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Psalm 30-50
Tree of Life Version
Psalm 30-50
Tree of Life Version
Joy Comes in the Morning
Psalm 30
1 A psalm, a song for the dedication of the Temple, of David.
2 I will exalt You, Adonai,
for You have lifted me up,
and did not let my enemies gloat over me.
3 Adonai my God, I cried to You for help,
and You healed me.
4 Adonai, You brought my soul up from Sheol.
You kept me alive, so I would not go down to the Pit.
5 Sing praise to Adonai, His faithful ones,
and praise His holy name.
6 For His anger lasts for only a moment,
His favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may stay for the night,
but joy comes in the morning.
7 When I felt secure, I said:
“I will never be shaken.”
8 Adonai, in Your favor
You made my mountain stand strong.
When You hid Your face,
I was terrified.
9 To You, Adonai, I called,
and to my Lord I made my plea:
10 “What gain is there in my blood,
in my going down to the Pit?
Will the dust praise You?
Will it declare Your truth?
11 Hear, Adonai, and be gracious to me.
Adonai, be my help.”
12 You turned my mourning into dancing.
You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.
13 So my glory will sing to You and not be silent.
Adonai my God, I will praise You forever.
Refuge, Sukkah, Shelter
Psalm 31
1 For the music director, a psalm of David.
2 In You, Adonai, have I taken refuge:
Let me never be put to shame.
In Your righteousness, deliver me.
3 Turn Your ear to me, rescue me quickly.
Be a rock of refuge for me, a stronghold for my deliverance.
4 Since You are my rock and my fortress,
You lead me and guide me for Your Name’s sake.
5 Free me from the net they hid for me,
for You are my refuge.
6 Into Your hand I commit my spirit.[a]
You have redeemed me, Adonai, God of truth.
7 I detest those who continue to watch worthless idols,
but I trust in Adonai.
8 I will be glad and rejoice in Your lovingkindness,
for You saw my affliction.
You knew the troubles of my soul.
9 You did not hand me over to the enemy.
You set my feet in a wide-open place.
10 Be gracious to me, Adonai,
for I am in distress.
My eyes waste away with grief,
my soul and my body as well.
11 For my life is consumed in sorrow
and my years in sighing.
My strength fails because of my anguish
and my bones waste away.
12 Because of all my adversaries
I am the contempt of my neighbors
and a dread to my acquaintances.
Seeing me on the street, they flee from me.
13 I am as forgotten as a dead man.
I have become like a broken vessel.
14 For I have heard the whispering of many.
There is terror on every side
as they conspire against me
and plot to take my life.
15 But I have trusted in You, Adonai.
I said: “You are my God.”
16 My times are in Your hands.
Deliver me from the hands of my foes and from those who pursue me.
17 Make Your face shine on Your servant.
Save me in Your lovingkindness.
18 Adonai, let me not be ashamed,
for I have called upon You.
Let the wicked be ashamed—
let them be silent in Sheol.
19 Let the lying lips be mute.
For they speak arrogantly against the righteous,
with pride and contempt.
20 How great is Your goodness,
which You have stored up for those who fear You,
which You have given to those who take refuge in You,
before the children of men.
21 In the shelter of Your presence
You hide them from people’s plots.
You conceal them in a sukkah
from the strife of tongues.
22 Blessed be Adonai,
for He has shown me His wonderful love
in a besieged city.
23 I said in my alarm,
“I have been cut off from Your sight!”
But You heard the sound of my pleas
when I cried out to You.
24 Love Adonai, all His kedoshim!
Adonai preserves all the faithful,
but the proud He pays back in full.
25 Chazak! Let your heart take courage,[b]
all you who wait for Adonai.
Confess, Return and Learn
Psalm 32
1 Of David, a contemplative song.
Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is pardoned.
2 Blessed is the one whose guilt Adonai does not count,
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.[c]
3 When I kept silent,
my bones became brittle
through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me.
My strength was drained as in the droughts of summer.
Selah
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to You
and did not hide my iniquity. I said:
“I confess my transgressions to Adonai,”
and You forgave the guilt of my sin.[d]
Selah
6 So let everyone who is godly pray to You
in a time when You may be found.
When great floodwaters rise,
they will not reach him.
7 You are my hiding place—
You will protect me from distress.
You surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah
8 “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go.
I will give counsel—My eye is on you.
9 Do not be like the horse or the mule,
which have no understanding,
and must be held in with bit and bridle
or they will not come to you.”
10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
but lovingkindness surrounds the one who trusts in Adonai.
11 Be glad in Adonai and rejoice,
you righteous, and shout for joy,
all who are upright in heart.
All Creation Praise the Creator
Psalm 33
1 Sing for joy to Adonai, you righteous.
Praise is fitting for the upright.
2 Praise Adonai with the harp.
Sing praises to Him with a ten string lyre.
3 Sing to Him a new song![e]
Play skillfully amid shouts of joy.
4 For the word of Adonai is upright
and all His work is done in faithfulness.
5 He loves righteousness and justice.
The earth is full of the love of Adonai.
6 By Adonai’s word were the heavens made,
and all their host by the breath of His mouth.
7 He gathers the waters of the sea together in a heap.
He lays up deep waters in storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear Adonai.
Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
9 For He spoke, and it came to be.
He commanded, and it stood firm.
10 Adonai foils the purpose of the nations.
He thwarts the plans of the peoples.
11 The plan of Adonai stands forever,
the purposes of His heart from generation to generation.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is Adonai,
the people He chose for His own inheritance.
13 Adonai looks down from heaven.
He observes all humanity.
14 From His dwelling place He gazes
on all the inhabitants of the earth—
15 He who fashions the hearts of all,
who discerns all their deeds.
16 No king is saved by his great army,
no warrior is delivered by great strength.
17 A horse is a false hope for victory,
nor can its great strength save.
18 Behold, the eyes of Adonai are on those who fear Him,
waiting for His love,
19 to deliver their souls from death,
and to keep them alive in famine.
20 Our soul waits for Adonai—
He is our help and our shield.
21 Our heart rejoices in Him,
because we trusted in His holy Name.
22 Let Your lovingkindness, Adonai,
be upon us, as we have waited for You.
Taste and See
Psalm 34
1 Of David, when he feigned insanity before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he left.
2 I will bless Adonai at all times.
His praise is continually in my mouth.
3 My soul boasts in Adonai.
The humble ones hear of it and rejoice.
4 Magnify Adonai with me
and let us exalt His Name together.
5 I sought Adonai, and He answered me,
and delivered me from all my fears.
6 They who looked to Him were radiant,
and their faces will never be ashamed.
7 This poor man cried, and Adonai heard,
and saved him out of all his troubles.
8 The angel of Adonai encamps around those who fear Him,
and delivers them.
9 Taste and see how good Adonai is.
Blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.
10 Fear Adonai, His kedoshim,
For those who fear Him lack nothing.
11 Young lions may lack, and go hungry,
but those who seek Adonai want for no good thing.
12 Come, children, listen to me:
I will teach you the fear of Adonai.
13 Who is the one who delights in life,
and loves to see good days?
14 Keep your tongue from evil,
and your lips from speaking treachery.
15 Depart from evil and do good.
Seek shalom and pursue it.[f]
16 The eyes of Adonai are on the righteous,
and His ears are attentive to their cry.
17 The face of Adonai is against evildoers,
to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
18 The righteous cry out and Adonai hears,
and delivers them from all their troubles.
19 Adonai is close to the brokenhearted,
and saves those crushed in spirit.
20 Many are the distresses of the righteous,
but Adonai delivers him out of them all.
21 He keeps all his bones—
not one of them is broken.[g]
22 Evil kills the wicked—
those who hate the righteous will be held guilty.
