Study Desk

Lead me, Lord , in your righteousness^(o) because of my enemies— make your way straight^(p) before me.

Not a word from their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with malice. Their throat is an open grave;^(q) with their tongues they tell lies.^(r)

Declare them guilty, O God! Let their intrigues be their downfall. Banish them for their many sins,^(s) for they have rebelled^(t) against you.

But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy.^(u) Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name^(v) may rejoice in you.^(w)

Surely, Lord , you bless the righteous;^(x) you surround them^(y) with your favor as with a shield.^(z)

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. According to sheminith.^[b] A psalm of David.

Lord , do not rebuke me in your anger^(a) or discipline me in your wrath.

Have mercy on me,^(b) Lord , for I am faint;^(c) heal me,^(d) Lord , for my bones are in agony.^(e)

My soul is in deep anguish.^(f) How long,^(g) Lord , how long?

Turn,^(h) Lord , and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love.⁽ⁱ⁾

Among the dead no one proclaims your name. Who praises you from the grave?^(j)

I am worn out^(k) from my groaning.^(l) All night long I flood my bed with weeping^(m) and drench my couch with tears.⁽ⁿ⁾

My eyes grow weak^(o) with sorrow; they fail because of all my foes.

Away from me,^(p) all you who do evil,^(q) for the Lord has heard my weeping.

The Lord has heard my cry for mercy;^(r) the Lord accepts my prayer.

All my enemies will be overwhelmed with shame and anguish;^(s) they will turn back and suddenly be put to shame.^(t)

A shiggaion^[b](a) of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning Cush, a Benjamite.

Lord my God, I take refuge^(b) in you; save and deliver me^(c) from all who pursue me,^(d)

or they will tear me apart like a lion^(e) and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue^(f) me.

Lord my God, if I have done this and there is guilt on my hands^(g)—

if I have repaid my ally with evil or without cause^(h) have robbed my foe—

then let my enemy pursue and overtake⁽ⁱ⁾ me; let him trample my life to the ground^(j) and make me sleep in the dust.^[c](k)

Arise,^(l) Lord , in your anger; rise up against the rage of my enemies.^(m) Awake,⁽ⁿ⁾ my God; decree justice.

Let the assembled peoples gather around you, while you sit enthroned over them on high.^(o)

Let the Lord judge^(p) the peoples. Vindicate me, Lord , according to my righteousness,^(q) according to my integrity,^(r) O Most High.^(s)

Bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure—^(t) you, the righteous God^(u) who probes minds and hearts.^(v)

My shield^[d](w) is God Most High, who saves the upright in heart.^(x)

God is a righteous judge,^(y) a God who displays his wrath^(z) every day.

If he does not relent,^(aa) he^[e] will sharpen his sword;^(ab) he will bend and string his bow.^(ac)

He has prepared his deadly weapons; he makes ready his flaming arrows.^(ad)

Whoever is pregnant with evil conceives trouble and gives birth^(ae) to disillusionment.

Whoever digs a hole and scoops it out falls into the pit^(af) they have made.^(ag)

The trouble they cause recoils on them; their violence comes down on their own heads.

I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness;^(ah) I will sing the praises^(ai) of the name of the Lord Most High.^(aj)

For the director of music. According to gittith.^[b] A psalm of David.

Lord , our Lord, how majestic is your name^(a) in all the earth! You have set your glory^(b) in the heavens.^(c)

Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold^(d) against your enemies, to silence the foe^(e) and the avenger.

When I consider your heavens,^(f) the work of your fingers,^(g) the moon and the stars,^(h) which you have set in place,

what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?^[c](i)

You have made them^[d] a little lower than the angels^[e](j) and crowned them^[f] with glory and honor.^(k)

You made them rulers^(l) over the works of your hands;^(m) you put everything under their^[g] feet:⁽ⁿ⁾

all flocks and herds,^(o) and the animals of the wild,^(p)

the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea,^(q) all that swim the paths of the seas.

Lord , our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!^(r)