Close-but-Clear^[1]

1 A psalm by David, when he fled from the presence of Absalom, his son.

2 YHWH, how my adversaries have multiplied.
Many are those rising up against me.

3 Many are those saying about my soul,
“There is no salvation for him in God.” Selah.

4 But you, YHWH, are a shield around me,
my honour and the one who lifts my head.

5 Whenever I cry out to YHWH with my voice,
he responds to me from his holy mountain. Selah.

6 I lay down and fell asleep.
I woke up, for YHWH supports me.

7 I will not be afraid of myriads of people
who have taken position against me all around.

8 Rise up, YHWH. Save me, my God.
For you have struck all of my enemies on the jaw.
You have broken the teeth of wicked people.

9 Salvation is YHWH’s.
Your blessing is on your people. Selah.

Synthesis^[2]

1 A psalm by David, when he fled from his son, Absalom.

2 YHWH, see how my enemies have multiplied!

Those rising against me are too many to count.

3 Many are saying about me,

“God won’t save him!” Selah.

4 But you, YHWH, are a shield over me!

You restore my honour and lift up my head!

5 Whenever I call out to YHWH,

He answers me from his sacred mountain. Selah.

6 I lay down and fell asleep.

I woke up, because YHWH is the one who sustains me!

7 I will not be afraid of tens of thousands of people

who take position against me on every side.

8 Rise, YHWH! Save me, my God!

You have shamed all my past enemies with a blow to the jaw!

You have rendered wicked people toothless!

9 YHWH is the one who saves!

Your people are the ones you bless. Selah.

↑ The close-but-clear translation exists to provide a window into the Hebrew text (syntax as well as word and phrase level semantics) for non-Hebrew readers of the Psalms: Layer by Layer materials. It is intended as a supplement to these materials rather than a stand-alone translation.
↑ Whereas the close-but-clear translation aims for accuracy and clarity in representing the syntax and word-phrase level semantics of the Hebrew text, the synthesis translation takes into account the higher levels of analysis (discourse and poetics) and aims to present the text in more natural English.