But you, Lord, are a shield that protects me; you are my glory and the one who restores me.

Certainly you are not a God who approves of evil; evil people cannot dwell with you.

Lord, lead me in your righteousness because of those who wait to ambush me, remove the obstacles in the way in which you are guiding me!

For they do not speak the truth; their stomachs are like the place of destruction, their throats like an open grave, their tongues like a steep slope leading into it.

But may all who take shelter in you be happy! May they continually shout for joy! Shelter them so that those who are loyal to you may rejoice!

Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am frail! Heal me, Lord, for my bones are shaking!

The countries are assembled all around you; take once more your rightful place over them!

When my enemies turn back, they trip and are defeated before you.

The wicked are turned back and sent to Sheol; this is the destiny of all the nations that ignore God,

for the needy are not permanently ignored, the hopes of the oppressed are not forever dashed.

Terrify them, Lord! Let the nations know they are mere mortals! (Selah)

The wicked arrogantly chase the oppressed; the oppressed are trapped by the schemes the wicked have dreamed up.

His victims are crushed and beaten down; they are trapped in his sturdy nets.

The Lord rules forever! The nations are driven out of his land.

When the foundations are destroyed, what can the godly accomplish?"

The Lord's words are absolutely reliable. They are as untainted as silver purified in a furnace on the ground, where it is thoroughly refined.

Everyone rejects God; they are all morally corrupt. None of them does what is right, not even one!

They are absolutely terrified, for God defends the godly.

I say to the Lord, "You are the Lord, my only source of well-being."

As for God's chosen people who are in the land, and the leading officials I admired so much --

They are calloused; they speak arrogantly.

Indeed, you are my lamp, Lord. My God illuminates the darkness around me.

You rescue me from a hostile army; you make me a leader of nations; people over whom I had no authority are now my subjects.

When they hear of my exploits, they submit to me. Foreigners are powerless before me;

The law of the Lord is perfect and preserves one's life. The rules set down by the Lord are reliable and impart wisdom to the inexperienced.

The Lord's precepts are fair and make one joyful. The Lord's commands are pure and give insight for life.

The commands to fear the Lord are right and endure forever. The judgments given by the Lord are trustworthy and absolutely just.

They are of greater value than gold, than even a great amount of pure gold; they bring greater delight than honey, than even the sweetest honey from a honeycomb.

For the music director; a psalm of David. May the Lord answer you when you are in trouble; may the God of Jacob make you secure!

You are holy; you sit as king receiving the praises of Israel.

Yes, you are the one who brought me out from the womb and made me feel secure on my mother's breasts.

My strength drains away like water; all my bones are dislocated; my heart is like wax; it melts away inside me.

I can count all my bones; my enemies are gloating over me in triumph.

They are dividing up my clothes among themselves; they are rolling dice for my garments.

But you, O Lord, do not remain far away! You are my source of strength! Hurry and help me!

You are the reason I offer praise in the great assembly; I will fulfill my promises before the Lord's loyal followers.

All of the thriving people of the earth will join the celebration and worship; all those who are descending into the grave will bow before him, including those who cannot preserve their lives.

Even when I must walk through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff reassure me.

The one whose deeds are blameless and whose motives are pure, who does not lie, or make promises with no intention of keeping them.

Such godly people are rewarded by the Lord, and vindicated by the God who delivers them.

Guide me into your truth and teach me. For you are the God who delivers me; on you I rely all day long.

Do not hold against me the sins of my youth or my rebellious acts! Because you are faithful to me, extend to me your favor, O Lord!

I do not associate with deceitful men, or consort with those who are dishonest.

who are always ready to do wrong or offer a bribe.

Do not reject me! Do not push your servant away in anger! You are my deliverer! Do not forsake or abandon me, O God who vindicates me!

By David. To you, O Lord, I cry out! My protector, do not ignore me! If you do not respond to me, I will join those who are descending into the grave.

For you are my high ridge and my stronghold; for the sake of your own reputation you lead me and guide me.

You will free me from the net they hid for me, for you are my place of refuge.

I will be happy and rejoice in your faithfulness, because you notice my pain and you are aware of how distressed I am.

Because of all my enemies, people disdain me; my neighbors are appalled by my suffering -- those who know me are horrified by my condition; those who see me in the street run away from me.

For I hear what so many are saying, the terrifying news that comes from every direction. When they plot together against me, they figure out how they can take my life.