23 Adonai redeems the soul of His servants
—no one who takes refuge in Him will be held guilty.
Justice for the Oppressed
Psalm 35
1 A psalm of David.
Adonai, oppose those who oppose me.
Fight those who fight me.
2 Take hold of shield and buckler,
and rise up to my help.
3 Draw out also a spear and battle-axe.
Stop those who pursue me.
Say to my soul: “I am your salvation.”
4 May those who seek my life
be ashamed and disgraced.
May they be turned back and humiliated
—those who plot evil against me.
5 May they be like chaff before the wind,
with the angel of Adonai driving them off.
6 May their way be dark and slippery,
with the angel of Adonai pursuing them.
7 For without cause they hid their net for me,
and without cause they dug a pit for my soul.
8 Let ruin come upon him by surprise.
Let the net he hid entangle himself
—into that same pit let him fall.
9 Then my soul will rejoice in Adonai
and delight in His salvation.
10 All my bones will say:
“Adonai, who is like You,
rescuing the poor from one too strong for him,
the poor and needy from one who robs him?”
11 Violent witnesses rise up.
They question me about things I know nothing about.
12 They repay me evil for good—
my soul is forlorn.
13 But as for me, when they were sick,
my clothing was sackcloth.
I afflicted my soul with fasting,
my prayer kept returning to my heart.
14 I went about mourning as though for my own friend or brother.
I bowed down dressed in black as though for my own mother.
15 But at my stumbling they gathered in glee.
Wretches gathered against me whom I did not know,
tearing at me without ceasing.
16 They mocked profanely, as if at a feast,
they gnashed at me with their teeth.
17 My Lord, how long will You look on?
Rescue my soul from their ravages—
my solitary existence from the lions.
18 I praise You in the great assembly,
acclaiming You among a throng of people.
19 Do not let my deceitful enemies gloat over me without cause,
nor let those who hate me for nothing wink an eye.[h]
20 For they never speak shalom,
but devise deceitful words against the quiet ones in the land.
21 Yes, they open their mouth wide against me, saying:
“Aha! Aha! Our own eyes have seen it!”
22 You have seen it, Adonai—be not silent!
Adonai, be not far from me.
23 Arise, awaken to my defense,
to my cause—my God and my Lord!
24 Vindicate me, Adonai my God,
according to Your justice,
and do not let them gloat over me.
25 Don’t let them say in their heart:
“Aha! Just what we wanted!”
Don’t let them say:
“We swallowed him up!”
26 May they be ashamed and humiliated,
those who rejoice over my misery.
May they who exalt themselves over me
be clothed with shame and disgrace.
27 May they shout for joy and be glad,
those who delight in my righteous cause.
May they always say:
“Exalted be Adonai, who delights in His servant’s shalom.”
28 Then my tongue will declare aloud
Your justice and Your praises all day.
With God Is the Fountain of Life
Psalm 36
1 For the music director, of David the servant of Adonai.
2 An oracle of Transgression—within my heart, to the wicked one:
“There is no fear of God before his eyes.[i]
3 For he flatters himself in his own eyes,
too much to notice his iniquity—or hate it.
4 His mouth’s words are iniquity and deceit.
He has ceased to be wise and do good.
5 Even on his bed he plans sin.
He puts himself on a path that is no good, never refusing evil.”
6 Your love, Adonai, is in the heavens,
Your faithfulness up to the skies.
7 Your righteousness is like the mountains of God.
Your judgments are like the great deep.
You preserve man and beast, Adonai.
8 How precious is Your love, O God!
The children of men find refuge in the shadow of Your wings.
9 They drink their fill from the abundance of Your House.
You give them drink from the river of Your delights.
10 For with You is the fountain of life—
in Your light we see light.
11 Continue Your lovingkindness to those who know You,
and Your justice to the upright in heart.
12 May the foot of pride never tread on me,
nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.
13 There the evildoers lie fallen—
thrown down, not able to rise!
Inheritance of the Kedoshim
Psalm 37
1 Of David.
Do not fret because of evildoers,
nor be envious of them who do wrong.
2 For like the grass they soon wither
and fade like a green herb.
3 Trust in Adonai and do good.
Dwell in the land, feed on faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in Adonai,
and He will give you the requests of your heart.
5 Commit your way to Adonai.
Trust in Him, and He will do it.
6 He will bring out your vindication as light,
and your cause will shine as noonday.
7 Be still before Adonai and wait patiently for Him.
Do not fret over one prospering in his way,
over one carrying out wicked schemes.
8 Put away anger and turn from wrath.
Do not fret—it only leads to doing evil.
9 For evildoers will be cut off,
but those who wait for Adonai—
they will inherit the land.
10 Yet a little while,
and the wicked will be no more.
Yes, you will look at his place,
but he will not be there.
11 But the meek will inherit the land,
and delight in abundant shalom.
12 The wicked plots against the righteous
and gnashes at him with his teeth.
13 The Lord laughs at him—
for He sees his day is coming.
14 The wicked have unsheathed their sword and have bent their bow
to bring down the poor and needy,
to slay those whose conduct is upright.
15 Their sword will pierce their own hearts,
and their bows will be broken.
16 Better a little that the righteous have
than the wealth of many wicked.
17 For the arms of the wicked will be broken,
while Adonai upholds the righteous.
18 Adonai knows the days of the blameless—
their inheritance endures forever.
19 They will not be ashamed in an evil time
and in days of famine they will be satisfied.
20 For the wicked will perish,
and the enemies of Adonai will be like the beauty of the fields—
they will vanish—vanish like smoke.
21 The wicked borrows and does not repay,
but the righteous is a gracious giver.
22 For His blessed ones inherit the land.
But those He curses will be cut off.
23 From Adonai a man’s steps are made firm,
when He delights in his way.
24 Though he stumble,
he will not fall headlong,
for Adonai is holding his hand.
25 I was young and now I am old,
yet I have never seen the righteous one forsaken,
nor his children begging for bread.
26 All day long he is gracious and lends.
So his offspring will be a blessing.
27 Turn from evil and do good,
so you may live forever.
28 For Adonai loves justice
and does not abandon His godly ones.
They will be preserved forever,
but the seed of the wicked will be cut off.
29 The righteous will inherit the land
and dwell in it forever.
30 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom
and his tongue speaks justice.
31 The Torah of his God is in his heart.
His steps do not slip.
32 The wicked lies in wait for the righteous,
seeking to slay him.
33 But Adonai will not leave him in his hand,
or let him be condemned when judged.
34 Wait for Adonai and keep His way,
and He will exalt you to inherit the land.
When the wicked are cut off, you will see it.
35 I have seen a wicked, ruthless man
flourishing like a leafy tree in native soil.
36 But once he passed by, he was no more.
Though I looked for him, he could not be found.
37 Notice the man of integrity and watch the upright—
for the man of shalom has a future.
38 But transgressors will be destroyed altogether.
The future of the wicked will be cut off.
39 Yet the salvation of the righteous is from Adonai.
He is their stronghold in time of trouble.
40 Adonai helps them and delivers them.
He rescues them from the wicked and saves them—
because they take refuge in Him.
A Burden Too Heavy for Me
Psalm 38
1 A psalm of David, for a memorial.
2 Adonai, do not rebuke me in Your anger
or discipline me in Your wrath.
3 For Your arrows have sunk deep into me
and Your hand has pressed down on me.
4 There is no health in my flesh because of Your indignation.
There is no wholeness in my bones because of my sin.
5 For my iniquities are on my head—
like a burden too heavy for me.
6 My wounds are foul and festering
because of my foolishness.
7 I am bent over, bowed down greatly.
All day I walk about in mourning.
8 For my heart is filled with burning pain,
and there is no health in my body.
