Axial Commons
Hebrew / JewishChristianity
Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Selah.
Plain English · paraphraseLet the enemy pursue my life and take it. Yes, let him crush my life on the earth and place my honor in the dirt. Selah.
Arise, O LORD, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded.
So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about: for their sakes therefore return thou on high.
Plain English · paraphraseSo the crowd of people will surround you. For their sake, go up again.
The LORD shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.
Plain English · paraphraseThe Lord will judge the people. Judge me, Lord, according to my righteousness and according to the integrity within me.
Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.
My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.
Plain English · paraphraseMy defense is from God, who saves those with upright hearts.
God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.
If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.
Plain English · paraphraseIf he does not turn back, he will sharpen his sword. He has bent his bow and is ready.
He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.
Plain English · paraphraseHe has also prepared for him the tools of death; he arranges his arrows against those who persecute.
Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.
Plain English · paraphraseLook, he works with evil, he plans harm, and he gives birth to lies.
He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made.
His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.
Plain English · paraphraseHis mischief will come back on his own head, and his violent actions will fall on his own skull.
I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.
Plain English · paraphraseI will praise the Lord for his righteousness. I will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.
O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
Plain English · paraphraseO Lord, our Lord, how excellent is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.
Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
Plain English · paraphraseYou have made strength come from the mouths of babies and nursing infants, because of your enemies, to silence the enemy and the one who takes revenge.
When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
Plain English · paraphraseWhen I look at the heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place;
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
Plain English · paraphraseWhat is man, that you are thinking about him? And the son of man, that you visit him?
For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
Plain English · paraphraseYou have made him a little lower than the angels and crowned him with glory and honor.
Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
Plain English · paraphraseYou made him to have power over the things you made; you placed everything under his control.
All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.
Plain English · paraphraseI will praise you, Lord, with all my heart. I will tell about all your amazing deeds.
I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.
When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence.
Plain English · paraphraseWhen my enemies are defeated, they will fall and be destroyed when they face you.
For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; thou satest in the throne judging right.
Plain English · paraphraseYou have supported my right and my case; you sit on the throne judging fairly.
Thou hast rebuked the heathen, thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put out their name for ever and ever.
Plain English · paraphraseYou have rebuked the nations. You have destroyed the wicked. You have erased their name forever and ever.
O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end: and thou hast destroyed cities; their memorial is perished with them.
Plain English · paraphraseO you enemy, destruction has come to an end forever. You have destroyed cities; their memory has been lost with them.
But the LORD shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment.
Plain English · paraphraseBut the Lord will last forever. He has set up his throne for judgment.
And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.
Plain English · paraphraseHe will judge the world with fairness and give just decisions to the people.
The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.
And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.
Plain English · paraphraseAnd those who know your name will trust in you. For you, Lord, have not abandoned those who seek you.
Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.
Plain English · paraphraseSing praises to the Lord, who lives in Zion. Tell the people what he has done.
When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.
Plain English · paraphraseWhen he investigates a murder, he remembers the victims. He does not forget the cries of the oppressed.
Have mercy upon me, O LORD; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death:
Plain English · paraphraseHave mercy on me, Lord. See the trouble I suffer from those who hate me. You are the one who lifts me up from the gates of death.
That I may shew forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation.
Plain English · paraphraseSo I can proclaim all your praise at the gates of the city of Zion. I will rejoice in your salvation.
The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken.
The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah.
Plain English · paraphraseThe LORD is known by the judgment he carries out. The wicked are trapped by the work of their own hands. Higgaion. Selah.
The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.
Plain English · paraphraseThe wicked will be thrown into hell, and every nation that forgets God.
For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever.
Plain English · paraphraseThe poor will not be forgotten forever. The hope of the needy will not disappear forever.
Arise, O LORD; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight.
Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah.
Plain English · paraphrasePut them in fear, Lord. Let the nations know they are only human. Selah.
Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?
Plain English · paraphraseWhy are you standing far away, Lord? Why do you hide yourself when there is trouble?
The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.
Plain English · paraphraseThe wicked, in his pride, persecutes the poor. Let him be caught in the traps he has planned.
For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.
Plain English · paraphraseThe wicked boast about what they want in their hearts and bless those who are greedy, even though the Lord hates them.
The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.
Plain English · paraphraseThe wicked, because of his proud look, will not look for God. God is not in any of his thoughts.
His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.
Plain English · paraphraseHis ways are always harsh; your judgments are far beyond his understanding. As for all his enemies, he treats them with contempt.
He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.
Plain English · paraphraseHe said in his heart, "I will not be moved. I will never be in trouble."
His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.
