The Psalms

• Authors: Moses, David, Solomon and others
• When Written: c. 460 B.C.E.

Book One

CHAPTER 1

The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked

1 Happy[1] is the man
    who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
    nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
² but his delight is in the law of Jehovah,
    and on his law he meditates day and night.

³ He is like a tree
    planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
    and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
⁴ The wicked are not so,
    but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

⁵ Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
    nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
⁶ for Jehovah knows the way of the righteous,
    but the way of the wicked will perish.

CHAPTER 2

The Reign of Jehovah Anointed

2 Why do the nations rage
    and the peoples plot in vain?
² The kings of the earth take their stand,
    and the rulers take counsel together,
    against Jehovah and against his anointed one, saying,
³ “Let us tear off their bonds apart
    and cast away their cords from us.”

⁴ He who sits in the heavens laughs;
    Jehovah[2] holds them in derision.
⁵ Then he will speak to them in his wrath,
    and terrify them in his fury, saying,
⁶ “But as for me, I have set my King
    on Zion, my holy mountain.”

⁷ I will tell of the decree:
Jehovah said to me, “You are my Son;
    today I have begotten you.
⁸ Ask of me, and I will give nations as your inheritance,
    and the ends of the earth your possession.
⁹ You shall break[3] them with an iron scepter
    and smash them like a piece of pottery.”

¹⁰ Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
    be warned, O judges of the earth.
¹¹ Serve Jehovah with fear,
    and rejoice with trembling.
¹² Kiss the Son,[4]
    lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
    for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Happy are all who take refuge in him.

CHAPTER 3

Faith in God Regardless of Danger

A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.

3 O Jehovah, how many are my adversaries!
    Many are rising against me;
² many are saying of my soul,
    there is no salvation for him in God. Selah[5]

³ But you, O Jehovah, are a shield about me,
    my glory, and the lifter of my head.
⁴ I will call aloud to Jehovah,
    and he answered me from his holy mountain. Selah

⁵ I lay down and slept;
    I woke again, for Jehovah sustains me.
⁶ I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people
    who have set themselves against me all around.

⁷ Arise, O Jehovah!
    Save me, O my God!
For you strike all my enemies on the cheek;
    you break the teeth of the wicked.

⁸ Salvation belongs to Jehovah;
    your blessing is upon your people! Selah

CHAPTER 4

God Will Keep Me Safe

For the choir director; on stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.

4 Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
    You have given me relief when I was in distress.
    Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!

² You sons of men how long shall my honor be turned into humiliation?
    How long will you love what is worthless and search for what is false? Selah
³ But know that Jehovah has set apart the godly man for himself;
    Jehovah hears when I call to him.

⁴ Be angry and do not sin;
    commune[6] in your own hearts upon your bed and keep silent. Selah
⁵ Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,
    and put your trust in Jehovah.

⁶ Many are saying, “Who will show us anything good?
    Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Jehovah!”
⁷ You have put more joy in my heart
    than they have when their grain and wine abound.

⁸ In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
    for you alone, O Jehovah, make me dwell in safety.

CHAPTER 5

Lead Me in Your Righteousness

For the choir director; with the Nehiloth.[7] A Psalm of David.

5 Give ear to my words, O Jehovah;
    consider my groaning.
² Give attention to the sound of my cry,
    my King and my God,
    for to you do I pray.
³ O Jehovah, in the morning you hear my voice;
    in the morning I will present my prayer to you and wait expectantly.

⁴ For you are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness;
    evil cannot dwell with you.
⁵ The boastful shall not stand before your eyes;
    you hate all evildoers.
⁶ You destroy those who speak lies;
    Jehovah abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

⁷ But I, because of your great loyal love,
    will enter your house.
I will bow down toward your holy temple
    in the fear of you.
⁸ Lead me, O Jehovah, in your righteousness
    because of my enemies;
    make your way straight before me.

⁹ For in their[8] mouth there is nothing trustworthy;
    their inmost self is destruction;
their throat is an open grave;
    they flatter with their tongue.
¹⁰ But God will declare them guilty;
    let them fall by their own counsels;
because of their many transgressions cast them out,
    for they have rebelled against you.

¹¹ But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
    let them ever sing for joy,
and spread your protection over them,
    that those who love your name will rejoice in you.
¹² For you bless the righteous man, O Jehovah;
    you surround him with favor as with a shield.

CHAPTER 6

O Jehovah, Deliver My Life and Destroy the Wicked

For the choir director; with stringed instruments, set to the Sheminith.[9] A Psalm of David.

6 Jehovah, rebuke me not in your anger,
    nor discipline me in your wrath.
² Show me favor, Jehovah, for I am growing weak;
    heal me, Jehovah, for my bones are shaking.
³ My soul also is greatly troubled.
    But you, O Jehovah, how long?

⁴ Turn, O Jehovah, deliver my soul;
    save me for the sake of your loyal love.
⁵ For in death there is no remembrance of you;
    in Sheol who will give you thanks?

⁶ I am weary with my groaning;
    every night I make my bed swim;
    I drench my couch with my tears.
⁷ My eye wastes away because of grief;
    It has grown old because of all my enemies.

⁸ Depart from me, all you workers of evil,
    for Jehovah has heard the sound of my weeping.
⁹ Jehovah has heard my plea;
    Jehovah accepts my prayer.
¹⁰ All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled;
    they shall turn back and be put to shame suddenly.

CHAPTER 7

Jehovah is a Just Judge

A Shiggaion[10] of David, which he sang to Jehovah concerning Cush, a Benjamite.

7 O Jehovah my God, in you do I take refuge;
    save me from all my pursuers and deliver me,
² Lest they tear my soul apart like a lion,
    ripping it in pieces, with none to deliver.

³ O Jehovah my God, if I have done this,
    if there is injustice in my hands,
⁴ if I have wronged the one doing good to me
    or plundered my enemy without cause,
⁵ let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it,
    and let him trample my life to the ground
    and lay my glory in the dust. Selah

⁶ Arise, O Jehovah, in your anger;
    lift yourself up against the rage of my enemies;
    awake for me;[11] you have appointed a judgment.
⁷ Let the assembly of the peoples be gathered about you;
    and over it return on high.

⁸ Jehovah judges the peoples;
    judge me, O Jehovah, according to my righteousness
    and my integrity that is in me.
⁹ Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end,
    but you establish the righteous;
For the righteous God,
    tries the hearts and minds.
¹⁰ My shield is with God,
    who saves the upright in heart.
¹¹ God is a righteous judge,
    and a God who has indignation[12] every day.

¹² If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword;
    he has bent his bow and made it ready;
¹³ for himself he has prepared the instruments of death,
    his arrows he will make flaming ones.
¹⁴ Look at the one who is pregnant with wickedness
    he conceives trouble and gives birth to lies.
¹⁵ He has made a pit, and digging it,
    and has fallen into the hole which he made.
¹⁶ His mischief shall return upon his own head,
    and his violence shall come down on his own head.

¹⁷ I will give to Jehovah the thanks due to his righteousness,
    and I will sing praise to the name of Jehovah, the Most High.

CHAPTER 8

How Majestic Is Your Name

For the choir director; on the Gittith.[13] A Psalm of David.

8 O Jehovah, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth,
You have set your glory above the heavens.
²  From the mouth of infants and nursing babes,
you have established strength because of your adversaries,
    to still the enemy and the avenger.

³ When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
    the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
⁴ what is man that you are mindful of him,
    and the son of man that you care for him?

⁵ Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
    and crowned him with glory and honor.
⁶ You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;
    you have put all things under his feet,
⁷ all sheep and oxen,
    and also the beasts of the field,
⁸ the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea,
    whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

⁹ O Jehovah, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!

CHAPTER 9

I Will Recount Your Wonderful Deeds

For the choir director; on Muth-labben.[14] A Psalm of David.

9 [15]I will give thanks to Jehovah with my whole heart;
    I will declare all your wonderful works.
² I will be glad and exult in you;
    I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

³ When my enemies turn back,
    they stumble and perish before your presence.
⁴ For you have maintained my just cause;
    you have sat on the throne judging righteously.

⁵ You have rebuked the nations; you have destroyed the wicked;
    you have blotted out their name forever and ever.
⁶ The enemy has been ruined forever;
    their cities you rooted out;
    the very memory of them has perished.

⁷ But Jehovah sits as king forever;
    he has prepared his throne for judgment,
⁸ and he will judge the world in righteousness;
    he judges the peoples with uprightness.

⁹ Jehovah is a stronghold for the oppressed,
    a stronghold in times of trouble.
¹⁰ And those who know your name put their trust in you,
    for you, O Jehovah, have not forsaken those who seek you.

¹¹ Sing praises to Jehovah, who dwells in Zion!
    Declare among the peoples his deeds.
¹² For he who avenges their blood remembers them;
    he does not forget the cry of the afflicted.

¹³ Be gracious to me, O Jehovah!
    See my affliction from those who hate me,
    you who lift me up from the gates of death,
¹⁴ that I may declare all your praises,
    that in the gates of the daughter of Zion
    I may rejoice in your salvation.

¹⁵ The nations have sunk in the pit that they made;
    in the net that they hid, their own foot has been caught.
¹⁶ Jehovah has made himself known; he has executed judgment;
    the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands. Higgaion.[16] Selah

¹⁷ The wicked shall return to Sheol,
    all the nations that forget God.

¹⁸ For the needy shall not always be forgotten,
    and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever.

¹⁹ Arise, O Jehovah! Let not man prevail;
    let the nations be judged before you!
²⁰ Put them in fear, O Jehovah!
    Let the nations know that they are but men! Selah

CHAPTER 10

Why Do You Hide Yourself?

10 [17]Why, O Jehovah, do you stand afar off?
    Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

² In the pride of the wicked the poor is hotly pursued;
    let them be caught in the schemes that they have devised.
³ For the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul,
    and the one greedy for gain curses and despises Jehovah.
⁴ The wicked, in the haughtiness of his countenance, does not seek him.
    There is no God in any of his thoughts.”
⁵ His ways prosper at all times;
    your judgments are on high, out of his sight;
    as for all his enemies, he puffs[18] at them.
⁶ He says in his heart, “I shall not be moved;
    throughout all generations I will not be in adversity.”
⁷ His mouth is full of curses and deceit and oppression;
    under his tongue are trouble and injury.
⁸ He sits in the lurking places of the villages;
    in hiding places he murders the innocent.
His eyes stealthily watch for the helpless;
⁹  he lurks in ambush like a lion in his thicket;
he lurks that he may seize the afflicted one;
    he seizes the afflicted one when he draws him into his net.
¹⁰ The helpless are crushed, brought down,
    and the unfortunate ones fall by his mighty strength.
¹¹ He says in his heart, “God has forgotten,
    he has hidden his face, he will never see it.”

¹² Arise, O Jehovah; O God, lift up your hand;
    forget not the afflicted.
¹³ Why does the wicked despise God
    and say in his heart, “You will not require an account”?
¹⁴ For you do see trouble and distress,
    that look on and take matters in hand;
to you the helpless commits himself;
    you have been the helper of the fatherless.
¹⁵ Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer;
    search for his wickedness until you find none.

¹⁶ Jehovah is king forever and ever;
    the nations perish from his land.
¹⁷ O Jehovah, you have heard the desire of the humble;
    you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear
¹⁸ to judge the fatherless boy and the crushed,
    so that man who is of the earth may no more cause trembling.

CHAPTER 11

Jehovah Is in His Holy Temple

For the choir director. A Psalm of David.

11 [19]In Jehovah I take refuge;
how can you say to my soul,
    “Flee like a bird to your mountain,
² for look, the wicked bend the bow;
    they make ready their arrow upon the string
    to shoot in darkness at the upright in heart;
³ if the foundations are destroyed,
    what can the righteous do?”

⁴ Jehovah is in his holy temple;
    Jehovah’s throne is in heaven;
    his own eyes see, his watchful eyes examine the sons of men.
⁵ Jehovah examines the righteous one,
    but the wicked one and the lover of violence his soul hates.
⁶ Upon the wicked he will rain snares;
    fire and brimstone and burning wind shall be the portion of their cup.
⁷ For Jehovah is righteous;
he loves  righteousness;
    the upright shall behold his face.

CHAPTER 12

The Faithful Have Vanished

For the choir director; on the Sheminith.[20] A psalm of David.

12 Help,[21] O Jehovah; for the godly man is no more;
    for the faithful have vanished from among the sons of men.
² They speak falsehood everyone to his neighbor;
    with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.

³ May Jehovah cut off all flattering lips,
    the tongue that speaks great things,
⁴ who have said, “With our tongue we will prevail,
    our lips are our own; who is lord over us?”

⁵ “Because of the oppression of the afflicted, because the needy groan,
    I will now arise,” says Jehovah;
    “I will place him in the safety for which he longs.”
⁶ The words of Jehovah are pure words,
    like silver refined in a furnace on the ground,
    purified seven times.

⁷ You, O Jehovah, will keep them;
    you will preserve him[22] from this generation forever.
⁸ On every side the wicked prowl,
    as vileness is exalted among the sons of men.

CHAPTER 13

How Long, O Jehovah?

For the choir director. A Psalm of David.

13 How long, O Jehovah? Will you forget me forever?
    How long will you hide your face from me?
² How long must I take counsel in my soul,
    having sorrow in my heart all day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

³ Consider and answer me, Jehovah my God;
    give light to my eyes
lest I sleep the sleep of death,[23]
⁴ lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”
    lest my adversaries rejoice because I am shaken.

⁵ But I have trusted in your loyal love;
    my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
⁶ I will sing to Jehovah,
    because he has dealt bountifully with me.[24]

CHAPTER 14

The Fool Says, There Is No God

For the choir director. A Psalm of David.

14 The fool says in his heart, “There is no Jehovah.”[25]
    They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds,
    there is no one who does good.[26]

² Jehovah looks down from heaven on the sons of men,
    to see if there are any who understand,
    who seek after Jehovah.[27]

³ They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt;[28]
    there is none who does good,
    not even one.[29]

⁴ Do all the workers of injustice not know
    who eat up my people as they eat bread
    and do not call upon Jehovah?

⁵ There they are in great terror,
    for Jehovah[30] is with the generation of the righteous.
⁶ You would put to shame the counsel[31] of the afflicted,
    but Jehovah is his refuge.

⁷ Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
    When Jehovah restores the fortunes of his people,
    let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.

CHAPTER 15

Who May Be a Guest in Jehovah’s Tent

A Psalm of David.

15 O Jehovah, who may be a guest[32] in your tent?
    Who shall dwell on your holy mountain?

² He who walks blamelessly and does what is right
    and speaks truth in his heart;
³ who does not slander with[33] his tongue
    and does no evil to his neighbor,
    nor takes up a reproach against his friend;
⁴ in whose eyes a vile person is despised,
    but who[34] honors those who fear Jehovah;
who swears to his own[35] hurt and does not change;
⁵ who does not put out his money at interest,[36]
    and does not take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things shall never be shaken.

CHAPTER 16

You Will Not Abandon My Soul

A Mikhtam[37] of David.

16 Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
² I have said[38] to Jehovah, “You are my Jehovah;[39]
    I have no good apart from you.”

³ As for the holy ones in the land, they are the excellent ones,
    in whom is all my delight.

⁴ Those who pursue other gods multiply their sorrows;
    I will never pour out their drink offerings of blood
    nor will my lips mention their names.

⁵ Jehovah is the portion of my inheritance and my cup;
    you hold my lot.
⁶ The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
    indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

⁷ I will praise Jehovah, who has given me counsel;
    Indeed, my kidneys[40] instructs me in the night.
⁸ I have set Jehovah always before me;
    because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

⁹ Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory[41] rejoices;
    my body also dwells secure.
¹⁰ For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
    or let your holy one see corruption.[42]

¹¹ You make known to me the path of life;
    in your presence there is fullness of joy;
    at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

CHAPTER 17

In the Shadow of Your Wings

A Prayer of David.

17 Hear a just cause, O Jehovah; attend to my cry;
    give ear to my prayer spoken without deceit.
² From before you may my judgment go forth;
    may your eyes see what is right.

³ You have examined my heart, you have inspected me by night;
    you have tested me, and you will find nothing;
    I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.
⁴ As for the works of men, by the word of your lips
    I have kept from the ways of the violent.
⁵ My steps have held fast to your paths;
    my feet have not slipped.

⁶ I have called upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
    incline your ear to me; hear my words.
⁷ Show your wonderful loyal love,
    O Savior of those taking refuge at your right hand
    From those who  rise up against them.

⁸ Keep me as the apple of your eye;
    hide me in the shadow of your wings,
⁹ from the wicked who attack me,
    my enemies against the soul who surround me.

¹⁰ They have closed their calloused hearts;[43]
    with their mouths they speak proudly.
¹¹ They have now surrounded our steps;[44]
    they set their eyes to cast us to the ground.
¹² He is like a lion eager to tear,
    as a young lion lurking in secret places.

¹³ Arise, O Jehovah, confront him to the face;
    deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword,
¹⁴ from men by your hand, O Jehovah,
    from men of the world whose portion is in this life.
You fill their belly with treasure;
    they are satisfied with sons,
    and they leave their abundance to their infants.

¹⁵ As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness;
    I shall be satisfied when awakening to see your form.[45]

CHAPTER 18

Jehovah Is My Rock and My Fortress

For the choir director. A Psalm of David the servant of Jehovah, who spoke to Jehovah the words of this song in the day that Jehovah delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. And he said,

18 I love you, O Jehovah, my strength.
² Jehovah is my rock and 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 Jehovah, who is worthy to be praised,
    and I am saved from my enemies.

⁴ The cords of death encompassed me;
    and the torrents of ungodliness terrified me;
⁵ the cords of Sheol entangled me;
    the snares of death confronted me.

⁶ In my distress I called upon Jehovah;
    and I cried to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice,
    and my cry to him reached his ears.

⁷ Then the earth shook and rocked;
    the foundations also of the mountains trembled
    and quaked, because he was angry.
⁸ Smoke went up from his nostrils,
    and a consuming fire came from his mouth;
    glowing coals blazed from him.
⁹ He bowed the heavens and came down;
    thick darkness was under his feet.
¹⁰ He rode on a cherub and flew;
    and he soared on the wings of the wind.
¹¹ He made darkness his hiding place, his canopy around him,
    dark waters and thick clouds.
¹² Out of the brightness before him
    hail and fiery coals broke through the clouds.

¹³ Jehovah also thundered in the heavens,
    and the Most High uttered his voice,
    hailstones and coals of fire.[46]
¹⁴ And he sent out his arrows and scattered them;
    he shot out lightnings that he might rout them.
¹⁵ Then the channels of water appeared,
    and the foundations of the world were laid bare
at your rebuke, O Jehovah,
    at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.

¹⁶ He sent from on high, he took me;
    he drew me out of many 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 Jehovah was my support.
¹⁹ He brought me forth also into a spacious place of safety;
    he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

²⁰ Jehovah rewarded me according to my righteousness;
    according to the cleanness of my hands he repaid me.
²¹ For I have kept the ways of Jehovah,
    and have not wickedly departed from my God.
²² For all his judgments were before me,
    and his statutes I did not put away from me.
²³ I was blameless before him,
    and I kept myself from my error.
²⁴ So Jehovah has repaid me according to my righteousness,
    according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyes.

²⁵ With the merciful you show yourself merciful;
    with the blameless man you show yourself blameless;
²⁶ with the pure you show yourself pure;
    and with the crooked you show yourself shrewd.
²⁷ For you save an afflicted people,
    but the haughty eyes you bring down.
²⁸ For it is you who light my lamp;
    Jehovah my God lightens my darkness.
²⁹ For by you I can run upon a troop,
    and by my God I can leap over a wall.
³⁰ As for God, his way is perfect;
    the word of Jehovah is superior;
    he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.

³¹ For who is God, but Jehovah?
    And who is a rock, except our God?
³² The God who girded me with strength
    and made my way blameless.
³³ He made my feet like the feet of a deer
    and sets me up on my high places.
³⁴ He trains my hands for war,
    so that my arms can bend a bow of copper.
³⁵ You have given me the shield of your salvation,
    and your right hand supported me,
    and your gentleness made me great.
³⁶ You have enlarged my steps under me,
    and my feet have not slip.
³⁷ I pursued my enemies and overtook them,
    and did not turn back till they were consumed.
³⁸ I struck them, so that they were not able to rise;
    they fell under my feet.
³⁹ For you girded me with strength for the battle;
    you made those who rise against me sink under me.
⁴⁰ You made my enemies turn their backs to me,
    that I might cut off them who hate me.
⁴¹ They cried for help, but there was none to save;
    even to Jehovah, but he did not answer them.
⁴² I beat them fine as dust before the wind;
    I cast them out[47] like the mire of the streets.

⁴³ You delivered me from strife with the people;
    you made me the 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 before me.
⁴⁵ Foreigners lose courage
    and came trembling from their strongholds.

⁴⁶ Jehovah lives, and blessed be my rock,
    and exalted be the God of my salvation,
⁴⁷ the God who executed vengeance for me
    and subdued peoples under me,
⁴⁸ who delivered me from my enemies;
    yes, you exalted me above those who rose against me;
    you rescued me from the man of violence.

⁴⁹ Therefore I will give thanks to you among the nations, Jehovah,
    and I will sing praises to your name.
⁵⁰ He performs great acts of salvation* for his king,
    and shows loyal love to his anointed,
    to David and his offspring forever.

CHAPTER 19

The Law of Jehovah Is Perfect

For the choir director. A Psalm of David.

19 The heavens are telling of the glory of God,
    and the expanse[48] is declaring the work of his hands.
² Day to day pours forth speech,
    and night to night reveals knowledge.
³ There is no speech, nor are there words,
    their voice is not heard.
⁴ Their line[49] goes out through all the earth,
    and their words to the end of the world.
In them he has set a tent for the sun,
⁵ Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
    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 there is nothing hidden from its heat.

⁷ The law of Jehovah is perfect,
    restoring the soul;
the testimony of Jehovah is sure,
    making wise the simple.
⁸ The precepts of Jehovah are right,
    rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of Jehovah is pure,
    enlightening the eyes;
⁹ the fear of Jehovah is clean,
    enduring forever;
the judgments of Jehovah 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 Who can discern his errors?
    Cleanse me from my hidden faults.
¹³ Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins;
    let them not 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 in your sight,
    O Jehovah, my rock, and my redeemer.

CHAPTER 20

Trust in the Name of Jehovah Our God

For the choir director. A Psalm of David.

20 May Jehovah answer you in the day of trouble.
    May 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 accept your burnt offering! Selah

⁴ May he[50] grant you your heart’s desire
    and fulfill all your plans![51]
⁵ We will shout joyfully over your acts of salvation,
    We will lift our banners[52] in the name of our God.
May Jehovah fulfill all your requests.

⁶ Now I know that Jehovah saves his anointed;
    he will answer him from his holy heaven
    with the saving strength of his right hand.
⁷ Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
    but we trust in[53] the name of Jehovah our God.
⁸ They collapse and fall,
    but we rise and stand upright.

⁹ O Jehovah, save the king!
    May he answer us when we call.

CHAPTER 21

The King Who Trusts in Jehovah Is Blessed

For the choir director. A Psalm of David.

21 O Jehovah, in your strength the king rejoices,
    how greatly he rejoices in your acts of salvation!
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 upon his head.
⁴ He asked life of you; you gave it to him,
    length of days forever and ever.
⁵ His glory is great through your salvation;
    splendor and majesty you bestow on him.
⁶ For you make him most blessed forever;
    you make him glad with the joy of your presence.
⁷ For the king trusts in Jehovah,
    and through the loyal 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 as a fiery furnace
    in the time of your anger.
Jehovah will swallow them up in his wrath,
    and fire will devour them.
¹⁰ You will destroy their descendants[54] from the earth,
    and their offspring from among the sons of men.
¹¹ Though they intended evil against you,
    though they devised schemes, they will not succeed.
¹² For you will make them turn their back;
    you will aim your bows at their faces.

¹³ Be exalted, O Jehovah, in your strength!
    We will sing and praise your power.

CHAPTER 22

Why Have You Forsaken Me?

For the choir director; to The Doe of the Dawn. A Psalm of David.

22 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
    Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?
² O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer,
    and by night, but I find no rest.

³ Yet you are holy,
    enthroned on the praises[55] of Israel.
⁴ In you our fathers trusted;
    they trusted, and you delivered them.
⁵ To you they cried and were delivered;
    in you they trusted and were not put to shame.

⁶ But I am a worm and not a man,
    scorned by[56] mankind and despised by the people.
⁷ All who see me mock me;
    they sneer and shake their heads in derision;
⁸ “He trusts in Jehovah; let him deliver him;
    let him rescue him, for he delights in him!”

⁹ Yet you are he who took me from the womb;
    you made me trust when upon my mother’s breasts.
¹⁰ On you was I cast from the womb,
    and from my mother’s womb you have been my God.
¹¹ Be not far from me,
    for trouble is near,
    and there is none to help.

¹² Many bulls surround me;
    strong bulls of Bashan encircle 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 me;
¹⁵ my strength is dried up like a potsherd,
    and my tongue sticks to my jaws;
    you lay me in the dust of death.

¹⁶ For dogs encompass me;
    a company of evildoers encircles me;
like a lion they are at my hands and feet.[57]
¹⁷ I can count all my bones,
they look, they stare at me;
¹⁸ they divide my garments among them,
    and for my clothing they cast lots.

¹⁹ But you, O Jehovah, do not be far off!
    O you my help, come quickly to help me.
²⁰ Deliver my soul from the sword,
    my only life from the power of the dog.
²¹ Save me from the mouth of the lion.
From the horns of the wild oxen you answer me.

²² I will tell of your name to my brothers;
    in the midst of the assembly I will praise you:
²³ You who fear Jehovah, praise him.
    All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him,
    and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!
²⁴ For he has not despised or abhorred
    the affliction of the afflicted,
nor has he hidden his face from him,
    but has heard, when he cried to him.

²⁵ From you comes my praise in the great assembly;
    my vows I will perform before those who fear him.
²⁶ The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied;
    those who seek him shall praise Jehovah.
    May your hearts live forever!

²⁷ All the ends of the earth shall remember
    and turn to Jehovah,
and all the families of the nations
    shall worship before you.[58]
²⁸ For kingship belongs to Jehovah,
    and he rules over the nations.

²⁹ All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship;
    before him shall bow all who go down to the dust,
    even he who cannot keep his soul alive.[59]
³⁰ Posterity shall serve him;
    it shall be told of Jehovah[60] to the coming generation;
³¹ they shall come and declare his righteousness to a people who will be born,
    that he has done it.

CHAPTER 23

Jehovah Is My Shepherd

A Psalm of David.

23 Jehovah is my shepherd; I shall lack nothing.
² He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
³ He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
    for his name’s sake.

⁴ Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
    I will 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 goodness and loyal love shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell[61] in the house of Jehovah
    forever.

CHAPTER 24

The Glorious King

A Psalm of David.

24 The earth is Jehovah’s and the fullness thereof,
    the world and those who dwell therein,
² for he has founded it upon the seas
    and established it upon the rivers.

