67 God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.

That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.

Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.

O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah.

Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.

Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us.

God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.

68 Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.

As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.

But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.

Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name Jah, and rejoice before him.

A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.

God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.

O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah:

The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.

Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.

10 Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor.

11 The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.

12 Kings of armies did flee apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil.

13 Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.

14 When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was white as snow in Salmon.

15 The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan; an high hill as the hill of Bashan.

16 Why leap ye, ye high hills? this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in; yea, the Lord will dwell in it for ever.

17 The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.

18 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them.

19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.

20 He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death.

21 But God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses.

22 The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea:

23 That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies, and the tongue of thy dogs in the same.

24 They have seen thy goings, O God; even the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary.

25 The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; among them were the damsels playing with timbrels.

26 Bless ye God in the congregations, even the Lord, from the fountain of Israel.

27 There is little Benjamin with their ruler, the princes of Judah and their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.

28 Thy God hath commanded thy strength: strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us.

29 Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee.

30 Rebuke the company of spearmen, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people, till every one submit himself with pieces of silver: scatter thou the people that delight in war.

31 Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.

32 Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord; Selah:

33 To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old; lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mighty voice.

34 Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds.

35 O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God.

69 Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul.

I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.

I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.

They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away.

O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee.

Let not them that wait on thee, O Lord God of hosts, be ashamed for my sake: let not those that seek thee be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel.

Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face.

I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children.

For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.

10 When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach.

11 I made sackcloth also my garment; and I became a proverb to them.

12 They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards.

13 But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O Lord, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation.

14 Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.

15 Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me.

16 Hear me, O Lord; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies.

17 And hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily.

18 Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: deliver me because of mine enemies.

19 Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour: mine adversaries are all before thee.

20 Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.

21 They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

22 Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap.

23 Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake.

24 Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them.

25 Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell in their tents.

26 For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten; and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded.

27 Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into thy righteousness.

28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.

29 But I am poor and sorrowful: let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high.

30 I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.

31 This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.

32 The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God.

33 For the Lord heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners.

34 Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and every thing that moveth therein.

35 For God will save Zion, and will build the cities of Judah: that they may dwell there, and have it in possession.

36 The seed also of his servants shall inherit it: and they that love his name shall dwell therein.

70 Make haste, o God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O Lord.

Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul: let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt.

Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame that say, Aha, aha.

Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified.

But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help and my deliverer; O Lord, make no tarrying.

71 In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.

Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me.

Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.

Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.

For thou art my hope, O Lord God: thou art my trust from my youth.

By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother's bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee.

I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge.

Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day.

Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.

10 For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together,

11 Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him.

12 O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help.

13 Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt.

14 But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.

15 My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof.

16 I will go in the strength of the Lord God: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.

17 O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.

18 Now also when I am old and greyheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.

19 Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee!

20 Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.

21 Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.

22 I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel.

23 My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed.

24 My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long: for they are confounded, for they are brought unto shame, that seek my hurt.

72 Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son.

He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment.

The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.

He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.

They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.

He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.

In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth.

He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.

They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust.

10 The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.

11 Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him.

12 For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper.

13 He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy.

14 He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight.

15 And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised.

16 There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.

17 His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed.

18 Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things.

19 And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.

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

73 Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.

But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.

For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.

They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.

Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.

Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.

They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.

They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.

10 Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.

11 And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?

12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.

13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.

14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.

15 If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.

16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;

17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.

18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.

19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.

20 As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.

21 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.

22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.

23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.

24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.

25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.

26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.

28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works.

74 O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture?

Remember thy congregation, which thou hast purchased of old; the rod of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt.

Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual desolations; even all that the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary.

Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations; they set up their ensigns for signs.

A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees.

But now they break down the carved work thereof at once with axes and hammers.

They have cast fire into thy sanctuary, they have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of thy name to the ground.

They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land.

We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long.

10 O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?

11 Why withdrawest thou thy hand, even thy right hand? pluck it out of thy bosom.

12 For God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.

13 Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters.

14 Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness.

15 Thou didst cleave the fountain and the flood: thou driedst up mighty rivers.

16 The day is thine, the night also is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun.

17 Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter.

18 Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O Lord, and that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name.

19 O deliver not the soul of thy turtledove unto the multitude of the wicked: forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever.

20 Have respect unto the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.

21 O let not the oppressed return ashamed: let the poor and needy praise thy name.

22 Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily.

23 Forget not the voice of thine enemies: the tumult of those that rise up against thee increaseth continually.

Psalm 67[a]

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

May God be gracious to us and bless us
    and make his face shine on us—[b](A)
so that your ways may be known on earth,
    your salvation(B) among all nations.(C)

May the peoples praise you, God;
    may all the peoples praise you.(D)
May the nations be glad and sing for joy,(E)
    for you rule the peoples with equity(F)
    and guide the nations of the earth.(G)
May the peoples praise you, God;
    may all the peoples praise you.

The land yields its harvest;(H)
    God, our God, blesses us.(I)
May God bless us still,
    so that all the ends of the earth(J) will fear him.(K)

Psalm 68[c]

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm. A song.

May God arise,(L) may his enemies be scattered;(M)
    may his foes flee(N) before him.
May you blow them away like smoke—(O)
    as wax melts(P) before the fire,
    may the wicked perish(Q) before God.
But may the righteous be glad
    and rejoice(R) before God;
    may they be happy and joyful.

