Bible Reading Plan

Foolishness and Wickedness of People.

^1 (C1)The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God."
They are corrupt, and have committed abominable injustice;
^(C2)There is no one who does good.

² God has looked down from heaven upon the sons of mankind
To see if there is ^(C1)anyone who ^(F1)understands,
Who ^(C2)seeks after God.

^3 (C1)Every one of them has turned aside; together they have become corrupt;
There is no one who does good, not even one.

⁴ Have the workers of injustice ^(C1)no knowledge,
Who eat up My people like they ate bread,
And have not called upon God?

⁵ They were in great ^(F1)fear there, ^(C1)where no ^(F1)fear had been;
For God ^(C2)scattered the bones of ^(F2)him who encamped against you;
You ^(C3)put them to shame, because ^(C4)God had rejected them.

⁶ Oh, that ^(C1)the salvation of Israel would come from Zion!
When God restores the fortunes of His people,
Jacob shall rejoice, Israel shall be glad.

Prayer for Defense against Enemies.

¹ Save me, God, by ^(C1)Your name,
And ^(F1)vindicate me by ^(C2)Your power.

^2 (C1)Hear my prayer, God;
^(C2)Listen to the words of my mouth.

³ For strangers have ^(C1)risen against me
And ^(C2)violent men have ^(C3)sought my ^(F1)life;
They have ^(C4)not set God before them. Selah

⁴ Behold, ^(C1)God is my helper;
The Lord is ^(F1)the ^(C2)sustainer of my soul.

^5 (F1)He will ^(C1)pay back the evil to my enemies;
^(F2)(C2)Destroy them ^(C3)in Your ^(F3)faithfulness.

^6 (F1)(C1)Willingly I will sacrifice to You;
I will ^(C2)praise Your name, LORD, for it is good.

⁷ For ^(F1)He has ^(C1)saved me from all ^(F2)trouble,
And my eye has ^(C2)looked with satisfaction upon my enemies.

Prayer for the Destruction of the Treacherous.

^1 (C1)Listen to my prayer, God;
And ^(C2)do not hide Yourself from my pleading.

² Give Your ^(C1)attention to me and answer me;
I am restless in my ^(C2)complaint and ^(F1)(C3)severely distracted,

³ Because of the voice of the enemy,
Because of the ^(C1)pressure of the wicked;
For they ^(C2)bring down ^(F1)trouble upon me
And in anger they ^(C3)hold a grudge against me.

⁴ My ^(C1)heart is in anguish within me,
And the terrors of ^(C2)death have fallen upon me.

⁵ Fear and ^(C1)trembling come upon me,
And ^(F1)(C2)horror has ^(F2)overwhelmed me.

⁶ I said, "Oh, that I had wings like a dove!
I would fly away and ^(F1)(C1)be at rest.

⁷ "Behold, I would flee far away,
I would ^(C1)spend my nights in the wilderness. Selah

⁸ "I would hurry to my place of refuge
From the ^(C1)stormy wind and heavy gale."

⁹ Confuse them, Lord, ^(C1)divide their tongues,
For I have seen ^(C2)violence and strife in the city.

¹⁰ Day and night they go around her upon her walls,
And evil and harm are in her midst.

^11 (C1)Destruction is in her midst;
^(C2)Oppression and deceit do not depart from her ^(F1)streets.

¹² For it is ^(C1)not an enemy who taunts me,
Then I could endure it;
Nor is it one who hates me who ^(C2)has exalted himself against me,
Then I could hide myself from him.

¹³ But it is you, a man ^(F1)my equal,
My ^(C1)companion and my ^(C2)confidant;

¹⁴ We who had sweet ^(F1)fellowship together,
^(C1)Walked in the house of God among the commotion.

¹⁵ May ^(F1)death come ^(C1)deceitfully upon them;
May they ^(C2)go down alive to ^(F2)Sheol,
For evil is in their dwelling, in their midst.

¹⁶ As for me, I shall ^(C1)call upon God,
And the LORD will save me.

^17 (C1)Evening and ^(C2)morning and at ^(C3)noon, I will complain and moan,
And He will hear my voice.

¹⁸ He will ^(C1)redeem my soul in peace ^(F1)from the battle which is against me,
For they are ^(C2)many who are aggressive toward me.

¹⁹ God will ^(C1)hear and humiliate them—
Even the One ^(C2)who ^(F1)sits enthroned from ancient times— Selah
With whom there ^(F2)is no change,
And who ^(C3)do not fear God.

²⁰ He has put forth his hands against ^(C1)those who were at peace with him;
He has ^(F1)(C2)violated his covenant.

²¹ His ^(F1)speech was ^(C1)smoother than butter,
But his heart was war;
His words were ^(C1)softer than oil,
Yet they were drawn ^(C2)swords.

^22 (C1)Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you;
^(C2)He will never allow the righteous to ^(F1)(C3)be shaken.

²³ But You, God, will bring them down to the ^(C1)pit of destruction;
^(C2)Men of bloodshed and deceit will ^(C3)not live out half their days.
But I will ^(C4)trust in You.

Pleading for Help and Grateful Trust in God.

¹ Be gracious to me, God, for a man has ^(F1)(C1)trampled upon me;
^(F2)Fighting all day long he ^(C2)oppresses me.

² My enemies have ^(C1)trampled upon me all day long,
For ^(F1)they are many who ^(C2)fight proudly against me.

^3 (F1)When I am ^(C1)afraid,
^(F2)I will ^(C2)put my trust in You.

^4 (C1)In God, whose word I praise,
In God I have put my trust;
I shall not be afraid.
^(C2)What can mere ^(F1)mortals do to me?

⁵ All day long they ^(C1)distort my words;
All their ^(F1)(C2)thoughts are against me for evil.

⁶ They ^(F1)(C1)attack, they lurk,
They ^(C2)watch my ^(F2)steps,
As they have ^(C3)waited to take my ^(F3)life.

⁷ Because of their wickedness, will there be an ^(C1)escape for them?
In anger ^(C2)make the peoples fall down, God!

⁸ You ^(C1)have taken account of my ^(F1)miseries;
Put my ^(C2)tears in Your bottle.
Are they not in ^(C3)Your book?

⁹ Then my enemies will ^(C1)turn back ^(C2)on the day when I call;
This I know, ^(F1)that ^(C3)God is for me.

¹⁰ In God, whose word I praise,
In the LORD, whose word I praise,

¹¹ In God I have put my ^(F1)trust, I shall not be afraid.
What can mankind do to me?

¹² Your ^(C1)vows are binding upon me, God;
I will render thanksgiving offerings to You.

¹³ For You have ^(C1)saved my soul from death,
^(F1)Indeed ^(C2)my feet from stumbling,
So that I may ^(C3)walk before God
In the ^(C4)light of the ^(F2)living.

Prayer for Rescue from Persecutors.

¹ Be gracious to me, God, be gracious to me,
For my soul ^(C1)takes refuge in You;
And in the ^(C2)shadow of Your wings I will take refuge
Until destruction ^(C3)passes by.

² I will cry to God Most High,
To God who ^(C1)accomplishes all things for me.

³ He will ^(C1)send from heaven and save me;
He rebukes the one who ^(F1)(C2)tramples upon me. Selah
God will send His ^(F2)(C3)favor and His truth.

⁴ My soul is among ^(C1)lions;
I must lie among those who devour,
Among sons of mankind whose ^(C2)teeth are spears and arrows,
And their ^(C3)tongue is a sharp sword.

^5 (C1)Be exalted above the heavens, God;
May Your glory be above all the earth.

⁶ They have prepared a ^(C1)net for my steps;
My soul is ^(C2)bowed down;
They ^(C3)dug a pit before me;
They themselves have ^(C4)fallen into the midst of it. Selah

^7 (C1)My ^(C2)heart is steadfast, God, my heart is steadfast;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises!

⁸ Awake, ^(C1)my glory!
Awake, ^(C2)harp and lyre!
I will awaken the dawn.

^9 (C1)I will praise You, Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to You among the ^(F1)nations.

¹⁰ For Your ^(C1)goodness is great to the heavens
And Your ^(F1)truth to the clouds.

^11 (C1)Be exalted above the heavens, God;
May Your glory be above all the earth.

Prayer for the Punishment of the Wicked.

¹ Do you indeed ^(F1)speak righteousness, you ^(F2)gods?
Do you ^(C1)judge ^(F3)fairly, you sons of mankind?

² No, in heart you ^(C1)practice injustice;
On earth you ^(C2)clear a way for the violence of your hands.

³ The wicked have turned away ^(C1)from the womb;
These who speak lies ^(C2)go astray from ^(F1)birth.

⁴ They have venom like the ^(C1)venom of a serpent;
Like a deaf cobra that stops up its ear,

⁵ So that it ^(C1)does not hear the voice of ^(F1)(C2)charmers,
Or a skillful caster of spells.

⁶ God, ^(C1)shatter their teeth in their mouth;
Break out the fangs of the young lions, LORD.

⁷ May they ^(C1)flow away like water that runs off;
When he ^(F1)(C2)aims his arrows, may they be as ^(F2)headless shafts.

⁸ May they be like a snail which goes along in slime,
Like the ^(C1)miscarriage of a woman that never sees the sun.

⁹ Before your ^(C1)pots can feel the fire of thorns
He will ^(C2)sweep them away with a whirlwind, the ^(F1)green and the burning alike.

¹⁰ The ^(C1)righteous will rejoice when he ^(C2)sees vengeance;
He will ^(C3)wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.

¹¹ And people will say, "There certainly is ^(F1)(C1)a reward for the righteous;
There certainly is a God who ^(C2)judges on the earth!"

Prayer for Rescue from Enemies.

^1 (C1)Rescue me from my enemies, my God;
^(F1)(C2)Set me securely on high away from those who rise up against me.

² Rescue me from ^(C1)those who practice injustice,
And save me from ^(C2)men of bloodshed.

³ For behold, they ^(C1)have ^(F1)set an ambush for my ^(F2)life;
^(F3)Fierce men ^(C1)attack me,
^(C2)Not for my wrongdoing nor for my sin, LORD,

^4 (F1)(C1)For no guilt of mine, they run and take their stand against me.
^(C2)Stir Yourself to ^(F2)help me, and see!

⁵ You, ^(C1)LORD God of armies, the God of Israel,
Awake to ^(F1)(C2)punish all the nations;
^(C3)Do not be gracious to any who deal treacherously in wrongdoing. Selah

⁶ They ^(C1)return at evening, they howl like a ^(C2)dog,
And prowl around the city.

⁷ Behold, they ^(C1)gush forth with their mouths;
^(C2)Swords are in their lips,
For, they say, "^(C3)Who hears?"

⁸ But You, LORD, ^(C1)laugh at them;
You ^(C2)scoff at all the nations.

⁹ Because of ^(F1)his ^(C1)strength I will watch for You,
For God is my ^(C2)refuge.

^10 (F1)My God ^(C1)in His faithfulness will meet me;
God will let me ^(C2)look triumphantly upon my enemies.

¹¹ Do not kill them, ^(C1)or my people will forget;
^(F1)(C2)Scatter them by Your power and bring them down,
Lord, ^(C3)our shield.

^12 (F1)On account of the ^(C1)sin of their mouths and the words of their lips,
May they even be ^(C2)caught in their pride,
And on account of ^(C3)curses and lies which they tell.

^13 (F1)(C1)Destroy them in wrath, ^(F1)destroy them so that they will no longer exist;
So that people may ^(C2)know that God ^(F2)rules in Jacob,
To the ends of the earth. Selah

¹⁴ They ^(C1)return at evening, they howl like a dog,
And prowl around the city.

¹⁵ They ^(C1)wander about ^(F1)for food
And ^(F2)murmur if they are not satisfied.

¹⁶ But as for me, I will ^(C1)sing of Your strength;
Yes, I will ^(C2)joyfully sing of Your faithfulness in the ^(C3)morning,
For You have been my ^(C4)refuge
And a ^(C5)place of refuge on the day of my distress.

^17 (C1)My strength, I will sing praises to You;
For God is my ^(C2)refuge, the ^(F1)God who shows me favor.

Grieving over Defeat in Battle, and Prayer for Help.

¹ God, ^(C1)You have rejected us. You have ^(F1)(C2)broken us;
You have been ^(C3)angry; ^(C4)restore us!

² You have made the ^(F1)(C1)land quake, You have split it open;
^(C2)Heal its cracks, for it sways.

³ You have ^(F1)(C1)made Your people experience hardship;
You have given us ^(F2)wine to ^(C2)drink that makes us stagger.

⁴ You have given a ^(C1)banner to those who fear You,
That it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah

^5 (C1)That Your ^(C2)beloved may be rescued,
^(C3)Save us with Your right hand, and answer ^(F1)us!

⁶ God has spoken in His ^(F1)(C1)holiness:
"I will triumph, I will divide up ^(C2)Shechem, and measure out the Valley of ^(C3)Succoth.

⁷ "^(C1)Gilead is Mine, and Manasseh is Mine;
^(C2)Ephraim also is the ^(F1)helmet of My head;
Judah is My ^(C3)scepter.

⁸ "^(C1)Moab is My washbowl;
I will throw My sandal over ^(C2)Edom;
Shout loud, ^(C3)Philistia, because of Me!"

⁹ Who will bring me into the besieged city?
Who ^(F1)will lead me to Edom?

¹⁰ Have You Yourself not ^(C1)rejected us, God?
And ^(C2)will You not go out with our armies, God?

¹¹ Oh give us help against the enemy,
For ^(C1)rescue ^(F1)by man is worthless.

^12 (F1)Through God we will ^(C1)do valiantly,
And it is He who will ^(C2)trample down our enemies.

Confidence in God's Protection.

^1 (C1)Hear my cry, God;
^(C2)Give Your attention to my prayer.

² From the ^(C1)end of the earth I call to You when my heart is ^(C2)faint;
Lead me to ^(C3)the rock that is higher than I.

³ For You have been a ^(C1)refuge for me,
A ^(C2)tower of strength against the enemy.

⁴ Let me ^(F1)(C1)dwell in Your tent forever;
Let me ^(C2)take refuge in the shelter of Your wings. Selah

⁵ For You have heard my ^(C1)vows, God;
You have given me the inheritance of those who ^(C2)fear Your name.

⁶ You will ^(F1)(C1)prolong the king's ^(F2)life;
His years will be like generations.

⁷ He will ^(F1)sit enthroned ^(C1)before God forever;
Appoint ^(C2)faithfulness and truth that they may watch over him.

⁸ So I will ^(C1)sing praise to Your name forever,
That I may ^(C2)pay my vows day by day.

God Alone a Refuge from Treachery and Oppression.

^1 (C1)My soul waits in silence for God alone;
From Him ^(C2)comes my salvation.

² He alone is my ^(C1)rock and my salvation,
My ^(C2)stronghold; I will not be greatly shaken.

³ How long will you attack a man,
That you may murder him, all of you,
Like a ^(C1)leaning wall, like a tottering fence?

⁴ They have planned only to thrust him down from his high position;
They ^(C1)delight in falsehood;
They ^(C2)bless with ^(F1)their mouth,
But inwardly they curse. Selah

⁵ My soul, ^(C1)wait in silence for God alone,
For my hope is from Him.

⁶ He alone is ^(C1)my rock and my salvation,
My refuge; I will not be shaken.

⁷ My ^(C1)salvation and my glory rest on God;
The rock of my strength, my ^(C2)refuge is in God.

