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The Ways of the Righteous and the Wicked

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the advice of the wicked;
nor does he stand in the way of sinners;
nor does he sit in the assembly of mockers.
Instead, in the law of Yahweh is his delight,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
And so, he is like a tree planted by streams of water
that gives its fruit in its season;
its leaf also does not wither.
Therefore all that he does prospers.
Not so the wicked.
Instead, they are like the chaff that the wind scatters.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
for Yahweh knows the way of the righteous,[a]
but the way of the wicked will perish.

The Messiah’s Reign

Why are nations in tumult,
and countries plotting[b] in vain?[c]
The kings of the earth establish themselves,
and the rulers conspire[d] together
against Yahweh and his anointed:
“Let us tear off their bonds,
and cast their cords from us!”
He who sits enthroned in the heavens laughs.
The Lord derides them.
Then he speaks to them in his wrath,
and in his fury he terrifies them:
“But as for me, I have set my king
on Zion, my holy mountain.”
I will tell the decree;
Yahweh said to me:
“You are my son;
today I have begotten you.
Ask from me and I will make the nations your heritage,
and your possession the ends of the earth.
You will break them with an iron rod.
Like a potter’s vessel you will shatter them.”
10 So then, O kings, be wise.
Be warned, O rulers of the earth.
11 Serve Yahweh with fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son
lest he be angry and you perish on the way,
for his anger burns quickly.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

A Call to Yahweh in Distress

A psalm of David at his fleeing from the presence of Absalom, his son.[e]

Yahweh, how many are my enemies;
many are rising against me.
Many are saying about my soul,
“There is no deliverance for him from[f] God. Selah[g]
But[h] you, Yahweh, are a shield around me,
my glory and the one who lifts up my head.
With my voice I call to Yahweh
and he answers me from his holy hill.[i] Selah
I lay down and slept;
I woke up because Yahweh sustains me.
I am not afraid of the ten thousands of people
who all around have set themselves against me.
Rise up, O Yahweh; deliver me, O my God;
for you strike all my enemies on the cheek.
The teeth of the wicked you break.
To Yahweh belongs deliverance;
may your blessing be over your people. Selah

Safety in Yahweh

For the music director; with stringed instruments. A psalm of David.[j]

When I call, answer me, O God of my righteousness.[k]
In trouble deliver me.[l]
Be gracious to me and hear my prayer.
O sons of man, how long will my honor[m] be a disgrace?
How long will you love vanity?
How long will you seek lies?[n] Selah
But know that Yahweh has set apart[o] for himself the faithful one.[p]
Yahweh hears when I call to him.
Be disturbed but do not sin.
Commune in your heart[q] on your bed and be silent. Selah
Offer correct sacrifices,[r]
and trust in[s] Yahweh.
Many are saying, “Who will show us something good?”
Lift up over[t] us the light of your face, O Yahweh.
You have put gladness in my heart
more than when[u] their grain and their wine abound.
In peace I will lie down and sleep at once,[v]
for you alone, O Yahweh, make me dwell safely.

A Prayer for Guidance and Protection

For the music director; with the flutes. A psalm of David.[w]

Hear my words, O Yahweh.
Give heed to my sighing.[x]
Listen to the sound of my pleading,[y] my king and my God,
for to you I pray.
O Yahweh, in the morning you will hear my voice.
In the morning I will set forth[z] my case to you and I will watch.[aa]
For you are not a God who desires[ab] wickedness.
Evil cannot dwell with you.
The boastful do not stand before[ac] your eyes.
You hate all evildoers.
You destroy speakers of lies.[ad]
A man of bloodshed[ae] and deceit Yahweh abhors.
But as for me,[af] through the abundance of your steadfast love[ag]
I will enter your house.[ah]
I will bow down[ai] toward your holy temple[aj] in awe of you.
O Yahweh, lead me in your righteousness because of my enemies;
make straight before me your way.
For there is not anything reliable in his mouth;
their inner part is destruction.[ak]
Their throat is an open grave;
with their tongue they speak deceit.[al]
10 Treat them as guilty, O God;
let them fall because of their plans.
Because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out,
for they have rebelled against you.
11 But let all who take shelter in you rejoice.
Let them ever[am] sing for joy,
because[an] you spread protection over them;
And let those[ao] who love your name exult in you.
12 For you bless the righteous.
O Yahweh, like a[ap] shield you surround him with good favor.

