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Psalm 21-25
Revised Standard Version
Psalm 21-25
Revised Standard Version
Thanksgiving for Victory
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
21 In thy strength the king rejoices, O Lord;
and in thy help how greatly he exults!
2 Thou hast given him his heart’s desire,
and hast not withheld the request of his lips.Selah
3 For thou dost meet him with goodly blessings;
thou dost set a crown of fine gold upon his head.
4 He asked life of thee; thou gavest it to him,
length of days for ever and ever.
5 His glory is great through thy help;
splendor and majesty thou dost bestow upon him.
6 Yea, thou dost make him most blessed for ever;
thou dost make him glad with the joy of thy presence.
7 For the king trusts in the Lord;
and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved.
8 Your hand will find out all your enemies;
your right hand will find out those who hate you.
9 You will make them as a blazing oven
when you appear.
The Lord will swallow them up in his wrath;
and fire will consume them.
10 You will destroy their offspring from the earth,
and their children from among the sons of men.
11 If they plan evil against you,
if they devise mischief, they will not succeed.
12 For you will put them to flight;
you will aim at their faces with your bows.
13 Be exalted, O Lord, in thy strength!
We will sing and praise thy power.
Plea for Deliverance from Suffering and Hostility
To the choirmaster: according to The Hind of the Dawn. A Psalm of David.
22 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Why art thou so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?
2 O my God, I cry by day, but thou dost not answer;
and by night, but find no rest.
3 Yet thou art holy,
enthroned on the praises of Israel.
4 In thee our fathers trusted;
they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
5 To thee they cried, and were saved;
in thee they trusted, and were not disappointed.
6 But I am a worm, and no man;
scorned by men, and despised by the people.
7 All who see me mock at me,
they make mouths at me, they wag their heads;
8 “He committed his cause to the Lord; let him deliver him,
let him rescue him, for he delights in him!”
9 Yet thou art he who took me from the womb;
thou didst keep me safe upon my mother’s breasts.
10 Upon thee was I cast from my birth,
and since my mother bore me thou hast been my God.
11 Be not far from me,
for trouble is near
and there is none to help.
12 Many bulls encompass me,
strong bulls of Bashan surround me;
13 they open wide their mouths at me,
like a ravening and roaring lion.
14 I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint;
my heart is like wax,
it is melted within my breast;
15 my strength is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue cleaves to my jaws;
thou dost lay me in the dust of death.
16 Yea, dogs are round about me;
a company of evildoers encircle me;
they have pierced[a] my hands and feet—
17 I can count all my bones—
they stare and gloat over me;
18 they divide my garments among them,
and for my raiment they cast lots.
19 But thou, O Lord, be not far off!
O thou my help, hasten to my aid!
20 Deliver my soul from the sword,
my life[b] from the power of the dog!
21 Save me from the mouth of the lion,
my afflicted soul[c] from the horns of the wild oxen!
22 I will tell of thy name to my brethren;
in the midst of the congregation I will praise thee:
23 You who fear the Lord, praise him!
all you sons of Jacob, glorify him,
and stand in awe of him, all you sons of Israel!
24 For he has not despised or abhorred
the affliction of the afflicted;
and he has not hid his face from him,
but has heard, when he cried to him.
25 From thee comes my praise in the great congregation;
my vows I will pay before those who fear him.
26 The afflicted[d] shall eat and be satisfied;
those who seek him shall praise the Lord!
May your hearts live for ever!
27 All the ends of the earth shall remember
and turn to the Lord;
and all the families of the nations
shall worship before him.[e]
28 For dominion belongs to the Lord,
and he rules over the nations.
29 Yea, to him[f] shall all the proud of the earth bow down;
before him shall bow all who go down to the dust,
and he who cannot keep himself alive.
30 Posterity shall serve him;
men shall tell of the Lord to the coming generation,
31 and proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn,
that he has wrought it.
The Divine Shepherd
A Psalm of David.