^8 (C1)Trust in Him at all times, you people;
^(C2)Pour out your hearts before Him;
God is a refuge for us. Selah

⁹ People of ^(C1)low standing are only ^(C2)breath, and people of rank are a ^(C3)lie;
In the ^(C4)balances they go up.
Together they are lighter than breath.

^10 (C1)Do not trust in oppression,
And do not vainly rely on ^(C2)robbery;
If wealth increases, ^(C3)do not set your heart on it.

¹¹ God has ^(C1)spoken ^(F1)once;
^(F2)Twice I have heard this:
That ^(C2)power belongs to God;

¹² And faithfulness ^(C1)is Yours, Lord,
For You ^(C2)reward a person according to his work.

The Thirsting Soul Satisfied in God.

¹ God, ^(C1)You are my God; I shall be watching for You;
My soul ^(C2)thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You,
In a ^(C3)dry and exhausted land where there is no water.

² So have I ^(C1)seen You in the sanctuary,
To see Your power and glory.

³ Because Your ^(F1)(C1)favor is better than life,
My lips will praise You.

⁴ So I will bless You ^(C1)as long as I live;
I will ^(C2)lift up my hands in Your name.

⁵ My soul is ^(C1)satisfied as with fat and fatness,
And my mouth offers ^(C2)praises with joyful lips.

⁶ When I remember You ^(C1)on my bed,
I meditate on You in the ^(C2)night watches,

⁷ For ^(C1)You have been my help,
And in the ^(C2)shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.

⁸ My soul ^(C1)clings ^(F1)to You;
Your ^(C2)right hand takes hold of me.

⁹ But those who ^(C1)seek my ^(F1)life to destroy it,
Will go into the ^(F2)(C2)depths of the earth.

^10 (F1)They will be ^(F2)(C1)turned over to the power of the sword;
They will be a ^(F3)(C2)prey for foxes.

¹¹ But the ^(C1)king will rejoice in God;
Everyone who ^(C2)swears by Him will boast,
For the ^(C3)mouths of those who speak lies will be stopped.

Prayer for Rescue from Secret Enemies.

¹ Hear my voice, God, in ^(C1)my ^(F1)complaint;
^(C2)Protect my life from dread of the enemy.

² Hide me from the ^(C1)secret discussion of evildoers,
From the restlessness of ^(C2)the workers of injustice,

³ Who ^(C1)have sharpened their tongues like a sword.
They ^(C2)aimed bitter speech as their arrows,

⁴ To ^(C1)shoot ^(F1)from concealment at the innocent;
Suddenly they shoot at him, and ^(C2)do not fear.

⁵ They make firm for themselves an evil ^(F1)purpose;
They ^(F2)talk of ^(C1)setting snares secretly;
They say, "^(C2)Who can see them?"

⁶ They ^(F1)devise injustices, saying,
"We are ^(F2)ready with a well-conceived plot";
For the ^(F3)(C1)inward thought and the heart of a person are ^(F4)deep.

⁷ But ^(C1)God ^(F1)will shoot an arrow at them;
Suddenly ^(F2)they will be wounded.

⁸ So ^(F1)they ^(F2)will ^(C1)make him stumble;
^(C2)Their own tongue is against them;
All who see them will ^(C3)shake their heads.

⁹ Then all people ^(F1)will ^(C1)fear,
And they ^(F2)will ^(C2)declare the work of God,
And ^(F3)will consider ^(F4)what He has done.

¹⁰ The righteous person will be ^(C1)glad in the LORD and ^(C2)take refuge in Him;
And all the upright in heart will boast.

God's Abundant Favor to Earth and Mankind.

¹ There will be silence ^(F1)before You, and praise in Zion, God,
And the ^(C1)vow will be fulfilled for You.

² You who hear prayer,
To You ^(C1)all ^(F1)mankind comes.

^3 (F1)(C1)Wrongdoings prevail against me;
As for our offenses, You ^(F2)(C2)forgive them.

^4 (C1)Blessed is the one You ^(C2)choose and allow to approach You;
He will dwell in Your courtyards.
We will be ^(C3)satisfied with the goodness of Your house,
Your holy temple.

⁵ By ^(C1)awesome deeds You answer us in righteousness, ^(C2)God of our salvation,
You who are the trust of all the ^(C3)ends of the earth and the farthest ^(F1)(C4)sea;

⁶ Who ^(C1)establishes the mountains by His strength,
Who is ^(C2)encircled with might;

⁷ Who ^(C1)stills the roaring of the seas,
The roaring of their waves,
And the ^(C2)turmoil of the nations.

⁸ They who dwell at the ^(C1)ends of the earth stand in awe of Your signs;
You make the ^(F1)sunrise and the sunset shout for joy.

⁹ You visit the earth and ^(C1)cause it to overflow;
You greatly ^(C2)enrich it;
The ^(F1)(C3)stream of God is full of water;
You prepare their ^(C4)grain, for so You prepare ^(F2)the earth.

¹⁰ You water its furrows abundantly,
You ^(F1)settle its ridges,
You soften it ^(C1)with showers,
You bless its growth.

¹¹ You have crowned the year ^(F1)with Your ^(C1)goodness,
And Your ^(F2)paths ^(C2)drip with fatness.

^12 (C1)The pastures of the wilderness drip,
And the ^(C2)hills encircle themselves with rejoicing.

¹³ The meadows are ^(C1)clothed with flocks
And the valleys are ^(C2)covered with grain;
They ^(C3)shout for joy, yes, they sing.

Praise for God's Mighty Deeds and for His Answer to Prayer.

^1 (C1)Shout joyfully to God, all the earth;

² Sing the ^(C1)glory of His name;
Make His ^(C2)praise glorious.

³ Say to God, "How ^(C1)awesome are Your works!
Because of the greatness of Your power Your enemies will ^(C2)pretend to obey You.

⁴ "^(C1)All the earth will worship You,
And will ^(C2)sing praises to You;
They will sing praises to Your name." Selah

^5 (C1)Come and see the works of God,
Who is ^(C2)awesome in His deeds toward the sons of mankind.

⁶ He ^(C1)turned the sea into dry land;
They passed through ^(C2)the river on foot;
Let's ^(C3)rejoice there, in Him!

⁷ He ^(C1)rules by His might forever;
His ^(C2)eyes keep watch on the nations;
The rebellious shall not ^(C3)exalt themselves! Selah

⁸ Bless our God, you peoples,
And ^(F1)(C1)sound His praise abroad,

⁹ Who ^(F1)(C1)keeps us in life,
And ^(C2)does not allow our feet to ^(F2)slip.

¹⁰ For You have ^(C1)put us to the test, God;
You have ^(C2)refined us as silver is refined.

¹¹ You ^(C1)brought us into the net;
You laid an oppressive burden upon ^(F1)us.

¹² You made men ^(C1)ride over our heads;
We went through ^(C2)fire and through water.
Yet You ^(C3)brought us out into a place of abundance.

¹³ I shall ^(C1)come into Your house with burnt offerings;
I shall ^(C2)pay You my vows,

¹⁴ Which my lips uttered
And my mouth spoke when I was ^(C1)in distress.

¹⁵ I shall ^(C1)offer to You burnt offerings of fat animals,
With the smoke of ^(C2)rams;
I shall make an offering of ^(F1)bulls with male goats. Selah

^16 (C1)Come and hear, all who ^(F1)fear God,
And I will ^(C2)tell of what He has done for my soul.

¹⁷ I cried to Him with my mouth,
And ^(F1)He was ^(C1)exalted with my tongue.

¹⁸ If I ^(F1)(C1)regard wickedness in my heart,
The ^(C2)Lord will not hear;

¹⁹ But ^(C1)God has heard;
He has given attention to the sound of my prayer.

^20 (C1)Blessed be God,
Who ^(C2)has not turned away my prayer
Nor His favor from me.

The Nations Exhorted to Praise God.

¹ God be gracious to us and ^(C1)bless us,
And ^(C2)cause His face to shine ^(F1)upon us— Selah

² That ^(C1)Your way may be known on the earth,
^(C2)Your salvation among all nations.

³ May the ^(C1)peoples praise You, God;
May all the peoples praise You.

⁴ May the ^(C1)nations be glad and sing for joy;
For You will ^(C2)judge the peoples with fairness
And ^(C3)guide the nations on the earth. Selah

⁵ May the ^(C1)peoples praise You, God;
May all the peoples praise You.

⁶ The ^(C1)earth has yielded its produce;
God, our God, ^(C2)blesses us.

⁷ God blesses us,
^(F1)So that ^(C1)all the ends of the earth may fear Him.

The God of Sinai and of the Sanctuary.

^1 (F1)May ^(C1)God arise, ^(F2)may His enemies be scattered,
And ^(F3)may those who hate Him flee from His presence.

² As ^(C1)smoke is driven away, so drive them away;
As ^(C2)wax melts before a fire,
So the ^(C3)wicked will perish before God.

³ But the ^(C1)righteous will be joyful; they will rejoice before God;
Yes, they will rejoice with gladness.

⁴ Sing to God, ^(C1)sing praises to His name;
^(F1)(C2)Exalt Him who ^(C3)rides through the deserts,
Whose ^(C4)name is ^(F2)the LORD, and be jubilant before Him.

⁵ A ^(C1)father of the fatherless and a ^(C2)judge ^(F1)for the widows,
Is God in His ^(C3)holy dwelling.

⁶ God ^(F1)(C1)makes a home for the lonely;
He ^(C2)leads out the prisoners into prosperity,
Only ^(C3)the rebellious live in parched lands.

⁷ God, when You ^(C1)went forth before Your people,
When You ^(C2)marched through the desert, Selah

⁸ The ^(C1)earth quaked;
The ^(C2)heavens also dropped rain at the presence of God;
^(F1)(C3)Sinai itself quaked at the presence of God, the God of Israel.

⁹ You ^(C1)made plentiful rain fall, God;
You confirmed Your inheritance when it was ^(F1)parched.

¹⁰ Your creatures settled in it;
In Your kindness You ^(C1)provided for the poor, God.

¹¹ The Lord gives the ^(F1)command;
The ^(C1)women who proclaim good news are a great army:

¹² "^(C1)Kings of armies flee, they flee,
And she who remains at home will ^(C2)divide the spoils!"

^13 (F1)When you lie down ^(C1)among the sheepfolds,
You are like the wings of a dove covered with silver,
And its pinions with ^(F2)glistening gold.

¹⁴ When the Almighty ^(C1)scattered the kings ^(F1)there,
It was snowing in ^(C2)Zalmon.

^15 (C1)The mountain of Bashan is a ^(F1)mountain of God;
The mountain of Bashan is a mountain of many peaks.

¹⁶ Why do you look with envy, you mountains of many peaks,
At the mountain God has ^(C1)desired as His dwelling?
Indeed, ^(C2)the LORD will dwell there forever.

¹⁷ The ^(C1)chariots of God are ^(F1)myriads, ^(C2)thousands upon thousands;
^(F2)The Lord is among them as at Sinai, in holiness.

¹⁸ You have ^(C1)ascended on high, You have ^(C2)led captive Your captives;
You have received gifts among people,
Even among the rebellious as well, that ^(F1)the LORD God may dwell there.

¹⁹ Blessed be the Lord, who daily ^(C1)bears our burden,
^(C2)The God who is our salvation. Selah

²⁰ God is to us a ^(C1)God of salvation;
And ^(C2)to ^(F1)GOD the Lord belong ways of escape ^(F2)from death.

²¹ God certainly will ^(C1)shatter the heads of His enemies,
The hairy ^(F1)head of one who goes about in his guilt.

²² The Lord ^(F1)said, "^(C1)I will bring them back from Bashan.
I will bring them back from the depths of the sea,

²³ So that ^(F1)(C1)your foot may shatter them in blood,
And the tongue of your ^(C2)dogs may have its portion from your enemies."

²⁴ They have seen ^(C1)Your procession, God,
The procession of my God, my King, ^(F1)(C2)into the sanctuary.

²⁵ The ^(C1)singers went on, the musicians after them,
^(F1)In the midst of the ^(C2)young women beating tambourines.

^26 (C1)Bless God in the congregations,
Even the LORD, you who are of the ^(C2)fountain of Israel.

^27 (C1)Benjamin, the ^(F1)youngest, is there, ^(F2)ruling them,
The leaders of Judah in their company,
The leaders of ^(C2)Zebulun, the leaders of Naphtali.

^28 (F1)Your God has ^(C1)commanded your strength;
Show Yourself strong, God, You ^(C2)who acted ^(F2)in our behalf.

^29 (F1)Because of Your temple at Jerusalem
^(C1)Kings will bring gifts to You.

³⁰ Rebuke the ^(C1)animals ^(F1)in the reeds,
The herd of ^(C2)bulls with the calves of the peoples,
Trampling the pieces of silver;
He has ^(C3)scattered the peoples who delight in war.

^31 (F1)Messengers will come from ^(C1)Egypt;
^(F2)(C2)Cush will quickly stretch out her hands to God.

³² Sing to God, you ^(C1)kingdoms of the earth,
^(C2)Sing praises to the Lord, Selah

³³ To Him who ^(C1)rides upon the ^(F1)(C2)highest heavens, which are from ancient times;
Behold, ^(C3)He ^(F2)speaks with His voice, a ^(C4)mighty voice.

^34 (C1)Ascribe strength to God;
His majesty is over Israel,
And ^(C2)His strength is in the ^(F1)skies.

^35 (F1)God, You are ^(C1)awesome from Your ^(F2)sanctuary.
The God of Israel Himself ^(C2)gives strength and power to the people.
^(C3)Blessed be God!

A Cry of Distress and a Curse on Adversaries.

¹ Save me, God,
For the ^(C1)waters have ^(F1)threatened my life.

² I have sunk in deep ^(C1)mud, and there is no foothold;
I have come into deep waters, and a ^(F1)(C2)flood overflows me.

³ I am ^(C1)weary with my crying; my throat is parched;
My ^(C2)eyes fail while I wait for my God.

⁴ Those ^(C1)who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head;
Those who would ^(F1)destroy me ^(C2)are powerful, those who oppose me with lies;
^(C3)What I did not steal, I then have to restore.

⁵ God, You know ^(C1)my foolishness,
And ^(C2)my guilt is not hidden from You.

⁶ May those who wait for You not ^(C1)be ashamed because of me, Lord ^(F1)GOD of armies;
May those who seek You not be dishonored because of me, God of Israel,

⁷ Because ^(C1)for Your sake I have endured disgrace;
^(C2)Dishonor has covered my face.

⁸ I have become ^(C1)estranged ^(F1)from my brothers,
And a stranger to my mother's sons.

⁹ For ^(C1)zeal for Your house has consumed me,
And ^(C2)the taunts of those who taunt You have fallen on me.

¹⁰ When I wept ^(C1)in my soul with fasting,
It became my ^(C2)disgrace.

¹¹ When I made ^(C1)sackcloth my clothing,
I became ^(C2)a proverb to them.

¹² Those who ^(C1)sit in the gate talk about me,
And ^(C2)songs of mockery by those habitually drunk are about me.

¹³ But as for me, my prayer is to You, LORD, ^(C1)at an acceptable time;
God, in the ^(C2)greatness of Your mercy,
Answer me with ^(F1)Your saving truth.

¹⁴ Rescue me from the ^(C1)mud and do not let me sink;
May I be ^(C2)rescued from those who hate me, and from the ^(C1)depths of water.

¹⁵ May the ^(F1)(C1)flood of water not overflow me
Nor the deep swallow me up,
Nor the ^(C2)pit close its mouth on me.