Plain English · paraphraseHis mouth is full of curses, lies, and trickery. Under his tongue are harm and emptiness.
He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor.
Plain English · paraphraseHe sits in the hiding places of the villages. In secret places he kills the innocent. His eyes are secretly fixed against the poor.
He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net.
Plain English · paraphraseHe hides secretly like a lion in its den, waiting to catch the poor. He catches the poor when he pulls him into his net.
He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.
Plain English · paraphraseHe crouches and lowers himself so that the poor may fall by his strong ones.
He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.
Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble.
Plain English · paraphraseArise, O LORD; O God, lift up your hand. Do not forget the humble.
Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.
Plain English · paraphraseWhy does the wicked person look down on God? He has said in his heart, "You will not demand an account."
Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless.
Plain English · paraphraseYou have seen it; for you see trouble and cruelty, and you are ready to act. The poor person puts themselves in your care; you are the helper of orphans.
Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none.
Plain English · paraphraseBreak the arm of the wicked and the evil man. Keep looking for his wickedness until you find none.
The LORD is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land.
LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:
Plain English · paraphraseLord, you have heard the prayer of the humble. You will make their hearts ready. You will listen with your ears.
To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.
Plain English · paraphraseTo judge those without fathers and the oppressed, so that the man of the earth may no longer oppress.
In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?
Plain English · paraphraseI trust in the Lord. Why are you telling my soul to flee like a bird to the mountains?
For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.
Plain English · paraphraseThe wicked are aiming their bows and stringing their arrows, ready to secretly shoot at those with honest hearts.
If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?
The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’s throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.
Plain English · paraphraseGod is in his holy temple. God’s throne is in heaven. His eyes watch. His eyelids test the children of people.
The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.
Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.
Plain English · paraphraseOn the wicked he will rain snares, fire and brimstone, and a terrible storm. This will be their share in the cup.
For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.
Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.
Plain English · paraphraseHelp, Lord. The godly man is gone. The faithful have vanished from among the children of men.
They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.
Plain English · paraphraseThey speak empty words to each other. With smooth words and divided hearts, they speak.
The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:
Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?
Plain English · paraphraseThey said, "We will succeed with our words. Our lips belong to us. Who is our master?"
For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.
Plain English · paraphraseFor the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now I will arise, says the Lord. I will set him in safety from the one who puffs at him.
The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
Plain English · paraphraseThe words of the Lord are pure words. They are like silver tested in an earth furnace, purified seven times.
Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
Plain English · paraphraseYou will keep them, Lord. You will protect them from this generation forever.
The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.
How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?
Plain English · paraphraseHow long will you forget me, Lord? Forever? How long will you hide your face from me?
How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?
Plain English · paraphraseHow long must I struggle within myself, carrying sorrow in my heart every day? How long will my enemy remain above me?
Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;
Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.
But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.
I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.
Plain English · paraphraseI will sing to the Lord, because he has been generous to me.
The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
Plain English · paraphraseThe fool said in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt. They have done terrible things. No one does good.
The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.
They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Plain English · paraphraseThey have all turned away. They are all together become corrupt. There is no one who does good, no, not even one.
Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD.
Plain English · paraphraseDo the workers of iniquity have no knowledge? They eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call upon the Lord.
There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous.
Plain English · paraphraseThey were there in great fear, for God is with the family of the righteous.
Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the LORD is his refuge.
Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.
Plain English · paraphraseOh that Israel’s salvation would come from Zion! When the Lord brings back his people from captivity, Jacob will rejoice, and Israel will be glad.
Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
Plain English · paraphraseLord, who can live in your house? Who can stay in your holy place?
He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
Plain English · paraphraseThe one who walks uprightly, does what is right, and speaks the truth from his heart.
He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.
Plain English · paraphraseHe who does not speak evil with his tongue, who does no harm to his neighbor, and who does not bring disgrace upon his neighbor.
In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.
Plain English · paraphraseIn whose eyes a lowly person is looked down on; but he honors those who fear the Lord. He who makes a promise to his own harm and does not change it.
He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.
Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.
Plain English · paraphraseProtect me, God. I trust in you.
O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee;
Plain English · paraphraseO my soul, you have said to the Lord, You are my Lord. My goodness does not reach you.
But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.
Plain English · paraphraseBut to the saints who are on earth, and to the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.
Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.
Plain English · paraphraseTheir sorrows will increase who hurry after another god. I will not pour out their blood offerings, nor will I speak their names.
The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.
The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.
Plain English · paraphraseThe lines have been laid out for me in pleasant places; yes, I have a beautiful inheritance.
I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.
Plain English · paraphraseI will bless the Lord, who has given me advice. My heart also instructs me in the night hours.