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Psalm 19-23
English Standard Version
Psalm 19-23
English Standard Version
The Law of the Lord Is Perfect
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
19 (A)The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above[a] proclaims his handiwork.
2 Day to day pours out speech,
and night to night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words,
whose voice is not heard.
4 (B)Their (C)voice[b] goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In them he has set a tent for (D)the sun,
5 (E)which comes out like (F)a bridegroom leaving his chamber,
and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.
6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them,
and there is nothing hidden from its heat.
7 (G)The law of the Lord is perfect,[c]
(H)reviving the soul;
(I)the testimony of the Lord is (J)sure,
(K)making wise (L)the simple;
8 (M)the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is (N)pure,
(O)enlightening the eyes;
9 the fear of the Lord is clean,
enduring forever;
the rules[d] of the Lord are (P)true,
and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than (Q)gold,
even much (R)fine gold;
(S)sweeter also than honey
and drippings of (T)the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
(U)in keeping them there is great reward.
12 (V)Who can discern his errors?
(W)Declare me innocent from (X)hidden faults.
13 (Y)Keep back your servant also from (Z)presumptuous sins;
let them not have (AA)dominion over me!
Then I shall be blameless,
and innocent of great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight,
O Lord, my (AB)rock and my (AC)redeemer.
Trust in the Name of the Lord Our God
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
20 May the Lord (AD)answer you in the day of trouble!
May (AE)the name of the God of Jacob (AF)protect you!
2 May he send you help from (AG)the sanctuary
and give you support from (AH)Zion!
3 May he (AI)remember all your offerings
and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices! Selah
4 May he (AJ)grant you your heart's desire
and fulfill all your plans!
5 May we shout for joy over (AK)your salvation,
and in the name of our God set up our (AL)banners!
May the Lord fulfill all your petitions!
6 Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed;
he will answer him from his holy heaven
with (AM)the saving might of his right hand.
7 Some trust in (AN)chariots and some in (AO)horses,
(AP)but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
8 They collapse and fall,
but we rise and stand upright.
9 O Lord, save (AQ)the king!
May he answer us when we call.
The King Rejoices in the Lord's Strength
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
21 O Lord, in your (AR)strength the king rejoices,
and in your (AS)salvation how greatly he exults!
2 You have (AT)given him his heart's desire
and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah
3 For you (AU)meet him with rich blessings;
you set (AV)a crown of (AW)fine gold upon his head.
4 He asked life of you; you (AX)gave it to him,
(AY)length of days forever and ever.
5 His (AZ)glory is great through your salvation;
(BA)splendor and majesty you bestow on him.
6 For you make him most blessed forever;[e]
you make him glad with the (BB)joy of your presence.
7 For the king trusts in the Lord,
and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be (BC)moved.
8 Your hand will (BD)find out all your enemies;
your right hand will find out those who hate you.
9 You will make them as (BE)a blazing oven
when you appear.
The Lord will swallow them up in his (BF)wrath,
and (BG)fire will consume them.
10 You (BH)will destroy their (BI)descendants from the earth,
and their offspring from among the children of man.
11 Though they plan evil against you,
though they (BJ)devise mischief, they will not succeed.
12 For you will put them (BK)to flight;
you will (BL)aim at their faces with your bows.
13 Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength!
We will sing and praise your power.
Why Have You Forsaken Me?
To the choirmaster: according to The Doe of the Dawn. A Psalm of David.
22 (BM)My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so (BN)far from saving me, from the words of my (BO)groaning?
2 O my God, I cry by (BP)day, but you do not answer,
and by night, but I find no rest.
3 Yet you are (BQ)holy,
(BR)enthroned on (BS)the praises[f] of Israel.
4 In you our fathers trusted;
they trusted, and you delivered them.
5 To you they (BT)cried and were rescued;
in you they (BU)trusted and were not put to shame.
6 But I am (BV)a worm and not a man,
(BW)scorned by mankind and (BX)despised by the people.
