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(A song by David for worship.)

Trust the Lord!

I am not conceited, Lord,
and I don't waste my time
    on impossible schemes.
But I have learned to feel safe
    and satisfied,
like a young child
    in its mother's arms.

People of Israel,
you must trust the Lord
    now and forever.

(By David.)

Praise the Lord with All Your Heart

With all my heart
    I praise you, Lord.
In the presence of angels[a]
    I sing your praises.
I worship at your holy temple
and praise you for your love
    and your faithfulness.
You were true to your word
and made yourself more famous
    than ever before.[b]
When I asked for your help,
you answered my prayer
    and gave me courage.[c]

All kings on this earth
have heard your promises, Lord,
    and they will praise you.
You are so famous
that they will sing about
    the things you have done.
Though you are above us all,
    you care for humble people,
and you keep a close watch
    on everyone who is proud.

I am surrounded by trouble,
but you protect me
    against my angry enemies.
With your own powerful arm
    you keep me safe.

You, Lord, will always
treat me with kindness.
    Your love never fails.
You have made us what we are.
    Don't give up on us now![d]

(A psalm by David for the music leader.)

The Lord Is Always Near

You have looked deep
into my heart, Lord,
    and you know all about me.
You know when I am resting
    or when I am working,
and from heaven
    you discover my thoughts.

You notice everything I do
    and everywhere I go.
Before I even speak a word,
    you know what I will say,
and with your powerful arm
you protect me
    from every side.
I can't understand all of this!
Such wonderful knowledge
    is far above me.

Where could I go to escape
from your Spirit
    or from your sight?
If I were to climb up
to the highest heavens,
    you would be there.
If I were to dig down
to the world of the dead
    you would also be there.

Suppose I had wings
like the dawning day
    and flew across the ocean.
10 Even then your powerful arm
    would guide and protect me.
11 Or suppose I said, “I'll hide
in the dark until night comes
    to cover me over.”
12 But you see in the dark
because daylight and dark
    are all the same to you.

13 You are the one
who put me together
    inside my mother's body,
14 and I praise you because of
the wonderful way
    you created me.
Everything you do is marvelous!
    Of this I have no doubt.

15 Nothing about me
    is hidden from you!
I was secretly woven together
    out of human sight,
16 but with your own eyes you saw
    my body being formed.
Even before I was born,
you had written in your book
    everything about me.

17 (A) Your thoughts are far beyond
    my understanding,
much more than I
    could ever imagine.
18 I try to count your thoughts,
but they outnumber the grains
    of sand on the beach.
And when I awake,
    I will find you nearby.

19 How I wish that you would kill
all cruel and heartless people
    and protect me from them!
20 They are always rebelling
    and speaking evil of you.[e]
21 You know I hate anyone
who hates you, Lord,
    and refuses to obey.
22 They are my enemies too,
    and I truly hate them.

23 Look deep into my heart, God,
and find out everything
    I am thinking.
24 Don't let me follow evil ways,
but lead me in the way
    that time has proven true.

Footnotes

  1. 138.1 angels: Or “gods” or “supernatural beings” who worship and serve God in heaven; or possibly “rulers” or “leaders.”
  2. 138.2 You were … before: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
  3. 138.3 and gave me courage: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
  4. 138.8 You have … now: Or “Please don't desert your people.”
  5. 139.20 you: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 20.

(A psalm by David.)

A Prayer in Time of Danger

Listen, Lord, as I pray!
You are faithful and honest
    and will answer my prayer.
(A) I am your servant.
    Don't try me in your court,
because no one is innocent
    by your standards.
My enemies are chasing me,
    crushing me in the ground.
I am in total darkness,
    like someone long dead.
I have given up hope,
    and I feel numb all over.

I remember to think about
the many things you did
    in years gone by.
Then I lift my hands in prayer,
because my soul is a desert,
    thirsty for water from you.