Sing to God, sing in praise of his name,(S)
    extol him who rides on the clouds[d](T);
    rejoice before him—his name is the Lord.(U)
A father to the fatherless,(V) a defender of widows,(W)
    is God in his holy dwelling.(X)
God sets the lonely(Y) in families,[e](Z)
    he leads out the prisoners(AA) with singing;
    but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.(AB)

When you, God, went out(AC) before your people,
    when you marched through the wilderness,[f](AD)
the earth shook,(AE) the heavens poured down rain,(AF)
    before God, the One of Sinai,(AG)
    before God, the God of Israel.(AH)
You gave abundant showers,(AI) O God;
    you refreshed your weary inheritance.
10 Your people settled in it,
    and from your bounty,(AJ) God, you provided(AK) for the poor.

11 The Lord announces the word,
    and the women who proclaim it are a mighty throng:(AL)
12 “Kings and armies flee(AM) in haste;
    the women at home divide the plunder.(AN)
13 Even while you sleep among the sheep pens,[g](AO)
    the wings of my dove are sheathed with silver,
    its feathers with shining gold.”
14 When the Almighty[h] scattered(AP) the kings in the land,
    it was like snow fallen on Mount Zalmon.(AQ)

15 Mount Bashan,(AR) majestic mountain,(AS)
    Mount Bashan, rugged mountain,
16 why gaze in envy, you rugged mountain,
    at the mountain where God chooses(AT) to reign,
    where the Lord himself will dwell forever?(AU)
17 The chariots(AV) of God are tens of thousands
    and thousands of thousands;(AW)
    the Lord has come from Sinai into his sanctuary.[i]
18 When you ascended(AX) on high,(AY)
    you took many captives;(AZ)
    you received gifts from people,(BA)
even from[j] the rebellious(BB)
    that you,[k] Lord God, might dwell there.

19 Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior,(BC)
    who daily bears our burdens.(BD)
20 Our God is a God who saves;(BE)
    from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death.(BF)
21 Surely God will crush the heads(BG) of his enemies,
    the hairy crowns of those who go on in their sins.
22 The Lord says, “I will bring them from Bashan;
    I will bring them from the depths of the sea,(BH)
23 that your feet may wade in the blood of your foes,(BI)
    while the tongues of your dogs(BJ) have their share.”

24 Your procession, God, has come into view,
    the procession of my God and King into the sanctuary.(BK)
25 In front are the singers,(BL) after them the musicians;(BM)
    with them are the young women playing the timbrels.(BN)
26 Praise God in the great congregation;(BO)
    praise the Lord in the assembly of Israel.(BP)
27 There is the little tribe(BQ) of Benjamin,(BR) leading them,
    there the great throng of Judah’s princes,
    and there the princes of Zebulun and of Naphtali.(BS)

28 Summon your power,(BT) God[l];
    show us your strength,(BU) our God, as you have done(BV) before.
29 Because of your temple at Jerusalem
    kings will bring you gifts.(BW)
30 Rebuke the beast(BX) among the reeds,(BY)
    the herd of bulls(BZ) among the calves of the nations.
Humbled, may the beast bring bars of silver.
    Scatter the nations(CA) who delight in war.(CB)
31 Envoys will come from Egypt;(CC)
    Cush[m](CD) will submit herself to God.

32 Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth,(CE)
    sing praise(CF) to the Lord,
33 to him who rides(CG) across the highest heavens, the ancient heavens,
    who thunders(CH) with mighty voice.(CI)
34 Proclaim the power(CJ) of God,
    whose majesty(CK) is over Israel,
    whose power is in the heavens.
35 You, God, are awesome(CL) in your sanctuary;(CM)
    the God of Israel gives power and strength(CN) to his people.(CO)

Praise be to God!(CP)

Psalm 69[n]

For the director of music. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of David.

Save me, O God,
    for the waters(CQ) have come up to my neck.(CR)
I sink in the miry depths,(CS)
    where there is no foothold.
I have come into the deep waters;
    the floods engulf me.
I am worn out calling for help;(CT)
    my throat is parched.
My eyes fail,(CU)
    looking for my God.
Those who hate me(CV) without reason(CW)
    outnumber the hairs of my head;
many are my enemies without cause,(CX)
    those who seek to destroy me.(CY)
I am forced to restore
    what I did not steal.

You, God, know my folly;(CZ)
    my guilt is not hidden from you.(DA)

Lord, the Lord Almighty,
    may those who hope in you
    not be disgraced because of me;
God of Israel,
    may those who seek you
    not be put to shame because of me.
For I endure scorn(DB) for your sake,(DC)
    and shame covers my face.(DD)
I am a foreigner to my own family,
    a stranger to my own mother’s children;(DE)
for zeal for your house consumes me,(DF)
    and the insults of those who insult you fall on me.(DG)
10 When I weep and fast,(DH)
    I must endure scorn;
11 when I put on sackcloth,(DI)
    people make sport of me.
12 Those who sit at the gate(DJ) mock me,
    and I am the song of the drunkards.(DK)

13 But I pray to you, Lord,
    in the time of your favor;(DL)
in your great love,(DM) O God,
    answer me with your sure salvation.
14 Rescue me from the mire,
    do not let me sink;
deliver me from those who hate me,
    from the deep waters.(DN)
15 Do not let the floodwaters(DO) engulf me
    or the depths swallow me up(DP)
    or the pit close its mouth over me.(DQ)

16 Answer me, Lord, out of the goodness of your love;(DR)
    in your great mercy turn to me.
17 Do not hide your face(DS) from your servant;
    answer me quickly,(DT) for I am in trouble.(DU)
18 Come near and rescue me;
    deliver(DV) me because of my foes.

