Confidence in God’s Protection.

For the music director; on a stringed instrument. A Psalm of David.

61 (A)Hear my cry, God;
(B)Give Your attention to my prayer.
From the (C)end of the earth I call to You when my heart is (D)faint;
Lead me to (E)the rock that is higher than I.
For You have been a (F)refuge for me,
A (G)tower of strength against the enemy.
Let me [a](H)dwell in Your tent forever;
Let me (I)take refuge in the shelter of Your wings. Selah

For You have heard my (J)vows, God;
You have given me the inheritance of those who (K)fear Your name.
You will [b](L)prolong the king’s [c]life;
His years will be like generations.
He will [d]sit enthroned (M)before God forever;
Appoint (N)faithfulness and truth that they may watch over him.
So I will (O)sing praise to Your name forever,
That I may (P)pay my vows day by day.

God Alone a Refuge from Treachery and Oppression.

For the music director; [e]according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.

62 (Q)My soul waits in silence for God alone;
From Him (R)comes my salvation.
He alone is my (S)rock and my salvation,
My (T)stronghold; I will not be greatly shaken.

How long will you attack a man,
That you may murder him, all of you,
Like a (U)leaning wall, like a tottering fence?
They have planned only to thrust him down from his high position;
They (V)delight in falsehood;
They (W)bless with [f]their mouth,
But inwardly they curse. Selah

My soul, (X)wait in silence for God alone,
For my hope is from Him.
He alone is (Y)my rock and my salvation,
My refuge; I will not be shaken.
My (Z)salvation and my glory rest on God;
The rock of my strength, my (AA)refuge is in God.
(AB)Trust in Him at all times, you people;
(AC)Pour out your hearts before Him;
God is a refuge for us. Selah

People of (AD)low standing are only (AE)breath, and people of rank are a (AF)lie;
In the (AG)balances they go up.
Together they are lighter than breath.
10 (AH)Do not trust in oppression,
And do not vainly rely on (AI)robbery;
If wealth increases, (AJ)do not set your heart on it.

11 God has (AK)spoken [g]once;
[h]Twice I have heard this:
That (AL)power belongs to God;
12 And faithfulness (AM)is Yours, Lord,
For You (AN)reward a person according to his work.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 61:4 Or sojourn
  2. Psalm 61:6 Lit add days to
  3. Psalm 61:6 Lit days
  4. Psalm 61:7 Or remain before
  5. Psalm 62 Title Cf. 1 Chr 16:41; 25:1; Ps 39 and 77 titles
  6. Psalm 62:4 Lit his
  7. Psalm 62:11 Or one thing
  8. Psalm 62:11 Or These two things I have heard

Psalm 61[a]

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. Of David.

Hear my cry, O God;(A)
    listen to my prayer.(B)

From the ends of the earth I call to you,
    I call as my heart grows faint;(C)
    lead me to the rock(D) that is higher than I.
For you have been my refuge,(E)
    a strong tower against the foe.(F)

I long to dwell(G) in your tent forever
    and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.[b](H)
For you, God, have heard my vows;(I)
    you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.(J)

Increase the days of the king’s life,(K)
    his years for many generations.(L)
May he be enthroned in God’s presence forever;(M)
    appoint your love and faithfulness to protect him.(N)

Then I will ever sing in praise of your name(O)
    and fulfill my vows day after day.(P)

Psalm 62[c]

For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.

Truly my soul finds rest(Q) in God;(R)
    my salvation comes from him.
Truly he is my rock(S) and my salvation;(T)
    he is my fortress,(U) I will never be shaken.(V)

How long will you assault me?
    Would all of you throw me down—
    this leaning wall,(W) this tottering fence?
Surely they intend to topple me
    from my lofty place;
    they take delight in lies.
With their mouths they bless,
    but in their hearts they curse.[d](X)

Yes, my soul, find rest in God;(Y)
    my hope comes from him.
Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
    he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honor depend on God[e];
    he is my mighty rock, my refuge.(Z)
Trust in him at all times, you people;(AA)
    pour out your hearts to him,(AB)
    for God is our refuge.

