Read the Bible

²     I know your reputation, Lord,
and I am amazed
    at what you have done.
Please turn from your anger
    and be merciful;
do for us what you did
    for our ancestors.

³ You are the same Holy God
who came from Teman
    and Paran^[b] to help us.
The brightness of your glory
    covered the heavens,
and your praises were heard
    everywhere on earth.
⁴ Your glory shone like the sun,
and light flashed from your hands,
    hiding your mighty power.
⁵ Dreadful diseases and plagues
marched in front
    and followed behind.
⁶ When you stopped,
    the earth shook;
when you stared,
    nations trembled;
when you walked
    along your ancient paths,
eternal mountains and hills
    crumbled and collapsed.
⁷ The tents of desert tribes
in Cushan and Midian^[c]
    were ripped apart.

⁸ Our Lord, were you angry
with the monsters
    of the deep?^[d]
You attacked in your chariot
    and wiped them out.
⁹ Your arrows were ready
    and obeyed your commands.^[e]

You split the earth apart
    with rivers and streams;
¹⁰ mountains trembled
    at the sight of you;
rain poured from the clouds;
    ocean waves roared and rose.
¹¹ The sun and moon stood still,
while your arrows and spears
    flashed like lightning.

¹² In your furious anger,
    you trampled on nations
¹³ to rescue your people
    and save your chosen one.^[f]
You crushed a nation's ruler
and stripped his evil kingdom
    of its power.^[g]
14 His troops had come like a storm,
hoping to scatter us
    and glad to gobble us down.
To them we were refugees
    in hiding—
but you smashed their heads
    with their own weapons.^[h]
15 Then your chariots churned
    the waters of the sea.

¹⁶ When I heard this message,^[i]
I felt weak from fear,
    and my lips quivered.
My bones seemed to melt,
    and I stumbled around.
But I will patiently wait.
Someday those vicious enemies
    will be struck by disaster.^[j]

¹⁷ Fig trees may no longer bloom,
    or vineyards produce grapes;
olive trees may be fruitless,
    and harvest time a failure;
sheep pens may be empty,
    and cattle stalls vacant—
¹⁸ but I will still celebrate
because the Lord God
    saves me.
¹⁹ The Lord gives me strength.
He makes my feet as sure
    as those of a deer,
and he helps me stand
    on the mountains.^[k]

To the music director:
Use stringed instruments.