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Psalm 41-45
New Living Translation
Psalm 41-45
New Living Translation
Psalm 41
For the choir director: A psalm of David.
1 Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor!
The Lord rescues them when they are in trouble.
2 The Lord protects them
and keeps them alive.
He gives them prosperity in the land
and rescues them from their enemies.
3 The Lord nurses them when they are sick
and restores them to health.
4 “O Lord,” I prayed, “have mercy on me.
Heal me, for I have sinned against you.”
5 But my enemies say nothing but evil about me.
“How soon will he die and be forgotten?” they ask.
6 They visit me as if they were my friends,
but all the while they gather gossip,
and when they leave, they spread it everywhere.
7 All who hate me whisper about me,
imagining the worst.
8 “He has some fatal disease,” they say.
“He will never get out of that bed!”
9 Even my best friend, the one I trusted completely,
the one who shared my food, has turned against me.
10 Lord, have mercy on me.
Make me well again, so I can pay them back!
11 I know you are pleased with me,
for you have not let my enemies triumph over me.
12 You have preserved my life because I am innocent;
you have brought me into your presence forever.
13 Praise the Lord, the God of Israel,
who lives from everlasting to everlasting.
Amen and amen!
Book two (Psalms 42–72)
Psalm 42
For the choir director: A psalm[a] of the descendants of Korah.
1 As the deer longs for streams of water,
so I long for you, O God.
2 I thirst for God, the living God.
When can I go and stand before him?
3 Day and night I have only tears for food,
while my enemies continually taunt me, saying,
“Where is this God of yours?”
4 My heart is breaking
as I remember how it used to be:
I walked among the crowds of worshipers,
leading a great procession to the house of God,
singing for joy and giving thanks
amid the sound of a great celebration!
5 Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again—
my Savior and 6 my God!
Now I am deeply discouraged,
but I will remember you—
even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan,
from the land of Mount Mizar.
7 I hear the tumult of the raging seas
as your waves and surging tides sweep over me.
8 But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me,
and through each night I sing his songs,
praying to God who gives me life.
9 “O God my rock,” I cry,
“Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I wander around in grief,
oppressed by my enemies?”
10 Their taunts break my bones.
They scoff, “Where is this God of yours?”
11 Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again—
my Savior and my God!
Psalm 43
1 Declare me innocent, O God!
Defend me against these ungodly people.
Rescue me from these unjust liars.
2 For you are God, my only safe haven.
Why have you tossed me aside?
Why must I wander around in grief,
oppressed by my enemies?
3 Send out your light and your truth;
let them guide me.
Let them lead me to your holy mountain,
to the place where you live.
4 There I will go to the altar of God,
to God—the source of all my joy.
I will praise you with my harp,
O God, my God!
5 Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again—
my Savior and my God!
Psalm 44
For the choir director: A psalm[b] of the descendants of Korah.
1 O God, we have heard it with our own ears—
our ancestors have told us
of all you did in their day,
in days long ago:
2 You drove out the pagan nations by your power
and gave all the land to our ancestors.
You crushed their enemies
and set our ancestors free.
3 They did not conquer the land with their swords;
it was not their own strong arm that gave them victory.
It was your right hand and strong arm
and the blinding light from your face that helped them,
for you loved them.
4 You are my King and my God.
You command victories for Israel.[c]
5 Only by your power can we push back our enemies;
only in your name can we trample our foes.
6 I do not trust in my bow;
I do not count on my sword to save me.
7 You are the one who gives us victory over our enemies;
you disgrace those who hate us.
8 O God, we give glory to you all day long
and constantly praise your name. Interlude
9 But now you have tossed us aside in dishonor.
You no longer lead our armies to battle.
10 You make us retreat from our enemies
and allow those who hate us to plunder our land.
11 You have butchered us like sheep
and scattered us among the nations.
12 You sold your precious people for a pittance,
making nothing on the sale.
13 You let our neighbors mock us.
We are an object of scorn and derision to those around us.
14 You have made us the butt of their jokes;
they shake their heads at us in scorn.
15 We can’t escape the constant humiliation;
shame is written across our faces.