9 I am numb and utterly crushed.
I groan because of anguish in my heart.
10 My Lord, all my longing is before You,
and my sighing is not hidden from You.
11 My heart pounds, my strength fails me.
The light of my eyes—also, not with me.
12 My friends and my companions stay away from my wound,
and my kinsmen stand far off.
13 They who seek my life set traps.
Those who seek my hurt threaten destruction, uttering lies all day.
14 But I, like someone deaf, hear nothing,
like a mute, not opening his mouth.
15 Yes, I am like one who cannot hear,
whose mouth has no arguments.
16 But I wait for You, Adonai—
You will answer, O Lord my God.
17 For I said: “Don’t let them gloat over me
or exalt themselves over me, when my foot slips.”
18 For I am about to fall,
and my pain is before me constantly.
19 So I confess my guilt.
I am troubled because of my sin.
20 My lively enemies are numerous.
Many hate me wrongfully.
21 Those who repay evil for good oppose me
because I pursue what is good.
22 Do not forsake me, Adonai.
O my God, be not far from me.
23 Hurry to my aid, my Lord, my salvation.
Make Me Know the Number of My Days
Psalm 39
1 For the music director, for Jeduthun, a psalm of David.
2 I said:
“I will guard my ways, so I will not sin with my tongue.
I will muzzle my mouth while the wicked are before me.”
3 So I became utterly speechless,
kept silent even from good,
but my anguish was stirred up.
4 My heart was hot within me,
while I was musing, the fire burned.
Then I spoke with my tongue:
5 “Let me know, Adonai, my end
and what the number of my days is.
Let me know how short-lived I am.
6 Behold, You made my days mere hand-breadths,
and my lifetime as nothing before You.
Surely all humanity is but vapor. Selah
7 Everyone goes about as a mere phantom.
Surely they are making an uproar in vain, heaping up stuff—
yet not knowing who will gather it.[j]
8 And now, my Lord, what do I wait for?
My hope is in You.
9 Deliver me from all my transgressions.
Do not make me the scorn of a fool.
10 I am speechless, not opening my mouth
—for You have done it.
11 Remove Your scourge from me.
I perish by the blow of Your hand.
12 With rebukes You chasten one for iniquity
and You consume like a moth what he finds pleasure in.
Surely all humanity is but a vapor. Selah
13 Hear my prayer, Adonai,
and listen to my cry—
do not keep silent at my tears.
For with You I am an outsider, a sojourner,
as all my fathers were.
14 Turn your gaze away from me, so I may smile again,
before I go, and am no more.”
Written About Me in the Scroll
Psalm 40
1 For the music director, a psalm of David.
2 I waited patiently for Adonai.
He bent down to me and heard my cry.
3 He brought me up out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire.
Then He set my feet on a rock.
He made my steps firm.
4 He put a new song in my mouth—
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
and trust in Adonai.
5 Blessed is the one
who put his confidence in Adonai,
who has not turned to the arrogant,
nor to those who fall into falsehood.
6 Many things You have done, Adonai my God
—Your plans for us are wonderful—
there is none to be compared to You!
If I were to speak and tell of them,
they would be too many to count!
7 Sacrifice and offering You did not desire
—my ears You have opened—
burnt offering and sin offering You did not require.
8 Then I said: “Here I am, I have come—
in the scroll of a book it is written about me.
9 I delight to do Your will, O my God.
Yes, Your Torah is within my being.”
10 I proclaim good news of righteousness in the great assembly.
Behold, I am not shutting my lips—
Adonai, You know!
11 I did not hide Your righteousness within my heart.
Rather I declared Your faithfulness and Your salvation.
I did not conceal Your lovingkindness
and Your truth from the great assembly.
12 Adonai, do not withhold Your compassions from me.
Let Your mercy and Your truth always protect me.
13 For evils beyond number surround me,
my sins have overtaken me
—I cannot see—
they are more than the hairs of my head
—and my heart fails me.
14 Adonai, please deliver me!
Adonai, come quickly to help me!
15 Let those who seek my life to sweep it away
be put to shame and humiliated.
Let those who wish me evil
be turned back in disgrace.
16 Let those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”
be appalled over their own shame.
17 Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You.
Let those who love Your salvation
continually say: “Adonai be magnified!”
18 But I—I am poor and needy—
yet my Lord is mindful of me.
You are my help and my deliverer—
O my God, do not delay!
Even My Close Friend
Psalm 41
1 For the music director: a psalm of David.
2 Blessed is the one who considers the wretched—
Adonai will deliver him in the evil day.
3 Adonai will protect him and keep him alive.
He will be made blessed in the land.
You will not give him over to the desire of his foes.
4 Adonai will strengthen him on his sickbed.
May You restore him completely from his bed.
5 I said: “Adonai, have mercy on me.
Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You.”
6 My enemies speak evil about me:
“When will he die and his name perish?”
7 And if someone of them comes to see me, he speaks falsely.
He stores up evil in his heart,
then he goes out and chatters.
8 All who hate me whisper together about me
They imagine the worst about me:
9 “Something evil was poured into him—
he will not get up again from the place where he lies.”
10 Even my own close friend,
whom I trusted, who ate my bread,
has lifted up his heel against me.[k]
11 But You, Adonai, have mercy on me,
and raise me up, so I may repay them.
12 By this I know that You delight in me:
that my enemy does not shout in triumph over me.
13 You uphold me in my integrity
and set me before Your face forever.
14 Blessed be Adonai, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.
Amen and amen!
My Soul Thirsts for God
Psalm 42
1 For the music director, a contemplative song of the sons of Korah.
2 As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for You, O God.
3 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When will I come and appear before God?
4 My tears have been my food day and night,
while they say to me all day: “Where is your God?”
5 These things I remember as I pour out my soul within me.
For I used to go along with the throng,
walking with them to the House of God, with a voice of joy and praise,
a multitude keeping a festival.
6 Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why are you murmuring within me?
Hope in God, for I will yet praise Him,
for the salvation of His presence.
7 My God, my soul is downcast within me!
Therefore I remember You from the land of Jordan
and from the peaks of Hermon, from Mount Mitzar.
8 Deep calls to deep in the roar of Your waterfalls.
All Your waves and breakers have swept over me.
9 By day Adonai commands His love,
and at night His song is with me—
a prayer to the God of my life.
10 I will say to God my Rock:
“Why have You forgotten me?
Why do I go about mourning, under the oppression of the enemy?”
11 As with a crushing in my bones,
my adversaries taunt me,
by saying to me all day, “Where is your God?”
12 Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why are you murmuring within me?
Hope in God, for I will yet praise Him,
the salvation of my countenance and my God.
Send Forth Your Light
Psalm 43
1 Vindicate me, O God,
and champion
my cause against an ungodly nation.
From a deceitful and unjust man, deliver me!
2 For You are my God, my stronghold.
Why have You spurned me?
Why do I go about gloomy because of the oppression of the enemy?
3 Send forth Your light and Your truth—
let them guide me.
Let them bring me to Your holy mountain
and to Your dwelling places.
4 Then I will come to the altar of God,
to the God of my exceeding joy,
and praise You upon the harp
—O God, my God.
5 Why are You downcast, O my soul?
Why are you murmuring within me?
Hope in God, for I will yet praise Him,
the salvation of my countenance.
Arise, O God of Our Fathers
Psalm 44
1 For the music director, a psalm of the sons of Korah, a contemplative song.
2 We have heard with our ears, O God
—our fathers have told us—
of a work You did in their days, in days of old.
3 With Your hand You displaced nations, but You planted them.
You afflicted peoples, and You drove them out.
4 For it was not by their own sword that they took possession of the land,
nor did their own arm save them.
But it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your face—
for You favored them.
5 You are my King, O God—
command victories for Jacob!
