To the chief Musician on strings, A Psalm, a Poem.

For the conductor of the singing, a psalm, a song.

God be gracious to us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; (Sela.)

O G d, be gracious to us and bless us. Let Your countenance shine upon us always [(to give us dew and rain)].

that Thy way may be known upon earth, Thy salvation among all nations.

So that Your ways [(to bestow good upon Your people)] be known in the land, and Your salvation among all the nations.

Let the peoples praise Thee, O God; let all the peoples give thanks to Thee.

[Then] peoples will praise You, O G d; [then] all the peoples will praise You.

O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for Thou shalt judge the peoples with equity, and govern the nations upon earth. (Sela.)

The nations will be happy and rejoice when You judge the peoples justly [i.e., for merit] and [when] You lead the nations in the land [on a just path] always.

Let the peoples praise Thee, O God; let all the peoples give Thee thanks.

Peoples will praise You, O G d; all the peoples will praise You.

The earth has yielded her increase; and God, our own God, shall bless us.

[(And they will praise You also for)] the earth's having given forth its produce [and for] G d's having blessed us, our G d.

God shall bless us; and let all the ends of the earth fear him.

G d will bless us and all the ends of the earth will fear Him [(saying: See how G d has blessed and aggrandized those who feared Him!)]