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BOOK I

(Psalms 1–41)

The Way to Happiness

God blesses those people
    who refuse evil advice
    and won't follow sinners
    or join in sneering at God.
Instead, they find happiness
    in the Teaching of the Lord,
and they think about it
    day and night.

(A) They are like trees
    growing beside a stream,
trees that produce
fruit in season
    and always have leaves.
Those people succeed
    in everything they do.

That isn't true of those
    who are evil—
they are like straw
    blown by the wind.
Sinners won't have an excuse
    on the day of judgment,
and they won't have a place
    with the people of God.
The Lord protects everyone
    who follows him,
but the wicked follow a road
    that leads to ruin.

The Lord's Chosen King

(B) Why do the nations plot,[a]
and why do their people
    make useless plans?[b]
The kings of this earth
    have all joined together
to turn against the Lord
    and his chosen king.
They say, “Let's cut the ropes
    and set ourselves free!”

In heaven the Lord laughs
as he sits on his throne,
    making fun of the nations.
The Lord becomes furious
    and threatens them.
His anger terrifies them
    as he says,
“I've put my king on Zion,
    my sacred hill.”

(C) I will tell the promise
    that the Lord made to me:
“You are my son, because today
    I have become your father.
Ask me for the nations,
and every nation on earth
    will belong to you.
(D) You will smash them
    with an iron rod
and shatter them
    like dishes of clay.”

10 Be smart, all you rulers,
    and pay close attention.
11 Serve and honor the Lord;
    be glad and tremble.
12 Show respect to his son
    because if you don't,
the Lord might become furious
    and suddenly destroy you.[c]
But he blesses and protects
    everyone who runs to him.

Footnotes

  1. 2.1 Why … plot: Or “Why are the nations restless?”
  2. 2.1 make useless plans: Or “grumble uselessly.”
  3. 2.11,12 Serve … you: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verses 11,12.

(A psalm by David.)

Who May Worship the Lord?

Who may stay in God's temple
or live on the holy mountain
    of the Lord?

Only those who obey God
    and do as they should.
They speak the truth
    and don't spread gossip;
they treat others fairly
    and don't say cruel things.

They hate worthless people,
but show respect for all
    who worship the Lord.
And they keep their promises,
    no matter what the cost.
They lend their money
    without charging interest,
and they don't take bribes
    to hurt the innocent.

Those who do these things
    will always stand firm.

(A psalm by David for the music leader. To the tune “A Deer at Dawn.”)

Suffering and Praise

(A) My God, my God, why have you
    deserted me?
Why are you so far away?
Won't you listen to my groans
    and come to my rescue?
I cry out day and night,
but you don't answer,
    and I can never rest.

Yet you are the holy God,
ruling from your throne
    and praised by Israel.
(B) Our ancestors trusted you,
    and you rescued them.
When they cried out for help,
    you saved them,
and you did not let them down
    when they depended on you.

But I am merely a worm,
    far less than human,
and I am hated and rejected
    by people everywhere.
(C) Everyone who sees me
    makes fun and sneers.
They shake their heads,
    (D) and say, “Trust the Lord!
If you are his favorite,
let him protect you
    and keep you safe.”

You, Lord, brought me
    safely through birth,
and you protected me
when I was a baby
    at my mother's breast.
10 From the day I was born,
    I have been in your care,
and from the time of my birth,
    you have been my God.

11 Don't stay far off
when I am in trouble
    with no one to help me.
12 Enemies are all around
    like a herd of wild bulls.
Powerful bulls from Bashan[a]
    are everywhere.
13 My enemies are like lions
roaring and attacking
    with jaws open wide.

14 I have no more strength
    than a few drops of water.
All my bones are out of joint;
    my heart is like melted wax.
15 My strength has dried up
    like a broken clay pot,
and my tongue sticks
    to the roof of my mouth.
You, God, have left me
    to die in the dirt.

16 Brutal enemies attack me
    like a pack of dogs,
tearing at[b] my hands
    and my feet.
17 I can count all my bones,
and my enemies just stare
    and sneer at me.
18 (E) They took my clothes
    and gambled for them.

