The Bible (Old and New Testaments)

O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid.

Shew me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, LORD, hast holpen me, and comforted me.

Plain English · paraphraseShow me a sign of good, so that those who hate me may see it and be ashamed. For you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.

His foundation is in the holy mountains.

The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.

Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah.

Plain English · paraphraseGlorious things are said about you, O city of God. Selah.

I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there.

And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her.

Plain English · paraphraseAnd about Zion it will be said, "This one and that one were born in her." And the highest one himself will establish her.

The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah.

Plain English · paraphraseThe LORD will record, when he lists the people, that this man was born there. Selah.

As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs are in thee.

O lord God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee:

Plain English · paraphraseO Lord God of my salvation, I have cried out to you day and night.

Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry;

Plain English · paraphraseLet my prayer come to you. Listen closely to my cry.

For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave.

Plain English · paraphraseMy soul is filled with troubles, and my life is drawing near to the grave.

I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength:

Plain English · paraphraseI am treated like those who go down to the pit. I am like a man with no strength.

Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand.

Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps.

Plain English · paraphraseYou have placed me in the deepest pit, in darkness, in the depths.

Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. Selah.

Plain English · paraphraseYour anger weighs heavily on me, and you have crushed me with all your waves. Selah.

Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me; thou hast made me an abomination unto them: I am shut up, and I cannot come forth.

Plain English · paraphraseYou have driven my friends away from me. You have made me something they hate. I am trapped and cannot go out.

Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: LORD, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee.

Plain English · paraphraseMy eyes are sad because of my suffering. Lord, I have called to you every day. I have stretched out my hands to you.

Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise thee? Selah.

Plain English · paraphraseWill you show wonders to the dead? Will the dead rise and praise you? Selah.

Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in destruction?

Plain English · paraphraseShall your kindness be told in the grave? Or your faithfulness in destruction?

Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

Plain English · paraphraseWill your wonders be known in the dark? And your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

But unto thee have I cried, O LORD; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee.

Plain English · paraphraseBut I have called out to you, Lord. In the morning my prayer will go before you.

LORD, why castest thou off my soul? why hidest thou thy face from me?

Plain English · paraphraseLord, why do you push away my soul? Why do you hide your face from me?

I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up: while I suffer thy terrors I am distracted.

Plain English · paraphraseI have been in pain and near death since my youth. While I endure your terrors, I am driven to distraction.

Thy fierce wrath goeth over me; thy terrors have cut me off.

Plain English · paraphraseYour fierce anger is over me. Your terrors have destroyed me.

They came round about me daily like water; they compassed me about together.

Plain English · paraphraseThey came around me every day like water; they surrounded me all together.

Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness.

Plain English · paraphraseYou have put lover and friend far from me, and my acquaintance into darkness.

I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.

Plain English · paraphraseI will sing about the LORD’s mercies forever. With my mouth, I will tell all generations about your faithfulness.

For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.

Plain English · paraphraseFor I have said, mercy will last forever. You will make your faithfulness strong in the heavens.

I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant,

Plain English · paraphraseI have made a covenant with my chosen one. I have sworn to David, my servant,

Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah.

Plain English · paraphraseI will establish your descendants forever, and build up your throne through all generations. Selah.

And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O LORD: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints.

For who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD?

God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.

Plain English · paraphraseGod is to be greatly feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be revered by all who are around him.

O LORD God of hosts, who is a strong LORD like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee?

Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.

Plain English · paraphraseYou control the stormy sea: when its waves rise, you calm them.

Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces, as one that is slain; thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arm.

Plain English · paraphraseYou have broken Rahab into pieces, like one who is killed; you have scattered your enemies with your strong arm.

The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them.

Plain English · paraphraseThe heavens are yours, and the earth is yours too. As for the world and everything in it, you created them.

The north and the south thou hast created them: Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name.

Plain English · paraphraseYou made the north and the south; Tabor and Hermon are glad in your name.

Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand.

Plain English · paraphraseYou have a powerful arm. Your hand is strong, and your right hand is exalted.

Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.

Plain English · paraphraseJustice and judgment are the foundation of your throne. Mercy and truth go before you.

Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.

In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.

Plain English · paraphraseThey will rejoice all day in your name, and in your righteousness they will be exalted.

For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted.

Plain English · paraphraseYou are the honor of their strength. In your favor, our power will be lifted up.

For the LORD is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.

Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people.

Plain English · paraphraseThen you spoke in a vision to your holy one and said, "I have placed help on one who is mighty. I have raised up one chosen from the people."

I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him:

Plain English · paraphraseI have found David, my servant. I have anointed him with my holy oil.

With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him.

Plain English · paraphraseWith whom my hand shall be joined: my arm also shall strengthen him.

The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him.

Plain English · paraphraseThe enemy will not dominate him. The son of wickedness will not trouble him.

And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him.

But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted.

I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers.

Plain English · paraphraseI will also place his hand in the sea and his right hand in the rivers.

