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Psalm 87

The Joy of Living in Zion

Of the Korahites. A Psalm. A Song.

On the holy mount stands the city he founded;
    the Lord loves the gates of Zion
    more than all the dwellings of Jacob.(A)
Glorious things are spoken of you,
    O city of God. Selah(B)

Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon;
    Philistia, too, and Tyre, with Cush—
    “This one was born there,” they say.

And of Zion it shall be said,
    “This one and that one were born in it,”
    for the Most High himself will establish it.(C)
The Lord records, as he registers the peoples,
    “This one was born there.” Selah(D)

Singers and dancers alike say,
    “All my springs are in you.”(E)

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)

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

Concerning Treasures

19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust[a] consume and where thieves break in and steal,(A) 20 but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust[b] consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal.(B) 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

The Eye

22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light,(C) 23 but if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If, then, the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

Serving Two Masters

24 “No one can serve two masters, for a slave will either hate the one and love the other or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.[c](D)

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Footnotes

  1. 6.19 Gk eating
  2. 6.20 Gk eating
  3. 6.24 Gk mammon

Psalm 136

God’s Work in Creation and in History

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
    for his steadfast love endures forever.(A)
O give thanks to the God of gods,
    for his steadfast love endures forever.(B)
O give thanks to the Lord of lords,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;

who alone does great wonders,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;(C)
who by understanding made the heavens,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;(D)
who spread out the earth on the waters,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;(E)
who made the great lights,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;(F)
the sun to rule over the day,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;(G)
the moon and stars to rule over the night,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;

10 who struck Egypt through their firstborn,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;(H)
11 and brought Israel out from among them,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;(I)
12 with a strong hand and an outstretched arm,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;(J)
13 who divided the Red Sea[a] in two,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;(K)
14 and made Israel pass through the midst of it,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;(L)
15 but overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea,[b]
    for his steadfast love endures forever;(M)
16 who led his people through the wilderness,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;(N)
who made water flow from the rock,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;[c]
17 who struck down great kings,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;(O)
18 and killed famous kings,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
19 Sihon, king of the Amorites,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
20 and Og, king of Bashan,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
21 and gave their land as a heritage,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;(P)
22 a heritage to his servant Israel,
    for his steadfast love endures forever.

23 It is he who remembered us in our low estate,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;(Q)
24 and rescued us from our foes,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;(R)
25 who gives food to all flesh,
    for his steadfast love endures forever.(S)

26 O give thanks to the God of heaven,
    for his steadfast love endures forever.

Footnotes

  1. 136.13 Or Sea of Reeds
  2. 136.15 Or Sea of Reeds
  3. 136.16 Gk: Heb lacks who made water . . . forever