Psalms 28

1 A psalm for David himself. Unto thee will I cry, O Lord: O my God, be not thou silent to me: lest thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit.

A psalm of David. Lord, my rock, I'm calling out to you. Please listen to me! For if you don't respond, I'll be like those who go down into the grave.

2 Hear, O Lord, the voice of my supplication, when I pray to thee; when I lift up my hands to thy holy temple.

Listen as I appeal for mercy, as I call for help, as I hold up my hands in prayer towards your holy Temple.

3 Draw me not away together with the wicked; and with the workers of iniquity destroy me not: Who speak peace with their neighbour, but evils are in their hearts.

Don't drag me off with the wicked, with those who do evil, who speak nicely to their neighbors while in their minds they're plotting evil.

4 Give them according to their works, and according to the wickedness of their inventions. According to the works of their hands give thou to them: render to them their reward.

Give them what they deserve for their evil actions. Pay them back for what they've done. Give them the reward they've earned!

5 Because they have not understood the works of the Lord, and the operations of his hands: thou shalt destroy them, and shalt not build them up.

For they don't pay any attention to what the Lord does, or to what he created. So he will destroy them—they will never be restored.

6 Blessed be the Lord, for he hath heard the voice of my supplication.

Praise the Lord! For he has heard my appeal for mercy!

7 The Lord is my helper and my protector: in him hath my heart confided, and I have been helped. And my flesh hath flourished again, and with my will I will give praise to him.

The Lord is my strength and my shield. I trust in him and he helps me. I'm so happy, and I sing my thanks to him.

8 The Lord is the strength of his people, and the protector of the salvation of his anointed.

The Lord gives strength to his people; he is a safe refuge for the one he has anointed.

9 Save, O Lord, thy people, and bless thy inheritance: and rule them and exalt them for ever.

Save your people! Bless your “special possession”! Be their shepherd and carry them in your arms forever!