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BOOK
I
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1
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2
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3
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4
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5
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6
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7
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8
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9
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10
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11
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12
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13
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14
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15
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16
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17
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18
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19
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20
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21
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22
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23
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24
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25
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26
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27
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28
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29
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30
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31
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32
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33
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34
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35
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36
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37
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38
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39
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40
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41
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BOOK
II
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42
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43
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44
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45
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46
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47
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48
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49
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50
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51
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52
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53
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54
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55
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56
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57
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58
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59
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60
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61
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62
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63
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64
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65
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66
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67
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68
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69
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70
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71
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72
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BOOK
III
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73
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74
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75
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76
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77
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78
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79
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80
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81
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82
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83
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84
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85
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86
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87
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88
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89
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BOOK
IV
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90
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91
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92
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93
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94
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95
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96
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97
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98
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99
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100
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101
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102
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103
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104
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105
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106
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BOOK
V
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107
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108
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109
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110
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111
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112
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113
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114
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115
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116
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117
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118
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119
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120
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121
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122
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123
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124
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125
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126
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127
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128
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129
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130
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131
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132
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133
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134
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135
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136
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137
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138
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139
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140
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141
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142
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143
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144
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145
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146
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147
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148
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149
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150
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Blessed
is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands
in
the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his
delight
is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and
night.
He is like a tree planted by streams of water, that
yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.
In
all that he does, he prospers.
The wicked are not so, but are
like chaff which the wind drives away.
Therefore the wicked will
not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the
righteous; for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the
way
of the wicked will perish.
Why
do the nations conspire, and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings
of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together,
against the LORD and his anointed, saying, "Let us burst their
bonds asunder, and cast their cords from us."
He
who sits in the heavens laughs; the LORD has them in derision.
Then
he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury,
saying, "I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill."
I
will tell of the decree of the LORD: He said to me, "You are my
son, today I have begotten you.
Ask of me, and I will make the
nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.
You
shall break them with a rod of iron, and dash them in pieces like
a
potter's vessel."
Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be
warned, O rulers of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear, with
trembling kiss his feet, lest he be angry, and you perish in the
way;
for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take
refuge in him.
A
Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.
O LORD, how
many are my foes!
Many are rising against me; many are saying of
me, there is no help for him in God.
Forever.
But thou, O
LORD, art a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.
I
cry aloud to the LORD, and he answers me from his holy
hill.
Forever.
I lie down and sleep; I wake again, for the
LORD sustains me.
I am not afraid of ten thousands of people who
have set themselves against me round about.
Arise, O
LORD!
Deliver me, O my God!
For thou dost smite all my
enemies on the cheek, thou dost break the teeth of the
wicked.
Deliverance belongs to the LORD; thy blessing be upon
thy people!
Forever.
Answer
me when I call, O God of my right!
Thou hast given me room when
I was in distress.
Be gracious to me, and hear my prayer.
O
men, how long shall my honor suffer shame?
How long will you
love vain words, and seek after lies?
Forever.
But know
that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD hears
when I call to him.
Be angry, but sin not; commune with your own
hearts on your beds, and be silent.
Forever.
Offer right
sacrifices, and put your trust in the LORD.
There are many who
say, "O that we might see some good!
Lift up the light of
thy countenance upon us, O LORD!"
Thou hast put more joy in
my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.
In
peace I will both lie down and sleep; for thou alone, O LORD,
makest
me dwell in safety.
Give
ear to my words, O LORD; give heed to my groaning.
Hearken to
the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to thee do I pray.
O
LORD, in the morning thou dost hear my voice; in the morning I
prepare a sacrifice for thee, and watch.
For thou art not a God
who delights in wickedness; evil may not sojourn with thee.
The
boastful may not stand before thy eyes; thou hatest all
evildoers.
Thou destroyest those who speak lies; the LORD abhors
bloodthirsty and deceitful men.
But I through the abundance of
thy steadfast love will enter thy house, I will worship toward thy
holy temple in the fear of thee.
Lead me, O LORD, in thy
righteousness because of my enemies; make thy way straight before
me.
For there is no truth in their mouth; their heart is
destruction, their throat is an open sepulchre, they flatter with
their tongue.
Make them bear their guilt, O God; let them fall
by their own counsels; because of their many transgressions cast
them
out, for they have rebelled against thee.
But let all who take
refuge in thee rejoice, let them ever sing for joy; and do thou
defend them, that those who love thy name may exult in thee.
For
thou dost bless the righteous, O LORD; thou dost cover him with
favor
as with a shield.
O
LORD, rebuke me not in thy anger, nor chasten me in thy wrath.
Be
gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing; O LORD, heal me, for
my
bones are troubled.
My soul also is sorely troubled.
But
thou, O LORD--how long?
Turn, O LORD, save my life; deliver me
for the sake of thy steadfast love.
For in death there is no
remembrance of thee; in Sheol who can give thee praise?
I am
weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I
drench my couch with my weeping.
My eye wastes away because of
grief, it grows weak because of all my foes.
Depart from me, all
you workers of evil; for the LORD has heard the sound of my
weeping.
The LORD has heard my supplication; the LORD accepts my
prayer.
All my enemies shall be ashamed and sorely troubled;
they shall turn back, and be put to shame in a moment.
A
Shiggaion of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning Cush a
Benjaminite.
O LORD my God, in thee do I take refuge; save me
from all my pursuers, and deliver me, lest like a lion they rend
me,
dragging me away, with none to rescue.
O LORD my God, if I have
done this, if there is wrong in my hands, if I have requited my
friend with evil or plundered my enemy without cause, let the
enemy
pursue me and overtake me, and let him trample my life to the
ground,
and lay my soul in the dust.
Forever.
Arise, O LORD, in thy
anger, lift thyself up against the fury of my enemies; awake, O my
God; thou hast appointed a judgment.
Let the assembly of the
peoples be gathered about thee; and over it take thy seat on
high.
The LORD judges the peoples; judge me, O LORD, according
to my righteousness and according to the integrity that is in me.
O
let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish thou the
righteous, thou who triest the minds and hearts, thou righteous
God.
My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart.
God
is a righteous judge, and a God who has indignation every day.
If
a man does not repent, God will whet his sword; he has bent and
strung his bow; he has prepared his deadly weapons, making his
arrows
fiery shafts.
Behold, the wicked man conceives evil, and is
pregnant with mischief, and brings forth lies.
He makes a pit,
digging it out, and falls into the hole which he has made.
His
mischief returns upon his own head, and on his own pate his
violence
descends.
I will give to the LORD the thanks due to his
righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the LORD, the
Most High.
A
Psalm of David O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is thy name in all
the
earth!
Thou whose glory above the heavens is chanted by the
mouth of babes and infants, thou hast founded a bulwark because of
thy foes, to still the enemy and the avenger.
When I look at thy
heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars which
thou
hast established; what is man that thou art mindful of him, and
the
son of man that thou dost care for him?
Yet thou hast made him
little less than God, and dost crown him with glory and honor.
Thou
hast given him dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put
all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts
of
the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, whatever
passes along the paths of the sea.
O LORD, our Lord, how
majestic is thy name in all the earth!
I
will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will tell of
all
thy wonderful deeds.
I will be glad and exult in thee, I will
sing praise to thy name, O Most High.
When my enemies turned
back, they stumbled and perished before thee.
For thou hast
maintained my just cause; thou hast sat on the throne giving
righteous judgment.
Thou hast rebuked the nations, thou hast
destroyed the wicked; thou hast blotted out their name for ever
and
ever.
The enemy have vanished in everlasting ruins; their cities
thou hast rooted out; the very memory of them has perished.
But
the LORD sits enthroned for ever, he has established his throne
for
judgment; and he judges the world with righteousness, he judges
the
peoples with equity.
The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.
And those who know thy name
put their trust in thee, for thou, O LORD, hast not forsaken those
who seek thee.
Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in
Zion!
Tell among the peoples his deeds!
For he who avenges
blood is mindful of them; he does not forget the cry of the
afflicted.
Be gracious to me, O LORD!
Behold what I suffer
from those who hate me, O thou who liftest me up from the gates of
death, that I may recount all thy praises, that in the gates of
the
daughter of Zion I may rejoice in thy deliverance.
The nations
have sunk in the pit which they made; in the net which they hid
has
their own foot been caught.
The LORD has made himself known, he
has executed judgment; the wicked are snared in the work of their
own
hands.
Forever.
The wicked shall depart to Sheol, all the
nations that forget God.
For the needy shall not always be
forgotten, and the hope of the poor shall not perish for ever.
Arise,
O LORD!
Let not man prevail; let the nations be judged before
thee!
Put them in fear, O LORD!
Let the nations know that
they are but men!
Forever.
Why
dost thou stand afar off, O LORD?
Why dost thou hide thyself in
times of trouble?
In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor;
let them be caught in the schemes which they have devised.
For
the wicked boasts of the desires of his heart, and the man greedy
for
gain curses and renounces the LORD.
In the pride of his
countenance the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are,
"There is no God."
His ways prosper at all times; thy
judgments are on high, out of his sight; as for all his foes, he
puffs at them.
He thinks in his heart, "I shall not be
moved; throughout all generations I shall not meet adversity."
His
mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression; under his
tongue are mischief and iniquity.
He sits in ambush in the
villages; in hiding places he murders the innocent.
His eyes
stealthily watch for the hapless, he lurks in secret like a lion
in
his covert; he lurks that he may seize the poor, he seizes the
poor
when he draws him into his net.
The hapless is crushed, sinks
down, and falls by his might.
He thinks in his heart, "God
has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it."
Arise,
O LORD; O God, lift up thy hand; forget not the afflicted.
Why
does the wicked renounce God, and say in his heart, "Thou wilt
not call to account"?
Thou dost see; yea, thou dost note
trouble and vexation, that thou mayest take it into thy hands; the
hapless commits himself to thee; thou hast been the helper of the
fatherless.
Break thou the arm of the wicked and evildoer; seek
out his wickedness till thou find none.
The LORD is king for
ever and ever; the nations shall perish from his land.
O LORD,
thou wilt hear the desire of the meek; thou wilt strengthen their
heart, thou wilt incline thy ear to do justice to the fatherless
and
the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror
no
more.
In
the LORD I take refuge; how can you say to me, "Flee like a bird
to the mountains; for lo, the wicked bend the bow, they have
fitted
their arrow to the string, to shoot in the dark at the upright in
heart; if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous
do"?
The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD's throne is
in heaven; his eyes behold, his eyelids test, the children of
men.
The LORD tests the righteous and the wicked, and his soul
hates him that loves violence.
On the wicked he will rain coals
of fire and brimstone; a scorching wind shall be the portion of
their
cup.
For the LORD is righteous, he loves righteous deeds; the
upright shall behold his face.
Help,
LORD; for there is no longer any that is godly; for the faithful
have
vanished from among the sons of men.
Every one utters lies to
his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.
May
the LORD cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that makes great
boasts, those who say, "With our tongue we will prevail, our
lips are with us; who is our master?"
"Because the
poor are despoiled, because the needy groan, I will now arise,"
says the LORD; "I will place him in the safety for which he
longs."
The promises of the LORD are promises that are
pure, silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven
times.
Do thou, O LORD, protect us, guard us ever from this
generation.
On every side the wicked prowl, as vileness is
exalted among the sons of men.
How
long, O LORD?
Wilt thou forget me for ever?
How long wilt
thou hide thy face from me?
How long must I bear pain in my
soul, and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my
enemy be exalted over me?
Consider and answer me, O LORD my God;
lighten my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; lest my enemy
say,
"I have prevailed over him"; lest my foes rejoice because I
am shaken.
But I have trusted in thy steadfast love; my heart
shall rejoice in thy salvation.
I will sing to the LORD, because
he has dealt bountifully with me.
The
fool says in his heart, "There is no God."
They are
corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none that does good.
The
LORD looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if
there
are any that act wisely, that seek after God.
They have all gone
astray, they are all alike corrupt; there is none that does good,
no,
not one.
Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my
people as they eat bread, and do not call upon the LORD?
There
they shall be in great terror, for God is with the generation of
the
righteous.
You would confound the plans of the poor, but the
LORD is his refuge.
O that deliverance for Israel would come out
of Zion!
When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people,
Jacob shall rejoice, Israel shall be glad.
A
Psalm of David.
O LORD, who shall sojourn in thy tent?
Who
shall dwell on thy holy hill?
He who walks blamelessly, and does
what is right, and speaks truth from his heart; who does not
slander
with his tongue, and does no evil to his friend, nor takes up a
reproach against his neighbor; in whose eyes a reprobate is
despised,
but who honors those who fear the LORD; who swears to his own hurt
and does not change; who does not put out his money at interest,
and
does not take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these
things shall never be moved.
A
Miktam of David.
Preserve me, O God, for in thee I take
refuge.
I say to the LORD, "Thou art my Lord; I have no
good apart from thee."
As for the saints in the land, they
are the noble, in whom is all my delight.
Those who choose
another god multiply their sorrows; their libations of blood I
will
not pour out or take their names upon my lips.
The LORD is my
chosen portion and my cup; thou holdest my lot.
The lines have
fallen for me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.
I
bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart
instructs me.
I keep the LORD always before me; because he is at
my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Therefore my heart is glad,
and my soul rejoices; my body also dwells secure.
For thou dost
not give me up to Sheol, or let thy godly one see the Pit.
Thou
dost show me the path of life; in thy presence there is fulness of
joy, in thy right hand are pleasures for evermore.
A
Prayer of David.
Hear a just cause, O LORD; attend to my
cry!
Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit!
From
thee let my vindication come!
Let thy eyes see the right!
If
thou triest my heart, if thou visitest me by night, if thou
testest
me, thou wilt find no wickedness in me; my mouth does not
transgress.
With regard to the works of men, by the word of thy
lips I have avoided the ways of the violent.
My steps have held
fast to thy paths, my feet have not slipped.
I call upon thee,
for thou wilt answer me, O God; incline thy ear to me, hear my
words.
Wondrously show thy steadfast love, O savior of those who
seek refuge from their adversaries at thy right hand.
Keep me as
the apple of the eye; hide me in the shadow of thy wings, from the
wicked who despoil me, my deadly enemies who surround me.
They
close their hearts to pity; with their mouths they speak
arrogantly.
They track me down; now they surround me; they set
their eyes to cast me to the ground.
They are like a lion eager
to tear, as a young lion lurking in ambush.
Arise, O
LORD!
confront them, overthrow them!
Deliver my life from
the wicked by thy sword, from men by thy hand, O LORD, from men
whose
portion in life is of the world.
May their belly be filled with
what thou hast stored up for them; may their children have more
than
enough; may they leave something over to their babes.
As for me,
I shall behold thy face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be
satisfied with beholding thy form.
A
Psalm of David the servant of the LORD, who addressed the words of
this song to the LORD on the day when the LORD delivered him from
the
hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul.
He said: I
love thee, O LORD, my strength.
The LORD is my rock, and my
fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take
refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I call
upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my
enemies.
The cords of death encompassed me, the torrents of
perdition assailed me; the cords of Sheol entangled me, the snares
of
death confronted me.
In my distress I called upon the LORD; to
my God I cried for help.
From his temple he heard my voice, and
my cry to him reached his ears.
Then the earth reeled and
rocked; the foundations also of the mountains trembled and quaked,
because he was angry.
Smoke went up from his nostrils, and
devouring fire from his mouth; glowing coals flamed forth from
him.
He bowed the heavens, and came down; thick darkness was
under his feet.
He rode on a cherub, and flew; he came swiftly
upon the wings of the wind.
He made darkness his covering around
him, his canopy thick clouds dark with water.
Out of the
brightness before him there broke through his clouds hailstones
and
coals of fire.
The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the
Most High uttered his voice, hailstones and coals of fire.
And
he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; he flashed forth
lightnings, and routed them.
Then the channels of the sea were
seen, and the foundations of the world were laid bare, at thy
rebuke,
O LORD, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.
He reached
from on high, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.
He
delivered me from my strong enemy, and from those who hated me;
for
they were too mighty for me.
They came upon me in the day of my
calamity; but the LORD was my stay.
He brought me forth into a
broad place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.
The
LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the
cleanness of my hands he recompensed me.
For I have kept the
ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
For
all his ordinances were before me, and his statutes I did not put
away from me.
I was blameless before him, and I kept myself from
guilt.
Therefore the LORD has recompensed me according to my
righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his
sight.
With the loyal thou dost show thyself loyal; with the
blameless man thou dost show thyself blameless; with the pure thou
dost show thyself pure; and with the crooked thou dost show
thyself
perverse.
For thou dost deliver a humble people; but the haughty
eyes thou dost bring down.
Yea, thou dost light my lamp; the
LORD my God lightens my darkness.
Yea, by thee I can crush a
troop; and by my God I can leap over a wall.
This God--his way
is perfect; the promise of the LORD proves true; he is a shield
for
all those who take refuge in him.
For who is God, but the
LORD?
And who is a rock, except our God?
-- the God who
girded me with strength, and made my way safe.
He made my feet
like hinds' feet, and set me secure on the heights.
He trains my
hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
Thou
hast given me the shield of thy salvation, and thy right hand
supported me, and thy help made me great.
Thou didst give a wide
place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip.
I pursued
my enemies and overtook them; and did not turn back till they were
consumed.
I thrust them through, so that they were not able to
rise; they fell under my feet.
For thou didst gird me with
strength for the battle; thou didst make my assailants sink under
me.
Thou didst make my enemies turn their backs to me, and those
who hated me I destroyed.
They cried for help, but there was
none to save, they cried to the LORD, but he did not answer them.
I
beat them fine as dust before the wind; I cast them out like the
mire
of the streets.
Thou didst deliver me from strife with the
peoples; thou didst make me the head of the nations; people whom I
had not known served me.
As soon as they heard of me they obeyed
me; foreigners came cringing to me.
Foreigners lost heart, and
came trembling out of their fastnesses.
The LORD lives; and
blessed be my rock, and exalted be the God of my salvation, the
God
who gave me vengeance and subdued peoples under me; who delivered
me
from my enemies; yea, thou didst exalt me above my adversaries;
thou
didst deliver me from men of violence.
For this I will extol
thee, O LORD, among the nations, and sing praises to thy name.
Great
triumphs he gives to his king, and shows steadfast love to his
anointed, to David and his descendants for ever.
The
heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims
his
handiwork.
Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night
declares knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words;
their voice is not heard; yet their voice goes out through all the
earth, and their words to the end of the world.
In them he has
set a tent for the sun, which comes forth like a bridegroom
leaving
his chamber, and like a strong man runs its course with joy.
Its
rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end
of
them; and there is nothing hid from its heat.
The law of the
LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is
sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure,
enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for
ever; the ordinances of the LORD are true, and righteous
altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, even much
fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the
honeycomb.
Moreover by them is thy servant warned; in keeping
them there is great reward.
But who can discern his
errors?
Clear thou me from hidden faults.
Keep back thy
servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion
over
me!
Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great
transgression.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of
my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my rock and my
redeemer.
The
LORD answer you in the day of trouble!
The name of the God of
Jacob protect you!
May he send you help from the sanctuary, and
give you support from Zion!
May he remember all your offerings,
and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices!
Forever.
May
he grant you your heart's desire, and fulfil all your plans!
May
we shout for joy over your victory, and in the name of our God set
up
our banners!
May the LORD fulfil all your petitions!
Now I
know that the LORD will help his anointed; he will answer him from
his holy heaven with mighty victories by his right hand.
Some
boast of chariots, and some of horses; but we boast of the name of
the LORD our God.
They will collapse and fall; but we shall rise
and stand upright.
Give victory to the king, O LORD; answer us
when we call.
In
thy strength the king rejoices, O LORD; and in thy help how
greatly
he exults!
Thou hast given him his heart's desire, and hast not
withheld the request of his lips.
Forever.
For thou dost
meet him with goodly blessings; thou dost set a crown of fine gold
upon his head.
He asked life of thee; thou gavest it to him,
length of days for ever and ever.
His glory is great through thy
help; splendor and majesty thou dost bestow upon him.
Yea, thou
dost make him most blessed for ever; thou dost make him glad with
the
joy of thy presence.
For the king trusts in the LORD; and
through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be
moved.
Your hand will find out all your enemies; your right hand
will find out those who hate you.
You will make them as a
blazing oven when you appear.
The LORD will swallow them up in
his wrath; and fire will consume them.
You will destroy their
offspring from the earth, and their children from among the sons
of
men.
If they plan evil against you, if they devise mischief,
they will not succeed.
For you will put them to flight; you will
aim at their faces with your bows.
Be exalted, O LORD, in thy
strength!
We will sing and praise thy power.
My
God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Why art thou so far from
helping me, from the words of my groaning?
O my God, I cry by
day, but thou dost not answer; and by night, but find no rest.
Yet
thou art holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.
In thee our
fathers trusted; they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
To
thee they cried, and were saved; in thee they trusted, and were
not
disappointed.
But I am a worm, and no man; scorned by men, and
despised by the people.
