Book 1
(Psalms 1-41)
1:1 How blessed 2 is the one 3 who does not follow 4 the advice 5 of the wicked, 6
or stand in the pathway 7 with sinners,
or sit in the assembly 8 of scoffers! 9
1:2 Instead 10 he finds pleasure in obeying the Lord’s commands; 11
he meditates on 12 his commands 13 day and night.
1:3 He is like 14 a tree planted by flowing streams; 15
it 16 yields 17 its fruit at the proper time, 18
and its leaves never fall off. 19
He succeeds in everything he attempts. 20
1:4 Not so with the wicked!
Instead 21 they are like wind-driven chaff. 22
1:5 For this reason 23 the wicked cannot withstand 24 judgment, 25
nor can sinners join the assembly of the godly. 26
1:6 Certainly 27 the Lord guards the way of the godly, 28
but the way of the wicked ends in destruction. 29
2:1 Why 31 do the nations rebel? 32
Why 33 are the countries 34 devising 35 plots that will fail? 36
2:2 The kings of the earth 37 form a united front; 38
the rulers collaborate 39
against the Lord and his anointed king. 40
2:3 They say, 41 “Let’s tear off the shackles they’ve put on us! 42
Let’s free ourselves from 43 their ropes!”
2:4 The one enthroned 44 in heaven laughs in disgust; 45
the Lord taunts 46 them.
2:5 Then he angrily speaks to them
and terrifies them in his rage, 47 saying, 48
2:6 “I myself 49 have installed 50 my king
on Zion, my holy hill.”
2:7 The king says, 51 “I will announce the Lord’s decree. He said to me: 52
‘You are my son! 53 This very day I have become your father!
2:8 Ask me,
and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, 54
the ends of the earth as your personal property.
2:9 You will break them 55 with an iron scepter; 56
you will smash them like a potter’s jar!’” 57
2:10 So now, you kings, do what is wise; 58
you rulers of the earth, submit to correction! 59
2:11 Serve 60 the Lord in fear!
Repent in terror! 61
2:12 Give sincere homage! 62
Otherwise he 63 will be angry, 64
and you will die because of your behavior, 65
when his anger quickly ignites. 66
How blessed 67 are all who take shelter in him! 68
A psalm of David, written when he fled from his son Absalom. 70
3:1 Lord, how 71 numerous are my enemies!
Many attack me. 72
3:2 Many say about me,
“God will not deliver him.” 73 (Selah) 74
3:3 But you, Lord, are a shield that protects me; 75
you are my glory 76 and the one who restores me. 77
3:4 To the Lord I cried out, 78
and he answered me from his holy hill. 79 (Selah)
3:5 I rested and slept;
I awoke, 80 for the Lord protects 81 me.
3:6 I am not afraid 82 of the multitude of people 83
who attack me from all directions. 84
3:7 Rise up, 85 Lord!
Deliver me, my God!
Yes, 86 you will strike 87 all my enemies on the jaw;
you will break the teeth 88 of the wicked. 89
3:8 The Lord delivers; 90
you show favor to your people. 91 (Selah)
For the music director, to be accompanied by stringed instruments; a psalm of David.
4:1 When I call out, answer me,
O God who vindicates me! 93
Though I am hemmed in, you will lead me into a wide, open place. 94
Have mercy on me 95 and respond to 96 my prayer!
4:2 You men, 97 how long will you try to turn my honor into shame? 98
How long 99 will you love what is worthless 100
and search for what is deceptive? 101 (Selah)
4:3 Realize that 102 the Lord shows the godly special favor; 103
the Lord responds 104 when I cry out to him.
4:4 Tremble with fear and do not sin! 105
Meditate as you lie in bed, and repent of your ways! 106 (Selah)
4:5 Offer the prescribed sacrifices 107
and trust in the Lord! 108
4:6 Many say, “Who can show us anything good?”
Smile upon us, Lord! 109
4:7 You make me happier 110
than those who have abundant grain and wine. 111
4:8 I will lie down and sleep peacefully, 112
for you, Lord, make me safe and secure. 113
For the music director, to be accompanied by wind instruments; 115 a psalm of David.
5:1 Listen to what I say, 116 Lord!
Carefully consider my complaint! 117
5:2 Pay attention to my cry for help,
my king and my God,
for I am praying to you!
5:3 Lord, in the morning 118 you will hear 119 me; 120
in the morning I will present my case to you 121 and then wait expectantly for an answer. 122
5:4 Certainly 123 you are not a God who approves of evil; 124
evil people 125 cannot dwell with you. 126
5:5 Arrogant people cannot stand in your presence; 127
you hate 128 all who behave wickedly. 129
5:6 You destroy 130 liars; 131
the Lord despises 132 violent and deceitful people. 133
5:7 But as for me, 134 because of your great faithfulness I will enter your house; 135
I will bow down toward your holy temple as I worship you. 136
5:8 Lord, lead me in your righteousness 137
because of those who wait to ambush me, 138
remove the obstacles in the way in which you are guiding me! 139
5:9 For 140 they do not speak the truth; 141
their stomachs are like the place of destruction, 142
their throats like an open grave, 143
their tongues like a steep slope leading into it. 144
5:10 Condemn them, 145 O God!
May their own schemes be their downfall! 146
Drive them away 147 because of their many acts of insurrection, 148
for they have rebelled against you.
5:11 But may all who take shelter 149 in you be happy! 150
May they continually 151 shout for joy! 152
Shelter them 153 so that those who are loyal to you 154 may rejoice! 155
5:12 Certainly 156 you reward 157 the godly, 158 Lord.
Like a shield you protect 159 them 160 in your good favor. 161
For the music director, to be accompanied by stringed instruments, according to the sheminith style; 163 a psalm of David.
6:1 Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger!
Do not discipline me in your raging fury! 164
6:2 Have mercy on me, 165 Lord, for I am frail!
Heal me, Lord, for my bones are shaking! 166
6:3 I am absolutely terrified, 167
and you, Lord – how long will this continue? 168
6:4 Relent, Lord, rescue me! 169
Deliver me because of your faithfulness! 170
6:5 For no one remembers you in the realm of death, 171
In Sheol who gives you thanks? 172
6:6 I am exhausted as I groan;
all night long I drench my bed in tears; 173
my tears saturate the cushion beneath me. 174
6:7 My eyes 175 grow dim 176 from suffering;
they grow weak 177 because of all my enemies. 178
6:8 Turn back from me, all you who behave wickedly, 179
for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping! 180
6:9 The Lord has heard my appeal for mercy;
the Lord has accepted 181 my prayer.
6:10 May all my enemies be humiliated 182 and absolutely terrified! 183
May they turn back and be suddenly humiliated!
A musical composition 185 by David, which he sang to the Lord concerning 186 a Benjaminite named Cush. 187
7:1 O Lord my God, in you I have taken shelter. 188
Deliver me from all who chase me! Rescue me!
7:2 Otherwise they will rip 189 me 190 to shreds like a lion;
they will tear me to bits and no one will be able to rescue me. 191
7:3 O Lord my God, if I have done what they say, 192
or am guilty of unjust actions, 193
7:4 or have wronged my ally, 194
or helped his lawless enemy, 195
7:5 may an enemy relentlessly chase 196 me 197 and catch me; 198
may he trample me to death 199
and leave me lying dishonored in the dust. 200 (Selah)
7:6 Stand up angrily, 201 Lord!
Rise up with raging fury against my enemies! 202
Wake up for my sake and execute the judgment you have decreed for them! 203
7:7 The countries are assembled all around you; 204
take once more your rightful place over them! 205
7:8 The Lord judges the nations. 206
Vindicate me, Lord, because I am innocent, 207
because I am blameless, 208 O Exalted One! 209
7:9 May the evil deeds of the wicked 210 come to an end! 211
But make the innocent 212 secure, 213
O righteous God,
you who examine 214 inner thoughts and motives! 215
7:10 The Exalted God is my shield, 216
the one who delivers the morally upright. 217
7:11 God is a just judge;
he is angry throughout the day. 218
7:12 If a person 219 does not repent, God sharpens his sword 220
and prepares to shoot his bow. 221
7:13 He prepares to use deadly weapons against him; 222
he gets ready to shoot flaming arrows. 223
7:14 See the one who is pregnant with wickedness,
who conceives destructive plans,
and gives birth to harmful lies – 224
7:15 he digs a pit 225
and then falls into the hole he has made. 226
7:16 He becomes the victim of his own destructive plans 227
and the violence he intended for others falls on his own head. 228
7:17 I will thank the Lord for 229 his justice;
I will sing praises to the sovereign Lord! 230
For the music director, according to the gittith style; 232 a psalm of David.
