³ Jerusalem is built like a city
    that is closely compacted together.
⁴ That is where the tribes go up—
    the tribes of the Lord—
to praise the name of the Lord
    according to the statute given to Israel.
⁵ There stand the thrones for judgment,
    the thrones of the house of David.

⁶ Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
    “May those who love^(A) you be secure.
⁷ May there be peace^(B) within your walls
    and security within your citadels.^(C)”
⁸ For the sake of my family and friends,
    I will say, “Peace be within you.”
⁹ For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
    I will seek your prosperity.^(D)

⁶ Praise be to the Lord,
    who has not let us be torn by their teeth.
⁷ We have escaped like a bird
    from the fowler’s snare;^(D)
the snare has been broken,^(E)
    and we have escaped.
⁸ Our help is in the name^(F) of the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven^(G) and earth.

³ Israel, put your hope^(G) in the Lord
    both now and forevermore.^(H)

² It is like precious oil poured on the head,^(C)
    running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,
    down on the collar of his robe.
³ It is as if the dew^(D) of Hermon^(E)
    were falling on Mount Zion.^(F)
For there the Lord bestows his blessing,^(G)
    even life forevermore.^(H)

⁴ May all the kings of the earth^(J) praise you, Lord,
    when they hear what you have decreed.
⁵ May they sing^(K) of the ways of the Lord,
    for the glory of the Lord^(L) is great.

⁶ Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly;^(M)
    though lofty, he sees them^(N) from afar.
⁷ Though I walk^(O) in the midst of trouble,
    you preserve my life.^(P)
You stretch out your hand^(Q) against the anger of my foes;^(R)
    with your right hand^(S) you save me.^(T)
8 The Lord will vindicate^(U) me;
    your love, Lord, endures forever^(V)—
    do not abandon^(W) the works of your hands.^(X)

⁷ Where can I go from your Spirit?
    Where can I flee^(AI) from your presence?
⁸ If I go up to the heavens,^(AJ) you are there;
    if I make my bed^(AK) in the depths, you are there.
⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
    if I settle on the far side of the sea,
¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me,^(AL)
    your right hand^(AM) will hold me fast.
¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
    and the light become night around me,”
¹² even the darkness will not be dark^(AN) to you;
    the night will shine like the day,
    for darkness is as light to you.

¹³ For you created my inmost being;^(AO)
    you knit me together^(AP) in my mother’s womb.^(AQ)
14 I praise you^(AR) because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,^(AS)
    I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made^(AT) in the secret place,
    when I was woven together^(AU) in the depths of the earth.^(AV)
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained^(AW) for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.
¹⁷ How precious to me are your thoughts,^[a](AX) God!^(AY)
    How vast is the sum of them!
¹⁸ Were I to count them,^(AZ)
    they would outnumber the grains of sand^(BA)—
    when I awake,^(BB) I am still with you.

¹⁹ If only you, God, would slay the wicked!^(BC)
    Away from me,^(BD) you who are bloodthirsty!^(BE)
20 They speak of you with evil intent;
    your adversaries^(BF) misuse your name.^(BG)
21 Do I not hate those^(BH) who hate you, Lord,
    and abhor^(BI) those who are in rebellion against you?
²² I have nothing but hatred for them;
    I count them my enemies.^(BJ)
23 Search me,^(BK) God, and know my heart;^(BL)
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.
²⁴ See if there is any offensive way^(BM) in me,
    and lead me^(BN) in the way everlasting.

⁴ Keep me safe,^(BU) Lord, from the hands of the wicked;^(BV)
    protect me from the violent,
    who devise ways to trip my feet.
⁵ The arrogant have hidden a snare^(BW) for me;
    they have spread out the cords of their net^(BX)
    and have set traps^(BY) for me along my path.

⁶ I say to the Lord, “You are my God.”^(BZ)
    Hear, Lord, my cry for mercy.^(CA)
7 Sovereign Lord,^(CB) my strong deliverer,
    you shield my head in the day of battle.
⁸ Do not grant the wicked^(CC) their desires, Lord;
    do not let their plans succeed.

⁹ Those who surround me proudly rear their heads;
    may the mischief of their lips engulf them.^(CD)
10 May burning coals fall on them;
    may they be thrown into the fire,^(CE)
    into miry pits, never to rise.
¹¹ May slanderers not be established in the land;
    may disaster hunt down the violent.^(CF)

¹² I know that the Lord secures justice for the poor^(CG)
    and upholds the cause^(CH) of the needy.^(CI)
13 Surely the righteous will praise your name,^(CJ)
    and the upright will live^(CK) in your presence.^(CL)