7 All who see me (BY)mock me;
they make mouths at me; they (BZ)wag their heads;
8 (CA)“He trusts in the Lord; let him (CB)deliver him;
let him rescue him, for he (CC)delights in him!”
9 Yet you are he who (CD)took me from the womb;
you made me trust you at my mother's breasts.
10 On you was I cast from my birth,
and from (CE)my mother's womb you have been my God.
11 Be not (CF)far from me,
for trouble is near,
and there is (CG)none to help.
12 Many bulls encompass me;
(CH)strong bulls of (CI)Bashan surround me;
13 they (CJ)open wide their mouths at me,
like a ravening and roaring lion.
14 I am (CK)poured out like water,
and all my bones are (CL)out of joint;
my (CM)heart is like (CN)wax;
it is melted within my breast;
15 my strength is (CO)dried up like a potsherd,
and my (CP)tongue sticks to my jaws;
you lay me in the dust of death.
16 For (CQ)dogs encompass me;
a company of evildoers (CR)encircles me;
they have (CS)pierced my hands and feet[g]—
17 I can count all my bones—
they (CT)stare and gloat over me;
18 (CU)they divide my garments among them,
and for my clothing they cast lots.
19 But you, O Lord, (CV)do not be far off!
O you my help, (CW)come quickly to my aid!
20 Deliver my soul from the sword,
my precious life from the power of (CX)the dog!
21 Save me from (CY)the mouth of the lion!
You have rescued[h] me from the horns of (CZ)the wild oxen!
22 (DA)I will tell of your name to my (DB)brothers;
in the midst of the congregation I will praise you:
23 You who (DC)fear the Lord, praise him!
All you offspring of Jacob, (DD)glorify him,
and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!
24 For he has not despised or abhorred
the affliction of (DE)the afflicted,
and he has not (DF)hidden his face from him,
but has heard, when he (DG)cried to him.
25 From you comes my praise in the great (DH)congregation;
my (DI)vows I will (DJ)perform before those who fear him.
26 (DK)The afflicted[i] shall (DL)eat and be satisfied;
those who seek him shall praise the Lord!
May your hearts (DM)live forever!
27 All (DN)the ends of the earth shall remember
and turn to the Lord,
and all (DO)the families of the nations
shall worship before you.
28 For (DP)kingship belongs to the Lord,
and he rules over the nations.
29 All (DQ)the prosperous of the earth eat and worship;
before him shall (DR)bow all who go down to the dust,
even the one who could not (DS)keep himself alive.
30 Posterity shall serve him;
it shall be told of the Lord to the coming (DT)generation;
31 they shall (DU)come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet (DV)unborn,
that he has done it.
The Lord Is My Shepherd
A Psalm of David.
23 The Lord is my (DW)shepherd; I shall not (DX)want.
2 He makes me lie down in green (DY)pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.[j]
3 He (DZ)restores my soul.
He (EA)leads me in (EB)paths of righteousness[k]
for his (EC)name's sake.
4 Even though I (ED)walk through the valley of (EE)the shadow of death,[l]
I will (EF)fear no evil,
for (EG)you are with me;
your (EH)rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You (EI)prepare a table before me
in (EJ)the presence of my enemies;
you (EK)anoint my head with oil;
my (EL)cup overflows.
6 Surely[m] goodness and mercy[n] shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall (EM)dwell[o] in the house of the Lord
(EN)forever.[p]
Footnotes
- Psalm 19:1 Hebrew the expanse; compare Genesis 1:6–8
- Psalm 19:4 Or Their measuring line
- Psalm 19:7 Or blameless
- Psalm 19:9 Or just decrees
- Psalm 21:6 Or make him a source of blessing forever
- Psalm 22:3 Or dwelling in the praises
- Psalm 22:16 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Vulgate, Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts like a lion [they are at] my hands and feet
- Psalm 22:21 Hebrew answered
- Psalm 22:26 Or The meek
- Psalm 23:2 Hebrew beside waters of rest
- Psalm 23:3 Or in right paths
- Psalm 23:4 Or the valley of deep darkness
- Psalm 23:6 Or Only
- Psalm 23:6 Or steadfast love
- Psalm 23:6 Or shall return to dwell
- Psalm 23:6 Hebrew for length of days
Psalm 19-23
New International Version
Psalm 19-23
New International Version
Psalm 19[a]
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 The heavens(A) declare(B) the glory of God;(C)
the skies(D) proclaim the work of his hands.(E)
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.(F)
3 They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
4 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)
5 It is like a bridegroom(J) coming out of his chamber,(K)
like a champion(L) rejoicing to run his course.
