לַמְנַצֵּחַ עַל יוֹנַת אֵלֶם רְחֹקִים לְדָוִד מִכְתָּם בֶּאֱחֹז אוֹתוֹ פְלִשְׁתִּים בְּגַת

For the chief musician, on yonat elem reḥokim. The heading of this psalm is, in all likelihood, the name of a melody to be used for this particular text. An instruction by David, composed when the Philistines seized him in Gat. David fled from Saul, seeking shelter with the Philistines in Gat, where he was beset by further troubles.

חָנֵּנִי אֱלֹהִים כִּי שְׁאָפַנִי אֱנוֹשׁ כָּל הַיּוֹם לֹחֵם יִלְחָצֵנִי

Be gracious to me, God, for men seek to devour me; fighters harass me all day long.

שָׁאֲפוּ שׁוֹרְרַי כָּל הַיּוֹם כִּי רַבִּים לֹחֲמִים לִי מָרוֹם

My foes seek to devour me all day long. But despite the enemy’s relentless pressure, there is reason for hope, as many on high, angels in heaven, are fighting for me.

יוֹם אִירָא אֲנִי אֵלֶיךָ אֶבְטָח

On a day when I am afraid, I put my trust in You.

בֵּאלֹהִים אֲהַלֵּל דְּבָרוֹ בֵּאלֹהִים בָּטַחְתִּי לֹא אִירָא מַה יַּעֲשֶׂה בָשָׂר לִי

I praise the word of God. In God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What, then, can a mortal man of mere flesh do to me?

כָּל הַיּוֹם דְּבָרַי יְעַצֵּבוּ עָלַי כָּל מַחְשְׁבֹתָם לָרָע

All day long they ponder my doings, their thoughts of evil directed against me.

יָגוּרוּ יִצְפּוֹנוּ הֵמָּה עֲקֵבַי יִשְׁמֹרוּ כַּאֲשֶׁר קִוּוּ נַפְשִׁי

They lie in wait in their dwelling places, they watch my footsteps in hopes of taking my life.

עַל אָוֶן פַּלֶּט לָמוֹ בְּאַף עַמִּים הוֹרֵד אֱלֹהִים

Cast them out for their iniquity; bring down nations, God, in anger.

נֹדִי סָפַרְתָּה אָתָּה שִׂימָה דִמְעָתִי בְנֹאדֶךָ הֲלֹא בְּסִפְרָתֶךָ

You have taken an account of my numerous places of wandering. Put my tears in Your flask, that is, take note of them and value them. There is a play on words here: The Hebrew word for both “wandering” and “flask” is nod. Indeed, keep them in Your reckoning.

אָז יָשׁוּבוּ אוֹיְבַי אָחוֹר בְּיוֹם אֶקְרָא זֶה יָדַעְתִּי כִּי אֱלֹהִים לִי

Then, on the day that I call out to You in prayer, I trust that my enemies will turn back in retreat. But in any event, this I know, that God is with me.

בֵּאלֹהִים אֲהַלֵּל דָּבָר בַּה' אֲהַלֵּל דָּבָר

I praise the word of God; I praise the word of the Lord. This verse invokes two of God’s names, “God,” referring to His attribute of justice, and “the Lord,” alluding to His attribute of mercy. The psalmist declares his praise of God whatever the situation, whether He manifests Himself as stern Judge or merciful Protector.

בֵּאלֹהִים בָּטַחְתִּי לֹא אִירָא מַה יַּעֲשֶׂה אָדָם לִי

In God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?

עָלַי אֱלֹהִים נְדָרֶיךָ אֲשַׁלֵּם תּוֹדֹת לָךְ

I will fulfill the vows I made to You; I will offer thanksgiving sacrifices to You.

כִּי הִצַּלְתָּ נַפְשִׁי מִמָּוֶת הֲלֹא רַגְלַי מִדֶּחִי לְהִתְהַלֵּךְ לִפְנֵי אֱלֹהִים בְּאוֹר הַחַיִּים

For You have delivered me from death, indeed kept my feet from stumbling, so that I might walk before God in the light of the living.