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Psalm 81-88
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Psalm 81-88
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Psalm 81
God’s Appeal to Stubborn Israel
To the leader: according to The Gittith. Of Asaph.
1 Sing aloud to God our strength;
shout for joy to the God of Jacob.(A)
2 Raise a song; sound the tambourine,
the sweet lyre with the harp.
3 Blow the trumpet at the new moon,
at the full moon, on our festal day.(B)
4 For it is a statute for Israel,
an ordinance of the God of Jacob.
5 He made it a decree in Joseph,
when he went out over[a] the land of Egypt.
I hear a voice I had not known:(C)
6 “I relieved your[b] shoulder of the burden;
your[c] hands were freed from the basket.(D)
7 In distress you called, and I rescued you;
I answered you in the secret place of thunder;
I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah(E)
8 Hear, O my people, while I admonish you;
O Israel, if you would but listen to me!(F)
9 There shall be no strange god among you;
you shall not bow down to a foreign god.(G)
10 I am the Lord your God,
who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.(H)
11 “But my people did not listen to my voice;
Israel would not submit to me.(I)
12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts,
to follow their own counsels.(J)
13 O that my people would listen to me,
that Israel would walk in my ways!(K)
14 Then I would quickly subdue their enemies
and turn my hand against their foes.(L)
15 Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him,
and their doom would last forever.
16 I would feed you[d] with the finest of the wheat,
and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”(M)
Psalm 82
A Plea for Justice
A Psalm of Asaph.
1 God has taken his place in the divine council;
in the midst of the gods he holds judgment:(N)
2 “How long will you judge unjustly
and show partiality to the wicked? Selah(O)
3 Give justice to the weak and the orphan;
maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute.(P)
4 Rescue the weak and the needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”(Q)
5 They have neither knowledge nor understanding;
they walk around in darkness;
all the foundations of the earth are shaken.(R)
6 I say, “You are gods,
children of the Most High, all of you;(S)
7 nevertheless, you shall die like mortals
and fall like any prince.”[e](T)
8 Rise up, O God, judge the earth,
for all the nations belong to you!(U)
Psalm 83
Prayer for Judgment on Israel’s Foes
A Song. A Psalm of Asaph.
1 O God, do not keep silent;
do not hold your peace or be still, O God!(V)
2 Even now your enemies are in tumult;
those who hate you have raised their heads.(W)
3 They lay crafty plans against your people;
they consult together against those you protect.(X)
4 They say, “Come, let us wipe them out as a nation;
let the name of Israel be remembered no more.”(Y)
5 They conspire with one accord;
against you they make a covenant—(Z)
6 the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites,
Moab and the Hagrites,(AA)
7 Gebal and Ammon and Amalek,
Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;
8 Assyria also has joined them;
they are the strong arm of the children of Lot. Selah
9 Do to them as you did to Midian,
as to Sisera and Jabin at the Wadi Kishon,(AB)
10 who were destroyed at En-dor,
who became dung for the ground.
11 Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb,
all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,(AC)
12 who said, “Let us take the pastures of God
for our own possession.”(AD)
13 O my God, make them like whirling dust,[f]
like chaff before the wind.(AE)
14 As fire consumes the forest,
as the flame sets the mountains ablaze,(AF)
15 so pursue them with your tempest
and terrify them with your hurricane.(AG)
16 Fill their faces with shame,
so that they may seek your name, O Lord.
17 Let them be put to shame and dismayed forever;
let them perish in disgrace.(AH)
18 Let them know that you alone,
whose name is the Lord,
are the Most High over all the earth.(AI)
Psalm 84
The Joy of Worship in the Temple
To the leader: according to The Gittith. Of the Korahites. A Psalm.
1 How lovely is your dwelling place,
O Lord of hosts!(AJ)
2 My soul longs, indeed it faints,
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh sing for joy
to the living God.(AK)
3 Even the sparrow finds a home
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young,
at your altars, O Lord of hosts,
my King and my God.(AL)
4 Happy are those who live in your house,
ever singing your praise. Selah(AM)
5 Happy are those whose strength is in you,
in whose heart are the highways to Zion.[g](AN)
6 As they go through the valley of Baca,
they make it a place of springs;
the early rain also covers it with pools.(AO)
7 They go from strength to strength;
the God of gods will be seen in Zion.(AP)
8 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer;
give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah
9 Behold our shield, O God;
look on the face of your anointed.(AQ)
10 For a day in your courts is better
than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than live in the tents of wickedness.(AR)
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
he bestows favor and honor.