Surely the lowborn(AC) are but a breath,(AD)
    the highborn are but a lie.
If weighed on a balance,(AE) they are nothing;
    together they are only a breath.
10 Do not trust in extortion(AF)
    or put vain hope in stolen goods;(AG)
though your riches increase,
    do not set your heart on them.(AH)

11 One thing God has spoken,
    two things I have heard:
“Power belongs to you, God,(AI)
12     and with you, Lord, is unfailing love”;(AJ)
and, “You reward everyone
    according to what they have done.”(AK)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 61:1 In Hebrew texts 61:1-8 is numbered 61:2-9.
  2. Psalm 61:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
  3. Psalm 62:1 In Hebrew texts 62:1-12 is numbered 62:2-13.
  4. Psalm 62:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 8.
  5. Psalm 62:7 Or / God Most High is my salvation and my honor

Prayer for Rescue from Secret Enemies.

For the music director. A Psalm of David.

64 Hear my voice, God, in (A)my [a]complaint;
(B)Protect my life from dread of the enemy.
Hide me from the (C)secret discussion of evildoers,
From the restlessness of (D)the workers of injustice,
Who (E)have sharpened their tongues like a sword.
They (F)aimed bitter speech as their arrows,
To (G)shoot [b]from concealment at the innocent;
Suddenly they shoot at him, and (H)do not fear.
They make firm for themselves an evil [c]purpose;
They [d]talk of (I)setting snares secretly;
They say, “(J)Who can see them?”
They [e]devise injustices, saying,
“We are [f]ready with a well-conceived plot”;
For the [g](K)inward thought and the heart of a person are [h]deep.

But (L)God [i]will shoot an arrow at them;
Suddenly [j]they will be wounded.
So [k]they [l]will (M)make him stumble;
(N)Their own tongue is against them;
All who see them will (O)shake their heads.
Then all people [m]will (P)fear,
And they [n]will (Q)declare the work of God,
And [o]will consider [p]what He has done.
10 The righteous person will be (R)glad in the Lord and (S)take refuge in Him;
And all the upright in heart will boast.

God’s Abundant Favor to Earth and Mankind.

For the music director. A Psalm of David. A Song.

65 There will be silence [q]before You, and praise in Zion, God,
And the (T)vow will be fulfilled for You.
You who hear prayer,
To You (U)all [r]mankind comes.
[s](V)Wrongdoings prevail against me;
As for our offenses, You [t](W)forgive them.
(X)Blessed is the one You (Y)choose and allow to approach You;
He will dwell in Your courtyards.
We will be (Z)satisfied with the goodness of Your house,
Your holy temple.

By (AA)awesome deeds You answer us in righteousness, (AB)God of our salvation,
You who are the trust of all the (AC)ends of the earth and the farthest [u](AD)sea;
Who (AE)establishes the mountains by His strength,
Who is (AF)encircled with might;
Who (AG)stills the roaring of the seas,
The roaring of their waves,
And the (AH)turmoil of the nations.
They who dwell at the (AI)ends of the earth stand in awe of Your signs;
You make the [v]sunrise and the sunset shout for joy.

You visit the earth and (AJ)cause it to overflow;
You greatly (AK)enrich it;
The [w](AL)stream of God is full of water;
You prepare their (AM)grain, for so You prepare [x]the earth.
10 You water its furrows abundantly,
You [y]settle its ridges,
You soften it (AN)with showers,
You bless its growth.
11 You have crowned the year [z]with Your (AO)goodness,
And Your [aa]paths (AP)drip with fatness.
12 (AQ)The pastures of the wilderness drip,
And the (AR)hills encircle themselves with rejoicing.
13 The meadows are (AS)clothed with flocks
And the valleys are (AT)covered with grain;
They (AU)shout for joy, yes, they sing.

Praise for God’s Mighty Deeds and for His Answer to Prayer.

For the music director. A Song. A Psalm.

66 (AV)Shout joyfully to God, all the earth;
Sing the (AW)glory of His name;
Make His (AX)praise glorious.
Say to God, “How (AY)awesome are Your works!
Because of the greatness of Your power Your enemies will (AZ)pretend to obey You.
(BA)All the earth will worship You,
And will (BB)sing praises to You;
They will sing praises to Your name.” Selah

(BC)Come and see the works of God,
Who is (BD)awesome in His deeds toward the sons of mankind.
He (BE)turned the sea into dry land;
They passed through (BF)the river on foot;
Let’s (BG)rejoice there, in Him!
He (BH)rules by His might forever;
His (BI)eyes keep watch on the nations;
The rebellious shall not (BJ)exalt themselves! Selah

