Font Size
Psalm 120-150
New American Standard Bible
Psalm 120-150
New American Standard Bible
Prayer for Rescue from the Treacherous.
A Song of [a]Ascents.
120 (A)I cried to the Lord in my trouble,
And He answered me.
2 Rescue my soul, Lord, from (B)lying lips,
From a (C)deceitful tongue.
3 What will He give to you, and what more will He do to you,
You (D)deceitful tongue?
4 (E)Sharp arrows of the warrior,
With the burning (F)coals of the broom tree!
5 Woe to me, for I reside in (G)Meshech,
For I have settled among the (H)tents of (I)Kedar!
6 Too long has my soul had its dwelling
With those who (J)hate peace.
7 I (K)am for peace, but when I speak,
They are (L)for war.
The Lord, the Keeper of Israel.
A Song of Ascents.
121 I will (M)raise my eyes to (N)the mountains;
From where will my help come?
2 My (O)help comes from the Lord,
Who (P)made heaven and earth.
3 He will not (Q)allow your foot to slip;
He who (R)watches over you will not slumber.
4 Behold, He who watches over Israel
Will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord is your [b](S)protector;
The Lord is your (T)shade on your right hand.
6 The (U)sun will not [c]beat down on you by day,
Nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will [d](V)protect you from all evil;
He will keep your soul.
8 The Lord will [e](W)guard your going out and your coming in
(X)From this time and forever.
Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem.
A Song of Ascents, of David.
122 I was glad when they said to me,
“Let’s (Y)go to the house of the Lord.”
2 Our feet are standing
Within your (Z)gates, Jerusalem,
3 Jerusalem, that has been (AA)built
As a city that is (AB)firmly joined together;
4 To which the tribes (AC)go up, the tribes of [f]the Lord—
[g]An ordinance for Israel—
To give thanks to the name of the Lord.
5 For (AD)thrones were set there for judgment,
The thrones of the house of David.
6 Pray for the (AE)peace of Jerusalem:
“May they prosper who (AF)love you.
7 May peace be within your (AG)walls,
And prosperity within your (AH)palaces.”
8 For the sake of my (AI)brothers and my friends,
I will now say, “(AJ)May peace be within you.”
9 For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
I will (AK)seek your good.
Prayer for the Lord’s Help.
A Song of Ascents.
123 To You I have (AL)raised my eyes,
You who (AM)are enthroned in the heavens!
2 Behold, as the eyes of (AN)servants look to the hand of their master,
As the eyes of a female servant to the hand of her mistress,
So our (AO)eyes look to the Lord our God,
Until He is gracious to us.
3 (AP)Be gracious to us, Lord, be gracious to us,
For we have had much more than enough of (AQ)contempt.
4 Our soul has had much more than enough
Of the (AR)scoffing of (AS)those who are at ease,
And with the (AT)contempt of the proud.
Praise for Rescue from Enemies.
A Song of Ascents, of David.
124 “(AU)Had it not been the Lord who was on our side,”
(AV)Let Israel say,
2 “Had it not been the Lord who was on our side
When people rose up against us,
3 Then they would have (AW)swallowed us alive,
When their (AX)anger was kindled against us;
4 Then the (AY)waters would have flooded over us,
The stream would have [h]swept over our souls;
5 Then the (AZ)raging waters would have [i]swept over our souls.”
6 Blessed be the Lord,
Who has not given us [j]to be (BA)torn by their teeth.
7 Our souls have (BB)escaped (BC)like a bird from the trapper’s (BD)snare;
The snare is broken and we have escaped.
8 Our (BE)help is in the name of the Lord,
Who (BF)made heaven and earth.
The Lord Surrounds His People.
A Song of Ascents.
125 Those who trust in the Lord
Are like Mount Zion, which (BG)cannot be moved but (BH)remains forever.
2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
So (BI)the Lord surrounds His people
(BJ)From this time and forever.
3 For the (BK)scepter of wickedness will not rest upon the [k]land of the righteous,
So that the righteous (BL)will not extend their hands to do wrong.
4 (BM)Do good, Lord, to those who are good
And to those who are (BN)upright in their hearts.
5 But as for those who (BO)turn aside to their (BP)crooked ways,
The Lord will lead them away with those who (BQ)practice injustice.
(BR)Peace be upon Israel.
Thanksgiving for Return from Captivity.
A Song of Ascents.
126 When the Lord (BS)brought back [l]the captives of Zion,
We were (BT)like those who dream.
2 Then our (BU)mouth was filled with laughter
And our (BV)tongue with joyful shouting;
Then they said among the nations,
“The Lord has (BW)done great things for them.”
3 The Lord has done great things for us;
We are (BX)joyful.
4 Restore our fortunes, Lord,
As the [m](BY)streams in the [n]South.
5 Those who sow in (BZ)tears shall harvest with (CA)joyful shouting.
6 One who goes here and there weeping, carrying his bag of seed,
Shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.
Prosperity Comes from the Lord.
A Song of Ascents, of Solomon.
127 Unless the Lord (CB)builds a house,
They who build it labor in vain;
Unless the Lord (CC)guards a city,
The watchman stays awake in vain.
2 It is futile for you to rise up early,
To [o]stay up late,
To (CD)eat the bread of painful labor;
This is how He gives to His (CE)beloved (CF)sleep.
3 Behold, (CG)children are a [p]gift of the Lord,
The (CH)fruit of the womb is a reward.
4 Like arrows in the hand of a (CI)warrior,
So are the children of one’s youth.
5 (CJ)Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them;
(CK)They will not be ashamed
When they (CL)speak with their enemies (CM)in the gate.
Blessedness of the Fear of the Lord.
A Song of Ascents.
128 (CN)Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord,
Who (CO)walks in His ways.
2 When you (CP)eat the (CQ)fruit of the labor of your hands,
You will be happy and (CR)it will go well for you.
3 Your wife will be like a (CS)fruitful vine
[q]Within your house,
Your children like (CT)olive plants
Around your table.
4 Behold, for so shall a man
Who fears the Lord be blessed.
5 (CU)The Lord bless you (CV)from Zion,
And may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life.
6 Indeed, may you see your (CW)children’s children.
(CX)Peace be upon Israel!
Prayer for the Overthrow of Zion’s Enemies.
A Song of Ascents.
129 “[r]Many times they have (CY)attacked me from my (CZ)youth up,”
(DA)Let Israel say,
2 “[s]Many times they have attacked me from my youth up;
Yet they have (DB)not prevailed against me.
3 The plowers plowed upon my back;
They lengthened their furrows.”
4 The Lord (DC)is righteous;
He has cut up the (DD)ropes of the wicked.
5 May all who (DE)hate Zion
Be (DF)put to shame and turned backward;
6 May they be like (DG)grass upon the housetops,
Which withers before it [t]grows up;
7 With which the harvester does not fill his [u]hand,
Or the binder of sheaves his [v](DH)arms;
8 Nor do those who pass by say,
“The (DI)blessing of the Lord be upon you;
We bless you in the name of the Lord.”
Hope in the Lord’s Forgiving Love.
A Song of Ascents.
130 Out of the (DJ)depths I have cried to You, Lord.
2 Lord, (DK)hear my voice!
Let (DL)Your ears be attentive
To the (DM)sound of my pleadings.
3 If You, [w]Lord, were to keep account of guilty deeds,
Lord, who could (DN)stand?
4 But there is (DO)forgiveness with You,
So that You may be [x](DP)revered.
5 I wait for the Lord, my (DQ)soul waits,
And I [y]wait (DR)for His word.
6 My soul waits in hope for the Lord
More than the watchmen (DS)for the morning;
Yes, more than the watchmen for the morning.
7 Israel, (DT)wait for the Lord;
For with the Lord there is (DU)mercy,
And with Him is (DV)abundant redemption.
8 And He will (DW)redeem Israel
From all his guilty deeds.
Childlike Trust in the Lord.
A Song of Ascents, of David.
131 Lord, my heart is not (DX)proud, nor my eyes (DY)arrogant;
Nor do I [z]involve myself in (DZ)great matters,
Or in things (EA)too [aa]difficult for me.
2 I have certainly (EB)soothed and quieted my soul;
Like a weaned (EC)child resting [ab]against his mother,
My soul [ac]within me is like a weaned child.
3 Israel, (ED)wait for the Lord
(EE)From this time on and forever.
Prayer for the Lord’s Blessing upon the Sanctuary.
A Song of Ascents.
132 Remember, Lord, in David’s behalf,
All (EF)his affliction;
2 How he swore to the Lord
And vowed to (EG)the Mighty One of Jacob,
3 “I certainly will not [ad]enter (EH)my house,
Nor [ae]lie on my bed;
4 I will not (EI)give sleep to my eyes
Or slumber to my eyelids,
5 Until I find a (EJ)place for the Lord,
[af]A dwelling place for (EK)the Mighty One of Jacob.”
6 Behold, we heard about it in (EL)Ephrathah,
We found it in the (EM)field of [ag]Jaar.
7 Let’s go into His [ah](EN)dwelling place;
Let’s (EO)worship at His (EP)footstool.
8 (EQ)Arise, Lord, to Your (ER)resting place,
You and the ark of Your (ES)strength.
9 May Your priests be (ET)clothed with righteousness,
And may Your (EU)godly ones sing for joy.
10 For the sake of Your servant David,
Do not turn away the face of Your (EV)anointed.
11 The Lord has (EW)sworn to David
A truth from which He will not turn back:
“I will set upon your throne one (EX)from the fruit of your body.
12 If your sons will keep My covenant
And My testimony which I will teach them,
Their sons also will (EY)sit upon your throne forever.”
13 For the Lord has (EZ)chosen Zion;
He has (FA)desired it as His dwelling place.
14 “This is My (FB)resting place forever;
Here I will (FC)dwell, for I have desired it.
15 I will abundantly (FD)bless her food;
I will (FE)satisfy her needy with bread.
16 I will also clothe her (FF)priests with salvation,
And her (FG)godly ones will sing aloud for joy.
17 I will make the (FH)horn of David spring forth there;
I have prepared a (FI)lamp for My anointed.
18 I will (FJ)clothe his enemies with shame,
But upon himself his (FK)crown will gleam.”
The Excellency of Brotherly Unity.
A Song of Ascents, of David.
133 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For (FL)brothers to live together in unity!
2 It is like the precious (FM)oil on the head,
Running down upon the beard,
As on Aaron’s beard,
The oil which ran down upon the (FN)edge of his robes.
3 It is like the (FO)dew of (FP)Hermon
Coming down upon the (FQ)mountains of Zion;
For the Lord (FR)commanded the blessing there—(FS)life forever.
Greetings of Night Watchers.
A Song of Ascents.
134 Behold, (FT)bless the Lord, all you (FU)servants of the Lord,
Who [ai](FV)serve (FW)by night in the house of the Lord!
2 (FX)Lift up your hands to the (FY)sanctuary
And bless the Lord.
3 May the Lord (FZ)bless you from Zion,
He who (GA)made heaven and earth.
Praise the Lord’s Wonderful Works. Futility of Idols.
135 [aj](GB)Praise [ak]the Lord!
Praise the name of the Lord;
Praise Him, you (GC)servants of the Lord,
2 You who stand in the house of the Lord,
In the (GD)courtyards of the house of our God!
3 [al]Praise [am]the Lord, for (GE)the Lord is good;
(GF)Sing praises to His name, (GG)for it is lovely.
4 For [an]the Lord has (GH)chosen Jacob for Himself,
Israel as His (GI)own possession.
5 For I know that (GJ)the Lord is great
And that our Lord is (GK)above all gods.
6 (GL)Whatever the Lord pleases, He does,
In heaven and on earth, in the seas and in all the ocean depths.
7 [ao]He (GM)causes the [ap]mist to ascend from the ends of the earth,
[aq]He (GN)makes lightning for the rain;
[ar]He (GO)brings forth the wind from His treasuries.
8 [as]He (GP)struck the firstborn of Egypt,
[at]Both human firstborn and animal.
9 [au]He sent (GQ)signs and wonders into your midst, Egypt,
Upon (GR)Pharaoh and all his servants.
10 [av](GS)He (GT)struck many nations
And brought death to mighty kings,
11 (GU)Sihon, king of the Amorites,
(GV)Og, king of Bashan,
And (GW)all the kingdoms of Canaan;
12 And He (GX)gave their land as an inheritance,
An inheritance to His people Israel.
13 Your (GY)name, Lord, is everlasting,
The mention of You, Lord, is [aw]throughout all generations.
14 For the Lord will (GZ)judge His people
And (HA)will have compassion on His servants.
15 The (HB)idols of the nations are nothing but silver and gold,
The work of human hands.
16 They have mouths, but they do not speak;
They have eyes, but they do not see;
17 They have ears, but they do not hear,
Nor is there any breath at all in their mouths.
18 Those who make them will become like them,
Yes, everyone who trusts in them.
19 House of (HC)Israel, bless the Lord;
House of Aaron, bless the Lord;
20 House of Levi, bless the Lord;
You (HD)who [ax]revere the Lord, bless the Lord.
21 Blessed be the Lord (HE)from Zion,
Who (HF)dwells in Jerusalem.
[ay]Praise [az]the Lord!
Thanks for the Lord’s Goodness to Israel.
136 (HG)Give thanks to the Lord, for (HH)He is good,
For (HI)His [ba]faithfulness is everlasting.
2 Give thanks to the (HJ)God of gods,
For His faithfulness is everlasting.
3 Give thanks to the (HK)Lord of lords,
For His faithfulness is everlasting.
4 To Him who (HL)alone does great [bb]wonders,
For His faithfulness is everlasting;
5 To Him who (HM)made the heavens [bc](HN)with skill,
For His faithfulness is everlasting;
6 To Him who (HO)spread out the earth above the waters,
For His faithfulness is everlasting;
7 To Him who (HP)made the great lights,
For His faithfulness is everlasting:
8 The (HQ)sun to rule [bd]by day,
For His faithfulness is everlasting,
9 The (HR)moon and stars to rule [be]by night,
For His faithfulness is everlasting.
10 To Him who (HS)struck [bf]the Egyptians, that is, their firstborn,
For His faithfulness is everlasting,
11 And (HT)brought Israel out from their midst,
For His faithfulness is everlasting,
12 With a (HU)strong hand and an (HV)outstretched arm,
For His faithfulness is everlasting.
13 To Him who (HW)divided the [bg]Red Sea in parts,
For His faithfulness is everlasting,
14 And (HX)allowed Israel to pass through the midst of it,
For His faithfulness is everlasting;
15 But (HY)He [bh]overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the [bi]Red Sea,
For His faithfulness is everlasting.
16 To Him who (HZ)led His people through the wilderness,
For His faithfulness is everlasting;
17 To Him who (IA)struck great kings,
For His faithfulness is everlasting,
18 And (IB)brought death to [bj]mighty kings,
For His faithfulness is everlasting:
19 (IC)Sihon, king of the Amorites,
For His faithfulness is everlasting,
20 And (ID)Og, king of Bashan,
For His faithfulness is everlasting,
21 And (IE)gave their land as an inheritance,
For His faithfulness is everlasting,
22 An inheritance to His (IF)servant Israel,
For His faithfulness is everlasting.
23 Who (IG)remembered us in our lowliness,
For His faithfulness is everlasting,
24 And has (IH)rescued us from our enemies,
For His faithfulness is everlasting;
25 Who (II)gives food to all flesh,
For His faithfulness is everlasting.
26 Give thanks to the (IJ)God of heaven,
For His faithfulness is everlasting.
An Experience of the Captivity.
137 By the (IK)rivers of Babylon,
There we sat down and (IL)wept,
When we remembered Zion.
2 Upon the [bk](IM)willows in the midst of it
We (IN)hung our [bl]harps.
3 For there our captors [bm](IO)demanded of us [bn]songs,
And (IP)our tormentors, jubilation, saying,
“Sing for us one of the songs of Zion!”
4 How can we sing (IQ)the Lord’s song
In a foreign land?
5 If I (IR)forget you, Jerusalem,
May my right hand [bo]forget its skill.
6 May my (IS)tongue cling to the roof of my mouth
If I do not remember you,
If I do not [bp](IT)exalt Jerusalem
Above my chief joy.
7 Remember, Lord, against the sons of (IU)Edom
The day of Jerusalem,
Those who said, “Lay it bare, lay it bare
(IV)To its foundation!”
8 Daughter of Babylon, you [bq](IW)devastated one,
Blessed will be one who (IX)repays you
With [br]the retribution with which you have repaid us.
9 Blessed will be one who seizes and (IY)dashes your children
Against the rock.
Thanksgiving for the Lord’s Favor.
A Psalm of David.
138 (IZ)I will give You thanks with all my heart;
I will sing Your praises before the (JA)gods.
2 I will bow down (JB)toward Your holy temple
And (JC)give thanks to Your name for Your mercy and Your [bs]truth;
For You have (JD)made Your [bt]word great [bu]according to all Your name.
3 On the day I (JE)called, You answered me;
You made me bold with (JF)strength in my soul.
4 (JG)All the kings of the earth will give thanks to You, Lord,
When they have heard the words of Your mouth.
5 And they will (JH)sing of the ways of the Lord,
For (JI)great is the glory of the Lord.
6 For (JJ)the Lord is exalted,
Yet He (JK)looks after the lowly,
But He knows the (JL)haughty from afar.
7 Though I (JM)walk in the midst of trouble, You will [bv](JN)revive me;
You will (JO)reach out with Your hand against the wrath of my enemies,
And Your right hand will (JP)save me.
8 The Lord will (JQ)accomplish what concerns me;
Your (JR)faithfulness, Lord, is everlasting;
(JS)Do not abandon the (JT)works of Your hands.
God’s Omnipresence and Omniscience.
For the music director. A Psalm of David.
139 Lord, You have (JU)searched me and known me.
2 You (JV)know [bw]when I sit down and [bx]when I get up;
You (JW)understand my thought from far away.
3 You [by](JX)scrutinize my [bz]path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.
4 [ca]Even before there is a word on my tongue,
Behold, Lord, You (JY)know it all.
5 You have (JZ)encircled me behind and in front,
And (KA)placed Your hand upon me.
6 Such (KB)knowledge is (KC)too wonderful for me;
It is too high, I cannot comprehend it.
7 (KD)Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
8 (KE)If I ascend to heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in [cb]Sheol, behold, (KF)You are there.
9 If I take up the wings of the dawn,
If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,
10 Even there Your hand will (KG)lead me,
And Your right hand will take hold of me.
11 If I say, “Surely the (KH)darkness will [cc]overwhelm me,
And the light around me will be night,”
12 Even (KI)darkness is not dark [cd]to You,
And the night is as bright as the day.
(KJ)Darkness and light are alike to You.
13 For You (KK)created my innermost parts;
You (KL)wove me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will give thanks to You, because [ce]I am awesomely and wonderfully made;
(KM)Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well.
15 My [cf](KN)frame was not hidden from You
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully formed in the (KO)depths of the earth;
16 Your (KP)eyes have seen my formless substance;
And in (KQ)Your book were written
All the (KR)days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.
17 How precious also are Your (KS)thoughts for me, God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them, they would (KT)outnumber the sand.
When (KU)I awake, I am still with You.
19 If only You would (KV)put the wicked to death, God;
(KW)Leave me, (KX)you men of bloodshed.
20 For they (KY)speak [cg]against You wickedly,
And Your enemies [ch](KZ)take Your name in vain.
21 Do I not (LA)hate those who hate You, Lord?
And do I not (LB)loathe those who rise up against You?
22 I hate them with the utmost hatred;
They have become my enemies.
23 (LC)Search me, God, and know my heart;
(LD)Put me to the test and know my anxious thoughts;
24 And see if there is any [ci](LE)hurtful way in me,
And (LF)lead me in the (LG)everlasting way.
Prayer for Protection against the Wicked.
For the music director. A Psalm of David.
140 (LH)Rescue me, Lord, from evil people;
Protect me from (LI)violent men
2 Who (LJ)devise evil things in their hearts;
They (LK)continually stir up wars.
3 They (LL)sharpen their tongues like a snake;
(LM)The venom of a viper is under their lips. Selah
4 (LN)Keep me, Lord, from the hands of the wicked;
(LO)Protect me from violent men
Who [cj]intend to [ck](LP)trip up my feet.
5 The proud have (LQ)hidden a trap for me, and snares;
They have spread a (LR)net at the [cl]wayside;
They have set (LS)snares for me. Selah
6 I (LT)said to the Lord, “You are my God;
(LU)Listen, Lord, to the (LV)sound of my pleadings.
7 [cm]God the Lord, (LW)the strength of my salvation,
You have (LX)covered my head on the day of [cn]battle.
8 Do not grant, Lord, the (LY)desires of the wicked;
Do not bring about (LZ)his evil planning, so that they are not exalted. Selah
9 “As for the head of those who surround me,
May the (MA)harm of their lips cover them.
10 May (MB)burning coals fall upon them;
May they be (MC)cast into the fire,
Into bottomless pits from which they (MD)cannot rise.
