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Psalm 1-6
English Standard Version

Book One

The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked

1 Blessed is the man[a]
    who (A)walks not in (B)the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in (C)the way of sinners,
    nor (D)sits in (E)the seat of (F)scoffers;
2 but his (G)delight is in the law[b] of the Lord,
    and on his (H)law he meditates day and night.

3 He is like (I)a tree
    planted by (J)streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
    and its (K)leaf does not wither.
(L)In all that he does, he prospers.
4 The wicked are not so,
    but are like (M)chaff that the wind drives away.

5 Therefore the wicked (N)will not stand in the judgment,
    nor sinners in (O)the congregation of the righteous;
6 for the Lord (P)knows (Q)the way of the righteous,
    but the way of the wicked will perish.

The Reign of the Lord's Anointed

2 (R)Why do (S)the nations rage[c]
    and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves,
    and the rulers take counsel together,
    against the Lord and against his (T)Anointed, saying,
3 “Let us (U)burst their bonds apart
    and cast away their cords from us.”

4 He who (V)sits in the heavens (W)laughs;
    the Lord holds them in derision.
5 Then he will speak to them in his (X)wrath,
    and terrify them in his fury, saying,
6 “As for me, I have (Y)set my King
    on (Z)Zion, my (AA)holy hill.”

7 I will tell of the decree:
The Lord said to me, (AB)“You are my Son;
    today I have begotten you.
8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
    and (AC)the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You shall (AD)break[d] them with (AE)a rod of iron
    and dash them in pieces like (AF)a potter's vessel.”

10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
    be warned, O rulers of the earth.
11 (AG)Serve the Lord with (AH)fear,
    and (AI)rejoice with (AJ)trembling.
12 (AK)Kiss (AL)the Son,
    lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
    for his (AM)wrath is quickly kindled.
(AN)Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Save Me, O My God

A Psalm of David, (AO)when he fled from Absalom his son.

3 O Lord, (AP)how many are my foes!
    Many are (AQ)rising against me;
2 many are saying of my soul,
    (AR)“There is no salvation for him in God.” Selah[e]

3 But you, O Lord, are (AS)a shield (AT)about me,
    my glory, and (AU)the lifter of my head.
4 I (AV)cried aloud to the Lord,
    and he (AW)answered me from his (AX)holy hill. Selah

5 I (AY)lay down and slept;
    I woke again, for the Lord sustained me.
6 I (AZ)will not be afraid of many thousands of people
    who have (BA)set themselves against me all around.

7 (BB)Arise, O Lord!
    Save me, O my God!
For you (BC)strike all my enemies on the cheek;
    you (BD)break the teeth of the wicked.

8 (BE)Salvation belongs to the Lord;
    your blessing be on your people! Selah

Answer Me When I Call

To the (BF)choirmaster: with (BG)stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.

4 Answer me when I call, O God of my (BH)righteousness!
    You have (BI)given me relief when I was in distress.
    Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!

2 O men,[f] how long shall my honor be turned into shame?
    How long will you love vain words and seek after (BJ)lies? Selah
3 But know that the Lord has (BK)set apart (BL)the godly for himself;
    the Lord hears when I call to him.

4 (BM)Be angry,[g] and do not sin;
    (BN)ponder in your own hearts (BO)on your beds, and be silent. Selah
5 Offer (BP)right sacrifices,
    and put your (BQ)trust in the Lord.

6 There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?
    (BR)Lift up (BS)the light of your face upon us, O Lord!”
7 You have put (BT)more joy in my heart
    than they have when their grain and wine abound.

8 In peace I will both (BU)lie down and sleep;
    for you alone, O Lord, make me (BV)dwell in safety.

Lead Me in Your Righteousness

To the choirmaster: for the flutes. A Psalm of David.

5 Give ear to my words, O Lord;
    consider my (BW)groaning.
2 Give attention to the sound of my cry,
    my (BX)King and my God,
    for (BY)to you do I pray.
3 O Lord, in (BZ)the morning you hear my voice;
    in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you[h] and (CA)watch.

4 For you are not a God who delights in wickedness;
    evil may not dwell with you.
5 The (CB)boastful shall not (CC)stand before your eyes;
    you (CD)hate all evildoers.
6 You destroy those who speak (CE)lies;
    the Lord abhors (CF)the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

7 But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love,
    will enter your house.
I will (CG)bow down (CH)toward your (CI)holy temple
    in the fear of you.
8 (CJ)Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness
    because of my enemies;
    (CK)make your way straight before me.