Bless our God, you peoples,
And [ab](BK)sound His praise abroad,
Who [ac](BL)keeps us in life,
And (BM)does not allow our feet to [ad]slip.
10 For You have (BN)put us to the test, God;
You have (BO)refined us as silver is refined.
11 You (BP)brought us into the net;
You laid an oppressive burden upon [ae]us.
12 You made men (BQ)ride over our heads;
We went through (BR)fire and through water.
Yet You (BS)brought us out into a place of abundance.
13 I shall (BT)come into Your house with burnt offerings;
I shall (BU)pay You my vows,
14 Which my lips uttered
And my mouth spoke when I was (BV)in distress.
15 I shall (BW)offer to You burnt offerings of fat animals,
With the smoke of (BX)rams;
I shall make an offering of [af]bulls with male goats. Selah

16 (BY)Come and hear, all who [ag]fear God,
And I will (BZ)tell of what He has done for my soul.
17 I cried to Him with my mouth,
And [ah]He was (CA)exalted with my tongue.
18 If I [ai](CB)regard wickedness in my heart,
The (CC)Lord will not hear;
19 But (CD)God has heard;
He has given attention to the sound of my prayer.
20 (CE)Blessed be God,
Who (CF)has not turned away my prayer
Nor His favor from me.

The Nations Exhorted to Praise God.

For the music director; with stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song.

67 God be gracious to us and (CG)bless us,
And (CH)cause His face to shine [aj]upon us— Selah
That (CI)Your way may be known on the earth,
(CJ)Your salvation among all nations.
May the (CK)peoples praise You, God;
May all the peoples praise You.
May the (CL)nations be glad and sing for joy;
For You will (CM)judge the peoples with fairness
And (CN)guide the nations on the earth. Selah
May the (CO)peoples praise You, God;
May all the peoples praise You.
The (CP)earth has yielded its produce;
God, our God, (CQ)blesses us.
God blesses us,
[ak]So that (CR)all the ends of the earth may fear Him.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 64:1 Or concern
  2. Psalm 64:4 Lit in
  3. Psalm 64:5 Lit matter
  4. Psalm 64:5 Lit tell of
  5. Psalm 64:6 Or search out
  6. Psalm 64:6 Lit complete
  7. Psalm 64:6 Or inward part
  8. Psalm 64:6 Or unsearchable
  9. Psalm 64:7 Or shot
  10. Psalm 64:7 Or they were wounded; lit their wounds occurred
  11. Psalm 64:8 Or they make their tongue a stumbling for themselves
  12. Psalm 64:8 Or made
  13. Psalm 64:9 Or feared
  14. Psalm 64:9 Or declared
  15. Psalm 64:9 Or considered
  16. Psalm 64:9 Lit His work
  17. Psalm 65:1 Lit to
  18. Psalm 65:2 Lit flesh comes
  19. Psalm 65:3 Or Confessions of wrongdoings
  20. Psalm 65:3 Lit cover, atone for
  21. Psalm 65:5 Or seas
  22. Psalm 65:8 Lit outgoings of the morning and evening
  23. Psalm 65:9 Or channel
  24. Psalm 65:9 Lit it
  25. Psalm 65:10 Or smooth
  26. Psalm 65:11 Lit of
  27. Psalm 65:11 I.e., wagon tracks
  28. Psalm 66:8 Lit cause to hear the sound of His praise
  29. Psalm 66:9 Lit puts our soul in life
  30. Psalm 66:9 Or dodder, stumble
  31. Psalm 66:11 Lit our loins
  32. Psalm 66:15 Or cattle
  33. Psalm 66:16 Or revere
  34. Psalm 66:17 Or praise was under my tongue
  35. Psalm 66:18 Or had regarded
  36. Psalm 67:1 Lit with
  37. Psalm 67:7 Or And let all...earth fear Him

Psalm 64[a]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

Hear me, my God, as I voice my complaint;(A)
    protect my life from the threat of the enemy.(B)

Hide me from the conspiracy(C) of the wicked,(D)
    from the plots of evildoers.
They sharpen their tongues like swords(E)
    and aim cruel words like deadly arrows.(F)
They shoot from ambush at the innocent;(G)
    they shoot suddenly, without fear.(H)

They encourage each other in evil plans,
    they talk about hiding their snares;(I)
    they say, “Who will see it[b]?”(J)
They plot injustice and say,
    “We have devised a perfect plan!”
    Surely the human mind and heart are cunning.

But God will shoot them with his arrows;
    they will suddenly be struck down.
He will turn their own tongues against them(K)
    and bring them to ruin;
    all who see them will shake their heads(L) in scorn.(M)
All people will fear;(N)
    they will proclaim the works of God
    and ponder what he has done.(O)

10 The righteous will rejoice in the Lord(P)
    and take refuge in him;(Q)
    all the upright in heart will glory in him!(R)

Psalm 65[c]

For the director of music. A psalm of David. A song.

