1 R ejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.

Sing for joy in the Lord, you who are right with Him. It is right for the pure in heart to praise Him.

2 P raise the Lord with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.

Give thanks to the Lord with harps. Sing praises to Him with a harp of ten strings.

3 S ing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.

Sing to Him a new song. Play well with loud sounds of joy.

4 F or the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth.

For the Word of the Lord is right. He is faithful in all He does.

5 H e loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

He loves what is right and good and what is fair. The earth is full of the loving-kindness of the Lord.

6 B y the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

The heavens were made by the Word of the Lord. All the stars were made by the breath of His mouth.

7 H e gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.

He gathers the waters of the sea together as in a bag. He places the waters in store-houses.

8 L et all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.

Let all the earth fear the Lord. Let all the people of the world honor Him.

9 F or he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.

For He spoke, and it was done. He spoke with strong words, and it stood strong.

10 T he Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.

The Lord brings the plans of nations to nothing. He wrecks the plans of the people.

11 T he counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

The plans of the Lord stand forever. The plans of His heart stand through the future of all people.

12 B lessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord. Happy are the people He has chosen for His own.

13 T he Lord looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.

The Lord looks from heaven. He sees all the sons of men.

14 F rom the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.

From where He sits He looks upon all who live on the earth.

15 H e fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.

He made the hearts of them all. And He understands whatever they do.

16 T here is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.

No king is saved by the power of his strong army. A soldier is not saved by great strength.

17 A n horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.

A horse cannot be trusted to win a battle. Its great strength cannot save anyone.

18 B ehold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;

See, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, and on those who hope for His loving-kindness,

19 T o deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.

to save their soul from death, and to keep them alive when there is nothing to eat.

20 O ur soul waiteth for the Lord: he is our help and our shield.

Our soul waits for the Lord. He is our help and our safe cover.

21 F or our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.

For our heart is full of joy in Him, because we trust in His holy name.

22 L et thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.

O Lord, let Your loving-kindness be upon us as we put our hope in You.