Psalms 28

1 By David. Unto Thee, O Jehovah, I call, My rock, be not silent to me! Lest Thou be silent to me, And I have been compared With those going down to 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 the voice of my supplications, In my crying unto Thee, In my lifting up my hands toward thy holy oracle.

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 with the wicked, And with workers of iniquity, Speaking peace with their neighbours, And evil in their heart.

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 to them according to their acting, And according to the evil of their doings. According to the work of their hands give to them. Return their deed to them.

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 For they attend not to the doing of Jehovah, And unto the work of His hands. He throweth them down, And doth 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 [is] Jehovah, For He hath heard the voice of my supplications.

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

7 Jehovah [is] my strength, and my shield, In Him my heart trusted, and I have been helped. And my heart exulteth, And with my song I thank 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 Jehovah [is] strength to him, Yea, the strength of the salvation of His anointed [is] He.

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

9 Save Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance, And feed them, and carry them to the age!

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