19 Don't stay far away, Lord!
My strength comes from you,
    so hurry and help.
20 Rescue me from enemy swords
and save me from those dogs.
21     Don't let lions eat me.

You rescued me from the horns
    of wild bulls,
22 (F) and when your people meet,
    I will praise you, Lord.

23 All who worship the Lord,
    now praise him!
You belong to Jacob's family
and to the people of Israel,
    so fear and honor the Lord!
24 The Lord doesn't hate
or despise the helpless
    in all of their troubles.
When I cried out, he listened
    and did not turn away.

25 When your people meet,
you will fill my heart
    with your praises, Lord,
and everyone will see me
    keep my promises to you.
26 The poor will eat and be full,
and all who worship you
    will be thankful
    and live in hope.

27 Everyone on this earth
    will remember you, Lord.
People all over the world
    will turn and worship you,
28 because you are in control,
    the ruler of all nations.

29 All who are rich
and have more than enough
    will bow down to you, Lord.
Even those who are dying
and almost in the grave
    will come and bow down.
30 In the future, everyone
will worship and learn
    about you, our Lord.
31 People not yet born
will be told,
    “The Lord has saved us!”

(A psalm by David.)

The Good Shepherd

You, Lord, are my shepherd.
    I will never be in need.
(G) You let me rest in fields
    of green grass.
You lead me to streams
of peaceful water,
    and you refresh my life.

You are true to your name,
and you lead me
    along the right paths.
I may walk through valleys
as dark as death,
    but I won't be afraid.
You are with me,
and your shepherd's rod[c]
    makes me feel safe.

You treat me to a feast,
    while my enemies watch.
You honor me as your guest,
and you fill my cup
    until it overflows.
Your kindness and love
will always be with me
    each day of my life,
and I will live forever
    in your house, Lord.

(A psalm by David.)

Who Can Enter the Lord's Temple?

(H) The earth and everything on it,
including its people,
    belong to the Lord.
The world and its people
    belong to him.
The Lord placed it all
    on the oceans and rivers.

Who may climb the Lord's hill[d]
    or stand in his holy temple?
(I) Only those who do right
    for the right reasons,
and don't worship idols
    or tell lies under oath.
The Lord God, who saves them,
    will bless and reward them,
because they worship and serve
    the God of Jacob.[e]
Open the ancient gates,
so that the glorious king
    may come in.

Who is this glorious king?
He is our Lord, a strong
    and mighty warrior.

Open the ancient gates,
so that the glorious king
    may come in.

10 Who is this glorious king?
He is our Lord,
    the All-Powerful!

Footnotes

  1. 22.12 Bashan: A land east of the Jordan River, where there were pastures suitable for raising fine cattle.
  2. 22.16 tearing at: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
  3. 23.4 shepherd's rod: The Hebrew text mentions two objects carried by the shepherd: a club to defend against wild animals and a long pole to guide and control the sheep.
  4. 24.3 the Lord's hill: The hill in Jerusalem where the temple was built.
  5. 24.6 worship … Jacob: Two ancient translations; Hebrew “worship God and serve the descendants of Jacob.”

(A psalm by the clan of Korah and for the music leader.)

God Rules the Nations

All of you nations,
clap your hands and shout
    joyful praises to God.
The Lord Most High is fearsome,
    the ruler of all the earth.
God has put every nation
    under our power,
and he chose for us the land
that was the pride of Jacob,
    his favorite.

God goes up to his throne,
as people shout
    and trumpets blast.
Sing praises to God our King,
the ruler of all the earth!
    Praise God with songs.

God rules the nations
    from his sacred throne.
Their leaders come together
and are now the people
    of Abraham's God.
All rulers on earth
surrender their weapons,
    and God is greatly praised!

(A psalm and a song by David for the music leader.)

God Will Win the Battle

Do something, God!
Scatter your hateful enemies.
    Make them turn and run.
Scatter them like smoke!
When you come near,
    make them melt
    like wax in a fire.
But let your people be happy
    and celebrate because of you.

