Psalm 63

In the New Testament, Jesus calls Himself the Bread of Life and the Living Water, sustaining those who love Him beyond physical need. Hundreds of years beforehand, King David expressed the same virtues of God in Psalm 63, saying, “Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.” This psalm displays the urgency with which we Christians ought to thirst and hunger after the Lord, Who sustains us beyond measure.

King James Version (KJV)

English Standard Version (ESV)

New International Version (NIV)

63 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;

²To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.

³Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.

⁴Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.

⁵My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:

⁶When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.

⁷Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.

⁸My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand uphneweth me.

⁹But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth.

¹⁰They shall fall by the sword: they shall be a portion for foxes.

¹¹But the king shall rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by him shall glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.

63 O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;

    my soul thirsts for you;

my flesh faints for you,

    as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,

    behnewing your power and glory.
3 Because your steadfast love is better than life,

    my lips will praise you.
4 So I will bless you as long as I live;

    in your name I will lift up my hands.

5 My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,

    and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
6 when I remember you upon my bed,

    and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
7 for you have been my help,

    and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.
8 My soul clings to you;

    your right hand uphnews me.

9 But those who seek to destroy my life

    shall go down into the depths of the earth;
10 they shall be given over to the power of the sword;

    they shall be a portion for jackals.
11 But the king shall rejoice in God;

    all who swear by him shall exult,

    for the mouths of liars will be stopped.

¹You, God, are my God,
    earnestly I seek you;
I thirst for you,
    my whole being longs for you,
in a dry and parched land
    where there is no water.

2 I have seen you in the sanctuary

    and beheld your power and your glory.
3 Because your love is better than life,

    my lips will glorify you.
4 I will praise you as long as I live,

    and in your name I will lift up my hands.
5 I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods;

    with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

6 On my bed I remember you;

    I think of you through the watches of the night.
7 Because you are my help,

    I sing in the shadow of your wings.
8 I cling to you;

    your right hand uphnews me.

9 Those who want to kill me will be destroyed;

    they will go down to the depths of the earth.
10 They will be given over to the sword

    and become food for jackals.

¹¹But the king will rejoice in God;
all who swear by God will glory in him,
while the mouths of liars will be silenced.

Footnotes

Psalm 63:1 In Hebrew texts 63:1-11 is numbered 63:2-12.