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Praise for Help.

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

21 O Lord the king will delight in Your strength,
And in Your salvation how greatly will he rejoice!

You have given him his heart’s desire,
And You have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah.

For You meet him with blessings of good things;
You set a crown of pure gold on his head.

He asked life of You,
And You gave it to him,
Long life forever and evermore.

His glory is great because of Your victory;
Splendor and majesty You bestow upon him.

For You make him most blessed [and a blessing] forever;
You make him joyful with the joy of Your presence.(A)


For the king [confidently] trusts in the Lord,
And through the lovingkindness (faithfulness, goodness) of the Most High he will never be shaken.

Your hand will reach out and defeat all your enemies;
Your right hand will reach those who hate you.

You will make them as [if in] a blazing oven in the time of your anger;
The Lord will swallow them up in His wrath,
And the fire will devour them.
10 
Their offspring You will destroy from the earth,
And their descendants from the sons of men.
11 
For they planned evil against You;
They devised a [malevolent] plot
And they will not succeed.
12 
For You will make them turn their backs [in defeat];
You will aim Your bowstring [of divine justice] at their faces.
13 
Be exalted, Lord, in Your strength;
We will sing and praise Your power.

A Cry of Anguish and a Song of Praise.

To the Chief Musician; set to [the tune of] Aijeleth Hashshahar (The Doe of the Dawn). A Psalm of David.

22 [a]My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?
Why are You so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?(B)

O my God, I call out by day, but You do not answer;
And by night, but I find no rest nor quiet.

But You are holy,
O You who are enthroned in [the holy place where] the praises of Israel [are offered].

In You our fathers trusted [leaned on, relied on, and were confident];
They trusted and You rescued them.

They cried out to You and were delivered;
They trusted in You and were not disappointed or ashamed.


But I am [treated as] a worm [insignificant and powerless] and not a man;
I am the scorn of men and despised by the people.(C)

All who see me laugh at me and mock me;
They [insultingly] open their lips, they shake their head, saying,(D)

“He trusted and committed himself to the Lord, let Him save him.
Let Him rescue him, because He delights in him.”(E)


Yet You are He who pulled me out of the womb;
You made me trust when on my mother’s breasts.
10 
I was cast upon You from birth;
From my mother’s womb You have been my God.

11 
Do not be far from me, for trouble is near;
And there is no one to help.
12 
Many [enemies like] bulls have surrounded me;
Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me.(F)
13 
They open wide their mouths against me,
Like a ravening and a roaring lion.
14 
I am poured out like water,
And all my bones are out of joint.
My heart is like wax;
It is melted [by anguish] within me.
15 
My strength is dried up like a fragment of clay pottery;
And my [dry] tongue clings to my jaws;
And You have laid me in the dust of death.(G)
16 
For [a pack of] dogs have surrounded me;
A gang of evildoers has encircled me,
They pierced my hands and my feet.(H)
17 
I can count all my bones;
They look, they stare at me.(I)
18 
They divide my clothing among them
And cast lots for my [b]garment.(J)

19 
But You, O Lord, do not be far from me;
O You my help, come quickly to my assistance.
20 
Rescue my life from the sword,
My only life from the paw of the dog (the executioner).
21 
Save me from the lion’s mouth;
From the horns of the wild oxen You answer me.

22 
I will tell of Your name to my countrymen;
In the midst of the congregation I will praise You.(K)
23 
You who fear the Lord [with awe-inspired reverence], praise Him!
All you descendants of Jacob, honor Him.
Fear Him [with submissive wonder], all you descendants of Israel.
24 
For He has not despised nor detested the suffering of the afflicted;
Nor has He hidden His face from him;
But when he cried to Him for help, He listened.

25 
My praise will be of You in the great assembly.
I will pay my vows [made in the time of trouble] before those who [reverently] fear Him.
26 
The afflicted will eat and be satisfied;
Those who [diligently] seek Him and require Him [as their greatest need] will praise the Lord.
May your hearts live forever!
27 
All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord,
And all the families of the nations will bow down and worship before You,
28 
For the kingship and the kingdom are the Lord’s
And He rules over the nations.
29 
All the prosperous of the earth will eat and worship;
All those who go down to the dust (the dead) will bow before Him,
Even he who cannot keep his soul alive.
30 
Posterity will serve Him;
They will tell of the Lord to the next generation.
31 
They will come and declare His righteousness
To a people yet to be born—that He has done it [and that it is finished].(L)

The Lord, the Psalmist’s Shepherd.

A Psalm of David.

23 The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, to guide and to shield me],(M)
I shall not want.

He lets me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still and quiet waters.(N)

He refreshes and restores my soul (life);
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
for His name’s sake.


