Study Desk

When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered,

I was senseless^(ac) and ignorant; I was a brute beast^(ad) before you.

Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.^(ae)

You guide^(af) me with your counsel,^(ag) and afterward you will take me into glory.

Whom have I in heaven but you?^(ah) And earth has nothing I desire besides you.^(ai)

My flesh and my heart^(aj) may fail,^(ak) but God is the strength^(al) of my heart and my portion^(am) forever.

Those who are far from you will perish;^(an) you destroy all who are unfaithful^(ao) to you.

But as for me, it is good to be near God.^(ap) I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;^(aq) I will tell of all your deeds.^(ar)

A maskil^[a] of Asaph.

O God, why have you rejected^(a) us forever?^(b) Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture?^(c)

Remember the nation you purchased^(d) long ago,^(e) the people of your inheritance,^(f) whom you redeemed^(g)— Mount Zion,^(h) where you dwelt.⁽ⁱ⁾

Turn your steps toward these everlasting ruins,^(j) all this destruction the enemy has brought on the sanctuary.

Your foes roared^(k) in the place where you met with us; they set up their standards^(l) as signs.

They behaved like men wielding axes to cut through a thicket of trees.^(m)

They smashed all the carved⁽ⁿ⁾ paneling with their axes and hatchets.

They burned your sanctuary to the ground; they defiled^(o) the dwelling place^(p) of your Name.^(q)

They said in their hearts, "We will crush^(r) them completely!" They burned^(s) every place where God was worshiped in the land.

We are given no signs from God;^(t) no prophets^(u) are left, and none of us knows how long this will be.

How long^(v) will the enemy mock^(w) you, God? Will the foe revile^(x) your name forever?

Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand?^(y) Take it from the folds of your garment^(z) and destroy them!

But God is my King^(aa) from long ago; he brings salvation^(ab) on the earth.

It was you who split open the sea^(ac) by your power; you broke the heads of the monster^(ad) in the waters.

It was you who crushed the heads of Leviathan^(ae) and gave it as food to the creatures of the desert.^(af)

It was you who opened up springs^(ag) and streams; you dried up^(ah) the ever-flowing rivers.

The day is yours, and yours also the night; you established the sun and moon.^(ai)

It was you who set all the boundaries^(aj) of the earth; you made both summer and winter.^(ak)

Remember how the enemy has mocked you, Lord , how foolish people^(al) have reviled your name.

Do not hand over the life of your dove^(am) to wild beasts; do not forget the lives of your afflicted^(an) people forever.

Have regard for your covenant,^(ao) because haunts of violence fill the dark places^(ap) of the land.

Do not let the oppressed^(aq) retreat in disgrace; may the poor and needy^(ar) praise your name.

Rise up,^(as) O God, and defend your cause; remember how fools^(at) mock you all day long.

Do not ignore the clamor^(au) of your adversaries,^(av) the uproar^(aw) of your enemies,^(ax) which rises continually.

For the director of music. To the tune of "Do Not Destroy." A psalm of Asaph. A song.

We praise you, God, we praise you, for your Name is near;^(a) people tell of your wonderful deeds.^(b)

You say, "I choose the appointed time;^(c) it is I who judge with equity.^(d)

When the earth and all its people quake,^(e) it is I who hold its pillars^(f) firm.^[b]

To the arrogant^(g) I say, ‘Boast no more,'^(h) and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horns.^[c](i)

Do not lift your horns against heaven; do not speak so defiantly.^(j)'"

No one from the east or the west or from the desert can exalt themselves.

It is God who judges:^(k) He brings one down, he exalts another.^(l)

In the hand of the Lord is a cup full of foaming wine mixed^(m) with spices; he pours it out, and all the wicked of the earth drink it down to its very dregs.⁽ⁿ⁾

As for me, I will declare^(o) this forever; I will sing^(p) praise to the God of Jacob,^(q)

who says, "I will cut off the horns of all the wicked, but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up."^(r)

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of Asaph. A song.

God is renowned in Judah; in Israel his name is great.^(a)

His tent is in Salem,^(b) his dwelling place in Zion.^(c)

There he broke the flashing arrows,^(d) the shields and the swords, the weapons of war.^[b](e)

You are radiant with light,^(f) more majestic than mountains rich with game.

The valiant^(g) lie plundered, they sleep their last sleep;^(h) not one of the warriors can lift his hands.

At your rebuke,⁽ⁱ⁾ God of Jacob, both horse and chariot^(j) lie still.

It is you alone who are to be feared.^(k) Who can stand^(l) before you when you are angry?^(m)