Axial Commons
Hebrew / JewishChristianity
Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty.
Plain English · paraphrasePut your sword on your hip, O powerful one, with your honor and majesty.
And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.
Plain English · paraphraseAnd may you ride prosperously in your majesty because of truth, meekness, and righteousness; and your right hand shall teach you terrible things.
Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies; whereby the people fall under thee.
Plain English · paraphraseYour arrows strike deep into the hearts of the king’s enemies; by them, the people fall under your power.
Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.
Plain English · paraphraseYour throne, God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a just scepter.
Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
Plain English · paraphraseYou love what is right and hate what is evil. So God your God has poured out joy like oil on you, more than on your companions.
All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.
Plain English · paraphraseAll your clothes smell of myrrh, aloes, and cassia, from the ivory palaces, where they made you glad.
Kings’ daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir.
Plain English · paraphraseKing's daughters were among your honored women. On your right stood the queen, dressed in the gold of Ophir.
Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father’s house;
Plain English · paraphraseListen, daughter, and think carefully, and pay close attention. Forget your own people and your father’s family.
So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him.
Plain English · paraphraseThe king will greatly desire your beauty, for he is your master. Worship him.
And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour.
Plain English · paraphraseAnd the daughter of Tyre will be there with a gift; even the rich among the people will ask for your favor.
The king’s daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold.
Plain English · paraphraseThe king's daughter is completely glorious within. Her clothing is made of woven gold.
She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee.
Plain English · paraphraseShe will be brought to the king in clothing embroidered with needlework. The virgins who are her companions and follow her will be brought to you.
With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king’s palace.
Plain English · paraphraseThey will be brought in with joy and celebration. They will enter the king’s palace.
Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth.
Plain English · paraphraseYour children will take the place of your fathers, and you may make them rulers over all the earth.
I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever.
Plain English · paraphraseI will make your name remembered in every generation. So the people will praise you forever and ever.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Plain English · paraphraseTherefore we will not fear, even if the earth is moved, and even if the mountains are carried into the middle of the sea;
Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
Plain English · paraphraseThere is a river, whose streams bring joy to the city of God, the holy place of the tents of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.
Plain English · paraphraseThe heathen raged, the kingdoms were shaken. He spoke, and the earth melted.
The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
Plain English · paraphraseThe Lord of Heaven’s Armies is with us. The God of Jacob is our place of safety. Selah.
Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.
Plain English · paraphraseCome, look at what the LORD has done. See the destruction he has brought to the earth.
He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.
Plain English · paraphraseHe brings wars to an end across the whole earth. He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two. He burns the chariot in the fire.
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
Plain English · paraphraseBe still, and know that I am God. I will be honored among the nations. I will be honored on the earth.
The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
Plain English · paraphraseThe Lord of Heaven’s Armies is with us. The God of Jacob is our place of safety. Selah.
O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.
For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.
He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet.
He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah.
Plain English · paraphraseHe will choose our inheritance for us, the best part of Jacob, whom he loved. Selah.
God is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.
Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises.
For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.
God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.
Plain English · paraphraseGod rules over the nations. God sits on the throne of his holiness.
The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong unto God: he is greatly exalted.
Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.
Plain English · paraphraseGod is great. He should be greatly praised in the city of our God, on the mountain of his holiness.
Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.
Plain English · paraphraseMount Zion is beautiful in its setting, the joy of the whole earth. It lies on the north side, the city of the great King.
God is known in her palaces for a refuge.
For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together.
They saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away.
Plain English · paraphraseThey saw it and were amazed. They were frightened and hurried away.
Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail.
Plain English · paraphraseFear came over them there, and pain, like that of a woman in labor.
Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind.
As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. Selah.
We have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple.
Plain English · paraphraseWe have remembered your kindness, God, in the middle of your temple.
According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of righteousness.
Plain English · paraphraseAccording to your name, O God, your praise reaches to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is filled with righteousness.
Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments.
Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof.
Plain English · paraphraseWalk around Zion, go all the way around her, and tell of her towers.
Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following.
Plain English · paraphraseLook carefully at her walls, consider her palaces, so that you can tell them to the next generation.
For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.
Plain English · paraphraseThis God is our God forever and ever. He will guide us even to death.
Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:
Plain English · paraphraseListen to this, all you people; pay attention, all you who live in the world:
Both low and high, rich and poor, together.
My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.
Plain English · paraphraseMy mouth will speak about wisdom, and my heart's thoughts will be about understanding.
I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
Plain English · paraphraseI will listen to a story: I will tell my secret message on the harp.
Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?
Plain English · paraphraseWhy should I fear in times of trouble, when the wickedness of my actions surrounds me?
They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
Plain English · paraphraseThose who trust in their wealth and boast about their great riches;
None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:
Plain English · paraphraseNone of them can redeem his brother in any way, nor can he give to God a ransom for him.
(For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)
That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.
Plain English · paraphraseThat he should live forever and not experience decay.
For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.
Plain English · paraphraseHe sees that wise men die, and fools and senseless people perish, leaving their wealth to others.
Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.
Plain English · paraphraseThey think that their houses will last forever, and their homes will stay for all generations. They name their lands after themselves.
Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.
Plain English · paraphraseBut humans, no matter how honored, do not last forever. They are like animals that die.
This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.
Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.
Plain English · paraphraseLike sheep, they are placed in the grave. Death will feed on them. The upright will rule over them in the morning. Their beauty will be destroyed in the grave, from their home.
But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.
Plain English · paraphraseBut God will rescue my soul from the power of the grave, for he will take me in. Selah.
Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;
For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.
Plain English · paraphraseWhen he dies, he will not take anything with him. His glory will not come down with him.
Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.
Plain English · paraphraseWhile he was alive, he blessed his soul. People will praise you when you do well for yourself.
He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.
Plain English · paraphraseHe will go to the generation of his ancestors; they will never see light.
Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.
Plain English · paraphraseA person who is honored but does not understand is like the animals that die.
The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.
Plain English · paraphraseThe mighty God, the Lord, has spoken. He has called the earth from the sunrise to the sunset.
Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.
Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.
Plain English · paraphraseOur God is coming, and he will not be silent. A fire will burn before him, and a storm will swirl all around him.
He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.
Plain English · paraphraseHe will call to the heavens above and to the earth, so that they may judge his people.
Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.
Plain English · paraphraseGather my holy ones to me, those who made a covenant with me through sacrifice.
And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself. Selah.
Plain English · paraphraseAnd the heavens will show his righteousness, for God is the judge himself. Selah.
Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I am God, even thy God.
Plain English · paraphraseListen, my people, as I speak; Israel, I will testify against you. I am your God.
I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually before me.
Plain English · paraphraseI will not criticize you for your sacrifices or your burnt offerings, which are continually before me.
I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds.
Plain English · paraphraseI will take no bull from your house, nor he-goats from your pens.
For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.
I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.
If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.
Plain English · paraphraseIf I were hungry, I would not tell you: for the world is mine, and everything in it.
Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?
Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:
Plain English · paraphraseGive thanks to God; and keep your promises to the Most High.
And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
Plain English · paraphraseCall on me in times of trouble. I will rescue you, and you will honor me.
But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?
Plain English · paraphraseBut to the wicked God says, "What business do you have declaring my laws, or taking my covenant into your mouth?"
Seeing thou hatest instruction, and casteth my words behind thee.
Plain English · paraphraseI see that you hate instruction and throw my words behind you.
When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers.
Plain English · paraphraseWhen you saw a thief, you agreed with him and became a partner with adulterers.
Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.
Plain English · paraphraseYou use your mouth for evil, and your tongue makes up lies.
Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother’s son.
These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.
Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.
Plain English · paraphraseNow consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you apart, and no one will save you.
Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.
Plain English · paraphraseWhoever offers praise honors me. I will show the salvation of God to the one who lives properly.
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
Plain English · paraphraseHave mercy on me, God, according to your loving kindness. Because of the many acts of your tender mercy, wipe out my sins.
Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Plain English · paraphraseWash me completely from my wrongdoing, and clean me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
Plain English · paraphraseI have sinned only against you, and done this evil in your sight. You are right to speak, and right to judge.
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Plain English · paraphraseLook, I was formed in wickedness; and in sin my mother conceived me.
Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
Plain English · paraphraseLook, you want truth deep inside me. In the secret parts, you will teach me wisdom.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
Plain English · paraphraseLet me hear joy and happiness again; may the bones you have broken be glad.