1For the Conductor, a plea to be spared destruction, By David, a michtam, when Saul dispatched [men], and they guarded the house in order to kill him.
2Rescue me from my enemies, my God; raise me above those who rise against me.
3Rescue me from evildoers, save me from men of bloodshed.
4For behold they lie in ambush for my soul, mighty ones gather against me-not because of my sin nor my transgression, O Lord.
5Without iniquity [on my part,] they run and prepare-awaken towards me and see!
6And You, Lord, God of Hosts, God of Israel, wake up to remember all the nations; do not grant favor to any of the iniquitous traitors, Selah.
7They return toward evening, they howl like the dog and circle the city.
8Behold, they spew with their mouths, swords are in their lips, for [they say], "Who hears?”
9But You, Lord, You laugh at them; You mock all nations.
10[Because of] his might, I wait for You, for God is my stronghold.
11The God of my kindness will anticipate my [need]; God will show me [the downfall] of my watchful foes.
12Do not kill them, lest my nation forget; drive them about with Your might and impoverish them, O our Shield, my Master,
13[for] the sin of their mouth, the word of their lips; let them be trapped by their arrogance. At the sight of their accursed state and deterioration, [people] will recount.
14Consume them in wrath, consume them and they will be no more; and they will know that God rules in Jacob, to the ends of the earth, Selah.
15And they will return toward evening, they will howl like the dog and circle the city.
16They will wander about to eat; when they will not be sated they will groan.
17As for me, I shall sing of Your might, and sing joyously of Your kindness toward morning, for You have been a stronghold to me, a refuge on the day of my distress.
18[You are] my strength, to You I will sing, for God is my stronghold, the God of my kindness.