Prayer for Protection against Oppressors.

A Prayer of David.

17 Hear a (A)just cause, Lord, (B)give Your attention to my cry;
(C)Listen to my prayer, which is not from (D)deceitful lips.
Let (E)my [a]judgment come forth from Your presence;
Let Your eyes look with (F)integrity.
You have (G)put my heart to the test;
You have visited me by night;
You have (H)sifted me and (I)You find [b]nothing;
My (J)intent is that my mouth will not offend.
As for the works of mankind, (K)by the word of Your lips
I have kept from the (L)ways of the violent.
My (M)steps have held to Your [c]paths.
My (N)feet have not slipped.

I have (O)called upon You, for You will answer me, God;
(P)Incline Your ear to me, hear my speech.
(Q)Show Your wonderful faithfulness,
(R)Savior of those who take refuge [d]at Your right hand
From those who rise up against them.
Keep me as [e]the (S)apple of the eye;
Hide me (T)in the shadow of Your wings
From the (U)wicked who deal violently with me,
My (V)deadly enemies who surround me.
10 They have (W)closed their [f]unfeeling hearts,
With their mouths they (X)speak proudly.
11 They have now (Y)surrounded us in our steps;
They set their eyes (Z)to cast us down to the ground.
12 He is (AA)like a lion that is eager to tear,
And as a young lion (AB)lurking in secret places.

13 (AC)Arise, Lord, confront him, (AD)make him bow down;
(AE)Save my soul from the wicked with (AF)Your sword,
14 From people by (AG)Your hand, Lord,
From people [g]of the world, (AH)whose portion is in this life,
And whose belly You (AI)fill with Your treasure;
They are satisfied with children,
And leave their abundance to their babies.
15 As for me, I shall (AJ)behold Your face in righteousness;
(AK)I shall be satisfied with Your (AL)likeness when I awake.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 17:2 I.e., vindication
  2. Psalm 17:3 Or no shameful act in me; My mouth
  3. Psalm 17:5 Lit tracks
  4. Psalm 17:7 Or from those who rise up...at Your right hand
  5. Psalm 17:8 Lit the pupil, the daughter of the eye
  6. Psalm 17:10 Lit fat
  7. Psalm 17:14 Or whose portion in life is of the world

God, the King of the Earth.

For the music director. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

47 (A)Clap your hands, all you peoples;
(B)Shout to God with a voice of joy.
For the Lord Most High is to be (C)feared,
A (D)great King over all the earth.
He (E)subdues peoples under us
And nations under our feet.
He chooses our (F)inheritance for us,
The (G)pride of Jacob whom He loves. Selah

God has (H)ascended [a]with a shout,
The Lord, [b]with the (I)sound of a trumpet.
(J)Sing praises to God, sing praises;
Sing praises to (K)our King, sing praises.
For God is the (L)King of all the earth;
Sing praises (M)with a psalm of wisdom.
God (N)reigns over the nations,
God [c]sits on (O)His holy throne.
The [d](P)princes of the people have assembled as the (Q)people of the God of Abraham,
For the (R)shields of the earth belong to God;
He is (S)highly exalted.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 47:5 Or amid
  2. Psalm 47:5 Or amid
  3. Psalm 47:8 Or has taken His seat
  4. Psalm 47:9 Or nobles

Comfort in Trouble from Recalling God’s Mighty Deeds.

For the music director; [a]according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of Asaph.

77 My voice rises to God, and I will (A)cry aloud;
My voice rises to God, and He will listen to me.
In the (B)day of my trouble I sought the Lord;
(C)In the night my (D)hand was stretched out and did not grow weary;
My soul (E)refused to be comforted.
When I remember God, then I am (F)restless;
When I (G)sigh, then (H)my spirit feels weak. Selah
You have held my eyelids open;
I am so troubled that I (I)cannot speak.
I have considered the (J)days of old,
The years of long ago.
I will remember my (K)song in the night;
I (L)will meditate with my heart,
And my spirit [b]ponders:

Will the Lord (M)reject forever?
And will He (N)never be favorable again?
Has His (O)favor ceased forever?
Has His [c](P)promise come to an end [d]forever?
Has God (Q)forgotten to be gracious,
Or has He in anger [e]withdrawn His (R)compassion? Selah
10 Then I said, “(S)It is my [f]grief,
That the (T)right hand of the Most High has changed.”

