(To the choir-master. A psalm. Of David.)

Unto the end, a psalm of David.

In finem. Psalmus David.

Rescue me, Lord, from human malice, save me from the lovers of oppression,

Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man: rescue me from the unjust man.

Eripe me, Domine, ab homine malo; a viro iniquo eripe me.

always plotting treachery in their hearts, always at their quarrelling,

Who have devised iniquities in their hearts: all the day long they designed battles.

Qui cogitaverunt iniquitates in corde, tota die constituebant prælia.

tongues sharp as the tongues of serpents, lips that hide the poison of adders.

They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent: the venom of asps is under their lips.

Acuerunt linguas suas sicut serpentis; venenum aspidum sub labiis eorum.

Preserve me Lord, from the power of sinful men, save me from these lovers of oppression who are plotting to trip my feet.

Keep me, O Lord, from the hand of the wicked: and from unjust men deliver me. Who have proposed to supplant my steps:

Custodi me, Domine, de manu peccatoris, et ab hominibus iniquis eripe me. Qui cogitaverunt supplantare gressus meos:

What hidden snares they set for me, these tyrants, what nets they spread to catch me, what traps they lay in my path!

the proud have hidden a net for me. And they have stretched out cords for a snare: they have laid for me a stumbling-block by the wayside.

absconderunt superbi laqueum mihi. Et funes extenderunt in laqueum; juxta iter, scandalum posuerunt mihi.

To the Lord I make my appeal, Thou art my God, listen, Lord, to the voice that pleads with thee.

I said to the Lord: Thou art my God: hear, O Lord, the voice of my supplication.

Dixi Domino: Deus meus es tu; exaudi, Domine, vocem deprecationis meæ.

My Lord, my Master, my strong deliverer, it is thou that shieldest my head in the day of battle.

O Lord, Lord, the strength of my salvation: thou hast overshadowed my head in the day of battle.

Domine, Domine, virtus salutis meæ, obumbrasti super caput meum in die belli.

Lord, do not let malice have its way with me, do not prosper its evil designs.

Give me not up, O Lord, from my desire to the wicked: they have plotted against me; do not thou forsake me, lest they should triumph.

Ne tradas me, Domine, a desiderio meo peccatori: cogitaverunt contra me; ne derelinquas me, ne forte exaltentur.

They carry their heads high as they close in around me; let their conspiracy prove its own undoing;

The head of them compassing me about: the labour of their lips shall overwhelm them.

Caput circuitus eorum: labor labiorum ipsorum operiet eos.

let burning coals rain down on them, be they cast into a pit whence they shall rise no more.

Burning coals shall fall upon them; thou wilt cast them down into the fire: in miseries they shall not be able to stand.

Cadent super eos carbones; in ignem dejicies eos: in miseriis non subsistent.

Not long the blasphemer’s time on earth: misfortune will overtake the oppressor unawares.

A man full of tongue shall not be established in the earth: evil shall catch the unjust man unto destruction.

Vir linguosus non dirigetur in terra; virum injustum mala capient in interitu.

Can I doubt that the Lord will avenge the helpless, will grant the poor redress?

I know that the Lord will do justice to the needy, and will revenge the poor.

Cognovi quia faciet Dominus judicium inopis, et vindictam pauperum.

Honest men will yet live to praise thy name; upright hearts to enjoy the smile of thy favour.

But as for the just, they shall give glory to thy name: and the upright shall dwell with thy countenance.

Verumtamen justi confitebuntur nomini tuo, et habitabunt recti cum vultu tuo.