8:1 O Lord, our Lord, 233
how magnificent 234 is your reputation 235 throughout the earth!
You reveal your majesty in the heavens above! 236
8:2 From the mouths of children and nursing babies
you have ordained praise on account of your adversaries, 237
so that you might put an end to the vindictive enemy. 238
8:3 When I look up at the heavens, which your fingers made,
and see the moon and the stars, which you set in place, 239
8:4 Of what importance is the human race, 240 that you should notice 241 them?
Of what importance is mankind, 242 that you should pay attention to them, 243
8:5 and make them a little less than the heavenly beings? 244
You grant mankind 245 honor and majesty; 246
8:6 you appoint them to rule over your creation; 247
you have placed 248 everything under their authority, 249
8:7 including all the sheep and cattle,
as well as the wild animals, 250
8:8 the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea
and everything that moves through the currents 251 of the seas.
8:9 O Lord, our Lord, 252
how magnificent 253 is your reputation 254 throughout the earth! 255
For the music director; according to the alumoth-labben style; 257 a psalm of David.
9:1 I will thank the Lord with all my heart!
I will tell about all your amazing deeds! 258
9:2 I will be happy and rejoice in you!
I will sing praises to you, O sovereign One! 259
9:3 When my enemies turn back,
they trip and are defeated 260 before you.
9:4 For you defended my just cause; 261
from your throne you pronounced a just decision. 262
9:5 You terrified the nations with your battle cry; 263
you destroyed the wicked; 264
you permanently wiped out all memory of them. 265
9:6 The enemy’s cities have been reduced to permanent ruins; 266
you destroyed their cities; 267
all memory of the enemies has perished. 268
9:7 But the Lord 269 rules 270 forever;
he reigns in a just manner. 271
9:8 He judges the world fairly;
he makes just legal decisions for the nations. 272
9:9 Consequently 273 the Lord provides safety for the oppressed; 274
he provides safety in times of trouble. 275
9:10 Your loyal followers trust in you, 276
for you, Lord, do not abandon those who seek your help. 277
9:11 Sing praises to the Lord, who rules 278 in Zion!
Tell the nations what he has done! 279
9:12 For the one who takes revenge against murderers took notice of the oppressed; 280
he did not overlook 281 their cry for help 282
9:13 when they prayed: 283
“Have mercy on me, 284 Lord!
See how I am oppressed by those who hate me, 285
O one who can snatch me away 286 from the gates of death!
9:14 Then I will 287 tell about all your praiseworthy acts; 288
in the gates of Daughter Zion 289 I will rejoice because of your deliverance.” 290
9:15 The nations fell 291 into the pit they had made;
their feet were caught in the net they had hidden. 292
9:16 The Lord revealed himself;
he accomplished justice;
the wicked were ensnared by their own actions. 293 (Higgaion. 294 Selah)
9:17 The wicked are turned back and sent to Sheol; 295
this is the destiny of 296 all the nations that ignore 297 God,
9:18 for the needy are not permanently ignored, 298
the hopes of the oppressed are not forever dashed. 299
9:19 Rise up, Lord! 300
Don’t let men be defiant! 301
May the nations be judged in your presence!
9:20 Terrify them, Lord! 302
Let the nations know they are mere mortals! 303 (Selah)
10:1 Why, Lord, do you stand far off?
Why do you pay no attention during times of trouble? 305
10:2 The wicked arrogantly chase the oppressed; 306
the oppressed are trapped 307 by the schemes the wicked have dreamed up. 308
10:3 Yes, 309 the wicked man 310 boasts because he gets what he wants; 311
the one who robs others 312 curses 313 and 314 rejects the Lord. 315
10:4 The wicked man is so arrogant he always thinks,
“God won’t hold me accountable; he doesn’t care.” 316
10:5 He is secure at all times. 317
He has no regard for your commands; 318
he disdains all his enemies. 319
10:6 He says to himself, 320
“I will never 321 be upended,
because I experience no calamity.” 322
10:7 His mouth is full of curses and deceptive, harmful words; 323
his tongue injures and destroys. 324
10:8 He waits in ambush near the villages; 325
in hidden places he kills the innocent.
His eyes look for some unfortunate victim. 326
10:9 He lies in ambush in a hidden place, like a lion in a thicket; 327
he lies in ambush, waiting to catch 328 the oppressed;
he catches the oppressed 329 by pulling in his net. 330
10:10 His victims are crushed and beaten down;
they are trapped in his sturdy nets. 331
10:11 He says to himself, 332
“God overlooks it;
he does not pay attention;
he never notices.” 333
10:12 Rise up, Lord! 334
O God, strike him down! 335
Do not forget the oppressed!
10:13 Why does the wicked man reject God? 336
He says to himself, 337 “You 338 will not hold me accountable.” 339
10:14 You have taken notice, 340
for 341 you always see 342 one who inflicts pain and suffering. 343
The unfortunate victim entrusts his cause to you; 344
you deliver 345 the fatherless. 346
10:15 Break the arm 347 of the wicked and evil man!
Hold him accountable for his wicked deeds, 348
which he thought you would not discover. 349
10:16 The Lord rules forever! 350
The nations are driven out of his land. 351
10:17 Lord, you have heard 352 the request 353 of the oppressed;
you make them feel secure because you listen to their prayer. 354
10:18 You defend 355 the fatherless and oppressed, 356
so that mere mortals may no longer terrorize them. 357
For the music director; by David.
11:1 In the Lord I have taken shelter. 359
How can you say to me, 360
“Flee to a mountain like a bird! 361
11:2 For look, the wicked 362 prepare 363 their bows, 364
they put their arrows on the strings,
to shoot in the darkness 365 at the morally upright. 366
11:3 When the foundations 367 are destroyed,
what can the godly 368 accomplish?” 369
11:4 The Lord is in his holy temple; 370
the Lord’s throne is in heaven. 371
His eyes 372 watch; 373
his eyes 374 examine 375 all people. 376
11:5 The Lord approves of 377 the godly, 378
but he 379 hates 380 the wicked and those who love to do violence. 381
11:6 May the Lord rain down 382 burning coals 383 and brimstone 384 on the wicked!
A whirlwind is what they deserve! 385
11:7 Certainly 386 the Lord is just; 387
he rewards godly deeds; 388
the upright will experience his favor. 389
For the music director; according to the sheminith style; 391 a psalm of David.
12:1 Deliver, Lord!
For the godly 392 have disappeared; 393
people of integrity 394 have vanished. 395
12:2 People lie to one another; 396
they flatter and deceive. 397
12:3 May the Lord cut off 398 all flattering lips,
and the tongue that boasts! 399
12:4 They say, 400 “We speak persuasively; 401
we know how to flatter and boast. 402
Who is our master?” 403
12:5 “Because of the violence done to the oppressed, 404
because of the painful cries 405 of the needy,
I will spring into action,” 406 says the Lord.
“I will provide the safety they so desperately desire.” 407
12:6 The Lord’s words are absolutely reliable. 408
They are as untainted as silver purified in a furnace on the ground,
where it is thoroughly refined. 409
12:7 You, Lord, will protect them; 410
you will continually shelter each one from these evil people, 411
12:8 for the wicked seem to be everywhere, 412
when people promote evil. 413
For the music director; a psalm of David.
13:1 How long, Lord, will you continue to ignore me? 415
How long will you pay no attention to me? 416
13:2 How long must I worry, 417
and suffer in broad daylight? 418
How long will my enemy gloat over me? 419
13:3 Look at me! 420 Answer me, O Lord my God!
Revive me, 421 or else I will die! 422
13:4 Then 423 my enemy will say, “I have defeated him!”
Then 424 my foes will rejoice because I am upended.
13:5 But I 425 trust in your faithfulness.
May I rejoice because of your deliverance! 426
13:6 I will sing praises 427 to the Lord
when he vindicates me. 428
For the music director; by David.
14:1 Fools say to themselves, 430 “There is no God.” 431
They sin and commit evil deeds; 432
none of them does what is right. 433
14:2 The Lord looks down from heaven 434 at the human race, 435
to see if there is anyone who is wise 436 and seeks God. 437
14:3 Everyone rejects God; 438
they are all morally corrupt. 439
None of them does what is right, 440
not even one!
14:4 All those who behave wickedly 441 do not understand – 442
those who devour my people as if they were eating bread,
and do not call out to the Lord.