19 You know how I am scorned,(DW) disgraced and shamed;
    all my enemies are before you.
20 Scorn has broken my heart
    and has left me helpless;
I looked for sympathy, but there was none,
    for comforters,(DX) but I found none.(DY)
21 They put gall in my food
    and gave me vinegar(DZ) for my thirst.(EA)

22 May the table set before them become a snare;
    may it become retribution and[o] a trap.(EB)
23 May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,
    and their backs be bent forever.(EC)
24 Pour out your wrath(ED) on them;
    let your fierce anger overtake them.
25 May their place be deserted;(EE)
    let there be no one to dwell in their tents.(EF)
26 For they persecute those you wound
    and talk about the pain of those you hurt.(EG)
27 Charge them with crime upon crime;(EH)
    do not let them share in your salvation.(EI)
28 May they be blotted out of the book of life(EJ)
    and not be listed with the righteous.(EK)

29 But as for me, afflicted and in pain—
    may your salvation, God, protect me.(EL)

30 I will praise God’s name in song(EM)
    and glorify him(EN) with thanksgiving.
31 This will please the Lord more than an ox,
    more than a bull with its horns and hooves.(EO)
32 The poor will see and be glad(EP)
    you who seek God, may your hearts live!(EQ)
33 The Lord hears the needy(ER)
    and does not despise his captive people.

34 Let heaven and earth praise him,
    the seas and all that move in them,(ES)
35 for God will save Zion(ET)
    and rebuild the cities of Judah.(EU)
Then people will settle there and possess it;
36     the children of his servants will inherit it,(EV)
    and those who love his name will dwell there.(EW)

Psalm 70[p](EX)

For the director of music. Of David. A petition.

Hasten, O God, to save me;
    come quickly, Lord, to help me.(EY)

May those who want to take my life(EZ)
    be put to shame and confusion;
may all who desire my ruin
    be turned back in disgrace.(FA)
May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”(FB)
    turn back because of their shame.
But may all who seek you(FC)
    rejoice and be glad(FD) in you;
may those who long for your saving help always say,
    “The Lord is great!”(FE)

But as for me, I am poor and needy;(FF)
    come quickly to me,(FG) O God.
You are my help(FH) and my deliverer;(FI)
    Lord, do not delay.(FJ)

Psalm 71(FK)

In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;(FL)
    let me never be put to shame.(FM)
In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me;
    turn your ear(FN) to me and save me.
Be my rock of refuge,
    to which I can always go;
give the command to save me,
    for you are my rock and my fortress.(FO)
Deliver(FP) me, my God, from the hand of the wicked,(FQ)
    from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel.(FR)

For you have been my hope,(FS) Sovereign Lord,
    my confidence(FT) since my youth.
From birth(FU) I have relied on you;
    you brought me forth from my mother’s womb.(FV)
    I will ever praise(FW) you.
I have become a sign(FX) to many;
    you are my strong refuge.(FY)
My mouth(FZ) is filled with your praise,
    declaring your splendor(GA) all day long.

Do not cast(GB) me away when I am old;(GC)
    do not forsake(GD) me when my strength is gone.
10 For my enemies(GE) speak against me;
    those who wait to kill(GF) me conspire(GG) together.
11 They say, “God has forsaken(GH) him;
    pursue him and seize him,
    for no one will rescue(GI) him.”
12 Do not be far(GJ) from me, my God;
    come quickly, God, to help(GK) me.
13 May my accusers(GL) perish in shame;(GM)
    may those who want to harm me
    be covered with scorn and disgrace.(GN)

14 As for me, I will always have hope;(GO)
    I will praise you more and more.

15 My mouth will tell(GP) of your righteous deeds,(GQ)
    of your saving acts all day long—
    though I know not how to relate them all.
16 I will come and proclaim your mighty acts,(GR) Sovereign Lord;
    I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.
17 Since my youth, God, you have taught(GS) me,
    and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.(GT)
18 Even when I am old and gray,(GU)
    do not forsake me, my God,
till I declare your power(GV) to the next generation,
    your mighty acts to all who are to come.(GW)

19 Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens,(GX)
    you who have done great things.(GY)
    Who is like you, God?(GZ)
20 Though you have made me see troubles,(HA)
    many and bitter,
    you will restore(HB) my life again;
from the depths of the earth(HC)
    you will again bring me up.
21 You will increase my honor(HD)
    and comfort(HE) me once more.

22 I will praise you with the harp(HF)
    for your faithfulness, my God;
I will sing praise to you with the lyre,(HG)
    Holy One of Israel.(HH)
23 My lips will shout for joy(HI)
    when I sing praise to you—
    I whom you have delivered.(HJ)
24 My tongue will tell of your righteous acts
    all day long,(HK)
for those who wanted to harm me(HL)
    have been put to shame and confusion.(HM)

Psalm 72

Of Solomon.

Endow the king with your justice,(HN) O God,
    the royal son with your righteousness.
May he judge your people in righteousness,(HO)
    your afflicted ones with justice.

May the mountains bring prosperity to the people,
    the hills the fruit of righteousness.
May he defend the afflicted(HP) among the people
    and save the children of the needy;(HQ)
    may he crush the oppressor.(HR)
May he endure[q](HS) as long as the sun,
    as long as the moon, through all generations.(HT)
May he be like rain(HU) falling on a mown field,
    like showers watering the earth.
In his days may the righteous flourish(HV)
    and prosperity abound till the moon is no more.