¹⁶ Answer me, LORD, for ^(C1)Your mercy is good;
^(C2)According to the greatness of Your compassion, ^(C3)turn to me,

¹⁷ And ^(C1)do not hide Your face from Your servant,
For I am ^(C2)in distress; answer me quickly.

¹⁸ Come near to my soul and ^(C1)redeem it;
^(C2)Ransom me because of my enemies!

¹⁹ You know my ^(C1)disgrace, my shame, and my dishonor;
All my enemies are ^(F1)known to You.

²⁰ Disgrace has ^(C1)broken my heart, and I am so sick.
And ^(C2)I waited for sympathy, but there was none;
And for ^(C3)comforters, but I found none.

²¹ They also gave me ^(F1)(C1)a bitter herb in my food,
And for my thirst they ^(C2)gave me vinegar to drink.

²² May ^(C1)their table before them become a snare;
And ^(F1)(C2)when they are at peace, may it become a trap.

²³ May their ^(C1)eyes grow dim so that they cannot see,
And make their ^(C2)hips shake continually.

^24 (C1)Pour out Your indignation on them,
And may Your burning anger overtake them.

²⁵ May their ^(F1)(C1)camp be desolated;
May there be none living in their tents.

²⁶ For they have ^(C1)persecuted him whom ^(C2)You Yourself struck,
And they tell of the pain of those whom ^(C3)You have ^(F1)wounded.

²⁷ Add ^(C1)guilt to their guilt,
And ^(C2)may they not come into ^(C3)Your righteousness.

²⁸ May they be ^(C1)wiped out of the ^(C2)book of life,
And may they not be ^(F1)(C3)recorded with the righteous.

²⁹ But I am ^(C1)afflicted and in pain;
^(F1)May Your salvation, God, ^(C2)set me safely on high.

³⁰ I will ^(C1)praise the name of God with song,
And ^(C2)exalt Him with ^(C3)thanksgiving.

³¹ And it will ^(C1)please the LORD better than an ox
Or bull with horns and hoofs.

³² The ^(C1)humble ^(F1)have seen it and are glad;
You who seek God, ^(C2)let your heart ^(F2)revive.

³³ For ^(C1)the LORD hears the needy,
And ^(C2)does not despise those of His who are prisoners.

^34 (C1)Heaven and earth shall praise Him,
The seas and ^(C2)everything that moves in them.

³⁵ For God will ^(C1)save Zion and ^(C2)build the cities of Judah,
So that they may live there and ^(C3)possess it.

³⁶ The ^(F1)(C1)descendants of His servants will inherit it,
And those who love His name ^(C2)will live in it.

Prayer for Help against Persecutors.

^1 (C1)God, hurry to save me;
LORD, hurry to help me!

^2 (C1)May those who seek my ^(F1)life
Be put to shame and humiliated;
May those who delight ^(F2)in my harm
Be turned back and dishonored.

^3 (C1)May those who say, "Aha, aha!" be ^(F1)turned back
Because of their shame.

⁴ May all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You;
And may those who love Your salvation say continually,
"May God be exalted!"

⁵ But ^(C1)I am afflicted and needy;
^(C2)Hurry to me, God!
You are my help and my savior;
LORD, do not delay.

Prayer of an Old Man for Rescue.

^1 (C1)In You, LORD, I have taken refuge;
Let me never be put to shame.

^2 (C1)In Your righteousness rescue me and save me;
^(C2)Extend Your ear to me and help me.

^3 (C1)Be to me a rock of ^(C2)dwelling to which I may continually come;
You have given the ^(C3)commandment to save me,
For You are ^(C4)my rock and my fortress.

^4 (C1)Save me, my God, from the hand of the wicked,
From the ^(F1)grasp of the wrongdoer and the ruthless,

⁵ For You are my ^(C1)hope;
Lord ^(F1)GOD, You are my ^(C2)confidence from my youth.

⁶ I have ^(C1)leaned on You since my birth;
You are He who ^(C2)took me from my mother's womb;
My ^(C3)praise is continually ^(F1)of You.

⁷ I have become a ^(C1)marvel to many,
For You are ^(C2)my strong refuge.

⁸ My ^(C1)mouth is filled with Your praise
And with ^(C2)Your glory all day long.

⁹ Do not cast me away at the ^(C1)time of my old age;
Do not abandon me when my strength fails.

¹⁰ For my enemies have spoken ^(F1)against me;
And those who ^(C1)watch for my ^(F2)life ^(C2)have consulted together,

¹¹ Saying, "^(C1)God has abandoned him;
Pursue and seize him, for there is ^(C2)no one to save him."

¹² God, ^(C1)do not be far from me;
My God, ^(C2)hurry to my aid!

¹³ May those who are enemies of my soul be ^(C1)put to shame and consumed;
May they be ^(C2)covered with disgrace and dishonor, who ^(C3)seek ^(F1)to injure me.

¹⁴ But as for me, I will ^(C1)wait continually,
And will ^(F1)(C2)praise You yet more and more.

¹⁵ My ^(C1)mouth shall tell of Your righteousness
And of ^(C2)Your salvation all day long;
For I ^(C3)do not know the art of writing.

¹⁶ I will come ^(C1)with the mighty deeds of the Lord ^(F1)GOD;
I will ^(C2)make mention of Your righteousness, Yours alone.

¹⁷ God, You ^(C1)have taught me from my youth,
And I still ^(C2)declare Your wondrous deeds.

¹⁸ And even when I am ^(C1)old and gray, God, do not abandon me,
Until I ^(C2)declare Your ^(F1)strength to this generation,
Your power to all who are to come.

^19 (F1)For Your ^(C1)righteousness, God, reaches to the ^(F2)heavens,
You who have ^(C2)done great things;
God, ^(C3)who is like You?

²⁰ You who have ^(C1)shown ^(F1)me many troubles and distresses
Will ^(C2)revive ^(F1)me again,
And will bring ^(F1)me up again ^(C3)from the depths of the earth.

²¹ May You increase my ^(C1)greatness
And turn to ^(C2)comfort me.

²² I will also praise You with ^(F1)(C1)a harp,
And Your ^(F2)truth, my God;
I will sing praises to You with the ^(C2)lyre,
^(C3)Holy One of Israel.

²³ My lips will ^(C1)shout for joy when I sing praises to You;
And my ^(C2)soul, which You have redeemed.

²⁴ My ^(C1)tongue also will tell of Your righteousness all day long;
For they are ^(C2)put to shame, for they are humiliated who seek ^(F1)my harm.

The Reign of the Righteous King.

¹ Give the king ^(C1)Your judgments, God,
And ^(C2)Your righteousness to the king's son.

^2 (F1)May ^(F2)he ^(C1)judge Your people with righteousness
And ^(F3)(C2)Your afflicted with justice.

^3 (F1)May the mountains bring ^(F2)(C1)peace to the people,
And the hills, in righteousness.

^4 (F1)May he ^(C1)vindicate the ^(F2)afflicted of the people,
Save the children of the needy,
And crush the oppressor.

^5 (F1)May they fear You ^(C1)while the sun shines,
And ^(F2)as long as the moon shines, throughout all generations.

^6 (F1)May he come down ^(C1)like rain upon the mown grass,
Like ^(C2)showers that water the earth.

^7 (F1)May the ^(C1)righteous flourish in his days,
As well as an ^(C2)abundance of peace, until the moon is no more.

⁸ May he also rule ^(C1)from sea to sea,
And from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth.

^9 (F1)May ^(C1)the nomads of the desert ^(C2)bow before him,
And his enemies ^(C3)lick the dust.

^10 (F1)May the kings of ^(C1)Tarshish and of the ^(F2)(C2)islands bring gifts;
May the kings of ^(C3)Sheba and ^(C4)Seba ^(C5)offer tributes.

^11 (F1)And may all ^(C1)kings bow down before him,
All ^(C2)nations serve him.

¹² For he will ^(C1)save the needy when he cries for help,
The ^(F1)afflicted also, and him who has no helper.

¹³ He will have ^(C1)compassion on the poor and needy,
And he will save the ^(F1)lives of the needy.

¹⁴ He will ^(F1)(C1)rescue their ^(F2)life from oppression and violence,
And their blood will be ^(C2)precious in his sight;

¹⁵ So may he live, and may the ^(C1)gold of Sheba be given to him;
And ^(F1)they are to pray for him continually;
^(F2)They are to bless him all day long.

¹⁶ May there be abundance of grain on the earth on top of the mountains;
Its fruit will wave like the cedars of ^(C1)Lebanon;
And may those from the city flourish like the ^(C2)vegetation of the earth.

¹⁷ May his ^(C1)name endure forever;
May his name produce descendants ^(F1)(C2)as long as the sun shines;
And may people ^(C3)wish blessings on themselves by him;
^(C4)May all nations call him blessed.

^18 (C1)Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel,
Who alone ^(C2)works wonders.

¹⁹ And blessed be His ^(C1)glorious name forever;
And may the whole ^(C2)earth be filled with His glory.
^(C3)Amen and Amen.

²⁰ The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.

The End of the Wicked Contrasted with That of the Righteous.

¹ God certainly is ^(C1)good to Israel,
To those who are ^(C2)pure in heart!

² But as for me, ^(C1)my feet came close to stumbling,
My steps ^(F1)had almost slipped.

³ For I was ^(C1)envious of the ^(F1)arrogant
As I saw the ^(C2)prosperity of the wicked.

⁴ For there are no pains in their death,
And their belly is fat.

⁵ They are ^(C1)not ^(F1)in trouble like other people,
Nor are they ^(C2)tormented together with the rest of mankind.

⁶ Therefore arrogance is ^(C1)their necklace;
The ^(C2)garment of violence covers them.

⁷ Their eye ^(F1)bulges from ^(C1)fatness;
The imaginations of their heart overflow.

⁸ They ^(C1)mock and ^(F1)wickedly speak of oppression;
They ^(C2)speak from on high.

⁹ They have ^(C1)set their mouth ^(F1)against the heavens,
And their tongue ^(F2)parades through the earth.

¹⁰ Therefore ^(F1)his people return here,
And ^(C1)abundant waters are drunk by them.

¹¹ They say, "^(C1)How does God know?
And is there knowledge ^(F1)with the Most High?"

¹² Behold, ^(C1)these are the wicked;
And always ^(C2)at ease, they have increased in wealth.

¹³ Surely ^(C1)in vain I have ^(F1)kept my heart pure
And ^(C2)washed my hands in innocence;

¹⁴ For I have been stricken ^(C1)all day long,
And ^(F1)(C2)punished every morning.

¹⁵ If I had said, "I will speak this way,"
Behold, I would have betrayed the ^(C1)generation of Your children.

¹⁶ When I ^(C1)thought of understanding this,
It was ^(F1)troublesome in my sight

¹⁷ Until I entered the ^(F1)(C1)sanctuary of God;
Then I perceived their ^(C2)end.

¹⁸ You indeed put them on ^(C1)slippery ground;
You dropped them into ^(F1)(C2)ruin.

¹⁹ How they are ^(F1)(C1)destroyed in a moment!
They are utterly swept away by ^(C2)sudden terrors!

²⁰ Like a ^(C1)dream when one awakes,
Lord, when ^(C2)stirred, You will ^(C3)despise their image.

²¹ When my ^(C1)heart was embittered
And I was ^(C2)pierced ^(F1)within,

²² Then I was ^(C1)stupid and ignorant;
I was like an ^(C2)animal ^(F1)before You.

²³ Nevertheless ^(C1)I am continually with You;
You have taken hold of my right hand.

²⁴ You will ^(C1)guide me with Your plan,
And afterward ^(C2)receive me ^(F1)to glory.

^25 (C1)Whom do I have in heaven but You?
And with You, I desire nothing on earth.

²⁶ My ^(C1)flesh and my heart may fail,
But God is the ^(F1)strength of my heart and my ^(C2)portion forever.

²⁷ For, behold, ^(C1)those who are far from You will ^(C2)perish;
You have destroyed all those who ^(F1)(C3)are unfaithful to You.

²⁸ But as for me, ^(C1)the nearness of God is good for me;
I have made the Lord ^(F1)GOD my ^(C2)refuge,
So that I may ^(C3)tell of all Your works.

An Appeal against the Devastation of the Land by the Enemy.

¹ God, why have You ^(C1)rejected us forever?
Why does Your anger ^(C2)smoke against the ^(C3)sheep of Your ^(F1)pasture?

² Remember Your congregation, which You ^(C1)purchased of old,
Which You have ^(C2)redeemed to be the ^(C3)tribe of Your inheritance;
And this Mount ^(C4)Zion, where You have dwelt.

^3 (F1)Step toward the ^(F2)(C1)irreparable ruins;
The enemy ^(C2)has damaged everything in the sanctuary.

⁴ Your adversaries have ^(C1)roared in the midst of Your meeting place;
They have set up their ^(C2)own signs as ^(C3)signs.

⁵ It ^(F1)seems like one bringing up
His ^(C1)axe into a ^(F2)forest of trees.

⁶ And now they break down ^(F1)all its ^(C1)carved work
With axe and hammers.

⁷ They have ^(F1)(C1)burned Your sanctuary ^(F2)to the ground;
They have ^(C2)defiled the dwelling place of Your name.

⁸ They ^(C1)said in their heart, "Let's ^(F1)completely ^(F2)subdue them."
They have burned all the meeting places of God in the land.

⁹ We do not see our ^(C1)signs;
There is ^(C2)no longer any prophet,
Nor is there anyone among us who knows ^(C3)how long.

¹⁰ How long, God, will the enemy ^(C1)taunt You?
Shall the enemy ^(C2)treat Your name disrespectfully forever?

¹¹ Why ^(C1)do You withdraw Your hand, even Your right hand?
Extend it from Your chest and ^(C2)destroy them!

¹² Yet God is ^(C1)my King from long ago,
Who performs acts of salvation in the midst of the earth.

^13 (F1)You ^(C1)divided the sea by Your strength;
^(F1)You ^(C2)broke the heads of the ^(C3)sea monsters ^(F2)in the waters.

^14 (F1)You crushed the heads of ^(F2)(C1)Leviathan;
You gave him as food for the ^(F3)creatures ^(C2)of the wilderness.

^15 (F1)You ^(C1)broke open springs and torrents;
^(F1)You ^(C2)dried up ever-flowing streams.

¹⁶ Yours is the day, Yours also is the night;
^(F1)You have ^(C1)prepared the ^(F2)light and the sun.

^17 (F1)You have ^(C1)established all the boundaries of the earth;
^(F1)You have ^(F2)created ^(C2)summer and winter.

¹⁸ Remember this, ^(F1)LORD, that the enemy has ^(C1)taunted You,
And a ^(C2)foolish people has treated Your name disrespectfully.

¹⁹ Do not give the soul of Your ^(C1)turtledove to the wild animal;
^(C2)Do not forget the life of Your afflicted forever.

²⁰ Consider the ^(C1)covenant;
For the ^(C2)dark places of the land are full of the places of violence.

²¹ May the ^(C1)oppressed person not return dishonored;
May the ^(C2)afflicted and the needy praise Your name.

²² Arise, God, and ^(C1)plead Your own cause;
Remember ^(F1)how the ^(C2)foolish person taunts You all day long.

²³ Do not forget the voice of Your ^(C1)adversaries,
The ^(C2)uproar of those who rise against You, which ascends continually.

God Humbles the Proud, but Exalts the Righteous.

