How blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! They will not be put to shame ¹  when they confront ²  enemies at the city gate.

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 

A psalm of David, written when he fled from his son Absalom. ²  Lord, how ³  numerous are my enemies! Many attack me. ⁴ 

They bear fruit even when they are old; they are filled with vitality and have many leaves. ¹ 

When the godly see this, they will be filled with awe, and will mock the evildoer, saying: ¹ 

When ¹  you lie down among the sheepfolds, ²  the wings of the dove are covered with silver and with glittering gold. ³ 

Sound the ram’s horn on the day of the new moon, ¹  and on the day of the full moon when our festival begins. ² 

For this reason every one of your faithful followers ¹  should pray to you while there is a window of opportunity. ²  Certainly ³  when the surging water ⁴  rises, it will not reach them. ⁵ 

A well-written song ²  by David, when he was in the cave; ³  a prayer. To the Lord I cry out; ⁴  to the Lord I plead for mercy. ⁵ 

Pray to me when you are in trouble! ¹  I will deliver you, and you will honor me!” ² 

and listened to me. ¹  As long as I live, I will call to him when I need help. ² 

But when I stumbled, they rejoiced and gathered together; they gathered together to ambush me. ¹  They tore at me without stopping to rest. ² 

but when the hot wind ¹  blows by, it disappears, and one can no longer even spot the place where it once grew.

For the music director; according to the shushan-eduth style; ²  a prayer ³  of David written to instruct others. ⁴  It was written when he fought against Aram Naharaim and Aram-Zobah. That was when Joab turned back and struck down ⁵  12,000 Edomites ⁶  in the Valley of Salt. ⁷  O God, you have rejected us. ⁸  You suddenly turned on us in your anger. ⁹  Please restore us!

Even when I am old and gray, ¹  O God, do not abandon me, until I tell the next generation about your strength, and those coming after me about your power. ² 

For the music director; a psalm of David. May the Lord answer ²  you ³  when you are in trouble; ⁴  may the God of Jacob ⁵  make you secure!

Even when I must walk through the darkest valley, ¹  I fear ²  no danger, ³  for you are with me; your rod and your staff reassure me. ⁴ 

When the wicked ¹  see this, they will worry; they will grind their teeth in frustration ²  and melt away; the desire of the wicked will perish. ³ 

Even when I must walk in the midst of danger, ¹  you revive me. You oppose my angry enemies, ²  and your right hand delivers me.

For the music director, to be accompanied by stringed instruments; a psalm of David. When I call out, answer me, O God who vindicates me! ²  Though I am hemmed in, you will lead me into a wide, open place. ³  Have mercy on me ⁴  and respond to ⁵  my prayer!