May he rule from sea to sea
    and from the River[r](HW) to the ends of the earth.(HX)
May the desert tribes bow before him
    and his enemies lick the dust.
10 May the kings of Tarshish(HY) and of distant shores(HZ)
    bring tribute to him.
May the kings of Sheba(IA) and Seba
    present him gifts.(IB)
11 May all kings bow down(IC) to him
    and all nations serve(ID) him.

12 For he will deliver the needy who cry out,
    the afflicted who have no one to help.
13 He will take pity(IE) on the weak and the needy
    and save the needy from death.
14 He will rescue(IF) them from oppression and violence,
    for precious(IG) is their blood in his sight.

15 Long may he live!
    May gold from Sheba(IH) be given him.
May people ever pray for him
    and bless him all day long.(II)
16 May grain(IJ) abound throughout the land;
    on the tops of the hills may it sway.
May the crops(IK) flourish like Lebanon(IL)
    and thrive[s] like the grass of the field.(IM)
17 May his name endure forever;(IN)
    may it continue as long as the sun.(IO)

Then all nations will be blessed through him,[t]
    and they will call him blessed.(IP)

18 Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel,(IQ)
    who alone does marvelous deeds.(IR)
19 Praise be to his glorious name(IS) forever;
    may the whole earth be filled with his glory.(IT)
Amen and Amen.(IU)

20 This concludes the prayers of David son of Jesse.(IV)

BOOK III

Psalms 73–89

Psalm 73

A psalm of Asaph.

Surely God is good to Israel,
    to those who are pure in heart.(IW)

But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;(IX)
    I had nearly lost my foothold.(IY)
For I envied(IZ) the arrogant
    when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.(JA)

They have no struggles;
    their bodies are healthy and strong.[u]
They are free(JB) from common human burdens;
    they are not plagued by human ills.
Therefore pride(JC) is their necklace;(JD)
    they clothe themselves with violence.(JE)
From their callous hearts(JF) comes iniquity[v];
    their evil imaginations have no limits.
They scoff, and speak with malice;(JG)
    with arrogance(JH) they threaten oppression.(JI)
Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
    and their tongues take possession of the earth.
10 Therefore their people turn to them
    and drink up waters in abundance.[w]
11 They say, “How would God know?
    Does the Most High know anything?”

12 This is what the wicked are like—
    always free of care,(JJ) they go on amassing wealth.(JK)

13 Surely in vain(JL) I have kept my heart pure
    and have washed my hands in innocence.(JM)
14 All day long I have been afflicted,(JN)
    and every morning brings new punishments.

15 If I had spoken out like that,
    I would have betrayed your children.
16 When I tried to understand(JO) all this,
    it troubled me deeply
17 till I entered the sanctuary(JP) of God;
    then I understood their final destiny.(JQ)

18 Surely you place them on slippery ground;(JR)
    you cast them down to ruin.(JS)
19 How suddenly(JT) are they destroyed,
    completely swept away(JU) by terrors!
20 They are like a dream(JV) when one awakes;(JW)
    when you arise, Lord,
    you will despise them as fantasies.(JX)

21 When my heart was grieved
    and my spirit embittered,
22 I was senseless(JY) and ignorant;
    I was a brute beast(JZ) before you.

23 Yet I am always with you;
    you hold me by my right hand.(KA)
24 You guide(KB) me with your counsel,(KC)
    and afterward you will take me into glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?(KD)
    And earth has nothing I desire besides you.(KE)
26 My flesh and my heart(KF) may fail,(KG)
    but God is the strength(KH) of my heart
    and my portion(KI) forever.

27 Those who are far from you will perish;(KJ)
    you destroy all who are unfaithful(KK) to you.
28 But as for me, it is good to be near God.(KL)
    I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;(KM)
    I will tell of all your deeds.(KN)

Psalm 74

A maskil[x] of Asaph.

O God, why have you rejected(KO) us forever?(KP)
    Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture?(KQ)
Remember the nation you purchased(KR) long ago,(KS)
    the people of your inheritance,(KT) whom you redeemed(KU)
    Mount Zion,(KV) where you dwelt.(KW)
Turn your steps toward these everlasting ruins,(KX)
    all this destruction the enemy has brought on the sanctuary.

Your foes roared(KY) in the place where you met with us;
    they set up their standards(KZ) as signs.
They behaved like men wielding axes
    to cut through a thicket of trees.(LA)
They smashed all the carved(LB) paneling
    with their axes and hatchets.
They burned your sanctuary to the ground;
    they defiled(LC) the dwelling place(LD) of your Name.(LE)
They said in their hearts, “We will crush(LF) them completely!”
    They burned(LG) every place where God was worshiped in the land.

We are given no signs from God;(LH)
    no prophets(LI) are left,
    and none of us knows how long this will be.
10 How long(LJ) will the enemy mock(LK) you, God?
    Will the foe revile(LL) your name forever?
11 Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand?(LM)
    Take it from the folds of your garment(LN) and destroy them!

