1<To the chief music-maker; put to At-tashheth. Michtam. Of David. When Saul sent, and they were watching the house, to put him to death.> Take me out of the hands of the cruel ones, O my God; keep me safe from those who come up against me.

2Take me out of the power of the workers of evil, and keep me safe from the men of blood.

3For see, they are watching in secret for my soul; the strong have come together against me? but not because of my sin, or my evil-doing, O Lord.

4For no sin of mine they go quickly and get themselves ready; be awake and come to my help, and see.

5You, O Lord God of armies, are the God of Israel; come now and give punishment to the nations; have no mercy on any workers of deceit. (Selah.)

6They come back in the evening; they make a noise like a dog, and go round the town.

7See, hate is dropping from their lips; curses are on their tongues: they say, Who gives attention to it?

8But you are laughing at them, O Lord; you will make sport of all the nations.

9O my strength, I will put my hope in you; because God is my strong tower.

10The God of my mercy will go before me: God will let me see my desire effected on my haters.

11Put them not to death, for so my people will keep the memory of them: let them be sent in all directions by your power; make them low, O Lord our saviour.

12Because of the sin of their mouths and the word of their lips, let them even be taken in their pride; and for their curses and their deceit,

13Put an end to them in your wrath, put an end to them, so that they may not be seen again; let them see that God is ruling in Jacob and to the ends of the earth. (Selah.)

14And in the evening let them come back, and make a noise like a dog, and go round the town.

15Let them go wandering up and down in search of food, and be there all night if they have not enough.

16But I will make songs of your power; yes, I will give cries of joy for your mercy in the morning; because you have been my strength and my high tower in the day of my trouble.

17To you, O my strength, will I make my song: because God is my high tower, even the God of my mercy.