Study Desk

For the choir director. Davidic.

I have taken refuge in the Lord .^(a) How can you say to me, "Escape to the mountain like a bird!^[a](b)

For look, the wicked string the bow; they put the^[b] arrow on the bowstring to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart.^(c)

When the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?"^(d)

The Lord is in His holy temple;^(e) the Lord 's throne is in heaven.^(f) His eyes watch; He examines^[c] everyone.

The Lord examines the righteous and the wicked. He hates the lover of violence.^(g)

He will rain burning coals^[d] and sulfur on the wicked; a scorching wind will be their portion.^[e](h)

For the Lord is righteous; He loves righteous deeds. The upright will see His face.⁽ⁱ⁾

For the choir director: according to Sheminith.^(a) A Davidic psalm.

Help, Lord , for no faithful one remains; the loyal have disappeared from the human race.^(b)

They lie to one another; they speak with flattering lips and deceptive hearts.^(c)

May the Lord cut off all flattering lips and the tongue that speaks boastfully.^(d)

They say, "Through our tongues we have power;^[a] our lips are our own—who can be our master?"^(e)

"Because of the oppression of the afflicted and the groaning of the poor, I will now rise up," says the Lord . "I will put the one who longs for it in a safe place."^(f)

The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in an earthen furnace, purified seven times.^(g)

You, Lord , will guard us;^[b] You will protect us^[c] from this generation forever.^(h)

The wicked wander^[d] everywhere, and what is worthless is exalted by the human race.⁽ⁱ⁾

For the choir director. A Davidic psalm.

Lord , how long will You forget me? Forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?^(a)

How long will I store up anxious concerns^[a] within me, agony in my mind every day? How long will my enemy dominate me?^(b)

Consider me and answer, Lord my God. Restore brightness to my eyes;^(c) otherwise, I will sleep in death.

My enemy will say, "I have triumphed over him," and my foes will rejoice because I am shaken.^(d)

But I have trusted in Your faithful love;^(e) my heart will rejoice in Your deliverance.^(f)

I will sing to the Lord because He has treated me generously.^(g)

For the choir director. Davidic.

The fool says in his heart, "God does not exist."^(a) They are corrupt; they do vile deeds. There is no one who does good.

The Lord looks down from heaven on the human race^(b) to see if there is one who is wise, one who seeks God.

All have turned away; all alike have become corrupt. There is no one who does good, not even one.^[a](c)

Will evildoers never understand? They consume My people as they consume bread;^(d) they do not call on the Lord .^(e)

Then^[b] they will be filled with terror, for God is with those who are^[c] righteous.^(f)

You sinners frustrate the plans of the afflicted,^(g) but the Lord is his refuge.^(h)

Oh, that Israel's deliverance would come from Zion! When the Lord restores the fortunes of His people,^[d] Jacob will rejoice; Israel will be glad.^[e](i)

A Davidic psalm.

Lord , who can dwell in Your tent?^(a) Who can live on Your holy mountain?^(b)

The one who lives honestly, practices righteousness, and acknowledges the truth in his heart^(c)—

who does not slander with his tongue,^(d) who does not harm his friend or discredit his neighbor,^(e)

who despises the one rejected by the Lord ^[a] but honors those who fear the Lord ,^(f) who keeps his word whatever the cost,^(g)

who does not lend his money at interest^(h) or take a bribe against the innocent⁽ⁱ⁾— the one who does these things will never be moved.^(j)

A Davidic Miktam.^(a)

Protect me, God, for I take refuge in You.^(b)

I^[a] said to Yahweh, "You are my Lord; I have nothing good besides You."^[b](c)

As for the holy people who are in the land,^(d) they are the noble ones. All my delight is in them.

The sorrows of those who take another god for themselves will multiply; I will not pour out their drink offerings of blood, and I will not speak their names with my lips.^(e)

Lord , You are my portion^[c] and my cup of blessing; You hold my future.^(f)

The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.^(g)

I will praise the Lord who counsels me^(h)— even at night my conscience instructs me.⁽ⁱ⁾

I keep the Lord in mind^[d] always. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.^(j)

Therefore my heart is glad and my spirit rejoices; my body also rests securely.^(k)

For You will not abandon me to Sheol;^(l) You will not allow Your Faithful One to see decay.^(m)

You reveal the path of life to me; in Your presence is abundant joy;⁽ⁿ⁾ in Your right hand are eternal pleasures.^(o)

A Davidic prayer.

Lord , hear a just cause;^(a) pay attention to my cry; listen to my prayer— from lips free of deceit.^(b)

Let my vindication come from You, for You see what is right.^(c)

You have tested my heart;^(d) You have examined me at night. You have tried me and found nothing evil;^(e) I have determined that my mouth will not sin.^[a]

Concerning what people do: by the word of Your lips^[b] I have avoided the ways of the violent.^(f)

My steps are on Your paths; my feet have not slipped.^(g)