12 But God is my King(LO) from long ago;
    he brings salvation(LP) on the earth.

13 It was you who split open the sea(LQ) by your power;
    you broke the heads of the monster(LR) in the waters.
14 It was you who crushed the heads of Leviathan(LS)
    and gave it as food to the creatures of the desert.(LT)
15 It was you who opened up springs(LU) and streams;
    you dried up(LV) the ever-flowing rivers.
16 The day is yours, and yours also the night;
    you established the sun and moon.(LW)
17 It was you who set all the boundaries(LX) of the earth;
    you made both summer and winter.(LY)

18 Remember how the enemy has mocked you, Lord,
    how foolish people(LZ) have reviled your name.
19 Do not hand over the life of your dove(MA) to wild beasts;
    do not forget the lives of your afflicted(MB) people forever.
20 Have regard for your covenant,(MC)
    because haunts of violence fill the dark places(MD) of the land.
21 Do not let the oppressed(ME) retreat in disgrace;
    may the poor and needy(MF) praise your name.
22 Rise up,(MG) O God, and defend your cause;
    remember how fools(MH) mock you all day long.
23 Do not ignore the clamor(MI) of your adversaries,(MJ)
    the uproar(MK) of your enemies,(ML) which rises continually.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 67:1 In Hebrew texts 67:1-7 is numbered 67:2-8.
  2. Psalm 67:1 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 4.
  3. Psalm 68:1 In Hebrew texts 68:1-35 is numbered 68:2-36.
  4. Psalm 68:4 Or name, / prepare the way for him who rides through the deserts
  5. Psalm 68:6 Or the desolate in a homeland
  6. Psalm 68:7 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 19 and 32.
  7. Psalm 68:13 Or the campfires; or the saddlebags
  8. Psalm 68:14 Hebrew Shaddai
  9. Psalm 68:17 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text Lord is among them at Sinai in holiness
  10. Psalm 68:18 Or gifts for people, / even
  11. Psalm 68:18 Or they
  12. Psalm 68:28 Many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts Your God has summoned power for you
  13. Psalm 68:31 That is, the upper Nile region
  14. Psalm 69:1 In Hebrew texts 69:1-36 is numbered 69:2-37.
  15. Psalm 69:22 Or snare / and their fellowship become
  16. Psalm 70:1 In Hebrew texts 70:1-5 is numbered 70:2-6.
  17. Psalm 72:5 Septuagint; Hebrew You will be feared
  18. Psalm 72:8 That is, the Euphrates
  19. Psalm 72:16 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text Lebanon, / from the city
  20. Psalm 72:17 Or will use his name in blessings (see Gen. 48:20)
  21. Psalm 73:4 With a different word division of the Hebrew; Masoretic Text struggles at their death; / their bodies are healthy
  22. Psalm 73:7 Syriac (see also Septuagint); Hebrew Their eyes bulge with fat
  23. Psalm 73:10 The meaning of the Hebrew for this verse is uncertain.
  24. Psalm 74:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term

An Invocation and a Doxology

To the Chief Musician. On [a]stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song.

67 God be merciful to us and bless us,
And (A)cause His face to shine upon us, Selah
That (B)Your way may be known on earth,
(C)Your salvation among all nations.

Let the peoples praise You, O God;
Let all the peoples praise You.
Oh, let the nations be glad and sing for joy!
For (D)You shall judge the people righteously,
And govern the nations on earth. Selah

Let the peoples praise You, O God;
Let all the peoples praise You.
(E)Then the earth shall [b]yield her increase;
God, our own God, shall bless us.
God shall bless us,
And all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.

The Glory of God in His Goodness to Israel

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. A Song.

68 Let (F)God arise,
Let His enemies be scattered;
Let those also who hate Him flee before Him.
(G)As smoke is driven away,
So drive them away;
(H)As wax melts before the fire,
So let the wicked perish at the presence of God.
But (I)let the righteous be glad;
Let them rejoice before God;
Yes, let them rejoice exceedingly.

Sing to God, sing praises to His name;
(J)Extol[c] Him who rides on the [d]clouds,
(K)By His name [e]Yah,
And rejoice before Him.

(L)A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows,
Is God in His holy habitation.
(M)God sets the solitary in families;
(N)He brings out those who are bound into prosperity;
But (O)the rebellious dwell in a dry land.

O God, (P)when You went out before Your people,
When You marched through the wilderness, Selah
The earth shook;
The heavens also dropped rain at the presence of God;
Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
(Q)You, O God, sent a plentiful rain,
Whereby You confirmed Your inheritance,
When it was weary.
10 Your congregation dwelt in it;
(R)You, O God, provided from Your goodness for the poor.

11 The Lord gave the word;
Great was the [f]company of those who proclaimed it:
12 “Kings(S) of armies flee, they flee,
And she who remains at home divides the [g]spoil.
13 (T)Though you lie down among the [h]sheepfolds,
(U)You will be like the wings of a dove covered with silver,
And her feathers with yellow gold.”
14 (V)When the Almighty scattered kings in it,
It was white as snow in Zalmon.

15 A mountain of God is the mountain of Bashan;
A mountain of many peaks is the mountain of Bashan.
16 Why do you [i]fume with envy, you mountains of many peaks?
(W)This is the mountain which God desires to dwell in;
Yes, the Lord will dwell in it forever.

17 (X)The chariots of God are twenty thousand,
Even thousands of thousands;
The Lord is among them as in Sinai, in the Holy Place.
18 (Y)You have ascended on high,
(Z)You have led captivity captive;
(AA)You have received gifts among men,
Even from (AB)the rebellious,
(AC)That the Lord God might dwell there.

19 Blessed be the Lord,
Who daily loads us with benefits,
The God of our salvation! Selah
20 Our God is the God of salvation;
And (AD)to God the Lord belong escapes from death.

21 But (AE)God will wound the head of His enemies,
(AF)The hairy scalp of the one who still goes on in his trespasses.
22 The Lord said, “I will bring (AG)back from Bashan,
I will bring them back (AH)from the depths of the sea,
23 (AI)That [j]your foot may crush them in blood,
(AJ)And the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from your enemies.”

