How Precious Is Your Steadfast Love

To the choirmaster. Of David, the (A)servant of the Lord.

36 Transgression speaks to the wicked
    deep in his heart;[a]
(B)there is no fear of God
    before his eyes.
(C)For he flatters himself in his own eyes
    that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated.
The words of his mouth are (D)trouble and deceit;
    (E)he has ceased to act wisely and do good.
He (F)plots (G)trouble while on his bed;
    he sets himself in (H)a way that is not good;
    (I)he does not reject evil.

Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens,
    your faithfulness to the clouds.
(J)Your righteousness is like the mountains of God;
    (K)your judgments are like the great deep;
    man and beast you (L)save, O Lord.

(M)How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
    The children of mankind take refuge (N)in the shadow of your wings.
They feast on (O)the abundance of your house,
    and you give them drink from (P)the river of (Q)your delights.
For with you is (R)the fountain of life;
    (S)in your light do we see light.

10 Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who (T)know you,
    and your righteousness to (U)the upright of heart!
11 Let not the foot of arrogance come upon me,
    nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.
12 There (V)the evildoers lie fallen;
    they are thrust down, (W)unable to rise.

He Will Not Forsake His Saints

[b] Of David.

37 (X)Fret not yourself because of evildoers;
    be not (Y)envious of wrongdoers!
For they will soon (Z)fade like (AA)the grass
    and wither (AB)like the green herb.

(AC)Trust in the Lord, and do good;
    (AD)dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.[c]
(AE)Delight yourself in the Lord,
    and he will (AF)give you the desires of your heart.

(AG)Commit your way to the Lord;
    (AH)trust in him, and he will act.
(AI)He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
    and your justice as (AJ)the noonday.

(AK)Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
    (AL)fret not yourself over the one who (AM)prospers in his way,
    over the man who carries out evil devices!

(AN)Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!
    (AO)Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
(AP)For the evildoers shall be cut off,
    but those who wait for the Lord shall (AQ)inherit the land.

10 In (AR)just a little while, the wicked will be no more;
    though you look carefully at (AS)his place, he will not be there.
11 But (AT)the meek shall inherit the land
    and delight themselves in (AU)abundant peace.

12 The wicked (AV)plots against the righteous
    and (AW)gnashes his teeth at him,
13 but the Lord (AX)laughs at the wicked,
    for he sees that his (AY)day is coming.

14 The wicked draw the sword and (AZ)bend their bows
    to bring down the poor and needy,
    to slay those whose (BA)way is upright;
15 their sword shall enter their own heart,
    and their (BB)bows shall be broken.

16 (BC)Better is the little that the righteous has
    than the abundance of many wicked.
17 For (BD)the arms of the wicked shall be broken,
    but the Lord (BE)upholds the righteous.

18 The Lord (BF)knows the days of the blameless,
    and their (BG)heritage will remain forever;
19 they are not put to shame in evil times;
    in (BH)the days of famine they have abundance.

20 But the wicked will perish;
    the enemies of the Lord are like (BI)the glory of the pastures;
    they vanish—like (BJ)smoke they vanish away.

21 The wicked borrows but does not pay back,
    but the righteous (BK)is generous and gives;
22 for those blessed by the Lord[d] shall (BL)inherit the land,
    but those cursed by him (BM)shall be cut off.

23 The (BN)steps of a man are (BO)established by the Lord,
    when he delights in his way;
24 (BP)though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong,
    for the Lord (BQ)upholds his hand.

25 I have been young, and now am old,
    yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
    or his children (BR)begging for bread.
26 He is ever (BS)lending generously,
    and his children become a blessing.

27 (BT)Turn away from evil and do good;
    so shall you (BU)dwell forever.
28 For the Lord (BV)loves justice;
    he will not forsake his (BW)saints.
They are preserved forever,
    but the children of the wicked shall be (BX)cut off.
29 The righteous shall inherit the land
    and (BY)dwell upon it forever.

30 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom,
    and his tongue speaks justice.
31 (BZ)The law of his God is in his heart;
    his (CA)steps do not slip.

32 The wicked (CB)watches for the righteous
    and seeks to put him to death.
33 The Lord will not (CC)abandon him to his power
    or let him (CD)be condemned when he is brought to trial.

34 (CE)Wait for the Lord and keep his way,
    and he will exalt you to inherit the land;
    you will look on (CF)when the wicked are cut off.

35 (CG)I have seen a wicked, ruthless man,
    spreading himself like (CH)a green laurel tree.[e]
36 But he passed away,[f] and behold, (CI)he was no more;
    though I sought him, he could not be found.

37 Mark the blameless and behold the upright,
    for there is a future for the man of (CJ)peace.
38 But (CK)transgressors shall be altogether destroyed;
    the future of the wicked (CL)shall be cut off.