11 I shall remember the (U)deeds of [g]the Lord;
I will certainly (V)remember Your wonders of old.
12 I will (W)meditate on all Your work,
And on Your deeds with thanksgiving.
13 Your way, God, is (X)holy;
(Y)What god is great like our God?
14 You are the (Z)God who works wonders;
You have (AA)made known Your strength among the peoples.
15 By Your [h]power You have (AB)redeemed Your people,
The sons of Jacob and (AC)Joseph. Selah

16 The (AD)waters saw You, God;
The waters saw You, they were in anguish;
The ocean depths also trembled.
17 The (AE)clouds poured out water;
The skies [i](AF)sounded out;
Your (AG)arrows [j]flashed here and there.
18 The (AH)sound of Your thunder was in the whirlwind;
The (AI)lightning lit up the world;
The (AJ)earth trembled and shook.
19 Your (AK)way was in the sea
And Your paths in the mighty waters,
And Your footprints were not known.
20 You (AL)led Your people like a flock
By the hand of (AM)Moses and Aaron.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 77 Title 1 Chr 16:41
  2. Psalm 77:6 Lit searched
  3. Psalm 77:8 Lit word
  4. Psalm 77:8 Lit from generation to generation
  5. Psalm 77:9 Lit shut up
  6. Psalm 77:10 Or infirmity, the years of the right hand of the Most High
  7. Psalm 77:11 Heb Yah
  8. Psalm 77:15 Lit arm
  9. Psalm 77:17 Lit gave a sound
  10. Psalm 77:17 Lit went

BOOK 5

The Lord Rescues People from Many Troubles.

107 (A)Give thanks to the Lord, for (B)He is good,
For His mercy is everlasting.
(C)The redeemed of the Lord shall say so,
Those whom He has (D)redeemed from the hand of the enemy
And (E)gathered from the lands,
From the east and from the west,
From the north and from the [a]south.

They (F)wandered in the wilderness in a [b]desert region;
They did not find a way to [c]an inhabited (G)city.
They were hungry [d]and thirsty;
Their (H)souls felt weak within them.
Then they (I)cried out to the Lord in their trouble;
He saved them from their distresses.
He also had them walk on a [e](J)straight way,
To go to [f](K)an inhabited city.
(L)They shall give thanks to the Lord for His mercy,
And for His [g]wonders to the sons of mankind!
For He has (M)satisfied the [h]thirsty soul,
And He has filled the (N)hungry soul with what is good.

10 There were those who (O)lived in darkness and in [i]the shadow of death,
(P)Prisoners in misery and [j]chains,
11 Because they had (Q)rebelled against the words of God
And (R)rejected the (S)plan of the Most High.
12 Therefore He humbled their heart with labor;
They stumbled and there was (T)no one to help.
13 Then they (U)cried out to the Lord in their trouble;
He saved them from their distresses.
14 He (V)brought them out of darkness and [k]the shadow of death
And (W)broke their bands apart.
15 (X)They shall give thanks to the Lord for His mercy,
And for His [l]wonders to the sons of mankind!
16 For He has (Y)shattered gates of bronze
And cut off bars of iron.

17 Fools, because of [m]their rebellious way,
And (Z)because of their guilty deeds, were afflicted.
18 Their (AA)souls loathed all kinds of food,
And they (AB)came close to the (AC)gates of death.
19 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble;
He saved them from their distresses.
20 He (AD)sent His word and (AE)healed them,
And (AF)saved them from their [n]destruction.
21 (AG)They shall give thanks to the Lord for His mercy,
And for His [o]wonders to the sons of mankind!
22 They shall also offer (AH)sacrifices of thanksgiving,
And (AI)tell of His works with joyful singing.