11 May a [co]slanderer not endure on the earth;
(ME)May evil hunt a violent person [cp]violently.”
12 I know that the Lord will (MF)maintain the cause of the afflicted,
And (MG)justice for the poor.
13 Certainly the (MH)righteous will give thanks to Your name;
The (MI)upright will dwell in Your presence.
An Evening Prayer for Sanctification and Protection.
A Psalm of David.
141 Lord, I call upon You; (MJ)hurry to me!
(MK)Listen to my voice when I call to You!
2 May my prayer be [cq]counted as (ML)incense before You;
The (MM)raising of my hands as the (MN)evening offering.
3 Set a (MO)guard, Lord, [cr]over my mouth;
Keep watch over the (MP)door of my lips.
4 (MQ)Do not incline my heart to any evil thing,
To practice deeds [cs]of wickedness
With people who (MR)do wrong;
And (MS)may I not taste their delicacies.
5 May the (MT)righteous strike me with mercy and discipline me;
It is (MU)oil for the head;
My head shall not refuse it,
For my prayer (MV)is still against their evil deeds.
6 Their judges are (MW)thrown down by the sides of the rock,
And they hear my words, for they are pleasant.
7 As when one (MX)plows and breaks open the earth,
Our (MY)bones have been scattered at the (MZ)mouth of [ct]Sheol.
8 For my (NA)eyes are toward You, [cu]God, the Lord;
In You I (NB)take refuge; (NC)do not [cv]leave me defenseless.
9 Keep me from the [cw](ND)jaws of the trap which they have set for me,
And from the (NE)snares of those who do wrong.
10 May the wicked (NF)fall into their own nets,
While I pass by [cx](NG)safely.
Prayer for Help in Trouble.
[cy]Maskil of David, when he was [cz]in the cave. A Prayer.
142 I (NH)cry out with my voice to the Lord;
With my voice I (NI)implore the Lord for compassion.
2 I (NJ)pour out my complaint before Him;
I declare my (NK)trouble before Him.
3 When (NL)my spirit felt weak within me,
You knew my path.
In the way where I walk
They have (NM)hidden a trap for me.
4 Look to the right and see;
For there is (NN)no one who regards me favorably;
[da]There is no (NO)escape for me;
(NP)No one cares for my soul.
5 I cried out to You, Lord;
I said, “You are (NQ)my refuge,
My (NR)portion in the (NS)land of the living.
6 (NT)Give Your attention to my cry,
For I have been (NU)brought very low;
Rescue me from my persecutors,
For they are too (NV)strong for me.
7 (NW)Bring my soul out of prison,
So that I may give thanks to Your name;
The righteous will surround me,
For You will (NX)look after me.”
Prayer for Help and Guidance.
A Psalm of David.
143 Hear my prayer, Lord,
(NY)Listen to my pleadings!
Answer me in Your (NZ)faithfulness, in Your (OA)righteousness!
2 And (OB)do not enter into judgment with Your servant,
For (OC)no person living is righteous in Your sight.
3 For the enemy has persecuted my soul;
He has crushed my life (OD)to the ground;
He (OE)has made me dwell in dark places, like those who have long been dead.
4 Therefore (OF)my spirit [db]feels weak within me;
My heart is [dc](OG)appalled within me.
5 I (OH)remember the days of old;
I (OI)meditate on all Your accomplishments;
I (OJ)reflect on the work of Your hands.
6 I (OK)spread out my hands to You;
My (OL)soul longs for You, like a weary land. Selah
7 (OM)Answer me quickly, Lord, my (ON)spirit fails;
(OO)Do not hide Your face from me,
Or I will be the same as (OP)those who go down to the pit.
8 Let me hear Your (OQ)faithfulness (OR)in the morning,
For I trust (OS)in You;
Teach me the (OT)way in which I should walk;
For to You I (OU)lift up my soul.
9 (OV)Save me, Lord, from my enemies;
[dd]I take refuge in You.
10 (OW)Teach me to do Your will,
For You are my God;
Let (OX)Your good Spirit (OY)lead me on level [de]ground.
11 (OZ)For the sake of Your name, Lord, (PA)revive me.
(PB)In Your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble.
12 And in Your faithfulness, [df](PC)destroy my enemies,
And (PD)eliminate all those who attack my soul,
For (PE)I am Your servant.
Prayer for Rescue and Prosperity.
A Psalm of David.
144 Blessed be the Lord, (PF)my rock,
Who (PG)trains my hands for war,
And my fingers for battle;
2 My faithfulness and (PH)my fortress,
My (PI)stronghold and my savior,
My (PJ)shield and He in whom I take refuge,
Who (PK)subdues [dg]my people under me.
3 Lord, (PL)what is man, that You look after him?
Or a son of man, that You think of him?
4 (PM)Man is like the breath;
His (PN)days are like a passing shadow.
5 (PO)Bend down Your heavens, Lord, and (PP)come down;
(PQ)Touch the mountains, that they may smoke.
6 Flash forth (PR)lightning and scatter them;
Send out Your (PS)arrows and confuse them.
7 Reach out with Your hand (PT)from on high;
Rescue me and (PU)save me from great waters,
From the hand of (PV)foreigners
8 Whose mouths (PW)speak deceit,
And whose (PX)right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
9 God, I will sing a (PY)new song to You;
On a (PZ)harp of ten strings I will sing praises to You,
10 Who (QA)gives salvation to kings,
Who (QB)rescues His servant David from the evil sword.
11 Rescue me and save me from the hand of (QC)foreigners,
Whose mouth (QD)speaks deceit
And whose (QE)right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
12 When our sons in their youth are like (QF)growing plants,
And our daughters like (QG)corner pillars [dh]fashioned for a palace,
13 Our (QH)granaries are full, providing every kind of produce,
And our flocks deliver thousands and ten thousands in our [di]fields;
14 May our (QI)cattle [dj]be bred
Without [dk](QJ)mishap and without [dl](QK)loss,
May there be no (QL)outcry in our streets!
15 Blessed are the people who are so situated;
(QM)Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord!
The Lord Exalted for His Goodness.
A Psalm of Praise, of David.
145 I will (QN)exalt You, (QO)my God, the King,
And I will (QP)bless Your name forever and ever.
2 Every day I will bless You,
And I will (QQ)praise Your name forever and ever.
3 (QR)Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised;
And His (QS)greatness is unsearchable.
4 One (QT)generation will praise Your works to another,
And will declare Your mighty acts.
5 On the (QU)glorious [dm]splendor of Your majesty
And (QV)on Your wonderful works, I will meditate.
6 People will speak of the [dn]power of Your (QW)awesome acts,
And I will (QX)tell of Your greatness.
7 They will burst forth [do]in speaking of Your (QY)abundant goodness,
And will (QZ)shout joyfully of Your righteousness.
8 The Lord is (RA)gracious and compassionate;
Slow to anger and great in mercy.
9 The Lord is (RB)good to all,
And His (RC)mercies are over all His works.
10 (RD)All Your works will give thanks to You, Lord,
And Your (RE)godly ones will bless You.
11 They will speak of the (RF)glory of Your kingdom,
And talk of Your might,
12 To (RG)make known to the sons of mankind [dp]Your mighty acts,
And the (RH)glory of the majesty of [dq]Your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is [dr]an (RI)everlasting kingdom,
And Your dominion endures throughout all generations.
[ds]The Lord is faithful in His words,
And holy in all His works.
14 The Lord (RJ)supports all who fall,
And (RK)raises up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all [dt]look to You,
And You (RL)give them their food in due time.
16 You (RM)open Your hand
And satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17 The Lord is (RN)righteous in all His ways,
And kind in all His works.
18 The Lord is (RO)near to all who call on Him,
To all who call on Him (RP)in truth.
19 He will (RQ)fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;
He will also (RR)hear their cry for help and save them.
20 The Lord (RS)watches over all who love Him,
But He will destroy all the (RT)wicked.
21 My (RU)mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,
And (RV)all flesh will (RW)bless His holy name forever and ever.
The Lord, an Abundant Helper.
146 [du]Praise [dv]the Lord!
(RX)Praise the Lord, my soul!
2 I will praise the Lord (RY)while I live;
I will (RZ)sing praises to my God while I [dw]have my being.
3 (SA)Do not trust in noblemen,
In [dx]mortal (SB)man, in whom there is (SC)no salvation.
4 His (SD)spirit departs, he (SE)returns to [dy]the earth;
On that very day his (SF)plans perish.
5 (SG)Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
Whose (SH)hope is in the Lord his God,
6 Who (SI)made heaven and earth,
The (SJ)sea and everything that is in them;
Who (SK)keeps [dz]faith forever;
7 Who (SL)executes justice for the oppressed;
Who (SM)gives food to the hungry.
The Lord (SN)frees the prisoners.
8 The Lord (SO)opens the eyes of those who are blind;
The Lord (SP)raises up those who are bowed down;
The Lord (SQ)loves the righteous.
9 The Lord (SR)watches over strangers;
He [ea](SS)supports the fatherless and the widow,
But He [eb]thwarts (ST)the way of the wicked.
10 The Lord will (SU)reign forever,
Your God, Zion, to all generations.
[ec]Praise [ed]the Lord!
Praise for Jerusalem’s Restoration and Prosperity.
147 [ee]Praise [ef]the Lord!
For (SV)it is good to sing praises to our God;
For [eg]it is pleasant and praise is [eh](SW)beautiful.
2 The Lord (SX)builds up Jerusalem;
He (SY)gathers the outcasts of Israel.
3 He heals the (SZ)brokenhearted
And (TA)binds up their [ei]wounds.
4 He (TB)counts the number of the stars;
He [ej](TC)gives names to all of them.
5 (TD)Great is our Lord and abundant in strength;
His (TE)understanding is [ek]infinite.
6 The Lord [el](TF)supports the afflicted;
He brings the wicked down to the ground.
7 (TG)Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
Sing praises to our God on the lyre;
8 It is He who (TH)covers the heavens with clouds,
Who (TI)provides rain for the earth,
Who (TJ)makes grass sprout on the mountains.
9 It is He who (TK)gives an animal its food,
And feeds (TL)young ravens that cry.
10 He does not delight in [em]the strength of the (TM)horse;
He (TN)does not take pleasure in the [en]legs of a man.
11 The Lord (TO)favors those who fear Him,
(TP)Those who wait for His [eo]faithfulness.
12 Praise the Lord, Jerusalem!
Praise your God, Zion!
13 For He has strengthened the (TQ)bars of your gates;
He has (TR)blessed your sons among you.
14 He (TS)makes [ep]peace in your borders;
He (TT)satisfies you with (TU)the [eq]finest of the wheat.
