The Works and the Word of God.

For the music director. A Psalm of David.

19 The (A)heavens tell of the glory of God;
And their (B)expanse declares the work of His hands.
Day to (C)day pours forth speech,
And (D)night to night reveals knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words;
Their voice is not heard.
Their [a](E)line has gone out into all the earth,
And their words to the end of the world.
In them He has (F)placed a tent for the sun,
Which is like a groom coming out of his chamber;
It rejoices like a strong person to run his course.
Its (G)rising is from [b]one end of the heavens,
And its circuit to the [c]other end of them;
And there is nothing hidden from its heat.

(H)The Law of the Lord is [d](I)perfect, (J)restoring the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is (K)sure, making (L)wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are (M)right, (N)rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is (O)pure, (P)enlightening the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are (Q)true; they are (R)righteous altogether.
10 They are more desirable than (S)gold, yes, than much pure gold;
(T)Sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, (U)Your servant is warned by them;
In keeping them there is great (V)reward.
12 Who can (W)discern his errors? (X)Acquit me of (Y)hidden faults.
13 Also keep Your servant back (Z)from presumptuous sins;
Let them not (AA)rule over me;
Then I will be (AB)innocent,
And I will be blameless of (AC)great wrongdoing.
14 May the words of my mouth and (AD)the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
Lord, (AE)my rock and my (AF)Redeemer.

Prayer for Victory over Enemies.

For the music director. A Psalm of David.

20 May the Lord answer you (AG)on a day of trouble!
May the (AH)name of the (AI)God of Jacob [e]protect you!
May He send you help (AJ)from the sanctuary,
And (AK)support you from Zion!
May He (AL)remember all your meal offerings
And [f](AM)accept your burnt offering! Selah

May He grant you your (AN)heart’s desire
And (AO)fulfill your whole plan!
[g]We will (AP)sing for joy over your [h]victory,
And in the name of our God we will (AQ)set up our banners.
May the Lord (AR)fulfill all your desires.

Now (AS)I know that the Lord saves His anointed;
He will (AT)answer him from His holy heaven
With the [i](AU)saving strength of His right hand.
Some praise their chariots and some their (AV)horses,
But (AW)we will praise the name of the Lord, our God.
They have (AX)bowed down and fallen,
But we have (AY)risen and stood upright.
[j](AZ)Save, Lord;
May the (BA)King answer us on the day we call.

Praise for Salvation.

For the music director. A Psalm of David.

21 Lord, in Your strength the king will (BB)be glad,
And in Your [k]salvation how greatly he will rejoice!
You have (BC)given him his heart’s desire,
And You have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah
For You (BD)meet him with the blessings of good things;
You set a (BE)crown of pure gold on his head.
He asked for life from You,
You (BF)gave it to him,
(BG)Length of days forever and ever.
His (BH)glory is great through Your [l]salvation,
(BI)Splendor and majesty You place upon him.
For You make him [m]most (BJ)blessed forever;
You make him joyful (BK)with the joy of Your presence.

For the king (BL)trusts in the Lord,
And through the faithfulness of the Most High (BM)he will not be shaken.
Your hand will (BN)find all your enemies;
Your right hand will find those who hate you.
You will make them (BO)as a fiery oven in the time [n]of your anger;
The Lord will (BP)swallow them up in His wrath,
And (BQ)fire will devour them.
10 You will eliminate their [o]descendants from the earth,
And their [p](BR)children from among the sons of mankind.
11 Though they [q](BS)intended evil against You
And (BT)devised a plot,
They will not succeed.
12 For You will (BU)make them turn their back;
You will take aim at their faces (BV)with Your bowstrings.
13 Be exalted, Lord, in Your strength;
We will (BW)sing and praise Your power.

A Cry of Anguish and a Song of Praise.

For the music director; upon [r]Aijeleth Hashshahar. A Psalm of David.

22 (BX)My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?
(BY)Far from my [s]help are the words of my [t](BZ)groaning.
My God, I (CA)cry out by day, but You do not answer;
And by night, but [u]I have no rest.
Yet (CB)You are holy,
You who [v]are enthroned upon (CC)the praises of Israel.
In You our fathers (CD)trusted;
They trusted and You (CE)rescued them.
To You they cried out and they fled to safety;
(CF)In You they trusted and were not [w]disappointed.