³ Who may ascend to the mountain of Jehovah
    And who shall stand in his holy place?
⁴ He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
    who does not lift up his[62] soul to falseness
    and does not swear deceitfully.
⁵ He will receive blessing from Jehovah
    and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
⁶ This is the generation of those who seek him,
    who seek the face of the God of Jacob.[63] 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 this King of glory?
    Jehovah, strong and mighty,
    Jehovah, mighty in battle.
⁹ Lift up your heads, O gates.
    And lift them up, O ancient doors,
    that the King of glory may come in.
¹⁰ Who is this King of glory?
    Jehovah of armies,[64]
    he is the King of glory. Selah

CHAPTER 25

Prayer for Guidance and Forgiveness

A Psalm of David.

25 To you, O Jehovah, I lift up my soul.
² O my God, in you I trust;
    let me not be put to shame;
    let not my enemies exult over me.
³ Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame;
    shame awaits those who are treacherous without cause.

⁴ Make me to know your ways, O Jehovah;
    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 Remember your mercy, O Jehovah, and your loyal love,
    for they have been from of old.
⁷ Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
    according to your loyal love remember me,
    for the sake of your goodness, O Jehovah!

⁸ Good and upright is Jehovah;
    therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
⁹ He leads the humble in what is right,
    and teaches the meek ones his way.
¹⁰ All the paths of Jehovah are loyal love and faithfulness,
    for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.

¹¹ For your name’s sake, O Jehovah,
    pardon my error, for it is great.
¹² Who is the man who fears Jehovah?
    Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.
¹³ His soul shall abide in prosperity,
    and his offspring shall inherit the land.
¹⁴ The friendship of Jehovah is for those who fear him,
    and he makes known to them his covenant.
¹⁵ My eyes are ever toward Jehovah,
    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 The troubles of my heart are enlarged;
    bring me out of my distresses.
¹⁸ Consider my affliction and my trouble,
    and forgive all my sins.

¹⁹ See how numerous my enemies are,
    and how violent their hatred is for me.
²⁰ Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me!
    Let me not 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 his troubles.

CHAPTER 26

Walking in Integrity

A Psalm of David.

26 Judge me, O Jehovah,
    for I have walked in my integrity,
    and I have trusted in Jehovah without wavering.
² Prove me, O Jehovah, and try me;
    test my kidneys[65] and my heart.
³ For your loyal love is before my eyes,
    and I walk in your truth.

⁴ I do not sit with men of falsehood,
    nor do I go about with hypocrites.
⁵ I hate the assembly of evildoers,
    and I will not sit with the wicked.

⁶ I wash my hands in innocence
    and go around your altar, O Jehovah,
⁷ that I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving,
    and tell all your wondrous deeds.

⁸ O Jehovah, I love the habitation of your house
    and the place where your glory dwells.
⁹ Do not sweep my soul away with sinners,
    nor my life with men of bloodshed,
¹⁰ in whose hands is shameful behavior,[66]
    and whose right hands are full of bribes.

¹¹ But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity;
    redeem me and be gracious to me.
¹² My foot stands on level ground;
    in the great assembly I will praise Jehovah.

CHAPTER 27

Jehovah Is My Light and My Salvation

A Psalm of David.

27 Jehovah is my light and my salvation;
    whom shall I fear?
Jehovah is the refuge of my life;
    of whom shall I be afraid?

² When evildoers came upon me
    to eat up my flesh,
my adversaries and enemies,
    it is they who stumbled and fell.

³ Though an army encamp against me,
    my heart will not fear;
though war arise against me,
    even in this I will be confident.

⁴ One thing have I asked of Jehovah,
    that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of Jehovah
    all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of Jehovah
    and to inquire in his temple.

⁵ For he will hide me in his shelter
    on the day of calamity;
he will conceal me in the secret place of his tent;
    he will lift me high upon a rock.

⁶ And now my head shall be lifted up
    above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
    sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to Jehovah.

⁷ Hear, O Jehovah, when I cry aloud;
    be gracious to me and answer me!
⁸ When you have said, “Seek my face.”
My heart says to you,
    “Your face, Jehovah, do I seek.”
⁹ Hide not your face from me.
Turn not your servant away in anger,
    O you who have been my help.
Cast me not off; forsake me not,
    O God of my salvation!
¹⁰ For my father and my mother have forsaken me,
    but Jehovah will take me in.

¹¹ Teach me your way, O Jehovah,
    and lead me on a level path
    because of my enemies.
¹² Do not hand me over to the soul of my adversaries;
    for false witnesses have risen against me,
    and they breathe out violence.

¹³ I believe that I shall see the goodness of Jehovah
    in the land of the living.
¹⁴ Wait for Jehovah;
    be strong, and let your heart take courage;
    wait for Jehovah.

CHAPTER 28

Jehovah Is My Strength and My Shield

A Psalm of David.

28 To you, O Jehovah, I call;
    my rock, be not deaf to me,
lest, if you be silent to me,
    I become like those who go down to the pit.
² Hear the voice of my supplications,
    when I cry to you for help,
when I lift up my hands
    toward the innermost room of your sanctuary.

³ Do not drag me off with the wicked,
    with the workers of evil,
who speak peace with their neighbors
    while evil is in their hearts.
⁴ Give to them according to their work
    and according to the evil of their deeds;
give to them according to the work of their hands;
    according to what they have done.
⁵ Because they do not regard the works of Jehovah
    or the work of his hands,
he will tear them down and not build them up.

⁶ May Jehovah be praised,
    because he has heard the voice of my supplications.
⁷ Jehovah is my strength and my shield;
    my heart trusts in him, and I am helped;
my heart exults,
    and with my song I give thanks to him.

⁸ Jehovah is a strength for his people;[67]
    he is a stronghold of salvation to his anointed one.
⁹ Save your people and bless your inheritance;
    Be their shepherd and carry them forever.

CHAPTER 29

Ascribe to Jehovah Glory

A Psalm of David

29 Ascribe to Jehovah, O you sons of mighty ones,
    ascribe to Jehovah glory and strength.
² Give Jehovah the glory due his name;
    bow down to[68] Jehovah in holy adornment.[69]

³ The voice of Jehovah is on the waters;
    the God of glory thunders,
    Jehovah, over many waters.
⁴ The voice of Jehovah is powerful;
    the voice of Jehovah is full of majesty.

⁵ The voice of Jehovah breaks the cedars;
    yes, Jehovah breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
⁶ He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf,
    and Sirion like a young wild ox.

⁷ The voice of Jehovah flashes forth flames of fire.
⁸ The voice of Jehovah shakes the wilderness;
    Jehovah shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

⁹ The voice of Jehovah makes the deer give birth
    and strips the forests bare,
    and in his temple all cry, “Glory!”

¹⁰ Jehovah sits enthroned above the flood;
    Jehovah sits enthroned as king forever.
¹¹ May Jehovah give strength to his people!
    May Jehovah bless his people with peace!

CHAPTER 30

Joy Comes with the Morning

A Psalm; a Song at the Dedication of the House. A Psalm of David.

30 I will extol you, O Jehovah, for you have drawn me up
    and have not let my foes rejoice over me.
² O Jehovah my God, I cried to you for help,
    and you have healed me.
³ O Jehovah, you have brought up my soul from Sheol;
    you kept me alive that I would not go down to the pit.

⁴ Sing praises to the Jehovah, O you his loyal ones,
    and give thanks to his holy name.
⁵ For his anger is but for a moment,
    and his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may tarry 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 Jehovah,
    you made my mountain stand strong;
you hid your face;
    I was dismayed.

⁸ To you, O Jehovah, I called,
    and to Jehovah I plead for favor:
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 Jehovah, and show me favor.
    O Jehovah, be my helper.”

¹¹ You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
    you have loosed my sackcloth
    and clothed me with gladness,
¹² that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.
    O Jehovah my God, I will give thanks to you forever!

CHAPTER 31

Into Your Hand I Commit My Spirit

For the choir director. A Psalm of David.

31 In you, O Jehovah, do I take refuge;
    let me never be put to shame;
    in your righteousness deliver me.
² Incline your ear to me;
    rescue me quickly.
Be a rock of refuge for me,
    a strong fortress to save me.

³ For you are my rock and my fortress;
    and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me;
⁴ you take me out of the net they have secretly laid for me,
    for you are my refuge.
⁵ Into your hand I commit my spirit;
    you have redeemed me, O Jehovah, God of truth.[70]

⁶ I hate[71] those who are devoted to worthless idols,
    but I trust in Jehovah.
⁷ I will rejoice and be glad in your loyal love,
    because you have seen my affliction;
    you have known the distress of my soul,
⁸ and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy;
    you have set my feet in a spacious place of safety.

⁹ Be gracious to me, O Jehovah, for I am in distress;
    my eye is wasted from grief;
    my soul and my body also.
¹⁰ For my life is spent with sorrow,
    and my years with sighing;
my strength fails because of my error,[72]
    and my bones waste away.

¹¹ Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach,
    especially to my neighbors,
and an object of dread to my acquaintances;
    those who see me in the street flee from me.
¹² I am forgotten like a dead man;
    I am like a broken vessel.
¹³ For I hear the evil rumors of many;
    terror on every side.
While they took counsel together against me,
    as they plot to take my soul.

¹⁴ But I trust in you, O Jehovah;
    I say, “You are my God.”
¹⁵ My times are in your hand;
    deliver me from the hand of my enemies and from those who persecute me.
¹⁶ Make your face shine on your servant;
    save me in your loyal love.
¹⁷ O Jehovah, let me not be put to shame,
    for I call upon you;
let the wicked be put to shame;
    let them be silent in Sheol.
¹⁸ Let the lying lips be mute,
    which speak arrogantly against the righteous
    in pride and contempt.

¹⁹ Oh, how abundant is your goodness,
    which you have stored up for those who fear you
and worked for those who take refuge in you,
    before the sons of men!
²⁰ In the cover of your presence you hide them
    from the plots of men;
you store them in your shelter
    the quarreling of tongues.

²¹ May Jehovah be praised,
    for he has wondrously shown his loyal love to me
    when I was in a besieged city.
²² I had said in my alarm,
    “I am cut off from your eyes.”
But you heard the voice of my entreaties
    when I cried to you for help.

²³ Love Jehovah, all you his loyal ones.
    Jehovah preserves the faithful
    but repays abundantly anyone showing haughtiness.
²⁴ Be strong, and let your heart take courage,
    all you who wait for Jehovah.

CHAPTER 32

Blessed Are the Forgiven

A Psalm of David. A Maskil.[73]

32 Happy is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
    whose sin is covered.
² Happy is the man against whom Jehovah does not impute guilt,
    and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

³ For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away
    through my groaning all day long.
⁴ For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
    my strength ceased to exist as by the heat of summer. Selah

⁵ I acknowledged my sin to you,
    and I did not cover my error;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to Jehovah,”
    and you forgave the error of my sin. Selah

⁶ Therefore every loyal one will pray to you
    while you may yet be found;
then even the floodwaters shall not reach him.
⁷ You are a hiding place for me;
    you will safeguard me from distress;
    you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah

⁸ I will instruct you and teach you in the way that you should go;
    I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
⁹ Be not like a horse or a mule, with no understanding,
    which must be controlled with bit and bridle,
    or else it will not come near you.

¹⁰ Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
    but loyal love surrounds the one who trusts in Jehovah.
¹¹ Be glad in Jehovah, and rejoice, O righteous,
    and shout for joy, all you upright in heart.

CHAPTER 33

The Loyal Love of Jehovah

33 Rejoice in Jehovah, O you righteous!
    Praise befits the upright.
² Give thanks to Jehovah with the lyre;
    sing praises to him with the harp of ten strings.
³ Sing to him a new song;
    play skillfully on the strings, along with shouts of joy.

⁴ For the word of Jehovah is upright,
    and all his work is done in faithfulness.
⁵ He loves righteousness and justice;
    the earth is full of the loyal love of Jehovah.

⁶ By the word of Jehovah the heavens were made,
    and by the breath of his mouth all their army.
⁷ He gathers the waters of the sea like a heap;[74]
    he puts the deeps in storehouses.

⁸ Let all the earth fear Jehovah;
    let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!
⁹ For he spoke, and it came to be;
    he commanded, and it stood firm.

¹⁰ Jehovah brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
    he thwarts the plans of the peoples.
¹¹ The counsel of Jehovah stands forever,
    the plans of his heart to all generations.
¹² Happy is the nation whose God is Jehovah,
    the people whom he has chosen as his inheritance.

¹³ Jehovah looks down from heaven;
    he sees all the sons of men;
¹⁴ from his dwelling place he looks out
    on all the inhabitants of the earth,
¹⁵ he who fashions the hearts of them all
    and observes all their works.
¹⁶ The king is not saved by his great army;
    a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
¹⁷ The war horse is a false hope for salvation,
    and by its great strength it cannot rescue.

¹⁸ Look, the eye of Jehovah is on those who fear him,
    on those who hope in his loyal love,
¹⁹ to deliver their soul from death
    and keep them alive in famine.

²⁰ Our soul waits for Jehovah;
    he is our help and our shield.
²¹ For our heart is glad in him,
    because we trust in his holy name.
²² Let your loyal love, O Jehovah, be upon us,
    even as we hope in you.

CHAPTER 34

Taste and See That Jehovah Is Good

A Psalm of David when he feigned madness before Abimelech, who drove him away and he departed.

34 I will praise Jehovah at all times;
    his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
² My soul makes its boast in Jehovah;
    let the humble hear and be glad.
³ Oh, magnify Jehovah with me,
    and let us exalt his name together.

⁴ I sought Jehovah, and he answered me
    and delivered me from all my fears.
⁵ Those who look to him are radiant,[75]
    and their faces shall never be ashamed.
⁶ This poor man cried, and Jehovah heard him
    and saved him out of all his troubles.
⁷ The angel of Jehovah encamps
    around those who fear him and delivers them.

⁸ Oh, taste and see that Jehovah is good!
    Happy[76] is the man who takes refuge in him!
⁹ Oh, fear Jehovah, you his holy ones,
    for those who fear him have no lack!
¹⁰ The young lions do lack and suffer hunger;
    but those who seek Jehovah lack no good thing.

¹¹ Come, O sons, listen to me;
    I will teach you the fear of Jehovah.
¹² What man is there who desires life
    and loves many days, that he may see good?
¹³ Keep your tongue from evil
    and your lips from speaking deceit.
¹⁴ Turn away from evil and do good;
    seek peace and pursue it.

¹⁵ The eyes of Jehovah are toward the righteous
    and his ears toward their cry.
¹⁶ The face of Jehovah is against those who do evil,
    to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
¹⁷ The righteous cry, and Jehovah hears
    and delivers them out of all their troubles.
¹⁸ Jehovah is near to the brokenhearted
    and saves the crushed in spirit.

¹⁹ Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
    but Jehovah delivers him out of them all.
²⁰ He[77] keeps all his bones;
    not one of them is broken.
²¹ Evil will slay the wicked,
    and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
²² Jehovah redeems the soul of his servants;
    none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

CHAPTER 35

Great Is Jehovah

A Psalm of David.

35 Contend, O Jehovah, with those who contend with me;
    fight against those who fight against me!
² Take hold of shield and buckler
    and rise for my help!
³ Draw the spear and javelin
    against my pursuers!
Say to my soul,
    “I am your salvation.”

⁴ Let them be put to shame and dishonor
    who seek after my soul.
Let them be turned back and be ashamed
    who scheme calamity against me.
⁵ Let them be like chaff before the wind,
    with the angel of Jehovah driving them away.
⁶ Let their way be dark and slippery,
    with the angel of Jehovah pursuing them.

⁷ For without cause they hid their net for me;
    without cause they dug a pit for my soul.
⁸ Let destruction come upon him when he is unaware.
And let the net that he hid ensnare him;
    let him fall into it and be destroyed.

⁹ Then my soul will rejoice in Jehovah,
    exulting in his salvation.
¹⁰ All my bones shall say,
    “O Jehovah, who is like you,
delivering the poor
    from him who is too strong for him,
    the poor and needy from him who robs him?”

¹¹ Malicious witnesses rise up;
    they ask me of things that I do not know.
¹² They repay me evil for good;
    my soul is bereft.
¹³ But I, when they were sick,
    I wore sackcloth;
    I afflicted my soul with fasting;
and my prayer returned upon my bosom.
¹⁴ I went about as though it were my friend or brother;
    I bowed down in sorrow, like one mourning for his mother.

¹⁵ But at my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered themselves together;
    the attackers whom I did not know gathered together against me;
wretches whom I did not know
    they tore at me without ceasing;
¹⁶ like ungodly mockers at a feast,[78]
    they gnash at me with their teeth.

¹⁷ How long, O Jehovah,[79] will you look on?
    Rescue my soul from their ravages,
    my precious life from the lions!
¹⁸ I will thank you in the great congregation;
    I will praise you among the throngs of people.

¹⁹ Do not let those who are my enemies
    wrongfully rejoice over me,
and let not those wink the eye
    who hate me without cause.
²⁰ For they do not speak peace,
    but they devise deceitful words
    against those who are quiet in the land.
²¹ They opened their mouth wide against me;
    they say, “Aha, Aha!
    Our eyes have seen it!”

²² You have seen, O Jehovah; be not silent!
    O Jehovah, be not far from me!
²³ Awake and rouse yourself to my defense,
    for my cause, my God and my Jehovah.
²⁴ Judge me, O Jehovah, my God,
    according to your righteousness,
    and let them not rejoice over me.
²⁵ Let them not say in their hearts,
    “Aha, our desire!”
Let them not say, “We have swallowed him up!”

²⁶ Let all of them be put to shame and humiliated
    who rejoice at my calamity!
Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor
    who magnify themselves against me.

²⁷ Let those who take pleasure in my righteousness
    shout for joy and be glad
    and say evermore,
“Great is Jehovah,
    who takes pleasure in the peace of his servant.”
²⁸ Then my tongue shall tell of your righteousness
    and of your praise all day long.

CHAPTER 36

How Precious Is Your Steadfast Love

For the choir director. A Psalm of David the servant of Jehovah.

36 Transgression speaks to the wicked one deep within his[80] heart;
    There is no fear of God before his eyes.
² For he flatters himself in his own eyes
    that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated.
³ The words of his mouth are hurtful and deceptive;
    he has ceased to be wise and to do good.
⁴ He devises hurtful plans on his bed;
    he sets himself in a way that is not good;
    he does not reject evil.

⁵ Your loyal love, O Jehovah, extends to the heavens,
    your faithfulness up to the clouds.
⁶ Your righteousness is like the mountains of God;
    your judgments are like the great deep;
    man and beast you preserve, O Jehovah.

⁷ How precious is your loyal love, O God!
    The sons of men take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
⁸ They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness[81] of your house,
    and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
⁹ For with you is the fountain of life;
    in your light do we see light.

¹⁰ Oh, continue your loyal love to those who know you,
    and your righteousness to the upright in heart.
¹¹ Let not the foot of pride come upon me,
    nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.
¹² There the wrongdoers lie fallen;
    they are thrust down, unable to rise.

CHAPTER 37

Those Trusting in Jehovah Will Prosper

A Psalm of David.

37 Fret not yourself because of evildoers;
    be not envious of wrongdoers!
² For they will soon quickly wither like grass
    and wither like the green herb.

³ Trust in Jehovah and do good;
    dwell in the land and feed on faithfulness
⁴ Delight yourself in Jehovah,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.

⁵ Commit your way to Jehovah;
    trust also in him, and he will act.
⁶ He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
    and your justice as the noonday.

⁷ Be still before Jehovah and wait patiently for him;
    do not fret because of the one who prospers in his way,
    because of the man who carries out evil devices!

⁸ Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath.
    Fret not yourself; it leads only to evildoing.
⁹ For the evildoers shall be cut off,
    but those who wait for Jehovah shall inherit the land.

¹⁰ Just a little while longer and the wicked one will be no more;
    And you will look carefully for his place, and he will not be there.
¹¹ But the meek shall inherit the land
    and delight themselves in abundant peace.

¹² The wicked plots against the righteous
    and gnashes his teeth at him,
¹³ but Jehovah laughs at the wicked,
    for he sees that his day is coming.

¹⁴ The wicked have drawn the sword and bent their bow
    to bring down the poor and needy,
    to slaughter those whose way is upright;
¹⁵ their sword shall enter their own heart,
    and their bows shall be broken.

¹⁶ Better is the little that the righteous has
    than the abundance of many wicked.
¹⁷ For the arms of the wicked shall be broken,
    but Jehovah upholds the righteous.

¹⁸ Jehovah knows the days of the blameless,
    and their inheritance will remain forever;
¹⁹ they are not put to shame in evil times;
    in the days of famine they will have abundance.

²⁰ But the wicked will perish;
    the enemies of Jehovah will be like the glory of the pastures;
    they vanish; like smoke they vanish away.

²¹ The wicked borrows but does not pay back,
    but the righteous is gracious and gives;
²² for those blessed by Jehovah shall inherit the land,
    but those cursed by him shall be cut off.

²³ The steps of a man are established by Jehovah,
    when he delights in his way;
²⁴ though he falls, he shall not be cast headlong,
    for Jehovah upholds his hand.

²⁵ I have been young, and now I am old,
    yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
    or his seed[82] begging for bread.
²⁶ All day long he is showing favor and lending,
    and his children are in line for a blessing.

²⁷ Depart from evil and do good;
    so shall you dwell forever.
²⁸ For Jehovah loves justice;
    he will not forsake his loyal ones.
They are preserved forever,
    but the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off.
²⁹ The righteous shall inherit the land
    and dwell upon it forever.

³⁰ The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom,
    and his tongue speaks justice.
³¹ The law of his God is in his heart;
    his steps do not slip.

³² The wicked watches for the righteous
    and seeks to kill him.
³³ Jehovah will not abandon him into his hand
    or let him be condemned when he is judged.

³⁴ Wait for Jehovah and keep his way,
    and he will exalt you to inherit the land;
    when the wicked are cut off, you will see it.

³⁵ I have seen a wicked, violent man,
    spreading himself like a luxuriant tree in its native[83] soil.
³⁶ But he passed away,[84] and look, he was no more;
    though I sought him, he could not be found.

³⁷ Mark the blameless and behold the upright,
    for there is a future for the man of peace.
³⁸ But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed;
    the future of the wicked shall be cut off.

³⁹ The salvation of the righteous is from Jehovah;
    he is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
⁴⁰ Jehovah helps them and delivers them;
    he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
    because they take refuge in him.

CHAPTER 38

Do Not Forsake Me, O Jehovah

A Psalm of David, for a memorial.

38 O Jehovah, rebuke me not in your anger,
    nor discipline me in your wrath.
² For your arrows have sunk into me,
    and your hand has pressed down on me.

³ There is no soundness in my flesh
    because of your indignation;
there is no health in my bones
    because of my sin.
⁴ For my iniquities have gone over my head;
    like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.

⁵ My wounds stink and fester
    because of my foolishness,
⁶ I am completely bowed down and prostrate;
    all day I go about mourning.
⁷ For my loins are filled with burning,
    and there is no soundness in my flesh.
⁸ I am numb and completely crushed;
    I groan because of the tumult of my heart.

⁹ O Jehovah,[85] all my longing is before you;
    my sighing is not hidden from you.
¹⁰ My heart throbs; my strength fails me,
    and the light of my eyes, it also has gone from me.
¹¹ My loved ones and companions stand aloof from my plague,
    and my nearest kinsmen stand far off.

¹² Those who seek my life lay snares;
    those who seek my hurt speak of ruin
    and meditate treachery all day long.

¹³ But I, like a deaf man, do not hear,
    like a mute man, I would not open my mouth.
¹⁴ Yes, I am like a man who does not hear,
    and in whose mouth are no rebukes.

¹⁵ But for you, O Jehovah, do I wait;
    it is you, O Jehovah my God, who will answer.
¹⁶ For I said, “lest they rejoice over me,
    who exalt themselves over me if my foot slips.”

¹⁷ For I am ready to fall,
    and my pain is continually before me.
¹⁸ I confess my error;
    I am troubled by my sin.
¹⁹ But my enemies are vigorous, they are mighty,
    and many are those who hate me wrongfully.
²⁰ Those who render me evil for good
    accuse me because I follow what is good.

²¹ Do not forsake me, O Jehovah.
    O my God, be not far from me!
²² Make haste to help me,
    O Jehovah, my salvation!

CHAPTER 39

The Shortness of Life

For the choir director, for Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.

39 I said, “I will guard my ways,
    that I may not sin with my tongue;
I will guard my mouth with a muzzle,
    so long as the wicked are in my presence.”
² I was speechless and silent;
    I held my peace, even from good,
and my distress grew worse.
³ My heart became hot within me.
As I mused, the fire burned;
    then I spoke with my tongue:

⁴ “O Jehovah, make me know my end
    and what is the measure of my days;
    let me know how transient I am.
⁵ Look, you have made my days a few handbreadths,
    and my lifetime is as nothing before you.
Surely every man at his best is a mere breath. Selah
⁶ Surely every man walks about like a shadow.
Surely makes noise for nothing;
    man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather them.

⁷ “And now, O Jehovah,[86] for what do I wait?
    My hope is in you.
⁸ Deliver me from all my transgressions.
    Do not make me the reproach of the foolish.
⁹ I am mute; I do not open my mouth,
    for it is you who have done it.
¹⁰ Remove your stroke from me;
    I am worn down because your hand strikes me.
¹¹ You correct man
    with punishment for his error,
you consume like a moth what is dear to him;
    surely every man is but a mere breath. Selah

¹² “Hear my prayer, O Jehovah,
    and give ear to my cry;
    hold not your peace at my tears!
For I am a sojourner with you,
    a guest, like all my forefathers.
¹³ Look away from me, that I may smile again,
    before I depart and am no more!”

CHAPTER 40

My Help and My Deliverer

For the choir director. A Psalm of David.

40 I waited patiently for Jehovah;
    and he inclined to me and heard my cry.
² He brought me up out of the pit of destruction,
    out of the miry clay,
and set my feet upon a rock,
    making my steps secure.
³ He put a new song in my mouth,
    a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
    and trust in Jehovah.

⁴ Blessed is the man who makes
    Jehovah his trust,
who does not turn to the proud,
    to those who turn aside after a lie!
⁵ You have multiplied, O Jehovah my God,
    your wonderful works and your thoughts toward us;
    none can compare with you.
If I would declare and speak of them,
    yet they are more than can be told.

⁶ In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted,
    but you have opened up my ears.[87]
Burnt offering and sin offering
    you have not required.
⁷ Then I said, “Look, I have come;
    in the scroll of the book it is written of me:
⁸ I delight to do your will, O my God;
    your law is within my heart.”

⁹ I have proclaimed the good news of deliverance
    in the great congregation;
look, I have not restrained my lips,
    as you know, O Jehovah.
¹⁰ I have not hidden your righteousness in my heart;
    I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;
I have not concealed your loyal love and your faithfulness
    from[88] the great congregation.

¹¹ O Jehovah do not withhold
    your mercy from me;
your loyal love and your faithfulness will
    ever preserve me.
¹² The calamities surrounding me
    are beyond number;
my errors have overtaken me,
    and I cannot see;
they are more than the hairs of my head;
    my heart fails me.