He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.

Plain English · paraphraseHe will call out to me, "You are my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation."

Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.

My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him.

Plain English · paraphraseMy mercy will I keep for him forever, and my covenant will remain strong with him.

His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven.

Plain English · paraphraseHis descendants will last forever, and his throne will last as long as the days of heaven.

If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments;

Plain English · paraphraseIf his children abandon my law and do not walk according to my judgments;

If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments;

Plain English · paraphraseIf they break my laws and do not keep my commands;

Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.

Plain English · paraphraseThen I will punish their wrongdoing with the rod, and their wickedness with beatings.

Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail.

Plain English · paraphraseStill, I will not completely take away my kindness from him, nor let my faithfulness fail.

My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.

Plain English · paraphraseI will not break my covenant, nor change what has already come from my lips.

Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David.

His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me.

Plain English · paraphraseHis descendants will last forever, and his throne will be like the sun before me.

It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.

Plain English · paraphraseIt will stand forever like the moon, and be a faithful witness in the sky. Selah.

But thou hast cast off and abhorred, thou hast been wroth with thine anointed.

Thou hast made void the covenant of thy servant: thou hast profaned his crown by casting it to the ground.

Plain English · paraphraseYou have broken the covenant of your servant. You have disgraced his crown by throwing it to the ground.

Thou hast broken down all his hedges; thou hast brought his strong holds to ruin.

Plain English · paraphraseYou have broken down all his fences; you have destroyed his strongholds.

All that pass by the way spoil him: he is a reproach to his neighbours.

Plain English · paraphraseEveryone who walks by takes from him. He is a disgrace to his neighbors.

Thou hast set up the right hand of his adversaries; thou hast made all his enemies to rejoice.

Plain English · paraphraseYou have raised the right hand of his enemies; you have made all his enemies rejoice.

Thou hast also turned the edge of his sword, and hast not made him to stand in the battle.

Thou hast made his glory to cease, and cast his throne down to the ground.

Plain English · paraphraseYou have ended his honor and thrown his throne to the ground.

The days of his youth hast thou shortened: thou hast covered him with shame. Selah.

Plain English · paraphraseYou have shortened the days of his youth. You have covered him with shame. Selah.

How long, LORD? wilt thou hide thyself for ever? shall thy wrath burn like fire?

Plain English · paraphraseHow long, Lord? Will you hide yourself forever? Will your anger burn like fire?

Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain?

Plain English · paraphraseRemember how short my time is. Why have you made all people in vain?

What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah.

Plain English · paraphraseWho is the man who lives and does not see death? Can he save his soul from the grave? Selah.

Lord, where are thy former lovingkindnesses, which thou swarest unto David in thy truth?

Plain English · paraphraseLord, where are your past acts of love that you promised to David in your truth?

Remember, Lord, the reproach of thy servants; how I do bear in my bosom the reproach of all the mighty people;

Plain English · paraphraseRemember, Lord, the disgrace of your servants; how I carry in my heart the disgrace of all the powerful nations;

Wherewith thine enemies have reproached, O LORD; wherewith they have reproached the footsteps of thine anointed.

Plain English · paraphraseWith what your enemies have mocked, O Lord; with what they have mocked the footsteps of your anointed.

Blessed be the LORD for evermore. Amen, and Amen.

Plain English · paraphraseBlessed be the Lord forever. Amen and Amen.

Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.

Plain English · paraphraseLord, you have been our home in every generation.

Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.

Plain English · paraphraseBefore the mountains were created, before you made the earth and the world, from the beginning to the end of time, you are God.

Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.

Plain English · paraphraseYou turn people toward destruction; and say, "Come back, you people of the earth."

For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.

Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up.

Plain English · paraphraseYou carry them away like a flood; they are like a sleep. In the morning they are like grass that grows up.

In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.

Plain English · paraphraseIn the morning it flourishes and grows; in the evening it is cut down and withers.

For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled.

Plain English · paraphraseWe are consumed by your anger, and we are troubled by your wrath.

Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.

Plain English · paraphraseYou have placed our sins before you, our hidden sins in the light of your presence.

For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.

Plain English · paraphraseAll our days are gone in your anger. We spend our years like a story that is told.

The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

Plain English · paraphraseThe days of our lives are about seventy years, and if someone is strong, they might live eighty years. But even then, their strength brings only hard work and sorrow. For life is quickly taken away, and we vanish.

Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.

Plain English · paraphraseWho knows the strength of your anger? Your wrath matches your fear.

So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

Plain English · paraphraseSo teach us to count our days, so that we can give our hearts to wisdom.

Return, O LORD, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants.

Plain English · paraphraseReturn, O Lord. How long? Let you be sorry again for your servants.

O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil.

Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children.

Plain English · paraphraseLet your work be shown to your servants, and your glory to their children.

And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

Plain English · paraphraseThe one who lives in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shade of the Almighty.

I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

Plain English · paraphraseHe will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will trust. His truth will be your shield and protection.