Our God, you are the one
who rides on the clouds,[a]
    and we praise you.
Your name is the Lord,
and we celebrate
    as we worship you.

Our God, from your sacred home
you take care of orphans
    and protect widows.
You find families
    for those who are lonely.
You set prisoners free
    and let them prosper,[b]
but all who rebel will live
    in a scorching desert.

You set your people free,
and you led them
    through the desert.
(A) God of Israel,
the earth trembled,
    and rain poured down.
You alone are the God
    who rules from Mount Sinai.
When your land was thirsty,
you sent showers
    to refresh it.
10 Your people settled there,
and you were generous
    to everyone in need.

11 You gave the command, Lord,
and a chorus of women told
    what had happened:
12 “Kings and their armies
    retreated and ran,
and everything they left
    is now being divided.
13 And for those who stayed back
    to guard the sheep,
there are metal doves
with silver-coated wings
    and shiny gold feathers.”

14 God All-Powerful, you scattered
the kings like snow falling
    on Mount Zalmon.[c]

15 Our Lord and our God,
Bashan is a mighty mountain
    covered with peaks.
16 Why is it jealous of Zion,
the mountain you chose
    as your home forever?

17 When you, Lord God, appeared
    to your people[d] at Sinai,
you came with thousands
    of mighty chariots.
18 (B) When you climbed
    the high mountain,
you took prisoners with you
    and were given gifts.
Your enemies didn't want you
to live there,
    but they gave you gifts.

19 We praise you, Lord God!
You treat us with kindness
    day after day,
    and you rescue us.
20 You always protect us
    and save us from death.

21 Our Lord and our God,
your terrible enemies
    are ready for war,[e]
but you will crush
    their skulls.
22 You promised to bring them
from Bashan
    and from the deepest sea.
23 Then we could wash our feet
    in their blood,
and our dogs could chew
    on their bones.

24 We have seen crowds marching
to your place of worship,
    our God and King.
25 Singers come first,
    and then the musicians,
surrounded by young women
    playing tambourines.
26 They come shouting,
“People of Israel,
    praise the Lord God!”
27 The small tribe of Benjamin
    leads the way,
followed by the leaders
    from Judah.
Then come the leaders
    from Zebulun and Naphtali.

28 Our God, show your strength!
    Show us once again.
29 Then kings will bring gifts
to your temple
    in Jerusalem.[f]

30 Punish that animal
    that lives in the swamp![g]
Punish that nation
whose leaders and people
    are like wild bulls.
Make them come crawling
    with gifts of silver.
Scatter those nations
    that enjoy making war.[h]
31 Force the Egyptians to bring
    gifts of bronze;
make the Ethiopians[i] hurry
    to offer presents.[j]

32 Now sing praises to God!
Every kingdom on earth,
    sing to the Lord!
33 Praise the one who rides
    across the ancient skies;
listen as he speaks
    with a mighty voice.

34 Tell about God's power!
He is honored in Israel,
    and he rules the skies.
35 The God of Israel is fearsome
    in his temple,
and he makes us strong.
    Let's praise our God!

Footnotes

  1. 68.4 on the clouds: Or “across the desert.”
  2. 68.6 and let them prosper: Or “and give them a song.”
  3. 68.14 Mount Zalmon: The location of this mountain is not known.
  4. 68.17 to your people: Or “in all your holiness” or “in your holy place.”
  5. 68.21 are ready for war: The Hebrew text has “have long hair,” which probably refers to the ancient custom of wearing long hair on special occasions, such as a “holy war.”
  6. 68.28,29 Our God … Jerusalem: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verses 28,29.
  7. 68.30 animal … swamp: Probably Egypt.
  8. 68.30 war: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 30.
  9. 68.31 the Ethiopians: The Hebrew text has “the people of Cush,” which was a region south of Egypt that included parts of the present countries of Ethiopia and Sudan.
  10. 68.31 presents: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 31.

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