6 It rises at one end of the heavens(M)
and makes its circuit to the other;(N)
nothing is deprived of its warmth.
7 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)
8 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)
9 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.
1 May the Lord answer you when you are in distress;(AI)
may the name of the God of Jacob(AJ) protect you.(AK)
2 May he send you help(AL) from the sanctuary(AM)
and grant you support(AN) from Zion.(AO)
3 May he remember(AP) all your sacrifices
and accept your burnt offerings.[d](AQ)
4 May he give you the desire of your heart(AR)
and make all your plans succeed.(AS)
5 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)
6 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)
7 Some trust in chariots(AY) and some in horses,(AZ)
but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.(BA)
8 They are brought to their knees and fall,(BB)
but we rise up(BC) and stand firm.(BD)
9 Lord, give victory to the king!
Answer us(BE) when we call!
Psalm 21[e]
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
2 You have granted him his heart’s desire(BH)
and have not withheld the request of his lips.[f]
3 You came to greet him with rich blessings
and placed a crown of pure gold(BI) on his head.(BJ)
4 He asked you for life, and you gave it to him—
length of days, for ever and ever.(BK)
5 Through the victories(BL) you gave, his glory is great;
you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty.(BM)
6 Surely you have granted him unending blessings
and made him glad with the joy(BN) of your presence.(BO)
7 For the king trusts in the Lord;(BP)
through the unfailing love(BQ) of the Most High(BR)
he will not be shaken.(BS)
8 Your hand will lay hold(BT) on all your enemies;
your right hand will seize your foes.
9 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.
Psalm 22[g]
For the director of music. To the tune of “The Doe of the Morning.” A psalm of David.
1 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)
2 My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,(CE)
by night,(CF) but I find no rest.[h]
3 Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;(CG)
you are the one Israel praises.[i](CH)
4 In you our ancestors put their trust;
they trusted and you delivered them.(CI)
5 To you they cried out(CJ) and were saved;
in you they trusted(CK) and were not put to shame.(CL)
6 But I am a worm(CM) and not a man,
scorned by everyone,(CN) despised(CO) by the people.
7 All who see me mock me;(CP)
they hurl insults,(CQ) shaking their heads.(CR)
8 “He trusts in the Lord,” they say,
“let the Lord rescue him.(CS)
Let him deliver him,(CT)
since he delights(CU) in him.”
9 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.
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.
1 The Lord is my shepherd,(FB) I lack nothing.(FC)
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,(FD)
3 he refreshes my soul.(FE)
He guides me(FF) along the right paths(FG)
for his name’s sake.(FH)
4 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.
Footnotes
- Psalm 19:1 In Hebrew texts 19:1-14 is numbered 19:2-15.
- Psalm 19:4 Septuagint, Jerome and Syriac; Hebrew measuring line
- Psalm 20:1 In Hebrew texts 20:1-9 is numbered 20:2-10.
- Psalm 20:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
- Psalm 21:1 In Hebrew texts 21:1-13 is numbered 21:2-14.
- Psalm 21:2 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
- Psalm 22:1 In Hebrew texts 22:1-31 is numbered 22:2-32.
- Psalm 22:2 Or night, and am not silent
- Psalm 22:3 Or Yet you are holy, / enthroned on the praises of Israel
- Psalm 22:15 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text strength
- 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
- Psalm 22:25 Hebrew him
- Psalm 23:4 Or the valley of the shadow of death
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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.