¹³ Be pleased, O Jehovah, to deliver me.
    O Jehovah, make haste to help me.
¹⁴ Let those be put to shame and humiliated altogether
    who seek to snatch away my soul;
let those be turned back and brought to dishonor
    who delight in my hurt.
¹⁵ Let those be appalled because of their shame
    who say to me, “Aha, Aha!”

¹⁶ But may all who seek you
    rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation
    say continually, “May Jehovah be magnified.”
¹⁷ As for me, I am poor and needy,
    but Jehovah[89] takes thought for me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
    do not delay, O my God!

CHAPTER 41

Praying From the Sickbed

For the choir director. A Psalm of David.

41 Blessed is the one who considers the lowly one.[90]
    In the day of trouble Jehovah delivers him;
² Jehovah protects him and keeps him alive;
    he is called blessed upon the earth;
    you do not give him over to the soulful desire[91] of his enemies.
³ Jehovah sustains him upon his sickbed;
    in his illness you will change all his bed.[92]

⁴ As for me, I said, “O Jehovah, be gracious to me;
    heal my soul, for I have sinned against you.”
⁵ My enemies say of me in malice,
    “When will he die, and his name perish?”
⁶ And when one comes to see me, he speaks falsely,
    while his heart gathers wickedness;
    when he goes out, he tells it abroad.
⁷ All who hate me whisper together about me;
    they devise the worst for me.

⁸ They say, “A dreadful thing[93] is poured out on him;
    he will not rise again from where he lies.”
⁹ Even my close friend in whom I trusted,
    who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.[94]
¹⁰ But you, O Jehovah, be gracious to me,
    and raise me up, that I may repay them!

¹¹ By this I know that you delight in me:
    my enemy will not shout in triumph over me.
¹² As for me, you uphold me in my integrity,
    and set me in your presence forever.

¹³ Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Israel,
    from everlasting to everlasting.
Amen and Amen.

CHAPTER 42

Book Two

Why Are You Cast Down, O My Soul?

For the choir director. A Maskil[95] of the sons of Korah.

42 As a deer longs for flowing streams of water,
    so my soul longs for you, O God.[96]
² My soul thirsts for God,
    for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?[97]
³ My tears have been my food
    day and night,
while they[98] say to me all the day long,
    “Where is your God?”
⁴ These things I remember,
    as I pour out my soul:
how I would go with the throng
    and lead them in procession to the house of God
with a voice of joy and thanksgiving,
    a multitude keeping festival.

⁵ Why are you cast down, O my soul,
    and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
    my salvation.[99]

⁶ O my God,[100] within me my soul is cast down within me;
    therefore I remember you
from the land of Jordan and the heights of Hermon,
    from Mount Mizar.
⁷ Deep calls to deep
    at the roar of your waterfalls;
all your breakers and your waves
    have gone over me.
⁸ By day Jehovah commands his steadfast love,
    and at night his song is with me,
    a prayer to the God of my life.
⁹ I say to God, my rock:
    “Why have you forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning
    because of the oppression of the enemy?”
¹⁰ As with a shattering of my bones,
    my adversaries[101] taunt me,
while they say to me all day long,
    “Where is your God?”

¹¹ Why are you cast down, O my soul?
    And why are you disturbed within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
    my salvation and my God.

CHAPTER 43

Wait for God

43 Vindicate me, O God, and plead my cause
    against an ungodly nation,
O deliver me from
    the deceitful and unjust man!
² For you are the God of my strength;
    why have you rejected me?
Why do I go about mourning
    because of the oppression of the enemy?

³ Send out your light and your truth;
    let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy mountain[102]
    and to your dwelling places.
⁴ Then I will go to the altar of God,
    to God my exceeding joy,
and I will praise you with the lyre,
    O God, my God.

⁵ Why are you cast down, O my soul,
    and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
    my salvation and my God.

CHAPTER 44

A Prayer for Help

For the choir director. A Maskil[103] of the sons of Korah.

44 O God, we have heard with our ears,
    our forefathers have told us,
what work you did in their days,
    in the days of old:
² you did drive out the nations with your hand,
    but them you planted;
you afflicted the peoples,
    but them, you did spread abroad;
³ for not by their own sword did they take the land,
    nor did their own arm save them,
but your right hand and your arm,
    and the light of your face,
    for you took pleasure in them.

⁴ You are my King, O God;
    grant complete victory for Jacob.[104]
⁵ Through you we push down our adversaries;[105]
    through your name we trample down those who rise up against us.
⁶ For I do not trust in my bow,
    nor can my sword save me.
⁷ But you have saved us from our adversaries[106]
    and have put to shame those who hate us.
⁸ In God we have boasted all day long,
    and we will give thanks to your name forever. Selah

⁹ But you have rejected us and brought us to dishonor
    and have not gone out with our armies.
¹⁰ You have made us turn back from the adversary;
    those who hate us have taken spoil for themselves.
¹¹ You have made us like sheep for slaughter;
    you have scattered us among the nations.
¹² You have sold your people for nothing,
    you demand no high price for them.
¹³ You have made us the reproach of our neighbors,
    the ridicule and derision of those around us.
¹⁴ You have made us a proverb among the nations,
    a shaking of the head among the peoples.
¹⁵ All day long my dishonor is before me,
    and shame has covered my face
¹⁶ because of the taunts and insults,
    because of the sight of the enemy and the avenger.

¹⁷ All this has come upon us,
    though we have not forgotten you,
    and we have not dealt falsely with your covenant.
¹⁸ Our heart has not turned back,
    Nor do our steps deviate from your path;
¹⁹ yet you have broken us in the place of jackals
    and covered us with the shadow of death.
²⁰ If we had forgotten the name of our God
    or spread out our hands to a foreign god,
²¹ would not God discover this?
    For he knows the secrets of the heart.
²² Yet for your sake we are killed all the day long;
    we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.

²³ Rouse yourself! Why are you sleeping, O Jehovah?
    Awake! Do not reject us forever!
²⁴ Why do you hide your face?
    Why do you forget our affliction and oppression?
²⁵ For our soul is bowed down to the dust;
    our body is pressed to the ground.
²⁶ Rise up; come to our help!
    Redeem us for the sake of your loyal love!

CHAPTER 45

God Is Your Throne Forever

For the choir director; according to the Shoshannim.[107] A Maskil[108] of the sons of Korah. A Song of Love.

45 My heart overflows with a pleasing theme;
    I address my verses to the king;
    my tongue is like the pen of a skilled scribe.

² You are the most handsome of the sons of men;
    grace is poured upon your lips;
    therefore God has blessed you forever.
³ Strap your sword on your[109] side, O mighty one,
    in your splendor and majesty!

⁴ In your majesty ride out victoriously
    for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness;
    let your right hand teach you awesome things.
⁵ Your arrows are sharp, making peoples fall before you;
    they pierce the hearts of the king’s enemies.

⁶ God is your throne[110] forever and ever.
    The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness;
⁷ You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you
    with the oil of gladness above  your companions;
⁸ your garments are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia.
From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad;
⁹ kings’ daughters are among your noble women;
    at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir.

¹⁰ Hear, O daughter, and consider, and incline your ear:
    forget your people and your father’s house,
¹¹ and the king will desire your beauty.
Since he is your lord, bow down to him.
¹² The daughter of Tyre will seek your favor with gifts,
    the richest of the men will soften your face.[111]

¹³ The king’s daughter is all glorious within; her garment is interwoven with gold.
¹⁴ In richly woven garments she is led to the king,
    The virgin companions following her will be brought to you.
¹⁵ With joy and gladness they are led along
    as they enter the king’s palace.

¹⁶ In place of your forefathers shall be your sons;
    you will make them princes in all the earth.
¹⁷ I will cause your name to be remembered in all generations;
    therefore peoples will praise you forever and ever.

CHAPTER 46

God Is Our Refuge

For the choir director. A Psalm of the sons of Korah, set to Alamoth.[112] A Song.

46 God is our refuge and strength,
    a very present help in trouble.
² Therefore we will not fear though the earth changes,
    though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
³ though its waters roar and foam,
    though the mountains tremble at its turbulence. Selah

⁴ There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy dwelling places of the Most High.
⁵ God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
    God will help her when morning dawns.
⁶ The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms totter;
    he utters his voice, the earth melts.
⁷ Jehovah of armies[113] is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah

⁸ Come, look the works of Jehovah,
    how he has brought desolations on the earth.
⁹ He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
    he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the chariots with fire.
¹⁰ “Be still, and know that I am God.
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth!”
¹¹ Jehovah of armies[114] is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah

CHAPTER 47

God Is King over All the Earth

For the choir director. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

47 Clap your hands, all peoples!
    Shout to God with joyful cries.
² For Jehovah, the Most High, is to be feared,
    a great king over all the earth.
³ He subdued peoples under us,
    and nations under our feet.
⁴ He chose our heritage for us,
    the pride of Jacob whom he loves. Selah

⁵ God has gone up with a shout,
    Jehovah with the sound of a trumpet.
⁶ Sing praises to God, sing praises.
    Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
⁷ For God is the King of all the earth;
    sing praises with a psalm of wisdom.

⁸ God reigns over the nations;
    God sits on his holy throne.
⁹ The princes of the peoples gather
    as the people of the God[115] of Abraham.
For the shields[116] of the earth belong to God;
    he is highly exalted.

CHAPTER 48

Zion, the City of Our God

A Song; a Psalm of the sons of Korah.

48 Great is Jehovah and greatly to be praised
    in the city of our God,
his holy mountain, 

² beautiful in elevation,
    is the joy of all the earth,
Mount Zion, in the far north,
    the city of the great King.
³ Within her citadel fortresses[117] God
    has made himself known as a stronghold.

⁴ For look, the kings assembled;
    they passed by together.
⁵ They saw it, then they were amazed;
    they panicked and fled in terror.
⁶ Trembling took hold of them there,
    anguish as of a woman in labor.
⁷ By the east wind you shattered
    the ships of Tarshish.
⁸ As we have heard, so have we seen
    in the city of the Jehovah of armies,[118]
in the city of our God,
    which God will establish forever. Selah

⁹ We have thought on your loyal love, O God,
    in the midst of your temple.
¹⁰ As your name, O God,
    so your praise to the ends of the earth.
Your right hand is full of righteousness.
¹¹ Let Mount Zion be glad!
Let the daughters of Judah rejoice
    because of your judgments.

¹² Walk about Zion, go around her,
    number her towers,
¹³ consider well her ramparts,
    go through her citadel fortresses,[119]
that you may tell the next generation
¹⁴ that this is God,
our God forever and ever.
    He himself will guide us until death.[120]

CHAPTER 49

Why Should I Fear in Times of Trouble?

For the music director. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

49 Hear this, all peoples!
    Give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
² both low and high,
    rich and poor together.
³ My mouth will speak wisdom,
    the meditation of my heart will be understanding.
⁴ I will incline my ear to a proverb;
    I will expound my riddle with the harp.

⁵ Why should I fear in times of trouble,
    when the very error of my persecutors[121] surrounds me,
⁶ those who trust in their wealth
    and boast of the abundance of their riches?
⁷ Surely no man can redeem a brother,
    Or give to God a ransom for him,[122]
⁸ (for the redemption of their[123] soul is costly,
    and it always fails),
⁹ that he should live on forever
    and not see the pit.[124]

¹⁰ For he sees that even wise men die;
    the fool and the senseless alike must perish
    and leave their wealth to others.
¹¹ Their inner wish[125] is that their houses will last forever,[126]
    their dwelling places from generation to generation,
    they have called their lands after their own names.
¹² Man in his pomp will not remain;[127]
    he is like the beasts that perish.[128]

¹³ This is the path of those who have foolish confidence;
    and those after them who accept their words. Sela[129]
¹⁴ Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol;[130]
    death shall be their shepherd,
and the upright shall rule over them in the morning,
    and their form[131] shall be for Sheol[132] to consume, so that they have no habitation.
¹⁵ But God will ransom my soul from the hand[133] of Sheol,[134]
    for he will receive me. Selah[135]

¹⁶ Be not afraid when a man becomes rich,
    when the glory of his house increases.
¹⁷ For when he dies he will carry nothing away;
    his glory will not go down after him.
¹⁸ For during his lifetime he kept blessing his own soul
    (men praise you when you do well for yourself)
¹⁹ his soul will go to the generation of his fathers,
    who will never again see light.
²⁰ Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish.

CHAPTER 50

God Himself Is Judge

A Psalm of Asaph.

50 The God of gods, Jehovah,
    speaks and summons the earth
    from the rising of the sun to its setting.
² Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty,
    God shines forth.

³ Our God comes; he does not keep silence;
    before him is a devouring fire,
    around him a great storm rages.
⁴ He calls to the heavens above
    and to the earth, that he may judge his people:
⁵ “Gather to me my loyal ones,
    who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!”
⁶ The heavens declare his righteousness,
    for God himself is judge. Selah

⁷ “Hear, O my people, and I will speak;
    O Israel, I will testify against you.
    I am God, your God.
⁸ I do not reprove you for your sacrifices;
    your burnt offerings are continually before me.
⁹ I will not take a bull from your house
    or goats from your folds.
¹⁰ For every beast of the forest is mine,
    the cattle on a thousand hills.
¹¹ I know every bird of the mountains,[136]
    and all that moves in the field is mine.

¹² “If I were hungry, I would not tell you,
    for the world and its fullness are mine.
¹³ Do I eat the flesh of bulls
    or drink the blood of goats?
¹⁴ Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving,
    and pay your vows to the Most High,
¹⁵ and call upon me in the day of trouble;
    I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”

¹⁶ But to the wicked God says:
    “What right have you to recite my statutes
    or take my covenant on your lips?
¹⁷ For you hate discipline,
    and you cast my words behind you.
¹⁸ If you see a thief, you are pleased[137] with him,
    and you associate with adulterers.

¹⁹ “Your mouth you have let loose to what is evil,
    and your tongue frames deceit.
²⁰ You sit and speak against your brother;
    you slander your own mother’s son.
²¹ These things you have done, and I have kept silent;
    you thought that I would be just like you.
But now I will reprove you and lay the charge before you.

²² “Consider this, then, you who forget God,
    lest I tear you apart, with no one to deliver you.
²³ The one offering thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me;
    to one who orders his way rightly
    I will show the salvation of God.”

CHAPTER 51

Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God

For the choir director. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.

51 Be gracious to me, O God, 
    according to Your lovingkindness;
according to your abundant mercy
    blot out my transgressions.
² Wash me thoroughly from my error,[138]
    and cleanse me from my sin.

³ For I myself know my transgressions,
    and my sin is ever before me.
⁴ Against you, you only, have I sinned
    and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified when you speak[139]
    and blameless when you judge.
⁵ Look, I was brought forth in error,
    and in sin did my mother conceive me.
⁶ Look, you delight in truth in the inward being,
    and in the hidden part you will make me know wisdom.[140]

⁷ May you purify me with hyssop, that I may be clean;
    may you wash me, that I may be whiter than snow.
⁸ May you make me to hear joy and gladness;
    let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
⁹ Hide your face from my sins,
    and blot out all my errors.
¹⁰ Create in me a clean heart, O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
¹¹ Cast me not away from your presence,
    and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
¹² Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
    and sustain me with a willing spirit.

¹³ Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
    and sinners will turn back to you.
¹⁴ Deliver me from bloodguilt, O God,
    the God of my salvation,
    then my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.
¹⁵ O Jehovah, open my lips,
    and my mouth will declare your praise.
¹⁶ For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
    you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
¹⁷ The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
    a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

¹⁸ Do good in your favor to Zion;
    may you build the walls of Jerusalem;
¹⁹ then will you delight in righteous sacrifices,
    in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;
    then bulls will be offered on your altar.

CHAPTER 52

The Loyal Love of God Endures

For the choir director. A Maskil[141] of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul and said to him, “David has come to the house of Ahimelech.”

52 Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man?
    The loyal love of God endures all day.
² Your tongue devises destruction,
    like a sharp razor, you worker of deceit.
³ You love evil more than good,
    and lying more than speaking what is right. Selah
⁴ You love all words that devour,
    O deceitful tongue.

⁵ But God will break you down forever;
    he will snatch you up and tear you away from your tent;
    he will uproot you from the land of the living. Selah
⁶ The righteous shall see and fear,
    and shall laugh at him, saying,
⁷ “Look, the man who would not make
    God his refuge,
but trusted in the abundance of his riches
    and he took refuge in his destructiveness.”

⁸ But I am like a green olive tree
    in the house of God.
I trust in the loyal love of God
    forever and ever.
⁹ I will praise you forever,
    because you have done it.
I will wait for your name, for it is good,
    in the presence of the godly.

CHAPTER 53

There Is No Jehovah

To the choirmaster: according to Mahalath. A Maskil[142] of David.

53 The fool says in his heart, “There is no Jehovah.”[143]
    They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity;
    there is none who does good.

² God looks down from heaven
    on the sons of men
to see if there are any who understand,
    who seek after Jehovah.[144]

³ They have all turned away;
    together they have become corrupt;
there is none who does good,
    not even one.

⁴ Have those of the wrongdoers no knowledge,
    who eat up my people as they eat bread,
    and do not call upon Jehovah?[145]

⁵ There they are, in great terror,
    where there is no terror!
For God[146] scatters the bones of him who encamps against you;
    you put them to shame, for Jehovah[147] has rejected them.

⁶ Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
    When Jehovah[148] restores the fortunes of his people,
    let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.

CHAPTER 54

Jehovah Upholds My Life

For the choir director; on stringed instruments. A Maskil[149] of David, when the Ziphites came and said to Saul, “Is not David hiding himself among us?”

54 O God, save me by your name,
    and vindicate me by your might.
² O God, hear my prayer;
    give ear to the words of my mouth.

³ For strangers have risen against me;
    violent men seek my soul;
    they have not set God before them. Selah

⁴ Look, God is my helper;
    Jehovah[150] is the upholder of my soul.
⁵ He will repay my enemies with their own evil;
    in your faithfulness put an end to them.

⁶ With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you;
    I will give thanks to your name, O Jehovah, for it is good.
⁷ For he has delivered me from every trouble,
    and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies.

CHAPTER 55

Cast Your Burden on Jehovah

For the choir director; on stringed instruments. A Maskil[151] of David.

55 Give ear to my prayer, O God,
    and hide not yourself from my request for mercy.
² Attend to me and answer me;
    I am restless in my complaint, and I am distraught,
³ because of the voice of the enemy,
    because of the oppression of the wicked.
For they heap trouble upon me,
    and in anger they bear a grudge against me.

⁴ My heart is in anguish within me;
    the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
⁵ Fear and trembling come upon me,
    and horror overwhelms me.
⁶ And I say, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove!
    I would fly away and be at rest;
⁷ yes, I would wander far away;
    I would lodge in the wilderness; Selah
⁸ I would hurry to a place of shelter
    from the raging wind, away from the storm.”

⁹ Destroy, O Jehovah,[152] divide their tongues;
    for I see violence and strife in the city.
¹⁰ Day and night they go around it on its walls,
    within it are malice and trouble
¹¹ ruin is in its midst; oppression and fraud
    do not depart from its marketplace.

¹² For it is not an enemy who taunts me,
    then I could bear it;
nor is it one who hates me who magnifies himself over me,
    then I could hide myself from him.
¹³ But it is you, a man, my equal,
    my companion, my familiar friend.
¹⁴ We who would take sweet counsel together;
    within God’s house we walked in the throng.
¹⁵ Let death over take them;
    let them go down to Sheol alive;
    for evil resides among them and within them.

¹⁶ But I call to God,
    and Jehovah will save me.
¹⁷ Evening and morning and at noon
    I will complain and moan,
    and he hears my voice.
¹⁸ He redeems my soul in peace
    from the battle that was against me,
    for many are arrayed against me.
¹⁹ God will hear and respond to them,
    the one who sits enthroned from of old, Selah
because they do not change
    and do not fear God.

²⁰ He[153] attacked those at peace with him;
    he violated his covenant.
²¹ His speech was smooth as butter,[154]
    but war was in his heart;
his words were softer than oil,
    but they were drawn swords.

²² Cast your burden on Jehovah,
    and he will sustain you;
he will never permit
    the righteous to be shaken.

²³ But you, O God, will cast them down
    into the pit of destruction;
men of bloodshed and treachery
    shall not live out half their days.
But I will trust in you.

CHAPTER 56

A Prayer When persecuted

For the choir director; according to Mikhtam[155] of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath

56 Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me;
    all day long he keeps oppressing me;
² my enemies trample on me all day long,
    for many arrogantly fight against me.
³ When I am afraid,
    I put my trust in you.
⁴ In God, whose word I praise,
    in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
    What can flesh do to me?

⁵ All day long they hurt my interests;
    all their thoughts are against me for evil.
⁶ They attack, they conceal themselves;
    they watch my steps,
    as they have waited for my soul.
⁷ Shall they escape because of their wickedness?
    In wrath cast down the peoples, O God!

⁸ You have kept track of my wandering;
    put my tears in your bottle.
    Are they not in your book?
⁹ Then my enemies will turn back
    in the day when I call.
    This I know, that God is for me.
¹⁰ In God, whose word I praise,
    in Jehovah, whose word I praise,
¹¹ in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
    What can man do to me?

¹² Your vows are upon me, O God;
    I will render thank offerings to you.
¹³ For you have delivered my soul from death,
    yes, my feet from falling,
that I may walk before God
    in the light of the living.

CHAPTER 57

Let Your Glory Be over All the Earth

For the choir director; set to Mikhtam[156] of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave.

57 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,
    for in you my soul takes refuge;
in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,
    until the troubles pass by.
² I cry out to God Most High,
    to God who accomplishes all things for me.
³ He will send from heaven and save me;
    he reproaches him who would swallow me up. Selah
God will send his loyal love and his faithfulness.

⁴ My soul is among lions;
    I lie down among devourers
the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows,
    and their tongue is a sharp sword.

⁵ Be exalted, O God, above the heavens.
    Let your glory be over all the earth.

⁶ They have prepared a net for my steps;
    my soul was bowed down.
They dug a pit before me,
    but they have fallen into the midst of it. Selah
⁷ My heart is steadfast, O God,
    my heart is steadfast.
I will sing and make melody.
⁸ Awake, my glory.
Awake, O harp and lyre.
    I will awake the dawn.
⁹ I will give thanks to you, O Jehovah,[157] among the peoples;
    I will sing praises to you among the nations.
¹⁰ For your loyal love is great to the heavens,
    your faithfulness, up to the skies.

¹¹ Be exalted, O God, above the heavens.
    Let your glory be over all the earth.

CHAPTER 58

God Who Judges the Earth

For the choir director; set to Al-tashheth. A Mikhtam[158] of David.

58 Do you indeed speak what is right when silent?
    Do you judge in uprightness, you sons of men?
² No, in your hearts you devise wrongs;
    your hands deal out violence on earth.

³ The wicked are estranged from the womb;
    they go astray from birth, speaking lies.
⁴ Their venom is like the venom of serpents,
    like a deaf cobra that stops its ear,
⁵ so that it does not hear the voice of charmers
    or a skillful caster of spells.

⁶ O God, break the teeth in their mouths;
    tear out the fangs of the young lions, O Jehovah.
⁷ Let them disappear like waters that drain away;
    when he aims his arrows, let them be as though they were cut off.
⁸ Let them be like a snail that melts away as it moves along,
    like the stillborn child who never sees the sun.
⁹ Before your pots can feel the heat of thorns,
    he will sweep them away with a whirlwind, the green and the burning alike.

¹⁰ The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance;
    he will wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.
¹¹ And men will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous;
    surely there is a God who judges in earth.”

CHAPTER 59

God, a Shield and a Refuge

For the choir director; set to Al-tashheth. A Mikhtam[159] of David, when Saul sent men and they watched the house in order to kill him.

59 Rescue me from my enemies, O my God;
    protect me from those who rise up against me;
² rescue me from those who act wickedly,
    and save me from bloodthirsty men.

³ For look, they lie in wait for my soul;
    strong men attack me.
Not for my transgression nor for my sin, O Jehovah,
⁴ for no fault of mine, they run and prepare to attack.
Awake, come to meet me, and see!
⁵ You, Jehovah God of armies,[160] are God of Israel.
Rouse yourself to punish all the nations;
    do not show mercy to any who are treacherous. Selah

⁶ They return at evening,
    they howl like a dog
    and prowl around the city.
⁷ Look what pours forth from their mouth
    their lips are like swords,
    for they say: “Who is listening?”+

⁸ But you, O Jehovah, laugh at them;
    you hold all the nations in derision.
⁹ O my Strength,[161] I will watch for you,
    for you, O God, are my secure refuge.
¹⁰ My God in his loyal love[162] will meet me;[163]
    God will let me look in triumph on my enemies.

¹¹ Do not kill them, so that my people may not forget;
    by your power, make them wander and bring them down,
    O Jehovah, our shield.
¹² For the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips,
    let them be caught in their pride.
For the cursing and lies that they utter,
¹³ consume them in wrath;
    consume them so that they are no more,
that they may know that God rules over Jacob
    to the ends of the earth. Selah

¹⁴ Each evening let them return,
    howling like dogs
    and prowling around the city.
¹⁵ They wander about for food
    and growl if they are not satisfied.

¹⁶ But I will sing of your strength;
    I will sing aloud of your loyal love in the morning.
For you have been to me a secure refuge
    and a refuge in the day of my distress.
¹⁷ O my Strength, I will sing praises to you,
    for you, O God, are my secure refuge,
    the God who shows me loyal love.

CHAPTER 60

God Will Conquer Our Enemies

For the choir director; according to Mikhtam[164] of David, to teach; when he struggled with Aram-naharaim and with Aram-zobah, and Joab returned, and smote twelve thousand of Edom in the Valley of Salt.

60 O God, you have rejected us, broken us down;
    you have been angry; oh, restore us.
² You have made the land to quake; you have torn it open;
    heal its breaches, for it totters.
³ You have made your people see hard things;
    you have made us drink wine that makes us stagger.

⁴ You have given to those who fear you a signal,
    that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah
⁵ That your beloved ones may be delivered,
    save us with your right hand, and answer us.[165]

⁶ God has spoken in his holiness:
    “I will exult, I will divide up Shechem
    I will measure off the Valley of Succoth.
⁷ Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine;
    Ephraim is my helmet;
    Judah is my scepter.
⁸ Moab is my washbasin;
    upon Edom I cast my shoe;
    over Philistia I shout in triumph.”[166]

⁹ Who will bring me to the besieged[167] city?
    Who will lead me to Edom?
¹⁰ Have you not rejected us, O God?
    You do not go forth, O God, with our armies.
¹¹ Oh, grant us help against the adversary,
    for salvation by man is worthless.
¹² With God we shall do valiantly;
    it is he who will tread down our adversaries.

CHAPTER 61

God Is a Strong Tower against the Enemy

For the choir director; on a stringed instrument. A Psalm of David.

61 Hear my cry, O God,
    pay attention to my prayer;
² from the end of the earth I call to you
    when my heart is faint.
Lead me to the rock
    that is higher than I,
³ for you have been my refuge,
    a strong tower against the enemy.

⁴ Let me dwell in your tent forever.
    Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings. Selah
⁵ For you, O God, have heard my vows;
    you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.

⁶ You will prolong the king’s life;
    his years will be from generation to generation.
⁷ He will dwell forever before God;
    appoint loyal love and truth that they may preserve him.

⁸ So I will sing praises to your name forever,
    as I pay my vows day after day.

CHAPTER 62

Salvation Comes from God Alone

For the choir director; according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.

62 My soul waits in silence for God only;
    from him comes my salvation.
² He alone is my rock and my salvation,
    my stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken.

³ How long will all of you attack a man
    to murder him,
    like a leaning wall, a stone wall?
⁴ They only plan to topple him from his high position.
    They take delight in falsehood.
They bless with their mouths,
    but inwardly they curse. Selah

⁵ For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,
    for my hope is from him.
⁶ He only is my rock and my salvation,
    my stronghold; I shall not be shaken.
⁷ On God rests my salvation and my glory;
    the rock of my strength, my refuge is God.

⁸ Trust in him at all times, O people;
    pour out your heart before him;
    God is a refuge for us. Selah

⁹ The sons of men are a mere breath;
    the sons of mankind are a delusion;
in the balances they go up;
    they are together lighter than a breath.
¹⁰ Do not trust in oppression;
    set no vain hopes on robbery;
    if riches increase, set not your heart on them.

¹¹ Once God has spoken;
    twice have I heard this:
that strength belongs to God,
¹² and that to you, O Jehovah, belongs loyal love.
For you will render to a man
    according to his work.

CHAPTER 63

Longing for God

A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.

63 O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
    my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh longs for you,
    as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
² So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
    I have seen your power and glory.
³ Because your loyal love is better than life,
    my lips will praise you.
⁴ So I will bless you as long as I live;
    I will lift up my hands in your name.

⁵ My soul will be satisfied as with fat and fatness,[168]
    and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
⁶ when I remember you upon my bed,
    and meditate on you in the night watches;
⁷ for you have been my help,
    and in the shadow of your wings I will rejoice.
⁸ My soul clings to you;
    your right hand upholds me.

⁹ But those that seek my soul, to destroy it
    shall go down into the depths of the earth;
¹⁰ they shall be given over to the power of the sword;
    they shall be a portion for jackals.[169]
¹¹ But the king will rejoice in God;
    everyone who swears by him will exult,
    for the mouth of those speaking lies will be stopped.

CHAPTER 64

Protect Me from the Wicked

For the choir director. A Psalm of David.

64 Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint;
    preserve my life from fear of the enemy.
² Hide me from the secret counsel of evildoers,
    from the crowd of wrongdoers,
³ who whet their tongue like a sword,
    who aimed their arrows like bitter words,
⁴ shooting from secret places at the blameless,
    shooting at him suddenly, without fear.
⁵ They hold fast to their evil intent;
    they talk of laying snares secretly;
They say: “Who will see them?”[170]
⁶ They search out wickedness,
“They secretly devise their shrewd strategy.
    For the inward part[171] and heart of a man are deep.

⁷ But God will shoot at them with an arrow;
    suddenly they will be wounded.
⁸ They are brought to ruin by their own tongue;
    all who see them will shake their head.
⁹ Then all men will fear;
    they will declare the work of God
    and they will have insight into his work.

¹⁰ The righteous man will rejoice in Jehovah
    and take refuge in him.
And all the upright in heart will boast.

CHAPTER 65

David Thanks God for Answering Prayers, Forgiving Sins, Imparting Joy

For the choir director. A Psalm of David. A Song.

65 Praise awaits you, O God, in Zion,
    and to you shall vows be paid.
² O you who hear prayer,
    to you all flesh will come.
³ When iniquities prevail against me,
    you atone for our transgressions.
⁴ Blessed is the one you choose and bring near,
    to dwell in your courts.
We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house,
    the holiness of your temple.

⁵ By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness,
    O God of our salvation,
you who are the confidence of all the ends of the earth
    and of the farthest seas;
⁶ the one who established the mountains by his[172] power,
    being girded with might;
⁷ who stills the roaring of the seas,
    the roaring of their waves,
    the tumult of the peoples,
⁸ so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth are in awe at your signs.
You make the going out of the morning and evening to cry out joyfully.

⁹ You visit the earth and water it;
    you greatly enrich it;
the river of God is full of water;
    you provide their grain,
    for so you have prepared it.
¹⁰ You water its furrows abundantly,
    you settle its ridges,
you soften it with showers,
    you bless its growth.
¹¹ You crown the year with your bounty;
    your very tracks drip with fatness.[173]
¹² The pastures of the wilderness drip,
    the hills gird themselves with joy,
¹³ the meadows are clothed with flocks,
    the valleys are covered with grain,
    they shout for joy, they also sing.

CHAPTER 66

How Awe-Inspiring Are Your Works

For the choir director. A Song. A Psalm.

66 Shout for joy to God, all the earth;
² sing the glory of his name;
    make his praise glorious.
³ Say to God, “How awe-inspiring your works are!
    So great is your power that enemies will cringe before you.
⁴ All the earth will bow down to you
    and will sing praises to you;
    they will sing praises to your name.” Selah

⁵ Come and see the works of God:
    his deeds toward the sons of men are awe-inspiring.
⁶ He turned the sea into dry land;
    they passed through the river on foot.
There did we rejoice in him,
⁷ who rules by his might forever,
whose eyes keep watch on the nations;
    let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah

⁸ Bless our God, O peoples;
    let the sound of his praise be heard,
⁹ who has kept our soul among the living
    and has not allow our feet to stumble.
¹⁰ For you, O God, have examined us;
    you have refined us as silver is refined.
¹¹ You brought us into the net;
    you laid a crushing burden on our backs;
¹² you let men ride over our heads;
    we went through fire and through water;
yet you have brought us out to a place of relief.[174]

¹³ I will come into your house with burnt offerings;
    I shall pay my vows to you,
¹⁴ that which my lips uttered
    and my mouth promised when I was in trouble.
¹⁵ I will offer to you burnt offerings of fattened animals,
    with the smoke of the sacrificial rams;
I will make an offering of bulls and goats. Selah

¹⁶ Come and hear, all you who fear God,
    and I will tell what he has done for my soul.
¹⁷ I cried to him with my mouth,
    and glorified him with my tongue.
¹⁸ If I had wickedness in my heart,
    Jehovah[175] would not have listened.
¹⁹ But truly God has listened;
    he has attended to the voice of my prayer.

²⁰ Blessed be God,
    Praise to God, who did not reject my prayer
    or removed his loyal love from me!

CHAPTER 67

All Will Fear God

For the choir director; with stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song.

67 May God be gracious to us and bless us
    and make his face to shine upon us, Selah
² that your way may be known on earth,
    your salvation among all nations.
³ Let the peoples praise you, O God;
    let all the peoples praise you.

⁴ Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
    for you judge the peoples with fairness
    and guide the nations upon earth. Selah
⁵ Let the peoples praise you, O God;
    let all the peoples praise you.

⁶ The earth will give its produce;
    God, our God, shall bless us.
⁷ God shall bless us;
    let all the ends of the earth fear him.

CHAPTER 68

God’s Enemies Shall Be Scattered

For the choir director. A Psalm of David. A Song.

68 God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered;
    and those who hate him shall flee before him!
² As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away;
    as wax melts before the fire,
    so the wicked shall perish before God!
³ But the righteous shall rejoice;
    they shall be overjoyed before God;
    they shall rejoice with gladness.

⁴ Sing to God, sing praises to his name;
    lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts;
his name is Jah;[176]
    rejoice before him!
⁵ Father of the fatherless and judge of widows[177]
    is God in his holy dwelling.
⁶ God settles the solitary in a home;
    he leads out the prisoners to prosperity,
    but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.

⁷ O God, when you went out before your people,
    when you marched through the wilderness, Selah
⁸ the earth quaked, the heavens also dripped rain,
    before God, the One of Sinai,
    before God, the God of Israel.
⁹ You made it rain in abundance, O God;
    you restored your inheritance as it languished.
¹⁰ Your tent community dwelled in it;
    in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.

¹¹ Jehovah[178] gives the word;
    the women who proclaim the good news are a large army:
¹² “The kings of armies flee, they flee!”
She who remains at home shares in the spoil.
¹³ Though you men lie among the sheepfolds,
the wings of a dove covered with silver,
    its pinions with yellow gold.
¹⁴ When the Almighty scattered the kings there,
    it was as if it snowed in Zalmon.

¹⁵ O mountain of God, mountain of Bashan;
    a mountain of many peaks, mountain of Bashan.
¹⁶ Why do you look with envy, you mountains of peaks,
    at the mountain that God desires as his dwelling,
    yes, where Jehovah will dwell forever?
¹⁷ The war chariots of God are twice ten thousand,
    thousands upon thousands;
    Jehovah is among them; Sinai is now in the sanctuary.
¹⁸ You have ascended on high,
    carried away captives;
    You have received gifts from among  men,
even among the rebellious, that Jah[179] God may dwell there.

¹⁹ Blessed be Jehovah,
    who daily carries our load;
    God is our salvation. Selah
²⁰ He that is our God is the God of salvation,
    and to Jehovah the Lord, provides escape from death.
²¹ But God will strike the heads of his enemies,
    the hairy crown of him who continues in his guilt.
²² Jehovah said,
    “I will bring them back from Bashan,
I will bring them back from the depths of the sea,
²³ that your foot may be dipped in their blood,[180]
    that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from the enemies.”

²⁴ They see your processions, O God,
    the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary.
²⁵ the singers walk in front, the musicians after them,
    between them virgins playing tambourines:
²⁶ “Praise God in the congregation,
    praise Jehovah, from the fountain of Israel.”
²⁷ There is Benjamin, the youngest, ruling them,
    the princes of Judah in their assembly,
    the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.

²⁸ Your God has commanded your strength,[181]
    Show your strength, O God, you who have acted in our behalf.
²⁹ Because of your temple at Jerusalem
    kings shall bear gifts to you.
³⁰ Rebuke the beasts of the reeds,
    the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples.
Trampling underfoot the pieces of silver;
    scatter the peoples who delight in war.
³¹ Bronze articles will be brought[182] out of Egypt;
    Cush shall hasten to stretch out her hands to God.

³² O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God;
    sing praises to Jehovah, Selah
³³ To the one who rides the ancient heaven of heavens;
    look, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.
³⁴ Ascribe strength to God,
    whose majesty is over Israel,
    and whose power is in the skies.
³⁵ God, you are awe-inspiring from your sanctuary.[183]
    He is the God of Israel, who gives strength and power to the people.
Blessed be God!

CHAPTER 69

Rescue Me, O God

For the choir director; according to Shoshannim. A Psalm of David.

69 Save me, O God!
    For the waters have threatened my soul.
² I sink in deep mire,
    where there is no foothold;
I have come into deep waters,
    and the floods overflow me.
³ I am weary with my crying out;
    my throat is parched.
My eyes fail
    while I wait for my God.

⁴ Those who hate me without a cause
    are more than the hairs of my head;
those who would destroy me are powerful,
    my enemies for no reason have become many.
What I did not steal
    I am forced to restore?
⁵ O God, you know my foolishness;
    and my guilt is not hidden from you.

⁶ Let not those who hope in you not be ashamed because of me,
    O Lord, Jehovah of armies;[184]
let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor because of me,
    O God of Israel.
⁷ For it is for your sake that I have borne reproach,
    that dishonor has covered my face.
⁸ I have become a stranger to my brothers,
    an alien to my mother’s sons.

⁹ For zeal for your house has consumed me,
    and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.
¹⁰ When I wept and humbled my soul with fasting,
    that was to me reproach.
¹¹ When I made sackcloth my clothing,
    I became a byword to them.
¹² I am the talk of those sitting in the city gate,
    and I am the song of the drunkards.

¹³ But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Jehovah.
    At an acceptable time, O God,
    in the abundance of your loyal love answer me in the truth of your salvation.
¹⁴ Deliver me
    from the mire;
let me be delivered from those who hate me
    and from the deep waters.
¹⁵ Do not let the floodwaters sweep over me,
    or the deep swallow me up,
    or the pit close its mouth over me.

¹⁶ Answer me, O Jehovah, for your loyal love is good;
    according to your abundant mercy toward me.
¹⁷ And do not hide your face from your servant;
    for I am in distress; answer me quickly.
¹⁸ Draw near to my soul, redeem me;
    ransom me on account of my enemies.

¹⁹ You know my reproach,
    and my shame and my dishonor;
    my adversaries are all before you.
²⁰ Reproach has broken my heart,
    so that I am sick.
I looked for sympathy, but there was none,
    and for comforters, but I found none.
²¹ They gave me poison for food,
    and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

²² Let their table before them become a snare;
    and when they are at peace,[185] let it become a trap.
²³ Let their eyes be darkened, so that they cannot see,
    and make their loins continually to shake.
²⁴ Pour out your indignation upon them,
    and let your burning anger overtake them.
²⁵ May their camp be desolate;
    let none dwell in their tents.
²⁶ For they persecute him whom you have struck down,
    and they tell of the pain of those whom you have wounded.
²⁷ Add more guilt to their guilt;
    and let them not come into your righteousness.
²⁸ Let them be blotted out of the book of life;
    and let them not be written among the righteous.

²⁹ But I am afflicted and in pain;
    let your salvation, O God, set me on high!

³⁰ I will praise the name of God with a song;
    I will magnify him with thanksgiving.
³¹ This will please Jehovah more than an ox
    or a bull with horns and hoofs.
³² The meek will see it and rejoice;
    you who seek God, let your hearts revive.
³³ For Jehovah listens the needy
    and does not despise those of his who are prisoners.

³⁴ Let heaven and earth praise him,
    the seas and everything that moves in them.
³⁵ For God will save Zion
    and build up the cities of Judah,
and they shall dwell there and possess it;
³⁶ the offspring of his servants shall inherit it,
    and those who love his name shall dwell in it.

CHAPTER 70

O Jehovah, Do Not Delay

For the choir director. A Psalm of David; for a memorial.

70 Make haste, O God, to deliver me;
    Make haste to help me, O Jehovah!
² Let them be put to shame and confounded
    who seek my soul.
Let them be turned back and brought to dishonor
    who delight in my hurt.
³ Let them turn back because of their shame
    who say, “Aha, Aha!”

⁴ Let all who seek you
    rejoice and be glad in you.
May those who love your salvation
    say continually, “Let God be magnified.”
⁵ But I am poor and needy;
    hasten to me, O God!
You are my help and my deliverer;
    O Jehovah, do not delay.

CHAPTER 71

The Confidence God Will Answer

71 In you, O Jehovah, do I take refuge;
    let me never be put to shame.
² In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;
    incline your ear to me, and save me!
³ Be to me a rock of refuge,
    to which I may continually come;
you have given the command to save me,
    for you are my rock and my fortress.

⁴ Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,
    from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man.
⁵ For you, O Lord Jehovah, are my hope,
    I have trusted in you since my youth.
⁶ I have depended on you from birth;
    you are he who took me from my mother’s womb.
My praise is continually of you.

⁷ I have been like a miracle to many,
    but you are my strong refuge.
⁸ My mouth is filled with your praise,
    and with your glory all the day.
⁹ Do not cast me off in the time of old age;
    forsake me not when my strength fails.
¹⁰ For my enemies speak concerning me;
    those who watch for my soul take counsel together
¹¹ and say, “God has forsaken him;
    pursue and seize him,
    for there is no one to deliver him.”

¹² O God, be not far from me;
    O my God, make haste to help me!
¹³ May those who are resisting my soul be put to shame and perish;
    let them be covered with reproach and dishonor
    who seek my hurt.
¹⁴ But I will hope continually
    and will praise you yet more and more.
¹⁵ My mouth will tell of your righteousness,
    and of your salvation all the day,
    though they are too many for me to number.
¹⁶ I will come with the mighty acts of the Lord Jehovah;
    I will make mention of your righteousness, even of yours alone.

¹⁷ O God, from my youth you have taught me,
    and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.
¹⁸ So even when I am old and gray,
    O God, do not forsake me,
let me tell the next generation about your power,[186]
    your power to all those to come.
¹⁹ Your righteousness, O God,
    reaches the high heavens.
You who have done great things,
    O God, who is like you?
²⁰ You who have shown me[187] much distress and calamities
    will revive me again;
from the depths of the earth
    you will bring me up again.
²¹ You will increase my greatness
    and comfort me again.

²² I will also praise you with the harp
    because of your faithfulness, O my God;
I will sing praises to you with the lyre,
    O Holy One of Israel.
²³ My lips will shout for joy,
    when I sing praises to you;
    and my soul, which you have redeemed.
²⁴ My tongue also shall talk of your righteousness all the day long,
for they are put to shame, for they are humiliated
    who seek my harm.

CHAPTER 72

Give the King Your Justice

A Psalm of Solomon.

72 Give the king your judgments, O God,
    and your righteousness to the  king’s son.
² May he judge your people with righteousness,
    and your poor with justice!
³ The mountains shall bring peace to the people,
    and the hills, in righteousness.
⁴ Let him judge the lowly among the people,
    let him save the sons of the poor,
    and crush the oppressor.

⁵ They shall fear you[188] while the sun endures,
    and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.
⁶ May he come down like rain upon the mown grass,
    like showers that water the earth.
⁷ In his days may the righteous one[189] will flourish,[190]
    and peace abound, till the moon be no more.

⁸ He will rule from sea to sea,
    and from the River[191] to the ends of the earth.
⁹ The desert dwellers shall bow down before him,
    and his enemies lick the dust.
¹⁰ The kings of Tarshish and of the islands
    shall render tribute;
the kings of Sheba and Seba
    shall offer gifts.
¹¹ May all kings fall down before him,
    all nations serve him!

¹² For he delivers the needy when he calls,
    the poor and him who has no helper.
¹³ He has pity on the weak and the needy,
    and the lives of the needy he will save.
¹⁴ He will redeem their soul from oppression and violence,
    and precious is their blood in his sight.

¹⁵ May he live and be given the gold of Sheba.
May prayers be said for him continually,
    and may he be blessed all day long.
¹⁶ May there be abundance of grain on the earth;
    on the tops of the mountains it will overflow;
    his fruit will flourish as in Lebanon;
and may people blossom in the cities
    like the grass of the earth.
¹⁷ May his name endure forever,
    his fame continue as long as the sun.
And men shall be blessed in him,
    all nations shall call him happy.

¹⁸ Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Israel,
    who alone does wondrous things.
¹⁹ Blessed be his glorious name forever;
    may the whole earth be filled with his glory.
Amen and Amen.

²⁰ The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are ended.

CHAPTER 73

Book Three

Why Do the Wicked Prosper and the Righteous Go Empty-Handed?

A Psalm of Asaph.

73 Truly God is good to Israel,
    to those who are pure in heart.
² But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled,
    my steps had nearly slipped.
³ For I was envious of the arrogant
    when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

⁴ For there are no pains in their death;
    and their stomach is fat.[192]
⁵ They are not in trouble as other men;
    nor are they plagued like the rest of mankind.
⁶ Therefore pride is as a chain about their neck;
    violence covers them like a garment.
⁷ Their eye[193] has bulged from fatness;[194]
    they surpassed the imaginations of the heart.
⁸ They scoff and speak evil things;
    they arrogantly threaten oppression.
⁹ They set their mouths against the heavens,
    and their tongue walks about in the earth.
¹⁰ Therefore his people turn aside to them,
    and abundant waters are drunk by them.
¹¹ And they say, “How does God know?
    And is there knowledge in the Most High?”
¹² Look, these are the wicked;
    always at ease, they increase in riches.
¹³ Surely in vain have I kept my heart clean
    and washed my hands in innocence.
¹⁴ For all the day long I have been stricken
    and chastised every morning.
¹⁵ If I had said, “I will speak these things,”
    I would have betrayed the generation of your sons.

¹⁶ When I tried to understand it,
    it was troubling to me,
¹⁷ until I went into the sanctuary of God;
    then I discerned their end.

¹⁸ Truly you place them on slippery places;
    you make them fall to ruin.
¹⁹ How they are destroyed in a moment,
    swept away utterly by terrors!
²⁰ Like a dream when one awakes, O Jehovah,[195]
    when you rouse yourself, you despise their image.
²¹ When my soul was embittered,
    and in my kidneys[196] I felt stabbed,
²² I was brutish and ignorant;
    I was like a beast toward you.

²³ Nevertheless, I am continually with you;
    you have hold of my right hand.
²⁴ You guide me with your counsel,
    and afterward you will receive me to glory.
²⁵ Whom have I in heaven but you?
    And there is none on earth that I desire besides.
²⁶ My flesh and my heart may fail,
    but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

²⁷ Truly, those keeping far from you shall perish;
    you will silence everyone who unfaithfully leaves you.
²⁸ But for me it is good to be near God;
    I have made the Lord Jehovah my refuge,
    that I may tell of all your works.

CHAPTER 74

A Prayer for God to Rescue His People

A Maskil[197] of Asaph.

74 O God, why do you cast us off forever?
    Why does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture?
² Remember your congregation, which you have purchased of old,
    the tribe you redeemed as your inheritance.
    Remember Mount Zion, where you have dwelt.
³ Do lift up your steps to the perpetual ruins;
    the enemy has destroyed everything in the sanctuary!

⁴ Your adversaries have roared in the midst of your meeting place;
    they have set up their own signs as signs.
⁵ They were like men wielding axes
    against a thick forest.
⁶ And now all the carved work
    they break down with hatchet and hammers.
⁷ They set your sanctuary on fire;
    they profaned the dwelling place of your name,
    by casting it to the ground.
⁸ They said in their heart, “Let us completely subdue them.”
    they burned all the meeting places of God in the land.

⁹ We do not see our signs;
    there is no longer any prophet,
    and there is none among us who knows how long.
¹⁰ How long, O God, will the adversary taunt?
    Shall the enemy treat your name with disrespect forever?
¹¹ Why do you draw your hand back, even your right hand?
    Draw it out of your garment and destroy them.

¹² Yet God my King is from of old,
    working salvation in the midst of the earth.
¹³ You divided the sea by your strength;
    you broke the heads of the sea monsters on the waters.
¹⁴ You crushed the heads of Leviathan;[198]
    you gave him as food for the creatures of the wilderness.
¹⁵ You split the springs and the streams;
    you dried up ever-flowing streams.
¹⁶ Yours is the day, yours also the night;
    you have prepared the light and the sun.
¹⁷ You set all the boundaries of the earth;
    you have made summer and winter.

¹⁸ Remember this, O Jehovah, how the enemy taunts,
    and a foolish people disrespects your name.
¹⁹ Do not deliver the soul of your dove to the wild beasts;
    do not forget the life of your poor forever.

²⁰ Have regard for the covenant,
    for the dark places of the land are full of the habitations of violence.
²¹ Do not let the oppressed return ashamed;
    let the poor and needy praise your name.

²² Arise, O God, plead your own cause;
    remember how the foolish taunts you all day long.
²³ Forget not the voice of your adversaries,
    the uproar of those who rise against you, is ascending constantly.

CHAPTER 75

God Will Judge with Fairness

For the choir director; set to Al-tashheth. A Psalm of Asaph, a Song.

75 We give thanks to you, O God;
    we give thanks, for your name is near.
We recount your wondrous works.

² “When I set a time
    I judge with fairness.
³ When the earth and all its inhabitants are dissolved,
    it was I who set up its pillars. Selah
⁴ I said to the boastful, ‘Do not boast,’
    and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horn;
⁵ do not lift up your horn on high,
    or speak with an arrogant neck.’”

⁶ For not from the east or from the west
    and not from the desert comes lifting up,
⁷ but God is the Judge,
    he puts down one and lifts up another.
⁸ For there is a cup in the hand of Jehovah
    the wine is foaming and is fully mixed,
and he pours out from it,
    and all the wicked of the earth
    shall drink it, down to the dregs.

⁹ But I will declare[199] it forever;
    I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.
¹⁰ All the horns of the wicked I will cut off,
    but the horns of the righteous shall be lifted up.

CHAPTER 76

Who Can Stand Before God?

For the choir director; on stringed instruments. A Psalm of Asaph, a Song.

76 In Judah God is known;
    his name is great in Israel.
² In Salem also is his tabernacle,
    his dwelling place in Zion.
³ There he broke the flashing arrows,
    the shield, the sword, and the weapons of war. Selah

⁴ Glorious are you, more majestic
    than the mountains of prey.[200]
⁵ The stouthearted have been plundered;
    they slumbered into sleep;
all the men of war
    were unable to use their hands.
⁶ At your rebuke, O God of Jacob,
    both rider[201] and horse were cast into a dead sleep.

⁷ But you, you are to be feared!
    Who can stand before you
    when once your anger is awakened?
⁸ You caused judgment to be heard from heaven;
    the earth feared and was still,
⁹ when God arose to judgment,
    to save all the humble of the earth. Selah

¹⁰ Surely the wrath of man shall praise you;
    with the remnant of wrath you will clothe yourself.[202]
¹¹ Make your vows to Jehovah your God and perform them;
    let all around him bring gifts
    to him who is to be feared,
¹² who cuts off the spirit of princes,
    who is to be feared by the kings of the earth.

CHAPTER 77

In the Day of Trouble I Seek Jehovah

To the choirmaster: according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of Asaph.

77 I will cry to God[203] with my voice,
    to God I will cry out, and he will hear me.
² In the day of my trouble I seek Jehovah;[204]
    in the night my hand is stretched out without tiring;
    my soul refuses to be comforted.
³ I remember God, and am troubled;
    when I meditate, my spirit is overwhelmed. Selah

⁴ You hold my eyelids open;
    I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
⁵ I consider the days of old,
    the years long ago.
⁶ I call remember my song in the night;
    let me meditate in my heart.
    And my spirit made a diligent search:[205]
⁷ “Will Jehovah[206] cast off forever,
    and never again be favorable?
⁸ Has his loyal love forever ceased?
    Has his promises come to nothing for all time?
⁹ Has God forgotten to be gracious?
    Has he in anger shut up his compassion?” Selah

¹⁰ Then I said, “This is what pierces me,
    the changing of the right hand of the Most High.”

¹¹ I will remember the works of Jah;[207]
    yes, I will remember your wonders of old.
¹² I will meditate on all your work,
    and ponder on your deeds.
¹³ Your way, O God, is holy.
    What god is great like our God?
¹⁴ You are the God who works wonders;
    you have made known your strength among the peoples.
¹⁵ You with your arm redeemed your people,
    the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah

¹⁶ When the waters saw you, O God,
    when the waters saw you, they were afraid;
    indeed, the deep trembled.
¹⁷ The clouds poured out water;
    the skies gave forth thunder;
    your arrows flew here and there.
¹⁸ The sound of your thunder was in the whirlwind;
    your lightnings lit up the world;
    the earth trembled and shook.
¹⁹ Your way was in the sea,
    your path through many waters;
    yet your footprints were not known.
²⁰ You led your people like a flock
    by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

CHAPTER 78

Recounting the Mighty Acts of God and the Rebellion of the People

A Maskil[208] of Asaph.

78 Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;
    incline your ears to the words of my mouth!
² I will open my mouth in a parable;
    I will utter dark sayings from of old,
³ things that we have heard and known,
    that our fathers have told us.
⁴ We will not hide them from their sons,
    but tell to the coming generation
the glorious deeds of Jehovah, and his might,
    and his wondrous works that he has done.