9 For there is no truth in their mouth;
    their inmost self is (CL)destruction;
(CM)their throat is (CN)an open grave;
    they (CO)flatter with their tongue.
10 (CP)Make them bear their guilt, O God;
    let them (CQ)fall by their own counsels;
because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out,
    for they have rebelled against you.

11 But let all who (CR)take refuge in you (CS)rejoice;
    let them ever sing for joy,
and spread your protection over them,
    that those who love your name may (CT)exult in you.
12 For you (CU)bless the righteous, O Lord;
    you (CV)cover him with favor as with (CW)a shield.

O Lord, Deliver My Life

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments; according to (CX)The Sheminith.[i] A Psalm of David.

6 O Lord, (CY)rebuke me not in your anger,
    nor (CZ)discipline me in your wrath.
2 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing;
    (DA)heal me, O Lord, (DB)for my bones are troubled.
3 My (DC)soul also is greatly troubled.
    But you, O Lord—(DD)how long?

4 Turn, O Lord, deliver my life;
    save me for the sake of your steadfast love.
5 For in (DE)death there is no remembrance of you;
    in Sheol who will give you praise?

6 I am (DF)weary with my (DG)moaning;
    every night I flood my bed with tears;
    I drench my couch with my weeping.
7 My (DH)eye wastes away because of grief;
    it grows weak because of all my foes.

8 (DI)Depart from me, all you (DJ)workers of evil,
    for the Lord (DK)has heard the sound of my weeping.
9 The Lord has heard my (DL)plea;
    the Lord accepts my prayer.
10 All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled;
    they shall (DM)turn back and be put to shame in a moment.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 1:1 The singular Hebrew word for man (ish) is used here to portray a representative example of a godly person; see Preface
  2. Psalm 1:2 Or instruction
  3. Psalm 2:1 Or nations noisily assemble
  4. Psalm 2:9 Revocalization yields (compare Septuagint) You shall rule
  5. Psalm 3:2 The meaning of the Hebrew word Selah, used frequently in the Psalms, is uncertain. It may be a musical or liturgical direction
  6. Psalm 4:2 Or O men of rank
  7. Psalm 4:4 Or Be agitated
  8. Psalm 5:3 Or I direct my prayer to you
  9. Psalm 6:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term
Listen to Psalm 1-6
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Psalm 1-6
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)

4 Not so the wicked!
    They are like chaff(Q)
    that the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand(R) in the judgment,(S)
    nor sinners in the assembly(T) of the righteous.

6 For the Lord watches over(U) the way of the righteous,
    but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.(V)

Psalm 2

1 Why do the nations conspire[a]
    and the peoples plot(W) in vain?
2 The kings(X) of the earth rise up
    and the rulers band together
    against the Lord and against his anointed,(Y) saying,
3 “Let us break their chains(Z)
    and throw off their shackles.”(AA)

4 The One enthroned(AB) in heaven laughs;(AC)
    the Lord scoffs at them.
5 He rebukes them in his anger(AD)
    and terrifies them in his wrath,(AE) saying,
6 “I have installed my king(AF)
    on Zion,(AG) my holy mountain.(AH)”

7 I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:

He said to me, “You are my son;(AI)
    today I have become your father.(AJ)
8 Ask me,
    and I will make the nations(AK) your inheritance,(AL)
    the ends of the earth(AM) your possession.
9 You will break them with a rod of iron[b];(AN)
    you will dash them to pieces(AO) like pottery.(AP)”

10 Therefore, you kings, be wise;(AQ)
    be warned, you rulers(AR) of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear(AS)
    and celebrate his rule(AT) with trembling.(AU)
12 Kiss his son,(AV) or he will be angry
    and your way will lead to your destruction,
for his wrath(AW) can flare up in a moment.
    Blessed(AX) are all who take refuge(AY) in him.

Psalm 3[c]

A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom.(AZ)

1 Lord, how many are my foes!
    How many rise up against me!
2 Many are saying of me,
    “God will not deliver him.(BA)”[d]

3 But you, Lord, are a shield(BB) around me,
    my glory, the One who lifts my head high.(BC)
4 I call out to the Lord,(BD)
    and he answers me from his holy mountain.(BE)

5 I lie down and sleep;(BF)
    I wake again,(BG) because the Lord sustains me.
6 I will not fear(BH) though tens of thousands
    assail me on every side.(BI)

7 Arise,(BJ) Lord!
    Deliver me,(BK) my God!
Strike(BL) all my enemies on the jaw;
    break the teeth(BM) of the wicked.

