{A song of the stairs} Many a time have they fought against me from my youth up, may Israel now say.

Yea, many a time have they vexed me from my youth up, but they have not overcome me.

The plowers plowed upon my back: they made long their furrows.

Let them be put to shame and turned backward, All they that hate Zion.

They are as grass of the roofs, That before it was drawn out withereth,

So that they which go by, say not so much as, "the LORD prosper you, we wish you good luck in the name of the LORD."

My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.

I will abundantly supply what she needs; I will give her poor all the food they need.

As for the images of the heathen, they are but silver and gold, the work of men's hands.

They have mouths, and speak not; eyes have they, but they see not.

They have ears, and yet they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths.

They that make them are like unto them; and so are all they that put their trust in them.

For they that led us away captive required of us then a song, and melody in our heaviness. "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!"

Remember the children of Edom, O LORD, in the day of Jerusalem, how they said, "Down with it! Down with it, even to the ground!"

All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of thy mouth.

Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD, that great is the glory of the LORD.

Mine unformed substance Thine eyes saw, And on Thy book all of them are written, The days they were formed -- And not one among them.

If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand.
When I awake, I am still with You.

For they speak against You wickedly,
And Your enemies take Your name in vain.

I hate them with the utmost hatred;
They have become my enemies.

Who devise evil things in their hearts;
They continually stir up wars.

They sharpen their tongues as a serpent;
Poison of a viper is under their lips. Selah.

O Lord, take me out of the hands of sinners; keep me safe from the violent man: for they are designing my downfall.

The proud have hidden a trap for me, and cords;
They have spread a net by the wayside;
They have set snares for me. Selah.

“Do not grant, O Lord, the desires of the wicked;
Do not promote his evil device, that they not be exalted. Selah.

May those who surround me discover that the trouble they talk about falls on their own head!

“May burning coals fall upon them;
May they be cast into the fire,
Into deep pits from which they cannot rise.

Their judges are thrown down by the sides of the rock,
And they hear my words, for they are pleasant.

Keep me from the jaws of the trap which they have set for me,
And from the snares of those who do iniquity.

They who are lawless, shall fall into the nooses thereof, while, I, at the same time, pass on.

When my spirit was overwhelmed within me,
You knew my path.
In the way where I walk
They have hidden a trap for me.

“Give heed to my cry,
For I am brought very low;
Deliver me from my persecutors,
For they are too strong for me.

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.

Bow Your heavens, O Lord, and come down;
Touch the mountains, that they may smoke.

Generation to generation praiseth Thy works, And Thy mighty acts they declare.

The splendour of the glory of thy majesty, shall they speak, and, thy wonders, will I utter.

And the strength of Thy fearful acts they tell, And Thy greatness I recount.

They shall eagerly utter the memory of Your abundant goodness
And will shout joyfully of Your righteousness.

They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom
And talk of Your power;

You open your hand, and fill every living thing with the food they desire.

When they stop breathing, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans evaporate!

He gives wild animals their food, including the young ravens when they cry.

He has not dealt thus with any nation;
And as for His ordinances, they have not known them.
Praise the Lord!

Let them praise the name of the Lord,
For He commanded and they were created.

And He establisheth them for ever to the age, A statute He gave, and they pass not over.

They praise the name of Jehovah, For His name alone hath been set on high, His honour is above earth and heavens.

They praise His name in a dance, With timbrel and harp sing praise to Him.

Exult do saints in honour, They sing aloud on their beds.

Let high praises to God be heard in their throats, while they wield two-edged swords in their hands

as they bring retribution to nations and punishment to nations,

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

that they may be avenged of them, as it is written. Such honour have all his saints. Praise the everlasting! Hallelujah!