(A psalm by David.)
A Prayer for the Lord's Protection
1 I pray to you, Lord!
Please listen when I pray
and hurry to help me.
2 Think of my prayer
as sweet-smelling incense,
and think of my lifted hands
as an evening sacrifice.
3 Help me to guard my words
whenever I say something.
4 Don't let me want to do evil
or waste my time doing wrong
with wicked people.
Don't let me even taste
the good things they offer.
5 Let your faithful people
correct and punish me.
My prayers condemn the deeds
of those who do wrong,
so don't let me be friends
with any of them.
6 Everyone will admit
that I was right
when their rulers are thrown
down a rocky cliff,
7 and their bones lie scattered
like crushed rocks
on top of a grave.
8 You are my Lord and God,
and I look to you for safety.
Don't let me be harmed.
9 Protect me from the traps
of those violent people,
10 and make them fall
into their own traps
while you help me escape.
1 A Psalme of David. O Lord, I call vpon thee: haste thee vnto me: heare my voyce, when I cry vnto thee. 2 Let my prayer be directed in thy sight as incense, and the lifting vp of mine hands as an euening sacrifice. 3 Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth, and keepe the doore of my lips. 4 Incline not mine heart to euill, that I should commit wicked workes with men that worke iniquitie: and let me not eate of their delicates. 5 Let the righteous smite me: for that is a benefite: and let him reprooue me, and it shalbe a precious oyle, that shall not breake mine head: for within a while I shall euen pray in their miseries. 6 When their iudges shall be cast downe in stonie places, they shall heare my wordes, for they are sweete. 7 Our bones lye scattered at the graues mouth, as he that heweth wood or diggeth in the earth. 8 But mine eyes looke vnto thee, O Lord God: in thee is my trust: leaue not my soule destitute. 9 Keepe me from the snare, which they haue layde for me, and from the grennes of the workers of iniquitie. 10 Let the wicked fall into his nettes together, whiles I escape.