Study Desk

For the choir director: "Do Not Destroy."^[a] A Davidic Miktam.

Do you really speak righteously, you mighty ones?^[b] Do you judge people fairly?^(a)

No, you practice injustice in your hearts; with your hands you weigh out violence in the land.^(b)

The wicked go astray from the womb; liars err from birth.^(c)

They have venom like the venom of a snake, like the deaf cobra that stops up its ears,^(d)

that does not listen to the sound of the charmers who skillfully weave spells.^(e)

God, knock the teeth out of their mouths; Lord , tear out the young lions' fangs.^(f)

They will vanish like water that flows by; they will aim their useless arrows.^[c][d](g)

Like a slug that moves along in slime, like a woman's miscarried child, they will not see the sun.^(h)

Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns— whether green or burning— He will sweep them away.^[e](i)

The righteous one will rejoice when he sees the retribution;^(j) he will wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.^(k)

Then people will say, "Yes, there is a reward for the righteous! There is a God who judges on earth!"^(l)

For the choir director: "Do Not Destroy."^[a] A Davidic Miktam. When Saul sent agents to watch the house and kill him.^(a)

Deliver me from my enemies, my God;^(b) protect me from those who rise up against me.^(c)

Deliver me from those who practice sin, and save me from men of bloodshed.^(d)

Lord , look! They set an ambush for me.^(e) Powerful men attack me, but not because of any sin or rebellion of mine.^(f)

For no fault of mine, they run and take up a position. Awake to help me, and take notice.^(g)

Lord God of Hosts, You are the God of Israel, rise up to punish all the nations; do not show grace to any wicked traitors.^(h) Selah

They return at evening, snarling like dogs and prowling around the city.⁽ⁱ⁾

Look, they spew from their mouths— sharp words from^[b] their lips.^(j) "For who," they say, "will hear?"^(k)

But You laugh at them, Lord ; You ridicule all the nations.^(l)

I will keep watch for You, my^[c] strength, because God is my stronghold.^(m)

My faithful God^[d] will come to meet me; God will let me look down on my adversaries.⁽ⁿ⁾

Do not kill them; otherwise, my people will forget. By Your power, make them homeless wanderers^(o) and bring them down, Lord, our shield.^(p)

For the sin of their mouths and the words of their lips, let them be caught in their pride. They utter curses and lies.^(q)

Consume them in rage; consume them until they are gone.^(r) Then people will know throughout^[e] the earth that God rules over Jacob.^(s) Selah

And they return at evening, snarling like dogs and prowling around the city.^(t)

They scavenge for food; they growl if they are not satisfied.^(u)

But I will sing of Your strength and will joyfully proclaim Your faithful love in the morning.^(v) For You have been a stronghold for me, a refuge in my day of trouble.^(w)

To You, my strength, I sing praises, because God is my stronghold— my faithful God.^(x)

For the choir director: according to "The Lily of Testimony."^[a] A Davidic Miktam for teaching. When he fought with Aram-naharaim and Aram-zobah, and Joab returned and struck Edom in the Valley of Salt, killing 12,000.^(a)

God, You have rejected us; You have broken out^[b] against us; You have been angry. Restore us!^[c](b)

You have shaken the land and split it open. Heal its fissures, for it shudders.^(c)

You have made Your people suffer hardship; You have given us wine to drink that made us stagger.^(d)

You have given a signal flag to those who fear You, so that they can flee before the archers.^[d](e) Selah

Save with Your right hand, and answer me, so that those You love may be rescued.^(f)

God has spoken in His sanctuary:^[e] "I will triumph! I will divide up Shechem.^(g) I will apportion the Valley of Succoth.^(h)

Gilead is Mine, Manasseh is Mine, and Ephraim is My helmet;⁽ⁱ⁾ Judah is My scepter.^(j)

Moab is My washbasin.^(k) I throw My sandal on Edom;^(l) I shout in triumph over Philistia."^(m)

Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom?⁽ⁿ⁾

God, haven't You rejected us? God, You do not march out with our armies.^(o)

Give us aid against the foe, for human help is worthless.^(p)

With God we will perform valiantly;^(q) He will trample our foes.^(r)

For the choir director: on stringed instruments. Davidic.

God, hear my cry; pay attention to my prayer.^(a)

I call to You from the ends of the earth when my heart is without strength.^(b) Lead me to a rock that is high above me,^(c)

for You have been a refuge for me, a strong tower^(d) in the face of the enemy.

I will live in Your tent forever and take refuge under the shelter of Your wings.^(e) Selah

God, You have heard my vows;^(f) You have given a heritage to those who fear Your name.^(g)

Add days to the king's life; may his years span many generations.^(h)

May he sit enthroned before God forever;⁽ⁱ⁾ appoint faithful love and truth to guard him.^(j)

Then I will continually sing of Your name,^(k) fulfilling my vows day by day.^(l)

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

I am at rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him.^(b)

He alone is my rock and my salvation,^(c) my stronghold; I will never be shaken.^(d)

How long will you threaten a man? Will all of you attack^[a] as if he were a leaning wall or a tottering stone fence?^(e)

They only plan to bring him down from his high position. They take pleasure in lying; they bless with their mouths, but they curse inwardly.^(f) Selah

Rest in God alone, my soul, for my hope comes from Him.^(g)

He alone is my rock and my salvation,^(h) my stronghold; I will not be shaken.⁽ⁱ⁾

My salvation and glory depend on God, my strong rock. My refuge is in God.^(j)

Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is our refuge.^(k) Selah

Men are only a vapor; exalted men, an illusion. Weighed in the scales, they go up; together they are less than a vapor.^(l)

Place no trust in oppression, or false hope in robbery. If wealth increases, pay no attention to it.^[b](m)

God has spoken once; I have heard this twice: strength belongs to God,⁽ⁿ⁾

and faithful love belongs to You, Lord . For You repay each according to his works.^(o)

A Davidic psalm. When he was in the Wilderness of Judah.^(a)

God, You are my God; I eagerly seek You. I thirst for You; my body faints for You in a land that is dry, desolate, and without water.^(b)

So I gaze on You in the sanctuary to see Your strength and Your glory.^(c)

My lips will glorify You because Your faithful love is better than life.^(d)

So I will praise You as long as I live; at Your name, I will lift up my hands.^(e)

You satisfy me as with rich food;^[a](f) my mouth will praise You with joyful lips.^(g)

When I think of You as I lie on my bed, I meditate on You during the night watches^(h)

because You are my helper;⁽ⁱ⁾ I will rejoice in the shadow of Your wings.^(j)

I follow close to You; Your right hand holds on to me.^(k)

But those who seek to destroy my life will go into the depths of the earth.^(l)

They will be given over to the power of the sword;^(m) they will become the jackals' prey.

But the king will rejoice in God;⁽ⁿ⁾ all who swear by Him^[b] will boast, for the mouths of liars will be shut.^(o)

For the choir director. A Davidic psalm.

God, hear my voice when I complain.^(a) Protect my life from the terror of the enemy.^(b)

Hide me from the scheming of wicked people,^(c) from the mob of evildoers,^(d)

who sharpen their tongues like swords and aim bitter words like arrows,^(e)

shooting from concealed places at the innocent. They shoot at him suddenly and are not afraid.^(f)

They encourage each other in an evil plan;^[a][b] they talk about hiding traps and say, "Who will see them?"^[c](g)

They devise crimes and say, "We have perfected a secret plan."^(h) The inner man and the heart are mysterious.

But God will shoot them with arrows; suddenly, they will be wounded.⁽ⁱ⁾

They will be made to stumble; their own tongues work against them. All who see them will shake their heads.^(j)

Then everyone will fear and will tell about God's work, for they will understand what He has done.^(k)

The righteous one rejoices in the Lord and takes refuge in Him; all those who are upright in heart will offer praise.^(l)

For the choir director. A Davidic psalm. A song.

Praise is rightfully Yours,^[a] God, in Zion; vows to You will be fulfilled.^(a)

All humanity will come to You, the One who hears prayer.^(b)

Iniquities overwhelm me; only You can atone for^[b] our rebellions.^(c)

How happy is the one You choose and bring near to live in Your courts! We will be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, the holiness of Your temple.^[c](d)

You answer us in righteousness, with awe-inspiring works, God of our salvation, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the distant seas.^(e)

You establish the mountains by Your^[d] power, robed with strength.^(f)

You silence the roar of the seas, the roar of their waves, and the tumult of the nations.^(g)

Those who live far away are awed by Your signs; You make east and west shout for joy.^(h)

You visit the earth and water it abundantly, enriching it greatly. God's stream is filled with water, for You prepare the earth^[e] in this way, providing people with grain.⁽ⁱ⁾

You soften it with showers and bless its growth, soaking its furrows and leveling its ridges.^(j)

You crown the year with Your goodness; Your ways overflow with plenty.^[f](k)

The wilderness pastures overflow, and the hills are robed with joy.^(l)

The pastures are clothed with flocks and the valleys covered with grain.^(m) They shout in triumph; indeed, they sing.⁽ⁿ⁾