Psalms 63

1 [A Psalm by David, when he was in the desert of Judah.] God, you are my God. I will earnestly seek you. My soul thirsts for you. My flesh longs for you, in a dry and weary land, where there is no water.

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 So I have seen you in the sanctuary, watching your power and your glory.

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

3 Because your loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise you.

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

4 So I will bless you while I live. 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 My soul shall be satisfied as with the richest food. My mouth shall praise you with joyful lips,

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

6 when I remember you on my bed, and think about you in the night watches.

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 help. I will rejoice in the shadow of your wings.

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

8 My soul stays close to you. Your right hand holds me up.

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

9 But those who seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go 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 shall be given over to the power of the sword. They shall be jackal food.

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

11 But the king shall rejoice in God. Everyone who swears by him will praise him, for the mouth of those who speak lies shall be silenced.

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.