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Psalm 1-8
New King James Version

BOOK ONE

Psalms 1–41

The Way of the Righteous and the End of the Ungodly

1 Blessed (A)is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the [a]ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
(B)Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
2 But (C)his delight is in the law of the Lord,
(D)And in His law he [b]meditates day and night.
3 He shall be like a tree
(E)Planted by the [c]rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall (F)prosper.

4 The ungodly are not so,
But are (G)like the chaff which the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

6 For (H)the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

The Messiah’s Triumph and Kingdom(I)

2 Why (J)do the [d]nations [e]rage,
And the people plot a [f]vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves,
And the (K)rulers take counsel together,
Against the Lord and against His (L)Anointed,[g] saying,
3 “Let (M)us break Their bonds in pieces
And cast away Their cords from us.”

4 He who sits in the heavens (N)shall laugh;
The Lord shall hold them in derision.
5 Then He shall speak to them in His wrath,
And distress them in His deep displeasure:
6 “Yet I have [h]set My King
[i]On My holy hill of Zion.”

7 “I will declare the [j]decree:
The Lord has said to Me,
(O)‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
8 Ask of Me, and I will give You
The nations for Your inheritance,
And the ends of the earth for Your possession.
9 (P)You shall [k]break them with a rod of iron;
You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ ”

10 Now therefore, be wise, O kings;
Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear,
And rejoice with trembling.
12 [l]Kiss the Son, lest [m]He be angry,
And you perish in the way,
When (Q)His wrath is kindled but a little.
(R)Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.

The Lord Helps His Troubled People

A Psalm of David (S)when he fled from Absalom his son.

3 Lord, how they have increased who trouble me!
Many are they who rise up against me.
2 Many are they who say of me,
“There is no help for him in God.” Selah

3 But You, O Lord, are (T)a shield [n]for me,
My glory and (U)the One who lifts up my head.
4 I cried to the Lord with my voice,
And (V)He heard me from His (W)holy hill. Selah

5 (X)I lay down and slept;
I awoke, for the Lord sustained me.
6 (Y)I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people
Who have set themselves against me all around.

7 Arise, O Lord;
Save me, O my God!
(Z)For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone;
You have broken the teeth of the ungodly.
8 (AA)Salvation belongs to the Lord.
Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah

The Safety of the Faithful

To the [o]Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.

4 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
You have relieved me in my distress;
[p]Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.

2 How long, O you sons of men,
Will you turn my glory to shame?
How long will you love worthlessness
And seek falsehood? Selah
3 But know that (AB)the Lord has [q]set apart for Himself him who is godly;
The Lord will hear when I call to Him.

4 (AC)Be[r] angry, and do not sin.
(AD)Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah
5 Offer (AE)the sacrifices of righteousness,
And (AF)put your trust in the Lord.

6 There are many who say,
“Who will show us any good?”
(AG)Lord, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us.
7 You have put (AH)gladness in my heart,
More than in the season that their grain and wine increased.
8 (AI)I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;
(AJ)For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

A Prayer for Guidance

To the Chief Musician. With [s]flutes. A Psalm of David.

5 Give (AK)ear to my words, O Lord,
Consider my [t]meditation.
2 Give heed to the voice of my cry,
My King and my God,
For to You I will pray.
3 My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord;
(AL)In the morning I will direct it to You,
And I will look up.

4 For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness,
Nor shall evil [u]dwell with You.
5 The (AM)boastful shall not (AN)stand in Your sight;
You hate all workers of iniquity.
6 You shall destroy those who speak falsehood;
The Lord abhors the (AO)bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

7 But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy;
In fear of You I will worship toward [v]Your holy temple.
8 (AP)Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies;
Make Your way straight before my face.

9 For there is no [w]faithfulness in their mouth;
Their inward part is destruction;
(AQ)Their throat is an open tomb;
They flatter with their tongue.
10 Pronounce them guilty, O God!
Let them fall by their own counsels;
Cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions,
For they have rebelled against You.

11 But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You;
Let them ever shout for joy, because You [x]defend them;
Let those also who love Your name
Be joyful in You.
12 For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous;
With favor You will surround him as with a shield.