16 All we hear are the taunts of our mockers.
All we see are our vengeful enemies.
17 All this has happened though we have not forgotten you.
We have not violated your covenant.
18 Our hearts have not deserted you.
We have not strayed from your path.
19 Yet you have crushed us in the jackal’s desert home.
You have covered us with darkness and death.
20 If we had forgotten the name of our God
or spread our hands in prayer to foreign gods,
21 God would surely have known it,
for he knows the secrets of every heart.
22 But for your sake we are killed every day;
we are being slaughtered like sheep.
23 Wake up, O Lord! Why do you sleep?
Get up! Do not reject us forever.
24 Why do you look the other way?
Why do you ignore our suffering and oppression?
25 We collapse in the dust,
lying face down in the dirt.
26 Rise up! Help us!
Ransom us because of your unfailing love.
Psalm 45
For the choir director: A love song to be sung to the tune “Lilies.” A psalm[d] of the descendants of Korah.
1 Beautiful words stir my heart.
I will recite a lovely poem about the king,
for my tongue is like the pen of a skillful poet.
2 You are the most handsome of all.
Gracious words stream from your lips.
God himself has blessed you forever.
3 Put on your sword, O mighty warrior!
You are so glorious, so majestic!
4 In your majesty, ride out to victory,
defending truth, humility, and justice.
Go forth to perform awe-inspiring deeds!
5 Your arrows are sharp, piercing your enemies’ hearts.
The nations fall beneath your feet.
6 Your throne, O God,[e] endures forever and ever.
You rule with a scepter of justice.
7 You love justice and hate evil.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you,
pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.
8 Myrrh, aloes, and cassia perfume your robes.
In ivory palaces the music of strings entertains you.
9 Kings’ daughters are among your noble women.
At your right side stands the queen,
wearing jewelry of finest gold from Ophir!
10 Listen to me, O royal daughter; take to heart what I say.
Forget your people and your family far away.
11 For your royal husband delights in your beauty;
honor him, for he is your lord.
12 The princess of Tyre[f] will shower you with gifts.
The wealthy will beg your favor.
13 The bride, a princess, looks glorious
in her golden gown.
14 In her beautiful robes, she is led to the king,
accompanied by her bridesmaids.
15 What a joyful and enthusiastic procession
as they enter the king’s palace!
16 Your sons will become kings like their father.
You will make them rulers over many lands.
17 I will bring honor to your name in every generation.
Therefore, the nations will praise you forever and ever.
Footnotes
- 42:Title Hebrew maskil. This may be a literary or musical term.
- 44:Title Hebrew maskil. This may be a literary or musical term.
- 44:4 Hebrew for Jacob. The names “Jacob” and “Israel” are often interchanged throughout the Old Testament, referring sometimes to the individual patriarch and sometimes to the nation.
- 45:Title Hebrew maskil. This may be a literary or musical term.
- 45:6 Or Your divine throne.
- 45:12 Hebrew The daughter of Tyre.
Psalm 41-45
New International Version
Psalm 41-45
New International Version
Psalm 41[a]
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 Blessed(A) are those who have regard for the weak;(B)
the Lord delivers them in times of trouble.(C)
2 The Lord protects(D) and preserves them—(E)
they are counted among the blessed in the land—(F)
he does not give them over to the desire of their foes.(G)
3 The Lord sustains them on their sickbed(H)
and restores them from their bed of illness.(I)
4 I said, “Have mercy(J) on me, Lord;
heal(K) me, for I have sinned(L) against you.”
5 My enemies say of me in malice,
“When will he die and his name perish?(M)”
6 When one of them comes to see me,
he speaks falsely,(N) while his heart gathers slander;(O)
then he goes out and spreads(P) it around.
7 All my enemies whisper together(Q) against me;
they imagine the worst for me, saying,
8 “A vile disease has afflicted him;
he will never get up(R) from the place where he lies.”
9 Even my close friend,(S)
someone I trusted,
one who shared my bread,
has turned[b] against me.(T)
10 But may you have mercy(U) on me, Lord;
raise me up,(V) that I may repay(W) them.
