1 For the director: Do not destroy. A Miktam of David, when Saul sent men to watch the house to kill him.

Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.

2 Deliver me from my enemies, my God; protect me from those who rise against me.

Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men.

3 Deliver me from evildoers, and save me from those who thirst for blood.

For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O LORD.

4 See how they lie in wait for me! Fierce men conspire against me for no offense or sin of mine, LORD.

They run and prepare themselves without my fault: awake to help me, and behold.

5 Without any guilt of mine, they rush in and prepare. Awake to help me; look upon my plight.

Thou therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah.

6 You, LORD God of Hosts, God of Israel, rise to punish all the nations. Do not show mercy to the treacherous, Selah.

They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.

7 They return in the evening, snarling like dogs as they prowl the city.

Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips: for who, say they, doth hear?

8 See how they spew out insults; their lips are sharp like swords, and they say, 'Who can hear us?'

But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision.

9 But you, LORD, laugh at them; you mock all the nations.

Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence.

10 My strength, I watch for you; for God is my fortress.

The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies.

11 My God of steadfast love will come to meet me; God will let me see my enemies defeated.

Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord our shield.

12 Do not kill them, Lord, or my people will forget. Scatter them by your power and bring them down, O Lord, our shield.

For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak.

13 For the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips, let them be caught in their pride. For the curses and lies they utter,

Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be: and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of the earth. Selah.

14 consume them in your wrath; consume them till they are no more. Then they will know that God rules over Jacob to the ends of the earth, Selah.

And at evening let them return; and let them make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.

15 They return at evening, snarling like dogs as they prowl the city.

Let them wander up and down for meat, and grudge if they be not satisfied.

16 They wander for food and growl if they are not satisfied.

But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.

17 But as for me, I will sing of your strength and shout for joy in the morning for your steadfast love, for you have been a strong fortress for me, a refuge in my day of trouble.

Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.

18 O my strength, to you I will sing praises; for God is my fortress, the God of my steadfast love.