<p class="poetry">O Israel, hope in the <sc>Lordsc>,p> <p class="poetry">for the <sc>Lordsc> exhibits loyal love,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">and is more than willing to deliver.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">for there our captors ask us to compose songs;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">those who mock us demand that we be happy, saying:<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;Sing for us a song about Zion!&#8221;<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">Let all the kings of the earth give thanks<n id="1" /> to you, O <sc>Lordsc>,p> <p class="poetry">when they hear the words you speak.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">I will give you thanks because your deeds are awesome and amazing.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">You knew me thoroughly;<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">I know<n id="1" /> that the <sc>Lordsc> defends the cause of the oppressedp> <p class="poetry">and vindicates the poor.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">Surely I am looking to you,<n id="1" /> O sovereign <sc>Lordsc>.p> <p class="poetry">In you I take shelter.p> <p class="poetry">Do not expose me to danger!<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">Do not sit in judgment on<n id="1" /> your servant,p> <p class="poetry">for no one alive is innocent before you.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">Certainly<n id="1" /> my enemies<n id="2" /> chase me.p> <p class="poetry">They smash me into the ground.<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">They force me to live<n id="4" /> in dark regions,<n id="5" />p> <p class="poetry">like those who have been dead for ages.p>

<p class="poetry">Teach me to do what pleases you,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">for you are my God.p> <p class="poetry">May your kind presence<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">lead me<n id="3" /> into a level land.<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">As a demonstration of your loyal love,<n id="1" /> destroy my enemies!p> <p class="poetry">Annihilate<n id="2" /> all who threaten my life,<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">for I am your servant.p>

<p class="poetry">Let them praise the name of the <sc>Lordsc>,p> <p class="poetry">for his name alone is exalted;p> <p class="poetry">his majesty extends over the earth and sky.p>

<p class="poetry">Give sincere homage!<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Otherwise he<n id="2" /> will be angry,<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">and you will die because of your behavior,<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">when his anger quickly ignites.<n id="5" />p> <p class="poetry">How blessed<n id="6" /> are all who take shelter in him!<n id="7" />p>

<p class="poetry">Rise up,<n id="1" /> <sc>Lordsc>!p> <p class="poetry">Deliver me, my God!p> <p class="poetry">Yes,<n id="2" /> you will strike<n id="3" /> all my enemies on the jaw;p> <p class="poetry">you will break the teeth<n id="4" /> of the wicked.<n id="5" />p>

<p class="poetry">You have taken notice,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">for<n id="2" /> you always see<n id="3" /> one who inflicts pain and suffering.<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">The unfortunate victim entrusts his cause to you;<n id="5" />p> <p class="poetry">you deliver<n id="6" /> the fatherless.<n id="7" />p>

<p class="poetry">For look, the wicked<n id="1" /> prepare<n id="2" /> their bows,<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">they put their arrows on the strings,p> <p class="poetry">to shoot in the darkness<n id="4" /> at the morally upright.<n id="5" />p>

<p class="poetry">Now I am sure<n id="1" /> that the <sc>Lordsc> will deliver<n id="2" /> his chosen king;<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">he will intervene for him<n id="4" /> from his holy heavenly temple,<n id="5" />p> <p class="poetry">and display his mighty ability to deliver.<n id="6" />p>

<p class="poetry">For he did not despise or detest the suffering<n id="1" /> of the oppressed;<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">he did not ignore him;<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">when he cried out to him, he responded.<n id="4" />p>

<t /><p class="psasuper">A psalm &#8211; a song used at the dedication of the temple;<n id="2" /> by David.p> <p class="poetry">I will praise you, O <sc>Lordsc>, for you lifted me up,<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">and did not allow my enemies to gloat<n id="4" /> over me.p>

<p class="poetry">For I hear what so many are saying,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">the terrifying news that comes from every direction.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">When they plot together against me,p> <p class="poetry">they figure out how they can take my life.p>

<p class="poetry">For the <sc>Lordsc> promotes<n id="1" /> justice,p> <p class="poetry">and never abandons<n id="2" /> his faithful followers.p> <p class="poetry">They are permanently secure,<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">but the children<n id="4" /> of evil men are wiped out.<n id="5" />p>