All who see me mock at me, they make
mouths at me, they wag their heads; "He committed his cause to
the LORD; let him deliver him, let him rescue him, for he delights
in
him!"
Yet thou art he who took me from the womb; thou didst
keep me safe upon my mother's breasts.
Upon thee was I cast from
my birth, and since my mother bore me thou hast been my God.
Be
not far from me, for trouble is near and there is none to help.
Many
bulls encompass me, strong bulls of Bashan surround me; they open
wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion.
I am
poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart
is
like wax, it is melted within my breast; my strength is dried up
like
a potsherd, and my tongue cleaves to my jaws; thou dost lay me in
the
dust of death.
Yea, dogs are round about me; a company of
evildoers encircle me; they have pierced my hands and feet-- I can
count all my bones-- they stare and gloat over me; they divide my
garments among them, and for my raiment they cast lots.
But
thou, O LORD, be not far off!
O thou my help, hasten to my
aid!
Deliver my soul from the sword, my life from the power of
the dog!
Save me from the mouth of the lion, my afflicted soul
from the horns of the wild oxen!
I will tell of thy name to my
brethren; in the midst of the congregation I will praise thee: You
who fear the LORD, praise him!
all you sons of Jacob, glorify
him, and stand in awe of him, all you sons of Israel!
For he has
not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; and he
has
not hid his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him.
From
thee comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will pay
before those who fear him.
The afflicted shall eat and be
satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the LORD!
May your
hearts live for ever!
All the ends of the earth shall remember
and turn to the LORD; and all the families of the nations shall
worship before him.
For dominion belongs to the LORD, and he
rules over the nations.
Yea, to him shall all the proud of the
earth bow down; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust,
and
he who cannot keep himself alive.
Posterity shall serve him; men
shall tell of the Lord to the coming generation, and proclaim his
deliverance to a people yet unborn, that he has wrought it.
A
Psalm of David.
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want; he
makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still
waters; he restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of
righteousness for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through
the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for thou art
with
me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
Thou preparest a
table before me in the presence of my enemies; thou anointest my
head
with oil, my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall
follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house
of
the LORD for ever.
A
Psalm of David.
The earth is the LORD's and the fulness thereof,
the world and those who dwell therein; for he has founded it upon
the
seas, and established it upon the rivers.
Who shall ascend the
hill of the LORD?
And who shall stand in his holy place?
He
who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his
soul
to what is false, and does not swear deceitfully.
He will
receive blessing from the LORD, and vindication from the God of
his
salvation.
Such is the generation of those who seek him, who
seek the face of the God of Jacob.
Forever.
Lift up your
heads, O gates!
and be lifted up, O ancient doors!
that the
King of glory may come in.
Who is the King of glory?
The
LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle!
Lift up
your heads, O gates!
and be lifted up, O ancient doors!
that
the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The
LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory!
Forever.
A
Psalm of David.
To thee, O LORD, I lift up my soul.
O my
God, in thee I trust, let me not be put to shame; let not my
enemies
exult over me.
Yea, let none that wait for thee be put to shame;
let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
Make me to
know thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.
Lead me in thy truth,
and teach me, for thou art the God of my salvation; for thee I
wait
all the day long.
Be mindful of thy mercy, O LORD, and of thy
steadfast love, for they have been from of old.
Remember not the
sins of my youth, or my transgressions; according to thy steadfast
love remember me, for thy goodness' sake, O LORD!
Good and
upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
He
leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his
way.
All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and
faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his
testimonies.
For thy name's sake, O LORD, pardon my guilt, for
it is great.
Who is the man that fears the LORD?
Him will
he instruct in the way that he should choose.
He himself shall
abide in prosperity, and his children shall possess the land.
The
friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes
known
to them his covenant.
My eyes are ever toward the LORD, for he
will pluck my feet out of the net.
Turn thou to me, and be
gracious to me; for I am lonely and afflicted.
Relieve the
troubles of my heart, and bring me out of my distresses.
Consider
my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.
Consider
how many are my foes, and with what violent hatred they hate me.
Oh
guard my life, and deliver me; let me not be put to shame, for I
take
refuge in thee.
May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I
wait for thee.
Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.
A
Psalm of David.
Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my
integrity, and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.
Prove
me, O LORD, and try me; test my heart and my mind.
For thy
steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in faithfulness to
thee.
I do not sit with false men, nor do I consort with
dissemblers; I hate the company of evildoers, and I will not sit
with
the wicked.
I wash my hands in innocence, and go about thy
altar, O LORD, singing aloud a song of thanksgiving, and telling
all
thy wondrous deeds.
O LORD, I love the habitation of thy house,
and the place where thy glory dwells.
Sweep me not away with
sinners, nor my life with bloodthirsty men, men in whose hands are
evil devices, and whose right hands are full of bribes.
But as
for me, I walk in my integrity; redeem me, and be gracious to me.
My
foot stands on level ground; in the great congregation I will
bless
the LORD.
A
Psalm of David.
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom
shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom
shall I be afraid?
When evildoers assail me, uttering slanders
against me, my adversaries and foes, they shall stumble and
fall.
Though a host encamp against me, my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.
One thing
have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell
in
the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the
beauty
of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.
For he will hide me
in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the
cover of his tent, he will set me high upon a rock.
And now my
head shall be lifted up above my enemies round about me; and I
will
offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and
make
melody to the LORD.
Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud, be gracious
to me and answer me!
Thou hast said, "Seek ye my face."
My
heart says to thee, "Thy face, LORD, do I seek."
Hide
not thy face from me.
Turn not thy servant away in anger, thou
who hast been my help.
Cast me not off, forsake me not, O God of
my salvation!
For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but
the LORD will take me up.
Teach me thy way, O LORD; and lead me
on a level path because of my enemies.
Give me not up to the
will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me,
and they breathe out violence.
I believe that I shall see the
goodness of the LORD in the land of the living!
Wait for the
LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; yea, wait for
the
LORD!
A
Psalm of David.
To thee, O LORD, I call; my rock, be not deaf to
me, lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like those who go down
to
the Pit.
Hear the voice of my supplication, as I cry to thee for
help, as I lift up my hands toward thy most holy sanctuary.
Take
me not off with the wicked, with those who are workers of evil,
who
speak peace with their neighbors, while mischief is in their
hearts.
Requite them according to their work, and according to
the evil of their deeds; requite them according to the work of
their
hands; render them their due reward.
Because they do not regard
the works of the LORD, or the work of his hands, he will break
them
down and build them up no more.
Blessed be the LORD!
for he
has heard the voice of my supplications.
The LORD is my strength
and my shield; in him my heart trusts; so I am helped, and my
heart
exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.
The LORD is the
strength of his people, he is the saving refuge of his anointed.
O
save thy people, and bless thy heritage; be thou their shepherd,
and
carry them for ever.
A
Psalm of David.
Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe
to the LORD glory and strength.
Ascribe to the LORD the glory of
his name; worship the LORD in holy array.
The voice of the LORD
is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD, upon many
waters.
The voice of the LORD is powerful, the voice of the LORD
is full of majesty.
The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars, the
LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
He makes Lebanon to skip like
a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox.
The voice of the LORD
flashes forth flames of fire.
The voice of the LORD shakes the
wilderness, the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
The voice
of the LORD makes the oaks to whirl, and strips the forests bare;
and
in his temple all cry, "Glory!"
The LORD sits
enthroned over the flood; the LORD sits enthroned as king for
ever.
May the LORD give strength to his people!
May the
LORD bless his people with peace!
I
will extol thee, O LORD, for thou hast drawn me up, and hast not
let
my foes rejoice over me.
O LORD my God, I cried to thee for
help, and thou hast healed me.
O LORD, thou hast brought up my
soul from Sheol, restored me to life from among those gone down to
the Pit.
Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints, and give
thanks to his holy name.
For his anger is but for a moment, and
his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may tarry for the night,
but joy comes with the morning.
As for me, I said in my
prosperity, "I shall never be moved."
By thy favor, O
LORD, thou hadst established me as a strong mountain; thou didst
hide
thy face, I was dismayed.
To thee, O LORD, I cried; and to the
LORD I made supplication: "What profit is there in my death, if
I go down to the Pit?
Will the dust praise thee?
Will it
tell of thy faithfulness?
Hear, O LORD, and be gracious to me!
O
LORD, be thou my helper!"
Thou hast turned for me my
mourning into dancing; thou hast loosed my sackcloth and girded me
with gladness, that my soul may praise thee and not be silent.
O
LORD my God, I will give thanks to thee for ever.
In
thee, O LORD, do I seek refuge; let me never be put to shame; in
thy
righteousness deliver me!
Incline thy ear to me, rescue me
speedily!
Be thou a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to
save me!
Yea, thou art my rock and my fortress; for thy name's
sake lead me and guide me, take me out of the net which is hidden
for
me, for thou art my refuge.
Into thy hand I commit my spirit;
thou hast redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God.
Thou hatest those
who pay regard to vain idols; but I trust in the LORD.
I will
rejoice and be glad for thy steadfast love, because thou hast seen
my
affliction, thou hast taken heed of my adversities, and hast not
delivered me into the hand of the enemy; thou hast set my feet in
a
broad place.
Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my
eye is wasted from grief, my soul and my body also.
For my life
is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails
because of my misery, and my bones waste away.
I am the scorn of
all my adversaries, a horror to my neighbors, an object of dread
to
my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me.
I
have passed out of mind like one who is dead; I have become like a
broken vessel.
Yea, I hear the whispering of many-- terror on
every side!
-- as they scheme together against me, as they plot
to take my life.
But I trust in thee, O LORD, I say, "Thou
art my God."
My times are in thy hand; deliver me from the
hand of my enemies and persecutors!
Let thy face shine on thy
servant; save me in thy steadfast love!
Let me not be put to
shame, O LORD, for I call on thee; let the wicked be put to shame,
let them go dumbfounded to Sheol.
Let the lying lips be dumb,
which speak insolently against the righteous in pride and
contempt.
O
how abundant is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for those
who
fear thee, and wrought for those who take refuge in thee, in the
sight of the sons of men!
In the covert of thy presence thou
hidest them from the plots of men; thou holdest them safe under
thy
shelter from the strife of tongues.
Blessed be the LORD, for he
has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me when I was beset as
in
a besieged city.
I had said in my alarm, "I am driven far
from thy sight."
But thou didst hear my supplications, when
I cried to thee for help.
Love the LORD, all you his saints!
The
LORD preserves the faithful, but abundantly requites him who acts
haughtily.
Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you
who wait for the LORD!
A
Psalm of David.
A Maskil.
Blessed is he whose transgression
is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
Blessed is the man to whom
the LORD imputes no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no
deceit.
When I declared not my sin, my body wasted away through
my groaning all day long.
For day and night thy hand was heavy
upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of
summer.
Forever.
I acknowledged my sin to thee, and I did
not hide my iniquity; I said, "I will confess my transgressions
to the LORD"; then thou didst forgive the guilt of my
sin.
Forever.
Therefore let every one who is godly offer
prayer to thee; at a time of distress, in the rush of great
waters,
they shall not reach him.
Thou art a hiding place for me, thou
preservest me from trouble; thou dost encompass me with
deliverance.
Forever.
I will instruct you and teach you the
way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
Be
not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be
curbed with bit and bridle, else it will not keep with you.
Many
are the pangs of the wicked; but steadfast love surrounds him who
trusts in the LORD.
Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O
righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!
Rejoice
in the LORD, O you righteous!
Praise befits the upright.
Praise
the LORD with the lyre, make melody to him with the harp of ten
strings!
Sing to him a new song, play skilfully on the strings,
with loud shouts.
For the word of the LORD is upright; and all
his work is done in faithfulness.
He loves righteousness and
justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD.
By
the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all their host by
the
breath of his mouth.
He gathered the waters of the sea as in a
bottle; he put the deeps in storehouses.
Let all the earth fear
the LORD, let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of
him!
For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood
forth.
The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nought; he
frustrates the plans of the peoples.
The counsel of the LORD
stands for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all
generations.
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the
people whom he has chosen as his heritage!
The LORD looks down
from heaven, he sees all the sons of men; from where he sits
enthroned he looks forth on all the inhabitants of the earth, he
who
fashions the hearts of them all, and observes all their deeds.
A
king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by
his great strength.
The war horse is a vain hope for victory,
and by its great might it cannot save.
Behold, the eye of the
LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast
love, that he may deliver their soul from death, and keep them
alive
in famine.
Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and
shield.
Yea, our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his
holy name.
Let thy steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as
we hope in thee.
A
Psalm of David, when he feigned madness before Abimelech, so that
he
drove him out, and he went away.
I will bless the LORD at all
times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul
makes its boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and be glad.
O
magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!
I
sought the LORD, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my
fears.
Look to him, and be radiant; so your faces shall never be
ashamed.
This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved
him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
O taste and see
that the LORD is good!
Happy is the man who takes refuge in
him!
O fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him
have no want!
The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those
who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
Come, O sons, listen to
me, I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
What man is there who
desires life, and covets many days, that he may enjoy good?
Keep
your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit.
Depart
from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
The eyes of
the LORD are toward the righteous, and his ears toward their cry.
The
face of the LORD is against evildoers, to cut off the remembrance
of
them from the earth.
When the righteous cry for help, the LORD
hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.
The LORD is
near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit.
Many
are the afflictions of the righteous; but the LORD delivers him
out
of them all.
He keeps all his bones; not one of them is
broken.
Evil shall slay the wicked; and those who hate the
righteous will be condemned.
The LORD redeems the life of his
servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.
A
Psalm of David.
Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me;
fight against those who fight against me!
Take hold of shield
and buckler, and rise for my help!
Draw the spear and javelin
against my pursuers!
Say to my soul, "I am your
deliverance!"
Let them be put to shame and dishonor who
seek after my life!
Let them be turned back and confounded who
devise evil against me!
Let them be like chaff before the wind,
with the angel of the LORD driving them on!
Let their way be
dark and slippery, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them!
For
without cause they hid their net for me; without cause they dug a
pit
for my life.
Let ruin come upon them unawares!
And let the
net which they hid ensnare them; let them fall therein to ruin!
Then
my soul shall rejoice in the LORD, exulting in his deliverance.
All
my bones shall say, "O LORD, who is like thee, thou who
deliverest the weak from him who is too strong for him, the weak
and
needy from him who despoils him?”
Malicious witnesses rise up;
they ask me of things that I know not.
They requite me evil for
good; my soul is forlorn.
But I, when they were sick-- I wore
sackcloth, I afflicted myself with fasting.
I prayed with head
bowed on my bosom, as though I grieved for my friend or my
brother; I
went about as one who laments his mother, bowed down and in
mourning.
But at my stumbling they gathered in glee, they
gathered together against me; cripples whom I knew not slandered
me
without ceasing; they impiously mocked more and more, gnashing at
me
with their teeth.
How long, O LORD, wilt thou look on?
Rescue
me from their ravages, my life from the lions!
Then I will thank
thee in the great congregation; in the mighty throng I will praise
thee.
Let not those rejoice over me who are wrongfully my foes,
and let not those wink the eye who hate me without cause.
For
they do not speak peace, but against those who are quiet in the
land
they conceive words of deceit.
They open wide their mouths
against me; they say, "Aha, Aha!
our eyes have seen
it!”
Thou hast seen, O LORD; be not silent!
O Lord, be
not far from me!
Bestir thyself, and awake for my right, for my
cause, my God and my Lord!
Vindicate me, O LORD, my God,
according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me!
Let
them not say to themselves, "Aha, we have our heart's
desire!”
Let them not say, "We have swallowed him
up.”
Let them be put to shame and confusion altogether who
rejoice at my calamity!
Let them be clothed with shame and
dishonor who magnify themselves against me!
Let those who desire
my vindication shout for joy and be glad, and say evermore, "Great
is the LORD, who delights in the welfare of his servant!”
Then
my tongue shall tell of thy righteousness and of thy praise all
the
day long.
Transgression
speaks to the wicked deep in his heart; there is no fear of God
before his eyes.
For he flatters himself in his own eyes that
his iniquity cannot be found out and hated.
The words of his
mouth are mischief and deceit; he has ceased to act wisely and do
good.
He plots mischief while on his bed; he sets himself in a
way that is not good; he spurns not evil.
Thy steadfast love, O
LORD, extends to the heavens, thy faithfulness to the clouds.
Thy
righteousness is like the mountains of God, thy judgments are like
the great deep; man and beast thou savest, O LORD.
How precious
is thy steadfast love, O God!
The children of men take refuge in
the shadow of thy wings.
They feast on the abundance of thy
house, and thou givest them drink from the river of thy delights.
For
with thee is the fountain of life; in thy light do we see light.
O
continue thy steadfast love to those who know thee, and thy
salvation
to the upright of heart!
Let not the foot of arrogance come upon
me, nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.
There the
evildoers lie prostrate, they are thrust down, unable to rise.
A
Psalm of David.
Fret not yourself because of the wicked, be not
envious of wrongdoers!
For they will soon fade like the grass,
and wither like the green herb.
Trust in the LORD, and do good;
so you will dwell in the land, and enjoy security.
Take delight
in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit
your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.
He will
bring forth your vindication as the light, and your right as the
noonday.
Be still before the LORD, and wait patiently for him;
fret not yourself over him who prospers in his way, over the man
who
carries out evil devices!
Refrain from anger, and forsake
wrath!
Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
For the
wicked shall be cut off; but those who wait for the LORD shall
possess the land.
Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no
more; though you look well at his place, he will not be there.
But
the meek shall possess the land, and delight themselves in
abundant
prosperity.
The wicked plots against the righteous, and gnashes
his teeth at him; but the LORD laughs at the wicked, for he sees
that
his day is coming.
The wicked draw the sword and bend their
bows, to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those who walk
uprightly; their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows
shall be broken.
Better is a little that the righteous has than
the abundance of many wicked.
For the arms of the wicked shall
be broken; but the LORD upholds the righteous.
The LORD knows
the days of the blameless, and their heritage will abide for ever;
they are not put to shame in evil times, in the days of famine
they
have abundance.
But the wicked perish; the enemies of the LORD
are like the glory of the pastures, they vanish--like smoke they
vanish away.
The wicked borrows, and cannot pay back, but the
righteous is generous and gives; for those blessed by the LORD
shall
possess the land, but those cursed by him shall be cut off.
The
steps of a man are from the LORD, and he establishes him in whose
way
he delights; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for
the
LORD is the stay of his hand.
I have been young, and now am old;
yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging
bread.
He is ever giving liberally and lending, and his children
become a blessing.
Depart from evil, and do good; so shall you
abide for ever.
For the LORD loves justice; he will not forsake
his saints.
The righteous shall be preserved for ever, but the
children of the wicked shall be cut off.
The righteous shall
possess the land, and dwell upon it for ever.
The mouth of the
righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.
The law
of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip.
The wicked
watches the righteous, and seeks to slay him.
The LORD will not
abandon him to his power, or let him be condemned when he is
brought
to trial.
Wait for the LORD, and keep to his way, and he will
exalt you to possess the land; you will look on the destruction of
the wicked.
I have seen a wicked man overbearing, and towering
like a cedar of Lebanon.
Again I passed by, and, lo, he was no
more; though I sought him, he could not be found.
Mark the
blameless man, and behold the upright, for there is posterity for
the
man of peace.
But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed;
the posterity of the wicked shall be cut off.
The salvation of
the righteous is from the LORD; he is their refuge in the time of
trouble.
The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them
from the wicked, and saves them, because they take refuge in him.
A
Psalm of David, for the memorial offering.
O LORD, rebuke me not
in thy anger, nor chasten me in thy wrath!
For thy arrows have
sunk into me, and thy hand has come down on me.
There is no
soundness in my flesh because of thy indignation; there is no
health
in my bones because of my sin.
For my iniquities have gone over
my head; they weigh like a burden too heavy for me.
My wounds
grow foul and fester because of my foolishness, I am utterly bowed
down and prostrate; all the day I go about mourning.
For my
loins are filled with burning, and there is no soundness in my
flesh.
I am utterly spent and crushed; I groan because of the
tumult of my heart.
Lord, all my longing is known to thee, my
sighing is not hidden from thee.
My heart throbs, my strength
fails me; and the light of my eyes--it also has gone from me.
My
friends and companions stand aloof from my plague, and my kinsmen
stand afar off.
Those who seek my life lay their snares, those
who seek my hurt speak of ruin, and meditate treachery all the day
long.
But I am like a deaf man, I do not hear, like a dumb man
who does not open his mouth.
Yea, I am like a man who does not
hear, and in whose mouth are no rebukes.
But for thee, O LORD,
do I wait; it is thou, O LORD my God, who wilt answer.
For I
pray, "Only let them not rejoice over me, who boast against me
when my foot slips!”
For I am ready to fall, and my pain is
ever with me.
I confess my iniquity, I am sorry for my
sin.
Those who are my foes without cause are mighty, and many
are those who hate me wrongfully.
Those who render me evil for
good are my adversaries because I follow after good.
Do not
forsake me, O LORD!
O my God, be not far from me!
Make
haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation!
