A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Yehuda.

A psalm of David — when he was in the Desert of Judah [(in flight from Saul)].

O God, Thou art my God; earnestly I seek Thee: my soul thirsts for Thee, my flesh longs for Thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;

O G d, You are my G d — I will seek You. My soul thirsts for You [(to come before You in Your house of prayer)]; my flesh pants for You, in a land waste and dry, without water.

to see Thy power and Thy glory, as I have seen Thee in the sanctuary.

As [(I thirsted to see Your strength and Your glory as)] I saw You in the holy [(place of Shiloh, sate my soul now)] to see Your strength and Your glory.

Because Thy steadfast love is better than life, my lips shall praise Thee.

For [the purpose of all] the goodness of Your lovingkindness in [the bestowal of] life [is that] my lips praise You.

Thus will I bless Thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in Thy name.

Then [(when I come before You)], I will bless You [all the days of] my life. At [the mention of] Your name, I will lift my palms [(in prayer and in praise)].

My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth praises Thee with joyful lips:

As [with] marrow and fatness will my soul be sated, and [with] all manner of song will my mouth praise [G d].

when I remember Thee upon my bed, and meditate on Thee in the night watches.

In truth, I have remembered You upon my sheets, and in the night watches I think upon You.

Because Thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of Thy wings I will rejoice.

Because You were my help, and because of [the shelter of] the shadow of Your wings, I will sing [to You].

My soul clings to Thee: Thy right hand upholds me.

[Because] my soul clung to You, Your right hand sustained me.

But those who seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth.

And they [(my foes)] seek [to take] my life [(by ambush)] in darkness [i.e., on a day of darkness]; let them come [i.e., fall] into the depths of the earth!

They shall be given over to the sword: they shall be a portion for foxes.

Let them drag [i.e., "dispatch"] him [(each one of my foes)] by the sword. Let them [(my foes)] be the portion of foxes.

But the king shall rejoice in God; everyone who swears by him shall glory: for the mouth of those who speak lies shall be stopped.

And the king [(David)] will rejoice in G d. All who swear by Him will glory [(in my salvation)], when the mouths of liars are closed up.