An Evening Prayer for Sanctification and Protection.

A Psalm of David.

141 Lord, I call upon You; (A)hurry to me!
(B)Listen to my voice when I call to You!
May my prayer be [a]counted as (C)incense before You;
The (D)raising of my hands as the (E)evening offering.
Set a (F)guard, Lord, [b]over my mouth;
Keep watch over the (G)door of my lips.
(H)Do not incline my heart to any evil thing,
To practice deeds [c]of wickedness
With people who (I)do wrong;
And (J)may I not taste their delicacies.

May the (K)righteous strike me with mercy and discipline me;
It is (L)oil for the head;
My head shall not refuse it,
For my prayer (M)is still against their evil deeds.
Their judges are (N)thrown down by the sides of the rock,
And they hear my words, for they are pleasant.
As when one (O)plows and breaks open the earth,
Our (P)bones have been scattered at the (Q)mouth of [d]Sheol.

For my (R)eyes are toward You, [e]God, the Lord;
In You I (S)take refuge; (T)do not [f]leave me defenseless.
Keep me from the [g](U)jaws of the trap which they have set for me,
And from the (V)snares of those who do wrong.
10 May the wicked (W)fall into their own nets,
While I pass by [h](X)safely.

Prayer for Help in Trouble.

[i]Maskil of David, when he was [j]in the cave. A Prayer.

142 I (Y)cry out with my voice to the Lord;
With my voice I (Z)implore the Lord for compassion.
I (AA)pour out my complaint before Him;
I declare my (AB)trouble before Him.
When (AC)my spirit felt weak within me,
You knew my path.
In the way where I walk
They have (AD)hidden a trap for me.
Look to the right and see;
For there is (AE)no one who regards me favorably;
[k]There is no (AF)escape for me;
(AG)No one cares for my soul.

I cried out to You, Lord;
I said, “You are (AH)my refuge,
My (AI)portion in the (AJ)land of the living.
(AK)Give Your attention to my cry,
For I have been (AL)brought very low;
Rescue me from my persecutors,
For they are too (AM)strong for me.
(AN)Bring my soul out of prison,
So that I may give thanks to Your name;
The righteous will surround me,
For You will (AO)look after me.”

Prayer for Help and Guidance.

A Psalm of David.

143 Hear my prayer, Lord,
(AP)Listen to my pleadings!
Answer me in Your (AQ)faithfulness, in Your (AR)righteousness!
And (AS)do not enter into judgment with Your servant,
For (AT)no person living is righteous in Your sight.
For the enemy has persecuted my soul;
He has crushed my life (AU)to the ground;
He (AV)has made me dwell in dark places, like those who have long been dead.
Therefore (AW)my spirit [l]feels weak within me;
My heart is [m](AX)appalled within me.

I (AY)remember the days of old;
I (AZ)meditate on all Your accomplishments;
I (BA)reflect on the work of Your hands.
I (BB)spread out my hands to You;
My (BC)soul longs for You, like a weary land. Selah

(BD)Answer me quickly, Lord, my (BE)spirit fails;
(BF)Do not hide Your face from me,
Or I will be the same as (BG)those who go down to the pit.
Let me hear Your (BH)faithfulness (BI)in the morning,
For I trust (BJ)in You;
Teach me the (BK)way in which I should walk;
For to You I (BL)lift up my soul.
(BM)Save me, Lord, from my enemies;
[n]I take refuge in You.

10 (BN)Teach me to do Your will,
For You are my God;
Let (BO)Your good Spirit (BP)lead me on level [o]ground.
11 (BQ)For the sake of Your name, Lord, (BR)revive me.
(BS)In Your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble.
12 And in Your faithfulness, [p](BT)destroy my enemies,
And (BU)eliminate all those who attack my soul,
For (BV)I am Your servant.

Prayer for Rescue and Prosperity.

A Psalm of David.

144 Blessed be the Lord, (BW)my rock,
Who (BX)trains my hands for war,
And my fingers for battle;
My faithfulness and (BY)my fortress,
My (BZ)stronghold and my savior,
My (CA)shield and He in whom I take refuge,
Who (CB)subdues [q]my people under me.
Lord, (CC)what is man, that You look after him?
Or a son of man, that You think of him?
(CD)Man is like the breath;
His (CE)days are like a passing shadow.

