The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 For the leader. Set to "Do Not Destroy." By David; a mikhtam, when Sha'ul sent men to keep watch on David's house in order to kill him: My God, rescue me from my enemies! Lift me up, out of reach of my foes!
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<To the chief music-maker; put to At-tashheth. Michtam. Of David. When Saul sent, and they were watching the house, to put him to death.> Take me out of the hands of the cruel ones, O my God; keep me safe from those who come up against me.
2 Rescue me from evildoers, save me from bloodthirsty men.
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Take me out of the power of the workers of evil, and keep me safe from the men of blood.
3 For there they are, lying in wait to kill me. Openly they gather themselves against me, and not because I committed a crime or sinned, ADONAI.
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For see, they are watching in secret for my soul; the strong have come together against me? but not because of my sin, or my evil-doing, O Lord.
4 For no fault of mine, they run and prepare. Awaken to help me, and see!
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For no sin of mine they go quickly and get themselves ready; be awake and come to my help, and see.
5 You, ADONAI Elohei-Tzva'ot, God of Isra'el, arouse yourself to punish all the nations; spare none of those wicked traitors. (Selah)
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You, O Lord God of armies, are the God of Israel; come now and give punishment to the nations; have no mercy on any workers of deceit. (Selah.)
6 They return at nightfall, snarling like dogs as they go around the city.
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They come back in the evening; they make a noise like a dog, and go round the town.
7 Look what pours out of their mouth, what swords are on their lips, [as they say to themselves,] "No one is listening, anyway."
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See, hate is dropping from their lips; curses are on their tongues: they say, Who gives attention to it?
8 But you, ADONAI, laugh at them, you mock all the nations.
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But you are laughing at them, O Lord; you will make sport of all the nations.
9 My Strength, I will watch for you, for God is my fortress.
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O my strength, I will put my hope in you; because God is my strong tower.
10 God, who gives me grace, will come to me; God will let me gaze in triumph at my foes.
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The God of my mercy will go before me: God will let me see my desire effected on my haters.
11 Don't kill them, or my people will forget; instead, by your power, make them wander to and fro; but bring them down, Adonai our Shield,
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Put them not to death, for so my people will keep the memory of them: let them be sent in all directions by your power; make them low, O Lord our saviour.
12 for the sins their mouths make with each word from their lips. Let them be trapped by their pride for the curses and falsehoods they utter.
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Because of the sin of their mouths and the word of their lips, let them even be taken in their pride; and for their curses and their deceit,
13 Finish them off in wrath, finish them off, put an end to them, and let them know to the ends of the earth that God is Ruler in Ya'akov. (Selah)
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Put an end to them in your wrath, put an end to them, so that they may not be seen again; let them see that God is ruling in Jacob and to the ends of the earth. (Selah.)
14 They return at nightfall, snarling like dogs as they go around the city.
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And in the evening let them come back, and make a noise like a dog, and go round the town.
15 They roam about, looking for food, prowling all night if they don't get their fill.
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Let them go wandering up and down in search of food, and be there all night if they have not enough.
16 But as for me, I will sing of your strength; in the morning I will sing aloud of your grace. For you are my fortress, a refuge when I am in trouble.
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But I will make songs of your power; yes, I will give cries of joy for your mercy in the morning; because you have been my strength and my high tower in the day of my trouble.
17 My Strength, I will sing praises to you, for God is my fortress, God, who gives me grace.
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To you, O my strength, will I make my song: because God is my high tower, even the God of my mercy.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.