לְדָוִד אֵלֶיךָ ה' אֶקְרָא צוּרִי אַל תֶּחֱרַשׁ מִמֶּנִּי פֶּן תֶּחֱשֶׁה מִמֶּנִּי וְנִמְשַׁלְתִּי עִם יוֹרְדֵי בוֹר

By David. To You, Lord, I call. My rock, my strength, do not be deaf to me by ignoring my plea, for if You are silent I will be like those descending into the pit, the grave. The psalmist’s plea is for God’s attentiveness, which is not only a source of strength but the very wellspring of his life.

שְׁמַע קוֹל תַּחֲנוּנַי בְּשַׁוְּעִי אֵלֶיךָ בְּנָשְׂאִי יָדַי אֶל דְּבִיר קָדְשֶׁךָ

Hear the sound of my pleas when I cry to You for help, when I lift up my hands toward Your holy shrine.

אַל תִּמְשְׁכֵנִי עִם רְשָׁעִים וְעִם פֹּעֲלֵי אָוֶן דֹּבְרֵי שָׁלוֹם עִם רֵעֵיהֶם ורָעָה בִּלְבָבָם

Do not drag me away with the wicked, do not include me in the ranks of wicked people, and with evildoers, those who speak peaceably with their neighbors while malice is in their hearts. Such people are even more dangerous than overt adversaries.

תֶּן לָהֶם כְּפָעֳלָם וּכְרֹעַ מַעַלְלֵיהֶם; כְּמַעֲשֵׂה יְדֵיהֶם תֵּן לָהֶם; הָשֵׁב גְּמוּלָם לָהֶם

Requite them according to their actions and wicked deeds; pay them back for what they have done; render to them what they deserve. My prayer is only that they receive just punishment, no more.

כִּי לֹא יָבִינוּ אֶל פְּעֻלֹּת ה' וְאֶל מַעֲשֵׂה יָדָיו יֶהֶרְסֵם וְלֹא יִבְנֵם

For they do not regard the works of the Lord, nor the deeds of His hands. They do not understand that God is actively involved in His world; they would prefer not to think about the matter. In this way, they are able to continue engaging in wrongdoing. However, He will tear them down and not build them up. Intrigue and scheming will not save them from being destroyed.

בָּרוּךְ ה' כִּי שָׁמַע קוֹל תַּחֲנוּנָי

Blessed be the Lord, for He has heard the sound of my pleas.

ה' עֻזִּי וּמָגִנִּי בּוֹ בָטַח לִבִּי וְנֶעֱזָרְתִּי וַיַּעֲלֹז לִבִּי וּמִשִּׁירִי אֲהוֹדֶנּוּ

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped by Him. My heart exults in His salvation, and with my song I give thanks to Him. Alternatively, with my song I glorify Him.

ה' עֹז לָמוֹ וּמָעוֹז יְשׁוּעוֹת מְשִׁיחוֹ הוּא

The Lord is their strength, the strength of those who trust in Him; He is a stronghold of salvation for His anointed one, the king of Israel.

הוֹשִׁיעָה אֶת עַמֶּךָ וּבָרֵךְ אֶת נַחֲלָתֶךָ וּרְעֵם וְנַשְֹּאֵם עַד הָעוֹלָם

Deliver Your people and bless Your possession, a reference both to the people of Israel and the Land of Israel. Shepherd them, lead them as a shepherd leads his flock, and raise them up forever.