24 They have seen Your [k]procession, O God,
The procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary.
25 (AK)The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after;
Among them were the maidens playing timbrels.
26 Bless God in the congregations,
The Lord, from (AL)the fountain of Israel.
27 (AM)There is little Benjamin, their leader,
The princes of Judah and their [l]company,
The princes of Zebulun and the princes of Naphtali.

28 [m]Your God has (AN)commanded your strength;
Strengthen, O God, what You have done for us.
29 Because of Your temple at Jerusalem,
(AO)Kings will bring presents to You.
30 Rebuke the beasts of the reeds,
(AP)The herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples,
Till everyone (AQ)submits himself with pieces of silver.
Scatter the peoples who delight in war.
31 (AR)Envoys will come out of Egypt;
(AS)Ethiopia will quickly (AT)stretch out her hands to God.

32 Sing to God, you (AU)kingdoms of the earth;
Oh, sing praises to the Lord, Selah
33 To Him (AV)who rides on the heaven of heavens, which were of old!
Indeed, He sends out His voice, a (AW)mighty voice.
34 (AX)Ascribe strength to God;
His excellence is over Israel,
And His strength is in the clouds.
35 O God, (AY)You are more awesome than Your holy places.
The God of Israel is He who gives strength and power to His people.

Blessed be God!

An Urgent Plea for Help in Trouble

To the Chief Musician. Set to [n]“The Lilies.” A Psalm of David.

69 Save me, O God!
For (AZ)the waters have come up to my [o]neck.
(BA)I sink in deep mire,
Where there is no standing;
I have come into deep waters,
Where the floods overflow me.
(BB)I am weary with my crying;
My throat is dry;
(BC)My eyes fail while I wait for my God.

Those who (BD)hate me without a cause
Are more than the hairs of my head;
They are mighty who would destroy me,
Being my enemies wrongfully;
Though I have stolen nothing,
I still must restore it.

O God, You know my foolishness;
And my sins are not hidden from You.
Let not those who [p]wait for You, O Lord God of hosts, be ashamed because of me;
Let not those who seek You be [q]confounded because of me, O God of Israel.
Because for Your sake I have borne reproach;
Shame has covered my face.
(BE)I have become a stranger to my brothers,
And an alien to my mother’s children;
(BF)Because zeal for Your house has eaten me up,
(BG)And the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me.
10 When I wept and chastened my soul with fasting,
That became my reproach.
11 I also [r]made sackcloth my garment;
I became a byword to them.
12 Those who [s]sit in the gate speak against me,
And I am the song of the (BH)drunkards.

13 But as for me, my prayer is to You,
O Lord, in the acceptable time;
O God, in the multitude of Your mercy,
Hear me in the truth of Your salvation.
14 Deliver me out of the mire,
And let me not sink;
Let me be delivered from those who hate me,
And out of the deep waters.
15 Let not the floodwater overflow me,
Nor let the deep swallow me up;
And let not the pit shut its mouth on me.

16 Hear me, O Lord, for Your lovingkindness is good;
Turn to me according to the multitude of Your tender mercies.
17 And do not hide Your face from Your servant,
For I am in trouble;
Hear me speedily.
18 Draw near to my soul, and redeem it;
Deliver me because of my enemies.

19 You know (BI)my reproach, my shame, and my dishonor;
My adversaries are all before You.
20 Reproach has broken my heart,
And I am full of [t]heaviness;
(BJ)I looked for someone to take pity, but there was none;
And for (BK)comforters, but I found none.
21 They also gave me gall for my food,
(BL)And for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

22 (BM)Let their table become a snare before them,
And their well-being a trap.
23 (BN)Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see;
And make their loins shake continually.
24 (BO)Pour out Your indignation upon them,
And let Your wrathful anger take hold of them.
25 (BP)Let their dwelling place be desolate;
Let no one live in their tents.
26 For they persecute the ones (BQ)You have struck,
And talk of the grief of those You have wounded.
27 (BR)Add iniquity to their iniquity,
(BS)And let them not come into Your righteousness.
28 Let them (BT)be blotted out of the book of the living,
(BU)And not be written with the righteous.

29 But I am poor and sorrowful;
Let Your salvation, O God, set me up on high.
30 (BV)I will praise the name of God with a song,
And will magnify Him with thanksgiving.
31 (BW)This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bull,
Which has horns and hooves.
32 (BX)The humble shall see this and be glad;
And you who seek God, (BY)your hearts shall live.
33 For the Lord hears the poor,
And does not despise (BZ)His prisoners.

34 (CA)Let heaven and earth praise Him,
The seas (CB)and everything that moves in them.
35 (CC)For God will save Zion
And build the cities of Judah,
That they may dwell there and possess it.
36 Also, (CD)the [u]descendants of His servants shall inherit it,
And those who love His name shall dwell in it.

Prayer for Relief from Adversaries(CE)

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. (CF)To bring to remembrance.

70 Make haste, (CG)O God, to deliver me!
Make haste to help me, O Lord!

(CH)Let them be ashamed and confounded
Who seek my life;
Let them be [v]turned back and confused
Who desire my hurt.
(CI)Let them be turned back because of their shame,
Who say, [w]“Aha, aha!”

Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You;
And let those who love Your salvation say continually,
“Let God be magnified!”

(CJ)But I am poor and needy;
(CK)Make haste to me, O God!
You are my help and my deliverer;
O Lord, do not delay.

God the Rock of Salvation

71 In (CL)You, O Lord, I put my trust;
Let me never be put to shame.
(CM)Deliver me in Your righteousness, and cause me to escape;
(CN)Incline Your ear to me, and save me.
(CO)Be my [x]strong refuge,
To which I may resort continually;
You have given the (CP)commandment to save me,
For You are my rock and my fortress.