I
said, "I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue;
I will bridle my mouth, so long as the wicked are in my presence.”
I
was dumb and silent, I held my peace to no avail; my distress grew
worse, my heart became hot within me.
As I mused, the fire
burned; then I spoke with my tongue: "LORD, let me know my end,
and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting my
life
is!
Behold, thou hast made my days a few handbreadths, and my
lifetime is as nothing in thy sight.
Surely every man stands as
a mere breath!
Forever.
Surely man goes about as a
shadow!
Surely for nought are they in turmoil; man heaps up, and
knows not who will gather!”
And now, Lord, for what do I
wait?
My hope is in thee.
Deliver me from all my
transgressions.
Make me not the scorn of the fool!
I am
dumb, I do not open my mouth; for it is thou who hast done it.
Remove
thy stroke from me; I am spent by the blows of thy hand.
When
thou dost chasten man with rebukes for sin, thou dost consume like
a
moth what is dear to him; surely every man is a mere
breath!
Forever.
"Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear
to my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears!
For I am thy passing
guest, a sojourner, like all my fathers.
Look away from me, that
I may know gladness, before I depart and be no more!”
I
waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry.
He
drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set my
feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.
He put a new song in
my mouth, a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
and put their trust in the LORD.
Blessed is the man who makes
the LORD his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who
go
astray after false gods!
Thou hast multiplied, O LORD my God,
thy wondrous deeds and thy thoughts toward us; none can compare
with
thee!
Were I to proclaim and tell of them, they would be more
than can be numbered.
Sacrifice and offering thou dost not
desire; but thou hast given me an open ear.
Burnt offering and
sin offering thou hast not required.
Then I said, "Lo, I
come; in the roll of the book it is written of me; I delight to do
thy will, O my God; thy law is within my heart.”
I have told
the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; lo, I have
not restrained my lips, as thou knowest, O LORD.
I have not hid
thy saving help within my heart, I have spoken of thy faithfulness
and thy salvation; I have not concealed thy steadfast love and thy
faithfulness from the great congregation.
Do not thou, O LORD,
withhold thy mercy from me, let thy steadfast love and thy
faithfulness ever preserve me!
For evils have encompassed me
without number; my iniquities have overtaken me, till I cannot
see;
they are more than the hairs of my head; my heart fails me.
Be
pleased, O LORD, to deliver me!
O LORD, make haste to help
me!
Let them be put to shame and confusion altogether who seek
to snatch away my life; let them be turned back and brought to
dishonor who desire my hurt!
Let them be appalled because of
their shame who say to me, "Aha, Aha!”
But may all who
seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee; may those who love thy
salvation say continually, "Great is the LORD!”
As for
me, I am poor and needy; but the Lord takes thought for me.
Thou
art my help and my deliverer; do not tarry, O my God!
Blessed
is he who considers the poor!
The LORD delivers him in the day
of trouble; the LORD protects him and keeps him alive; he is
called
blessed in the land; thou dost not give him up to the will of his
enemies.
The LORD sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness
thou healest all his infirmities.
As for me, I said, "O
LORD, be gracious to me; heal me, for I have sinned against thee!”
My
enemies say of me in malice: "When will he die, and his name
perish?”
And when one comes to see me, he utters empty words,
while his heart gathers mischief; when he goes out, he tells it
abroad.
All who hate me whisper together about me; they imagine
the worst for me.
They say, "A deadly thing has fastened
upon him; he will not rise again from where he lies.”
Even my
bosom friend in whom I trusted, who ate of my bread, has lifted
his
heel against me.
But do thou, O LORD, be gracious to me, and
raise me up, that I may requite them!
By this I know that thou
art pleased with me, in that my enemy has not triumphed over me.
But
thou hast upheld me because of my integrity, and set me in thy
presence for ever.
Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from
everlasting to everlasting!
Amen and Amen.
As
a hart longs for flowing streams, so longs my soul for thee, O
God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When
shall I come and behold the face of God?
My tears have been my
food day and night, while men say to me continually, "Where is
your God?”
These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how
I went with the throng, and led them in procession to the house of
God, with glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving, a multitude
keeping
festival.
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you
disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my help and my God.
My soul is cast down within me, therefore I
remember thee from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount
Mizar.
Deep calls to deep at the thunder of thy cataracts; all
thy waves and thy billows have gone over me.
By day the LORD
commands his steadfast love; and at night his song is with me, a
prayer to the God of my life.
I say to God, my rock: "Why
hast thou forgotten me?”
Why go I mourning because of the
oppression of the enemy?
As with a deadly wound in my body, my
adversaries taunt me, while they say to me continually, "Where
is your God?"
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are
you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise
him, my help and my God.
Vindicate
me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people; from
deceitful and unjust men deliver me!
For thou art the God in
whom I take refuge; why hast thou cast me off?
Why go I mourning
because of the oppression of the enemy?
Oh send out thy light
and thy truth; let them lead me, let them bring me to thy holy
hill
and to thy dwelling!
Then I will go to the altar of God, to God
my exceeding joy; and I will praise thee with the lyre, O God, my
God.
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you
disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my help and my God.
We
have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what
deeds
thou didst perform in their days, in the days of old: thou with
thy
own hand didst drive out the nations, but them thou didst plant;
thou
didst afflict the peoples, but them thou didst set free; for not
by
their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm give
them victory; but thy right hand, and thy arm, and the light of
thy
countenance; for thou didst delight in them.
Thou art my King
and my God, who ordainest victories for Jacob.
Through thee we
push down our foes; through thy name we tread down our
assailants.
For not in my bow do I trust, nor can my sword save
me.
But thou hast saved us from our foes, and hast put to
confusion those who hate us.
In God we have boasted continually,
and we will give thanks to thy name for ever.
Forever.
Yet
thou hast cast us off and abased us, and hast not gone out with
our
armies.
Thou hast made us turn back from the foe; and our
enemies have gotten spoil.
Thou hast made us like sheep for
slaughter, and hast scattered us among the nations.
Thou hast
sold thy people for a trifle, demanding no high price for them.
Thou
hast made us the taunt of our neighbors, the derision and scorn of
those about us.
Thou hast made us a byword among the nations, a
laughingstock among the peoples.
All day long my disgrace is
before me, and shame has covered my face, at the words of the
taunters and revilers, at the sight of the enemy and the avenger.
All
this has come upon us, though we have not forgotten thee, or been
false to thy covenant.
Our heart has not turned back, nor have
our steps departed from thy way, that thou shouldst have broken us
in
the place of jackals, and covered us with deep darkness.
If we
had forgotten the name of our God, or spread forth our hands to a
strange god, would not God discover this?
For he knows the
secrets of the heart.
Nay, for thy sake we are slain all the day
long, and accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rouse
thyself!
Why sleepest thou, O Lord?
Awake!
Do not cast
us off for ever!
Why dost thou hide thy face?
Why dost thou
forget our affliction and oppression?
For our soul is bowed down
to the dust; our body cleaves to the ground.
Rise up, come to
our help!
Deliver us for the sake of thy steadfast love!
My
heart overflows with a goodly theme; I address my verses to the
king;
my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.
You are the fairest
of the sons of men; grace is poured upon your lips; therefore God
has
blessed you for ever.
Gird your sword upon your thigh, O mighty
one, in your glory and majesty!
In your majesty ride forth
victoriously for the cause of truth and to defend the right; let
your
right hand teach you dread deeds!
Your arrows are sharp in the
heart of the king's enemies; the peoples fall under you.
Your
divine throne endures for ever and ever.
Your royal scepter is a
scepter of equity; you love righteousness and hate
wickedness.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the
oil of gladness above your fellows; your robes are all fragrant
with
myrrh and aloes and cassia.
From ivory palaces stringed
instruments make you glad; daughters of kings are among your
ladies
of honor; at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir.
Hear,
O daughter, consider, and incline your ear; forget your people and
your father's house; and the king will desire your beauty.
Since
he is your lord, bow to him; the people of Tyre will sue your
favor
with gifts, the richest of the people with all kinds of wealth.
The
princess is decked in her chamber with gold-woven robes; in
many-colored robes she is led to the king, with her virgin
companions, her escort, in her train.
With joy and gladness they
are led along as they enter the palace of the king.
Instead of
your fathers shall be your sons; you will make them princes in all
the earth.
I will cause your name to be celebrated in all
generations; therefore the peoples will praise you for ever and
ever.
God
is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore
we will not fear though the earth should change, though the
mountains
shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
Forever.
There
is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy
habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her, she
shall not be moved; God will help her right early.
The nations
rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The
LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our
refuge.
Forever.
Come, behold the works of the LORD, how he
has wrought desolations in the earth.
He makes wars cease to the
end of the earth; he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear, he
burns
the chariots with fire!
"Be still, and know that I am
God.
I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the
earth!"
The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is
our refuge.
Forever.
Clap
your hands, all peoples!
Shout to God with loud songs of
joy!
For the LORD, the Most High, is terrible, a great king over
all the earth.
He subdued peoples under us, and nations under
our feet.
He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob whom
he loves.
Forever.
God has gone up with a shout, the LORD
with the sound of a trumpet.
Sing praises to God, sing
praises!
Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
For God is
the king of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm!
God reigns
over the nations; God sits on his holy throne.
The princes of
the peoples gather as the people of the God of Abraham.
For the
shields of the earth belong to God; he is highly exalted!
Great
is the LORD and greatly to be praised in the city of our God!
His
holy mountain, beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the
earth,
Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King.
Within
her citadels God has shown himself a sure defense.
For lo, the
kings assembled, they came on together.
As soon as they saw it,
they were astounded, they were in panic, they took to flight;
trembling took hold of them there, anguish as of a woman in
travail.
By the east wind thou didst shatter the ships of
Tarshish.
As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the
LORD of hosts, in the city of our God, which God establishes for
ever.
Forever.
We have thought on thy steadfast love, O
God, in the midst of thy temple.
As thy name, O God, so thy
praise reaches to the ends of the earth.
Thy right hand is
filled with victory; let Mount Zion be glad!
Let the daughters
of Judah rejoice because of thy judgments!
Walk about Zion, go
round about her, number her towers, consider well her ramparts, go
through her citadels; that you may tell the next generation that
this
is God, our God for ever and ever.
He will be our guide for
ever.
Hear
this, all peoples!
Give ear, all inhabitants of the world, both
low and high, rich and poor together!
My mouth shall speak
wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
I
will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the
music
of the lyre.
Why should I fear in times of trouble, when the
iniquity of my persecutors surrounds me, men who trust in their
wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches?
Truly no man
can ransom himself, or give to God the price of his life, for the
ransom of his life is costly, and can never suffice, that he
should
continue to live on for ever, and never see the Pit.
Yea, he
shall see that even the wise die, the fool and the stupid alike
must
perish and leave their wealth to others.
Their graves are their
homes for ever, their dwelling places to all generations, though
they
named lands their own.
Man cannot abide in his pomp, he is like
the beasts that perish.
This is the fate of those who have
foolish confidence, the end of those who are pleased with their
portion.
Forever.
Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol;
Death shall be their shepherd; straight to the grave they descend,
and their form shall waste away; Sheol shall be their home.
But
God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will
receive
me.
Forever.
Be not afraid when one becomes rich, when the
glory of his house increases.
For when he dies he will carry
nothing away; his glory will not go down after him.
Though,
while he lives, he counts himself happy, and though a man gets
praise
when he does well for himself, he will go to the generation of his
fathers, who will never more see the light.
Man cannot abide in
his pomp, he is like the beasts that perish.
The
Mighty One, God the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from the
rising of the sun to its setting.
Out of Zion, the perfection of
beauty, God shines forth.
Our God comes, he does not keep
silence, before him is a devouring fire, round about him a mighty
tempest.
He calls to the heavens above and to the earth, that he
may judge his people: "Gather to me my faithful ones, who made a
covenant with me by sacrifice!"
The heavens declare his
righteousness, for God himself is judge!
Forever.
"Hear,
O my people, and I will speak, O Israel, I will testify against
you.
I am God, your God.
I do not reprove you for your
sacrifices; your burnt offerings are continually before me.
I
will accept no bull from your house, nor he-goat from your folds.
For
every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.
I
know all the birds of the air, and all that moves in the field is
mine.
"If I were hungry, I would not tell you; for the
world and all that is in it is mine.
Do I eat the flesh of
bulls, or drink the blood of goats?
Offer to God a sacrifice of
thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High; and call upon me
in
the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify
me."
But to the wicked God says: "What right have you
to recite my statutes, or take my covenant on your lips?
For you
hate discipline, and you cast my words behind you.
If you see a
thief, you are a friend of his; and you keep company with
adulterers.
"You give your mouth free rein for evil, and
your tongue frames deceit.
You sit and speak against your
brother; you slander your own mother's son.
These things you
have done and I have been silent; you thought that I was one like
yourself.
But now I rebuke you, and lay the charge before
you.
"Mark this, then, you who forget God, lest I rend, and
there be none to deliver!
He who brings thanksgiving as his
sacrifice honors me; to him who orders his way aright I will show
the
salvation of God!"
Have
mercy on me, O God, according to thy steadfast love; according to
thy
abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly
from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!
For I know my
transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
Against thee, thee
only, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in thy sight, so
that thou art justified in thy sentence and blameless in thy
judgment.
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin
did my mother conceive me.
Behold, thou desirest truth in the
inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.
Purge
me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be
whiter
than snow.
Fill me with joy and gladness; let the bones which
thou hast broken rejoice.
Hide thy face from my sins, and blot
out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and
put a new and right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from thy
presence, and take not thy holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me
the joy of thy salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
Then
I will teach transgressors thy ways, and sinners will return to
thee.
Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my
salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of thy deliverance.
O
Lord, open thou my lips, and my mouth shall show forth thy
praise.
For thou hast no delight in sacrifice; were I to give a
burnt offering, thou wouldst not be pleased.
The sacrifice
acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart,
O
God, thou wilt not despise.
Do good to Zion in thy good
pleasure; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, then wilt thou delight
in
right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;
then
bulls will be offered on thy altar.
Why
do you boast, O mighty man, of mischief done against the godly?
All
the day you are plotting destruction.
Your tongue is like a
sharp razor, you worker of treachery.
You love evil more than
good, and lying more than speaking the truth.
Forever.
You
love all words that devour, O deceitful tongue.
But God will
break you down for ever; he will snatch and tear you from your
tent;
he will uproot you from the land of the living.
Forever.
The
righteous shall see, and fear, and shall laugh at him, saying,
"See
the man who would not make God his refuge, but trusted in the
abundance of his riches, and sought refuge in his wealth!"
But
I am like a green olive tree in the house of God.
I trust in the
steadfast love of God for ever and ever.
I will thank thee for
ever, because thou hast done it.
I will proclaim thy name, for
it is good, in the presence of the godly.
The
fool says in his heart, "There is no God."
They are
corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none that does good.
God
looks down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if there are
any
that are wise, that seek after God.
They have all fallen away;
they are all alike depraved; there is none that does good, no, not
one.
Have those who work evil no understanding, who eat up my
people as they eat bread, and do not call upon God?
There they
are, in great terror, in terror such as has not been!
For God
will scatter the bones of the ungodly; they will be put to shame,
for
God has rejected them.
O that deliverance for Israel would come
from Zion!
When God restores the fortunes of his people, Jacob
will rejoice and Israel be glad.
Save
me, O God, by thy name, and vindicate me by thy might.
Hear my
prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth.
For insolent
men have risen against me, ruthless men seek my life; they do not
set
God before them.
Forever.
Behold, God is my helper; the
Lord is the upholder of my life.
He will requite my enemies with
evil; in thy faithfulness put an end to them.
With a freewill
offering I will sacrifice to thee; I will give thanks to thy name,
O
LORD, for it is good.
For thou hast delivered me from every
trouble, and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies.
Give
ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my
supplication!
Attend to me, and answer me; I am overcome by my
trouble.
I am distraught by the noise of the enemy, because of
the oppression of the wicked.
For they bring trouble upon me,
and in anger they cherish enmity against me.
My heart is in
anguish within me, the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
Fear
and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me.
And I say,
"O that I had wings like a dove!
I would fly away and be at
rest; yea, I would wander afar, I would lodge in the wilderness,
Forever.
I would haste to find me a shelter from the raging wind
and tempest."
Destroy their plans, O Lord, confuse their
tongues; for I see violence and strife in the city.
Day and
night they go around it on its walls; and mischief and trouble are
within it, ruin is in its midst; oppression and fraud do not
depart
from its market place.
It is not an enemy who taunts me-- then I
could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with
me--
then I could hide from him.
But it is you, my equal, my
companion, my familiar friend.
We used to hold sweet converse
together; within God's house we walked in fellowship.
Let death
come upon them; let them go down to Sheol alive; let them go away
in
terror into their graves.
But I call upon God; and the LORD will
save me.
Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint
and moan, and he will hear my voice.
He will deliver my soul in
safety from the battle that I wage, for many are arrayed against
me.
God will give ear, and humble them, he who is enthroned from
of old; because they keep no law, and do not fear God.
Forever.
My
companion stretched out his hand against his friends, he violated
his
covenant.
His speech was smoother than butter, yet war was in
his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn
swords.
Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you;
he will never permit the righteous to be moved.
But thou, O God,
wilt cast them down into the lowest pit; men of blood and
treachery
shall not live out half their days.
But I will trust in thee.
Be
gracious to me, O God, for men trample upon me; all day long
foemen
oppress me; my enemies trample upon me all day long, for many
fight
against me proudly.
When I am afraid, I put my trust in thee.
In
God, whose word I praise, in God I trust without a fear.
What
can flesh do to me?
All day long they seek to injure my cause;
all their thoughts are against me for evil.
They band themselves
together, they lurk, they watch my steps.
As they have waited
for my life, so recompense them for their crime; in wrath cast
down
the peoples, O God!
Thou hast kept count of my tossings; put
thou my tears in thy bottle!
Are they not in thy book?
Then
my enemies will be turned back in the day when I call.
This I
know, that God is for me.
In God, whose word I praise, in the
LORD, whose word I praise, in God I trust without a fear.
What
can man do to me?
My vows to thee I must perform, O God; I will
render thank offerings to thee.
For thou hast delivered my soul
from death, yea, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God
in
the light of life.
Be
merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in thee my soul
takes
refuge; in the shadow of thy wings I will take refuge, till the
storms of destruction pass by.
I cry to God Most High, to God
who fulfils his purpose for me.
He will send from heaven and
save me, he will put to shame those who trample upon me.
Forever.
God
will send forth his steadfast love and his faithfulness!
I lie
in the midst of lions that greedily devour the sons of men; their
teeth are spears and arrows, their tongues sharp swords.
Be
exalted, O God, above the heavens!
Let thy glory be over all the
earth!
They set a net for my steps; my soul was bowed down.
They
dug a pit in my way, but they have fallen into it
themselves.
Forever.
My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart
is steadfast!
I will sing and make melody!
Awake, my
soul!
Awake, O harp and lyre!
I will awake the dawn!
I
will give thanks to thee, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing
praises to thee among the nations.
For thy steadfast love is
great to the heavens, thy faithfulness to the clouds.
Be
exalted, O God, above the heavens!
Let thy glory be over all the
earth!
Do
you indeed decree what is right, you gods?
Do you judge the sons
of men uprightly?
Nay, in your hearts you devise wrongs; your
hands deal out violence on earth.
The wicked go astray from the
womb, they err from their birth, speaking lies.
They have venom
like the venom of a serpent, like the deaf adder that stops its
ear,
so that it does not hear the voice of charmers or of the cunning
enchanter.
O God, break the teeth in their mouths; tear out the
fangs of the young lions, O LORD!
Let them vanish like water
that runs away; like grass let them be trodden down and wither.
Let
them be like the snail which dissolves into slime, like the
untimely
birth that never sees the sun.
Sooner than your pots can feel
the heat of thorns, whether green or ablaze, may he sweep them
away!
The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance; he
will bathe his feet in the blood of the wicked.
Men will say,
"Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely there is a
God who judges on earth.
"
Deliver
me from my enemies, O my God, protect me from those who rise up
against me, deliver me from those who work evil, and save me from
bloodthirsty men.
For, lo, they lie in wait for my life; fierce
men band themselves against me.
For no transgression or sin of
mine, O LORD, for no fault of mine, they run and make ready.
Rouse
thyself, come to my help, and see!
Thou, LORD God of hosts, art
God of Israel.
Awake to punish all the nations; spare none of
those who treacherously plot evil.
Forever.
Each evening
they come back, howling like dogs and prowling about the city.
There
they are, bellowing with their mouths, and snarling with their
lips--
for "Who," they think, "will hear us?"
But
thou, O LORD, dost laugh at them; thou dost hold all the nations
in
derision.
O my Strength, I will sing praises to thee; for thou,
O God, art my fortress.
My God in his steadfast love will meet
me; my God will let me look in triumph on my enemies.
Slay them
not, lest my people forget; make them totter by thy power, and
bring
them down, O Lord, our shield!
