Study Desk

Vindicate me, God, and defend my cause against an ungodly nation; rescue me from the deceitful and unjust man.^(a)

For You are the God of my refuge. Why have You rejected me? Why must I go about in sorrow because of the enemy's oppression?^(b)

Send Your light and Your truth; let them lead me.^(c) Let them bring me to Your holy mountain, to Your dwelling place.^(d)

Then I will come to the altar of God, to God, my greatest joy.^(e) I will praise You with the lyre, God, my God.^(f)

Why am I so depressed? Why this turmoil within me? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him, my Savior and my God.^(g)

For the choir director. A Maskil of the sons of Korah.

God, we have heard with our ears— our ancestors have told us— the work You accomplished in their days, in days long ago:^(a)

to plant them, You drove out the nations with Your hand; to settle them, You crushed the peoples.^(b)

For they did not take the land by their sword— their arm did not bring them victory— but by Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your face, for You were pleased with them.^(c)

You are my King, my God, who ordains^[a] victories for Jacob.^(d)

Through You we drive back our foes; through Your name we trample our enemies.^(e)

For I do not trust in my bow, and my sword does not bring me victory.^(f)

But You give us victory over our foes and let those who hate us be disgraced.^(g)

We boast in God all day long; we will praise Your name forever.^(h) Selah

But You have rejected and humiliated us; You do not march out with our armies.⁽ⁱ⁾

You make us retreat from the foe, and those who hate us have taken plunder for themselves.^(j)

You hand us over to be eaten like sheep and scatter us among the nations.^(k)

You sell Your people for nothing; You make no profit from selling them.^(l)

You make us an object of reproach to our neighbors, a source of mockery and ridicule to those around us.^(m)

You make us a joke among the nations, a laughingstock^[b] among the peoples.⁽ⁿ⁾

My disgrace is before me all day long, and shame has covered my face,^(o)

because of the voice of the scorner and reviler, because of the enemy and avenger.^(p)

All this has happened to us, but we have not forgotten You or betrayed Your covenant.^(q)

Our hearts have not turned back; our steps have not strayed from Your path.^(r)

But You have crushed us in a haunt of jackals and have covered us with deepest darkness.^(s)

If we had forgotten the name of our God and spread out our hands to a foreign god,^(t)

wouldn't God have found this out, since He knows the secrets of the heart?^(u)

Because of You we are slain all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered.^(v)

Wake up, Lord ! Why are You sleeping? Get up! Don't reject us forever!^(w)

Why do You hide Yourself and forget our affliction and oppression?^(x)

For we have sunk down to the dust; our bodies cling to the ground.^(y)

Rise up! Help us! Redeem us because of Your faithful love.^(z)

For the choir director: according to "The Lilies."^[a] A Maskil of the sons of Korah. A love song.

My heart is moved by a noble theme as I recite my verses to the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.^(a)

You are the most handsome of men; grace flows from your lips.^(b) Therefore God has blessed you forever.^(c)

Mighty warrior, strap your sword at your side. In your majesty and splendor^(d)—

in your splendor ride triumphantly in the cause of truth, humility, and justice. May your right hand show your awe-inspiring acts.^(e)

Your arrows pierce the hearts of the king's enemies; the peoples fall under you.^(f)

Your throne,^(g) God, is^[b] forever and ever; the scepter of Your^[c] kingdom is a scepter of justice.^(h)

You love righteousness and hate wickedness;⁽ⁱ⁾ therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of joy more than your companions.

Myrrh, aloes, and cassia perfume all your garments; from ivory palaces harps bring you joy.^(j)

Kings' daughters are among your honored women;^(k) the queen, adorned with gold from Ophir, stands at your right hand.^(l)

Listen, daughter, pay attention and consider: forget your people and your father's house,^(m)

and the king will desire your beauty. Bow down to him, for he is your lord.⁽ⁿ⁾

The daughter of Tyre, the wealthy people, will seek your favor with gifts.^(o)

In her chamber, the royal daughter is all glorious, her clothing embroidered with gold.^(p)

In colorful garments she is led to the king; after her, the virgins, her companions, are brought to you.^(q)

They are led in with gladness and rejoicing; they enter the king's palace.^(r)

Your sons will succeed your ancestors; you will make them princes throughout the land.^(s)

I will cause your name to be remembered for all generations; therefore the peoples will praise you forever and ever.^(t)