14:5 They are absolutely terrified, 443
for God defends the godly. 444
14:6 You want to humiliate the oppressed, 445
even though 446 the Lord is their 447 shelter.
14:7 I wish the deliverance 448 of Israel would come from Zion!
When the Lord restores the well-being of his people, 449
may Jacob rejoice, 450
may Israel be happy! 451
A psalm of David.
15:1 Lord, who may be a guest in your home? 453
Who may live on your holy hill? 454
15:2 Whoever lives a blameless life, 455
does what is right,
and speaks honestly. 456
15:3 He 457 does not slander, 458
or do harm to others, 459
or insult his neighbor. 460
15:4 He despises a reprobate, 461
but honors the Lord’s loyal followers. 462
He makes firm commitments and does not renege on his promise. 463
15:5 He does not charge interest when he lends his money. 464
He does not take bribes to testify against the innocent. 465
The one who lives like this 466 will never be upended.
A prayer 468 of David.
16:1 Protect me, O God, for I have taken shelter in you. 469
16:2 I say to the Lord, “You are the Lord,
my only source of well-being.” 470
16:3 As for God’s chosen people who are in the land,
and the leading officials I admired so much 471 –
16:4 their troubles multiply,
they desire other gods. 472
I will not pour out drink offerings of blood to their gods, 473
nor will I make vows in the name of their gods. 474
16:5 Lord, you give me stability and prosperity; 475
you make my future secure. 476
16:6 It is as if I have been given fertile fields
or received a beautiful tract of land. 477
16:7 I will praise 478 the Lord who 479 guides 480 me;
yes, during the night I reflect and learn. 481
16:8 I constantly trust in the Lord; 482
because he is at my right hand, I will not be upended.
16:9 So my heart rejoices
and I am happy; 483
My life is safe. 484
16:10 You will not abandon me 485 to Sheol; 486
you will not allow your faithful follower 487 to see 488 the Pit. 489
16:11 You lead me in 490 the path of life; 491
I experience absolute joy in your presence; 492
you always give me sheer delight. 493
A prayer of David.
17:1 Lord, consider my just cause! 495
Pay attention to my cry for help!
Listen to the prayer
I sincerely offer! 496
17:2 Make a just decision on my behalf! 497
Decide what is right! 498
17:3 You have scrutinized my inner motives; 499
you have examined me during the night. 500
You have carefully evaluated me, but you find no sin.
I am determined I will say nothing sinful. 501
17:4 As for the actions of people 502 –
just as you have commanded,
I have not followed in the footsteps of violent men. 503
17:5 I carefully obey your commands; 504
I do not deviate from them. 505
17:6 I call to you for you will answer me, O God.
Listen to me! 506
Hear what I say! 507
17:7 Accomplish awesome, faithful deeds, 508
you who powerfully deliver those who look to you for protection from their enemies. 509
17:8 Protect me as you would protect the pupil of your eye! 510
Hide me in the shadow of your wings! 511
17:9 Protect me from 512 the wicked men who attack 513 me,
my enemies who crowd around me for the kill. 514
17:10 They are calloused; 515
they speak arrogantly. 516
17:11 They attack me, now they surround me; 517
they intend to throw me to the ground. 518
17:12 He 519 is like a lion 520 that wants to tear its prey to bits, 521
like a young lion crouching 522 in hidden places.
17:13 Rise up, Lord!
Confront him! 523 Knock him down! 524
Use your sword to rescue me from the wicked man! 525
17:14 Lord, use your power to deliver me from these murderers, 526
from the murderers of this world! 527
They enjoy prosperity; 528
you overwhelm them with the riches they desire. 529
They have many children,
and leave their wealth to their offspring. 530
17:15 As for me, because I am innocent I will see your face; 531
when I awake you will reveal yourself to me. 532
For the music director; by the Lord’s servant David, who sang 534 to the Lord the words of this song when 535 the Lord rescued him from the power 536 of all his enemies, including Saul. 537
18:1 He said: 538
“I love 539 you, Lord, my source of strength! 540
18:2 The Lord is my high ridge, 541 my stronghold, 542 my deliverer.
My God is my rocky summit where 543 I take shelter, 544
my shield, the horn that saves me, 545 and my refuge. 546
18:3 I called 547 to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, 548
and I was delivered from my enemies.
18:4 The waves 549 of death engulfed me,
the currents 550 of chaos 551 overwhelmed me. 552
18:5 The ropes of Sheol tightened around me, 553
the snares of death trapped me. 554
18:6 In my distress I called to the Lord;
I cried out to my God. 555
From his heavenly temple 556 he heard my voice;
he listened to my cry for help. 557
18:7 The earth heaved and shook; 558
the roots of the mountains 559 trembled; 560
they heaved because he was angry.
18:8 Smoke ascended from 561 his nose; 562
fire devoured as it came from his mouth; 563
he hurled down fiery coals. 564
18:9 He made the sky sink 565 as he descended;
a thick cloud was under his feet.
18:10 He mounted 566 a winged angel 567 and flew;
he glided 568 on the wings of the wind. 569
18:11 He shrouded himself in darkness, 570
in thick rain clouds. 571
18:12 From the brightness in front of him came
hail and fiery coals. 572
18:13 The Lord thundered 573 in 574 the sky;
the sovereign One 575 shouted. 576
18:14 He shot his 577 arrows and scattered them, 578
many lightning bolts 579 and routed them. 580
18:15 The depths 581 of the sea 582 were exposed;
the inner regions 583 of the world were uncovered
by 584 your battle cry, 585 Lord,
by the powerful breath from your nose. 586
18:16 He reached down 587 from above and took hold of me;
he pulled me from the surging water. 588
18:17 He rescued me from my strong enemy, 589
from those who hate me,
for they were too strong for me.
18:18 They confronted 590 me in my day of calamity,
but the Lord helped me. 591
18:19 He brought me out into a wide open place;
he delivered me because he was pleased with me. 592
18:20 The Lord repaid 593 me for my godly deeds; 594
he rewarded 595 my blameless behavior. 596
18:21 For I have obeyed the Lord’s commands; 597
I have not rebelled against my God. 598
18:22 For I am aware of all his regulations, 599
and I do not reject his rules. 600
18:23 I was innocent before him,
and kept myself from sinning. 601
18:24 The Lord rewarded me for my godly deeds; 602
he took notice of my blameless behavior. 603
18:25 You prove to be loyal 604 to one who is faithful; 605
you prove to be trustworthy 606 to one who is innocent. 607
18:26 You prove to be reliable 608 to one who is blameless,
but you prove to be deceptive 609 to one who is perverse. 610
18:27 For you deliver oppressed 611 people,
but you bring down those who have a proud look. 612
18:28 Indeed, 613 you are my lamp, Lord. 614
My God 615 illuminates the darkness around me. 616
18:29 Indeed, 617 with your help 618 I can charge against 619 an army; 620
by my God’s power 621 I can jump over a wall. 622
18:30 The one true God acts in a faithful manner; 623
the Lord’s promise 624 is reliable; 625
he is a shield to all who take shelter 626 in him.
18:31 Indeed, 627 who is God besides the Lord?
Who is a protector 628 besides our God? 629
18:32 The one true God 630 gives 631 me strength; 632
he removes 633 the obstacles in my way. 634
18:33 He gives me the agility of a deer; 635
he enables me to negotiate the rugged terrain. 636
18:34 He trains my hands for battle; 637
my arms can bend even the strongest bow. 638
18:35 You give me your protective shield; 639
your right hand supports me; 640
your willingness to help 641 enables me to prevail. 642
18:36 You widen my path; 643
my feet 644 do not slip.
18:37 I chase my enemies and catch 645 them;
I do not turn back until I wipe them out.
18:38 I beat them 646 to death; 647
they fall at my feet. 648
18:39 You give me strength 649 for battle;
you make my foes kneel before me. 650
18:40 You make my enemies retreat; 651
I destroy those who hate me. 652
18:41 They cry out, but there is no one to help them; 653
they cry out to the Lord, 654 but he does not answer them.
18:42 I grind them as fine windblown dust; 655
I beat them underfoot 656 like clay 657 in the streets.
18:43 You rescue me from a hostile army; 658
you make me 659 a leader of nations;
people over whom I had no authority are now my subjects. 660
18:44 When they hear of my exploits, they submit to me. 661
Foreigners are powerless 662 before me;
18:45 foreigners lose their courage; 663
they shake with fear 664 as they leave 665 their strongholds. 666
18:46 The Lord is alive! 667
My protector 668 is praiseworthy! 669
The God who delivers me 670 is exalted as king! 671
18:47 The one true God 672 completely vindicates me; 673
he makes nations submit to me. 674
18:48 He delivers me 675 from my enemies;
you snatch me away 676 from those who attack me; 677
you rescue me from violent men.
