Psalm 117-133

New American Standard Bible

A Psalm of Praise.

117 ^(A)Praise the Lord, all nations;
Sing His praises, all peoples!
²For His ^(B)mercy toward us is ^[a]great,
And the ^[b]^(C)truth of the Lord is everlasting.
^[c]Praise ^[d]the Lord!

Thanksgiving for the Lord’s Saving Goodness.

118 ^(D)Give thanks to the Lord, for ^(E)He is good;
For His mercy is everlasting.
²Let ^(F)Israel say,
“His mercy is everlasting.”
³Oh let the ^(G)house of Aaron say,
“His mercy is everlasting.”
⁴Let those ^(H)who ^[e]fear the Lord say,
“His mercy is everlasting.”

⁵From my ^(I)distress I called upon ^[f]the Lord;
^[g]The Lord answered me and ^(J)put me in an open space.
⁶The Lord is ^(K)for me; I will ^(L)not fear;
^(M)What can man do to me?
⁷The Lord is for me ^(N)among those who help me;
Therefore I will ^(O)look with satisfaction on those who hate me.
⁸It is ^(P)better to take refuge in the Lord
Than to trust in people.
⁹It is ^(Q)better to take refuge in the Lord
Than to trust in noblemen.

¹⁰All nations ^(R)surrounded me;
In the name of the Lord I will certainly ^(S)fend them off.
¹¹They ^(T)surrounded me, yes, they surrounded me;
In the name of the Lord I will certainly fend them off.
¹²They surrounded me ^(U)like bees;
They were extinguished like a ^(V)fire of thorn bushes;
In the name of the Lord I will certainly fend them off.
¹³You ^(W)pushed me violently so that I ^[h]was falling,
But the Lord ^(X)helped me.
¹⁴^[i]^(Y)The Lord is my strength and song,
And He has become ^(Z)my salvation.

¹⁵The sound of ^(AA)joyful shouting and salvation is in the tents of the righteous;
The ^(AB)right hand of the Lord performs valiantly.
¹⁶The ^(AC)right hand of the Lord is exalted;
The right hand of the Lord performs valiantly.
¹⁷I ^(AD)will not die, but live,
And ^(AE)tell of the works of ^[j]the Lord.
¹⁸^[k]The Lord has ^(AF)disciplined me severely,
But He has ^(AG)not turned me over to death.

¹⁹^(AH)Open the gates of righteousness to me;
I will enter through them, I will give thanks to ^[l]the Lord.
²⁰This is the gate of the Lord;
The ^(AI)righteous will enter through it.
²¹I will give thanks to You, for You have ^(AJ)answered me,
And You have ^(AK)become my salvation.

²²A ^(AL)stone which the builders rejected
Has become the ^[m]chief cornerstone.
²³This came about from the Lord;
It is marvelous in our eyes.
²⁴This is the day which the Lord has made;
Let’s ^(AM)rejoice and be glad in it.
²⁵Please, O Lord, ^(AN)do save us;
Please, O Lord, do send ^(AO)prosperity!
²⁶^(AP)Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord;
We have ^(AQ)blessed you from the house of the Lord.
²⁷^(AR)The Lord is God, and He has given us ^(AS)light;
Bind the festival sacrifice ^[n]to the ^(AT)horns of the altar with cords.
²⁸^(AU)You are my God, and I give thanks to You;
You are my God, ^(AV)I exalt You.
²⁹^(AW)Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
For His mercy is everlasting.

Meditations and Prayers Relating to the Law of God.

Aleph

119 Blessed are those whose way is ^[o]^(AX)blameless,
Who ^(AY)walk in the Law of the Lord.
²Blessed are those who ^(AZ)comply with His ^[p]testimonies,
And ^(BA)seek Him ^(BB)with all their heart.
³They also ^(BC)do no injustice;
They walk in His ways.
⁴You have ^[q]^(BD)ordained Your precepts,
^[r]That we are to keep them diligently.
⁵Oh that my ^(BE)ways may be established
To ^(BF)keep Your statutes!
⁶Then I ^(BG)will not be ashamed
When I look at all Your commandments.
⁷I will ^(BH)give thanks to You with uprightness of heart,
When I learn Your righteous judgments.
⁸I will keep Your statutes;
Do not utterly ^(BI)abandon me!

Beth

⁹How can a young man keep his way pure?
By ^(BJ)keeping it according to Your word.
¹⁰With ^(BK)all my heart I have sought You;
Do not let me ^(BL)wander from Your commandments.
¹¹I have ^(BM)treasured Your word in my heart,
So that I may not sin against You.
¹²Blessed are You, Lord;
^(BN)Teach me Your statutes.
¹³With my lips I have ^(BO)told of
All the ^(BP)ordinances of Your mouth.
¹⁴I have ^(BQ)rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies,
^[s]As much as in all riches.
¹⁵I will ^(BR)meditate on Your precepts
And ^[t]regard ^(BS)Your ways.
¹⁶I shall ^[u]^(BT)delight in Your statutes;
I will ^(BU)not forget Your word.

Gimel

¹⁷^(BV)Deal generously with Your servant,
That I may live and keep Your word.
¹⁸Open my eyes, that I may behold
Wonderful things from Your Law.
¹⁹I am a ^(BW)stranger on the earth;
Do not hide Your commandments from me.
²⁰My soul is crushed ^[v]^(BX)with longing
For Your ordinances at all times.
²¹You ^(BY)rebuke the arrogant, ^[w]the ^(BZ)cursed,
Who ^(CA)wander from Your commandments.
²²^(CB)Take disgrace and contempt away from me,
For I ^(CC)comply with Your testimonies.
²³Even though ^(CD)rulers sit and speak against me,
Your servant ^(CE)meditates on Your statutes.
²⁴Your testimonies also are my ^(CF)delight;
They are ^[x]my advisers.

Daleth

²⁵My ^(CG)soul clings to the dust;
^(CH)Revive me ^(CI)according to Your word.
²⁶I have told of my ways, and You have answered me;
^(CJ)Teach me Your statutes.
²⁷Make me understand the way of Your precepts,
And I will ^(CK)meditate on Your wonders.
²⁸My ^(CL)soul ^[y]weeps because of grief;
^(CM)Strengthen me according to Your word.
²⁹Remove the false way from me,
And graciously grant me Your Law.
³⁰I have chosen the faithful way;
I have ^[z]placed Your judgments before me.
³¹I ^(CN)cling to Your testimonies;
Lord, do not put me to shame!
³²I shall run the way of Your commandments,
For You will ^(CO)enlarge my heart.

He

³³^(CP)Teach me, the way of Your statutes, Lord,
And I shall comply with it to the end.
³⁴^(CQ)Give me understanding, so that I may ^(CR)comply with Your Law
And keep it ^(CS)with all my heart.
³⁵Make me walk in the ^(CT)path of Your commandments,
For I ^(CU)delight in it.
³⁶^(CV)Incline my heart to Your testimonies,
And not to ^(CW)dishonest gain.
³⁷Turn my ^(CX)eyes away from looking at what is worthless,
And ^(CY)revive me in Your ways.
³⁸^(CZ)Establish Your ^[aa]word to Your servant
^[ab]As that which produces reverence for You.
³⁹^(DA)Take away my disgrace which I dread,
For Your judgments are good.
⁴⁰Behold, I ^(DB)long for Your precepts;
Revive me through Your righteousness.

Vav

⁴¹May Your ^(DC)favor also come to me, Lord,
Your salvation ^(DD)according to Your ^[ac]word;
⁴²So that I will have an ^(DE)answer for one who ^(DF)taunts me,
For I trust in Your word.
⁴³And do not take the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,
For I ^[ad]^(DG)wait for Your judgments.
⁴⁴So I will ^(DH)keep Your Law continually,
Forever and ever.
⁴⁵And I will ^(DI)walk ^[ae]at liberty,
For I ^(DJ)seek Your precepts.
⁴⁶I will also speak of Your testimonies ^(DK)before kings
And shall not be ashamed.
⁴⁷I will ^(DL)delight in Your commandments,
Which I ^(DM)love.
⁴⁸And I shall lift up my hands to Your commandments,
Which I ^(DN)love;
And I will ^(DO)meditate on Your statutes.

Zayin

⁴⁹Remember the word to Your servant,
^[af]In which You have made me hope.
⁵⁰This is my ^(DP)comfort in my misery,
That Your word has ^[ag]revived me.
⁵¹The arrogant ^(DQ)utterly deride me,
Yet I do not ^(DR)turn aside from Your Law.
⁵²I have ^(DS)remembered Your judgments from ^[ah]of old, Lord,
And comfort myself.
⁵³Burning ^(DT)indignation has seized me because of the wicked,
Who ^(DU)abandon Your Law.
⁵⁴Your statutes are my songs
In the house of my ^(DV)pilgrimage.
⁵⁵Lord, I ^(DW)remember Your name ^(DX)in the night,
And keep Your Law.
⁵⁶This has become mine,
^[ai]That I ^(DY)comply with Your precepts.