Even though I walk through the [sunless] [c]valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort and console me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You have anointed and refreshed my head with [d]oil;
My cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life,
And I shall dwell forever [throughout all my days] in the house and in the presence of the Lord.

The King of Glory Entering Zion.

[e]A Psalm of David.

24 The earth [f]is the Lord’s, and the fullness of it,
The world, and those who dwell in it.(O)

For He has founded it upon the seas
And established it upon the streams and the rivers.

Who may ascend onto the [g]mountain of the Lord?
And who may stand in His holy place?

He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul to what is false,
Nor has sworn [oaths] deceitfully.(P)

He shall receive a blessing from the Lord,
And righteousness from the God of his salvation.

This is the generation (description) of those who diligently seek Him and require Him as their greatest need,
Who seek Your face, even [as did] Jacob.(Q) Selah.


Lift up your heads, O gates,
And be lifted up, ancient doors,
That the King of glory may come in.

Who is the King of glory?
The Lord strong and mighty,
The Lord mighty in battle.

Lift up your heads, O gates,
And lift them up, ancient doors,
That the King of glory may come in.
10 
Who is [He then] this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts,
He is the King of glory [who rules over all creation with His heavenly armies]. Selah.

Prayer for Protection, Guidance and Pardon.

A Psalm of David.

25 To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

O my God, in You I [have unwavering] trust [and I rely on You with steadfast confidence],
Do not let me be ashamed or my hope in You be disappointed;
Do not let my enemies triumph over me.

Indeed, none of those who [expectantly] wait for You will be ashamed;
Those who turn away from what is right and deal treacherously without cause will be ashamed (humiliated, embarrassed).


Let me know Your ways, O Lord;
Teach me Your paths.

Guide me in Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God of my salvation;
For You [and only You] I wait [expectantly] all the day long.

Remember, O Lord, Your [tender] compassion and Your lovingkindnesses,
For they have been from of old.

Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
According to Your lovingkindness remember me,
For Your goodness’ sake, O Lord.


Good and upright is the Lord;
Therefore He instructs sinners in the way.

He leads the humble in justice,
And He teaches the humble His way.
10 
All the paths of the Lord are lovingkindness and goodness and truth and faithfulness
To those who keep His covenant and His testimonies.
11 
For Your name’s sake, O Lord,
Pardon my wickedness and my guilt, for they are great.

12 
Who is the man who fears the Lord [with awe-inspired reverence and worships Him with submissive wonder]?
He will teach him [through His word] in the way he should choose.
13 
His soul will dwell in prosperity and goodness,
And his descendants will inherit the land.
14 
The secret [of the wise counsel] of the Lord is for those who fear Him,
And He will let them know His covenant and reveal to them [through His word] its [deep, inner] meaning.(R)
15 
My eyes are continually toward the Lord,
For He will bring my feet out of the net.

16 
Turn to me [Lord] and be gracious to me,
For I am alone and afflicted.
17 
The troubles of my heart are multiplied;
Bring me out of my distresses.
18 
Look upon my affliction and my trouble,
And forgive all my sins.
19 
Look upon my enemies, for they are many;
They hate me with cruel and violent hatred.
20 
Guard my soul and rescue me;
Do not let me be ashamed or disappointed,
For I have taken refuge in You.
21 
Let integrity and uprightness protect me,
For I wait [expectantly] for You.
22 
O God, redeem Israel,
Out of all his troubles.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 22:1 This psalm may have been prayed by Jesus when He was on the cross. It begins with, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” and ends with a thought of finality. The psalm is quoted in Matt 27:46; Mark 15:34; and alluded to in Matt 27:35, 39, 43 and John 19:23, 24, 28 as being fulfilled at Christ’s crucifixion.
  2. Psalm 22:18 A prophetic reference to the long, seamless shirt-like tunic worn by Jesus as an undergarment.
  3. Psalm 23:4 Or valley of deep darkness.
  4. Psalm 23:5 In ancient times it was customary in hot climates for a host to provide his guest with olive oil to put on his head. The Lord blesses and anoints His believers with the Holy Spirit, whom oil symbolizes, to prepare them for His service.
  5. Psalm 24:1 In the Talmud it is said that the Levites sang a particular psalm for every day of the week, and this was the psalm for the first day.
  6. Psalm 24:1 The ancient rabbis taught that since the earth and everything it contains belongs to the Lord, it is sacrilege to enjoy anything of the world without first saying a benediction for it.
  7. Psalm 24:3 I.e. Mount Zion.