23 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want;
2 he makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters;[g]
3 he restores my soul.[h]
He leads me in paths of righteousness[i]
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,[j]
I fear no evil;
for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff,
they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
thou anointest my head with oil,
my cup overflows.
6 Surely[k] goodness and mercy[l] shall follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
for ever.[m]
Entrance into the Temple
A Psalm of David.
24 The earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof,
the world and those who dwell therein;
2 for he has founded it upon the seas,
and established it upon the rivers.
3 Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?
And who shall stand in his holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to what is false,
and does not swear deceitfully.
5 He will receive blessing from the Lord,
and vindication from the God of his salvation.
6 Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek the face of the God of Jacob.[n]Selah
7 Lift up your heads, O gates!
and be lifted up, O ancient doors!
that the King of glory may come in.
8 Who is the King of glory?
The Lord, strong and mighty,
the Lord, mighty in battle!
9 Lift up your heads, O gates!
and be lifted up,[o] O ancient doors!
that the King of glory may come in.
10 Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts,
he is the King of glory!Selah
Prayer for Guidance and for Deliverance
A Psalm of David.
25 To thee, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, in thee I trust,
let me not be put to shame;
let not my enemies exult over me.
3 Yea, let none that wait for thee be put to shame;
let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
4 Make me to know thy ways, O Lord;
teach me thy paths.
5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me,
for thou art the God of my salvation;
for thee I wait all the day long.
6 Be mindful of thy mercy, O Lord, and of thy steadfast love,
for they have been from of old.
7 Remember not the sins of my youth, or my trangressions;
according to thy steadfast love remember me,
for thy goodness’ sake, O Lord!
8 Good and upright is the Lord;
therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
9 He leads the humble in what is right,
and teaches the humble his way.
10 All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.
11 For thy name’s sake, O Lord,
pardon my guilt, for it is great.
12 Who is the man that fears the Lord?
Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.
13 He himself shall abide in prosperity,
and his children shall possess the land.
14 The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him,
and he makes known to them his covenant.
15 My eyes are ever toward the Lord,
for he will pluck my feet out of the net.
16 Turn thou to me, and be gracious to me;
for I am lonely and afflicted.
17 Relieve the troubles of my heart,
and bring me[p] out of my distresses.
18 Consider my affliction and my trouble,
and forgive all my sins.
19 Consider how many are my foes,
and with what violent hatred they hate me.
20 Oh guard my life, and deliver me;
let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in thee.
21 May integrity and uprightness preserve me,
for I wait for thee.
22 Redeem Israel, O God,
out of all his troubles.
Footnotes
- Psalm 22:16 Gk Syr Jerome: Heb like a lion
- Psalm 22:20 Heb my only one
- Psalm 22:21 Gk Syr: Heb thou hast answered me
- Psalm 22:26 Or poor
- Psalm 22:27 Gk Syr Jerome: Heb thee
- Psalm 22:29 Cn: Heb they have eaten and
- Psalm 23:2 Heb the waters of rest
- Psalm 23:3 Or life
- Psalm 23:3 Or right paths
- Psalm 23:4 Or the valley of deep darkness
- Psalm 23:6 Or Only
- Psalm 23:6 Or kindness
- Psalm 23:6 Or as long as I live
- Psalm 24:6 Gk Syr: Heb thy face, O Jacob
- Psalm 24:9 Gk Syr Jerome Tg Compare verse 7: Heb lift up
- Psalm 25:17 Or The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me
Psalm 21-25
New International Version
Psalm 21-25
New International Version
Psalm 21[a]
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
2 You have granted him his heart’s desire(C)
and have not withheld the request of his lips.[b]
3 You came to greet him with rich blessings
and placed a crown of pure gold(D) on his head.(E)
4 He asked you for life, and you gave it to him—
length of days, for ever and ever.(F)
5 Through the victories(G) you gave, his glory is great;
you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty.(H)
6 Surely you have granted him unending blessings
and made him glad with the joy(I) of your presence.(J)
7 For the king trusts in the Lord;(K)
through the unfailing love(L) of the Most High(M)
he will not be shaken.(N)
8 Your hand will lay hold(O) on all your enemies;
your right hand will seize your foes.