6 Through You we push back our foes.
Through Your Name we trample those rising up against us.
7 For I do not trust in my bow,
nor can my sword save me.
8 For You saved us from our oppressors
and put to shame those who hated us.
9 In God we make our boast all day
and Your Name we praise forever. Selah
10 Yet You have spurned and humiliated us,
and no longer go out with our armies.
11 You make us retreat before the enemy.
Those who hate us have plundered us.
12 You gave us to be devoured like sheep[l]
and have scattered us among the nations.
13 You are selling Your people cheaply—
not even getting a great price for them.
14 You made us a taunt for our neighbors,
a scorn and ridicule for those around us.
15 You have made us a byword among the nations,
head-wagging among the peoples.
16 All day my disgrace is before me,
and my face is covered with shame—
17 because of the sound of taunting and reviling
from the face of a vengeful enemy.
18 All this came upon us, though we did not forget You,
nor were we false to Your covenant.
19 Our heart did not turn back,
nor did our steps stray from Your path.
20 Yet You crushed us in a place of jackals,
covered us with the shadow of death.
21 If we had forgotten the Name of our God
or stretched our hands to a foreign god,
22 would God not have discovered it?
For He knows the secrets of the heart.
23 But for Your sake we are slain all day.
We are counted as sheep for slaughter.[m]
24 Awake! Why do you sleep, my Lord?
Wake up! Do not cast us off forever.
25 Why do You hide Your face
and forget our misery and oppression?
26 For our soul sinks down to the dust.
Our belly cleaves to the earth.
27 Arise, be our help,
and redeem us
for Your mercy’s sake.
A Royal Wedding Song
Psalm 45
1 For the music director, according to “Lilies.” Of the sons of Korah, a contemplative song, a love song.
2 My heart is stirred with a good word.
I speak my verses to the king.
My tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.
3 You are the most handsome of the sons of men.
Grace pours from your lips.
Therefore God has blessed you forever.
4 Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one,
in your splendor and your majesty.
5 In your majesty ride victoriously,
on behalf of truth, meekness and justice.
Let your right hand display awesome things.
6 Your arrows are sharp.
Peoples fall beneath you—
into the heart of the king’s enemies.
7 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,
and a scepter of justice is the scepter of Your kingdom.
8 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness.
Therefore, God, your God, anointed you with the oil of gladness above your companions.[n]
9 All your robes have myrrh, aloes, cassia.
From ivory palaces, stringed instruments
make you glad.
10 Kings’ daughters are among your honored women.
At your right hand stands the queen
in gold of Ophir.
11 “Listen, O daughter, consider and incline your ear.
Forget your people and your father’s house.
12 Then the king will desire your beauty.
Honor him, for he is your lord.
13 A daughter of Tyre comes with a gift.
The richest people will court your favor.”
14 All glorious is the king’s daughter within the palace—
her gown is interwoven with gold.[o]
15 She will be led to the king in embroidered garments.
Her virgins, her companions following her, are coming in to you.
16 They are led in with joy and gladness—
they enter into the palace of the king.
17 Your sons will take your fathers’ place.
You will make them princes throughout the land.
18 I will cause your name to be remembered in all generations.
Therefore the nations will praise you forever and ever.
He Makes Wars Cease
Psalm 46
1 For the music director, of the sons of Korah, according to Alamoth, a song.
2 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
3 Therefore we will not fear,
though the earth change,
though the mountains topple into the heart of the seas,
4 though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains quake at their swelling. Selah
5 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God—
the holy dwelling place of Elyon.[p]
6 God is in the midst of her, she will not be shaken.
God will help her when morning dawns.
7 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms totter,
He utters His voice, the earth melts!
8 Adonai-Tzva’ot is with us.
The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah
9 Come, see the works of Adonai,
who brings devastations on the earth.
10 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear.
He burns chariots with fire.
11 “Be still, and know that I am God.
I am exalted among the nations.
I am exalted in the earth.”
12 Adonai-Tzva’ot is with us.
The God of Jacob is our strong tower. Selah
In Celebration of God’s Reign
Psalm 47
1 For the music director, a psalm for the sons of Korah.
2 Clap your hands, all you peoples!
Shout to God with the voice of joy!
3 For Adonai Elyon is awesome,
a great King over all the earth.
4 He subdues peoples under us,
and nations under our feet.
5 He chooses our inheritance for us,
the glory of Jacob whom He loved. Selah
6 God is gone up amidst shouting,
Adonai amidst the sound of the shofar.
7 Sing praises to God, sing praises!
Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
8 For God is the King of all the earth.
Sing praises with a skillful song.
9 God reigns over the nations.
God sits upon His holy throne.
10 The princes of the peoples are gathered as a people of the God of Abraham.
For the shields of earth belong to God—
He is greatly exalted!
Consider Zion’s Towers
Psalm 48
1 A song, a psalm of the sons of Korah.
2 Great is Adonai, and greatly to be praised
in the city of our God—His holy mountain.
3 A beautiful height—the joy of the whole earth—
is Mount Zion, on the northern side of the city of the great King.[q]
4 God, in her palaces,
is known as a stronghold.
5 For behold, the kings assembled,
they advanced together.
6 They saw, then they were astounded,
they fled in terror.
7 Trembling seized them there,
pain like a woman in labor.
8 With an east wind
You broke the ships of Tarshish.
9 As we have heard, so have we seen,
in the city of Adonai-Tzva’ot,
in the city of our God.
God will establish her forever. Selah
10 We have meditated on Your lovingkindness, O God,
in the midst of Your Temple.
11 Like Your Name, O God,
so is Your praise
to the ends of the earth.
Your right hand is full of righteousness.
12 Mount Zion is glad,
the daughters of Judah rejoice,
because of Your judgments.
13 Walk about Zion, go around her.
Count her towers.
14 Consider her ramparts,
go through her palaces,
so you may describe it to the next generation.
15 For this God is our God, forever and ever!
He will guide us to the end.
Rich and Poor Alike
Psalm 49
1 For the music director: a psalm of the sons of Korah.
2 Hear this, all you peoples.
Give ear, all you inhabitants of the world,
3 both low and high,
rich and poor together.
4 My mouth speaks wisdom,
My heart’s meditation is understanding.
5 I will turn my ear to a proverb.
I will utter my riddle on the harp:
6 Why should I fear in evil days?
when the iniquity of my deceivers surrounds me?
7 Or those trusting in their wealth,
boasting about their great riches?
8 No man can redeem his brother,
or give to God a ransom for him.
9 For the redemption of a soul is costly—
so, one should stop trying forever.
10 Will he live forever—
and never see the Pit?
11 Surely he must see, even wise men die.
The fool and the brutish will alike perish,
leaving their wealth to others.[r]
12 Their inward thought is:
Their houses are eternal,
their dwellings for generation after generation.
They name their lands after themselves.
13 But the pompous man will not endure—
he is like the beasts that perish.
14 Such is the way of the self-confident,
and their followers who approve their sayings. Selah
15 Like sheep they are destined for Sheol.
Death will be their shepherd
and the upright will rule over them in the morning.
Their image will decay in Sheol—
far from its lofty place.
16 But God redeems my soul from the power of Sheol—
for He receives me. Selah
17 Do not be afraid when a man gets rich,
when his house’s splendor increases.
18 For when he dies he takes nothing away.
His splendor will not follow him down.
19 Though during his life he congratulates himself,
and men praise you when you do well for yourself—
20 He will still join his fathers’ company,
who will never see the light.
21 A pompous man, without understanding—
he is like the beasts that perish.
A Sacrifice of Thanks
Psalm 50
1 A psalm of Asaph.
God, Elohim Adonai has spoken and summoned the earth
from the rising of the sun to its setting.