But I am a (CG)worm and not a person,
A (CH)disgrace of mankind and (CI)despised by the people.
All who see me (CJ)deride me;
They [x]sneer, they (CK)shake their heads, saying,
[y]Turn [z]him over to the Lord; (CL)let Him save him;
Let Him rescue him, because He delights in him.”

Yet You are He who (CM)brought me forth from the womb;
You made me trust when upon my mother’s breasts.
10 I was cast upon You (CN)from [aa]birth;
You have been my God from my mother’s womb.

11 (CO)Do not be far from me, for [ab]trouble is near;
For there is (CP)no one to help.
12 Many (CQ)bulls have surrounded me;
Strong bulls of (CR)Bashan have encircled me.
13 They (CS)open their mouths wide at me,
As a ravening and roaring (CT)lion.
14 I am (CU)poured out like water,
And all my (CV)bones are out of joint;
My (CW)heart is like wax;
It is melted within [ac]me.
15 My (CX)strength is dried up like a piece of pottery,
And (CY)my tongue clings to my jaws;
And You (CZ)lay me [ad]in the dust of death.
16 For (DA)dogs have surrounded me;
[ae]A band of evildoers has encompassed me;
[af]They (DB)pierced my hands and my feet.
17 I can count all my bones.
(DC)They look, they stare at me;
18 They (DD)divide my garments among them,
And they cast lots for my clothing.

19 But You, Lord, (DE)do not be far away;
You who are my help, (DF)hurry to my assistance.
20 Save my [ag]soul from (DG)the sword,
My (DH)only life from the [ah]power of the dog.
21 Save me from the (DI)lion’s mouth;
From the horns of the (DJ)wild oxen You (DK)answer me.

22 I will (DL)proclaim Your name to my brothers;
In the midst of the assembly I will praise You.
23 (DM)You who fear the Lord, praise Him;
All you [ai]descendants of Jacob, (DN)glorify Him,
And (DO)stand in awe of Him, all you [aj]descendants of Israel.
24 For He has (DP)not despised nor scorned the suffering of the afflicted;
Nor has He (DQ)hidden His face from him;
But (DR)when he cried to Him for help, He heard.

25 From You comes (DS)my praise in the great assembly;
I shall (DT)pay my vows before those who fear Him.
26 The [ak]afflicted will eat and (DU)be satisfied;
Those who seek Him will (DV)praise the Lord.
May your (DW)heart live forever!
27 All the (DX)ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord,
And all the (DY)families of the nations will worship before [al]You.
28 For the (DZ)kingdom is the Lords
And He (EA)rules over the nations.
29 All the [am](EB)prosperous of the earth will eat and worship,
All those who (EC)go down to the dust will kneel before Him,
Even he who [an](ED)cannot keep his soul alive.
30 A [ao](EE)posterity will serve Him;
It will be told of the Lord to (EF)the coming generation.
31 They will come and (EG)will declare His righteousness
To a people (EH)who will be born, that He has performed it.

The Lord, the Psalmist’s Shepherd.

A Psalm of David.

23 The Lord is my (EI)shepherd,
I will (EJ)not be in need.
He lets me lie down in (EK)green pastures;
He (EL)leads me beside [ap](EM)quiet waters.
He (EN)restores my soul;
He (EO)guides me in the [aq](EP)paths of righteousness
For the sake of His name.

Even though I (EQ)walk through the [ar]valley of the shadow of death,
I (ER)fear no [as]evil, for (ES)You are with me;
Your (ET)rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You (EU)prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You [at]have (EV)anointed my head with oil;
My (EW)cup overflows.
[au]Certainly (EX)goodness and [av]faithfulness will follow me all the days of my life,
And my (EY)dwelling will be in the house of the Lord [aw]forever.

The King of Glory Entering Zion.

A Psalm of David.

