Naomi Loses Her Husband and Sons

In the days when the judges ruled,[a](A) there was a famine in the land.(B) So a man from Bethlehem in Judah,(C) together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while(D) in the country of Moab.(E) The man’s name was Elimelek,(F) his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion.(G) They were Ephrathites(H) from Bethlehem,(I) Judah. And they went to Moab and lived there.

Now Elimelek, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons. They married Moabite women,(J) one named Orpah and the other Ruth.(K) After they had lived there about ten years, both Mahlon and Kilion(L) also died,(M) and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband.

Naomi and Ruth Return to Bethlehem

When Naomi heard in Moab(N) that the Lord had come to the aid of his people(O) by providing food(P) for them, she and her daughters-in-law(Q) prepared to return home from there. With her two daughters-in-law she left the place where she had been living and set out on the road that would take them back to the land of Judah.

Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back, each of you, to your mother’s home.(R) May the Lord show you kindness,(S) as you have shown kindness to your dead husbands(T) and to me. May the Lord grant that each of you will find rest(U) in the home of another husband.”

Then she kissed(V) them goodbye and they wept aloud(W) 10 and said to her, “We will go back with you to your people.”

11 But Naomi said, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands?(X) 12 Return home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me—even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons— 13 would you wait until they grew up?(Y) Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters. It is more bitter(Z) for me than for you, because the Lord’s hand has turned against me!(AA)

14 At this they wept(AB) aloud again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law(AC) goodbye,(AD) but Ruth clung to her.(AE)

15 “Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law(AF) is going back to her people and her gods.(AG) Go back with her.”

16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you(AH) or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go,(AI) and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people(AJ) and your God my God.(AK) 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely,(AL) if even death separates you and me.”(AM) 18 When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.(AN)

19 So the two women went on until they came to Bethlehem.(AO) When they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred(AP) because of them, and the women exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?”

20 “Don’t call me Naomi,[b]” she told them. “Call me Mara,[c] because the Almighty[d](AQ) has made my life very bitter.(AR) 21 I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty.(AS) Why call me Naomi? The Lord has afflicted[e] me;(AT) the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.”

22 So Naomi returned from Moab accompanied by Ruth the Moabite,(AU) her daughter-in-law,(AV) arriving in Bethlehem as the barley harvest(AW) was beginning.(AX)

Ruth Meets Boaz in the Grain Field

Now Naomi had a relative(AY) on her husband’s side, a man of standing(AZ) from the clan of Elimelek,(BA) whose name was Boaz.(BB)

And Ruth the Moabite(BC) said to Naomi, “Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain(BD) behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor.(BE)

Naomi said to her, “Go ahead, my daughter.” So she went out, entered a field and began to glean behind the harvesters.(BF) As it turned out, she was working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelek.(BG)

Just then Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters, “The Lord be with you!(BH)

“The Lord bless you!(BI)” they answered.

Boaz asked the overseer of his harvesters, “Who does that young woman belong to?”

The overseer replied, “She is the Moabite(BJ) who came back from Moab with Naomi. She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves(BK) behind the harvesters.’ She came into the field and has remained here from morning till now, except for a short rest(BL) in the shelter.”

So Boaz said to Ruth, “My daughter, listen to me. Don’t go and glean in another field and don’t go away from here. Stay here with the women who work for me. Watch the field where the men are harvesting, and follow along after the women. I have told the men not to lay a hand on you. And whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars the men have filled.”

10 At this, she bowed down with her face to the ground.(BM) She asked him, “Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me(BN)—a foreigner?(BO)

11 Boaz replied, “I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law(BP) since the death of your husband(BQ)—how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know(BR) before.(BS) 12 May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord,(BT) the God of Israel,(BU) under whose wings(BV) you have come to take refuge.(BW)

13 “May I continue to find favor in your eyes,(BX) my lord,” she said. “You have put me at ease by speaking kindly to your servant—though I do not have the standing of one of your servants.”

14 At mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come over here. Have some bread(BY) and dip it in the wine vinegar.”

When she sat down with the harvesters,(BZ) he offered her some roasted grain.(CA) She ate all she wanted and had some left over.(CB) 15 As she got up to glean, Boaz gave orders to his men, “Let her gather among the sheaves(CC) and don’t reprimand her. 16 Even pull out some stalks for her from the bundles and leave them for her to pick up, and don’t rebuke(CD) her.”

17 So Ruth gleaned in the field until evening. Then she threshed(CE) the barley she had gathered, and it amounted to about an ephah.[f](CF) 18 She carried it back to town, and her mother-in-law saw how much she had gathered. Ruth also brought out and gave her what she had left over(CG) after she had eaten enough.

19 Her mother-in-law asked her, “Where did you glean today? Where did you work? Blessed be the man who took notice of you!(CH)

Then Ruth told her mother-in-law about the one at whose place she had been working. “The name of the man I worked with today is Boaz,” she said.

20 “The Lord bless him!(CI)” Naomi said to her daughter-in-law.(CJ) “He has not stopped showing his kindness(CK) to the living and the dead.” She added, “That man is our close relative;(CL) he is one of our guardian-redeemers.[g](CM)

21 Then Ruth the Moabite(CN) said, “He even said to me, ‘Stay with my workers until they finish harvesting all my grain.’”

22 Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, “It will be good for you, my daughter, to go with the women who work for him, because in someone else’s field you might be harmed.”

23 So Ruth stayed close to the women of Boaz to glean until the barley(CO) and wheat harvests(CP) were finished. And she lived with her mother-in-law.

Footnotes

  1. Ruth 1:1 Traditionally judged
  2. Ruth 1:20 Naomi means pleasant.
  3. Ruth 1:20 Mara means bitter.
  4. Ruth 1:20 Hebrew Shaddai; also in verse 21
  5. Ruth 1:21 Or has testified against
  6. Ruth 2:17 That is, probably about 30 pounds or about 13 kilograms
  7. Ruth 2:20 The Hebrew word for guardian-redeemer is a legal term for one who has the obligation to redeem a relative in serious difficulty (see Lev. 25:25-55).

Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.

And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.

And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.

And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.

And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.

Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the Lord had visited his people in giving them bread.

Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah.

And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother's house: the Lord deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me.

The Lord grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.

10 And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.

11 And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?

12 Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons;

13 Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me.

14 And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.

15 And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.

16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:

17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.

18 When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.

19 So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi?

20 And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.

21 I went out full and the Lord hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the Lord hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?

22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.

And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.

And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter.

And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech.

And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The Lord be with you. And they answered him, The Lord bless thee.

Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this?

And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab:

And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house.

Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens:

Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn.

10 Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?

11 And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore.

12 The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.

13 Then she said, Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord; for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken friendly unto thine handmaid, though I be not like unto one of thine handmaidens.

14 And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers: and he reached her parched corn, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left.

15 And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not:

16 And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not.

17 So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley.

18 And she took it up, and went into the city: and her mother in law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth, and gave to her that she had reserved after she was sufficed.

19 And her mother in law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to day? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she shewed her mother in law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man's name with whom I wrought to day is Boaz.

20 And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the Lord, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen.

21 And Ruth the Moabitess said, He said unto me also, Thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my harvest.

22 And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter in law, It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, that they meet thee not in any other field.

23 So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and dwelt with her mother in law.

Psalm 53[a](A)

For the director of music. According to mahalath.[b] A maskil[c] of David.

The fool(B) says in his heart,
    “There is no God.”(C)
They are corrupt, and their ways are vile;
    there is no one who does good.

God looks down from heaven(D)
    on all mankind
to see if there are any who understand,(E)
    any who seek God.(F)
Everyone has turned away, all have become corrupt;
    there is no one who does good,
    not even one.(G)

Do all these evildoers know nothing?

They devour my people as though eating bread;
    they never call on God.
But there they are, overwhelmed with dread,
    where there was nothing to dread.(H)
God scattered the bones(I) of those who attacked you;(J)
    you put them to shame,(K) for God despised them.(L)

Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
    When God restores his people,
    let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!

Psalm 54[d]

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil[e] of David. When the Ziphites(M) had gone to Saul and said, “Is not David hiding among us?”

Save me(N), O God, by your name;(O)
    vindicate me by your might.(P)
Hear my prayer, O God;(Q)
    listen to the words of my mouth.

Arrogant foes are attacking me;(R)
    ruthless people(S) are trying to kill me(T)
    people without regard for God.[f](U)

Surely God is my help;(V)
    the Lord is the one who sustains me.(W)

Let evil recoil(X) on those who slander me;
    in your faithfulness(Y) destroy them.

I will sacrifice a freewill offering(Z) to you;
    I will praise(AA) your name, Lord, for it is good.(AB)
You have delivered me(AC) from all my troubles,
    and my eyes have looked in triumph on my foes.(AD)

Psalm 55[g]

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil[h] of David.

Listen to my prayer, O God,
    do not ignore my plea;(AE)
    hear me and answer me.(AF)
My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught(AG)
    because of what my enemy is saying,
    because of the threats of the wicked;
for they bring down suffering on me(AH)
    and assail(AI) me in their anger.(AJ)

My heart is in anguish(AK) within me;
    the terrors(AL) of death have fallen on me.
Fear and trembling(AM) have beset me;
    horror(AN) has overwhelmed me.
I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove!
    I would fly away and be at rest.
I would flee far away
    and stay in the desert;[i](AO)
I would hurry to my place of shelter,(AP)
    far from the tempest and storm.(AQ)

Lord, confuse the wicked, confound their words,(AR)
    for I see violence and strife(AS) in the city.(AT)
10 Day and night they prowl(AU) about on its walls;
    malice and abuse are within it.
11 Destructive forces(AV) are at work in the city;
    threats and lies(AW) never leave its streets.

12 If an enemy were insulting me,
    I could endure it;
if a foe were rising against me,
    I could hide.
13 But it is you, a man like myself,
    my companion, my close friend,(AX)
14 with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship(AY)
    at the house of God,(AZ)
as we walked about
    among the worshipers.

15 Let death take my enemies by surprise;(BA)
    let them go down alive to the realm of the dead,(BB)
    for evil finds lodging among them.

16 As for me, I call to God,
    and the Lord saves me.
17 Evening,(BC) morning(BD) and noon(BE)
    I cry out in distress,
    and he hears my voice.
18 He rescues me unharmed
    from the battle waged against me,
    even though many oppose me.
19 God, who is enthroned from of old,(BF)
    who does not change—
he will hear(BG) them and humble them,
    because they have no fear of God.(BH)

20 My companion attacks his friends;(BI)
    he violates his covenant.(BJ)
21 His talk is smooth as butter,(BK)
    yet war is in his heart;
his words are more soothing than oil,(BL)
    yet they are drawn swords.(BM)

22 Cast your cares on the Lord
    and he will sustain you;(BN)
he will never let
    the righteous be shaken.(BO)
23 But you, God, will bring down the wicked
    into the pit(BP) of decay;
the bloodthirsty and deceitful(BQ)
    will not live out half their days.(BR)

But as for me, I trust in you.(BS)

Psalm 56[j]

For the director of music. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” Of David. A miktam.[k] When the Philistines had seized him in Gath.

Be merciful to me,(BT) my God,
    for my enemies are in hot pursuit;(BU)
    all day long they press their attack.(BV)
My adversaries pursue me all day long;(BW)
    in their pride many are attacking me.(BX)

When I am afraid,(BY) I put my trust in you.(BZ)
    In God, whose word I praise—(CA)
in God I trust and am not afraid.(CB)
    What can mere mortals do to me?(CC)

All day long they twist my words;(CD)
    all their schemes are for my ruin.
They conspire,(CE) they lurk,
    they watch my steps,(CF)
    hoping to take my life.(CG)
Because of their wickedness do not[l] let them escape;(CH)
    in your anger, God, bring the nations down.(CI)

Record my misery;
    list my tears on your scroll[m](CJ)
    are they not in your record?(CK)
Then my enemies will turn back(CL)
    when I call for help.(CM)
    By this I will know that God is for me.(CN)

10 In God, whose word I praise,
    in the Lord, whose word I praise—
11 in God I trust and am not afraid.
    What can man do to me?

12 I am under vows(CO) to you, my God;
    I will present my thank offerings to you.
13 For you have delivered me from death(CP)
    and my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before God
    in the light of life.(CQ)

Psalm 57[n](CR)

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.[o] When he had fled from Saul into the cave.(CS)

Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me,
    for in you I take refuge.(CT)
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings(CU)
    until the disaster has passed.(CV)

I cry out to God Most High,
    to God, who vindicates me.(CW)
He sends from heaven and saves me,(CX)
    rebuking those who hotly pursue me—[p](CY)
    God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.(CZ)

I am in the midst of lions;(DA)
    I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts—
men whose teeth are spears and arrows,
    whose tongues are sharp swords.(DB)

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
    let your glory be over all the earth.(DC)

They spread a net for my feet(DD)
    I was bowed down(DE) in distress.
They dug a pit(DF) in my path—
    but they have fallen into it themselves.(DG)

My heart, O God, is steadfast,
    my heart is steadfast;(DH)
    I will sing and make music.
Awake, my soul!
    Awake, harp and lyre!(DI)
    I will awaken the dawn.

I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
    I will sing of you among the peoples.
10 For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
    your faithfulness reaches to the skies.(DJ)

11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;(DK)
    let your glory be over all the earth.(DL)

Psalm 58[q]

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.[r]

Do you rulers indeed speak justly?(DM)
    Do you judge people with equity?
No, in your heart you devise injustice,(DN)
    and your hands mete out violence on the earth.(DO)

Even from birth the wicked go astray;
    from the womb they are wayward, spreading lies.
Their venom is like the venom of a snake,(DP)
    like that of a cobra that has stopped its ears,
that will not heed(DQ) the tune of the charmer,(DR)
    however skillful the enchanter may be.

Break the teeth in their mouths, O God;(DS)
    Lord, tear out the fangs of those lions!(DT)
Let them vanish like water that flows away;(DU)
    when they draw the bow, let their arrows fall short.(DV)
May they be like a slug that melts away as it moves along,(DW)
    like a stillborn child(DX) that never sees the sun.

Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns(DY)
    whether they be green or dry—the wicked will be swept away.[s](DZ)
10 The righteous will be glad(EA) when they are avenged,(EB)
    when they dip their feet in the blood of the wicked.(EC)
11 Then people will say,
    “Surely the righteous still are rewarded;(ED)
    surely there is a God who judges the earth.”(EE)

Psalm 59[t]

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.[u] When Saul had sent men to watch David’s house(EF) in order to kill him.

Deliver me from my enemies, O God;(EG)
    be my fortress against those who are attacking me.(EH)
Deliver me from evildoers(EI)
    and save me from those who are after my blood.(EJ)

See how they lie in wait for me!
    Fierce men conspire(EK) against me
    for no offense or sin of mine, Lord.
I have done no wrong,(EL) yet they are ready to attack me.(EM)
    Arise to help me; look on my plight!(EN)
You, Lord God Almighty,
    you who are the God of Israel,(EO)
rouse yourself(EP) to punish all the nations;(EQ)
    show no mercy to wicked traitors.[v](ER)

They return at evening,
    snarling like dogs,(ES)
    and prowl about the city.
See what they spew from their mouths(ET)
    the words from their lips are sharp as swords,(EU)
    and they think, “Who can hear us?”(EV)
But you laugh at them, Lord;(EW)
    you scoff at all those nations.(EX)

You are my strength,(EY) I watch for you;
    you, God, are my fortress,(EZ)
10     my God on whom I can rely.

God will go before me
    and will let me gloat over those who slander me.
11 But do not kill them, Lord our shield,[w](FA)
    or my people will forget.(FB)
In your might uproot them
    and bring them down.(FC)
12 For the sins of their mouths,(FD)
    for the words of their lips,(FE)
    let them be caught in their pride.(FF)
For the curses and lies they utter,
13     consume them in your wrath,
    consume them till they are no more.(FG)
Then it will be known to the ends of the earth
    that God rules over Jacob.(FH)

14 They return at evening,
    snarling like dogs,
    and prowl about the city.
15 They wander about for food(FI)
    and howl if not satisfied.
16 But I will sing(FJ) of your strength,(FK)
    in the morning(FL) I will sing of your love;(FM)
for you are my fortress,(FN)
    my refuge in times of trouble.(FO)

17 You are my strength, I sing praise to you;
    you, God, are my fortress,
    my God on whom I can rely.(FP)

Psalm 60[x](FQ)

For the director of music. To the tune of “The Lily of the Covenant.” A miktam[y] of David. For teaching. When he fought Aram Naharaim[z] and Aram Zobah,[aa] and when Joab returned and struck down twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.(FR)

You have rejected us,(FS) God, and burst upon us;
    you have been angry(FT)—now restore us!(FU)
You have shaken the land(FV) and torn it open;
    mend its fractures,(FW) for it is quaking.
You have shown your people desperate times;(FX)
    you have given us wine that makes us stagger.(FY)
But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner(FZ)
    to be unfurled against the bow.[ab]

Save us and help us with your right hand,(GA)
    that those you love(GB) may be delivered.
God has spoken from his sanctuary:
    “In triumph I will parcel out Shechem(GC)
    and measure off the Valley of Sukkoth.(GD)
Gilead(GE) is mine, and Manasseh is mine;
    Ephraim(GF) is my helmet,
    Judah(GG) is my scepter.(GH)
Moab is my washbasin,
    on Edom I toss my sandal;
    over Philistia I shout in triumph.(GI)

Who will bring me to the fortified city?
    Who will lead me to Edom?
10 Is it not you, God, you who have now rejected us
    and no longer go out with our armies?(GJ)
11 Give us aid against the enemy,
    for human help is worthless.(GK)
12 With God we will gain the victory,
    and he will trample down our enemies.(GL)

Psalm 61[ac]

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. Of David.

Hear my cry, O God;(GM)
    listen to my prayer.(GN)

From the ends of the earth I call to you,
    I call as my heart grows faint;(GO)
    lead me to the rock(GP) that is higher than I.
For you have been my refuge,(GQ)
    a strong tower against the foe.(GR)

I long to dwell(GS) in your tent forever
    and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.[ad](GT)
For you, God, have heard my vows;(GU)
    you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.(GV)

Increase the days of the king’s life,(GW)
    his years for many generations.(GX)
May he be enthroned in God’s presence forever;(GY)
    appoint your love and faithfulness to protect him.(GZ)

Then I will ever sing in praise of your name(HA)
    and fulfill my vows day after day.(HB)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 53:1 In Hebrew texts 53:1-6 is numbered 53:2-7.
  2. Psalm 53:1 Title: Probably a musical term
  3. Psalm 53:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  4. Psalm 54:1 In Hebrew texts 54:1-7 is numbered 54:3-9.
  5. Psalm 54:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  6. Psalm 54:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
  7. Psalm 55:1 In Hebrew texts 55:1-23 is numbered 55:2-24.
  8. Psalm 55:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  9. Psalm 55:7 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and in the middle of verse 19.
  10. Psalm 56:1 In Hebrew texts 56:1-13 is numbered 56:2-14.
  11. Psalm 56:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  12. Psalm 56:7 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text does not have do not.
  13. Psalm 56:8 Or misery; / put my tears in your wineskin
  14. Psalm 57:1 In Hebrew texts 57:1-11 is numbered 57:2-12.
  15. Psalm 57:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  16. Psalm 57:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 6.
  17. Psalm 58:1 In Hebrew texts 58:1-11 is numbered 58:2-12.
  18. Psalm 58:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  19. Psalm 58:9 The meaning of the Hebrew for this verse is uncertain.
  20. Psalm 59:1 In Hebrew texts 59:1-17 is numbered 59:2-18.
  21. Psalm 59:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  22. Psalm 59:5 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 13.
  23. Psalm 59:11 Or sovereign
  24. Psalm 60:1 In Hebrew texts 60:1-12 is numbered 60:3-14.
  25. Psalm 60:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  26. Psalm 60:1 Title: That is, Arameans of Northwest Mesopotamia
  27. Psalm 60:1 Title: That is, Arameans of central Syria
  28. Psalm 60:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
  29. Psalm 61:1 In Hebrew texts 61:1-8 is numbered 61:2-9.
  30. Psalm 61:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.

53 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.

God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.

Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread: they have not called upon God.

There were they in great fear, where no fear was: for God hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth against thee: thou hast put them to shame, because God hath despised them.

Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When God bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

54 Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength.

Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth.

For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah.

Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.

He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in thy truth.

I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O Lord; for it is good.

For he hath delivered me out of all trouble: and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies.

55 Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.

Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;

Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.

My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.

Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.

And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.

Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah.

I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.

Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

10 Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.

11 Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.

12 For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him:

13 But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.

14 We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.

15 Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.

16 As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me.

17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

18 He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.

19 God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.

20 He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.

21 The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.

22 Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

23 But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.

56 Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me.

Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High.

What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.

In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.

Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil.

They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.

Shall they escape by iniquity? in thine anger cast down the people, O God.

Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?

When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.

10 In God will I praise his word: in the Lord will I praise his word.

11 In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.

12 Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee.

13 For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?

57 Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.

I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.

He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.

My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.

Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth.

They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves. Selah.

My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.

Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.

I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations.

10 For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.

11 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth.

58 Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?

Yea, in heart ye work wickedness; ye weigh the violence of your hands in the earth.

The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.

Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear;

Which will not hearken to the voice of charmers, charming never so wisely.

Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth: break out the great teeth of the young lions, O Lord.

Let them melt away as waters which run continually: when he bendeth his bow to shoot his arrows, let them be as cut in pieces.

As a snail which melteth, let every one of them pass away: like the untimely birth of a woman, that they may not see the sun.

Before your pots can feel the thorns, he shall take them away as with a whirlwind, both living, and in his wrath.

10 The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.

11 So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.

59 Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.

Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men.

For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O Lord.

They run and prepare themselves without my fault: awake to help me, and behold.

Thou therefore, O Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah.

They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.

Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips: for who, say they, doth hear?

But thou, O Lord, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision.

Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence.

10 The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies.

11 Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord our shield.

12 For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak.

13 Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be: and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of the earth. Selah.

14 And at evening let them return; and let them make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.

15 Let them wander up and down for meat, and grudge if they be not satisfied.

16 But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.

17 Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.

60 O God, thou hast cast us off, thou hast scattered us, thou hast been displeased; O turn thyself to us again.

Thou hast made the earth to tremble; thou hast broken it: heal the breaches thereof; for it shaketh.

Thou hast shewed thy people hard things: thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment.

Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.

That thy beloved may be delivered; save with thy right hand, and hear me.

God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.

Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of mine head; Judah is my lawgiver;

Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe: Philistia, triumph thou because of me.

Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom?

10 Wilt not thou, O God, which hadst cast us off? and thou, O God, which didst not go out with our armies?

11 Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.

12 Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.

61 Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.

From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.

I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.

For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.

Thou wilt prolong the king's life: and his years as many generations.

He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him.

So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.

Awaiting the New Body

For we know that if the earthly(A) tent(B) we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan,(C) longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling,(D) because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan(E) and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling,(F) so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.(G)

Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight.(H) We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.(I) So we make it our goal to please him,(J) whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us(K) for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

The Ministry of Reconciliation

11 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord,(L) we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.(M) 12 We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again,(N) but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us,(O) so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. 13 If we are “out of our mind,”(P) as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.(Q) 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves(R) but for him who died for them(S) and was raised again.

16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly(T) point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,(U) the new creation(V) has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here!(W) 18 All this is from God,(X) who reconciled us to himself through Christ(Y) and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.(Z) And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors,(AA) as though God were making his appeal through us.(AB) We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.(AC) 21 God made him who had no sin(AD) to be sin[b] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.(AE)

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Or Christ, that person is a new creation.
  2. 2 Corinthians 5:21 Or be a sin offering

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:

If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.

For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:

(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

12 For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.

13 For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.

14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.