Study Desk

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

God arises. His enemies scatter, and those who hate Him flee from His presence.^(a)

As smoke is blown away, so You blow them away. As wax melts before the fire, so the wicked are destroyed before God.^(b)

But the righteous are glad; they rejoice before God and celebrate with joy.^(c)

Sing to God! Sing praises to His name. Exalt Him who rides on the clouds^[a] — His name is Yahweh^[b]—and rejoice before Him.^(d)

God in His holy dwelling is a father of the fatherless and a champion of widows.^(e)

God provides homes for those who are deserted. He leads out the prisoners to prosperity,^[c] but the rebellious live in a scorched land.^(f)

God, when You went out before Your people, when You marched through the desert, Selah

the earth trembled and the skies poured down rain before God, the God of Sinai,^[d] before God, the God of Israel.^(g)

You, God, showered abundant rain; You revived Your inheritance when it languished.^(h)

Your people settled in it; God, You provided for the poor by Your goodness.⁽ⁱ⁾

The Lord gave the command; a great company of women brought the good news:^(j)

"The kings of the armies flee—they flee!" She who stays at home divides the spoil.^(k)

While^[e] you lie among the sheepfolds,^[f] the wings of a dove are covered with silver, and its feathers with glistening gold.^(l)

When the Almighty scattered kings in the land, it snowed on Zalmon.^[g](m)

Mount Bashan is God's towering mountain; Mount Bashan is a mountain of many peaks.⁽ⁿ⁾

Why gaze with envy, you mountain peaks, at the mountain^[h] God desired for His dwelling? The Lord will live there forever!^(o)

God's chariots are tens of thousands, thousands and thousands;^(p) the Lord is among them in the sanctuary^[i] as He was at Sinai.^(q)

You ascended to the heights, taking away captives; You received gifts from^[j] people, even from the rebellious, so that the Lord God might live there.^[k](r)

May the Lord be praised! Day after day He bears our burdens; God is our salvation.^(s) Selah

Our God is a God of salvation, and escape from death belongs to the Lord God .^(t)

Surely God crushes the heads of His enemies, the hairy head of one who goes on in his guilty acts.^(u)

The Lord said, "I will bring them back from Bashan; I will bring them back from the depths of the sea^(v)

so that your foot may wade^[l] in blood and your dogs' tongues may have their share from the enemies."^(w)

People have seen Your procession, God, the procession of my God, my King, in the sanctuary.^[m](x)

Singers^[n] lead the way, with musicians following; among them are young women playing tambourines.^(y)

Praise God in the assemblies; praise the Lord from the fountain of Israel.^(z)

There is Benjamin, the youngest, leading them, the rulers of Judah in their assembly,^[o] the rulers of Zebulun, the rulers of Naphtali.^(aa)

Your God has decreed your strength. Show Your strength, God, You who have acted on our behalf.^(ab)

Because of Your temple at Jerusalem, kings will bring tribute to You.^(ac)

Rebuke the beast^[p] in the reeds, the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples.^(ad) Trample underfoot those with bars of silver.^[q] Scatter the peoples who take pleasure in war.^(ae)

Ambassadors will come^[r] from Egypt; Cush will stretch out its hands^[s] to God.^(af)

Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth; sing praise to the Lord,^(ag) Selah

to Him who rides in the ancient, highest heavens.^(ah) Look, He thunders with His powerful voice!^(ai)

Ascribe power to God. His majesty is over Israel, His power among the clouds.^(aj)

God, You are awe-inspiring in Your sanctuaries. The God of Israel gives power and strength to His people. May God be praised!^(ak)

Solomonic.^(a)

God, give Your justice to the king and Your righteousness to the king's son.^(b)

He will judge Your people with righteousness and Your afflicted ones with justice.^(c)

May the mountains bring prosperity^[a] to the people and the hills, righteousness.^(d)

May he vindicate the afflicted among the people, help the poor, and crush the oppressor.^(e)

May he continue^[b] while the sun endures and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.^(f)

May he be like rain that falls on the cut grass, like spring showers that water the earth.^(g)

May the righteous^[c] flourish in his days and prosperity^[d] abound until the moon is no more.^(h)

May he rule from sea to sea and from the Euphrates to the ends of the earth.⁽ⁱ⁾

May desert tribes kneel before him and his enemies lick the dust.^(j)

May the kings of Tarshish and the coasts and islands bring tribute, the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.^(k)

Let all kings bow down to him, all nations serve him.^(l)

For he will rescue the poor who cry out and the afflicted who have no helper.^(m)

He will have pity on the poor and helpless and save the lives of the poor.⁽ⁿ⁾

He will redeem them from oppression and violence, for their lives are^[e] precious^[f] in his sight.^(o)

May he live long! May gold from Sheba be given to him. May prayer be offered for him continually, and may he be blessed all day long.^(p)

May there be plenty of grain in the land; may it wave on the tops of the mountains. May its crops be like Lebanon. May people flourish in the cities like the grass of the field.^(q)

May his name endure forever; as long as the sun shines, may his fame increase. May all nations be blessed by him and call him blessed.^(r)

May the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does wonders, be praised.^(s)

May His glorious name be praised forever; the whole earth is filled with His glory.^(t) Amen and amen.

The prayers of David son of Jesse are concluded.^(u)

A Davidic prayer.

Listen, Lord , and answer me, for I am poor and needy.^(a)

Protect my life, for I am faithful.^(b) You are my God; save Your servant who trusts in You.^(c)

Be gracious to me, Lord, for I call to You all day long.^(d)

Bring joy to Your servant's life, because I turn to You, Lord.^(e)

For You, Lord, are kind and ready to forgive,^(f) rich in faithful love to all who call on You.^(g)

Lord , hear my prayer; listen to my plea for mercy.^(h)

I call on You in the day of my distress, for You will answer me.⁽ⁱ⁾

Lord, there is no one like You among the gods, and there are no works like Yours.^(j)

All the nations You have made will come and bow down before You, Lord, and will honor Your name.^(k)

For You are great and perform wonders; You alone are God.^(l)

Teach me Your way, Yahweh, and I will live by Your truth. Give me an undivided mind to fear Your name.^(m)

I will praise You with all my heart, Lord my God, and will honor Your name forever.⁽ⁿ⁾

For Your faithful love for me is great, and You deliver my life from the depths of Sheol.^(o)

God, arrogant people have attacked me; a gang of ruthless men seeks my life. They have no regard for You.^(p)

But You, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in faithful love and truth.^(q)

Turn to me and be gracious to me. Give Your strength to Your servant; save the son of Your female servant.^(r)

Show me a sign of Your goodness; my enemies will see and be put to shame because You, Lord , have helped and comforted me.^(s)