[A Song of degrees of David.] If {it had not been} the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say;

When Israel {was} a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.

Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land {that was} not sown. {thee: or, for thy sake}

[A Song of degrees of David.] I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.

[A Song of degrees.] In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me.

But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel. {But...: Heb. And as they afflicted them, so they multiplied, etc}

[A Song of degrees.] When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. {turned...: Heb. returned the returning}

[A Song of degrees for Solomon.] Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh {but} in vain. {for...: or, of Solomon} {that...: Heb. that are builders of it in it}

Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail.

And that year they vexed and oppressed the children of Israel: eighteen years, all the children of Israel that {were} on the other side Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which {is} in Gilead. {oppressed: Heb. crushed}

[A Song of degrees.] They that trust in the LORD {shall be} as mount Zion, {which} cannot be removed, {but} abideth for ever.

Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed.

And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.

Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves.

Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Chushanrishathaim eight years. {Mesopotamia: Heb. Aramnaharaim}

[A Song of degrees.] I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. {I will...: or, Shall I lift up mine eyes to the hills? whence should my help come?}

Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction, and because of great servitude: she dwelleth among the heathen, she findeth no rest: all her persecutors overtook her between the straits. {because of great...: Heb. for the greatness of servitude}

And they committed whoredoms in Egypt; they committed whoredoms in their youth: there were their breasts pressed, and there they bruised the teats of their virginity.

I spake unto thee in thy prosperity; {but} thou saidst, I will not hear. This {hath been} thy manner from thy youth, that thou obeyedst not my voice. {prosperity: Heb. prosperities}

I {am} afflicted and ready to die from {my} youth up: {while} I suffer thy terrors I am distracted.

[A Song of degrees.] Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.

Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make {them} swords or spears:

And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.

[A Song of degrees.] Blessed {is} every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.

Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel; {the children...: Heb. the sons of the transportation}

[A Song of degrees of David.] If {it had not been} the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say;

A Song of degrees. LORD, remember David, {and} all his afflictions:

[A Song of degrees.] In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me.

[A Song of degrees of David.] I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.

[A Song of degrees.] Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.

And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brasen wall: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee: for I {am} with thee to save thee and to deliver thee, saith the LORD.

[A Song of degrees.] Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD.

Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy {place}. {wealthy: Heb. moist}

[A Song of degrees.] Behold, bless ye the LORD, all {ye} servants of the LORD, which by night stand in the house of the LORD.

O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, {and} not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.

Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants: for I swear by the LORD, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night: and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now. {comfortably...: Heb. to the heart of thy servants}

The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live.