Heth

⁵⁷The Lord is my ^(DZ)portion;
I have ^[aj]promised to ^(EA)keep Your words.
⁵⁸I ^(EB)sought Your favor ^(EC)with all my heart;
^(ED)Be gracious to me ^(EE)according to Your ^[ak]word.
⁵⁹I ^(EF)considered my ways
And turned my feet to Your testimonies.
⁶⁰I hurried and did not delay
To keep Your commandments.
⁶¹The ^(EG)snares of the wicked have surrounded me,
But I have ^(EH)not forgotten Your Law.
⁶²At ^(EI)midnight I will rise to give thanks to You
Because of Your ^(EJ)righteous judgments.
⁶³I am a ^(EK)companion to all those who ^[al]fear You,
And to those who keep Your precepts.
⁶⁴^(EL)The earth is full of Your goodness, Lord;
^(EM)Teach me Your statutes.

Teth

⁶⁵You have treated Your servant well,
Lord, according to Your word.
⁶⁶Teach me good ^[am]^(EN)discernment and knowledge,
For I believe in Your commandments.
⁶⁷^(EO)Before I was afflicted I went astray,
But now I keep Your word.
⁶⁸You are ^(EP)good and You ^(EQ)do good;
^(ER)Teach me Your statutes.
⁶⁹The arrogant ^[an]have ^(ES)forged a lie against me;
With all my heart I will ^(ET)comply with Your precepts.
⁷⁰Their heart is ^(EU)insensitive, like fat,
But I ^(EV)delight in Your Law.
⁷¹It is ^(EW)good for me that I was afflicted,
So that I may learn Your statutes.
⁷²The ^(EX)Law of Your mouth is better to me
Than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

Yodh

⁷³^(EY)Your hands made me and ^[ao]fashioned me;
^(EZ)Give me understanding, so that I may learn Your commandments.
⁷⁴May those who ^[ap]fear You ^(FA)see me and be glad,
Because I ^[aq]^(FB)wait for Your word.
⁷⁵I know, Lord, that Your judgments are ^(FC)righteous,
And that You have afflicted me ^(FD)in faithfulness.
⁷⁶May Your favor ^[ar]comfort me,
According to Your ^[as]word to Your servant.
⁷⁷May ^(FE)Your compassion come to me so that I may live,
For Your Law is my ^(FF)delight.
⁷⁸May ^(FG)the arrogant be put to shame, because they lead me astray ^(FH)with a lie;
But I shall ^(FI)meditate on Your precepts.
⁷⁹May those who ^[at]fear You turn to me,
And those who know Your testimonies.
⁸⁰May my heart be ^[au]^(FJ)blameless in Your statutes,
So that I will not ^(FK)be ashamed.

Kaph

⁸¹My ^(FL)soul languishes for Your salvation;
I ^[av]^(FM)wait for Your word.
⁸²My ^(FN)eyes fail with longing for Your ^[aw]word,
^[ax]While I say, “When will You comfort me?”
⁸³Though I have ^(FO)become like a wineskin in the smoke,
I do ^(FP)not forget Your statutes.
⁸⁴How many are the ^(FQ)days of Your servant?
When will You ^(FR)execute judgment on those who persecute me?
⁸⁵The arrogant have ^(FS)dug pits for me,
People who are not in accord with Your Law.
⁸⁶All Your commandments are ^(FT)faithful;
They have ^(FU)persecuted me with a lie; ^(FV)help me!
⁸⁷They almost destroyed me on earth,
But as for me, I ^(FW)did not abandon Your precepts.
⁸⁸Revive me according to Your faithfulness,
So that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth.

Lamedh

⁸⁹^(FX)Forever, Lord,
Your word stands in heaven.
⁹⁰Your ^(FY)faithfulness continues ^[ay]throughout generations;
You ^(FZ)established the earth, and it ^(GA)stands.
⁹¹They stand this day by Your ^(GB)ordinances,
For ^(GC)all things are Your servants.
⁹²If Your Law had not been my ^(GD)delight,
Then I would have perished ^(GE)in my misery.
⁹³I will ^(GF)never forget Your precepts,
For by them You have ^[az]^(GG)revived me.
⁹⁴I am Yours, ^(GH)save me;
For I have ^(GI)sought Your precepts.
⁹⁵The wicked ^(GJ)wait for me to destroy me;
I will diligently consider Your testimonies.
⁹⁶I have seen ^[ba]a limit to all perfection;
Your commandment is exceedingly broad.

Mem

⁹⁷How I ^(GK)love Your Law!
It is my ^(GL)meditation all the day.
⁹⁸Your ^(GM)commandments make me wiser than my enemies,
For they are ever ^[bb]mine.
⁹⁹I have more insight than all my teachers,
For Your testimonies are my ^(GN)meditation.
¹⁰⁰I understand ^(GO)more than those who are old,
Because I have ^(GP)complied with Your precepts.
¹⁰¹I have ^(GQ)restrained my feet from every evil way,
So that I may keep Your word.
¹⁰²I have not ^(GR)turned aside from Your judgments,
For You Yourself have taught me.
¹⁰³How ^(GS)sweet are Your ^[bc]words to my ^[bd]taste!
Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
¹⁰⁴From Your precepts I ^(GT)get understanding;
Therefore I ^(GU)hate every false way.

Nun

¹⁰⁵Your word is a ^(GV)lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.
¹⁰⁶I have ^(GW)sworn and I will confirm it,
That I will keep Your righteous judgments.
¹⁰⁷I am exceedingly ^(GX)afflicted;
^[be]^(GY)Revive me, Lord, according to Your word.
¹⁰⁸Be pleased to accept the ^(GZ)^[bf]voluntary offerings of my mouth, Lord,
And ^(HA)teach me Your judgments.
¹⁰⁹My ^[bg]^(HB)life is continually ^[bh]in my hand,
Yet I do not ^(HC)forget Your Law.
¹¹⁰The wicked have ^(HD)set a ^[bi]trap for me,
Yet I have not ^(HE)wandered from Your precepts.
¹¹¹I have ^(HF)inherited Your testimonies forever,
For they are the ^(HG)joy of my heart.
¹¹²I have ^(HH)inclined my heart to perform Your statutes
Forever, even ^(HI)to the end.

Samekh

¹¹³I hate those who are ^(HJ)double-minded,
But I love Your ^(HK)Law.
¹¹⁴You are my ^(HL)hiding place and my ^(HM)shield;
I ^[bj]^(HN)wait for Your word.
¹¹⁵^(HO)Leave me, you evildoers,
So that I may ^(HP)comply with the commandments of my God.
¹¹⁶^(HQ)Sustain me according to Your ^[bk]word, that I may live;
And ^(HR)do not let me be ^[bl]ashamed of my hope.
¹¹⁷Sustain me so that I may be ^(HS)safe,
That I may ^(HT)have regard for Your statutes continually.
¹¹⁸You have ^[bm]rejected all those ^(HU)who stray from Your statutes,
For their deceitfulness is ^[bn]useless.
¹¹⁹You have ^[bo]removed all the wicked of the earth like ^[bp]^(HV)impurities;
Therefore I ^(HW)love Your testimonies.
¹²⁰My flesh ^[bq]^(HX)trembles from the fear of You,
And I am ^(HY)afraid of Your judgments.

Ayin

¹²¹I have ^(HZ)done justice and righteousness;
Do not leave me to my oppressors.
¹²²Be ^(IA)a guarantor for Your servant for good;
Do not let the arrogant ^(IB)oppress me.
¹²³My ^(IC)eyes fail with longing for Your salvation,
And for Your righteous ^[br]word.
¹²⁴Deal with Your servant ^(ID)according to Your graciousness,
And ^(IE)teach me Your statutes.
¹²⁵^(IF)I am Your servant; ^(IG)give me understanding,
So that I may know Your testimonies.
¹²⁶It is time for the Lord to ^(IH)act,
For they have broken Your Law.
¹²⁷Therefore I ^(II)love Your commandments
Above gold, yes, above pure gold.
¹²⁸Therefore I carefully follow all Your ^(IJ)precepts concerning everything,
I ^(IK)hate every false way.

Pe

¹²⁹Your testimonies are ^(IL)wonderful;
Therefore my soul ^(IM)complies with them.
¹³⁰The ^(IN)unfolding of Your words gives light;
It gives ^(IO)understanding to the simple.
¹³¹I ^(IP)opened my mouth wide and ^(IQ)panted,
For I ^(IR)longed for Your commandments.
¹³²^(IS)Turn to me and be gracious to me,
As is right for those who love Your name.
¹³³Establish my ^(IT)footsteps in Your ^[bs]word,
And do not let any ^[bt]wrongdoing ^(IU)have power over me.
¹³⁴^(IV)Redeem me from oppression by man,
So that I may keep Your precepts.
¹³⁵^(IW)Make Your face shine upon Your servant,
And ^(IX)teach me Your statutes.
¹³⁶My eyes ^[bu]shed ^(IY)streams of water,
Because they ^(IZ)do not keep Your Law.

Tsadhe

¹³⁷^(JA)You are righteous, Lord,
And Your judgments are right.
¹³⁸You have commanded Your testimonies in ^(JB)righteousness
And great ^(JC)faithfulness.
¹³⁹My ^(JD)zeal has ^[bv]consumed me,
Because my enemies have forgotten Your words.
¹⁴⁰Your ^(JE)word is very ^[bw]pure,
Therefore Your servant ^(JF)loves it.
¹⁴¹I am small and ^(JG)despised,
Yet I do not ^(JH)forget Your precepts.
¹⁴²Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,
And ^(JI)Your Law is truth.
¹⁴³Trouble and anguish have ^[bx]come upon me,
Yet Your commandments are my ^(JJ)delight.
¹⁴⁴Your ^(JK)testimonies are righteous forever;
^(JL)Give me understanding that I may live.

Qoph

¹⁴⁵I cried out ^(JM)with all my heart; answer me, Lord!
I will ^(JN)comply with Your statutes.
¹⁴⁶I cried to You; ^(JO)save me
And I shall keep Your testimonies.
¹⁴⁷I ^[by]^(JP)rise before dawn and cry for help;
I ^[bz]wait for Your words.
¹⁴⁸My eyes anticipate the ^(JQ)night watches,
So that I may ^(JR)meditate on Your ^[ca]word.
¹⁴⁹Hear my voice ^(JS)according to Your faithfulness;
^(JT)Revive me, Lord, according to Your judgments.
¹⁵⁰Those who follow after wickedness approach;
They are far from Your Law.
¹⁵¹You are ^(JU)near, Lord,
And all Your commandments are ^(JV)truth.
¹⁵²From long ago I have ^(JW)known from Your testimonies
That You have founded them ^(JX)forever.

Resh

¹⁵³^(JY)Look at my ^(JZ)affliction and rescue me,
For I have not ^(KA)forgotten Your Law.
¹⁵⁴^(KB)Plead my cause and ^(KC)redeem me;
Revive me according to Your ^[cb]word.
¹⁵⁵Salvation is ^(KD)far from the wicked,
For they ^(KE)do not seek Your statutes.
¹⁵⁶^[cc]^(KF)Great are Your mercies, Lord;
Revive me according to Your judgments.
¹⁵⁷Many are my ^(KG)persecutors and my enemies,
Yet I do not ^(KH)turn aside from Your testimonies.
¹⁵⁸I see the ^(KI)treacherous and ^(KJ)loathe them,
Because they do not keep Your word.
¹⁵⁹Consider how I ^(KK)love Your precepts;
^(KL)Revive me, Lord, according to Your faithfulness.
¹⁶⁰The ^(KM)sum of Your word is ^(KN)truth,
And every one of Your righteous judgments ^(KO)is everlasting.

Shin

¹⁶¹^(KP)Rulers persecute me without cause,
But my heart ^(KQ)stands in awe of Your words.
¹⁶²I ^(KR)rejoice at Your ^[cd]word,
Like one who ^(KS)finds great plunder.
¹⁶³I ^(KT)hate and loathe falsehood,
But I ^(KU)love Your Law.
¹⁶⁴Seven times a day I praise You
Because of Your ^(KV)righteous judgments.
¹⁶⁵Those who love Your Law have ^(KW)great peace,
And ^[ce]^(KX)nothing causes them to stumble.
¹⁶⁶I ^(KY)hope for Your salvation, Lord,
And do Your commandments.
¹⁶⁷My ^(KZ)soul keeps Your testimonies,
And I ^(LA)love them exceedingly.
¹⁶⁸I ^(LB)keep Your precepts and Your testimonies,
For all my ^(LC)ways are before You.

Tav

¹⁶⁹Let my ^(LD)cry ^[cf]come before You, Lord;
^(LE)Give me understanding ^(LF)according to Your word.
¹⁷⁰Let my ^(LG)pleading come before You;
^(LH)Save me according to Your ^[cg]word.
¹⁷¹Let my ^(LI)lips pour out praise,
For You ^(LJ)teach me Your statutes.
¹⁷²Let my ^(LK)tongue sing about Your ^[ch]word,
For all Your ^(LL)commandments are righteousness.
¹⁷³Let Your ^(LM)hand be ^[ci]ready to help me,
For I have ^(LN)chosen Your precepts.
¹⁷⁴I ^(LO)long for Your salvation, Lord,
And Your Law is my ^(LP)delight.
¹⁷⁵Let my ^(LQ)soul live that it may praise You,
And let Your ordinances help me.
¹⁷⁶I have ^(LR)wandered about like a lost sheep; search for Your servant,
For I do ^(LS)not forget Your commandments.

Prayer for Rescue from the Treacherous.

A Song of ^[cj]Ascents.

120 ^(LT)I cried to the Lord in my trouble,
And He answered me.
²Rescue my soul, Lord, from ^(LU)lying lips,
From a ^(LV)deceitful tongue.
³What will He give to you, and what more will He do to you,
You ^(LW)deceitful tongue?
⁴^(LX)Sharp arrows of the warrior,
With the burning ^(LY)coals of the broom tree!

⁵Woe to me, for I reside in ^(LZ)Meshech,
For I have settled among the ^(MA)tents of ^(MB)Kedar!
⁶Too long has my soul had its dwelling
With those who ^(MC)hate peace.
⁷I ^(MD)am for peace, but when I speak,
They are ^(ME)for war.

The Lord, the Keeper of Israel.

A Song of Ascents.

121 I will ^(MF)raise my eyes to ^(MG)the mountains;
From where will my help come?
²My ^(MH)help comes from the Lord,
Who ^(MI)made heaven and earth.
³He will not ^(MJ)allow your foot to slip;
He who ^(MK)watches over you will not slumber.
⁴Behold, He who watches over Israel
Will neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵The Lord is your ^[ck]^(ML)protector;
The Lord is your ^(MM)shade on your right hand.
⁶The ^(MN)sun will not ^[cl]beat down on you by day,
Nor the moon by night.
⁷The Lord will ^[cm]^(MO)protect you from all evil;
He will keep your soul.
⁸The Lord will ^[cn]^(MP)guard your going out and your coming in
^(MQ)From this time and forever.

Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem.

A Song of Ascents, of David.

122 I was glad when they said to me,
“Let’s ^(MR)go to the house of the Lord.”
²Our feet are standing
Within your ^(MS)gates, Jerusalem,
³Jerusalem, that has been ^(MT)built
As a city that is ^(MU)firmly joined together;
⁴To which the tribes ^(MV)go up, the tribes of ^[co]the Lord—
^[cp]An ordinance for Israel—
To give thanks to the name of the Lord.
⁵For ^(MW)thrones were set there for judgment,
The thrones of the house of David.

⁶Pray for the ^(MX)peace of Jerusalem:
“May they prosper who ^(MY)love you.
⁷May peace be within your ^(MZ)walls,
And prosperity within your ^(NA)palaces.”
⁸For the sake of my ^(NB)brothers and my friends,
I will now say, “^(NC)May peace be within you.”
⁹For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
I will ^(ND)seek your good.

Prayer for the Lord’s Help.

A Song of Ascents.

123 To You I have ^(NE)raised my eyes,
You who ^(NF)are enthroned in the heavens!
²Behold, as the eyes of ^(NG)servants look to the hand of their master,
As the eyes of a female servant to the hand of her mistress,
So our ^(NH)eyes look to the Lord our God,
Until He is gracious to us.

³^(NI)Be gracious to us, Lord, be gracious to us,
For we have had much more than enough of ^(NJ)contempt.
⁴Our soul has had much more than enough
Of the ^(NK)scoffing of ^(NL)those who are at ease,
And with the ^(NM)contempt of the proud.

Praise for Rescue from Enemies.

A Song of Ascents, of David.

124 “^(NN)Had it not been the Lord who was on our side,”
^(NO)Let Israel say,
²“Had it not been the Lord who was on our side
When people rose up against us,
³Then they would have ^(NP)swallowed us alive,
When their ^(NQ)anger was kindled against us;
⁴Then the ^(NR)waters would have flooded over us,
The stream would have ^[cq]swept over our souls;
⁵Then the ^(NS)raging waters would have ^[cr]swept over our souls.”

⁶Blessed be the Lord,
Who has not given us ^[cs]to be ^(NT)torn by their teeth.
⁷Our souls have ^(NU)escaped ^(NV)like a bird from the trapper’s ^(NW)snare;
The snare is broken and we have escaped.
⁸Our ^(NX)help is in the name of the Lord,
Who ^(NY)made heaven and earth.

The Lord Surrounds His People.

A Song of Ascents.

125 Those who trust in the Lord
Are like Mount Zion, which ^(NZ)cannot be moved but ^(OA)remains forever.
²As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
So ^(OB)the Lord surrounds His people
^(OC)From this time and forever.
³For the ^(OD)scepter of wickedness will not rest upon the ^[ct]land of the righteous,
So that the righteous ^(OE)will not extend their hands to do wrong.

⁴^(OF)Do good, Lord, to those who are good
And to those who are ^(OG)upright in their hearts.
⁵But as for those who ^(OH)turn aside to their ^(OI)crooked ways,
The Lord will lead them away with those who ^(OJ)practice injustice.
^(OK)Peace be upon Israel.

Thanksgiving for Return from Captivity.

A Song of Ascents.

126 When the Lord ^(OL)brought back ^[cu]the captives of Zion,
We were ^(OM)like those who dream.
²Then our ^(ON)mouth was filled with laughter
And our ^(OO)tongue with joyful shouting;
Then they said among the nations,
“The Lord has ^(OP)done great things for them.”
³The Lord has done great things for us;
We are ^(OQ)joyful.

⁴Restore our fortunes, Lord,
As the ^[cv]^(OR)streams in the ^[cw]South.
⁵Those who sow in ^(OS)tears shall harvest with ^(OT)joyful shouting.
⁶One who goes here and there weeping, carrying his bag of seed,
Shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.

Prosperity Comes from the Lord.

A Song of Ascents, of Solomon.

127 Unless the Lord ^(OU)builds a house,
They who build it labor in vain;
Unless the Lord ^(OV)guards a city,
The watchman stays awake in vain.
²It is futile for you to rise up early,
To ^[cx]stay up late,
To ^(OW)eat the bread of painful labor;
This is how He gives to His ^(OX)beloved ^(OY)sleep.

³Behold, ^(OZ)children are a ^[cy]gift of the Lord,
The ^(PA)fruit of the womb is a reward.
⁴Like arrows in the hand of a ^(PB)warrior,
So are the children of one’s youth.
⁵^(PC)Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them;
^(PD)They will not be ashamed
When they ^(PE)speak with their enemies ^(PF)in the gate.

Blessedness of the Fear of the Lord.

A Song of Ascents.

128 ^(PG)Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord,
Who ^(PH)walks in His ways.
²When you ^(PI)eat the ^(PJ)fruit of the labor of your hands,
You will be happy and ^(PK)it will go well for you.
³Your wife will be like a ^(PL)fruitful vine
^[cz]Within your house,
Your children like ^(PM)olive plants
Around your table.
⁴Behold, for so shall a man
Who fears the Lord be blessed.

⁵^(PN)The Lord bless you ^(PO)from Zion,
And may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life.
⁶Indeed, may you see your ^(PP)children’s children.
^(PQ)Peace be upon Israel!

Prayer for the Overthrow of Zion’s Enemies.

A Song of Ascents.

129 “^[da]Many times they have ^(PR)attacked me from my ^(PS)youth up,”
^(PT)Let Israel say,
²“^[db]Many times they have attacked me from my youth up;
Yet they have ^(PU)not prevailed against me.
³The plowers plowed upon my back;
They lengthened their furrows.”
⁴The Lord ^(PV)is righteous;
He has cut up the ^(PW)ropes of the wicked.

⁵May all who ^(PX)hate Zion
Be ^(PY)put to shame and turned backward;
⁶May they be like ^(PZ)grass upon the housetops,
Which withers before it ^[dc]grows up;
⁷With which the harvester does not fill his ^[dd]hand,
Or the binder of sheaves his ^[de]^(QA)arms;
⁸Nor do those who pass by say,
“The ^(QB)blessing of the Lord be upon you;
We bless you in the name of the Lord.”

Hope in the Lord’s Forgiving Love.

A Song of Ascents.

130 Out of the ^(QC)depths I have cried to You, Lord.
²Lord, ^(QD)hear my voice!
Let ^(QE)Your ears be attentive
To the ^(QF)sound of my pleadings.
³If You, ^[df]Lord, were to keep account of guilty deeds,
Lord, who could ^(QG)stand?
⁴But there is ^(QH)forgiveness with You,
So that You may be ^[dg]^(QI)revered.

⁵I wait for the Lord, my ^(QJ)soul waits,
And I ^[dh]wait ^(QK)for His word.
⁶My soul waits in hope for the Lord
More than the watchmen ^(QL)for the morning;
Yes, more than the watchmen for the morning.
⁷Israel, ^(QM)wait for the Lord;
For with the Lord there is ^(QN)mercy,
And with Him is ^(QO)abundant redemption.
⁸And He will ^(QP)redeem Israel
From all his guilty deeds.

Childlike Trust in the Lord.

A Song of Ascents, of David.

131 Lord, my heart is not ^(QQ)proud, nor my eyes ^(QR)arrogant;
Nor do I ^[di]involve myself in ^(QS)great matters,
Or in things ^(QT)too ^[dj]difficult for me.
²I have certainly ^(QU)soothed and quieted my soul;
Like a weaned ^(QV)child resting ^[dk]against his mother,
My soul ^[dl]within me is like a weaned child.
³Israel, ^(QW)wait for the Lord
^(QX)From this time on and forever.

Prayer for the Lord’s Blessing upon the Sanctuary.

A Song of Ascents.

132 Remember, Lord, in David’s behalf,
All ^(QY)his affliction;
²How he swore to the Lord
And vowed to ^(QZ)the Mighty One of Jacob,
³“I certainly will not ^[dm]enter ^(RA)my house,
Nor ^[dn]lie on my bed;
⁴I will not ^(RB)give sleep to my eyes
Or slumber to my eyelids,
⁵Until I find a ^(RC)place for the Lord,
^[do]A dwelling place for ^(RD)the Mighty One of Jacob.”

⁶Behold, we heard about it in ^(RE)Ephrathah,
We found it in the ^(RF)field of ^[dp]Jaar.
⁷Let’s go into His ^[dq]^(RG)dwelling place;
Let’s ^(RH)worship at His ^(RI)footstool.
⁸^(RJ)Arise, Lord, to Your ^(RK)resting place,
You and the ark of Your ^(RL)strength.
⁹May Your priests be ^(RM)clothed with righteousness,
And may Your ^(RN)godly ones sing for joy.

¹⁰For the sake of Your servant David,
Do not turn away the face of Your ^(RO)anointed.
¹¹The Lord has ^(RP)sworn to David
A truth from which He will not turn back:
“I will set upon your throne one ^(RQ)from the fruit of your body.
¹²If your sons will keep My covenant
And My testimony which I will teach them,
Their sons also will ^(RR)sit upon your throne forever.”

¹³For the Lord has ^(RS)chosen Zion;
He has ^(RT)desired it as His dwelling place.
¹⁴“This is My ^(RU)resting place forever;
Here I will ^(RV)dwell, for I have desired it.
¹⁵I will abundantly ^(RW)bless her food;
I will ^(RX)satisfy her needy with bread.
¹⁶I will also clothe her ^(RY)priests with salvation,
And her ^(RZ)godly ones will sing aloud for joy.
¹⁷I will make the ^(SA)horn of David spring forth there;
I have prepared a ^(SB)lamp for My anointed.
¹⁸I will ^(SC)clothe his enemies with shame,
But upon himself his ^(SD)crown will gleam.”

The Excellency of Brotherly Unity.

A Song of Ascents, of David.

133 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For ^(SE)brothers to live together in unity!
²It is like the precious ^(SF)oil on the head,
Running down upon the beard,
As on Aaron’s beard,
The oil which ran down upon the ^(SG)edge of his robes.
³It is like the ^(SH)dew of ^(SI)Hermon
Coming down upon the ^(SJ)mountains of Zion;
For the Lord ^(SK)commanded the blessing there—^(SL)life forever.