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.

For God will deliver Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah, and his people will again live in them and possess Zion.

I gloat in triumph over those who tried to ambush me; I hear the defeated cries of the evil foes who attacked me.

O Lord, shelter me from the power of the wicked! Protect me from violent men, who plan to knock me over.

They are of greater value than gold, than even a great amount of pure gold; they bring greater delight than honey, than even the sweetest honey from a honeycomb.

You place me in the lowest regions of the pit, in the dark places, in the watery depths.

A song of ascents. In my distress I cried out to the Lord and he answered me.

Grant me the ultimate joy of being forgiven! May the bones you crushed rejoice!

All day long they cause me trouble; they make a habit of plotting my demise.

When I tried to make sense of this, it was troubling to me.

He brought his people out enriched with silver and gold; none of his tribes stumbled.

You loyal followers of the Lord, trust in the Lord! He is their deliverer and protector.

Let the godly rejoice because of their vindication! Let them shout for joy upon their beds!

The wicked are turned back and sent to Sheol; this is the destiny of all the nations that ignore God,

Everyone rejects God; they are all morally corrupt. None of them does what is right, not even one!

Therefore they have more than enough food to eat, and even suck up the water of the sea.

He broke open rocks in the wilderness, and gave them enough water to fill the depths of the sea.

He brought them to the border of his holy land, to this mountainous land which his right hand acquired.

We have become an object of disdain to our neighbors; those who live on our borders taunt and insult us.

which cannot fill the reaper’s hand, or the lap of the one who gathers the grain!