2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty,
God shines forth.
3 Our God comes, and does not keep silent.
A fire is devouring before Him,
and it storms around Him mightily.
4 He calls to the heavens above
and to the earth, to judge His people:
5 “Gather My kedoshim to Me,
who cut a covenant with Me with a sacrifice.”
6 The heavens declare His righteousness,
for God Himself is Judge. Selah
7 “Hear, My people, and I will speak,
O Israel, and I will testify against you:
I am God, your God.
8 I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices,
for your burnt offerings are continually before Me.
9 I have no need of a bull from your house
nor goats from your pens.
10 For every beast of the forest is Mine,
and the cattle on a thousand hills.
11 I know every bird of the mountains.
Everything moving in the field is Mine.
12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you—
for the world is Mine and all it contains!
13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls
or drink the blood of goats?
14 Offer God a sacrifice of thank offerings,
then fulfill your vows to Elyon.
15 Call upon Me in the day of trouble.
When I rescue you, you will honor Me.”
16 But to the wicked, God says:
“What are you doing, reciting My laws
and taking My covenant in your mouth?
17 For you hate discipline,
and you cast My words behind you.
18 When you see a thief, you are pleased with him,
and your portion is with adulterers.
19 You have unleashed your mouth for evil
and harnessed your tongue for deceit.
20 You sit, speaking against your brother,
slandering your own mother’s son.
21 These things you have done—Should I keep silent?
You thought I was just like you—but I reprove you,
and set the case before your eyes.
22 Now consider this, you who forget God.
Or else I will tear you in pieces with no one to rescue you.
23 A sacrifice of praise honors Me,
and to the one who orders his way,
I will show the salvation of God.”
Footnotes
- Psalm 31:6 Cf. Luke 23:46; Acts 7:59.
- Psalm 31:25 cf. 1 Cor. 16:13; Eph. 6:10.
- Psalm 32:2 cf. Rom. 4:7-8.
- Psalm 32:5 cf. 1 John 1:9.
- Psalm 33:3 cf. Rev. 5:9.
- Psalm 34:15 cf. 1 Pet. 3:10-12.
- Psalm 34:21 cf. John 19:33-36.
- Psalm 35:19 cf. John 15:25.
- Psalm 36:2 cf. Rom. 3:18.
- Psalm 39:7 cf. Luke 12:20.
- Psalm 41:10 cf. Matt. 26:23; Luke 22:21.
- Psalm 44:12 cf. Rom. 8:36.
- Psalm 44:23 cf. Rom. 8:36.
- Psalm 45:8 cf. Heb. 1:8-9.
- Psalm 45:14 cf. Ex. 39:2-3; Rev. 19:7-8.
- Psalm 46:5 cf. Ezek. 47:9, 12; Rev. 22:1-2.
- Psalm 48:3 cf. Matt. 5:35.
- Psalm 49:11 cf. Ps. 39:7(6); Eccl. 2:16-18, 21; Luke 12:20.
Psalm 30-43
New International Version
Psalm 30-43
New International Version
Psalm 30[a]
A psalm. A song. For the dedication of the temple.[b] Of David.
1 I will exalt(A) you, Lord,
for you lifted me out of the depths(B)
and did not let my enemies gloat over me.(C)
2 Lord my God, I called to you for help,(D)
and you healed me.(E)
3 You, Lord, brought me up from the realm of the dead;(F)
you spared me from going down to the pit.(G)
4 Sing(H) the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people;(I)
praise his holy name.(J)
5 For his anger(K) lasts only a moment,(L)
but his favor lasts a lifetime;(M)
weeping(N) may stay for the night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.(O)
6 When I felt secure, I said,
“I will never be shaken.”(P)
7 Lord, when you favored me,
you made my royal mountain[c] stand firm;
but when you hid your face,(Q)
I was dismayed.
8 To you, Lord, I called;
to the Lord I cried for mercy:
9 “What is gained if I am silenced,
if I go down to the pit?(R)
Will the dust praise you?
Will it proclaim your faithfulness?(S)
10 Hear,(T) Lord, and be merciful to me;(U)
Lord, be my help.(V)”
11 You turned my wailing(W) into dancing;(X)
you removed my sackcloth(Y) and clothed me with joy,(Z)
12 that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.
Lord my God, I will praise(AA) you forever.(AB)
Psalm 31[d](AC)
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;(AD)
let me never be put to shame;
deliver me in your righteousness.(AE)
2 Turn your ear to me,(AF)
come quickly to my rescue;(AG)
be my rock of refuge,(AH)
a strong fortress to save me.
3 Since you are my rock and my fortress,(AI)
for the sake of your name(AJ) lead and guide me.
4 Keep me free from the trap(AK) that is set for me,
for you are my refuge.(AL)
5 Into your hands I commit my spirit;(AM)
deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.(AN)
6 I hate those who cling to worthless idols;(AO)
as for me, I trust in the Lord.(AP)
7 I will be glad and rejoice in your love,
for you saw my affliction(AQ)
and knew the anguish(AR) of my soul.
8 You have not given me into the hands(AS) of the enemy
but have set my feet in a spacious place.(AT)
9 Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress;(AU)
my eyes grow weak with sorrow,(AV)
my soul and body(AW) with grief.
10 My life is consumed by anguish(AX)
and my years by groaning;(AY)
my strength fails(AZ) because of my affliction,[e](BA)
and my bones grow weak.(BB)
11 Because of all my enemies,(BC)
I am the utter contempt(BD) of my neighbors(BE)
and an object of dread to my closest friends—
those who see me on the street flee from me.
12 I am forgotten as though I were dead;(BF)
I have become like broken pottery.
13 For I hear many whispering,(BG)
“Terror on every side!”(BH)
They conspire against me(BI)
and plot to take my life.(BJ)
14 But I trust(BK) in you, Lord;
I say, “You are my God.”
15 My times(BL) are in your hands;
deliver me from the hands of my enemies,
from those who pursue me.
16 Let your face shine(BM) on your servant;
save me in your unfailing love.(BN)
17 Let me not be put to shame,(BO) Lord,
for I have cried out to you;
but let the wicked be put to shame
and be silent(BP) in the realm of the dead.
18 Let their lying lips(BQ) be silenced,
for with pride and contempt
they speak arrogantly(BR) against the righteous.
19 How abundant are the good things(BS)
that you have stored up for those who fear you,
that you bestow in the sight of all,(BT)
on those who take refuge(BU) in you.
20 In the shelter(BV) of your presence you hide(BW) them
from all human intrigues;(BX)
you keep them safe in your dwelling
from accusing tongues.
21 Praise be to the Lord,(BY)
for he showed me the wonders of his love(BZ)
when I was in a city under siege.(CA)
22 In my alarm(CB) I said,
“I am cut off(CC) from your sight!”
Yet you heard my cry(CD) for mercy
when I called to you for help.
23 Love the Lord, all his faithful people!(CE)
The Lord preserves those who are true to him,(CF)
but the proud he pays back(CG) in full.
24 Be strong and take heart,(CH)
all you who hope in the Lord.
Psalm 32
Of David. A maskil.[f]
1 Blessed is the one
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.(CI)
2 Blessed is the one
whose sin the Lord does not count against them(CJ)
and in whose spirit is no deceit.(CK)
3 When I kept silent,(CL)
my bones wasted away(CM)
through my groaning(CN) all day long.
4 For day and night
your hand was heavy(CO) on me;
my strength was sapped(CP)
as in the heat of summer.[g]
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you
and did not cover up my iniquity.(CQ)
I said, “I will confess(CR)
my transgressions(CS) to the Lord.”