For the sin of their mouths, the
words of their lips, let them be trapped in their pride.
For the
cursing and lies which they utter, consume them in wrath, consume
them till they are no more, that men may know that God rules over
Jacob to the ends of the earth.
Forever.
Each evening they
come back, howling like dogs and prowling about the city.
They
roam about for food, and growl if they do not get their fill.
But
I will sing of thy might; I will sing aloud of thy steadfast love
in
the morning.
For thou hast been to me a fortress and a refuge in
the day of my distress.
O my Strength, I will sing praises to
thee, for thou, O God, art my fortress, the God who shows me
steadfast love.
O
God, thou hast rejected us, broken our defenses; thou hast been
angry; oh, restore us.
Thou hast made the land to quake, thou
hast rent it open; repair its breaches, for it totters.
Thou
hast made thy people suffer hard things; thou hast given us wine
to
drink that made us reel.
Thou hast set up a banner for those who
fear thee, to rally to it from the bow.
Forever.
That thy
beloved may be delivered, give victory by thy right hand and
answer
us!
God has spoken in his sanctuary: "With exultation I
will divide up Shechem and portion out the Vale of Succoth.
Gilead
is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet; Judah is my
scepter.
Moab is my washbasin; upon Edom I cast my shoe; over
Philistia I shout in triumph."
Who will bring me to the
fortified city?
Who will lead me to Edom?
Hast thou not
rejected us, O God?
Thou dost not go forth, O God, with our
armies.
O grant us help against the foe, for vain is the help of
man!
With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread
down our foes.
Hear
my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I
call
to thee, when my heart is faint.
Lead thou me to the rock that
is higher than I; for thou art my refuge, a strong tower against
the
enemy.
Let me dwell in thy tent for ever!
Oh to be safe
under the shelter of thy wings!
Forever.
For thou, O God,
hast heard my vows, thou hast given me the heritage of those who
fear
thy name.
Prolong the life of the king; may his years endure to
all generations!
May he be enthroned for ever before God; bid
steadfast love and faithfulness watch over him!
So will I ever
sing praises to thy name, as I pay my vows day after day.
For
God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.
He
only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be
greatly
moved.
How long will you set upon a man to shatter him, all of
you, like a leaning wall, a tottering fence?
They only plan to
thrust him down from his eminence.
They take pleasure in
falsehood.
They bless with their mouths, but inwardly they
curse.
Forever.
For God alone my soul waits in silence, for
my hope is from him.
He only is my rock and my salvation, my
fortress; I shall not be shaken.
On God rests my deliverance and
my honor; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.
Trust in him at all
times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge
for
us.
Forever.
Men of low estate are but a breath, men of
high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are
together lighter than a breath.
Put no confidence in extortion,
set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, set not your
heart
on them.
Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that
power belongs to God; and that to thee, O Lord, belongs steadfast
love.
For thou dost requite a man according to his work.
A
Psalm of David, when he was in the Wilderness of Judah.
O God,
thou art my God, I seek thee, my soul thirsts for thee; my flesh
faints for thee, as in a dry and weary land where no water is.
So
I have looked upon thee in the sanctuary, beholding thy power and
glory.
Because thy steadfast love is better than life, my lips
will praise thee.
So I will bless thee as long as I live; I will
lift up my hands and call on thy name.
My soul is feasted as
with marrow and fat, and my mouth praises thee with joyful lips,
when
I think of thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the watches
of
the night; for thou hast been my help, and in the shadow of thy
wings
I sing for joy.
My soul clings to thee; thy right hand upholds
me.
But those who seek to destroy my life shall go down into the
depths of the earth; they shall be given over to the power of the
sword, they shall be prey for jackals.
But the king shall
rejoice in God; all who swear by him shall glory; for the mouths
of
liars will be stopped.
Hear
my voice, O God, in my complaint; preserve my life from dread of
the
enemy, hide me from the secret plots of the wicked, from the
scheming
of evildoers, who whet their tongues like swords, who aim bitter
words like arrows, shooting from ambush at the blameless, shooting
at
him suddenly and without fear.
They hold fast to their evil
purpose; they talk of laying snares secretly, thinking, "Who can
see us?
Who can search out our crimes?
We have thought out
a cunningly conceived plot."
For the inward mind and heart
of a man are deep!
But God will shoot his arrow at them; they
will be wounded suddenly.
Because of their tongue he will bring
them to ruin; all who see them will wag their heads.
Then all
men will fear; they will tell what God has wrought, and ponder
what
he has done.
Let the righteous rejoice in the LORD, and take
refuge in him!
Let all the upright in heart glory!
Praise
is due to thee, O God, in Zion; and to thee shall vows be
performed,
O thou who hearest prayer!
To thee shall all flesh come on
account of sins.
When our transgressions prevail over us, thou
dost forgive them.
Blessed is he whom thou dost choose and bring
near, to dwell in thy courts!
We shall be satisfied with the
goodness of thy house, thy holy temple!
By dread deeds thou dost
answer us with deliverance, O God of our salvation, who art the
hope
of all the ends of the earth, and of the farthest seas; who by thy
strength hast established the mountains, being girded with might;
who
dost still the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves,
the
tumult of the peoples; so that those who dwell at earth's farthest
bounds are afraid at thy signs; thou makest the outgoings of the
morning and the evening to shout for joy.
Thou visitest the
earth and waterest it, thou greatly enrichest it; the river of God
is
full of water; thou providest their grain, for so thou hast
prepared
it.
Thou waterest its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges,
softening it with showers, and blessing its growth.
Thou
crownest the year with thy bounty; the tracks of thy chariot drip
with fatness.
The pastures of the wilderness drip, the hills
gird themselves with joy, the meadows clothe themselves with
flocks,
the valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing
together
for joy.
Make
a joyful noise to God, all the earth; sing the glory of his name;
give to him glorious praise!
Say to God, "How terrible are
thy deeds!
So great is thy power that thy enemies cringe before
thee.
All the earth worships thee; they sing praises to thee,
sing praises to thy name."
Forever.
Come and see what
God has done: he is terrible in his deeds among men.
He turned
the sea into dry land; men passed through the river on foot.
There
did we rejoice in him, who rules by his might for ever, whose eyes
keep watch on the nations-- let not the rebellious exalt
themselves.
Forever.
Bless our God, O peoples, let the
sound of his praise be heard, who has kept us among the living,
and
has not let our feet slip.
For thou, O God, hast tested us; thou
hast tried us as silver is tried.
Thou didst bring us into the
net; thou didst lay affliction on our loins; thou didst let men
ride
over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet thou
hast
brought us forth to a spacious place.
I will come into thy house
with burnt offerings; I will pay thee my vows, that which my lips
uttered and my mouth promised when I was in trouble.
I will
offer to thee burnt offerings of fatlings, with the smoke of the
sacrifice of rams; I will make an offering of bulls and
goats.
Forever.
Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I
will tell what he has done for me.
I cried aloud to him, and he
was extolled with my tongue.
If I had cherished iniquity in my
heart, the Lord would not have listened.
But truly God has
listened; he has given heed to the voice of my prayer.
Blessed
be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his
steadfast love from me!
May
God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon
us, Forever.
that thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving
power among all nations.
Let the peoples praise thee, O God; let
all the peoples praise thee!
Let the nations be glad and sing
for joy, for thou dost judge the peoples with equity and guide the
nations upon earth.
Forever.
Let the peoples praise thee, O
God; let all the peoples praise thee!
The earth has yielded its
increase; God, our God, has blessed us.
God has blessed us; let
all the ends of the earth fear him!
Let
God arise, let his enemies be scattered; let those who hate him
flee
before him!
As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax
melts before fire, let the wicked perish before God!
But let the
righteous be joyful; let them exult before God; let them be
jubilant
with joy!
Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song
to him who rides upon the clouds; his name is the LORD, exult
before
him!
Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in
his holy habitation.
God gives the desolate a home to dwell in;
he leads out the prisoners to prosperity; but the rebellious dwell
in
a parched land.
O God, when thou didst go forth before thy
people, when thou didst march through the wilderness, Forever.
the
earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain, at the presence of
God;
yon Sinai quaked at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
Rain
in abundance, O God, thou didst shed abroad; thou didst restore
thy
heritage as it languished; thy flock found a dwelling in it; in
thy
goodness, O God, thou didst provide for the needy.
The Lord
gives the command; great is the host of those who bore the
tidings:
"The kings of the armies, they flee, they flee!"
The
women at home divide the spoil, though they stay among the
sheepfolds-- the wings of a dove covered with silver, its pinions
with green gold.
When the Almighty scattered kings there, snow
fell on Zalmon.
O mighty mountain, mountain of Bashan; O
many-peaked mountain, mountain of Bashan!
Why look you with
envy, O many-peaked mountain, at the mount which God desired for
his
abode, yea, where the LORD will dwell for ever?
With mighty
chariotry, twice ten thousand, thousands upon thousands, the Lord
came from Sinai into the holy place.
Thou didst ascend the high
mount, leading captives in thy train, and receiving gifts among
men,
even among the rebellious, that the LORD God may dwell there.
Blessed
be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our
salvation.
Forever.
Our God is a God of salvation; and to
GOD, the Lord, belongs escape from death.
But God will shatter
the heads of his enemies, the hairy crown of him who walks in his
guilty ways.
The Lord said, "I will bring them back from
Bashan, I will bring them back from the depths of the sea, that
you
may bathe your feet in blood, that the tongues of your dogs may
have
their portion from the foe."
Thy solemn processions are
seen, O God, the processions of my God, my King, into the
sanctuary--
the singers in front, the minstrels last, between them maidens
playing timbrels: "Bless God in the great congregation, the
LORD, O you who are of Israel's fountain!"
There is
Benjamin, the least of them, in the lead, the princes of Judah in
their throng, the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.
Summon
thy might, O God; show thy strength, O God, thou who hast wrought
for
us.
Because of thy temple at Jerusalem kings bear gifts to
thee.
Rebuke the beasts that dwell among the reeds, the herd of
bulls with the calves of the peoples.
Trample under foot those
who lust after tribute; scatter the peoples who delight in war.
Let
bronze be brought from Egypt; let Ethiopia hasten to stretch out
her
hands to God.
Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth; sing praises
to the Lord, Forever.
to him who rides in the heavens, the
ancient heavens; lo, he sends forth his voice, his mighty
voice.
Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel, and
his power is in the skies.
Terrible is God in his sanctuary, the
God of Israel, he gives power and strength to his people.
Blessed
be God!
Save
me, O God!
For the waters have come up to my neck.
I sink
in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep
waters, and the flood sweeps over me.
I am weary with my crying;
my throat is parched.
My eyes grow dim with waiting for my
God.
More in number than the hairs of my head are those who hate
me without cause; mighty are those who would destroy me, those who
attack me with lies.
What I did not steal must I now restore?
O
God, thou knowest my folly; the wrongs I have done are not hidden
from thee.
Let not those who hope in thee be put to shame
through me, O Lord GOD of hosts; let not those who seek thee be
brought to dishonor through me, O God of Israel.
For it is for
thy sake that I have borne reproach, that shame has covered my
face.
I have become a stranger to my brethren, an alien to my
mother's sons.
For zeal for thy house has consumed me, and the
insults of those who insult thee have fallen on me.
When I
humbled my soul with fasting, it became my reproach.
When I made
sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them.
I am the talk
of those who sit in the gate, and the drunkards make songs about
me.
But as for me, my prayer is to thee, O LORD.
At an
acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of thy steadfast love
answer
me.
With thy faithful help rescue me from sinking in the mire;
let me be delivered from my enemies and from the deep waters.
Let
not the flood sweep over me, or the deep swallow me up, or the pit
close its mouth over me.
Answer me, O LORD, for thy steadfast
love is good; according to thy abundant mercy, turn to me.
Hide
not thy face from thy servant; for I am in distress, make haste to
answer me.
Draw near to me, redeem me, set me free because of my
enemies!
Thou knowest my reproach, and my shame and my dishonor;
my foes are all known to thee.
Insults have broken my heart, so
that I am in despair.
I looked for pity, but there was none; and
for comforters, but I found none.
They gave me poison for food,
and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
Let their own
table before them become a snare; let their sacrificial feasts be
a
trap.
Let their eyes be darkened, so that they cannot see; and
make their loins tremble continually.
Pour out thy indignation
upon them, and let thy burning anger overtake them.
May their
camp be a desolation, let no one dwell in their tents.
For they
persecute him whom thou hast smitten, and him whom thou hast
wounded,
they afflict still more.
Add to them punishment upon punishment;
may they have no acquittal from thee.
Let them be blotted out of
the book of the living; let them not be enrolled among the
righteous.
But I am afflicted and in pain; let thy salvation, O
God, set me on high!
I will praise the name of God with a song;
I will magnify him with thanksgiving.
This will please the LORD
more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs.
Let the
oppressed see it and be glad; you who seek God, let your hearts
revive.
For the LORD hears the needy, and does not despise his
own that are in bonds.
Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas
and everything that moves therein.
For God will save Zion and
rebuild the cities of Judah; and his servants shall dwell there
and
possess it; the children of his servants shall inherit it, and
those
who love his name shall dwell in it.
Be
pleased, O God, to deliver me!
O LORD, make haste to help
me!
Let them be put to shame and confusion who seek my life!
Let
them be turned back and brought to dishonor who desire my hurt!
Let
them be appalled because of their shame who say, "Aha, Aha!"
May
all who seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee!
May those who
love thy salvation say evermore, "God is great!"
But I
am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God!
Thou art my help and my
deliverer; O LORD, do not tarry!
In
thee, O LORD, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame!
In
thy righteousness deliver me and rescue me; incline thy ear to me,
and save me!
Be thou to me a rock of refuge, a strong fortress,
to save me, for thou art my rock and my fortress.
Rescue me, O
my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust
and
cruel man.
For thou, O Lord, art my hope, my trust, O LORD, from
my youth.
Upon thee I have leaned from my birth; thou art he who
took me from my mother's womb.
My praise is continually of
thee.
I have been as a portent to many; but thou art my strong
refuge.
My mouth is filled with thy praise, and with thy glory
all the day.
Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake
me not when my strength is spent.
For my enemies speak
concerning me, those who watch for my life consult together, and
say,
"God has forsaken him; pursue and seize him, for there is none
to deliver him."
O God, be not far from me; O my God, make
haste to help me!
May my accusers be put to shame and consumed;
with scorn and disgrace may they be covered who seek my hurt.
But
I will hope continually, and will praise thee yet more and more.
My
mouth will tell of thy righteous acts, of thy deeds of salvation
all
the day, for their number is past my knowledge.
With the mighty
deeds of the Lord GOD I will come, I will praise thy
righteousness,
thine alone.
O God, from my youth thou hast taught me, and I
still proclaim thy wondrous deeds.
So even to old age and gray
hairs, O God, do not forsake me, till I proclaim thy might to all
the
generations to come.
Thy power and thy righteousness, O God,
reach the high heavens.
Thou who hast done great things, O God,
who is like thee?
Thou who hast made me see many sore troubles
wilt revive me again; from the depths of the earth thou wilt bring
me
up again.
Thou wilt increase my honor, and comfort me again.
I
will also praise thee with the harp for thy faithfulness, O my
God; I
will sing praises to thee with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel.
My
lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to thee; my soul
also,
which thou hast rescued.
And my tongue will talk of thy
righteous help all the day long, for they have been put to shame
and
disgraced who sought to do me hurt.
A
Psalm of Solomon.
Give the king thy justice, O God, and thy
righteousness to the royal son!
May he judge thy people with
righteousness, and thy poor with justice!
Let the mountains bear
prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness!
May
he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to
the needy, and crush the oppressor!
May he live while the sun
endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations!
May
he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that
water
the earth!
In his days may righteousness flourish, and peace
abound, till the moon be no more!
May he have dominion from sea
to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth!
May his
foes bow down before him, and his enemies lick the dust!
May the
kings of Tarshish and of the isles render him tribute, may the
kings
of Sheba and Seba bring gifts!
May all kings fall down before
him, all nations serve him!
For he delivers the needy when he
calls, the poor and him who has no helper.
He has pity on the
weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy.
From
oppression and violence he redeems their life; and precious is
their
blood in his sight.
Long may he live, may gold of Sheba be given
to him!
May prayer be made for him continually, and blessings
invoked for him all the day!
May there be abundance of grain in
the land; on the tops of the mountains may it wave; may its fruit
be
like Lebanon; and may men blossom forth from the cities like the
grass of the field!
May his name endure for ever, his fame
continue as long as the sun!
May men bless themselves by him,
all nations call him blessed!
Blessed be the LORD, the God of
Israel, who alone does wondrous things.
Blessed be his glorious
name for ever; may his glory fill the whole earth!
Amen and
Amen!
The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are ended.
Truly
God is good to the upright, to those who are pure in heart.
But
as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had well nigh
slipped.
For I was envious of the arrogant, when I saw the
prosperity of the wicked.
For they have no pangs; their bodies
are sound and sleek.
They are not in trouble as other men are;
they are not stricken like other men.
Therefore pride is their
necklace; violence covers them as a garment.
Their eyes swell
out with fatness, their hearts overflow with follies.
They scoff
and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression.
They
set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue struts
through
the earth.
Therefore the people turn and praise them; and find
no fault in them.
And they say, "How can God know?
Is
there knowledge in the Most High?"
Behold, these are the
wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches.
All in vain
have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence.
For
all the day long I have been stricken, and chastened every
morning.
If I had said, "I will speak thus," I would
have been untrue to the generation of thy children.
But when I
thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task,
until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I perceived their
end.
Truly thou dost set them in slippery places; thou dost make
them fall to ruin.
How they are destroyed in a moment, swept
away utterly by terrors!
They are like a dream when one awakes,
on awaking you despise their phantoms.
When my soul was
embittered, when I was pricked in heart, I was stupid and
ignorant, I
was like a beast toward thee.
Nevertheless I am continually with
thee; thou dost hold my right hand.
Thou dost guide me with thy
counsel, and afterward thou wilt receive me to glory.
Whom have
I in heaven but thee?
And hing upon earth that I desire besides
thee.
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of
my heart and my portion for ever.
For lo, those who are far from
thee shall perish; thou dost put an end to those who are false to
thee.
But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord
GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all thy works.
O
God, why dost thou cast us off for ever?
Why does thy anger
smoke against the sheep of thy pasture?
Remember thy
congregation, which thou hast gotten of old, which thou hast
redeemed
to be the tribe of thy heritage!
Remember Mount Zion, where thou
hast dwelt.
Direct thy steps to the perpetual ruins; the enemy
has destroyed everything in the sanctuary!
Thy foes have roared
in the midst of thy holy place; they set up their own signs for
signs.
At the upper entrance they hacked the wooden trellis with
axes.
And then all its carved wood they broke down with hatchets
and hammers.
They set thy sanctuary on fire; to the ground they
desecrated the dwelling place of thy name.
They said to
themselves, "We will utterly subdue them"; they burned all
the meeting places of God in the land.
We do not see our signs;
there is no longer any prophet, and there is none among us who
knows
how long.
How long, O God, is the foe to scoff?
Is the
enemy to revile thy name for ever?
Why dost thou hold back thy
hand, why dost thou keep thy right hand in thy bosom?
Yet God my
King is from of old, working salvation in the midst of the
earth.
Thou didst divide the sea by thy might; thou didst break
the heads of the dragons on the waters.
Thou didst crush the
heads of Leviathan, thou didst give him as food for the creatures
of
the wilderness.
Thou didst cleave open springs and brooks; thou
didst dry up ever-flowing streams.
Thine is the day, thine also
the night; thou hast established the luminaries and the sun.
Thou
hast fixed all the bounds of the earth; thou hast made summer and
winter.
Remember this, O LORD, how the enemy scoffs, and an
impious people reviles thy name.
Do not deliver the soul of thy
dove to the wild beasts; do not forget the life of thy poor for
ever.
Have regard for thy covenant; for the dark places of the
land are full of the habitations of violence.
Let not the
downtrodden be put to shame; let the poor and needy praise thy
name.
Arise, O God, plead thy cause; remember how the impious
scoff at thee all the day!
Do not forget the clamor of thy foes,
the uproar of thy adversaries which goes up continually!
We
give thanks to thee, O God; we give thanks; we call on thy name
and
recount thy wondrous deeds.
At the set time which I appoint I
will judge with equity.
When the earth totters, and all its
inhabitants, it is I who keep steady its pillars.
Forever.
I
say to the boastful, "Do not boast," and to the wicked, "Do
not lift up your horn; do not lift up your horn on high, or speak
with insolent neck."
For not from the east or from the west
and not from the wilderness comes lifting up; but it is God who
executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another.
For
in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, with foaming wine, well
mixed; and he will pour a draught from it, and all the wicked of
the
earth shall drain it down to the dregs.
But I will rejoice for
ever, I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.
All the horns of
the wicked he will cut off, but the horns of the righteous shall
be
exalted.
In
Judah God is known, his name is great in Israel.
His abode has
been established in Salem, his dwelling place in Zion.
There he
broke the flashing arrows, the shield, the sword, and the weapons
of
war.
