To the chief Musician, upon Yonat-elem-reĥoqim, A Mikhtam of David, when the Pelishtim seized him in Gat.

For the conductor, "On the Muted Dove [David], Far [from its Land]" — a michtam upon his [(near)] seizure by the Philistines in Gath [viz. I Samuel 21:12].

Be gracious to me, O God: for men long to swallow me up; all day long the foeman oppresses me.

Be gracious to me, O G d, for men [(wish to)] swallow me, and every day battlers press upon me.

My enemies daily long to swallow me up, for they are many who fight against me, O Thou most High.

Those who look [i.e., design] against me have sought to swallow me all the day. For many war against me, O Exalted One.

When I am afraid, I will trust in Thee.

On the day I fear I shall trust in You.

In God, I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear; what can flesh do to me?

[Even if He accosts me] with Elokim [(the attribute of Justice)], I will praise His word. In Elokim (G d) I have trusted and will not fear, for what can flesh do to me?

Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil.

All of the day they [(my pursuers)] sadden my words upon me. All of their words are for evil.

They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, as they wait for my soul.

They lie in wait, in ambush, watching my steps, hoping for me [to pass that way].

Shall they escape by iniquity? in Thy anger cast down the peoples, O God.

For iniquity [(capturing me)] they expect reward [(from Saul)]. With wrath, [these] peoples [(in whose midst I find myself)] bring down, O G d [(Bring them down from their murderous schemes)].

Thou dost count my wanderings: put my tears into Thy bottle: are they not in Thy book?

My wanderings [(in search of refuge)] You have counted. Place [and keep] my tears [before You] in Your flask. Will [You] not [place them] with Your accounting [(along with my other woes)]?

When I cry to Thee, then shall my enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.

Then, when my foes are turned back on the day that I call, then I will know that G d is with me.

In God, I will praise his word: in the Lord, I will praise his word.

With Elokim [(the attribute of justice)] I will praise [His] word [(see verse 5)]; with Hashem [(the attribute of mercy)], I will praise [His] word.

In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

In Elokim (G d) I have trusted and will not fear. What can man do to me?

Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will pay Thee my offerings of thanksgiving.

What I have vowed to You is binding upon me, O G d, and I shall pay [my vows] with thankfulness to You.

For Thou hast delivered my soul from death, yea, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living!

For You saved my soul from death; and did [You] not [also guard] my feet from stumbling, to walk before G d in the light of life [(by returning to Eretz Yisrael)]!