LORD, to where do I turn?
LORD, to where do I turn?
Do I turn to the north?
Will my help come from there?
Do I turn to the south?
Do I turn to the king?
Do I turn to the earth?
What is underneath the earth?
From where does my help come?
Idols do not set before my eyes
I have heard your voice
Idols do not set before my eyes
And I, LORD, I am a listener ready to listen
I am a sheep ready to be set down
In the pasture.
Where does my help come?
Surely all other gods are wolves
Ready to steal
And destroy.
Surely all other gods deceive
And surely they say, “Do some little bit of evil
“So that your will comes to pass.
“Love your life so much
“That you will do this little evil
“And your desire shall surely shine forth like the morning star.”
Yet, LORD, if there is error in my heart
If in my way are stumbling-blocks
Surely You shall remove them.
Why do I, LORD, why do I excel above other men?
Am I something which men look to and say
“This man is my example.”
Surely not, LORD, for You are the example
You are the path set before our feet.
If all else follow after vain idols
I shall surely stay steadfast in Your love.
For where does my heart lean?
If there is a company against me
I shall call upon you early
I shall, before the war
Constantly speak into your ear.
Who are the men who trouble the meek?
Who are those who cause trouble for your servant Israel?
Surely they shall be set forth ablaze
And shall burn for eternity in hell.
Yet, I, I shall listen and wait upon You.
For my salvation is like a wellspring
And my heart a steadfast servant.
Though the company does not believe my words
Though they say, “He lies, there is nothing good in him,”
Though they wait for my feet to stumble
And though they make a diligent watch for sin
LORD return upon their own heads their mischief.
For dreams they accuse Your servant
While they walk forth in slander and murder all the day long.
How long shall the wicked prosper?
Surely you shall not let your servant see decay.