24 The (EZ)earth is the Lords, and [ax]all it contains,
The (FA)world, and those who live in it.
For He has (FB)founded it upon the seas
And established it upon the rivers.
Who may (FC)ascend onto the (FD)hill of the Lord?
And who may stand in His holy (FE)place?
One who has (FF)clean hands and a (FG)pure heart,
Who has not (FH)lifted up his soul to deceit
And has not (FI)sworn deceitfully.
He will receive a (FJ)blessing from the Lord
And [ay](FK)righteousness from the God of his salvation.
[az]This is the generation of those who (FL)seek Him,
Who seek Your face—even Jacob. Selah

(FM)Lift up your heads, you gates,
And be lifted up, you [ba]ancient doors,
That the King of (FN)glory may come in!
Who is the King of glory?
The Lord (FO)strong and mighty,
The Lord (FP)mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, you gates,
And lift them up, you [bb]ancient doors,
That the King of (FQ)glory may come in!
10 Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of (FR)armies,
He is the King of glory. Selah

Prayer for Protection, Guidance, and Pardon.

A Psalm of David.

25 To You, Lord, I (FS)lift up my soul.
My God, in You (FT)I trust,
Do not let me (FU)be ashamed;
Do not let my (FV)enemies rejoice over me.
Indeed, (FW)none of those who wait for You will be ashamed;
[bc]Those who (FX)deal treacherously without cause will be ashamed.

(FY)Make me know Your ways, Lord;
Teach me Your paths.
Lead me in (FZ)Your truth and teach me,
For You are the (GA)God of my salvation;
For You I (GB)wait all the day.
(GC)Remember, Lord, Your compassion and Your faithfulness,
For they have been [bd](GD)from of old.
Do not remember the (GE)sins of my youth or my wrongdoings;
(GF)Remember me according to Your faithfulness,
For Your (GG)goodness’ sake, Lord.

(GH)The Lord is good and (GI)upright;
Therefore He (GJ)instructs sinners in the way.
He (GK)leads the [be]humble in justice,
And He (GL)teaches the [bf]humble His way.
10 All the paths of the Lord are (GM)faithfulness and truth
To (GN)those who comply with His covenant and His testimonies.
11 For the (GO)sake of Your name, Lord,
(GP)Forgive my wrongdoing, for it is great.

12 Who is the person who (GQ)fears the Lord?
He will (GR)instruct him in the way he should choose.
13 His soul will (GS)dwell in [bg]prosperity,
And his [bh]descendants will (GT)inherit the [bi]land.
14 The [bj](GU)secret of the Lord is for those who fear Him,
[bk]And He will (GV)make them know His covenant.
15 My (GW)eyes are continually toward the Lord,
For He will [bl](GX)rescue my feet from the net.

16 (GY)Turn to me and be gracious to me,
For I am (GZ)lonely and afflicted.
17 [bm]The (HA)troubles of my heart are enlarged;
Bring me (HB)out of my distresses.
18 (HC)Look at my misery and my trouble,
And (HD)forgive all my sins.
19 Look at my enemies, for they (HE)are many,
And they (HF)hate me with violent hatred.
20 (HG)Guard my soul and save me;
Do not let me (HH)be ashamed, for I take refuge in You.
21 Let (HI)integrity and uprightness protect me,
For (HJ)I wait for You.
22 (HK)Redeem Israel, God,
From all his distress.

Protestation of Integrity and Prayer for Protection.

A Psalm of David.

26 [bn](HL)Vindicate me, Lord, for I have (HM)walked in my integrity,
And I have (HN)trusted in the Lord [bo](HO)without wavering.
(HP)Examine me, Lord, and put me to the test;
(HQ)Refine my [bp]mind and my heart.
For Your (HR)[bq]goodness is before my eyes,
And I have (HS)walked in Your truth.
I do not (HT)sit with [br]deceitful people,
Nor will I go with [bs](HU)pretenders.
I (HV)hate the assembly of evildoers,
And I will not sit with the wicked.
I will (HW)wash my hands in innocence,
And I will go around (HX)Your altar, Lord,
That I may proclaim with the voice of (HY)thanksgiving
And declare all Your [bt]wonders.

Lord, I (HZ)love the dwelling of Your house,
And the place [bu]where Your (IA)glory remains.
(IB)Do not [bv]take my soul away along with sinners,
Nor my life with (IC)men of bloodshed,
10 In whose hands is a (ID)wicked scheme,
And whose right hand is full of (IE)bribes.
11 But as for me, I will (IF)walk in my integrity;
(IG)Redeem me, and be gracious to me.
12 (IH)My foot stands on (II)level ground;
In the (IJ)congregations I will bless the Lord.