A Prayer of Faith in Time of Distress

To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. (AR)On [y]an eight-stringed harp. A Psalm of David.

6 O Lord, (AS)do not rebuke me in Your anger,
Nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure.
2 Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak;
O Lord, (AT)heal me, for my bones are troubled.
3 My soul also is greatly (AU)troubled;
But You, O Lord—how long?

4 Return, O Lord, deliver me!
Oh, save me for Your mercies’ sake!
5 (AV)For in death there is no remembrance of You;
In the grave who will give You thanks?

6 I am weary with my groaning;
[z]All night I make my bed swim;
I drench my couch with my tears.
7 (AW)My eye wastes away because of grief;
It grows old because of all my enemies.

8 (AX)Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity;
For the Lord has (AY)heard the voice of my weeping.
9 The Lord has heard my supplication;
The Lord will receive my prayer.
10 Let all my enemies be ashamed and greatly troubled;
Let them turn back and be ashamed suddenly.

Prayer and Praise for Deliverance from Enemies

A (AZ)Meditation[aa] of David, which he sang to the Lord (BA)concerning the words of Cush, a Benjamite.

7 O Lord my God, in You I put my trust;
(BB)Save me from all those who persecute me;
And deliver me,
2 (BC)Lest they tear me like a lion,
(BD)Rending me in pieces, while there is none to deliver.

3 O Lord my God, (BE)if I have done this:
If there is (BF)iniquity in my hands,
4 If I have repaid evil to him who was at peace with me,
Or (BG)have plundered my enemy without cause,
5 Let the enemy pursue me and overtake me;
Yes, let him trample my life to the earth,
And lay my honor in the dust. Selah

6 Arise, O Lord, in Your anger;
(BH)Lift Yourself up because of the rage of my enemies;
(BI)Rise up [ab]for me to the judgment You have commanded!
7 So the congregation of the peoples shall surround You;
For their sakes, therefore, return on high.
8 The Lord shall judge the peoples;
(BJ)Judge me, O Lord, (BK)according to my righteousness,
And according to my integrity within me.

9 Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end,
But establish the just;
(BL)For the righteous God tests the hearts and [ac]minds.
10 [ad]My defense is of God,
Who saves the (BM)upright in heart.

11 God is a just judge,
And God is angry with the wicked every day.
12 If he does not turn back,
He will (BN)sharpen His sword;
He bends His bow and makes it ready.
13 He also prepares for Himself instruments of death;
He makes His arrows into fiery shafts.

14 (BO)Behold, the wicked brings forth iniquity;
Yes, he conceives trouble and brings forth falsehood.
15 He made a pit and dug it out,
(BP)And has fallen into the ditch which he made.
16 (BQ)His trouble shall return upon his own head,
And his violent dealing shall come down on [ae]his own crown.

17 I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness,
And will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.

The Glory of the Lord in Creation

To the Chief Musician. [af]On the instrument of Gath. A Psalm of David.

8 O Lord, our Lord,
How (BR)excellent is Your name in all the earth,
Who have (BS)set Your glory above the heavens!

2 (BT)Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
You have [ag]ordained strength,
Because of Your enemies,
That You may silence (BU)the enemy and the avenger.

3 When I (BV)consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
4 (BW)What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You (BX)visit[ah] him?
5 For You have made him a little lower than [ai]the angels,
And You have crowned him with glory and honor.

6 (BY)You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands;
(BZ)You have put all things under his feet,
7 All sheep and oxen—
Even the beasts of the field,
8 The birds of the air,
And the fish of the sea
That pass through the paths of the seas.

