Will you keep to the old path that evil men have walked –

Men move boundary stones; they seize the flock and pasture them.

Terrors overwhelm him like a flood; at night a whirlwind carries him off.

For I am full of words, and the spirit within me constrains me.

See now, I have opened my mouth; my tongue in my mouth has spoken.

He does not allow the wicked to live, but he gives justice to the poor.

when I prescribed its limits, and set in place its bolts and doors,

The Exalted God is my shield, the one who delivers the morally upright.

But I trust in your faithfulness. May I rejoice because of your deliverance!

For the music director; by the Lord’s servant David, who sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord rescued him from the power of all his enemies, including Saul. He said: “I love you, Lord, my source of strength!

The ropes of Sheol tightened around me, the snares of death trapped me.

They confronted me in my day of calamity, but the Lord helped me.

I was innocent before him, and kept myself from sinning.

The one true God completely vindicates me; he makes nations submit to me.

May he take notice of your offerings; may he accept your burnt sacrifice! (Selah)

I can count all my bones; my enemies are gloating over me in triumph.

See my pain and suffering! Forgive all my sins!

Examine me, O Lord, and test me! Evaluate my inner thoughts and motives!

But I trust in you, O Lord! I declare, “You are my God!”

We wait for the Lord; he is our deliverer and shield.