1 God’s “name” refers here to his reputation and revealed character, which would instill fear in the psalmist’s enemies (see C. A. Briggs and E. G. Briggs, Psalms [], 2:).
2 The imperfect verbal form is used here to express the psalmist’s wish or request.
3 Heb “to the words of my mouth.”
4 Many medieval Hebrew read זֵדִים (zedim, “proud ones”) rather than זָרִים (zarim, “foreigners”). (No matter which reading one chooses as original, dalet-resh confusion accounts for the existence of the variant.) The term זֵדִים (“proud ones”) occurs in parallelism with עָרִיצִים (’aritsim, “violent ones”) in Ps 86:14 and Isa 13:11. However, זָרִים (zarim, “foreigners”) is parallel to עָרִיצִים (’aritsim, “violent ones”) in Isa 25:5; 29:5; Ezek 28:7; 31:12.
5 Heb “rise against me.”
6 Heb “and ruthless ones seek my life, they do not set God in front of them.”
7 Or “my helper.”
8 Or “sustain my life.”
9 Heb “to those who watch me [with evil intent].” See also Pss 5:8; 27:11; 56:2.
10 The Kethib (consonantal text) reads a Qal imperfect, “the evil will return,” while the Qere (marginal reading) has a Hiphil imperfect, “he will repay.” The parallel line has an imperative (indicating a prayer/request), so it is best to read a jussive form יָשֹׁב (yashov, “let it [the evil] return”) here.
11 Heb “in [or “by”] your faithfulness.”
12 The cohortative verbal form expresses the psalmist’s resolve/vow to praise.
13 Or “for,” indicating a more specific reason why he will praise the Lord’s name (cf. v. 6).
14 The perfects in v. 7 are probably rhetorical, indicating the psalmist’s certitude and confidence that God will intervene. The psalmist is so confident of God’s positive response to his prayer, he can describe God’s deliverance and his own vindication as if they were occurring or had already occurred.
15 Heb “and on my enemies my eyes look.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

O God, save me by your name,

and vindicate me by your might.

O God, hear my prayer;

give ear to the words of my mouth.

For strangers have risen against me;

ruthless men seek my life;

they do not set God before themselves. Selah

Behold, God is my helper;

the Lord is the upholder of my life.

He will return the evil to my enemies;

in your faithfulness put an end to them.

With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you;

I will give thanks to your name, O Lord, for it is good.

For he has delivered me from every trouble,

and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Save me, O God, by your name;

vindicate me by your might.

Hear my prayer, O God;

listen to the words of my mouth.

Arrogant foes are attacking me;

ruthless people are trying to kill me—

people without regard for God.

Surely God is my help;

the Lord is the one who sustains me.

Let evil recoil on those who slander me;

in your faithfulness destroy them.

I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you;

I will praise your name, Lord, for it is good.

You have delivered me from all my troubles,

and my eyes have looked in triumph on my foes.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

God, save me by your name,

and vindicate me by your might!

God, hear my prayer;

listen to the words from my mouth.

For strangers rise up against me,

and violent men intend to kill me.

They do not let God guide them.

Selah

God is my helper;

the Lord is the sustainer of my life.

He will repay my adversaries for their evil.

Because of your faithfulness, annihilate them.

I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you.

I will praise your name, Lord,

because it is good.

For he has rescued me from every trouble,

and my eye has looked down on my enemies.

NLTNew Living Translation

Come with great power, O God, and rescue me!

Defend me with your might.

Listen to my prayer, O God.

Pay attention to my plea.

For strangers are attacking me;

violent people are trying to kill me.

They care nothing for God.

Interlude

But God is my helper.

The Lord keeps me alive!

May the evil plans of my enemies be turned against them.

Do as you promised and put an end to them.

I will sacrifice a voluntary offering to you;

I will praise your name, O Lord,

for it is good.

For you have rescued me from my troubles

and helped me to triumph over my enemies.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

O God, by your name save me,

and by your power vindicate me.

O God, hear my prayer;

heed the words of my mouth.

For foreigners have risen against me,

and ruthless men seek my life.

They have not set God before them. Selah

See, God is my helper;

The Lord is with those who sustain my life.

He will repay my enemies for their evil;

in your faithfulness destroy them.

I will freely sacrifice to you;

I will give thanks to your name,

O Yahweh, because it is good.

Because he has delivered me from all trouble,

and my eye has looked with satisfaction on my enemies.

KJV 1900King James Version

Save me, O God, by thy name,

And judge me by thy strength.

Hear my prayer, O God;

Give ear to the words of my mouth.

For strangers are risen up against me,

And oppressors seek after my soul:

They have not set God before them. Selah.

Behold, God is mine helper:

The Lord is with them that uphold my soul.

He shall reward evil unto mine enemies:

Cut them off in thy truth.

I will freely sacrifice unto thee:

I will praise thy name, O Lord; for it is good.

For he hath delivered me out of all trouble:

And mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies.

Public Domain