The Bible (Old and New Testaments)

My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.

My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off.

Plain English · paraphraseMy lovers and my friends stay away from my pain, and my family members keep their distance.

They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long.

Plain English · paraphraseThose who want to kill me set traps for me. Those who want to harm me say harmful things and plan tricks all day long.

But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.

Plain English · paraphraseBut I, like a deaf man, did not hear; and I was like a mute who does not open his mouth.

Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs.

Plain English · paraphraseSo I was like a man who cannot hear, and no one corrected me.

For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.

Plain English · paraphraseFor I wait for you, Lord. You will listen, Lord my God.

For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.

Plain English · paraphraseFor I said, Listen to me, or else they will rejoice over me. When my foot slips, they boast against me.

For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me.

Plain English · paraphraseI am ready to stop, and my sorrow is always with me.

For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.

Plain English · paraphraseI will confess my wrongdoing; I will grieve over my sin.

But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.

They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is.

Plain English · paraphraseThose who do evil in return for good are my enemies, because I follow what is good.

Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from me.

Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.

I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.

Plain English · paraphraseI said, I will watch my ways so that I do not sin with my tongue. I will hold my mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me.

I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred.

My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue,

LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am.

Plain English · paraphraseLord, let me know my end and how long my days will be, so that I may know how weak I am.

Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.

Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

Plain English · paraphraseEveryone walks in an empty display. They are troubled for no reason. They collect wealth but don’t know who will collect it after them.

And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in you.

Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the foolish.

I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it.

Plain English · paraphraseI was silent. I did not speak. Because you did it.

Remove thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of thine hand.

Plain English · paraphraseTake your strike away from me. I am destroyed by the blow of your hand.

When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man is vanity. Selah.

Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.

Plain English · paraphraseHear my prayer, Lord. Listen to my cry. Do not be silent when I weep. I am a stranger to you, a traveler, just as all my ancestors were.

O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more.

Plain English · paraphrasePlease let me rest and regain my strength before I leave and am no more.

I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

Plain English · paraphraseI waited patiently for the Lord. He turned toward me and heard my cry.

He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

Plain English · paraphraseHe brought me up from a terrible pit, from the muddy clay, and placed my feet on a rock, and made my steps firm.

And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd he has given me a new song to sing, a song of praise to our God. Many will see it and be afraid, and they will trust in the Lord.

Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

Plain English · paraphraseBlessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, and does not respect the proud, or those who turn aside to lies.

Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.

Plain English · paraphraseMany, O Lord my God, are the wonderful things you have done. Your thoughts toward us are countless. They cannot be fully known or counted. If I tried to speak of them, they would be more than can be numbered.

Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.

Plain English · paraphraseYou did not want sacrifice or offering. You opened my ears. You did not ask for burnt offering or sin offering.

Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,

Plain English · paraphraseThen I said, "Here I come. It is written about me in the book."

I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.

Plain English · paraphraseI take joy in doing your will, my God. Yes, your law is in my heart.

I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.

Plain English · paraphraseI have proclaimed what is right in the great assembly. I have not held back my words, O Lord. You know it, Lord.

I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.

Plain English · paraphraseI have not kept your righteousness hidden in my heart. I have told others about your faithfulness and your salvation. I have not hidden your lovingkindness and your truth from the large crowd.

Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.

For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me.

Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me.

Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.

Plain English · paraphraseLet them be ashamed and embarrassed together, those who are trying to find a way to destroy me. Let those who wish me harm be pushed back and disgraced.

Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.

Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.

But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.

Plain English · paraphraseBut I am poor and in need. The Lord thinks about me. You are my helper and my rescuer. Do not delay, my God.

Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.

Plain English · paraphraseBlessed is the one who considers the poor. The Lord will deliver them in time of trouble.

The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.

Plain English · paraphraseGod will protect him and keep him alive. He will be blessed on the earth. You will not hand him over to his enemies.

The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.

Plain English · paraphraseThe LORD will support him on the bed of illness. You will arrange all his bedding during his sickness.

I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.

Mine enemies speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name perish?

Plain English · paraphraseMy enemies speak badly about me. "When will he die, and his name be forgotten?"

And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd if he comes to see me, he speaks nonsense. His heart collects wickedness for itself. When he goes out, he tells it.

All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt.

Plain English · paraphraseAll who hate me whisper together about me. They plan how to harm me.

An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him: and now that he lieth he shall rise up no more.

Plain English · paraphraseThey say a terrible illness has taken hold of him, and now that he is lying down, he will not get up again.

Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.

Plain English · paraphraseMy own close friend, the one I trusted, who shared my meals, has turned against me.

But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them.

Plain English · paraphraseBut you, Lord, be merciful to me, and raise me up, so that I may repay them.

By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me.

Plain English · paraphraseI know you are on my side because my enemy doesn't get the better of me.

And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd as for me, you support me in my integrity and place me before your face forever.

Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.

Plain English · paraphraseBlessed be the Lord God of Israel from the eternal past to the eternal future. Amen, and Amen.

As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

Plain English · paraphraseLike a deer that longs for water, my soul longs for you, God.

