My soul [as well as my body] is greatly dismayed. But as for You, O Lord—how long [until You act on my behalf]?

Return, O Lord, rescue my soul; Save me because of Your [unfailing] steadfast love and mercy.

The Lord tests the righteous and the wicked, And His soul hates the [malevolent] one who loves violence.

How long must I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart day after day? How long will my enemy exalt himself and triumph over me?

Arise, O Lord, confront him, cast him down; Save my soul from the wicked with Your sword,

The law of the Lord is perfect (flawless), restoring and refreshing the soul; The statutes of the Lord are reliable and trustworthy, making wise the simple.

All the prosperous of the earth will eat and worship; All those who go down to the dust (the dead) will bow before Him, Even he who cannot keep his soul alive.

He refreshes and restores my soul (life); He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to what is false, Nor has sworn [oaths] deceitfully.

Prayer for Protection, Guidance and Pardon.

A Psalm of David.

To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

His soul will dwell in prosperity and goodness, And his descendants will inherit the land.

Guard my soul and rescue me; Do not let me be ashamed or disappointed, For I have taken refuge in You.

Do not sweep my soul away with sinners, Nor [sweep away] my life with men of bloodshed,

That my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.

Be gracious and compassionate to me, O Lord, for I am in trouble; My eye is clouded and weakened by grief, my soul and my body also.

My soul makes its boast in the Lord; The humble and downtrodden will hear it and rejoice.

The Lord redeems the soul of His servants, And none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.

Draw also the spear and javelin to meet those who pursue me. Say to my soul, “I am your salvation.”

Then my soul shall rejoice in the Lord; It shall rejoice in His salvation.

They repay me evil for good, To the sorrow of my soul.

But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth (mourning garment); I humbled my soul with fasting, And I prayed with my head bowed on my chest.

As for me, I said, “O Lord, be gracious to me; Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You.”

Book Two

Thirsting for God in Trouble and Exile.

To the Chief Musician. A skillful song, or a didactic or reflective poem, of the sons of Korah.

As the deer pants [longingly] for the water brooks, So my soul pants [longingly] for You, O God.

My soul (my life, my inner self) thirsts for God, for the living God. When will I come and see the face of God?

These things I [vividly] remember as I pour out my soul; How I used to go along before the great crowd of people and lead them in procession to the house of God [like a choirmaster before his singers, timing the steps to the music and the chant of the song], With the voice of joy and thanksgiving, a great crowd keeping a festival.