Verse 1
"In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion."
David opens with a declaration of trust: in the Lord he has found his refuge. And from that he asks "let me never be put to confusion" — that his trust never fail and never be shamed.
Verse 2
"Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me."
A plea for rescue: that God deliver and free him in His righteousness. "Incline thine ear unto me" — turn Your ear to my prayer and save me.
Verse 3
"Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou art my rock and my fortress."
David asks that God be his "strong habitation" — a rock-fortress to which he may always come for shelter. "My rock and my fortress" — the source of his strength and his shield.
Verse 4
"Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man."
A plea for rescue from the hand of the wicked — the "unrighteous and cruel man" who twists what is right and oppresses the weak.
Verse 5
"For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth."
The Lord is his hope and his trust "from my youth." This confidence is not new, but has accompanied him from far-off days; pointing to his youth, he says the bond has stood the test of time.
Verse 6
"By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother's bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee."
Even earlier than his youth — from the womb. "Thou art he that took me out" and established me. This is the height of trust: not a late choice, but a bond that preceded every choice — therefore "my praise shall be continually of thee."
Verse 7
"I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge."
"A wonder" — a sign and example; David's life was a testimony to many of God's providence and rescue. Precisely one who has passed through much and been saved becomes a living witness to God's power.
Verse 8
"Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day."
David asks that his mouth be filled with God's praise all the day, telling of His glory without ceasing. Trust turns into an unbroken, continual praise.
And so this part opens the psalm with a voice of rooted trust: from the personal refuge "in thee do I put my trust" to the continual praise "let my mouth be filled with thy praise." This is the movement of the soul in the Book of Psalms: from trust to song.