No good thing does the Lord withhold
from those who walk uprightly.(AS)
12 O Lord of hosts,
happy is everyone who trusts in you.(AT)
Psalm 85
Prayer for the Restoration of God’s Favor
To the leader. Of the Korahites. A Psalm.
1 Lord, you were favorable to your land;
you restored the fortunes of Jacob.(AU)
2 You forgave the iniquity of your people;
you pardoned all their sin. Selah(AV)
3 You withdrew all your wrath;
you turned from your hot anger.
4 Restore us again, O God of our salvation,
and put away your indignation toward us.
5 Will you be angry with us forever?
Will you prolong your anger to all generations?(AW)
6 Will you not revive us again,
so that your people may rejoice in you?(AX)
7 Show us your steadfast love, O Lord,
and grant us your salvation.
8 Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
for he will speak peace to his people,
to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts.[h](AY)
9 Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him,
that his glory may dwell in our land.(AZ)
10 Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet;
righteousness and peace will kiss each other.(BA)
11 Faithfulness will spring up from the ground,
and righteousness will look down from the sky.
12 The Lord will give what is good,
and our land will yield its increase.(BB)
13 Righteousness will go before him
and will make a path for his steps.(BC)
Psalm 86
Supplication for Help against Enemies
A Prayer of David.
1 Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.(BD)
2 Preserve my life, for I am devoted to you;
save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God;(BE) 3 be gracious to me, O Lord,
for to you do I cry all day long.(BF)
4 Gladden the soul of your servant,
for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.(BG)
5 For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
abounding in steadfast love to all who call on you.(BH)
6 Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer;
listen to my cry of supplication.(BI)
7 In the day of my trouble I call on you,
for you will answer me.(BJ)
8 There is none like you among the gods, O Lord,
nor are there any works like yours.(BK)
9 All the nations you have made shall come
and bow down before you, O Lord,
and shall glorify your name.(BL)
10 For you are great and do wondrous things;
you alone are God.(BM)
11 Teach me your way, O Lord,
that I may walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart to revere your name.(BN)
12 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,
and I will glorify your name forever.
13 For great is your steadfast love toward me;
you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.(BO)
14 O God, the insolent rise up against me;
a band of ruffians seeks my life,
and they do not set you before them.(BP)
15 But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.(BQ)
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me;
give your strength to your servant;
save the child of your maidservant.(BR)
17 Show me a sign of your favor,
so that those who hate me may see it and be put to shame,
because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.(BS)
Psalm 87
The Joy of Living in Zion
Of the Korahites. A Psalm. A Song.
1 On the holy mount stands the city he founded;
2 the Lord loves the gates of Zion
more than all the dwellings of Jacob.(BT)
3 Glorious things are spoken of you,
O city of God. Selah(BU)
4 Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon;
Philistia, too, and Tyre, with Cush—
“This one was born there,” they say.
5 And of Zion it shall be said,
“This one and that one were born in it,”
for the Most High himself will establish it.(BV)
6 The Lord records, as he registers the peoples,
“This one was born there.” Selah(BW)
7 Singers and dancers alike say,
“All my springs are in you.”(BX)
Psalm 88
Prayer for Help in Despondency
A Song. A Psalm of the Korahites. To the leader: according to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite.
1 O Lord, God of my salvation,
at night, when I cry out before you,(BY)
2 let my prayer come before you;
incline your ear to my cry.(BZ)
3 For my soul is full of troubles,
and my life draws near to Sheol.(CA)
4 I am counted among those who go down to the Pit;
I am like those who have no help,(CB)
5 like those forsaken among the dead,
like the slain that lie in the grave,
like those whom you remember no more,
for they are cut off from your hand.(CC)
6 You have put me in the depths of the Pit,
in the regions dark and deep.(CD)
7 Your wrath lies heavy upon me,
and you overwhelm me with all your waves. Selah(CE)
8 You have caused my companions to shun me;
you have made me a thing of horror to them.
