Study Desk

By the rivers of Babylon— there we sat down and wept when we remembered Zion.^(a)

There we hung up our lyres on the poplar trees,^(b)

for our captors there asked us for songs, and our tormentors, for rejoicing: "Sing us one of the songs of Zion."^(c)

How can we sing the Lord 's song on foreign soil?^(d)

If I forget you, Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill.^(e)

May my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not exalt Jerusalem as my greatest joy!^(f)

Remember, Lord , what the Edomites said that day^[a] at Jerusalem: "Destroy it! Destroy it down to its foundations!"^(g)

Daughter Babylon, doomed to destruction, happy is the one who pays you back what you have done to us.^(h)

Happy is he who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rocks.⁽ⁱ⁾

Davidic.

I will give You thanks with all my heart;^(a) I will sing Your praise before the heavenly beings.^[a](b)

I will bow down toward Your holy temple and give thanks to Your name for Your constant love and truth. You have exalted Your name and Your promise above everything else.^(c)

On the day I called, You answered me; You increased strength within me.^[b](d)

All the kings on earth will give You thanks, Lord , when they hear what You have promised.^[c](e)

They will sing of the Lord 's ways, for the Lord 's glory is great.^(f)

Though the Lord is exalted, He takes note of the humble; but He knows the haughty from a distance.^(g)

If I walk into the thick of danger, You will preserve my life from the anger of my enemies.^(h) You will extend Your hand; Your right hand will save me.⁽ⁱ⁾

The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me.^(j) Lord , Your love is eternal; do not abandon the work of Your hands.^(k)

For the choir director. A Davidic psalm.

Lord , You have searched me and known me.^(a)

You know when I sit down and when I stand up; You understand my thoughts from far away.^(b)

You observe my travels and my rest; You are aware of all my ways.^(c)

Before a word is on my tongue, You know all about it, Lord .^(d)

You have encircled me; You have placed Your hand on me.^(e)

This extraordinary knowledge is beyond me. It is lofty; I am unable to reach it.^(f)

Where can I go to escape Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence?^(g)

If I go up to heaven, You are there;^(h) if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there.⁽ⁱ⁾

If I live at the eastern horizon or settle at the western limits,^[a]

even there Your hand will lead me; Your right hand will hold on to me.^(j)

If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me, and the light around me will be night"^(k)—

even the darkness is not dark to You. The night shines like the day; darkness and light are alike to You.^(l)

For it was You who created my inward parts;^[b] You knit me together in my mother's womb.^(m)

I will praise You because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made.^[c][d] Your works are wonderful, and I know this very well.⁽ⁿ⁾

My bones were not hidden from You when I was made in secret, when I was formed in the depths of the earth.^(o)

Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in Your book and planned before a single one of them began.^(p)

God, how difficult^[e] Your thoughts are for me to comprehend; how vast their sum is!

If I counted them, they would outnumber the grains of sand;^(q) when I wake up,^[f] I am still with You.^(r)

God, if only You would kill the wicked— you bloodthirsty men, stay away from me^(s)—

who invoke You deceitfully. Your enemies swear by You falsely.^(t)

Lord , don't I hate those who hate You, and detest those who rebel against You?

I hate them with extreme hatred; I consider them my enemies.^(u)

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns.^(v)

See if there is any offensive^[g] way in me; lead me in the everlasting way.^(w)