Psalm 33:10-43:1
English Standard Version
10 The Lord (A)brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
he frustrates the plans of the peoples.
11 (B)The counsel of the Lord stands forever,
the plans of his heart to all generations.
12 (C)Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
the people whom he has (D)chosen as his heritage!
13 The Lord (E)looks down from heaven;
he sees all the children of man;
14 from (F)where he sits enthroned he (G)looks out
on all the inhabitants of the earth,
15 he who fashions the hearts of them all
and observes all their deeds.
16 (H)The king is not saved by his great army;
a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
17 (I)The war horse is a false hope for salvation,
and by its great might it cannot rescue.
18 Behold, (J)the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him,
(K)on those who hope in his steadfast love,
19 that he may (L)deliver their soul from death
and keep them alive in (M)famine.
20 Our soul (N)waits for the Lord;
he is our (O)help and (P)our shield.
21 For our heart is (Q)glad in him,
because we (R)trust in his holy name.
22 Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us,
even as we hope in you.
Taste and See That the Lord Is Good
[a] Of David, when he (S)changed his behavior before (T)Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away.
34 I will bless the Lord (U)at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul (V)makes its boast in the Lord;
let the humble hear and (W)be glad.
3 Oh, (X)magnify the Lord with me,
and let us exalt his name together!
4 I (Y)sought the Lord, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are (Z)radiant,
and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 (AA)This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him
and (AB)saved him out of all his troubles.
7 (AC)The angel of the Lord (AD)encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
8 Oh, (AE)taste and see that (AF)the Lord is good!
(AG)Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
9 Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints,
for those who fear him have no lack!
10 (AH)The young lions suffer want and hunger;
but those who (AI)seek the Lord lack no good thing.
11 (AJ)Come, O children, listen to me;
(AK)I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 (AL)What man is there who desires life
and loves many days, that he may (AM)see good?
13 (AN)Keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from (AO)speaking deceit.
14 (AP)Turn away from evil and do good;
seek peace and (AQ)pursue it.
15 (AR)The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous
(AS)and his ears toward their cry.
16 (AT)The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
to (AU)cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 (AV)When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears
and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to (AW)the brokenhearted
and saves (AX)the crushed in spirit.
19 (AY)Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
(AZ)but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
20 He keeps all his bones;
(BA)not one of them is broken.
21 (BB)Affliction will slay the wicked,
and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord (BC)redeems the life of his servants;
none of those who take refuge in him will be (BD)condemned.
Great Is the Lord
Of David.
35 Contend, O Lord, with those who (BE)contend with me;
(BF)fight against those who fight against me!
2 Take hold of (BG)shield and buckler
and rise for my help!
3 Draw the spear and javelin[b]
against my pursuers!
Say to my soul,
“I am your salvation!”
4 (BH)Let them be (BI)put to shame and dishonor
who seek after my life!
Let them be (BJ)turned back and disappointed
who devise evil against me!
5 Let them be like (BK)chaff before the wind,
with the angel of the Lord driving them away!
6 Let their way be dark and (BL)slippery,
with the angel of the Lord pursuing them!
7 For (BM)without cause (BN)they hid their net for me;
without cause they dug (BO)a pit for my life.[c]
8 Let (BP)destruction come upon him (BQ)when he does not know it!
And let the net that he hid ensnare him;
let him fall into it—to his destruction!
9 Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord,
(BR)exulting in his salvation.
10 All my (BS)bones shall say,
“O Lord, (BT)who is like you,
delivering the poor
from him who is too strong for him,
the poor and needy from him who robs him?”
11 (BU)Malicious[d] witnesses rise up;
they ask me of things that I do not know.
12 (BV)They repay me evil for good;
my soul is bereft.[e]
13 But I, (BW)when they were sick—
I (BX)wore sackcloth;
I (BY)afflicted myself with fasting;
I prayed (BZ)with head bowed[f] on my chest.
14 I went about as though I grieved for my friend or my brother;
as one who laments his mother,
I (CA)bowed down in mourning.
15 But at my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered;
they gathered together against me;
(CB)wretches whom I did not know
tore at me without ceasing;
16 like profane mockers at a feast,[g]
they (CC)gnash at me with their teeth.
17 How long, O Lord, will you (CD)look on?
Rescue me from their destruction,
(CE)my precious life from the lions!
18 I will thank you in (CF)the great congregation;
in the mighty throng I will praise you.
19 (CG)Let not those rejoice over me
who are (CH)wrongfully my foes,
and let not those (CI)wink the eye
who (CJ)hate me (CK)without cause.
20 For they do not speak peace,
but against those who are quiet in the land
they devise words of deceit.
21 They (CL)open wide their mouths against me;
they say, (CM)“Aha, Aha!
Our eyes have seen it!”
22 (CN)You have seen, O Lord; (CO)be not silent!
O Lord, (CP)be not far from me!
23 Awake and (CQ)rouse yourself for (CR)my vindication,
for my cause, my God and my Lord!
24 (CS)Vindicate me, O Lord, my God,
according to your righteousness,
and (CT)let them not rejoice over me!
25 Let them not say in their hearts,
(CU)“Aha, our heart's desire!”
Let them not say, (CV)“We have swallowed him up.”
26 Let them be (CW)put to shame and disappointed altogether
who rejoice at my calamity!
Let them be (CX)clothed with shame and dishonor
who (CY)magnify themselves against me!
27 Let those who delight in my righteousness
shout for joy and be glad
(CZ)and say evermore,
(DA)“Great is the Lord,
who (DB)delights in the welfare of his servant!”
28 Then my (DC)tongue shall tell of your righteousness
and of your praise all the day long.
How Precious Is Your Steadfast Love
To the choirmaster. Of David, the (DD)servant of the Lord.
36 Transgression speaks to the wicked
deep in his heart;[h]
(DE)there is no fear of God
before his eyes.
2 (DF)For he flatters himself in his own eyes
that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated.
3 The words of his mouth are (DG)trouble and deceit;
(DH)he has ceased to act wisely and do good.
4 He (DI)plots (DJ)trouble while on his bed;
he sets himself in (DK)a way that is not good;
(DL)he does not reject evil.
5 Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the clouds.
6 (DM)Your righteousness is like the mountains of God;
(DN)your judgments are like the great deep;
man and beast you (DO)save, O Lord.
7 (DP)How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
The children of mankind take refuge (DQ)in the shadow of your wings.
8 They feast on (DR)the abundance of your house,
and you give them drink from (DS)the river of (DT)your delights.
9 For with you is (DU)the fountain of life;
(DV)in your light do we see light.
10 Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who (DW)know you,
and your righteousness to (DX)the upright of heart!
11 Let not the foot of arrogance come upon me,
nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.
12 There (DY)the evildoers lie fallen;
they are thrust down, (DZ)unable to rise.
He Will Not Forsake His Saints
[i] Of David.
37 (EA)Fret not yourself because of evildoers;
be not (EB)envious of wrongdoers!
2 For they will soon (EC)fade like (ED)the grass
and wither (EE)like the green herb.
3 (EF)Trust in the Lord, and do good;
(EG)dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.[j]
4 (EH)Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will (EI)give you the desires of your heart.
5 (EJ)Commit your way to the Lord;
(EK)trust in him, and he will act.
6 (EL)He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
and your justice as (EM)the noonday.
7 (EN)Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
(EO)fret not yourself over the one who (EP)prospers in his way,
over the man who carries out evil devices!
8 (EQ)Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!
(ER)Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
9 (ES)For the evildoers shall be cut off,
but those who wait for the Lord shall (ET)inherit the land.
10 In (EU)just a little while, the wicked will be no more;
though you look carefully at (EV)his place, he will not be there.
11 But (EW)the meek shall inherit the land
and delight themselves in (EX)abundant peace.
12 The wicked (EY)plots against the righteous
and (EZ)gnashes his teeth at him,
13 but the Lord (FA)laughs at the wicked,
for he sees that his (FB)day is coming.
14 The wicked draw the sword and (FC)bend their bows
to bring down the poor and needy,
to slay those whose (FD)way is upright;
15 their sword shall enter their own heart,
and their (FE)bows shall be broken.
16 (FF)Better is the little that the righteous has
than the abundance of many wicked.
17 For (FG)the arms of the wicked shall be broken,
but the Lord (FH)upholds the righteous.
18 The Lord (FI)knows the days of the blameless,
and their (FJ)heritage will remain forever;
19 they are not put to shame in evil times;
in (FK)the days of famine they have abundance.
20 But the wicked will perish;
the enemies of the Lord are like (FL)the glory of the pastures;
they vanish—like (FM)smoke they vanish away.
21 The wicked borrows but does not pay back,
but the righteous (FN)is generous and gives;
22 for those blessed by the Lord[k] shall (FO)inherit the land,
but those cursed by him (FP)shall be cut off.
23 The (FQ)steps of a man are (FR)established by the Lord,
when he delights in his way;
24 (FS)though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong,
for the Lord (FT)upholds his hand.
25 I have been young, and now am old,
yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
or his children (FU)begging for bread.
26 He is ever (FV)lending generously,
and his children become a blessing.
27 (FW)Turn away from evil and do good;
so shall you (FX)dwell forever.
28 For the Lord (FY)loves justice;
he will not forsake his (FZ)saints.
They are preserved forever,
but the children of the wicked shall be (GA)cut off.
29 The righteous shall inherit the land
and (GB)dwell upon it forever.
30 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom,
and his tongue speaks justice.
31 (GC)The law of his God is in his heart;
his (GD)steps do not slip.
32 The wicked (GE)watches for the righteous
and seeks to put him to death.
33 The Lord will not (GF)abandon him to his power
or let him (GG)be condemned when he is brought to trial.
34 (GH)Wait for the Lord and keep his way,
and he will exalt you to inherit the land;
you will look on (GI)when the wicked are cut off.
35 (GJ)I have seen a wicked, ruthless man,
spreading himself like (GK)a green laurel tree.[l]
36 But he passed away,[m] and behold, (GL)he was no more;
though I sought him, he could not be found.
37 Mark the blameless and behold the upright,
for there is a future for the man of (GM)peace.
38 But (GN)transgressors shall be altogether destroyed;
the future of the wicked (GO)shall be cut off.
39 (GP)The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;
he is their stronghold in (GQ)the time of trouble.
40 The Lord helps them and (GR)delivers them;
(GS)he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they (GT)take refuge in him.
Do Not Forsake Me, O Lord
A Psalm of David, (GU)for the memorial offering.
38 O Lord, (GV)rebuke me not in your anger,
nor discipline me in your wrath!
2 For your (GW)arrows have sunk into me,
and your hand (GX)has come down on me.
3 There is (GY)no soundness in my flesh
because of your indignation;
there is no health in my (GZ)bones
because of my sin.
4 For my (HA)iniquities have gone over my head;
like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.
5 My wounds stink and fester
because of my foolishness,
6 I am (HB)utterly bowed down and (HC)prostrate;
all the day I (HD)go about mourning.
7 For my sides are filled with burning,
and there is (HE)no soundness in my flesh.
8 I am feeble and crushed;
I (HF)groan because of the tumult of my heart.
9 O Lord, all my longing is before you;
my (HG)sighing is not hidden from you.
10 My heart throbs; my strength fails me,
and (HH)the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me.
11 My (HI)friends and companions (HJ)stand aloof from my (HK)plague,
and my nearest kin (HL)stand far off.
12 Those who seek my life (HM)lay their snares;
those who seek my hurt (HN)speak of ruin
and meditate (HO)treachery all day long.
13 But I am like a deaf man; I do not hear,
like (HP)a mute man who does not open his mouth.
14 I have become like a man who does not hear,
and in whose mouth are no (HQ)rebukes.
15 But for (HR)you, O Lord, do I wait;
it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.
16 For I said, “Only (HS)let them not rejoice over me,
who (HT)boast against me when my (HU)foot slips!”
17 For I am (HV)ready to fall,
and my pain is ever before me.
18 I (HW)confess my iniquity;
I am (HX)sorry for my sin.
19 But my foes are vigorous, they are mighty,
and many are those who hate me (HY)wrongfully.
20 Those who (HZ)render me evil for good
(IA)accuse me because I (IB)follow after good.
21 Do not forsake me, O Lord!
O my God, be not (IC)far from me!
22 (ID)Make haste to help me,
O Lord, my (IE)salvation!
What Is the Measure of My Days?
To the choirmaster: to (IF)Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.
39 I said, “I will (IG)guard my ways,
that I (IH)may not sin with my tongue;
I will (II)guard my mouth with a muzzle,
so long as the wicked are in my presence.”
2 I was (IJ)mute and silent;
I held my peace to no avail,
and my distress grew worse.
3 My (IK)heart became hot within me.
As I mused, the fire burned;
then I spoke with my tongue:
4 “O Lord, (IL)make me know my end
and what is the measure of my days;
let me know how fleeting I am!
5 Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths,
and (IM)my lifetime is as nothing before you.
Surely (IN)all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah
6 Surely a man (IO)goes about as a shadow!
Surely for nothing[n] they are in turmoil;
man (IP)heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!
7 “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait?
(IQ)My hope is in you.
8 Deliver me from all my transgressions.
(IR)Do not make me the scorn of the fool!
9 (IS)I am mute; I do not open my mouth,
(IT)for it is you who have done it.
10 (IU)Remove your stroke from me;
I am spent by the hostility of your hand.
11 When you discipline a man
with (IV)rebukes for sin,
you (IW)consume like a (IX)moth what is dear to him;
(IY)surely all mankind is a mere breath! Selah
12 (IZ)“Hear my prayer, O Lord,
and give ear to my cry;
hold not your peace at my tears!
For I am (JA)a sojourner with you,
(JB)a guest, like all my fathers.
13 (JC)Look away from me, that I may smile again,
(JD)before I depart and (JE)am no more!”
My Help and My Deliverer
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
40 I (JF)waited patiently for the Lord;
he inclined to me and (JG)heard my cry.
2 He drew me up from (JH)the pit of destruction,
out of (JI)the miry bog,
and (JJ)set my feet upon a rock,
(JK)making my steps secure.
3 He put (JL)a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
Many will (JM)see and fear,
and put their trust in the Lord.
4 Blessed is the man who (JN)makes
the Lord his trust,
who does not turn to the proud,
to those who (JO)go astray after a lie!
5 You have multiplied, O Lord my God,
your (JP)wondrous deeds and your (JQ)thoughts toward us;
none can compare with you!
I will proclaim and tell of them,
yet they are (JR)more than can be told.
6 (JS)In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted,
but you have given me an open (JT)ear.[o]
Burnt offering and sin offering
you have not required.
7 Then I said, “Behold, I have come;
in the scroll of the book it is written (JU)of me:
8 (JV)I delight to do your will, O my God;
your law is (JW)within my heart.”
9 I have told the glad news of deliverance[p]
in (JX)the great congregation;
behold, I have not (JY)restrained my lips,
(JZ)as you know, O Lord.
10 I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart;
I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;
I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness
from the great congregation.
11 As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain
your mercy from me;
your (KA)steadfast love and your faithfulness will
ever preserve me!
12 For evils have (KB)encompassed me
beyond number;
my (KC)iniquities have overtaken me,
and I cannot (KD)see;
they are (KE)more than the hairs of my head;
my heart (KF)fails me.
13 (KG)Be pleased, O Lord, to (KH)deliver me!
O Lord, (KI)make haste to help me!
14 (KJ)Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether
who seek to snatch away my life;
let those be (KK)turned back and brought to dishonor
who delight in my hurt!
15 Let those be appalled because of their shame
who (KL)say to me, “Aha, Aha!”
16 But may all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation
(KM)say continually, “Great is the Lord!”
17 As for me, I am (KN)poor and needy,
but (KO)the Lord takes thought for me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
do not delay, O my God!
O Lord, Be Gracious to Me
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
41 (KP)Blessed is the one who considers the poor![q]
(KQ)In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him;
2 the Lord protects him and keeps him alive;
he is called blessed in the land;
you (KR)do not give him up to the will of his enemies.
3 The Lord sustains him on his sickbed;
in his illness you restore him to full health.[r]
4 As for me, I said, “O Lord, (KS)be gracious to me;
(KT)heal me,[s] for I have sinned against you!”
5 My enemies say of me in malice,
“When will he die, and his name perish?”
6 And when one comes to see me, (KU)he utters empty words,
while his heart gathers iniquity;
when he goes out, he tells it abroad.
7 All who hate me whisper together about me;
they imagine the worst for me.[t]
8 They say, “A deadly thing is poured out[u] on him;
he will not rise again from where he lies.”
9 Even my (KV)close friend in whom I trusted,
who (KW)ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.
10 But you, O Lord, be gracious to me,
and raise me up, that I may repay them!
11 By this I know that (KX)you delight in me:
my enemy will not shout in triumph over me.
12 But (KY)you have upheld me because of (KZ)my integrity,
and (LA)set me in your presence (LB)forever.
13 (LC)Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting!
Amen and Amen.
Book Two
Why Are You Cast Down, O My Soul?
To the choirmaster. A Maskil[v] of (LD)the Sons of Korah.
42 (LE)As a deer pants for flowing streams,
so pants my soul for you, O God.
2 (LF)My soul thirsts for God,
for (LG)the living God.
When shall I come and (LH)appear before God?[w]
3 (LI)My tears have been my food
day and night,
(LJ)while they say to me all the day long,
“Where is your God?”
4 These things I remember,
as I (LK)pour out my soul:
(LL)how I would go (LM)with the throng
and lead them in procession to the house of God
with glad shouts and songs of praise,
(LN)a multitude keeping festival.
5 (LO)Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you (LP)in turmoil within me?
(LQ)Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation[x] 6 and my God.
My soul is cast down within me;
therefore I (LR)remember you
(LS)from the land of Jordan and of (LT)Hermon,
from Mount Mizar.
7 Deep calls to deep
at the roar of your waterfalls;
(LU)all your breakers and your (LV)waves
have gone over me.
8 By day the Lord (LW)commands his steadfast love,
and at (LX)night his song is with me,
a prayer to the God of my life.
9 I say to God, (LY)my rock:
“Why have you forgotten me?
(LZ)Why do I go mourning
because of the oppression of the enemy?”
10 As with a deadly wound in my bones,
my adversaries taunt me,
(MA)while they say to me all the day long,
“Where is your God?”
11 (MB)Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.
Send Out Your Light and Your Truth
43 (MC)Vindicate me, O God, and (MD)defend my cause
against an ungodly people,
from (ME)the deceitful and unjust man
deliver me!
Footnotes
- Psalm 34:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet
- Psalm 35:3 Or and close the way
- Psalm 35:7 The word pit is transposed from the preceding line; Hebrew For without cause they hid the pit of their net for me; without cause they dug for my life
- Psalm 35:11 Or Violent
- Psalm 35:12 Hebrew it is bereavement to my soul
- Psalm 35:13 Or my prayer shall turn back
- Psalm 35:16 The meaning of the Hebrew phrase is uncertain
- Psalm 36:1 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Syriac, Jerome (compare Septuagint); most Hebrew manuscripts in my heart
- Psalm 37:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, each stanza beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet
- Psalm 37:3 Or and feed on faithfulness, or and find safe pasture
- Psalm 37:22 Hebrew by him
- Psalm 37:35 The identity of this tree is uncertain
- Psalm 37:36 Or But one passed by
- Psalm 39:6 Hebrew Surely as a breath
- Psalm 40:6 Hebrew ears you have dug for me
- Psalm 40:9 Hebrew righteousness; also verse 10
- Psalm 41:1 Or weak
- Psalm 41:3 Hebrew you turn all his bed
- Psalm 41:4 Hebrew my soul
- Psalm 41:7 Or they devise evil against me
- Psalm 41:8 Or has fastened
- Psalm 42:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term
- Psalm 42:2 Revocalization yields and see the face of God
- Psalm 42:5 Hebrew the salvation of my face; also verse 11 and 43:5
Psalm 33:10-43:1
New International Version
10 The Lord foils(A) the plans(B) of the nations;(C)
he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.
11 But the plans of the Lord stand firm(D) forever,
the purposes(E) of his heart through all generations.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,(F)
the people he chose(G) for his inheritance.(H)
13 From heaven the Lord looks down(I)
and sees all mankind;(J)
14 from his dwelling place(K) he watches
all who live on earth—
15 he who forms(L) the hearts of all,
who considers everything they do.(M)
16 No king is saved by the size of his army;(N)
no warrior escapes by his great strength.
17 A horse(O) is a vain hope for deliverance;
despite all its great strength it cannot save.
18 But the eyes(P) of the Lord are on those who fear him,
on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,(Q)
19 to deliver them from death(R)
and keep them alive in famine.(S)
20 We wait(T) in hope for the Lord;
he is our help and our shield.
21 In him our hearts rejoice,(U)
for we trust in his holy name.(V)
22 May your unfailing love(W) be with us, Lord,
even as we put our hope in you.
Psalm 34[a][b]
Of David. When he pretended to be insane(X) before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left.
1 I will extol the Lord at all times;(Y)
his praise will always be on my lips.
2 I will glory(Z) in the Lord;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.(AA)
3 Glorify the Lord(AB) with me;
let us exalt(AC) his name together.
4 I sought the Lord,(AD) and he answered me;
he delivered(AE) me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant;(AF)
their faces are never covered with shame.(AG)
6 This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.(AH)
7 The angel of the Lord(AI) encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers(AJ) them.
8 Taste and see that the Lord is good;(AK)
blessed is the one who takes refuge(AL) in him.
9 Fear the Lord,(AM) you his holy people,
for those who fear him lack nothing.(AN)
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.(AO)
11 Come, my children, listen(AP) to me;
I will teach you(AQ) the fear of the Lord.(AR)
12 Whoever of you loves life(AS)
and desires to see many good days,
13 keep your tongue(AT) from evil
and your lips from telling lies.(AU)
14 Turn from evil and do good;(AV)
seek peace(AW) and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the Lord(AX) are on the righteous,(AY)
and his ears are attentive(AZ) to their cry;
16 but the face of the Lord is against(BA) those who do evil,(BB)
to blot out their name(BC) from the earth.
17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears(BD) them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is close(BE) to the brokenhearted(BF)
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
19 The righteous person may have many troubles,(BG)
but the Lord delivers him from them all;(BH)
20 he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.(BI)
21 Evil will slay the wicked;(BJ)
the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord will rescue(BK) his servants;
no one who takes refuge(BL) in him will be condemned.
Psalm 35
Of David.
1 Contend,(BM) Lord, with those who contend with me;
fight(BN) against those who fight against me.
2 Take up shield(BO) and armor;
arise(BP) and come to my aid.(BQ)
3 Brandish spear(BR) and javelin[c](BS)
against those who pursue me.
Say to me,
“I am your salvation.(BT)”
4 May those who seek my life(BU)
be disgraced(BV) and put to shame;(BW)
may those who plot my ruin
be turned back(BX) in dismay.
5 May they be like chaff(BY) before the wind,
with the angel of the Lord(BZ) driving them away;
6 may their path be dark and slippery,
with the angel of the Lord pursuing them.
7 Since they hid their net(CA) for me without cause(CB)
and without cause dug a pit(CC) for me,
8 may ruin overtake them by surprise—(CD)
may the net they hid entangle them,
may they fall into the pit,(CE) to their ruin.
9 Then my soul will rejoice(CF) in the Lord
and delight in his salvation.(CG)
10 My whole being will exclaim,
“Who is like you,(CH) Lord?
You rescue the poor from those too strong(CI) for them,
the poor and needy(CJ) from those who rob them.”
11 Ruthless witnesses(CK) come forward;
they question me on things I know nothing about.
12 They repay me evil for good(CL)
and leave me like one bereaved.
13 Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth(CM)
and humbled myself with fasting.(CN)
When my prayers returned to me unanswered,
14 I went about mourning(CO)
as though for my friend or brother.
I bowed my head in grief
as though weeping for my mother.
15 But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee;(CP)
assailants gathered against me without my knowledge.
They slandered(CQ) me without ceasing.
16 Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked;[d](CR)
they gnashed their teeth(CS) at me.
17 How long,(CT) Lord, will you look on?
Rescue me from their ravages,
my precious life(CU) from these lions.(CV)
18 I will give you thanks in the great assembly;(CW)
among the throngs(CX) I will praise you.(CY)
19 Do not let those gloat over me
who are my enemies(CZ) without cause;
do not let those who hate me without reason(DA)
maliciously wink the eye.(DB)
20 They do not speak peaceably,
but devise false accusations(DC)
against those who live quietly in the land.
21 They sneer(DD) at me and say, “Aha! Aha!(DE)
With our own eyes we have seen it.”
22 Lord, you have seen(DF) this; do not be silent.
Do not be far(DG) from me, Lord.
23 Awake,(DH) and rise(DI) to my defense!
Contend(DJ) for me, my God and Lord.
24 Vindicate me in your righteousness, Lord my God;
do not let them gloat(DK) over me.
25 Do not let them think, “Aha,(DL) just what we wanted!”
or say, “We have swallowed him up.”(DM)
26 May all who gloat(DN) over my distress(DO)
be put to shame(DP) and confusion;
may all who exalt themselves over me(DQ)
be clothed with shame and disgrace.
27 May those who delight in my vindication(DR)
shout for joy(DS) and gladness;
may they always say, “The Lord be exalted,
who delights(DT) in the well-being of his servant.”(DU)
Psalm 36[e]
For the director of music. Of David the servant of the Lord.
1 I have a message from God in my heart
concerning the sinfulness of the wicked:[f](DX)
There is no fear(DY) of God
before their eyes.(DZ)
2 In their own eyes they flatter themselves
too much to detect or hate their sin.(EA)
3 The words of their mouths(EB) are wicked and deceitful;(EC)
they fail to act wisely(ED) or do good.(EE)
4 Even on their beds they plot evil;(EF)
they commit themselves to a sinful course(EG)
and do not reject what is wrong.(EH)
5 Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,
your faithfulness(EI) to the skies.(EJ)
6 Your righteousness(EK) is like the highest mountains,(EL)
your justice like the great deep.(EM)
You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.(EN)
7 How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!(EO)
People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.(EP)
8 They feast on the abundance of your house;(EQ)
you give them drink from your river(ER) of delights.(ES)
9 For with you is the fountain of life;(ET)
in your light(EU) we see light.
10 Continue your love(EV) to those who know you,(EW)
your righteousness to the upright in heart.(EX)
11 May the foot of the proud not come against me,
nor the hand of the wicked(EY) drive me away.
12 See how the evildoers lie fallen—
thrown down, not able to rise!(EZ)
Psalm 37[g]
Of David.
1 Do not fret because of those who are evil
or be envious(FA) of those who do wrong;(FB)
2 for like the grass they will soon wither,(FC)
like green plants they will soon die away.(FD)
3 Trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land(FE) and enjoy safe pasture.(FF)
4 Take delight(FG) in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.(FH)
5 Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him(FI) and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteous reward(FJ) shine like the dawn,(FK)
your vindication like the noonday sun.
7 Be still(FL) before the Lord
and wait patiently(FM) for him;
do not fret(FN) when people succeed in their ways,(FO)
when they carry out their wicked schemes.(FP)
8 Refrain from anger(FQ) and turn from wrath;
do not fret(FR)—it leads only to evil.
9 For those who are evil will be destroyed,(FS)
but those who hope(FT) in the Lord will inherit the land.(FU)
10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more;(FV)
though you look for them, they will not be found.
11 But the meek will inherit the land(FW)
and enjoy peace and prosperity.(FX)
12 The wicked plot(FY) against the righteous
and gnash their teeth(FZ) at them;
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
for he knows their day is coming.(GA)
14 The wicked draw the sword(GB)
and bend the bow(GC)
to bring down the poor and needy,(GD)
to slay those whose ways are upright.
15 But their swords will pierce their own hearts,(GE)
and their bows will be broken.(GF)
16 Better the little that the righteous have
than the wealth(GG) of many wicked;
17 for the power of the wicked will be broken,(GH)
but the Lord upholds(GI) the righteous.
18 The blameless spend their days under the Lord’s care,(GJ)
and their inheritance will endure forever.(GK)
19 In times of disaster they will not wither;
in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.
20 But the wicked will perish:(GL)
Though the Lord’s enemies are like the flowers of the field,
they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke.(GM)
21 The wicked borrow and do not repay,
but the righteous give generously;(GN)
22 those the Lord blesses will inherit the land,
but those he curses(GO) will be destroyed.(GP)
23 The Lord makes firm the steps(GQ)
of the one who delights(GR) in him;
24 though he may stumble, he will not fall,(GS)
for the Lord upholds(GT) him with his hand.
25 I was young and now I am old,
yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken(GU)
or their children begging(GV) bread.
26 They are always generous and lend freely;(GW)
their children will be a blessing.[h](GX)
27 Turn from evil and do good;(GY)
then you will dwell in the land forever.(GZ)
28 For the Lord loves the just
and will not forsake his faithful ones.(HA)
Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed[i];
the offspring of the wicked will perish.(HB)
29 The righteous will inherit the land(HC)
and dwell in it forever.(HD)
30 The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom,(HE)
and their tongues speak what is just.
31 The law of their God is in their hearts;(HF)
their feet do not slip.(HG)
32 The wicked lie in wait(HH) for the righteous,(HI)
intent on putting them to death;
33 but the Lord will not leave them in the power of the wicked
or let them be condemned(HJ) when brought to trial.(HK)
34 Hope in the Lord(HL)
and keep his way.(HM)
He will exalt you to inherit the land;
when the wicked are destroyed,(HN) you will see(HO) it.
35 I have seen a wicked and ruthless man
flourishing(HP) like a luxuriant native tree,
36 but he soon passed away and was no more;
though I looked for him, he could not be found.(HQ)
37 Consider the blameless,(HR) observe the upright;(HS)
a future awaits those who seek peace.[j](HT)
38 But all sinners(HU) will be destroyed;(HV)
there will be no future[k] for the wicked.(HW)
39 The salvation(HX) of the righteous comes from the Lord;
he is their stronghold in time of trouble.(HY)
40 The Lord helps(HZ) them and delivers(IA) them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves(IB) them,
because they take refuge(IC) in him.
Psalm 38[l]
A psalm of David. A petition.
1 Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger
or discipline me in your wrath.(ID)
2 Your arrows(IE) have pierced me,
and your hand has come down on me.
3 Because of your wrath there is no health(IF) in my body;
there is no soundness in my bones(IG) because of my sin.
4 My guilt has overwhelmed(IH) me
like a burden too heavy to bear.(II)
5 My wounds(IJ) fester and are loathsome(IK)
because of my sinful folly.(IL)
6 I am bowed down(IM) and brought very low;
all day long I go about mourning.(IN)
7 My back is filled with searing pain;(IO)
there is no health(IP) in my body.
8 I am feeble and utterly crushed;(IQ)
I groan(IR) in anguish of heart.(IS)
9 All my longings(IT) lie open before you, Lord;
my sighing(IU) is not hidden from you.
10 My heart pounds,(IV) my strength fails(IW) me;
even the light has gone from my eyes.(IX)
11 My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds;(IY)
my neighbors stay far away.
12 Those who want to kill me set their traps,(IZ)
those who would harm me talk of my ruin;(JA)
all day long they scheme and lie.(JB)
13 I am like the deaf, who cannot hear,(JC)
like the mute, who cannot speak;
14 I have become like one who does not hear,
whose mouth can offer no reply.
15 Lord, I wait(JD) for you;
you will answer,(JE) Lord my God.
16 For I said, “Do not let them gloat(JF)
or exalt themselves over me when my feet slip.”(JG)
17 For I am about to fall,(JH)
and my pain(JI) is ever with me.
18 I confess my iniquity;(JJ)
I am troubled by my sin.
19 Many have become my enemies(JK) without cause[m];
those who hate me(JL) without reason(JM) are numerous.
20 Those who repay my good with evil(JN)
lodge accusations(JO) against me,
though I seek only to do what is good.
21 Lord, do not forsake me;(JP)
do not be far(JQ) from me, my God.
22 Come quickly(JR) to help me,(JS)
my Lord and my Savior.(JT)
Psalm 39[n]
For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.
1 I said, “I will watch my ways(JU)
and keep my tongue from sin;(JV)
I will put a muzzle on my mouth(JW)
while in the presence of the wicked.”
2 So I remained utterly silent,(JX)
not even saying anything good.
But my anguish(JY) increased;
3 my heart grew hot(JZ) within me.
While I meditated,(KA) the fire(KB) burned;
then I spoke with my tongue:
4 “Show me, Lord, my life’s end
and the number of my days;(KC)
let me know how fleeting(KD) my life is.(KE)
5 You have made my days(KF) a mere handbreadth;
the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Everyone is but a breath,(KG)
even those who seem secure.[o]
6 “Surely everyone goes around(KH) like a mere phantom;(KI)
in vain they rush about,(KJ) heaping up wealth(KK)
without knowing whose it will finally be.(KL)
7 “But now, Lord, what do I look for?
My hope is in you.(KM)
8 Save me(KN) from all my transgressions;(KO)
do not make me the scorn(KP) of fools.
9 I was silent;(KQ) I would not open my mouth,(KR)
for you are the one who has done this.(KS)
10 Remove your scourge from me;
I am overcome by the blow(KT) of your hand.(KU)
11 When you rebuke(KV) and discipline(KW) anyone for their sin,
you consume(KX) their wealth like a moth(KY)—
surely everyone is but a breath.(KZ)
12 “Hear my prayer, Lord,
listen to my cry for help;(LA)
do not be deaf(LB) to my weeping.(LC)
I dwell with you as a foreigner,(LD)
a stranger,(LE) as all my ancestors were.(LF)
13 Look away from me, that I may enjoy life again
before I depart and am no more.”(LG)
Psalm 40[p](LH)
For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.
1 I waited patiently(LI) for the Lord;
he turned to me and heard my cry.(LJ)
2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit,(LK)
out of the mud(LL) and mire;(LM)
he set my feet(LN) on a rock(LO)
and gave me a firm place to stand.
3 He put a new song(LP) in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the Lord(LQ)
and put their trust(LR) in him.
4 Blessed is the one(LS)
who trusts in the Lord,(LT)
who does not look to the proud,(LU)
to those who turn aside to false gods.[q](LV)
5 Many, Lord my God,
are the wonders(LW) you have done,
the things you planned for us.
None can compare(LX) with you;
were I to speak and tell of your deeds,
they would be too many(LY) to declare.
6 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire—(LZ)
but my ears you have opened[r]—(MA)
burnt offerings(MB) and sin offerings[s] you did not require.
7 Then I said, “Here I am, I have come—
it is written about me in the scroll.[t](MC)
8 I desire to do your will,(MD) my God;(ME)
your law is within my heart.”(MF)
9 I proclaim your saving acts(MG) in the great assembly;(MH)
I do not seal my lips, Lord,
as you know.(MI)
10 I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;
I speak of your faithfulness(MJ) and your saving help.
I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness
from the great assembly.(MK)
11 Do not withhold your mercy(ML) from me, Lord;
may your love(MM) and faithfulness(MN) always protect(MO) me.
12 For troubles(MP) without number surround me;
my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see.(MQ)
They are more than the hairs of my head,(MR)
and my heart fails(MS) within me.
13 Be pleased to save me, Lord;
come quickly, Lord, to help me.(MT)
14 May all who want to take my life(MU)
be put to shame and confusion;(MV)
may all who desire my ruin(MW)
be turned back in disgrace.
15 May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”(MX)
be appalled at their own shame.
