1  Take me out of the hands of the cruel ones, O my God; keep me safe from those who come up against me. 2  Take me out of the power of the workers of evil, and keep me safe from the men of blood. 3  For see, they are watching in secret for my soul; the strong have come together against me? but not because of my sin, or my evil-doing, O Lord. 4  For no sin of mine they go quickly and get themselves ready; be awake and come to my help, and see. 5  You, O Lord God of armies, are the God of Israel; come now and give punishment to the nations; have no mercy on any workers of deceit. (Selah.) 6  They come back in the evening; they make a noise like a dog, and go round the town. 7  See, hate is dropping from their lips; curses are on their tongues: they say, Who gives attention to it? 8  But you are laughing at them, O Lord; you will make sport of all the nations. 9  O my strength, I will put my hope in you; because God is my strong tower. 10  The God of my mercy will go before me: God will let me see my desire effected on my haters. 11  Put them not to death, for so my people will keep the memory of them: let them be sent in all directions by your power; make them low, O Lord our saviour. 12  Because of the sin of their mouths and the word of their lips, let them even be taken in their pride; and for their curses and their deceit, 13  Put an end to them in your wrath, put an end to them, so that they may not be seen again; let them see that God is ruling in Jacob and to the ends of the earth. (Selah.) 14  And in the evening let them come back, and make a noise like a dog, and go round the town. 15  Let them go wandering up and down in search of food, and be there all night if they have not enough. 16  But I will make songs of your power; yes, I will give cries of joy for your mercy in the morning; because you have been my strength and my high tower in the day of my trouble. 17  To you, O my strength, will I make my song: because God is my high tower, even the God of my mercy.