "Reins" meant kidneys. Together the two words meant a person's deepest thoughts and feelings.

10My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.

10God is my shield. He saves people whose hearts are honest.

11God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.

11God judges fairly, and every single day he is angry at what is wicked.

12If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.

12If a person will not turn back from evil, God will sharpen his sword. His bow is bent and ready.

13He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.

13He has his deadly weapons ready. He aims his flaming arrows at those who hunt others down.

14Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.

14Look at the wicked man. He is in labor with evil, pregnant with trouble, and he gives birth to lies.

15He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made.

15He made a pit and dug it deep, and then fell into the hole he dug himself.

16His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.

16The trouble he planned comes back on him. His violence falls right on top of his own head.

Note"Pate" is an old English word for the top of the head.

17I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.

17I will thank the LORD, because he does what is right. I will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.