(CQ)Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked,
Out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.
For You are (CR)my hope, O Lord God;
You are my trust from my youth.
(CS)By You I have been [y]upheld from birth;
You are He who took me out of my mother’s womb.
My praise shall be continually of You.

(CT)I have become as a wonder to many,
But You are my strong refuge.
Let (CU)my mouth be filled with Your praise
And with Your glory all the day.

Do not cast me off in the time of old age;
Do not forsake me when my strength fails.
10 For my enemies speak against me;
And those who lie in wait for my life (CV)take counsel together,
11 Saying, “God has forsaken him;
Pursue and take him, for there is none to deliver him.

12 (CW)O God, do not be far from me;
O my God, (CX)make haste to help me!
13 Let them be [z]confounded and consumed
Who are adversaries of my life;
Let them be covered with reproach and dishonor
Who seek my hurt.

14 But I will hope continually,
And will praise You yet more and more.
15 My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness
And Your salvation all the day,
For I do not know their limits.
16 I will go in the strength of the Lord God;
I will make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only.

17 O God, You have taught me from my (CY)youth;
And to this day I declare Your wondrous works.
18 Now also (CZ)when I am old and grayheaded,
O God, do not forsake me,
Until I declare Your strength to this generation,
Your power to everyone who is to come.

19 Also (DA)Your righteousness, O God, is [aa]very high,
You who have done great things;
(DB)O God, who is like You?
20 (DC)You, who have shown me great and severe troubles,
(DD)Shall revive me again,
And bring me up again from the depths of the earth.
21 You shall increase my greatness,
And comfort me on every side.

22 Also (DE)with the lute I will praise You—
And Your faithfulness, O my God!
To You I will sing with the harp,
O (DF)Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing to You,
And (DG)my soul, which You have redeemed.
24 My tongue also shall talk of Your righteousness all the day long;
For they are confounded,
For they are brought to shame
Who seek my hurt.

Glory and Universality of the Messiah’s Reign

A Psalm (DH)of Solomon.

72 Give the king Your judgments, O God,
And Your righteousness to the king’s Son.
(DI)He will judge Your people with righteousness,
And Your poor with justice.
(DJ)The mountains will bring peace to the people,
And the little hills, by righteousness.
(DK)He will bring justice to the poor of the people;
He will save the children of the needy,
And will [ab]break in pieces the oppressor.

[ac]They shall fear You
(DL)As long as the sun and moon endure,
Throughout all generations.
(DM)He shall come down like rain upon the grass before mowing,
Like showers that water the earth.
In His days the righteous shall flourish,
(DN)And abundance of peace,
Until the moon is no more.

(DO)He shall have dominion also from sea to sea,
And from the River to the ends of the earth.
(DP)Those who dwell in the wilderness will bow before Him,
(DQ)And His enemies will lick the dust.
10 (DR)The kings of Tarshish and of the isles
Will bring presents;
The kings of Sheba and Seba
Will offer gifts.
11 (DS)Yes, all kings shall fall down before Him;
All nations shall serve Him.

12 For He (DT)will deliver the needy when he cries,
The poor also, and him who has no helper.
13 He will spare the poor and needy,
And will save the souls of the needy.
14 He will redeem their life from oppression and violence;
And (DU)precious shall be their blood in His sight.

15 And He shall live;
And the gold of (DV)Sheba will be given to Him;
Prayer also will be made for Him continually,
And daily He shall be praised.

16 There will be an abundance of grain in the earth,
On the top of the mountains;
Its fruit shall wave like Lebanon;
(DW)And those of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.

17 (DX)His name shall endure forever;
His name shall continue as long as the sun.
And (DY)men shall be blessed in Him;
(DZ)All nations shall call Him blessed.

18 (EA)Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel,
(EB)Who only does wondrous things!
19 And (EC)blessed be His glorious name forever!
(ED)And let the whole earth be filled with His glory.
Amen and Amen.

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

BOOK THREE

Psalms 73–89

The Tragedy of the Wicked, and the Blessedness of Trust in God

A Psalm of (EE)Asaph.

73 Truly God is good to Israel,
To such as are pure in heart.
But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled;
My steps had nearly (EF)slipped.
(EG)For I was envious of the boastful,
When I saw the prosperity of the (EH)wicked.

For there are no [ad]pangs in their death,
But their strength is firm.
(EI)They are not in trouble as other men,
Nor are they plagued like other men.
Therefore pride serves as their necklace;
Violence covers them (EJ)like a garment.
(EK)Their [ae]eyes bulge with abundance;
They have more than heart could wish.
(EL)They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression;
They (EM)speak [af]loftily.
They set their mouth (EN)against the heavens,
And their tongue walks through the earth.

10 Therefore his people return here,
(EO)And waters of a full cup are drained by them.
11 And they say, (EP)“How does God know?
And is there knowledge in the Most High?”
12 Behold, these are the ungodly,
Who are always at ease;
They increase in riches.
13 Surely I have [ag]cleansed my heart in (EQ)vain,
And washed my hands in innocence.
14 For all day long I have been plagued,
And chastened every morning.

15 If I had said, “I will speak thus,”
Behold, I would have been untrue to the generation of Your children.
16 When I thought how to understand this,
It was [ah]too painful for me—
17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God;
Then I understood their (ER)end.

18 Surely (ES)You set them in slippery places;
You cast them down to destruction.
19 Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment!
They are utterly consumed with terrors.
20 As a dream when one awakes,
So, Lord, when You awake,
You shall despise their image.