And you forgave
the guilt of my sin.(CT)
6 Therefore let all the faithful pray to you
while you may be found;(CU)
surely the rising(CV) of the mighty waters(CW)
will not reach them.(CX)
7 You are my hiding place;(CY)
you will protect me from trouble(CZ)
and surround me with songs of deliverance.(DA)
8 I will instruct(DB) you and teach you(DC) in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on(DD) you.
9 Do not be like the horse or the mule,
which have no understanding
but must be controlled by bit and bridle(DE)
or they will not come to you.
10 Many are the woes of the wicked,(DF)
but the Lord’s unfailing love
surrounds the one who trusts(DG) in him.
11 Rejoice in the Lord(DH) and be glad, you righteous;
sing, all you who are upright in heart!
Psalm 33
1 Sing joyfully(DI) to the Lord, you righteous;
it is fitting(DJ) for the upright(DK) to praise him.
2 Praise the Lord with the harp;(DL)
make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.(DM)
3 Sing to him a new song;(DN)
play skillfully, and shout for joy.(DO)
4 For the word of the Lord is right(DP) and true;(DQ)
he is faithful(DR) in all he does.
5 The Lord loves righteousness and justice;(DS)
the earth is full of his unfailing love.(DT)
6 By the word(DU) of the Lord the heavens were made,(DV)
their starry host(DW) by the breath of his mouth.
7 He gathers the waters(DX) of the sea into jars[h];(DY)
he puts the deep into storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear the Lord;(DZ)
let all the people of the world(EA) revere him.(EB)
9 For he spoke, and it came to be;
he commanded,(EC) and it stood firm.
10 The Lord foils(ED) the plans(EE) of the nations;(EF)
he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.
11 But the plans of the Lord stand firm(EG) forever,
the purposes(EH) of his heart through all generations.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,(EI)
the people he chose(EJ) for his inheritance.(EK)
13 From heaven the Lord looks down(EL)
and sees all mankind;(EM)
14 from his dwelling place(EN) he watches
all who live on earth—
15 he who forms(EO) the hearts of all,
who considers everything they do.(EP)
16 No king is saved by the size of his army;(EQ)
no warrior escapes by his great strength.
17 A horse(ER) is a vain hope for deliverance;
despite all its great strength it cannot save.
18 But the eyes(ES) of the Lord are on those who fear him,
on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,(ET)
19 to deliver them from death(EU)
and keep them alive in famine.(EV)
20 We wait(EW) in hope for the Lord;
he is our help and our shield.
21 In him our hearts rejoice,(EX)
for we trust in his holy name.(EY)
22 May your unfailing love(EZ) be with us, Lord,
even as we put our hope in you.
Psalm 34[i][j]
Of David. When he pretended to be insane(FA) before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left.
1 I will extol the Lord at all times;(FB)
his praise will always be on my lips.
2 I will glory(FC) in the Lord;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.(FD)
3 Glorify the Lord(FE) with me;
let us exalt(FF) his name together.
4 I sought the Lord,(FG) and he answered me;
he delivered(FH) me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant;(FI)
their faces are never covered with shame.(FJ)
6 This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.(FK)
7 The angel of the Lord(FL) encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers(FM) them.
8 Taste and see that the Lord is good;(FN)
blessed is the one who takes refuge(FO) in him.
9 Fear the Lord,(FP) you his holy people,
for those who fear him lack nothing.(FQ)
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.(FR)
11 Come, my children, listen(FS) to me;
I will teach you(FT) the fear of the Lord.(FU)
12 Whoever of you loves life(FV)
and desires to see many good days,
13 keep your tongue(FW) from evil
and your lips from telling lies.(FX)
14 Turn from evil and do good;(FY)
seek peace(FZ) and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the Lord(GA) are on the righteous,(GB)
and his ears are attentive(GC) to their cry;
16 but the face of the Lord is against(GD) those who do evil,(GE)
to blot out their name(GF) from the earth.
17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears(GG) them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is close(GH) to the brokenhearted(GI)
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
19 The righteous person may have many troubles,(GJ)
but the Lord delivers him from them all;(GK)
20 he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.(GL)
21 Evil will slay the wicked;(GM)
the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord will rescue(GN) his servants;
no one who takes refuge(GO) in him will be condemned.
Psalm 35
Of David.
1 Contend,(GP) Lord, with those who contend with me;
fight(GQ) against those who fight against me.
2 Take up shield(GR) and armor;
arise(GS) and come to my aid.(GT)
3 Brandish spear(GU) and javelin[k](GV)
against those who pursue me.
Say to me,
“I am your salvation.(GW)”
4 May those who seek my life(GX)
be disgraced(GY) and put to shame;(GZ)
may those who plot my ruin
be turned back(HA) in dismay.
5 May they be like chaff(HB) before the wind,
with the angel of the Lord(HC) driving them away;
6 may their path be dark and slippery,
with the angel of the Lord pursuing them.
7 Since they hid their net(HD) for me without cause(HE)
and without cause dug a pit(HF) for me,
8 may ruin overtake them by surprise—(HG)
may the net they hid entangle them,
may they fall into the pit,(HH) to their ruin.
9 Then my soul will rejoice(HI) in the Lord
and delight in his salvation.(HJ)
10 My whole being will exclaim,
“Who is like you,(HK) Lord?
You rescue the poor from those too strong(HL) for them,
the poor and needy(HM) from those who rob them.”
11 Ruthless witnesses(HN) come forward;
they question me on things I know nothing about.
12 They repay me evil for good(HO)
and leave me like one bereaved.
13 Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth(HP)
and humbled myself with fasting.(HQ)
When my prayers returned to me unanswered,
14 I went about mourning(HR)
as though for my friend or brother.
I bowed my head in grief
as though weeping for my mother.
15 But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee;(HS)
assailants gathered against me without my knowledge.
They slandered(HT) me without ceasing.
16 Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked;[l](HU)
they gnashed their teeth(HV) at me.
17 How long,(HW) Lord, will you look on?
Rescue me from their ravages,
my precious life(HX) from these lions.(HY)
18 I will give you thanks in the great assembly;(HZ)
among the throngs(IA) I will praise you.(IB)
19 Do not let those gloat over me
who are my enemies(IC) without cause;
do not let those who hate me without reason(ID)
maliciously wink the eye.(IE)
20 They do not speak peaceably,
but devise false accusations(IF)
against those who live quietly in the land.
21 They sneer(IG) at me and say, “Aha! Aha!(IH)
With our own eyes we have seen it.”
22 Lord, you have seen(II) this; do not be silent.
Do not be far(IJ) from me, Lord.
23 Awake,(IK) and rise(IL) to my defense!
Contend(IM) for me, my God and Lord.
24 Vindicate me in your righteousness, Lord my God;
do not let them gloat(IN) over me.
25 Do not let them think, “Aha,(IO) just what we wanted!”
or say, “We have swallowed him up.”(IP)
26 May all who gloat(IQ) over my distress(IR)
be put to shame(IS) and confusion;
may all who exalt themselves over me(IT)
be clothed with shame and disgrace.
27 May those who delight in my vindication(IU)
shout for joy(IV) and gladness;
may they always say, “The Lord be exalted,
who delights(IW) in the well-being of his servant.”(IX)
Psalm 36[m]
For the director of music. Of David the servant of the Lord.
1 I have a message from God in my heart
concerning the sinfulness of the wicked:[n](JA)
There is no fear(JB) of God
before their eyes.(JC)
2 In their own eyes they flatter themselves
too much to detect or hate their sin.(JD)
3 The words of their mouths(JE) are wicked and deceitful;(JF)
they fail to act wisely(JG) or do good.(JH)
4 Even on their beds they plot evil;(JI)
they commit themselves to a sinful course(JJ)
and do not reject what is wrong.(JK)
5 Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,
your faithfulness(JL) to the skies.(JM)
6 Your righteousness(JN) is like the highest mountains,(JO)
your justice like the great deep.(JP)
You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.(JQ)
7 How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!(JR)
People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.(JS)
8 They feast on the abundance of your house;(JT)
you give them drink from your river(JU) of delights.(JV)
9 For with you is the fountain of life;(JW)
in your light(JX) we see light.