Forever.
Glorious art thou, more majestic than the
everlasting mountains.
The stouthearted were stripped of their
spoil; they sank into sleep; all the men of war were unable to use
their hands.
At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both rider and horse
lay stunned.
But thou, terrible art thou!
Who can stand
before thee when once thy anger is roused?
From the heavens thou
didst utter judgment; the earth feared and was still, when God
arose
to establish judgment to save all the oppressed of the
earth.
Forever.
Surely the wrath of men shall praise thee;
the residue of wrath thou wilt gird upon thee.
Make your vows to
the LORD your God, and perform them; let all around him bring
gifts
to him who is to be feared, who cuts off the spirit of princes,
who
is terrible to the kings of the earth.
I
cry aloud to God, aloud to God, that he may hear me.
In the day
of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched
out
without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted.
I think of
God, and I moan; I meditate, and my spirit faints.
Forever.
Thou
dost hold my eyelids from closing; I am so troubled that I cannot
speak.
I consider the days of old, I remember the years long
ago.
I commune with my heart in the night; I meditate and search
my spirit: "Will the Lord spurn for ever, and never again be
favorable?
Has his steadfast love for ever ceased?
Are his
promises at an end for all time?
Has God forgotten to be
gracious?
Has he in anger shut up his compassion?"
Forever.
And
I say, "It is my grief that the right hand of the Most High has
changed."
I will call to mind the deeds of the LORD; yea, I
will remember thy wonders of old.
I will meditate on all thy
work, and muse on thy mighty deeds.
Thy way, O God, is
holy.
What god is great like our God?
Thou art the God who
workest wonders, who hast manifested thy might among the
peoples.
Thou didst with thy arm redeem thy people, the sons of
Jacob and Joseph.
Forever.
When the waters saw thee, O God,
when the waters saw thee, they were afraid, yea, the deep
trembled.
The clouds poured out water; the skies gave forth
thunder; thy arrows flashed on every side.
The crash of thy
thunder was in the whirlwind; thy lightnings lighted up the world;
the earth trembled and shook.
Thy way was through the sea, thy
path through the great waters; yet thy footprints were unseen.
Thou
didst lead thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
Give
ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words
of
my mouth!
I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark
sayings from of old, things that we have heard and known, that our
fathers have told us.
We will not hide them from their children,
but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD,
and
his might, and the wonders which he has wrought.
He established
a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he
commanded our fathers to teach to their children; that the next
generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and
tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in
God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments;
and
that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and
rebellious
generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose
spirit
was not faithful to God.
The Ephraimites, armed with the bow,
turned back on the day of battle.
They did not keep God's
covenant, but refused to walk according to his law.
They forgot
what he had done, and the miracles that he had shown them.
In
the sight of their fathers he wrought marvels in the land of
Egypt,
in the fields of Zoan.
He divided the sea and let them pass
through it, and made the waters stand like a heap.
In the
daytime he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a fiery
light.
He cleft rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink
abundantly as from the deep.
He made streams come out of the
rock, and caused waters to flow down like rivers.
Yet they
sinned still more against him, rebelling against the Most High in
the
desert.
They tested God in their heart by demanding the food
they craved.
They spoke against God, saying, "Can God
spread a table in the wilderness?
He smote the rock so that
water gushed out and streams overflowed.
Can he also give bread,
or provide meat for his people?"
Therefore, when the LORD
heard, he was full of wrath; a fire was kindled against Jacob, his
anger mounted against Israel; because they had no faith in God,
and
did not trust his saving power.
Yet he commanded the skies
above, and opened the doors of heaven; and he rained down upon
them
manna to eat, and gave them the grain of heaven.
Man ate of the
bread of the angels; he sent them food in abundance.
He caused
the east wind to blow in the heavens, and by his power he led out
the
south wind; he rained flesh upon them like dust, winged birds like
the sand of the seas; he let them fall in the midst of their camp,
all around their habitations.
And they ate and were well filled,
for he gave them what they craved.
But before they had sated
their craving, while the food was still in their mouths, the anger
of
God rose against them and he slew the strongest of them, and laid
low
the picked men of Israel.
In spite of all this they still
sinned; despite his wonders they did not believe.
So he made
their days vanish like a breath, and their years in terror.
When
he slew them, they sought for him; they repented and sought God
earnestly.
They remembered that God was their rock, the Most
High God their redeemer.
But they flattered him with their
mouths; they lied to him with their tongues.
Their heart was not
steadfast toward him; they were not true to his covenant.
Yet
he, being compassionate, forgave their iniquity, and did not
destroy
them; he restrained his anger often, and did not stir up all his
wrath.
He remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that
passes and comes not again.
How often they rebelled against him
in the wilderness and grieved him in the desert!
They tested him
again and again, and provoked the Holy One of Israel.
They did
not keep in mind his power, or the day when he redeemed them from
the
foe; when he wrought his signs in Egypt, and his miracles in the
fields of Zoan.
He turned their rivers to blood, so that they
could not drink of their streams.
He sent among them swarms of
flies, which devoured them, and frogs, which destroyed them.
He
gave their crops to the caterpillar, and the fruit of their labor
to
the locust.
He destroyed their vines with hail, and their
sycamores with frost.
He gave over their cattle to the hail, and
their flocks to thunderbolts.
He let loose on them his fierce
anger, wrath, indignation, and distress, a company of destroying
angels.
He made a path for his anger; he did not spare them from
death, but gave their lives over to the plague.
He smote all the
first-born in Egypt, the first issue of their strength in the
tents
of Ham.
Then he led forth his people like sheep, and guided them
in the wilderness like a flock.
He led them in safety, so that
they were not afraid; but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
And
he brought them to his holy land, to the mountain which his right
hand had won.
He drove out nations before them; he apportioned
them for a possession and settled the tribes of Israel in their
tents.
Yet they tested and rebelled against the Most High God,
and did not observe his testimonies, but turned away and acted
treacherously like their fathers; they twisted like a deceitful
bow.
For they provoked him to anger with their high places; they
moved him to jealousy with their graven images.
When God heard,
he was full of wrath, and he utterly rejected Israel.
He forsook
his dwelling at Shiloh, the tent where he dwelt among men, and
delivered his power to captivity, his glory to the hand of the
foe.
He gave his people over to the sword, and vented his wrath
on his heritage.
Fire devoured their young men, and their
maidens had no marriage song.
Their priests fell by the sword,
and their widows made no lamentation.
Then the Lord awoke as
from sleep, like a strong man shouting because of wine.
And he
put his adversaries to rout; he put them to everlasting shame.
He
rejected the tent of Joseph, he did not choose the tribe of
Ephraim;
but he chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which he loves.
He
built his sanctuary like the high heavens, like the earth, which
he
has founded for ever.
He chose David his servant, and took him
from the sheepfolds; from tending the ewes that had young he
brought
him to be the shepherd of Jacob his people, of Israel his
inheritance.
With upright heart he tended them, and guided them
with skilful hand.
O
God, the heathen have come into thy inheritance; they have defiled
thy holy temple; they have laid Jerusalem in ruins.
They have
given the bodies of thy servants to the birds of the air for food,
the flesh of thy saints to the beasts of the earth.
They have
poured out their blood like water round about Jerusalem, and there
was none to bury them.
We have become a taunt to our neighbors,
mocked and derided by those round about us.
How long, O
LORD?
Wilt thou be angry for ever?
Will thy jealous wrath
burn like fire?
Pour out thy anger on the nations that do not
know thee, and on the kingdoms that do not call on thy name!
For
they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his habitation.
Do not
remember against us the iniquities of our forefathers; let thy
compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very
low.
Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name;
deliver us, and forgive our sins, for thy name's sake!
Why
should the nations say, "Where is their God?"
Let the
avenging of the outpoured blood of thy servants be known among the
nations before our eyes!
Let the groans of the prisoners come
before thee; according to thy great power preserve those doomed to
die!
Return sevenfold into the bosom of our neighbors the taunts
with which they have taunted thee, O Lord!
Then we thy people,
the flock of thy pasture, will give thanks to thee for ever; from
generation to generation we will recount thy praise.
Give
ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou who leadest Joseph like a flock!
Thou
who art enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth before Ephraim
and
Benjamin and Manasseh!
Stir up thy might, and come to save
us!
Restore us, O God; let thy face shine, that we may be
saved!
O LORD God of hosts, how long wilt thou be angry with thy
people's prayers?
Thou hast fed them with the bread of tears,
and given them tears to drink in full measure.
Thou dost make us
the scorn of our neighbors; and our enemies laugh among
themselves.
Restore us, O God of hosts; let thy face shine, that
we may be saved!
Thou didst bring a vine out of Egypt; thou
didst drive out the nations and plant it.
Thou didst clear the
ground for it; it took deep root and filled the land.
The
mountains were covered with its shade, the mighty cedars with its
branches; it sent out its branches to the sea, and its shoots to
the
River.
Why then hast thou broken down its walls, so that all who
pass along the way pluck its fruit?
The boar from the forest
ravages it, and all that move in the field feed on it.
Turn
again, O God of hosts!
Look down from heaven, and see; have
regard for this vine, the stock which thy right hand planted.
They
have burned it with fire, they have cut it down; may they perish
at
the rebuke of thy countenance!
But let thy hand be upon the man
of thy right hand, the son of man whom thou hast made strong for
thyself!
Then we will never turn back from thee; give us life,
and we will call on thy name!
Restore us, O LORD God of
hosts!
let thy face shine, that we may be saved!
Sing
aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob!
Raise
a song, sound the timbrel, the sweet lyre with the harp.
Blow
the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our feast day.
For
it is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob.
He
made it a decree in Joseph, when he went out over the land of
Egypt.
I hear a voice I had not known: "I relieved your
shoulder of the burden; your hands were freed from the basket.
In
distress you called, and I delivered you; I answered you in the
secret place of thunder; I tested you at the waters of
Meribah.
Forever.
Hear, O my people, while I admonish
you!
O Israel, if you would but listen to me!
There shall
be no strange god among you; you shall not bow down to a foreign
god.
I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of the land
of Egypt.
Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.
"But
my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would have none of
me.
So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow
their own counsels.
O that my people would listen to me, that
Israel would walk in my ways!
I would soon subdue their enemies,
and turn my hand against their foes.
Those who hate the LORD
would cringe toward him, and their fate would last for ever.
I
would feed you with the finest of the wheat, and with honey from
the
rock I would satisfy you.
"
God
has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the
gods
he holds judgment: "How long will you judge unjustly and show
partiality to the wicked?
Forever.
Give justice to the weak
and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the
destitute.
Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the
hand of the wicked."
They have neither knowledge nor
understanding, they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of
the earth are shaken.
I say, "You are gods, sons of the
Most High, all of you; nevertheless, you shall die like men, and
fall
like any prince."
Arise, O God, judge the earth; for to
thee belong all the nations!
O
God, do not keep silence; do not hold thy peace or be still, O
God!
For lo, thy enemies are in tumult; those who hate thee have
raised their heads.
They lay crafty plans against thy people;
they consult together against thy protected ones.
They say,
"Come, let us wipe them out as a nation; let the name of Israel
be remembered no more!"
Yea, they conspire with one accord;
against thee they make a covenant-- the tents of Edom and the
Ishmaelites, Moab and the Hagrites, Gebal and Ammon and Amalek,
Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assyria also has joined
them;
they are the strong arm of the children of Lot.
Forever.
Do
to them as thou didst to Midian, as to Sisera and Jabin at the
river
Kishon, who were destroyed at En-dor, who became dung for the
ground.
Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, all their princes
like Zebah and Zalmunna, who said, "Let us take possession for
ourselves of the pastures of God."
O my God, make them like
whirling dust, like chaff before the wind.
As fire consumes the
forest, as the flame sets the mountains ablaze, so do thou pursue
them with thy tempest and terrify them with thy hurricane!
Fill
their faces with shame, that they may seek thy name, O LORD.
Let
them be put to shame and dismayed for ever; let them perish in
disgrace.
Let them know that thou alone, whose name is the LORD,
art the Most High over all the earth.
A
Psalm of the Sons of Korah.
How lovely is thy dwelling place, O
LORD of hosts!
My soul longs, yea, faints for the courts of the
LORD; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.
Even
the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself,
where
she may lay her young, at thy altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and
my
God.
Blessed are those who dwell in thy house, ever singing thy
praise!
Forever.
Blessed are the men whose strength is in
thee, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
As they go
through the valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the
early
rain also covers it with pools.
They go from strength to
strength; the God of gods will be seen in Zion.
O LORD God of
hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob!
Forever.
Behold
our shield, O God; look upon the face of thine anointed!
For a
day in thy courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.
I would
rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the
tents
of wickedness.
For the LORD God is a sun and shield; he bestows
favor and honor.
No good thing does the LORD withhold from those
who walk uprightly.
O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man who
trusts in thee!
LORD,
thou wast favorable to thy land; thou didst restore the fortunes
of
Jacob.
Thou didst forgive the iniquity of thy people; thou didst
pardon all their sin.
Forever.
Thou didst withdraw all thy
wrath; thou didst turn from thy hot anger.
Restore us again, O
God of our salvation, and put away thy indignation toward us!
Wilt
thou be angry with us for ever?
Wilt thou prolong thy anger to
all generations?
Wilt thou not revive us again, that thy people
may rejoice in thee?
Show us thy steadfast love, O LORD, and
grant us thy salvation.
Let me hear what God the LORD will
speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints, to
those
who turn to him in their hearts.
Surely his salvation is at hand
for those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land.
Steadfast
love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss
each other.
Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and
righteousness will look down from the sky.
Yea, the LORD will
give what is good, and our land will yield its
increase.
Righteousness will go before him, and make his
footsteps a way.
A
Prayer of David.
Incline thy ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I
am poor and needy.
Preserve my life, for I am godly; save thy
servant who trusts in thee.
Thou art my God; be gracious to me,
O Lord, for to thee do I cry all the day.
Gladden the soul of
thy servant, for to thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
For
thou, O Lord, art good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love
to
all who call on thee.
Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; hearken to
my cry of supplication.
In the day of my trouble I call on thee,
for thou dost answer me.
There is none like thee among the gods,
O Lord, nor are there any works like thine.
All the nations thou
hast made shall come and bow down before thee, O Lord, and shall
glorify thy name.
For thou art great and doest wondrous things,
thou alone art God.
Teach me thy way, O LORD, that I may walk in
thy truth; unite my heart to fear thy name.
I give thanks to
thee, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify thy
name
for ever.
For great is thy steadfast love toward me; thou hast
delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.
O God, insolent men
have risen up against me; a band of ruthless men seek my life, and
they do not set thee before them.
But thou, O Lord, art a God
merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast
love
and faithfulness.
Turn to me and take pity on me; give thy
strength to thy servant, and save the son of thy handmaid.
Show
me a sign of thy favor, that those who hate me may see and be put
to
shame because thou, LORD, hast helped me and comforted me.
On
the holy mount stands the city he founded; the LORD loves the
gates
of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.
Glorious
things are spoken of you, O city of God.
Forever.
Among
those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon; behold, Philistia
and
Tyre, with Ethiopia-- "This one was born there," they
say.
And of Zion it shall be said, "This one and that one
were born in her"; for the Most High himself will establish
her.
The LORD records as he registers the peoples, "This
one was born there."
Forever.
Singers and dancers
alike say, "All my springs are in you.
"
O
LORD, my God, I call for help by day; I cry out in the night
before
thee.
Let my prayer come before thee, incline thy ear to my
cry!
For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to
Sheol.
I am reckoned among those who go down to the Pit; I am a
man who has no strength, like one forsaken among the dead, like
the
slain that lie in the grave, like those whom thou dost remember no
more, for they are cut off from thy hand.
Thou hast put me in
the depths of the Pit, in the regions dark and deep.
Thy wrath
lies heavy upon me, and thou dost overwhelm me with all thy
waves.
Forever.
Thou hast caused my companions to shun me;
thou hast made me a thing of horror to them.
I am shut in so
that I cannot escape; my eye grows dim through sorrow.
Every day
I call upon thee, O LORD; I spread out my hands to thee.
Dost
thou work wonders for the dead?
Do the shades rise up to praise
thee?
Forever.
Is thy steadfast love declared in the grave,
or thy faithfulness in Abaddon?
Are thy wonders known in the
darkness, or thy saving help in the land of forgetfulness?
But
I, O LORD, cry to thee; in the morning my prayer comes before
thee.
O
LORD, why dost thou cast me off?
Why dost thou hide thy face
from me?
Afflicted and close to death from my youth up, I suffer
thy terrors; I am helpless.
Thy wrath has swept over me; thy
dread assaults destroy me.
They surround me like a flood all day
long; they close in upon me together.
Thou hast caused lover and
friend to shun me; my companions are in darkness.
A
Maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite.
I will sing of thy steadfast love,
O LORD, for ever; with my mouth I will proclaim thy faithfulness
to
all generations.
For thy steadfast love was established for
ever, thy faithfulness is firm as the heavens.
Thou hast said,
"I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to
David my servant: 'I will establish your descendants for ever, and
build your throne for all generations.
'" Forever.
Let
the heavens praise thy wonders, O LORD, thy faithfulness in the
assembly of the holy ones!
For who in the skies can be compared
to the LORD?
Who among the heavenly beings is like the LORD, a
God feared in the council of the holy ones, great and terrible
above
all that are round about him?
O LORD God of hosts, who is mighty
as thou art, O LORD, with thy faithfulness round about thee?
Thou
dost rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, thou
stillest
them.
Thou didst crush Rahab like a carcass, thou didst scatter
thy enemies with thy mighty arm.
The heavens are thine, the
earth also is thine; the world and all that is in it, thou hast
founded them.
The north and the south, thou hast created them;
Tabor and Hermon joyously praise thy name.
Thou hast a mighty
arm; strong is thy hand, high thy right hand.
Righteousness and
justice are the foundation of thy throne; steadfast love and
faithfulness go before thee.
Blessed are the people who know the
festal shout, who walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance,
who
exult in thy name all the day, and extol thy righteousness.
For
thou art the glory of their strength; by thy favor our horn is
exalted.
For our shield belongs to the LORD, our king to the
Holy One of Israel.
Of old thou didst speak in a vision to thy
faithful one, and say: "I have set the crown upon one who is
mighty, I have exalted one chosen from the people.
I have found
David, my servant; with my holy oil I have anointed him; so that
my
hand shall ever abide with him, my arm also shall strengthen him.
The
enemy shall not outwit him, the wicked shall not humble him.
I
will crush his foes before him and strike down those who hate him.
My
faithfulness and my steadfast love shall be with him, and in my
name
shall his horn be exalted.
I will set his hand on the sea and
his right hand on the rivers.
He shall cry to me, 'Thou art my
Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation.
' And I will make
him the first-born, the highest of the kings of the earth.
My
steadfast love I will keep for him for ever, and my covenant will
stand firm for him.
I will establish his line for ever and his
throne as the days of the heavens.
If his children forsake my
law and do not walk according to my ordinances, if they violate my
statutes and do not keep my commandments, then I will punish their
transgression with the rod and their iniquity with scourges; but I
will not remove from him my steadfast love, or be false to my
faithfulness.
I will not violate my covenant, or alter the word
that went forth from my lips.
Once for all I have sworn by my
holiness; I will not lie to David.
His line shall endure for
ever, his throne as long as the sun before me.
Like the moon it
shall be established for ever; it shall stand firm while the skies
endure."
Forever.
But now thou hast cast off and
rejected, thou art full of wrath against thy anointed.
Thou hast
renounced the covenant with thy servant; thou hast defiled his
crown
in the dust.
Thou hast breached all his walls; thou hast laid
his strongholds in ruins.
All that pass by despoil him; he has
become the scorn of his neighbors.
Thou hast exalted the right
hand of his foes; thou hast made all his enemies rejoice.
Yea,
thou hast turned back the edge of his sword, and thou hast not
made
him stand in battle.
Thou hast removed the scepter from his
hand, and cast his throne to the ground.
Thou hast cut short the
days of his youth; thou hast covered him with shame.
Forever.
How
long, O LORD?
Wilt thou hide thyself for ever?
How long
will thy wrath burn like fire?
Remember, O Lord, what the
measure of life is, for what vanity thou hast created all the sons
of
men!
What man can live and never see death?
Who can deliver
his soul from the power of Sheol?
Forever.
Lord, where is
thy steadfast love of old, which by thy faithfulness thou didst
swear
to David?
Remember, O Lord, how thy servant is scorned; how I
bear in my bosom the insults of the peoples, with which thy
enemies
taunt, O LORD, with which they mock the footsteps of thy
anointed.
Blessed be the LORD for ever!
Amen and Amen.
A
Prayer of Moses, the man of God.
LORD, thou hast been our
dwelling place in all generations.
Before the mountains were
brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting thou art God.
Thou turnest man
back to the dust, and sayest, "Turn back, O children of
men!"
For a thousand years in thy sight are but as
yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.
Thou dost
sweep men away; they are like a dream, like grass which is renewed
in
the morning: in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the
evening it fades and withers.