⁵ He established a testimony in Jacob
    and appointed a law in Israel,
which he commanded our fathers
    to teach to their sons,
⁶ that the next generation might know them,
    the children yet  to be born,
and arise and tell them to their sons,
⁷ so that they should set their confidence in God
and not forget the works of God,
    but keep his commandments;
⁸ and not be like their fathers,
    a stubborn and rebellious generation,
a generation whose heart was not prepared,
    whose spirit was not faithful to God.

⁹ The sons of Ephraim, armed with the bow,
    turned back on the day of battle.
¹⁰ They did not keep the covenant of God,
    and refused to walk in his law.
¹¹ And they forgot what he had done
    and the wonders works that he had showed them.
¹² Marvelous things did he in the sight of their fathers
    in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.
¹³ He divided the sea and caused them to pass through,
    and made the waters stand up like a heap.
¹⁴ In the daytime he led them with a cloud,
    and all the night with a light of fire.
¹⁵ He split rocks in the wilderness
    and let them drink abundantly as if from deep waters.
¹⁶ He brought forth streams also from the rock
    and caused waters to run down like rivers.

¹⁷ Yet they continued to sin against him,
    rebelling against the Most High in the desert.
¹⁸ They tested God in their heart
    by asking for food for their soul.
¹⁹ They spoke against God, saying,
    “Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?
²⁰ Look, He struck the rock so that water gushed out
    and streams overflowed.
Can he also give bread
    or provide meat for his people?”

²¹ Therefore, Jehovah heard, he was full of wrath;
    a fire was kindled against Jacob;
    his anger rose against Israel,
²² because they did not believe in God
    and did not trust his saving salvation.
²³ Yet he commanded the skies above
    and opened the doors of heaven,
²⁴ and he rained down on them manna to eat
    and gave them food from heaven.
²⁵ Man did eat the bread of angels;
    he sent them food in abundance.
²⁶ He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens,
    and made a south wind blow by his power;
²⁷ he rained meat upon them like the dust,
    winged birds like the sand of the seas;
²⁸ he let them fall in the midst of their camp,
    all around their dwellings.
²⁹ And they ate and were well filled,
    for he gave them what they craved.
³⁰ But before they fully satisfied their craving,
    while the food was yet in their mouth,
³¹ the anger of God rose against them,
    and he put to death their strongest men[209]
    and brought down the young men of Israel.

³² In spite of all this, they still sinned;
    and did not believe in his wonderful works.
³³ So he brought their days to an end like a breath[210]
    and their years in terror.
³⁴ When he killed them, they sought him;
    they repented and sought God earnestly.
³⁵ They remembered that God was their rock,
    the Most High God their redeemer.
³⁶ But they flattered him with their mouths;
    they lied to him with their tongues.
³⁷ Their heart was not steadfast toward him;
    nor were they faithful to his covenant.
³⁸ Yet he, being compassionate,
    atoned for their iniquity
    and did not destroy them;
he turned away his anger often
    and did not stir up all his wrath.
³⁹ He remembered that they were but flesh,
    a wind that passes and comes not again.
⁴⁰ How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness
    and grieved him in the desert!
⁴¹ And they tested God again and again
    and pained the Holy One of Israel.
⁴² They did not remember his hand[211]
    the day that he redeemed them from the adversary,
⁴³ when he performed his signs in Egypt
    and his marvels in the field of Zoan.
⁴⁴ He turned their rivers to blood,
    so that they could not drink.
⁴⁵ He sent among them swarms of flies, which devoured them,
    and frogs, which destroyed them.
⁴⁶ And he gave their crop to the locusts
    and the fruit of their labor to the locust.
⁴⁷ He destroyed their vines with hail
    and their sycamore trees with frost.
⁴⁸ He gave over their cattle to the hail
    and their flocks to thunderbolts.
⁴⁹ He cast his burning anger on them,
    wrath, indignation, and distress,
    a company of angels bringing calamity.
⁵⁰ He made a path for his anger;
    he did not spare their soul from death,
    but gave their lives over to the plague.
⁵¹ He struck down every firstborn in Egypt,
    the first of their procreative power in the tents of Ham.
⁵² Then he led out his people like sheep
    and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
⁵³ He led them in safety, so that they did not fear,
    but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
⁵⁴ And he brought them to his holy land,
    to the mountain which his right hand had acquired.
⁵⁵ He drove out nations before them;
    he apportioned them for an inheritance
    and settled the tribes of Israel in their tents.

⁵⁶ Yet they tested and rebelled against the Most High God
    and did not keep his testimonies,
⁵⁷ but turned back and acted treacherously like their forefathers;
    they turned aside like a deceitful bow.
⁵⁸ For they provoked him to anger with their high places;
    they moved him to jealousy with their carved images.
⁵⁹ When God heard, he was filled with wrath,
    and greatly abhorred Israel;
⁶⁰ So that he abandoned the dwelling place at Shiloh,
    the tent which he had pitched among men,
⁶¹ and delivered his strength to captivity,
    his glory to the hand of the adversary.
⁶² He gave his people over to the sword
    and vented his wrath on his inheritance.
⁶³ Fire devoured their young men,
    and their virgins had no marriage song.
⁶⁴ Their priests fell by the sword,
    and their[212] widows made no lamentation.
⁶⁵ Then Jehovah awoke as from sleep,
    like a mighty man shouting because of wine.
⁶⁶ And he drove his adversaries back;
    he put them to everlasting disgrace.

⁶⁷ He rejected the tent of Joseph;
    he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim,
⁶⁸ but he chose the tribe of Judah,
    Mount Zion, which he loves.
⁶⁹ And he built his sanctuary like the heights,
    like the earth, which he has founded forever.
⁷⁰ He chose David his servant
    and took him from the sheepfolds;
⁷¹ from following the nursing ewes he brought him
    to shepherd Jacob his people,
    Israel his inheritance.
⁷² He shepherded them with integrity of heart
    and with skillful hands he led them.

CHAPTER 79

How Long, O Jehovah?

A Psalm of Asaph.

79 O God, the nations have come into your inheritance;
    they have defiled your holy temple;
    they have laid Jerusalem in ruins.
² They have given the dead bodies of your servants
    as food to the birds of the heavens,
    the flesh of your loyal ones to the wild beasts of the earth.
³ They have poured out their blood like water
    all around Jerusalem,
    and there was no one to bury them.
⁴ We have become an object of reproach to our neighbors,
    an object of derision and scorn to those around us.

⁵ How long, O Jehovah? Will you be angry forever?
    Will your jealousy burn like fire?
⁶ Pour out your wrath on the nations
    that do not know you,
and on the kingdoms
    that do not call upon your name!
⁷ For they have devoured Jacob
    and laid waste his habitation.

⁸ Do not remember against us the errors of our forefathers
    let your compassion come speedily to meet us,
    for we are brought very low.
⁹ Help us, O God of our salvation,
    for the glory of your name;
deliver us, and atone for our sins,
    for your name’s sake!
¹⁰ Why should the nations say,
    “Where is their God?”
Before our eyes may it become known among the nations
    that the shed blood of your servants has been avenged.

¹¹ Let the groaning of the prisoners come before you;
    according to the greatness of your arm,[213] preserve the sons of death.
¹² And return to our neighbors sevenfold into their lap
    their reproach with which they have reproached you, O Jehovah.[214]
¹³ But we your people, the sheep of your pasture,
    will give thanks to you forever;
    from generation to generation we shall declare your praise.

CHAPTER 80

Restore Us, O God of Armies

For the choir director; set to El Shoshannim; Eduth. A Psalm of Asaph.

80 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
    you who lead Joseph like a flock.
You who are enthroned over the cherubim, shine forth.
² Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh,
stir up your might
    and come to save us.

³ Restore us, O God;
    and cause your face to shine, that we may be saved.

⁴ O Jehovah God of armies,
    how long will you be angry against the prayer of your people?
⁵ You have fed them with the bread of tears
    and given them tears to drink in full measure.
⁶ You make us an object of strife to[215] our neighbors,
    and our enemies laugh among themselves.

⁷ Restore us, O God of armies;
    let your face shine, that we may be saved!

⁸ You brought a vine out of Egypt;
    you drove out the nations and planted it.
⁹ You cleared the ground before it;
    it took deep root and filled the land.
¹⁰ The mountains were covered with its shadow,
    the mighty cedars with its branches.
¹¹ It sent out its branches to the sea
    and its shoots to the River.[216]
¹² Why have you broken down its walls,
    so that all who pass by the way pluck its fruit?
¹³ The boar from the forest ravages it,
    And the wild beasts of the field feed on it.

¹⁴ Turn again, O God of armies.
    Look down from heaven, and see;
have regard for this vine,
¹⁵ the stock that your right hand planted,
    and for the son[217] whom you made strong for yourself.
¹⁶ It is burned with fire, it is cut down;
    they perish at the rebuke of your face.
¹⁷ But let your hand be on the man of your right hand,
    the son of man whom you have made strong for yourself.
¹⁸ Then we shall not turn back from you;
    Keep us alive, and we will call on your name.

¹⁹ Restore us, O Jehovah God of armies.
    Let your face shine, that we may be saved.

CHAPTER 81

A Call to Obey

For the choir director; on the Gittith.[218] A Psalm of Asaph.

81 Sing aloud to God our strength;
    shout joyfully to the God of Jacob.
² Raise a song, strike the tambourine,
    the delightful sounding lyre with the harp.
³ Blow the trumpet at the new moon,
    at the full moon, on our feast day.

⁴ For it is a statute for Israel,
    a regulation of the God of Jacob.
⁵ He established it as a testimony for Joseph
    when he went out over the land of Egypt.[219]
I heard a language that I did not know:
⁶ “I[220] relieved your shoulder of the burden;
    your hands were freed from the basket.
⁷ In your distress you called, and I rescued you;
    I answered you in the secret place of thunder;
    I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah
⁸ Hear, O my people, while I admonish you!
    O Israel, if you would but listen to me!
⁹ There shall be no strange god among you;
    you shall not bow down to a foreign god.
¹⁰ I am Jehovah your God,
    who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
    Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

¹¹ “But my people did not listen to my voice;
    Israel would not submit to me.
¹² So I sent them away in the stubbornness of their heart,
    that they might walk in their own counsels.
¹³ Oh, that my people would listen to me,
    that Israel would walk in my ways!
¹⁴ I would soon subdue their enemies
    and turn my hand against their adversaries.
¹⁵ Those who hate Jehovah pretend to obey him,
    and their fate would last forever.
¹⁶ But he would feed you with the finest of the wheat,
    and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

CHAPTER 82

Righteous Judgment Needed

A Psalm of Asaph.

82 God[221] takes his stand in the divine assembly;
    in the middle of the gods he judges:
² “How long will you judge unjustly
    and show partiality to the wicked? Selah
³ Judge lowly one and the fatherless boy;
    do justice to the afflicted and destitute.
⁴ Rescue the weak and the needy;
    deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”

⁵ They have not known, and they do not understand,
    they walk about in darkness;
    all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

⁶ I said, “You are gods,
    sons of the Most High, all of you;
⁷ nevertheless, you will die like men,
    and fall like any prince.”

⁸ Arise, O God, judge the earth;
    for you shall inherit all the nations.

CHAPTER 83

A Prayer for Divine Help

A Song, a Psalm of Asaph.

83 O God, do not keep silence;
    do not hold your peace or be still, O God.
² For look, your enemies make an uproar;
    and those who hate you have lifted up the head.
³ Against your people they make crafty plans;
    and they conspire against your concealed ones.[222]
⁴ They say, “Come, let us wipe them out as a nation;
    let the name of Israel be remembered no more!”
⁵ For they have conspired together with one mind;
    against you they make a covenant:
⁶ the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites,
    Moab and the Hagrites,
⁷ Gebal and Ammon and Amalek,
    Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;
⁸ Asshur[223] also has joined them;
    they are the strong arm of the sons of Lot.[224] Selah

⁹ Do to them as you did to Midian,
    as to Sisera and Jabin at the torrent of Kishon,
¹⁰ who were destroyed at En-dor,
    who became dung for the ground.
¹¹ Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb,
    all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,
¹² who said, “Let us take possession for ourselves
    of the pastures of God.”

¹³ O my God, make them like whirling dust,
    like chaff before the wind.
¹⁴ As fire burns the forest,
    as the flame sets the mountains ablaze,
¹⁵ so pursue them with your tempest
    and terrify them with your hurricane.
¹⁶ Fill their faces with shame,
    that they may seek your name, O Jehovah.
¹⁷ Let them be put to shame and dismayed forever;
    let them be disgraced and perish,
¹⁸ that they may know that you alone,
    whose name is the Jehovah,
    are the Most High over all the earth.

CHAPTER 84

My Soul Yearns for the Courts of Jehovah

For the choir director; on the Gittith.[225] A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

84 How lovely is your dwelling place,
    O Jehovah of armies![226]
² My soul longs, yes, faints
    for the courts of Jehovah;
my heart and flesh sing for joy
    to the living God.

³ Even the sparrow finds a home,
    and the swallow a nest for herself,
    where she may lay her young,
at your altars, O Jehovah of armies,[227]
    my King and my God.
⁴ Happy are those who dwell in your house,
    they continue to praise you. Selah

⁵ Happy are the men whose strength is in you,[228]
    in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
⁶ As they go through the Valley of Baca
    they make it[229] a place of springs;
    the early rain clothes it with blessings.
⁷ They go from strength to strength;
    every one of them appears before God in Zion.[230]

⁸ O Jehovah God of armies, hear my prayer;
    give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah
⁹ Look our shield, O God;
    look on the face of your anointed one.

¹⁰ For a day in your courts is better
    than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
    than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
¹¹ For Jehovah God is a sun and shield;
    Jehovah bestows favor and honor.
No good thing does he withhold
    from those who walk uprightly.
¹² O Jehovah of armies,[231]
    blessed is the one who trusts in you.

CHAPTER 85

Prayer for restoration

For the choir director. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

85 You have shown favor, O Jehovah, to your land;
    you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
² You forgave the error of your people;
    you covered all their sin. Selah
³ You withdrew all your wrath;
    you turned from your hot anger.

⁴ Restore us,[232] O God of our salvation,
    and cause your indignation toward us to cease.
⁵ Will you be angry with us forever?
    Will you prolong your anger to all generations?
⁶ Will you not revive us again,
    that your people may rejoice in you?
⁷ Show us your loyal love, O Jehovah,
    and grant us your salvation.

⁸ I will listen to what God Jehovah says,
    for he will speak peace to his people, to his faithful ones;
    but let them not turn back to folly.
⁹ Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him,
    that glory may dwell in our land.

¹⁰ Loyal love and faithfulness meet;
    righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
¹¹ Faithfulness will sprout from the earth,
    and righteousness will look down from the sky.
¹² Yes, Jehovah will give what is good,
    and our land will yield its increase.
¹³ Righteousness will go before him
    and make his footsteps a way.

CHAPTER 86

Great Is Your Loyal Love

A Prayer of David.

86 Incline your ear, O Jehovah, and answer me,
    for I am poor and needy.
² Preserve my soul, for I am godly;
    O you my God, save your servant who trusts in you.
³ Be gracious to me, O Jehovah,[233]
    for to you do I cry all day long.
⁴ Make the soul of your servant rejoice,
    for to you, O Jehovah,[234] do I lift up my soul.
⁵ For you, O Jehovah,[235] are good, and ready to forgive,
    and abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon you.
⁶ Give ear, O Jehovah, to my prayer;
    pay attention to my plea for grace.
⁷ In the day of my trouble I call upon you,
    for you answer me.

⁸ There is none like you among the gods, O Jehovah,
    nor are there any works like yours.
⁹ All the nations you have made shall come
    and worship before you, O Jehovah,[236]
    and shall glorify your name.
¹⁰ For you are great and do wondrous things;
    you alone are God.
¹¹ Teach me your way, O Jehovah,
    that I may walk in your truth;
    unite my heart to fear your name.
¹² I give thanks to you, O Jehovah[237] my God, with my whole heart,
    and I will glorify your name forever.
¹³ For great is your loyal love toward me;
    you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

¹⁴ O God, arrogant men have risen up against me;
    a band of ruthless men seeks my soul,
    and they do not set you before them.
¹⁵ But you, O Jehovah,[238] are a God merciful and gracious,
    slow to anger and abounding in loyal love and faithfulness.[239]
¹⁶ Turn to me and be gracious to me;
    give your strength to your servant,
    and save the son of your slave girl.
¹⁷ Show me a sign of your goodness,
    that those who hate me may see and be put to shame
    because you, Jehovah, have helped me and comforted me.

CHAPTER 87

The City of the True God, Zion

A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A Song.

87 His foundation is in the holy mountains.
² Jehovah loves the gates of Zion
    more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.
³ Glorious things of you are spoken,
    O city of God. Selah

⁴ I shall mention Rahab and Babylon[240] among those who know me;
    look, Philistia and Tyre, with Cush:[241]
    “This one was born there,” they say.
⁵ And of Zion it shall be said,
    “This one and that one were born in her”;
    for the Most High himself will establish her.
⁶ Jehovah will declare, when recording the peoples,
    “This one was born there.” Selah

⁷ Singers and dancers alike say,
    “All my springs are in you.”

CHAPTER 88

I Cry Out Day and Night Before You

A Song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. For the choir director; according to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil[242] of Heman the Ezrahite.

88 O Jehovah, God of my salvation;
    by day I cry out, and by night I come before you.
² Let my prayer come before you;
    incline your ear to my cry!

³ For my soul is full of troubles,
    and my life draws near to Sheol.
⁴ I am counted among those who go down to the pit;
    I am a man who has no strength,
⁵ like one left among the dead,
    like the slain that lie in the grave,
like those whom you remember no longer,
    for they are cut off from your hand.
⁶ You have put me in the lowest pit,
    in dark places, in the depths.
⁷ Your wrath lies heavy upon me,
    and you overwhelm me with all your waves. Selah

⁸ You have caused my acquaintances to shun me;
    you have made me something detestable to them.
I am shut in so that I cannot escape;
⁹ my eye is worn out because of my affliction.
Every day I call upon you, O Jehovah;
    I spread out my hands to you.
¹⁰ Will you perform wonders for the dead?
    Do those powerless in death[243] rise up to praise you? Selah
¹¹ Is your loyal love declared in the grave,
    or your faithfulness in the place of destruction?[244]
¹² Are your wonders known in the darkness,
    or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

¹³ But I, O Jehovah, cry to you;
    in the morning my prayer comes before you.
¹⁴ O Jehovah, why do you cast off my soul?
    Why do you hide your face from me?
¹⁵ I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up,
    I suffer your terrors; I am weak.
¹⁶ Your burning anger has swept over me;
    your terrors destroy me.
¹⁷ They surround me like waters all day long;
    they close in on me from all sides.
¹⁸ Loved one and friend you have put far from me;
    my acquaintances are in darkness.

CHAPTER 89

I Will Sing about Jehovah’s Loyal Love

A Maskil[245] of Ethan the Ezrahite.

89 I will sing of the loyal love of Jehovah, forever;
    with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.
² For I said, “Steadfast love will be built up forever;
    in the heavens you will establish your faithfulness.”
³ You have said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one;
    I have sworn to David my servant:
⁴ ‘I will establish your offspring forever,
    and build your throne to all generations.’” Selah

⁵ Let the heavens praise your wonders, O Jehovah,
    your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones!
⁶ For who in the skies can be compared to Jehovah?
    Who among the sons of the mighty is like Jehovah,
⁷ a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones,
    and awesome above all who are around him?
⁸ O Jehovah God of armies,
    who is mighty as you are, O Jah,[246]
    with your faithfulness all around you?
⁹ You rule over the raging of the sea;
    when its waves rise, you still them.
¹⁰ You yourself crushed Rahab like one who is slain;
    you scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.
¹¹ The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours;
    the world and all that fills it, you have founded them.
¹² The north and the south, you have created them;
    Tabor and Hermon joyously praise your name.
¹³ You have a mighty arm;
    strong is your hand, high your right hand.
¹⁴ Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
    loyal love and faithfulness go before you.
¹⁵ Blessed are the people who know the festal shout,
    who walk, Jehovah, in the light of your face.
¹⁶ In your name do they rejoice all the day
    and in your righteousness they are exalted.
¹⁷ For you are the glory of their strength;
    by your favor our horn is exalted.
¹⁸ For our shield belongs to Jehovah,
    our king to the Holy One of Israel.

¹⁹ Then you spoke in a vision to your loyal ones[247] and said:
    “I have granted strength to a mighty one;
    I have exalted a chosen one from among the people.
²⁰ I have found David, my servant;
    with my holy oil I have anointed him,
²¹ so that my hand shall be established with him;
    my arm also shall strengthen him.
²² The enemy shall not exact tribute from him;
    Nor will the son of wickedness afflict him.
²³ I will crush his adversaries before him
    and strike down those who hate him.
²⁴ My faithfulness and my loyal love shall be with him,
    and in my name shall his horn be exalted.
²⁵ I will set his hand on the sea
    and his right hand on the rivers.
²⁶ He shall cry to me, ‘You are my Father,
    my God, and the Rock of my salvation.’
²⁷ And I will make him the firstborn,
    the highest of the kings of the earth.
²⁸ My loyal love I will keep for him forever,
    and my covenant will be faithful[248] to him.
²⁹ I will establish his offspring forever
    and his throne as the days of the heavens.
³⁰ If his sons forsake my law
    and do not walk according to my judgments,
³¹ if they violate my statutes
    and do not keep my commandments,
³² then I will punish their transgression with the rod
    and their error with strokes,
³³ but I will not break off from him my loyal love
    or be false to my faithfulness.
³⁴ I will not violate my covenant
    or change the word that has gone forth from my lips.
³⁵ Once I have sworn by my holiness;
    I will not lie to David.
³⁶ His offspring shall endure forever,
    his throne as the sun before me.
³⁷ Like the moon it shall be established forever,
    as a faithful witness in the skies.” Selah

³⁸ But now you have cast off and rejected;
    you are full of wrath against your anointed.
³⁹ You have spurned the covenant with your servant;
    you have defiled his crown in the dust.
⁴⁰ You have broken down all his walls;
    you have laid his strongholds in ruins.
⁴¹ All who pass by have plundered him;
    he has become a reproach to his neighbors.
⁴² You have lifted up the right hand of his adversaries;
    you have made all his enemies rejoice.
⁴³ You have also turned back the edge of his sword,
    and have not made him stand in battle.
⁴⁴ You have made his splendor to cease
    and cast his throne to the ground.
⁴⁵ You have cut short the days of his youth;
    you have clothed him with shame. Selah

⁴⁶ How long, O Jehovah? Will you hide yourself forever?
    How long will your wrath burn like fire?
⁴⁷ Remember how short my time is!
    For what vanity you have created all the sons of men!
⁴⁸ What man can live and not see death?
    Who can deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah

⁴⁹ Jehovah,[249] where is your former loyal love,
    which you swore to David in your faithfulness?
⁵⁰ Remember, O Jehovah, how your servants[250] are reproached,
    and how I carry in my bosom[251] the insults of all the peoples,
⁵¹ how your enemies have reproached, O Jehovah,
    how they have reproached the footsteps of your anointed one.

⁵² Blessed be Jehovah forever!
Amen and Amen.

CHAPTER 90

Book Four

From Eternal God to Short-Lived Man

A Prayer of Moses, the man of God.

90 Jehovah,[252] you have been our dwelling place[253]
    in all generations.
² Before the mountains were brought forth,
    or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
    from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

³ You return man to dust
    and say, “Return, O sons of men!”
⁴ For a thousand years in your sight
    are like yesterday when it passes,
    or like a watch in the night.

⁵ You sweep them away as with a flood; they fall asleep,
    in the morning they are like grass that sprouts:
⁶ in the morning it blossoms and is renewed;
    in the evening it withers and dries up.

⁷ For we are consumed by your anger;
    by your wrath we are terrified.
⁸ You have placed our errors before you,
    our secret sins in the light of your face.

⁹ For all our days pass away under your wrath;
    we bring our years to an end like a sigh.
¹⁰ As for the days of our years,[254] within them are seventy years,
    or even by reason of strength, eighty years;
yet their pride[255] is but toil and trouble;
    for soon it is gone and we fly away.
¹¹ Who understands the power of your anger,
    and your wrath according to the fear of you?

¹² So teach us to number our days
    that we may get a heart of wisdom.
¹³ Return, O Jehovah! How long?
    Have pity on your servants!
¹⁴ Satisfy us in the morning with your loyal love,
    that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
¹⁵ Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
    and for as many years as we have seen evil.
¹⁶ Let your work appear to your servants,
    and your glorious power to their sons.
¹⁷ Let the favor of Jehovah[256] our God be upon us,
    and establish the work of our hands upon us;
    yes, establish the work of our hands!

CHAPTER 91

My Refuge and My Fortress

91 He who dwells in the hiding place[257] of the Most High
    will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
² I will say[258] to Jehovah,[259] “My refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.”

³ For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
    and from the deadly pestilence.
⁴ He will cover you with his pinions,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
⁵ You will not be afraid the terror of the night,
    nor the arrow that flies by day,
⁶ nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
    nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

⁷ A thousand may fall at your side,
    ten thousand at your right hand,
    but it will not come near you.
⁸ You will only look with your eyes
    and see the recompense of the wicked.

⁹ For thou, O Jehovah, art my refuge!
    the Most High, your dwelling place.
¹⁰ no evil shall be allowed to befall you,
    no plague come near your tent.

¹¹ For he will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you in all your ways.
¹² On their hands they will bear you up,
    lest you strike your foot against a stone.
¹³ You will tread on the cobra and the adder;
    the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.

¹⁴ “Because he has set his love on me, I will deliver him;
    I will protect him, because he knows my name.
¹⁵ He will call on me, and I will answer him;
    I will be with him in trouble;
    I will rescue him and honor him.
¹⁶ With long life I will satisfy him
    and show him my salvation.”

CHAPTER 92

Jehovah Exalted Forever

A Psalm, a Song for the Sabbath day.

92 It is good to give thanks to Jehovah,
    to sing praises to your name, O Most High;
² to declare your loyal love in the morning,
    and your faithfulness by night,
³ with the a ten-stringed instrument and a lute,
    to the melodious sound of the lyre.
⁴ For you, O Jehovah, have made me glad by your work;
    because of the works of your hands I shout joyfully.

⁵ How great are your works, O Jehovah!
    Your thoughts are very deep!
⁶ The stupid man does not know;
    the fool does not understand this:
⁷ when the wicked sprout like grass
    and all wrongdoers flourish,
it is that they shall be annihilated forever;
⁸ but you, O Jehovah, are on high forever.
⁹ For look, your enemies, O Jehovah,
    for look, your enemies shall perish;
    all evildoers shall be scattered.

¹⁰ But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox;
    you have poured over me fresh oil.
¹¹ My eyes will look in triumph on my enemies;[260]
    my ears have heard about the downfall of the evil men who attack me.