10 Continue your love(JY) to those who know you,(JZ)
your righteousness to the upright in heart.(KA)
11 May the foot of the proud not come against me,
nor the hand of the wicked(KB) drive me away.
12 See how the evildoers lie fallen—
thrown down, not able to rise!(KC)
Psalm 37[o]
Of David.
1 Do not fret because of those who are evil
or be envious(KD) of those who do wrong;(KE)
2 for like the grass they will soon wither,(KF)
like green plants they will soon die away.(KG)
3 Trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land(KH) and enjoy safe pasture.(KI)
4 Take delight(KJ) in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.(KK)
5 Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him(KL) and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteous reward(KM) shine like the dawn,(KN)
your vindication like the noonday sun.
7 Be still(KO) before the Lord
and wait patiently(KP) for him;
do not fret(KQ) when people succeed in their ways,(KR)
when they carry out their wicked schemes.(KS)
8 Refrain from anger(KT) and turn from wrath;
do not fret(KU)—it leads only to evil.
9 For those who are evil will be destroyed,(KV)
but those who hope(KW) in the Lord will inherit the land.(KX)
10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more;(KY)
though you look for them, they will not be found.
11 But the meek will inherit the land(KZ)
and enjoy peace and prosperity.(LA)
12 The wicked plot(LB) against the righteous
and gnash their teeth(LC) at them;
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
for he knows their day is coming.(LD)
14 The wicked draw the sword(LE)
and bend the bow(LF)
to bring down the poor and needy,(LG)
to slay those whose ways are upright.
15 But their swords will pierce their own hearts,(LH)
and their bows will be broken.(LI)
16 Better the little that the righteous have
than the wealth(LJ) of many wicked;
17 for the power of the wicked will be broken,(LK)
but the Lord upholds(LL) the righteous.
18 The blameless spend their days under the Lord’s care,(LM)
and their inheritance will endure forever.(LN)
19 In times of disaster they will not wither;
in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.
20 But the wicked will perish:(LO)
Though the Lord’s enemies are like the flowers of the field,
they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke.(LP)
21 The wicked borrow and do not repay,
but the righteous give generously;(LQ)
22 those the Lord blesses will inherit the land,
but those he curses(LR) will be destroyed.(LS)
23 The Lord makes firm the steps(LT)
of the one who delights(LU) in him;
24 though he may stumble, he will not fall,(LV)
for the Lord upholds(LW) him with his hand.
25 I was young and now I am old,
yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken(LX)
or their children begging(LY) bread.
26 They are always generous and lend freely;(LZ)
their children will be a blessing.[p](MA)
27 Turn from evil and do good;(MB)
then you will dwell in the land forever.(MC)
28 For the Lord loves the just
and will not forsake his faithful ones.(MD)
Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed[q];
the offspring of the wicked will perish.(ME)
29 The righteous will inherit the land(MF)
and dwell in it forever.(MG)
30 The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom,(MH)
and their tongues speak what is just.
31 The law of their God is in their hearts;(MI)
their feet do not slip.(MJ)
32 The wicked lie in wait(MK) for the righteous,(ML)
intent on putting them to death;
33 but the Lord will not leave them in the power of the wicked
or let them be condemned(MM) when brought to trial.(MN)
34 Hope in the Lord(MO)
and keep his way.(MP)
He will exalt you to inherit the land;
when the wicked are destroyed,(MQ) you will see(MR) it.
35 I have seen a wicked and ruthless man
flourishing(MS) like a luxuriant native tree,
36 but he soon passed away and was no more;
though I looked for him, he could not be found.(MT)
37 Consider the blameless,(MU) observe the upright;(MV)
a future awaits those who seek peace.[r](MW)
38 But all sinners(MX) will be destroyed;(MY)
there will be no future[s] for the wicked.(MZ)
39 The salvation(NA) of the righteous comes from the Lord;
he is their stronghold in time of trouble.(NB)
40 The Lord helps(NC) them and delivers(ND) them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves(NE) them,
because they take refuge(NF) in him.
Psalm 38[t]
A psalm of David. A petition.
1 Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger
or discipline me in your wrath.(NG)
2 Your arrows(NH) have pierced me,
and your hand has come down on me.
3 Because of your wrath there is no health(NI) in my body;
there is no soundness in my bones(NJ) because of my sin.
4 My guilt has overwhelmed(NK) me
like a burden too heavy to bear.(NL)
5 My wounds(NM) fester and are loathsome(NN)
because of my sinful folly.(NO)
6 I am bowed down(NP) and brought very low;
all day long I go about mourning.(NQ)
7 My back is filled with searing pain;(NR)
there is no health(NS) in my body.
8 I am feeble and utterly crushed;(NT)
I groan(NU) in anguish of heart.(NV)
9 All my longings(NW) lie open before you, Lord;
my sighing(NX) is not hidden from you.
10 My heart pounds,(NY) my strength fails(NZ) me;
even the light has gone from my eyes.(OA)
11 My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds;(OB)
my neighbors stay far away.
12 Those who want to kill me set their traps,(OC)
those who would harm me talk of my ruin;(OD)
all day long they scheme and lie.(OE)
13 I am like the deaf, who cannot hear,(OF)
like the mute, who cannot speak;
14 I have become like one who does not hear,
whose mouth can offer no reply.
15 Lord, I wait(OG) for you;
you will answer,(OH) Lord my God.
16 For I said, “Do not let them gloat(OI)
or exalt themselves over me when my feet slip.”(OJ)
17 For I am about to fall,(OK)
and my pain(OL) is ever with me.
18 I confess my iniquity;(OM)
I am troubled by my sin.
19 Many have become my enemies(ON) without cause[u];
those who hate me(OO) without reason(OP) are numerous.
20 Those who repay my good with evil(OQ)
lodge accusations(OR) against me,
though I seek only to do what is good.
21 Lord, do not forsake me;(OS)
do not be far(OT) from me, my God.
22 Come quickly(OU) to help me,(OV)
my Lord and my Savior.(OW)
Psalm 39[v]
For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.
1 I said, “I will watch my ways(OX)
and keep my tongue from sin;(OY)
I will put a muzzle on my mouth(OZ)
while in the presence of the wicked.”
2 So I remained utterly silent,(PA)
not even saying anything good.
But my anguish(PB) increased;
3 my heart grew hot(PC) within me.
While I meditated,(PD) the fire(PE) burned;
then I spoke with my tongue:
4 “Show me, Lord, my life’s end
and the number of my days;(PF)
let me know how fleeting(PG) my life is.(PH)
5 You have made my days(PI) a mere handbreadth;
the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Everyone is but a breath,(PJ)
even those who seem secure.[w]
6 “Surely everyone goes around(PK) like a mere phantom;(PL)
in vain they rush about,(PM) heaping up wealth(PN)
without knowing whose it will finally be.(PO)
7 “But now, Lord, what do I look for?
My hope is in you.(PP)
8 Save me(PQ) from all my transgressions;(PR)
do not make me the scorn(PS) of fools.
