In finem, pro populo qui a sanctis longe factus est. David in tituli inscriptionem, cum tenuerunt eum Allophyli in Geth.

Unto the end, for a people that is removed at a distance from the sanctuary: for David, for an inscription of a title (or pillar) when the Philistines held him in Geth.

(To the choir-master. Melody: Yonat Elem Rehoqim. Of David. A miktam. When the Philistines had him in their hands at Gath.)

Miserere mei, Deus, quoniam conculcavit me homo; tota die impugnans, tribulavit me.

Have mercy on me, O God, for man hath trodden me under foot; all the day long he hath afflicted me fighting against me.

Have mercy on me, O God, downtrodden evermore by man’s cruel oppression;

Conculcaverunt me inimici mei tota die, quoniam multi bellantes adversum me.

My enemies have trodden on me all the day long; for they are many that make war against me.

evermore my enemies tread me under foot, so many there are to make war upon me.

Ab altitudine diei timebo: ego vero in te sperabo.

From the height of the day I shall fear: but I will trust in thee.

In thee, the most High, I will put my trust when peril overtakes me.

In Deo laudabo sermones meos; in Deo speravi: non timebo quid faciat mihi caro.

In God I will praise my words, in God I have put my trust: I will not fear what flesh can do against me.

I claim God’s promise; my trust is in God, no mortal threat can daunt me.

Tota die verba mea execrabantur; adversum me omnes cogitationes eorum in malum.

All the day long they detested my words: all their thoughts were against me unto evil.

Evermore they traduce me, have no thought but for my undoing;

Inhabitabunt, et abscondent; ipsi calcaneum meum observabunt. Sicut sustinuerunt animam meam,

They will dwell and hide themselves: they will watch my heel. As they have waited for my soul,

conspire in secret, watching my steps as they plot against my life!

pro nihilo salvos facies illos; in ira populos confringes.

for nothing shalt thou save them: in thy anger thou shalt break the people in pieces. O God,

O God, requite their treachery; trample on the Gentiles in thy anger.

Deus, vitam meam annuntiavi tibi; posuisti lacrimas meas in conspectu tuo, sicut et in promissione tua:

I have declared to thee my life: thou hast set my tears in thy sight, As also in thy promise.

My wandering life none knows as thou; no tear of mine but thou dost hoard and record it.

tunc convertentur inimici mei retrorsum. In quacumque die invocavero te, ecce cognovi quoniam Deus meus es.

Then shall my enemies be turned back. In what day soever I shall call upon thee, behold I know thou art my God.

One cry raised to thee, and my enemies are driven back; shall I doubt God is on my side?

In Deo laudabo verbum; in Domino laudabo sermonem. In Deo speravi: non timebo quid faciat mihi homo.

In God will I praise the word, in the Lord will I praise his speech. In God have I hoped, I will not fear what man can do to me.

I claim God’s promise; my trust is in God, man’s threats cannot daunt me.

In me sunt, Deus, vota tua, quæ reddam, laudationes tibi:

In me, O God, are vows to thee, which I will pay, praises to thee:

The vows which thou claimest from me, O God, my sacrifice of praise shall fulfil;

quoniam eripuisti animam meam de morte, et pedes meos de lapsu, ut placeam coram Deo in lumine viventium.

Because thou hast delivered my soul from death, my feet from falling: that I may please in the sight of God, in the light of the living.

hast thou not saved my life from every peril, my feet from every slip? And shall I not enjoy God’s favour, while the light of life is with me?