O sovereign Lord, my strong deliverer, you shield my head in the day of battle.

O Lord, do not let the wicked have their way! Do not allow their plan to succeed when they attack! (Selah)

A slanderer will not endure on the earth; calamity will hunt down a violent man and strike him down.

Certainly the godly will give thanks to your name; the morally upright will live in your presence.

A psalm of David. O Lord, I cry out to you. Come quickly to me! Pay attention to me when I cry out to you!

O Lord, place a guard on my mouth! Protect the opening of my lips!

Do not let me have evil desires, or participate in sinful activities with men who behave wickedly. I will not eat their delicacies.

May the godly strike me in love and correct me! May my head not refuse choice oil! Indeed, my prayer is a witness against their evil deeds.

As when one plows and breaks up the soil, so our bones are scattered at the mouth of Sheol.

Surely I am looking to you, O sovereign Lord. In you I take shelter. Do not expose me to danger!

Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I escape.

A well-written song by David, when he was in the cave; a prayer. To the Lord I cry out; to the Lord I plead for mercy.

Even when my strength leaves me, you watch my footsteps. In the path where I walk they have hidden a trap for me.

Look to the right and see! No one cares about me. I have nowhere to run; no one is concerned about my life.

I cry out to you, O Lord; I say, "You are my shelter, my security in the land of the living."

Listen to my cry for help, for I am in serious trouble! Rescue me from those who chase me, for they are stronger than I am.

Do not sit in judgment on your servant, for no one alive is innocent before you.

Certainly my enemies chase me. They smash me into the ground. They force me to live in dark regions, like those who have been dead for ages.

I recall the old days; I meditate on all you have done; I reflect on your accomplishments.

I spread my hands out to you in prayer; my soul thirsts for you in a parched land.

May I hear about your loyal love in the morning, for I trust in you. Show me the way I should go, because I long for you.

By David. The Lord, my protector, deserves praise -- the one who trains my hands for battle, and my fingers for war,

who loves me and is my stronghold, my refuge and my deliverer, my shield and the one in whom I take shelter, who makes nations submit to me.

the one who delivers kings, and rescued David his servant from a deadly sword.

Then our sons will be like plants, that quickly grow to full size. Our daughters will be like corner pillars, carved like those in a palace.

Our cattle will be weighted down with produce. No one will break through our walls, no one will be taken captive, and there will be no terrified cries in our city squares.

The Lord is great and certainly worthy of praise! No one can fathom his greatness!

One generation will praise your deeds to another, and tell about your mighty acts!

I will focus on your honor and majestic splendor, and your amazing deeds!

The Lord is good to all, and has compassion on all he has made.

Your kingdom is an eternal kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations.

Everything looks to you in anticipation, and you provide them with food on a regular basis.

The Lord is just in all his actions, and exhibits love in all he does.

Do not trust in princes, or in human beings, who cannot deliver!

Their life's breath departs, they return to the ground; on that day their plans die.

How blessed is the one whose helper is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God,

the one who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who remains forever faithful,

He covers the sky with clouds, provides the earth with rain, and causes grass to grow on the hillsides.

He gives food to the animals, and to the young ravens when they chirp.

The Lord takes delight in his faithful followers, and in those who wait for his loyal love.

He then orders it all to melt; he breathes on it, and the water flows.

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the sky! Praise him in the heavens!

you kings of the earth and all you nations, you princes and all you leaders on the earth,

Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song! Praise him in the assembly of the godly!

Let Israel rejoice in their Creator! Let the people of Zion delight in their king!

For the Lord takes delight in his people; he exalts the oppressed by delivering them.

May they praise God while they hold a two-edged sword in their hand,

in order to take revenge on the nations, and punish foreigners.

They bind their kings in chains, and their nobles in iron shackles,

Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary! Praise him in the sky, which testifies to his strength!