18:49 So I will give you thanks before the nations, 678 O Lord!
I will sing praises to you! 679
18:50 He 680 gives his chosen king magnificent victories; 681
he is faithful 682 to his chosen ruler, 683
to David and his descendants 684 forever.” 685
For the music director; a psalm of David.
19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; 687
the sky displays his handiwork. 688
19:2 Day after day it speaks out; 689
night after night it reveals his greatness. 690
19:3 There is no actual speech or word,
nor is its 691 voice literally heard.
19:4 Yet its voice 692 echoes 693 throughout the earth;
its 694 words carry 695 to the distant horizon. 696
In the sky 697 he has pitched a tent for the sun. 698
19:5 Like a bridegroom it emerges 699 from its chamber; 700
like a strong man it enjoys 701 running its course. 702
19:6 It emerges from the distant horizon, 703
and goes from one end of the sky to the other; 704
nothing can escape 705 its heat.
19:7 The law of the Lord is perfect
and preserves one’s life. 706
The rules set down by the Lord 707 are reliable 708
and impart wisdom to the inexperienced. 709
19:8 The Lord’s precepts are fair 710
and make one joyful. 711
The Lord’s commands 712 are pure 713
and give insight for life. 714
19:9 The commands to fear the Lord are right 715
and endure forever. 716
The judgments given by the Lord are trustworthy
and absolutely just. 717
19:10 They are of greater value 718 than gold,
than even a great amount of pure gold;
they bring greater delight 719 than honey,
than even the sweetest honey from a honeycomb.
19:11 Yes, your servant finds moral guidance there; 720
those who obey them receive a rich reward. 721
19:12 Who can know all his errors? 722
Please do not punish me for sins I am unaware of. 723
19:13 Moreover, keep me from committing flagrant 724 sins;
do not allow such sins to control me. 725
Then I will be blameless,
and innocent of blatant 726 rebellion.
19:14 May my words and my thoughts
be acceptable in your sight, 727
O Lord, my sheltering rock 728 and my redeemer. 729
For the music director; a psalm of David.
20:1 May the Lord answer 731 you 732 when you are in trouble; 733
may the God of Jacob 734 make you secure!
20:2 May he send you help from his temple; 735
from Zion may he give you support!
20:3 May he take notice 736 of your offerings;
may he accept 737 your burnt sacrifice! (Selah)
20:4 May he grant your heart’s desire; 738
may he bring all your plans to pass! 739
20:5 Then we will shout for joy over your 740 victory;
we will rejoice 741 in the name of our God!
May the Lord grant all your requests!
20:6 Now I am sure 742 that the Lord will deliver 743 his chosen king; 744
he will intervene for him 745 from his holy heavenly temple, 746
and display his mighty ability to deliver. 747
20:7 Some trust in chariots and others in horses, 748
but we 749 depend on 750 the Lord our God.
20:8 They will fall down, 751
but we 752 will stand firm. 753
20:9 The Lord will deliver the king; 754
he will answer us 755 when we call to him for help! 756
For the music director; a psalm of David.
21:1 O Lord, the king rejoices in the strength you give; 758
he takes great delight in the deliverance you provide. 759
21:2 You grant 760 him his heart’s desire;
you do not refuse his request. 761 (Selah)
21:3 For you bring him 762 rich 763 blessings; 764
you place a golden crown on his head.
21:4 He asked you to sustain his life, 765
and you have granted him long life and an enduring dynasty. 766
21:5 Your deliverance brings him great honor; 767
you give him majestic splendor. 768
21:6 For you grant him lasting blessings;
you give him great joy by allowing him into your presence. 769
21:7 For the king trusts 770 in the Lord,
and because of the sovereign Lord’s 771 faithfulness he is not upended. 772
21:8 You 773 prevail over 774 all your enemies;
your power is too great for those who hate you. 775
21:9 You burn them up like a fiery furnace 776 when you appear; 777
the Lord angrily devours them; 778
the fire consumes them.
21:10 You destroy their offspring 779 from the earth,
their descendants 780 from among the human race. 781
21:11 Yes, 782 they intend to do you harm; 783
they dream up a scheme, 784 but they do not succeed. 785
21:12 For you make them retreat 786
when you shoot your arrows at them. 787
21:13 Rise up, O Lord, in strength! 788
We will sing and praise 789 your power!
For the music director; according to the tune “Morning Doe;” 791 a psalm of David.
22:1 My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? 792
I groan in prayer, but help seems far away. 793
22:2 My God, I cry out during the day,
but you do not answer,
and during the night my prayers do not let up. 794
22:3 You are holy;
you sit as king receiving the praises of Israel. 795
22:4 In you our ancestors 796 trusted;
they trusted in you 797 and you rescued them.
22:5 To you they cried out, and they were saved;
in you they trusted and they were not disappointed. 798
22:6 But I 799 am a worm, 800 not a man; 801
people insult me and despise me. 802
22:7 All who see me taunt 803 me;
they mock me 804 and shake their heads. 805
22:8 They say, 806
“Commit yourself 807 to the Lord!
Let the Lord 808 rescue him!
Let the Lord 809 deliver him, for he delights in him.” 810
22:9 Yes, you are the one who brought me out 811 from the womb
and made me feel secure on my mother’s breasts.
22:10 I have been dependent on you since birth; 812
from the time I came out of my mother’s womb you have been my God. 813
22:11 Do not remain far away from me,
for trouble is near and I have no one to help me. 814
22:12 Many bulls 815 surround me;
powerful bulls of Bashan 816 hem me in.
22:13 They 817 open their mouths to devour me 818
like a roaring lion that rips its prey. 819
22:14 My strength drains away like water; 820
all my bones are dislocated;
my heart 821 is like wax;
it melts away inside me.
22:15 The roof of my mouth 822 is as dry as a piece of pottery;
my tongue sticks to my gums. 823
You 824 set me in the dust of death. 825
22:16 Yes, 826 wild dogs surround me –
a gang of evil men crowd around me;
like a lion they pin my hands and feet. 827
22:17 I can count 828 all my bones;
my enemies 829 are gloating over me in triumph. 830
22:18 They are dividing up my clothes among themselves;
they are rolling dice 831 for my garments.
22:19 But you, O Lord, do not remain far away!
You are my source of strength! 832 Hurry and help me! 833
22:20 Deliver me 834 from the sword!
Save 835 my life 836 from the claws 837 of the wild dogs!
22:21 Rescue me from the mouth of the lion, 838
and from the horns of the wild oxen! 839
You have answered me! 840
22:22 I will declare your name to my countrymen! 841
In the middle of the assembly I will praise you!
22:23 You loyal followers of the Lord, 842 praise him!
All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!
All you descendants of Israel, stand in awe of him! 843
22:24 For he did not despise or detest the suffering 844 of the oppressed; 845
he did not ignore him; 846
when he cried out to him, he responded. 847
22:25 You are the reason I offer praise 848 in the great assembly;
I will fulfill my promises before the Lord’s loyal followers. 849
22:26 Let the oppressed eat and be filled! 850
Let those who seek his help praise the Lord!
May you 851 live forever!
22:27 Let all the people of the earth acknowledge the Lord and turn to him! 852
Let all the nations 853 worship you! 854
22:28 For the Lord is king 855
and rules over the nations.
22:29 All of the thriving people 856 of the earth will join the celebration and worship; 857
all those who are descending into the grave 858 will bow before him,
including those who cannot preserve their lives. 859
22:30 A whole generation 860 will serve him;
they will tell the next generation about the sovereign Lord. 861
22:31 They will come and tell about his saving deeds; 862
they will tell a future generation what he has accomplished. 863
A psalm of David.
23:1 The Lord is my shepherd, 865
I lack nothing. 866
23:2 He takes me to lush pastures, 867
he leads me to refreshing water. 868
23:3 He restores my strength. 869
He leads me down 870 the right paths 871
for the sake of his reputation. 872
23:4 Even when I must walk through the darkest valley, 873
I fear 874 no danger, 875
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff reassure me. 876
23:5 You prepare a feast before me 877
in plain sight of my enemies.
You refresh 878 my head with oil;
my cup is completely full. 879
23:6 Surely your goodness and faithfulness 880 will pursue 881 me all my days, 882
and I will live in 883 the Lord’s house 884 for the rest of my life. 885
A psalm of David.
24:1 The Lord owns the earth and all it contains,
the world and all who live in it.
