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Psalm 35-38
New International Reader's Version
Psalm 35-38
New International Reader's Version
A psalm of David.
35 Lord, stand up against those who stand up against me.
Fight against those who fight against me.
2 Pick up your shield and your armor.
Rise up and help me.
3 Get your spear and javelin ready to fight
against those who are chasing me.
Say to me, “I will save you.”
4 Let those who are trying to kill me
be brought down in dishonor.
Let those who plan to destroy me
be turned back in terror.
5 Let them be like straw blowing in the wind,
while the angel of the Lord drives them away.
6 Let their path be dark and slippery,
while the angel of the Lord chases them.
7 They set a trap for me without any reason.
Without any reason they dug a pit to catch me.
8 So let them be destroyed without warning.
Let the trap they set for me catch them.
Let them fall into the pit and be destroyed.
9 Then I will be full of joy because of what the Lord has done.
I will be glad because he has saved me.
10 My whole being will cry out,
“Who is like you, Lord?
You save poor people from those who are too strong for them.
You save poor and needy people from those who rob them.”
11 Mean people come forward to speak against me.
They ask me things I don’t know anything about.
12 They pay me back with evil, even though I was good to them.
They leave me like someone who has lost a family member.
13 But when they were sick, I put on the clothing of sadness.
I made myself humble by going without food.
My prayers for them weren’t always answered.
14 So I went around crying
as if I were mourning over my friend or relative.
I bowed my head in sadness
as if I were weeping over my mother.
15 But when I tripped and fell, they were all very happy.
Attackers gathered against me when I didn’t even know it.
They kept on telling lies about me.
16 Like ungodly people, they were mean and made fun of me.
They ground their teeth at me in hate.
17 Lord, how much longer will you just look on?
Save me from their deadly attacks.
Save the only life I have.
Save me from these lions.
18 I will give you thanks in the whole community.
Among all your people I will praise you.
19 Don’t let those who are my enemies without any reason
laugh at me and make fun of me.
Don’t let those who hate me without any reason
wink at me with an evil purpose.
20 They don’t speak words of peace.
They make up false charges
against those who live quietly in the land.
21 They make fun of me.
They say, “With our own eyes we have seen what you did.”
22 Lord, you have seen this. Don’t be silent.
Lord, don’t be far away from me.
23 Wake up! Rise up to help me!
My God and Lord, stand up for me.
24 Lord my God, when you hand down your sentence, let it be in my favor.
You always do what is right.
Don’t let my enemies have the joy of seeing me fall.
25 Don’t let them think, “That’s exactly what we wanted!”
Don’t let them say, “We have swallowed him up.”
26 Let all those who laugh at me because I’m in trouble
be ashamed and bewildered.
Let all who think they are better than I am
put on shame and dishonor as if they were clothes.
27 Let those who are happy when my name is cleared
shout with joy and gladness.
Let them always say, “May the Lord be honored.
He is pleased when everything goes well with the one who serves him.”
28 You always do what is right. My tongue will speak about it
and praise you all day long.
For the director of music. A psalm of David, the servant of the Lord.
36 I have a message from God in my heart.
It is about the evil ways of anyone who sins.
They don’t have any respect for God.
2 They praise themselves so much
that they can’t see their sin or hate it.
3 Their mouths speak words that are evil and false.
They do not act wisely or do what is good.
4 Even as they lie in bed they make evil plans.
They commit themselves to a sinful way of life.
They never say no to what is wrong.
5 Lord, your love is as high as the heavens.
Your faithful love reaches up to the skies.
6 Your holiness is as great as the height of the highest mountains.
You are as honest as the oceans are deep.
Lord, you keep people and animals safe.
7 How priceless your faithful love is!
People find safety in the shadow of your wings.
8 They eat well because there is more than enough in your house.
You let them drink from your river that flows with good things.
9 You have the fountain of life.
We are filled with light because you give us light.
10 Keep on loving those who know you.
Keep on doing right to those whose hearts are honest.
