₄The Sovereign LORD has taught me what to say,

so that I can strengthen the weary.

Every morning he makes me eager

to hear what he is going to teach me.

₅The LORD has given me understanding,

and I have not rebelled

or turned away from him.

₆I bared my back to those who beat me.

I did not stop them when they insulted me,

when they pulled out the hairs of my beard

and spat in my face.

₇But their insults cannot hurt me

because the Sovereign LORD gives me help.

I brace myself to endure them.

I know that I will not be disgraced,

₈for God is near,

and he will prove me innocent.

Does anyone dare to bring charges against me?

Let us go to court together!

Let him bring his accusation!

₉The Sovereign LORD himself defends me —

who, then, can prove me guilty?

All my accusers will disappear;

they will vanish like moth-eaten cloth.

₁I love the LORD, because he hears me;

he listens to my prayers.

₂He listens to me

every time I call to him.

₃The danger of death was all round me;

the horrors of the grave closed in on me;

I was filled with fear and anxiety.

₄Then I called to the LORD,

“I beg you, LORD, save me!”

₅The LORD is merciful and good;

our God is compassionate.

₆The LORD protects the helpless;

when I was in danger, he saved me.

₇Be confident, my heart,

because the LORD has been good to me.

₈The LORD saved me from death;

he stopped my tears

and kept me from defeat.

₉And so I walk in the presence of the LORD

in the world of the living.