15 He sends His (TV)command to the earth;
His (TW)word runs very swiftly.
16 He [er]showers (TX)snow like wool;
He scatters the (TY)frost like ashes.
17 He hurls His (TZ)ice as fragments;
Who can stand before His (UA)cold?
18 He (UB)sends His word and makes them melt;
He (UC)makes His wind blow, and the waters flow.
19 He (UD)declares His words to Jacob,
His (UE)statutes and His judgments to Israel.
20 He (UF)has not dealt this way with any other nation;
And as for His judgments, [es]they have (UG)not known them.
[et]Praise [eu]the Lord!
The Whole Creation Invoked to Praise the Lord.
148 [ev]Praise [ew]the Lord!
Praise the Lord (UH)from the heavens;
Praise Him (UI)in the heights!
2 Praise Him, (UJ)all His angels;
Praise Him, (UK)all His heavenly armies!
3 Praise Him, sun and moon;
Praise Him, all stars of light!
4 Praise Him, [ex](UL)highest heavens,
And the (UM)waters that are above the heavens!
5 They are to praise the name of the Lord,
For (UN)He commanded and they were created.
6 He has also (UO)established them forever and ever;
He has made a (UP)decree, and it will not pass away.
7 Praise the Lord from the earth,
(UQ)Sea monsters, and all the ocean (UR)depths;
8 (US)Fire and hail, (UT)snow and (UU)clouds;
(UV)Stormy wind, (UW)fulfilling His word;
9 (UX)Mountains and all hills;
Fruit (UY)trees and all cedars;
10 (UZ)Animals and all cattle;
(VA)Crawling things and winged fowl;
11 (VB)Kings of the earth and all peoples;
Rulers and all judges of the earth;
12 Both young men and virgins;
Old men and children.
13 They are to praise the name of the Lord,
For His (VC)name alone is exalted;
His (VD)majesty is above earth and heaven.
14 And He has (VE)lifted up a horn for His people,
(VF)Praise for all His godly ones,
For the sons of Israel, a people (VG)near to Him.
[ey]Praise [ez]the Lord!
Israel Invoked to Praise the Lord.
149 [fa]Praise [fb]the Lord!
Sing a (VH)new song to the Lord,
And His praise (VI)in the congregation of the godly ones.
2 Israel shall be joyful in (VJ)his Maker;
The sons of Zion shall rejoice in their (VK)King.
3 They shall praise His name with (VL)dancing;
They shall sing praises to Him with (VM)tambourine and lyre.
4 For the Lord (VN)takes pleasure in His people;
He will (VO)glorify the lowly with salvation.
5 The (VP)godly ones shall be jubilant in glory;
They shall (VQ)sing for joy on their beds.
6 The (VR)high praises of God shall be in their [fc]mouths,
And a (VS)two-edged (VT)sword in their hands,
7 To (VU)execute vengeance on the nations,
And punishment on the peoples,
8 To bind their kings (VV)with chains,
And their (VW)dignitaries with shackles of iron,
9 To (VX)execute against them the judgment written.
This is an (VY)honor for all His godly ones.
[fd]Praise [fe]the Lord!
A Psalm of Praise.
150 [ff]Praise [fg]the Lord!
Praise God in His (VZ)sanctuary;
Praise Him in His mighty [fh](WA)expanse.
2 Praise Him for His (WB)mighty deeds;
Praise Him according to His excellent (WC)greatness.
3 Praise Him with (WD)trumpet sound;
Praise Him with (WE)harp and lyre.
4 Praise Him with (WF)tambourine and dancing;
Praise Him with (WG)stringed instruments and (WH)flute.
5 Praise Him with loud (WI)cymbals;
Praise Him with resounding cymbals.
6 (WJ)Everything that has breath shall praise [fi]the Lord.
[fj]Praise [fk]the Lord!
Footnotes
- Psalm 120 Title Ex 34:24; 1 Kin 12:27
- Psalm 121:5 Or keeper
- Psalm 121:6 Lit strike you
- Psalm 121:7 Or keep
- Psalm 121:8 Or keep
- Psalm 122:4 Heb Yah
- Psalm 122:4 Or A testimony
- Psalm 124:4 Or passed over
- Psalm 124:5 Or passed over
- Psalm 124:6 Lit as a prey to
- Psalm 125:3 Lit lot
- Psalm 126:1 Or those who returned to
- Psalm 126:4 Lit stream-beds
- Psalm 126:4 Heb Negev
- Psalm 127:2 Lit sit late
- Psalm 127:3 Or heritage
- Psalm 128:3 Lit In the innermost parts of
- Psalm 129:1 Lit Much
- Psalm 129:2 Lit Much
- Psalm 129:6 Lit draws out
- Psalm 129:7 Lit palm
- Psalm 129:7 Lit the fold of his robe
- Psalm 130:3 Heb Yah
- Psalm 130:4 Or feared
- Psalm 130:5 Or hope in
- Psalm 131:1 Lit go after, walk
- Psalm 131:1 Or marvelous
- Psalm 131:2 Or upon
- Psalm 131:2 Or upon
- Psalm 132:3 Lit come into the tabernacle of
- Psalm 132:3 Lit go up into the couch of
- Psalm 132:5 Lit Dwelling places
- Psalm 132:6 Or the wood
- Psalm 132:7 Lit dwelling places
- Psalm 134:1 Lit stand
- Psalm 135:1 Or Hallelujah!
- Psalm 135:1 Heb Yah
- Psalm 135:3 Or Hallelujah!
- Psalm 135:3 Heb Yah
- Psalm 135:4 Heb Yah
- Psalm 135:7 Lit The one who
- Psalm 135:7 I.e., clouds
- Psalm 135:7 Lit The one who
- Psalm 135:7 Lit The one who
- Psalm 135:8 Lit The one who
- Psalm 135:8 Lit From man to animal
- Psalm 135:9 Lit The one who
- Psalm 135:10 Lit The one who
- Psalm 135:13 Lit to
- Psalm 135:20 Lit fear
- Psalm 135:21 Or Hallelujah!
- Psalm 135:21 Heb Yah
- Psalm 136:1 Or mercy, and so throughout the Psalm
- Psalm 136:4 I.e., wonderful acts
- Psalm 136:5 Lit with understanding
- Psalm 136:8 Or over the
- Psalm 136:9 Or over the
- Psalm 136:10 Lit Egypt
- Psalm 136:13 Lit Sea of Reeds
- Psalm 136:15 Lit shook off
- Psalm 136:15 Lit Sea of Reeds
- Psalm 136:18 Lit majestic
- Psalm 137:2 Or poplars
- Psalm 137:2 Lit lyres
- Psalm 137:3 Lit asked
- Psalm 137:3 Lit words of song
- Psalm 137:5 I.e., become useless
- Psalm 137:6 Lit cause to ascend
- Psalm 137:8 Or devastator
- Psalm 137:8 Lit your requital
- Psalm 138:2 Or faithfulness
- Psalm 138:2 Or promise
- Psalm 138:2 Or together with
- Psalm 138:7 Or keep me alive
- Psalm 139:2 Lit my sitting
- Psalm 139:2 Lit my rising
- Psalm 139:3 Lit winnow
- Psalm 139:3 Or journeying
- Psalm 139:4 Lit For there is not
- Psalm 139:8 I.e., the netherworld
- Psalm 139:11 Lit bruise; some commentators cover
- Psalm 139:12 Lit from
- Psalm 139:14 Some ancient versions You are fearfully wonderful
- Psalm 139:15 Lit bones were
- Psalm 139:20 Or of
- Psalm 139:20 Some mss lift themselves up against You
- Psalm 139:24 Lit way of pain
- Psalm 140:4 Or devise
- Psalm 140:4 Lit push
- Psalm 140:5 Lit track
- Psalm 140:7 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord
- Psalm 140:7 Lit weapons
- Psalm 140:11 Lit man of tongue
- Psalm 140:11 Lit blow upon blow
- Psalm 141:2 Lit fixed
- Psalm 141:3 Lit to
- Psalm 141:4 Lit in
- Psalm 141:7 I.e., the netherworld
- Psalm 141:8 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord
- Psalm 141:8 Lit pour out my soul
- Psalm 141:9 Lit hands of the trap
- Psalm 141:10 Lit altogether
- Psalm 142 Title Possibly Contemplative; or Didactic; or Skillful Psalm
- Psalm 142 Title 1 Sam 22:1; 24:3
- Psalm 142:4 Lit Escape has perished from me
- Psalm 143:4 Or faints within
- Psalm 143:4 Or desolate
- Psalm 143:9 Lit To You have I hidden
- Psalm 143:10 Lit land
- Psalm 143:12 Or silence
- Psalm 144:2 Another reading is peoples
- Psalm 144:12 Lit cut after the pattern of
- Psalm 144:13 Lit outside
- Psalm 144:14 Lit be laden
- Psalm 144:14 Lit breach
- Psalm 144:14 Lit going out; i.e., miscarriage
- Psalm 145:5 Or majesty of Your splendor
- Psalm 145:6 Or strength
- Psalm 145:7 Lit the mention of
- Psalm 145:12 Lit His
- Psalm 145:12 Lit His
- Psalm 145:13 Lit a kingdom of all ages
- Psalm 145:13 The Lord...His works in LXX (cf. DSS); not found in MT
- Psalm 145:15 Lit wait; or hope for
- Psalm 146:1 Or Hallelujah!
- Psalm 146:1 Heb Yah
- Psalm 146:2 Lit still am
- Psalm 146:3 Lit a son of man
- Psalm 146:4 Lit his earth
- Psalm 146:6 Or truth
- Psalm 146:9 Or relieves
- Psalm 146:9 Lit bends
- Psalm 146:10 Or Hallelujah!
- Psalm 146:10 Heb Yah
- Psalm 147:1 Or Hallelujah!
- Psalm 147:1 Heb Yah
- Psalm 147:1 Or He is delightful
- Psalm 147:1 Or fitting
- Psalm 147:3 Lit pains
- Psalm 147:4 Or calls them all by their names
- Psalm 147:5 Lit innumerable
- Psalm 147:6 Or relieves
- Psalm 147:10 I.e., as a military asset
- Psalm 147:10 I.e., as a military asset
- Psalm 147:11 Or mercy
- Psalm 147:14 Lit your borders peace
- Psalm 147:14 Lit fat
- Psalm 147:16 Lit gives
- Psalm 147:20 I.e., the other nations
- Psalm 147:20 Or Hallelujah!
- Psalm 147:20 Heb Yah
- Psalm 148:1 Or Hallelujah!
