To the chief Musician, Al-tashĥet, A Mikhtam of David; when Sha᾽ul sent, and they watched the house to kill him.

For the conductor — "Do not destroy [me]" — michtam of David, when Saul sent [spies] and they guarded the house to kill him [viz. I Samuel 14:15].

Deliver me from my enemies, O my God: defend me from those who rise up against me.

Rescue me from my foes, O G d, strengthen me over those who stand up against me.

Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men.

Rescue me from workers of iniquity, and save me from men of blood.

For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: fierce men are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O Lord.

For they have set up an ambush against my life. Strong ones have gathered against me. But I have not offended them or sinned against them, O G d.

They run and prepare themselves for no fault of mine: awake to help me, and behold.

Without transgression [(on my part against them)] they run and prepare themselves [to entrap me]. Awaken for me and see [my affliction].

Thou therefore, O Lord God of hosts, the God of Yisra᾽el, awake to punish all the nations: be not gracious to any wicked traitors. (Sela.)

[Just as] You, O L rd, the G d of hosts, awaken to visit punishment upon the nations, never grant grace to these iniquitous traitors.

They return at evening: they howl like a dog, and go round about the city.

In the evening they return [from slandering me], and they howl like dogs, going about the city [in search of me].

Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips: for who hears?

[And this (the above) they do after] having vented [slander the whole day] with their mouths, swords with their lips [(in spying against me for Saul)], [And they say:] Who will hear [us]?

But Thou, O Lord, shalt laugh at them; Thou shalt have all the nations in derision.

But You, O L rd, laugh at them [just as] You mock all of the nations.

Upon Thee, O my strength, will I wait: for God is my fortress.

His [(Saul's)] power [is poised against me] — for You will I wait [to rescue me], for G d is my stronghold.

God who loves me shall come to meet me: God shall let me gaze upon my enemies.

G d will "advance" His lovingkindness to me [(before the foe prevails against me)]. He will show me [(what I desire to behold)] in those who seek to [harm] me.

Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by Thy power; and bring them down, O Lord our shield.

Do not kill them, lest my people forget [(with the lapse of time) to take instruction from their downfall], but, in Your strength, remove them [(from their possessions)] and bring them low, our shield, my L rd.

For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak.

[Do this to them because of] the sin of their mouth, the words of their lips, by which they [(their victims)] are taken in their haughtiness and by the curse and the falsehood that they utter.

Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may be no more: and let them know that God rules in Ya῾aqov to the ends of the earth. (Sela.)

Make an end of them in [Your] wrath; make an end and let them be gone. And let them know that G d rules in Jacob, to the ends of the earth, forever.

And at evening let them return; and let them howl like a dog, and go round about the city.

And [(after sinning with their mouth [verse 13])] they return in the evening and howl like dogs and go about the city [(lurking for those they have slandered)].

Let them wander up and down for food, and murmur if they have not their fill.

They [(like dogs)] roam about to "eat" if they are not "sated" enough to sleep.

But I will sing of Thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of Thy steadfast love in the morning: for Thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my distress.

But I [(after escaping them, in the morning)] will sing Your strength, and I will sing Your lovingkindness each morning; for You were my stronghold, and my refuge in the day of my affliction.

To Thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my fortress, and the God who loves me.

My Strength, to You shall I sing. For G d is my stronghold, the G d of my lovingkindness.