24:2 For he set its foundation upon the seas,
and established 887 it upon the ocean currents. 888
24:3 Who is allowed to ascend 889 the mountain of the Lord? 890
Who may go up to his holy dwelling place?
24:4 The one whose deeds are blameless
and whose motives are pure, 891
who does not lie, 892
or make promises with no intention of keeping them. 893
24:5 Such godly people are rewarded by the Lord, 894
and vindicated by the God who delivers them. 895
24:6 Such purity characterizes the people who seek his favor,
Jacob’s descendants, who pray to him. 896 (Selah)
24:7 Look up, 897 you gates!
Rise up, 898 you eternal doors!
Then the majestic king 899 will enter! 900
24:8 Who is this majestic king? 901
The Lord who is strong and mighty!
The Lord who is mighty in battle!
24:9 Look up, you gates!
Rise up, you eternal doors!
Then the majestic king will enter!
24:10 Who is this majestic king?
The Lord who commands armies! 902
He is the majestic king! (Selah)
By David.
25:1 O Lord, I come before you in prayer. 904
25:2 My God, I trust in you.
Please do not let me be humiliated;
do not let my enemies triumphantly rejoice over me!
25:3 Certainly none who rely on you will be humiliated.
Those who deal in treachery will be thwarted 905 and humiliated.
25:4 Make me understand your ways, O Lord!
Teach me your paths! 906
25:5 Guide me into your truth 907 and teach me.
For you are the God who delivers me;
on you I rely all day long.
25:6 Remember 908 your compassionate and faithful deeds, O Lord,
for you have always acted in this manner. 909
25:7 Do not hold against me 910 the sins of my youth 911 or my rebellious acts!
Because you are faithful to me, extend to me your favor, O Lord! 912
25:8 The Lord is both kind and fair; 913
that is why he teaches sinners the right way to live. 914
25:9 May he show 915 the humble what is right! 916
May he teach 917 the humble his way!
25:10 The Lord always proves faithful and reliable 918
to those who follow the demands of his covenant. 919
25:11 For the sake of your reputation, 920 O Lord,
forgive my sin, because it is great. 921
25:12 The Lord shows his faithful followers
the way they should live. 922
25:13 They experience his favor; 923
their descendants 924 inherit the land. 925
25:14 The Lord’s loyal followers receive his guidance, 926
and he reveals his covenantal demands to them. 927
25:15 I continually look to the Lord for help, 928
for he will free my feet from the enemy’s net. 929
25:16 Turn toward me and have mercy on me,
for I am alone 930 and oppressed!
25:17 Deliver me from my distress; 931
rescue me from my suffering! 932
25:18 See my pain and suffering!
Forgive all my sins! 933
25:19 Watch my enemies, for they outnumber me;
they hate me and want to harm me. 934
25:20 Protect me 935 and deliver me!
Please do not let me be humiliated,
for I have taken shelter in you!
25:21 May integrity and godliness protect me,
for I rely on you!
25:22 O God, rescue 936 Israel
from all their distress! 937
By David.
26:1 Vindicate me, O Lord,
for I have integrity, 939
and I trust in the Lord without wavering.
26:2 Examine me, O Lord, and test me!
Evaluate my inner thoughts and motives! 940
26:3 For I am ever aware of your faithfulness, 941
and your loyalty continually motivates me. 942
26:4 I do not associate 943 with deceitful men,
or consort 944 with those who are dishonest. 945
26:5 I hate the mob 946 of evil men,
and do not associate 947 with the wicked.
26:6 I maintain a pure lifestyle, 948
so I can appear before your altar, 949 O Lord,
26:7 to give you thanks, 950
and to tell about all your amazing deeds. 951
26:8 O Lord, I love the temple where you live, 952
the place where your splendor is revealed. 953
26:9 Do not sweep me away 954 with sinners,
or execute me along with violent people, 955
26:10 who are always ready to do wrong 956
or offer a bribe. 957
26:11 But I have integrity! 958
Rescue me 959 and have mercy on me!
26:12 I am safe, 960
and among the worshipers I will praise the Lord.
By David.
27:1 The Lord delivers and vindicates me! 962
I fear no one! 963
The Lord protects my life!
I am afraid of no one! 964
27:2 When evil men attack me 965
to devour my flesh, 966
when my adversaries and enemies attack me, 967
they stumble and fall. 968
27:3 Even when an army is deployed against me,
I do not fear. 969
Even when war is imminent, 970
I remain confident. 971
27:4 I have asked the Lord for one thing –
this is what I desire!
I want to live 972 in the Lord’s house 973 all the days of my life,
so I can gaze at the splendor 974 of the Lord
and contemplate in his temple.
27:5 He will surely 975 give me shelter 976 in the day of danger; 977
he will hide me in his home; 978
he will place me 979 on an inaccessible rocky summit. 980
27:6 Now I will triumph
over my enemies who surround me! 981
I will offer sacrifices in his dwelling place and shout for joy! 982
I will sing praises to the Lord!
27:7 Hear me, 983 O Lord, when I cry out!
Have mercy on me and answer me!
27:8 My heart tells me to pray to you, 984
and I do pray to you, O Lord. 985
27:9 Do not reject me! 986
Do not push your servant away in anger!
You are my deliverer! 987
Do not forsake or abandon me,
O God who vindicates me!
27:10 Even if my father and mother abandoned me, 988
the Lord would take me in. 989
27:11 Teach me how you want me to live; 990
lead me along a level path 991 because of those who wait to ambush me! 992
27:12 Do not turn me over to my enemies, 993
for false witnesses who want to destroy me testify against me. 994
27:13 Where would I be if I did not believe I would experience
the Lord’s favor in the land of the living? 995
27:14 Rely 996 on the Lord!
Be strong and confident! 997
Rely on the Lord!
By David.
28:1 To you, O Lord, I cry out!
My protector, 999 do not ignore me! 1000
If you do not respond to me, 1001
I will join 1002 those who are descending into the grave. 1003
28:2 Hear my plea for mercy when I cry out to you for help,
when I lift my hands 1004 toward your holy temple! 1005
28:3 Do not drag me away with evil men,
with those who behave wickedly, 1006
who talk so friendly to their neighbors, 1007
while they plan to harm them! 1008
28:4 Pay them back for their evil deeds!
Pay them back for what they do!
Punish them! 1009
28:5 For they do not understand the Lord’s actions,
or the way he carries out justice. 1010
The Lord 1011 will permanently demolish them. 1012
28:6 The Lord deserves praise, 1013
for he has heard my plea for mercy! 1014
28:7 The Lord strengthens and protects me; 1015
I trust in him with all my heart. 1016
I am rescued 1017 and my heart is full of joy; 1018
I will sing to him in gratitude. 1019
28:8 The Lord strengthens his people; 1020
he protects and delivers his chosen king. 1021
28:9 Deliver your people!
Empower 1022 the nation that belongs to you! 1023
Care for them like a shepherd and carry them in your arms 1024 at all times! 1025
A psalm of David.
29:1 Acknowledge the Lord, you heavenly beings, 1027
acknowledge the Lord’s majesty and power! 1028
29:2 Acknowledge the majesty of the Lord’s reputation! 1029
Worship the Lord in holy attire! 1030
29:3 The Lord’s shout is heard over the water; 1031
the majestic God thunders, 1032
the Lord appears over the surging water. 1033
29:4 The Lord’s shout is powerful, 1034
the Lord’s shout is majestic. 1035
29:5 The Lord’s shout breaks 1036 the cedars,
the Lord shatters 1037 the cedars of Lebanon. 1038
29:6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf
and Sirion 1039 like a young ox. 1040
29:7 The Lord’s shout strikes 1041 with flaming fire. 1042
29:8 The Lord’s shout shakes 1043 the wilderness,
the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. 1044
29:9 The Lord’s shout bends 1045 the large trees 1046
and strips 1047 the leaves from the forests. 1048
Everyone in his temple says, “Majestic!” 1049
29:10 The Lord sits enthroned over the engulfing waters, 1050
the Lord sits enthroned 1051 as the eternal king.
29:11 The Lord gives 1052 his people strength; 1053
the Lord grants his people security. 1054
A psalm – a song used at the dedication of the temple; 1056 by David.
30:1 I will praise you, O Lord, for you lifted me up, 1057
and did not allow my enemies to gloat 1058 over me.
