But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.

But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.

For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.

But the one who rules in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them.

Submit to God’s royal son, or he will become angry, and you will be destroyed in the midst of all your activities— for his anger flares up in an instant. But what joy for all who take refuge in him!

But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.

Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for I pray to no one but you.

But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Spread your protection over them, that all who love your name may be filled with joy.

But the Lord reigns forever, executing judgment from his throne.

But the needy will not be ignored forever; the hopes of the poor will not always be crushed.

But you see the trouble and grief they cause. You take note of it and punish them. The helpless put their trust in you. You defend the orphans.

But the Lord is in his holy Temple; the Lord still rules from heaven. He watches everyone closely, examining every person on earth.

But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me.

But no, all have turned away; all have become corrupt. No one does good, not a single one!

The wicked frustrate the plans of the oppressed, but the Lord will protect his people.

By the power of your hand, O Lord, destroy those who look to this world for their reward. But satisfy the hunger of your treasured ones. May their children have plenty, leaving an inheritance for their descendants.

But in my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to him reached his ears.

They attacked me at a moment when I was in distress, but the Lord supported me.

To the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.

You rescue the humble, but you humiliate the proud.

For who is God except the Lord? Who but our God is a solid rock?

They called for help, but no one came to their rescue. They even cried to the Lord, but he refused to answer.

Some nations boast of their chariots and horses, but we boast in the name of the Lord our God.

Those nations will fall down and collapse, but we will rise up and stand firm.

Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer. Every night I lift my voice, but I find no relief.

But I am a worm and not a man. I am scorned and despised by all!

For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy. He has not turned his back on them, but has listened to their cries for help.

No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced, but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others.

But I am not like that; I live with integrity. So redeem me and show me mercy.

For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.

You have not handed me over to my enemies but have set me in a safe place.

But I am trusting you, O Lord, saying, “You are my God!”

In panic I cried out, “I am cut off from the Lord!” But you heard my cry for mercy and answered my call for help.

Love the Lord, all you godly ones! For the Lord protects those who are loyal to him, but he harshly punishes the arrogant.

Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord.

But the Lord’s plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken.

But the Lord watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love.

Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.

But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil; he will erase their memory from the earth.

The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.

But the Lord will redeem those who serve him. No one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

I did them no wrong, but they laid a trap for me. I did them no wrong, but they dug a pit to catch me.

Yet when they were ill, I grieved for them. I denied myself by fasting for them, but my prayers returned unanswered.

But they are glad now that I am in trouble; they gleefully join together against me. I am attacked by people I don’t even know; they slander me constantly.

But give great joy to those who came to my defense. Let them continually say, “Great is the Lord, who delights in blessing his servant with peace!”

For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land.

But the Lord just laughs, for he sees their day of judgment coming.

But their swords will stab their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.

For the strength of the wicked will be shattered, but the Lord takes care of the godly.

But the wicked will die. The Lord’s enemies are like flowers in a field— they will disappear like smoke.

The wicked borrow and never repay, but the godly are generous givers.

Those the Lord blesses will possess the land, but those he curses will die.

For the Lord loves justice, and he will never abandon the godly. He will keep them safe forever, but the children of the wicked will die.

But the Lord will not let the wicked succeed or let the godly be condemned when they are put on trial.

But when I looked again, they were gone! Though I searched for them, I could not find them!

But the rebellious will be destroyed; they have no future.

But I am deaf to all their threats. I am silent before them as one who cannot speak.

But I confess my sins; I am deeply sorry for what I have done.

But as I stood there in silence— not even speaking of good things— the turmoil within me grew worse.

You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath.” Interlude

But please stop striking me! I am exhausted by the blows from your hand.

When you discipline us for our sins, you consume like a moth what is precious to us. Each of us is but a breath. Interlude

But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, “The Lord is great!”

But my enemies say nothing but evil about me. “How soon will he die and be forgotten?” they ask.

They visit me as if they were my friends, but all the while they gather gossip, and when they leave, they spread it everywhere.

my God! Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember you— even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan, from the land of Mount Mizar.

But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life.

But now you have tossed us aside in dishonor. You no longer lead our armies to battle.

But for your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.

But when they saw it, they were stunned; they were terrified and ran away.

We had heard of the city’s glory, but now we have seen it ourselves— the city of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. It is the city of our God; he will make it safe forever. Interlude

but their fame will not last. They will die, just like animals.

But as for me, God will redeem my life. He will snatch me from the power of the grave. Interlude

But they will die like all before them and never again see the light of day.

But I do not need the bulls from your barns or the goats from your pens.

But God says to the wicked: “Why bother reciting my decrees and pretending to obey my covenant?

While you did all this, I remained silent, and you thought I didn’t care. But now I will rebuke you, listing all my charges against you.

But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me. If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God.”

But you desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there.

But God will strike you down once and for all. He will pull you from your home and uproot you from the land of the living. Interlude

But I am like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God. I will always trust in God’s unfailing love.

But no, all have turned away; all have become corrupt. No one does good, not a single one!

But God is my helper. The Lord keeps me alive!

Its walls are patrolled day and night against invaders, but the real danger is wickedness within the city.

But I will call on God, and the Lord will rescue me.

His words are as smooth as butter, but in his heart is war. His words are as soothing as lotion, but underneath are daggers!

But you, O God, will send the wicked down to the pit of destruction. Murderers and liars will die young, but I am trusting you to save me.

But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.

My enemies have set a trap for me. I am weary from distress. They have dug a deep pit in my path, but they themselves have fallen into it. Interlude

But Lord, you laugh at them. You scoff at all the hostile nations.

They scavenge for food but go to sleep unsatisfied.

But as for me, I will sing about your power. Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love. For you have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress.

But you have raised a banner for those who fear you— a rallying point in the face of attack. Interlude

But Moab, my washbasin, will become my servant, and I will wipe my feet on Edom and shout in triumph over Philistia.”

They plan to topple me from my high position. They delight in telling lies about me. They praise me to my face but curse me in their hearts. Interlude

But those plotting to destroy me will come to ruin. They will go down into the depths of the earth.

But the king will rejoice in God. All who swear to tell the truth will praise him, while liars will be silenced.

But God himself will shoot them with his arrows, suddenly striking them down.

Then you put a leader over us. We went through fire and flood, but you brought us to a place of great abundance.

But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer.

But let the godly rejoice. Let them be glad in God’s presence. Let them be filled with joy.

God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy. But he makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.

But God will smash the heads of his enemies, crushing the skulls of those who love their guilty ways.

But I keep praying to you, Lord, hoping this time you will show me favor. In your unfailing love, O God, answer my prayer with your sure salvation.

But instead, they give me poison for food; they offer me sour wine for my thirst.

But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, “God is great!”

But as for me, I am poor and needy; please hurry to my aid, O God. You are my helper and my savior; O Lord, do not delay.

But I will keep on hoping for your help; I will praise you more and more.

You have allowed me to suffer much hardship, but you will restore me to life again and lift me up from the depths of the earth.

But as for me, I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone.

I get nothing but trouble all day long; every morning brings me pain.

So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is!

Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth.

My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.

But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.

But as for me, I will always proclaim what God has done; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.

For God says, “I will break the strength of the wicked, but I will increase the power of the godly.”

When I was in deep trouble, I searched for the Lord. All night long I prayed, with hands lifted toward heaven, but my soul was not comforted.

But then I recall all you have done, O Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago.

Yes, he can strike a rock so water gushes out, but he can’t give his people bread and meat.”

But he commanded the skies to open; he opened the doors of heaven.

But before they satisfied their craving, while the meat was yet in their mouths,

But in spite of this, the people kept sinning. Despite his wonders, they refused to trust him.

But all they gave him was lip service; they lied to him with their tongues.

He turned his anger against them; he did not spare the Egyptians’ lives but ravaged them with the plague.

But he led his own people like a flock of sheep, guiding them safely through the wilderness.

He kept them safe so they were not afraid; but the sea covered their enemies.

But they kept testing and rebelling against God Most High. They did not obey his laws.

But he rejected Joseph’s descendants; he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim.

But now, why have you broken down our walls so that all who pass by may steal our fruit?

“But no, my people wouldn’t listen. Israel did not want me around.

But I would feed you with the finest wheat. I would satisfy you with wild honey from the rock.”

But these oppressors know nothing; they are so ignorant! They wander about in darkness, while the whole world is shaken to the core.

But you will die like mere mortals and fall like every other ruler.’”

I listen carefully to what God the Lord is saying, for he speaks peace to his faithful people. But let them not return to their foolish ways.

But you, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.

But if his descendants forsake my instructions and fail to obey my regulations,

But I will never stop loving him nor fail to keep my promise to him.

But now you have rejected him and cast him off. You are angry with your anointed king.

In the morning it blooms and flourishes, but by evening it is dry and withered.

Seventy years are given to us! Some even live to eighty. But even the best years are filled with pain and trouble; soon they disappear, and we fly away.

But you, O Lord, will be exalted forever.

But you have made me as strong as a wild ox. You have anointed me with the finest oil.

But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon.

But mightier than the violent raging of the seas, mightier than the breakers on the shore— the Lord above is mightier than these!

I cried out, “I am slipping!” but your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me.

But the Lord is my fortress; my God is the mighty rock where I hide.

The gods of other nations are mere idols, but the Lord made the heavens!

O Lord our God, you answered them. You were a forgiving God to them, but you punished them when they went wrong.

But you, O Lord, will sit on your throne forever. Your fame will endure to every generation.

But I cried to him, “O my God, who lives forever, don’t take my life while I am so young!

They will perish, but you remain forever; they will wear out like old clothing. You will change them like a garment and discard them.

But you are always the same; you will live forever.

But the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children’s children

But if you turn away from them, they panic. When you take away their breath, they die and turn again to dust.

But the Lord sent his servant Moses, along with Aaron, whom he had chosen.

So he gave them what they asked for, but he sent a plague along with it.

So he declared he would destroy them. But Moses, his chosen one, stepped between the Lord and the people. He begged him to turn from his anger and not destroy them.

But Phinehas had the courage to intervene, and the plague was stopped.

Again and again he rescued them, but they chose to rebel against him, and they were finally destroyed by their sin.

But he also turns deserts into pools of water, the dry land into springs of water.

But he rescues the poor from trouble and increases their families like flocks of sheep.

But Moab, my washbasin, will become my servant, and I will wipe my feet on Edom and shout in triumph over Philistia.”

I love them, but they try to destroy me with accusations even as I am praying for them!

But deal well with me, O Sovereign Lord, for the sake of your own reputation! Rescue me because you are so faithful and good.

Then let them curse me if they like, but you will bless me! When they attack me, they will be disgraced! But I, your servant, will go right on rejoicing!

But I will give repeated thanks to the Lord, praising him to everyone.

But he himself will be refreshed from brooks along the way. He will be victorious.

Psalm 115

Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name goes all the glory for your unfailing love and faithfulness.

They have mouths but cannot speak, and eyes but cannot see.

They have ears but cannot hear, and noses but cannot smell.

They have hands but cannot feel, and feet but cannot walk, and throats but cannot make a sound.

The heavens belong to the Lord, but he has given the earth to all humanity.

But we can praise the Lord both now and forever! Praise the Lord!

Yes, they surrounded and attacked me, but I destroyed them all with the authority of the Lord.

They swarmed around me like bees; they blazed against me like a crackling fire. But I destroyed them all with the authority of the Lord.

My enemies did their best to kill me, but the Lord rescued me.

The Lord has punished me severely, but he did not let me die.

Even princes sit and speak against me, but I will meditate on your decrees.

The proud hold me in utter contempt, but I do not turn away from your instructions.

Evil people try to drag me into sin, but I am firmly anchored to your instructions.

I used to wander off until you disciplined me; but now I closely follow your word.

Arrogant people smear me with lies, but in truth I obey your commandments with all my heart.

Their hearts are dull and stupid, but I delight in your instructions.

Kaph

I am worn out waiting for your rescue, but I have put my hope in your word.

I am shriveled like a wineskin in the smoke, but I have not forgotten to obey your decrees.

They almost finished me off, but I refused to abandon your commandments.

Even perfection has its limits, but your commands have no limit.

My life constantly hangs in the balance, but I will not stop obeying your instructions.

The wicked have set their traps for me, but I will not turn from your commandments.

Samekh

I hate those with divided loyalties, but I love your instructions.

But you have rejected all who stray from your decrees. They are only fooling themselves.

I am insignificant and despised, but I don’t forget your commandments.

But you are near, O Lord, and all your commands are true.

Shin

Powerful people harass me without cause, but my heart trembles only at your word.

I hate and abhor all falsehood, but I love your instructions.

I search for peace; but when I speak of peace, they want war!

Psalm 125

A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.

Those who trust in the Lord are as secure as Mount Zion; they will not be defeated but will endure forever.

But banish those who turn to crooked ways, O Lord. Take them away with those who do evil. May Israel have peace!

They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.

From my earliest youth my enemies have persecuted me, but they have never defeated me.

But the Lord is good; he has cut me free from the ropes of the ungodly.

But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you.

I will clothe his enemies with shame, but he will be a glorious king.”

They have mouths but cannot speak, and eyes but cannot see.

They have ears but cannot hear, and mouths but cannot breathe.

but he hurled Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea. His faithful love endures forever.

But how can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a pagan land?

Though the Lord is great, he cares for the humble, but he keeps his distance from the proud.

but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you.

But I know the Lord will help those they persecute; he will give justice to the poor.

Let the godly strike me! It will be a kindness! If they correct me, it is soothing medicine. Don’t let me refuse it. But I pray constantly against the wicked and their deeds.

Let the wicked fall into their own nets, but let me escape.

I look for someone to come and help me, but no one gives me a passing thought! No one will help me; no one cares a bit what happens to me.

Their mouths are full of lies; they swear to tell the truth, but they lie instead.

Save me! Rescue me from the power of my enemies. Their mouths are full of lies; they swear to tell the truth, but they lie instead.

The Lord protects all those who love him, but he destroys the wicked.

But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God.

The Lord protects the foreigners among us. He cares for the orphans and widows, but he frustrates the plans of the wicked.

The Lord supports the humble, but he brings the wicked down into the dust.