(CF)Bend down Your heavens, Lord, and (CG)come down;
(CH)Touch the mountains, that they may smoke.
Flash forth (CI)lightning and scatter them;
Send out Your (CJ)arrows and confuse them.
Reach out with Your hand (CK)from on high;
Rescue me and (CL)save me from great waters,
From the hand of (CM)foreigners
Whose mouths (CN)speak deceit,
And whose (CO)right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

God, I will sing a (CP)new song to You;
On a (CQ)harp of ten strings I will sing praises to You,
10 Who (CR)gives salvation to kings,
Who (CS)rescues His servant David from the evil sword.
11 Rescue me and save me from the hand of (CT)foreigners,
Whose mouth (CU)speaks deceit
And whose (CV)right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

12 When our sons in their youth are like (CW)growing plants,
And our daughters like (CX)corner pillars [r]fashioned for a palace,
13 Our (CY)granaries are full, providing every kind of produce,
And our flocks deliver thousands and ten thousands in our [s]fields;
14 May our (CZ)cattle [t]be bred
Without [u](DA)mishap and without [v](DB)loss,
May there be no (DC)outcry in our streets!
15 Blessed are the people who are so situated;
(DD)Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord!

The Lord Exalted for His Goodness.

A Psalm of Praise, of David.

145 I will (DE)exalt You, (DF)my God, the King,
And I will (DG)bless Your name forever and ever.
Every day I will bless You,
And I will (DH)praise Your name forever and ever.
(DI)Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised;
And His (DJ)greatness is unsearchable.
One (DK)generation will praise Your works to another,
And will declare Your mighty acts.
On the (DL)glorious [w]splendor of Your majesty
And (DM)on Your wonderful works, I will meditate.
People will speak of the [x]power of Your (DN)awesome acts,
And I will (DO)tell of Your greatness.
They will burst forth [y]in speaking of Your (DP)abundant goodness,
And will (DQ)shout joyfully of Your righteousness.

The Lord is (DR)gracious and compassionate;
Slow to anger and great in mercy.
The Lord is (DS)good to all,
And His (DT)mercies are over all His works.
10 (DU)All Your works will give thanks to You, Lord,
And Your (DV)godly ones will bless You.
11 They will speak of the (DW)glory of Your kingdom,
And talk of Your might,
12 To (DX)make known to the sons of mankind [z]Your mighty acts,
And the (DY)glory of the majesty of [aa]Your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is [ab]an (DZ)everlasting kingdom,
And Your dominion endures throughout all generations.
[ac]The Lord is faithful in His words,
And holy in all His works.

14 The Lord (EA)supports all who fall,
And (EB)raises up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all [ad]look to You,
And You (EC)give them their food in due time.
16 You (ED)open Your hand
And satisfy the desire of every living thing.

17 The Lord is (EE)righteous in all His ways,
And kind in all His works.
18 The Lord is (EF)near to all who call on Him,
To all who call on Him (EG)in truth.
19 He will (EH)fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;
He will also (EI)hear their cry for help and save them.
20 The Lord (EJ)watches over all who love Him,
But He will destroy all the (EK)wicked.
21 My (EL)mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,
And (EM)all flesh will (EN)bless His holy name forever and ever.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 141:2 Lit fixed
  2. Psalm 141:3 Lit to
  3. Psalm 141:4 Lit in
  4. Psalm 141:7 I.e., the netherworld
  5. Psalm 141:8 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord
  6. Psalm 141:8 Lit pour out my soul
  7. Psalm 141:9 Lit hands of the trap
  8. Psalm 141:10 Lit altogether
  9. Psalm 142 Title Possibly Contemplative; or Didactic; or Skillful Psalm
  10. Psalm 142 Title 1 Sam 22:1; 24:3
  11. Psalm 142:4 Lit Escape has perished from me
  12. Psalm 143:4 Or faints within
  13. Psalm 143:4 Or desolate
  14. Psalm 143:9 Lit To You have I hidden
  15. Psalm 143:10 Lit land
  16. Psalm 143:12 Or silence
  17. Psalm 144:2 Another reading is peoples
  18. Psalm 144:12 Lit cut after the pattern of
  19. Psalm 144:13 Lit outside
  20. Psalm 144:14 Lit be laden
  21. Psalm 144:14 Lit breach
  22. Psalm 144:14 Lit going out; i.e., miscarriage
  23. Psalm 145:5 Or majesty of Your splendor
  24. Psalm 145:6 Or strength
  25. Psalm 145:7 Lit the mention of
  26. Psalm 145:12 Lit His
  27. Psalm 145:12 Lit His
  28. Psalm 145:13 Lit a kingdom of all ages
  29. Psalm 145:13 The Lord...His works in LXX (cf. DSS); not found in MT
  30. Psalm 145:15 Lit wait; or hope for

Psalm 141

A psalm of David.

I call to you, Lord, come quickly(A) to me;
    hear me(B) when I call to you.
May my prayer be set before you like incense;(C)
    may the lifting up of my hands(D) be like the evening sacrifice.(E)

Set a guard over my mouth,(F) Lord;
    keep watch over the door of my lips.(G)
Do not let my heart(H) be drawn to what is evil
    so that I take part in wicked deeds(I)
along with those who are evildoers;
    do not let me eat their delicacies.(J)

Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness;
    let him rebuke me(K)—that is oil on my head.(L)
My head will not refuse it,
    for my prayer will still be against the deeds of evildoers.

Their rulers will be thrown down from the cliffs,(M)
    and the wicked will learn that my words were well spoken.
They will say, “As one plows(N) and breaks up the earth,(O)
    so our bones have been scattered at the mouth(P) of the grave.”

But my eyes are fixed(Q) on you, Sovereign Lord;
    in you I take refuge(R)—do not give me over to death.
Keep me safe(S) from the traps set by evildoers,(T)
    from the snares(U) they have laid for me.
10 Let the wicked fall(V) into their own nets,
    while I pass by in safety.(W)

Psalm 142[a]

A maskil[b] of David. When he was in the cave.(X) A prayer.

I cry aloud(Y) to the Lord;
    I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy.(Z)
I pour out before him my complaint;(AA)
    before him I tell my trouble.(AB)

When my spirit grows faint(AC) within me,
    it is you who watch over my way.
In the path where I walk
    people have hidden a snare for me.
Look and see, there is no one at my right hand;
    no one is concerned for me.
I have no refuge;(AD)
    no one cares(AE) for my life.

I cry to you, Lord;
    I say, “You are my refuge,(AF)
    my portion(AG) in the land of the living.”(AH)

Listen to my cry,(AI)
    for I am in desperate need;(AJ)
rescue me(AK) from those who pursue me,
    for they are too strong(AL) for me.
Set me free from my prison,(AM)
    that I may praise your name.(AN)
Then the righteous will gather about me
    because of your goodness to me.(AO)

Psalm 143

A psalm of David.

Lord, hear my prayer,(AP)
    listen to my cry for mercy;(AQ)
in your faithfulness(AR) and righteousness(AS)
    come to my relief.
Do not bring your servant into judgment,
    for no one living is righteous(AT) before you.
The enemy pursues me,
    he crushes me to the ground;
he makes me dwell in the darkness(AU)
    like those long dead.(AV)
So my spirit grows faint within me;
    my heart within me is dismayed.(AW)
I remember(AX) the days of long ago;
    I meditate(AY) on all your works
    and consider what your hands have done.
I spread out my hands(AZ) to you;
    I thirst for you like a parched land.[c]

Answer me quickly,(BA) Lord;
    my spirit fails.(BB)
Do not hide your face(BC) from me
    or I will be like those who go down to the pit.
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,(BD)
    for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way(BE) I should go,
    for to you I entrust my life.(BF)
Rescue me(BG) from my enemies,(BH) Lord,
    for I hide myself in you.
10 Teach me(BI) to do your will,
    for you are my God;(BJ)
may your good Spirit
    lead(BK) me on level ground.(BL)

11 For your name’s sake,(BM) Lord, preserve my life;(BN)
    in your righteousness,(BO) bring me out of trouble.
12 In your unfailing love, silence my enemies;(BP)
    destroy all my foes,(BQ)
    for I am your servant.(BR)

Psalm 144

Of David.

Praise be to the Lord my Rock,(BS)
    who trains my hands for war,
    my fingers for battle.
He is my loving God and my fortress,(BT)
    my stronghold(BU) and my deliverer,
my shield,(BV) in whom I take refuge,
    who subdues peoples[d](BW) under me.

