The Bible (Old and New Testaments)

God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.

Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.

Plain English · paraphraseLet God rise up. Let his enemies be scattered. Let those who hate him run away from him.

As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.

Plain English · paraphraseLike smoke that is driven away, drive them away. Like wax that melts before the fire, let the wicked perish in the presence of God.

But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.

Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him.

Plain English · paraphraseSing to God. Praise his name. Honor the one who rides across the heavens, whose name is JAH. Rejoice before him.

A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.

Plain English · paraphraseGod is a father to the fatherless and a judge for the widows in his holy place.

God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.

Plain English · paraphraseGod places the lonely in families. He frees those in chains. But rebels live in a dry land.

O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah:

Plain English · paraphraseO God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness; Selah:

The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.

Plain English · paraphraseThe earth shook, and the heavens fell at the presence of God. Even Mount Sinai was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.

Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.

Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor.

Plain English · paraphraseYour people have lived there. You, God, have provided from your goodness for the poor.

The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.

Plain English · paraphraseThe Lord gave the command. A large group announced it.

Kings of armies did flee apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil.

Plain English · paraphraseArmy commanders fled quickly, but the woman who stayed at home divided the spoils.

Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.

Plain English · paraphraseEven though you have been treated like something cast aside, you will be like the wings of a dove, covered with silver, and her feathers with golden color.

When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was white as snow in Salmon.

Plain English · paraphraseWhen God scattered the kings there, it was as white as snow on Salmon.

The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan; an high hill as the hill of Bashan.

Why leap ye, ye high hills? this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in; yea, the LORD will dwell in it for ever.

Plain English · paraphraseWhy do you leap, you high hills? This is the hill God wants to live on. The Lord will live there forever.

The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.

Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.

Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.

Plain English · paraphraseBlessed be the Lord, who gives us good things every day, the God who saves us. Selah.

He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues from death.

But God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses.

Plain English · paraphraseBut God will wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of anyone who keeps going in his trespasses.

The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea:

That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies, and the tongue of thy dogs in the same.

Plain English · paraphraseSo that your foot may be dipped in the blood of your enemies, and the tongues of your dogs also in that blood.

They have seen thy goings, O God; even the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary.

Plain English · paraphraseThey have seen your steps, O God; the steps of my God, my King, in the holy place.

The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; among them were the damsels playing with timbrels.

Plain English · paraphraseThe singers went first, the musicians followed, and among them were the young women playing with tambourines.

Bless ye God in the congregations, even the Lord, from the fountain of Israel.

There is little Benjamin with their ruler, the princes of Judah and their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.

Thy God hath commanded thy strength: strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us.

Plain English · paraphraseYour God has given us strength. O God, strengthen the work you have done for us.

Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee.

Plain English · paraphraseBecause of your temple in Jerusalem, kings will bring gifts to you.

Rebuke the company of spearmen, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people, till every one submit himself with pieces of silver: scatter thou the people that delight in war.

Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.

Plain English · paraphrasePrinces will come from Egypt. Ethiopia will soon reach out to God.

Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord; Selah:

Plain English · paraphraseSing to God, you kingdoms of the earth. Sing praises to the Lord. Selah.

To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old; lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mighty voice.

Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds.

Plain English · paraphraseGive strength to God. His greatness is over Israel, and his power is in the clouds.

O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God.

Plain English · paraphraseO God, you are awesome from your holy places. The God of Israel gives strength and power to his people. Blessed be God.

Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul.

Plain English · paraphraseSave me, God. The waters have come up to my soul.

I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.

I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.

Plain English · paraphraseI am tired from crying. My throat is dry. My eyes are failing as I wait for my God.

They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away.

Plain English · paraphraseThose who hate me without reason are more than the hairs on my head. Those who want to destroy me, my enemies who act wrongly, are strong. Yet I restored what I did not take.

O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee.

Plain English · paraphraseO God, you know my foolishness. My sins are not hidden from you.

Let not them that wait on thee, O Lord GOD of hosts, be ashamed for my sake: let not those that seek thee be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel.

Plain English · paraphraseLet those who wait for you, O Lord God of hosts, not be ashamed because of me. Let those who seek you not be disappointed because of me, O God of Israel.

Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face.

Plain English · paraphraseI have carried the disgrace because of you. Shame has covered my face.

I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother’s children.

Plain English · paraphraseI have become a stranger to my brothers and an outsider to my mother’s children.

For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.

Plain English · paraphraseThe passion for your house has consumed me; the insults they hurled at you have fallen on me.

When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach.

Plain English · paraphraseWhen I wept and punished my soul with fasting, that was my disgrace.

I made sackcloth also my garment; and I became a proverb to them.

They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards.

Plain English · paraphraseThe people who sit at the city gate talk against me; and I have become the drunkards’ song.

But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O LORD, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation.

Plain English · paraphraseBut as for me, my prayer is to you, Lord, in a time you accept. O God, because of your great mercy, hear me, because of the truth of your salvation.

Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.

Plain English · paraphraseDeliver me from the mud. Let me not sink. Deliver me from those who hate me and from the deep waters.

Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me.