9 I was silent;(PT) I would not open my mouth,(PU)
for you are the one who has done this.(PV)
10 Remove your scourge from me;
I am overcome by the blow(PW) of your hand.(PX)
11 When you rebuke(PY) and discipline(PZ) anyone for their sin,
you consume(QA) their wealth like a moth(QB)—
surely everyone is but a breath.(QC)
12 “Hear my prayer, Lord,
listen to my cry for help;(QD)
do not be deaf(QE) to my weeping.(QF)
I dwell with you as a foreigner,(QG)
a stranger,(QH) as all my ancestors were.(QI)
13 Look away from me, that I may enjoy life again
before I depart and am no more.”(QJ)
Psalm 40[x](QK)
For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.
1 I waited patiently(QL) for the Lord;
he turned to me and heard my cry.(QM)
2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit,(QN)
out of the mud(QO) and mire;(QP)
he set my feet(QQ) on a rock(QR)
and gave me a firm place to stand.
3 He put a new song(QS) in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the Lord(QT)
and put their trust(QU) in him.
4 Blessed is the one(QV)
who trusts in the Lord,(QW)
who does not look to the proud,(QX)
to those who turn aside to false gods.[y](QY)
5 Many, Lord my God,
are the wonders(QZ) you have done,
the things you planned for us.
None can compare(RA) with you;
were I to speak and tell of your deeds,
they would be too many(RB) to declare.
6 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire—(RC)
but my ears you have opened[z]—(RD)
burnt offerings(RE) and sin offerings[aa] you did not require.
7 Then I said, “Here I am, I have come—
it is written about me in the scroll.[ab](RF)
8 I desire to do your will,(RG) my God;(RH)
your law is within my heart.”(RI)
9 I proclaim your saving acts(RJ) in the great assembly;(RK)
I do not seal my lips, Lord,
as you know.(RL)
10 I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;
I speak of your faithfulness(RM) and your saving help.
I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness
from the great assembly.(RN)
11 Do not withhold your mercy(RO) from me, Lord;
may your love(RP) and faithfulness(RQ) always protect(RR) me.
12 For troubles(RS) without number surround me;
my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see.(RT)
They are more than the hairs of my head,(RU)
and my heart fails(RV) within me.
13 Be pleased to save me, Lord;
come quickly, Lord, to help me.(RW)
14 May all who want to take my life(RX)
be put to shame and confusion;(RY)
may all who desire my ruin(RZ)
be turned back in disgrace.
15 May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”(SA)
be appalled at their own shame.
16 But may all who seek you(SB)
rejoice and be glad(SC) in you;
may those who long for your saving help always say,
“The Lord is great!”(SD)
17 But as for me, I am poor and needy;(SE)
may the Lord think(SF) of me.
You are my help(SG) and my deliverer;(SH)
you are my God, do not delay.(SI)
Psalm 41[ac]
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 Blessed(SJ) are those who have regard for the weak;(SK)
the Lord delivers them in times of trouble.(SL)
2 The Lord protects(SM) and preserves them—(SN)
they are counted among the blessed in the land—(SO)
he does not give them over to the desire of their foes.(SP)
3 The Lord sustains them on their sickbed(SQ)
and restores them from their bed of illness.(SR)
4 I said, “Have mercy(SS) on me, Lord;
heal(ST) me, for I have sinned(SU) against you.”
5 My enemies say of me in malice,
“When will he die and his name perish?(SV)”
6 When one of them comes to see me,
he speaks falsely,(SW) while his heart gathers slander;(SX)
then he goes out and spreads(SY) it around.
7 All my enemies whisper together(SZ) against me;
they imagine the worst for me, saying,
8 “A vile disease has afflicted him;
he will never get up(TA) from the place where he lies.”
9 Even my close friend,(TB)
someone I trusted,
one who shared my bread,
has turned[ad] against me.(TC)
10 But may you have mercy(TD) on me, Lord;
raise me up,(TE) that I may repay(TF) them.
11 I know that you are pleased with me,(TG)
for my enemy does not triumph over me.(TH)
12 Because of my integrity(TI) you uphold me(TJ)
and set me in your presence forever.(TK)
13 Praise(TL) be to the Lord, the God of Israel,(TM)
from everlasting to everlasting.
Amen and Amen.(TN)
BOOK II
Psalms 42–72
Psalm 42[ae][af]
For the director of music. A maskil[ag] of the Sons of Korah.
1 As the deer(TO) pants for streams of water,(TP)
so my soul pants(TQ) for you, my God.
2 My soul thirsts(TR) for God, for the living God.(TS)
When can I go(TT) and meet with God?
3 My tears(TU) have been my food
day and night,
while people say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”(TV)
4 These things I remember
as I pour out my soul:(TW)
how I used to go to the house of God(TX)
under the protection of the Mighty One[ah]
with shouts of joy(TY) and praise(TZ)
among the festive throng.(UA)
5 Why, my soul, are you downcast?(UB)
Why so disturbed(UC) within me?
Put your hope in God,(UD)
for I will yet praise(UE) him,
my Savior(UF) and my God.(UG)
6 My soul is downcast within me;
therefore I will remember(UH) you
from the land of the Jordan,(UI)
the heights of Hermon(UJ)—from Mount Mizar.
7 Deep calls to deep(UK)
in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers
have swept over me.(UL)
8 By day the Lord directs his love,(UM)
at night(UN) his song(UO) is with me—
a prayer to the God of my life.(UP)
9 I say to God my Rock,(UQ)
“Why have you forgotten(UR) me?
Why must I go about mourning,(US)
oppressed(UT) by the enemy?”(UU)
10 My bones suffer mortal agony(UV)
as my foes taunt(UW) me,
saying to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”(UX)
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.(UY)
Psalm 43[ai]
1 Vindicate me, my God,
and plead my cause(UZ)
against an unfaithful nation.
Rescue me(VA) from those who are
deceitful and wicked.(VB)
2 You are God my stronghold.
Why have you rejected(VC) me?
Why must I go about mourning,(VD)
oppressed by the enemy?(VE)
3 Send me your light(VF) and your faithful care,(VG)
let them lead me;(VH)
let them bring me to your holy mountain,(VI)
to the place where you dwell.(VJ)
Footnotes
- Psalm 30:1 In Hebrew texts 30:1-12 is numbered 30:2-13.
- Psalm 30:1 Title: Or palace
- Psalm 30:7 That is, Mount Zion
- Psalm 31:1 In Hebrew texts 31:1-24 is numbered 31:2-25.
- Psalm 31:10 Or guilt
- Psalm 32:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 32:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 5 and 7.
- Psalm 33:7 Or sea as into a heap
- Psalm 34:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
- Psalm 34:1 In Hebrew texts 34:1-22 is numbered 34:2-23.
- Psalm 35:3 Or and block the way
- Psalm 35:16 Septuagint; Hebrew may mean Like an ungodly circle of mockers,
- Psalm 36:1 In Hebrew texts 36:1-12 is numbered 36:2-13.
- Psalm 36:1 Or A message from God: The transgression of the wicked / resides in their hearts.
- Psalm 37:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the stanzas of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
- Psalm 37:26 Or freely; / the names of their children will be used in blessings (see Gen. 48:20); or freely; / others will see that their children are blessed
- Psalm 37:28 See Septuagint; Hebrew They will be protected forever
- Psalm 37:37 Or upright; / those who seek peace will have posterity
- Psalm 37:38 Or posterity
- Psalm 38:1 In Hebrew texts 38:1-22 is numbered 38:2-23.
- Psalm 38:19 One Dead Sea Scrolls manuscript; Masoretic Text my vigorous enemies
- Psalm 39:1 In Hebrew texts 39:1-13 is numbered 39:2-14.
- Psalm 39:5 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 11.
- Psalm 40:1 In Hebrew texts 40:1-17 is numbered 40:2-18.
- Psalm 40:4 Or to lies
- Psalm 40:6 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts but a body you have prepared for me
- Psalm 40:6 Or purification offerings
- Psalm 40:7 Or come / with the scroll written for me
- 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.
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