9 (CA)O Lord, our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 1:1 wicked
  2. Psalm 1:2 ponders by talking to himself
  3. Psalm 1:3 channels
  4. Psalm 2:1 Gentiles
  5. Psalm 2:1 throng tumultuously
  6. Psalm 2:1 worthless or empty
  7. Psalm 2:2 Christ, Commissioned One, Heb. Messiah
  8. Psalm 2:6 Lit. installed
  9. Psalm 2:6 Lit. Upon Zion, the hill of My holiness
  10. Psalm 2:7 Or decree of the Lord: He said to Me
  11. Psalm 2:9 So with MT, Tg.; LXX, Syr., Vg. rule (cf. Rev. 2:27)
  12. Psalm 2:12 LXX, Vg. Embrace discipline; Tg. Receive instruction
  13. Psalm 2:12 LXX the Lord
  14. Psalm 3:3 Lit. around
  15. Psalm 4:1 Choir Director
  16. Psalm 4:1 Be gracious to me
  17. Psalm 4:3 Many Heb. mss., LXX, Tg., Vg. made wonderful
  18. Psalm 4:4 Lit. Tremble or Be agitated
  19. Psalm 5:1 Heb. nehiloth
  20. Psalm 5:1 Lit. groaning
  21. Psalm 5:4 Lit. sojourn
  22. Psalm 5:7 Lit. the temple of Your holiness
  23. Psalm 5:9 uprightness
  24. Psalm 5:11 protect, lit. cover
  25. Psalm 6:1 Heb. sheminith
  26. Psalm 6:6 Or Every night
  27. Psalm 7:1 Heb. Shiggaion
  28. Psalm 7:6 So with MT, Tg., Vg.; LXX O Lord my God
  29. Psalm 7:9 Lit. kidneys, the most secret part of man
  30. Psalm 7:10 Lit. My shield is upon God
  31. Psalm 7:16 The crown of his own head
  32. Psalm 8:1 Heb. Al Gittith
  33. Psalm 8:2 established
  34. Psalm 8:4 give attention to or care for
  35. Psalm 8:5 Heb. Elohim, God; LXX, Syr., Tg., Jewish tradition angels
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Psalm 1-8
New International Version

BOOK I

Psalms 1–41

Psalm 1

1 Blessed is the one(A)
    who does not walk(B) in step with the wicked(C)
or stand in the way(D) that sinners take(E)
    or sit(F) in the company of mockers,(G)
2 but whose delight(H) is in the law of the Lord,(I)
    and who meditates(J) on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree(K) planted by streams(L) of water,(M)
    which yields its fruit(N) in season
and whose leaf(O) does not wither—
    whatever they do prospers.(P)

4 Not so the wicked!
    They are like chaff(Q)
    that the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand(R) in the judgment,(S)
    nor sinners in the assembly(T) of the righteous.

6 For the Lord watches over(U) the way of the righteous,
    but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.(V)

Psalm 2

1 Why do the nations conspire[a]
    and the peoples plot(W) in vain?
2 The kings(X) of the earth rise up
    and the rulers band together
    against the Lord and against his anointed,(Y) saying,
3 “Let us break their chains(Z)
    and throw off their shackles.”(AA)

4 The One enthroned(AB) in heaven laughs;(AC)
    the Lord scoffs at them.
5 He rebukes them in his anger(AD)
    and terrifies them in his wrath,(AE) saying,
6 “I have installed my king(AF)
    on Zion,(AG) my holy mountain.(AH)”

7 I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:

He said to me, “You are my son;(AI)
    today I have become your father.(AJ)
8 Ask me,
    and I will make the nations(AK) your inheritance,(AL)
    the ends of the earth(AM) your possession.
9 You will break them with a rod of iron[b];(AN)
    you will dash them to pieces(AO) like pottery.(AP)”

10 Therefore, you kings, be wise;(AQ)
    be warned, you rulers(AR) of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear(AS)
    and celebrate his rule(AT) with trembling.(AU)
12 Kiss his son,(AV) or he will be angry
    and your way will lead to your destruction,
for his wrath(AW) can flare up in a moment.
    Blessed(AX) are all who take refuge(AY) in him.

Psalm 3[c]

A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom.(AZ)

1 Lord, how many are my foes!
    How many rise up against me!
2 Many are saying of me,
    “God will not deliver him.(BA)”[d]

3 But you, Lord, are a shield(BB) around me,
    my glory, the One who lifts my head high.(BC)
4 I call out to the Lord,(BD)
    and he answers me from his holy mountain.(BE)

5 I lie down and sleep;(BF)
    I wake again,(BG) because the Lord sustains me.
6 I will not fear(BH) though tens of thousands
    assail me on every side.(BI)

7 Arise,(BJ) Lord!
    Deliver me,(BK) my God!
Strike(BL) all my enemies on the jaw;
    break the teeth(BM) of the wicked.