11 Don’t let the feet of those who are proud step on me.
Don’t let the hands of those who are evil drive me away.
12 See how those who do evil have fallen!
They are thrown down and can’t get up.
A psalm of David.
37 Don’t be upset because of sinful people.
Don’t be jealous of those who do wrong.
2 Like grass, they will soon dry up.
Like green plants, they will soon die.
3 Trust in the Lord and do good.
Then you will live in the land and enjoy its food.
4 Find your delight in the Lord.
Then he will give you everything your heart really wants.
5 Commit your life to the Lord.
Here is what he will do if you trust in him.
6 He will make the reward for your godly life shine like the dawn.
He will make the proof of your honest life shine like the sun at noon.
7 Be still and wait patiently for the Lord to act.
Don’t be upset when other people succeed.
Don’t be upset when they carry out their evil plans.
8 Turn away from anger and don’t give in to wrath.
Don’t be upset, because that only leads to evil.
9 Sinful people will be destroyed.
But those who put their hope in the Lord will receive the land.
10 In a little while, there won’t be any more sinners.
Even if you look for them, you won’t be able to find them.
11 But those who are free of pride will be given the land.
They will enjoy peace and success.
12 Sinful people make plans to harm those who do what is right.
They grind their teeth at them.
13 But the Lord laughs at those who do evil.
He knows the day is coming when he will judge them.
14 Sinners pull out their swords.
They bend their bows.
They want to kill poor and needy people.
They plan to murder those who lead honest lives.
15 But they will be killed by their own swords.
Their own bows will be broken.
16 Those who do what is right may have very little.
But it’s better than the wealth of many sinners.
17 The power of those who are evil will be broken.
But the Lord takes good care of those who do what is right.
18 Those who are without blame spend their days in the Lord’s care.
What he has given them will last forever.
19 When trouble comes to them, they will have what they need.
When there is little food in the land, they will still have plenty.
20 But sinful people will die.
The Lord’s enemies may be like flowers in the field.
But they will be swallowed up.
They will disappear like smoke.
21 Sinful people borrow and don’t pay back.
But those who are godly give freely to others.
22 The Lord will give the land to those he blesses.
But he will destroy those he curses.
23 The Lord makes secure the footsteps
of the person who delights in him,
24 Even if that person trips, he won’t fall.
The Lord’s hand takes good care of him.
25 I once was young, and now I’m old.
But I’ve never seen godly people deserted.
I’ve never seen their children begging for bread.
26 The godly are always giving and lending freely.
Their children will be a blessing.
27 Turn away from evil and do good.
Then you will live in the land forever.
28 The Lord loves those who are honest.
He will not desert those who are faithful to him.
Those who do wrong will be completely destroyed.
The children of sinners will die.
29 Those who do what is right will be given the land.
They will live in it forever.
30 The mouths of those who do what is right speak words of wisdom.
They say what is honest.
31 God’s law is in their hearts.
Their feet do not slip.
32 Those who are evil hide and wait for godly people.
They want to kill them.
33 But the Lord will not leave the godly in their power.
He will not let them be found guilty when they are brought into court.
34 Put your hope in the Lord.
Live as he wants you to.
He will honor you by giving you the land.
When sinners are destroyed, you will see it.
35 I saw a mean and sinful person.
He was doing well, like a green tree in its own land.
36 But he soon passed away and was gone.
Even though I looked for him, I couldn’t find him.
37 Consider honest people who are without blame.
People who seek peace will have a tomorrow.
38 But all sinners will be destroyed.
Those who are evil won’t have a tomorrow.
39 The Lord saves those who do what is right.
He is their place of safety when trouble comes.
40 The Lord helps them and saves them.
He saves them from sinful people
because they go to him for safety.
A psalm of David. A prayer.
38 Lord, don’t correct me when you are angry.
Don’t punish me when you are burning with anger.
2 You have wounded me with your arrows.
You have struck me with your hand.
3 Because of your anger, my whole body is sick.
Because of my sin, I’m not healthy.
