Add parallel Print Page Options

A prayer of the prophet Habakkuk according to Shigionoth.

Read full chapter

Book IV

(Psalms 90–106)

Psalm 90

God’s Eternity and Human Frailty

A Prayer of Moses, the man of God.

Lord, you have been our dwelling place[a]
    in all generations.(A)
Before the mountains were brought forth
    or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
    from everlasting to everlasting you are God.(B)

You turn us[b] back to dust
    and say, “Turn back, you mortals.”(C)
For a thousand years in your sight
    are like yesterday when it is past
    or like a watch in the night.(D)

You sweep them away; they are like a dream,
    like grass that is renewed in the morning;(E)
in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
    in the evening it fades and withers.(F)

For we are consumed by your anger;
    by your wrath we are overwhelmed.
You have set our iniquities before you,
    our secret sins in the light of your countenance.(G)

For all our days pass away under your wrath;
    our years come to an end[c] like a sigh.(H)
10 The days of our life are seventy years
    or perhaps eighty, if we are strong;
even then their span[d] is only toil and trouble;
    they are soon gone, and we fly away.(I)

11 Who considers the power of your anger?
    Your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you.(J)
12 So teach us to count our days
    that we may gain a wise heart.(K)

13 Turn, O Lord! How long?
    Have compassion on your servants!(L)
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
    so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.(M)
15 Make us glad as many days as you have afflicted us
    and as many years as we have seen evil.
16 Let your work be manifest to your servants
    and your glorious power to their children.(N)
17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us
    and prosper for us the work of our hands—
    O prosper the work of our hands!(O)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 90.1 Or our refuge
  2. 90.3 Heb humankind
  3. 90.9 Syr: Heb we bring our years to an end
  4. 90.10 Cn Compare Gk Syr Jerome Tg: Heb pride

Psalm 86

Supplication for Help against Enemies

A Prayer of David.

Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me,
    for I am poor and needy.(A)
Preserve my life, for I am devoted to you;
    save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God;(B) be gracious to me, O Lord,
    for to you do I cry all day long.(C)
Gladden the soul of your servant,
    for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.(D)
For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
    abounding in steadfast love to all who call on you.(E)
Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer;
    listen to my cry of supplication.(F)
In the day of my trouble I call on you,
    for you will answer me.(G)

There is none like you among the gods, O Lord,
    nor are there any works like yours.(H)
All the nations you have made shall come
    and bow down before you, O Lord,
    and shall glorify your name.(I)
10 For you are great and do wondrous things;
    you alone are God.(J)
11 Teach me your way, O Lord,
    that I may walk in your truth;
    give me an undivided heart to revere your name.(K)
12 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,
    and I will glorify your name forever.
13 For great is your steadfast love toward me;
    you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.(L)

14 O God, the insolent rise up against me;
    a band of ruffians seeks my life,
    and they do not set you before them.(M)
15 But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,
    slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.(N)
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me;
    give your strength to your servant;
    save the child of your maidservant.(O)
17 Show me a sign of your favor,
    so that those who hate me may see it and be put to shame,
    because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.(P)

Read full chapter

Psalm 7

Plea for Help against Persecutors

A Shiggaion of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning Cush, a Benjaminite.

O Lord my God, in you I take refuge;
    save me from all my pursuers, and deliver me,(A)
or like a lion they will tear me apart;
    they will drag me away, with no one to rescue.(B)

O Lord my God, if I have done this,
    if there is wrong in my hands,(C)
if I have repaid my ally with harm
    or plundered my foe without cause,(D)
then let the enemy pursue and overtake me,
    trample my life to the ground,
    and lay my soul in the dust. Selah

Rise up, O Lord, in your anger;
    lift yourself up against the fury of my enemies;
    awake, O my God;[a] you have appointed a judgment.(E)
Let the assembly of the peoples be gathered around you,
    and over it take your seat[b] on high.(F)
The Lord judges the peoples;
    judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness
    and according to the integrity that is in me.(G)

O let the evil of the wicked come to an end,
    but establish the righteous,
you who test the minds and hearts,
    O righteous God.(H)
10 God is my shield,
    who saves the upright in heart.(I)
11 God is a righteous judge
    and a God who has indignation every day.(J)

12 If one does not repent, God[c] will whet his sword;
    he has bent and strung his bow;(K)
13 he has prepared his deadly weapons,
    making his arrows fiery shafts.(L)
14 See how they conceive evil
    and are pregnant with mischief
    and bring forth lies.(M)
15 They make a pit, digging it out,
    and fall into the hole that they have made.(N)
16 Their mischief returns upon their own heads,
    and on their own heads their violence descends.(O)

17 I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness
    and sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High.(P)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 7.6 Or awake for me
  2. 7.7 Cn: Heb return
  3. 7.12 Heb he