- Psalm 148:1 Heb Yah
- Psalm 148:4 Lit heavens of heavens
- Psalm 148:14 Or Hallelujah!
- Psalm 148:14 Heb Yah
- Psalm 149:1 Or Hallelujah!
- Psalm 149:1 Heb Yah
- Psalm 149:6 Lit throat
- Psalm 149:9 Or Hallelujah!
- Psalm 149:9 Heb Yah
- Psalm 150:1 Or Hallelujah!
- Psalm 150:1 Heb Yah
- Psalm 150:1 Or firmament; i.e., atmosphere and space
- Psalm 150:6 Heb Yah
- Psalm 150:6 Or Hallelujah!
- Psalm 150:6 Heb Yah
Psalm 120-145
New International Version
Psalm 120-145
New International Version
Psalm 120
A song of ascents.
1 I call on the Lord(A) in my distress,(B)
and he answers me.
2 Save me, Lord,
from lying lips(C)
and from deceitful tongues.(D)
3 What will he do to you,
and what more besides,
you deceitful tongue?
4 He will punish you with a warrior’s sharp arrows,(E)
with burning coals of the broom bush.
5 Woe to me that I dwell in Meshek,
that I live among the tents of Kedar!(F)
6 Too long have I lived
among those who hate peace.
7 I am for peace;
but when I speak, they are for war.
Psalm 121
A song of ascents.
1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven(G) and earth.(H)
3 He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches(I) over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord watches over(J) you—
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun(K) will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will keep you from all harm(L)—
he will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.(M)
Psalm 122
A song of ascents. Of David.
1 I rejoiced with those who said to me,
“Let us go to the house of the Lord.”
2 Our feet are standing
in your gates, Jerusalem.
3 Jerusalem is built like a city
that is closely compacted together.
4 That is where the tribes go up—
the tribes of the Lord—
to praise the name of the Lord
according to the statute given to Israel.
5 There stand the thrones for judgment,
the thrones of the house of David.
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
“May those who love(N) you be secure.
7 May there be peace(O) within your walls
and security within your citadels.(P)”
8 For the sake of my family and friends,
I will say, “Peace be within you.”
9 For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
I will seek your prosperity.(Q)
Psalm 123
A song of ascents.
1 I lift up my eyes to you,
to you who sit enthroned(R) in heaven.
2 As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master,
as the eyes of a female slave look to the hand of her mistress,
so our eyes look to the Lord(S) our God,
till he shows us his mercy.
3 Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us,
for we have endured no end of contempt.
4 We have endured no end
of ridicule from the arrogant,
of contempt from the proud.
Psalm 124
A song of ascents. Of David.
1 If the Lord had not been on our side—
let Israel say(T)—
2 if the Lord had not been on our side
when people attacked us,
3 they would have swallowed us alive
when their anger flared against us;
4 the flood(U) would have engulfed us,
the torrent(V) would have swept over us,
5 the raging waters
would have swept us away.
6 Praise be to the Lord,
who has not let us be torn by their teeth.
7 We have escaped like a bird
from the fowler’s snare;(W)
the snare has been broken,(X)
and we have escaped.
8 Our help is in the name(Y) of the Lord,
the Maker of heaven(Z) and earth.
Psalm 125
A song of ascents.
1 Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,(AA)
which cannot be shaken(AB) but endures forever.
2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem,(AC)
so the Lord surrounds(AD) his people
both now and forevermore.
3 The scepter(AE) of the wicked will not remain(AF)
over the land allotted to the righteous,
for then the righteous might use
their hands to do evil.(AG)
4 Lord, do good(AH) to those who are good,
to those who are upright in heart.(AI)
5 But those who turn(AJ) to crooked ways(AK)
the Lord will banish(AL) with the evildoers.
Peace be on Israel.(AM)
Psalm 126
A song of ascents.
1 When the Lord restored(AN) the fortunes of[a] Zion,
we were like those who dreamed.[b]
2 Our mouths were filled with laughter,(AO)
our tongues with songs of joy.(AP)
Then it was said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things(AQ) for them.”
3 The Lord has done great things(AR) for us,
and we are filled with joy.(AS)
4 Restore our fortunes,[c](AT) Lord,
like streams in the Negev.(AU)
5 Those who sow with tears(AV)
will reap(AW) with songs of joy.(AX)
6 Those who go out weeping,(AY)
carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
carrying sheaves with them.
Psalm 127
A song of ascents. Of Solomon.
1 Unless the Lord builds(AZ) the house,
the builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches(BA) over the city,
the guards stand watch in vain.
2 In vain you rise early
and stay up late,
toiling for food(BB) to eat—
for he grants sleep(BC) to[d] those he loves.(BD)
3 Children are a heritage from the Lord,
offspring a reward(BE) from him.
4 Like arrows(BF) in the hands of a warrior
are children born in one’s youth.
5 Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.(BG)
They will not be put to shame
when they contend with their opponents(BH) in court.(BI)
Psalm 128
A song of ascents.
1 Blessed are all who fear the Lord,(BJ)
who walk in obedience to him.(BK)
2 You will eat the fruit of your labor;(BL)
blessings and prosperity(BM) will be yours.
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine(BN)
within your house;
your children(BO) will be like olive shoots(BP)
around your table.
4 Yes, this will be the blessing(BQ)
for the man who fears the Lord.(BR)
5 May the Lord bless you from Zion;(BS)
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem(BT)
all the days of your life.
6 May you live to see your children’s children—(BU)
peace be on Israel.(BV)
Psalm 129
A song of ascents.
1 “They have greatly oppressed(BW) me from my youth,”(BX)
let Israel say;(BY)
2 “they have greatly oppressed me from my youth,
but they have not gained the victory(BZ) over me.
3 Plowmen have plowed my back
and made their furrows long.
4 But the Lord is righteous;(CA)
he has cut me free(CB) from the cords of the wicked.”(CC)
5 May all who hate Zion(CD)
be turned back in shame.(CE)
6 May they be like grass on the roof,(CF)
which withers(CG) before it can grow;
7 a reaper cannot fill his hands with it,(CH)
nor one who gathers fill his arms.
8 May those who pass by not say to them,
“The blessing of the Lord be on you;
we bless you(CI) in the name of the Lord.”
Psalm 130
A song of ascents.
1 Out of the depths(CJ) I cry to you,(CK) Lord;
2 Lord, hear my voice.(CL)
Let your ears be attentive(CM)
to my cry for mercy.(CN)
3 If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,
Lord, who could stand?(CO)
4 But with you there is forgiveness,(CP)
so that we can, with reverence, serve you.(CQ)
5 I wait for the Lord,(CR) my whole being waits,(CS)
and in his word(CT) I put my hope.
6 I wait for the Lord
more than watchmen(CU) wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.(CV)
7 Israel, put your hope(CW) in the Lord,
for with the Lord is unfailing love(CX)
and with him is full redemption.(CY)
8 He himself will redeem(CZ) Israel
from all their sins.(DA)
Psalm 131
A song of ascents. Of David.
1 My heart is not proud,(DB) Lord,
my eyes are not haughty;(DC)
I do not concern myself with great matters(DD)
or things too wonderful for me.(DE)
2 But I have calmed and quieted myself,(DF)
I am like a weaned child with its mother;
like a weaned child I am content.(DG)
Psalm 132(DJ)
A song of ascents.
1 Lord, remember David
and all his self-denial.(DK)
2 He swore an oath to the Lord,
he made a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob:(DL)
3 “I will not enter my house(DM)
or go to my bed,
4 I will allow no sleep to my eyes
or slumber to my eyelids,
5 till I find a place(DN) for the Lord,
a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”
6 We heard it in Ephrathah,(DO)
we came upon it in the fields of Jaar:[e](DP)
7 “Let us go to his dwelling place,(DQ)
let us worship at his footstool,(DR) saying,
8 ‘Arise, Lord,(DS) and come to your resting place,
you and the ark of your might.
9 May your priests be clothed with your righteousness;(DT)
may your faithful people(DU) sing for joy.’”
10 For the sake of your servant David,
do not reject your anointed one.
11 The Lord swore an oath to David,(DV)
a sure oath he will not revoke:
“One of your own descendants(DW)
I will place on your throne.
12 If your sons keep my covenant(DX)
and the statutes I teach them,
then their sons will sit
on your throne(DY) for ever and ever.”
13 For the Lord has chosen Zion,(DZ)
he has desired it for his dwelling,(EA) saying,
14 “This is my resting place for ever and ever;(EB)
here I will sit enthroned,(EC) for I have desired it.
15 I will bless her with abundant provisions;
her poor I will satisfy with food.(ED)
16 I will clothe her priests(EE) with salvation,
and her faithful people will ever sing for joy.(EF)
17 “Here I will make a horn[f] grow(EG) for David
and set up a lamp(EH) for my anointed one.(EI)
18 I will clothe his enemies with shame,(EJ)
but his head will be adorned with a radiant crown.”(EK)
Psalm 133
A song of ascents. Of David.
2 It is like precious oil poured on the head,(EN)
running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,
down on the collar of his robe.
3 It is as if the dew(EO) of Hermon(EP)
were falling on Mount Zion.(EQ)
For there the Lord bestows his blessing,(ER)
even life forevermore.(ES)
Psalm 134
A song of ascents.
1 Praise the Lord, all you servants(ET) of the Lord
who minister(EU) by night(EV) in the house of the Lord.
2 Lift up your hands(EW) in the sanctuary(EX)
and praise the Lord.(EY)
Psalm 135(FB)
1 Praise the Lord.[g]
Praise the name of the Lord;
praise him, you servants(FC) of the Lord,
2 you who minister in the house(FD) of the Lord,
in the courts(FE) of the house of our God.
3 Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good;(FF)
sing praise to his name,(FG) for that is pleasant.(FH)
4 For the Lord has chosen Jacob(FI) to be his own,
Israel to be his treasured possession.(FJ)
5 I know that the Lord is great,(FK)
that our Lord is greater than all gods.(FL)
6 The Lord does whatever pleases him,(FM)
in the heavens and on the earth,(FN)
in the seas and all their depths.
7 He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth;
he sends lightning with the rain(FO)
and brings out the wind(FP) from his storehouses.(FQ)
8 He struck down the firstborn(FR) of Egypt,
the firstborn of people and animals.
9 He sent his signs(FS) and wonders into your midst, Egypt,
against Pharaoh and all his servants.(FT)
10 He struck down many(FU) nations
and killed mighty kings—
11 Sihon(FV) king of the Amorites,(FW)
Og king of Bashan,(FX)
and all the kings of Canaan(FY)—
12 and he gave their land as an inheritance,(FZ)
an inheritance to his people Israel.
13 Your name, Lord, endures forever,(GA)
your renown,(GB) Lord, through all generations.
14 For the Lord will vindicate his people(GC)
and have compassion on his servants.(GD)
15 The idols of the nations(GE) are silver and gold,
made by human hands.(GF)
16 They have mouths, but cannot speak,(GG)
eyes, but cannot see.
17 They have ears, but cannot hear,
nor is there breath(GH) in their mouths.
18 Those who make them will be like them,
and so will all who trust in them.
19 All you Israelites, praise the Lord;(GI)
house of Aaron, praise the Lord;
20 house of Levi, praise the Lord;
you who fear him, praise the Lord.
21 Praise be to the Lord from Zion,(GJ)
to him who dwells in Jerusalem.(GK)
Praise the Lord.
Psalm 136
1 Give thanks(GL) to the Lord, for he is good.(GM)
His love endures forever.(GN)
2 Give thanks(GO) to the God of gods.(GP)
His love endures forever.
3 Give thanks(GQ) to the Lord of lords:(GR)
His love endures forever.
4 to him who alone does great wonders,(GS)
His love endures forever.
5 who by his understanding(GT) made the heavens,(GU)
His love endures forever.
6 who spread out the earth(GV) upon the waters,(GW)
His love endures forever.
7 who made the great lights(GX)—
His love endures forever.
8 the sun to govern(GY) the day,
His love endures forever.
9 the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.
10 to him who struck down the firstborn(GZ) of Egypt
His love endures forever.
11 and brought Israel out(HA) from among them
His love endures forever.
12 with a mighty hand(HB) and outstretched arm;(HC)
His love endures forever.
13 to him who divided the Red Sea[h](HD) asunder
His love endures forever.
14 and brought Israel through(HE) the midst of it,
His love endures forever.
15 but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;(HF)
His love endures forever.
16 to him who led his people through the wilderness;(HG)
His love endures forever.
17 to him who struck down great kings,(HH)
His love endures forever.
18 and killed mighty kings(HI)—
His love endures forever.
19 Sihon king of the Amorites(HJ)
His love endures forever.
20 and Og king of Bashan(HK)—
His love endures forever.
21 and gave their land(HL) as an inheritance,(HM)
His love endures forever.
22 an inheritance(HN) to his servant Israel.(HO)
His love endures forever.
23 He remembered us(HP) in our low estate
His love endures forever.
24 and freed us(HQ) from our enemies.(HR)
His love endures forever.
25 He gives food(HS) to every creature.
His love endures forever.
Psalm 137
1 By the rivers of Babylon(HW) we sat and wept(HX)
when we remembered Zion.(HY)
2 There on the poplars(HZ)
we hung our harps,(IA)
3 for there our captors(IB) asked us for songs,
our tormentors demanded(IC) songs of joy;
they said, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”(ID)
4 How can we sing the songs of the Lord(IE)
while in a foreign land?
5 If I forget you,(IF) Jerusalem,
may my right hand forget its skill.
6 May my tongue cling to the roof(IG) of my mouth
if I do not remember(IH) you,
if I do not consider Jerusalem(II)
my highest joy.
7 Remember, Lord, what the Edomites(IJ) did
on the day Jerusalem fell.(IK)
“Tear it down,” they cried,
“tear it down to its foundations!”(IL)
8 Daughter Babylon, doomed to destruction,(IM)
happy is the one who repays you
according to what you have done to us.
9 Happy is the one who seizes your infants
and dashes them(IN) against the rocks.
Psalm 138
Of David.
1 I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart;
before the “gods”(IO) I will sing(IP) your praise.
2 I will bow down toward your holy temple(IQ)
and will praise your name(IR)
for your unfailing love and your faithfulness,(IS)
for you have so exalted your solemn decree
that it surpasses your fame.(IT)
3 When I called,(IU) you answered me;(IV)
you greatly emboldened(IW) me.
4 May all the kings of the earth(IX) praise you, Lord,
when they hear what you have decreed.
5 May they sing(IY) of the ways of the Lord,
for the glory of the Lord(IZ) is great.
6 Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly;(JA)
though lofty, he sees them(JB) from afar.
7 Though I walk(JC) in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life.(JD)
You stretch out your hand(JE) against the anger of my foes;(JF)
with your right hand(JG) you save me.(JH)
8 The Lord will vindicate(JI) me;
your love, Lord, endures forever(JJ)—
do not abandon(JK) the works of your hands.(JL)
Psalm 139
For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.
1 You have searched me,(JM) Lord,
and you know(JN) me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;(JO)
you perceive my thoughts(JP) from afar.
3 You discern my going out(JQ) and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.(JR)
4 Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.(JS)
5 You hem me in(JT) behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,(JU)
too lofty(JV) for me to attain.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee(JW) from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens,(JX) you are there;
if I make my bed(JY) in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,(JZ)
your right hand(KA) will hold me fast.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
12 even the darkness will not be dark(KB) to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
13 For you created my inmost being;(KC)
you knit me together(KD) in my mother’s womb.(KE)
14 I praise you(KF) because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,(KG)
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made(KH) in the secret place,
when I was woven together(KI) in the depths of the earth.(KJ)
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained(KK) for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts,[i](KL) God!(KM)
How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them,(KN)
they would outnumber the grains of sand(KO)—
when I awake,(KP) I am still with you.
19 If only you, God, would slay the wicked!(KQ)
Away from me,(KR) you who are bloodthirsty!(KS)
20 They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries(KT) misuse your name.(KU)
21 Do I not hate those(KV) who hate you, Lord,
and abhor(KW) those who are in rebellion against you?
22 I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.(KX)
23 Search me,(KY) God, and know my heart;(KZ)
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way(LA) in me,
and lead me(LB) in the way everlasting.
Psalm 140[j]
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 Rescue me,(LC) Lord, from evildoers;
protect me from the violent,(LD)
2 who devise evil plans(LE) in their hearts
and stir up war(LF) every day.
3 They make their tongues as sharp as(LG) a serpent’s;
the poison of vipers(LH) is on their lips.[k]
4 Keep me safe,(LI) Lord, from the hands of the wicked;(LJ)
protect me from the violent,
who devise ways to trip my feet.
5 The arrogant have hidden a snare(LK) for me;
they have spread out the cords of their net(LL)
and have set traps(LM) for me along my path.
6 I say to the Lord, “You are my God.”(LN)
Hear, Lord, my cry for mercy.(LO)
7 Sovereign Lord,(LP) my strong deliverer,
you shield my head in the day of battle.
8 Do not grant the wicked(LQ) their desires, Lord;
do not let their plans succeed.
9 Those who surround me proudly rear their heads;
may the mischief of their lips engulf them.(LR)
10 May burning coals fall on them;
may they be thrown into the fire,(LS)
into miry pits, never to rise.
11 May slanderers not be established in the land;
may disaster hunt down the violent.(LT)
12 I know that the Lord secures justice for the poor(LU)
and upholds the cause(LV) of the needy.(LW)
13 Surely the righteous will praise your name,(LX)
and the upright will live(LY) in your presence.(LZ)
Psalm 141
A psalm of David.
1 I call to you, Lord, come quickly(MA) to me;
hear me(MB) when I call to you.
2 May my prayer be set before you like incense;(MC)
may the lifting up of my hands(MD) be like the evening sacrifice.(ME)
3 Set a guard over my mouth,(MF) Lord;
keep watch over the door of my lips.(MG)
4 Do not let my heart(MH) be drawn to what is evil
so that I take part in wicked deeds(MI)
along with those who are evildoers;
do not let me eat their delicacies.(MJ)
5 Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness;
let him rebuke me(MK)—that is oil on my head.(ML)
My head will not refuse it,
for my prayer will still be against the deeds of evildoers.
6 Their rulers will be thrown down from the cliffs,(MM)
and the wicked will learn that my words were well spoken.
7 They will say, “As one plows(MN) and breaks up the earth,(MO)
so our bones have been scattered at the mouth(MP) of the grave.”
8 But my eyes are fixed(MQ) on you, Sovereign Lord;
in you I take refuge(MR)—do not give me over to death.
9 Keep me safe(MS) from the traps set by evildoers,(MT)
from the snares(MU) they have laid for me.
10 Let the wicked fall(MV) into their own nets,
while I pass by in safety.(MW)
Psalm 142[l]
A maskil[m] of David. When he was in the cave.(MX) A prayer.
1 I cry aloud(MY) to the Lord;
I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy.(MZ)
2 I pour out before him my complaint;(NA)
before him I tell my trouble.(NB)
3 When my spirit grows faint(NC) within me,
it is you who watch over my way.
In the path where I walk
people have hidden a snare for me.
4 Look and see, there is no one at my right hand;
no one is concerned for me.
I have no refuge;(ND)
no one cares(NE) for my life.
6 Listen to my cry,(NI)
for I am in desperate need;(NJ)
rescue me(NK) from those who pursue me,
for they are too strong(NL) for me.
7 Set me free from my prison,(NM)
that I may praise your name.(NN)
Then the righteous will gather about me
because of your goodness to me.(NO)
Psalm 143
A psalm of David.
1 Lord, hear my prayer,(NP)
listen to my cry for mercy;(NQ)
in your faithfulness(NR) and righteousness(NS)
come to my relief.
2 Do not bring your servant into judgment,
for no one living is righteous(NT) before you.
3 The enemy pursues me,
he crushes me to the ground;
he makes me dwell in the darkness(NU)
like those long dead.(NV)
4 So my spirit grows faint within me;
my heart within me is dismayed.(NW)
5 I remember(NX) the days of long ago;
I meditate(NY) on all your works
and consider what your hands have done.
6 I spread out my hands(NZ) to you;
I thirst for you like a parched land.[n]
7 Answer me quickly,(OA) Lord;
my spirit fails.(OB)
Do not hide your face(OC) from me
or I will be like those who go down to the pit.
8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,(OD)
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way(OE) I should go,
for to you I entrust my life.(OF)
9 Rescue me(OG) from my enemies,(OH) Lord,
for I hide myself in you.
10 Teach me(OI) to do your will,
for you are my God;(OJ)
may your good Spirit
lead(OK) me on level ground.(OL)
11 For your name’s sake,(OM) Lord, preserve my life;(ON)
in your righteousness,(OO) bring me out of trouble.
12 In your unfailing love, silence my enemies;(OP)
destroy all my foes,(OQ)
for I am your servant.(OR)
Psalm 144
Of David.
1 Praise be to the Lord my Rock,(OS)
who trains my hands for war,
my fingers for battle.