A Psalm of Fearless Trust in God.

A Psalm of David.

27 The Lord is my (IK)light and my (IL)salvation;
Whom should I fear?
The Lord is the [bw](IM)defense of my life;
(IN)Whom should I dread?
When evildoers came upon me to (IO)devour my flesh,
My adversaries and my enemies, they (IP)stumbled and fell.
If an (IQ)army encamps against me,
My heart will not fear;
If war arises against me,
In spite of this I am (IR)confident.

(IS)One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek:
That I may (IT)dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
To behold (IU)the [bx]beauty of the Lord
And to [by](IV)meditate in His temple.
For on the (IW)day of trouble He will (IX)conceal me in His [bz]tabernacle;
He will (IY)hide me in the secret place of His tent;
He will (IZ)lift me up on a rock.
And now (JA)my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me,
And I will offer (JB)sacrifices in His tent [ca]with shouts of joy;
I will (JC)sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.

(JD)Hear, Lord, when I cry with my voice,
And be gracious to me and (JE)answer me.
When You said, “(JF)Seek My face,” my heart said to You,
(JG)I shall seek Your face, Lord.”
(JH)Do not hide Your face from me,
Do not turn Your servant away in (JI)anger;
You have been (JJ)my help;
(JK)Do not abandon me nor (JL)forsake me,
God of my salvation!
10 [cb]For my father and (JM)my mother have forsaken me,
But (JN)the Lord will take me up.

11 (JO)Teach me Your way, Lord,
And lead me on a (JP)level path
Because of my enemies.
12 Do not turn me over to the [cc](JQ)desire of my enemies,
For (JR)false witnesses have risen against me,
And the violent (JS)witness.
13 I certainly believed that I would see the (JT)goodness of the Lord
In the (JU)land of the living.
14 (JV)Wait for the Lord;
Be (JW)strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 19:4 Another reading is sound
  2. Psalm 19:6 Lit the end
  3. Psalm 19:6 Lit the ends
  4. Psalm 19:7 I.e., blameless
  5. Psalm 20:1 Lit make you high and inaccessible
  6. Psalm 20:3 Lit consider your...as fat
  7. Psalm 20:5 Or Let’s sing
  8. Psalm 20:5 Or salvation
  9. Psalm 20:6 Or mighty deeds of the victory of His right hand
  10. Psalm 20:9 Or O Lord, save the king; answer us
  11. Psalm 21:1 Or victory
  12. Psalm 21:5 Or victory
  13. Psalm 21:6 Lit blessings
  14. Psalm 21:9 Or of your presence
  15. Psalm 21:10 Lit fruit
  16. Psalm 21:10 Lit seed
  17. Psalm 21:11 Lit stretched out
  18. Psalm 22 Title Lit the doe of the morning
  19. Psalm 22:1 Or deliverance
  20. Psalm 22:1 Lit screaming
  21. Psalm 22:2 Lit there is no silence for me
  22. Psalm 22:3 Or inhabit the praises
  23. Psalm 22:5 Or ashamed
  24. Psalm 22:7 Lit open with the lip
  25. Psalm 22:8 Lit Roll...away to
  26. Psalm 22:8 Or it
  27. Psalm 22:10 Lit a womb
  28. Psalm 22:11 Or distress
  29. Psalm 22:14 Lit my inward parts
  30. Psalm 22:15 Lit to
  31. Psalm 22:16 Or An assembly
  32. Psalm 22:16 Another reading is Like a lion, my...
  33. Psalm 22:20 Or life
  34. Psalm 22:20 Lit paw
  35. Psalm 22:23 Lit seed
  36. Psalm 22:23 Lit seed
  37. Psalm 22:26 Or poor
  38. Psalm 22:27 Some ancient versions Him
  39. Psalm 22:29 Lit fat ones
  40. Psalm 22:29 Or did not
  41. Psalm 22:30 Lit seed
  42. Psalm 23:2 Lit waters of rest
  43. Psalm 23:3 Lit tracks
  44. Psalm 23:4 Or valley of deep darkness
  45. Psalm 23:4 Or harm
  46. Psalm 23:5 Or anoint
  47. Psalm 23:6 Or Only
  48. Psalm 23:6 Or mercy
  49. Psalm 23:6 Lit for length of days
  50. Psalm 24:1 Lit its fullness
  51. Psalm 24:5 I.e., as vindicated
  52. Psalm 24:6 Or Such
  53. Psalm 24:7 Lit everlasting
  54. Psalm 24:9 Lit everlasting
  55. Psalm 25:3 Or Let those...be ashamed
  56. Psalm 25:6 Or everlasting
  57. Psalm 25:9 Or afflicted
  58. Psalm 25:9 Or afflicted
  59. Psalm 25:13 Lit good
  60. Psalm 25:13 Lit seed
  61. Psalm 25:13 Or earth
  62. Psalm 25:14 Or counsel; or intimacy
  63. Psalm 25:14 Or And His covenant, to make them know it
  64. Psalm 25:15 Lit bring out
  65. Psalm 25:17 Some commentators Relieve the troubles of my heart
  66. Psalm 26:1 Lit Judge
  67. Psalm 26:1 Lit I do not slide
  68. Psalm 26:2 Lit kidneys, figurative for inner man
  69. Psalm 26:3 Or faithfulness
  70. Psalm 26:4 Or worthless men; lit men of falsehood
  71. Psalm 26:4 Or dissemblers, hypocrites
  72. Psalm 26:7 Or miracles
  73. Psalm 26:8 Lit of the tabernacle of Your glory
  74. Psalm 26:9 Lit gather
  75. Psalm 27:1 Or refuge
  76. Psalm 27:4 Lit delightfulness
  77. Psalm 27:4 Lit inquire
  78. Psalm 27:5 Or shelter
  79. Psalm 27:6 Lit of shouts
  80. Psalm 27:10 Or If my father...forsake me, Then the Lord
  81. Psalm 27:12 Lit soul