I am shut in so that I cannot escape;(CF)
9 my eye grows dim through sorrow.
Every day I call on you, O Lord;
I spread out my hands to you.(CG)
10 Do you work wonders for the dead?
Do the shades rise up to praise you? Selah(CH)
11 Is your steadfast love declared in the grave
or your faithfulness in Abaddon?
12 Are your wonders known in the darkness
or your saving help in the land of forgetfulness?(CI)
13 But I, O Lord, cry out to you;
in the morning my prayer comes before you.(CJ)
14 O Lord, why do you cast me off?
Why do you hide your face from me?(CK)
15 Wretched and close to death from my youth up,
I suffer your terrors; I am desperate.[i](CL)
16 Your wrath has swept over me;
your dread assaults destroy me.
17 They surround me like a flood all day long;
from all sides they close in on me.(CM)
18 You have caused friend and neighbor to shun me;
my companions are in darkness.(CN)
Psalm 81-88
New International Version
Psalm 81-88
New International Version
Psalm 81[a]
For the director of music. According to gittith.[b] Of Asaph.
1 Sing for joy to God our strength;
shout aloud to the God of Jacob!(A)
2 Begin the music, strike the timbrel,(B)
play the melodious harp(C) and lyre.(D)
3 Sound the ram’s horn(E) at the New Moon,(F)
and when the moon is full, on the day of our festival;
4 this is a decree for Israel,
an ordinance of the God of Jacob.(G)
5 When God went out against Egypt,(H)
he established it as a statute for Joseph.
I heard an unknown voice say:(I)
6 “I removed the burden(J) from their shoulders;(K)
their hands were set free from the basket.
7 In your distress you called(L) and I rescued you,
I answered(M) you out of a thundercloud;
I tested you at the waters of Meribah.[c](N)
8 Hear me, my people,(O) and I will warn you—
if you would only listen to me, Israel!
9 You shall have no foreign god(P) among you;
you shall not worship any god other than me.
10 I am the Lord your God,
who brought you up out of Egypt.(Q)
Open(R) wide your mouth and I will fill(S) it.
11 “But my people would not listen to me;
Israel would not submit to me.(T)
12 So I gave them over(U) to their stubborn hearts
to follow their own devices.
13 “If my people would only listen to me,(V)
if Israel would only follow my ways,
14 how quickly I would subdue(W) their enemies
and turn my hand against(X) their foes!
15 Those who hate the Lord would cringe(Y) before him,
and their punishment would last forever.
16 But you would be fed with the finest of wheat;(Z)
with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”
Psalm 82
A psalm of Asaph.
2 “How long will you[d] defend the unjust
and show partiality(AC) to the wicked?[e](AD)
3 Defend the weak and the fatherless;(AE)
uphold the cause of the poor(AF) and the oppressed.
4 Rescue the weak and the needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked.
5 “The ‘gods’ know nothing, they understand nothing.(AG)
They walk about in darkness;(AH)
all the foundations(AI) of the earth are shaken.
6 “I said, ‘You are “gods”;(AJ)
you are all sons of the Most High.’
7 But you will die(AK) like mere mortals;
you will fall like every other ruler.”
Psalm 83[f]
A song. A psalm of Asaph.
1 O God, do not remain silent;(AO)
do not turn a deaf ear,
do not stand aloof, O God.
2 See how your enemies growl,(AP)
how your foes rear their heads.(AQ)
3 With cunning they conspire(AR) against your people;
they plot against those you cherish.(AS)
4 “Come,” they say, “let us destroy(AT) them as a nation,(AU)
so that Israel’s name is remembered(AV) no more.”
5 With one mind they plot together;(AW)
they form an alliance against you—
6 the tents of Edom(AX) and the Ishmaelites,
of Moab(AY) and the Hagrites,(AZ)
7 Byblos,(BA) Ammon(BB) and Amalek,(BC)
Philistia,(BD) with the people of Tyre.(BE)
8 Even Assyria(BF) has joined them
to reinforce Lot’s descendants.[g](BG)
9 Do to them as you did to Midian,(BH)
as you did to Sisera(BI) and Jabin(BJ) at the river Kishon,(BK)
10 who perished at Endor(BL)
and became like dung(BM) on the ground.
11 Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb,(BN)
all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,(BO)
12 who said, “Let us take possession(BP)
of the pasturelands of God.”
13 Make them like tumbleweed, my God,
like chaff(BQ) before the wind.
14 As fire consumes the forest
or a flame sets the mountains ablaze,(BR)
15 so pursue them with your tempest(BS)
and terrify them with your storm.(BT)
16 Cover their faces with shame,(BU) Lord,
so that they will seek your name.
17 May they ever be ashamed and dismayed;(BV)
may they perish in disgrace.(BW)
18 Let them know that you, whose name is the Lord(BX)—
that you alone are the Most High(BY) over all the earth.(BZ)
Psalm 84[h]
For the director of music. According to gittith.[i] Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
1 How lovely is your dwelling place,(CA)
Lord Almighty!
2 My soul yearns,(CB) even faints,
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
for the living God.(CC)
3 Even the sparrow has found a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,(CD)
Lord Almighty,(CE) my King(CF) and my God.(CG)
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
they are ever praising you.[j]
5 Blessed are those whose strength(CH) is in you,
whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.(CI)
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
they make it a place of springs;(CJ)
the autumn(CK) rains also cover it with pools.[k]
7 They go from strength to strength,(CL)
till each appears(CM) before God in Zion.(CN)
8 Hear my prayer,(CO) Lord God Almighty;
listen to me, God of Jacob.
9 Look on our shield,[l](CP) O God;
look with favor on your anointed one.(CQ)
10 Better is one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper(CR) in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
11 For the Lord God is a sun(CS) and shield;(CT)
the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold(CU)
from those whose walk is blameless.
12 Lord Almighty,
blessed(CV) is the one who trusts in you.
Psalm 85[m]
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
1 You, Lord, showed favor to your land;
you restored the fortunes(CW) of Jacob.
2 You forgave(CX) the iniquity(CY) of your people
and covered all their sins.[n]
3 You set aside all your wrath(CZ)
and turned from your fierce anger.(DA)
4 Restore(DB) us again, God our Savior,(DC)
and put away your displeasure toward us.
5 Will you be angry with us forever?(DD)
Will you prolong your anger through all generations?
6 Will you not revive(DE) us again,
that your people may rejoice(DF) in you?
7 Show us your unfailing love,(DG) Lord,
and grant us your salvation.(DH)
8 I will listen to what God the Lord says;
he promises peace(DI) to his people, his faithful servants—
but let them not turn to folly.(DJ)
9 Surely his salvation(DK) is near those who fear him,
that his glory(DL) may dwell in our land.
10 Love and faithfulness(DM) meet together;
righteousness(DN) and peace kiss each other.
11 Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
and righteousness(DO) looks down from heaven.
12 The Lord will indeed give what is good,(DP)
and our land will yield(DQ) its harvest.
13 Righteousness goes before him
and prepares the way for his steps.
Psalm 86
A prayer of David.
1 Hear me, Lord, and answer(DR) me,
for I am poor and needy.
2 Guard my life, for I am faithful to you;
save your servant who trusts in you.(DS)
You are my God; 3 have mercy(DT) on me, Lord,
for I call(DU) to you all day long.
4 Bring joy to your servant, Lord,
for I put my trust(DV) in you.
5 You, Lord, are forgiving and good,
abounding in love(DW) to all who call to you.
6 Hear my prayer, Lord;
listen to my cry(DX) for mercy.
7 When I am in distress,(DY) I call(DZ) to you,
because you answer(EA) me.
8 Among the gods(EB) there is none like you,(EC) Lord;
no deeds can compare with yours.
9 All the nations you have made
will come(ED) and worship(EE) before you, Lord;
they will bring glory(EF) to your name.
10 For you are great(EG) and do marvelous deeds;(EH)
you alone(EI) are God.
11 Teach me your way,(EJ) Lord,
that I may rely on your faithfulness;(EK)
give me an undivided(EL) heart,
that I may fear(EM) your name.
12 I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;(EN)
I will glorify your name forever.
13 For great is your love toward me;
you have delivered me(EO) from the depths,
from the realm of the dead.(EP)
14 Arrogant foes are attacking me, O God;
ruthless people are trying to kill me—
they have no regard for you.(EQ)
15 But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious(ER) God,
slow to anger,(ES) abounding(ET) in love and faithfulness.(EU)
16 Turn to me(EV) and have mercy(EW) on me;
show your strength(EX) in behalf of your servant;
save me, because I serve you
just as my mother did.(EY)
17 Give me a sign(EZ) of your goodness,
that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,
for you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.
Psalm 87
Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. A song.
1 He has founded his city on the holy mountain.(FA)
2 The Lord loves the gates of Zion(FB)
more than all the other dwellings of Jacob.
3 Glorious things are said of you,
city of God:[o](FC)
4 “I will record Rahab[p](FD) and Babylon
among those who acknowledge me—
Philistia(FE) too, and Tyre(FF), along with Cush[q]—
and will say, ‘This one was born in Zion.’”[r](FG)
5 Indeed, of Zion it will be said,
“This one and that one were born in her,
and the Most High himself will establish her.”
6 The Lord will write in the register(FH) of the peoples:
“This one was born in Zion.”
Psalm 88[s]
A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah. For the director of music. According to mahalath leannoth.[t] A maskil[u] of Heman the Ezrahite.
1 Lord, you are the God who saves me;(FK)
day and night I cry out(FL) to you.
2 May my prayer come before you;
turn your ear to my cry.
3 I am overwhelmed with troubles(FM)
and my life draws near to death.(FN)
4 I am counted among those who go down to the pit;(FO)
I am like one without strength.(FP)
5 I am set apart with the dead,
like the slain who lie in the grave,
whom you remember no more,
who are cut off(FQ) from your care.
6 You have put me in the lowest pit,
in the darkest depths.(FR)
7 Your wrath(FS) lies heavily on me;
you have overwhelmed me with all your waves.[v](FT)
8 You have taken from me my closest friends(FU)
and have made me repulsive to them.
I am confined(FV) and cannot escape;(FW)
9 my eyes(FX) are dim with grief.
I call(FY) to you, Lord, every day;
I spread out my hands(FZ) to you.
10 Do you show your wonders to the dead?
Do their spirits rise up and praise you?(GA)
11 Is your love declared in the grave,
your faithfulness(GB) in Destruction[w]?
12 Are your wonders known in the place of darkness,
or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion?
13 But I cry to you for help,(GC) Lord;
in the morning(GD) my prayer comes before you.(GE)
14 Why, Lord, do you reject(GF) me
and hide your face(GG) from me?
15 From my youth(GH) I have suffered(GI) and been close to death;
I have borne your terrors(GJ) and am in despair.(GK)
16 Your wrath(GL) has swept over me;
your terrors(GM) have destroyed me.
17 All day long they surround me like a flood;(GN)
they have completely engulfed me.
18 You have taken from me friend(GO) and neighbor—
darkness is my closest friend.
Footnotes
- Psalm 81:1 In Hebrew texts 81:1-16 is numbered 81:2-17.
- Psalm 81:1 Title: Probably a musical term
- Psalm 81:7 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
- Psalm 82:2 The Hebrew is plural.
- Psalm 82:2 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
- Psalm 83:1 In Hebrew texts 83:1-18 is numbered 83:2-19.
- Psalm 83:8 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
- Psalm 84:1 In Hebrew texts 84:1-12 is numbered 84:2-13.
- Psalm 84:1 Title: Probably a musical term
- Psalm 84:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 8.
- Psalm 84:6 Or blessings
- Psalm 84:9 Or sovereign
- Psalm 85:1 In Hebrew texts 85:1-13 is numbered 85:2-14.
- Psalm 85:2 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
- Psalm 87:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 6.
- Psalm 87:4 A poetic name for Egypt
- Psalm 87:4 That is, the upper Nile region
- Psalm 87:4 Or “I will record concerning those who acknowledge me: / ‘This one was born in Zion.’ / Hear this, Rahab and Babylon, / and you too, Philistia, Tyre and Cush.”
- Psalm 88:1 In Hebrew texts 88:1-18 is numbered 88:2-19.
- Psalm 88:1 Title: Possibly a tune, “The Suffering of Affliction”
- Psalm 88:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 88:7 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 10.
- Psalm 88:11 Hebrew Abaddon
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