23 Those who (AJ)go down to the sea in ships,
Who do business on great waters;
24 They have seen the works of the Lord,
And His [p]wonders in the deep.
25 For He (AK)spoke and raised a (AL)stormy wind,
Which (AM)lifted the waves [q]of the sea.
26 They rose up to the heavens, they went down to the depths;
Their soul (AN)melted away in their misery.
27 They reeled and (AO)staggered like a drunken person,
And [r]were at their wits’ end.
28 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
And He brought them out of their distresses.
29 He (AP)caused the storm to be still,
So that the waves [s]of the sea were hushed.
30 Then they were glad because they were quiet,
So He guided them to their desired harbor.
31 (AQ)They shall give thanks to the Lord for His mercy,
And for His [t](AR)wonders to the sons of mankind!
32 They shall also (AS)exalt Him (AT)in the congregation of the people,
And (AU)praise Him at the seat of the elders.

33 He (AV)turns rivers into a [u]wilderness,
And springs of water into a thirsty ground;
34 And a (AW)fruitful land into a (AX)salt waste,
Because of the wickedness of those who dwell in it.
35 He (AY)turns a [v]wilderness into a pool of water,
And a dry land into springs of water;
36 And He has the hungry live there,
So that they may establish [w](AZ)an inhabited city,
37 And sow fields and (BA)plant vineyards,
And [x]gather a fruitful harvest.
38 He also blesses them and they (BB)multiply greatly,
And He (BC)does not let their cattle decrease.

39 When they (BD)become few and (BE)lowly
Because of oppression, misery, and sorrow,
40 He (BF)pours contempt upon noblemen
And (BG)makes them wander (BH)in a pathless wasteland.
41 But He (BI)sets the needy [y]securely on high, away from affliction,
And (BJ)makes his families like a flock.
42 The (BK)upright see it and are glad;
But all (BL)injustice shuts its mouth.
43 Who is (BM)wise? He is to pay attention to these things,
And consider the (BN)mercy of the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 107:3 Lit sea
  2. Psalm 107:4 Lit waste
  3. Psalm 107:4 Or a habitable city; lit a city of habitation
  4. Psalm 107:5 Lit also
  5. Psalm 107:7 Or level
  6. Psalm 107:7 Or a habitable city; lit a city of habitation
  7. Psalm 107:8 I.e., wonderful acts
  8. Psalm 107:9 Or parched
  9. Psalm 107:10 Or deep gloom
  10. Psalm 107:10 Lit irons
  11. Psalm 107:14 Or deep darkness
  12. Psalm 107:15 I.e., wonderful acts
  13. Psalm 107:17 Lit the way of their offense
  14. Psalm 107:20 Lit pits
  15. Psalm 107:21 I.e., wonderful acts
  16. Psalm 107:24 I.e., wonderful acts
  17. Psalm 107:25 Lit of it
  18. Psalm 107:27 Lit all their wisdom was swallowed up
  19. Psalm 107:29 Lit of it
  20. Psalm 107:31 I.e., wonderful acts
  21. Psalm 107:33 Or desert
  22. Psalm 107:35 Or desert
  23. Psalm 107:36 Or a habitable city; lit a city of habitation
  24. Psalm 107:37 Lit acquire fruits of yield
  25. Psalm 107:41 Lit in an inaccessibly high place

An Experience of the Captivity.

137 By the (A)rivers of Babylon,
There we sat down and (B)wept,
When we remembered Zion.
Upon the [a](C)willows in the midst of it
We (D)hung our [b]harps.
For there our captors [c](E)demanded of us [d]songs,
And (F)our tormentors, jubilation, saying,
“Sing for us one of the songs of Zion!”