Plain English · paraphraseLet the floodwaters not overflow me. Let the deep not swallow me up. Let the pit not shut its mouth on me.

Hear me, O LORD; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies.

Plain English · paraphraseHear me, Lord. Your kindness is good. Turn to me, as your mercies are many.

And hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd do not turn your face away from your servant, for I am in trouble. Listen to me quickly.

Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: deliver me because of mine enemies.

Plain English · paraphraseCome close to my soul and save it. Rescue me from my enemies.

Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour: mine adversaries are all before thee.

Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.

Plain English · paraphraseReproach has broken my heart. I am full of sorrow. I looked for someone to have pity, but there was no one. I looked for comforters, but I found none.

They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

Plain English · paraphraseThey also gave me gall to eat, and when I was thirsty, they gave me vinegar to drink.

Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap.

Plain English · paraphraseLet their table become a trap for them. Let what was meant for their good become a trap.

Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake.

Plain English · paraphraseLet their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and let their loins shake constantly.

Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them.

Plain English · paraphrasePour out your anger on them. Let your furious anger take hold of them.

Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell in their tents.

Plain English · paraphraseLet their home be left empty; let no one live in their tents.

For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten; and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded.

Plain English · paraphraseThey chase after the one you have hurt, and they speak cruelly to those you have made sad.

Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into thy righteousness.

Plain English · paraphraseAdd wrongdoing to their wrongdoing. Let them not enter your righteousness.

Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.

Plain English · paraphraseLet them be erased from the book of the living, and not be recorded with the righteous.

But I am poor and sorrowful: let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high.

Plain English · paraphraseBut I am poor and sad. Let your salvation, God, lift me up.

I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.

Plain English · paraphraseI will praise the name of God with a song, and I will honor him with thanksgiving.

This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.

Plain English · paraphraseThis also will please the Lord more than an ox or bull with horns and hooves.

The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God.

Plain English · paraphraseThe humble will see this and be glad. Your hearts will live who seek God.

For the LORD heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners.

Plain English · paraphraseThe Lord hears the poor and does not despise those in prison.

Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and every thing that moveth therein.

Plain English · paraphraseLet heaven and earth praise him, the seas and everything that moves in them.

For God will save Zion, and will build the cities of Judah: that they may dwell there, and have it in possession.

Plain English · paraphraseGod will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah. They will live there and possess it.

The seed also of his servants shall inherit it: and they that love his name shall dwell therein.

Plain English · paraphraseThe descendants of his servants will inherit it. Those who love his name will live there.

Make haste, O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O Lord.

Plain English · paraphraseGod, hurry to save me. Lord, hurry to help me.

Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul: let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt.

Plain English · paraphraseLet them be ashamed and embarrassed, those who are looking for my life. Let them be turned back and disgraced, those who want my harm.

Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame that say, Aha, aha.

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

But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help and my deliverer; O LORD, make no tarrying.

In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.

Plain English · paraphraseIn you, Lord, I place my trust. Let me never be put to shame.

Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me.

Plain English · paraphraseDeliver me according to your righteousness, and let me escape. Listen to me and save me.

Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.

Plain English · paraphraseBe my strong shelter, the place I can always go to. You have commanded that you will save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.

Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.

Plain English · paraphraseSave me, O my God, from the wicked, from the unrighteous and cruel man.

For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.

Plain English · paraphraseYou are my hope, Lord God. You have been my trust since I was young.

By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother’s bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee.

Plain English · paraphraseYou held me up from the moment I was born. You are the one who brought me out from my mother’s body. I will praise you always.

I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge.

Plain English · paraphraseI am a wonder to many, but you are my strong refuge.

Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day.

Plain English · paraphraseLet my mouth be filled with your praise and with your honor all day long.

Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.

Plain English · paraphraseDo not cast me away in my old age. Do not abandon me when my strength fails.

For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together,

Plain English · paraphraseMy enemies speak against me, and those who are waiting to harm me have planned together.

Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him.

Plain English · paraphraseSaying, God has abandoned him. Pursue and capture him, because there is no one to save him.

O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help.

Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt.

Plain English · paraphraseLet them be confused and destroyed who are enemies to my life. Let shame and disgrace cover those who want to harm me.

But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.

Plain English · paraphraseBut I will keep hoping always, and I will praise you more and more.

My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof.

Plain English · paraphraseMy mouth will declare your righteousness and your salvation all day long; for I cannot count them.

I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.

O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.

Plain English · paraphraseO God, you have taught me since I was young. Up to now, I have told others about your amazing deeds.

Now also when I am old and greyheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.

Plain English · paraphraseNow also, when I am old and greyheaded, O God, do not forsake me; until I have shown your strength to this generation, and your power to every one that is to come.

Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee!

Plain English · paraphraseYour righteousness, God, is very high. You have done great things. God, who is like you!

Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.

Plain English · paraphraseYou, who have shown me great and painful troubles, will bring me back to life and lift me up from the depths of the earth.

Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.

I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel.

Plain English · paraphraseI will also praise you with the psaltery, your truth, my God. I will sing to you with the harp, you Holy One of Israel.

My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed.

Plain English · paraphraseMy lips will greatly rejoice when I sing to you; and my soul, which you have redeemed.