Psalm 21[a]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

The king rejoices in your strength, Lord.(A)
    How great is his joy in the victories you give!(B)

You have granted him his heart’s desire(C)
    and have not withheld the request of his lips.[b]
You came to greet him with rich blessings
    and placed a crown of pure gold(D) on his head.(E)
He asked you for life, and you gave it to him—
    length of days, for ever and ever.(F)
Through the victories(G) you gave, his glory is great;
    you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty.(H)
Surely you have granted him unending blessings
    and made him glad with the joy(I) of your presence.(J)
For the king trusts in the Lord;(K)
    through the unfailing love(L) of the Most High(M)
    he will not be shaken.(N)

Your hand will lay hold(O) on all your enemies;
    your right hand will seize your foes.
When you appear for battle,
    you will burn them up as in a blazing furnace.
The Lord will swallow them up in his wrath,
    and his fire will consume them.(P)
10 You will destroy their descendants from the earth,
    their posterity from mankind.(Q)
11 Though they plot evil(R) against you
    and devise wicked schemes,(S) they cannot succeed.
12 You will make them turn their backs(T)
    when you aim at them with drawn bow.

13 Be exalted(U) in your strength, Lord;(V)
    we will sing and praise your might.

Psalm 22[c]

For the director of music. To the tune of “The Doe of the Morning.” A psalm of David.

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?(W)
    Why are you so far(X) from saving me,
    so far from my cries of anguish?(Y)
My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,(Z)
    by night,(AA) but I find no rest.[d]

Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;(AB)
    you are the one Israel praises.[e](AC)
In you our ancestors put their trust;
    they trusted and you delivered them.(AD)
To you they cried out(AE) and were saved;
    in you they trusted(AF) and were not put to shame.(AG)

But I am a worm(AH) and not a man,
    scorned by everyone,(AI) despised(AJ) by the people.
All who see me mock me;(AK)
    they hurl insults,(AL) shaking their heads.(AM)
“He trusts in the Lord,” they say,
    “let the Lord rescue him.(AN)
Let him deliver him,(AO)
    since he delights(AP) in him.”

Yet you brought me out of the womb;(AQ)
    you made me trust(AR) in you, even at my mother’s breast.
10 From birth(AS) I was cast on you;
    from my mother’s womb you have been my God.

11 Do not be far from me,(AT)
    for trouble is near(AU)
    and there is no one to help.(AV)

12 Many bulls(AW) surround me;(AX)
    strong bulls of Bashan(AY) encircle me.
13 Roaring lions(AZ) that tear their prey(BA)
    open their mouths wide(BB) against me.
14 I am poured out like water,
    and all my bones are out of joint.(BC)
My heart has turned to wax;(BD)
    it has melted(BE) within me.
15 My mouth[f] is dried up like a potsherd,(BF)
    and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;(BG)
    you lay me in the dust(BH) of death.

16 Dogs(BI) surround me,
    a pack of villains encircles me;
    they pierce[g](BJ) my hands and my feet.
17 All my bones are on display;
    people stare(BK) and gloat over me.(BL)
18 They divide my clothes among them
    and cast lots(BM) for my garment.(BN)

19 But you, Lord, do not be far from me.(BO)
    You are my strength;(BP) come quickly(BQ) to help me.(BR)
20 Deliver me from the sword,(BS)
    my precious life(BT) from the power of the dogs.(BU)
21 Rescue me from the mouth of the lions;(BV)
    save me from the horns of the wild oxen.(BW)

22 I will declare your name to my people;
    in the assembly(BX) I will praise you.(BY)
23 You who fear the Lord, praise him!(BZ)
    All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!(CA)
    Revere him,(CB) all you descendants of Israel!
24 For he has not despised(CC) or scorned
    the suffering of the afflicted one;(CD)
he has not hidden his face(CE) from him
    but has listened to his cry for help.(CF)

25 From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly;(CG)
    before those who fear you[h] I will fulfill my vows.(CH)
26 The poor will eat(CI) and be satisfied;
    those who seek the Lord will praise him—(CJ)
    may your hearts live forever!

27 All the ends of the earth(CK)
    will remember and turn to the Lord,
and all the families of the nations
    will bow down before him,(CL)
28 for dominion belongs to the Lord(CM)
    and he rules over the nations.