For we are consumed by thy anger;
by thy wrath we are overwhelmed.
Thou hast set our iniquities
before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.
For
all our days pass away under thy wrath, our years come to an end
like
a sigh.
The years of our life are threescore and ten, or even by
reason of strength fourscore; yet their span is but toil and
trouble;
they are soon gone, and we fly away.
Who considers the power of
thy anger, and thy wrath according to the fear of thee?
So teach
us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.
Return,
O LORD!
How long?
Have pity on thy servants!
Satisfy
us in the morning with thy steadfast love, that we may rejoice and
be
glad all our days.
Make us glad as many days as thou hast
afflicted us, and as many years as we have seen evil.
Let thy
work be manifest to thy servants, and thy glorious power to their
children.
Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and
establish thou the work of our hands upon us, yea, the work of our
hands establish thou it.
He
who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, who abides in the
shadow
of the Almighty, will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my
fortress; my God, in whom I trust."
For he will deliver you
from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence; he
will
cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find
refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
You will not fear the
terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the
pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that
wastes
at noonday.
A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at
your right hand; but it will not come near you.
You will only
look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked.
Because
you have made the LORD your refuge, the Most High your habitation,
no
evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent.
For he
will give his angels charge of you to guard you in all your ways.
On
their hands they will bear you up, lest you dash your foot against
a
stone.
You will tread on the lion and the adder, the young lion
and the serpent you will trample under foot.
Because he cleaves
to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he
knows my name.
When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be
with him in trouble, I will rescue him and honor him.
With long
life I will satisfy him, and show him my salvation.
It
is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to thy name, O
Most High; to declare thy steadfast love in the morning, and thy
faithfulness by night, to the music of the lute and the harp, to
the
melody of the lyre.
For thou, O LORD, hast made me glad by thy
work; at the works of thy hands I sing for joy.
How great are
thy works, O LORD!
Thy thoughts are very deep!
The dull man
cannot know, the stupid cannot understand this: that, though the
wicked sprout like grass and all evildoers flourish, they are
doomed
to destruction for ever, but thou, O LORD, art on high for ever.
For,
lo, thy enemies, O LORD, for, lo, thy enemies shall perish; all
evildoers shall be scattered.
But thou hast exalted my horn like
that of the wild ox; thou hast poured over me fresh oil.
My eyes
have seen the downfall of my enemies, my ears have heard the doom
of
my evil assailants.
The righteous flourish like the palm tree,
and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
They are planted in the house
of the LORD, they flourish in the courts of our God.
They still
bring forth fruit in old age, they are ever full of sap and green,
to
show that the LORD is upright; he is my rock, and there is no
unrighteousness in him.
The
LORD reigns; he is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed, he is
girded
with strength.
Yea, the world is established; it shall never be
moved; thy throne is established from of old; thou art from
everlasting.
The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have
lifted up their voice, the floods lift up their roaring.
Mightier
than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the
sea,
the LORD on high is mighty!
Thy decrees are very sure; holiness
befits thy house, O LORD, for evermore.
O
LORD, thou God of vengeance, thou God of vengeance, shine forth!
Rise
up, O judge of the earth; render to the proud their deserts!
O
LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked
exult?
They pour out their arrogant words, they boast, all the
evildoers.
They crush thy people, O LORD, and afflict thy
heritage.
They slay the widow and the sojourner, and murder the
fatherless; and they say, "The LORD does not see; the God of
Jacob does not perceive."
Understand, O dullest of the
people!
Fools, when will you be wise?
He who planted the
ear, does he not hear?
He who formed the eye, does he not
see?
He who chastens the nations, does he not chastise?
He
who teaches men knowledge, the LORD, knows the thoughts of man,
that
they are but a breath.
Blessed is the man whom thou dost
chasten, O LORD, and whom thou dost teach out of thy law to give
him
respite from days of trouble, until a pit is dug for the wicked.
For
the LORD will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his
heritage; for justice will return to the righteous, and all the
upright in heart will follow it.
Who rises up for me against the
wicked?
Who stands up for me against evildoers?
If the LORD
had not been my help, my soul would soon have dwelt in the land of
silence.
When I thought, "My foot slips," thy
steadfast love, O LORD, held me up.
When the cares of my heart
are many, thy consolations cheer my soul.
Can wicked rulers be
allied with thee, who frame mischief by statute?
They band
together against the life of the righteous, and condemn the
innocent
to death.
But the LORD has become my stronghold, and my God the
rock of my refuge.
He will bring back on them their iniquity and
wipe them out for their wickedness; the LORD our God will wipe
them
out.
O
come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the
rock
of our salvation!
Let us come into his presence with
thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of
praise!
For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all
gods.
In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of
the mountains are his also.
The sea is his, for he made it; for
his hands formed the dry land.
O come, let us worship and bow
down, let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!
For he is our
God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his
hand.
O that today you would hearken to his voice!
Harden
not your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the
wilderness, when your fathers tested me, and put me to the proof,
though they had seen my work.
For forty years I loathed that
generation and said, "They are a people who err in heart, and
they do not regard my ways."
Therefore I swore in my anger
that they should not enter my rest.
O
sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth!
Sing
to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to
day.
Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works
among all the peoples!
For great is the LORD, and greatly to be
praised; he is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of
the peoples are idols; but the LORD made the heavens.
Honor and
majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his
sanctuary.
Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength!
Ascribe to the LORD the
glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his
courts!
Worship the LORD in holy array; tremble before him, all
the earth!
Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns!
Yea,
the world is established, it shall never be moved; he will judge
the
peoples with equity."
Let the heavens be glad, and let the
earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the
field
exult, and everything in it!
Then shall all the trees of the
wood sing for joy before the LORD, for he comes, for he comes to
judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness, and
the peoples with his truth.
The
LORD reigns; let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be
glad!
Clouds and thick darkness are round about him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
Fire
goes before him, and burns up his adversaries round about.
His
lightnings lighten the world; the earth sees and trembles.
The
mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all
the
earth.
The heavens proclaim his righteousness; and all the
peoples behold his glory.
All worshipers of images are put to
shame, who make their boast in worthless idols; all gods bow down
before him.
Zion hears and is glad, and the daughters of Judah
rejoice, because of thy judgments, O God.
For thou, O LORD, art
most high over all the earth; thou art exalted far above all
gods.
The LORD loves those who hate evil; he preserves the lives
of his saints; he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
Light
dawns for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.
Rejoice
in the LORD, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!
A
Psalm.
O sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous
things!
His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him
victory.
The LORD has made known his victory, he has revealed
his vindication in the sight of the nations.
He has remembered
his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel.
All
the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
Make a
joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous
song
and sing praises!
Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with
the lyre and the sound of melody!
With trumpets and the sound of
the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD!
Let the
sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in
it!
Let the floods clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy
together before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth.
He
will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with
equity.
The
LORD reigns; let the peoples tremble!
He sits enthroned upon the
cherubim; let the earth quake!
The LORD is great in Zion; he is
exalted over all the peoples.
Let them praise thy great and
terrible name!
Holy is he!
Mighty King, lover of justice,
thou hast established equity; thou hast executed justice and
righteousness in Jacob.
Extol the LORD our God; worship at his
footstool!
Holy is he!
Moses and Aaron were among his
priests, Samuel also was among those who called on his name.
They
cried to the LORD, and he answered them.
He spoke to them in the
pillar of cloud; they kept his testimonies, and the statutes that
he
gave them.
O LORD our God, thou didst answer them; thou wast a
forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings.
Extol
the LORD our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the LORD
our
God is holy!
A
Psalm for the thank offering.
Make a joyful noise to the LORD,
all the lands!
Serve the LORD with gladness!
Come into his
presence with singing!
Know that the LORD is God!
It is he
that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of
his
pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with
praise!
Give thanks to him, bless his name!
For the LORD is
good; his steadfast love endures for ever, and his faithfulness to
all generations.
A
Psalm of David.
I will sing of loyalty and of justice; to thee,
O LORD, I will sing.
I will give heed to the way that is
blameless.
Oh when wilt thou come to me?
I will walk with
integrity of heart within my house; I will not set before my eyes
anything that is base.
I hate the work of those who fall away;
it shall not cleave to me.
Perverseness of heart shall be far
from me; I will know nothing of evil.
Him who slanders his
neighbor secretly I will destroy.
The man of haughty looks and
arrogant heart I will not endure.
I will look with favor on the
faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he who walks in
the way that is blameless shall minister to me.
No man who
practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no man who utters lies
shall continue in my presence.
Morning by morning I will destroy
all the wicked in the land, cutting off all the evildoers from the
city of the LORD.
A
prayer of one afflicted, when he is faint and pours out his
complaint
before the LORD.
Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry come to
thee!
Do not hide thy face from me in the day of my
distress!
Incline thy ear to me; answer me speedily in the day
when I call!
For my days pass away like smoke, and my bones burn
like a furnace.
My heart is smitten like grass, and withered; I
forget to eat my bread.
Because of my loud groaning my bones
cleave to my flesh.
I am like a vulture of the wilderness, like
an owl of the waste places; I lie awake, I am like a lonely bird
on
the housetop.
All the day my enemies taunt me, those who deride
me use my name for a curse.
For I eat ashes like bread, and
mingle tears with my drink, because of thy indignation and anger;
for
thou hast taken me up and thrown me away.
My days are like an
evening shadow; I wither away like grass.
But thou, O LORD, art
enthroned for ever; thy name endures to all generations.
Thou
wilt arise and have pity on Zion; it is the time to favor her; the
appointed time has come.
For thy servants hold her stones dear,
and have pity on her dust.
The nations will fear the name of the
LORD, and all the kings of the earth thy glory.
For the LORD
will build up Zion, he will appear in his glory; he will regard
the
prayer of the destitute, and will not despise their supplication.
Let
this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet
unborn may praise the LORD: that he looked down from his holy
height,
from heaven the LORD looked at the earth, to hear the groans of
the
prisoners, to set free those who were doomed to die; that men may
declare in Zion the name of the LORD, and in Jerusalem his praise,
when peoples gather together, and kingdoms, to worship the LORD.
He
has broken my strength in mid-course; he has shortened my days.
"O
my God," I say, "take me not hence in the midst of my days,
thou whose years endure throughout all generations!"
Of old
thou didst lay the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are
the
work of thy hands.
They will perish, but thou dost endure; they
will all wear out like a garment.
Thou changest them like
raiment, and they pass away; but thou art the same, and thy years
have no end.
The children of thy servants shall dwell secure;
their posterity shall be established before thee.
A
Psalm of David.
Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is
within me, bless his holy name!
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and
forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who
heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the Pit, who
crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with
good
as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the
eagles.
The LORD works vindication and justice for all who are
oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the
people of Israel.
The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to
anger and abounding in steadfast love.
He will not always chide,
nor will he keep his anger for ever.
He does not deal with us
according to our sins, nor requite us according to our
iniquities.
For as the heavens are high above the earth, so
great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as
the
east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions
from
us.
As a father pities his children, so the LORD pities those
who fear him.
For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are
dust.
As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a
flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
and
its place knows it no more.
But the steadfast love of the LORD
is from everlasting to everlasting upon those who fear him, and
his
righteousness to children's children, to those who keep his
covenant
and remember to do his commandments.
The LORD has established
his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.
Bless
the LORD, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word,
hearkening to the voice of his word!
Bless the LORD, all his
hosts, his ministers that do his will!
Bless the LORD, all his
works, in all places of his dominion.
Bless the LORD, O my soul!
Bless
the LORD, O my soul!
O LORD my God, thou art very great!
Thou
art clothed with honor and majesty, who coverest thyself with
light
as with a garment, who hast stretched out the heavens like a tent,
who hast laid the beams of thy chambers on the waters, who makest
the
clouds thy chariot, who ridest on the wings of the wind, who
makest
the winds thy messengers, fire and flame thy ministers.
Thou
didst set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be
shaken.
Thou didst cover it with the deep as with a garment; the
waters stood above the mountains.
At thy rebuke they fled; at
the sound of thy thunder they took to flight.
The mountains
rose, the valleys sank down to the place which thou didst appoint
for
them.
Thou didst set a bound which they should not pass, so that
they might not again cover the earth.
Thou makest springs gush
forth in the valleys; they flow between the hills, they give drink
to
every beast of the field; the wild asses quench their thirst.
By
them the birds of the air have their habitation; they sing among
the
branches.
From thy lofty abode thou waterest the mountains; the
earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy work.
Thou dost cause
the grass to grow for the cattle, and plants for man to cultivate,
that he may bring forth food from the earth, and wine to gladden
the
heart of man, oil to make his face shine, and bread to strengthen
man's heart.
The trees of the LORD are watered abundantly, the
cedars of Lebanon which he planted.
In them the birds build
their nests; the stork has her home in the fir trees.
The high
mountains are for the wild goats; the rocks are a refuge for the
badgers.
Thou hast made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun
knows its time for setting.
Thou makest darkness, and it is
night, when all the beasts of the forest creep forth.
The young
lions roar for their prey, seeking their food from God.
When the
sun rises, they get them away and lie down in their dens.
Man
goes forth to his work and to his labor until the evening.
O
LORD, how manifold are thy works!
In wisdom hast thou made them
all; the earth is full of thy creatures.
Yonder is the sea,
great and wide, which teems with things innumerable, living things
both small and great.
There go the ships, and Leviathan which
thou didst form to sport in it.
These all look to thee, to give
them their food in due season.
When thou givest to them, they
gather it up; when thou openest thy hand, they are filled with
good
things.
When thou hidest thy face, they are dismayed; when thou
takest away their breath, they die and return to their dust.
When
thou sendest forth thy Spirit, they are created; and thou renewest
the face of the ground.
May the glory of the LORD endure for
ever, may the LORD rejoice in his works, who looks on the earth
and
it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke!
I will
sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God
while I have being.
May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I
rejoice in the LORD.
Let sinners be consumed from the earth, and
let the wicked be no more!
Bless the LORD, O my soul!
Praise
the LORD!
O
give thanks to the LORD, call on his name, make known his deeds
among
the peoples!
Sing to him, sing praises to him, tell of all his
wonderful works!
Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those
who seek the LORD rejoice!
Seek the LORD and his strength, seek
his presence continually!
Remember the wonderful works that he
has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered, O offspring
of
Abraham his servant, sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
He is the
LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth.
He is mindful
of his covenant for ever, of the word that he commanded, for a
thousand generations, the covenant which he made with Abraham, his
sworn promise to Isaac, which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute,
to
Israel as an everlasting covenant, saying, "To you I will give
the land of Canaan as your portion for an inheritance."
When
they were few in number, of little account, and sojourners in it,
wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another
people,
he allowed no one to oppress them; he rebuked kings on their
account,
saying, "Touch not my anointed ones, do my prophets no
harm!"
When he summoned a famine on the land, and broke
every staff of bread, he had sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who
was sold as a slave.
His feet were hurt with fetters, his neck
was put in a collar of iron; until what he had said came to pass
the
word of the LORD tested him.
The king sent and released him, the
ruler of the peoples set him free; he made him lord of his house,
and
ruler of all his possessions, to instruct his princes at his
pleasure, and to teach his elders wisdom.
Then Israel came to
Egypt; Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.
And the LORD made his
people very fruitful, and made them stronger than their foes.
He
turned their hearts to hate his people, to deal craftily with his
servants.
He sent Moses his servant, and Aaron whom he had
chosen.
They wrought his signs among them, and miracles in the
land of Ham.
He sent darkness, and made the land dark; they
rebelled against his words.
He turned their waters into blood,
and caused their fish to die.
Their land swarmed with frogs,
even in the chambers of their kings.
He spoke, and there came
swarms of flies, and gnats throughout their country.
He gave
them hail for rain, and lightning that flashed through their land.
He
smote their vines and fig trees, and shattered the trees of their
country.
He spoke, and the locusts came, and young locusts
without number; which devoured all the vegetation in their land,
and
ate up the fruit of their ground.
He smote all the first-born in
their land, the first issue of all their strength.
Then he led
forth Israel with silver and gold, and there was none among his
tribes who stumbled.
Egypt was glad when they departed, for
dread of them had fallen upon it.
He spread a cloud for a
covering, and fire to give light by night.
They asked, and he
brought quails, and gave them bread from heaven in abundance.
He
opened the rock, and water gushed forth; it flowed through the
desert
like a river.
For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham
his servant.
So he led forth his people with joy, his chosen
ones with singing.
And he gave them the lands of the nations;
and they took possession of the fruit of the peoples' toil, to the
end that they should keep his statutes, and observe his laws.
Praise
the LORD!
Praise
the LORD!
O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his
steadfast love endures for ever!
Who can utter the mighty doings
of the LORD, or show forth all his praise?
Blessed are they who
observe justice, who do righteousness at all times!
Remember me,
O LORD, when thou showest favor to thy people; help me when thou
deliverest them; that I may see the prosperity of thy chosen ones,
that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory
with thy heritage.
Both we and our fathers have sinned; we have
committed iniquity, we have done wickedly.
Our fathers, when
they were in Egypt, did not consider thy wonderful works; they did
not remember the abundance of thy steadfast love, but rebelled
against the Most High at the Red Sea.
Yet he saved them for his
name's sake, that he might make known his mighty power.
He
rebuked the Red Sea, and it became dry; and he led them through
the
deep as through a desert.
So he saved them from the hand of the
foe, and delivered them from the power of the enemy.
And the
waters covered their adversaries; not one of them was left.
Then
they believed his words; they sang his praise.
But they soon
forgot his works; they did not wait for his counsel.
But they
had a wanton craving in the wilderness, and put God to the test in
the desert; he gave them what they asked, but sent a wasting
disease
among them.
When men in the camp were jealous of Moses and
Aaron, the holy one of the LORD, the earth opened and swallowed up
Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram.
Fire also broke out
in their company; the flame burned up the wicked.
They made a
calf in Horeb and worshiped a molten image.
They exchanged the
glory of God for the image of an ox that eats grass.
They forgot
God, their Savior, who had done great things in Egypt, wondrous
works
in the land of Ham, and terrible things by the Red Sea.
Therefore
he said he would destroy them-- had not Moses, his chosen one,
stood
in the breach before him, to turn away his wrath from destroying
them.
Then they despised the pleasant land, having no faith in
his promise.
They murmured in their tents, and did not obey the
voice of the LORD.
Therefore he raised his hand and swore to
them that he would make them fall in the wilderness, and would
disperse their descendants among the nations, scattering them over
the lands.
Then they attached themselves to the Baal of Peor,
and ate sacrifices offered to the dead; they provoked the LORD to
anger with their doings, and a plague broke out among them.
Then
Phinehas stood up and interposed, and the plague was stayed.
And
that has been reckoned to him as righteousness from generation to
generation for ever.
They angered him at the waters of Meribah,
and it went ill with Moses on their account; for they made his
spirit
bitter, and he spoke words that were rash.
They did not destroy
the peoples, as the LORD commanded them, but they mingled with the
nations and learned to do as they did.
They served their idols,
which became a snare to them.
They sacrificed their sons and
their daughters to the demons; they poured out innocent blood, the
blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the
idols
of Canaan; and the land was polluted with blood.
Thus they
became unclean by their acts, and played the harlot in their
doings.
Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against his
people, and he abhorred his heritage; he gave them into the hand
of
the nations, so that those who hated them ruled over them.
Their
enemies oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection
under
their power.
Many times he delivered them, but they were
rebellious in their purposes, and were brought low through their
iniquity.
Nevertheless he regarded their distress, when he heard
their cry.
He remembered for their sake his covenant, and
relented according to the abundance of his steadfast love.
He
caused them to be pitied by all those who held them captive.
Save
us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the nations, that we
may
give thanks to thy holy name and glory in thy praise.
Blessed be
the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting!
And
let all the people say, "Amen!"
Praise the LORD!
O
give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love
endures for ever!
Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he
has redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the
east and from the west, from the north and from the south.
Some
wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in;
hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them.
Then they
cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from
their
distress; he led them by a straight way, till they reached a city
to
dwell in.
Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for
his wonderful works to the sons of men!
For he satisfies him who
is thirsty, and the hungry he fills with good things.
Some sat
in darkness and in gloom, prisoners in affliction and in irons,
for
they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the
counsel
of the Most High.
Their hearts were bowed down with hard labor;
they fell down, with none to help.
Then they cried to the LORD
in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress; he
brought them out of darkness and gloom, and broke their bonds
asunder.
Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his
wonderful works to the sons of men!
For he shatters the doors of
bronze, and cuts in two the bars of iron.
Some were sick through
their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities suffered
affliction; they loathed any kind of food, and they drew near to
the
gates of death.
Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress; he sent forth his word,
and healed them, and delivered them from destruction.
Let them
thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to
the
sons of men!
And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and
tell of his deeds in songs of joy!
Some went down to the sea in
ships, doing business on the great waters; they saw the deeds of
the
LORD, his wondrous works in the deep.
For he commanded, and
raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea.