My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

Plain English · paraphraseMy soul is thirsty for God, the living God. When will I come and stand before God?

My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?

Plain English · paraphraseMy tears have been my food day and night, while they keep saying to me, "Where is your God?"

When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.

Plain English · paraphraseWhen I remember these things, I pour out my soul. I had gone with the crowd, joining them to the house of God, with joyful voices and praise, with a group celebrating a holy day.

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

Plain English · paraphraseWhy are you so sad, my soul? Why are you upset inside me? Put your hope in God. I will still praise him for the help he gives.

O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.

Plain English · paraphraseO my God, my soul is crushed inside me. So I will remember you from the land of Jordan, from the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.

Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.

Plain English · paraphraseDeep calls to deep at the sound of your waterfalls. All your waves and your rolling waters have covered me.

Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the day time, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.

Plain English · paraphraseBut the Lord will show his kindness during the day, and at night his song will be with me, and my prayer to the God of my life.

I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

Plain English · paraphraseI will say to God, my rock, "Why have you forgotten me? Why do I walk in sorrow because of the enemy's oppression?"

As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?

Plain English · paraphraseLike a sword in my bones, my enemies mock me. Every day they say to me, "Where is your God?"

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

Plain English · paraphraseWhy are you so sad, my soul? Why are you upset inside me? Put your hope in God. I will still praise him, the one who brings health to my face and is my God.

Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man.

For thou art the God of my strength: why dost thou cast me off? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

Plain English · paraphraseYou are the God who gives me strength. Why have you turned your back on me? Why do I suffer sorrow because of my enemy's cruelty?

O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.

Plain English · paraphraseSend out your light and your truth. Let them lead me. Let them bring me to your holy hill and to your tabernacles.

Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God.

Plain English · paraphraseThen I will go to the altar of God, to God who is my great joy. Yes, I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God.

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

Plain English · paraphraseWhy are you so sad, my soul? Why are you upset inside me? Put your hope in God. I will still praise him, the one who brings health to my face and is my God.

We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou didst in their days, in the times of old.

Plain English · paraphraseWe have heard with our own ears, O God. Our ancestors have told us about the things you did in their time, in the days of old.

How thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hand, and plantedst them; how thou didst afflict the people, and cast them out.

Plain English · paraphraseHow you drove out the heathen with your hand and planted them. How you afflicted the people and cast them out.

For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them.

Plain English · paraphraseThey did not take the land by their own sword, and their own arm did not save them. It was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, because you had favor for them.

Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob.

Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.

Plain English · paraphraseThrough you we will defeat our enemies. Through your name we will crush those who rise up against us.

For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me.

Plain English · paraphraseI will not trust in my bow, and my sword will not save me.

But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us.

Plain English · paraphraseBut you have saved us from our enemies and put to shame those who hated us.

In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah.

Plain English · paraphraseWe boast in God all day long and praise your name forever. Selah.

But thou hast cast off, and put us to shame; and goest not forth with our armies.

Thou makest us to turn back from the enemy: and they which hate us spoil for themselves.

Thou hast given us like sheep appointed for meat; and hast scattered us among the heathen.

Plain English · paraphraseYou have given us like sheep marked for slaughter; and you have scattered us among the nations.

Thou sellest thy people for nought, and dost not increase thy wealth by their price.

Plain English · paraphraseYou sell your people for nothing, and do not gain wealth from their price.

Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us.

Plain English · paraphraseYou make us a disgrace to our neighbors, a mockery and a joke to those around us.

Thou makest us a byword among the heathen, a shaking of the head among the people.

Plain English · paraphraseYou make us a joke among the nations, a head-shaking among the people.

My confusion is continually before me, and the shame of my face hath covered me,

Plain English · paraphraseMy confusion is always in front of me, and the shame on my face has covered me.

For the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth; by reason of the enemy and avenger.

Plain English · paraphraseFor the voice of the one who mocks and insults; because of the enemy and the avenger.

All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant.

Plain English · paraphraseAll this has happened to us. Yet we have not forgotten you. We have not been false in your covenant.

Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy way;

Plain English · paraphraseOur heart has not turned back, and our steps have not turned away from your way;

Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death.

If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god;

Plain English · paraphraseIf we have forgotten the name of our God, or if we have reached out to a foreign god;

Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.

Plain English · paraphraseWill God not find this out? For he knows what is in the heart.

Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.

Plain English · paraphraseYes, for your sake we are killed every day; we are treated like sheep ready for slaughter.

Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast us not off for ever.

Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and forgettest our affliction and our oppression?

Plain English · paraphraseWhy do you hide your face? Why do you forget our suffering and our oppression?

For our soul is bowed down to the dust: our belly cleaveth unto the earth.

Plain English · paraphraseOur souls are crushed to the ground; our bellies press against the earth.

Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies’ sake.

Plain English · paraphraseGet up and help us, and save us because of your mercy.

My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

Plain English · paraphraseMy heart is writing about something good: I speak of the things I have made about the king: my tongue is like a skilled writer's pen.

Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.

Plain English · paraphraseYou are more beautiful than the children of men. Grace has been poured into your lips. Therefore, God has blessed you forever.