For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1Blesseda are those who have regard for the weak;b
the LORD delivers them in times of trouble.c
2The LORD protectsd and preserves them—e
they are counted among the blessed in the land—f
he does not give them over to the desire of their foes.g
3The LORD sustains them on their sickbedh
and restores them from their bed of illness.i
4I said, “Have mercyj on me, LORD;
healk me, for I have sinnedl against you.”
5My enemies say of me in malice,
“When will he die and his name perish?m”
6When one of them comes to see me,
he speaks falsely,n while his heart gathers slander;o
then he goes out and spreadsp it around.
7All my enemies whisper togetherq against me;
they imagine the worst for me, saying,
8“A vile disease has afflicted him;
he will never get upr from the place where he lies.”
someone I trusted,
one who shared my bread,
10But may you have mercyu on me, LORD;
raise me up,v that I may repayw them.
11I know that you are pleased with me,x
for my enemy does not triumph over me.y
12Because of my integrityz you uphold mea
and set me in your presence forever.b
13Praisec be to the LORD, the God of Israel,d
from everlasting to everlasting.
Amen and Amen.e
BOOK II
Psalms 42—72
For the director of music. A maskil3 of the Sons of Korah.
1As the deera pants for streams of water,b
so my soul pantsc for you, my God.
2My soul thirstsd for God, for the living God.e
When can I gof and meet with God?
day and night,
while people say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”h
4These things I remember
as I pour out my soul:i
how I used to go to the house of Godj
under the protection of the Mighty One4
with shouts of joyk and praisel
among the festive throng.m
5Why, my soul, are you downcast?n
Why so disturbedo within me?
Put your hope in God,p
for I will yet praiseq him,
6My soul is downcast within me;
therefore I will remembert you
from the land of the Jordan,u
the heights of Hermonv—from Mount Mizar.
in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers
have swept over me.x
8By day the LORD directs his love,y
at nightz his songa is with me—
a prayer to the God of my life.b
“Why have you forgottend me?
Why must I go about mourning,e
10My bones suffer mortal agonyh
as my foes taunti me,
saying to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”j
11Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.k
1Vindicate me, my God,
and plead my causea
against an unfaithful nation.
Rescue meb from those who are
deceitful and wicked.c
2You are God my stronghold.
Why have you rejectedd me?
Why must I go about mourning,e
oppressed by the enemy?f
3Send me your lightg and your faithful care,h
let them lead me;i
let them bring me to your holy mountain,j
to the place where you dwell.k
4Then I will gol to the altarm of God,
to God, my joyn and my delight.o
I will praise you with the lyre,p
O God, my God.
5Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.q
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil.2
1We have heard it with our ears,a O God;
our ancestors have told usb
what you did in their days,
in days long ago.c
2With your hand you drove outd the nations
and plantede our ancestors;
you crushedf the peoples
and made our ancestors flourish.g
3It was not by their swordh that they won the land,
nor did their arm bring them victory;
it was your right hand,i your arm,j
and the lightk of your face, for you lovedl them.
4You are my Kingm and my God,n
who decrees3 victorieso for Jacob.
5Through you we push backp our enemies;
through your name we trampleq our foes.
6I put no trust in my bow,r
my sword does not bring me victory;
7but you give us victorys over our enemies,
you put our adversaries to shame.t
8In God we make our boastu all day long,v
and we will praise your name forever.4,w
9But now you have rejectedx and humbled us;y
you no longer go out with our armies.z
10You made us retreata before the enemy,
and our adversaries have plunderedb us.
11You gave us up to be devoured like sheepc
and have scattered us among the nations.d
12You sold your people for a pittance,e
gaining nothing from their sale.
13You have made us a reproachf to our neighbors,g
the scornh and derisioni of those around us.
14You have made us a bywordj among the nations;
the peoples shake their headsk at us.
15I live in disgracel all day long,
and my face is covered with shamem
16at the tauntsn of those who reproach and revileo me,
because of the enemy, who is bent on revenge.p
17All this came upon us,
though we had not forgottenq you;
we had not been false to your covenant.
18Our hearts had not turnedr back;
our feet had not strayed from your path.
19But you crusheds us and made us a haunt for jackals;t
you covered us over with deep darkness.u
20If we had forgottenv the name of our God
or spread out our hands to a foreign god,w
21would not God have discovered it,
since he knows the secrets of the heart?x
22Yet for your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheepy to be slaughtered.z
23Awake,a Lord! Why do you sleep?b
Rouse yourself!c Do not reject us forever.d
and forgetf our misery and oppression?g
25We are brought down to the dust;h
our bodies cling to the ground.
For the director of music. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil.2 A wedding song.a
1My heart is stirred by a noble theme
as I recite my verses for the king;
my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.
2You are the most excellent of men
and your lips have been anointed with grace,b
since God has blessed you forever.c
3Gird your swordd on your side, you mighty one;e
clothe yourself with splendor and majesty.f
4In your majesty ride forth victoriouslyg
in the cause of truth, humility and justice;h
let your right handi achieve awesome deeds.j
5Let your sharp arrowsk pierce the heartsl of the king’s enemies;m
let the nations fall beneath your feet.
6Your throne, O God,3 will last for ever and ever;n
a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. Photo
7You love righteousnesso and hate wickedness;p
therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
by anointingq you with the oil of joy.r
8All your robes are fragrants with myrrht and aloesu and cassia;v
from palaces adorned with ivoryw
the music of the stringsx makes you glad.
9Daughters of kingsy are among your honored women;
at your right handz is the royal bridea in gold of Ophir.b
10Listen, daughter,c and pay careful attention:d
Forget your peoplee and your father’s house.
11Let the king be enthralled by your beauty;f
honorg him, for he is your lord.h
12The city of Tyrei will come with a gift,4,j
people of wealth will seek your favor.
13All gloriousk is the princess within her chamber;
her gown is interwoven with gold.l
14In embroidered garmentsm she is led to the king;n
her virgin companionso follow her—
those brought to be with her.
15Led in with joy and gladness,p
they enter the palace of the king.
16Your sons will take the place of your fathers;
you will make them princesq throughout the land.
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth.2 A song.
1God is our refugea and strength,b
an ever-presentc helpd in trouble.e
2Therefore we will not fear,f though the earth give wayg
and the mountains fallh into the heart of the sea,i
3though its waters roarj and foamk
and the mountains quakel with their surging.3
4There is a riverm whose streamsn make glad the city of God,o
the holy place where the Most Highp dwells.q
5God is within her,r she will not fall;s
God will helpt her at break of day.
6Nationsu are in uproar,v kingdomsw fall;
he lifts his voice,x the earth melts.y
7The LORD Almightyz is with us;a
the God of Jacobb is our fortress.c
8Come and see what the LORD has done,d
the desolationse he has brought on the earth.
to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bowg and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields4 with fire.h
10He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;i
I will be exaltedj among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
11The LORD Almighty is with us;
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
1Clap your hands,a all you nations;
shout to God with cries of joy.b
2For the LORD Most Highc is awesome,d
the great Kinge over all the earth.
3He subduedf nations under us,
peoples under our feet.
4He chose our inheritanceg for us,
the pride of Jacob,h whom he loved.2
5God has ascendedi amid shouts of joy,j
the LORD amid the sounding of trumpets.k
6Sing praisesl to God, sing praises;
sing praises to our King, sing praises.
7For God is the King of all the earth;m
sing to him a psalmn of praise.
8God reignso over the nations;
God is seated on his holy throne.p
9The nobles of the nations assemble
as the people of the God of Abraham,
for the kings3 of the earth belong to God;q
he is greatly exalted.r
A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah.
1Great is the LORD,a and most worthy of praise,b
in the city of our God,c his holy mountain.d
the joy of the whole earth,
like the heights of Zaphon2,f is Mount Zion,g
the city of the Great King.h
he has shown himself to be her fortress.j
4When the kings joined forces,
when they advanced together,k
5they saw her and were astounded;
they fled in terror.l
6Trembling seizedm them there,
pain like that of a woman in labor.n
7You destroyed them like ships of Tarshisho
shattered by an east wind.p
8As we have heard,
so we have seen
in the city of the LORD Almighty,
in the city of our God:
God makes her secure
9Within your temple, O God,
we meditater on your unfailing love.s
your praise reaches to the ends of the earth;u
your right hand is filled with righteousness.
11Mount Zion rejoices,
the villages of Judah are glad
because of your judgments.v
12Walk about Zion, go around her,
count her towers,w
13consider well her ramparts,x
view her citadels,y
that you may tell of them
to the next generation.z
14For this God is our God for ever and ever;
he will be our guidea even to the end.
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
1Heara this, all you peoples;b
listen, all who live in this world,c
2both low and high,d
rich and poor alike:
3My mouth will speak words of wisdom;e
the meditation of my heart will give you understanding.f
4I will turn my ear to a proverb;g
with the harph I will expound my riddle:i
5Why should I fearj when evil days come,
when wicked deceivers surround me—
6those who trust in their wealthk
and boastl of their great riches?m
7No one can redeem the life of another
or give to God a ransom for them—
8the ransomn for a life is costly,
no payment is ever enough—o
9so that they should live onp forever
and not see decay.q
10For all can see that the wise die,r
that the foolish and the senselesss also perish,
leaving their wealtht to others.u
11Their tombsv will remain their houses2 forever,
their dwellings for endless generations,w
though they had3 namedx lands after themselves.
12People, despite their wealth, do not endure;y
they are like the beasts that perish.z
13This is the fate of those who trust in themselves,a
and of their followers, who approve their sayings.4
14They are like sheep and are destinedb to die;c
death will be their shepherd
(but the upright will prevaild over them in the morning).
Their forms will decay in the grave,
far from their princely mansions.
15But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead;e
he will surely take me to himself.f
16Do not be overawed when others grow rich,
when the splendor of their houses increases;
17for they will take nothingg with them when they die,
their splendor will not descend with them.h
18Though while they live they count themselves blessed—i
and people praise you when you prosper—
19they will join those who have gone before them,j
who will never again see the lightk of life.
20People who have wealth but lack understandingl
are like the beasts that perish.m
A psalm of Asaph.
1The Mighty One, God, the LORD,a
speaks and summons the earth
from the rising of the sun to where it sets.b
2From Zion,c perfect in beauty,d
God shines forth.e
and will not be silent;g
and around him a tempestj rages.
4He summons the heavens above,
and the earth,k that he may judge his people:l
5“Gather to me this consecrated people,m
who made a covenantn with me by sacrifice.”
6And the heavens proclaimo his righteousness,
for he is a God of justice.1,2,p
7“Listen, my people, and I will speak;
I will testifyq against you, Israel:
I am God, your God.r
8I bring no chargess against you concerning your sacrifices
or concerning your burnt offerings,t which are ever before me.
9I have no need of a bullu from your stall
10for every animal of the forestx is mine,
and the cattle on a thousand hills.y
11I know every birdz in the mountains,
and the insects in the fieldsa are mine.
12If I were hungry I would not tell you,
for the worldb is mine, and all that is in it.c
13Do I eat the flesh of bulls
or drink the blood of goats?
14“Sacrifice thank offeringsd to God,
fulfill your vowse to the Most High,f
16But to the wicked person, God says:
“What right have you to recite my laws
or take my covenantk on your lips?l
and cast my words behindn you.
18When you see a thief, you joino with him;
you throw in your lot with adulterers.p
19You use your mouth for evil
and harness your tongue to deceit.q
20You sit and testify against your brotherr
and slander your own mother’s son.
21When you did these things and I kept silent,s
you thought I was exactly3 like you.
But I now arraignt you
and set my accusationsu before you.
22“Consider this, you who forget God,v
or I will tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you:w
23Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me,
For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.a
according to your unfailing love;c
according to your great compassiond
and cleanseh me from my sin.
3For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.i
4Against you, you only, have I sinnedj
and done what is evil in your sight;k
so you are right in your verdict
and justified when you judge.l
5Surely I was sinfulm at birth,n
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
you taught me wisdomo in that secret place.p
7Cleanseq me with hyssop,r and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.s Photo
8Let me hear joy and gladness;t
let the bonesu you have crushed rejoice.
and blot outw all my iniquity.
10Create in me a pure heart,x O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.y
11Do not cast mez from your presencea
or take your Holy Spiritb from me.
12Restore to me the joy of your salvationc
and grant me a willing spirit,d to sustain me.e
13Then I will teach transgressors your ways,f
so that sinnersg will turn back to you.h
14Deliver mei from the guilt of bloodshed,j O God,
you who are God my Savior,k
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.l
and my mouth will declare your praise.
16You do not delight in sacrifice,n or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17My sacrifice,o O God, is2 a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heartp
you, God, will not despise.
18May it please you to prosper Zion,q
to build up the walls of Jerusalem.r
19Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,s
in burnt offeringst offered whole;
then bullsu will be offered on your altar.
For the director of music. A maskil2 of David. When Doeg the Edomitea had gone to Saul and told him: “David has gone to the house of Ahimelek.”
1Why do you boast of evil, you mighty hero?
Why do you boastb all day long,c
you who are a disgrace in the eyes of God?
your tongue plots destruction;e
it is like a sharpened razor.f
3You love evilg rather than good,
falsehoodh rather than speaking the truth.3
4You love every harmful word,
you deceitful tongue!i
5Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin:
He will snatch you up and pluckj you from your tent;
he will uprootk you from the land of the living.l
6The righteous will see and fear;
they will laughm at you, saying,
7“Here now is the man
who did not make God his strongholdn
but trusted in his great wealtho
and grew strong by destroying others!”
flourishing in the house of God;
I trustq in God’s unfailing love
for ever and ever.
9For what you have done I will always praise your
in the presence of your faithful people.s
And I will hope in your name,t
for your name is good.u
53:1-6pp — Ps 14:1-7
For the director of music. According to mahalath.2 A maskil3 of David.
“There is no God.”b
They are corrupt, and their ways are vile;
there is no one who does good.
2God looks down from heavenc
on all mankind
to see if there are any who understand,d
any who seek God.e
3Everyone has turned away, all have become corrupt;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.f
4Do all these evildoers know nothing?
They devour my people as though eating bread;
they never call on God.
5But there they are, overwhelmed with dread,
where there was nothing to dread.g
God scattered the bonesh of those who attacked you;i
you put them to shame,j for God despised them.k
6Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
When God restores his people,
let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil2 of David. When the Ziphitesa had gone to Saul and said, “Is not David hiding among us?”
1Save meb, O God, by your name;c
vindicate me by your might.d
2Hear my prayer, O God;e
listen to the words of my mouth.
3Arrogant foes are attacking me;f
ruthless peopleg are trying to kill meh—
people without regard for God.3,i
the Lord is the one who sustains me.k
5Let evil recoill on those who slander me;
in your faithfulnessm destroy them.
6I will sacrifice a freewill offeringn to you;
I will praiseo your name, LORD, for it is good.p
7You have delivered meq from all my troubles,
and my eyes have looked in triumph on my foes.r
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil2 of David.
1Listen to my prayer, O God,
do not ignore my plea;a
2hear me and answer me.b
My thoughts trouble me and I am distraughtc
3because of what my enemy is saying,
because of the threats of the wicked;
for they bring down suffering on med
and assaile me in their anger.f
4My heart is in anguishg within me;
the terrorsh of death have fallen on me.
5Fear and tremblingi have beset me;
horrorj has overwhelmed me.
6I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove!
I would fly away and be at rest.
7I would flee far away
8I would hurry to my place of shelter,l
far from the tempest and storm.m”
9Lord, confuse the wicked, confound their words,n
for I see violence and strifeo in the city.p
10Day and night they prowlq about on its walls;
malice and abuse are within it.
11Destructive forcesr are at work in the city;
threats and liess never leave its streets.
12If an enemy were insulting me,
I could endure it;
if a foe were rising against me,
I could hide.
13But it is you, a man like myself,
my companion, my close friend,t
14with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowshipu
at the house of God,v
as we walked about
among the worshipers.
15Let death take my enemies by surprise;w
let them go down alive to the realm of the dead,x
for evil finds lodging among them.
16As for me, I call to God,
and the LORD saves me.
17Evening,y morningz and noona
I cry out in distress,
and he hears my voice.
18He rescues me unharmed
from the battle waged against me,
even though many oppose me.
19God, who is enthroned from of old,b
who does not change—
he will hearc them and humble them,
because they have no fear of God.d
20My companion attacks his friends;e
he violates his covenant.f
21His talk is smooth as butter,g
yet war is in his heart;
his words are more soothing than oil,h
yet they are drawn swords.i
22Cast your cares on the LORD
and he will sustain you;j
he will never let
the righteous be shaken.k
23But you, God, will bring down the wicked
into the pitl of decay;
the bloodthirsty and deceitfulm
will not live out half their days.n
But as for me, I trust in you.o
For the director of music. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” Of David. A miktam.2 When the Philistines had seized him in Gath.
for my enemies are in hot pursuit;b
all day long they press their attack.c
2My adversaries pursue me all day long;d
in their pride many are attacking me.e
3When I am afraid,f I put my trust in you.g
4In God, whose word I praise—h
in God I trust and am not afraid.i
What can mere mortals do to me?j
5All day long they twist my words;k
all their schemes are for my ruin.
6They conspire,l they lurk,
they watch my steps,m
hoping to take my life.n
7Because of their wickedness do not3 let them escape;o
in your anger, God, bring the nations down.p
8Record my misery;
list my tears on your scroll4,q—
are they not in your record?r
9Then my enemies will turn backs
when I call for help.t
By this I will know that God is for me.u
10In God, whose word I praise,
in the LORD, whose word I praise—
11in God I trust and am not afraid.
What can man do to me?
12I am under vowsv to you, my God;
I will present my thank offerings to you.
13For you have delivered me from deathw
and my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before God
in the light of life.x
57:7-11pp — Ps 108:1-5
For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.2 When he had fled from Saul into the cave.a
1Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me,
for in you I take refuge.b
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wingsc
until the disaster has passed.d
2I cry out to God Most High,
to God, who vindicates me.e
3He sends from heaven and saves me,f
rebuking those who hotly pursue me—3,g
God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.h
I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts—
men whose teeth are spears and arrows,
whose tongues are sharp swords.j
5Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
let your glory be over all the earth.k
6They spread a net for my feetl—
I was bowed downm in distress.
They dug a pitn in my path—
but they have fallen into it themselves.o
7My heart, O God, is steadfast,
my heart is steadfast;p
I will sing and make music.
8Awake, my soul!
Awake, harp and lyre!q
I will awaken the dawn.
9I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
I will sing of you among the peoples.
10For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the skies.r
11Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;s
let your glory be over all the earth.t
For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.2
1Do you rulers indeed speak justly?a
Do you judge people with equity?
2No, in your heart you devise injustice,b
and your hands mete out violence on the earth.c
3Even from birth the wicked go astray;
from the womb they are wayward, spreading lies.
4Their venom is like the venom of a snake,d
like that of a cobra that has stopped its ears,
5that will not heede the tune of the charmer,f
however skillful the enchanter may be.
6Break the teeth in their mouths, O God;g
LORD, tear out the fangs of those lions!h
7Let them vanish like water that flows away;i
when they draw the bow, let their arrows fall short.j
8May they be like a slug that melts away as it moves along,k
like a stillborn childl that never sees the sun.
9Before your pots can feel the heat of the thornsm—
whether they be green or dry—the wicked will be swept away.3,n
10The righteous will be glado when they are avenged,p
when they dip their feet in the blood of the wicked.q
11Then people will say,
“Surely the righteous still are rewarded;r
surely there is a God who judges the earth.”s
For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.2 When Saul had sent men to watch David’s housea in order to kill him.
1Deliver me from my enemies, O God;b
be my fortress against those who are attacking me.c
and save me from those who are after my blood.e
3See how they lie in wait for me!
Fierce men conspiref against me
for no offense or sin of mine, LORD.
4I have done no wrong,g yet they are ready to attack me.h
Arise to help me; look on my plight!i
5You, LORD God Almighty,
you who are the God of Israel,j
rouse yourselfk to punish all the nations;l
show no mercy to wicked traitors.3,m
6They return at evening,
snarling like dogs,n
and prowl about the city.
7See what they spew from their mouthso—
the words from their lips are sharp as swords,p
and they think, “Who can hear us?”q
8But you laugh at them, LORD;r
you scoff at all those nations.s
9You are my strength,t I watch for you;
you, God, are my fortress,u
10my God on whom I can rely.
God will go before me
and will let me gloat over those who slander me.
11But do not kill them, Lord our shield,4,v
or my people will forget.w
In your might uproot them
and bring them down.x
12For the sins of their mouths,y
for the words of their lips,z
let them be caught in their pride.a
For the curses and lies they utter,
13consume them in your wrath,
consume them till they are no more.b
Then it will be known to the ends of the earth
that God rules over Jacob.c
14They return at evening,
snarling like dogs,
and prowl about the city.
15They wander about for foodd
and howl if not satisfied.
16But I will singe of your strength,f
in the morningg I will sing of your love;h
for you are my fortress,i
my refuge in times of trouble.j
17You are my strength, I sing praise to you;
you, God, are my fortress,
my God on whom I can rely.k
60:5-12pp — Ps 108:6-13
For the director of music. To the tune of “The Lily of the Covenant.” A miktam2 of David. For teaching. When he fought Aram Naharaim3 and Aram Zobah,4 and when Joab returned and struck down twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.a
1You have rejected us,b God, and burst upon us;
you have been angryc—now restore us!d Map: Cities and Regions in Psalm 60
2You have shaken the lande and torn it open;
mend its fractures,f for it is quaking.
3You have shown your people desperate times;g
you have given us wine that makes us stagger.h
4But for those who fear you, you have raised a banneri
to be unfurled against the bow.5
5Save us and help us with your right hand,j
that those you lovek may be delivered.
6God has spoken from his sanctuary:
“In triumph I will parcel out Shecheml
and measure off the Valley of Sukkoth.m
7Gileadn is mine, and Manasseh is mine;
Ephraimo is my helmet,
8Moab is my washbasin,
on Edom I toss my sandal;
over Philistia I shout in triumph.r”
9Who will bring me to the fortified city?
Who will lead me to Edom?
10Is it not you, God, you who have now rejected us
and no longer go out with our armies?s
11Give us aid against the enemy,
for human help is worthless.t
12With God we will gain the victory,
and he will trample down our enemies.u
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. Of David.
listen to my prayer.b
2From the ends of the earth I call to you,
I call as my heart grows faint;c
lead me to the rockd that is higher than I.
3For you have been my refuge,e
a strong tower against the foe.f
4I long to dwellg in your tent forever
and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.2,h
5For you, God, have heard my vows;i
you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.j
6Increase the days of the king’s life,k
his years for many generations.l
7May he be enthroned in God’s presence forever;m
appoint your love and faithfulness to protect him.n
8Then I will ever sing in praise of your nameo
and fulfill my vows day after day.p
For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.
1Truly my soul finds resta in God;b
my salvation comes from him.
2Truly he is my rockc and my salvation;d
he is my fortress,e I will never be shaken.f
3How long will you assault me?
Would all of you throw me down—
this leaning wall,g this tottering fence?
4Surely they intend to topple me
from my lofty place;
they take delight in lies.
With their mouths they bless,
but in their hearts they curse.2,h
5Yes, my soul, find rest in God;i
my hope comes from him.
6Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
7My salvation and my honor depend on God3;
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.j
8Trust in him at all times, you people;k
pour out your hearts to him,l
for God is our refuge.
9Surely the lowbornm are but a breath,n
the highborn are but a lie.
If weighed on a balance,o they are nothing;
together they are only a breath.
or put vain hope in stolen goods;q
though your riches increase,
do not set your heart on them.r
11One thing God has spoken,
two things I have heard:
“Power belongs to you, God,s
12and with you, Lord, is unfailing love”;t
and, “You reward everyone
according to what they have done.”u
A psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah.
1You, God, are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
I thirst for you,a
my whole being longs for you,
in a dry and parched land
where there is no water.b
2I have seen you in the sanctuaryc
and beheld your power and your glory.d
3Because your love is better than life,e
my lips will glorify you.
4I will praise you as long as I live,f
and in your name I will lift up my hands.g
5I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods;h
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
6On my bed I remember you;
I think of you through the watches of the night.i
I sing in the shadow of your wings.k
your right hand upholds me.m
9Those who want to kill me will be destroyed;n
they will go down to the depths of the earth.o
10They will be given over to the swordp
and become food for jackals.q
11But the king will rejoice in God;
all who swear by God will glory in him,r
while the mouths of liars will be silenced.s
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1Hear me, my God, as I voice my complaint;a
protect my life from the threat of the enemy.b
2Hide me from the conspiracyc of the wicked,d
from the plots of evildoers.
3They sharpen their tongues like swordse
and aim cruel words like deadly arrows.f
4They shoot from ambush at the innocent;g
they shoot suddenly, without fear.h
5They encourage each other in evil plans,
they talk about hiding their snares;i
they say, “Who will see it2?”j
6They plot injustice and say,
“We have devised a perfect plan!”
Surely the human mind and heart are cunning.
7But God will shoot them with his arrows;
they will suddenly be struck down.
8He will turn their own tongues against themk
and bring them to ruin;
all who see them will shake their headsl in scorn.m
they will proclaim the works of God
and ponder what he has done.o
10The righteous will rejoice in the LORDp
and take refuge in him;q
all the upright in heart will glory in him!r
For the director of music. A psalm of David. A song.
1Praise awaits2 you, our God, in Zion;a
to you our vows will be fulfilled.b
2You who answer prayer,
to you all people will come.c
3When we were overwhelmed by sins,d
you forgave3 our transgressions.e
4Blessed are those you choosef
and bring nearg to live in your courts!
We are filled with the good things of your house,h
of your holy temple.
5You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds,i
God our Savior,j
the hope of all the ends of the earthk
and of the farthest seas,l
6who formed the mountainsm by your power,
having armed yourself with strength,n
7who stilled the roaring of the seas,o
the roaring of their waves,
and the turmoil of the nations.p
8The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders;
where morning dawns, where evening fades,
you call forth songs of joy.q
9You care for the land and water it;r
you enrich it abundantly.s
The streams of God are filled with water
to provide the people with grain,t
for so you have ordained it.4
10You drench its furrows and level its ridges;
you soften it with showersu and bless its crops.
11You crown the year with your bounty,v
and your carts overflow with abundance.w
12The grasslands of the wilderness overflow;x
the hills are clothed with gladness.y
13The meadows are covered with flocksz
and the valleys are mantled with grain;a
they shout for joy and sing.b
For the director of music. A song. A psalm.
1Shout for joy to God, all the earth!a
make his praise glorious.c
3Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!d
So great is your power
that your enemies cringee before you.
4All the earth bows downf to you;
they sing praiseg to you,
they sing the praises of your name.”1
5Come and see what God has done,
his awesome deedsh for mankind!
6He turned the sea into dry land,i
they passed throughj the waters on foot—
come, let us rejoicek in him.
7He rules foreverl by his power,
his eyes watchm the nations—
let not the rebelliousn rise up against him.
8Praiseo our God, all peoples,
let the sound of his praise be heard;
and kept our feet from slipping.q
you refined us like silver.s
and laid burdensu on our backs.
12You let people ride over our heads;v
we went through fire and water,
but you brought us to a place of abundance.w
13I will come to your temple with burnt offeringsx
and fulfill my vowsy to you—
14vows my lips promised and my mouth spoke
when I was in trouble.
15I will sacrifice fat animals to you
and an offering of rams;
I will offer bulls and goats.z
16Come and hear,a all you who fear God;
let me tellb you what he has done for me.
17I cried out to him with my mouth;
his praise was on my tongue.
18If I had cherished sin in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened;c
19but God has surely listened
and has heardd my prayer.
20Praise be to God,
who has not rejectede my prayer
or withheld his love from me!
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm. A song.
1May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face shine on us—2,a
2so that your ways may be known on earth,
your salvationb among all nations.c
3May the peoples praise you, God;
may all the peoples praise you.d
4May the nations be glad and sing for joy,e
for you rule the peoples with equityf
and guide the nations of the earth.g
5May the peoples praise you, God;
may all the peoples praise you.
6The land yields its harvest;h
God, our God, blesses us.i
7May God bless us still,
For the director of music. Of David. A psalm. A song.
1May God arise,a may his enemies be scattered;b
may his foes fleec before him.
2May you blow them away like smoke—d
as wax meltse before the fire,
may the wicked perishf before God.
3But may the righteous be glad
and rejoiceg before God;
may they be happy and joyful.
4Sing to God, sing in praise of his name,h
extol him who rides on the clouds2,i;
rejoice before him—his name is the LORD.j
5A father to the fatherless,k a defender of widows,l
is God in his holy dwelling.m
6God sets the lonelyn in families,3,o
he leads out the prisonersp with singing;
but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.q
7When you, God, went outr before your people,
when you marched through the wilderness,4,s
8the earth shook,t the heavens poured down rain,u
before God, the One of Sinai,v
before God, the God of Israel.w
9You gave abundant showers,x O God;
you refreshed your weary inheritance.
10Your people settled in it,
and from your bounty,y God, you providedz for the poor.
11The Lord announces the word,
and the women who proclaim it are a mighty throng:a
12“Kings and armies fleeb in haste;
the women at home divide the plunder.c
13Even while you sleep among the sheep pens,5,d
the wings of my dove are sheathed with silver,
its feathers with shining gold.”
14When the Almighty6 scatterede the kings in the land,
it was like snow fallen on Mount Zalmon.f
15Mount Bashan,g majestic mountain,h
Mount Bashan, rugged mountain,
16why gaze in envy, you rugged mountain,
at the mountain where God choosesi to reign,
where the LORD himself will dwell forever?j
17The chariotsk of God are tens of thousands
and thousands of thousands;l
the Lord has come from Sinai into his sanctuary.7
18When you ascendedm on high,n
you took many captives;o
you received gifts from people,p
that you,9 LORD God, might dwell there.
19Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior,r
who daily bears our burdens.s
20Our God is a God who saves;t
from the Sovereign LORD comes escape from death.u
21Surely God will crush the headsv of his enemies,
the hairy crowns of those who go on in their sins.
22The Lord says, “I will bring them from Bashan;
I will bring them from the depths of the sea,w
23that your feet may wade in the blood of your foes,x
while the tongues of your dogsy have their share.”
24Your procession, God, has come into view,
the procession of my God and King into the sanctuary.z
25In front are the singers,a after them the musicians;b
with them are the young women playing the timbrels.c
26Praise God in the great congregation;d
praise the LORD in the assembly of Israel.e
27There is the little tribef of Benjamin,g leading them,
there the great throng of Judah’s princes,
and there the princes of Zebulun and of Naphtali.h
show us your strength,j our God, as you have donek before.
29Because of your temple at Jerusalem
kings will bring you gifts.l
30Rebuke the beastm among the reeds,n
the herd of bullso among the calves of the nations.
Humbled, may the beast bring bars of silver.
Scatter the nationsp who delight in war.q
31Envoys will come from Egypt;r
Cush11,s will submit herself to God.
32Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth,t
sing praiseu to the Lord,
33to him who ridesv across the highest heavens, the ancient heavens,
who thundersw with mighty voice.x
34Proclaim the powery of God,
whose majestyz is over Israel,
whose power is in the heavens.
35You, God, are awesomea in your sanctuary;b
the God of Israel gives power and strengthc to his people.d
Praise be to God!e
For the director of music. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of David.
1Save me, O God,
for the watersa have come up to my neck.b
2I sink in the miry depths,c
where there is no foothold.
I have come into the deep waters;
the floods engulf me.
3I am worn out calling for help;d
my throat is parched.
My eyes fail,e
looking for my God.
4Those who hate mef without reasong
outnumber the hairs of my head;
many are my enemies without cause,h
those who seek to destroy me.i
I am forced to restore
what I did not steal.
my guilt is not hidden from you.k
6Lord, the LORD Almighty,
may those who hope in you
not be disgraced because of me;
God of Israel,
may those who seek you
not be put to shame because of me.
7For I endure scornl for your sake,m
and shame covers my face.n
8I am a foreigner to my own family,
a stranger to my own mother’s children;o
9for zeal for your house consumes me,p
and the insults of those who insult you fall on me.q
I must endure scorn;
11when I put on sackcloth,s
people make sport of me.
12Those who sit at the gatet mock me,
and I am the song of the drunkards.u
13But I pray to you, LORD,
in the time of your favor;v
in your great love,w O God,
answer me with your sure salvation.
14Rescue me from the mire,
do not let me sink;
deliver me from those who hate me,
from the deep waters.x
15Do not let the floodwatersy engulf me
or the depths swallow me upz
or the pit close its mouth over me.a
16Answer me, LORD, out of the goodness of your love;b
in your great mercy turn to me.
17Do not hide your facec from your servant;
answer me quickly,d for I am in trouble.e
18Come near and rescue me;
deliverf me because of my foes.
19You know how I am scorned,g disgraced and shamed;
all my enemies are before you.
20Scorn has broken my heart
and has left me helpless;
I looked for sympathy, but there was none,
for comforters,h but I found none.i
21They put gall in my food
and gave me vinegarj for my thirst.k
22May the table set before them become a snare;
may it become retribution and2 a trap.l
23May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,
and their backs be bent forever.m
24Pour out your wrathn on them;
let your fierce anger overtake them.
25May their place be deserted;o
let there be no one to dwell in their tents.p
26For they persecute those you wound
and talk about the pain of those you hurt.q
27Charge them with crime upon crime;r
do not let them share in your salvation.s
28May they be blotted out of the book of lifet
and not be listed with the righteous.u
29But as for me, afflicted and in pain—
may your salvation, God, protect me.v
30I will praise God’s name in songw
and glorify himx with thanksgiving.
31This will please the LORD more than an ox,
more than a bull with its horns and hooves.y
32The poor will see and be gladz—
you who seek God, may your hearts live!a
33The LORD hears the needyb
and does not despise his captive people.
34Let heaven and earth praise him,
the seas and all that move in them,c
and rebuild the cities of Judah.e
Then people will settle there and possess it;
36the children of his servants will inherit it,f
and those who love his name will dwell there.g
70:1-5pp — Ps 40:13-17
For the director of music. Of David. A petition.
1Hasten, O God, to save me;
come quickly, LORD, to help me.a
2May those who want to take my lifeb
be put to shame and confusion;
may all who desire my ruin
be turned back in disgrace.c
3May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”d
turn back because of their shame.
rejoice and be gladf in you;
may those who long for your saving help always say,
“The LORD is great!”g
5But as for me, I am poor and needy;h
come quickly to me,i O God.
You are my helpj and my deliverer;k
LORD, do not delay.l
71:1-3pp — Ps 31:1-4
1In you, LORD, I have taken refuge;a
let me never be put to shame.b
2In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me;
turn your earc to me and save me.
3Be my rock of refuge,
to which I can always go;
give the command to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress.d
4Delivere me, my God, from the hand of the wicked,f
from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel.g
5For you have been my hope,h Sovereign LORD,
my confidencei since my youth.
6From birthj I have relied on you;
you brought me forth from my mother’s womb.k
I will ever praisel you.
7I have become a signm to many;
you are my strong refuge.n
8My moutho is filled with your praise,
declaring your splendorp all day long.
9Do not castq me away when I am old;r
do not forsakes me when my strength is gone.
10For my enemiest speak against me;
those who wait to killu me conspirev together.
11They say, “God has forsakenw him;
pursue him and seize him,
for no one will rescuex him.”
12Do not be fary from me, my God;
come quickly, God, to helpz me.
13May my accusersa perish in shame;b
may those who want to harm me
be covered with scorn and disgrace.c
14As for me, I will always have hope;d
I will praise you more and more.
15My mouth will telle of your righteous deeds,f
of your saving acts all day long—
though I know not how to relate them all.
16I will come and proclaim your mighty acts,g Sovereign LORD;
I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.
17Since my youth, God, you have taughth me,
and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.i
18Even when I am old and gray,j
do not forsake me, my God,
till I declare your powerk to the next generation,
your mighty acts to all who are to come.l
19Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens,m
you who have done great things.n
Who is like you, God?o
20Though you have made me see troubles,p
many and bitter,
you will restoreq my life again;
from the depths of the earthr
you will again bring me up.
21You will increase my honors
and comfortt me once more.
22I will praise you with the harpu
for your faithfulness, my God;
I will sing praise to you with the lyre,v
Holy One of Israel.w
23My lips will shout for joyx
when I sing praise to you—
I whom you have delivered.y
24My tongue will tell of your righteous acts
all day long,z
for those who wanted to harm mea
have been put to shame and confusion.b
Of Solomon.
1Endow the king with your justice,a O God,
the royal son with your righteousness.
2May he judge your people in righteousness,b
your afflicted ones with justice.
3May the mountains bring prosperity to the people,
the hills the fruit of righteousness.
4May he defend the afflictedc among the people
and save the children of the needy;d
may he crush the oppressor.e
5May he endure1,f as long as the sun,
as long as the moon, through all generations.g
6May he be like rainh falling on a mown field,
like showers watering the earth.
7In his days may the righteous flourishi
and prosperity abound till the moon is no more.
8May he rule from sea to sea
and from the River2,j to the ends of the earth.k
9May the desert tribes bow before him
and his enemies lick the dust.
10May the kings of Tarshishl and of distant shoresm
bring tribute to him.
May the kings of Sheban and Seba
present him gifts.o
11May all kings bow downp to him
and all nations serveq him.
12For he will deliver the needy who cry out,
the afflicted who have no one to help.
13He will take pityr on the weak and the needy
and save the needy from death.
14He will rescues them from oppression and violence,
for precioust is their blood in his sight.
15Long may he live!
May gold from Shebau be given him.
May people ever pray for him
and bless him all day long.v
16May grainw abound throughout the land;
on the tops of the hills may it sway.
May the cropsx flourish like Lebanony
and thrive3 like the grass of the field.z
17May his name endure forever;a
may it continue as long as the sun.b
Then all nations will be blessed through him,4
and they will call him blessed.c
18Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel,d
who alone does marvelous deeds.e
19Praise be to his glorious namef forever;
may the whole earth be filled with his glory.g
Amen and Amen.h
BOOK III
Psalms 73—89
A psalm of Asaph.
1Surely God is good to Israel,
to those who are pure in heart.a
2But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;b
I had nearly lost my foothold.c
3For I enviedd the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.e
4They have no struggles;
their bodies are healthy and strong.1
5They are freef from common human burdens;
they are not plagued by human ills.
6Therefore prideg is their necklace;h
they clothe themselves with violence.i
7From their callous heartsj comes iniquity2;
their evil imaginations have no limits.
8They scoff, and speak with malice;k
with arrogancel they threaten oppression.m
9Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
and their tongues take possession of the earth.
10Therefore their people turn to them
and drink up waters in abundance.3
11They say, “How would God know?
Does the Most High know anything?”
12This is what the wicked are like—
always free of care,n they go on amassing wealth.o
13Surely in vainp I have kept my heart pure
and have washed my hands in innocence.q
14All day long I have been afflicted,r
and every morning brings new punishments.
15If I had spoken out like that,
I would have betrayed your children.
16When I tried to understands all this,
it troubled me deeply
17till I entered the sanctuaryt of God;
then I understood their final destiny.u
18Surely you place them on slippery ground;v
you cast them down to ruin.w
19How suddenlyx are they destroyed,
completely swept awayy by terrors!
20They are like a dreamz when one awakes;a
when you arise, Lord,
you will despise them as fantasies.b
21When my heart was grieved
and my spirit embittered,
22I was senselessc and ignorant;
I was a brute beastd before you.
23Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.e
24You guidef me with your counsel,g
and afterward you will take me into glory.
25Whom have I in heaven but you?h
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.i
26My flesh and my heartj may fail,k
but God is the strengthl of my heart
and my portionm forever.
27Those who are far from you will perish;n
you destroy all who are unfaithfulo to you.
28But as for me, it is good to be near God.p
I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge;q
I will tell of all your deeds.r
A maskil1 of Asaph.
1O God, why have you rejecteda us forever?b
Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture?c
2Remember the nation you purchasedd long ago,e
the people of your inheritance,f whom you redeemedg—
Mount Zion,h where you dwelt.i
3Turn your steps toward these everlasting ruins,j
all this destruction the enemy has brought on the sanctuary.
4Your foes roaredk in the place where you met with us;
they set up their standardsl as signs. Photo
5They behaved like men wielding axes
to cut through a thicket of trees.m
6They smashed all the carvedn paneling
with their axes and hatchets.
7They burned your sanctuary to the ground;
they defiledo the dwelling placep of your Name.q
8They said in their hearts, “We will crushr them completely!”
They burneds every place where God was worshiped in the land.
9We are given no signs from God;t
no prophetsu are left,
and none of us knows how long this will be.
10How longv will the enemy mockw you, God?
Will the foe revilex your name forever?
11Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand?y
Take it from the folds of your garmentz and destroy them!
12But God is my Kinga from long ago;
he brings salvationb on the earth.
13It was you who split open the seac by your power;
you broke the heads of the monsterd in the waters.
14It was you who crushed the heads of Leviathane
and gave it as food to the creatures of the desert.f
15It was you who opened up springsg and streams;
you dried uph the ever-flowing rivers.
16The day is yours, and yours also the night;
you established the sun and moon.i
17It was you who set all the boundariesj of the earth;
you made both summer and winter.k
18Remember how the enemy has mocked you, LORD,
how foolish peoplel have reviled your name.
19Do not hand over the life of your dovem to wild beasts;
do not forget the lives of your afflictedn people forever.
20Have regard for your covenant,o
because haunts of violence fill the dark placesp of the land.
21Do not let the oppressedq retreat in disgrace;
may the poor and needyr praise your name.
22Rise up,s O God, and defend your cause;
remember how foolst mock you all day long.
For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A psalm of Asaph. A song.
1We praise you, God,
we praise you, for your Name is near;a
people tell of your wonderful deeds.b
2You say, “I choose the appointed time;c
it is I who judge with equity.d
3When the earth and all its people quake,e
it is I who hold its pillarsf firm.2
4To the arrogantg I say, ‘Boast no more,’h
and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horns.3,i
5Do not lift your horns against heaven;
do not speak so defiantly.j’ ”
6No one from the east or the west
or from the desert can exalt themselves.
7It is God who judges:k
He brings one down, he exalts another.l
8In the hand of the LORD is a cup
full of foaming wine mixedm with spices;
he pours it out, and all the wicked of the earth
drink it down to its very dregs.n
9As for me, I will declareo this forever;
I will singp praise to the God of Jacob,q
10who says, “I will cut off the horns of all the wicked,
but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up.”r
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of Asaph. A song.
1God is renowned in Judah;
in Israel his name is great.a
his dwelling place in Zion.c
3There he broke the flashing arrows,d
the shields and the swords, the weapons of war.2,e
more majestic than mountains rich with game.
they sleep their last sleep;h
not one of the warriors
can lift his hands.
6At your rebuke,i God of Jacob,
both horse and chariotj lie still.
7It is you alone who are to be feared.k
Who can standl before you when you are angry?m
8From heaven you pronounced judgment,
and the land fearedn and was quiet—
9when you, God, rose up to judge,o
to save all the afflictedp of the land.
10Surely your wrath against mankind brings you praise,q
and the survivors of your wrath are restrained.3
11Make vows to the LORD your God and fulfill them;r
let all the neighboring lands
bring giftss to the One to be feared.
12He breaks the spirit of rulers;
he is feared by the kings of the earth.
For the director of music. For Jeduthun. Of Asaph. A psalm.
1I cried out to Goda for help;
I cried out to God to hear me.
2When I was in distress,b I sought the Lord;
at nightc I stretched out untiring hands,d
and I would not be comforted.e
3I rememberedf you, God, and I groaned;g
I meditated, and my spirit grew faint.2,h
4You kept my eyes from closing;
I was too troubled to speak.i
5I thought about the former days,j
the years of long ago;
6I remembered my songs in the night.
My heart meditated and my spirit asked:
7“Will the Lord reject forever?k
Will he never show his favorl again?
8Has his unfailing lovem vanished forever?
Has his promisen failed for all time?
9Has God forgotten to be merciful?o
Has he in anger withheld his compassion?p”
10Then I thought, “To this I will appeal:
the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand.q
11I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes, I will remember your miraclesr of long ago.
12I will considers all your works
and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”t
13Your ways, God, are holy.
What god is as great as our God?u
14You are the God who performs miracles;v
you display your power among the peoples.
15With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,w
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
the waters saw you and writhed;y
the very depths were convulsed.
17The clouds poured down water,z
the heavens resounded with thunder;a
your arrowsb flashed back and forth.
18Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind,c
your lightningd lit up the world;
the earth trembled and quaked.e
19Your pathf led through the sea,g
your way through the mighty waters,
though your footprints were not seen.
20You led your peopleh like a flocki
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.j
A maskil1 of Asaph.
1My people, hear my teaching;a
listen to the words of my mouth.
2I will open my mouth with a parable;b
I will utter hidden things, things from of old—
3things we have heard and known,
things our ancestors have told us.c
4We will not hide them from their descendants;d
we will tell the next generatione
the praiseworthy deedsf of the LORD,
his power, and the wondersg he has done.
5He decreed statutesh for Jacobi
and established the law in Israel,
which he commanded our ancestors
to teach their children,
6so the next generation would know them,
even the children yet to be born,j
and they in turn would tell their children.
7Then they would put their trust in God
and would not forgetk his deeds
but would keep his commands.l
8They would not be like their ancestorsm—
a stubbornn and rebelliouso generation,
whose hearts were not loyal to God,
whose spirits were not faithful to him.
9The men of Ephraim, though armed with bows,p
turned back on the day of battle;q
10they did not keep God’s covenantr
and refused to live by his law.s
11They forgot what he had done,t
the wonders he had shown them.
12He did miraclesu in the sight of their ancestors
in the land of Egypt,v in the region of Zoan.w
13He divided the seax and led them through;
he made the water stand up like a wall.y
14He guided them with the cloud by day
and with light from the fire all night.z
15He split the rocksa in the wilderness
and gave them water as abundant as the seas;
16he brought streams out of a rocky crag
and made water flow down like rivers.
17But they continued to sinb against him,
rebelling in the wilderness against the Most High.
18They willfully put God to the testc
by demanding the food they craved.d
19They spoke against God;e
they said, “Can God really
spread a table in the wilderness?
20True, he struck the rock,
and water gushed out,f
streams flowed abundantly,
but can he also give us bread?
Can he supply meatg for his people?”
21When the LORD heard them, he was furious;
his fire broke outh against Jacob,
and his wrath rose against Israel,
22for they did not believe in God
or trusti in his deliverance.
23Yet he gave a command to the skies above
and opened the doors of the heavens;j
24he rained down mannak for the people to eat,
he gave them the grain of heaven.
25Human beings ate the bread of angels;
he sent them all the food they could eat.
26He let loose the east windl from the heavens
and by his power made the south wind blow.
27He rained meat down on them like dust,
birdsm like sand on the seashore.
28He made them come down inside their camp,
all around their tents.
29They ate till they were gorged—n
he had given them what they craved.
30But before they turned from what they craved,
even while the food was still in their mouths,o
31God’s anger rose against them;
he put to death the sturdiestp among them,
cutting down the young men of Israel.
32In spite of all this, they kept on sinning;q
in spite of his wonders,r they did not believe.s
33So he ended their days in futilityt
and their years in terror.
34Whenever God slew them, they would seeku him;
they eagerly turned to him again.
35They remembered that God was their Rock,v
that God Most High was their Redeemer.w
36But then they would flatter him with their mouths,x
lying to him with their tongues;
37their hearts were not loyaly to him,
they were not faithful to his covenant.
and did not destroy them.
Time after time he restrained his angerc
and did not stir up his full wrath.
39He remembered that they were but flesh,d
a passing breezee that does not return.
40How often they rebelledf against him in the wildernessg
and grieved himh in the wasteland!
41Again and again they put God to the test;i
they vexed the Holy One of Israel.j
42They did not rememberk his power—
the day he redeemed them from the oppressor,l
43the day he displayed his signsm in Egypt,
his wondersn in the region of Zoan.
44He turned their river into blood;o
they could not drink from their streams.
45He sent swarms of fliesp that devoured them,
and frogsq that devastated them.
46He gave their crops to the grasshopper,r
their produce to the locust.s
47He destroyed their vines with hailt
and their sycamore-figs with sleet.
48He gave over their cattle to the hail,
their livestocku to bolts of lightning.
49He unleashed against them his hot anger,v
his wrath, indignation and hostility—
a band of destroying angels.w
50He prepared a path for his anger;
he did not spare them from death
but gave them over to the plague.
51He struck down all the firstborn of Egypt,x
the firstfruits of manhood in the tents of Ham.y
52But he brought his people out like a flock;z
he led them like sheep through the wilderness.
53He guided them safely, so they were unafraid;
but the sea engulfeda their enemies.b
54And so he brought them to the border of his holy land,
to the hill country his right handc had taken.
55He drove out nationsd before them
and allotted their lands to them as an inheritance;e
he settled the tribes of Israel in their homes.
56But they put God to the test
and rebelled against the Most High;
they did not keep his statutes.
57Like their ancestorsf they were disloyal and faithless,
as unreliable as a faulty bow.g
58They angered himh with their high places;i
they aroused his jealousy with their idols.j
59When God heardk them, he was furious;l
he rejected Israelm completely.
60He abandoned the tabernacle of Shiloh,n
the tent he had set up among humans.o
61He sent the ark of his mightp into captivity,q
his splendor into the hands of the enemy.
62He gave his people over to the sword;r
he was furious with his inheritance.s
63Fire consumedt their young men,
and their young women had no wedding songs;u
64their priests were put to the sword,v
and their widows could not weep.
65Then the Lord awoke as from sleep,w
as a warrior wakes from the stupor of wine.
66He beat back his enemies;
he put them to everlasting shame.x
67Then he rejected the tents of Joseph,
he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim;y
68but he chose the tribe of Judah,z
Mount Zion,a which he loved.
69He built his sanctuaryb like the heights,
like the earth that he established forever.
and took him from the sheep pens;
71from tending the sheepd he brought him
to be the shepherde of his people Jacob,
of Israel his inheritance.
72And David shepherded them with integrity of heart;f
with skillful hands he led them.