11 I know that you are pleased with me,(X)
for my enemy does not triumph over me.(Y)
12 Because of my integrity(Z) you uphold me(AA)
and set me in your presence forever.(AB)
13 Praise(AC) be to the Lord, the God of Israel,(AD)
from everlasting to everlasting.
Amen and Amen.(AE)
BOOK II
Psalms 42–72
Psalm 42[c][d]
For the director of music. A maskil[e] of the Sons of Korah.
1 As the deer(AF) pants for streams of water,(AG)
so my soul pants(AH) for you, my God.
2 My soul thirsts(AI) for God, for the living God.(AJ)
When can I go(AK) and meet with God?
3 My tears(AL) have been my food
day and night,
while people say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”(AM)
4 These things I remember
as I pour out my soul:(AN)
how I used to go to the house of God(AO)
under the protection of the Mighty One[f]
with shouts of joy(AP) and praise(AQ)
among the festive throng.(AR)
5 Why, my soul, are you downcast?(AS)
Why so disturbed(AT) within me?
Put your hope in God,(AU)
for I will yet praise(AV) him,
my Savior(AW) and my God.(AX)
6 My soul is downcast within me;
therefore I will remember(AY) you
from the land of the Jordan,(AZ)
the heights of Hermon(BA)—from Mount Mizar.
7 Deep calls to deep(BB)
in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers
have swept over me.(BC)
8 By day the Lord directs his love,(BD)
at night(BE) his song(BF) is with me—
a prayer to the God of my life.(BG)
9 I say to God my Rock,(BH)
“Why have you forgotten(BI) me?
Why must I go about mourning,(BJ)
oppressed(BK) by the enemy?”(BL)
10 My bones suffer mortal agony(BM)
as my foes taunt(BN) me,
saying to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”(BO)
11 Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.(BP)
Psalm 43[g]
1 Vindicate me, my God,
and plead my cause(BQ)
against an unfaithful nation.
Rescue me(BR) from those who are
deceitful and wicked.(BS)
2 You are God my stronghold.
Why have you rejected(BT) me?
Why must I go about mourning,(BU)
oppressed by the enemy?(BV)
3 Send me your light(BW) and your faithful care,(BX)
let them lead me;(BY)
let them bring me to your holy mountain,(BZ)
to the place where you dwell.(CA)
4 Then I will go(CB) to the altar(CC) of God,
to God, my joy(CD) and my delight.(CE)
I will praise you with the lyre,(CF)
O God, my God.
5 Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.(CG)
Psalm 44[h]
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil.[i]
1 We have heard it with our ears,(CH) O God;
our ancestors have told us(CI)
what you did in their days,
in days long ago.(CJ)
2 With your hand you drove out(CK) the nations
and planted(CL) our ancestors;
you crushed(CM) the peoples
and made our ancestors flourish.(CN)
3 It was not by their sword(CO) that they won the land,
nor did their arm bring them victory;
it was your right hand,(CP) your arm,(CQ)
and the light(CR) of your face, for you loved(CS) them.
4 You are my King(CT) and my God,(CU)
who decrees[j] victories(CV) for Jacob.
5 Through you we push back(CW) our enemies;
through your name we trample(CX) our foes.
6 I put no trust in my bow,(CY)
my sword does not bring me victory;
7 but you give us victory(CZ) over our enemies,
you put our adversaries to shame.(DA)
8 In God we make our boast(DB) all day long,(DC)
and we will praise your name forever.[k](DD)
9 But now you have rejected(DE) and humbled us;(DF)
you no longer go out with our armies.(DG)
10 You made us retreat(DH) before the enemy,
and our adversaries have plundered(DI) us.
11 You gave us up to be devoured like sheep(DJ)
and have scattered us among the nations.(DK)
12 You sold your people for a pittance,(DL)
gaining nothing from their sale.
13 You have made us a reproach(DM) to our neighbors,(DN)
the scorn(DO) and derision(DP) of those around us.
14 You have made us a byword(DQ) among the nations;
the peoples shake their heads(DR) at us.