30:2 O Lord my God,
I cried out to you and you healed me. 1059
30:3 O Lord, you pulled me 1060 up from Sheol;
you rescued me from among those descending into the grave. 1061
30:4 Sing to the Lord, you faithful followers 1062 of his;
give thanks to his holy name. 1063
30:5 For his anger lasts only a brief moment,
and his good favor restores one’s life. 1064
One may experience sorrow during the night,
but joy arrives in the morning. 1065
30:6 In my self-confidence I said,
“I will never be upended.” 1066
30:7 O Lord, in your good favor you made me secure. 1067
Then you rejected me 1068 and I was terrified.
30:8 To you, O Lord, I cried out;
I begged the Lord for mercy: 1069
30:9 “What 1070 profit is there in taking my life, 1071
in my descending into the Pit? 1072
Can the dust of the grave 1073 praise you?
Can it declare your loyalty? 1074
30:10 Hear, O Lord, and have mercy on me!
O Lord, deliver me!” 1075
30:11 Then you turned my lament into dancing;
you removed my sackcloth and covered me with joy. 1076
30:12 So now 1077 my heart 1078 will sing to you and not be silent;
O Lord my God, I will always 1079 give thanks to you.
For the music director; a psalm of David.
31:1 In you, O Lord, I have taken shelter!
Never let me be humiliated!
Vindicate me by rescuing me! 1081
31:2 Listen to me! 1082
Quickly deliver me!
Be my protector and refuge, 1083
a stronghold where I can be safe! 1084
31:3 For you are my high ridge 1085 and my stronghold;
for the sake of your own reputation 1086 you lead me and guide me. 1087
31:4 You will free me 1088 from the net they hid for me,
for you are my place of refuge.
31:5 Into your hand I entrust my life; 1089
you will rescue 1090 me, O Lord, the faithful God.
31:6 I hate those who serve worthless idols, 1091
but I trust in the Lord.
31:7 I will be happy and rejoice in your faithfulness,
because you notice my pain
and you are aware of how distressed I am. 1092
31:8 You do not deliver me over to the power of the enemy;
you enable me to stand 1093 in a wide open place.
31:9 Have mercy on me, for I am in distress!
My eyes grow dim 1094 from suffering. 1095
I have lost my strength. 1096
31:10 For my life nears its end in pain;
my years draw to a close as I groan. 1097
My strength fails me because of 1098 my sin,
and my bones become brittle. 1099
31:11 Because of all my enemies, people disdain me; 1100
my neighbors are appalled by my suffering 1101 –
those who know me are horrified by my condition; 1102
those who see me in the street run away from me.
31:12 I am forgotten, like a dead man no one thinks about; 1103
I am regarded as worthless, like a broken jar. 1104
31:13 For I hear what so many are saying, 1105
the terrifying news that comes from every direction. 1106
When they plot together against me,
they figure out how they can take my life.
31:14 But I trust in you, O Lord!
I declare, “You are my God!”
31:15 You determine my destiny! 1107
Rescue me from the power of my enemies and those who chase me.
31:16 Smile 1108 on your servant!
Deliver me because of your faithfulness!
31:17 O Lord, do not let me be humiliated,
for I call out to you!
May evil men be humiliated!
May they go wailing to the grave! 1109
31:18 May lying lips be silenced –
lips 1110 that speak defiantly against the innocent 1111
with arrogance and contempt!
31:19 How great is your favor, 1112
which you store up for your loyal followers! 1113
In plain sight of everyone you bestow it on those who take shelter 1114 in you. 1115
31:20 You hide them with you, where they are safe from the attacks 1116 of men; 1117
you conceal them in a shelter, where they are safe from slanderous attacks. 1118
31:21 The Lord deserves praise 1119
for he demonstrated his amazing faithfulness to me when I was besieged by enemies. 1120
31:22 I jumped to conclusions and said, 1121
“I am cut off from your presence!” 1122
But you heard my plea for mercy when I cried out to you for help.
31:23 Love the Lord, all you faithful followers 1123 of his!
The Lord protects those who have integrity,
but he pays back in full the one who acts arrogantly. 1124
31:24 Be strong and confident, 1125
all you who wait on the Lord!
By David; a well-written song. 1127
32:1 How blessed 1128 is the one whose rebellious acts are forgiven, 1129
whose sin is pardoned! 1130
32:2 How blessed is the one 1131 whose wrongdoing the Lord does not punish, 1132
in whose spirit there is no deceit. 1133
32:3 When I refused to confess my sin, 1134
my whole body wasted away, 1135
while I groaned in pain all day long.
32:4 For day and night you tormented me; 1136
you tried to destroy me 1137 in the intense heat 1138 of summer. 1139 (Selah)
32:5 Then I confessed my sin;
I no longer covered up my wrongdoing.
I said, “I will confess 1140 my rebellious acts to the Lord.”
And then you forgave my sins. 1141 (Selah)
32:6 For this reason every one of your faithful followers 1142 should pray to you
while there is a window of opportunity. 1143
Certainly 1144 when the surging water 1145 rises,
it will not reach them. 1146
32:7 You are my hiding place;
you protect me from distress.
You surround me with shouts of joy from those celebrating deliverance. 1147 (Selah)
32:8 I will instruct and teach you 1148 about how you should live. 1149
I will advise you as I look you in the eye. 1150
32:9 Do not be 1151 like an unintelligent horse or mule, 1152
which will not obey you
unless they are controlled by a bridle and bit. 1153
32:10 An evil person suffers much pain, 1154
but the Lord’s faithfulness overwhelms the one who trusts in him. 1155
32:11 Rejoice in the Lord and be happy, you who are godly!
Shout for joy, all you who are morally upright! 1156
33:1 You godly ones, shout for joy because of the Lord!
It is appropriate for the morally upright to offer him praise.
33:2 Give thanks to the Lord with the harp!
Sing to him to the accompaniment of a ten-stringed instrument!
33:3 Sing to him a new song! 1158
Play skillfully as you shout out your praises to him! 1159
33:4 For 1160 the Lord’s decrees 1161 are just, 1162
and everything he does is fair. 1163
33:5 The Lord promotes 1164 equity and justice;
the Lord’s faithfulness extends throughout the earth. 1165
33:6 By the Lord’s decree 1166 the heavens were made;
by a mere word from his mouth all the stars in the sky were created. 1167
33:7 He piles up the water of the sea; 1168
he puts the oceans 1169 in storehouses.
33:8 Let the whole earth fear 1170 the Lord!
Let all who live in the world stand in awe of him!
33:9 For he spoke, and it 1171 came into existence,
he issued the decree, 1172 and it stood firm.
33:10 The Lord frustrates 1173 the decisions of the nations;
he nullifies the plans 1174 of the peoples.
33:11 The Lord’s decisions stand forever;
his plans abide throughout the ages. 1175
33:12 How blessed 1176 is the nation whose God is the Lord,
the people whom he has chosen to be his special possession. 1177
33:13 The Lord watches 1178 from heaven;
he sees all people. 1179
33:14 From the place where he lives he looks carefully
at all the earth’s inhabitants.
33:15 He is the one who forms every human heart, 1180
and takes note of all their actions.
33:16 No king is delivered by his vast army;
a warrior is not saved by his great might.
33:17 A horse disappoints those who trust in it for victory; 1181
despite its great strength, it cannot deliver.
33:18 Look, the Lord takes notice of his loyal followers, 1182
those who wait for him to demonstrate his faithfulness 1183
33:19 by saving their lives from death 1184
and sustaining them during times of famine. 1185
33:20 We 1186 wait for the Lord;
he is our deliverer 1187 and shield. 1188
33:21 For our hearts rejoice in him,
for we trust in his holy name.
33:22 May we experience your faithfulness, O Lord, 1189
for 1190 we wait for you.
Written by David, when he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, causing the king to send him away. 1192
34:1 I will praise 1193 the Lord at all times;
my mouth will continually praise him. 1194
34:2 I will boast 1195 in the Lord;
let the oppressed hear and rejoice! 1196
34:3 Magnify the Lord with me!
Let’s praise 1197 his name together!
34:4 I sought the Lord’s help 1198 and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
34:5 Those who look to him for help are happy;
their faces are not ashamed. 1199
34:6 This oppressed man cried out and the Lord heard;
he saved him 1200 from all his troubles.
34:7 The Lord’s angel camps around
the Lord’s 1201 loyal followers 1202 and delivers them. 1203
34:8 Taste 1204 and see that the Lord is good!
How blessed 1205 is the one 1206 who takes shelter in him! 1207
34:9 Remain loyal to 1208 the Lord, you chosen people of his, 1209
for his loyal followers 1210 lack nothing!
34:10 Even young lions sometimes lack food and are hungry,
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
34:11 Come children! Listen to me!