2 He is my loving God and my fortress,(OT)
my stronghold(OU) and my deliverer,
my shield,(OV) in whom I take refuge,
who subdues peoples[o](OW) under me.
3 Lord, what are human beings(OX) that you care for them,
mere mortals that you think of them?
4 They are like a breath;(OY)
their days are like a fleeting shadow.(OZ)
5 Part your heavens,(PA) Lord, and come down;(PB)
touch the mountains, so that they smoke.(PC)
6 Send forth lightning(PD) and scatter(PE) the enemy;
shoot your arrows(PF) and rout them.
7 Reach down your hand from on high;(PG)
deliver me and rescue me(PH)
from the mighty waters,(PI)
from the hands of foreigners(PJ)
8 whose mouths are full of lies,(PK)
whose right hands(PL) are deceitful.(PM)
9 I will sing a new song(PN) to you, my God;
on the ten-stringed lyre(PO) I will make music to you,
10 to the One who gives victory to kings,(PP)
who delivers his servant David.(PQ)
From the deadly sword(PR) 11 deliver me;
rescue me(PS) from the hands of foreigners(PT)
whose mouths are full of lies,(PU)
whose right hands are deceitful.(PV)
12 Then our sons in their youth
will be like well-nurtured plants,(PW)
and our daughters will be like pillars(PX)
carved to adorn a palace.
13 Our barns will be filled(PY)
with every kind of provision.
Our sheep will increase by thousands,
by tens of thousands in our fields;
14 our oxen(PZ) will draw heavy loads.[p]
There will be no breaching of walls,(QA)
no going into captivity,
no cry of distress in our streets.(QB)
15 Blessed is the people(QC) of whom this is true;
blessed is the people whose God is the Lord.
Psalm 145[q]
A psalm of praise. Of David.
Footnotes
- Psalm 126:1 Or Lord brought back the captives to
- Psalm 126:1 Or those restored to health
- Psalm 126:4 Or Bring back our captives
- Psalm 127:2 Or eat— / for while they sleep he provides for
- Psalm 132:6 Or heard of it in Ephrathah, / we found it in the fields of Jearim. (See 1 Chron. 13:5,6) (And no quotation marks around verses 7-9)
- Psalm 132:17 Horn here symbolizes strong one, that is, king.
- Psalm 135:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; also in verses 3 and 21
- Psalm 136:13 Or the Sea of Reeds; also in verse 15
- Psalm 139:17 Or How amazing are your thoughts concerning me
- Psalm 140:1 In Hebrew texts 140:1-13 is numbered 140:2-14.
- Psalm 140:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 5 and 8.
- Psalm 142:1 In Hebrew texts 142:1-7 is numbered 142:2-8.
- Psalm 142:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 143:6 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
- Psalm 144:2 Many manuscripts of the Masoretic Text, Dead Sea Scrolls, Aquila, Jerome and Syriac; most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text subdues my people
- Psalm 144:14 Or our chieftains will be firmly established
- Psalm 145:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the verses of which (including verse 13b) begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
Proverbs 1-6
New American Standard Bible
Proverbs 1-6
New American Standard Bible
The Usefulness of Proverbs
1 The (A)proverbs of Solomon (B)the son of David, king of Israel:
2 To know (C)wisdom and instruction,
To discern the sayings of (D)understanding,
3 To (E)receive instruction in wise behavior,
(F)Righteousness, justice, and integrity;
4 To give (G)prudence to the naive,
To the youth (H)knowledge and discretion,
5 A wise person will hear and (I)increase in learning,
And a (J)person of understanding will acquire wise counsel,
6 To understand a proverb and a saying,
The words of the wise and their (K)riddles.
7 (L)The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
The Enticement of Sinners
8 (M)Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction,
And (N)do not ignore your mother’s teaching;
9 For they are a (O)graceful wreath for your head
And (P)necklaces for your neck.
10 My son, if sinners (Q)entice you,
(R)Do not consent.
11 If they say, “Come with us,
Let’s (S)lie in wait for blood,
Let’s (T)ambush the innocent without cause;
12 Let’s (U)swallow them alive like Sheol,
Even whole, like those who (V)go down to the pit;
13 We will find all kinds of precious wealth,
We will fill our houses with plunder;
14 Throw in your lot [a]with us;
We will all have one money bag,”
15 My son, (W)do not walk on the way with them.
(X)Keep your feet from their path,
16 For (Y)their feet run to evil,
And they are quick to shed blood.
17 Indeed, it is [b]useless to spread the baited net
In the sight of any [c]bird;
18 But they (Z)lie in wait for their own blood;
They ambush their own lives.
19 Such are the ways of everyone who (AA)makes unjust gain;
It takes away the life of its possessors.
Wisdom Warns
20 (AB)Wisdom shouts in the street,
She [d]raises her voice in the public square;
21 At the head of the noisy streets she cries out;
At the entrance of the gates in the city she declares her sayings:
22 “How long, you (AC)naive ones, will you love simplistic thinking?
And how long will (AD)scoffers delight themselves in scoffing
And fools (AE)hate knowledge?
23 Turn to my rebuke,
Behold, I will (AF)pour out my spirit on you;
I will make my words known to you.
24 Because (AG)I called and you (AH)refused,
I (AI)stretched out my hand and no one paid attention;
25 And you (AJ)neglected all my advice
And did not (AK)want my rebuke;
26 I will also (AL)laugh at your (AM)disaster;
I will mock when your (AN)dread comes,
27 When your dread comes like a storm
And your disaster comes like a (AO)whirlwind,
When distress and anguish come upon you.
28 Then they will (AP)call on me, but I will not answer;
They will (AQ)seek me diligently but will not find me,
29 Because they (AR)hated knowledge
And did not choose the fear of the Lord.
30 They (AS)did not accept my advice,
They disdainfully rejected every rebuke from me.
31 So they shall (AT)eat of the fruit of their own way,
And be (AU)filled with their own schemes.
32 For the (AV)faithlessness of the naive will kill them,
And the complacency of fools will destroy them.
33 But (AW)whoever listens to me will live securely
And will be at ease from the dread of evil.”
The Pursuit of Wisdom Brings Security
2 My son, if you will (AX)receive my words
And (AY)treasure my commandments within you,
2 (AZ)Make your ear attentive to wisdom;
Incline your heart to understanding.
3 For if you cry out for insight,
And [e]raise your voice for understanding;
4 If you seek her as (BA)silver
And search for her as for (BB)hidden treasures;
5 Then you will understand the (BC)fear of the Lord,
And discover the knowledge of God.
6 For (BD)the Lord gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a (BE)shield to those who walk in integrity,
8 Guarding the paths of justice,
And He (BF)watches over the way of His godly ones.
9 Then you will discern (BG)righteousness, justice,
And integrity, and every (BH)good path.
10 For (BI)wisdom will enter your heart,
And (BJ)knowledge will be delightful to your soul;
11 Discretion will (BK)watch over you,
Understanding will guard you,
12 To (BL)rescue you from the way of evil,
From a person who speaks (BM)perverse things;
13 From those who (BN)leave the paths of uprightness
To walk in the (BO)ways of darkness;
14 Who (BP)delight in doing evil
And rejoice in the perversity of evil;
15 Whose paths are (BQ)crooked,
And who are devious in their ways;
16 To (BR)rescue you from the strange woman,
From the (BS)foreign woman who flatters with her words,
17 Who leaves the (BT)companion of her youth
And forgets the (BU)covenant of her God;
18 For (BV)her house sinks down to death,
And her tracks lead to the [f]dead;
19 None (BW)who go to her return,
Nor do they reach the (BX)paths of life.
20 So you will (BY)walk in the way of good people
And keep to the (BZ)paths of the righteous.
21 For (CA)the upright will live in the land,
And (CB)the blameless will remain in it;
22 But (CC)the wicked will be eliminated from the land,
And (CD)the treacherous will be (CE)torn away from it.
The Rewards of Wisdom
3 My son, (CF)do not forget my [g]teaching,
But have your heart (CG)comply with my commandments;
2 For (CH)length of days and years of life
And peace they will add to you.
3 Do not let (CI)kindness and truth leave you;
(CJ)Bind them around your neck,
(CK)Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 So you will (CL)find favor and a (CM)good [h]reputation
In the sight of God and man.
5 (CN)Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And (CO)do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways (CP)acknowledge Him,
And He will (CQ)make your paths straight.
7 (CR)Do not be wise in your own eyes;
(CS)Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
8 It will be (CT)healing to your [i]body
And (CU)refreshment to your bones.
9 (CV)Honor the Lord from your wealth,
And from the (CW)first of all your produce;
10 Then your (CX)barns will be filled with plenty,
And your (CY)vats will overflow with new wine.
11 (CZ)My son, do not reject the [j]discipline of the Lord
Or loathe His rebuke,
12 For (DA)whom the Lord loves He disciplines,
Just (DB)as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights.
13 (DC)Blessed is a person who finds wisdom,
And one who obtains understanding.
14 For [k]her (DD)profit is better than the profit of silver,
And her produce better than gold.
15 She is (DE)more precious than [l]jewels,
And nothing you desire compares with her.
16 [m](DF)Long life is in her right hand;
In her left hand are (DG)riches and honor.
17 Her (DH)ways are pleasant ways,
And all her paths are (DI)peace.
18 She is a (DJ)tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are those who hold on to her.
19 The Lord founded the earth (DK)by wisdom,
He (DL)established the heavens by understanding.
20 By His knowledge the (DM)ocean depths were burst open,
And the (DN)clouds drip with dew.
21 My son, see that (DO)they do not escape from your sight;
Comply with sound wisdom and discretion,
22 And they will be (DP)life to your soul
And (DQ)adornment to your neck.
23 Then you will (DR)walk in your way securely,
And your foot will not (DS)stumble.
24 When you (DT)lie down, you will not be afraid;
When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 (DU)Do not be afraid of sudden danger,
Nor of (DV)trouble from the wicked when it comes;
26 For the Lord will be [n]your confidence,
And will (DW)keep your foot from being caught.
27 (DX)Do not withhold good from [o]those to whom it is due,
When it is in your power to do it.
28 (DY)Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back,
And tomorrow I will give it to you,”
When you have it with you.
29 (DZ)Do not devise harm against your neighbor,
While he lives securely beside you.
30 (EA)Do not contend with a person for no reason,
If he has done you no harm.
31 (EB)Do not envy a violent person,
And do not choose any of his ways.
32 For the (EC)devious are an abomination to the Lord;
But [p]He is (ED)intimate with the upright.
33 The (EE)curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked,
But He (EF)blesses the home of the righteous.
