1 Vindicate me, O God, and plead my cause against an graceless nation:
O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man.
2 For You are the God of my refuge (or my defending God): why did You cast me off?
Why go I mourning because of the oppression of an enemy?
3 O send out You light and Your truth (probably an illusion to the Urim and Thummim [Ex. 28:30], from which the Psalmist was now absent, in flight from Absalom): let them gently lead (or comfort) me;
Let them bring me (i.e. by their guiding counsel) to Your holy hill, (i.e. Zion. Therefore refers to the times of David)
And to Your great habitation.
4 Then will I go unto the altar of God,
To God my exceeding joy:
Yes, upon the harp will I praise You, O God my God.
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God: for I shall yet praise Him,
Who is the salvation of my countenance, and my God.