I will teach you what it means to fear the Lord. 1211
34:12 Do you want to really live? 1212
Would you love to live a long, happy life? 1213
34:13 Then make sure you don’t speak evil words 1214
or use deceptive speech! 1215
34:14 Turn away from evil and do what is right! 1216
Strive for peace and promote it! 1217
34:15 The Lord pays attention to the godly
and hears their cry for help. 1218
34:16 But the Lord opposes evildoers
and wipes out all memory of them from the earth. 1219
34:17 The godly 1220 cry out and the Lord hears;
he saves them from all their troubles. 1221
34:18 The Lord is near the brokenhearted;
he delivers 1222 those who are discouraged. 1223
34:19 The godly 1224 face many dangers, 1225
but the Lord saves 1226 them 1227 from each one of them.
34:20 He protects 1228 all his bones; 1229
not one of them is broken. 1230
34:21 Evil people self-destruct; 1231
those who hate the godly are punished. 1232
34:22 The Lord rescues his servants; 1233
all who take shelter in him escape punishment. 1234
By David.
35:1 O Lord, fight 1236 those who fight with me!
Attack those who attack me!
35:2 Grab your small shield and large shield, 1237
and rise up to help me!
35:3 Use your spear and lance 1238 against 1239 those who chase me!
Assure me with these words: 1240 “I am your deliverer!”
35:4 May those who seek my life be embarrassed and humiliated!
May those who plan to harm me be turned back and ashamed! 1241
35:5 May they be 1242 like wind-driven chaff,
as the Lord’s angel 1243 attacks them! 1244
35:6 May their path be 1245 dark and slippery,
as the Lord’s angel chases them!
35:7 I did not harm them, but they hid a net to catch me
and dug a pit to trap me. 1246
35:8 Let destruction take them by surprise! 1247
Let the net they hid catch them!
Let them fall into destruction! 1248
35:9 Then I will rejoice in the Lord
and be happy because of his deliverance. 1249
35:10 With all my strength I will say, 1250
“O Lord, who can compare to you?
You rescue 1251 the oppressed from those who try to overpower them; 1252
the oppressed and needy from those who try to rob them.” 1253
35:11 Violent men perjure themselves, 1254
and falsely accuse me. 1255
35:12 They repay me evil for the good I have done; 1256
I am overwhelmed with sorrow. 1257
35:13 When they were sick, I wore sackcloth, 1258
and refrained from eating food. 1259
(If I am lying, may my prayers go unanswered!) 1260
35:14 I mourned for them as I would for a friend or my brother. 1261
I bowed down 1262 in sorrow as if I were mourning for my mother. 1263
35:15 But when I stumbled, they rejoiced and gathered together;
they gathered together to ambush me. 1264
They tore at me without stopping to rest. 1265
35:16 When I tripped, they taunted me relentlessly, 1266
and tried to bite me. 1267
35:17 O Lord, how long are you going to just stand there and watch this? 1268
Rescue 1269 me 1270 from their destructive attacks;
guard my life 1271 from the young lions!
35:18 Then I will give you thanks in the great assembly; 1272
I will praise you before a large crowd of people! 1273
35:19 Do not let those who are my enemies for no reason 1274 gloat 1275 over me!
Do not let those who hate me without cause carry out their wicked schemes! 1276
35:20 For they do not try to make peace with others, 1277
but plan ways to deceive those who are unsuspecting. 1278
35:21 They are ready to devour me; 1279
they say, “Aha! Aha! We’ve got you!” 1280
35:22 But you take notice, 1281 Lord!
O Lord, do not remain far away from me!
35:23 Rouse yourself, wake up 1282 and vindicate me! 1283
My God and Lord, defend my just cause! 1284
35:24 Vindicate me by your justice, O Lord my God!
Do not let them gloat 1285 over me!
35:25 Do not let them say to themselves, 1286 “Aha! We have what we wanted!” 1287
Do not let them say, “We have devoured him!”
35:26 May those who want to harm me be totally embarrassed and ashamed! 1288
May those who arrogantly taunt me be covered with shame and humiliation! 1289
35:27 May those who desire my vindication shout for joy and rejoice!
May they continually say, 1290 “May the Lord be praised, 1291 for he wants his servant to be secure.” 1292
35:28 Then I will tell others about your justice, 1293
and praise you all day long. 1294
For the music director; written by the Lord’s servant, David; an oracle. 1296
36:1 An evil man is rebellious to the core. 1297
He does not fear God, 1298
36:2 for he is too proud
to recognize and give up his sin. 1299
36:3 The words he speaks are sinful and deceitful;
he does not care about doing what is wise and right. 1300
36:4 He plans ways to sin while he lies in bed;
he is committed to a sinful lifestyle; 1301
he does not reject what is evil. 1302
36:5 O Lord, your loyal love reaches to the sky; 1303
your faithfulness to the clouds. 1304
36:6 Your justice is like the highest mountains, 1305
your fairness like the deepest sea;
you preserve 1306 mankind and the animal kingdom. 1307
36:7 How precious 1308 is your loyal love, O God!
The human race finds shelter under your wings. 1309
36:8 They are filled with food from your house,
and you allow them to drink from the river of your delicacies.
36:9 For you are the one who gives
and sustains life. 1310
36:10 Extend 1311 your loyal love to your faithful followers, 1312
and vindicate 1313 the morally upright! 1314
36:11 Do not let arrogant men overtake me,
or let evil men make me homeless! 1315
36:12 I can see the evildoers! They have fallen! 1316
They have been knocked down and are unable to get up! 1317
By David.
37:1 Do not fret 1319 when wicked men seem to succeed! 1320
Do not envy evildoers!
37:2 For they will quickly dry up like grass,
and wither away like plants. 1321
37:3 Trust in the Lord and do what is right!
Settle in the land and maintain your integrity! 1322
37:4 Then you will take delight in the Lord, 1323
and he will answer your prayers. 1324
37:5 Commit your future to the Lord! 1325
Trust in him, and he will act on your behalf. 1326
37:6 He will vindicate you in broad daylight,
and publicly defend your just cause. 1327
37:7 Wait patiently for the Lord! 1328
Wait confidently 1329 for him!
Do not fret over the apparent success of a sinner, 1330
a man who carries out wicked schemes!
37:8 Do not be angry and frustrated! 1331
Do not fret! That only leads to trouble!
37:9 Wicked men 1332 will be wiped out, 1333
but those who rely on the Lord are the ones who will possess the land. 1334
37:10 Evil men will soon disappear; 1335
you will stare at the spot where they once were, but they will be gone. 1336
37:11 But the oppressed will possess the land
and enjoy great prosperity. 1337
37:12 Evil men plot against the godly 1338
and viciously attack them. 1339
37:13 The Lord laughs in disgust 1340 at them,
for he knows that their day is coming. 1341
37:14 Evil men draw their swords
and prepare their bows,
to bring down 1342 the oppressed and needy,
and to slaughter those who are godly. 1343
37:15 Their swords will pierce 1344 their own hearts,
and their bows will be broken.
37:16 The little bit that a godly man owns is better than
the wealth of many evil men, 1345
37:17 for evil men will lose their power, 1346
but the Lord sustains 1347 the godly.
37:18 The Lord watches over the innocent day by day 1348
and they possess a permanent inheritance. 1349
37:19 They will not be ashamed when hard times come; 1350
when famine comes they will have enough to eat. 1351
37:20 But 1352 evil men will die;
the Lord’s enemies will be incinerated 1353 –
they will go up in smoke. 1354
37:21 Evil men borrow, but do not repay their debt,
but the godly show compassion and are generous. 1355
37:22 Surely 1356 those favored by the Lord 1357 will possess the land,
but those rejected 1358 by him will be wiped out. 1359
37:23 The Lord grants success to the one
whose behavior he finds commendable. 1360
37:24 Even if 1361 he trips, he will not fall headlong, 1362
for the Lord holds 1363 his hand.
37:25 I was once young, now I am old.
I have never seen a godly man abandoned,
or his children 1364 forced to search for food. 1365
37:26 All day long he shows compassion and lends to others, 1366
and his children 1367 are blessed.
37:27 Turn away from evil! Do what is right! 1368
Then you will enjoy lasting security. 1369
37:28 For the Lord promotes 1370 justice,
and never abandons 1371 his faithful followers.
They are permanently secure, 1372
but the children 1373 of evil men are wiped out. 1374
37:29 The godly will possess the land
and will dwell in it permanently.
37:30 The godly speak wise words
and promote justice. 1375
37:31 The law of their God controls their thinking; 1376
their 1377 feet do not slip.
