Study Desk

Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. A song.

He has founded his city on the holy mountain.^(a)

The Lord loves the gates of Zion^(b) more than all the other dwellings of Jacob.

Glorious things are said of you, city of God:^[a](c)

"I will record Rahab^[b](d) and Babylon among those who acknowledge me— Philistia^(e) too, and Tyre^(f), along with Cush^[c]— and will say, ‘This one was born in Zion.'"^[d](g)

Indeed, of Zion it will be said, "This one and that one were born in her, and the Most High himself will establish her."

The Lord will write in the register^(h) of the peoples: "This one was born in Zion."

As they make music⁽ⁱ⁾ they will sing, "All my fountains^(j) are in you."

A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah. For the director of music. According to mahalath leannoth.^[b] A maskil^[c] of Heman the Ezrahite.

Lord , you are the God who saves me;^(a) day and night I cry out^(b) to you.

May my prayer come before you; turn your ear to my cry.

I am overwhelmed with troubles^(c) and my life draws near to death.^(d)

I am counted among those who go down to the pit;^(e) I am like one without strength.^(f)

I am set apart with the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more, who are cut off^(g) from your care.

You have put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths.^(h)

Your wrath⁽ⁱ⁾ lies heavily on me; you have overwhelmed me with all your waves.^[d](j)

You have taken from me my closest friends^(k) and have made me repulsive to them. I am confined^(l) and cannot escape;^(m)

my eyes⁽ⁿ⁾ are dim with grief. I call^(o) to you, Lord , every day; I spread out my hands^(p) to you.

Do you show your wonders to the dead? Do their spirits rise up and praise you?^(q)

Is your love declared in the grave, your faithfulness^(r) in Destruction^[e]?

Are your wonders known in the place of darkness, or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion?

But I cry to you for help,^(s) Lord ; in the morning^(t) my prayer comes before you.^(u)

Why, Lord , do you reject^(v) me and hide your face^(w) from me?

From my youth^(x) I have suffered^(y) and been close to death; I have borne your terrors^(z) and am in despair.^(aa)

Your wrath^(ab) has swept over me; your terrors^(ac) have destroyed me.

All day long they surround me like a flood;^(ad) they have completely engulfed me.

You have taken from me friend^(ae) and neighbor— darkness is my closest friend.

A maskil^[b] of Ethan the Ezrahite.

I will sing^(a) of the Lord 's great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known^(b) through all generations.

I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself.^(c)

You said, "I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant,

‘I will establish your line forever and make your throne firm through all generations.'"^[c](d)

The heavens^(e) praise your wonders, Lord , your faithfulness too, in the assembly^(f) of the holy ones.

For who in the skies above can compare with the Lord ? Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings?^(g)

In the council^(h) of the holy ones⁽ⁱ⁾ God is greatly feared; he is more awesome than all who surround him.^(j)

Who is like you,^(k) Lord God Almighty?^(l) You, Lord , are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you.

You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, you still them.^(m)

You crushed Rahab⁽ⁿ⁾ like one of the slain; with your strong arm you scattered^(o) your enemies.

The heavens are yours,^(p) and yours also the earth;^(q) you founded the world and all that is in it.^(r)

You created the north and the south; Tabor^(s) and Hermon^(t) sing for joy^(u) at your name.

Your arm is endowed with power; your hand is strong, your right hand exalted.^(v)

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;^(w) love and faithfulness go before you.^(x)

Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk^(y) in the light^(z) of your presence, Lord .

They rejoice in your name^(aa) all day long; they celebrate your righteousness.

For you are their glory and strength,^(ab) and by your favor you exalt our horn.^[d](ac)

Indeed, our shield^[e](ad) belongs to the Lord , our king^(ae) to the Holy One of Israel.

Once you spoke in a vision, to your faithful people you said: "I have bestowed strength on a warrior; I have raised up a young man from among the people.

I have found David^(af) my servant;^(ag) with my sacred oil^(ah) I have anointed^(ai) him.

My hand will sustain him; surely my arm will strengthen him.^(aj)

The enemy will not get the better of him;^(ak) the wicked will not oppress^(al) him.

I will crush his foes before him^(am) and strike down his adversaries.^(an)

My faithful love will be with him,^(ao) and through my name his horn^[f] will be exalted.

I will set his hand over the sea, his right hand over the rivers.^(ap)

He will call out to me, ‘You are my Father,^(aq) my God, the Rock^(ar) my Savior.'^(as)

And I will appoint him to be my firstborn,^(at) the most exalted^(au) of the kings^(av) of the earth.

I will maintain my love to him forever, and my covenant with him will never fail.^(aw)

I will establish his line forever, his throne as long as the heavens endure.^(ax)

"If his sons forsake my law and do not follow my statutes,

if they violate my decrees and fail to keep my commands,

I will punish their sin with the rod, their iniquity with flogging;^(ay)

but I will not take my love from him,^(az) nor will I ever betray my faithfulness.

I will not violate my covenant or alter what my lips have uttered.^(ba)

Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness— and I will not lie to David—

that his line will continue forever and his throne endure before me like the sun;^(bb)

it will be established forever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky."^(bc)