21 Thus my heart was grieved,
And I was [ai]vexed in my mind.
22 (ET)I was so foolish and ignorant;
I was like a beast before You.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with You;
You hold me by my right hand.
24 (EU)You will guide me with Your counsel,
And afterward receive me to glory.

25 (EV)Whom have I in heaven but You?
And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.
26 (EW)My flesh and my heart fail;
But God is the [aj]strength of my heart and my (EX)portion forever.

27 For indeed, (EY)those who are far from You shall perish;
You have destroyed all those who [ak]desert You for harlotry.
28 But it is good for me to (EZ)draw near to God;
I have put my trust in the Lord God,
That I may (FA)declare all Your works.

A Plea for Relief from Oppressors

A [al]Contemplation of Asaph.

74 O God, why have You cast us off forever?
Why does Your anger smoke against the sheep of Your pasture?
Remember Your congregation, which You have purchased of old,
The tribe of Your inheritance, which You have redeemed—
This Mount Zion where You have dwelt.
Lift up Your feet to the perpetual desolations.
The enemy has damaged everything in the sanctuary.
(FB)Your enemies roar in the midst of Your meeting place;
(FC)They set up their banners for signs.
They seem like men who lift up
Axes among the thick trees.
And now they break down its carved work, all at once,
With axes and hammers.
They have set fire to Your sanctuary;
They have defiled the dwelling place of Your name to the ground.
(FD)They said in their hearts,
“Let us [am]destroy them altogether.”
They have burned up all the meeting places of God in the land.

We do not see our signs;
(FE)There is no longer any prophet;
Nor is there any among us who knows how long.
10 O God, how long will the adversary [an]reproach?
Will the enemy blaspheme Your name forever?
11 (FF)Why do You withdraw Your hand, even Your right hand?
Take it out of Your bosom and destroy them.
12 For (FG)God is my King from of old,
Working salvation in the midst of the earth.
13 (FH)You divided the sea by Your strength;
You broke the heads of the [ao]sea serpents in the waters.
14 You broke the heads of [ap]Leviathan in pieces,
And gave him as food to the people inhabiting the wilderness.
15 (FI)You broke open the fountain and the flood;
(FJ)You dried up mighty rivers.
16 The day is Yours, the night also is (FK)Yours;
(FL)You have prepared the light and the sun.
17 You have (FM)set all the borders of the earth;
(FN)You have made summer and winter.

18 Remember this, that the enemy has reproached, O Lord,
And that a foolish people has blasphemed Your name.
19 Oh, do not deliver the life of Your turtledove to the wild beast!
Do not forget the life of Your poor forever.
20 (FO)Have respect to the covenant;
For the [aq]dark places of the earth are full of the [ar]haunts of [as]cruelty.
21 Oh, do not let the oppressed return ashamed!
Let the poor and needy praise Your name.

22 Arise, O God, plead Your own cause;
Remember how the foolish man [at]reproaches You daily.
23 Do not forget the voice of Your enemies;
The tumult of those who rise up against You increases continually.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 67:1 Heb. neginoth
  2. Psalm 67:6 give her produce
  3. Psalm 68:4 Praise
  4. Psalm 68:4 MT deserts; Tg. heavens (cf. v. 34 and Is. 19:1)
  5. Psalm 68:4 Lit. Lord, a shortened Heb. form
  6. Psalm 68:11 host
  7. Psalm 68:12 plunder
  8. Psalm 68:13 Or saddlebags
  9. Psalm 68:16 Lit. stare
  10. Psalm 68:23 LXX, Syr., Tg., Vg. you may dip your foot
  11. Psalm 68:24 Lit. goings
  12. Psalm 68:27 throng
  13. Psalm 68:28 LXX, Syr., Tg., Vg. Command, O God
  14. Psalm 69:1 Heb. Shoshannim
  15. Psalm 69:1 Lit. soul
  16. Psalm 69:6 Wait in faith
  17. Psalm 69:6 dishonored
  18. Psalm 69:11 Symbolic of sorrow
  19. Psalm 69:12 Sit as judges
  20. Psalm 69:20 Lit. sickness
  21. Psalm 69:36 Lit. seed
  22. Psalm 70:2 So with MT, LXX, Tg., Vg.; some Heb. mss., Syr. appalled (cf. 40:15)
  23. Psalm 70:3 An expression of scorn
  24. Psalm 71:3 Lit. rock of refuge or rock of habitation
  25. Psalm 71:6 sustained from the womb
  26. Psalm 71:13 ashamed
  27. Psalm 71:19 great, lit. to the height of heaven
  28. Psalm 72:4 crush
  29. Psalm 72:5 So with MT, Tg.; LXX, Vg. They shall continue
  30. Psalm 73:4 pains
  31. Psalm 73:7 Tg. face bulges; LXX, Syr., Vg. iniquity bulges
  32. Psalm 73:8 Proudly
  33. Psalm 73:13 kept my heart pure in vain
  34. Psalm 73:16 troublesome in my eyes
  35. Psalm 73:21 Lit. pierced in my kidneys
  36. Psalm 73:26 Lit. rock
  37. Psalm 73:27 Are unfaithful to You
  38. Psalm 74:1 Heb. Maschil
  39. Psalm 74:8 oppress
  40. Psalm 74:10 revile
  41. Psalm 74:13 sea monsters
  42. Psalm 74:14 A large sea creature of unknown identity
  43. Psalm 74:20 hiding places
  44. Psalm 74:20 homes
  45. Psalm 74:20 violence
  46. Psalm 74:22 reviles or taunts