They
mounted up to heaven, they went down to the depths; their courage
melted away in their evil plight; they reeled and staggered like
drunken men, and were at their wits' end.
Then they cried to the
LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress;
he
made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.
Then
they were glad because they had quiet, and he brought them to
their
desired haven.
Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,
for his wonderful works to the sons of men!
Let them extol him
in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly
of
the elders.
He turns rivers into a desert, springs of water into
thirsty ground, a fruitful land into a salty waste, because of the
wickedness of its inhabitants.
He turns a desert into pools of
water, a parched land into springs of water.
And there he lets
the hungry dwell, and they establish a city to live in; they sow
fields, and plant vineyards, and get a fruitful yield.
By his
blessing they multiply greatly; and he does not let their cattle
decrease.
When they are diminished and brought low through
oppression, trouble, and sorrow, he pours contempt upon princes
and
makes them wander in trackless wastes; but he raises up the needy
out
of affliction, and makes their families like flocks.
The upright
see it and are glad; and all wickedness stops its mouth.
Whoever
is wise, let him give heed to these things; let men consider the
steadfast love of the LORD.
My
heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast!
I will sing
and make melody!
Awake, my soul!
Awake, O harp and lyre!
I
will awake the dawn!
I will give thanks to thee, O LORD, among
the peoples, I will sing praises to thee among the nations.
For
thy steadfast love is great above the heavens, thy faithfulness
reaches to the clouds.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
Let
thy glory be over all the earth!
That thy beloved may be
delivered, give help by thy right hand, and answer me!
God has
promised in his sanctuary: "With exultation I will divide up
Shechem, and portion out the Vale of Succoth.
Gilead is mine;
Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet; Judah my scepter.
Moab
is my washbasin; upon Edom I cast my shoe; over Philistia I shout
in
triumph."
Who will bring me to the fortified city?
Who
will lead me to Edom?
Hast thou not rejected us, O God?
Thou
dost not go forth, O God, with our armies.
O grant us help
against the foe, for vain is the help of man!
With God we shall
do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes.
Be
not silent, O God of my praise!
For wicked and deceitful mouths
are opened against me, speaking against me with lying tongues.
They
beset me with words of hate, and attack me without cause.
In
return for my love they accuse me, even as I make prayer for them.
So
they reward me evil for good, and hatred for my love.
Appoint a
wicked man against him; let an accuser bring him to trial.
When
he is tried, let him come forth guilty; let his prayer be counted
as
sin!
May his days be few; may another seize his goods!
May
his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow!
May his
children wander about and beg; may they be driven out of the ruins
they inhabit!
May the creditor seize all that he has; may
strangers plunder the fruits of his toil!
Let there be none to
extend kindness to him, nor any to pity his fatherless children!
May
his posterity be cut off; may his name be blotted out in the
second
generation!
May the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before
the LORD, and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out!
Let
them be before the LORD continually; and may his memory be cut off
from the earth!
For he did not remember to show kindness, but
pursued the poor and needy and the brokenhearted to their death.
He
loved to curse; let curses come on him!
He did not like
blessing; may it be far from him!
He clothed himself with
cursing as his coat, may it soak into his body like water, like
oil
into his bones!
May it be like a garment which he wraps round
him, like a belt with which he daily girds himself!
May this be
the reward of my accusers from the LORD, of those who speak evil
against my life!
But thou, O GOD my Lord, deal on my behalf for
thy name's sake; because thy steadfast love is good, deliver me!
For
I am poor and needy, and my heart is stricken within me.
I am
gone, like a shadow at evening; I am shaken off like a locust.
My
knees are weak through fasting; my body has become gaunt.
I am
an object of scorn to my accusers; when they see me, they wag
their
heads.
Help me, O LORD my God!
Save me according to thy
steadfast love!
Let them know that this is thy hand; thou, O
LORD, hast done it!
Let them curse, but do thou bless!
Let
my assailants be put to shame; may thy servant be glad!
May my
accusers be clothed with dishonor; may they be wrapped in their
own
shame as in a mantle!
With my mouth I will give great thanks to
the LORD; I will praise him in the midst of the throng.
For he
stands at the right hand of the needy, to save him from those who
condemn him to death.
A
Psalm of David.
The LORD says to my lord: "Sit at my right
hand, till I make your enemies your footstool."
The LORD
sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter.
Rule in the midst of
your foes!
Your people will offer themselves freely on the day
you lead your host upon the holy mountains.
From the womb of the
morning like dew your youth will come to you.
The LORD has sworn
and will not change his mind, "You are a priest for ever after
the order of Melchizedek."
The Lord is at your right hand;
he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath.
He will execute
judgment among the nations, filling them with corpses; he will
shatter chiefs over the wide earth.
He will drink from the brook
by the way; therefore he will lift up his head.
Prasie
the LORD.
I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in
the company of the upright, in the congregation.
Great are the
works of the LORD, studied by all who have pleasure in them.
Full
of honor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures
for
ever.
He has caused his wonderful works to be remembered; the
LORD is gracious and merciful.
He provides food for those who
fear him; he is ever mindful of his covenant.
He has shown his
people the power of his works, in giving them the heritage of the
nations.
The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his
precepts are trustworthy, they are established for ever and ever,
to
be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
He sent
redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant for
ever.
Holy and terrible is his name!
The fear of the LORD
is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those
who
practice it.
His praise endures for ever!
Praise
the LORD.
Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly
delights in his commandments!
His descendants will be mighty in
the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.
Wealth
and riches are in his house; and his righteousness endures for
ever.
Light rises in the darkness for the upright; the LORD is
gracious, merciful, and righteous.
It is well with the man who
deals generously and lends, who conducts his affairs with
justice.
For the righteous will never be moved; he will be
remembered for ever.
He is not afraid of evil tidings; his heart
is firm, trusting in the LORD.
His heart is steady, he will not
be afraid, until he sees his desire on his adversaries.
He has
distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness
endures for ever; his horn is exalted in honor.
The wicked man
sees it and is angry; he gnashes his teeth and melts away; the
desire
of the wicked man comes to nought.
Praise
the LORD!
Praise, O servants of the LORD, praise the name of the
LORD!
Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and
for evermore!
From the rising of the sun to its setting the name
of the LORD is to be praised!
The LORD is high above all
nations, and his glory above the heavens!
Who is like the LORD
our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down upon the
heavens
and the earth?
He raises the poor from the dust, and lifts the
needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes, with the
princes of his people.
He gives the barren woman a home, making
her the joyous mother of children.
Praise the LORD!
When
Israel went forth from Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of
strange language, Judah became his sanctuary, Israel his
dominion.
The sea looked and fled, Jordan turned back.
The
mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs.
What ails
you, O sea, that you flee?
O Jordan, that you turn back?
O
mountains, that you skip like rams?
O hills, like
lambs?
Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the LORD, at the
presence of the God of Jacob, who turns the rock into a pool of
water, the flint into a spring of water.
Not
to us, O LORD, not to us, but to thy name give glory, for the sake
of
thy steadfast love and thy faithfulness!
Why should the nations
say, "Where is their God?"
Our God is in the heavens;
he does whatever he pleases.
Their idols are silver and gold,
the work of men's hands.
They have mouths, but do not speak;
eyes, but do not see.
They have ears, but do not hear; noses,
but do not smell.
They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do
not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat.
Those
who make them are like them; so are all who trust in them.
O
Israel, trust in the LORD!
He is their help and their shield.
O
house of Aaron, put your trust in the LORD!
He is their help and
their shield.
You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD!
He
is their help and their shield.
The LORD has been mindful of us;
he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless
the house of Aaron; he will bless those who fear the LORD, both
small
and great.
May the LORD give you increase, you and your
children!
May you be blessed by the LORD, who made heaven and
earth!
The heavens are the LORD's heavens, but the earth he has
given to the sons of men.
The dead do not praise the LORD, nor
do any that go down into silence.
But we will bless the LORD
from this time forth and for evermore.
Praise the LORD!
I
love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my
supplications.
Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I
will call on him as long as I live.
The snares of death
encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered
distress and anguish.
Then I called on the name of the LORD: "O
LORD, I beseech thee, save my life!"
Gracious is the LORD,
and righteous; our God is merciful.
The LORD preserves the
simple; when I was brought low, he saved me.
Return, O my soul,
to your rest; for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.
For
thou hast delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my
feet
from stumbling; I walk before the LORD in the land of the living.
I
kept my faith, even when I said, "I am greatly afflicted";
I said in my consternation, "Men are all a vain hope."
What
shall I render to the LORD for all his bounty to me?
I will lift
up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD, I will
pay
my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people.
Precious
in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
O LORD, I
am thy servant; I am thy servant, the son of thy handmaid.
Thou
hast loosed my bonds.
I will offer to thee the sacrifice of
thanksgiving and call on the name of the LORD.
I will pay my
vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people, in the courts
of
the house of the LORD, in your midst, O Jerusalem.
Praise the
LORD!
Praise
the LORD, all nations!
Extol him, all peoples!
For great is
his steadfast love toward us; and the faithfulness of the LORD
endures for ever.
Praise the LORD!
O
give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his steadfast love
endures
for ever!
Let Israel say, "His steadfast love endures for
ever."
Let the house of Aaron say, "His steadfast love
endures for ever."
Let those who fear the LORD say, "His
steadfast love endures for ever."
Out of my distress I
called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free.
With
the LORD on my side I do not fear.
What can man do to me?
The
LORD is on my side to help me; I shall look in triumph on those
who
hate me.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to put
confidence in man.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD than
to put confidence in princes.
All nations surrounded me; in the
name of the LORD I cut them off!
They surrounded me, surrounded
me on every side; in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
They
surrounded me like bees, they blazed like a fire of thorns; in the
name of the LORD I cut them off!
I was pushed hard, so that I
was falling, but the LORD helped me.
The LORD is my strength and
my song; he has become my salvation.
Hark, glad songs of victory
in the tents of the righteous: "The right hand of the LORD does
valiantly, the right hand of the LORD is exalted, the right hand
of
the LORD does valiantly!"
I shall not die, but I shall
live, and recount the deeds of the LORD.
The LORD has chastened
me sorely, but he has not given me over to death.
Open to me the
gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give
thanks
to the LORD.
This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall
enter through it.
I thank thee that thou hast answered me and
hast become my salvation.
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the head of the corner.
This is the LORD's doing; it
is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day which the LORD has
made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Save us, we beseech
thee, O LORD!
O LORD, we beseech thee, give us success!
Blessed
be he who enters in the name of the LORD!
We bless you from the
house of the LORD.
The LORD is God, and he has given us
light.
Bind the festal procession with branches, up to the horns
of the altar!
Thou art my God, and I will give thanks to thee;
thou art my God, I will extol thee.
O give thanks to the LORD,
for he is good; for his steadfast love endures for ever!
Blessed
are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the
LORD!
Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him
with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in his
ways!
Thou hast commanded thy precepts to be kept diligently.
O
that my ways may be steadfast in keeping thy statutes!
Then I
shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all thy
commandments.
I will praise thee with an upright heart, when I
learn thy righteous ordinances.
I will observe thy statutes; O
forsake me not utterly!
How can a young man keep his way
pure?
By guarding it according to thy word.
With my whole
heart I seek thee; let me not wander from thy commandments!
I
have laid up thy word in my heart, that I might not sin against
thee.
Blessed be thou, O LORD; teach me thy statutes!
With
my lips I declare all the ordinances of thy mouth.
In the way of
thy testimonies I delight as much as in all riches.
I will
meditate on thy precepts, and fix my eyes on thy ways.
I will
delight in thy statutes; I will not forget thy word.
Deal
bountifully with thy servant, that I may live and observe thy
word.
Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy
law.
I am a sojourner on earth; hide not thy commandments from
me!
My soul is consumed with longing for thy ordinances at all
times.
Thou dost rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander
from thy commandments; take away from me their scorn and contempt,
for I have kept thy testimonies.
Even though princes sit
plotting against me, thy servant will meditate on thy statutes.
Thy
testimonies are my delight, they are my counselors.
My soul
cleaves to the dust; revive me according to thy word!
When I
told of my ways, thou didst answer me; teach me thy statutes!
Make
me understand the way of thy precepts, and I will meditate on thy
wondrous works.
My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me
according to thy word!
Put false ways far from me; and
graciously teach me thy law!
I have chosen the way of
faithfulness, I set thy ordinances before me.
I cleave to thy
testimonies, O LORD; let me not be put to shame!
I will run in
the way of thy commandments when thou enlargest my
understanding!
Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I
will keep it to the end.
Give me understanding, that I may keep
thy law and observe it with my whole heart.
Lead me in the path
of thy commandments, for I delight in it.
Incline my heart to
thy testimonies, and not to gain!
Turn my eyes from looking at
vanities; and give me life in thy ways.
Confirm to thy servant
thy promise, which is for those who fear thee.
Turn away the
reproach which I dread; for thy ordinances are good.
Behold, I
long for thy precepts; in thy righteousness give me life!
Let
thy steadfast love come to me, O LORD, thy salvation according to
thy
promise; then shall I have an answer for those who taunt me, for I
trust in thy word.
And take not the word of truth utterly out of
my mouth, for my hope is in thy ordinances.
I will keep thy law
continually, for ever and ever; and I shall walk at liberty, for I
have sought thy precepts.
I will also speak of thy testimonies
before kings, and shall not be put to shame; for I find my delight
in
thy commandments, which I love.
I revere thy commandments, which
I love, and I will meditate on thy statutes.
Remember thy word
to thy servant, in which thou hast made me hope.
This is my
comfort in my affliction that thy promise gives me life.
Godless
men utterly deride me, but I do not turn away from thy law.
When
I think of thy ordinances from of old, I take comfort, O LORD.
Hot
indignation seizes me because of the wicked, who forsake thy law.
Thy
statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.
I
remember thy name in the night, O LORD, and keep thy law.
This
blessing has fallen to me, that I have kept thy precepts.
The
LORD is my portion; I promise to keep thy words.
I entreat thy
favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to thy
promise.
When I think of thy ways, I turn my feet to thy
testimonies; I hasten and do not delay to keep thy
commandments.
Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, I do
not forget thy law.
At midnight I rise to praise thee, because
of thy righteous ordinances.
I am a companion of all who fear
thee, of those who keep thy precepts.
The earth, O LORD, is full
of thy steadfast love; teach me thy statutes!
Thou hast dealt
well with thy servant, O LORD, according to thy word.
Teach me
good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in thy
commandments.
Before I was afflicted I went astray; but now I
keep thy word.
Thou art good and doest good; teach me thy
statutes.
The godless besmear me with lies, but with my whole
heart I keep thy precepts; their heart is gross like fat, but I
delight in thy law.
It is good for me that I was afflicted, that
I might learn thy statutes.
The law of thy mouth is better to me
than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
Thy hands have made
and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn thy
commandments.
Those who fear thee shall see me and rejoice,
because I have hoped in thy word.
I know, O LORD, that thy
judgments are right, and that in faithfulness thou hast afflicted
me.
Let thy steadfast love be ready to comfort me according to
thy promise to thy servant.
Let thy mercy come to me, that I may
live; for thy law is my delight.
Let the godless be put to
shame, because they have subverted me with guile; as for me, I
will
meditate on thy precepts.
Let those who fear thee turn to me,
that they may know thy testimonies.
May my heart be blameless in
thy statutes, that I may not be put to shame!
My soul languishes
for thy salvation; I hope in thy word.
My eyes fail with
watching for thy promise; I ask, "When wilt thou comfort
me?"
For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, yet I
have not forgotten thy statutes.
How long must thy servant
endure?
When wilt thou judge those who persecute me?
Godless
men have dug pitfalls for me, men who do not conform to thy law.
All
thy commandments are sure; they persecute me with falsehood; help
me!
They have almost made an end of me on earth; but I have not
forsaken thy precepts.
In thy steadfast love spare my life, that
I may keep the testimonies of thy mouth.
For ever, O LORD, thy
word is firmly fixed in the heavens.
Thy faithfulness endures to
all generations; thou hast established the earth, and it stands
fast.
By thy appointment they stand this day; for all things are
thy servants.
If thy law had not been my delight, I should have
perished in my affliction.
I will never forget thy precepts; for
by them thou hast given me life.
I am thine, save me; for I have
sought thy precepts.
The wicked lie in wait to destroy me; but I
consider thy testimonies.
I have seen a limit to all perfection,
but thy commandment is exceedingly broad.
Oh, how I love thy
law!
It is my meditation all the day.
Thy commandment makes
me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me.
I have more
understanding than all my teachers, for thy testimonies are my
meditation.
I understand more than the aged, for I keep thy
precepts.
I hold back my feet from every evil way, in order to
keep thy word.
I do not turn aside from thy ordinances, for thou
hast taught me.
How sweet are thy words to my taste, sweeter
than honey to my mouth!
Through thy precepts I get
understanding; therefore I hate every false way.
Thy word is a
lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
I have sworn an oath and
confirmed it, to observe thy righteous ordinances.
I am sorely
afflicted; give me life, O LORD, according to thy word!
Accept
my offerings of praise, O LORD, and teach me thy ordinances.
I
hold my life in my hand continually, but I do not forget thy law.
The
wicked have laid a snare for me, but I do not stray from thy
precepts.
Thy testimonies are my heritage for ever; yea, they
are the joy of my heart.
I incline my heart to perform thy
statutes for ever, to the end.
I hate double-minded men, but I
love thy law.
Thou art my hiding place and my shield; I hope in
thy word.
Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the
commandments of my God.
Uphold me according to thy promise, that
I may live, and let me not be put to shame in my hope!
Hold me
up, that I may be safe and have regard for thy statutes
continually!
Thou dost spurn all who go astray from thy
statutes; yea, their cunning is in vain.
All the wicked of the
earth thou dost count as dross; therefore I love thy testimonies.
My
flesh trembles for fear of thee, and I am afraid of thy judgments.
I
have done what is just and right; do not leave me to my
oppressors.
Be surety for thy servant for good; let not the
godless oppress me.
My eyes fail with watching for thy
salvation, and for the fulfilment of thy righteous promise.
Deal
with thy servant according to thy steadfast love, and teach me thy
statutes.
I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may
know thy testimonies!
It is time for the LORD to act, for thy
law has been broken.
Therefore I love thy commandments above
gold, above fine gold.
Therefore I direct my steps by all thy
precepts; I hate every false way.
Thy testimonies are wonderful;
therefore my soul keeps them.
The unfolding of thy words gives
light; it imparts understanding to the simple.
With open mouth I
pant, because I long for thy commandments.
Turn to me and be
gracious to me, as is thy wont toward those who love thy name.
Keep
steady my steps according to thy promise, and let no iniquity get
dominion over me.
Redeem me from man's oppression, that I may
keep thy precepts.
Make thy face shine upon thy servant, and
teach me thy statutes.
My eyes shed streams of tears, because
men do not keep thy law.
Righteous art thou, O LORD, and right
are thy judgments.
Thou hast appointed thy testimonies in
righteousness and in all faithfulness.
My zeal consumes me,
because my foes forget thy words.
Thy promise is well tried, and
thy servant loves it.
I am small and despised, yet I do not
forget thy precepts.
Thy righteousness is righteous for ever,
and thy law is true.
Trouble and anguish have come upon me, but
thy commandments are my delight.
Thy testimonies are righteous
for ever; give me understanding that I may live.
With my whole
heart I cry; answer me, O LORD!
I will keep thy statutes.
I
cry to thee; save me, that I may observe thy testimonies.
I rise
before dawn and cry for help; I hope in thy words.
My eyes are
awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate upon
thy
promise.
Hear my voice in thy steadfast love; O LORD, in thy
justice preserve my life.
They draw near who persecute me with
evil purpose; they are far from thy law.
But thou art near, O
LORD, and all thy commandments are true.
Long have I known from
thy testimonies that thou hast founded them for ever.
Look on my
affliction and deliver me, for I do not forget thy law.
Plead my
cause and redeem me; give me life according to thy promise!
Salvation
is far from the wicked, for they do not seek thy statutes.
Great
is thy mercy, O LORD; give me life according to thy justice.
Many
are my persecutors and my adversaries, but I do not swerve from
thy
testimonies.
I look at the faithless with disgust, because they
do not keep thy commands.
Consider how I love thy
precepts!
Preserve my life according to thy steadfast love.
The
sum of thy word is truth; and every one of thy righteous
ordinances
endures for ever.
Princes persecute me without cause, but my
heart stands in awe of thy words.
I rejoice at thy word like one
who finds great spoil.
I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love
thy law.
Seven times a day I praise thee for thy righteous
ordinances.
Great peace have those who love thy law; nothing can
make them stumble.
I hope for thy salvation, O LORD, and I do
thy commandments.
My soul keeps thy testimonies; I love them
exceedingly.
I keep thy precepts and testimonies, for all my
ways are before thee.
Let my cry come before thee, O LORD; give
me understanding according to thy word!
Let my supplication come
before thee; deliver me according to thy word.
My lips will pour
forth praise that thou dost teach me thy statutes.
My tongue
will sing of thy word, for all thy commandments are right.
Let
thy hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen thy precepts.
