By David:

Adonoy is my light and my salvation,

whom shall I fear?

Adonoy is the strength¹ of my life,

footnotes: ¹ Rav S.R. Hirsch translates, “Adonoy is the source of my life's strength,” thus David declares that God is the fount from which his life derives its power to resist all foes.

of whom shall I be afraid?

When evildoers approach me

to devour my flesh—

my tormentors and my foes

they stumble and fall.

If an army should encamp against me,

my heart would not fear;

if war were to rise against me,

in this² I trust.

footnotes: ² David says that he trusts in the declaration stated in the opening verse, “Adonoy is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?—Rashi, Radak

One thing I request of Adonoy,

[only] that shall I seek,

that I may dwell³ 40b in the House of Adonoy

footnotes: ³ The literal translation of שבתי is “my sitting.” The Talmud states that “no man may ‘sit’ in the courtyard of the Temple except for the kings of the House of David.”—Maseches Sotah

all the days of my life,

to behold the pleasantness of Adonoy,

and to meditate in His Sanctuary.

For He will hide me in His Tabernacle⁴

footnotes: ⁴ The Vilna Gaon comments that all the commandments pertaining to Succos are implied in this verse and the next.

on the day of distress,

He will conceal me in the shelter of His Tent,

upon a rock He will lift me.

And now my head is raised high

above my enemies around me;⁵

footnotes: ⁵ David declares, “Because I look up to God in every aspect of my existence, I am so exalted that no enemy can harm me.—S.R. Hirsch

and I will offer in His Tent,

sacrifices accompanied by trumpets of joy;

I will sing and chant to Adonoy.

Adonoy, hear my voice⁶ when I call;

footnotes: ⁶ This verse alludes to Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. “Hear my voice,” refers to Rosh Hashana when we sound the shofar. The word “my voice (sound)” refers to the “voice” of the shofar. “When I call” refers to Yom Kippur, about which Isaiah (55:6) said, “call to Him when He is near.”—Siddur HaGra

be gracious to me and answer me.

Of You, my heart has said,

Seek My Presence;

Your Presence, Adonoy I will seek.

Conceal not Your Presence from me,

do not turn away Your servant in anger.

You have been my help;

neither cast me off nor abandon me,

God of my deliverance.

When my father and mother abandon⁷ me,

footnotes: ⁷ Even if I were so depraved that my own mother and father would abandon me to my own devices, God would still gather me up and believe in my ability to mend my ways.—S.R. Hirsch

Adonoy will gather me up.

Adonoy, teach me Your way,

and lead me in the path of uprightness,

because of my watchers.⁸

footnotes: ⁸ I.e., his enemies. David asks for Divine help that he be saved even from the mere semblance of wrongdoing so that his foes should not be able to rejoice over his faults.—S.R. Hirsch

Do not deliver me

to the will of my tormentors,

for false witnesses have risen against me,

who breathe violence.

Had I not believed⁹ that I would see

footnotes: ⁹ “These false witnesses would have destroyed me had I not believed that I would see the goodness of God in the land of the living.”—Rashi, Radak

the goodness of Adonoy

in the land of living.¹⁰ holds that it refers to the World-to-Come; and Malbim says that it refers to Eretz Yisroel.

footnotes: ¹⁰ There are various interpretations of the “Land of the living.” Some hold that it refers to the present world in which we live—Metsudas Tzion; Ramban

Hope to Adonoy,

be strong and He will give you courage;

and hope to Adonoy.