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

O Lord my God, in You I have put my trust. Save me from all those who come for me, and keep me safe.

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

Or they will tear me like a lion, carrying me away where there is no one to help.

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

O Lord my God, if I have done this, and there is guilt on my hands,

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

if I have done wrong to him who was at peace with me, or without a reason have robbed him who worked against me,

5 l et 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.

let him who hates me come for me and catch me. Let him break me under his feet until I die, and lay my honor in the dust.

6 A rise, 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.

Rise up in Your anger, O Lord. Rise up against the anger of those who hate me. Awake, my God, and help me. Prove what is right.

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

Let the people gather around You, and rule over them from Your throne.

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

May the Lord judge which people are guilty or not. O Lord, judge in my favor if I am right with You, and if I am without blame.

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

Let the sins of the sinful stop. But build up those who are right with You. For the God Who is right and good tests both the hearts and the minds.

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

I am kept safe by God, Who saves those who are pure in heart.

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

God is always right in how He judges. He is angry with the sinful every day.

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

If a man is not sorry for his sins and will not turn from them, God will make His sword sharp. He will string His bow and make it ready.

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

He takes up His sword and the bow of death. And He makes arrows of fire.

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

See how the sinful man thinks up sins and plans trouble and lies start growing inside him.

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

He has dug out a deep hole, and has fallen into the hole he has dug.

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

The trouble he makes will return to him. When he hurts others it will come down on his own head.

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

I will give thanks to the Lord because He is right and good. I will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.