¹² The righteous flourish like the palm tree
    and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
¹³ They are planted in the house of Jehovah;
    they flourish in the courts of our God.
¹⁴ They still bear fruit in old age;
    they are ever full of sap and green,
¹⁵ to declare that Jehovah is upright;
    he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

CHAPTER 93

Jehovah Reigns

93[261] Jehovah reigns; he is clothed in majesty;
    Jehovah is clothed; with strength he has girded himself.
Yes, the world is established; it cannot be shaken.
² Your throne is established from of old;
    you are from everlasting.

³ The floods have lifted up, O Jehovah,
    the floods have lifted up their voice;
    the floods lift up their pounding waves.
⁴ Mightier than the thunders of many waters,
    mightier than the waves of the sea,
    Jehovah on high is mighty.

⁵ Your testimonies are very trustworthy;
    holiness befits your house,
    O Jehovah, forevermore.

CHAPTER 94

Jehovah Will Not Forsake His People

94 O Jehovah, God of vengeance,
    O God of vengeance, shine forth!
² Rise up, O judge of the earth;
    repay to the proud what they deserve.
³ O Jehovah, how long shall the wicked,
    how long shall the wicked exult?
⁴ They pour out words, they speak arrogantly;
    all the wrongdoers boast.
⁵ They crush your people, O Jehovah,
    and afflict your inheritance.
⁶ They kill the widow and the sojourner,
    and murder the fatherless boys;
⁷ and they say, “Jah does not see;
    the God of Jacob does not take notice.”

⁸ Understand this, you stupid ones.
    You foolish ones, when will you be wise?
⁹ He who planted the ear, does he not hear?
    He who formed the eye, does he not see?
¹⁰ He who disciplines the nations, does he not rebuke,
    he who teaches man knowledge?
¹¹ Jehovah knows the thoughts of man,
    that they are but a breath.

¹² Happy is the man whom you discipline, O Jah,[262]
    and whom you teach out of your law,
¹³ to give him rest from days of trouble,
    until a pit is dug for the wicked.
¹⁴ For Jehovah will not forsake his people;
    he will not abandon his inheritance;
¹⁵ for judgment will return to the righteous,
    and all the upright in heart will follow it.

¹⁶ Who will rise up for me against the wicked?
    Who stands up for me against the wrongdoers?
¹⁷ If Jehovah had not been my help,
    my soul would soon have dwelt in silence.
¹⁸ When I thought, “My foot is slipping,”
    your steadfast love, O Jehovah, held me up.
¹⁹ When disquieting thoughts are many,
    your consolations delight my soul.
²⁰ Can a throne of destruction be allied with you,
    those who form trouble in the name of the law?
²¹ They band together against the soul of the righteous
    and the blood of the innocent they declare guilty.
²² But Jehovah has become my stronghold,
    and my God the rock of my refuge.
²³ He will bring back on them their error
    and cut them off[263] for their wickedness;
    Jehovah our God will cut them off.

CHAPTER 95

True Worship and Obedience

95 Oh come, let us sing to Jehovah;
    let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
² Let us come into his face with thanksgiving;
    let us sing and shout in triumph to him.
³ For Jehovah is a great God,
    and a great King above all gods.
⁴ In his hand are the depths of the earth;
    the heights of the mountains are his also.
⁵ The sea is his, for he made it,
    and his hands formed the dry land.

⁶ Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
    let us kneel before Jehovah, our Maker!
⁷ For he is our God,
    and we are the people of his pasture,
    and the sheep of his hand.
Today, if you hear his voice,
⁸ do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah,
    as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,
⁹ When your forefathers tested me
    they tried me, though they had seen my works.
¹⁰ For forty years I loathed that generation and said,
    “They are a people who err in their heart,
    and they have not known my ways.”
¹¹ Therefore I swore in my wrath,
    “They shall not enter my rest.”

CHAPTER 96

Sing to Jehovah a New Song

96[264] Oh sing to Jehovah a new song;
    sing to Jehovah, all the earth!
² Sing to Jehovah, bless his name;
    tell of his salvation from day to day.
³ Declare his glory among the nations,
    his wonderful works among all the peoples!
⁴ For great is Jehovah, and greatly to be praised;
    he is to be feared above all gods.
⁵ For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
    but Jehovah made the heavens.
⁶ Splendor and majesty are before him;
    strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

⁷ Ascribe to Jehovah, O families of the peoples,
    ascribe to Jehovah glory and strength.
⁸ Ascribe to Jehovah the glory due his name;
    bring an offering and come into his courts.
⁹ Worship Jehovah in the splendor of holiness;
    tremble before him, all the earth.

¹⁰ Say among the nations, “Jehovah reigns.
    The world is established; it shall never be shaken;
    he will judge the peoples fairly.”

¹¹ Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
    let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
¹² let the field exult, and all that is in it.
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
¹³ before Jehovah, for he comes,
    for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness,
    and the peoples in his faithfulness.

CHAPTER 97

Jehovah Reigns

97 Jehovah reigns, let the earth rejoice;
    let the many islands be glad!
² Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;
    righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
³ Fire goes before him
    and burns up his adversaries all around.
⁴ His lightnings light up the world;
    the earth sees and trembles.
⁵ The mountains melt like wax before Jehovah,
    before Jehovah of all the earth.

⁶ The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
    and all the peoples see his glory.
⁷ All those serving carved images be put to shame,
    who boast about their worthless gods;
    bow down[265] to him, all you gods.

⁸ Zion heard this and was glad,
    and the daughters of Judah have rejoiced,
    because of your judgments, O Jehovah.
⁹ For you, O Jehovah, are most high over all the earth;
    you are exalted far above all gods.

¹⁰ O you who love Jehovah, hate evil.
    He preserves the souls of his loyal ones;
    he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
¹¹ Light is sown[266] for the righteous,
    and joy for the upright in heart.
¹² Rejoice in Jehovah, O you righteous,
    and give thanks to his holy name!

CHAPTER 98

Savior and Righteous Judge

A Psalm.

98 Oh sing to Jehovah a new song,
    for he has done wonderful things.
His right hand and his holy arm
    have brought about salvation.
² Jehovah has made known his salvation;
    he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
³ He has remembered his loyal love and faithfulness
    to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
    the salvation of our God.

⁴ Make a joyful noise to Jehovah, all the earth;
    be cheerful and shout joyfully and sing praises.
⁵ Sing praises to Jehovah with the lyre,
    with the lyre and the sound of melody.
⁶ With trumpets and the sound of the horn
    make a joyful noise before the King, Jehovah.

⁷ Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
    the world and those who dwell in it.
⁸ Let the rivers clap their hands;
    let the hills sing for joy together
⁹ before Jehovah, for he comes
    to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
    and the peoples with fairness.

CHAPTER 99

Jehovah Our God Is Holy

99 Jehovah reigns; let the peoples tremble!
    He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!
² Jehovah is great in Zion;
    he is exalted over all the peoples.
³ Let them praise your great and awesome name.
    Holy is he.
⁴ And with the strength of a king
    judgment he has loved;
you have executed justice
    and righteousness in Jacob.
⁵ Exalt Jehovah our God;
    worship at his footstool!
    Holy is he!

⁶ Moses and Aaron were among his priests,
    Samuel also was among those who called upon his name.
    They called to Jehovah, and he answered them.
⁷ He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud;
    they kept his testimonies
    and the statute that he gave them.

⁸ O Jehovah our God, you answered them;
    you were a forgiving God to them,
    but an avenger of their sinful actions.
⁹ Exalt Jehovah our God,
    and worship at his holy mountain;
    for Jehovah our God is holy!

CHAPTER 100

His Loyal Love Endures Forever

A Psalm for Thanksgiving.

100 Make a joyful noise to Jehovah, all the earth.
² Serve Jehovah with gladness.
    Come into his presence with singing.

³ Know that Jehovah, he is God.
    It is he who made us, and we are his;[267]
    we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
    and his courts with praise.
    Give thanks to him; bless his name.

⁵ For Jehovah is good;
    his loyal love endures forever,
    and his faithfulness to all generations.

CHAPTER 101

I Will Walk with Integrity

A Psalm of David.

101 I will sing of loyal love and justice;
    to you, O Jehovah, I will make music.
² I will give heed to the blameless way.
    When will you come to me?
I will walk in the integrity of my heart
    within my house;
³ I will not set before my eyes
    anything that is worthless.
I hate the work of those who fall away;
    it will not cling to me.
⁴ A perverse heart shall depart from me;
    I will not know evil.

⁵ Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret
    I will destroy.
Anyone of haughty eyes and of arrogant heart
    I will not endure.

⁶ My eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land,
    that they may dwell with me;
the one walking in blamelessness
    shall minister to me.

⁷ He who practices deceit
    shall not dwell in my house;
He who speaks lies
    shall continue before my eyes.

⁸ Morning by morning I will destroy
    all the wicked in the land,
cutting off[268] all the wrongdoers
    from the city of Jehovah.

CHAPTER 102

Do Not Hide Your Face from Me

A Prayer of the afflicted when he is weak and pours out his complaint before Jehovah.

102 Hear my prayer, O Jehovah;
let my cry come to you.
² Do not hide your face from me
    in the day of my distress.
Incline your ear to me;
    in the day when I call answer me quickly.

³ For my days vanish like smoke,
    and my bones burn like a furnace.
⁴ My heart is struck down like grass and has withered;
    I forget to eat my bread.
⁵ Because of my loud groaning
    my bones cling to my flesh.
⁶ I am like the pelican of the wilderness,
    like a little owl among the ruins;
⁷ I lie awake;
    I am like a solitary bird on a roof.
⁸ My enemies reproach me all day long;
    those who deride me use my name for a curse.
⁹ For I have eaten ashes like bread
    and mingled my drink with weeping,
¹⁰ because of your indignation and wrath;
    for you have taken me up and thrown me away.
¹¹ My days are like a lengthening shadow;
    I wither away like grass.

¹² But you remain forever, O Jehovah;
    and your name remains for all generations.
¹³ You will arise and have compassion on Zion;
    for it is the time to favor her;
    the appointed time has come.
¹⁴ For your servants find pleasure in her stones
    and have pity on her dust.
¹⁵ Nations will fear the name of Jehovah,
    and all the kings of the earth your glory.
¹⁶ For Jehovah builds up Zion;
    he appears in his glory;
¹⁷ he regards the prayer of the destitute
    and does not despise their prayer.

¹⁸ Let this be recorded for a generation to come,
    so that a people yet to be created may praise Jah:[269]
¹⁹ that he looked down from his holy height;
    from heaven Jehovah looked at the earth,
²⁰ to hear the groans of the prisoners,
    to set free those who were doomed to die,
²¹ that they may declare in Zion the name of Jehovah,
    and his praise in Jerusalem,
²² when the peoples are gathered together,
    and kingdoms, to serve Jehovah.

²³ He has weakened my strength in the way;
    he has shortened my days.
²⁴ I say, “O my God,
    “do not take me away in the midst of my days,
your years are throughout all generations.

²⁵ Of old you laid the foundation of the earth,
    and the heavens are the work of your hands.
²⁶ They will perish, but you will endure;
    they will all wear out like a garment.
You will change them like clothing, and they will pass away,
²⁷ but you are the same, and your years will never end.
²⁸ The sons of your servants shall dwell secure;
    their offspring shall be established before you.”

CHAPTER 103

Praise Jehovah, O My Soul

A Psalm of David.

103 Praise Jehovah, O my soul,
    and all that is within me,
    bless his holy name!
² Praise Jehovah, O my soul,
    and forget not all his benefits,
³ who forgives all your errors,
    who heals all your diseases,
⁴ who redeems your life from the pit,[270]
    who crowns you with lovingkindness and mercy,
⁵ who satisfies your life with good
    so that your youth is renewed like the eagles.

⁶ Jehovah performs righteous deeds
    and judgments for all who are oppressed.
⁷ He made known his ways to Moses,
    his acts to the sons of Israel.
⁸ Jehovah is compassionate and gracious,
    slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.
⁹ He will not always find fault,
    nor will he keep his anger forever.
¹⁰ He does not deal with us according to our sins,
    nor repaid us according to our errors.[271]
¹¹ For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    So great is his lovingkindness toward those who fear him.
¹² As far as the east is from the west,
    so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
¹³ As a father has compassion on his children,
    so Jehovah has compassion on those who fear him.
¹⁴ For he himself knows our formation;
    he remembers that we are dust.

¹⁵ As for man, his days are like grass;
    as a flower of the field, so he flourishes;
¹⁶ for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
    and its place knows it no more.
¹⁷ But the loyal love of Jehovah is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,
    and his righteousness to the sons of sons,
¹⁸ to those who keep his covenant
    and remember his precepts, so as to do them.
¹⁹ Jehovah has established his throne in the heavens,
    and his kingdom rules over all.

²⁰ Praise Jehovah, O you his angels,
    mighty in power who do his word,
    obeying the voice of his word.
²¹ Praise Jehovah, all his hosts,
    his ministers, who do his will.
²² Praise Jehovah, all his works,
    in all places of his dominion.
Praise Jehovah, O my soul!

CHAPTER 104

O Jehovah My God, You Are Very Great

104 Praise Jehovah, O my soul!
    O Jehovah my God, you are very great!
You are clothed with splendor and majesty,
² covering yourself with light as with a garment,
    stretching out the heavens like a tent curtain.
³ He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters;
he makes the clouds his chariot;
    he rides on the wings of the wind;
⁴ he makes his messengers winds,
    his ministers a flaming fire.

⁵ He established the earth on its foundations,
    So that it will not totter forever and ever.
⁶ You covered it with the deep as with a garment;
    the waters stood above the mountains.
⁷ At your rebuke they fled;
    at the sound of your thunder they hurried away.
⁸ The mountains rose, the valleys sank down
    to the place that you established for them.
⁹ You set a boundary that they may not pass,
    so that they should never again cover the earth.

¹⁰ He sends forth springs in the valleys;
    they flow between the mountains;
¹¹ they give drink to every beast of the field;
    the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
¹² Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell;
    they sing among the branches.
¹³ He waters the mountains from his upper chambers;
    the earth is satisfied with the fruit of his work.

¹⁴ He causes the grass to grow for the livestock
    and vegetation for the labor of man,
that he may bring forth food from the earth
¹⁵ and wine to gladden the heart of man,
oil to make his face shine
    and bread to strengthen man’s heart.

¹⁶ The trees of Jehovah drink their fill,
    the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
¹⁷ In them the birds build their nests;
    the stork, the fir-trees are her home.
¹⁸ The high mountains are for the wild goats;
    the rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers.

¹⁹ He made the moon for the seasons;
    the sun knows where it sets.
²⁰ You make darkness, and it is night,
    when all the beasts of the forest creep about.
²¹ The young lions roar for their prey,
    seeking their food from God.
²² When the sun rises, they withdraw
    and lie down in their dens.
²³ Man goes out to his work
    and to his labor until the evening.

²⁴ O Jehovah, how manifold are your works.
    In wisdom have you made them all;
    the earth is full of your creatures.
²⁵ Here is the sea, great and wide,
    which swarms with creatures innumerable,
    living things both small and great.
²⁶ There go the ships,
    and Leviathan,[272] which you formed to play in it.

²⁷ These all wait for you,
    to give them their food in due season.
²⁸ When you give it to them, they gather it up;
    when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.
²⁹ You hide your face, they are disturbed;
    you take away their spirit,[273] they die
    and return to their dust.
³⁰ When you send forth your Spirit,[274] they are created,
    and you renew the face of the ground.

³¹ May the glory of Jehovah endure forever;
    may Jehovah rejoice in his works,
³² who looks on the earth and it trembles,
    who touches the mountains and they smoke.
³³ I will sing to Jehovah as long as I live;
    I will sing praise to my God while I have being.
³⁴ May my meditation be pleasing to him,
    for I rejoice in Jehovah.
³⁵ Let sinners be consumed from the earth,
    and let the wicked be no more!
Praise Jehovah, O my soul!
Praise Jah![275]

CHAPTER 105

The People to Hope for a Deliverance

105 Oh give thanks to Jehovah; call upon his name;
    make known his deeds among the peoples!
² Sing to him, sing praises to him;
    tell of all his wonderful works.
³ Glory in his holy name;
    let the hearts of those who seek Jehovah rejoice.
⁴ Seek Jehovah and his strength;
    seek his face continually.
⁵ Remember the wondrous works that he has done,
    his miracles and the judgments he uttered,
⁶ O offspring of Abraham, his servant,
    sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!

⁷ He is Jehovah our God;
    his judgments are in all the earth.
⁸ He remembers his covenant forever,
    the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations,
⁹ the covenant that he made with Abraham,
    the oath he swore to Isaac,
¹⁰ which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute,
    to Israel as an everlasting covenant,
¹¹ saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan
    as your portion for an inheritance.”

¹² When they[276] were few in number,
    yes, very few, and they were foreigners in it,
¹³ And they wandered from nation to nation,
    from one kingdom to another people,
¹⁴ he allowed no man to oppress them;
    he rebuked kings on their account,
¹⁵ “Do not touch my anointed ones,
    and my prophets do no harm.”

¹⁶ And he called for a famine upon the land;
    he broke the whole staff of bread,
¹⁷ He sent ahead of them a man,
    Who was sold to be a slave, Joseph.
¹⁸ With fetters they afflicted his feet;
    his soul came into irons;[277]
¹⁹ until the time that his word came to pass,
    the word of Jehovah tested him.
²⁰ The king sent and released him;
    the ruler of the peoples set him free;
²¹ he made him lord of his house
    and ruler of all his possessions,
²² to bind his princes at his pleasure
    and to teach his elders wisdom.

²³ Then Israel came to Egypt;
    Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.
²⁴ And Jehovah made his people very fruitful
    and made them stronger than their foes.
²⁵ He turned their hearts to hate his people,
    to deal craftily with his servants.

²⁶ He sent his servant Moses,
    and Aaron, whom he had chosen.
²⁷ They[278] performed his signs among them
    and miracles in the land of Ham.
²⁸ He sent darkness and the land became dark;
    they did not rebel against his words.
²⁹ He turned their waters into blood
    and caused their fish to die.
³⁰ Their land swarmed with frogs,
    even in the chambers of their kings.
³¹ He spoke, and there came swarms of flies,
    and gnats in all their territories.
³² He gave them hail for rain,
    and flaming fire in their land.
³³ He struck down their vines and fig trees,
    and shattered the trees of their territory.
³⁴ He spoke, and the locusts came,
    young locusts without number,
³⁵ which devoured all the vegetation in the land
    and devoured the produce of the ground.
³⁶ He struck down all the firstborn in their land,
    the firstfruits of all their strength.

³⁷ Then he brought out Israel with silver and gold,
    and there was none among his tribes who stumbled.
³⁸ Egypt was glad when they departed,
    for dread of them had fallen upon them.

³⁹ He spread a cloud for a covering,
    and fire to give light by night.
⁴⁰ They[279] asked, and he brought quail,
    and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.
⁴¹ He opened the rock, and water gushed out;
    it ran in the dry places like a river.
⁴² For he remembered his holy word,
    and Abraham, his servant.

⁴³ So he brought his people out with joy,
    his chosen ones with singing.
⁴⁴ And he gave them the lands of the nations,
    and they took possession of the fruit of the peoples’ labor,
⁴⁵ that they might keep his statutes
    and observe his laws.
Praise Jah![280]

CHAPTER 106

God’s People to Look for Deliverance

106 Praise Jah![281]
Oh give thanks to Jehovah, for he is good,
    for his loyal love endures forever.
² Who can declare Jehovah’s mighty acts,
    Or proclaim all his praiseworthy deeds?
³ Happy are those who act with justice,
    he who does[282] righteousness at all times.

⁴ Remember me, O Jehovah, when you show favor to your people;
    look after me with your acts of salvation,
⁵ that I may see the prosperity of Your chosen ones,
    that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation,
    that I may glory with your inheritance.

⁶ We have sinned like our forefathers;
    We have done wrong; we have acted wickedly.
⁷ Our forefathers, when they were in Egypt,
    did not grasp the meaning of your wondrous works;
they did not remember your abundant loyal love,
    but rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea.
⁸ Yet he saved them for his name’s sake,
    that he might make known his mighty power.
⁹ He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up,
    and he led them through the deep as through a desert.[283]
¹⁰ So he saved them from the hand of the one who hated them
    and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.
¹¹ And the waters covered their adversaries;
    not one of them was left.
¹² Then they believed his words;
    they sang his praise.

¹³ They soon forgot his works;
    they did not wait for his counsel.
¹⁴ But gave way to selfish desires in the wilderness,
    and tempted God in the desert;
¹⁵ he gave them what they requested,
    but sent a wasting disease among them.

¹⁶ When men in the camp were envious of Moses
    and Aaron, the holy one of Jehovah,
¹⁷ the earth opened and swallowed up Dathan,
    and covered the company of Abiram.
¹⁸ Fire also burned in their assembly;
    the flame burned up the wicked.

¹⁹ They made a calf in Horeb
    and bowed down to a metal image.
²⁰ So they exchanged my glory[284]
    for the image of an ox that eats grass.
²¹ They forgot God, their Savior,
    who had done great things in Egypt,
²² wondrous works in the land of Ham,
    and awesome deeds by the Red Sea.
²³ Therefore he said he would destroy them,
    had not Moses, his chosen one,
stood in the breach before him,
    to turn away his wrath from destroying them.

²⁴ Then they despised the pleasant land,
    and did not believe his word.
²⁵ They murmured in their tents,
    and did not listen the voice of Jehovah.
²⁶ Therefore he swore to them
    that he would make them fall in the wilderness,
²⁷ and he would make their offspring fall among the nations,
    scattering them among the lands.

²⁸ They joined themselves also to Baal-peor,
    and ate sacrifices offered to the dead;
²⁹ they provoked Jehovah to anger with their deeds,
    and a plague broke out among them.
³⁰ Then Phinehas stood up and intervened,
    and the plague was stayed.
³¹ And it was counted to him as righteousness
    from generation to generation forever.

³² They angered him at the waters of Meribah,
    and it went ill with Moses on their account,
³³ because they were rebellious against his spirit,
    and he spoke rashly with his lips.

³⁴ They did not destroy the peoples,
    as Jehovah commanded them,
³⁵ but they mingled with the nations
    and learned their works.
³⁶ They served their idols,
    which became a snare to them.
³⁷ They sacrificed their sons
    and their daughters to the demons;
³⁸ and they poured out innocent blood,
    the blood of their sons and daughters,
whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan,
    and the land was polluted with blood.
³⁹ Thus they became unclean by their acts,
    and committed spiritual adultery[285] by their deeds.

⁴⁰ Then the anger of Jehovah was kindled against his people,
    and he abhorred his inheritance;
⁴¹ he gave them into the hand of the nations,
    and those who hated them ruled over them.
⁴² Their enemies oppressed them,
    and they were brought into subjection under their power.
⁴³ Many times he delivered them,
    but they were rebellious in their counsel[286]
    and were brought low in their error.

⁴⁴ Nevertheless, he[287] looked upon their distress,
    when he heard their cry.
⁴⁵ For their sake he remembered his covenant,
    and he would feel regret,[288] moved by his “abundant loyal love.
⁴⁶ He caused them to be pitied
    by all those who held them captive.

⁴⁷ Save us, O Jehovah our God,
    and gather us from among the nations,
that we may give thanks to your holy name
    and glory in your praise.

⁴⁸ May Jehovah, the God of Israel, be praised,
    from everlasting to everlasting!
And let all the people say, “Amen!”
    Praise Jah![289]

CHAPTER 107

Book Five

Thanks to God for His Wonderful Works

107 Oh give thanks to Jehovah, for he is good,
    for his loyal love endures forever!
² Let the redeemed of Jehovah say so,
    whom he has redeemed from the hand of the adversary
³ and gathered from the lands,
    from the east and from the west,
    from the north and from the south.

⁴ They wandered in the wilderness in a desert region,
    finding no way to a city where they could dwell;
⁵ hungry and thirsty,
    their soul fainted within them.
⁶ Then they cried to Jehovah in their trouble,
    and he delivered them from their distress.
⁷ He led them by a straight way
    till they reached a city where they could dwell.
⁸ Let them thank Jehovah for his loyal love,
    for his wonderful works to the sons of men!
⁹ For he satisfies the longing soul,
    and the hungry soul he fills with good things.

¹⁰ Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death,
    prisoners in affliction and in irons,
¹¹ because they had rebelled against the words of God,
    and spurned the counsel of the Most High.
¹² So he humbled their hearts through hardship;
    they fell down, with none to help.
¹³ Then they cried to Jehovah in their trouble,
    and he delivered them from their distress.
¹⁴ He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,
    and broke their bands apart.
¹⁵ Let them thank Jehovah for his loyal love,
    for his wonderful works to the sons of men!
¹⁶ For he shatters the gates of copper
    and  cut through the bars of iron.

¹⁷ Fools because of their transgression,
    and because of their errors suffered affliction.
¹⁸ Their soul abhorred all food,
    and they drew near to the gates of death.
¹⁹ Then they cried to Jehovah in their trouble,
    and he delivered them from their distress.
²⁰ He sent out his word and healed them,
    and delivered them from their destruction.
²¹ Let them thank Jehovah for his loyal love,
    for his wonderful works to the sons of men!
²² And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving,
    and declare his works with a joyful cry.

²³ Those who go down to the sea in ships,
    doing business on the great waters;
²⁴ they have seen the works of Jehovah,
    his wonderful works in the deep.
²⁵ For he commanded and raised the stormy wind,
    which lifted up the waves of the sea.
²⁶ They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths;
    their soul melts away because of their calamity;
²⁷ they reeled and staggered like drunken men
    and were at their wits’ end.
²⁸ Then they cried to Jehovah in their trouble,
    and he delivered them from their distress.
²⁹ He made the storm be still,
    and the waves of the sea[290] were hushed.
³⁰ Then they were glad because they were quiet,
    and he brought them to their desired haven.
³¹ Let them thank Jehovah for his loyal love,
    for his wonderful works to the sons of men!
³² Let them extol him in the congregation of the people,
    and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

³³ He turns rivers into a wilderness,
    springs of water into thirsty ground,
³⁴ a fruitful land into a salty wasteland,
    because of the wickedness of those dwelling in it.
³⁵ He turns a desert into pools of water,
    a parched land into springs of water.
³⁶ And there he lets the hungry dwell,
    and they establish a city to inhabit;
³⁷ they sow fields and plant vineyards
    and get a fruitful harvest.
³⁸ By his blessing they multiply greatly,
    and he does not let their livestock decrease.

³⁹ When they become few and brought low
    through oppression, calamity, and grief,
⁴⁰ he pours contempt on princes
    and makes them wander in trackless wasteland;
⁴¹ but he puts on high[291] the poor from affliction
    and makes their families like flocks.
⁴² The upright see it and are glad,
    and all injustice shuts its mouth.

⁴³ Whoever is wise, let him observe these things;
    let them consider the loyal love of Jehovah.

CHAPTER 108

Praising Jehovah for Victory over Enemies

A Song, a Psalm of David.

108 My heart is steadfast, O God!
    I will sing praises also with my soul.
² Awake, O harp and lyre!
    I will awaken the dawn!
³ I will give thanks to you, O Jehovah, among the peoples;
    I will sing praises to you among the nations.
⁴ For your loyal love is great above the heavens;
    and your faithfulness, up to the skies.