¹ We ^(C1)give thanks to You, God, we give thanks,
For Your name is ^(C2)near;
People declare ^(C3)Your wondrous works.

² "When I select an ^(C1)appointed time,
It is I who ^(C2)judge fairly.

³ "The ^(C1)earth and all who inhabit it ^(F1)are unsteady;
It is I who have firmly set its ^(C2)pillars. Selah

⁴ "I said to the boastful, 'Do not boast,'
And to the wicked, '^(C1)Do not lift up the horn;

⁵ Do not lift up your horn on high,
^(C1)Do not speak with insolent ^(F1)pride.'"

⁶ For not from the east, nor from the west,
Nor from the ^(F1)(C1)desert comes exaltation;

⁷ But ^(C1)God is the Judge;
He ^(C2)puts down one and exalts another.

⁸ For a ^(C1)cup is in the hand of the LORD, and the wine foams;
It is ^(F1)(C2)well mixed, and He pours out of this;
Certainly all the wicked of the earth must drain and ^(C3)drink its dregs.

⁹ But as for me, I will ^(C1)declare it forever;
I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.

¹⁰ And ^(F1)He will cut off all the ^(C1)horns of the wicked,
But ^(C2)the horns of the righteous will be lifted up.

The Victorious Power of the God of Jacob.

¹ God is ^(C1)known in Judah;
His name is ^(C2)great in Israel.

² His ^(F1)(C1)tabernacle is in ^(C2)Salem;
His ^(C3)dwelling place also is in Zion.

³ There He ^(C1)broke the ^(F1)flaming arrows,
The shield, the sword, and the ^(F2)weapons of war. Selah

⁴ You are resplendent,
^(F1)More majestic than the mountains of prey.

⁵ The ^(C1)stouthearted were plundered,
^(F1)They sank into sleep;
And none of the ^(F2)warriors could use his hands.

⁶ At Your ^(C1)rebuke, God of Jacob,
Both ^(F1)(C2)rider and horse were cast into a dead sleep.

⁷ You, You indeed are ^(C1)to be feared,
And ^(C2)who may stand in Your presence, ^(F1)once You are angry?

⁸ You caused judgment to be heard from heaven;
The earth ^(C1)feared and was still

⁹ When God ^(C1)arose to judgment,
To save all the humble of the earth. Selah

¹⁰ For the ^(F1)(C1)wrath of mankind shall praise You;
You will encircle Yourself with a remnant of wrath.

^11 (C1)Make vows to the LORD your God and ^(C2)fulfill them;
All who are around Him are to ^(C3)bring gifts to Him who is to be feared.

¹² He will cut off the spirit of princes;
He is ^(F1)(C1)feared by the kings of the earth.

Comfort in Trouble from Recalling God's Mighty Deeds.

¹ My voice rises to God, and I will ^(C1)cry aloud;
My voice rises to God, and He will listen to me.

² In the ^(C1)day of my trouble I sought the Lord;
^(C2)In the night my ^(C3)hand was stretched out and did not grow weary;
My soul ^(C4)refused to be comforted.

³ When I remember God, then I am ^(C1)restless;
When I ^(C2)sigh, then ^(C3)my spirit feels weak. Selah

⁴ You have held my eyelids open;
I am so troubled that I ^(C1)cannot speak.

⁵ I have considered the ^(C1)days of old,
The years of long ago.

⁶ I will remember my ^(C1)song in the night;
I ^(C2)will meditate with my heart,
And my spirit ^(F1)ponders:

⁷ Will the Lord ^(C1)reject forever?
And will He ^(C2)never be favorable again?

⁸ Has His ^(C1)favor ceased forever?
Has His ^(F1)(C2)promise come to an end ^(F2)forever?

⁹ Has God ^(C1)forgotten to be gracious,
Or has He in anger ^(F1)withdrawn His ^(C2)compassion? Selah

¹⁰ Then I said, "^(C1)It is my ^(F1)grief,
That the ^(C2)right hand of the Most High has changed."

¹¹ I shall remember the ^(C1)deeds of ^(F1)the LORD;
I will certainly ^(C1)remember Your wonders of old.

¹² I will ^(C1)meditate on all Your work,
And on Your deeds with thanksgiving.

¹³ Your way, God, is ^(C1)holy;
^(C2)What god is great like our God?

¹⁴ You are the ^(C1)God who works wonders;
You have ^(C2)made known Your strength among the peoples.

¹⁵ By Your ^(F1)power You have ^(C1)redeemed Your people,
The sons of Jacob and ^(C2)Joseph. Selah

¹⁶ The ^(C1)waters saw You, God;
The waters saw You, they were in anguish;
The ocean depths also trembled.

¹⁷ The ^(C1)clouds poured out water;
The skies ^(F1)(C2)sounded out;
Your ^(C3)arrows ^(F2)flashed here and there.

¹⁸ The ^(C1)sound of Your thunder was in the whirlwind;
The ^(C2)lightning lit up the world;
The ^(C3)earth trembled and shook.

¹⁹ Your ^(C1)way was in the sea
And Your paths in the mighty waters,
And Your footprints were not known.

²⁰ You ^(C1)led Your people like a flock
By the hand of ^(C2)Moses and Aaron.

God's Guidance of His People in Spite of Their Unfaithfulness.

^1 (C1)Listen, my people, to my ^(F1)instruction;
^(C2)Incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

² I will ^(C1)open my mouth in a parable;
I will tell ^(C2)riddles of old,

³ Which we have heard and known,
And ^(C1)our fathers have told us.

⁴ We will ^(C1)not conceal them from their children,
But we will ^(C2)tell the generation to come the praises of the LORD,
And His power and His ^(C3)wondrous works that He has done.

⁵ For He established a ^(C1)testimony in Jacob,
And appointed a ^(C2)law in Israel,
Which He ^(C3)commanded our fathers
That they were to ^(F1)(C4)teach them to their children,

^6 (C1)So that the generation to come would know, ^(C2)the children yet to be born,
That they would arise and ^(C3)tell them to their children,

⁷ So that they would put their confidence in God
And ^(C1)not forget the works of God,
But ^(C2)comply with His commandments,

⁸ And ^(C1)not be like their fathers,
A ^(C2)stubborn and rebellious generation,
A generation that ^(C3)did not ^(F1)prepare its heart
And whose spirit was not ^(C4)faithful to God.

⁹ The sons of Ephraim ^(F1)were ^(C1)archers equipped with bows,
Yet ^(C2)they turned back on the day of battle.

¹⁰ They ^(C1)did not keep the covenant of God
And refused to ^(C2)walk in His Law;

¹¹ They ^(C1)forgot His deeds
And His ^(F1)miracles that He had shown them.

^12 (C1)He performed wonders before their fathers
In the land of Egypt, in the ^(C2)field of Zoan.

¹³ He ^(C1)divided the sea and caused them to pass through,
And He made the waters stand ^(C2)up like a heap.

¹⁴ Then He led them with the cloud by ^(C1)day
And all the night with a ^(C2)light of fire.

¹⁵ He ^(C1)split the rocks in the wilderness
And gave them plenty to drink like the ocean depths.

¹⁶ He ^(C1)brought forth streams from the rock
And made waters run down like rivers.

¹⁷ Yet they still continued to sin against Him,
To ^(C1)rebel against the Most High in the desert.

¹⁸ And in their heart they ^(C1)put God to the test
By asking for ^(C2)food ^(F1)that suited their taste.

¹⁹ Then they spoke against God;
They said, "^(C1)Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?

²⁰ "Behold, He ^(C1)struck the rock so that waters gushed out,
And streams were overflowing;
Can He also provide bread?
Will He prepare ^(C2)meat for His people?"

²¹ Therefore the LORD heard and ^(F1)was ^(C1)full of wrath;
And a fire was kindled against Jacob,
And anger also mounted against Israel,

²² Because they ^(C1)did not believe in God
And did not trust in His salvation.

²³ Yet He commanded the clouds above
And ^(C1)opened the doors of heaven;

²⁴ He ^(C1)rained down manna upon them to eat,
And gave them ^(F1)(C2)food from heaven.

²⁵ Man ate the bread of ^(F1)angels;
He sent them ^(F2)food ^(F3)(C1)in abundance.

²⁶ He ^(C1)made the east wind blow in the sky
And by His ^(F1)power He directed the south wind.

²⁷ When He rained meat upon them like the dust,
Even ^(C1)winged fowl like the sand of the seas,

²⁸ He let them fall in the midst of ^(F1)their camp,
All around their dwellings.

²⁹ So they ^(C1)ate and were well filled,
And He ^(F1)satisfied their longing.

^30 (F1)Yet before they had abandoned their longing,
^(C1)While their food was in their mouths,

³¹ The ^(C1)anger of God rose against them
And killed ^(F1)some of their ^(C2)strongest ones,
And ^(F2)subdued the choice men of Israel.

³² In spite of all this they still sinned
And ^(C2)did not believe in His wonderful works.

³³ So He brought ^(C1)their days to an end in futility,
And their years to an end in sudden terror.

³⁴ When He killed them, then they ^(C1)sought Him,
And they returned and searched ^(C2)diligently for God;

³⁵ And they remembered that God was their ^(C1)rock,
And the Most High God their ^(C2)Redeemer.

³⁶ But they ^(C1)flattered Him with their mouth
And ^(C2)lied to Him with their tongue.

³⁷ For their heart was not ^(C1)steadfast toward Him,
Nor were they faithful with His covenant.

³⁸ But He, being ^(C1)compassionate, ^(F1)(C2)forgave their wrongdoing and did not destroy them;
And often He ^(F2)(C3)restrained His anger
And did not stir up all His wrath.

³⁹ So ^(C1)He remembered that they were only ^(C2)flesh,
A ^(F1)(C3)wind that passes and does not return.

⁴⁰ How often they ^(C1)rebelled against Him in the wilderness
And ^(C2)grieved Him in the ^(C3)desert!

⁴¹ Again and again they ^(F1)(C1)tempted God,
And pained the ^(C2)Holy One of Israel.

⁴² They ^(C1)did not remember ^(C2)His ^(F1)power,
The day when He ^(C3)redeemed them from the enemy,

⁴³ When He performed His ^(C1)signs in Egypt
And His ^(C2)marvels in the field of Zoan,

⁴⁴ And ^(C1)turned their rivers to blood,
And their streams, so that they could not drink.

⁴⁵ He sent swarms of ^(C1)flies among them that devoured them,
And ^(C2)frogs that destroyed them.

⁴⁶ He also gave their crops to the ^(C1)grasshopper
And the product of their labor to the ^(C2)locust.

⁴⁷ He ^(F1)destroyed their vines with ^(C1)hailstones
And their sycamore trees with frost.

⁴⁸ He also turned their ^(C1)cattle over to the hailstones,
And their herds to bolts of lightning.

⁴⁹ He ^(C1)sent His burning anger upon them,
Fury and indignation and trouble,
A band of ^(F1)destroying angels.

⁵⁰ He leveled a path for His anger;
He did not spare their souls from death,
But ^(C1)turned their lives over to the plague,

⁵¹ And ^(C1)struck all the firstborn in Egypt,
The ^(C2)first and best of their vigor in the tents of ^(C3)Ham.

⁵² But He ^(C1)led His own people out like sheep,
And guided them in the wilderness ^(C2)like a flock;

⁵³ He led them ^(C1)safely, so that they did not fear;
But ^(C2)the sea engulfed their enemies.

⁵⁴ So ^(C1)He brought them to His holy ^(F1)land,
To this ^(F2)(C2)hill country ^(C3)which His right hand had gained.

⁵⁵ He also ^(C1)drove out the nations from them
And ^(C2)apportioned them as an inheritance by measurement,
And had the tribes of Israel dwell in their tents.

⁵⁶ Yet they ^(F1)(C1)tempted and ^(C2)rebelled against the Most High God
And did not keep His testimonies,

⁵⁷ But turned back and ^(C1)acted treacherously like their fathers;
They ^(C2)turned aside like a treacherous bow.

⁵⁸ For they ^(C1)provoked Him with their ^(C2)high places
And ^(C3)moved Him to jealousy with their ^(C4)carved images.

⁵⁹ When God heard them, He ^(F1)was filled with ^(C1)wrath
And He utterly ^(C2)rejected Israel;

⁶⁰ So that He ^(C1)abandoned the ^(C2)dwelling place at Shiloh,
The tent ^(F1)which He had pitched among people,

⁶¹ And He gave up His ^(C1)strength to captivity
And His glory ^(C2)into the hand of the enemy.

⁶² He also ^(C1)turned His people over to the sword,
And ^(F1)was filled with wrath at His inheritance.

^63 (C1)Fire devoured ^(F1)His young men,
And ^(F1)His ^(C2)virgins had no wedding songs.

^64 (F1)His ^(C1)priests fell by the sword,
And ^(F1)His ^(C2)widows could not weep.

⁶⁵ Then the Lord ^(C1)awoke as if from sleep,
Like a ^(C2)warrior ^(F1)overcome by wine.

⁶⁶ He ^(F1)(C1)drove His adversaries backward;
He put on them an everlasting disgrace.

⁶⁷ He also ^(C1)rejected the tent of Joseph,
And did not choose the tribe of Ephraim,

⁶⁸ But chose the tribe of Judah,
Mount ^(C1)Zion, which He loved.

⁶⁹ And He ^(C1)built His sanctuary like the heights,
Like the earth which He has established forever.

⁷⁰ He also ^(C1)chose His servant David
And took him from the sheepfolds;

⁷¹ From ^(F1)(C1)the care of the ^(F2)ewes ^(C2)with nursing lambs He brought him
To ^(C3)shepherd Jacob His people,
And Israel ^(C4)His inheritance.

⁷² So he shepherded them according to the ^(C1)integrity of his heart,
And guided them with his skillful hands.

Grieving over the Destruction of Jerusalem, and Prayer for Help.

¹ God, the ^(C1)nations have ^(F1)invaded ^(C2)Your inheritance;
They have defiled Your ^(C3)holy temple;
They have ^(C4)laid Jerusalem in ruins.

² They have given the ^(C1)dead bodies of Your servants to the birds of the sky as food,
The flesh of Your godly ones to the animals of the earth.

³ They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem;
And there was ^(C1)no one to bury them.

⁴ We have become a ^(C1)disgrace before our neighbors,
An object of derision and ridicule to those around us.

^5 (C1)How long, LORD? Will You be angry forever?
Will Your ^(C2)jealousy ^(C3)burn like fire?

^6 (C1)Pour out Your wrath upon the nations which ^(C2)do not know You,
And upon the kingdoms which ^(C3)do not call upon Your name.

⁷ For they have ^(C1)devoured Jacob
And ^(C2)laid waste his ^(F1)settlement.

^8 (C1)Do not ^(F1)hold us responsible for ^(F2)the guilty deeds of our forefathers;
Let Your compassion come quickly to ^(C2)meet us,
For we have ^(C3)become very low.

^9 (C1)Help us, God of our salvation, for the glory of ^(C2)Your name;
And save us and ^(F1)(C3)forgive our sins ^(C4)for the sake of Your name.

^10 (C1)Why should the nations say, "Where is their God?"
Let ^(C2)vengeance for the blood of Your servants which has been shed
Be known among the nations in our sight.

¹¹ Let ^(C1)the groaning of the prisoner come before You;
According to the greatness of Your ^(F1)power, let ^(F2)those who are ^(C1)doomed to die remain.