An Appeal for Forgiveness and Deliverance

For the music director; with stringed instruments, on the Sheminith.[aq]

A psalm of David.[ar]

O Yahweh, do not rebuke me in your anger,
and do not discipline me in your wrath.
Be gracious to me, O Yahweh, because I am feeble.
Heal me, O Yahweh, for my bones are terrified.
My soul is also very terrified.
But you, O Yahweh, how long?
Turn, O Yahweh; deliver my life.[as]
Save me for the sake of your steadfast love.[at]
For there is no remembrance of you in death.
In Sheol, who will give thanks to you?
I am weary with my groaning;
I flood[au] my bed every night.
With my tears I drench[av] my couch.
My eye wastes away because of vexation;
it grows old because of all my oppressors.
Depart from me, all workers of evil,
for Yahweh has heard the sound of my weeping.
Yahweh has heard my plea;
Yahweh has accepted my prayer.
10 All my enemies shall be ashamed and shall be very terrified.
They shall turn back; they shall suddenly be ashamed.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 1:6 Plural
  2. Psalm 2:1 Or “muttering”
  3. Psalm 2:1 Or “an empty thing”
  4. Psalm 2:2 Or “make themselves firm”
  5. Psalm 3:1 The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm; the English verse number is reduced by one
  6. Psalm 3:2 Or “in”
  7. Psalm 3:2 Meaning uncertain; probably a musical or liturgical direction
  8. Psalm 3:3 Or “And”
  9. Psalm 3:4 Literally “the hill of his holiness”
  10. Psalm 4:1 The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm; the English verse number is reduced by one
  11. Psalm 4:1 Or “vindication”
  12. Psalm 4:1 Literally “make wide for me”
  13. Psalm 4:2 Or “glory”
  14. Psalm 4:2 Or “falsehood”
  15. Psalm 4:3 Or “treated specially”
  16. Psalm 4:3 Or “pious, godly one”
  17. Psalm 4:4 That is, “think it over”
  18. Psalm 4:5 Or “right sacrifices”
  19. Psalm 4:5 Literally “trust to”
  20. Psalm 4:6 Or “upon”
  21. Psalm 4:7 Literally “the time of”
  22. Psalm 4:8 Literally “together”
  23. Psalm 5:1 The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm; the English verse number is reduced by one
  24. Psalm 5:1 Or “murmuring”
  25. Psalm 5:2 Or “cry for help”
  26. Psalm 5:3 Or “present”
  27. Psalm 5:3 Or “look expectantly”
  28. Psalm 5:4 Or “takes delight in”
  29. Psalm 5:5 Or “in front of”
  30. Psalm 5:6 Hebrew “lie”
  31. Psalm 5:6 Literally “a man of bloods”
  32. Psalm 5:7 Literally “And I”
  33. Psalm 5:7 Or “covenant love”
  34. Psalm 5:7 Or “temple”
  35. Psalm 5:7 Or “I will worship”
  36. Psalm 5:7 Literally “the temple of your holiness”
  37. Psalm 5:9 Hebrew “destructions”
  38. Psalm 5:9 Or “flattery; smooth words”
  39. Psalm 5:11 Or “perpetually”
  40. Psalm 5:11 Literally “and”
  41. Psalm 5:11 Or “So that those”
  42. Psalm 5:12 Hebrew “the”
  43. Psalm 6:1 Hebrew “upon the eighth”; meaning uncertain
  44. Psalm 6:1 The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm; the English verse number is reduced by one
  45. Psalm 6:4 Or “my soul”; same word as in v. 3
  46. Psalm 6:4 Or “loyal love”
  47. Psalm 6:6 Literally “I make my bed float”
  48. Psalm 6:6 Literally “I cause to melt”