37:32 Evil men set an ambush for the godly
and try to kill them. 1378
37:33 But the Lord does not surrender the godly,
or allow them to be condemned in a court of law. 1379
37:34 Rely 1380 on the Lord! Obey his commands! 1381
Then he will permit you 1382 to possess the land;
you will see the demise of evil men. 1383
37:35 I have seen ruthless evil men 1384
growing in influence, like a green tree grows in its native soil. 1385
37:36 But then one passes by, and suddenly they have disappeared! 1386
I looked for them, but they could not be found.
37:37 Take note of the one who has integrity! Observe the godly! 1387
For the one who promotes peace has a future. 1388
37:38 Sinful rebels are totally destroyed; 1389
evil men have no future. 1390
37:39 But the Lord delivers the godly; 1391
he protects them in times of trouble. 1392
37:40 The Lord helps them and rescues them;
he rescues them from evil men and delivers them, 1393
for they seek his protection.
A psalm of David, written to get God’s attention. 1395
38:1 O Lord, do not continue to rebuke me in your anger!
Do not continue to punish me in your raging fury! 1396
38:2 For your arrows pierce 1397 me,
and your hand presses me down. 1398
38:3 My whole body is sick because of your judgment; 1399
I am deprived of health because of my sin. 1400
38:4 For my sins overwhelm me; 1401
like a heavy load, they are too much for me to bear.
38:5 My wounds 1402 are infected and starting to smell, 1403
because of my foolish sins. 1404
38:6 I am dazed 1405 and completely humiliated; 1406
all day long I walk around mourning.
38:7 For I am overcome with shame 1407
and my whole body is sick. 1408
38:8 I am numb with pain and severely battered; 1409
I groan loudly because of the anxiety I feel. 1410
38:9 O Lord, you understand my heart’s desire; 1411
my groaning is not hidden from you.
38:10 My heart beats quickly;
my strength leaves me;
I can hardly see. 1412
38:11 Because of my condition, 1413 even my friends and acquaintances keep their distance; 1414
my neighbors stand far away. 1415
38:12 Those who seek my life try to entrap me; 1416
those who want to harm me speak destructive words;
all day long they say deceitful things.
38:13 But I am like a deaf man – I hear nothing;
I am like a mute who cannot speak. 1417
38:14 I am like a man who cannot hear
and is incapable of arguing his defense. 1418
38:15 Yet 1419 I wait for you, O Lord!
You will respond, O Lord, my God!
38:16 I have prayed for deliverance, because otherwise they will gloat over me; 1420
when my foot slips they will arrogantly taunt me. 1421
38:17 For I am about to stumble,
and I am in constant pain. 1422
38:18 Yes, 1423 I confess my wrongdoing,
and I am concerned about my sins.
38:19 But those who are my enemies for no reason are numerous; 1424
those who hate me without cause outnumber me. 1425
38:20 They repay me evil for the good I have done;
though I have tried to do good to them, they hurl accusations at me. 1426
38:21 Do not abandon me, O Lord!
My God, do not remain far away from me!
38:22 Hurry and help me, 1427 O Lord, my deliverer!
For the music director, Jeduthun; a psalm of David.
39:1 I decided, 1429 “I will watch what I say
and make sure I do not sin with my tongue. 1430
I will put a muzzle over my mouth
while in the presence of an evil man.” 1431
39:2 I was stone silent; 1432
I held back the urge to speak. 1433
My frustration grew; 1434
39:3 my anxiety intensified. 1435
As I thought about it, I became impatient. 1436
Finally I spoke these words: 1437
39:4 “O Lord, help me understand my mortality
and the brevity of life! 1438
Let me realize how quickly my life will pass! 1439
39:5 Look, you make my days short-lived, 1440
and my life span is nothing from your perspective. 1441
Surely all people, even those who seem secure, are nothing but vapor. 1442
39:6 Surely people go through life as mere ghosts. 1443
Surely they accumulate worthless wealth
without knowing who will eventually haul it away.” 1444
39:7 But now, O Lord, upon what am I relying?
You are my only hope! 1445
39:8 Deliver me from all my sins of rebellion!
Do not make me the object of fools’ insults!
39:9 I am silent and cannot open my mouth
because of what you have done. 1446
39:10 Please stop wounding me! 1447
You have almost beaten me to death! 1448
39:11 You severely discipline people for their sins; 1449
like a moth you slowly devour their strength. 1450
Surely all people are a mere vapor. (Selah)
39:12 Hear my prayer, O Lord!
Listen to my cry for help!
Do not ignore my sobbing! 1451
For I am dependent on you, like one residing outside his native land;
I am at your mercy, just as all my ancestors were. 1452
39:13 Turn your angry gaze away from me, so I can be happy
before I pass away. 1453
For the music director; By David, a psalm.
40:1 I relied completely 1455 on the Lord,
and he turned toward me
and heard my cry for help.
40:2 He lifted me out of the watery pit, 1456
out of the slimy mud. 1457
He placed my feet on a rock
and gave me secure footing. 1458
40:3 He gave me reason to sing a new song, 1459
praising our God. 1460
May many see what God has done,
so that they might swear allegiance to him and trust in the Lord! 1461
40:4 How blessed 1462 is the one 1463 who trusts in the Lord 1464
and does not seek help from 1465 the proud or from liars! 1466
40:5 O Lord, my God, you have accomplished many things;
you have done amazing things and carried out your purposes for us. 1467
No one can thwart you! 1468
I want to declare them and talk about them,
but they are too numerous to recount! 1469
40:6 Receiving sacrifices and offerings are not your primary concern. 1470
You make that quite clear to me! 1471
You do not ask for burnt sacrifices and sin offerings.
40:7 Then I say,
“Look! I come!
What is written in the scroll pertains to me. 1472
40:8 I want to do what pleases you, 1473 my God.
Your law dominates my thoughts.” 1474
40:9 I have told the great assembly 1475 about your justice. 1476
Look! I spare no words! 1477
O Lord, you know this is true.
40:10 I have not failed to tell about your justice; 1478
I spoke about your reliability and deliverance;
I have not neglected to tell the great assembly about your loyal love and faithfulness. 1479
40:11 O Lord, you do not withhold 1480 your compassion from me.
May your loyal love and faithfulness continually protect me! 1481
40:12 For innumerable dangers 1482 surround me.
My sins overtake me
so I am unable to see;
they outnumber the hairs of my head
so my strength fails me. 1483
40:13 Please be willing, O Lord, to rescue me!
O Lord, hurry and help me! 1484
40:14 May those who are trying to snatch away my life
be totally embarrassed and ashamed! 1485
May those who want to harm me
be turned back and ashamed! 1486
40:15 May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”
be humiliated 1487 and disgraced! 1488
40:16 May all those who seek you be happy and rejoice in you!
May those who love to experience 1489 your deliverance say continually, 1490
“May the Lord be praised!” 1491
40:17 I am oppressed and needy! 1492
May the Lord pay attention to me! 1493
You are my helper and my deliverer!
O my God, do not delay!
For the music director; a psalm of David.
41:1 How blessed 1495 is the one who treats the poor properly! 1496
When trouble comes, 1497 the Lord delivers him. 1498
41:2 May the Lord protect him and save his life! 1499
May he be blessed 1500 in the land!
Do not turn him over 1501 to his enemies! 1502
41:3 The Lord supports 1503 him on his sickbed;
you completely heal him from his illness. 1504
41:4 As for me, I said: 1505
“O Lord, have mercy on me!
Heal me, for I have sinned against you!
41:5 My enemies ask this cruel question about me, 1506
‘When will he finally die and be forgotten?’ 1507
41:6 When someone comes to visit, 1508 he pretends to be friendly; 1509
he thinks of ways to defame me, 1510
and when he leaves he slanders me. 1511
41:7 All who hate me whisper insults about me to one another; 1512
they plan ways to harm me.
41:8 They say, 1513
‘An awful disease 1514 overwhelms him, 1515
and now that he is bed-ridden he will never recover.’ 1516
41:9 Even my close friend 1517 whom I trusted,
he who shared meals with me, has turned against me. 1518
41:10 As for you, O Lord, have mercy on me and raise me up,
so I can pay them back!” 1519
41:11 By this 1520 I know that you are pleased with me,
for my enemy does 1521 not triumph 1522 over me.
41:12 As for me, you uphold 1523 me because of my integrity; 1524
you allow 1525 me permanent access to your presence. 1526
41:13 The Lord God of Israel deserves praise 1527
in the future and forevermore! 1528
We agree! We agree! 1529