Psalm 63
EasyEnglish Bible
David wrote this psalm when he was in the Judah wilderness.
A morning song[a]
63 God, you are my God.
    I want to be near to you.
I need you to give me life,
    like a thirsty person in a dry desert.
As a person needs water to live,
    that is how I need you.[b]
2 When I have gone into your temple,
    I have seen what you are like.
I have seen your great power and your glory.
3 Your faithful love for me is better than life itself.
    So I will speak out to praise you.
4 Yes, I will thank you for as long as I live.
I will lift up my hands and I will pray to you.
5 You make me very happy,
    better than a feast of good food.
I will sing happy songs to praise you.
6 When I lie on my bed,
    I think about you all through the night.
7 You are the one who keeps me safe,
    like a bird protects its babies under its wings.
So I sing happy songs.
8 I keep very near to you
    and your strong right hand keeps me safe.
9 My enemies are trying to kill me,
    but I know that they themselves will die.
They will go down into the deep hole of death.
10 Soldiers will kill them with swords.
    Wild dogs will eat their dead bodies.
11 But the king will sing songs to praise God.[c]
Everybody who promises to serve God
    will speak aloud to praise him.
But everyone who tells lies
    will not be able to say anything!
Footnotes
- 63:1 See 1 Samuel 23—24; 2 Samuel 15:23. David was in a difficult place, far away from the temple in Jerusalem. He still wanted to know that God was near to him.
- 63:1 As our bodies need food and drink so that we can live, we also need God to give us spiritual life.
- 63:11 David is probably talking about himself here, as king.
Psalm 63
American Standard Version
The thirsting soul satisfied in God.
A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.
63 O God, thou art my God; earnestly will I seek thee:
My soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee,
In a dry and weary land, where no water is.
2 So have I looked upon thee in the sanctuary,
To see thy power and thy glory.
3 Because thy lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips shall praise thee.
4 So will I bless thee while I live:
I will lift up my hands in thy name.
5 My soul shall be satisfied as with [a]marrow and fatness;
And my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips;
6 When I remember thee upon my bed,
[b]And meditate on thee in the night-watches.
7 For thou hast been my help,
And in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.
8 My soul followeth hard after thee:
Thy right hand upholdeth me.
9 But those that seek my soul, [c]to destroy it,
Shall go into the lower parts of the earth.
10 They shall be [d]given over to the power of the sword:
They shall be a portion for [e]foxes.
11 But the king shall rejoice in God:
Every one that sweareth by him shall glory;
For the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.
Footnotes
- Psalm 63:5 Hebrew fat.
- Psalm 63:6 Or, I meditate
- Psalm 63:9 Or, shall be destroyed; They shall etc.
- Psalm 63:10 Or, poured out by
- Psalm 63:10 Or, jackals
Psalm 63
New King James Version
Joy in the Fellowship of God
A Psalm of David (A)when he was in the wilderness of Judah.
63 O God, You are my God;
Early will I seek You;
(B)My soul thirsts for You;
My flesh longs for You
In a dry and thirsty land
Where there is no water.
2 So I have looked for You in the sanctuary,
To see (C)Your power and Your glory.
3 (D)Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips shall praise You.
4 Thus I will bless You while I live;
I will (E)lift up my hands in Your name.
5 My soul shall be satisfied as with [a]marrow and [b]fatness,
And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.
6 When (F)I remember You on my bed,
I meditate on You in the night watches.
7 Because You have been my help,
Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.
8 My soul follows close behind You;
Your right hand upholds me.
9 But those who seek my life, to destroy it,
Shall go into the lower parts of the earth.
10 They shall [c]fall by the sword;
They shall be [d]a portion for jackals.
11 But the king shall rejoice in God;
(G)Everyone who swears by Him shall glory;
But the mouth of those who speak lies shall be stopped.
Footnotes
- Psalm 63:5 Lit. fat
- Psalm 63:5 Abundance
- Psalm 63:10 Lit. pour him out by the hand of the sword
- Psalm 63:10 Prey
Psalm 63
New International Version
Psalm 63[a]
A psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah.
1 You, God, are my God,
    earnestly I seek you;
I thirst for you,(A)
    my whole being longs for you,
in a dry and parched land
    where there is no water.(B)
2 I have seen you in the sanctuary(C)
    and beheld your power and your glory.(D)
3 Because your love is better than life,(E)
    my lips will glorify you.
4 I will praise you as long as I live,(F)
    and in your name I will lift up my hands.(G)
5 I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods;(H)
    with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
6 On my bed I remember you;
    I think of you through the watches of the night.(I)
7 Because you are my help,(J)
    I sing in the shadow of your wings.(K)
8 I cling to you;(L)
    your right hand upholds me.(M)
Footnotes
- Psalm 63:1 In Hebrew texts 63:1-11 is numbered 63:2-12.
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