Psalms 16-30
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Psalm 16, 11
Song of Trust and Security in God
A Miktam of David.
1
Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
2
I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
I have no good apart from you.”[a]
3
As for the holy ones in the land, they are the noble ones
in whom is all my delight.
4
Those who choose another god multiply their sorrows;[b]
their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
or take their names upon my lips.
5
The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold my lot.
6
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
I have a goodly heritage.
7
I bless the Lord, who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.
8
I keep the Lord always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
9
Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices;
my body also rests secure.
10
For you do not give me up to Sheol
or let your faithful one see the Pit.
11
You show me the path of life.
In your presence there is fullness of joy;
in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalm 17, 15
Prayer for Deliverance from Persecutors
A Prayer of David.
1
Hear a just cause, O Lord; attend to my cry;
give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit.
2
From you let my vindication come;
let your eyes see the right.
3
If you try my heart, if you visit me by night,
if you test me, you will find no wickedness in me;
my mouth does not transgress.
4
As for what others do, by the word of your lips
I have avoided the ways of the violent.
5
My steps have held fast to your paths;
my feet have not slipped.
6
I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
incline your ear to me; hear my words.
7
Wondrously show your steadfast love,
O savior of those who seek refuge
from their adversaries at your right hand.
8
Guard me as the apple of the eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings,
9
from the wicked who despoil me,
my deadly enemies who surround me.
10
They close their hearts to pity;
with their mouths they speak arrogantly.
11
They flush me out;[a] now they surround me;
they set their eyes to cast me to the ground.
12
They are like a lion eager to tear,
like a young lion lurking in ambush.
13
Rise up, O Lord, confront them, overthrow them!
By your sword deliver my life from the wicked,
14
from mortals—by your hand, O Lord--
from mortals whose portion in life is in this world.
May their bellies be filled with what you have stored up for them;
may their children have more than enough;
may they leave something over to their little ones.
15
As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness;
when I awake I shall be satisfied, beholding your likeness.
Psalm 18, 50
Royal Thanksgiving for Victory
To the leader. A Psalm of David the servant of the Lord, who addressed the words of this song to the Lord on the day when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said:
1
I love you, O Lord, my strength.
2
The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer,
my God, my rock in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3
I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
so I shall be saved from my enemies.
4
The cords of death encompassed me;
the torrents of perdition assailed me;
5
the cords of Sheol entangled me;
the snares of death confronted me.
6
In my distress I called upon the Lord;
to my God I cried for help.
From his temple he heard my voice,
and my cry to him reached his ears.
7
Then the earth reeled and rocked;
the foundations also of the mountains trembled
and reeled because he was angry.
8
Smoke went up from his nostrils
and devouring fire from his mouth;
glowing coals flamed forth from him.
9
He bowed the heavens and came down;
thick darkness was under his feet.
10
He rode on a cherub and flew;
he came swiftly upon the wings of the wind.
11
He made darkness his covering around him,
his canopy thick clouds dark with water.
12
Out of the brightness before him
there broke through his clouds
hailstones and coals of fire.
13
The Lord also thundered in the heavens,
and the Most High uttered his voice.[a]
14
And he sent out his arrows and scattered them;
he flashed forth lightnings and routed them.
15
Then the channels of the sea were seen,
and the foundations of the world were laid bare
at your rebuke, O Lord,
at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.
16
He reached down from on high; he took me;
he drew me out of mighty waters.
17
He delivered me from my strong enemy
and from those who hated me,
for they were too mighty for me.
18
They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
but the Lord was my support.
19
He brought me out into a broad place;
he delivered me because he delighted in me.
20
The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness;
according to the cleanness of my hands he recompensed me.
21
For I have kept the ways of the Lord
and have not wickedly departed from my God.
22
For all his ordinances were before me,
and his statutes I did not put away from me.
23
I was blameless before him,
and I kept myself from guilt.
24
Therefore the Lord has recompensed me according to my righteousness,
according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.
25
With the loyal you show yourself loyal;
with the blameless you show yourself blameless;
26
with the pure you show yourself pure;
and with the crooked you show yourself shrewd.
27
For you deliver a humble people,
but the haughty eyes you bring down.
28
It is you who light my lamp;
the Lord, my God, lights up my darkness.
29
By you I can outrun a troop,
and by my God I can leap over a wall.
30
This God—his way is perfect;
the promise of the Lord proves true;
he is a shield for all who take refuge in him.
31
For who is God except the Lord?
And who is a rock besides our God?
32
The God who has girded me with strength
and made my way safe.[b]
33
He made my feet like the feet of a deer
and set me secure on the heights.
34
He trains my hands for war,
so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35
You have given me the shield of your salvation,
and your right hand has supported me;
your help[c] has made me great.
36
You gave me a wide place for my steps under me,
and my feet did not slip.
37
I pursued my enemies and overtook them
and did not turn back until they were consumed.
38
I struck them down so that they were unable to rise;
they fell under my feet.
39
For you girded me with strength for the battle;
you made my assailants sink under me.
40
You made my enemies turn their backs to me,
and those who hated me I destroyed.
41
They cried for help, but there was no one to save them;
they cried to the Lord, but he did not answer them.
42
I beat them fine, like dust before the wind;
I cast them out like the mire of the streets.
43
You delivered me from strife with the peoples;[d]
you made me head of the nations;
people whom I had not known served me.
44
As soon as they heard of me, they obeyed me;
foreigners came cringing to me.
45
Foreigners lost heart
and came trembling out of their strongholds.
46
The Lord lives! Blessed be my rock,
and exalted be the God of my salvation,
47
the God who gave me vengeance
and subdued peoples under me,
48
who delivered me from my enemies;
indeed, you exalted me above my adversaries;
you delivered me from the violent.
49
For this I will extol you, O Lord, among the nations
and sing praises to your name.
50
Great triumphs he gives to his king
and shows steadfast love to his anointed,
to David and his descendants forever.
Psalm 19, 14
God’s Glory in Creation and the Law
To the leader. A Psalm of David.
1
The heavens are telling the glory of God,
and the firmament[a] proclaims his handiwork.
2
Day to day pours forth speech,
and night to night declares knowledge.
3
There is no speech, nor are there words;
their voice is not heard;
4
yet their voice[b] goes out through all the earth
and their words to the end of the world.
In the heavens[c] he has set a tent for the sun,
5
which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy,
and like a strong man runs its course with joy.
6
Its rising is from the end of the heavens
and its circuit to the end of them,
and nothing is hid from its heat.
7
The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the decrees of the Lord are sure,
making wise the simple;
8
the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is clear,
enlightening the eyes;
9
the fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever;
the ordinances of the Lord are true
and righteous altogether.
10
More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb.
11
Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
12
But who can detect one’s own errors?
Clear me from hidden faults.
13
Keep back your servant also from the insolent;[d]
do not let them have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless
and innocent of great transgression.
14
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to you,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Psalm 20, 9
Prayer for Victory
To the leader. A Psalm of David.
1
The Lord answer you in the day of trouble!
The name of the God of Jacob protect you!
2
May he send you help from the sanctuary
and give you support from Zion.
3
May he remember all your offerings
and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices. Selah
4
May he grant you your heart’s desire
and fulfill all your plans.
5
May we shout for joy over your victory
and in the name of our God set up our banners.
May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.
6
Now I know that the Lord will help his anointed;
he will answer him from his holy heaven
with mighty victories by his right hand.
7
Some take pride in chariots and some in horses,
but our pride is in the name of the Lord our God.
8
They will collapse and fall,
but we shall rise and stand upright.
9
Give victory to the king, O Lord;
answer us when we call.[a]
Psalm 21, 13
Thanksgiving for Victory
To the leader. A Psalm of David.
1
In your strength the king rejoices, O Lord,
and in your help how greatly he exults!
2
You have given him his heart’s desire
and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah
3
For you meet him with rich blessings;
you set a crown of fine gold on his head.
4
He asked you for life; you gave it to him--
length of days forever and ever.
5
His glory is great through your help;
splendor and majesty you bestow on him.
6
You bestow on him blessings forever;
you make him glad with the joy of your presence.
7
For the king trusts in the Lord,
and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved.
8
Your hand will find out all your enemies;
your right hand will find out those who hate you.
9
You will make them like a fiery furnace
when you appear.
The Lord will swallow them up in his wrath,
and fire will consume them.
10
You will destroy their offspring from the earth
and their children from among humankind.
11
If they plan evil against you,
if they devise mischief, they will not succeed.
12
For you will put them to flight;
you will aim at their faces with your bows.
13
Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength!
We will sing and praise your power.
Psalm 22, 31
Plea for Deliverance from Suffering and Hostility
To the leader: according to The Deer of the Dawn. A Psalm of David.
1
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?
2
O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer;
and by night but find no rest.
3
Yet you are holy,
enthroned on the praises of Israel.
4
In you our ancestors trusted;
they trusted, and you delivered them.
5
To you they cried and were saved;
in you they trusted and were not put to shame.
6
But I am a worm and not human,
scorned by others and despised by the people.
7
All who see me mock me;
they sneer at me; they shake their heads;
8
“Commit your cause to the Lord; let him deliver--
let him rescue the one in whom he delights!”
9
Yet it was you who took me from the womb;
you kept me safe on my mother’s breast.
10
On you I was cast from my birth,
and since my mother bore me you have been my God.
11
Do not be far from me,
for trouble is near,
and there is no one to help.
12
Many bulls encircle me;
strong bulls of Bashan surround me;
13
they open wide their mouths at me,
like a ravening and roaring lion.
14
I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint;
my heart is like wax;
it is melted within my breast;
15
my mouth[a] is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to my jaws;
you lay me in the dust of death.
16
For dogs are all around me;
a company of evildoers encircles me;
they bound my hands and feet.[b]
17
I can count all my bones.
They stare and gloat over me;
18
they divide my clothes among themselves,
and for my clothing they cast lots.
19
But you, O Lord, do not be far away!
O my help, come quickly to my aid!
20
Deliver my soul from the sword,
my life[c] from the power of the dog!
21
Save me from the mouth of the lion!
From the horns of the wild oxen you have rescued[d] me.
22
I will tell of your name to my brothers and sisters;[e]
in the midst of the congregation I will praise you:
23
You who fear the Lord, praise him!
All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him;
stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!
24
For he did not despise or abhor
the affliction of the afflicted;
he did not hide his face from me[f]
but heard when I[g] cried to him.
25
From you comes my praise in the great congregation;
my vows I will pay before those who fear him.
26
The poor[h] shall eat and be satisfied;
those who seek him shall praise the Lord.
May your hearts live forever!
27
All the ends of the earth shall remember
and turn to the Lord,
and all the families of the nations
shall worship before him.[i]
28
For dominion belongs to the Lord,
and he rules over the nations.
29
To him,[j] indeed, shall all who sleep in[k] the earth bow down;
before him shall bow all who go down to the dust,
and I shall live for him.[l]
30
Posterity will serve him;
future generations will be told about the Lord
31
and[m] proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn,
saying that he has done it.
Psalm 23, 6
The Divine Shepherd
A Psalm of David.
1
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;[a]
3
he restores my soul.[b]
He leads me in right paths[c]
for his name’s sake.
4
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,[d]
I fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6
Surely[e] goodness and mercy[f] shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
my whole life long.[g]
Psalm 24, 10
Entrance into the Temple
Of David. A Psalm.
1
The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it,
the world, and those who live in it,
2
for he has founded it on the seas
and established it on the rivers.
3
Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?
And who shall stand in his holy place?
4
Those who have clean hands and pure hearts,
who do not lift up their souls to what is false
and do not swear deceitfully.
5
They will receive blessing from the Lord
and vindication from the God of their salvation.
6
Such is the company of those who seek him,
who seek the face of the God of Jacob.[a] Selah
7
Lift up your heads, O gates!
and be lifted up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in!
8
Who is the King of glory?
The Lord, strong and mighty,
the Lord, mighty in battle.
9
Lift up your heads, O gates!
and be lifted up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in!
10
Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts,
he is the King of glory. Selah
Psalm 25, 22
Prayer for Guidance and for Deliverance
Of David.
1
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
2
O my God, in you I trust;
do not let me be put to shame;
do not let my enemies exult over me.
3
Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame;
let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
4
Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
teach me your paths.
5
Lead me in your truth and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all day long.
6
Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love,
for they have been from of old.
7
Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
according to your steadfast love remember me,
for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!
8
Good and upright is the Lord;
therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
9
He leads the humble in what is right
and teaches the humble his way.
10
All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
11
For your name’s sake, O Lord,
pardon my guilt, for it is great.
12
Who are they who fear the Lord?
He will teach them the way that they should choose.
13
They will abide in prosperity,
and their children shall possess the land.
14
The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him,
and he makes his covenant known to them.
15
My eyes are ever toward the Lord,
for he will pluck my feet out of the net.
16
Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
17
Relieve the troubles of my heart,
and bring me[a] out of my distress.
18
Consider my affliction and my trouble,
and forgive all my sins.
19
Consider how many are my foes
and with what violent hatred they hate me.
20
O guard my life and deliver me;
do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
21
May integrity and uprightness preserve me,
for I wait for you.
22
Redeem Israel, O God,
out of all its troubles.
Psalm 26, 12
Plea for Justice and Declaration of Righteousness
Of David.
1
Vindicate me, O Lord,
for I have walked in my integrity,
and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.
2
Prove me, O Lord, and try me;
test my heart and mind.
3
For your steadfast love is before my eyes,
and I walk in faithfulness to you.[a]
4
I do not sit with the worthless,
nor do I consort with hypocrites;
5
I hate the company of evildoers
and will not sit with the wicked.
6
I wash my hands in innocence
and go around your altar, O Lord,
7
singing aloud a song of thanksgiving
and telling all your wondrous deeds.
8
O Lord, I love the house in which you dwell
and the place where your glory abides.
9
Do not sweep me away with sinners
nor my life with the bloodthirsty,
10
those in whose hands are evil devices
and whose right hands are full of bribes.
11
But as for me, I walk in my integrity;
redeem me and be gracious to me.
12
My foot stands on level ground;
in the great congregation I will bless the Lord.
Psalm 27, 14
Triumphant Song of Confidence
Of David.
1
The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold[a] of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
2
When evildoers assail me
to devour my flesh--
my adversaries and foes--
they shall stumble and fall.
3
Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war rise up against me,
yet I will be confident.
4
One thing I asked of the Lord;
this I seek:
to live in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the Lord,
and to inquire in his temple.
5
For he will hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will set me high on a rock.
6
Now my head is lifted up
above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.
7
Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;
be gracious to me and answer me!
8
“Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!”
Your face, Lord, do I seek.
9
Do not hide your face from me.
Do not turn your servant away in anger,
you who have been my help.
Do not cast me off; do not forsake me,
O God of my salvation!
10
If my father and mother forsake me,
the Lord will take me up.
11
Teach me your way, O Lord,
and lead me on a level path
because of my enemies.
12
Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries,
for false witnesses have risen against me,
and they are breathing out violence.
13
I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
14
Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the Lord!
Psalm 28, 9
Prayer for Help and Thanksgiving for It
Of David.
1
To you, O Lord, I call;
my rock, do not refuse to hear me,
for if you are silent to me,
I shall be like those who go down to the Pit.
2
Hear the voice of my supplication,
as I cry to you for help,
as I lift up my hands
toward your most holy sanctuary.[a]
3
Do not drag me away with the wicked,
with those who are workers of evil,
who speak peace with their neighbors
while mischief is in their hearts.
4
Repay them according to their work
and according to the evil of their deeds;
repay them according to the work of their hands;
render them their due reward.
5
Because they do not regard the works of the Lord
or the work of his hands,
he will break them down and build them up no more.
6
Blessed be the Lord,
for he has heard the sound of my pleadings.
7
The Lord is my strength and my shield;
in him my heart trusts;
so I am helped, and my heart exults,
and with my song I give thanks to him.
8
The Lord is the strength of his people;
he is the saving refuge of his anointed.
9
O save your people and bless your heritage;
be their shepherd and carry them forever.
Psalm 29, 11
The Voice of God in a Great Storm
A Psalm of David.
1
Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,[a]
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
2
Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name;
worship the Lord in holy splendor.
3
The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the Lord, over mighty waters.
4
The voice of the Lord is powerful;
the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.
5
The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
6
He makes Lebanon skip like a calf
and Sirion like a young wild ox.
7
The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.
8
The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;
the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
9
The voice of the Lord causes the oaks to whirl[b]
and strips the forest bare,
and in his temple all say, “Glory!”
10
The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
the Lord sits enthroned as king forever.
11
May the Lord give strength to his people!
May the Lord bless his people with peace!
Psalm 30, 12
Thanksgiving for Recovery from Grave Illness
A Psalm. A Song at the dedication of the temple. Of David.
1
I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up
and did not let my foes rejoice over me.
2
O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,
and you have healed me.
3
O Lord, you brought up my soul from Sheol,
restored me to life from among those gone down to the Pit.[a]
4
Sing praises to the Lord, O you his faithful ones,
and give thanks to his holy name.
5
For his anger is but for a moment;
his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may linger for the night,
but joy comes with the morning.
6
As for me, I said in my prosperity,
“I shall never be moved.”
7
By your favor, O Lord,
you had established me as a strong mountain;
you hid your face;
I was dismayed.
8
To you, O Lord, I cried,
and to the Lord I made supplication:
9
“What profit is there in my death,
if I go down to the Pit?
Will the dust praise you?
Will it tell of your faithfulness?
10
Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me!
O Lord, be my helper!”[b]
11
You have turned my mourning into dancing;
you have taken off my sackcloth
and clothed me with joy,
12
so that my soul[c] may praise you and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever.
+++
Psalm 16, 11
Song of Trust and Security in God
A Miktam of David.
1
Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
2
I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
I have no good apart from you.”[a]
3
As for the holy ones in the land, they are the noble ones
in whom is all my delight.
4
Those who choose another god multiply their sorrows;[b]
their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
or take their names upon my lips.
5
The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold my lot.
6
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
I have a goodly heritage.
7
I bless the Lord, who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.
8
I keep the Lord always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
9
Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices;
my body also rests secure.
10
For you do not give me up to Sheol
or let your faithful one see the Pit.
11
You show me the path of life.
In your presence there is fullness of joy;
in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalm 17, 15
Prayer for Deliverance from Persecutors
A Prayer of David.
1
Hear a just cause, O Lord; attend to my cry;
give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit.
2
From you let my vindication come;
let your eyes see the right.
3
If you try my heart, if you visit me by night,
if you test me, you will find no wickedness in me;
my mouth does not transgress.
4
As for what others do, by the word of your lips
I have avoided the ways of the violent.
5
My steps have held fast to your paths;
my feet have not slipped.
6
I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
incline your ear to me; hear my words.
7
Wondrously show your steadfast love,
O savior of those who seek refuge
from their adversaries at your right hand.
8
Guard me as the apple of the eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings,
9
from the wicked who despoil me,
my deadly enemies who surround me.
10
They close their hearts to pity;
with their mouths they speak arrogantly.
11
They flush me out;[a] now they surround me;
they set their eyes to cast me to the ground.
12
They are like a lion eager to tear,
like a young lion lurking in ambush.
13
Rise up, O Lord, confront them, overthrow them!
By your sword deliver my life from the wicked,
14
from mortals—by your hand, O Lord--
from mortals whose portion in life is in this world.
May their bellies be filled with what you have stored up for them;
may their children have more than enough;
may they leave something over to their little ones.
15
As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness;
when I awake I shall be satisfied, beholding your likeness.
Psalm 18, 50
Royal Thanksgiving for Victory
To the leader. A Psalm of David the servant of the Lord, who addressed the words of this song to the Lord on the day when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said:
1
I love you, O Lord, my strength.
2
The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer,
my God, my rock in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3
I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
so I shall be saved from my enemies.
4
The cords of death encompassed me;
the torrents of perdition assailed me;
5
the cords of Sheol entangled me;
the snares of death confronted me.
6
In my distress I called upon the Lord;
to my God I cried for help.
From his temple he heard my voice,
and my cry to him reached his ears.
7
Then the earth reeled and rocked;
the foundations also of the mountains trembled
and reeled because he was angry.
8
Smoke went up from his nostrils
and devouring fire from his mouth;
glowing coals flamed forth from him.
9
He bowed the heavens and came down;
thick darkness was under his feet.
10
He rode on a cherub and flew;
he came swiftly upon the wings of the wind.
11
He made darkness his covering around him,
his canopy thick clouds dark with water.
12
Out of the brightness before him
there broke through his clouds
hailstones and coals of fire.
13
The Lord also thundered in the heavens,
and the Most High uttered his voice.[a]
14
And he sent out his arrows and scattered them;
he flashed forth lightnings and routed them.
15
Then the channels of the sea were seen,
and the foundations of the world were laid bare
at your rebuke, O Lord,
at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.
16
He reached down from on high; he took me;
he drew me out of mighty waters.
17
He delivered me from my strong enemy
and from those who hated me,
for they were too mighty for me.
18
They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
but the Lord was my support.
19
He brought me out into a broad place;
he delivered me because he delighted in me.
20
The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness;
according to the cleanness of my hands he recompensed me.
21
For I have kept the ways of the Lord
and have not wickedly departed from my God.
22
For all his ordinances were before me,
and his statutes I did not put away from me.
23
I was blameless before him,
and I kept myself from guilt.
24
Therefore the Lord has recompensed me according to my righteousness,
according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.
25
With the loyal you show yourself loyal;
with the blameless you show yourself blameless;
26
with the pure you show yourself pure;
and with the crooked you show yourself shrewd.
27
For you deliver a humble people,
but the haughty eyes you bring down.
28
It is you who light my lamp;
the Lord, my God, lights up my darkness.
29
By you I can outrun a troop,
and by my God I can leap over a wall.
30
This God—his way is perfect;
the promise of the Lord proves true;
he is a shield for all who take refuge in him.
31
For who is God except the Lord?
And who is a rock besides our God?
32
The God who has girded me with strength
and made my way safe.[b]
33
He made my feet like the feet of a deer
and set me secure on the heights.
34
He trains my hands for war,
so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35
You have given me the shield of your salvation,
and your right hand has supported me;
your help[c] has made me great.
36
You gave me a wide place for my steps under me,
and my feet did not slip.
37
I pursued my enemies and overtook them
and did not turn back until they were consumed.
38
I struck them down so that they were unable to rise;
they fell under my feet.
39
For you girded me with strength for the battle;
you made my assailants sink under me.
40
You made my enemies turn their backs to me,
and those who hated me I destroyed.
41
They cried for help, but there was no one to save them;
they cried to the Lord, but he did not answer them.
42
I beat them fine, like dust before the wind;
I cast them out like the mire of the streets.
43
You delivered me from strife with the peoples;[d]
you made me head of the nations;
people whom I had not known served me.
44
As soon as they heard of me, they obeyed me;
foreigners came cringing to me.
45
Foreigners lost heart
and came trembling out of their strongholds.
46
The Lord lives! Blessed be my rock,
and exalted be the God of my salvation,
47
the God who gave me vengeance
and subdued peoples under me,
48
who delivered me from my enemies;
indeed, you exalted me above my adversaries;
you delivered me from the violent.
49
For this I will extol you, O Lord, among the nations
and sing praises to your name.
50
Great triumphs he gives to his king
and shows steadfast love to his anointed,
to David and his descendants forever.
Psalm 19, 14
God’s Glory in Creation and the Law
To the leader. A Psalm of David.
1
The heavens are telling the glory of God,
and the firmament[a] proclaims his handiwork.
2
Day to day pours forth speech,
and night to night declares knowledge.
3
There is no speech, nor are there words;
their voice is not heard;
4
yet their voice[b] goes out through all the earth
and their words to the end of the world.
In the heavens[c] he has set a tent for the sun,
5
which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy,
and like a strong man runs its course with joy.
6
Its rising is from the end of the heavens
and its circuit to the end of them,
and nothing is hid from its heat.
7
The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the decrees of the Lord are sure,
making wise the simple;
8
the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is clear,
enlightening the eyes;
9
the fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever;
the ordinances of the Lord are true
and righteous altogether.
10
More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb.
11
Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
12
But who can detect one’s own errors?
Clear me from hidden faults.
13
Keep back your servant also from the insolent;[d]
do not let them have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless
and innocent of great transgression.
14
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to you,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Psalm 20, 9
Prayer for Victory
To the leader. A Psalm of David.
1
The Lord answer you in the day of trouble!
The name of the God of Jacob protect you!
2
May he send you help from the sanctuary
and give you support from Zion.
3
May he remember all your offerings
and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices. Selah
4
May he grant you your heart’s desire
and fulfill all your plans.
5
May we shout for joy over your victory
and in the name of our God set up our banners.
May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.
6
Now I know that the Lord will help his anointed;
he will answer him from his holy heaven
with mighty victories by his right hand.
7
Some take pride in chariots and some in horses,
but our pride is in the name of the Lord our God.
8
They will collapse and fall,
but we shall rise and stand upright.
9
Give victory to the king, O Lord;
answer us when we call.[a]
Psalm 21, 13
Thanksgiving for Victory
To the leader. A Psalm of David.
1
In your strength the king rejoices, O Lord,
and in your help how greatly he exults!
2
You have given him his heart’s desire
and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah
3
For you meet him with rich blessings;
you set a crown of fine gold on his head.
4
He asked you for life; you gave it to him--
length of days forever and ever.
5
His glory is great through your help;
splendor and majesty you bestow on him.
6
You bestow on him blessings forever;
you make him glad with the joy of your presence.
7
For the king trusts in the Lord,
and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved.
8
Your hand will find out all your enemies;
your right hand will find out those who hate you.
9
You will make them like a fiery furnace
when you appear.
The Lord will swallow them up in his wrath,
and fire will consume them.
10
You will destroy their offspring from the earth
and their children from among humankind.
11
If they plan evil against you,
if they devise mischief, they will not succeed.
12
For you will put them to flight;
you will aim at their faces with your bows.
13
Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength!
We will sing and praise your power.
Psalm 22, 31
Plea for Deliverance from Suffering and Hostility
To the leader: according to The Deer of the Dawn. A Psalm of David.
1
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?
2
O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer;
and by night but find no rest.
3
Yet you are holy,
enthroned on the praises of Israel.
4
In you our ancestors trusted;
they trusted, and you delivered them.
5
To you they cried and were saved;
in you they trusted and were not put to shame.
6
But I am a worm and not human,
scorned by others and despised by the people.
7
All who see me mock me;
they sneer at me; they shake their heads;
8
“Commit your cause to the Lord; let him deliver--
let him rescue the one in whom he delights!”
9
Yet it was you who took me from the womb;
you kept me safe on my mother’s breast.
10
On you I was cast from my birth,
and since my mother bore me you have been my God.
11
Do not be far from me,
for trouble is near,
and there is no one to help.
12
Many bulls encircle me;
strong bulls of Bashan surround me;
13
they open wide their mouths at me,
like a ravening and roaring lion.
14
I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint;
my heart is like wax;
it is melted within my breast;
15
my mouth[a] is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to my jaws;
you lay me in the dust of death.
16
For dogs are all around me;
a company of evildoers encircles me;
they bound my hands and feet.[b]
17
I can count all my bones.
They stare and gloat over me;
18
they divide my clothes among themselves,
and for my clothing they cast lots.
19
But you, O Lord, do not be far away!
O my help, come quickly to my aid!
20
Deliver my soul from the sword,
my life[c] from the power of the dog!
21
Save me from the mouth of the lion!
From the horns of the wild oxen you have rescued[d] me.
22
I will tell of your name to my brothers and sisters;[e]
in the midst of the congregation I will praise you:
23
You who fear the Lord, praise him!
All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him;
stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!
24
For he did not despise or abhor
the affliction of the afflicted;
he did not hide his face from me[f]
but heard when I[g] cried to him.
25
From you comes my praise in the great congregation;
my vows I will pay before those who fear him.
26
The poor[h] shall eat and be satisfied;
those who seek him shall praise the Lord.
May your hearts live forever!
27
All the ends of the earth shall remember
and turn to the Lord,
and all the families of the nations
shall worship before him.[i]
28
For dominion belongs to the Lord,
and he rules over the nations.
29
To him,[j] indeed, shall all who sleep in[k] the earth bow down;
before him shall bow all who go down to the dust,
and I shall live for him.[l]
30
Posterity will serve him;
future generations will be told about the Lord
31
and[m] proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn,
saying that he has done it.
Psalm 23, 6
The Divine Shepherd
A Psalm of David.
1
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;[a]
3
he restores my soul.[b]
He leads me in right paths[c]
for his name’s sake.
4
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,[d]
I fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6
Surely[e] goodness and mercy[f] shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
my whole life long.[g]
Psalm 24, 10
Entrance into the Temple
Of David. A Psalm.
1
The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it,
the world, and those who live in it,
2
for he has founded it on the seas
and established it on the rivers.
3
Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?
And who shall stand in his holy place?
4
Those who have clean hands and pure hearts,
who do not lift up their souls to what is false
and do not swear deceitfully.
5
They will receive blessing from the Lord
and vindication from the God of their salvation.
6
Such is the company of those who seek him,
who seek the face of the God of Jacob.[a] Selah
7
Lift up your heads, O gates!
and be lifted up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in!
8
Who is the King of glory?
The Lord, strong and mighty,
the Lord, mighty in battle.
9
Lift up your heads, O gates!
and be lifted up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in!
10
Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts,
he is the King of glory. Selah
Psalm 25, 22
Prayer for Guidance and for Deliverance
Of David.
1
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
2
O my God, in you I trust;
do not let me be put to shame;
do not let my enemies exult over me.
3
Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame;
let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
4
Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
teach me your paths.
5
Lead me in your truth and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all day long.
6
Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love,
for they have been from of old.
7
Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
according to your steadfast love remember me,
for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!
8
Good and upright is the Lord;
therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
9
He leads the humble in what is right
and teaches the humble his way.
10
All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
11
For your name’s sake, O Lord,
pardon my guilt, for it is great.
12
Who are they who fear the Lord?
He will teach them the way that they should choose.
13
They will abide in prosperity,
and their children shall possess the land.
14
The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him,
and he makes his covenant known to them.
15
My eyes are ever toward the Lord,
for he will pluck my feet out of the net.
16
Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
17
Relieve the troubles of my heart,
and bring me[a] out of my distress.
18
Consider my affliction and my trouble,
and forgive all my sins.
19
Consider how many are my foes
and with what violent hatred they hate me.
20
O guard my life and deliver me;
do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
21
May integrity and uprightness preserve me,
for I wait for you.
22
Redeem Israel, O God,
out of all its troubles.
Psalm 26, 12
Plea for Justice and Declaration of Righteousness
Of David.
1
Vindicate me, O Lord,
for I have walked in my integrity,
and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.
2
Prove me, O Lord, and try me;
test my heart and mind.
3
For your steadfast love is before my eyes,
and I walk in faithfulness to you.[a]
4
I do not sit with the worthless,
nor do I consort with hypocrites;
5
I hate the company of evildoers
and will not sit with the wicked.
6
I wash my hands in innocence
and go around your altar, O Lord,
7
singing aloud a song of thanksgiving
and telling all your wondrous deeds.
8
O Lord, I love the house in which you dwell
and the place where your glory abides.
9
Do not sweep me away with sinners
nor my life with the bloodthirsty,
10
those in whose hands are evil devices
and whose right hands are full of bribes.
11
But as for me, I walk in my integrity;
redeem me and be gracious to me.
12
My foot stands on level ground;
in the great congregation I will bless the Lord.
Psalm 27, 14
Triumphant Song of Confidence
Of David.
1
The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold[a] of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
2
When evildoers assail me
to devour my flesh--
my adversaries and foes--
they shall stumble and fall.
3
Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war rise up against me,
yet I will be confident.
4
One thing I asked of the Lord;
this I seek:
to live in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the Lord,
and to inquire in his temple.
5
For he will hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will set me high on a rock.
6
Now my head is lifted up
above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.
7
Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;
be gracious to me and answer me!
8
“Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!”
Your face, Lord, do I seek.
9
Do not hide your face from me.
Do not turn your servant away in anger,
you who have been my help.
Do not cast me off; do not forsake me,
O God of my salvation!
10
If my father and mother forsake me,
the Lord will take me up.
11
Teach me your way, O Lord,
and lead me on a level path
because of my enemies.
12
Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries,
for false witnesses have risen against me,
and they are breathing out violence.
13
I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
14
Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the Lord!
Psalm 28, 9
Prayer for Help and Thanksgiving for It
Of David.
1
To you, O Lord, I call;
my rock, do not refuse to hear me,
for if you are silent to me,
I shall be like those who go down to the Pit.
2
Hear the voice of my supplication,
as I cry to you for help,
as I lift up my hands
toward your most holy sanctuary.[a]
3
Do not drag me away with the wicked,
with those who are workers of evil,
who speak peace with their neighbors
while mischief is in their hearts.
4
Repay them according to their work
and according to the evil of their deeds;
repay them according to the work of their hands;
render them their due reward.
5
Because they do not regard the works of the Lord
or the work of his hands,
he will break them down and build them up no more.
6
Blessed be the Lord,
for he has heard the sound of my pleadings.
7
The Lord is my strength and my shield;
in him my heart trusts;
so I am helped, and my heart exults,
and with my song I give thanks to him.
8
The Lord is the strength of his people;
he is the saving refuge of his anointed.
9
O save your people and bless your heritage;
be their shepherd and carry them forever.
Psalm 29, 11
The Voice of God in a Great Storm
A Psalm of David.
1
Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,[a]
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
2
Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name;
worship the Lord in holy splendor.
3
The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the Lord, over mighty waters.
4
The voice of the Lord is powerful;
the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.
5
The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
6
He makes Lebanon skip like a calf
and Sirion like a young wild ox.
7
The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.
8
The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;
the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
9
The voice of the Lord causes the oaks to whirl[b]
and strips the forest bare,
and in his temple all say, “Glory!”
10
The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
the Lord sits enthroned as king forever.
11
May the Lord give strength to his people!
May the Lord bless his people with peace!
Psalm 30, 12
Thanksgiving for Recovery from Grave Illness
A Psalm. A Song at the dedication of the temple. Of David.
1
I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up
and did not let my foes rejoice over me.
2
O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,
and you have healed me.
3
O Lord, you brought up my soul from Sheol,
restored me to life from among those gone down to the Pit.[a]
4
Sing praises to the Lord, O you his faithful ones,
and give thanks to his holy name.
5
For his anger is but for a moment;
his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may linger for the night,
but joy comes with the morning.
6
As for me, I said in my prosperity,
“I shall never be moved.”
7
By your favor, O Lord,
you had established me as a strong mountain;
you hid your face;
I was dismayed.
8
To you, O Lord, I cried,
and to the Lord I made supplication:
9
“What profit is there in my death,
if I go down to the Pit?
Will the dust praise you?
Will it tell of your faithfulness?
10
Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me!
O Lord, be my helper!”[b]
11
You have turned my mourning into dancing;
you have taken off my sackcloth
and clothed me with joy,
12
so that my soul[c] may praise you and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever.