God, a Helper against the Treacherous.

For the music director; [a]upon an eight-stringed lyre. A Psalm of David.

12 Help, Lord, for (A)the godly person has come to an end,
For the faithful have disappeared from the sons of mankind.
They (B)speak [b]lies to one another;
They speak with [c](C)flattering lips and a double heart.
May the Lord cut off all [d]flattering lips,
The tongue that (D)speaks great things;
Who (E)have said, “With our tongue we will prevail;
Our lips are [e]our own; who is lord over us?”
“Because of the (F)devastation of the poor, because of the groaning of the needy,
Now (G)I will arise,” says the Lord; “I will (H)put him in the safety for which he longs.”

The (I)words of the Lord are pure words;
Like silver (J)refined in a furnace on the ground, filtered seven times.
You, Lord, will keep them;
You will (K)protect him from this generation forever.
The (L)wicked strut about on every side
When [f](M)vileness is exalted among the sons of mankind.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 12 Title Or according to a lower octave (Heb Sheminith)
  2. Psalm 12:2 Lit worthless speech
  3. Psalm 12:2 Lit a smooth lip
  4. Psalm 12:3 Lit a smooth lip
  5. Psalm 12:4 Lit with us
  6. Psalm 12:8 Or worthlessness

BOOK 2

Thirsting for God in Trouble and Exile.

For the music director. A [a]Maskil of the sons of Korah.

42 As the deer [b]pants for the water brooks,
So my soul [c](A)pants for You, God.
My soul (B)thirsts for God, for the (C)living God;
When shall I come and [d](D)appear before God?
My (E)tears have been my food day and night,
While they (F)say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
I remember these things and (G)pour out my soul within me.
For I (H)used to go over with the multitude and walk them to the house of God,
With a voice of (I)joy and thanksgiving, a multitude celebrating a festival.

(J)Why are you [e](K)in despair, my soul?
And why are you (L)restless within me?
(M)Wait for God, for I will [f]again praise [g]Him
For the [h](N)help of His [i]presence, my God.
My soul is [j]in despair within me;
Therefore I (O)remember You from (P)the land of the Jordan
And the [k]peaks of (Q)Hermon, from Mount Mizar.
Deep calls to deep at the sound of Your waterfalls;
All Your (R)breakers and Your waves have passed over me.
The Lord will (S)send His goodness in the daytime;
And His song will be with me (T)in the night,
A prayer to (U)the God of my life.

I will say to God (V)my rock, “Why have You forgotten me?
Why do I go about (W)mourning [l]because of the (X)oppression of the enemy?”
10 As a shattering of my bones, my adversaries taunt me,
While they (Y)say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
11 (Z)Why are you [m]in despair, my soul?
And why are you restless within me?
Wait for God, for I will again praise [n]Him
For the [o]help of His presence, my God.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 42 Title Possibly Contemplative; or Didactic; or Skillful Psalm
  2. Psalm 42:1 Lit longs for
  3. Psalm 42:1 Lit longs for
  4. Psalm 42:2 Some mss see the face of God
  5. Psalm 42:5 Lit dissolved away
  6. Psalm 42:5 Or still
  7. Psalm 42:5 Some ancient versions Him, the help of my face and my God
  8. Psalm 42:5 Or saving acts of
  9. Psalm 42:5 Or presence. O my God, my soul...
  10. Psalm 42:6 Or dissolved away
  11. Psalm 42:6 Lit Hermons
  12. Psalm 42:9 Or while the enemy oppresses
  13. Psalm 42:11 Or dissolved away
  14. Psalm 42:11 As in some ancient mss, cf. v 5; MT Him, the help of my face and my God
  15. Psalm 42:11 Or saving acts of

The Reign of the Righteous King.

A Psalm of Solomon.

72 Give the king (A)Your judgments, God,
And (B)Your righteousness to the king’s son.
[a]May [b]he (C)judge Your people with righteousness
And [c](D)Your afflicted with justice.
[d]May the mountains bring [e](E)peace to the people,
And the hills, in righteousness.
[f]May he (F)vindicate the [g]afflicted of the people,
Save the children of the needy,
And crush the oppressor.

[h]May they fear You (G)while the sun shines,
And [i]as long as the moon shines, throughout all generations.
[j]May he come down (H)like rain upon the mown grass,
Like (I)showers that water the earth.
[k]May the (J)righteous flourish in his days,
As well as an (K)abundance of peace, until the moon is no more.

May he also rule (L)from sea to sea,
And from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth.
[l]May (M)the nomads of the desert (N)bow before him,
And his enemies (O)lick the dust.
10 [m]May the kings of (P)Tarshish and of the [n](Q)islands bring gifts;
May the kings of (R)Sheba and (S)Seba (T)offer tributes.
11 [o]And may all (U)kings bow down before him,
All (V)nations serve him.

12 For he will (W)save the needy when he cries for help,
The [p]afflicted also, and him who has no helper.
13 He will have (X)compassion on the poor and needy,
And he will save the [q]lives of the needy.
14 He will [r](Y)rescue their [s]life from oppression and violence,
And their blood will be (Z)precious in his sight;
15 So may he live, and may the (AA)gold of Sheba be given to him;
And [t]they are to pray for him continually;
[u]They are to bless him all day long.

16 May there be abundance of grain on the earth on top of the mountains;
Its fruit will wave like the cedars of (AB)Lebanon;
And may those from the city flourish like the (AC)vegetation of the earth.
17 May his (AD)name endure forever;
May his name produce descendants [v](AE)as long as the sun shines;
And may people (AF)wish blessings on themselves by him;
(AG)May all nations call him blessed.

18 (AH)Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel,
Who alone (AI)works wonders.
19 And blessed be His (AJ)glorious name forever;
And may the whole (AK)earth be filled with His glory.
(AL)Amen and Amen.

20 The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 72:2 Or He will judge
  2. Psalm 72:2 Many of the pronouns in this Psalm may be rendered He since the typical reference is to the Messiah
  3. Psalm 72:2 Or Your humble
  4. Psalm 72:3 Or The mountains will bring
  5. Psalm 72:3 Or prosperity
  6. Psalm 72:4 Or He will vindicate
  7. Psalm 72:4 Or humble
  8. Psalm 72:5 Or They will fear
  9. Psalm 72:5 Lit before the moon
  10. Psalm 72:6 Or He will come down
  11. Psalm 72:7 Or The righteous will flourish
  12. Psalm 72:9 Or The nomads...will bow
  13. Psalm 72:10 Or The kings...will bring
  14. Psalm 72:10 Or coastlands
  15. Psalm 72:11 Or All kings will bow down
  16. Psalm 72:12 Or humble
  17. Psalm 72:13 Lit souls
  18. Psalm 72:14 Lit redeem
  19. Psalm 72:14 Lit soul
  20. Psalm 72:15 Lit he is to
  21. Psalm 72:15 Lit He is to
  22. Psalm 72:17 Lit before the sun

Prayer of an Afflicted Man for Mercy on Himself and on Zion.

A Prayer of the afflicted when he is weak and [a]pours out his complaint before the Lord.

102 (A)Hear my prayer, Lord!
And let my cry for help (B)come to You.
(C)Do not hide Your face from me on the day of my distress;
(D)Incline Your ear to me;
On the day when I call (E)answer me quickly.
For my days (F)have ended in smoke,
And my (G)bones have been scorched like a hearth.
My heart (H)has been struck like [b]grass and has (I)withered,
Indeed, I (J)forget to eat my bread.
Because of the [c]loudness of my groaning
My (K)bones [d]cling to my flesh.
I resemble a (L)pelican of the wilderness;
I have become like an owl of the ruins.
I (M)lie awake,
I have become like a solitary bird on a housetop.

My enemies (N)have taunted me all day long;
Those who [e](O)deride me [f]have used my name as a (P)curse.
For I have eaten ashes like bread,
And (Q)mixed my drink with weeping
10 (R)Because of Your indignation and Your wrath;
For You have (S)lifted me up and thrown me away.
11 My days are like a [g](T)lengthened shadow,
And [h]I (U)wither away like [i]grass.

12 But You, Lord, [j](V)remain forever,
And Your [k](W)name remains to all generations.
13 You will (X)arise and have (Y)compassion on Zion;
For (Z)it is time to be gracious to her,
For the (AA)appointed time has come.
14 Surely Your servants [l]take pleasure in her stones,
And feel pity for her dust.
15 [m]So the [n](AB)nations will fear the name of the Lord,
And (AC)all the kings of the earth, Your glory.
16 For the Lord has (AD)built up Zion;
He has (AE)appeared in His glory.
17 He has (AF)turned His attention to the prayer of the [o]destitute
And has not despised their prayer.

18 [p]This will be (AG)written for the (AH)generation to come,
[q]That (AI)a people yet to be created [r]may praise [s]the Lord:
19 For He (AJ)looked down from His holy height;
(AK)From heaven the Lord looked [t]upon the earth,
20 To hear the (AL)groaning of the prisoner,
To (AM)set free [u]those who were doomed to death,
21 So that people may (AN)tell of the name of the Lord in Zion,
And His praise in Jerusalem,
22 When (AO)the peoples are gathered together,
And the kingdoms, to serve the Lord.

23 He has broken my strength in the way;
He has (AP)shortened my days.
24 I say, “My God, (AQ)do not take me away in the middle of my days,
Your (AR)years are [v]throughout all generations.
25 In time of old You (AS)founded the earth,
And the (AT)heavens are the work of Your hands.
26 [w]Even they will (AU)perish, but You endure;
All of them will wear out like a garment;
Like clothing You will change them and they will pass away.
27 But You are [x](AV)the same,
And Your years will not come to an end.
28 The (AW)children of Your servants will continue,
And their [y](AX)descendants will be established before You.”

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 102 Title Ps 142:2
  2. Psalm 102:4 Lit herbage
  3. Psalm 102:5 Lit voice
  4. Psalm 102:5 Lit have cleaved
  5. Psalm 102:8 Or made a fool of
  6. Psalm 102:8 Lit have sworn by me
  7. Psalm 102:11 Lit stretched out
  8. Psalm 102:11 Or as for me, I
  9. Psalm 102:11 Lit herbage
  10. Psalm 102:12 Or sit enthroned
  11. Psalm 102:12 Lit memorial
  12. Psalm 102:14 Or have found
  13. Psalm 102:15 Or And
  14. Psalm 102:15 Or Gentiles, heathen
  15. Psalm 102:17 Or naked
  16. Psalm 102:18 Or Let this be written
  17. Psalm 102:18 Or And
  18. Psalm 102:18 Or will
  19. Psalm 102:18 Heb Yah
  20. Psalm 102:19 Lit toward
  21. Psalm 102:20 Lit the sons of death
  22. Psalm 102:24 Lit in generation of generations
  23. Psalm 102:26 Lit They themselves
  24. Psalm 102:27 Lit He
  25. Psalm 102:28 Lit seed

Prayer for the Lords Blessing upon the Sanctuary.

A Song of Ascents.

132 Remember, Lord, in David’s behalf,
All (A)his affliction;
How he swore to the Lord
And vowed to (B)the Mighty One of Jacob,
“I certainly will not [a]enter (C)my house,
Nor [b]lie on my bed;
I will not (D)give sleep to my eyes
Or slumber to my eyelids,
Until I find a (E)place for the Lord,
[c]A dwelling place for (F)the Mighty One of Jacob.”

Behold, we heard about it in (G)Ephrathah,
We found it in the (H)field of [d]Jaar.
Let’s go into His [e](I)dwelling place;
Let’s (J)worship at His (K)footstool.
(L)Arise, Lord, to Your (M)resting place,
You and the ark of Your (N)strength.
May Your priests be (O)clothed with righteousness,
And may Your (P)godly ones sing for joy.