8 From the Lord comes deliverance.(BN)
    May your blessing(BO) be on your people.

Psalm 4[e]

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of David.

1 Answer me(BP) when I call to you,
    my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;(BQ)
    have mercy(BR) on me and hear my prayer.(BS)

2 How long will you people turn my glory(BT) into shame?(BU)
    How long will you love delusions and seek false gods[f]?[g](BV)
3 Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant(BW) for himself;
    the Lord hears(BX) when I call to him.

4 Tremble and[h] do not sin;(BY)
    when you are on your beds,(BZ)
    search your hearts and be silent.
5 Offer the sacrifices of the righteous
    and trust in the Lord.(CA)

6 Many, Lord, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?”
    Let the light of your face shine on us.(CB)
7 Fill my heart(CC) with joy(CD)
    when their grain and new wine(CE) abound.

8 In peace(CF) I will lie down and sleep,(CG)
    for you alone, Lord,
    make me dwell in safety.(CH)

Psalm 5[i]

For the director of music. For pipes. A psalm of David.

1 Listen(CI) to my words, Lord,
    consider my lament.(CJ)
2 Hear my cry for help,(CK)
    my King and my God,(CL)
    for to you I pray.

3 In the morning,(CM) Lord, you hear my voice;
    in the morning I lay my requests before you
    and wait expectantly.(CN)
4 For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness;
    with you, evil people(CO) are not welcome.
5 The arrogant(CP) cannot stand(CQ)
    in your presence.
You hate(CR) all who do wrong;
6     you destroy those who tell lies.(CS)
The bloodthirsty and deceitful
    you, Lord, detest.
7 But I, by your great love,
    can come into your house;
in reverence(CT) I bow down(CU)
    toward your holy temple.(CV)

8 Lead me, Lord, in your righteousness(CW)
    because of my enemies—
    make your way straight(CX) before me.
9 Not a word from their mouth can be trusted;
    their heart is filled with malice.
Their throat is an open grave;(CY)
    with their tongues they tell lies.(CZ)
10 Declare them guilty, O God!
    Let their intrigues be their downfall.
Banish them for their many sins,(DA)
    for they have rebelled(DB) against you.
11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
    let them ever sing for joy.(DC)
Spread your protection over them,
    that those who love your name(DD) may rejoice in you.(DE)

12 Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous;(DF)
    you surround them(DG) with your favor as with a shield.(DH)

Psalm 6[j]

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. According to sheminith.[k] A psalm of David.

1 Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger(DI)
    or discipline me in your wrath.
2 Have mercy on me,(DJ) Lord, for I am faint;(DK)
    heal me,(DL) Lord, for my bones are in agony.(DM)
3 My soul is in deep anguish.(DN)
    How long,(DO) Lord, how long?

4 Turn,(DP) Lord, and deliver me;
    save me because of your unfailing love.(DQ)
5 Among the dead no one proclaims your name.
    Who praises you from the grave?(DR)

6 I am worn out(DS) from my groaning.(DT)

All night long I flood my bed with weeping(DU)
    and drench my couch with tears.(DV)
7 My eyes grow weak(DW) with sorrow;
    they fail because of all my foes.

8 Away from me,(DX) all you who do evil,(DY)
    for the Lord has heard my weeping.
9 The Lord has heard my cry for mercy;(DZ)
    the Lord accepts my prayer.
10 All my enemies will be overwhelmed with shame and anguish;(EA)
    they will turn back and suddenly be put to shame.(EB)

Psalm 7[l]

A shiggaion[m](EC) of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning Cush, a Benjamite.

1 Lord my God, I take refuge(ED) in you;
    save and deliver me(EE) from all who pursue me,(EF)
2 or they will tear me apart like a lion(EG)
    and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue(EH) me.