Lord, what are human beings(BX) that you care for them,
    mere mortals that you think of them?
They are like a breath;(BY)
    their days are like a fleeting shadow.(BZ)

Part your heavens,(CA) Lord, and come down;(CB)
    touch the mountains, so that they smoke.(CC)
Send forth lightning(CD) and scatter(CE) the enemy;
    shoot your arrows(CF) and rout them.
Reach down your hand from on high;(CG)
    deliver me and rescue me(CH)
from the mighty waters,(CI)
    from the hands of foreigners(CJ)
whose mouths are full of lies,(CK)
    whose right hands(CL) are deceitful.(CM)

I will sing a new song(CN) to you, my God;
    on the ten-stringed lyre(CO) I will make music to you,
10 to the One who gives victory to kings,(CP)
    who delivers his servant David.(CQ)

From the deadly sword(CR) 11 deliver me;
    rescue me(CS) from the hands of foreigners(CT)
whose mouths are full of lies,(CU)
    whose right hands are deceitful.(CV)

12 Then our sons in their youth
    will be like well-nurtured plants,(CW)
and our daughters will be like pillars(CX)
    carved to adorn a palace.
13 Our barns will be filled(CY)
    with every kind of provision.
Our sheep will increase by thousands,
    by tens of thousands in our fields;
14     our oxen(CZ) will draw heavy loads.[e]
There will be no breaching of walls,(DA)
    no going into captivity,
    no cry of distress in our streets.(DB)
15 Blessed is the people(DC) of whom this is true;
    blessed is the people whose God is the Lord.

Psalm 145[f]

A psalm of praise. Of David.

I will exalt you,(DD) my God the King;(DE)
    I will praise your name(DF) for ever and ever.
Every day I will praise(DG) you
    and extol your name(DH) for ever and ever.

Great(DI) is the Lord and most worthy of praise;(DJ)
    his greatness no one can fathom.(DK)
One generation(DL) commends your works to another;
    they tell(DM) of your mighty acts.(DN)
They speak of the glorious splendor(DO) of your majesty—
    and I will meditate on your wonderful works.[g](DP)
They tell(DQ) of the power of your awesome works—(DR)
    and I will proclaim(DS) your great deeds.(DT)
They celebrate your abundant goodness(DU)
    and joyfully sing(DV) of your righteousness.(DW)

The Lord is gracious and compassionate,(DX)
    slow to anger and rich in love.(DY)

The Lord is good(DZ) to all;
    he has compassion(EA) on all he has made.
10 All your works praise you,(EB) Lord;
    your faithful people extol(EC) you.(ED)
11 They tell of the glory of your kingdom(EE)
    and speak of your might,(EF)
12 so that all people may know of your mighty acts(EG)
    and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.(EH)
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,(EI)
    and your dominion endures through all generations.

The Lord is trustworthy(EJ) in all he promises(EK)
    and faithful in all he does.[h]
14 The Lord upholds(EL) all who fall
    and lifts up all(EM) who are bowed down.(EN)
15 The eyes of all look to you,
    and you give them their food(EO) at the proper time.
16 You open your hand
    and satisfy the desires(EP) of every living thing.

17 The Lord is righteous(EQ) in all his ways
    and faithful in all he does.(ER)
18 The Lord is near(ES) to all who call on him,(ET)
    to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desires(EU) of those who fear him;(EV)
    he hears their cry(EW) and saves them.(EX)
20 The Lord watches over(EY) all who love him,(EZ)
    but all the wicked he will destroy.(FA)

21 My mouth will speak(FB) in praise of the Lord.
    Let every creature(FC) praise his holy name(FD)
    for ever and ever.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 142:1 In Hebrew texts 142:1-7 is numbered 142:2-8.
  2. Psalm 142:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  3. Psalm 143:6 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
  4. Psalm 144:2 Many manuscripts of the Masoretic Text, Dead Sea Scrolls, Aquila, Jerome and Syriac; most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text subdues my people
  5. Psalm 144:14 Or our chieftains will be firmly established
  6. Psalm 145:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the verses of which (including verse 13b) begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
  7. Psalm 145:5 Dead Sea Scrolls and Syriac (see also Septuagint); Masoretic Text On the glorious splendor of your majesty / and on your wonderful works I will meditate
  8. Psalm 145:13 One manuscript of the Masoretic Text, Dead Sea Scrolls and Syriac (see also Septuagint); most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text do not have the last two lines of verse 13.