39 (CM)The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;
    he is their stronghold in (CN)the time of trouble.
40 The Lord helps them and (CO)delivers them;
    (CP)he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
    because they (CQ)take refuge in him.

Do Not Forsake Me, O Lord

A Psalm of David, (CR)for the memorial offering.

38 O Lord, (CS)rebuke me not in your anger,
    nor discipline me in your wrath!
For your (CT)arrows have sunk into me,
    and your hand (CU)has come down on me.

There is (CV)no soundness in my flesh
    because of your indignation;
there is no health in my (CW)bones
    because of my sin.
For my (CX)iniquities have gone over my head;
    like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.

My wounds stink and fester
    because of my foolishness,
I am (CY)utterly bowed down and (CZ)prostrate;
    all the day I (DA)go about mourning.
For my sides are filled with burning,
    and there is (DB)no soundness in my flesh.
I am feeble and crushed;
    I (DC)groan because of the tumult of my heart.

O Lord, all my longing is before you;
    my (DD)sighing is not hidden from you.
10 My heart throbs; my strength fails me,
    and (DE)the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me.
11 My (DF)friends and companions (DG)stand aloof from my (DH)plague,
    and my nearest kin (DI)stand far off.

12 Those who seek my life (DJ)lay their snares;
    those who seek my hurt (DK)speak of ruin
    and meditate (DL)treachery all day long.

13 But I am like a deaf man; I do not hear,
    like (DM)a mute man who does not open his mouth.
14 I have become like a man who does not hear,
    and in whose mouth are no (DN)rebukes.

15 But for (DO)you, O Lord, do I wait;
    it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.
16 For I said, “Only (DP)let them not rejoice over me,
    who (DQ)boast against me when my (DR)foot slips!”

17 For I am (DS)ready to fall,
    and my pain is ever before me.
18 I (DT)confess my iniquity;
    I am (DU)sorry for my sin.
19 But my foes are vigorous, they are mighty,
    and many are those who hate me (DV)wrongfully.
20 Those who (DW)render me evil for good
    (DX)accuse me because I (DY)follow after good.

21 Do not forsake me, O Lord!
    O my God, be not (DZ)far from me!
22 (EA)Make haste to help me,
    O Lord, my (EB)salvation!

What Is the Measure of My Days?

To the choirmaster: to (EC)Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.

39 I said, “I will (ED)guard my ways,
    that I (EE)may not sin with my tongue;
I will (EF)guard my mouth with a muzzle,
    so long as the wicked are in my presence.”
I was (EG)mute and silent;
    I held my peace to no avail,
and my distress grew worse.
    My (EH)heart became hot within me.
As I mused, the fire burned;
    then I spoke with my tongue:

“O Lord, (EI)make me know my end
    and what is the measure of my days;
    let me know how fleeting I am!
Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths,
    and (EJ)my lifetime is as nothing before you.
Surely (EK)all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah
    Surely a man (EL)goes about as a shadow!
Surely for nothing[g] they are in turmoil;
    man (EM)heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!

“And now, O Lord, for what do I wait?
    (EN)My hope is in you.
Deliver me from all my transgressions.
    (EO)Do not make me the scorn of the fool!
(EP)I am mute; I do not open my mouth,
    (EQ)for it is you who have done it.
10 (ER)Remove your stroke from me;
    I am spent by the hostility of your hand.
11 When you discipline a man
    with (ES)rebukes for sin,
you (ET)consume like a (EU)moth what is dear to him;
    (EV)surely all mankind is a mere breath! Selah

12 (EW)“Hear my prayer, O Lord,
    and give ear to my cry;
    hold not your peace at my tears!
For I am (EX)a sojourner with you,
    (EY)a guest, like all my fathers.
13 (EZ)Look away from me, that I may smile again,
    (FA)before I depart and (FB)am no more!”

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 36:1 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Syriac, Jerome (compare Septuagint); most Hebrew manuscripts in my heart
  2. Psalm 37:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, each stanza beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet
  3. Psalm 37:3 Or and feed on faithfulness, or and find safe pasture
  4. Psalm 37:22 Hebrew by him
  5. Psalm 37:35 The identity of this tree is uncertain
  6. Psalm 37:36 Or But one passed by
  7. Psalm 39:6 Hebrew Surely as a breath

Psalm 36[a]

For the director of music. Of David the servant of the Lord.

I have a message from God in my heart
    concerning the sinfulness of the wicked:[b](A)
There is no fear(B) of God
    before their eyes.(C)

In their own eyes they flatter themselves
    too much to detect or hate their sin.(D)
The words of their mouths(E) are wicked and deceitful;(F)
    they fail to act wisely(G) or do good.(H)
Even on their beds they plot evil;(I)
    they commit themselves to a sinful course(J)
    and do not reject what is wrong.(K)

Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,
    your faithfulness(L) to the skies.(M)
Your righteousness(N) is like the highest mountains,(O)
    your justice like the great deep.(P)
    You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.(Q)
How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!(R)
    People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.(S)
They feast on the abundance of your house;(T)
    you give them drink from your river(U) of delights.(V)
For with you is the fountain of life;(W)
    in your light(X) we see light.

10 Continue your love(Y) to those who know you,(Z)
    your righteousness to the upright in heart.(AA)
11 May the foot of the proud not come against me,
    nor the hand of the wicked(AB) drive me away.
12 See how the evildoers lie fallen—
    thrown down, not able to rise!(AC)

Psalm 37[c]

Of David.

Do not fret because of those who are evil
    or be envious(AD) of those who do wrong;(AE)
for like the grass they will soon wither,(AF)
    like green plants they will soon die away.(AG)

Trust in the Lord and do good;
    dwell in the land(AH) and enjoy safe pasture.(AI)
Take delight(AJ) in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.(AK)

Commit your way to the Lord;
    trust in him(AL) and he will do this:
He will make your righteous reward(AM) shine like the dawn,(AN)
    your vindication like the noonday sun.

Be still(AO) before the Lord
    and wait patiently(AP) for him;
do not fret(AQ) when people succeed in their ways,(AR)
    when they carry out their wicked schemes.(AS)

Refrain from anger(AT) and turn from wrath;
    do not fret(AU)—it leads only to evil.
For those who are evil will be destroyed,(AV)
    but those who hope(AW) in the Lord will inherit the land.(AX)

10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more;(AY)
    though you look for them, they will not be found.
11 But the meek will inherit the land(AZ)
    and enjoy peace and prosperity.(BA)

12 The wicked plot(BB) against the righteous
    and gnash their teeth(BC) at them;
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
    for he knows their day is coming.(BD)

14 The wicked draw the sword(BE)
    and bend the bow(BF)
to bring down the poor and needy,(BG)
    to slay those whose ways are upright.
15 But their swords will pierce their own hearts,(BH)
    and their bows will be broken.(BI)

16 Better the little that the righteous have
    than the wealth(BJ) of many wicked;
17 for the power of the wicked will be broken,(BK)
    but the Lord upholds(BL) the righteous.

18 The blameless spend their days under the Lord’s care,(BM)
    and their inheritance will endure forever.(BN)
19 In times of disaster they will not wither;
    in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

20 But the wicked will perish:(BO)
    Though the Lord’s enemies are like the flowers of the field,
    they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke.(BP)

21 The wicked borrow and do not repay,
    but the righteous give generously;(BQ)
22 those the Lord blesses will inherit the land,
    but those he curses(BR) will be destroyed.(BS)

23 The Lord makes firm the steps(BT)
    of the one who delights(BU) in him;
24 though he may stumble, he will not fall,(BV)
    for the Lord upholds(BW) him with his hand.

25 I was young and now I am old,
    yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken(BX)
    or their children begging(BY) bread.
26 They are always generous and lend freely;(BZ)
    their children will be a blessing.[d](CA)

27 Turn from evil and do good;(CB)
    then you will dwell in the land forever.(CC)
28 For the Lord loves the just
    and will not forsake his faithful ones.(CD)

Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed[e];
    the offspring of the wicked will perish.(CE)
29 The righteous will inherit the land(CF)
    and dwell in it forever.(CG)

30 The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom,(CH)
    and their tongues speak what is just.
31 The law of their God is in their hearts;(CI)
    their feet do not slip.(CJ)

32 The wicked lie in wait(CK) for the righteous,(CL)
    intent on putting them to death;
33 but the Lord will not leave them in the power of the wicked
    or let them be condemned(CM) when brought to trial.(CN)

34 Hope in the Lord(CO)
    and keep his way.(CP)
He will exalt you to inherit the land;
    when the wicked are destroyed,(CQ) you will see(CR) it.

35 I have seen a wicked and ruthless man
    flourishing(CS) like a luxuriant native tree,
36 but he soon passed away and was no more;
    though I looked for him, he could not be found.(CT)

37 Consider the blameless,(CU) observe the upright;(CV)
    a future awaits those who seek peace.[f](CW)
38 But all sinners(CX) will be destroyed;(CY)
    there will be no future[g] for the wicked.(CZ)

39 The salvation(DA) of the righteous comes from the Lord;
    he is their stronghold in time of trouble.(DB)
40 The Lord helps(DC) them and delivers(DD) them;
    he delivers them from the wicked and saves(DE) them,
    because they take refuge(DF) in him.

Psalm 38[h]

A psalm of David. A petition.

Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger
    or discipline me in your wrath.(DG)
Your arrows(DH) have pierced me,
    and your hand has come down on me.
Because of your wrath there is no health(DI) in my body;
    there is no soundness in my bones(DJ) because of my sin.
My guilt has overwhelmed(DK) me
    like a burden too heavy to bear.(DL)

My wounds(DM) fester and are loathsome(DN)
    because of my sinful folly.(DO)
I am bowed down(DP) and brought very low;
    all day long I go about mourning.(DQ)
My back is filled with searing pain;(DR)
    there is no health(DS) in my body.
I am feeble and utterly crushed;(DT)
    I groan(DU) in anguish of heart.(DV)

All my longings(DW) lie open before you, Lord;
    my sighing(DX) is not hidden from you.
10 My heart pounds,(DY) my strength fails(DZ) me;
    even the light has gone from my eyes.(EA)
11 My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds;(EB)
    my neighbors stay far away.
12 Those who want to kill me set their traps,(EC)
    those who would harm me talk of my ruin;(ED)
    all day long they scheme and lie.(EE)

13 I am like the deaf, who cannot hear,(EF)
    like the mute, who cannot speak;
14 I have become like one who does not hear,
    whose mouth can offer no reply.
15 Lord, I wait(EG) for you;
    you will answer,(EH) Lord my God.
16 For I said, “Do not let them gloat(EI)
    or exalt themselves over me when my feet slip.”(EJ)

17 For I am about to fall,(EK)
    and my pain(EL) is ever with me.
18 I confess my iniquity;(EM)
    I am troubled by my sin.
19 Many have become my enemies(EN) without cause[i];
    those who hate me(EO) without reason(EP) are numerous.
20 Those who repay my good with evil(EQ)
    lodge accusations(ER) against me,
    though I seek only to do what is good.

21 Lord, do not forsake me;(ES)
    do not be far(ET) from me, my God.
22 Come quickly(EU) to help me,(EV)
    my Lord and my Savior.(EW)

Psalm 39[j]

For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.

I said, “I will watch my ways(EX)
    and keep my tongue from sin;(EY)
I will put a muzzle on my mouth(EZ)
    while in the presence of the wicked.”
So I remained utterly silent,(FA)
    not even saying anything good.
But my anguish(FB) increased;
    my heart grew hot(FC) within me.
While I meditated,(FD) the fire(FE) burned;
    then I spoke with my tongue:

“Show me, Lord, my life’s end
    and the number of my days;(FF)
    let me know how fleeting(FG) my life is.(FH)
You have made my days(FI) a mere handbreadth;
    the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Everyone is but a breath,(FJ)
    even those who seem secure.[k]

“Surely everyone goes around(FK) like a mere phantom;(FL)
    in vain they rush about,(FM) heaping up wealth(FN)
    without knowing whose it will finally be.(FO)

“But now, Lord, what do I look for?
    My hope is in you.(FP)
Save me(FQ) from all my transgressions;(FR)
    do not make me the scorn(FS) of fools.
I was silent;(FT) I would not open my mouth,(FU)
    for you are the one who has done this.(FV)
10 Remove your scourge from me;
    I am overcome by the blow(FW) of your hand.(FX)
11 When you rebuke(FY) and discipline(FZ) anyone for their sin,
    you consume(GA) their wealth like a moth(GB)
    surely everyone is but a breath.(GC)

12 “Hear my prayer, Lord,
    listen to my cry for help;(GD)
    do not be deaf(GE) to my weeping.(GF)
I dwell with you as a foreigner,(GG)
    a stranger,(GH) as all my ancestors were.(GI)
13 Look away from me, that I may enjoy life again
    before I depart and am no more.”(GJ)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 36:1 In Hebrew texts 36:1-12 is numbered 36:2-13.
  2. Psalm 36:1 Or A message from God: The transgression of the wicked / resides in their hearts.
  3. Psalm 37:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the stanzas of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
  4. Psalm 37:26 Or freely; / the names of their children will be used in blessings (see Gen. 48:20); or freely; / others will see that their children are blessed
  5. Psalm 37:28 See Septuagint; Hebrew They will be protected forever
  6. Psalm 37:37 Or upright; / those who seek peace will have posterity
  7. Psalm 37:38 Or posterity
  8. Psalm 38:1 In Hebrew texts 38:1-22 is numbered 38:2-23.
  9. Psalm 38:19 One Dead Sea Scrolls manuscript; Masoretic Text my vigorous enemies
  10. Psalm 39:1 In Hebrew texts 39:1-13 is numbered 39:2-14.
  11. Psalm 39:5 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 11.