Psalms 63

1 A Psalm of David, when he was in the desert of Idumea. O God, my God: to you, I keep vigil until first light. For you, my soul has thirsted, to you my body, in so many ways.

A Psalm. Of David. When he was in the waste land of Judah. O God, you are my God; early will I make my search for you: my soul is dry for need of you, my flesh is wasted with desire for you, as a dry and burning land where no water is;

2 By a deserted land, both inaccessible and waterless, so I have appeared in the sanctuary before you, in order to behold your virtue and your glory.

To see your power and your glory, as I have seen you in the holy place.

3 For your mercy is better than life itself. It is you my lips will praise.

Because your mercy is better than life, my lips will give you praise.

4 So will I bless you in my life, and I will lift up my hands in your name.

So will I go on blessing you all my life, lifting up my hands in your name.

5 Let my soul be filled, as if with marrow and fatness; and my mouth will give praise with exultant lips.

My soul will be comforted, as with good food; and my mouth will give you praise with songs of joy;

6 When I have remembered you on my bed in the morning, I will meditate on you.

When the memory of you comes to me on my bed, and when I give thought to you in the night-time.

7 For you have been my helper. And I will exult under the cover of your wings.

Because you have been my help, I will have joy in the shade of your wings.

8 My soul has clung close to you. Your right hand has supported me.

My soul keeps ever near you: your right hand is my support.

9 Truly, these ones have sought my soul in vain. They will enter into the lower parts of the earth.

But those whose desire is my soul's destruction will go down to the lower parts of the earth.

10 They will be delivered into the hand of the sword. They will be the portions of foxes.

They will be cut off by the sword; they will be food for foxes.

11 Truly, the king will rejoice in God: all those who swear by him will be praised, because the mouth of those who speak iniquity has been blocked.

But the king will have joy in God; everyone who takes an oath by him will have cause for pride; but the false mouth will be stopped.