¹² And return to our neighbors ^(C1)seven times as much ^(C2)into their lap
Their ^(C3)taunts with which they have taunted You, Lord.

¹³ So we Your people and the ^(C1)sheep of Your ^(F1)pasture
Will ^(C2)give thanks to You forever;
To all generations we will ^(C3)tell of Your praise.

God Implored to Rescue His People from Their Calamities.

¹ Listen, ^(C1)Shepherd of Israel,
Who leads ^(C2)Joseph like a flock;
You who ^(C3)are enthroned above the cherubim, shine forth!

² Before ^(C1)Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, ^(C2)awaken Your power,
And come to save us!

³ God, ^(C1)restore us
And ^(C2)make Your face shine upon us, ^(F1)and we will be saved.

^4 (C1)LORD God of armies,
^(C2)How long will You ^(F1)be angry with the prayer of Your people?

⁵ You have fed them with the ^(C1)bread of tears,
And You have made them drink tears in ^(F1)large measure.

⁶ You make us ^(F1)an object of contention ^(C1)to our neighbors,
And our enemies laugh among themselves.

⁷ God of armies, restore us
And make Your face shine upon us, ^(F1)and we will be saved.

⁸ You removed a ^(C1)vine from Egypt;
You ^(C2)drove out the ^(F1)nations and ^(C3)planted it.

⁹ You ^(C1)cleared the ground before it,
And it ^(C2)took deep root and filled the land.

¹⁰ The mountains were covered with its shadow,
And ^(F1)the cedars of God with its ^(C1)branches.

¹¹ It was sending out its branches ^(C1)to the sea
And its shoots to the Euphrates River.

¹² Why have You ^(C1)broken down its ^(F1)hedges,
So that all who pass that way pick its fruit?

¹³ A boar from the forest ^(C1)eats it away,
And whatever moves in the field feeds on it.

¹⁴ God of armies, do ^(C1)turn back;
^(C2)Look down from heaven and see, and take care of this vine,

¹⁵ The ^(F1)(C1)shoot which Your right hand has planted,
And of the ^(F2)son whom You have ^(F3)strengthened for Yourself.

¹⁶ It is ^(C1)burned with fire, it is cut down;
They perish from the ^(C2)rebuke of Your face.

¹⁷ Let ^(C1)Your hand be upon the man of Your right hand,
Upon the son of man whom You ^(C2)made strong for Yourself.

¹⁸ Then we will not ^(C1)turn back from You;
^(C2)Revive us, and we will call upon Your name.

¹⁹ LORD God of armies, ^(C1)restore us;
Make Your face shine upon us, ^(F1)and we will be saved.

God's Goodness and Israel's Waywardness.

^1 (C1)Sing for joy to God our ^(C2)strength;
Shout ^(C3)joyfully to the ^(C4)God of Jacob.

² Raise a song, strike ^(C1)the tambourine,
The sweet sounding ^(C2)lyre with the ^(C3)harp.

³ Blow the trumpet at the ^(C1)new moon,
At the full moon, on our ^(C2)feast day.

⁴ For it is a statute for Israel,
An ordinance of the God of Jacob.

⁵ He established it as a testimony in Joseph
When he ^(F1)(C1)went throughout the land of Egypt.
I heard a ^(C2)language I did not know:

⁶ "I ^(F1)(C1)relieved his shoulder of the burden,
His hands were freed from the ^(F2)basket.

⁷ "You ^(C1)called in trouble and I rescued you;
I ^(C2)answered you in the hiding place of thunder;
I put you to the test at the ^(C3)waters of Meribah. Selah

⁸ "^(C1)Hear, My people, and I will admonish you;
Israel, if you ^(C2)would listen to Me!

⁹ "There shall be no ^(C1)strange god among you;
Nor shall you worship a foreign god.

¹⁰ "^(C1)I, the LORD, am your God,
Who brought you up from the land of Egypt;
^(C2)Open your mouth wide and I will ^(C3)fill it.

¹¹ "But My people ^(C1)did not listen to My voice,
And Israel did not ^(F1)obey Me.

¹² "So I ^(C1)gave ^(F1)them over to the stubbornness of their heart,
To walk by their own plans.

¹³ "Oh that My people ^(C1)would listen to Me,
That Israel would ^(C2)walk in My ways!

¹⁴ "I would quickly ^(C1)subdue their enemies
And ^(C2)turn My hand against their adversaries.

¹⁵ "^(C1)Those who hate the LORD would ^(C2)pretend to obey Him,
And their time of punishment would be forever.

¹⁶ "^(F1)But I would feed you with the ^(F2)(C1)finest of the wheat,
And with ^(C2)honey from the rock I would satisfy you."

Unjust Judgments Rebuked.

¹ God takes His ^(C1)position in ^(F1)His assembly;
He ^(C2)judges in the midst of the ^(C3)gods.

² How long will you ^(C1)judge unjustly
And ^(C2)show partiality to the wicked? Selah

^3 (C1)Vindicate the weak and fatherless;
Do justice to the afflicted and destitute.

^4 (C1)Rescue the weak and needy;
Save them from the hand of the wicked.

⁵ They ^(C1)do not know nor do they understand;
They ^(C2)walk around in darkness;
All the ^(C3)foundations of the earth are shaken.

^6 (F1)I ^(C1)said, "You are gods,
And all of you are ^(C2)sons of the Most High.

⁷ "Nevertheless ^(C1)you will die like men,
And fall like ^(C2)one of the princes."

^8 (C1)Arise, God, ^(C2)judge the earth!
For You ^(C3)possess all the nations.

God Implored to Confound His Enemies.

¹ God, ^(C1)do not remain quiet;
^(C2)Do not be silent and, God, do not be still.

² For behold, Your enemies ^(C1)make an uproar,
And ^(C2)those who hate You have ^(F1)(C3)exalted themselves.

³ They ^(C1)make shrewd plans against Your people,
And ^(F1)conspire together against ^(C2)Your ^(F2)treasured ones.

⁴ They have said, "Come, and ^(C1)let's wipe them out ^(F1)as a nation,
So that the ^(C2)name of Israel will no longer be remembered."

⁵ For they have ^(F1)(C1)conspired together with one mind;
They make a covenant against You:

⁶ The tents of ^(C1)Edom and the ^(C2)Ishmaelites,
^(C3)Moab and the ^(C4)Hagrites;

^7 (C1)Gebal, ^(C2)Ammon, and ^(C3)Amalek,
^(C4)Philistia with the inhabitants of ^(C5)Tyre;

^8 (C1)Assyria also has joined them;
They have become ^(F1)a help to the ^(C2)children of Lot. Selah

⁹ Deal with them ^(C1)as with Midian,
As ^(C2)with Sisera and Jabin at the river of Kishon,

¹⁰ Who were destroyed at En-dor,
Who ^(C1)became like dung for the ground.

¹¹ Make their nobles like ^(C1)Oreb and Zeeb,
And all their leaders like ^(C2)Zebah and Zalmunna,

¹² Who said, "^(C1)Let's possess for ourselves
The ^(C2)pastures of God."

¹³ My God, make them like the ^(F1)(C1)whirling dust,
Like ^(C2)chaff before the wind.

¹⁴ Like ^(C1)fire that burns the forest,
And like a flame that ^(C2)sets the mountains on fire,

¹⁵ So pursue them ^(C1)with Your heavy gale,
And terrify them with Your storm.

^16 (C1)Fill their faces with dishonor,
So that they will seek Your name, LORD.

¹⁷ May they be ^(C1)ashamed and dismayed forever,
And may they be humiliated and perish,

¹⁸ So that they will ^(C1)know that ^(C2)You alone, whose name is the LORD,
Are the ^(C3)Most High over all the earth.

Longing for the Temple Worship.

¹ How lovely are Your ^(C1)dwelling places,
LORD of armies!

² My ^(C1)soul longed and even yearned for the courtyards of the LORD;
My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the ^(C2)living God.

³ The bird also has found a house,
And the swallow a nest for herself, where she may put her young:
Your ^(C1)altars, LORD of armies,
^(C2)My King and my God.

^4 (C1)Blessed are those who dwell in Your house!
They are ^(C2)ever praising You. Selah

⁵ Blessed is the person whose ^(C1)strength is in You,
In ^(F1)whose heart are the ^(C2)roads to Zion!

⁶ Passing through the Valley of ^(F1)Baca they make it a ^(F2)spring;
The ^(C1)early rain also covers it with blessings.

⁷ They ^(C1)go from strength to strength,
^(F1)Every one of them ^(C2)appears before God in Zion.

^8 (C1)LORD God of armies, hear my prayer;
Listen, ^(C2)God of Jacob! Selah

⁹ See our ^(C1)shield, God,
And look at the face of ^(C2)Your anointed.

¹⁰ For ^(C1)a day in Your courtyards is better than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God
Than live in the tents of wickedness.

¹¹ For the LORD God is ^(C1)a sun and ^(C2)shield;
The LORD gives grace and ^(C3)glory;
^(C4)He withholds no good thing ^(F1)from those who walk with integrity.

¹² LORD of armies,
^(C1)Blessed is the person who trusts in You!

Prayer for God's Mercy upon the Nation.

¹ LORD, You showed ^(C1)favor to Your land;
You ^(C2)restored the fortunes of Jacob.

² You ^(C1)forgave the guilt of Your people;
You ^(C2)covered all their sin. Selah

³ You ^(C1)withdrew all Your fury;
You ^(C2)turned away from Your burning anger.

^4 (C1)Restore us, God of our salvation,
And ^(C2)cause Your indignation toward us to cease.

⁵ Will ^(C1)You be angry with us forever?
Will You prolong Your anger to ^(F1)all generations?

⁶ Will You not ^(F1)(C1)revive us again,
So that Your people may ^(C2)rejoice in You?

⁷ Show us Your mercy, LORD,
And ^(C1)grant us Your salvation.

^8 (F1)I will hear what God the LORD will say;
For He will ^(C1)speak peace to His people, to His godly ones;
And may they not ^(C2)turn back to ^(F2)foolishness.

⁹ Certainly ^(C1)His salvation is near to those who ^(F1)fear Him,
That ^(C2)glory may dwell in our land.

^10 (C1)Graciousness and ^(F1)truth have met together;
^(C2)Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

^11 (F1)Truth ^(C1)sprouts from the earth,
And righteousness looks down from heaven.

¹² Indeed, ^(C1)the LORD will give what is good,
And our ^(C2)land will yield its produce.

^13 (C1)Righteousness will go before Him
And will make His footsteps into a way.

Pleading and Trust.

^1 (C1)Incline Your ear, LORD, and answer me;
For I am ^(C2)afflicted and needy.

^2 (C1)Protect my ^(F1)soul, for I am ^(C2)godly;
You my God, save Your servant who ^(C3)trusts in You.

³ Be ^(C1)gracious to me, Lord,
For ^(C2)I call upon You all day long.

⁴ Make the soul of Your servant joyful,
For to You, Lord, ^(C1)I lift up my soul.

⁵ For You, Lord, are ^(C1)good, and ^(C2)ready to forgive,
And ^(C3)abundant in mercy to all who call upon You.

^6 (C1)Listen, LORD, to my prayer;
And give Your attention to the sound of my pleading!

⁷ On ^(C1)the day of my trouble I will call upon You,
For ^(C2)You will answer me.

⁸ There is ^(C1)no one like You among the gods, Lord,
Nor are there any works ^(C2)like Yours.

^9 (C1)All nations whom You have made will come and worship before You, Lord,
And they will glorify Your name.

¹⁰ For You are ^(C1)great, and You ^(C2)do ^(F1)wondrous deeds;
You alone ^(C3)are God.

^11 (C1)Teach me Your way, LORD;
I will walk in Your truth;
^(C2)Unite my heart to fear Your name.

¹² I will ^(C1)give thanks to You, Lord my God, with all my heart,
And I will glorify Your name forever.

¹³ For Your graciousness toward me is great,
And You have ^(C1)saved my soul from the ^(F1)depths of ^(F2)Sheol.

¹⁴ God, arrogant men have ^(C1)risen up against me,
And a gang of violent men have sought my ^(F1)life,
And they have not set You before them.

¹⁵ But You, Lord, are a ^(C1)compassionate and gracious God,
Slow to anger and abundant in mercy and ^(F1)truth.

^16 (C1)Turn to me, and be gracious to me;
^(C2)Grant Your strength to Your servant,
And save the ^(C3)son of Your maidservant.

^17 (C1)Show me a sign of good,
That those who hate me may ^(C2)see it and be ashamed,
Because You, LORD, ^(C3)have helped me and comforted me.

The Privileges of Citizenship in Zion.

¹ His ^(C1)foundation is in the holy mountains.

² The LORD ^(C1)loves the gates of Zion
More than all the other dwelling places of Jacob.

^3 (C1)Glorious things are spoken of you,
^(C2)City of God. Selah

⁴ "I shall mention ^(F1)(C1)Rahab and Babylon ^(F2)among those who know Me;
Behold, Philistia and ^(C2)Tyre with ^(F3)(C3)Cush:
'This one was born there.'"

⁵ But of Zion it will be said, "This one and that one were born in her";
And the Most High Himself will ^(C1)establish her.

⁶ The LORD will count when He ^(C1)registers the peoples,
"This one was born there." Selah

⁷ Then those who ^(C1)sing as well as those who ^(F1)(C2)play the flutes will say,
"All my ^(C3)springs of joy are in you."

A Petition to Be Saved from Death.

¹ LORD, the ^(C1)God of my salvation,
I have ^(C2)cried out by day and in the night before You.

² Let my prayer ^(C1)come before You;
^(C2)Incline Your ear to my cry!

³ For my ^(C1)soul has ^(F1)had enough troubles,
And ^(C2)my life has approached ^(F2)Sheol.

⁴ I am counted among those who ^(C1)go down to the pit;
I have become like a man ^(C2)without strength,

^5 (F1)Abandoned ^(C1)among the dead,
Like the slain who lie in the grave,
Whom You no longer remember,
And they are ^(C2)cut off from Your hand.

⁶ You have put me in ^(C1)the lowest pit,
In ^(C2)dark places, in the ^(C3)depths.

⁷ Your wrath ^(C1)has rested upon me,
And You have afflicted me with ^(C2)all Your waves. Selah

⁸ You have removed ^(C1)my acquaintances far from me;
You have made me an ^(F1)(C2)object of loathing to them;
I am ^(C3)shut up and cannot go out.

⁹ My ^(C1)eye grows dim from misery;
I have ^(C2)called upon You every day, LORD;
I have ^(C3)spread out my ^(F1)hands to You.

¹⁰ Will You perform wonders for the dead?
Or will ^(C1)the departed spirits rise and praise You? Selah

¹¹ Will Your graciousness be declared in the grave,
Your faithfulness in ^(F1)Abaddon?

¹² Will Your wonders be made known in the ^(C1)darkness?
And Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

¹³ But I, LORD, have cried out ^(C1)to You for help,
And ^(C2)in the morning my prayer comes before You.

¹⁴ LORD, why ^(C1)do You reject my soul?
Why do You ^(C2)hide Your face from me?

¹⁵ I was miserable and ^(C1)about to die from my youth on;
I suffer ^(C2)Your terrors; I grow weary.

¹⁶ Your ^(C1)burning anger has passed over me;
Your terrors have ^(F1)(C2)destroyed me.

¹⁷ They have ^(C1)surrounded me ^(C2)like water all day long;
They have ^(C3)encircled me altogether.

¹⁸ You have removed ^(C1)lover and friend far from me;
My acquaintances are in a hiding place.