⁵ Be exalted, O God, above the heavens.
    And let your glory be over all the earth.
⁶ So that your beloved ones may be rescued,
    give salvation by your right hand and answer me.

⁷ God has promised in his holiness:
    “I will exult, I will divide up Shechem
    and measure off the Valley of Succoth.
⁸ Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine;
    Ephraim is my stronghold,
    Judah my scepter.
⁹ Moab is my washbasin;
    upon Edom I cast my shoe;
    over Philistia I shout in triumph.”

¹⁰ Who will bring me to the fortified city?
    Who will lead me to Edom?
¹¹ Have you not rejected us, O God?
    You do not go out, O God, with our armies.
¹² Give us help against the enemy,
    for salvation by man is worthless.
¹³ Through God we shall do valiantly;
    it is he who will tread down our adversaries.

CHAPTER 109

Help Me, O Jehovah My God

For the music director. A Psalm of David.

109 O God whom I praise, do not remain silent.
² For the wicked and the deceitful open their mouths against me,
    they speak against me with lying tongues.
³ They surround me with hateful words,
    and attack me without cause.
⁴ In return for my love they accuse me,
    but I give myself to prayer.
⁵ So they reward me evil for good,
    and hatred for my love.

⁶ Appoint a wicked man over him;
    and let an accuser stand at his right hand.
⁷ When he is judged, may he be found guilty;
    let his prayer be counted as sin.
⁸ May his days be few;
    may another take his office!
⁹ May his son be fatherless
    and his wife a widow.
¹⁰ May his sons wander about and beg,
    searching for food from their ruined homes.
¹¹ May the creditor seize all that he has;
    may strangers plunder the fruits of his labor.
¹² Let there be none to extend kindness to him,
    nor any to pity his fatherless boys.
¹³ May his posterity be cut off;
    may his name be blotted out within a generation.
¹⁴ May the error of his forefathers be remembered by Jehovah,
    and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out.
¹⁵ Let them be before Jehovah continually,
    that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth.

¹⁶ For he did not remember to show kindness,
    but pursued the oppressed and poor
    and the brokenhearted, to put them to death.
¹⁷ He also loved cursing, so it came to him.
    He did not delight in blessing; so it was far from him.
¹⁸ He clothed himself with cursing as his garment;
    and it entered his body like water,
    like oil into his bones.
¹⁹ May it be like a garment with which he wraps himself,
    like a belt he always wears.
²⁰ Let this be the reward of my accusers from Jehovah,
    of those who speak evil against my soul.

²¹ But you, O Jehovah my Lord,
    deal on my behalf for the sake of your name;
    because your loyal love is good, deliver me.
²² For I am poor and needy,
    and my heart is wounded within me.
²³ I am gone like a shadow when it declines;
    I am shaken off like a locust.
²⁴ My knees are weak through fasting;
    my flesh has grown lean, without fatness.[292]
²⁵ I have become an object of ridicule to them;
    when they see me, they wag their heads.

²⁶ Help me, O Jehovah my God!
    Save me according to your loyal love.
²⁷ Let them know that this is your hand;
    you, O Jehovah, have done it.
²⁸ Let them curse, but you bless.
    When they arise, they will be put to shame, but your servant will rejoice.
²⁹ May my accusers be clothed with dishonor;
    and may they cover themselves with their own shame as with a robe.

³⁰ With my mouth I will give great thanks to Jehovah;
    I will praise him in the midst of many people.
³¹ For he stands at the right hand of the needy,
    to save him from those who judge his soul.

CHAPTER 110

Sit at My Right Hand

A Psalm of David.

110 Jehovah says to my Lord:
    “Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”

² Jehovah sends forth from Zion
    your mighty scepter.
    Rule in the midst of your enemies.
³ Your people will offer themselves willingly
    on the day of your power,
    in holy splendor;
from the womb of the dawn,
    you will have the dew of your youth.
⁴ Jehovah has sworn
    and will not change his mind,
“You are a priest forever
    according to the manner of Melchizedek.”

⁵ Jehovah[293] is at your right hand;
    he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath.
⁶ He will judge among the nations,
    filling them with corpses;
he will crush leaders
    of the entire earth.
⁷ He will drink from the brook by the road;
    therefore he will lift up his head.[294]

CHAPTER 111

Great Are Jehovah’s Works

111 Praise Jah![295]
I will give thanks to Jehovah with my whole heart,
    in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
² Great are the works of Jehovah,
    studied by all who delight in them.
³ Full of splendor and majesty is his work,
    and his righteousness endures forever.
⁴ He has caused his wonderful works to be remembered;
    Jehovah is gracious and merciful.
⁵ He gives food for those who fear him;
    he remembers his covenant forever.
⁶ He has shown his people the power of his works,
    in giving them the inheritance of the nations.
⁷ The works of his hands are truth and justice;
    all his precepts are trustworthy;
⁸ they are established forever and ever,
    to be performed in truth and righteousness.
⁹ He sent redemption to his people;
    he has commanded his covenant forever.
    Holy and awesome is his name.
¹⁰ The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom;
    all who do them have a good understanding.
    His praise endures forever.

CHAPTER 112

The Righteous Will Never Be Moved

112 Praise Jah![296]
Happy is the man who fears Jehovah,
    who greatly delights in his commandments!
² His offspring will be mighty in the land;
    the generation of the upright will be blessed.
³ Wealth and riches are in his house,
    and his righteousness endures forever.
⁴ Light shines in the darkness for the upright;
    he is gracious, merciful, and righteous.
⁵ It is well with the man who deals generously and lends;
    he will maintain his cause in judgment.
⁶ For he will never be shaken;
    the righteous will be remembered forever.
⁷ He will not fear bad news;
    his heart is firm, trusting in Jehovah.
⁸ His heart is steady; he will not be afraid,
    until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.
⁹ He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor;
    his righteousness endures forever;
    his horn is exalted with glory.
¹⁰ The wicked man sees it and is angry;
    he gnashes his teeth and melts away;
    the desire of the wicked will perish!

CHAPTER 113

Who Is like Jehovah Our God?

113 Praise Jah!
Praise, O servants of Jehovah,
    praise the name of Jehovah!

² Blessed be the name of Jehovah
    from this time forth and forevermore.
³ From the rising of the sun to its setting,
    the name of Jehovah is to be praised.

⁴ Jehovah is high above all nations,
    and his glory above the heavens.
⁵ Who is like Jehovah our God,
    who is enthroned on high,
⁶ who looks far below
    on the heavens and the earth?
⁷ He raises the poor from the dust
    and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
⁸ to make them sit with princes,
    with the princes of his people.
⁹ He gives the barren woman a home,
    making her the joyous mother of children.
Praise Jehovah!

CHAPTER 114

Israel’s Deliverance out of Egypt

114 When Israel went out from Egypt,
    the house of Jacob from a people of strange language,
² Judah became his sanctuary,
    Israel his dominion.

³ The sea looked and fled;
    Jordan turned back.
⁴ The mountains skipped like rams,
    the hills like lambs.

⁵ What ails you, O sea, that you flee?
    O Jordan, that you turn back?
⁶ O mountains, that you skip like rams?
    O hills, like lambs?

⁷ Tremble, O earth, at the presence of Jehovah,
    at the presence of the God of Jacob,
⁸ who turns the rock into a pool of water,
    the flint into a fountain of water.

CHAPTER 115

To Your Name Give Glory

115[297] Not to us, O Jehovah, not to us, but to your name give glory,
    for the sake of your loyal love and your faithfulness!

² Why should the nations say,
    “Where is their God?”
³ But our God is in the heavens;
    he does whatever he pleases.

⁴ Their idols are silver and gold,
    the work of the hands of man.
⁵ They have mouths, but cannot speak;
    eyes, but cannot see.
⁶ They have ears, but cannot hear;
    noses, but cannot smell.
⁷ Hands they have, but they cannot feel;
    feet, but they cannot walk;
    and they make no sound with their throat.
⁸ Those who make them become like them;
    as will all those who trust in them.

⁹ O Israel,[298] trust in Jehovah.
    He is their help and their shield.
¹⁰ O house of Aaron, trust in Jehovah
    He is their help and their shield.
¹¹ You who fear Jehovah, trust in Jehovah
    He is their help and their shield.

¹² Jehovah has been mindful of us; he will bless us;
    he will bless the house of Israel;
    he will bless the house of Aaron;
¹³ he will bless those who fear Jehovah,
    both the small and the great.

¹⁴ May Jehovah give you increase,
    you and your sons.
¹⁵ May you be blessed by Jehovah,
    who made heaven and earth!

¹⁶ The heavens are Jehovah’s heavens,
    but the earth he has given to the sons of men.
¹⁷ The dead do not praise Jah,[299]
    nor do any who go down into silence.
¹⁸ But we will praise Jah[300]
    from this time forth and forevermore.
Praise Jah![301]

CHAPTER 116

I Love Jehovah

116 I love Jehovah, because he has heard
    my voice and my supplications.[302]
² Because he inclined his ear to me,
    therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
³ The snares of death encompassed me;
    the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;
    I found distress and sorrow.
⁴ Then I called on the name of Jehovah:
    “O Jehovah, please, deliver my soul!”

⁵ Gracious is Jehovah, and righteous;
    our God is merciful.
⁶ Jehovah preserves the simple;
    I was brought low, he saved me.
⁷ Return, O my soul, to your rest;
    for Jehovah has dealt bountifully with you.

⁸ For you have delivered my soul from death,
    my eyes from tears,
    my feet from stumbling;
⁹ I will walk before Jehovah
    in the land of the living.

¹⁰ [303]I believed, even when I spoke:
    “I am greatly afflicted”;
¹¹ I said in my alarm,
    “All men are liars.”

¹² What shall I render to Jehovah
    for all his benefits to me?
¹³ I will lift up the cup of salvation
    and call on the name of Jehovah,
¹⁴ I will pay my vows to Jehovah
    in the presence of all his people.

¹⁵ Precious in the eyes of Jehovah
    is the death of his loyal ones.
¹⁶ O Jehovah, I am your servant;
    I am your servant, the son of your slave girl.
    You have loosed my bonds.
¹⁷ I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving
    and call on the name of Jehovah.
¹⁸ I will pay my vows to Jehovah
    in the presence of all his people,
¹⁹ in the courts of the house of Jehovah,
    in your midst, O Jerusalem.
Praise Jah![304]

CHAPTER 117

Jehovah’s Faithfulness Endures Forever

117 Praise Jehovah, all nations!
    Extol him, all peoples!
² For great is his loyal love toward us,
    and the faithfulness of Jehovah endures forever.
Praise Jah![305]

CHAPTER 118

His Loyal Love Endures Forever

118 Oh give thanks to Jehovah, for he is good;
    for his steadfast love endures forever!

² Let Israel say,
    “His loyal love endures forever.”
³ Let the house of Aaron say,
    “His loyal love endures forever.”
⁴ Let those who fear Jehovah say,
    “His loyal love endures forever.”

⁵ Out of my distress I called on Jah;[306]
    Jah[307] answered me and brought me into a spacious place of safety.
⁶ Jehovah is on my side; I will not fear.
    What can man do to me?
⁷ Jehovah is on my side as my helper;
    I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.

⁸ It is better to take refuge in Jehovah
    than to trust in man.
⁹ It is better to take refuge in Jehovah
    than to trust in princes.

¹⁰ All nations surrounded me;
    in the name of Jehovah I cut them off!
¹¹ They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side;
    in the name of Jehovah I cut them off!
¹² They surrounded me like bees;
    they were extinguished[308] like a fire of thorns;
    in the name of Jehovah I cut them off!
¹³ You pushed me[309] hard, so that I might fall,
    but Jehovah helped me.

¹⁴ Jah[310] is my strength and my song;
    he has become my salvation.
¹⁵ Glad songs of salvation
    are in the tents of the righteous:
“The right hand of Jehovah does valiantly,
¹⁶ the right hand of Jehovah exalts,[311]
    the right hand of Jehovah does valiantly.”

¹⁷ I shall not die, but I shall live,
    and recount the works of Jah.[312]
¹⁸ Jah[313] has disciplined me severely,
    but he has not given me over to death.

¹⁹ Open to me the gates of righteousness,
    that I may enter through them
    and give praise to Jah.[314]
²⁰ This is the gate of Jehovah;
    the righteous shall enter through it.
²¹ I will give thanks to you for you have answered me
    and have become my salvation.
²² The stone that the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone.
²³ This is Jehovah’s doing;
    it is marvelous in our eyes.
²⁴ This is the day that Jehovah has made;
    let us rejoice and be glad in it.

²⁵ Save us, we beg you, O Jehovah.
    O Jehovah, we beg you, give us success.

²⁶ Blessed is he who comes in the name of Jehovah.
    We bless you from the house of Jehovah.
²⁷ Jehovah is God,
    and he has given us light.
Bind the festal sacrifice with cords,
    up to the horns of the altar.

²⁸ You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
    you are my God; I will extol you.
²⁹ Oh give thanks to Jehovah, for he is good;
    for his loyal love endures forever!

CHAPTER 119

Your Word Is a Lamp to My Feet

Aleph

119 Happy[315] are those whose way is blameless,
    who walk in the law of Jehovah.
² Blessed are those who keep his reminders,
    who seek him with their whole heart.
³ They also do no wrong,
    they walk in his ways.
⁴ You have commanded your precepts
    to be kept diligently.
⁵ Oh that my ways may be steadfast
    in keeping your statutes.
⁶ Then I would not be ashamed,
    having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.
⁷ I will praise you with an upright heart,
    when I learn your righteous judgments.
⁸ I will keep your regulations;
    do not utterly forsake me!

Beth

⁹ How can a young man keep his way pure?
    By guarding it according to your word.
¹⁰ With my whole heart I seek you;
    let me not wander from your commandments!
¹¹ In my heart I treasure up your word,[316]
    so that I may not sin against you.
¹² Blessed are you, O Jehovah;
    teach me your regulations!
¹³ With my lips I declare
    all the judgments of your mouth.
¹⁴ In the way of your reminders I rejoice
    as much as in all riches.[317]
¹⁵ I will meditate on your precepts
    and keep my eyes on your ways.
¹⁶ I will delight in your statutes;
    I will not forget your word.

Gimel

¹⁷ Deal bountifully with your servant,
    that I may live and keep your word.
¹⁸ Open my eyes, that I may behold
    wondrous things out of your law.
¹⁹ I am a stranger in the land;
    do not hide your commands from me.
²⁰ My soul is crushed with longing
    for your judgments at all times.
²¹ You rebuke the arrogant, accursed ones,
    who wander from your commandments.
²² Take away from me scorn and contempt,
    for I have kept your reminders.
²³ Even though princes sit and speak against me,
    your servant meditates on your statutes.
²⁴ Your reminders are my delight;
    they are my counselors.

Daleth

²⁵ My soul cleaves to the dust;
    revive me according to your word.
²⁶ I told of my ways, and you answered me;
    teach me your regulations!
²⁷ Make me understand the way of your precepts,
    so I will meditate on your wondrous works.
²⁸ My soul weeps[318] because of grief;
    strengthen me according to your word.
²⁹ Remove from me the false way
    and graciously give me your law.
³⁰ The way of faithfulness I have chosen;
    I have set your ordinances before me.
³¹ I cling to your reminders, O Jehovah;
    do not let me be put to shame.
³² I will run in the way of your commandments
    for you will enlarge my heart.[319]

He

³³ Teach me, O Jehovah, the way of your statutes;
    and I will keep it to the end.
³⁴ Give me understanding, that I may keep your law
    and observe it with my whole heart.
³⁵ Lead me in the path of your commandments,
    for I delight in it.
³⁶ Incline my heart to your reminders,
    and not to dishonest gain.
³⁷ Turn my eyes from looking at what is worthless;
    keep me alive in your way.
³⁸ Fulfill your word to your servant,
    so that you may be feared.
³⁹ Turn away the reproach that I dread,
    for your judgments are good.
⁴⁰ Look, I long for your precepts;
    keep me alive in your righteousness.

Waw

⁴¹ Let your loyal love come to me, O Jehovah,
    your salvation according to your word;
⁴² Then I will have an answer for him who taunts me,
    for I trust in your word.
⁴³ And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,
    for my hope is in your judgments.
⁴⁴ I will keep your law continually,
    forever and ever,
⁴⁵ and I shall walk in a spacious place of safety,
    for I have sought your orders.
⁴⁶ I will also speak of your reminders before kings
    and shall not be put to shame,
⁴⁷ for I find my delight in your commandments,
    which I love.
⁴⁸ And I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love,
    and I will meditate on your statutes.

Zayin

⁴⁹ Remember your word to your servant,
    in which you have made me hope.
⁵⁰ This is my comfort in my affliction,
    that your word has preserved me alive.[320]
⁵¹ The arrogant utterly deride me,
    but I do not turn away from your law.
⁵² I remember your judgments from of old, O Jehovah,
    and I find comfort in them.
⁵³ Hot indignation seized me because of the wicked,
    who forsake your law.
⁵⁴ Your statutes have been my songs
    in the house of my sojourning.
⁵⁵ I remember your name in the night, O Jehovah,
    and keep your law.
⁵⁶ This blessing has fallen to me,
    that I have kept your precepts.

Heth

⁵⁷ Jehovah is my portion;
    I have promised to keep your words.
⁵⁸ I entreat your face[321] with all my heart;
    be gracious to me according to your word.
⁵⁹ When I think on my ways,
    I turn my feet to your reminders;
⁶⁰ I hasten and do not delay
    to keep your commandments.
⁶¹ Though the cords of the wicked surround me,
    I do not forget your law.
⁶² At midnight I rise to give thanks,
    because of your righteous judgments.
⁶³ I am a companion of all who fear you,
    of those who keep your precepts.
⁶⁴ The earth, O Jehovah, is full of your steadfast love;
    teach me your regulations!

Teth

⁶⁵ You have dealt well with your servant,
    O Jehovah, according to your word.
⁶⁶ Teach me good judgment and knowledge,
    for I believe in your commandments.
⁶⁷ Before I was afflicted I went astray,
    but now I keep your word.
⁶⁸ You are good and do good;
    teach me your statutes.
⁶⁹ The arrogant smear me with lies,
    but with my whole heart I keep your precepts;
⁷⁰ their heart is unfeeling like fat,
    but I delight in your law.
⁷¹ It is good for me that I was afflicted,
    that I might learn your statutes.
⁷² The law of your mouth is better to me
    than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

Yodh

⁷³ Your hands have made and fashioned me;
    give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.
⁷⁴ Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice,
    because I have hoped in your word.
⁷⁵ I know, O Jehovah, that your judgments are righteous,
    and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
⁷⁶ May your loyal love please comfort me
    according to your word to your servant.
⁷⁷ Let your mercy come to me, that I may live;
    for your law is my delight.
⁷⁸ Let the arrogant be put to shame,
    because they have wronged me with lies;
    as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.
⁷⁹ Let those who fear you turn to me,
    those who know your reminders.[322]
⁸⁰ May my heart be blameless in your statutes,
    So that I may not be put to shame.

Kaph

⁸¹ My soul longs for your salvation;
    I hope in your word.
⁸² My eyes long for your word;
    I ask, “When will you comfort me?”
⁸³ For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke,
    yet I do not forget your statutes.
⁸⁴ How many are the days of your servant?
    When will you execute judgment on those who persecute me?
⁸⁵ The arrogant have dug pitfalls for me;
    men who are not in accord with your law.
⁸⁶ All your commandments are faithful;
    they persecute me with a lie; help me!
⁸⁷ They have almost destroyed me on the earth,
    but I have not forsaken your precepts.
⁸⁸ Preserve me alive because of your loyal love,
    So that I may keep the reminders you have spoken.

Lamedh

⁸⁹ Forever, O Jehovah, your word
    is settled in the heavens.[323]
⁹⁰ Your faithfulness endures to all generations;
    you have established the earth, and it stands.
⁹¹ By your judgments they stand this day,
    for all things are your servants.
⁹² If your law had not been my delight,
    I would have perished in my affliction.
⁹³ I will never forget your precepts,
    for by them you have preserved me alive.[324]
⁹⁴ I am yours; save me,
    for I have sought your precepts.
⁹⁵ The wicked lie in wait to destroy me,
    but I consider your reminders.
⁹⁶ I have seen a limit to all perfection,
    but your commandment is exceedingly broad.

Mem

⁹⁷ Oh how I love your law!
    It is my meditation all the day.
⁹⁸ Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,
    for it is ever with me.
⁹⁹ I have more insight than all my teachers,
    for your reminders are my meditation.
¹⁰⁰ I understand more than the aged,
    for I keep your orders.[325]
¹⁰¹ I restrained my feet from every evil way,
    so that I may keep your word.
¹⁰² I do not turn aside from your judgments,
    for you have taught me.
¹⁰³ How sweet are your words to my taste,
    sweeter than honey to my mouth!
¹⁰⁴ From your orders I get understanding;
    therefore I hate every false way.

Nun

¹⁰⁵ Your word[326] is a lamp to my feet[327]
    and a light to my path.
¹⁰⁶ I have sworn an oath and confirmed it,
    to keep your righteous judgments.
¹⁰⁷ I am severely afflicted;
    preserve me alive,[328] O Jehovah, according to your word.
¹⁰⁸ Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O Jehovah,
    and teach me your judgments.
¹⁰⁹ My life is continually in my hand,
    but I do not forget your law.
¹¹⁰ The wicked have laid a snare for me,
    but I have not gone astray from your precepts.
¹¹¹ Your reminders are my heritage forever,
    for they are the joy of my heart.
¹¹² I incline my heart to perform your statutes
    forever, to the end.

Samekh

¹¹³ I hate the double-minded,
    but I love your law.
¹¹⁴ You are my hiding place and my shield;
    I hope in your word.
¹¹⁵ Depart from me, you evildoers,
    that I may keep the commandments of my God.
¹¹⁶ Sustain me according to your word, that I may live,
    and let me not be put to shame in my hope.
¹¹⁷ Hold me up, that I may be safe
    and have regard for your statutes continually!
¹¹⁸ You reject all who stray from your statutes,
    for they are false and deceitful.
¹¹⁹ You remove all the wicked of the earth like dross,
    therefore I love your reminders.
¹²⁰ My flesh trembles[329] for fear[330] of you,
    and I am afraid of your judgments.

Ayin

¹²¹ I have done justice and righteousness;
    do not leave me to my oppressors.
¹²² Be surety for your servant for good;
    let not the insolent oppress me.
¹²³ My eyes long waiting for your salvation
    and for your righteous word.
¹²⁴ Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love,
    and teach me your regulations.
¹²⁵ I am your servant; give me understanding,
    that I may know your reminders!
¹²⁶ It is time for Jehovah to act,
    for they have broken your law.
¹²⁷ Therefore I love your commandments
    above gold, above fine gold.
¹²⁸ Therefore I esteem all your precepts to be right;
    concerning everything,
I hate every false way.

Pe

¹²⁹ Your reminders are wonderful;
    therefore my soul keeps them.
¹³⁰ The unfolding of your words gives light;
    it gives understanding to the simple.
¹³¹ I opened my mouth wide and panted,
    because I long for your commandments.
¹³² Turn to me and be gracious to me,
    as is your way with those who love your name.
¹³³ Establish my footsteps in your word,
    and do not let any error have dominion over me.
¹³⁴ Redeem me from the oppression of man,
    that I may keep your orders.
¹³⁵ Make your face shine upon your servant,
    and teach me your statutes.
¹³⁶ Streams of water have run down my eyes,
    because they do not keep your law.

Tsadhe

¹³⁷ Righteous are you, O Jehovah,
    and right are your judgments.
¹³⁸ You have appointed your reminders in righteousness
    and in all faithfulness.
¹³⁹ My zeal consumes me,
    because my adversaries forget your words.
¹⁴⁰ Your word is well tried,
    and your servant loves it.
¹⁴¹ I am small and despised,
    yet I do not forget your precepts.
¹⁴² Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,
    and your law is truth.
¹⁴³ Trouble and anguish have found me out,
    but your commandments are my delight.
¹⁴⁴ Your reminders are righteous forever;
    give me understanding that I may live.

Qoph

¹⁴⁵ With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O Jehovah!
    I will keep your statutes.
¹⁴⁶ I call to you; save me,
    that I may observe your reminders.
¹⁴⁷ I rise before dawn and cry for help;
    I hope in your words.
¹⁴⁸ My eyes anticipate the night watches,
    that I may meditate on your word.
¹⁴⁹ Hear my voice according to your loyal love;
    O Jehovah, according to your justice preserve me alive.[331]
¹⁵⁰ Those who follow after wickedness draw near;
    they are far from your law.
¹⁵¹ But you are near, O Jehovah,
    and all your commandments are true.
¹⁵² Long have I known from your reminders
    that you have founded them forever.

Resh

¹⁵³ Look on my affliction and deliver me,
    for I do not forget your law.
¹⁵⁴ Plead my cause and redeem me;
    preserve me alive^[332] according to your word.
¹⁵⁵ Salvation is far from the wicked,
    for they do not seek your statutes.
¹⁵⁶ Great is your mercy, O Jehovah;
    preserve me alive[333] according to your judgments.
¹⁵⁷ Many are my persecutors and my adversaries,
    but I do not swerve from your reminders.
¹⁵⁸ I look on the treacherous with loathing,
    because they do not keep your word.
¹⁵⁹ Consider how I love your orders!
    O Jehovah, according to your loyal love preserve me alive.[334]
¹⁶⁰ The sum of your word is truth,
    and all your righteous judgments endure forever.

Sin and Shin

¹⁶¹ Princes persecute me without cause,
    but my heart stands in awe of your words.
¹⁶² I rejoice at your word
    like one who finds great spoil.
¹⁶³ I hate and abhor falsehood,
    but I love your law.
¹⁶⁴ Seven times a day I praise you
    for your righteous judgments.
¹⁶⁵ Abundant peace belongs to those loving your law,
    and for them, there is no stumbling block.
¹⁶⁶ I hope for your salvation, O Jehovah,
    and I do your commandments.
¹⁶⁷ My soul keeps your reminders;
    I love them exceedingly.
¹⁶⁸ I keep your precepts and reminders,
    for all my ways are before you.

Taw

¹⁶⁹ Let my cry come before you, O Jehovah;
    give me understanding according to your word!
¹⁷⁰ Let my plea come before you;
    deliver me according to your promise.
¹⁷¹ Let my lips utter praise,
    for you teach me your regulations.
¹⁷² My tongue will sing of your word,
    for all your commandments are righteous.
¹⁷³ Let your hand be ready to help me,
    for I have chosen your precepts.
¹⁷⁴ I long for your salvation, O Jehovah,
    and your law is my delight.
¹⁷⁵ Let my soul live and praise you,
    and let your judgments help me.
¹⁷⁶ I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant,
    for I do not forget your commandments.

CHAPTER 120

Deliver Me, O Jehovah

A Song of Ascents.

120 In my distress I called to Jehovah,
    and he answered me.
² Deliver me, O Jehovah,
    from lying lips,
    from a deceitful tongue.

³ What shall be given to you,
    and what more shall be done to you,
    you deceitful tongue?
⁴ Sharp arrows of the warrior,
    with glowing coals of the broom tree.