9 When you appear for battle,
you will burn them up as in a blazing furnace.
The Lord will swallow them up in his wrath,
and his fire will consume them.(P)
10 You will destroy their descendants from the earth,
their posterity from mankind.(Q)
11 Though they plot evil(R) against you
and devise wicked schemes,(S) they cannot succeed.
12 You will make them turn their backs(T)
when you aim at them with drawn bow.
Psalm 22[c]
For the director of music. To the tune of “The Doe of the Morning.” A psalm of David.
1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?(W)
Why are you so far(X) from saving me,
so far from my cries of anguish?(Y)
2 My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,(Z)
by night,(AA) but I find no rest.[d]
3 Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;(AB)
you are the one Israel praises.[e](AC)
4 In you our ancestors put their trust;
they trusted and you delivered them.(AD)
5 To you they cried out(AE) and were saved;
in you they trusted(AF) and were not put to shame.(AG)
6 But I am a worm(AH) and not a man,
scorned by everyone,(AI) despised(AJ) by the people.
7 All who see me mock me;(AK)
they hurl insults,(AL) shaking their heads.(AM)
8 “He trusts in the Lord,” they say,
“let the Lord rescue him.(AN)
Let him deliver him,(AO)
since he delights(AP) in him.”
9 Yet you brought me out of the womb;(AQ)
you made me trust(AR) in you, even at my mother’s breast.
10 From birth(AS) I was cast on you;
from my mother’s womb you have been my God.
12 Many bulls(AW) surround me;(AX)
strong bulls of Bashan(AY) encircle me.
13 Roaring lions(AZ) that tear their prey(BA)
open their mouths wide(BB) against me.
14 I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint.(BC)
My heart has turned to wax;(BD)
it has melted(BE) within me.
15 My mouth[f] is dried up like a potsherd,(BF)
and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;(BG)
you lay me in the dust(BH) of death.
16 Dogs(BI) surround me,
a pack of villains encircles me;
they pierce[g](BJ) my hands and my feet.
17 All my bones are on display;
people stare(BK) and gloat over me.(BL)
18 They divide my clothes among them
and cast lots(BM) for my garment.(BN)
19 But you, Lord, do not be far from me.(BO)
You are my strength;(BP) come quickly(BQ) to help me.(BR)
20 Deliver me from the sword,(BS)
my precious life(BT) from the power of the dogs.(BU)
21 Rescue me from the mouth of the lions;(BV)
save me from the horns of the wild oxen.(BW)
22 I will declare your name to my people;
in the assembly(BX) I will praise you.(BY)
23 You who fear the Lord, praise him!(BZ)
All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!(CA)
Revere him,(CB) all you descendants of Israel!
24 For he has not despised(CC) or scorned
the suffering of the afflicted one;(CD)
he has not hidden his face(CE) from him
but has listened to his cry for help.(CF)
25 From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly;(CG)
before those who fear you[h] I will fulfill my vows.(CH)
26 The poor will eat(CI) and be satisfied;
those who seek the Lord will praise him—(CJ)
may your hearts live forever!
27 All the ends of the earth(CK)
will remember and turn to the Lord,
and all the families of the nations
will bow down before him,(CL)
28 for dominion belongs to the Lord(CM)
and he rules over the nations.
29 All the rich(CN) of the earth will feast and worship;(CO)
all who go down to the dust(CP) will kneel before him—
those who cannot keep themselves alive.(CQ)
30 Posterity(CR) will serve him;
future generations(CS) will be told about the Lord.
31 They will proclaim his righteousness,(CT)
declaring to a people yet unborn:(CU)
He has done it!(CV)
Psalm 23
A psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my shepherd,(CW) I lack nothing.(CX)
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,(CY)
3 he refreshes my soul.(CZ)
He guides me(DA) along the right paths(DB)
for his name’s sake.(DC)
4 Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,[i](DD)
I will fear no evil,(DE)
for you are with me;(DF)
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table(DG) before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;(DH)
my cup(DI) overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love(DJ) will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
Psalm 24
Of David. A psalm.
