תְּפִלָּה לְדָוִד הַטֵּה ה' אָזְנְךָ עֲנֵנִי כִּי עָנִי וְאֶבְיוֹן אָנִי

A prayer by David. The psalmist begins with a general request: Incline Your ear, Lord, answer me, for I am poor and needy and worthy of Your compassion like any other unfortunate person.

שָׁמְרָה נַפְשִׁי כִּי חָסִיד אָנִי הוֹשַׁע עַבְדְּךָ אַתָּה אֱלֹהַי הַבּוֹטֵחַ אֵלֶיךָ

Here the psalmist becomes more specific in his request: Watch over me, for I am faithful; I have chosen to follow a good and honest path. You, who are my God, save your servant who trusts in You.

חָנֵּנִי אֲדֹנָי כִּי אֵלֶיךָ אֶקְרָא כָּל הַיּוֹם

Have mercy on me, Lord, for I call to You all day long.

שַׂמֵּחַ נֶפֶשׁ עַבְדֶּךָ כִּי אֵלֶיךָ אֲדֹנָי נַפְשִׁי אֶשָּׂא

Gladden the soul of Your servant, for to You, Lord, I lift up my soul in prayer, recognizing that You are my only source of strength and hope.

כִּי אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי טוֹב וְסַלָּח וְרַב חֶסֶד לְכָל קֹרְאֶיךָ

For You, my Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in kindness to all who call to You.

הַאֲזִינָה ה' תְּפִלָּתִי וְהַקְשִׁיבָה בְּקוֹל תַּחֲנוּנוֹתָי

Listen, Lord, to my prayer; pay heed to the voice of my pleas.

בְּיוֹם צָרָתִי אֶקְרָאֶךָּ כִּי תַעֲנֵנִי

In my time of trouble I call to You, for I know that You will answer me.

אֵין כָּמוֹךָ בָאֱלֹהִים אֲדֹנָי וְאֵין כְּמַעֲשֶׂיךָ

There is none like You among the gods, Lord, and nothing akin to Your deeds.

כָּל גּוֹיִם אֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתָ יָבוֹאוּ וְיִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לְפָנֶיךָ ה' וִיכַבְּדוּ לִשְׁמֶךָ

Consequently, it is fitting that all the nations You made will come and bow before You, Lord, and give honor to Your name.

כִּי גָדוֹל אַתָּה וְעֹשֵׂה נִפְלָאוֹת אַתָּה אֱלֹהִים לְבַדֶּךָ

For You are great and do wondrous deeds; You alone are God.

הוֹרֵנִי ה' דַּרְכֶּךָ; אֲהַלֵּךְ בַּאֲמִתֶּךָ יַחֵד לְבָבִי לְיִרְאָה שְׁמֶךָ

The psalmist now presents his requests to God: Teach me Your way, Lord, so I may walk in Your truth, in the path that is proper and correct before You. Dedicate my heart so that it will be engaged in nothing else, but only to fear Your name.

אוֹדְךָ אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהַי בְּכָל לְבָבִי; וַאֲכַבְּדָה שִׁמְךָ לְעוֹלָם

I give thanks to You, Lord my God, with all my heart, and I honor Your name forever.

כִּי חַסְדְּךָ גָּדוֹל עָלָי וְהִצַּלְתָּ נַפְשִׁי מִשְּׁאוֹל תַּחְתִּיָּה

For Your kindness to me is great; You rescued me from the depths of the netherworld.

אֱלֹהִים זֵדִים קָמוּ עָלַי וַעֲדַת עָרִיצִים בִּקְשׁוּ נַפְשִׁי לֹא שָׂמוּךָ לְנֶגְדָּם

The psalmist now makes a specific, practical request of God: God, wicked men have arisen against me; a band of violent foes has sought my life. They have not set You before them. They do as they please, without taking Your will into consideration.

וְאַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֵל רַחוּם וְחַנּוּן אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם וְרַב חֶסֶד וֶאֱמֶת

But You, Lord, are Almighty, full of mercy and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in kindness and truth.

פְּנֵה אֵלַי וְחָנֵּנִי תְּנָה עֻזְּךָ לְעַבְדֶּךָ וְהוֹשִׁיעָה לְבֶן אֲמָתֶךָ

Turn to me and be gracious to me. Give Your strength to Your servant; save the son of Your handmaid, an expression indicating a slave born into slavery, who has never known personal independence nor had any other master.

עֲשֵׂה עִמִּי אוֹת לְטוֹבָה וְיִרְאוּ שׂנְאַי וְיֵבֹשׁוּ כִּי אַתָּה ה' עֲזַרְתַּנִי וְנִחַמְתָּנִי

Show me a sign for good, some indication, to myself and to others, that You indeed intend to come to my aid, so that those who hate me may see it and be shamed, for they will realize that You, Lord, have helped and comforted me.