My strength drains away like water; all my bones are dislocated; my heart is like wax; it melts away inside me.

Do not be like an unintelligent horse or mule, which will not obey you unless they are controlled by a bridle and bit.

For the Lord promotes justice, and never abandons his faithful followers. They are permanently secure, but the children of evil men are wiped out.

You severely discipline people for their sins; like a moth you slowly devour their strength. Surely all people are a mere vapor. (Selah)

Receiving sacrifices and offerings are not your primary concern. You make that quite clear to me! You do not ask for burnt sacrifices and sin offerings.

I am oppressed and needy! May the Lord pay attention to me! You are my helper and my deliverer! O my God, do not delay!

When someone comes to visit, he pretends to be friendly; he thinks of ways to defame me, and when he leaves he slanders me.

I am surrounded by lions; I lie down among those who want to devour me; men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are a sharp sword.

For the music director; according to the al-tashcheth style; a prayer of David. Do you rulers really pronounce just decisions? Do you judge people fairly?

Do not strike them dead suddenly, because then my people might forget the lesson. Use your power to make them homeless vagabonds and then bring them down, O Lord who shields us!

As smoke is driven away by the wind, so you drive them away. As wax melts before fire, so the wicked are destroyed before God.

Sing to God! Sing praises to his name! Exalt the one who rides on the clouds! For the Lord is his name! Rejoice before him!

For the music director; according to the tune of “Lilies;” by David. Deliver me, O God, for the water has reached my neck.

so that the next generation, children yet to be born, might know about them. They will grow up and tell their descendants about them.

I will listen to what God the Lord says. For he will make peace with his people, his faithful followers. Yet they must not return to their foolish ways.

The Lord is God and he has delivered us. Tie the offering with ropes to the horns of the altar!

Grab me and rescue me from the power of foreigners, who speak lies, and make false promises.

The Lord gives sight to the blind. The Lord lifts up all who are bent over. The Lord loves the godly.

The days of our lives add up to seventy years, or eighty, if one is especially strong. But even one’s best years are marred by trouble and oppression. Yes, they pass quickly and we fly away.

The kings of the earth form a united front; the rulers collaborate against the Lord and his anointed king.