Please hurry, Lord,
and answer my prayer.
    I feel hopeless.
Don't turn away
    and leave me here to die.
Each morning let me learn
more about your love
    because I trust you.
I come to you in prayer,
    asking for your guidance.

Please rescue me
from my enemies, Lord!
    I come to you for safety.[a]
10 You are my God. Show me
    what you want me to do,
and let your gentle Spirit
    lead me in the right path.

11 Be true to your name, Lord,
    and keep my life safe.
Use your saving power
    to protect me from trouble.
12 I am your servant.
Show how much you love me
    by destroying my enemies.

(By David.)

A Prayer for the Nation

I praise you, Lord!
    You are my mighty rock,[b]
and you teach me
    how to fight my battles.
You are my friend, my fortress,
    where I am safe.
You are my shield,
and you made me the ruler
    of our people.[c]

(B) Why do we humans mean anything
to you, our Lord?
    Why do you care about us?
We disappear like a breath;
we last no longer
    than a faint shadow.

Open the heavens like a curtain
    and come down, Lord.
Touch the mountains
    and make them send up smoke.
Use your lightning as arrows
to scatter my enemies
    and make them run away.
Reach down from heaven
    and set me free.
Save me from the mighty flood
of those lying foreigners
    who never tell the truth.

In praise of you, our God,
I will sing a new song,
    while playing my harp.
10 By your power, kings win wars,
and your servant David is saved
    from deadly swords.
11 Won't you keep me safe
from those lying foreigners
    who never tell the truth?

12 Let's pray that our young sons
    will grow like strong plants
and that our daughters
will be as lovely as columns
    in the corner of a palace.
13 May our barns be filled
    with all kinds of crops.
May our fields be covered
with sheep by the thousands,
14     and every cow have calves.[d]
Don't let our city be captured
    or any of us be taken away,
and don't let cries of sorrow
    be heard in our streets.

15 Our Lord and our God,
you give these blessings
    to all who worship you.

(By David for praise.)

The Lord Is Kind and Merciful

I will praise you,
my God and King,
    and always honor your name.
I will praise you each day
    and always honor your name.
You are wonderful, Lord,
    and you deserve all praise,
because you are much greater
    than anyone can understand.

Each generation will announce
to the next your wonderful
    and powerful deeds.
I will keep thinking about
your marvelous glory
    and your mighty miracles.[e]
Everyone will talk about
    your fearsome deeds,
and I will tell all nations
    how great you are.
They will celebrate and sing
about your matchless mercy
    and your power to save.

You are merciful, Lord!
You are kind and patient
    and always loving.
You are good to everyone,
and you take care
    of all your creation.

10 All creation will thank you,
and your loyal people
    will praise you.
11 They will tell about
your marvelous kingdom
    and your power.
12 Then everyone will know about
the mighty things you do
    and your glorious kingdom.
13 Your kingdom will never end,
    and you will rule forever.

Our Lord, you keep your word
    and do everything you say.[f]
14 When someone stumbles or falls,
    you give a helping hand.
15 Everyone depends on you,
and when the time is right,
    you provide them with food.
16 By your own hand you satisfy
    the desires of all who live.

17 Our Lord, everything you do
    is kind and thoughtful,
18 and you are near to everyone
    whose prayers are sincere.
19 You satisfy the desires
    of all your worshipers,
and you come to save them
    when they ask for help.
20 You take care of everyone
who loves you,
    but you destroy the wicked.

21 I will praise you, Lord,
and everyone will respect
    your holy name forever.

Footnotes

  1. 143.9 I … safety: Or “You are my hiding place.”
  2. 144.1 mighty rock: See the note at 18.2.
  3. 144.2 of our people: Some Hebrew manuscripts and ancient translations have “of the nations.”
  4. 144.14 have calves: Or “grow fat.”
  5. 145.5 and … miracles: One Hebrew manuscript and two ancient translations have “as others tell about your mighty miracles.”
  6. 145.13 Our … say: These words are found in one Hebrew manuscript and two ancient translations.

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