Study Desk

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 psalm of Asaph.^(a) God is indeed good to Israel, to the pure in heart.^(b)

But as for me, my feet almost slipped; my steps nearly went astray.^(c)

For I envied the arrogant; I saw the prosperity of the wicked.^(d)

They have an easy time until they die,^[a] and their bodies are well fed.^[b](e)

They are not in trouble like others; they are not afflicted like most people.^(f)

Therefore, pride is their necklace, and violence covers them like a garment.^(g)

Their eyes bulge out from fatness; the imaginations of their hearts run wild.^(h)

They mock, and they speak maliciously; they arrogantly threaten oppression.⁽ⁱ⁾

They set their mouths against heaven, and their tongues strut across the earth.^(j)

Therefore His people turn to them^[c] and drink in their overflowing words.^[d](k)

The wicked say, "How can God know? Does the Most High know everything?"^(l)

Look at them—the wicked! They are always at ease, and they increase their wealth.^(m)

Did I purify my heart and wash my hands in innocence for nothing?⁽ⁿ⁾

For I am afflicted all day long and punished every morning.^(o)

If I had decided to say these things aloud, I would have betrayed Your people.^[e](p)

When I tried to understand all this, it seemed hopeless^[f](q)

until I entered God's sanctuary. Then I understood their destiny.^(r)

Indeed, You put them in slippery places; You make them fall into ruin.^(s)

How suddenly they become a desolation! They come to an end, swept away by terrors.^(t)

Like one waking from a dream, Lord, when arising, You will despise their image.^(u)

When I became embittered and my innermost being^[g] was wounded,^(v)

I was stupid and didn't understand; I was an unthinking animal toward You.^(w)

Yet I am always with You; You hold my right hand.^(x)

You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will take me up in glory.^[h](y)

Who do I have in heaven but You? And I desire nothing on earth but You.^(z)

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength^[i] of my heart, my portion forever.^(aa)

Those far from You will certainly perish; You destroy all who are unfaithful to You.^(ab)

But as for me, God's presence is my good. I have made the Lord God my refuge, so I can tell about all You do.^(ac)

A Maskil of Asaph.^(a)

Why have You rejected us forever, God? Why does Your anger burn against the sheep of Your pasture?^(b)

Remember Your congregation, which You purchased long ago and redeemed as the tribe for Your own possession.^(c) Remember Mount Zion where You dwell.^(d)

Make Your way^[a] to the everlasting ruins, to all that the enemy has destroyed in the sanctuary.^(e)

Your adversaries roared in the meeting place where You met with us.^[b] They set up their emblems as signs.^(f)

It was like men in a thicket of trees, wielding axes,^(g)

then smashing all the carvings with hatchets and picks.^(h)

They set Your sanctuary on fire; they utterly^[c] desecrated the dwelling place of Your name.⁽ⁱ⁾

They said in their hearts, "Let us oppress them relentlessly." They burned down every place throughout the land where God met with us.^[d](j)

There are no signs for us to see. There is no longer a prophet. And none of us knows how long this will last.^(k)

God, how long will the enemy mock? Will the foe insult Your name forever?^(l)

Why do You hold back Your hand? Stretch out^[e] Your right hand and destroy them!^(m)

God my King is from ancient times, performing saving acts on the earth.⁽ⁿ⁾

You divided the sea with Your strength; You smashed the heads of the sea monsters in the waters;^(o)

You crushed the heads of Leviathan; You fed him to the creatures of the desert.^(p)

You opened up springs and streams;^(q) You dried up ever-flowing rivers.^(r)

The day is Yours, also the night; You established the moon and the sun.^(s)

You set all the boundaries of the earth; You made summer and winter.^(t)

Remember this: the enemy has mocked Yahweh, and a foolish people has insulted Your name.^(u)

Do not give the life of Your dove to beasts;^[f] do not forget the lives of Your poor people forever.^(v)

Consider the covenant,^(w) for the dark places of the land are full of violence.^(x)

Do not let the oppressed turn away in shame; let the poor and needy praise Your name.^(y)

Rise up, God, defend Your cause!^(z) Remember the insults that fools bring against You all day long.^(aa)

Do not forget the clamor of Your adversaries, the tumult of Your opponents that goes up constantly.^(ab)