The LORD'S Covenant with David and Israel's Afflictions.

¹ I will ^(C1)sing of the graciousness of the LORD forever;
To all generations I will ^(C2)make Your ^(C3)faithfulness known with my mouth.

² For I have said, "^(C1)Graciousness will be built up forever;
In the heavens You will establish Your ^(C2)faithfulness."

³ "I have made a covenant with ^(C1)My chosen;
I have ^(C2)sworn to My servant David,

⁴ I will establish your ^(F1)(C1)descendants forever
And build up your ^(C2)throne to all generations." Selah

⁵ The ^(C1)heavens will praise Your wonders, LORD;
Your faithfulness also ^(C2)in the assembly of the ^(C3)holy ones.

⁶ For ^(C1)who in the skies is comparable to the LORD?
Who among the ^(F1)(C2)sons of the mighty is like the LORD,

⁷ A God ^(C1)greatly feared in the council of the ^(C2)holy ones,
And ^(C3)awesome above all those who are around Him?

⁸ LORD God of armies, ^(C1)who is like You, mighty ^(F1)LORD?
Your faithfulness also surrounds You.

⁹ You rule the surging of the sea;
When its waves rise, You ^(C1)calm them.

¹⁰ You Yourself crushed ^(F1)(C1)Rahab like one who is slain;
You ^(C2)scattered Your enemies with ^(F2)Your mighty arm.

¹¹ The ^(C1)heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours;
The ^(C2)world and ^(F1)all it contains, You have established them.

¹² The ^(C1)north and the south, You have created them;
^(C2)Tabor and ^(C3)Hermon ^(C4)shout for joy at Your name.

¹³ You have ^(F1)a strong arm;
Your hand is mighty, Your ^(C1)right hand is exalted.

^14 (C1)Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne;
^(C2)Mercy and ^(F1)truth go before You.

¹⁵ Blessed are the people who know the ^(F1)(C1)joyful sound!
LORD, they walk in the ^(C2)light of Your face.

¹⁶ In ^(C1)Your name they rejoice all the day,
And by Your righteousness they are exalted.

¹⁷ For You are the glory of ^(C1)their strength,
And by Your favor ^(F1)our ^(C2)horn is exalted.

¹⁸ For our ^(C1)shield belongs to the LORD,
^(F1)And our king to the ^(C2)Holy One of Israel.

^19 (F1)Once You spoke in vision to Your godly ^(F2)ones,
And said, "I have ^(F3)given help to one who is ^(C1)mighty;
I have exalted one ^(C2)chosen from the people.

²⁰ "I have ^(C1)found My servant David;
With My holy ^(C2)oil I have anointed him,

²¹ With whom ^(C1)My hand will be established;
My arm also will ^(C2)strengthen him.

²² "The enemy will not ^(F1)deceive him,
Nor will the ^(F2)(C1)son of wickedness afflict him.

²³ "But I will ^(C1)crush his adversaries before him,
And strike those who hate him.

²⁴ "My ^(C1)faithfulness and My favor will be with him,
And in My name his ^(C2)horn will be exalted.

²⁵ "I will also place his hand ^(C1)on the sea,
And his right hand on the rivers.

²⁶ "He will call to Me, 'You are ^(C1)my Father,
My God, and the ^(C2)rock of my salvation.'

²⁷ "I will also make him My ^(C1)firstborn,
The ^(C2)highest of the kings of the earth.

²⁸ "I will maintain My ^(C1)favor for him forever,
And My ^(C2)covenant shall be confirmed to him.

²⁹ "So I will establish his ^(F1)(C1)descendants forever,
And his ^(C2)throne ^(C3)as the days of heaven.

³⁰ "If his sons ^(C1)abandon My Law
And do not walk in My judgments,

³¹ If they ^(F1)violate My statutes
And do not keep My commandments,

³² Then I will punish their wrongdoing with the ^(C1)rod,
And their guilt with ^(F1)afflictions.

³³ "But I will not ^(F1)withhold ^(C1)My favor from him,
Nor deal falsely in My faithfulness.

³⁴ "I will not ^(F1)violate My ^(C1)covenant,
Nor will I ^(C2)alter ^(F2)the utterance of My lips.

³⁵ "^(F1)Once I have ^(C1)sworn by My holiness;
I will not lie to David.

³⁶ "His ^(F1)(C1)descendants shall endure forever,
And his ^(C2)throne ^(C3)as the sun before Me.

³⁷ "It shall be established forever ^(C1)like the moon,
And a ^(C2)witness in the sky is faithful." Selah

³⁸ But You have ^(C1)rejected and ^(C2)refused,
You have been full of wrath ^(F1)against Your ^(C3)anointed.

³⁹ You have ^(F1)(C1)repudiated the covenant of Your servant;
You have ^(C2)profaned ^(C3)his crown ^(F2)in the dust.

⁴⁰ You have ^(C1)broken down all his walls;
You have ^(C2)brought his strongholds to ruin.

^41 (C1)All who pass along the way plunder him;
He has become a ^(C2)disgrace to his neighbors.

⁴² You have ^(C1)exalted the right hand of his adversaries;
You have ^(C2)made all his enemies rejoice.

⁴³ You also turn back the edge of his sword,
And have ^(C1)not made him stand in battle.

⁴⁴ You have put an end to his ^(F1)(C1)splendor
And cast his throne to the ground.

⁴⁵ You have ^(C1)shortened the days of his youth;
You have ^(C2)covered him with shame. Selah

^46 (C1)How long, LORD?
Will You hide Yourself forever?
Will Your ^(C2)wrath burn like fire?

^47 (C1)Remember ^(F1)what my lifespan is;
For what ^(C2)futility ^(F2)You have created all the sons of mankind!

⁴⁸ What man can live and not ^(C1)see death?
Can he ^(C2)save his soul from the ^(F1)power of ^(F2)Sheol? Selah

⁴⁹ Where are Your former acts of favor, Lord,
Which You ^(C1)swore to David in Your faithfulness?

⁵⁰ Remember, Lord, the ^(C1)taunt against Your servants;
^(F1)How I carry in my heart the taunts of all the many peoples,

⁵¹ With which ^(C1)Your enemies have taunted, LORD,
With which they have taunted the footsteps of ^(C2)Your anointed.

^52 (C1)Blessed be the LORD forever!
Amen and Amen.

God's Eternity and the Brevity of Human Life.

¹ Lord, You have been our ^(F1)(C1)dwelling place in all generations.

² Before ^(C1)the mountains were born
^(F1)Or You ^(C2)gave birth to the earth and the world,
Even ^(C3)from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.

³ You ^(C1)turn mortals back into dust
And say, "Return, you sons of mankind."

⁴ For ^(C1)a thousand years in Your sight
Are like ^(C2)yesterday when it passes by,
^(F1)Or like a ^(C3)watch in the night.

⁵ You ^(C1)have ^(F1)swept them away like a flood, they ^(F2)(C2)fall asleep;
In the morning they are like ^(C3)grass that ^(F3)sprouts anew.

⁶ In the morning it ^(C1)flourishes and ^(F1)sprouts anew;
Toward evening it ^(C2)wilts and ^(C3)withers away.

⁷ For we have been ^(C1)consumed by Your anger,
And we have been terrified by Your wrath.

⁸ You have ^(C1)placed our guilty deeds before You,
Our ^(C2)hidden sins in the light of Your presence.

⁹ For ^(C1)all our days have dwindled away in Your fury;
We have finished our years like a ^(F1)sigh.

¹⁰ As for the days of our ^(F1)life, ^(F2)they contain seventy years,
Or if due to strength, ^(C1)eighty years,
Yet their pride is only ^(C2)trouble and tragedy;
For it quickly passes, and we ^(C3)disappear.

¹¹ Who ^(F1)understands the ^(C1)power of Your anger
And Your fury, according to the ^(C2)fear ^(F2)that is due You?

¹² So ^(C1)teach us to number our days,
That we may ^(F1)(C2)present to You a heart of wisdom.

¹³ Do ^(C1)return, LORD; ^(C2)how long will it be?
And ^(F1)be ^(C3)sorry for Your servants.

^14 (C1)Satisfy us in the morning with Your graciousness,
That we may ^(C2)sing for joy and rejoice all our days.

^15 (C1)Make us glad ^(F1)according to the days You have afflicted us,
And the ^(C2)years we have seen ^(F2)evil.

¹⁶ Let Your ^(C1)work appear to Your servants
And Your ^(C2)majesty ^(F1)to their children.

¹⁷ May the ^(C1)kindness of the Lord our God be upon us;
And ^(F1)(C2)confirm for us the work of our hands;
Yes, ^(F1)confirm the work of our hands.

Security of One Who Trusts in the LORD.

¹ One who dwells in the ^(C1)shelter of the Most High
Will lodge in the ^(C2)shadow of the Almighty.

² I will say to the LORD, "My ^(C1)refuge and my ^(C2)fortress,
My God, in whom I ^(C3)trust!"

³ For it is He who rescues you from the ^(C1)net of the trapper
And from the deadly ^(C2)plague.

⁴ He will ^(C1)cover you with His pinions,
And ^(C2)under His wings you may take refuge;
His ^(C3)faithfulness is a ^(C4)shield and wall.

⁵ You ^(C1)will not be afraid of the ^(C2)terror by night,
Or of the ^(C3)arrow that flies by day;

⁶ Of the ^(C1)plague that ^(F1)stalks in darkness,
Or of the ^(C2)destruction that devastates at noon.

⁷ A thousand may fall at your side
And ten thousand at your right hand,
But ^(C1)it shall not approach you.

⁸ You will only look on with your eyes
And ^(C1)see the retaliation against the wicked.

^9 (F1)For you have made the LORD, ^(C1)my refuge,
The Most High, ^(C2)your dwelling place.

^10 (C1)No evil will happen to you,
Nor will any plague come near your ^(F1)tent.

¹¹ For He will give ^(C1)His angels orders concerning you,
To protect you in all your ways.

¹² On their hands they will ^(C1)lift you up,
So that you do not strike your foot against a stone.

¹³ You will ^(C1)walk upon the lion and cobra,
You will trample the young lion and the ^(F1)serpent.

¹⁴ "^(C1)Because he has loved Me, I will save him;
I will ^(C2)set him securely on high, because he has ^(C3)known My name.

¹⁵ "He will ^(C1)call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in ^(F1)trouble;
I will rescue him and ^(C2)honor him.

¹⁶ "I will satisfy him with ^(F1)a ^(C1)long life,
And ^(F2)(C2)show him My salvation."

Praise for the LORD'S Goodness.

¹ It is ^(C1)good to give thanks to the LORD
And to ^(C2)sing praises to Your name, Most High;

² To ^(C1)declare Your goodness in the morning
And Your ^(C2)faithfulness by ^(F1)night,

^3 (F1)With the ^(C1)ten-stringed lute and ^(F1)with the ^(C1)harp,
^(F1)With resounding music on the ^(C1)lyre.

⁴ For You, LORD, have made me joyful by ^(F1)what You ^(C1)have done,
I will ^(C2)sing for joy over the ^(C3)works of Your hands.

⁵ How ^(C1)great are Your works, LORD!
Your ^(F1)(C2)thoughts are very ^(C3)deep.

⁶ A ^(C1)stupid person has no knowledge,
Nor does a ^(C1)foolish person understand this:

⁷ When the wicked ^(C1)sprouted up like grass
And all ^(C2)who did injustice flourished,
It was only that they might be ^(C3)destroyed forevermore.

⁸ But You, LORD, are ^(C1)on high forever.

⁹ For, behold, Your enemies, LORD,
For, behold, ^(C1)Your enemies will perish;
All who do injustice will be ^(C2)scattered.

¹⁰ But You have exalted my ^(C1)horn like that of the wild ox;
I have ^(F1)been ^(C2)anointed with fresh oil.

¹¹ And my eye has ^(C1)looked at my enemies,
My ears hear of the evildoers who rise up against me.

¹² The ^(C1)righteous person will ^(F1)flourish like the palm tree,
He will grow like a ^(C2)cedar in Lebanon.

^13 (C1)Planted in the house of the LORD,
They will flourish ^(C2)in the courtyards of our God.

¹⁴ They will still ^(F1)(C1)yield fruit in advanced age;
They will be ^(F2)full of sap and very green,

¹⁵ To ^(F1)declare that ^(C1)the LORD is just;
He is my ^(C2)rock, and there is ^(C3)no malice in Him.

The Majesty of the LORD.

^1 (C1)The LORD ^(F1)reigns, He is ^(C2)clothed with majesty;
The LORD has ^(C3)clothed and encircled Himself with strength.
Indeed, the ^(C4)world is firmly established; it will not be moved.

² Your ^(C1)throne is established from of old;
You ^(C2)are from eternity.

³ The ^(C1)floods have lifted up, LORD,
The floods have lifted up their voice,
The floods lift up their pounding waves.

⁴ More than the sounds of many waters,
Than the mighty breakers of the sea,
The LORD ^(C1)on high is mighty.

⁵ Your ^(C1)testimonies are fully confirmed;
^(C2)Holiness is pleasing to Your house,
LORD, ^(F1)forevermore.

The LORD Implored to Avenge His People.

¹ LORD, God of ^(F1)(C1)vengeance,
God of ^(F1)vengeance, ^(F2)(C2)shine forth!

^2 (C1)Rise up, ^(C2)Judge of the earth,
Pay back retribution ^(C3)to the proud.

³ How long, LORD, shall the wicked—
How long shall the ^(C1)wicked triumph?

⁴ They pour out words, they ^(C1)speak arrogantly;
All who do injustice ^(C2)boast.

⁵ They ^(C1)crush Your people, LORD,
And ^(C2)afflict Your inheritance.

⁶ They ^(C1)kill the widow and the stranger
And murder the orphans.

^7 (C1)They have said, "^(F1)The LORD does not see,
Nor does the God of Jacob perceive."

⁸ Pay attention, you ^(C1)stupid ones among the people;
And when will you understand, ^(C1)foolish ones?

⁹ He who ^(C1)planted the ear, ^(F1)does He not hear?
Or He who formed the eye, ^(F1)does He not see?

¹⁰ He who ^(F1)(C1)disciplines the nations, will He not rebuke,
He who ^(C2)teaches mankind knowledge?

¹¹ The LORD ^(C1)knows human thoughts,
^(F1)That they are mere breath.

¹² Blessed is the man whom ^(C1)You discipline, ^(F1)LORD,
And ^(C2)whom You teach from Your Law,

¹³ So that You may grant him ^(C1)relief from the ^(C2)days of adversity,
Until ^(C3)a pit is dug for the wicked.

¹⁴ For ^(C1)the LORD will not abandon His people,
Nor will He ^(C2)abandon His inheritance.

¹⁵ For ^(F1)(C1)judgment ^(F2)will again be righteous,
And all the upright in heart ^(F3)will follow it.

¹⁶ Who will ^(C1)stand up for me against evildoers?
Who will take his stand for me ^(C2)against those who do injustice?

¹⁷ If ^(C1)the LORD had not been my help,
My soul would soon have dwelt in the land of silence.

¹⁸ If I should say, "^(C1)My foot has slipped,"
Your faithfulness, LORD, will support me.

¹⁹ When my anxious thoughts ^(F1)multiply within me,
Your ^(C1)comfort delights my soul.

²⁰ Can a ^(F1)(C1)throne of destruction be allied with You,
One ^(C2)which devises ^(F2)mischief by decree?