But I trust in you, O Lord! I declare, "You are my God!"

You hide them with you, where they are safe from the attacks of men; you conceal them in a shelter, where they are safe from slanderous attacks.

By David; a well-written song. How blessed is the one whose rebellious acts are forgiven, whose sin is pardoned!

You are my hiding place; you protect me from distress. You surround me with shouts of joy from those celebrating deliverance. (Selah)

Do not be like an unintelligent horse or mule, which will not obey you unless they are controlled by a bridle and bit.

Rejoice in the Lord and be happy, you who are godly! Shout for joy, all you who are morally upright!

For the Lord's decrees are just, and everything he does is fair.

Those who look to him for help are happy; their faces are not ashamed.

Even young lions sometimes lack food and are hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

The Lord is near the brokenhearted; he delivers those who are discouraged.

Evil people self-destruct; those who hate the godly are punished.

O Lord, how long are you going to just stand there and watch this? Rescue me from their destructive attacks; guard my life from the young lions!

Do not let those who are my enemies for no reason gloat over me! Do not let those who hate me without cause carry out their wicked schemes!

For they do not try to make peace with others, but plan ways to deceive those who are unsuspecting.

They are ready to devour me; they say, "Aha! Aha! We've got you!"

The words he speaks are sinful and deceitful; he does not care about doing what is wise and right.

They are filled with food from your house, and you allow them to drink from the river of your delicacies.

For you are the one who gives and sustains life.

I can see the evildoers! They have fallen! They have been knocked down and are unable to get up!

Wicked men will be wiped out, but those who rely on the Lord are the ones who will possess the land.

Evil men draw their swords and prepare their bows, to bring down the oppressed and needy, and to slaughter those who are godly.

Evil men borrow, but do not repay their debt, but the godly show compassion and are generous.

All day long he shows compassion and lends to others, and his children are blessed.

For the Lord promotes justice, and never abandons his faithful followers. They are permanently secure, but the children of evil men are wiped out.

Sinful rebels are totally destroyed; evil men have no future.

For my sins overwhelm me; like a heavy load, they are too much for me to bear.

My wounds are infected and starting to smell, because of my foolish sins.

But those who are my enemies for no reason are numerous; those who hate me without cause outnumber me.

Look, you make my days short-lived, and my life span is nothing from your perspective. Surely all people, even those who seem secure, are nothing but vapor.

But now, O Lord, upon what am I relying? You are my only hope!

You severely discipline people for their sins; like a moth you slowly devour their strength. Surely all people are a mere vapor. (Selah)

O Lord, my God, you have accomplished many things; you have done amazing things and carried out your purposes for us. No one can thwart you! I want to declare them and talk about them, but they are too numerous to recount!

Receiving sacrifices and offerings are not your primary concern. You make that quite clear to me! You do not ask for burnt sacrifices and sin offerings.

May those who are trying to snatch away my life be totally embarrassed and ashamed! May those who want to harm me be turned back and ashamed!

I am oppressed and needy! May the Lord pay attention to me! You are my helper and my deliverer! O my God, do not delay!

By this I know that you are pleased with me, for my enemy does not triumph over me.

Why are you depressed, O my soul? Why are you upset? Wait for God! For I will again give thanks to my God for his saving intervention.

Why are you depressed, O my soul? Why are you upset? Wait for God! For I will again give thanks to my God for his saving intervention.

For you are the God who shelters me. Why do you reject me? Why must I walk around mourning because my enemies oppress me?

Why are you depressed, O my soul? Why are you upset? Wait for God! For I will again give thanks to my God for his saving intervention.

You are my king, O God! Decree Jacob's deliverance!

Yet because of you we are killed all day long; we are treated like sheep at the slaughtering block.

Why do you look the other way, and ignore the way we are oppressed and mistreated?

You are the most handsome of all men! You speak in an impressive and fitting manner! For this reason God grants you continual blessings.

Your arrows are sharp and penetrate the hearts of the king's enemies. Nations fall at your feet.

All your garments are perfumed with myrrh, aloes, and cassia. From the luxurious palaces comes the music of stringed instruments that makes you happy.

Princesses are among your honored guests, your bride stands at your right hand, wearing jewelry made with gold from Ophir.

In embroidered robes she is escorted to the king. Her attendants, the maidens of honor who follow her, are led before you.

They are bubbling with joy as they walk in procession and enter the royal palace.