34 Though (EG)He scoffs at the scoffers,
Yet (EH)He gives grace to the needy.
35 (EI)The wise will inherit honor,
But fools [q]increase dishonor.
A Father’s Instruction
4 Listen, my sons, to the (EJ)instruction of a father,
And (EK)pay attention so that you may [r]gain understanding,
2 For I give you good (EL)teaching;
(EM)Do not abandon my [s]instruction.
3 When I was a son to my father,
(EN)Tender and (EO)the only son in the sight of my mother,
4 He (EP)taught me and said to me,
“Let your heart (EQ)take hold of my words;
(ER)Keep my commandments and live;
5 (ES)Acquire wisdom! (ET)Acquire understanding!
Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
6 Do not abandon her, and she will guard you;
(EU)Love her, and she will watch over you.
7 (EV)The [t]beginning of wisdom is: (EW)Acquire wisdom;
And with all your possessions, acquire understanding.
8 (EX)Prize her, and she will exalt you;
She will honor you if you embrace her.
9 She will place (EY)on your head a garland of grace;
She will present you with a crown of beauty.”
10 Listen, my son, and (EZ)accept my sayings,
And the (FA)years of your life will be many.
11 I have (FB)instructed you in the way of wisdom;
I have led you in upright paths.
12 When you walk, your (FC)steps will not be hampered;
And if you run, you (FD)will not stumble.
13 (FE)Take hold of instruction; do not let go.
Guard her, for she is your (FF)life.
14 (FG)Do not enter the path of the wicked
And do not proceed in the way of evil people.
15 Avoid it, do not pass by it;
Turn away from it and pass on.
16 For they (FH)cannot sleep unless they do evil;
And [u]they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble.
17 For they (FI)eat the bread of wickedness,
And drink the wine of violence.
18 But the (FJ)path of the righteous is like the (FK)light of dawn
That (FL)shines brighter and brighter until the (FM)full day.
19 The (FN)way of the wicked is like darkness;
They do not know over what they [v](FO)stumble.
20 My son, (FP)pay attention to my words;
(FQ)Incline your ear to my sayings.
21 (FR)They are not to escape from your sight;
(FS)Keep them in the midst of your heart.
22 For they are (FT)life to those who find them,
And (FU)healing to all [w]their body.
23 Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For (FV)from it flow the springs of life.
24 Rid yourself of a (FW)deceitful mouth
And (FX)keep devious [x]speech far from you.
25 Let your eyes look directly ahead
And let your [y]gaze be fixed straight in front of you.
26 (FY)[z]Watch the path of your feet,
And all your (FZ)ways will be established.
27 (GA)Do not turn to the right or to the left;
(GB)Turn your foot from evil.
Pitfalls of Immorality
5 My son, (GC)pay attention to my wisdom,
(GD)Incline your ear to my understanding,
2 So that you may (GE)maintain discretion
And your (GF)lips may comply with knowledge.
3 For the lips of an [aa](GG)adulteress (GH)drip honey,
And her [ab]speech is (GI)smoother than oil;
4 But in the end she is (GJ)bitter as wormwood,
(GK)Sharp as a two-edged sword.
5 Her feet (GL)go down to death,
Her steps take hold of Sheol.
6 [ac]She does not ponder the (GM)path of life;
Her ways are (GN)unstable, she (GO)does not know it.
7 (GP)Now then, my sons, listen to me
And (GQ)do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
8 (GR)Keep your way far from her,
And do not go near the (GS)door of her house,
9 Otherwise you will give your vigor to others,
And your years to the cruel one;
10 And strangers will be filled with your strength,
And your hard-earned possessions will go to the house of a foreigner;
11 And you will groan [ad]in [ae]the end,
When your flesh and your body are consumed;
12 And you say, “How I (GT)hated instruction!
And my heart (GU)disdainfully rejected rebuke!
13 I did not listen to the voice of my (GV)teachers,
Nor incline my ear to my instructors!
14 I was almost in total ruin
In the midst of the assembly and congregation.”
15 Drink water from your own cistern,
And [af]fresh water from your own well.
16 Should your (GW)springs overflow into the street,
Streams of water in the public squares?
17 Let them be yours alone,
And not for strangers with you.
18 Let your (GX)fountain be blessed,
And (GY)rejoice in the (GZ)wife of your youth.
19 Like a loving (HA)doe and a graceful mountain goat,
Let her breasts satisfy you at all times;
Be [ag]exhilarated always with her love.
20 For why should you, my son, be exhilarated with an [ah](HB)adulteress,
And embrace the breasts of a (HC)foreigner?
21 For the (HD)ways of everyone are before the eyes of the Lord,
And He (HE)observes all his paths.
22 His (HF)own wrongdoings will trap the wicked,
And he will be held by the ropes of his sin.
23 He will (HG)die for lack of instruction,
And in the greatness of his foolishness he will go astray.
Parental Counsel
6 My son, if you have become a (HH)guarantor for your neighbor,
Or have given a handshake for a stranger,
2 If you have been ensnared by the words of your mouth,
Or caught by the words of your mouth,
3 Then do this, my son, and save yourself:
Since you have come into the [ai]hand of your neighbor,
Go, humble yourself, and be urgent with your neighbor to free yourself.
4 Give no (HI)sleep to your eyes,
Nor slumber to your eyelids;
5 Save yourself like a gazelle from the hunter’s hand,
And like a (HJ)bird from the hand of the fowler.
6 Go to the (HK)ant, you [aj](HL)lazy one,
Observe its ways and be wise,
7 Which, having (HM)no chief,
Officer, or ruler,
8 Prepares its food (HN)in the summer
And gathers its provision in the harvest.
9 How long will you lie down, you [ak]lazy one?
When will you arise from your sleep?
10 “(HO)A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to [al]rest,”
11 (HP)Then your poverty will come in like a [am]drifter,
And your need like [an]an armed man.
12 A (HQ)worthless person, a wicked man,
Is one who walks with a (HR)perverse mouth,
13 Who (HS)winks with his eyes, who [ao]signals with his feet,
Who [ap]points with his fingers;
14 Who, with (HT)perversion in his heart, continually (HU)devises evil,
Who [aq](HV)spreads strife.
15 Therefore (HW)his disaster will come suddenly;
(HX)Instantly he will be broken and there will be (HY)no healing.
16 There are six things that the Lord hates,
Seven that are an abomination [ar]to Him:
17 (HZ)Haughty eyes, a (IA)lying tongue,
And hands that (IB)shed innocent blood,
18 A heart that devises (IC)wicked plans,
(ID)Feet that run rapidly to evil,
19 A (IE)false witness who declares lies,
And one who [as](IF)spreads strife among brothers.
20 (IG)My son, comply with the commandment of your father,
And do not ignore the [at]teaching of your mother;
21 (IH)Bind them continually on your heart;
Tie them around your neck.
22 When you (II)walk, [au]they will guide you;
When you sleep, [av]they will watch over you;
And when you awake, [aw]they will talk to you.
23 For (IJ)the commandment is a lamp and the [ax]teaching is light;
And rebukes for discipline are the way of life
24 To (IK)keep you from the evil woman,
From the smooth tongue of the foreign woman.
25 (IL)Do not desire her beauty in your heart,
Nor let her capture you with her (IM)eyelids.
26 For (IN)the price of a prostitute reduces one to a loaf of bread,
And [ay]an adulteress (IO)hunts for a precious life.
27 Can anyone take fire in his lap
And his clothes not be burned?
28 Or can a person walk on hot coals
And his feet not be scorched?
29 So is the one who (IP)goes in to his neighbor’s wife;
Whoever touches her (IQ)will not [az]go unpunished.
30 People do not despise a thief if he steals
To (IR)satisfy [ba]himself when he is hungry;
31 But when he is found, he must (IS)repay seven times as much;
He must give up all the property of his house.
32 One who commits adultery with a woman is (IT)lacking [bb]sense;
He who would (IU)destroy [bc]himself commits it.
33 He will find wounds and disgrace,
And his shame will not be removed.
34 For (IV)jealousy [bd]enrages a man,
And he will not have compassion on the (IW)day of vengeance.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 1:14 Lit in the midst of us
- Proverbs 1:17 Lit in vain
- Proverbs 1:17 Lit possessor of wing
- Proverbs 1:20 Lit gives
- Proverbs 2:3 Lit give
- Proverbs 2:18 Lit departed spirits
- Proverbs 3:1 Or law
- Proverbs 3:4 Lit understanding
- Proverbs 3:8 Lit navel
- Proverbs 3:11 Or instruction
- Proverbs 3:14 I.e., the profit from Wisdom (personified)
- Proverbs 3:15 Lit corals
- Proverbs 3:16 Lit Length of days
- Proverbs 3:26 Or at your side
- Proverbs 3:27 Lit its owners
- Proverbs 3:32 Lit His private counsel is
- Proverbs 3:35 Lit raise high
- Proverbs 4:1 Lit know
- Proverbs 4:2 Or law
- Proverbs 4:7 Or primary thing is wisdom
- Proverbs 4:16 Lit their sleep is robbed
- Proverbs 4:19 Or may stumble
- Proverbs 4:22 Lit his
- Proverbs 4:24 Or lips
- Proverbs 4:25 Or eyelids
- Proverbs 4:26 I.e., prob. stay on the path
- Proverbs 5:3 Lit strange woman
- Proverbs 5:3 Lit palate
- Proverbs 5:6 Lit That she not watch
- Proverbs 5:11 Or at
- Proverbs 5:11 Lit your end
- Proverbs 5:15 Lit flowing
- Proverbs 5:19 Lit intoxicated
- Proverbs 5:20 Lit strange woman
- Proverbs 6:3 Lit palm
- Proverbs 6:6 Lit idle one
- Proverbs 6:9 Lit idle one
- Proverbs 6:10 Lit lie down
- Proverbs 6:11 Lit one who moves about
- Proverbs 6:11 Lit a man with a shield
- Proverbs 6:13 Lit scrapes
- Proverbs 6:13 Lit instructs with
- Proverbs 6:14 Lit sends out
- Proverbs 6:16 Lit of His soul
- Proverbs 6:19 Lit sends out
- Proverbs 6:20 Or law
- Proverbs 6:22 Lit she
- Proverbs 6:22 Lit she
- Proverbs 6:22 Lit she
- Proverbs 6:23 Or law
- Proverbs 6:26 Lit a man’s wife
- Proverbs 6:29 Lit be innocent
- Proverbs 6:30 Lit his soul
- Proverbs 6:32 Lit heart
- Proverbs 6:32 Lit his soul
- Proverbs 6:34 Lit is the rage of
New American Standard Bible (NASB) 
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.