8 From the Lord comes deliverance.(BN)
    May your blessing(BO) be on your people.

Psalm 4[e]

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

1 Answer me(BP) when I call to you,
    my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;(BQ)
    have mercy(BR) on me and hear my prayer.(BS)

2 How long will you people turn my glory(BT) into shame?(BU)
    How long will you love delusions and seek false gods[f]?[g](BV)
3 Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant(BW) for himself;
    the Lord hears(BX) when I call to him.

4 Tremble and[h] do not sin;(BY)
    when you are on your beds,(BZ)
    search your hearts and be silent.
5 Offer the sacrifices of the righteous
    and trust in the Lord.(CA)

6 Many, Lord, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?”
    Let the light of your face shine on us.(CB)
7 Fill my heart(CC) with joy(CD)
    when their grain and new wine(CE) abound.

8 In peace(CF) I will lie down and sleep,(CG)
    for you alone, Lord,
    make me dwell in safety.(CH)

Psalm 5[i]

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

1 Listen(CI) to my words, Lord,
    consider my lament.(CJ)
2 Hear my cry for help,(CK)
    my King and my God,(CL)
    for to you I pray.

3 In the morning,(CM) Lord, you hear my voice;
    in the morning I lay my requests before you
    and wait expectantly.(CN)
4 For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness;
    with you, evil people(CO) are not welcome.
5 The arrogant(CP) cannot stand(CQ)
    in your presence.
You hate(CR) all who do wrong;
6     you destroy those who tell lies.(CS)
The bloodthirsty and deceitful
    you, Lord, detest.
7 But I, by your great love,
    can come into your house;
in reverence(CT) I bow down(CU)
    toward your holy temple.(CV)

8 Lead me, Lord, in your righteousness(CW)
    because of my enemies—
    make your way straight(CX) before me.
9 Not a word from their mouth can be trusted;
    their heart is filled with malice.
Their throat is an open grave;(CY)
    with their tongues they tell lies.(CZ)
10 Declare them guilty, O God!
    Let their intrigues be their downfall.
Banish them for their many sins,(DA)
    for they have rebelled(DB) against you.
11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
    let them ever sing for joy.(DC)
Spread your protection over them,
    that those who love your name(DD) may rejoice in you.(DE)

12 Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous;(DF)
    you surround them(DG) with your favor as with a shield.(DH)

Psalm 6[j]

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. According to sheminith.[k] A psalm of David.

1 Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger(DI)
    or discipline me in your wrath.
2 Have mercy on me,(DJ) Lord, for I am faint;(DK)
    heal me,(DL) Lord, for my bones are in agony.(DM)
3 My soul is in deep anguish.(DN)
    How long,(DO) Lord, how long?

4 Turn,(DP) Lord, and deliver me;
    save me because of your unfailing love.(DQ)
5 Among the dead no one proclaims your name.
    Who praises you from the grave?(DR)

6 I am worn out(DS) from my groaning.(DT)

All night long I flood my bed with weeping(DU)
    and drench my couch with tears.(DV)
7 My eyes grow weak(DW) with sorrow;
    they fail because of all my foes.

8 Away from me,(DX) all you who do evil,(DY)
    for the Lord has heard my weeping.
9 The Lord has heard my cry for mercy;(DZ)
    the Lord accepts my prayer.
10 All my enemies will be overwhelmed with shame and anguish;(EA)
    they will turn back and suddenly be put to shame.(EB)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 2:1 Hebrew; Septuagint rage
  2. Psalm 2:9 Or will rule them with an iron scepter (see Septuagint and Syriac)
  3. Psalm 3:1 In Hebrew texts 3:1-8 is numbered 3:2-9.
  4. Psalm 3:2 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 4 and 8.
  5. Psalm 4:1 In Hebrew texts 4:1-8 is numbered 4:2-9.
  6. Psalm 4:2 Or seek lies
  7. Psalm 4:2 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 4.
  8. Psalm 4:4 Or In your anger (see Septuagint)
  9. Psalm 5:1 In Hebrew texts 5:1-12 is numbered 5:2-13.
  10. Psalm 6:1 In Hebrew texts 6:1-10 is numbered 6:2-11.
  11. Psalm 6:1 Title: Probably a musical term
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