לַמְנַצֵּחַ עַל נְגִינַת לְדָוִד

For the chief musician, upon neginat, the name of a musical instrument or a type of melody, by David.

שִׁמְעָה אֱלֹהִים רִנָּתִי הַקְשִׁיבָה תְּפִלָּתִי

Hear my singing, God; attend to my prayer, in which I wish to praise You and to request an additional blessing from You.

מִקְצֵה הָאָרֶץ אֵלֶיךָ אֶקְרָא בַּעֲטֹף לִבִּי בְּצוּר יָרוּם מִמֶּנִּי תַנְחֵנִי

From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint. It is likely that the psalm was written when David was on a military campaign in a land far from the borders of Israel. Guide me to victory against an enemy so formidable that he is like a rock that is towering high above me.

כִּי הָיִיתָ מַחְסֶה לִי מִגְדַּל עֹז מִפְּנֵי אוֹיֵב

For You have been a refuge for me, a tower of strength against the enemy.

אָגוּרָה בְאָהָלְךָ עוֹלָמִים אֶחֱסֶה בְסֵתֶר כְּנָפֶיךָ סֶּלָה

Let me dwell in Your tent forever; let me always take refuge in the shelter of Your wings, Selah.

כִּי אַתָּה אֱלֹהִים שָׁמַעְתָּ לִנְדָרָי נָתַתָּ יְרֻשַּׁת יִרְאֵי שְׁמֶךָ

For You, God, have heard my vows that I undertook to fulfill if You would help me survive and win this war. You granted the portion of those who fear Your name. You rewarded them with what they deserve, namely, possession of the land that they retook from the enemy.

יָמִים עַל יְמֵי מֶלֶךְ תּוֹסִיף שְׁנוֹתָיו כְּמוֹ דֹר וָדֹר

This is followed by David’s additional request: May you add years to the life of the king, apparently a reference to himself, so that his days extend over generations.

יֵשֵׁב עוֹלָם לִפְנֵי אֱלֹהִים חֶסֶד וֶאֱמֶת מַן יִנְצְרֻהוּ

May he abide before the Lord forever. Make his portion kindness and truth; bless the king with gifts of kindness and truth, that they might preserve him. In this translation, the word man is related to mana, “portion.” The phrase can also be rendered: “Kindness and truth are what will preserve him.”

כֵּן אֲזַמְּרָה שִׁמְךָ לָעַד לְשַׁלְּמִי נְדָרַי יוֹם יוֹם

So I will sing praise to Your name forever, every day as I pay my vows, expressing my gratitude to You for Your salvation.