BOOK 3

The End of the Wicked Contrasted with That of the Righteous.

A Psalm of Asaph.

73 God certainly is (A)good to Israel,
To those who are (B)pure in heart!
But as for me, (C)my feet came close to stumbling,
My steps [a]had almost slipped.
For I was (D)envious of the [b]arrogant
As I saw the (E)prosperity of the wicked.
For there are no pains in their death,
And their belly is fat.
They are (F)not [c]in trouble like other people,
Nor are they (G)tormented together with the rest of mankind.
Therefore arrogance is (H)their necklace;
The (I)garment of violence covers them.
Their eye [d]bulges from (J)fatness;
The imaginations of their heart overflow.
They (K)mock and [e]wickedly speak of oppression;
They (L)speak from on high.
They have (M)set their mouth [f]against the heavens,
And their tongue [g]parades through the earth.

10 Therefore [h]his people return here,
And (N)abundant waters are drunk by them.
11 They say, “(O)How does God know?
And is there knowledge [i]with the Most High?”
12 Behold, (P)these are the wicked;
And always (Q)at ease, they have increased in wealth.
13 Surely (R)in vain I have [j]kept my heart pure
And (S)washed my hands in innocence;
14 For I have been stricken (T)all day long,
And [k](U)punished every morning.

15 If I had said, “I will speak this way,”
Behold, I would have betrayed the (V)generation of Your children.
16 When I (W)thought of understanding this,
It was [l]troublesome in my sight
17 Until I entered the [m](X)sanctuary of God;
Then I perceived their (Y)end.
18 You indeed put them on (Z)slippery ground;
You dropped them into [n](AA)ruin.
19 How they are [o](AB)destroyed in a moment!
They are utterly swept away by (AC)sudden terrors!
20 Like a (AD)dream when one awakes,
Lord, when (AE)stirred, You will (AF)despise their image.

21 When my (AG)heart was embittered
And I was (AH)pierced [p]within,
22 Then I was (AI)stupid and ignorant;
I was like an (AJ)animal [q]before You.
23 Nevertheless (AK)I am continually with You;
You have taken hold of my right hand.
24 You will (AL)guide me with Your plan,
And afterward (AM)receive me [r]to glory.

25 (AN)Whom do I have in heaven but You?
And with You, I desire nothing on earth.
26 My (AO)flesh and my heart may fail,
But God is the [s]strength of my heart and my (AP)portion forever.
27 For, behold, (AQ)those who are far from You will (AR)perish;
You have destroyed all those who [t](AS)are unfaithful to You.
28 But as for me, (AT)the nearness of God is good for me;
I have made the Lord [u]God my (AU)refuge,
So that I may (AV)tell of all Your works.

An Appeal against the Devastation of the Land by the Enemy.

A [v]Maskil of Asaph.

74 God, why have You (AW)rejected us forever?
Why does Your anger (AX)smoke against the (AY)sheep of Your [w]pasture?
Remember Your congregation, which You (AZ)purchased of old,
Which You have (BA)redeemed to be the (BB)tribe of Your inheritance;
And this Mount (BC)Zion, where You have dwelt.
[x]Step toward the [y](BD)irreparable ruins;
The enemy (BE)has damaged everything in the sanctuary.
Your adversaries have (BF)roared in the midst of Your meeting place;
They have set up their (BG)own signs as (BH)signs.
It [z]seems like one bringing up
His (BI)axe into a [aa]forest of trees.
And now they break down [ab]all its (BJ)carved work
With axe and hammers.
They have [ac](BK)burned Your sanctuary [ad]to the ground;
They have (BL)defiled the dwelling place of Your name.
They (BM)said in their heart, “Let’s [ae]completely [af]subdue them.”
They have burned all the meeting places of God in the land.
We do not see our (BN)signs;
There is (BO)no longer any prophet,
Nor is there anyone among us who knows (BP)how long.
10 How long, God, will the enemy (BQ)taunt You?
Shall the enemy (BR)treat Your name disrespectfully forever?
11 Why (BS)do You withdraw Your hand, even Your right hand?
Extend it from Your chest and (BT)destroy them!

12 Yet God is (BU)my King from long ago,
Who performs acts of salvation in the midst of the earth.
13 [ag]You (BV)divided the sea by Your strength;
[ah]You (BW)broke the heads of the (BX)sea monsters [ai]in the waters.
14 [aj]You crushed the heads of [ak](BY)Leviathan;
You gave him as food for the [al]creatures (BZ)of the wilderness.
15 [am]You (CA)broke open springs and torrents;
[an]You (CB)dried up ever-flowing streams.
16 Yours is the day, Yours also is the night;
[ao]You have (CC)prepared the [ap]light and the sun.
17 [aq]You have (CD)established all the boundaries of the earth;
[ar]You have [as]created (CE)summer and winter.

18 Remember this, [at]Lord, that the enemy has (CF)taunted You,
And a (CG)foolish people has treated Your name disrespectfully.
19 Do not give the soul of Your (CH)turtledove to the wild animal;
(CI)Do not forget the life of Your afflicted forever.
20 Consider the (CJ)covenant;
For the (CK)dark places of the land are full of the places of violence.
21 May the (CL)oppressed person not return dishonored;
May the (CM)afflicted and the needy praise Your name.

22 Arise, God, and (CN)plead Your own cause;
Remember [au]how the (CO)foolish person taunts You all day long.
23 Do not forget the voice of Your (CP)adversaries,
The (CQ)uproar of those who rise against You, which ascends continually.

God Humbles the Proud, but Exalts the Righteous.

For the music director; set to [av]Al-tashheth. A Psalm of Asaph, a Song.

75 We (CR)give thanks to You, God, we give thanks,
For Your name is (CS)near;
People declare (CT)Your wondrous works.
“When I select an (CU)appointed time,
It is I who (CV)judge fairly.
The (CW)earth and all who inhabit it [aw]are unsteady;
It is I who have firmly set its (CX)pillars. Selah
I said to the boastful, ‘Do not boast,’
And to the wicked, ‘(CY)Do not lift up the horn;
Do not lift up your horn on high,
(CZ)Do not speak with insolent [ax]pride.’”

For not from the east, nor from the west,
Nor from the [ay](DA)desert comes exaltation;
But (DB)God is the Judge;
He (DC)puts down one and exalts another.
For a (DD)cup is in the hand of the Lord, and the wine foams;
It is [az](DE)well mixed, and He pours out of this;
Certainly all the wicked of the earth must drain and (DF)drink its dregs.

But as for me, I will (DG)declare it forever;
I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.
10 And [ba]He will cut off all the (DH)horns of the wicked,
But (DI)the horns of the righteous will be lifted up.

The Victorious Power of the God of Jacob.

For the music director; on stringed instruments. A Psalm of Asaph, a Song.

76 God is (DJ)known in Judah;
His name is (DK)great in Israel.
His [bb](DL)tabernacle is in (DM)Salem;
His (DN)dwelling place also is in Zion.
There He (DO)broke the [bc]flaming arrows,
The shield, the sword, and the [bd]weapons of war. Selah

You are resplendent,
[be]More majestic than the mountains of prey.
The (DP)stouthearted were plundered,
[bf]They sank into sleep;
And none of the [bg]warriors could use his hands.
At Your (DQ)rebuke, God of Jacob,
Both [bh](DR)rider and horse were cast into a dead sleep.
You, You indeed are (DS)to be feared,
And (DT)who may stand in Your presence, [bi]once You are angry?

You caused judgment to be heard from heaven;
The earth (DU)feared and was still
When God (DV)arose to judgment,
To save all the humble of the earth. Selah
10 For the [bj](DW)wrath of mankind shall praise You;
You will encircle Yourself with a remnant of wrath.

11 (DX)Make vows to the Lord your God and (DY)fulfill them;
All who are around Him are to (DZ)bring gifts to Him who is to be feared.
12 He will cut off the spirit of princes;
He is [bk](EA)feared by the kings of the earth.

Comfort in Trouble from Recalling God’s Mighty Deeds.

For the music director; [bl]according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of Asaph.

77 My voice rises to God, and I will (EB)cry aloud;
My voice rises to God, and He will listen to me.
In the (EC)day of my trouble I sought the Lord;
(ED)In the night my (EE)hand was stretched out and did not grow weary;
My soul (EF)refused to be comforted.
When I remember God, then I am (EG)restless;
When I (EH)sigh, then (EI)my spirit feels weak. Selah
You have held my eyelids open;
I am so troubled that I (EJ)cannot speak.
I have considered the (EK)days of old,
The years of long ago.
I will remember my (EL)song in the night;
I (EM)will meditate with my heart,
And my spirit [bm]ponders:

Will the Lord (EN)reject forever?
And will He (EO)never be favorable again?
Has His (EP)favor ceased forever?
Has His [bn](EQ)promise come to an end [bo]forever?
Has God (ER)forgotten to be gracious,
Or has He in anger [bp]withdrawn His (ES)compassion? Selah
10 Then I said, “(ET)It is my [bq]grief,
That the (EU)right hand of the Most High has changed.”

11 I shall remember the (EV)deeds of [br]the Lord;
I will certainly (EW)remember Your wonders of old.
12 I will (EX)meditate on all Your work,
And on Your deeds with thanksgiving.
13 Your way, God, is (EY)holy;
(EZ)What god is great like our God?
14 You are the (FA)God who works wonders;
You have (FB)made known Your strength among the peoples.
15 By Your [bs]power You have (FC)redeemed Your people,
The sons of Jacob and (FD)Joseph. Selah

16 The (FE)waters saw You, God;
The waters saw You, they were in anguish;
The ocean depths also trembled.
17 The (FF)clouds poured out water;
The skies [bt](FG)sounded out;
Your (FH)arrows [bu]flashed here and there.
18 The (FI)sound of Your thunder was in the whirlwind;
The (FJ)lightning lit up the world;
The (FK)earth trembled and shook.
19 Your (FL)way was in the sea
And Your paths in the mighty waters,
And Your footprints were not known.
20 You (FM)led Your people like a flock
By the hand of (FN)Moses and Aaron.

God’s Guidance of His People in Spite of Their Unfaithfulness.

A [bv]Maskil of Asaph.

78 (FO)Listen, my people, to my [bw]instruction;
(FP)Incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
I will (FQ)open my mouth in a parable;
I will tell (FR)riddles of old,
Which we have heard and known,
And (FS)our fathers have told us.
We will (FT)not conceal them from their children,
But we will (FU)tell the generation to come the praises of the Lord,
And His power and His (FV)wondrous works that He has done.

For He established a (FW)testimony in Jacob,
And appointed a (FX)law in Israel,
Which He (FY)commanded our fathers
That they were to [bx](FZ)teach them to their children,
(GA)So that the generation to come would know, (GB)the children yet to be born,
That they would arise and (GC)tell them to their children,
So that they would put their confidence in God
And (GD)not forget the works of God,
But (GE)comply with His commandments,
And (GF)not be like their fathers,
A (GG)stubborn and rebellious generation,
A generation that (GH)did not [by]prepare its heart
And whose spirit was not (GI)faithful to God.

The sons of Ephraim [bz]were (GJ)archers equipped with bows,
Yet (GK)they turned back on the day of battle.
10 They (GL)did not keep the covenant of God
And refused to (GM)walk in His Law;
11 They (GN)forgot His deeds
And His [ca]miracles that He had shown them.
12 (GO)He performed wonders before their fathers
In the land of Egypt, in the (GP)field of Zoan.
13 He (GQ)divided the sea and caused them to pass through,
And He made the waters stand (GR)up like a heap.
14 Then He led them with the cloud by (GS)day
And all the night with a (GT)light of fire.
15 He (GU)split the rocks in the wilderness
And gave them plenty to drink like the ocean depths.
16 He (GV)brought forth streams from the rock
And made waters run down like rivers.

17 Yet they still continued to sin against Him,
To (GW)rebel against the Most High in the desert.
18 And in their heart they (GX)put God to the test
By asking for (GY)food [cb]that suited their taste.
19 Then they spoke against God;
They said, “(GZ)Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?
20 Behold, He (HA)struck the rock so that waters gushed out,
And streams were overflowing;
Can He also provide bread?
Will He prepare (HB)meat for His people?”

21 Therefore the Lord heard and [cc]was (HC)full of wrath;
And a fire was kindled against Jacob,
And anger also mounted against Israel,
22 Because they (HD)did not believe in God
And did not trust in His salvation.
23 Yet He commanded the clouds above
And (HE)opened the doors of heaven;
24 He (HF)rained down manna upon them to eat,
And gave them [cd](HG)food from heaven.
25 Man ate the bread of [ce]angels;
He sent them [cf]food [cg](HH)in abundance.
26 He (HI)made the east wind blow in the sky
And by His [ch]power He directed the south wind.
27 When He rained meat upon them like the dust,
Even (HJ)winged fowl like the sand of the seas,
28 He let them fall in the midst of [ci]their camp,
All around their dwellings.
29 So they (HK)ate and were well filled,
And He [cj]satisfied their longing.
30 [ck]Yet before they had abandoned their longing,
(HL)While their food was in their mouths,
31 The (HM)anger of God rose against them
And killed [cl]some of their (HN)strongest ones,
And [cm]subdued the choice men of Israel.
32 In spite of all this they (HO)still sinned
And (HP)did not believe in His wonderful works.
33 So He brought (HQ)their days to an end in futility,
And their years to an end in sudden terror.

34 When He killed them, then they (HR)sought Him,
And they returned and searched (HS)diligently for God;
35 And they remembered that God was their (HT)rock,
And the Most High God their (HU)Redeemer.
36 But they (HV)flattered Him with their mouth
And (HW)lied to Him with their tongue.
37 For their heart was not (HX)steadfast toward Him,
Nor were they faithful with His covenant.
38 But He, being (HY)compassionate, [cn](HZ)forgave their wrongdoing and did not destroy them;
And often He [co](IA)restrained His anger
And did not stir up all His wrath.
39 So (IB)He remembered that they were only (IC)flesh,
A [cp](ID)wind that passes and does not return.

40 How often they (IE)rebelled against Him in the wilderness
And (IF)grieved Him in the (IG)desert!
41 Again and again they [cq](IH)tempted God,
And pained the (II)Holy One of Israel.
42 They (IJ)did not remember (IK)His [cr]power,
The day when He (IL)redeemed them from the enemy,
43 When He performed His (IM)signs in Egypt
And His (IN)marvels in the field of Zoan,
44 And (IO)turned their rivers to blood,
And their streams, so that they could not drink.
45 He sent swarms of (IP)flies among them that devoured them,
And (IQ)frogs that destroyed them.
46 He also gave their crops to the (IR)grasshopper
And the product of their labor to the (IS)locust.
47 He [cs]destroyed their vines with (IT)hailstones
And their sycamore trees with frost.
48 He also turned their (IU)cattle over to the hailstones,
And their herds to bolts of lightning.
49 He (IV)sent His burning anger upon them,
Fury and indignation and trouble,
A band of [ct]destroying angels.
50 He leveled a path for His anger;
He did not spare their souls from death,
But (IW)turned their lives over to the plague,
51 And (IX)struck all the firstborn in Egypt,
The (IY)first and best of their vigor in the tents of (IZ)Ham.
52 But He (JA)led His own people out like sheep,
And guided them in the wilderness (JB)like a flock;
53 He led them (JC)safely, so that they did not fear;
But (JD)the sea engulfed their enemies.

54 So (JE)He brought them to His holy [cu]land,
To this [cv](JF)hill country (JG)which His right hand had gained.
55 He also (JH)drove out the nations from them
And (JI)apportioned them as an inheritance by measurement,
And had the tribes of Israel dwell in their tents.
56 Yet they [cw](JJ)tempted and (JK)rebelled against the Most High God
And did not keep His testimonies,
57 But turned back and (JL)acted treacherously like their fathers;
They (JM)turned aside like a treacherous bow.
58 For they (JN)provoked Him with their (JO)high places
And (JP)moved Him to jealousy with their (JQ)carved images.
59 When God heard them, He [cx]was filled with (JR)wrath
And He utterly (JS)rejected Israel;
60 So that He (JT)abandoned the (JU)dwelling place at Shiloh,
The tent [cy]which He had pitched among people,
61 And He gave up His (JV)strength to captivity
And His glory (JW)into the hand of the enemy.
62 He also (JX)turned His people over to the sword,
And [cz]was filled with wrath at His inheritance.
63 (JY)Fire devoured [da]His young men,
And [db]His (JZ)virgins had no wedding songs.
64 [dc]His (KA)priests fell by the sword,
And [dd]His (KB)widows could not weep.

65 Then the Lord (KC)awoke as if from sleep,
Like a (KD)warrior [de]overcome by wine.
66 He [df](KE)drove His adversaries backward;
He put on them an everlasting disgrace.
67 He also (KF)rejected the tent of Joseph,
And did not choose the tribe of Ephraim,
68 But chose the tribe of Judah,
Mount (KG)Zion, which He loved.
69 And He (KH)built His sanctuary like the heights,
Like the earth which He has established forever.
70 He also (KI)chose His servant David
And took him from the sheepfolds;
71 From [dg](KJ)the care of the [dh]ewes (KK)with nursing lambs He brought him
To (KL)shepherd Jacob His people,
And Israel (KM)His inheritance.
72 So he shepherded them according to the (KN)integrity of his heart,
And guided them with his skillful hands.

Grieving over the Destruction of Jerusalem, and Prayer for Help.

A Psalm of Asaph.

79 God, the (KO)nations have [di]invaded (KP)Your inheritance;
They have defiled Your (KQ)holy temple;
They have (KR)laid Jerusalem in ruins.
They have given the (KS)dead bodies of Your servants to the birds of the sky as food,
The flesh of Your godly ones to the animals of the earth.
They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem;
And there was (KT)no one to bury them.
We have become a (KU)disgrace before our neighbors,
An object of derision and ridicule to those around us.
(KV)How long, Lord? Will You be angry forever?
Will Your (KW)jealousy (KX)burn like fire?
(KY)Pour out Your wrath upon the nations which (KZ)do not know You,
And upon the kingdoms which (LA)do not call upon Your name.
For they have (LB)devoured Jacob
And (LC)laid waste his [dj]settlement.

(LD)Do not [dk]hold us responsible for [dl]the guilty deeds of our forefathers;
Let Your compassion come quickly to (LE)meet us,
For we have (LF)become very low.
(LG)Help us, God of our salvation, for the glory of (LH)Your name;
And save us and [dm](LI)forgive our sins (LJ)for the sake of Your name.
10 (LK)Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?”
Let (LL)vengeance for the blood of Your servants which has been shed
Be known among the nations in our sight.
11 Let (LM)the groaning of the prisoner come before You;
According to the greatness of Your [dn]power, let [do]those who are (LN)doomed to die remain.
12 And return to our neighbors (LO)seven times as much (LP)into their lap
Their (LQ)taunts with which they have taunted You, Lord.
13 So we Your people and the (LR)sheep of Your [dp]pasture
Will (LS)give thanks to You forever;
To all generations we will (LT)tell of Your praise.

God Implored to Rescue His People from Their Calamities.

For the music director; set to [dq]El Shoshannim; [dr]Eduth. A Psalm of Asaph.

80 Listen, (LU)Shepherd of Israel,
Who leads (LV)Joseph like a flock;
You who (LW)are enthroned above the cherubim, shine forth!
Before (LX)Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, (LY)awaken Your power,
And come to save us!
God, (LZ)restore us
And (MA)make Your face shine upon us, [ds]and we will be saved.

(MB)Lord God of armies,
(MC)How long will You [dt]be angry with the prayer of Your people?
You have fed them with the (MD)bread of tears,
And You have made them drink tears in [du]large measure.
You make us [dv]an object of contention (ME)to our neighbors,
And our enemies laugh among themselves.
God of armies, restore us
And make Your face shine upon us, [dw]and we will be saved.

You removed a (MF)vine from Egypt;
You (MG)drove out the [dx]nations and (MH)planted it.
You (MI)cleared the ground before it,
And it (MJ)took deep root and filled the land.
10 The mountains were covered with its shadow,
And [dy]the cedars of God with its (MK)branches.
11 It was sending out its branches (ML)to the sea
And its shoots to the Euphrates River.
12 Why have You (MM)broken down its [dz]hedges,
So that all who pass that way pick its fruit?
13 A boar from the forest (MN)eats it away,
And whatever moves in the field feeds on it.

14 God of armies, do (MO)turn back;
(MP)Look down from heaven and see, and take care of this vine,
15 The [ea](MQ)shoot which Your right hand has planted,
And of the [eb]son whom You have [ec]strengthened for Yourself.
16 It is (MR)burned with fire, it is cut down;
They perish from the (MS)rebuke of Your face.
17 Let (MT)Your hand be upon the man of Your right hand,
Upon the son of man whom You (MU)made strong for Yourself.
18 Then we will not (MV)turn back from You;
(MW)Revive us, and we will call upon Your name.
19 Lord God of armies, (MX)restore us;
Make Your face shine upon us, [ed]and we will be saved.

God’s Goodness and Israel’s Waywardness.

For the music director; [ee]on the Gittith. A Psalm of Asaph.

81 (MY)Sing for joy to God our (MZ)strength;
Shout (NA)joyfully to the (NB)God of Jacob.
Raise a song, strike (NC)the tambourine,
The sweet sounding (ND)lyre with the (NE)harp.
Blow the trumpet at the (NF)new moon,
At the full moon, on our (NG)feast day.
For it is a statute for Israel,
An ordinance of the God of Jacob.
He established it as a testimony in Joseph
When he [ef](NH)went throughout the land of Egypt.
I heard a (NI)language I did not know:

“I [eg](NJ)relieved his shoulder of the burden,
His hands were freed from the [eh]basket.
You (NK)called in trouble and I rescued you;
I (NL)answered you in the hiding place of thunder;
I put you to the test at the (NM)waters of Meribah. Selah
(NN)Hear, My people, and I will admonish you;
Israel, if you (NO)would listen to Me!
There shall be no (NP)strange god among you;
Nor shall you worship a foreign god.
10 (NQ)I, the Lord, am your God,
Who brought you up from the land of Egypt;
(NR)Open your mouth wide and I will (NS)fill it.

11 “But My people (NT)did not listen to My voice,
And Israel did not [ei]obey Me.
12 So I (NU)gave [ej]them over to the stubbornness of their heart,
To walk by their own plans.
13 Oh that My people (NV)would listen to Me,
That Israel would (NW)walk in My ways!
14 I would quickly (NX)subdue their enemies
And (NY)turn My hand against their adversaries.
15 (NZ)Those who hate the Lord would (OA)pretend to obey Him,
And their time of punishment would be forever.
16 [ek]But I would feed you with the [el](OB)finest of the wheat,
And with (OC)honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

Unjust Judgments Rebuked.

A Psalm of Asaph.

82 God takes His (OD)position in [em]His assembly;
He (OE)judges in the midst of the (OF)gods.
How long will you (OG)judge unjustly
And (OH)show partiality to the wicked? Selah
(OI)Vindicate the weak and fatherless;
Do justice to the afflicted and destitute.
(OJ)Rescue the weak and needy;
Save them from the hand of the wicked.

They (OK)do not know nor do they understand;
They (OL)walk around in darkness;
All the (OM)foundations of the earth are shaken.
[en]I (ON)said, “You are gods,
And all of you are (OO)sons of the Most High.
Nevertheless (OP)you will die like men,
And fall like (OQ)one of the princes.”
(OR)Arise, God, (OS)judge the earth!
For You (OT)possess all the nations.

God Implored to Confound His Enemies.

A Song, a Psalm of Asaph.

83 God, (OU)do not remain quiet;
(OV)Do not be silent and, God, do not be still.
For behold, Your enemies (OW)make an uproar,
And (OX)those who hate You have [eo](OY)exalted themselves.
They (OZ)make shrewd plans against Your people,
And [ep]conspire together against (PA)Your [eq]treasured ones.
They have said, “Come, and (PB)let’s wipe them out [er]as a nation,
So that the (PC)name of Israel will no longer be remembered.”
For they have [es](PD)conspired together with one mind;
They make a covenant against You:
The tents of (PE)Edom and the (PF)Ishmaelites,
(PG)Moab and the (PH)Hagrites;
(PI)Gebal, (PJ)Ammon, and (PK)Amalek,
(PL)Philistia with the inhabitants of (PM)Tyre;
(PN)Assyria also has joined them;
They have become [et]a help to the (PO)children of Lot. Selah

Deal with them (PP)as with Midian,
As (PQ)with Sisera and Jabin at the river of Kishon,
10 Who were destroyed at En-dor,
Who (PR)became like dung for the ground.
11 Make their nobles like (PS)Oreb and Zeeb,
And all their leaders like (PT)Zebah and Zalmunna,
12 Who said, “(PU)Let’s possess for ourselves
The (PV)pastures of God.”

13 My God, make them like the [eu](PW)whirling dust,
Like (PX)chaff before the wind.
14 Like (PY)fire that burns the forest,
And like a flame that (PZ)sets the mountains on fire,
15 So pursue them (QA)with Your heavy gale,
And terrify them with Your storm.
16 (QB)Fill their faces with dishonor,
So that they will seek Your name, Lord.
17 May they be (QC)ashamed and dismayed forever,
And may they be humiliated and perish,
18 So that they will (QD)know that (QE)You alone, whose name is the Lord,
Are the (QF)Most High over all the earth.

Longing for the Temple Worship.

For the music director; [ev]on the Gittith. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

84 How lovely are Your (QG)dwelling places,
Lord of armies!
My (QH)soul longed and even yearned for the courtyards of the Lord;
My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the (QI)living God.
The bird also has found a house,
And the swallow a nest for herself, where she may put her young:
Your (QJ)altars, Lord of armies,
(QK)My King and my God.
(QL)Blessed are those who dwell in Your house!
They are (QM)ever praising You. Selah

Blessed is the person whose (QN)strength is in You,
In [ew]whose heart are the (QO)roads to Zion!
Passing through the Valley of [ex]Baca they make it a [ey]spring;
The (QP)early rain also covers it with blessings.
They (QQ)go from strength to strength,
[ez]Every one of them (QR)appears before God in Zion.

(QS)Lord God of armies, hear my prayer;
Listen, (QT)God of Jacob! Selah
See our (QU)shield, God,
And look at the face of (QV)Your anointed.
10 For (QW)a day in Your courtyards is better than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God
Than live in the tents of wickedness.
11 For the Lord God is (QX)a sun and (QY)shield;
The Lord gives grace and (QZ)glory;
(RA)He withholds no good thing [fa]from those who walk with integrity.
12 Lord of armies,
(RB)Blessed is the person who trusts in You!

Prayer for God’s Mercy upon the Nation.

For the music director. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

85 Lord, You showed (RC)favor to Your land;
You (RD)restored the fortunes of Jacob.
You (RE)forgave the guilt of Your people;
You (RF)covered all their sin. Selah
You (RG)withdrew all Your fury;
You (RH)turned away from Your burning anger.

(RI)Restore us, God of our salvation,
And (RJ)cause Your indignation toward us to cease.
Will (RK)You be angry with us forever?
Will You prolong Your anger to [fb]all generations?
Will You not [fc](RL)revive us again,
So that Your people may (RM)rejoice in You?
Show us Your mercy, Lord,
And (RN)grant us Your salvation.

[fd]I will hear what God the Lord will say;
For He will (RO)speak peace to His people, to His godly ones;
And may they not (RP)turn back to [fe]foolishness.
Certainly (RQ)His salvation is near to those who [ff]fear Him,
That (RR)glory may dwell in our land.
10 (RS)Graciousness and [fg]truth have met together;
(RT)Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
11 [fh]Truth (RU)sprouts from the earth,
And righteousness looks down from heaven.
12 Indeed, (RV)the Lord will give what is good,
And our (RW)land will yield its produce.
13 (RX)Righteousness will go before Him
And will make His footsteps into a way.

Pleading and Trust.

A Prayer of David.

86 (RY)Incline Your ear, Lord, and answer me;
For I am (RZ)afflicted and needy.
(SA)Protect my [fi]soul, for I am (SB)godly;
You my God, save Your servant who (SC)trusts in You.
Be (SD)gracious to me, Lord,
For (SE)I call upon You all day long.
Make the soul of Your servant joyful,
For to You, Lord, (SF)I lift up my soul.
For You, Lord, are (SG)good, and (SH)ready to forgive,
And (SI)abundant in mercy to all who call upon You.
(SJ)Listen, Lord, to my prayer;
And give Your attention to the sound of my pleading!
On (SK)the day of my trouble I will call upon You,
For (SL)You will answer me.
There is (SM)no one like You among the gods, Lord,
Nor are there any works (SN)like Yours.
(SO)All nations whom You have made will come and worship before You, Lord,
And they will glorify Your name.
10 For You are (SP)great, and you (SQ)do [fj]wondrous deeds;
You alone (SR)are God.

11 (SS)Teach me Your way, Lord;
I will walk in Your truth;
(ST)Unite my heart to fear Your name.
12 I will (SU)give thanks to You, Lord my God, with all my heart,
And I will glorify Your name forever.
13 For Your graciousness toward me is great,
And You have (SV)saved my soul from the [fk]depths of [fl]Sheol.

14 God, arrogant men have (SW)risen up against me,
And a gang of violent men have sought my [fm]life,
And they have not set You before them.
15 But You, Lord, are a (SX)compassionate and gracious God,
Slow to anger and abundant in mercy and [fn]truth.
16 (SY)Turn to me, and be gracious to me;
(SZ)Grant Your strength to Your servant,
And save the (TA)son of Your maidservant.
17 (TB)Show me a sign of good,
That those who hate me may (TC)see it and be ashamed,
Because You, Lord, (TD)have helped me and comforted me.

The Privileges of Citizenship in Zion.

A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A Song.

87 His (TE)foundation is in the holy mountains.
The Lord (TF)loves the gates of Zion
More than all the other dwelling places of Jacob.
(TG)Glorious things are spoken of you,
(TH)City of God. Selah
“I shall mention [fo](TI)Rahab and Babylon [fp]among those who know Me;
Behold, Philistia and (TJ)Tyre with [fq](TK)Cush:
‘This one was born there.’”
But of Zion it will be said, “This one and that one were born in her”;
And the Most High Himself will (TL)establish her.
The Lord will count when He (TM)registers the peoples,
“This one was born there.” Selah
Then those who (TN)sing as well as those who [fr](TO)play the flutes will say,
“All my (TP)springs of joy are in you.”

A Petition to Be Saved from Death.

A Song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. For the music director; according to Mahalath Leannoth. A [fs]Maskil of Heman [ft]the Ezrahite.

88 Lord, the (TQ)God of my salvation,
I have (TR)cried out by day and in the night before You.
Let my prayer (TS)come before You;
(TT)Incline Your ear to my cry!
For my (TU)soul has [fu]had enough troubles,
And (TV)my life has approached [fv]Sheol.
I am counted among those who (TW)go down to the pit;
I have become like a man (TX)without strength,
[fw]Abandoned (TY)among the dead,
Like the slain who lie in the grave,
Whom You no longer remember,
And they are (TZ)cut off from Your hand.
You have put me in (UA)the lowest pit,
In (UB)dark places, in the (UC)depths.
Your wrath (UD)has rested upon me,
And You have afflicted me with (UE)all Your waves. Selah
You have removed (UF)my acquaintances far from me;
You have made me an [fx](UG)object of loathing to them;
I am (UH)shut up and cannot go out.
My (UI)eye grows dim from misery;
I have (UJ)called upon You every day, Lord;
I have (UK)spread out my [fy]hands to You.

10 Will You perform wonders for the dead?
Or will (UL)the departed spirits rise and praise You? Selah
11 Will Your graciousness be declared in the grave,
Your faithfulness in [fz]Abaddon?
12 Will Your wonders be made known in the (UM)darkness?
And Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

13 But I, Lord, have cried out (UN)to You for help,
And (UO)in the morning my prayer comes before You.
14 Lord, why (UP)do You reject my soul?
Why do You (UQ)hide Your face from me?
15 I was miserable and (UR)about to die from my youth on;
I suffer (US)Your terrors; I grow weary.
16 Your (UT)burning anger has passed over me;
Your terrors have [ga](UU)destroyed me.
17 They have (UV)surrounded me (UW)like water all day long;
They have (UX)encircled me altogether.
18 You have removed (UY)lover and friend far from me;
My acquaintances are in a hiding place.

The Lords Covenant with David and Israel’s Afflictions.

A [gb]Maskil of [gc]Ethan [gd]the Ezrahite.

89 I will (UZ)sing of the graciousness of the Lord forever;
To all generations I will (VA)make Your (VB)faithfulness known with my mouth.
For I have said, “(VC)Graciousness will be built up forever;
In the heavens You will establish Your (VD)faithfulness.”
“I have made a covenant with (VE)My chosen;
I have (VF)sworn to My servant David,
I will establish your [ge](VG)descendants forever
And build up your (VH)throne to all generations.” Selah

The (VI)heavens will praise Your wonders, Lord;
Your faithfulness also (VJ)in the assembly of the (VK)holy ones.
For (VL)who in the skies is comparable to the Lord?
Who among the [gf](VM)sons of the mighty is like the Lord,
A God (VN)greatly feared in the council of the (VO)holy ones,
And (VP)awesome above all those who are around Him?
Lord God of armies, (VQ)who is like You, mighty [gg]Lord?
Your faithfulness also surrounds You.
You rule the surging of the sea;
When its waves rise, You (VR)calm them.
10 You Yourself crushed [gh](VS)Rahab like one who is slain;
You (VT)scattered Your enemies with [gi]Your mighty arm.

11 The (VU)heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours;
The (VV)world and [gj]all it contains, You have established them.
12 The (VW)north and the south, You have created them;
(VX)Tabor and (VY)Hermon (VZ)shout for joy at Your name.
13 You have [gk]a strong arm;
Your hand is mighty, Your (WA)right hand is exalted.
14 (WB)Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne;
(WC)Mercy and [gl]truth go before You.
15 Blessed are the people who know the [gm](WD)joyful sound!
Lord, they walk in the (WE)light of Your face.
16 In (WF)Your name they rejoice all the day,
And by Your righteousness they are exalted.
17 For You are the glory of (WG)their strength,
And by Your favor [gn]our (WH)horn is exalted.
18 For our (WI)shield belongs to the Lord,
[go]And our king to the (WJ)Holy One of Israel.

19 [gp]Once You spoke in vision to Your godly [gq]ones,
And said, “I have [gr]given help to one who is (WK)mighty;
I have exalted one (WL)chosen from the people.
20 I have (WM)found My servant David;
With My holy (WN)oil I have anointed him,
21 With whom (WO)My hand will be established;
My arm also will (WP)strengthen him.
22 The enemy will not [gs]deceive him,
Nor will the [gt](WQ)son of wickedness afflict him.
23 But I will (WR)crush his adversaries before him,
And strike those who hate him.
24 My (WS)faithfulness and My favor will be with him,
And in My name his (WT)horn will be exalted.
25 I will also place his hand (WU)on the sea,
And his right hand on the rivers.
26 He will call to Me, ‘You are (WV)my Father,
My God, and the (WW)rock of my salvation.’
27 I will also make him My (WX)firstborn,
The (WY)highest of the kings of the earth.
28 I will maintain My (WZ)favor for him forever,
And My (XA)covenant shall be confirmed to him.
29 So I will establish his [gu](XB)descendants forever,
And his (XC)throne (XD)as the days of heaven.

30 “If his sons (XE)abandon My Law
And do not walk in My judgments,
31 If they [gv]violate My statutes
And do not keep My commandments,
32 Then I will punish their wrongdoing with the (XF)rod,
And their guilt with [gw]afflictions.
33 But I will not [gx]withhold (XG)My favor from him,
Nor deal falsely in My faithfulness.
34 I will not [gy]violate My (XH)covenant,
Nor will I (XI)alter [gz]the utterance of My lips.
35 [ha]Once I have (XJ)sworn by My holiness;
I will not lie to David.
36 His [hb](XK)descendants shall endure forever,
And his (XL)throne (XM)as the sun before Me.
37 It shall be established forever (XN)like the moon,
And a (XO)witness in the sky is faithful.” Selah

38 But You have (XP)rejected and (XQ)refused,
You have been full of wrath [hc]against Your (XR)anointed.
39 You have [hd](XS)repudiated the covenant of Your servant;
You have (XT)profaned (XU)his crown [he]in the dust.
40 You have (XV)broken down all his walls;
You have (XW)brought his strongholds to ruin.
41 (XX)All who pass along the way plunder him;
He has become a (XY)disgrace to his neighbors.
42 You have (XZ)exalted the right hand of his adversaries;
You have (YA)made all his enemies rejoice.
43 You also turn back the edge of his sword,
And have (YB)not made him stand in battle.
44 You have put an end to his [hf](YC)splendor
And cast his throne to the ground.
45 You have (YD)shortened the days of his youth;
You have (YE)covered him with shame. Selah

46 (YF)How long, Lord?
Will You hide Yourself forever?
Will Your (YG)wrath burn like fire?
47 (YH)Remember [hg]what my lifespan is;
For what (YI)futility [hh]You have created all the sons of mankind!
48 What man can live and not (YJ)see death?
Can he (YK)save his soul from the [hi]power of [hj]Sheol? Selah

49 Where are Your former acts of favor, Lord,
Which You (YL)swore to David in Your faithfulness?
50 Remember, Lord, the (YM)taunt against Your servants;
[hk]How I carry in my heart the taunts of all the many peoples,
51 With which (YN)Your enemies have taunted, Lord,
With which they have taunted the footsteps of (YO)Your anointed.

52 (YP)Blessed be the Lord forever!
Amen and Amen.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 73:2 Lit were caused to slip
  2. Psalm 73:3 Or boasters
  3. Psalm 73:5 Lit in the trouble of people
  4. Psalm 73:7 Lit goes forth
  5. Psalm 73:8 Or they speak in wickedness; From on high they speak of oppression
  6. Psalm 73:9 Or in
  7. Psalm 73:9 Lit walks
  8. Psalm 73:10 Or His
  9. Psalm 73:11 Lit in
  10. Psalm 73:13 Or cleansed my heart
  11. Psalm 73:14 Lit my punishment
  12. Psalm 73:16 Lit labor, trouble
  13. Psalm 73:17 Lit sanctuaries
  14. Psalm 73:18 Or deception
  15. Psalm 73:19 Lit become a desolation
  16. Psalm 73:21 Lit in my kidneys
  17. Psalm 73:22 Lit with You
  18. Psalm 73:24 Or with honor
  19. Psalm 73:26 Lit rock
  20. Psalm 73:27 Lit go to a whoring from
  21. Psalm 73:28 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord
  22. Psalm 74 Title Possibly, Contemplative; or Didactic; or Skillful Psalm
  23. Psalm 74:1 Or pasturing
  24. Psalm 74:3 Lit Lift Your footsteps
  25. Psalm 74:3 Lit ruins ruined for all time
  26. Psalm 74:5 Lit is known as
  27. Psalm 74:5 Lit thicket
  28. Psalm 74:6 Lit altogether
  29. Psalm 74:7 Lit set on fire
  30. Psalm 74:7 Or To the ground they...
  31. Psalm 74:8 Lit altogether
  32. Psalm 74:8 Or oppress
  33. Psalm 74:13 Or You Yourself
  34. Psalm 74:13 Or You Yourself
  35. Psalm 74:13 Lit on
  36. Psalm 74:14 Or You Yourself
  37. Psalm 74:14 Or sea monster
  38. Psalm 74:14 Lit people
  39. Psalm 74:15 Or You Yourself
  40. Psalm 74:15 Or You Yourself
  41. Psalm 74:16 Or You Yourself
  42. Psalm 74:16 Or luminary
  43. Psalm 74:17 Or You Yourself
  44. Psalm 74:17 Or You Yourself
  45. Psalm 74:17 Or formed
  46. Psalm 74:18 Or that the enemy has taunted the Lord
  47. Psalm 74:22 Lit Your reproach from the foolish man
  48. Psalm 75 Title Lit Do Not Destroy
  49. Psalm 75:3 Lit totter
  50. Psalm 75:5 Lit neck
  51. Psalm 75:6 Or mountainous desert
  52. Psalm 75:8 Lit full of mixture
  53. Psalm 75:10 Heb I
  54. Psalm 76:2 Lit shelter
  55. Psalm 76:3 Lit fiery shafts of the bow
  56. Psalm 76:3 Lit battle
  57. Psalm 76:4 Or Majestic from the mountains
  58. Psalm 76:5 Lit They slumbered their sleep
  59. Psalm 76:5 Lit men of might have found their hands
  60. Psalm 76:6 Lit chariot
  61. Psalm 76:7 Lit since Your anger
  62. Psalm 76:10 Lit wraths
  63. Psalm 76:12 Lit awesome to
  64. Psalm 77 Title 1 Chr 16:41
  65. Psalm 77:6 Lit searched
  66. Psalm 77:8 Lit word
  67. Psalm 77:8 Lit from generation to generation
  68. Psalm 77:9 Lit shut up
  69. Psalm 77:10 Or infirmity, the years of the right hand of the Most High
  70. Psalm 77:11 Heb Yah
  71. Psalm 77:15 Lit arm
  72. Psalm 77:17 Lit gave a sound
  73. Psalm 77:17 Lit went
  74. Psalm 78 Title Possibly, Contemplative; or Didactic; or Skillful Psalm
  75. Psalm 78:1 Or law, teaching
  76. Psalm 78:5 Lit make them known
  77. Psalm 78:8 Or put right
  78. Psalm 78:9 Or being
  79. Psalm 78:11 Or wonderful works
  80. Psalm 78:18 Lit to their soul
  81. Psalm 78:21 Or became infuriated
  82. Psalm 78:24 Lit grain
  83. Psalm 78:25 Lit mighty ones
  84. Psalm 78:25 Or provision
  85. Psalm 78:25 Lit to satiation
  86. Psalm 78:26 Or strength
  87. Psalm 78:28 Lit His
  88. Psalm 78:29 Lit brought to them their
  89. Psalm 78:30 Lit They did not turn away from their
  90. Psalm 78:31 Lit among their fat ones
  91. Psalm 78:31 Lit caused to bow down
  92. Psalm 78:38 Lit covered over, atoned for
  93. Psalm 78:38 Lit turned away
  94. Psalm 78:39 Or breath
  95. Psalm 78:41 Or put God to the test
  96. Psalm 78:42 Lit hand
  97. Psalm 78:47 Lit was killing
  98. Psalm 78:49 Lit angels of evil ones; another reading is evil angels
  99. Psalm 78:54 Lit border, territory
  100. Psalm 78:54 Or mountain
  101. Psalm 78:56 Or put to the test
  102. Psalm 78:59 Or became infuriated
  103. Psalm 78:60 Some ancient versions where He dwelt
  104. Psalm 78:62 Or became infuriated
  105. Psalm 78:63 Or their
  106. Psalm 78:63 Or their
  107. Psalm 78:64 Or their
  108. Psalm 78:64 Or their
  109. Psalm 78:65 Or sobered up from
  110. Psalm 78:66 Lit struck
  111. Psalm 78:71 Lit following
  112. Psalm 78:71 Lit ewes that wet-nurse, He
  113. Psalm 79:1 Lit come into
  114. Psalm 79:7 Lit pasture
  115. Psalm 79:8 Lit remember against us
  116. Psalm 79:8 Or our former sins
  117. Psalm 79:9 Lit cover over, atone for
  118. Psalm 79:11 Lit arm
  119. Psalm 79:11 Lit the sons of death
  120. Psalm 79:13 Or pasturing
  121. Psalm 80 Title Possibly, to the Lilies
  122. Psalm 80 Title Lit A testimony
  123. Psalm 80:3 Or that we may
  124. Psalm 80:4 Lit smoke against
  125. Psalm 80:5 Lit a third part of a
  126. Psalm 80:6 Lit strife to
  127. Psalm 80:7 Or that we may
  128. Psalm 80:8 Or Gentiles
  129. Psalm 80:10 Or its boughs are like the cedars of God
  130. Psalm 80:12 Or walls, fences
  131. Psalm 80:15 Or root
  132. Psalm 80:15 Or figuratively: branch
  133. Psalm 80:15 Or secured
  134. Psalm 80:19 Or that we may
  135. Psalm 81 Title Or according to
  136. Psalm 81:5 Lit went out over
  137. Psalm 81:6 Lit removed his shoulder from
  138. Psalm 81:6 Or brick load
  139. Psalm 81:11 Lit yield to
  140. Psalm 81:12 Lit him
  141. Psalm 81:16 Lit He would feed him
  142. Psalm 81:16 Lit fat
  143. Psalm 82:1 Lit the assembly of God
  144. Psalm 82:6 Lit I, on my part
  145. Psalm 83:2 Lit lifted up the head
  146. Psalm 83:3 Or consult
  147. Psalm 83:3 Or hidden ones
  148. Psalm 83:4 Lit from
  149. Psalm 83:5 Or consulted
  150. Psalm 83:8 Lit an arm
  151. Psalm 83:13 Or tumbleweed
  152. Psalm 84 Title Or according to
  153. Psalm 84:5 Lit their
  154. Psalm 84:6 Prob. Weeping; or Balsam-shrubs
  155. Psalm 84:6 Or place of springs
  156. Psalm 84:7 Some ancient versions The God of gods will be seen in Zion
  157. Psalm 84:11 Lit with regard to
  158. Psalm 85:5 Lit generation and generation
  159. Psalm 85:6 Or bring to life
  160. Psalm 85:8 Or Let me hear
  161. Psalm 85:8 I.e., foolish self-confidence
  162. Psalm 85:9 Or revere
  163. Psalm 85:10 Or faithfulness
  164. Psalm 85:11 Or Faithfulness
  165. Psalm 86:2 Or life
  166. Psalm 86:10 Or miracles
  167. Psalm 86:13 Lit lowest Sheol
  168. Psalm 86:13 I.e., the netherworld
  169. Psalm 86:14 Lit soul
  170. Psalm 86:15 Or faithfulness
  171. Psalm 87:4 I.e., Egypt, as a sea monster; not to be confused with Rahab in Joshua 2
  172. Psalm 87:4 Or as
  173. Psalm 87:4 Or Ethiopia
  174. Psalm 87:7 Or dance
  175. Psalm 88 Title Possibly, Contemplative; or Didactic; or Skillful Psalm
  176. Psalm 88 Title 1 Kin 4:31; 1 Chr 2:6; Ps 89: title
  177. Psalm 88:3 Or been satisfied with
  178. Psalm 88:3 I.e., the netherworld
  179. Psalm 88:5 Lit A freed one among the dead
  180. Psalm 88:8 Lit abomination to them
  181. Psalm 88:9 Lit palms
  182. Psalm 88:11 I.e., place of destruction
  183. Psalm 88:16 Or silenced
  184. Psalm 89 Title Possibly, Contemplative; or Didactic; or Skillful Psalm
  185. Psalm 89 Title 1 Kin 4:31
  186. Psalm 89 Title Ps 88: title
  187. Psalm 89:4 Lit seed
  188. Psalm 89:6 Or sons of gods
  189. Psalm 89:8 Heb Yah
  190. Psalm 89:10 I.e., Egypt, as a sea monster; not to be confused with Rahab in Joshua 2
  191. Psalm 89:10 Lit the arm of Your might
  192. Psalm 89:11 Lit its fullness
  193. Psalm 89:13 Lit an arm with strength
  194. Psalm 89:14 Or faithfulness
  195. Psalm 89:15 Or blast of the trumpet, shout of joy
  196. Psalm 89:17 Another reading is You exalt our horn
  197. Psalm 89:18 Or Even to the Holy One of Israel our King
  198. Psalm 89:19 Or At that time
  199. Psalm 89:19 Some mss one
  200. Psalm 89:19 Lit placed help upon
  201. Psalm 89:22 Or exact usury from him
  202. Psalm 89:22 Or wicked man
  203. Psalm 89:29 Lit seed
  204. Psalm 89:31 Lit profane
  205. Psalm 89:32 Or plagues
  206. Psalm 89:33 Lit break
  207. Psalm 89:34 Lit profane
  208. Psalm 89:34 Lit that which goes forth
  209. Psalm 89:35 Or One thing
  210. Psalm 89:36 Lit seed
  211. Psalm 89:38 Lit with
  212. Psalm 89:39 I.e., scornfully rejected
  213. Psalm 89:39 Lit to the ground
  214. Psalm 89:44 Lit clearness, luster
  215. Psalm 89:47 Lit of what duration I am
  216. Psalm 89:47 Or have You...mankind?
  217. Psalm 89:48 Lit hand
  218. Psalm 89:48 I.e., the netherworld
  219. Psalm 89:50 Lit My bearing in my chest

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