16 But may all who seek you(MY)
rejoice and be glad(MZ) in you;
may those who long for your saving help always say,
“The Lord is great!”(NA)
17 But as for me, I am poor and needy;(NB)
may the Lord think(NC) of me.
You are my help(ND) and my deliverer;(NE)
you are my God, do not delay.(NF)
Psalm 41[u]
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 Blessed(NG) are those who have regard for the weak;(NH)
the Lord delivers them in times of trouble.(NI)
2 The Lord protects(NJ) and preserves them—(NK)
they are counted among the blessed in the land—(NL)
he does not give them over to the desire of their foes.(NM)
3 The Lord sustains them on their sickbed(NN)
and restores them from their bed of illness.(NO)
4 I said, “Have mercy(NP) on me, Lord;
heal(NQ) me, for I have sinned(NR) against you.”
5 My enemies say of me in malice,
“When will he die and his name perish?(NS)”
6 When one of them comes to see me,
he speaks falsely,(NT) while his heart gathers slander;(NU)
then he goes out and spreads(NV) it around.
7 All my enemies whisper together(NW) against me;
they imagine the worst for me, saying,
8 “A vile disease has afflicted him;
he will never get up(NX) from the place where he lies.”
9 Even my close friend,(NY)
someone I trusted,
one who shared my bread,
has turned[v] against me.(NZ)
10 But may you have mercy(OA) on me, Lord;
raise me up,(OB) that I may repay(OC) them.
11 I know that you are pleased with me,(OD)
for my enemy does not triumph over me.(OE)
12 Because of my integrity(OF) you uphold me(OG)
and set me in your presence forever.(OH)
13 Praise(OI) be to the Lord, the God of Israel,(OJ)
from everlasting to everlasting.
Amen and Amen.(OK)
BOOK II
Psalms 42–72
Psalm 42[w][x]
For the director of music. A maskil[y] of the Sons of Korah.
1 As the deer(OL) pants for streams of water,(OM)
so my soul pants(ON) for you, my God.
2 My soul thirsts(OO) for God, for the living God.(OP)
When can I go(OQ) and meet with God?
3 My tears(OR) have been my food
day and night,
while people say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”(OS)
4 These things I remember
as I pour out my soul:(OT)
how I used to go to the house of God(OU)
under the protection of the Mighty One[z]
with shouts of joy(OV) and praise(OW)
among the festive throng.(OX)
5 Why, my soul, are you downcast?(OY)
Why so disturbed(OZ) within me?
Put your hope in God,(PA)
for I will yet praise(PB) him,
my Savior(PC) and my God.(PD)
6 My soul is downcast within me;
therefore I will remember(PE) you
from the land of the Jordan,(PF)
the heights of Hermon(PG)—from Mount Mizar.
7 Deep calls to deep(PH)
in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers
have swept over me.(PI)
8 By day the Lord directs his love,(PJ)
at night(PK) his song(PL) is with me—
a prayer to the God of my life.(PM)
9 I say to God my Rock,(PN)
“Why have you forgotten(PO) me?
Why must I go about mourning,(PP)
oppressed(PQ) by the enemy?”(PR)
10 My bones suffer mortal agony(PS)
as my foes taunt(PT) me,
saying to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”(PU)
11 Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.(PV)
Psalm 43[aa]
Footnotes
- Psalm 34:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
- Psalm 34:1 In Hebrew texts 34:1-22 is numbered 34:2-23.
- Psalm 35:3 Or and block the way
- Psalm 35:16 Septuagint; Hebrew may mean Like an ungodly circle of mockers,
- Psalm 36:1 In Hebrew texts 36:1-12 is numbered 36:2-13.
- Psalm 36:1 Or A message from God: The transgression of the wicked / resides in their hearts.
- Psalm 37:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the stanzas of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
- Psalm 37:26 Or freely; / the names of their children will be used in blessings (see Gen. 48:20); or freely; / others will see that their children are blessed
- Psalm 37:28 See Septuagint; Hebrew They will be protected forever
- Psalm 37:37 Or upright; / those who seek peace will have posterity
- Psalm 37:38 Or posterity
- Psalm 38:1 In Hebrew texts 38:1-22 is numbered 38:2-23.
- Psalm 38:19 One Dead Sea Scrolls manuscript; Masoretic Text my vigorous enemies
- Psalm 39:1 In Hebrew texts 39:1-13 is numbered 39:2-14.
- Psalm 39:5 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 11.
- Psalm 40:1 In Hebrew texts 40:1-17 is numbered 40:2-18.
- Psalm 40:4 Or to lies
- Psalm 40:6 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts but a body you have prepared for me
- Psalm 40:6 Or purification offerings
- Psalm 40:7 Or come / with the scroll written for me
- Psalm 41:1 In Hebrew texts 41:1-13 is numbered 41:2-14.
- Psalm 41:9 Hebrew has lifted up his heel
- Psalm 42:1 In many Hebrew manuscripts Psalms 42 and 43 constitute one psalm.
- Psalm 42:1 In Hebrew texts 42:1-11 is numbered 42:2-12.
- Psalm 42:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 42:4 See Septuagint and Syriac; the meaning of the Hebrew for this line is uncertain.
- Psalm 43:1 In many Hebrew manuscripts Psalms 42 and 43 constitute one psalm.
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