Praise awaits[d] you, our God, in Zion;(S)
    to you our vows will be fulfilled.(T)
You who answer prayer,
    to you all people will come.(U)
When we were overwhelmed by sins,(V)
    you forgave[e] our transgressions.(W)
Blessed are those you choose(X)
    and bring near(Y) to live in your courts!
We are filled with the good things of your house,(Z)
    of your holy temple.

You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds,(AA)
    God our Savior,(AB)
the hope of all the ends of the earth(AC)
    and of the farthest seas,(AD)
who formed the mountains(AE) by your power,
    having armed yourself with strength,(AF)
who stilled the roaring of the seas,(AG)
    the roaring of their waves,
    and the turmoil of the nations.(AH)
The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders;
    where morning dawns, where evening fades,
    you call forth songs of joy.(AI)

You care for the land and water it;(AJ)
    you enrich it abundantly.(AK)
The streams of God are filled with water
    to provide the people with grain,(AL)
    for so you have ordained it.[f]
10 You drench its furrows and level its ridges;
    you soften it with showers(AM) and bless its crops.
11 You crown the year with your bounty,(AN)
    and your carts overflow with abundance.(AO)
12 The grasslands of the wilderness overflow;(AP)
    the hills are clothed with gladness.(AQ)
13 The meadows are covered with flocks(AR)
    and the valleys are mantled with grain;(AS)
    they shout for joy and sing.(AT)

Psalm 66

For the director of music. A song. A psalm.

Shout for joy to God, all the earth!(AU)
    Sing the glory of his name;(AV)
    make his praise glorious.(AW)
Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!(AX)
    So great is your power
    that your enemies cringe(AY) before you.
All the earth bows down(AZ) to you;
    they sing praise(BA) to you,
    they sing the praises of your name.”[g]

Come and see what God has done,
    his awesome deeds(BB) for mankind!
He turned the sea into dry land,(BC)
    they passed through(BD) the waters on foot—
    come, let us rejoice(BE) in him.
He rules forever(BF) by his power,
    his eyes watch(BG) the nations—
    let not the rebellious(BH) rise up against him.

Praise(BI) our God, all peoples,
    let the sound of his praise be heard;
he has preserved our lives(BJ)
    and kept our feet from slipping.(BK)
10 For you, God, tested(BL) us;
    you refined us like silver.(BM)
11 You brought us into prison(BN)
    and laid burdens(BO) on our backs.
12 You let people ride over our heads;(BP)
    we went through fire and water,
    but you brought us to a place of abundance.(BQ)

13 I will come to your temple with burnt offerings(BR)
    and fulfill my vows(BS) to you—
14 vows my lips promised and my mouth spoke
    when I was in trouble.
15 I will sacrifice fat animals to you
    and an offering of rams;
    I will offer bulls and goats.(BT)

16 Come and hear,(BU) all you who fear God;
    let me tell(BV) you what he has done for me.
17 I cried out to him with my mouth;
    his praise was on my tongue.
18 If I had cherished sin in my heart,
    the Lord would not have listened;(BW)
19 but God has surely listened
    and has heard(BX) my prayer.
20 Praise be to God,
    who has not rejected(BY) my prayer
    or withheld his love from me!

Psalm 67[h]

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm. A song.

May God be gracious to us and bless us
    and make his face shine on us—[i](BZ)
so that your ways may be known on earth,
    your salvation(CA) among all nations.(CB)

May the peoples praise you, God;
    may all the peoples praise you.(CC)
May the nations be glad and sing for joy,(CD)
    for you rule the peoples with equity(CE)
    and guide the nations of the earth.(CF)
May the peoples praise you, God;
    may all the peoples praise you.

The land yields its harvest;(CG)
    God, our God, blesses us.(CH)
May God bless us still,
    so that all the ends of the earth(CI) will fear him.(CJ)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 64:1 In Hebrew texts 64:1-10 is numbered 64:2-11.
  2. Psalm 64:5 Or us
  3. Psalm 65:1 In Hebrew texts 65:1-13 is numbered 65:2-14.
  4. Psalm 65:1 Or befits; the meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
  5. Psalm 65:3 Or made atonement for
  6. Psalm 65:9 Or for that is how you prepare the land
  7. Psalm 66:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 7 and 15.
  8. Psalm 67:1 In Hebrew texts 67:1-7 is numbered 67:2-8.
  9. Psalm 67:1 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 4.