51:1 I will give thanks to thee, O Lord and King, and will
praise thee as God my Savior. I give thanks to thy name,
51:2 for thou hast been my protector and helper and hast
delivered my body from destruction and from the snare of a
slanderous tongue, from lips that utter lies. Before those who
stood by thou wast my helper,
51:3 and didst deliver me, in the greatness of thy mercy and of
thy name, from the gnashings of teeth about to devour me, from
the hand of those who sought my life, from the many afflictions
that I endured,
51:4 from choking fire on every side and from the midst of fire
which I did not kindle,
51:5 from the depths of the belly of Hades, from an unclean
tongue and lying words --
51:6 the slander of an unrighteous tongue to the king. My soul
drew near to death, and my life was very near to Hades beneath.
51:7 They surrounded me on every side, and there was no one to
help me; I looked for the assistance of men, and there was none.
51:8 Then I remembered thy mercy, O Lord, and thy work from of
old, that thou dost deliver those who wait for thee and dost save
them from the hand of their enemies.
51:9 And I sent up my supplication from the earth, and prayed for
deliverance from death.
51:10 I appealed to the Lord, the Father of my lord, not to
forsake me in the days of affliction, at the time when there is
no help against the proud.
51:11 I will praise thy name continually, and will sing praise
with thanksgiving. My prayer was heard,
51:12 for thou didst save me from destruction and rescue me from
an evil plight. Therefore I will give thanks to thee and praise
thee, and I will bless the name of the Lord.