1 O my God, take me away from those who hate me. Put me up high above those who rise up against me.

Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; Defend me from those who rise up against me.

2 T ake me away from those who do wrong. And save me from those who kill.

Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, And save me from bloodthirsty men.

3 F or, look, they lie in wait for my life. Strong men are gathering together to fight me, but not because of my wrong-doing or my sin, O Lord.

For look, they lie in wait for my life; The mighty gather against me, Not for my transgression nor for my sin, O Lord.

4 I have done no wrong, but they get ready to fight against me. Rise up to help me.

They run and prepare themselves through no fault of mine. Awake to help me, and behold!

5 Y ou, O Lord God of All, God of Israel, rise up to punish all the nations. Show no loving-kindness to those people who cannot be trusted and plan sins.

You therefore, O Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel, Awake to punish all the nations; Do not be merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah

6 T hey return at evening. They sound like dogs and go around the city.

At evening they return, They growl like a dog, And go all around the city.

7 S ee, they spit with their mouth. Swords are in their lips. And they say, “Who can hear us?”

Indeed, they belch with their mouth; Swords are in their lips; For they say, “Who hears?”

8 B ut You laugh at them, O Lord. You laugh at all the nations.

But You, O Lord, shall laugh at them; You shall have all the nations in derision.

9 O my Strength, I will watch for You. For God is my strong place.

I will wait for You, O You his Strength; For God is my defense.

10 M y God in His loving-kindness will meet me. God will let me look at those who come against me and know that I will win the fight.

My God of mercy shall come to meet me; God shall let me see my desire on my enemies.

11 D o not kill them, or my people may forget. Divide them by Your power and bring them down, O Lord, our safe-covering.

Do not slay them, lest my people forget; Scatter them by Your power, And bring them down, O Lord our shield.

12 L et them be caught in their pride for the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips. For the lies and bad things they say,

For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips, Let them even be taken in their pride, And for the cursing and lying which they speak.

13 d estroy them in anger. Destroy them so that they will be no more. Let it be known that God rules in Jacob and to the ends of the earth.

Consume them in wrath, consume them, That they may not be; And let them know that God rules in Jacob To the ends of the earth. Selah

14 T hey return at evening. They make sounds like dogs and go around the city.

And at evening they return, They growl like a dog, And go all around the city.

15 T hey go around looking for food and they show their teeth if they are not filled.

They wander up and down for food, And howl if they are not satisfied.

16 B ut as for me, I will sing of Your strength. Yes, I will sing with joy of Your loving-kindness in the morning. For You have been a strong and safe place for me in times of trouble.

But I will sing of Your power; Yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; For You have been my defense And refuge in the day of my trouble.

17 O my Strength, I will sing praises to You. For God is my strong place and the God Who shows me loving-kindness.

To You, O my Strength, I will sing praises; For God is my defense, My God of mercy.