Psalm 19[a]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

The heavens(A) declare(B) the glory of God;(C)
    the skies(D) proclaim the work of his hands.(E)
Day after day they pour forth speech;
    night after night they reveal knowledge.(F)
They have no speech, they use no words;
    no sound is heard from them.
Yet their voice[b] goes out into all the earth,
    their words to the ends of the world.(G)
In the heavens God has pitched a tent(H) for the sun.(I)
    It is like a bridegroom(J) coming out of his chamber,(K)
    like a champion(L) rejoicing to run his course.
It rises at one end of the heavens(M)
    and makes its circuit to the other;(N)
    nothing is deprived of its warmth.

The law of the Lord(O) is perfect,(P)
    refreshing the soul.(Q)
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,(R)
    making wise the simple.(S)
The precepts of the Lord are right,(T)
    giving joy(U) to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
    giving light to the eyes.(V)
The fear of the Lord(W) is pure,
    enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm,
    and all of them are righteous.(X)

10 They are more precious than gold,(Y)
    than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,(Z)
    than honey from the honeycomb.(AA)
11 By them your servant is warned;
    in keeping them there is great reward.
12 But who can discern their own errors?
    Forgive my hidden faults.(AB)
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;(AC)
    may they not rule over me.(AD)
Then I will be blameless,(AE)
    innocent of great transgression.

14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
    be pleasing(AF) in your sight,
    Lord, my Rock(AG) and my Redeemer.(AH)

Psalm 20[c]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

May the Lord answer you when you are in distress;(AI)
    may the name of the God of Jacob(AJ) protect you.(AK)
May he send you help(AL) from the sanctuary(AM)
    and grant you support(AN) from Zion.(AO)
May he remember(AP) all your sacrifices
    and accept your burnt offerings.[d](AQ)
May he give you the desire of your heart(AR)
    and make all your plans succeed.(AS)
May we shout for joy(AT) over your victory
    and lift up our banners(AU) in the name of our God.

May the Lord grant all your requests.(AV)

Now this I know:
    The Lord gives victory to his anointed.(AW)
He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary
    with the victorious power of his right hand.(AX)
Some trust in chariots(AY) and some in horses,(AZ)
    but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.(BA)
They are brought to their knees and fall,(BB)
    but we rise up(BC) and stand firm.(BD)
Lord, give victory to the king!
    Answer us(BE) when we call!