1 The earth is the Lord’s,(DK) and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;(DL)
2 for he founded it on the seas
and established it on the waters.(DM)
3 Who may ascend the mountain(DN) of the Lord?
Who may stand in his holy place?(DO)
4 The one who has clean hands(DP) and a pure heart,(DQ)
who does not trust in an idol(DR)
or swear by a false god.[j]
5 They will receive blessing(DS) from the Lord
and vindication(DT) from God their Savior.
6 Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek your face,(DU) God of Jacob.[k][l]
7 Lift up your heads, you gates;(DV)
be lifted up, you ancient doors,
that the King(DW) of glory(DX) may come in.(DY)
8 Who is this King of glory?
The Lord strong and mighty,(DZ)
the Lord mighty in battle.(EA)
9 Lift up your heads, you gates;
lift them up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
10 Who is he, this King of glory?
The Lord Almighty(EB)—
he is the King of glory.
Psalm 25[m]
Of David.
1 In you, Lord my God,
I put my trust.(EC)
2 I trust in you;(ED)
do not let me be put to shame,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.
3 No one who hopes in you
will ever be put to shame,(EE)
but shame will come on those
who are treacherous(EF) without cause.
4 Show me your ways, Lord,
teach me your paths.(EG)
5 Guide me in your truth(EH) and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,(EI)
and my hope is in you(EJ) all day long.
6 Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love,(EK)
for they are from of old.
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth(EL)
and my rebellious ways;(EM)
according to your love(EN) remember me,
for you, Lord, are good.(EO)
8 Good and upright(EP) is the Lord;
therefore he instructs(EQ) sinners in his ways.
9 He guides(ER) the humble in what is right
and teaches them(ES) his way.
10 All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful(ET)
toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.(EU)
11 For the sake of your name,(EV) Lord,
forgive(EW) my iniquity,(EX) though it is great.
12 Who, then, are those who fear the Lord?(EY)
He will instruct them in the ways(EZ) they should choose.[n]
13 They will spend their days in prosperity,(FA)
and their descendants will inherit the land.(FB)
14 The Lord confides(FC) in those who fear him;
he makes his covenant known(FD) to them.
15 My eyes are ever on the Lord,(FE)
for only he will release my feet from the snare.(FF)
16 Turn to me(FG) and be gracious to me,(FH)
for I am lonely(FI) and afflicted.
17 Relieve the troubles(FJ) of my heart
and free me from my anguish.(FK)
18 Look on my affliction(FL) and my distress(FM)
and take away all my sins.(FN)
19 See how numerous are my enemies(FO)
and how fiercely they hate me!(FP)
20 Guard my life(FQ) and rescue me;(FR)
do not let me be put to shame,(FS)
for I take refuge(FT) in you.
21 May integrity(FU) and uprightness(FV) protect me,
because my hope, Lord,[o] is in you.(FW)
22 Deliver Israel,(FX) O God,
from all their troubles!
Footnotes
- Psalm 21:1 In Hebrew texts 21:1-13 is numbered 21:2-14.
- Psalm 21:2 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
- Psalm 22:1 In Hebrew texts 22:1-31 is numbered 22:2-32.
- Psalm 22:2 Or night, and am not silent
- Psalm 22:3 Or Yet you are holy, / enthroned on the praises of Israel
- Psalm 22:15 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text strength
- Psalm 22:16 Dead Sea Scrolls and some manuscripts of the Masoretic Text, Septuagint and Syriac; most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text me, / like a lion
- Psalm 22:25 Hebrew him
- Psalm 23:4 Or the valley of the shadow of death
- Psalm 24:4 Or swear falsely
- Psalm 24:6 Two Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac (see also Septuagint); most Hebrew manuscripts face, Jacob
- Psalm 24:6 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 10.
- Psalm 25:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
- Psalm 25:12 Or ways he chooses
- Psalm 25:21 Septuagint; Hebrew does not have Lord.
Revised Standard Version (RSV)
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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.