²¹ They ^(C1)band themselves together against the ^(F1)life of the righteous
And ^(C2)condemn ^(F2)the innocent to death.

²² But the LORD has been my ^(C1)refuge,
And my God the ^(C2)rock of my refuge.

²³ He has ^(C1)brought back their injustice upon them,
And He will ^(F1)(C2)destroy them in their evil;
The LORD our God will ^(F1)destroy them.

Praise to the LORD and Warning against Unbelief.

¹ Come, let's ^(C1)sing for joy to the LORD,
Let's shout joyfully to ^(C2)the rock of our salvation.

² Let's ^(C1)come before His presence ^(C2)with a song of thanksgiving,
Let's shout joyfully to Him ^(C3)in songs with instruments.

³ For the LORD is a ^(C1)great God
And a great King ^(C2)above all gods,

⁴ In whose hand are the ^(C1)depths of the earth,
The peaks of the mountains are also His.

^5 (F1)The sea is His, for it was He ^(C1)who made it,
And His hands formed the dry land.

⁶ Come, let's ^(C1)worship and bow down,
Let's ^(C2)kneel before the LORD our ^(C3)Maker.

⁷ For He is our God,
And ^(C1)we are the people of His ^(F1)(C2)pasture and the sheep of His hand.
^(C3)Today, ^(F2)if you will hear His voice,

⁸ Do not harden your hearts as at ^(F1)(C1)Meribah,
As on the day of ^(F2)(C2)Massah in the wilderness,

⁹ "When your fathers ^(C1)put Me to the test,
They tested Me, though they had seen My work.

¹⁰ "For ^(C1)forty years I was disgusted with that generation,
And said they are a people who err in their heart,
And they do not know My ways.

¹¹ "Therefore I ^(C1)swore in My anger,
They certainly shall not enter My ^(C2)rest."

A Call to Worship the LORD the Righteous Judge.

^1 (C1)Sing to the LORD a ^(C2)new song;
Sing to the LORD, all the earth.

² Sing to the LORD, bless His name;
^(C1)Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.

³ Tell of ^(C1)His glory among the nations,
His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.

⁴ For ^(C1)great is the LORD, and ^(C2)greatly to be praised;
He is to be ^(C3)feared ^(C4)above all gods.

⁵ For ^(C1)all the gods of the peoples are ^(F1)idols,
But ^(C2)the LORD made the heavens.

^6 (C1)Splendor and majesty are before Him,
Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.

^7 (F1)Ascribe to the LORD, you ^(C1)families of the peoples,
^(F1)(C2)Ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

^8 (F1)Ascribe to the LORD the ^(C1)glory of His name;
Bring an ^(F2)(C2)offering and come into His courtyards.

^9 (C1)Worship the LORD in ^(F1)holy attire;
^(C2)Tremble before Him, all the earth.

¹⁰ Say among the nations, "^(C1)The LORD reigns;
Indeed, the ^(C1)world is firmly established, it will not be moved;
He will ^(C2)judge the peoples fairly."

¹¹ May the ^(C1)heavens be joyful, and may the ^(C2)earth rejoice;
May ^(C3)the sea ^(F1)roar, and ^(F2)all it contains;

¹² May the ^(C1)field be jubilant, and all that is in it.
Then all the ^(C2)trees of the forest will sing for joy

¹³ Before the LORD, ^(C1)for He is coming,
For He is coming to judge the earth.
^(C2)He will judge the world in righteousness,
And the peoples in His faithfulness.

The LORD'S Power and Dominion.

^1 (C1)The LORD ^(F1)reigns, may the ^(C2)earth rejoice;
May the many ^(F2)(C3)islands be joyful.

^2 (C1)Clouds and thick darkness surround Him;
^(C2)Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.

^3 (C1)Fire goes before Him
And ^(C2)burns up His enemies all around.

⁴ His ^(C1)lightning lit up the world;
The earth saw it and ^(C2)trembled.

⁵ The mountains ^(C1)melted like wax at the presence of the LORD,
At the presence of the ^(C2)Lord of the whole earth.

⁶ The ^(C1)heavens declare His righteousness,
And ^(C2)all the peoples have seen His glory.

⁷ May all those be ashamed who serve ^(C1)carved images,
Who boast in ^(C2)idols;
^(F1)(C3)Worship Him, all you ^(F2)gods.

⁸ Zion ^(F1)heard this and ^(C1)was joyful,
And the daughters of Judah have rejoiced
Because of Your judgments, LORD.

⁹ For You are the LORD ^(C1)Most High over all the earth;
You are exalted far ^(C2)above all ^(F1)gods.

^10 (C1)Hate evil, you who love the LORD,
Who ^(C2)watches over the souls of His godly ones;
He ^(C3)saves them from the hand of the wicked.

^11 (C1)Light is sown like seed for the righteous,
And ^(C2)gladness for the upright in heart.

¹² Be ^(C1)joyful in the LORD, you righteous ones,
And ^(C2)praise ^(F1)the mention of His holy name.

A Call to Praise the LORD for His Righteousness.

¹ Sing a ^(C1)new song to the LORD,
For He has done ^(C2)wonderful things,
His ^(C3)right hand and His ^(C4)holy arm have ^(F1)gained the victory for Him.

^2 (C1)The LORD has made His salvation known;
He has ^(C2)revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations.

³ He has ^(C1)remembered His graciousness and His faithfulness to the house of Israel;
^(C2)All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

^4 (C1)Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth;
^(C2)Be cheerful and sing for joy and sing praises.

⁵ Sing praises to the LORD with the ^(C1)lyre,
With the lyre and the ^(F1)(C2)sound of melody.

⁶ With ^(C1)trumpets and the sound of the horn
^(C2)Shout joyfully before ^(C3)the King, the LORD.

⁷ May the ^(C1)sea roar and ^(F1)all it contains,
The ^(C2)world and those who dwell in it.

⁸ May the ^(C1)rivers clap their hands,
May the ^(C2)mountains sing together for joy

⁹ Before the LORD, for He is coming to ^(C1)judge the earth;
He will judge the world with righteousness
And ^(C2)the peoples with fairness.

Praise to the LORD for His Faithfulness to Israel.

^1 (C1)The LORD reigns, ^(F1)the peoples tremble!
He ^(C2)sits enthroned above the cherubim, ^(F2)the earth quakes!

² The LORD ^(F1)is ^(C1)great in Zion,
And He is ^(C2)exalted above all the peoples.

³ May they praise Your ^(C1)great and awesome name;
^(C2)Holy is ^(F1)He.

⁴ The ^(F1)strength of the King ^(C1)loves ^(F2)justice;
You have established ^(F3)(C2)order;
You have ^(C3)executed ^(F2)justice and righteousness in Jacob.

^5 (F1)(C1)Exalt the LORD our God
And ^(C2)worship at His footstool;
^(C3)Holy is He.

^6 (C1)Moses and Aaron were among His ^(C2)priests,
And ^(C1)Samuel was among those who ^(C3)called on His name;
They ^(C4)called upon the LORD and He answered them.

⁷ He ^(C1)spoke to them in the pillar of cloud;
They ^(C2)kept His testimonies
And the statute that He gave them.

⁸ LORD our God, You ^(C1)answered them;
You were a ^(C2)forgiving God to them,
And yet an ^(C3)avenger of their evil deeds.

⁹ Exalt the LORD our God
And worship at His holy hill,
For the LORD our God is holy.

All People Exhorted to Praise God.

^1 (C1)Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth.

^2 (C1)Serve the LORD with jubilation;
^(C2)Come before Him with rejoicing.

³ Know that ^(C1)the LORD ^(F1)Himself is God;
It is He who has ^(C2)made us, and ^(F2)not we ourselves;
We are ^(C3)His people and the sheep of His pasture.

⁴ Enter His gates ^(C1)with ^(F1)thanksgiving,
And His courtyards with praise.
Give thanks to Him, ^(C2)bless His name.

⁵ For ^(C1)the LORD is good;
^(C2)His mercy is everlasting
And His ^(C3)faithfulness is to all generations.

The Psalmist's Profession of Uprightness.

¹ I will ^(C1)sing of mercy and ^(F1)justice;
To You, LORD, I will sing praises.

² I will ^(C1)carefully attend to the ^(F1)blameless way.
When will You come to me?
I will walk within my house in the ^(F2)(C2)integrity of my heart.

³ I will set no ^(C1)worthless thing before my eyes;
I hate the ^(F1)work of those who ^(C2)fall away;
It shall not cling to me.

⁴ A ^(C1)perverse heart shall leave me;
I will know no evil.

⁵ Whoever secretly ^(C1)slanders his neighbor, him I will ^(F1)destroy;
I will not endure one who has a ^(C2)haughty look and an arrogant heart.

⁶ My eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me;
One who walks in a ^(F1)(C1)blameless way is one who will serve me.

⁷ One who ^(C1)practices deceit shall not dwell within my house;
One who speaks lies ^(C2)shall not ^(F1)maintain his position before me.

^8 (C1)Every morning I will ^(F1)(C2)destroy all the wicked of the land,
So as to ^(C3)eliminate from the ^(C4)city of the LORD all those who do injustice.

Prayer of an Afflicted Man for Mercy on Himself and on Zion.

^1 (C1)Hear my prayer, LORD!
And let my cry for help ^(C2)come to You.

^2 (C1)Do not hide Your face from me on the day of my distress;
^(C2)Incline Your ear to me;
On the day when I call ^(C1)answer me quickly.

³ For my days ^(C1)have ended in smoke,
And my ^(C2)bones have been scorched like a hearth.

⁴ My heart ^(C1)has been struck like ^(F1)grass and has ^(C2)withered,
Indeed, I ^(C3)forget to eat my bread.

⁵ Because of the ^(F1)loudness of my groaning
My ^(C1)bones ^(F2)cling to my flesh.

⁶ I resemble a ^(C1)pelican of the wilderness;
I have become like an owl of the ruins.

⁷ I ^(C1)lie awake,
I have become like a solitary bird on a housetop.

⁸ My enemies ^(C1)have taunted me all day long;
Those who ^(F1)(C2)deride me ^(F2)have used my name as a ^(C3)curse.

⁹ For I have eaten ashes like bread,
And ^(C1)mixed my drink with weeping

^10 (C1)Because of Your indignation and Your wrath;
For You have ^(C2)lifted me up and thrown me away.

¹¹ My days are like a ^(F1)(C1)lengthened shadow,
And ^(F2)I ^(C2)wither away like ^(F3)grass.

¹² But You, LORD, ^(F1)(C1)remain forever,
And Your ^(F2)(C2)name remains to all generations.

¹³ You will ^(C1)arise and have ^(C2)compassion on Zion;
For ^(C3)it is time to be gracious to her,
For the ^(C4)appointed time has come.

¹⁴ Surely Your servants ^(F1)take pleasure in her stones,
And feel pity for her dust.

^15 (F1)So the ^(F2)(C1)nations will fear the name of the LORD,
And ^(C2)all the kings of the earth, Your glory.

¹⁶ For the LORD has ^(C1)built up Zion;
He has ^(C2)appeared in His glory.

¹⁷ He has ^(C1)turned His attention to the prayer of the ^(F1)destitute
And has not despised their prayer.

^18 (F1)This will be ^(C1)written for the ^(C2)generation to come,
^(F2)That ^(C3)a people yet to be created ^(F3)may praise ^(F4)the LORD:

¹⁹ For He ^(C1)looked down from His holy height;
^(C2)From heaven the LORD looked ^(F1)upon the earth,

²⁰ To hear the ^(C1)groaning of the prisoner,
To ^(C2)set free ^(F1)those who were doomed to death,

²¹ So that people may ^(C1)tell of the name of the LORD in Zion,
And His praise in Jerusalem,

²² When ^(C1)the peoples are gathered together,
And the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.

²³ He has broken my strength in the way;
He has ^(C1)shortened my days.

²⁴ I say, "My God, ^(C1)do not take me away in the middle of my days,
Your ^(C2)years are ^(F1)throughout all generations.

²⁵ "In time of old You ^(C1)founded the earth,
And the ^(C2)heavens are the work of Your hands.

²⁶ "^(F1)Even they will ^(C1)perish, but You endure;
All of them will wear out like a garment;
Like clothing You will change them and they will pass away.

²⁷ "But You are ^(F1)(C1)the same,
And Your years will not come to an end.

²⁸ "The ^(C1)children of Your servants will continue,
And their ^(F1)(C2)descendants will be established before You."

Praise for the LORD'S Mercies.

^1 (C1)Bless the LORD, my soul,
And all that is within me, bless His ^(C2)holy name.

² Bless the LORD, my soul,
And ^(C1)do not forget any of His benefits;

³ Who ^(C1)pardons all your guilt,
Who ^(C2)heals all your diseases;

⁴ Who ^(C1)redeems your life from the pit,
Who ^(C2)crowns you with favor and compassion;

⁵ Who ^(C1)satisfies your ^(F1)years with good things,
So that your youth is ^(C2)renewed like the eagle.

⁶ The LORD ^(C1)performs ^(F1)righteous deeds
And judgments for all who are ^(C2)oppressed.

⁷ He ^(C1)made known His ways to Moses,
His ^(C2)deeds to the sons of Israel.

⁸ The LORD is ^(C1)compassionate and gracious,
^(C2)Slow to anger and abounding in mercy.

⁹ He ^(C1)will not always contend with us,
Nor will He ^(C2)keep His anger forever.

¹⁰ He has ^(C1)not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor rewarded us according to our guilty deeds.

¹¹ For as high ^(C1)as the heavens are above the earth,
So great is His mercy toward those who ^(F1)fear Him.

¹² As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He ^(C1)removed our wrongdoings from us.

¹³ Just ^(C1)as a father has compassion on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who ^(F1)fear Him.

¹⁴ For ^(C1)He Himself knows ^(F1)our form;
He ^(C2)is mindful that we are nothing but ^(C3)dust.

¹⁵ As for man, his days are ^(C1)like grass;
Like a ^(C2)flower of the field, so he flourishes.

¹⁶ When the ^(C1)wind has passed over it, it is no more,
And its ^(C2)place no longer knows about it.

¹⁷ But the ^(F1)(C1)mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting for those who ^(F2)fear Him,
And His justice ^(C2)to the children's children,

¹⁸ To ^(C1)those who keep His covenant
And remember His precepts, so as to do them.

¹⁹ The LORD has established His ^(C1)throne in the heavens,
And His ^(F1)(C2)sovereignty rules over ^(F2)all.

²⁰ Bless the LORD, you ^(C1)His angels,
^(C2)Mighty in strength, who ^(C3)perform His word,
^(C4)Obeying the voice of His word!

²¹ Bless the LORD, all you ^(C1)His ^(F1)angels,
You ^(C2)who serve Him, doing His will.

²² Bless the LORD, ^(C1)all you works of His,
In all places of His dominion;
Bless the LORD, my soul!

The LORD'S Care over All His Works.

^1 (C1)Bless the LORD, my soul!
LORD my God, You are very great;
You are ^(C2)clothed with splendor and majesty,

² Covering Yourself with ^(C1)light as with a cloak,
^(C2)Stretching out heaven like a tent curtain.

^3 (F1)He ^(C1)lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters;
^(F1)He makes the ^(C2)clouds His chariot;
^(F1)He walks on the ^(C3)wings of the wind;

^4 (F1)He makes ^(F2)(C1)the winds His messengers,
^(F3)Flaming ^(C2)fire His ministers.

⁵ He ^(C1)established the earth upon its foundations,
So that it will not ^(F1)totter forever and ever.

