63 1 David after he had been in great danger by Saul in the desert of Ziph, made this Psalm. 3 Wherein he giveth thanks to God for his wonderful deliverance, in whose mercies he trusted, even in the midst of his miseries. 9 Prophesying the destruction of God’s enemies: 11 And contrariwise happiness to all them that trust in the Lord.

A Psalm of David, when he was in the [a]wilderness of Judah.

O God, thou art my God, early will I seek thee: my soul [b]thirsteth for thee: my flesh longeth greatly after thee in a barren and dry land without water:

Thus [c]I behold thee as in the Sanctuary, when I behold thy power and thy glory.

For thy loving-kindness is better than life: therefore my lips shall praise thee.

Thus will I magnify thee all my life, and lift up mine hands in thy Name.

My soul shall be satisfied, as with [d]marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips,

When I remember thee on my bed, and when I think upon thee in the night watches.

Because thou hast been mine helper, therefore under the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.

My soul [e]cleaveth unto thee: for thy right hand upholdeth me.

Therefore they that seek my soul to destroy it, they shall go into the lowest parts of the earth.

10 [f]They shall cast him down with the edge of the sword, and they shall be a portion for foxes.

11 But the king shall rejoice in God, and all that [g]swear by him shall rejoice in him: for the mouth of them that speak lies, shall be stopped.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 63:1 To wit, of Ziph, 1 Sam. 23:14.
  2. Psalm 63:1 Though he was both hungry and in great distress, yet he made God his sufficiency and above all meat and drink.
  3. Psalm 63:2 In this misery I exercise myself in the contemplation of thy power and glory, as if I were in the Sanctuary.
  4. Psalm 63:5 The remembrance of thy favor is more sweet unto me than all the pleasures and dainties of the world.
  5. Psalm 63:8 He assureth himself by the Spirit of God to have the gift of constancy.
  6. Psalm 63:10 He prophecieth of the destruction of Saul and them that take his part, whose bodies shall not be buried, but be devoured with wild beasts.
  7. Psalm 63:11 All that swear by God aright or profess him, shall rejoice in this worthy king.

Psalm 63[a]

A psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah.

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)

I have seen you in the sanctuary(C)
    and beheld your power and your glory.(D)
Because your love is better than life,(E)
    my lips will glorify you.
I will praise you as long as I live,(F)
    and in your name I will lift up my hands.(G)
I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods;(H)
    with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

On my bed I remember you;
    I think of you through the watches of the night.(I)
Because you are my help,(J)
    I sing in the shadow of your wings.(K)
I cling to you;(L)
    your right hand upholds me.(M)

Those who want to kill me will be destroyed;(N)
    they will go down to the depths of the earth.(O)
10 They will be given over to the sword(P)
    and become food for jackals.(Q)

11 But the king will rejoice in God;
    all who swear by God will glory in him,(R)
    while the mouths of liars will be silenced.(S)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 63:1 In Hebrew texts 63:1-11 is numbered 63:2-12.