may an enemy relentlessly chase me and catch me; may he trample me to death and leave me lying dishonored in the dust. (Selah)

You lead me in the path of life; I experience absolute joy in your presence; you always give me sheer delight.

He asked you to sustain his life, and you have granted him long life and an enduring dynasty.

Surely your goodness and faithfulness will pursue me all my days, and I will live in the Lord’s house for the rest of my life.

Do not sweep me away with sinners, or execute me along with violent people,

By David. The Lord delivers and vindicates me! I fear no one! The Lord protects my life! I am afraid of no one!

For his anger lasts only a brief moment, and his good favor restores one’s life. One may experience sorrow during the night, but joy arrives in the morning.

For my life nears its end in pain; my years draw to a close as I groan. My strength fails me because of my sin, and my bones become brittle.

Do you want to really live? Would you love to live a long, happy life?

I thirst for God, for the living God. I say, “When will I be able to go and appear in God’s presence?”

By day the Lord decrees his loyal love, and by night he gives me a song, a prayer to the living God.

He pronounces this blessing on himself while he is alive: “May men praise you, for you have done well!”

Yet God will make you a permanent heap of ruins. He will scoop you up and remove you from your home; he will uproot you from the land of the living. (Selah)

May death destroy them! May they go down alive into Sheol! For evil is in their dwelling place and in their midst.

Before the kindling is even placed under your pots, he will sweep it away along with both the raw and cooked meat.

For the music director; a psalm of David. Listen to me, O God, as I offer my lament! Protect my life from the enemy’s terrifying attacks.

He sent his anger in full force; he did not spare them from death; he handed their lives over to destruction.

They have given the corpses of your servants to the birds of the sky; the flesh of your loyal followers to the beasts of the earth.

You make it dark and night comes, during which all the beasts of the forest prowl around.

May the Lord bless you from Zion, that you might see Jerusalem prosper all the days of your life,