1 God, declare that I ◄am innocent/have not done things that are wrong►.

Defend me when ◄ungodly people/people who do not worship you► say things against me,

rescue me from people who deceive and say things about me that are not true.

2 You are God, the one who protects me;

◄why have you abandoned me?/it seems that you have abandoned me!► [RHQ]

It does not seem right that [RHQ] I am forced to mourn/cry constantly

because my enemies are cruel to me.

3 Shine your light on me and speak your truth to me;

and let them guide me,

and take me back to Zion, your sacred hill at Jerusalem,

and to your temple, where you live.

4 When you do that, I will go to your altar,

to worship you, my God, who causes me to be extremely joyful.

There I will praise you, the God whom I worship, while I play my harp.

5 So ◄why am I sad and discouraged?/I should not be sad and discouraged!► [RHQ]

I confidently expect God to bless me,

and I will praise him again,

my God, the one who saves me.