I love the Lord who hears my voice and my supplications.

[(David says, after becoming king following Saul's death:)] I have desired that the L rd hear my voice, my supplications.

Because he has inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call upon him as long as I live.

For He has inclined His ear to me and in [all of] my days I will call [to Him (— in affliction, to beseech Him; in redemption, to praise Him)].

The cords of death surrounded me, and the pains of She᾽ol seized upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.

[When] the throes of death surrounded me and the straits of Sheol found me, when affliction and sorrow found me,

Then I called upon the name of the Lord; O Lord, I beseech Thee, deliver my soul.

and I called out in the name of the L rd — "I beseech You, O L rd, deliver my soul —

Gracious is the Lord, and just; and our God is merciful.

"For the L rd is gracious and righteous, and our G d is merciful —

The Lord preserves the simple: I was brought low, and he saved me.

"The L rd protects the innocent; when I was impoverished, He saved me" —

Return to thy rest, O my soul; for the Lord has dealt bountifully with thee.

[I said to my soul (after Saul's death):] "Return, my soul, to your repose, for the L rd has been gracious to you."

For Thou hast delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.

For You rescued my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from failing.

I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.

I shall walk before the L rd in the lands of the living [(Eretz Yisrael, whence my foes drove me in the days of Saul)].

I kept faith even when I said, I am greatly afflicted.

I believed the words of Ziva against Mefibosheth (II Samuel 16:3) when I said [(Ibid. 4): "Yours is all that belongs to Mefibosheth")] — [after which, realizing my error,] I humbled [myself to You] exceedingly.

I said in my haste, Every man is false.

I had said in my haste [to escape my son, Avshalom]: "All men speak deceit" [(for which reason I gave credence to Ziva's words that Mefibosheth, too, was a traitor)].

How can I repay the Lord for all his benefits toward me?

What shall I return to the L rd for all His lovingkindnesses to me?

I will raise the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord.

The cup of salvations [i.e., the libations for the thanksgiving offerings that I vowed (viz. verse 17)] shall I lift, and in the name of the L rd shall I call [(thanking You for this salvation)].

I will pay my vows to the Lord now in the presence of all his people.

My vows to the L rd shall I pay in the presence of all His people.

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his pious ones.

[I have seen that] grievous in the eyes of the L rd is the death of His saints.

O Lord, truly I am Thy servant; I am Thy servant, the son of Thy handmaid: Thou hast loosed my bonds.

I acknowledge, O L rd [(that You have been gracious unto me)] for I am Your servant. I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant, [for which reason] You opened my bonds.

I will offer to Thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and I will call upon the name of the Lord.

To You shall I sacrifice an offering of thanksgiving [(for the miracles that You wrought for me)], and in the name of the L rd will I call.

I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people,

My vows [i.e., the offerings that I vowed] to the L rd shall I now pay in the presence of all His people.

in the courts of the Lord’s house, in the midst of thee, O Yerushalayim. Haleluya!

[You who stand] in the courts of the house of the L rd, in your midst Jerusalem, [echo my praises] — Hallelukah!