King James Version KJV
Revised Standard Version RSV
1 Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.
1
To the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Miktam of David, when Saul sent men to watch his house in order to kill him. Deliver me from my enemies, O my God, protect me from those who rise up against me,
2 Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men.
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deliver me from those who work evil, and save me from bloodthirsty men.
3 For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O LORD.
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For, lo, they lie in wait for my life; fierce men band themselves against me. For no transgression or sin of mine, O LORD,
4 They run and prepare themselves without my fault: awake to help me, and behold.
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for no fault of mine, they run and make ready. Rouse thyself, come to my help, and see!
5 Thou therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah.
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Thou, LORD God of hosts, art God of Israel. Awake to punish all the nations; spare none of those who treacherously plot evil. [Selah]
6 They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.
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Each evening they come back, howling like dogs and prowling about the city.
7 Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips: for who, say they, doth hear?
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There they are, bellowing with their mouths, and snarling with their lips--for "Who," they think, "will hear us?"
8 But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision.
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But thou, O LORD, dost laugh at them; thou dost hold all the nations in derision.
9 Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence.
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O my Strength, I will sing praises to thee; for thou, O God, art my fortress.
10 The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies.
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My God in his steadfast love will meet me; my God will let me look in triumph on my enemies.
11 Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord our shield.
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Slay them not, lest my people forget; make them totter by thy power, and bring them down, O Lord, our shield!
12 For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak.
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For the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips, let them be trapped in their pride. For the cursing and lies which they utter,
13 Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be: and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of the earth. Selah.
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consume them in wrath, consume them till they are no more, that men may know that God rules over Jacob to the ends of the earth. [Selah]
14 And at evening let them return; and let them make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.
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Each evening they come back, howling like dogs and prowling about the city.
15 Let them wander up and down for meat, and grudge if they be not satisfied.
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They roam about for food, and growl if they do not get their fill.
16 But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.
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But I will sing of thy might; I will sing aloud of thy steadfast love in the morning. For thou hast been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress.
17 Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.
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O my Strength, I will sing praises to thee, for thou, O God, art my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love.
The King James Version is in the public domain.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.