A song of ascents. ²  How blessed is every one of the Lord’s loyal followers, ³  each one who keeps his commands! ⁴ 

For the Lord vindicates ¹  his people, and has compassion on his servants. ² 

O Lord, shelter me from the power ¹  of the wicked! Protect me from violent men, who plan to knock me over. ² 

They will be thrown down the side of a cliff by their judges. ¹  They ²  will listen to my words, for they are pleasant.

The Lord is near all who cry out to him, all who cry out to him sincerely. ¹ 

Lord, use your power to deliver me from these murderers, ¹  from the murderers of this world! ²  They enjoy prosperity; ³  you overwhelm them with the riches they desire. ⁴  They have many children, and leave their wealth to their offspring. ⁵ 

From the mouths of children and nursing babies you have ordained praise on account of your adversaries, ¹  so that you might put an end to the vindictive enemy. ² 

For look, the wicked ¹  prepare ²  their bows, ³  they put their arrows on the strings, to shoot in the darkness ⁴  at the morally upright. ⁵ 

You hide them with you, where they are safe from the attacks ¹  of men; ²  you conceal them in a shelter, where they are safe from slanderous attacks. ³ 

Their grave becomes their permanent residence, their eternal dwelling place. ¹  They name their lands after themselves, ² 

He drove the nations out from before them; he assigned them their tribal allotments ¹  and allowed the tribes of Israel to settle down. ² 

so I may see the prosperity ¹  of your chosen ones, rejoice along with your nation, ²  and boast along with the people who belong to you. ³ 

The one who weeps as he walks along, carrying his bag ¹  of seed, will certainly come in with a shout of joy, carrying his sheaves of grain. ² 

Your wife will be like a fruitful vine ¹  in the inner rooms of your house; your children ²  will be like olive branches, as they sit all around your table.

Your eyes saw me when I was inside the womb. ¹  All the days ordained for me were recorded in your scroll before one of them came into existence. ² 

I will remember and weep! ¹  For I was once walking along with the great throng to the temple of God, shouting and giving thanks along with the crowd as we celebrated the holy festival. ² 

For the music director; according to the al-tashcheth style; ²  a psalm of Asaph; a song. We give thanks to you, O God! We give thanks! You reveal your presence; ³  people tell about your amazing deeds.