Psalm 21[e]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

The king rejoices in your strength, Lord.(BF)
    How great is his joy in the victories you give!(BG)

You have granted him his heart’s desire(BH)
    and have not withheld the request of his lips.[f]
You came to greet him with rich blessings
    and placed a crown of pure gold(BI) on his head.(BJ)
He asked you for life, and you gave it to him—
    length of days, for ever and ever.(BK)
Through the victories(BL) you gave, his glory is great;
    you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty.(BM)
Surely you have granted him unending blessings
    and made him glad with the joy(BN) of your presence.(BO)
For the king trusts in the Lord;(BP)
    through the unfailing love(BQ) of the Most High(BR)
    he will not be shaken.(BS)

Your hand will lay hold(BT) on all your enemies;
    your right hand will seize your foes.
When you appear for battle,
    you will burn them up as in a blazing furnace.
The Lord will swallow them up in his wrath,
    and his fire will consume them.(BU)
10 You will destroy their descendants from the earth,
    their posterity from mankind.(BV)
11 Though they plot evil(BW) against you
    and devise wicked schemes,(BX) they cannot succeed.
12 You will make them turn their backs(BY)
    when you aim at them with drawn bow.

13 Be exalted(BZ) in your strength, Lord;(CA)
    we will sing and praise your might.

Psalm 22[g]

For the director of music. To the tune of “The Doe of the Morning.” A psalm of David.

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?(CB)
    Why are you so far(CC) from saving me,
    so far from my cries of anguish?(CD)
My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,(CE)
    by night,(CF) but I find no rest.[h]

Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;(CG)
    you are the one Israel praises.[i](CH)
In you our ancestors put their trust;
    they trusted and you delivered them.(CI)
To you they cried out(CJ) and were saved;
    in you they trusted(CK) and were not put to shame.(CL)

But I am a worm(CM) and not a man,
    scorned by everyone,(CN) despised(CO) by the people.
All who see me mock me;(CP)
    they hurl insults,(CQ) shaking their heads.(CR)
“He trusts in the Lord,” they say,
    “let the Lord rescue him.(CS)
Let him deliver him,(CT)
    since he delights(CU) in him.”

Yet you brought me out of the womb;(CV)
    you made me trust(CW) in you, even at my mother’s breast.
10 From birth(CX) I was cast on you;
    from my mother’s womb you have been my God.

11 Do not be far from me,(CY)
    for trouble is near(CZ)
    and there is no one to help.(DA)

12 Many bulls(DB) surround me;(DC)
    strong bulls of Bashan(DD) encircle me.
13 Roaring lions(DE) that tear their prey(DF)
    open their mouths wide(DG) against me.
14 I am poured out like water,
    and all my bones are out of joint.(DH)
My heart has turned to wax;(DI)
    it has melted(DJ) within me.
15 My mouth[j] is dried up like a potsherd,(DK)
    and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;(DL)
    you lay me in the dust(DM) of death.

16 Dogs(DN) surround me,
    a pack of villains encircles me;
    they pierce[k](DO) my hands and my feet.
17 All my bones are on display;
    people stare(DP) and gloat over me.(DQ)
18 They divide my clothes among them
    and cast lots(DR) for my garment.(DS)

19 But you, Lord, do not be far from me.(DT)
    You are my strength;(DU) come quickly(DV) to help me.(DW)
20 Deliver me from the sword,(DX)
    my precious life(DY) from the power of the dogs.(DZ)
21 Rescue me from the mouth of the lions;(EA)
    save me from the horns of the wild oxen.(EB)

22 I will declare your name to my people;
    in the assembly(EC) I will praise you.(ED)
23 You who fear the Lord, praise him!(EE)
    All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!(EF)
    Revere him,(EG) all you descendants of Israel!
24 For he has not despised(EH) or scorned
    the suffering of the afflicted one;(EI)
he has not hidden his face(EJ) from him
    but has listened to his cry for help.(EK)

25 From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly;(EL)
    before those who fear you[l] I will fulfill my vows.(EM)
26 The poor will eat(EN) and be satisfied;
    those who seek the Lord will praise him—(EO)
    may your hearts live forever!

