To the chief Musician, of David the servant of the Lord.

For the conductor, [a psalm] of the servant of the L rd, of David.

Transgression speaks to the wicked within his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes.

In the midst of my heart [i.e., it appears to me that] the offense [i.e., the evil inclination] says to the wicked one that the fear of G d should not be before his eyes.

For he flatters himself in his own eyes, that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated.

[It appears to me] that he [the evil inclination] smooths [things over] in his [the wicked one's] eyes for [the L rd] to find his sin [whereby] to hate [him].

The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he has left off being wise, and doing good.

The words of his [the wicked one's] mouth [become] falsehood and deceit; he forbears to be wise to do good.

He devises mischief upon his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not abhor evil.

He will think falsehood upon his couch. [G d has set before him two ways — life and death, and] he will set himself upon the way that is not good — he will not spurn evil.

Thy steadfast love, O Lord, is in the heavens; and Thy faithfulness reaches the clouds.

O L rd, [because of these wicked ones, You have removed Your lovingkindness from the terrestrial sphere, so that now] Your lovingkindness is in the heavens; Your faithfulness [has been removed from men and has ascended] until the skies.

Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; Thy judgments are a great deep: O Lord, Thou preservest man and beast.

Your righteousness [is as far removed from men] as the mighty mountains, Your judgments [pronounced upon men reach to] the vast deep. Adam [(men as wise as Adam)] and beast [(men who render themselves as humble as beasts)], You will save, O L rd.

How excellent is Thy love, O God! therefore the children of men shelter under the shadow of Thy wings.

How dear is Your lovingkindness, O L rd [(The wicked are not worthy of it)], and men who take refuge in the shadow of Your wings,

They are abundantly satisfied with the fatness of Thy house; and Thou makest them to drink of the river of Thy pleasures.

They will be sated with the fats of Your house, and You will make them drink of the stream of Your pleasures.

For with Thee is the fountain of life: in Thy light we see light.

For with You is the source of life; in Your light [alone] will we see light.

O continue Thy steadfast love to those who know Thee; and Thy righteousness to the upright in heart.

Extend Your lovingkindness to those who know You and Your righteousness to the just of heart.

Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked drive me away.

Do not bring with me the foot of pride [(the foot of those wicked ones, at the time of the receiving of reward, that their portion not be together with that of the righteous)], and let the hand of the wicked not move me [(from my place when I come to inherit a double portion of reward [(mine and theirs, viz. Isaiah 61:7)].

There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and are not able to rise.

There shall fall the workers of iniquity [i.e., there shall the immensity of their fall dawn upon them, and there] shall they be overthrown and not be able to rise.