With all my strength I will say, ¹  “O Lord, who can compare to you? You rescue ²  the oppressed from those who try to overpower them; ³  the oppressed and needy from those who try to rob them.” ⁴ 

The king says, ¹  “I will announce the Lord’s decree. He said to me: ²  ‘You are my son! ³  This very day I have become your father!

For the music director, to be accompanied by wind instruments; ²  a psalm of David. Listen to what I say, ³  Lord! Carefully consider my complaint! ⁴ 

They say, ¹  “Commit yourself ²  to the Lord! Let the Lord ³  rescue him! Let the Lord ⁴  deliver him, for he delights in him.” ⁵ 

I thirst ¹  for God, for the living God. I say, ²  “When will I be able to go and appear in God’s presence?” ³ 

He says, ¹  “Stop your striving and recognize ²  that I am God! I will be exalted ³  over ⁴  the nations! I will be exalted over ⁵  the earth!”

They say to themselves, ¹  “We will oppress all of them.” ²  They burn down all the places where people worship God in the land. ³ 

because of what the enemy says, ¹  and because of how the wicked ²  pressure me, ³  for they hurl trouble ⁴  down upon me ⁵  and angrily attack me.

For the music director; according to the machalath style; ²  a well-written song ³  by David. Fools say to themselves, ⁴  “There is no God.” ⁵  They sin and commit evil deeds; ⁶  none of them does what is right. ⁷ 

You have scrutinized my inner motives; ¹  you have examined me during the night. ²  You have carefully evaluated me, but you find no sin. I am determined I will say nothing sinful. ³ 

For I hear what so many are saying, ¹  the terrifying news that comes from every direction. ²  When they plot together against me, they figure out how they can take my life.

For the music director, Jeduthun; a psalm of David. I decided, ²  “I will watch what I say and make sure I do not sin with my tongue. ³  I will put a muzzle over my mouth while in the presence of an evil man.” ⁴ 

For the music director; according to the tune of “Lilies;” ²  by the Korahites, a well-written poem, ³  a love song. My heart is stirred by a beautiful song. ⁴  I say, “I have composed this special song ⁵  for the king; my tongue is as skilled as the stylus of an experienced scribe.” ⁶ 

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

Use your spear and lance ¹  against ²  those who chase me! Assure me with these words: ³  “I am your deliverer!”

I will pray ¹  to God, my high ridge: ²  “Why do you ignore ³  me? Why must I walk around mourning ⁴  because my enemies oppress me?”

Let those delivered by the Lord speak out, ¹  those whom he delivered ²  from the power ³  of the enemy,

My enemies ask this cruel question about me, ¹  ‘When will he finally die and be forgotten?’ ² 

The kings of the earth ¹  form a united front; ²  the rulers collaborate ³  against the Lord and his anointed king. ⁴ 

I will sing a song that imparts wisdom; I will make insightful observations about the past. ¹