How can we sing (G)the Lords song
In a foreign land?
If I (H)forget you, Jerusalem,
May my right hand [e]forget its skill.
May my (I)tongue cling to the roof of my mouth
If I do not remember you,
If I do not [f](J)exalt Jerusalem
Above my chief joy.

Remember, Lord, against the sons of (K)Edom
The day of Jerusalem,
Those who said, “Lay it bare, lay it bare
(L)To its foundation!”
Daughter of Babylon, you [g](M)devastated one,
Blessed will be one who (N)repays you
With [h]the retribution with which you have repaid us.
Blessed will be one who seizes and (O)dashes your children
Against the rock.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 137:2 Or poplars
  2. Psalm 137:2 Lit lyres
  3. Psalm 137:3 Lit asked
  4. Psalm 137:3 Lit words of song
  5. Psalm 137:5 I.e., become useless
  6. Psalm 137:6 Lit cause to ascend
  7. Psalm 137:8 Or devastator
  8. Psalm 137:8 Lit your requital

Contrast of the Upright and the Wicked

17 (A)Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it
Than a house full of [a]feasting with strife.
A servant who acts wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully,
And will share in the inheritance among brothers.
The (B)refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,
But (C)the Lord tests hearts.
An (D)evildoer listens to wicked lips;
A [b]liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.
One who mocks the (E)poor taunts his Maker;
One who (F)rejoices at disaster will not go unpunished.
(G)Grandchildren are the crown of the old,
And the (H)glory of sons is their fathers.
[c](I)Excellent speech is not fitting for a fool,
Much less are (J)lying lips to a prince.
A (K)bribe is a [d]charm in the sight of its owner;
Wherever he turns, he prospers.
One who (L)conceals an offense seeks love,
But one who repeats a matter (M)separates close friends.
10 A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding
Than a hundred blows into a fool.
11 A rebellious person seeks only evil,
So a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12 Let a (N)person meet a (O)bear robbed of her cubs,
Rather than a fool in his foolishness.
13 One who (P)returns evil for good,
(Q)Evil will not depart from his house.
14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
So (R)abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.
15 One who (S)justifies the wicked and one who condemns the righteous,
Both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.
16 Why is there money in the hand of a fool to (T)buy wisdom,
When [e]he has no sense?
17 A (U)friend loves at all times,
And a brother is born for adversity.
18 A person lacking in [f]sense (V)shakes hands
And becomes guarantor in the presence of his neighbor.
19 One who (W)loves wrongdoing loves strife;
One who (X)makes his doorway high seeks destruction.
20 One who has a crooked [g]mind (Y)finds nothing good,
And one who is [h](Z)corrupted in his language falls into evil.
21 He who (AA)fathers a fool does so to his sorrow,
And the father of a fool has no joy.
22 A (AB)joyful heart [i]is good medicine,
But a broken spirit (AC)dries up the bones.
23 A wicked person accepts a (AD)bribe [j]from an inside pocket
To (AE)pervert the ways of justice.
24 Wisdom is in the presence of one who has understanding,
But the (AF)eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
25 A (AG)foolish son is a grief to his father,
And (AH)bitterness to her who gave birth to him.
26 It is also not good to (AI)fine the righteous,
Nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
27 One who (AJ)withholds his words [k]has knowledge,
And one who has a (AK)cool spirit is a person of understanding.
28 Even a fool, when he (AL)keeps silent, is considered wise;
When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:1 Lit sacrifices of strife
  2. Proverbs 17:4 Lit falsehood
  3. Proverbs 17:7 Lit A lip of abundance
  4. Proverbs 17:8 Lit stone of favor
  5. Proverbs 17:16 Lit there is no heart
  6. Proverbs 17:18 Lit heart
  7. Proverbs 17:20 Lit heart
  8. Proverbs 17:20 Lit altered in his tongue
  9. Proverbs 17:22 Lit causes good healing
  10. Proverbs 17:23 Lit a fold in a robe; i.e., secretly
  11. Proverbs 17:27 Lit knows

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