O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. | O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. |
For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether. | You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. |
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Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. | I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. |
For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. | You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. |
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. | Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. |
Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness. | Hear my prayer, O Lord; listen to my plea! Answer me because you are faithful and righteous. |
I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah. | I lift my hands to you in prayer. I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain. |
Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee. | Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you. |
Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness. | Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing. |
I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever. | I will exalt you, my God and King, and praise your name forever and ever. |
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable. | Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness. |
The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. | The Lord is righteous in everything he does; he is filled with kindness. |
The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. | The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth. |
The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind: the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down: the Lord loveth the righteous. | The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are weighed down. The Lord loves the godly. |
The Lord preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down. | The Lord protects the foreigners among us. He cares for the orphans and widows, but he frustrates the plans of the wicked. |
He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. | He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds. |
For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation. | For the Lord delights in his people; he crowns the humble with victory. |
Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord. | Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord! Praise the Lord! |
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. | Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. |
But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. | But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high. |
Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah. | Victory comes from you, O Lord. May you bless your people. |
I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety. | In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe. |
My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. | Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly. |
For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield. | For you bless the godly, O Lord; you surround them with your shield of love. |
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? | What are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them? |