10 For the sake of Your servant David,
Do not turn away the face of Your (Q)anointed.
11 The Lord has (R)sworn to David
A truth from which He will not turn back:
“I will set upon your throne one (S)from the fruit of your body.
12 If your sons will keep My covenant
And My testimony which I will teach them,
Their sons also will (T)sit upon your throne forever.”

13 For the Lord has (U)chosen Zion;
He has (V)desired it as His dwelling place.
14 “This is My (W)resting place forever;
Here I will (X)dwell, for I have desired it.
15 I will abundantly (Y)bless her food;
I will (Z)satisfy her needy with bread.
16 I will also clothe her (AA)priests with salvation,
And her (AB)godly ones will sing aloud for joy.
17 I will make the (AC)horn of David spring forth there;
I have prepared a (AD)lamp for My anointed.
18 I will (AE)clothe his enemies with shame,
But upon himself his (AF)crown will gleam.”

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 132:3 Lit come into the tabernacle of
  2. Psalm 132:3 Lit go up into the couch of
  3. Psalm 132:5 Lit Dwelling places
  4. Psalm 132:6 Or the wood
  5. Psalm 132:7 Lit dwelling places

Contrast of the Upright and the Wicked

12 One who loves [a]discipline loves knowledge,
But one who hates rebuke is stupid.
A (A)good person will obtain favor from the Lord,
But He will condemn a person [b]who devises evil.
A person will (B)not be established by wickedness,
But the root of the (C)righteous will not be moved.
An [c](D)excellent wife is the crown of her husband,
But she who shames him is like (E)rottenness in his bones.
The thoughts of the righteous are just,
But the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.
The (F)words of the wicked wait in ambush for blood,
But the (G)mouth of the upright will rescue them.
The (H)wicked are overthrown and are no more,
But the (I)house of the righteous will stand.
A person will be praised according to his insight,
But one of perverse [d]mind will be despised.
Better is one who is lightly esteemed and has a servant,
Than one who honors himself and lacks bread.
10 A (J)righteous person has regard for the life of his animal,
But even the compassion of the wicked is cruel.
11 One (K)who works his land will have plenty of bread,
But one who pursues worthless things lacks [e]sense.
12 The (L)wicked person desires the [f]plunder of evil people,
But the root of the righteous (M)yields fruit.
13 [g]An evil person is ensnared by the offense of his lips,
But the (N)righteous will escape from trouble.
14 A person will be (O)satisfied with good by the fruit of his [h]words,
And the (P)deeds of a person’s hands will return to him.
15 The (Q)way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
But a person who listens to advice is wise.
16 A (R)fool’s anger is known at once,
But a prudent person conceals dishonor.
17 One who declares truth tells what is right,
But a false witness, deceit.
18 There is one who (S)speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword,
But the (T)tongue of the wise brings healing.
19 Truthful lips will endure forever,
But a (U)lying tongue is only for a moment.
20 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
But counselors of peace have joy.
21 (V)No harm happens to the righteous,
But the wicked are filled with trouble.
22 (W)Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,
But those who deal faithfully are His delight.
23 A (X)prudent person conceals knowledge,
But the heart of fools proclaims foolishness.
24 The hand of the diligent will rule,
But the [i]lazy hand will be (Y)put to forced labor.
25 (Z)Anxiety in a person’s heart weighs it down,
But a (AA)good word makes it glad.
26 The righteous person is a guide to his neighbor,
But the way of the wicked leads them astray.
27 [j]A lazy person does not [k]roast his prey,
But the (AB)precious possession of a person is diligence.
28 (AC)In the way of righteousness there is life,
And in its pathway there is no death.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:1 Or instruction
  2. Proverbs 12:2 Lit of evil devices
  3. Proverbs 12:4 Or virtuous
  4. Proverbs 12:8 Lit heart
  5. Proverbs 12:11 Lit heart
  6. Proverbs 12:12 Lit net (for trapping prey); another reading is mountain stronghold
  7. Proverbs 12:13 Lit In the offense of the lips is an evil snare
  8. Proverbs 12:14 Lit mouth
  9. Proverbs 12:24 Lit idle
  10. Proverbs 12:27 Lit An indolent
  11. Proverbs 12:27 Or catch

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