1 J ehovah my God, in thee have I trusted: save me from all my pursuers, 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, crushing it while there is no deliverer.

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

3 J ehovah 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 to him that was at peace with me; (indeed I have freed him that without cause oppressed me;)

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 pursue after my soul, and take, and let him tread down my life to the earth, and lay my glory 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, Jehovah, in thine anger; lift thyself up against the raging of mine oppressors, and awake for me: thou hast commanded judgment.

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 A nd the assembly of the peoples shall encompass thee; and for their sakes return thou on high.

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

8 J ehovah shall minister judgment to the peoples. Judge me, Jehovah, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity which 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 wrong of the wicked come to an end, and establish thou the righteous; even thou that triest the hearts and reins, the righteous God.

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 shield is with God, who saveth the upright in heart.

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

11 G od is a righteous judge, and a God who is indignant all the day.

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

12 I f one turn not, he will sharpen 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 A nd he hath prepared for him instruments of death; his arrows hath he made burning.

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

14 B ehold, he travaileth with iniquity, yea, he 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 digged a pit, and hollowed it out, and is fallen into the hole that 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 violence 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 Jehovah according to his righteousness, and will sing forth the name of Jehovah the 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.