27 All the ends of the earth(EP)
    will remember and turn to the Lord,
and all the families of the nations
    will bow down before him,(EQ)
28 for dominion belongs to the Lord(ER)
    and he rules over the nations.

29 All the rich(ES) of the earth will feast and worship;(ET)
    all who go down to the dust(EU) will kneel before him—
    those who cannot keep themselves alive.(EV)
30 Posterity(EW) will serve him;
    future generations(EX) will be told about the Lord.
31 They will proclaim his righteousness,(EY)
    declaring to a people yet unborn:(EZ)
    He has done it!(FA)

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

The Lord is my shepherd,(FB) I lack nothing.(FC)
    He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,(FD)
    he refreshes my soul.(FE)
He guides me(FF) along the right paths(FG)
    for his name’s sake.(FH)
Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,[m](FI)
I will fear no evil,(FJ)
    for you are with me;(FK)
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

You prepare a table(FL) before me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;(FM)
    my cup(FN) overflows.
Surely your goodness and love(FO) will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

Psalm 24

Of David. A psalm.

The earth is the Lord’s,(FP) and everything in it,
    the world, and all who live in it;(FQ)
for he founded it on the seas
    and established it on the waters.(FR)

Who may ascend the mountain(FS) of the Lord?
    Who may stand in his holy place?(FT)
The one who has clean hands(FU) and a pure heart,(FV)
    who does not trust in an idol(FW)
    or swear by a false god.[n]

They will receive blessing(FX) from the Lord
    and vindication(FY) from God their Savior.
Such is the generation of those who seek him,
    who seek your face,(FZ) God of Jacob.[o][p]

Lift up your heads, you gates;(GA)
    be lifted up, you ancient doors,
    that the King(GB) of glory(GC) may come in.(GD)
Who is this King of glory?
    The Lord strong and mighty,(GE)
    the Lord mighty in battle.(GF)
Lift up your heads, you gates;
    lift them up, you ancient doors,
    that the King of glory may come in.
10 Who is he, this King of glory?
    The Lord Almighty(GG)
    he is the King of glory.

Psalm 25[q]

Of David.

In you, Lord my God,
    I put my trust.(GH)

I trust in you;(GI)
    do not let me be put to shame,
    nor let my enemies triumph over me.
No one who hopes in you
    will ever be put to shame,(GJ)
but shame will come on those
    who are treacherous(GK) without cause.

Show me your ways, Lord,
    teach me your paths.(GL)
Guide me in your truth(GM) and teach me,
    for you are God my Savior,(GN)
    and my hope is in you(GO) all day long.
Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love,(GP)
    for they are from of old.
Do not remember the sins of my youth(GQ)
    and my rebellious ways;(GR)
according to your love(GS) remember me,
    for you, Lord, are good.(GT)

Good and upright(GU) is the Lord;
    therefore he instructs(GV) sinners in his ways.
He guides(GW) the humble in what is right
    and teaches them(GX) his way.
10 All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful(GY)
    toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.(GZ)
11 For the sake of your name,(HA) Lord,
    forgive(HB) my iniquity,(HC) though it is great.

12 Who, then, are those who fear the Lord?(HD)
    He will instruct them in the ways(HE) they should choose.[r]
13 They will spend their days in prosperity,(HF)
    and their descendants will inherit the land.(HG)
14 The Lord confides(HH) in those who fear him;
    he makes his covenant known(HI) to them.
15 My eyes are ever on the Lord,(HJ)
    for only he will release my feet from the snare.(HK)

16 Turn to me(HL) and be gracious to me,(HM)
    for I am lonely(HN) and afflicted.
17 Relieve the troubles(HO) of my heart
    and free me from my anguish.(HP)
18 Look on my affliction(HQ) and my distress(HR)
    and take away all my sins.(HS)
19 See how numerous are my enemies(HT)
    and how fiercely they hate me!(HU)

20 Guard my life(HV) and rescue me;(HW)
    do not let me be put to shame,(HX)
    for I take refuge(HY) in you.
21 May integrity(HZ) and uprightness(IA) protect me,
    because my hope, Lord,[s] is in you.(IB)

22 Deliver Israel,(IC) O God,
    from all their troubles!

Psalm 26

Of David.