3 Lord my God, if I have done this
    and there is guilt on my hands(EI)—
4 if I have repaid my ally with evil
    or without cause(EJ) have robbed my foe—
5 then let my enemy pursue and overtake(EK) me;
    let him trample my life to the ground(EL)
    and make me sleep in the dust.[n](EM)

6 Arise,(EN) Lord, in your anger;
    rise up against the rage of my enemies.(EO)
    Awake,(EP) my God; decree justice.
7 Let the assembled peoples gather around you,
    while you sit enthroned over them on high.(EQ)
8     Let the Lord judge(ER) the peoples.
Vindicate me, Lord, according to my righteousness,(ES)
    according to my integrity,(ET) O Most High.(EU)
9 Bring to an end the violence of the wicked
    and make the righteous secure—(EV)
you, the righteous God(EW)
    who probes minds and hearts.(EX)

10 My shield[o](EY) is God Most High,
    who saves the upright in heart.(EZ)
11 God is a righteous judge,(FA)
    a God who displays his wrath(FB) every day.
12 If he does not relent,(FC)
    he[p] will sharpen his sword;(FD)
    he will bend and string his bow.(FE)
13 He has prepared his deadly weapons;
    he makes ready his flaming arrows.(FF)

14 Whoever is pregnant with evil
    conceives trouble and gives birth(FG) to disillusionment.
15 Whoever digs a hole and scoops it out
    falls into the pit(FH) they have made.(FI)
16 The trouble they cause recoils on them;
    their violence comes down on their own heads.

17 I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness;(FJ)
    I will sing the praises(FK) of the name of the Lord Most High.(FL)

Psalm 8[q]

For the director of music. According to gittith.[r] A psalm of David.

1 Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name(FM) in all the earth!

You have set your glory(FN)
    in the heavens.(FO)
2 Through the praise of children and infants
    you have established a stronghold(FP) against your enemies,
    to silence the foe(FQ) and the avenger.
3 When I consider your heavens,(FR)
    the work of your fingers,(FS)
the moon and the stars,(FT)
    which you have set in place,
4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
    human beings that you care for them?[s](FU)

5 You have made them[t] a little lower than the angels[u](FV)
    and crowned them[v] with glory and honor.(FW)
6 You made them rulers(FX) over the works of your hands;(FY)
    you put everything under their[w] feet:(FZ)
7 all flocks and herds,(GA)
    and the animals of the wild,(GB)
8 the birds in the sky,
    and the fish in the sea,(GC)
    all that swim the paths of the seas.

9 Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!(GD)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 2:1 Hebrew; Septuagint rage
  2. Psalm 2:9 Or will rule them with an iron scepter (see Septuagint and Syriac)
  3. Psalm 3:1 In Hebrew texts 3:1-8 is numbered 3:2-9.
  4. Psalm 3:2 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 4 and 8.
  5. Psalm 4:1 In Hebrew texts 4:1-8 is numbered 4:2-9.
  6. Psalm 4:2 Or seek lies
  7. Psalm 4:2 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 4.
  8. Psalm 4:4 Or In your anger (see Septuagint)
  9. Psalm 5:1 In Hebrew texts 5:1-12 is numbered 5:2-13.
  10. Psalm 6:1 In Hebrew texts 6:1-10 is numbered 6:2-11.
  11. Psalm 6:1 Title: Probably a musical term
  12. Psalm 7:1 In Hebrew texts 7:1-17 is numbered 7:2-18.
  13. Psalm 7:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  14. Psalm 7:5 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
  15. Psalm 7:10 Or sovereign
  16. Psalm 7:12 Or If anyone does not repent, / God
  17. Psalm 8:1 In Hebrew texts 8:1-9 is numbered 8:2-10.
  18. Psalm 8:1 Title: Probably a musical term
  19. Psalm 8:4 Or what is a human being that you are mindful of him, / a son of man that you care for him?
  20. Psalm 8:5 Or him
  21. Psalm 8:5 Or than God
  22. Psalm 8:5 Or him
  23. Psalm 8:6 Or made him ruler . . . ; / . . . his
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