4 My guilt has become too much for me.
It is a load too heavy to carry.
5 My wounds are ugly. They stink.
I’ve been foolish. I have sinned.
6 I am bent over. I’ve been brought very low.
All day long I go around weeping.
7 My back is filled with burning pain.
My whole body is sick.
8 I am weak and feel as if I’ve been broken in pieces.
I groan because of the great pain in my heart.
9 Lord, everything I really want is clearly known to you.
You always hear me when I sigh.
10 My heart pounds, and my strength is gone.
My eyes can hardly see.
11 My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds.
My neighbors stay far away from me.
12 Those who are trying to kill me set their traps.
Those who want to harm me talk about destroying me.
All day long they make their plans and tell their lies.
13 Like a deaf person, I can’t hear.
Like someone who can’t speak, I can’t say a word.
14 I’m like someone who doesn’t hear.
I’m like someone whose mouth can’t make any reply.
15 Lord, I wait for you to help me.
Lord my God, I know you will answer.
16 I said, “Don’t let my enemies have the joy of seeing me fall.
Don’t let them brag when my feet slip.”
17 I am about to fall.
My pain never leaves me.
18 I admit that I have done wrong.
I am troubled by my sin.
19 Though I have done nothing to cause it, many people have become my enemies.
They hate me without any reason.
20 They pay me back with evil, even though I was good to them.
They bring charges against me, though I try only to do what is good.
21 Lord, don’t desert me.
My God, don’t be far away from me.
22 Lord my Savior,
come quickly to help me.
Psalm 35-38
New International Version
Psalm 35-38
New International Version
Psalm 35
Of David.
1 Contend,(A) Lord, with those who contend with me;
fight(B) against those who fight against me.
2 Take up shield(C) and armor;
arise(D) and come to my aid.(E)
3 Brandish spear(F) and javelin[a](G)
against those who pursue me.
Say to me,
“I am your salvation.(H)”
4 May those who seek my life(I)
be disgraced(J) and put to shame;(K)
may those who plot my ruin
be turned back(L) in dismay.
5 May they be like chaff(M) before the wind,
with the angel of the Lord(N) driving them away;
6 may their path be dark and slippery,
with the angel of the Lord pursuing them.
7 Since they hid their net(O) for me without cause(P)
and without cause dug a pit(Q) for me,
8 may ruin overtake them by surprise—(R)
may the net they hid entangle them,
may they fall into the pit,(S) to their ruin.
9 Then my soul will rejoice(T) in the Lord
and delight in his salvation.(U)
10 My whole being will exclaim,
“Who is like you,(V) Lord?
You rescue the poor from those too strong(W) for them,
the poor and needy(X) from those who rob them.”
11 Ruthless witnesses(Y) come forward;
they question me on things I know nothing about.
12 They repay me evil for good(Z)
and leave me like one bereaved.
13 Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth(AA)
and humbled myself with fasting.(AB)
When my prayers returned to me unanswered,
14 I went about mourning(AC)
as though for my friend or brother.
I bowed my head in grief
as though weeping for my mother.
15 But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee;(AD)
assailants gathered against me without my knowledge.
They slandered(AE) me without ceasing.
16 Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked;[b](AF)
they gnashed their teeth(AG) at me.
17 How long,(AH) Lord, will you look on?
Rescue me from their ravages,
my precious life(AI) from these lions.(AJ)
18 I will give you thanks in the great assembly;(AK)
among the throngs(AL) I will praise you.(AM)
19 Do not let those gloat over me
who are my enemies(AN) without cause;
do not let those who hate me without reason(AO)
maliciously wink the eye.(AP)
20 They do not speak peaceably,
but devise false accusations(AQ)
against those who live quietly in the land.
21 They sneer(AR) at me and say, “Aha! Aha!(AS)
With our own eyes we have seen it.”
22 Lord, you have seen(AT) this; do not be silent.
Do not be far(AU) from me, Lord.
23 Awake,(AV) and rise(AW) to my defense!
Contend(AX) for me, my God and Lord.
24 Vindicate me in your righteousness, Lord my God;
do not let them gloat(AY) over me.
25 Do not let them think, “Aha,(AZ) just what we wanted!”
or say, “We have swallowed him up.”(BA)
26 May all who gloat(BB) over my distress(BC)
be put to shame(BD) and confusion;
may all who exalt themselves over me(BE)
be clothed with shame and disgrace.
27 May those who delight in my vindication(BF)
shout for joy(BG) and gladness;
may they always say, “The Lord be exalted,
who delights(BH) in the well-being of his servant.”(BI)
Psalm 36[c]
For the director of music. Of David the servant of the Lord.
1 I have a message from God in my heart
concerning the sinfulness of the wicked:[d](BL)
There is no fear(BM) of God
before their eyes.(BN)
2 In their own eyes they flatter themselves
too much to detect or hate their sin.(BO)
3 The words of their mouths(BP) are wicked and deceitful;(BQ)
they fail to act wisely(BR) or do good.(BS)
4 Even on their beds they plot evil;(BT)
they commit themselves to a sinful course(BU)
and do not reject what is wrong.(BV)
5 Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,
your faithfulness(BW) to the skies.(BX)
6 Your righteousness(BY) is like the highest mountains,(BZ)
your justice like the great deep.(CA)
You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.(CB)
7 How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!(CC)
People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.(CD)
8 They feast on the abundance of your house;(CE)
you give them drink from your river(CF) of delights.(CG)
9 For with you is the fountain of life;(CH)
in your light(CI) we see light.
10 Continue your love(CJ) to those who know you,(CK)
your righteousness to the upright in heart.(CL)
11 May the foot of the proud not come against me,
nor the hand of the wicked(CM) drive me away.
12 See how the evildoers lie fallen—
thrown down, not able to rise!(CN)
Psalm 37[e]
Of David.
1 Do not fret because of those who are evil
or be envious(CO) of those who do wrong;(CP)
2 for like the grass they will soon wither,(CQ)
like green plants they will soon die away.(CR)
3 Trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land(CS) and enjoy safe pasture.(CT)
4 Take delight(CU) in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.(CV)
5 Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him(CW) and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteous reward(CX) shine like the dawn,(CY)
your vindication like the noonday sun.
7 Be still(CZ) before the Lord
and wait patiently(DA) for him;
do not fret(DB) when people succeed in their ways,(DC)
when they carry out their wicked schemes.(DD)
8 Refrain from anger(DE) and turn from wrath;
do not fret(DF)—it leads only to evil.
9 For those who are evil will be destroyed,(DG)
but those who hope(DH) in the Lord will inherit the land.(DI)
10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more;(DJ)
though you look for them, they will not be found.
11 But the meek will inherit the land(DK)
and enjoy peace and prosperity.(DL)
12 The wicked plot(DM) against the righteous
and gnash their teeth(DN) at them;
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
for he knows their day is coming.(DO)
14 The wicked draw the sword(DP)
and bend the bow(DQ)
to bring down the poor and needy,(DR)
to slay those whose ways are upright.
15 But their swords will pierce their own hearts,(DS)
and their bows will be broken.(DT)
16 Better the little that the righteous have
than the wealth(DU) of many wicked;
17 for the power of the wicked will be broken,(DV)
but the Lord upholds(DW) the righteous.
18 The blameless spend their days under the Lord’s care,(DX)
and their inheritance will endure forever.(DY)
19 In times of disaster they will not wither;
in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.
20 But the wicked will perish:(DZ)
Though the Lord’s enemies are like the flowers of the field,
they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke.(EA)
21 The wicked borrow and do not repay,
but the righteous give generously;(EB)
22 those the Lord blesses will inherit the land,
but those he curses(EC) will be destroyed.(ED)
23 The Lord makes firm the steps(EE)
of the one who delights(EF) in him;
24 though he may stumble, he will not fall,(EG)
for the Lord upholds(EH) him with his hand.
25 I was young and now I am old,
yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken(EI)
or their children begging(EJ) bread.
26 They are always generous and lend freely;(EK)
their children will be a blessing.[f](EL)
27 Turn from evil and do good;(EM)
then you will dwell in the land forever.(EN)
28 For the Lord loves the just
and will not forsake his faithful ones.(EO)
Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed[g];
the offspring of the wicked will perish.(EP)
29 The righteous will inherit the land(EQ)
and dwell in it forever.(ER)
30 The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom,(ES)
and their tongues speak what is just.
31 The law of their God is in their hearts;(ET)
their feet do not slip.(EU)
32 The wicked lie in wait(EV) for the righteous,(EW)
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(EX) when brought to trial.(EY)
34 Hope in the Lord(EZ)
and keep his way.(FA)
He will exalt you to inherit the land;
when the wicked are destroyed,(FB) you will see(FC) it.
35 I have seen a wicked and ruthless man
flourishing(FD) 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.(FE)
37 Consider the blameless,(FF) observe the upright;(FG)
a future awaits those who seek peace.[h](FH)
38 But all sinners(FI) will be destroyed;(FJ)
there will be no future[i] for the wicked.(FK)
39 The salvation(FL) of the righteous comes from the Lord;
he is their stronghold in time of trouble.(FM)
40 The Lord helps(FN) them and delivers(FO) them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves(FP) them,
because they take refuge(FQ) in him.
Psalm 38[j]
A psalm of David. A petition.
1 Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger
or discipline me in your wrath.(FR)
2 Your arrows(FS) have pierced me,
and your hand has come down on me.
3 Because of your wrath there is no health(FT) in my body;
there is no soundness in my bones(FU) because of my sin.
4 My guilt has overwhelmed(FV) me
like a burden too heavy to bear.(FW)
5 My wounds(FX) fester and are loathsome(FY)
because of my sinful folly.(FZ)
6 I am bowed down(GA) and brought very low;
all day long I go about mourning.(GB)
7 My back is filled with searing pain;(GC)
there is no health(GD) in my body.
8 I am feeble and utterly crushed;(GE)
I groan(GF) in anguish of heart.(GG)
9 All my longings(GH) lie open before you, Lord;
my sighing(GI) is not hidden from you.
10 My heart pounds,(GJ) my strength fails(GK) me;
even the light has gone from my eyes.(GL)
11 My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds;(GM)
my neighbors stay far away.
12 Those who want to kill me set their traps,(GN)
those who would harm me talk of my ruin;(GO)
all day long they scheme and lie.(GP)
13 I am like the deaf, who cannot hear,(GQ)
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(GR) for you;
you will answer,(GS) Lord my God.
16 For I said, “Do not let them gloat(GT)
or exalt themselves over me when my feet slip.”(GU)
17 For I am about to fall,(GV)
and my pain(GW) is ever with me.
18 I confess my iniquity;(GX)
I am troubled by my sin.
19 Many have become my enemies(GY) without cause[k];
those who hate me(GZ) without reason(HA) are numerous.
20 Those who repay my good with evil(HB)
lodge accusations(HC) against me,
though I seek only to do what is good.
Footnotes
- Psalm 35:3 Or and block the way
- Psalm 35:16 Septuagint; Hebrew may mean Like an ungodly circle of mockers,
- Psalm 36:1 In Hebrew texts 36:1-12 is numbered 36:2-13.
- Psalm 36:1 Or A message from God: The transgression of the wicked / resides in their hearts.
- Psalm 37:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the stanzas of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
- 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
- Psalm 37:28 See Septuagint; Hebrew They will be protected forever
- Psalm 37:37 Or upright; / those who seek peace will have posterity
- Psalm 37:38 Or posterity
- Psalm 38:1 In Hebrew texts 38:1-22 is numbered 38:2-23.
- Psalm 38:19 One Dead Sea Scrolls manuscript; Masoretic Text my vigorous enemies
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