Vindicate me,(ID) Lord,
    for I have led a blameless life;(IE)
I have trusted(IF) in the Lord
    and have not faltered.(IG)
Test me,(IH) Lord, and try me,
    examine my heart and my mind;(II)
for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love(IJ)
    and have lived(IK) in reliance on your faithfulness.(IL)

I do not sit(IM) with the deceitful,
    nor do I associate with hypocrites.(IN)
I abhor(IO) the assembly of evildoers
    and refuse to sit with the wicked.
I wash my hands in innocence,(IP)
    and go about your altar, Lord,
proclaiming aloud your praise(IQ)
    and telling of all your wonderful deeds.(IR)

Lord, I love(IS) the house where you live,
    the place where your glory dwells.(IT)
Do not take away my soul along with sinners,
    my life with those who are bloodthirsty,(IU)
10 in whose hands are wicked schemes,(IV)
    whose right hands are full of bribes.(IW)
11 I lead a blameless life;
    deliver me(IX) and be merciful to me.

12 My feet stand on level ground;(IY)
    in the great congregation(IZ) I will praise the Lord.

Psalm 27

Of David.

The Lord is my light(JA) and my salvation(JB)
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold(JC) of my life—
    of whom shall I be afraid?(JD)

When the wicked advance against me
    to devour[t] me,
it is my enemies and my foes
    who will stumble and fall.(JE)
Though an army besiege me,
    my heart will not fear;(JF)
though war break out against me,
    even then I will be confident.(JG)

One thing(JH) I ask from the Lord,
    this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,(JI)
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
    and to seek him in his temple.
For in the day of trouble(JJ)
    he will keep me safe(JK) in his dwelling;
he will hide me(JL) in the shelter of his sacred tent
    and set me high upon a rock.(JM)

Then my head will be exalted(JN)
    above the enemies who surround me;(JO)
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice(JP) with shouts of joy;(JQ)
    I will sing(JR) and make music(JS) to the Lord.

Hear my voice(JT) when I call, Lord;
    be merciful to me and answer me.(JU)
My heart says of you, “Seek his face!(JV)
    Your face, Lord, I will seek.
Do not hide your face(JW) from me,
    do not turn your servant away in anger;(JX)
    you have been my helper.(JY)
Do not reject me or forsake(JZ) me,
    God my Savior.(KA)
10 Though my father and mother forsake me,
    the Lord will receive me.
11 Teach me your way,(KB) Lord;
    lead me in a straight path(KC)
    because of my oppressors.(KD)
12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
    for false witnesses(KE) rise up against me,
    spouting malicious accusations.

13 I remain confident of this:
    I will see the goodness of the Lord(KF)
    in the land of the living.(KG)
14 Wait(KH) for the Lord;
    be strong(KI) and take heart
    and wait for the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 19:1 In Hebrew texts 19:1-14 is numbered 19:2-15.
  2. Psalm 19:4 Septuagint, Jerome and Syriac; Hebrew measuring line
  3. Psalm 20:1 In Hebrew texts 20:1-9 is numbered 20:2-10.
  4. Psalm 20:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
  5. Psalm 21:1 In Hebrew texts 21:1-13 is numbered 21:2-14.
  6. Psalm 21:2 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
  7. Psalm 22:1 In Hebrew texts 22:1-31 is numbered 22:2-32.
  8. Psalm 22:2 Or night, and am not silent
  9. Psalm 22:3 Or Yet you are holy, / enthroned on the praises of Israel
  10. Psalm 22:15 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text strength
  11. Psalm 22:16 Dead Sea Scrolls and some manuscripts of the Masoretic Text, Septuagint and Syriac; most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text me, / like a lion
  12. Psalm 22:25 Hebrew him
  13. Psalm 23:4 Or the valley of the shadow of death
  14. Psalm 24:4 Or swear falsely
  15. Psalm 24:6 Two Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac (see also Septuagint); most Hebrew manuscripts face, Jacob
  16. Psalm 24:6 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 10.
  17. Psalm 25:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
  18. Psalm 25:12 Or ways he chooses
  19. Psalm 25:21 Septuagint; Hebrew does not have Lord.
  20. Psalm 27:2 Or slander