15 I live in disgrace(DS) all day long,
and my face is covered with shame(DT)
16 at the taunts(DU) of those who reproach and revile(DV) me,
because of the enemy, who is bent on revenge.(DW)
17 All this came upon us,
though we had not forgotten(DX) you;
we had not been false to your covenant.
18 Our hearts had not turned(DY) back;
our feet had not strayed from your path.
19 But you crushed(DZ) us and made us a haunt for jackals;(EA)
you covered us over with deep darkness.(EB)
20 If we had forgotten(EC) the name of our God
or spread out our hands to a foreign god,(ED)
21 would not God have discovered it,
since he knows the secrets of the heart?(EE)
22 Yet for your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep(EF) to be slaughtered.(EG)
23 Awake,(EH) Lord! Why do you sleep?(EI)
Rouse yourself!(EJ) Do not reject us forever.(EK)
24 Why do you hide your face(EL)
and forget(EM) our misery and oppression?(EN)
25 We are brought down to the dust;(EO)
our bodies cling to the ground.
26 Rise up(EP) and help us;
rescue(EQ) us because of your unfailing love.(ER)
Psalm 45[l]
For the director of music. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil.[m] A wedding song.(ES)
1 My heart is stirred by a noble theme
as I recite my verses for the king;
my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.
2 You are the most excellent of men
and your lips have been anointed with grace,(ET)
since God has blessed you forever.(EU)
3 Gird your sword(EV) on your side, you mighty one;(EW)
clothe yourself with splendor and majesty.(EX)
4 In your majesty ride forth victoriously(EY)
in the cause of truth, humility and justice;(EZ)
let your right hand(FA) achieve awesome deeds.(FB)
5 Let your sharp arrows(FC) pierce the hearts(FD) of the king’s enemies;(FE)
let the nations fall beneath your feet.
6 Your throne, O God,[n] will last for ever and ever;(FF)
a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.
7 You love righteousness(FG) and hate wickedness;(FH)
therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
by anointing(FI) you with the oil of joy.(FJ)
8 All your robes are fragrant(FK) with myrrh(FL) and aloes(FM) and cassia;(FN)
from palaces adorned with ivory(FO)
the music of the strings(FP) makes you glad.
9 Daughters of kings(FQ) are among your honored women;
at your right hand(FR) is the royal bride(FS) in gold of Ophir.(FT)
10 Listen, daughter,(FU) and pay careful attention:(FV)
Forget your people(FW) and your father’s house.
11 Let the king be enthralled by your beauty;(FX)
honor(FY) him, for he is your lord.(FZ)
12 The city of Tyre(GA) will come with a gift,[o](GB)
people of wealth will seek your favor.
13 All glorious(GC) is the princess within her chamber;
her gown is interwoven with gold.(GD)
14 In embroidered garments(GE) she is led to the king;(GF)
her virgin companions(GG) follow her—
those brought to be with her.
15 Led in with joy and gladness,(GH)
they enter the palace of the king.
16 Your sons will take the place of your fathers;
you will make them princes(GI) throughout the land.
Footnotes
- Psalm 41:1 In Hebrew texts 41:1-13 is numbered 41:2-14.
- Psalm 41:9 Hebrew has lifted up his heel
- Psalm 42:1 In many Hebrew manuscripts Psalms 42 and 43 constitute one psalm.
- Psalm 42:1 In Hebrew texts 42:1-11 is numbered 42:2-12.
- Psalm 42:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 42:4 See Septuagint and Syriac; the meaning of the Hebrew for this line is uncertain.
- Psalm 43:1 In many Hebrew manuscripts Psalms 42 and 43 constitute one psalm.
- Psalm 44:1 In Hebrew texts 44:1-26 is numbered 44:2-27.
- Psalm 44:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 44:4 Septuagint, Aquila and Syriac; Hebrew King, O God; / command
- Psalm 44:8 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
- Psalm 45:1 In Hebrew texts 45:1-17 is numbered 45:2-18.
- Psalm 45:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 45:6 Here the king is addressed as God’s representative.
- Psalm 45:12 Or A Tyrian robe is among the gifts
New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. 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.