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Psalm 1
Contemporary English Version
Psalm 1
Contemporary English Version
BOOK I
(Psalms 1–41)
The Way to Happiness
1 God blesses those people
who refuse evil advice
and won't follow sinners
or join in sneering at God.
2 Instead, they find happiness
in the Teaching of the Lord,
and they think about it
day and night.
3 (A) They are like trees
growing beside a stream,
trees that produce
fruit in season
and always have leaves.
Those people succeed
in everything they do.
4 That isn't true of those
who are evil—
they are like straw
blown by the wind.
5 Sinners won't have an excuse
on the day of judgment,
and they won't have a place
with the people of God.
6 The Lord protects everyone
who follows him,
but the wicked follow a road
that leads to ruin.
Psalm 1
New International Version
Psalm 1
New International Version
BOOK I
Psalms 1–41
Psalm 1
1 Blessed is the one(A)
who does not walk(B) in step with the wicked(C)
or stand in the way(D) that sinners take(E)
or sit(F) in the company of mockers,(G)
2 but whose delight(H) is in the law of the Lord,(I)
and who meditates(J) on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree(K) planted by streams(L) of water,(M)
which yields its fruit(N) in season
and whose leaf(O) does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.(P)
Psalm 13-15
Contemporary English Version
Psalm 13-15
Contemporary English Version
(A psalm by David for the music leader.)
A Prayer for the Lord's Help
1 How much longer, Lord,
will you forget about me?
Will it be forever?
How long will you hide?
2 How long must I be confused
and miserable all day?
How long will my enemies
keep beating me down?
3 Please listen, Lord God,
and answer my prayers.
Make my eyes sparkle again,
or else I will fall
into the sleep of death.
4 My enemies will say,
“Now we've won!”
They will be greatly pleased
when I am defeated.
5 I trust your love,
and I feel like celebrating
because you rescued me.
6 You have been good to me, Lord,
and I will sing about you.
(A psalm by David for the music leader.)
No One Can Ignore the Lord
1 (A) Only a fool would say,
“There is no God!”
People like that are worthless;
they are heartless and cruel
and never do right.
2 From heaven the Lord
looks down to see
if anyone is wise enough
to search for him.
3 But all of them are corrupt;
no one does right.
4 Won't you evil people learn?
You refuse to pray,
and you gobble up
the Lord's people.
5 But you will be frightened,
because God is on the side
of every good person.
6 You may spoil the plans
of the poor,
but the Lord protects them.
7 I long for someone from Zion
to come and save Israel!
Our Lord, when you bless
your people again,
Jacob's family will be glad,
and Israel will celebrate.
(A psalm by David.)
Who May Worship the Lord?
1 Who may stay in God's temple
or live on the holy mountain
of the Lord?
2 Only those who obey God
and do as they should.
They speak the truth
3 and don't spread gossip;
they treat others fairly
and don't say cruel things.
4 They hate worthless people,
but show respect for all
who worship the Lord.
And they keep their promises,
no matter what the cost.
5 They lend their money
without charging interest,
and they don't take bribes
to hurt the innocent.
Those who do these things
will always stand firm.
Psalm 13-15
New International Version
Psalm 13-15
New International Version
Psalm 13[a]
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 How long,(A) Lord? Will you forget me(B) forever?
How long will you hide your face(C) from me?
2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts(D)
and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?(E)
3 Look on me(F) and answer,(G) Lord my God.
Give light to my eyes,(H) or I will sleep in death,(I)
4 and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,(J)”
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.(K)
5 But I trust in your unfailing love;(L)
my heart rejoices in your salvation.(M)
6 I will sing(N) the Lord’s praise,
for he has been good to me.
Psalm 14(O)
For the director of music. Of David.
1 The fool[b] says in his heart,
“There is no God.”(P)
They are corrupt, their deeds are vile;
there is no one who does good.
2 The Lord looks down from heaven(Q)
on all mankind
to see if there are any who understand,(R)
any who seek God.(S)
3 All have turned away,(T) all have become corrupt;(U)
there is no one who does good,(V)
not even one.(W)
4 Do all these evildoers know nothing?(X)
They devour my people(Y) as though eating bread;
they never call on the Lord.(Z)
5 But there they are, overwhelmed with dread,
for God is present in the company of the righteous.
6 You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor,
but the Lord is their refuge.(AA)
7 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!(AB)
When the Lord restores(AC) his people,
let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!
Psalm 15
A psalm of David.
2 The one whose walk is blameless,(AG)
who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth(AH) from their heart;
3 whose tongue utters no slander,(AI)
who does no wrong to a neighbor,
and casts no slur on others;
4 who despises a vile person
but honors(AJ) those who fear the Lord;
who keeps an oath(AK) even when it hurts,
and does not change their mind;
5 who lends money to the poor without interest;(AL)
who does not accept a bribe(AM) against the innocent.
Whoever does these things
will never be shaken.(AN)
Footnotes
- Psalm 13:1 In Hebrew texts 13:1-6 is numbered 13:2-6.
- Psalm 14:1 The Hebrew words rendered fool in Psalms denote one who is morally deficient.
Contemporary English Version (CEV) 
Copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society For more information about CEV, visit www.bibles.com and www.cev.bible.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.