I
long for thy salvation, O LORD, and thy law is my delight.
Let
me live, that I may praise thee, and let thy ordinances help me.
I
have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant, for I do not
forget thy commandments.
In
my distress I cry to the LORD, that he may answer me: "Deliver
me, O LORD, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue."
What
shall be given to you?
And what more shall be done to you, you
deceitful tongue?
A warrior's sharp arrows, with glowing coals
of the broom tree!
Woe is me, that I sojourn in Meshech, that I
dwell among the tents of Kedar!
Too long have I had my dwelling
among those who hate peace.
I am for peace; but when I speak,
they are for war!
I
lift up my eyes to the hills.
From whence does my help come?
My
help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
He will not
let your foot be moved, he who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold,
he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD is
your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand.
The sun
shall not smite you by day, nor the moon by night.
The LORD will
keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.
The LORD will
keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and
for
evermore.
I
was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the
LORD!"
Our feet have been standing within your gates, O
Jerusalem!
Jerusalem, built as a city which is bound firmly
together, to which the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, as
was
decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
There
thrones for judgment were set, the thrones of the house of
David.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
"May they
prosper who love you!
Peace be within your walls, and security
within your towers!"
For my brethren and companions' sake I
will say, "Peace be within you!"
For the sake of the
house of the LORD our God, I will seek your good.
To
thee I lift up my eyes, O thou who art enthroned in the
heavens!
Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of
their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress,
so
our eyes look to the LORD our God, till he have mercy upon us.
Have
mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us, for we have had more
than
enough of contempt.
Too long our soul has been sated with the
scorn of those who are at ease, the contempt of the proud.
If
it had not been the LORD who was on our side, let Israel now say--
if
it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up
against us, then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their
anger was kindled against us; then the flood would have swept us
away, the torrent would have gone over us; then over us would have
gone the raging waters.
Blessed be the LORD, who has not given
us as prey to their teeth!
We have escaped as a bird from the
snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped!
Our
help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
Those
who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved,
but
abides for ever.
As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so
the LORD is round about his people, from this time forth and for
evermore.
For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest upon the
land allotted to the righteous, lest the righteous put forth their
hands to do wrong.
Do good, O LORD, to those who are good, and
to those who are upright in their hearts!
But those who turn
aside upon their crooked ways the LORD will lead away with
evildoers!
Peace be in Israel!
When
the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who
dream.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue
with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, "The LORD
has done great things for them."
The LORD has done great
things for us; we are glad.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like
the watercourses in the Negeb!
May those who sow in tears reap
with shouts of joy!
He that goes forth weeping, bearing the seed
for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his
sheaves
with him.
Unless
the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.
Unless
the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.
It
is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the
bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.
Lo,
sons are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a
reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the sons of
one's youth.
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of
them!
He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his
enemies in the gate.
Blessed
is every one who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways!
You
shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be
happy,
and it shall be well with you.
Your wife will be like a fruitful
vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots
around your table.
Lo, thus shall the man be blessed who fears
the LORD.
The LORD bless you from Zion!
May you see the
prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life!
May you see
your children's children!
Peace be upon Israel!
"Sorely
have they afflicted me from my youth," let Israel now say--
"Sorely have they afflicted me from my youth, yet they have not
prevailed against me.
The plowers plowed upon my back; they made
long their furrows."
The LORD is righteous; he has cut the
cords of the wicked.
May all who hate Zion be put to shame and
turned backward!
Let them be like the grass on the housetops,
which withers before it grows up, with which the reaper does not
fill
his hand or the binder of sheaves his bosom, while those who pass
by
do not say, "The blessing of the LORD be upon you!
We bless
you in the name of the LORD!
"
Out
of the depths I cry to thee, O LORD!
Lord, hear my voice!
Let
thy ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications!
If thou,
O LORD, shouldst mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand?
But
there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.
I
wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul
waits for the LORD more than watchmen for the morning, more than
watchmen for the morning.
O Israel, hope in the LORD!
For
with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is plenteous
redemption.
And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
O
LORD, my heart is not lifted up, my eyes are not raised too high;
I
do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for
me.
But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a child quieted
at its mother's breast; like a child that is quieted is my soul.
O
Israel, hope in the LORD from this time forth and for evermore.
Remember,
O LORD, in David's favor, all the hardships he endured; how he
swore
to the LORD and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob, "I will not
enter my house or get into my bed; I will not give sleep to my
eyes
or slumber to my eyelids, until I find a place for the LORD, a
dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob."
Lo, we heard
of it in Ephrathah, we found it in the fields of Jaar.
"Let
us go to his dwelling place; let us worship at his footstool!"
Arise,
O LORD, and go to thy resting place, thou and the ark of thy
might.
Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness, and let
thy saints shout for joy.
For thy servant David's sake do not
turn away the face of thy anointed one.
The LORD swore to David
a sure oath from which he will not turn back: "One of the sons
of your body I will set on your throne.
If your sons keep my
covenant and my testimonies which I shall teach them, their sons
also
for ever shall sit upon your throne."
For the LORD has
chosen Zion; he has desired it for his habitation: "This is my
resting place for ever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it.
I
will abundantly bless her provisions; I will satisfy her poor with
bread.
Her priests I will clothe with salvation, and her saints
will shout for joy.
There I will make a horn to sprout for
David; I have prepared a lamp for my anointed.
His enemies I
will clothe with shame, but upon himself his crown will shed its
luster.
"
Behold,
how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!
It is
like the precious oil upon the head, running down upon the beard,
upon the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes!
It
is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion!
For
there the LORD has commanded the blessing, life for evermore.
Come,
bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, who stand by night
in
the house of the LORD!
Lift up your hands to the holy place, and
bless the LORD!
May the LORD bless you from Zion, he who made
heaven and earth!
Praise
the LORD.
Praise the name of the LORD, give praise, O servants
of the LORD, you that stand in the house of the LORD, in the
courts
of the house of our God!
Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good;
sing to his name, for he is gracious!
For the LORD has chosen
Jacob for himself, Israel as his own possession.
For I know that
the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.
Whatever
the LORD pleases he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and
all
deeps.
He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the
earth, who makes lightnings for the rain and brings forth the wind
from his storehouses.
He it was who smote the first-born of
Egypt, both of man and of beast; who in thy midst, O Egypt, sent
signs and wonders against Pharaoh and all his servants; who smote
many nations and slew mighty kings, Sihon, king of the Amorites,
and
Og, king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan, and gave their
land as a heritage, a heritage to his people Israel.
Thy name, O
LORD, endures for ever, thy renown, O LORD, throughout all ages.
For
the LORD will vindicate his people, and have compassion on his
servants.
The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work
of men's hands.
They have mouths, but they speak not, they have
eyes, but they see not, they have ears, but they hear not, nor is
there any breath in their mouths.
Like them be those who make
them!
-- yea, every one who trusts in them!
O house of
Israel, bless the LORD!
O house of Aaron, bless the LORD!
O
house of Levi, bless the LORD!
You that fear the LORD, bless the
LORD!
Blessed be the LORD from Zion, he who dwells in
Jerusalem!
Praise the LORD!
O
give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love
endures for ever.
O give thanks to the God of gods, for his
steadfast love endures for ever.
O give thanks to the Lord of
lords, for his steadfast love endures for ever; to him who alone
does
great wonders, for his steadfast love endures for ever; to him who
by
understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures for
ever; to him who spread out the earth upon the waters, for his
steadfast love endures for ever; to him who made the great lights,
for his steadfast love endures for ever; the sun to rule over the
day, for his steadfast love endures for ever; the moon and stars
to
rule over the night, for his steadfast love endures for ever; to
him
who smote the first-born of Egypt, for his steadfast love endures
for
ever; and brought Israel out from among them, for his steadfast
love
endures for ever; with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, for
his
steadfast love endures for ever; to him who divided the Red Sea in
sunder, for his steadfast love endures for ever; and made Israel
pass
through the midst of it, for his steadfast love endures for ever;
but
overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea, for his steadfast
love
endures for ever; to him who led his people through the
wilderness,
for his steadfast love endures for ever; to him who smote great
kings, for his steadfast love endures for ever; and slew famous
kings, for his steadfast love endures for ever; Sihon, king of the
Amorites, for his steadfast love endures for ever; and Og, king of
Bashan, for his steadfast love endures for ever; and gave their
land
as a heritage, for his steadfast love endures for ever; a heritage
to
Israel his servant, for his steadfast love endures for ever.
It
is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love
endures for ever; and rescued us from our foes, for his steadfast
love endures for ever; he who gives food to all flesh, for his
steadfast love endures for ever.
O give thanks to the God of
heaven, for his steadfast love endures for ever.
By
the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we
remembered
Zion.
On the willows there we hung up our lyres.
For there
our captors required of us songs, and our tormentors, mirth,
saying,
"Sing us one of the songs of Zion!"
How shall we sing
the LORD's song in a foreign land?
If I forget you, O Jerusalem,
let my right hand wither!
Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my
mouth, if I do not remember you, if I do not set Jerusalem above
my
highest joy!
Remember, O LORD, against the Edomites the day of
Jerusalem, how they said, "Rase it, rase it!
Down to its
foundations!"
O daughter of Babylon, you devastator!
Happy
shall he be who requites you with what you have done to us!
Happy
shall he be who takes your little ones and dashes them against the
rock!
A
Psalm of David.
I give thee thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart;
before the gods I sing thy praise; I bow down toward thy holy
temple
and give thanks to thy name for thy steadfast love and thy
faithfulness; for thou hast exalted above everything thy name and
thy
word.
On the day I called, thou didst answer me, my strength of
soul thou didst increase.
All the kings of the earth shall
praise thee, O LORD, for they have heard the words of thy mouth;
and
they shall sing of the ways of the LORD, for great is the glory of
the LORD.
For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly; but
the haughty he knows from afar.
Though I walk in the midst of
trouble, thou dost preserve my life; thou dost stretch out thy
hand
against the wrath of my enemies, and thy right hand delivers me.
The
LORD will fulfil his purpose for me; thy steadfast love, O LORD,
endures for ever.
Do not forsake the work of thy hands.
O
LORD, thou hast searched me and known me!
Thou knowest when I
sit down and when I rise up; thou discernest my thoughts from
afar.
Thou searchest out my path and my lying down, and art
acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.
Thou dost beset me
behind and before, and layest thy hand upon me.
Such knowledge
is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it.
Whither
shall I go from thy Spirit?
Or whither shall I flee from thy
presence?
If I ascend to heaven, thou art there!
If I make
my bed in Sheol, thou art there!
If I take the wings of the
morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there
thy
hand shall lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
If I say,
"Let only darkness cover me, and the light about me be night,"
even the darkness is not dark to thee, the night is bright as the
day; for darkness is as light with thee.
For thou didst form my
inward parts, thou didst knit me together in my mother's womb.
I
praise thee, for thou art fearful and wonderful.
Wonderful are
thy works!
Thou knowest me right well; my frame was not hidden
from thee, when I was being made in secret, intricately wrought in
the depths of the earth.
Thy eyes beheld my unformed substance;
in thy book were written, every one of them, the days that were
formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
How precious
to me are thy thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
If
I would count them, they are more than the sand.
When I awake, I
am still with thee.
O that thou wouldst slay the wicked, O God,
and that men of blood would depart from me, men who maliciously
defy
thee, who lift themselves up against thee for evil!
Do I not
hate them that hate thee, O LORD?
And do I not loathe them that
rise up against thee?
I hate them with perfect hatred; I count
them my enemies.
Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try
me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any wicked way in
me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
Deliver
me, O LORD, from evil men; preserve me from violent men, who plan
evil things in their heart, and stir up wars continually.
They
make their tongue sharp as a serpents, and under their lips is the
poison of vipers.
Forever.
Guard me, O LORD, from the hands
of the wicked; preserve me from violent men, who have planned to
trip
up my feet.
Arrogant men have hidden a trap for me, and with
cords they have spread a net, by the wayside they have set snares
for
me.
Forever.
I say to the LORD, Thou art my God; give ear
to the voice of my supplications, O LORD!
O LORD, my Lord, my
strong deliverer, thou hast covered my head in the day of
battle.
Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked; do not
further his evil plot!
Forever.
Those who surround me lift
up their head, let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them!
Let
burning coals fall upon them!
Let them be cast into pits, no
more to rise!
Let not the slanderer be established in the land;
let evil hunt down the violent man speedily!
I know that the
LORD maintains the cause of the afflicted, and executes justice
for
the needy.
Surely the righteous shall give thanks to thy name;
the upright shall dwell in thy presence.
A
Psalm of David.
I call upon thee, O LORD; make haste to me!
Give
ear to my voice, when I call to thee!
Let my prayer be counted
as incense before thee, and the lifting up of my hands as an
evening
sacrifice!
Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD, keep watch over
the door of my lips!
Incline not my heart to any evil, to busy
myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work iniquity;
and
let me not eat of their dainties!
Let a good man strike or
rebuke me in kindness, but let the oil of the wicked never anoint
my
head; for my prayer is continually against their wicked deeds.
When
they are given over to those who shall condemn them, then they
shall
learn that the word of the LORD is true.
As a rock which one
cleaves and shatters on the land, so shall their bones be strewn
at
the mouth of Sheol.
But my eyes are toward thee, O LORD God; in
thee I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless!
Keep me from the
trap which they have laid for me, and from the snares of
evildoers!
Let the wicked together fall into their own nets,
while I escape.
A
Maskil of David, when he was in the cave.
A Prayer.
I cry
with my voice to the LORD, with my voice I make supplication to
the
LORD, I pour out my complaint before him, I tell my trouble before
him.
When my spirit is faint, thou knowest my way!
In the
path where I walk they have hidden a trap for me.
I look to the
right and watch, but there is none who takes notice of me; no
refuge
remains to me, no man cares for me.
I cry to thee, O LORD; I
say, Thou art my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.
Give
heed to my cry; for I am brought very low!
Deliver me from my
persecutors; for they are too strong for me!
Bring me out of
prison, that I may give thanks to thy name!
The righteous will
surround me; for thou wilt deal bountifully with me.
A
Psalm of David.
Hear my prayer, O LORD; give ear to my
supplications!
In thy faithfulness answer me, in thy
righteousness!
Enter not into judgment with thy servant; for no
man living is righteous before thee.
For the enemy has pursued
me; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me sit in
darkness like those long dead.
Therefore my spirit faints within
me; my heart within me is appalled.
I remember the days of old,
I meditate on all that thou hast done; I muse on what thy hands
have
wrought.
I stretch out my hands to thee; my soul thirsts for
thee like a parched land.
Forever.
Make haste to answer me,
O LORD!
My spirit fails!
Hide not thy face from me, lest I
be like those who go down to the Pit.
Let me hear in the morning
of thy steadfast love, for in thee I put my trust.
Teach me the
way I should go, for to thee I lift up my soul.
Deliver me, O
LORD, from my enemies!
I have fled to thee for refuge!
Teach
me to do thy will, for thou art my God!
Let thy good spirit lead
me on a level path!
For thy name's sake, O LORD, preserve my
life!
In thy righteousness bring me out of trouble!
And in
thy steadfast love cut off my enemies, and destroy all my
adversaries, for I am thy servant.
A
Psalm of David.
Blessed be the LORD, my rock, who trains my
hands for war, and my fingers for battle; my rock and my fortress,
my
stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and he in whom I take
refuge,
who subdues the peoples under him.
O LORD, what is man that thou
dost regard him, or the son of man that thou dost think of him?
Man
is like a breath, his days are like a passing shadow.
Bow thy
heavens, O LORD, and come down!
Touch the mountains that they
smoke!
Flash forth the lightning and scatter them, send out thy
arrows and rout them!
Stretch forth thy hand from on high,
rescue me and deliver me from the many waters, from the hand of
aliens, whose mouths speak lies, and whose right hand is a right
hand
of falsehood.
I will sing a new song to thee, O God; upon a
ten-stringed harp I will play to thee, who givest victory to
kings,
who rescuest David thy servant.
Rescue me from the cruel sword,
and deliver me from the hand of aliens, whose mouths speak lies,
and
whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
May our sons in
their youth be like plants full grown, our daughters like corner
pillars cut for the structure of a palace; may our garners be
full,
providing all manner of store; may our sheep bring forth thousands
and ten thousands in our fields; may our cattle be heavy with
young,
suffering no mischance or failure in bearing; may there be no cry
of
distress in our streets!
Happy the people to whom such blessings
fall!
Happy the people whose God is the LORD!
I
will extol thee, my God and King, and bless thy name for ever and
ever.
Every day I will bless thee, and praise thy name for ever
and ever.
Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his
greatness is unsearchable.
One generation shall laud thy works
to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.
On the glorious
splendor of thy majesty, and on thy wondrous works, I will
meditate.
Men shall proclaim the might of thy terrible acts, and
I will declare thy greatness.
They shall pour forth the fame of
thy abundant goodness, and shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
The
LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in
steadfast love.
The LORD is good to all, and his compassion is
over all that he has made.
All thy works shall give thanks to
thee, O LORD, and all thy saints shall bless thee!
They shall
speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and tell of thy power, to make
known to the sons of men thy mighty deeds, and the glorious
splendor
of thy kingdom.
Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy
dominion endures throughout all generations.
The LORD is
faithful in all his words, and gracious in all his deeds.
The
LORD upholds all who are falling, and raises up all who are bowed
down.
The eyes of all look to thee, and thou givest them their
food in due season.
Thou openest thy hand, thou satisfiest the
desire of every living thing.
The LORD is just in all his ways,
and kind in all his doings.
The LORD is near to all who call
upon him, to all who call upon him in truth.
He fulfils the
desire of all who fear him, he also hears their cry, and saves
them.
The LORD preserves all who love him; but all the wicked he
will destroy.
My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, and
let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.
Praise
the LORD!
Praise the LORD, O my soul!
I will praise the
LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have
being.
Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom
there is no help.
When his breath departs he returns to his
earth; on that very day his plans perish.
Happy is he whose help
is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, who made
heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps
faith
for ever; who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food
to
the hungry.
The LORD sets the prisoners free; the LORD opens the
eyes of the blind.
The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down;
the LORD loves the righteous.
The LORD watches over the
sojourners, he upholds the widow and the fatherless; but the way
of
the wicked he brings to ruin.
The LORD will reign for ever, thy
God, O Zion, to all generations.
Praise the LORD!
Praise
the LORD!
For it is good to sing praises to our God; for he is
gracious, and a song of praise is seemly.
The LORD builds up
Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel.
He heals the
brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds.
He determines the
number of the stars, he gives to all of them their names.
Great
is our LORD, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond
measure.
The LORD lifts up the downtrodden, he casts the wicked
to the ground.
Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make melody
to our God upon the lyre!
He covers the heavens with clouds, he
prepares rain for the earth, he makes grass grow upon the hills.
He
gives to the beasts their food, and to the young ravens which
cry.
His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his
pleasure in the legs of a man; but the LORD takes pleasure in
those
who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.
Praise
the LORD, O Jerusalem!
Praise your God, O Zion!
For he
strengthens the bars of your gates; he blesses your sons within
you.
He makes peace in your borders; he fills you with the
finest of the wheat.
He sends forth his command to the earth;
his word runs swiftly.
He gives snow like wool; he scatters
hoarfrost like ashes.
He casts forth his ice like morsels; who
can stand before his cold?
He sends forth his word, and melts
them; he makes his wind blow, and the waters flow.
He declares
his word to Jacob, his statutes and ordinances to Israel.
He has
not dealt thus with any other nation; they do not know his
ordinances.
Praise the LORD!
Praise
the LORD!
Praise the LORD from the heavens, praise him in the
heights!
Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his
host!
Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining
stars!
Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the
heavens!
Let them praise the name of the LORD!
For he
commanded and they were created.
And he established them for
ever and ever; he fixed their bounds which cannot be passed.
Praise
the LORD from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps, fire and
hail, snow and frost, stormy wind fulfilling his command!
Mountains
and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars!
Beasts and all
cattle, creeping things and flying birds!
Kings of the earth and
all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth!
Young men and
maidens together, old men and children!
Let them praise the name
of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his glory is above
earth
and heaven.
He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for
all his saints, for the people of Israel who are near to him.
Praise
the LORD!
Praise
the LORD!
Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the
assembly of the faithful!
Let Israel be glad in his Maker, let
the sons of Zion rejoice in their King!
Let them praise his name
with dancing, making melody to him with timbrel and lyre!
For
the LORD takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with
victory.
Let the faithful exult in glory; let them sing for joy
on their couches.
Let the high praises of God be in their
throats and two-edged swords in their hands, to wreak vengeance on
the nations and chastisement on the peoples, to bind their kings
with
chains and their nobles with fetters of iron, to execute on them
the
judgment written!
This is glory for all his faithful
ones.
Praise the LORD!
Praise
the LORD!
Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty
firmament!
Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according
to his exceeding greatness!
Praise him with trumpet sound;
praise him with lute and harp!
Praise him with timbrel and
dance; praise him with strings and pipe!
Praise him with
sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
Let
everything that breathes praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD!