Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.1:1–6
This is the First Psalm. There are a hundred and fifty songs, hymns, chants, and prayers which together form the Book of Psalms. Many of them are attributed to David, the sweet psalmist of Israel (Samuel II, 23:1). The Ninetieth Psalm gives Moses as its author. Others are of unknown authorship.
The Book of Psalms is in five sections, each ending in a doxology:
1. Psalms 1–41; 2. Psalms 42–72; 3. Psalms 73–89; 4. Psalms 90–106; 5. Psalms 107–150.
The Eighth and the Twenty–Third Psalms are given below in their entirety, followed by a selection of great passages from the others.
O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor.
Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; the fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
O, Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!8:1–9
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.23:1–6
I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.4:8
The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.14:1
The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.16:6
Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings, from the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.17:8–9
The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.18:4
He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet. And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.18:9–10
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork.
Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.19:1–3
His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.19:6
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.19:9–10
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.19:14
My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?22:1
My times are in thy hand.31:15
From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth. He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.33:14–15
The meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.37:11
I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.37:25
I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.37:35
Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.37:37
Surely every man walketh in a vain show: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.39:6
Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.41:1
As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.42:1
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.46:1–2
Be still, and know that I am God.46:10
Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.48:2
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.51:7
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.51:10
Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.55:6
For it was not an enemy that reproached me. . . . But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.55:12–14
The wicked are estranged from the womb. . . . They are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear; which will not hearken to the voice of charmers, charming never so wisely.58:3–5
Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.60:11
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.61:2
Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity.62:9
Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.62:12
Thou crownest the year with thy goodness.65:11
God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.75:7
A day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.84:10
Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.85:10
A thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.90:4
The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.90:10
So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.90:12
Establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.90:17
Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night . . . nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.91:5–6
There shall no evil befall thee. . . . For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.91:10–11
The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters.93:4
The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice.97:1
As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.103:15–16
They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; these see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep.107:23–24
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments.111:10
From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord’s name is to be praised.113:3
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.116:15
The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.118:22–24
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.119:105
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.126:5
Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. . . . It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sheep.127:1–2
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!133:1
By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song. . . . How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land? If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.137:1–5
Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence. . . .
If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me. . . .139:7–10
I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.139:14
Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.150:1–2
Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.150:6