29 All the rich(CN) of the earth will feast and worship;(CO)
    all who go down to the dust(CP) will kneel before him—
    those who cannot keep themselves alive.(CQ)
30 Posterity(CR) will serve him;
    future generations(CS) will be told about the Lord.
31 They will proclaim his righteousness,(CT)
    declaring to a people yet unborn:(CU)
    He has done it!(CV)

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

The Lord is my shepherd,(CW) I lack nothing.(CX)
    He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,(CY)
    he refreshes my soul.(CZ)
He guides me(DA) along the right paths(DB)
    for his name’s sake.(DC)
Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,[i](DD)
I will fear no evil,(DE)
    for you are with me;(DF)
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

You prepare a table(DG) before me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;(DH)
    my cup(DI) overflows.
Surely your goodness and love(DJ) will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

Psalm 24

Of David. A psalm.

The earth is the Lord’s,(DK) and everything in it,
    the world, and all who live in it;(DL)
for he founded it on the seas
    and established it on the waters.(DM)

Who may ascend the mountain(DN) of the Lord?
    Who may stand in his holy place?(DO)
The one who has clean hands(DP) and a pure heart,(DQ)
    who does not trust in an idol(DR)
    or swear by a false god.[j]

They will receive blessing(DS) from the Lord
    and vindication(DT) from God their Savior.
Such is the generation of those who seek him,
    who seek your face,(DU) God of Jacob.[k][l]

Lift up your heads, you gates;(DV)
    be lifted up, you ancient doors,
    that the King(DW) of glory(DX) may come in.(DY)
Who is this King of glory?
    The Lord strong and mighty,(DZ)
    the Lord mighty in battle.(EA)
Lift up your heads, you gates;
    lift them up, you ancient doors,
    that the King of glory may come in.
10 Who is he, this King of glory?
    The Lord Almighty(EB)
    he is the King of glory.

Psalm 25[m]

Of David.

In you, Lord my God,
    I put my trust.(EC)

I trust in you;(ED)
    do not let me be put to shame,
    nor let my enemies triumph over me.
No one who hopes in you
    will ever be put to shame,(EE)
but shame will come on those
    who are treacherous(EF) without cause.

Show me your ways, Lord,
    teach me your paths.(EG)
Guide me in your truth(EH) and teach me,
    for you are God my Savior,(EI)
    and my hope is in you(EJ) all day long.
Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love,(EK)
    for they are from of old.
Do not remember the sins of my youth(EL)
    and my rebellious ways;(EM)
according to your love(EN) remember me,
    for you, Lord, are good.(EO)

Good and upright(EP) is the Lord;
    therefore he instructs(EQ) sinners in his ways.
He guides(ER) the humble in what is right
    and teaches them(ES) his way.
10 All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful(ET)
    toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.(EU)
11 For the sake of your name,(EV) Lord,
    forgive(EW) my iniquity,(EX) though it is great.

12 Who, then, are those who fear the Lord?(EY)
    He will instruct them in the ways(EZ) they should choose.[n]
13 They will spend their days in prosperity,(FA)
    and their descendants will inherit the land.(FB)
14 The Lord confides(FC) in those who fear him;
    he makes his covenant known(FD) to them.
15 My eyes are ever on the Lord,(FE)
    for only he will release my feet from the snare.(FF)

16 Turn to me(FG) and be gracious to me,(FH)
    for I am lonely(FI) and afflicted.
17 Relieve the troubles(FJ) of my heart
    and free me from my anguish.(FK)
18 Look on my affliction(FL) and my distress(FM)
    and take away all my sins.(FN)
19 See how numerous are my enemies(FO)
    and how fiercely they hate me!(FP)

20 Guard my life(FQ) and rescue me;(FR)
    do not let me be put to shame,(FS)
    for I take refuge(FT) in you.
21 May integrity(FU) and uprightness(FV) protect me,
    because my hope, Lord,[o] is in you.(FW)

22 Deliver Israel,(FX) O God,
    from all their troubles!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 21:1 In Hebrew texts 21:1-13 is numbered 21:2-14.
  2. Psalm 21:2 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
  3. Psalm 22:1 In Hebrew texts 22:1-31 is numbered 22:2-32.
  4. Psalm 22:2 Or night, and am not silent
  5. Psalm 22:3 Or Yet you are holy, / enthroned on the praises of Israel
  6. Psalm 22:15 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text strength
  7. Psalm 22:16 Dead Sea Scrolls and some manuscripts of the Masoretic Text, Septuagint and Syriac; most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text me, / like a lion
  8. Psalm 22:25 Hebrew him
  9. Psalm 23:4 Or the valley of the shadow of death
  10. Psalm 24:4 Or swear falsely
  11. Psalm 24:6 Two Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac (see also Septuagint); most Hebrew manuscripts face, Jacob
  12. Psalm 24:6 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 10.
  13. Psalm 25:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
  14. Psalm 25:12 Or ways he chooses
  15. Psalm 25:21 Septuagint; Hebrew does not have Lord.