A Mikhtam of David. Preserve me, O God: for in Thee do I put my trust.

A michtam [(a type of melody)] of David. Heed me, O L rd, for I have taken refuge in You.

I have said to the Lord, Thou art my Lord: I have no good apart from Thee;

You [Israel] should say to the L rd: You are my Master. My good [i.e., the good that You bestow upon me] is not incumbent upon You [to bestow (I am not worthy of it)].

and to the saints that are on the earth, They are the excellent, in whom is all my delight.

[I receive this good in the merit of] the holy ones who are [buried] in the earth, [who walked before You in truth], the mighty ones, for whose sake all my needs [are satisfied].

Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names upon my lips.

Increase the sorrow of those who hasten to another god. I will not sprinkle blood to their idols; nor will I summon up their name upon my lips.

The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup: Thou maintainest my lot.

The L rd is my portion and my cup [i.e., all of my good derives from Him]; You place [my hand on] my lot [(a goodly one)].

The lines are fallen to me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.

The lots that have fallen to me are the choicest [(they are in Your portion)]. To me, too, is such an inheritance pleasing.

I bless the Lord, who gives me counsel: my reins also admonish me in the night seasons.

[(Following these words of Israel [viz. 2], David says:)] And I [too] shall bless the L rd who counseled me [to choose life and to walk in His ways]. Even in the nighttime my reins instruct me [to fear and love Him].

I have set the Lord always before me: surely he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

I have set the L rd constantly before me [(i.e., In all of my acts I have placed His fear before my eyes)], for [He is always] at my right hand that I not fall.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices: my flesh also dwells secure.

Therefore, [(because I am confident that You will not forsake me [viz. II Samuel 12:13])] my heart has rejoiced and my soul has reveled. My flesh, too, will dwell secure.

For Thou wilt not abandon my soul to She᾽ol; nor wilt Thou suffer thy holy one to see the pit.

For You will not abandon my soul to the grave; You will not allow Your saint to see the pit.

Thou wilt make known to me the path of life: in Thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand are pleasures for evermore.

You will instruct me in the path of [eternal] life, to be sated with the joys before You [i.e., the joys of those nearest You]. There is pleasure in Your right hand, eternally.