⁶ You ^(C1)covered it with the deep sea as with a garment;
The waters were standing above the mountains.

⁷ They fled from Your ^(C1)rebuke,
At the ^(C2)sound of Your thunder they hurried away.

⁸ The mountains rose; the valleys sank down
To the ^(C1)place which You established for them.

⁹ You set a ^(C1)boundary so that they will not pass over,
So that they will not return to cover the earth.

^10 (F1)He sends forth ^(C1)springs in the valleys;
They flow between the mountains;

¹¹ They ^(C1)give drink to every animal of the field;
The ^(C2)wild donkeys quench their thirst.

¹² The birds of the sky ^(C1)dwell ^(F1)beside them;
They ^(F2)lift up their voices from among the branches.

^13 (F1)He ^(C1)waters the mountains from His upper chambers;
^(C2)The earth is satisfied with the fruit of His works.

^14 (F1)He causes the ^(C1)grass to grow for the ^(F2)cattle,
And ^(C2)vegetation for the labor of mankind,
So that ^(F3)they may produce ^(F4)food ^(C3)from the earth,

¹⁵ And ^(C1)wine, which makes a human heart cheerful,
^(C2)So that he makes his face gleam with oil,
And ^(F1)food, which ^(C3)sustains a human heart.

¹⁶ The trees of the LORD ^(F1)drink their fill,
The cedars of Lebanon which He planted,

¹⁷ Where the ^(C1)birds build their nests,
And the ^(C2)stork, whose home is the juniper trees.

¹⁸ The high mountains are for the ^(C1)wild goats;
The ^(C2)cliffs are a refuge for the ^(C3)rock hyrax.

¹⁹ He made the moon ^(C1)for the seasons;
The ^(C2)sun knows the place of its setting.

²⁰ You ^(C1)appoint darkness and it becomes night,
In which all the ^(C2)animals of the forest ^(F1)prowl about.

²¹ The ^(C1)young lions roar for their prey
^(F1)And ^(C2)seek their food from God.

²² When the sun rises they withdraw,
And they lie down in their ^(C1)dens.

²³ A person goes out to ^(C1)his work
And to his labor until evening.

²⁴ LORD, how ^(C1)many are Your works!
^(F1)In ^(C2)wisdom You have made them all;
The ^(C3)earth is full of Your ^(F2)possessions.

^25 (F1)There is the ^(C1)sea, great and ^(F2)broad,
In which are swarms without number,
Animals both small and great.

²⁶ The ^(C1)ships move along there,
And ^(F1)(C2)Leviathan, which You have formed to have fun in it.

²⁷ They all ^(C1)wait for You
To ^(C2)give them their food in ^(F1)due season.

²⁸ You give to them, they gather it up;
You ^(C1)open Your hand, they are satisfied with good.

²⁹ You ^(C1)hide Your face, they are terrified;
You ^(C2)take away their breath, they perish
And ^(C3)return to their dust.

³⁰ You send forth Your ^(F1)(C1)Spirit, they are created;
And You renew the face of the ground.

³¹ May the ^(C1)glory of the LORD endure forever;
May the LORD ^(C2)rejoice in His works;

^32 (F1)He ^(C1)looks at the earth, and it ^(C2)trembles;
He ^(C3)touches the mountains, and they smoke.

^33 (F1)I will sing to the LORD ^(F2)(C1)as long as I live;
^(F1)I will ^(C2)sing praise to my God ^(F3)while I have my being.

³⁴ May my ^(C1)praise be pleasing to Him;
As for me, I shall ^(C2)rejoice in the LORD.

³⁵ May sinners be ^(C1)removed from the earth
And may the ^(C2)wicked be no more.
^(C3)Bless the LORD, my soul.
^(F1)(C4)Praise ^(F2)the LORD!

The LORD'S Wonderful Works in Behalf of Israel.

^1 (C1)Give thanks to the LORD, ^(C2)call upon His name;
^(C3)Make His deeds known among the peoples.

² Sing to Him, ^(C1)sing praises to Him;
^(F1)(C2)Tell of all His ^(F2)wonders.

³ Boast in His holy name;
May the ^(C1)heart of those who seek the LORD be joyful.

⁴ Seek the LORD and ^(C1)His strength;
^(C2)Seek His face continually.

⁵ Remember His ^(F1)(C1)wonders which He has done,
His marvels and the ^(C2)judgments ^(F2)spoken by His mouth,

⁶ You ^(F1)descendants of ^(C1)Abraham, His servant,
You sons of ^(C2)Jacob, His ^(C3)chosen ones!

⁷ He is the LORD our God;
His ^(C1)judgments are in all the earth.

⁸ He has ^(C1)remembered His covenant forever,
The word which He commanded to a ^(C2)thousand generations,

⁹ The ^(C1)covenant which He made with Abraham,
And His ^(C2)oath to Isaac.

¹⁰ Then He ^(C1)confirmed it to Jacob as a statute,
To Israel as an everlasting covenant,

¹¹ Saying, "^(C1)To you I will give the land of Canaan
As the ^(F1)(C2)portion of your inheritance,"

¹² When they were only a ^(C1)few people in number,
Very few, and ^(C2)strangers in it.

¹³ And they wandered from nation to nation,
From one kingdom to another people,

¹⁴ He ^(C1)allowed no one to oppress them,
And He ^(F1)(C2)rebuked kings for their sakes, saying,

¹⁵ "^(C1)Do not touch My anointed ones,
And do not harm My prophets."

¹⁶ And He ^(C1)called for a famine upon the land;
He ^(C2)broke the whole staff of bread.

¹⁷ He ^(C1)sent a man before them,
Joseph, who was ^(C2)sold as a slave.

¹⁸ They forced his ^(C1)feet into shackles,
^(F1)He was put in irons;

¹⁹ Until the time that his ^(C1)word came to pass,
The word of the LORD ^(C2)refined him.

²⁰ The ^(C1)king sent and released him,
The ruler of peoples, and set him free.

²¹ He ^(C1)made him lord of his house,
And ruler over all his possessions,

²² To ^(F1)imprison his high officials ^(F2)(C1)at will,
That he might teach his elders wisdom.

^23 (C1)Israel also came into Egypt;
So Jacob ^(C2)lived in the land of Ham.

²⁴ And He ^(C1)made His people very fruitful,
And made them stronger than their enemies.

²⁵ He ^(C1)turned their heart to hate His people,
To ^(C2)deal cunningly with His servants.

²⁶ He ^(C1)sent His servant Moses,
And ^(C2)Aaron, whom He had chosen.

²⁷ They ^(F1)(C1)performed His wondrous acts among them,
And miracles in the land of Ham.

²⁸ He ^(C1)sent darkness and made it dark;
And they did not ^(C2)rebel against His words.

²⁹ He ^(C1)turned their waters into blood,
And caused their fish to die.

³⁰ Their land swarmed with ^(C1)frogs
Even in the ^(C2)chambers of their kings.

³¹ He spoke, and a ^(C1)swarm of flies
And ^(C2)gnats invaded all their territory.

³² He ^(F1)gave them ^(C1)hail for rain,
And flaming fire in their land.

³³ He also ^(C1)struck their vines and their fig trees,
And smashed the trees of their territory.

³⁴ He spoke, and ^(C1)locusts came,
And creeping locusts, beyond number,

³⁵ And they ate all the vegetation in their land,
And ate the fruit of their ground.

³⁶ He also ^(C1)fatally struck all the firstborn in their land,
The ^(C2)first fruits of all their vigor.

³⁷ Then He brought ^(F1)the Israelites out with ^(C1)silver and gold,
And among His tribes there was not one who stumbled.

³⁸ Egypt was ^(C1)glad when they departed,
For the ^(C2)dread of them had fallen upon ^(F1)the Egyptians.

³⁹ He spread out a ^(C1)cloud as a ^(F1)covering,
And ^(C2)fire to illumine by night.

^40 (F1)They ^(C1)asked, and He brought ^(C2)quail,
And satisfied them with the ^(F2)(C3)bread of heaven.

⁴¹ He opened the ^(F1)rock and ^(C1)water flowed out;
^(F2)It ran in the dry places like a river.

⁴² For He ^(C1)remembered His holy word
With His servant Abraham;

⁴³ And He led out His people with joy,
His chosen ones with a joyful ^(C1)shout.

⁴⁴ He also ^(C1)gave them the lands of the ^(F1)nations,
So that they ^(C2)might take possession of the fruit of the peoples' labor,

⁴⁵ And that they might ^(C1)keep His statutes
And comply with His laws;
^(F1)Praise ^(F2)the LORD!

Israel's Rebelliousness and the LORD'S Help.

^1 (F1)Praise ^(F2)the LORD!
Oh ^(C1)give thanks to the LORD, for He ^(C2)is good;
For ^(C3)His mercy is everlasting.

² Who can speak of the ^(C1)mighty deeds of the LORD,
Or can proclaim all His praise?

³ How blessed are those who maintain ^(F1)justice,
^(F2)Who ^(C1)practice righteousness at all times!

⁴ Remember me, LORD, in Your ^(C1)favor ^(F1)toward Your people.
Visit me with Your salvation,

⁵ So that I may see the ^(C1)prosperity of Your chosen ones,
That I may ^(C2)rejoice in the joy of Your nation,
That I may ^(C3)boast with Your ^(F1)inheritance.

^6 (C1)We have sinned ^(F1)(C2)like our fathers,
We have gone astray, we have behaved wickedly.

⁷ Our fathers in Egypt did not understand Your ^(F1)wonders;
They ^(C1)did not remember ^(F2)Your abundant kindnesses,
But ^(C2)rebelled by the sea, at the ^(F3)Red Sea.

⁸ Nevertheless He saved them ^(C1)for the sake of His name,
So that He might ^(C2)make His power known.

⁹ So He ^(C1)rebuked the ^(F1)Red Sea and it ^(C2)dried up,
And He ^(C3)led them through the mighty waters, as through the wilderness.

¹⁰ So He ^(C1)saved them from the ^(F1)hand of one who hated them,
And ^(C2)redeemed them from the ^(F1)hand of the enemy.

^11 (C1)The waters covered their adversaries;
Not one of them was left.

¹² Then they ^(C1)believed His words;
They ^(C2)sang His praise.

¹³ They quickly ^(C1)forgot His works;
They ^(C2)did not wait for His plan,

¹⁴ But ^(C1)became lustfully greedy in the wilderness,
And ^(C2)put God to the test in the desert.

¹⁵ So He ^(C1)gave them their request,
But ^(C2)sent a ^(F1)wasting disease among them.

¹⁶ When they became ^(C1)envious of Moses in the camp,
And of Aaron, the holy one of the LORD,

¹⁷ The ^(C1)earth opened and swallowed up Dathan,
And engulfed the ^(F1)company of Abiram.

¹⁸ And a ^(C1)fire blazed up in their ^(F1)company;
The flame consumed the wicked.

¹⁹ They ^(C1)made a calf in Horeb,
And worshiped a cast metal image.

²⁰ So they ^(C1)exchanged their glory
For the image of an ox that eats grass.

²¹ They ^(C1)forgot God their Savior,
Who had done ^(C2)great things in Egypt,

^22 (F1)(C1)Wonders in the land of Ham,
And awesome things by the ^(F2)Red Sea.

²³ Therefore ^(C1)He said that He would destroy them,
If ^(C2)Moses, His chosen one, had not stood in the gap before Him,
To turn away His wrath from destroying them.

²⁴ Then they ^(C1)rejected the ^(C2)pleasant land;
They ^(C3)did not believe His word,

²⁵ But ^(C1)grumbled in their tents;
They did not listen to the voice of the LORD.

²⁶ Therefore He ^(F1)(C1)swore to them
That He would have them fall in the wilderness,

²⁷ And that He would ^(C1)bring down their ^(F1)descendants among the nations,
And ^(C2)scatter them in the lands.

²⁸ They also ^(C1)followed ^(F1)Baal-peor,
And ate ^(C2)sacrifices offered to the dead.

²⁹ So they ^(C1)provoked Him to anger with their deeds,
And a plague broke out among them.

³⁰ Then Phinehas ^(C1)stood up and ^(F1)intervened,
And so the ^(C2)plague was brought to a halt.

³¹ And it was ^(C1)credited to him as righteousness,
To all generations forever.

³² They also ^(C1)provoked Him to wrath at the waters of ^(F1)Meribah,
So that it ^(C2)went badly for Moses on their account.

³³ Because they ^(C1)were rebellious against ^(F1)His Spirit,
He spoke rashly with his lips.

³⁴ They ^(C1)did not destroy the peoples,
As ^(C2)the LORD had commanded them,

³⁵ But ^(C1)they got involved with the nations
And learned their ^(F1)practices,

³⁶ And ^(C1)served their idols,
^(C2)Which became a snare to them.

³⁷ They even ^(C1)sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the ^(C2)demons,

³⁸ And shed ^(C1)innocent blood,
The blood of their ^(C2)sons and their daughters
Whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan;
And the land was ^(C3)defiled with the blood.

³⁹ So they became ^(C1)unclean in their ^(F1)practices,
And ^(F2)(C2)were unfaithful in their deeds.

⁴⁰ Therefore the ^(C1)anger of the LORD was kindled against His people,
And He ^(C2)loathed His ^(F1)(C3)inheritance.

⁴¹ So ^(C1)He handed them over to the ^(F1)nations,
And those who hated them ruled over them.

⁴² Their enemies also ^(C1)oppressed them,
And they were subdued under their ^(F1)power.

⁴³ Many times He would ^(C1)rescue them;
They, however, were rebellious in their ^(C2)plan,
And they ^(C3)sank down into their guilt.

⁴⁴ Nevertheless He looked at their distress
When He ^(C1)heard their cry;

⁴⁵ And He ^(C1)remembered His covenant for their sake,
And ^(F1)(C2)relented ^(C3)according to the greatness of His mercy.

⁴⁶ He also made them ^(C1)objects of compassion
In the presence of all their captors.

^47 (C1)Save us, LORD our God,
And ^(C2)gather us from the nations,
To give thanks to Your holy name
And ^(C3)glory in Your praise.

^48 (C1)Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
From everlasting to everlasting.
And all the people shall say, "Amen."
^(F1)Praise ^(F2)the LORD!

The LORD Rescues People from Many Troubles.

^1 (C1)Give thanks to the LORD, for ^(C2)He is good,
For His mercy is everlasting.

^2 (C1)The redeemed of the LORD shall say so,
Those whom He has ^(C2)redeemed from the hand of the enemy

³ And ^(C1)gathered from the lands,
From the east and from the west,
From the north and from the ^(F1)south.

⁴ They ^(C1)wandered in the wilderness in a ^(F1)desert region;
They did not find a way to ^(F2)an inhabited ^(C2)city.

⁵ They were hungry ^(F1)and thirsty;
Their ^(C1)souls felt weak within them.

⁶ Then they ^(C1)cried out to the LORD in their trouble;
He saved them from their distresses.

⁷ He also had them walk on a ^(F1)(C1)straight way,
To go to ^(F2)(C2)an inhabited city.

^8 (C1)They shall give thanks to the LORD for His mercy,
And for His ^(F1)wonders to the sons of mankind!

⁹ For He has ^(C1)satisfied the ^(F1)thirsty soul,
And He has filled the ^(C2)hungry soul with what is good.

¹⁰ There were those who ^(C1)lived in darkness and in ^(F1)the shadow of death,
^(C2)Prisoners in misery and ^(F2)chains,