⁵ Woe to me, that I sojourn in Meshech,
    that I dwell among the tents of Kedar!
⁶ Too long has my soul had its dwelling
    with those who hate[335] peace.
⁷ I am for peace,
    but when I speak, they are for war!

CHAPTER 121

Jehovah Watches over His People

A Song of Ascents.

121 I will lift up my eyes to the mountains.
    From where my help shall come?
² My help comes from Jehovah,[336]
    who made heaven and earth.

³ He will not let your foot be moved;
    he who keeps you will not slumber.
⁴ Look, he who keeps Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.[337]

⁵ Jehovah is your keeper;
    Jehovah is your shade on your right hand.[338]
⁶ The sun shall not strike you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

⁷ Jehovah will keep you from all evil;
    he will keep your soul.
⁸ Jehovah will keep
    your going out and your coming in
    from this time forth and forevermore.

CHAPTER 122

David Prays for Jerusalem’s Prosperity

A Song of Ascents, of David.

122 I was glad when they said to me,
    “Let us go to the house of Jehovah.”
² Our feet are standing
    within your gates, O Jerusalem.

³ Jerusalem, that is built
    as a city that is compact together,
⁴ to which the tribes go up,
    the tribes of Jah,[339]
as was decreed for Israel,
    to give thanks to the name of Jehovah.
⁵ There thrones for judgment were set,
    the thrones of the house of David.

⁶ Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
    “they shall prosper who love you.
⁷ Peace be within your walls
    and security within your towers.”
⁸ For my brothers and companions’ sake
    I will say, “Peace be within you.”
⁹ For the sake of the house of Jehovah our God,
    I will seek your good.

CHAPTER 123

Our Eyes Look to Jehovah for Favor

A Song of Ascents.

123 To you I lift up my eyes,
    O you who are enthroned in the heavens!
² Look, as the eyes of servants
    look to the hand of their master,
as the eyes of a servant girl
    to the hand of her mistress,
so our eyes look to Jehovah our God,
    till he has mercy upon us.

³ Show us favor, O Jehovah, show us favor,
    for we have had our full share of contempt.
⁴ Our soul has had more than enough
    of the scorn of those who are at ease,
    of the contempt of the proud.

CHAPTER 124

Our Help Is in the Name of Jehovah

A Song of Ascents, of David.

124 If Jehovah had not been with us
    let Israel now say
² if it had not been Jehovah who was on our side
    when men rose up against us,
³ then they would have swallowed us up alive,
    when their anger was kindled against us;
⁴ then the waters would have washed us away,
    the stream would have swept over our soul;
⁵ then the raging waters
    would have swept over our soul.

⁶ Praised be Jehovah,
    who has not given us
    as prey to their teeth.
⁷ We have escaped like a bird
    from the snare of the fowlers;
the snare is broken,
    and we have escaped.

⁸ Our help is in the name of Jehovah,
    who made heaven and earth.

CHAPTER 125

Jehovah Protects His People

A Song of Ascents.

125 Those who trust in Jehovah 

are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved
    but abides forever.
² As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
    so Jehovah surrounds his people,
    from this time forth and forevermore.
³ For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest
    on the land allotted to the righteous,
so that the righteous will not put forth
    their hands to do wrong.
⁴ Do good, O Jehovah, to those who are good,
    and to those who are upright in their hearts.
⁵ But those who turn aside to their crooked ways
    Jehovah will lead them away with the wrongdoers.
    Peace be upon Israel.

CHAPTER 126

Restore Our Fortunes, O Jehovah

A Song of Ascents.

126 When Jehovah brought back the captives of Zion,
    we were like those who dream.
² Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
    and our tongue with a joyful shout;
then they said among the nations,
    “Jehovah has done great things for them.”
³ Jehovah has done great things for us;
    we are glad.

⁴ Restore our captivity,[340] O Jehovah,
    like streams in the Negev.[341]
⁵ Those who sow in tears
    shall reap with shouts of joy!
⁶ He who goes out weeping,
    bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
    bringing his sheaves with him.

CHAPTER 127

Unless Jehovah Everything Is Vain

A Song of Ascents, of Solomon.

127 Unless Jehovah builds the house,
    those who build it labor in vain.
Unless Jehovah watches over the city,
    the watchman stays awake in vain.
² It is in vain that you rise up early
    and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
    for he gives to his beloved sleep.

³ Look, sons are an inheritance from Jehovah,
    the fruit of the womb a reward.
⁴ Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
    so are the sons of one’s youth.
⁵ Happy is the man
    who fills his quiver with them.
He shall not be put to shame
    when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

CHAPTER 128

Happy Is Everyone Who Fears Jehovah

A Song of Ascents.

128 Happy is everyone who fears Jehovah,
    who walks in his ways.
² You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;
    you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.

³ Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
    within your house;
your sons will be like olive shoots
    around your table.
⁴ Look, thus shall the man be blessed
    who fears Jehovah.

⁵ Jehovah will bless you from Zion.
    May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
    all the days of your life.
⁶ May you see the sons of your sons.
    Peace be upon Israel.

CHAPTER 129

They Have Attacked Me from My Youth

A Song of Ascents.

129 “Many times they have attacked me from my youth”
    let Israel now say,
² “Many times they have attacked me from my youth,
    yet they have not prevailed against me.
³ The plowers plowed upon my back;
    they made long their furrows.”
⁴ Jehovah is righteous;
    he has cut the cords of the wicked.
⁵ May all who hate Zion
    be put to shame and turned backward.
⁶ Let them be like the grass on the housetops,
    which withers before it grows up,
⁷ with which the reaper does not fill his hand
    nor the binder of sheaves his arms,
⁸ nor do those who pass by say,
    “The blessing of Jehovah be upon you.
    We bless you in the name of Jehovah.”

CHAPTER 130

My Soul Waits for Jehovah

A Song of Ascents.

130 Out of the depths I cry to you, O Jehovah.[342]
² O Jehovah, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
    to the voice of my pleas for mercy!

³ If you, O Jah,[343] should keep track of errors,
    O Jehovah, who could stand?
⁴ But with you there is forgiveness,
    that you may be feared.

⁵ I wait for Jehovah, my soul waits,
    and in his word I hope;
⁶ my soul waits for Jehovah
    more than watchmen for the morning,
    more than watchmen for the morning.

⁷ O Israel, hope in Jehovah.
    For with Jehovah there is loyal love,
    and with him is abundant redemption.
⁸ And he will redeem Israel
    from all his errors.

CHAPTER 131

David depends on Jehovah

A Song of Ascents. Of David.

131 O Jehovah, my heart is not haughty;
    nor are my eyes lofty;
nor do I aspire to things too great
    or in things too difficult for me.
² But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
    like a weaned child with its mother;
    like a weaned child is my soul within me.

³ O Israel, hope in Jehovah
    from this time forth and forevermore.

CHAPTER 132

Jehovah Has Chosen David and Zion

A Song of Ascents.

132 O Jehovah, remember David,
    all his affliction,
² how he swore to Jehovah
    and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob,
³ “I will not enter my house
    or get into my bed,
⁴ I will not give sleep to my eyes
    or slumber to my eyelids,
⁵ until I find a place for Jehovah,
    a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.”

⁶ Look, we heard of it in Ephrathah;
    we found it in the fields of Jaar.
⁷ “Let us go to his dwelling place;
    let us worship at his footstool!”

⁸ Arise, O Jehovah, and go to your resting place,
    you and the ark of your strength.
⁹ Let your priests be clothed with righteousness,
    and let your loyal ones shout for joy.
¹⁰ For the sake of your servant David,
    do not turn away the face of your anointed one.

¹¹ Jehovah has sworn to David a truth
    from which he will not turn back:
“One of the sons of your body
    I will set on your throne.
¹² If your sons keep my covenant
    and my reminders that I shall teach them,
their sons also forever
    shall sit on your throne.”

¹³ For Jehovah has chosen Zion;
    he has desired it for his dwelling place:
¹⁴ “This is my resting place forever;
    here I will dwell, for I have desired it.
¹⁵ I will abundantly bless her provisions;
    I will satisfy her poor with bread.
¹⁶ Her priests I will clothe with salvation,
    and her loyal ones will shout for joy.
¹⁷ There I will make a horn to grow for David;
    I have prepared a lamp for my anointed one.
¹⁸ His enemies I will clothe with shame,
    but upon himself his crown will shine.”

CHAPTER 133

The Joy of Worshiping God

A Song of Ascents, of David.

133 Look, how good and pleasant it is
    when brothers dwell together in unity!
² It is like the precious oil upon the head,
    running down on the beard,
on the beard of Aaron,
    running down upon the edges of his robes!
³ It is like the dew of Hermon
    that runs down upon the mountains of Zion!
For there Jehovah has commanded the blessing,
    life forever.

CHAPTER 134

Come, Bless Jehovah

A Song of Ascents.

134 Look, bless Jehovah, all you servants of Jehovah,
    who stand by night in the house of Jehovah.
² Lift up your hands to the holy place
    and bless Jehovah.

³ May Jehovah bless you from Zion,
    he who made heaven and earth!

CHAPTER 135

Your Name, O Jehovah, Endures Forever

135 Praise Jah![344]
Praise the name of Jehovah,
    give praise, O servants of Jehovah,
² who stand in the house of Jehovah,
    in the courts of the house of our God!
³ Praise Jah,[345] for Jehovah is good;
    sing to his name, for it is pleasant.
⁴ For Jah[346] has chosen Jacob for himself,
    Israel as his own possession.

⁵ For I know that Jehovah is great,
    and that Jehovah is above all gods.
⁶ Whatever Jehovah pleases, he does,
    in heaven and on earth,
    in the seas and all deeps.
⁷ He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth,
    who makes lightnings for the rain
    and brings forth the wind from his storehouses.

⁸ He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
    both of man and of beast.
⁹ Who sent signs and wonders into your midst
    O Egypt, Upon Pharaoh and all his servants.
¹⁰ Who struck down many nations
    and killed mighty kings,
¹¹ Sihon, king of the Amorites,
    and Og, king of Bashan,
    and all the kingdoms of Canaan,
¹² and gave their land as an inheritance,
    an inheritance to his people Israel.

¹³ Your name, Jehovah, endures forever,
    your renown, O Jehovah, throughout all generations.
¹⁴ For Jehovah will judge his people
    and have compassion on his servants.

¹⁵ The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
    the work of human hands.
¹⁶ They have mouths, but they do not speak;
    they have eyes, but they do not see;
¹⁷ they have ears, but do not hear,
    nor is there any breath in their mouths.
¹⁸ Those who make them will become like them,
    yes, everyone who trusts in them.

¹⁹ O house of Israel, praise Jehovah.
    O house of Aaron, praise Jehovah.
²⁰ O house of Levi, praise Jehovah.
    You who fear Jehovah, praise Jehovah.
²¹ May Jehovah be praised from Zion,
    he who dwells in Jerusalem.
Praise Jah![347]

CHAPTER 136

His Loyal Love Endures Forever

136 Give thanks to Jehovah, for he is good,
    for his loyal love endures forever.
² Give thanks to the God of gods,
    for his loyal love endures forever.
³ Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
    for his steadfast loyal love forever.

⁴ To him who alone does great wonders,
    for his loyal love endures forever;
⁵ to him who by understanding made the heavens,
    for his loyal love endures forever;
⁶ to him who spread out the earth above the waters,
    for his loyal love endures forever;
⁷ to him who made the great lights,
    for his loyal love endures forever;
⁸ the sun to rule by day,
    for his loyal love endures forever;
⁹ the moon and stars to rule by night,
    for his loyal love endures forever;

¹⁰ to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
    for his loyal love endures forever;
¹¹ and brought Israel out from among them,
    for his loyal love endures forever;
¹² with a strong hand and an outstretched arm,
    for his loyal love endures forever;
¹³ to him who divided the Red Sea in two,
    for his loyal love endures forever;
¹⁴ and made Israel pass through the midst of it,
    for his loyal love endures forever;
¹⁵ but overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea,
    for his loyal love endures forever;
¹⁶ to him who led his people through the wilderness,
    for his loyal love endures forever;

¹⁷ to him who struck down great kings,
    for his loyal love endures forever;
¹⁸ and killed mighty kings,
    for his loyal love endures forever;
¹⁹ Sihon, king of the Amorites,
    for his loyal love endures forever;
²⁰ and Og, king of Bashan,
    for his loyal love endures forever;
²¹ and gave their land as a heritage,
    for his loyal love endures forever;
²² a heritage to Israel his servant,
    for his loyal love endures forever.

²³ Who remembered us in our low estate,
    for his loyal love endures forever;
²⁴ and rescued us from our foes,
    for his loyal love endures forever;
²⁵ he who gives food to all flesh,
    for his loyal love endures forever.

²⁶ Give thanks to the God of heaven,
    for his loyal love endures forever.

CHAPTER 137

By the Rivers of Babylon

137 By the rivers of Babylon,[348]
    there we sat down and wept,
    when we remembered Zion.
² On the willows there
    we hung up our lyres.
³ For there our captors
    required of us songs,
and our tormentors, mirth, saying,
    “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”

⁴ How shall we sing Jehovah’s song
    in a foreign land?
⁵ If I forget you, O Jerusalem,
    let my right hand forget its skill!
⁶ Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth,
    if I do not remember you,
if I do not set Jerusalem
    above my chief joy.

⁷ Remember, O Jehovah, against the Edomites
    the day of Jerusalem,
how they said, “Lay it bare, lay it bare,
    down to its foundations!”
⁸ O daughter of Babylon, soon to be devastated,
    happy shall he be who repays you
    with what you have done to us.
⁹ Happy shall he be who takes your little ones
    and dashes them against the rock.

CHAPTER 138

God’s Promises to David

A Psalm of David.

138 I will give you thanks[349] with all my heart;
    before the gods[350] I sing your praise;
² I bow down toward your holy temple
    and give thanks to your name for your loyal love and your faithfulness,
    for you have magnified your word
    according to all your name.
³ On the day I called, you answered me;
    you made me bold with strength in my soul.

⁴ All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O Jehovah,
    for they have heard the words of your mouth,
⁵ and they shall sing of the ways of Jehovah,
    for great is the glory of Jehovah.
⁶ For though Jehovah is high, he regards the lowly,
    but the haughty he knows from afar.

⁷ Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
    you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies,
    and your right hand will save me.
⁸ Jehovah will fulfill his purpose for me;
    your loyal love, O Jehovah, endures forever.
    Do not forsake the work of your hands.

CHAPTER 139

God Know My Heart

For the music director. A Psalm of David.

139 O Jehovah, you have searched me and known me!
² You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
    you understand my thoughts from afar.
³ You search out my path and my lying down
    and are acquainted with all my ways.
⁴ Even before a word is on my tongue,
    look, O Jehovah, you know it altogether.
⁵ Behind and before me, you surround me,
    and lay your hand upon me.
⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
    it is high; I cannot attain it.

⁷ Where shall I go from your Spirit?
    Or where shall I flee from your presence?
⁸ If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
    If I make my bed in Sheol, look, you are there.
⁹ If I take the wings of the morning
    and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
¹⁰ even there your hand shall lead me,
    and your right hand shall hold me.
¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
    and the light about me shall be night,”
¹² even the darkness is not dark to you;
    the night is bright as the day,
    for darkness is as light with you.

¹³ For you produced my kidneys;[351]
    You wove me in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.[352]
Wonderful are your works;
    my soul knows it very well.
¹⁵ My bones were not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
    When I was woven in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes even saw me as an embryo;
and in your book they all were written,
    the days that were formed for me,
    when as yet there was none of them.

¹⁷ How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
    How vast is the sum of them!
¹⁸ If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand.
    When I awake, I am still with you.

¹⁹ Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God!
    O men of blood, depart from me!
²⁰ They speak against you wickedly;
    your enemies take your name in vain.[353]
²¹ Do I not hate those who hate you, O Jehovah?
    And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?
²² I hate them with complete hatred;
    they have become my enemies.

²³ Search me, O God, and know my heart;
    Examine me, and know my anxious[354] thoughts;
²⁴ And see whether there is in me any painful way,[355]
    And lead me in the everlasting way.

CHAPTER 140

Jehovah, the strong Savior

For the music director. A Psalm of David.

140 Deliver me, O Jehovah, from evil men;
    preserve me from violent men,
² who plan evil things in their heart
    and stir up wars continually.
³ They sharpen their tongues like a serpent,
    and under their lips is the venom of asps. Selah

⁴ Keep me, O Jehovah, from the hands of the wicked;
    preserve me from violent men,
    who have planned to trip up my feet.
⁵ The arrogant have hidden a trap for me,
    with cords they have spread a net beside the path;
    they have set snares for me. Selah

⁶ I say to Jehovah, You are my God;
    give ear to the voice of my pleas for mercy, O Jehovah!
⁷ O Jehovah, my Lord, the strength of my salvation,
    you have covered my head in the day of battle.
⁸ Grant not, O Jehovah, the desires of the wicked;
    do not further their evil plot, or they will be exalted. Selah

⁹ As for the head of those who surround me,
    let the mischief of their lips cover them.
¹⁰ Let burning coals fall upon them!
    Let them be cast into fire,
    into deep pits, no more to rise.
¹¹ Let not the slanderer be established in the land;
    evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.

¹² I know that Jehovah will maintain the cause of the afflicted,
    and justice for the needy.
¹³ Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name;
    the upright shall dwell in your presence.

CHAPTER 141

David Prays for What Is Closest to His  Heart

A Psalm of David.

141 O Jehovah, I call upon you; hasten to me!
    Give ear to my voice when I call to you!
² Let my prayer be counted as incense before you,
    and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!

³ Set a guard, O Jehovah, over my mouth;
    keep watch over the door of my lips!
⁴ Do not incline my heart to any evil thing
    to carry out deeds of wickedness
with men who are evildoers,
    and let me not eat of their delicacies.

⁵ Let a righteous man strike me, it is a kindness;
    let him reprove me, it is oil for my head;
    let my head not refuse it.
My prayer will continue even during their evil deeds.
⁶ Their judges are thrown down by the sides of the rock,
    and they hear my words, for they are pleasant.
⁷ As when one plows and breaks open the earth,
    so shall our bones[356] be scattered at the mouth of Sheol.

⁸ For my eyes are toward you, O Jehovah, my Lord;
    in you I take refuge; leave me not defenseless.
⁹ Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me
    and from the snares of evildoers.
¹⁰ Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
    while I pass by safely.

CHAPTER 142

You Are My Refuge

Maskil[357] of David, when he was in the cave. A Prayer.

142 I cry out with my voice to Jehovah;
    With my voice I plead with Jehovah for favor.
² Before him I pour out my complaint;
    before him I talk about my trouble.

³ When my spirit was overwhelmed within me,
    you know my path.
In the way where I walk
    they have hidden a trap for me.
⁴ Look to the right and see:[358]
    there is no man who notices me;
no refuge remains to me;
    no one cares for my soul.

⁵ I cry to you, O Jehovah;
    I say, “You are my refuge,
    my portion in the land of the living.”
⁶ Attend to my cry,
    for I am brought very low.
Deliver me from my persecutors,
    for they are too strong for me.
⁷ Bring my soul out of prison,
    that I may give thanks to your name.
The righteous will surround me,
    for you will deal bountifully with me.

CHAPTER 143

David Prays for Victory, Deliverance, Spiritual Guidance, and Revival

A Psalm of David.

143 O Jehovah, hear my prayer;
    do give ear to my entreaty.
    In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness.
² And do not enter into judgment with your servant,
    for in your sight no man living is righteous.

³ For the enemy has persecuted my soul;
    he has crushed my life to the ground;
    he has made me dwell in dark places like those long dead.
⁴ Therefore my spirit faints within me;
    my heart within me is appalled.

⁵ I remember the days of old;
    I meditate on all your doings;
    I ponder the work of your hands.
⁶ I stretch out my hands to you;
    my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah

⁷ Answer me quickly, O Jehovah!
    My spirit fails!
Do not hide your face from me,
    Or I will become like those who go down to the pit.
⁸ Let me hear in the morning of your loyal love,
    for I trust you.
Teach me the way in which I should walk,
    for to you I lift up my soul.

⁹ Deliver me, O Jehovah, from my enemies.
    I take refuge in you.[359]
¹⁰ Teach me to do your will,
    for you are my God;
Let your good Spirit lead me
    on level ground.

¹¹ For your name’s sake, O Jehovah, preserve my life.
    In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble.
¹² And in your loyal love you will cut off my enemies,
    and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul,
    for I am your servant.

CHAPTER 144

A Prayer for Victory

A Psalm of David.[360]

144 Blessed be Jehovah, my rock,
    who trains my hands for war,
    and my fingers for battle;
² he is my loyal love and my fortress,
    my stronghold and my deliverer,
my shield and he in whom I take refuge,
    who subdues peoples[361] under me.

³ O Jehovah, what is man that you regard him,
    or the son of man that you think of him?
⁴ Man is like a breath;
    his days are like a passing shadow.

⁵ Bow your heavens, O Jehovah, and come down.
    Touch the mountains so that they smoke!
⁶ Flash forth the lightning and scatter them;
    send out your arrows and rout them.
⁷ Stretch out your hand from on high;
    rescue me and deliver me from the many waters,
    from the hand of foreigners,
⁸ whose mouths speak deceit
    and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

⁹ I will sing a new song to you, O God;
    upon a ten-stringed harp I will sing praises[362] to you,
¹⁰ who gives salvation to kings,
    who rescues David his servant from the deadly sword.
¹¹ Rescue me and deliver me
    from the hand of foreigners,
whose mouths speak lies
    and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

¹² May our sons in their youth
    be like plants full grown,
our daughters like corner pillars
    carved in the style of a palace;
¹³ our storehouses will overflow,
    providing all kinds of produce;
may our sheep bring forth thousands
    and ten thousands in our fields;
¹⁴ Our cattle, heavy with young,
    will suffer no mishap or miscarriage;
There will be no cry of distress in our public squares.
¹⁵ Happy are the people with such blessings.
    Happy is the people whose God is Jehovah.

CHAPTER 145

Great Is Jehovah

A Psalm of Praise, of David.

145 I will extol you, my God and King,
    and bless your name forever and ever.
² Every day I will bless you
    and praise your name forever and ever.
³ Great is Jehovah, and greatly to be praised,
    and his greatness is unsearchable.

⁴ One generation shall commend your works to another,
    and shall declare your mighty acts.
⁵ On the glorious splendor[363] of your majesty,
    and on your wonderful works, I will meditate.
⁶ They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds,
    and I will declare your greatness.
⁷ They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness
    and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

⁸ Jehovah is gracious and merciful,
    slow to anger and great in loyal love.
⁹ Jehovah is good to all,
    and his mercies are over all his works.

¹⁰ All your works shall give thanks to you, O Jehovah,
    and all your loyal ones shall bless you.
¹¹ They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom
    and tell of your power,
¹² to make known to the sons of men your mighty deeds,[364]
    and the majesty of your kingdom.[365]
¹³ Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
    and your dominion endures throughout all generations.

Jehovah is faithful in all his words
    and kind in all his works.[366]
¹⁴ Jehovah supports all who are falling
    and raises up all who are bowed down.
¹⁵ The eyes of all look to you,
    and you give them their food in due season.
¹⁶ You open your hand;
    you satisfy the desire of every living thing.
¹⁷ Jehovah is righteous in all his ways
    and loyal in all his works.
¹⁸ Jehovah is near to all who call on him,
    to all who call on him in truth.
¹⁹ He fulfills the desire of those who fear him;
    he also hears their cry and saves them.
²⁰ Jehovah preserves all who love him,
    but all the wicked he will destroy.

²¹ My mouth will speak the praise of Jehovah,
    and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.

CHAPTER 146

Praise and Trust Jehovah

146 Praise Jah![367]
Praise Jehovah, O my soul!
² I will praise Jehovah as long as I live;
    I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

³ Put not your trust in princes,
    in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.
⁴ His spirit goes out, he returns to the earth;
    In that very day his thoughts perish.

⁵ Happy is the one whose help is the God of Jacob,
    whose hope is in Jehovah his God,
⁶ who made heaven and earth,
    the sea, and all that is in them,
who keeps faith forever;
⁷ who executes justice for the oppressed,
    who gives food to the hungry.

Jehovah sets the prisoners free;
⁸ Jehovah opens the eyes of the blind.
Jehovah lifts up those who are bowed down;
    Jehovah loves the righteous.
⁹ Jehovah watches over the strangers;
    he upholds the widow and the fatherless,
    but he thwarts the way of the wicked.

¹⁰ Jehovah will reign forever,
    your God, O Zion, to all generations.
Praise Jah![368]

CHAPTER 147

Praise Jehovah Because He Is Good

147 Praise Jah![369]
For it is good to sing praises to our God;
    for it is pleasant and fitting to praise him.
² Jehovah builds up Jerusalem;
    he gathers the outcasts of Israel.
³ He heals the brokenhearted
    and binds up their wounds.
⁴ He counts the number of the stars;
    he gives to all of them their names.
⁵ Great is our Jehovah, and abundant in power;
    his understanding is infinite.
⁶ Jehovah raises up the meek;
    he casts the wicked to the ground.

⁷ Sing to Jehovah with thanksgiving;
    sing praises to our God on the lyre.
⁸ He covers the heavens with clouds;
    he prepares rain for the earth;
    he makes grass grow on the mountains.
⁹ He gives to the beasts their food,
    and to the young ravens that cry.
¹⁰ His delight is not in the strength of the horse,
    nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,
¹¹ but Jehovah takes pleasure in those who fear him,
    in those who hope in his loyal love.

¹² Praise Jehovah, O Jerusalem!
    Praise your God, O Zion!
¹³ For he strengthens the bars of your gates;
    he blesses your sons within you.
¹⁴ He makes peace in your borders;
    he fills you with the finest of the wheat.
¹⁵ He sends out his command to the earth;
    his word runs swiftly.
¹⁶ He gives snow like wool;
    he scatters frost like ashes.
¹⁷ He hurls down his hailstones like crumbs;
    who can stand before his cold?
¹⁸ He sends out his word, and melts them;
    he makes his wind blow and the waters flow.
¹⁹ He declares his word to Jacob,
    his regulations and judgments to Israel.
²⁰ He has not done so with any other nation;
    they do not know his judgments.[370]
Praise Jah![371]

CHAPTER 148

Praise the Name of Jehovah

148 Praise Jah![372]
Praise Jehovah from the heavens;
    praise him in the heights!
² Praise him, all his angels;
    praise him, all his armies!

³ Praise him, sun and moon,
    praise him, all you stars of light!
⁴ Praise him, you highest heavens,
    and you waters above the heavens!

⁵ Let them praise the name of Jehovah!
    For he commanded, and they were created.
⁶ And he established them forever and ever;
    he gave a decree, and it will not pass away.

⁷ Praise Jehovah from the earth,
    you great sea creatures and all deeps,
⁸ fire and hail, snow and clouds,
    stormy wind fulfilling his word.

⁹ Mountains and all hills,
    fruit trees and all cedars.
¹⁰ Beasts and all livestock,
    creeping things and flying birds.

¹¹ Kings of the earth and all peoples,
    princes and all judges of the earth.
¹² Young men and virgins together,
    old men and youths.

¹³ Let them praise the name of Jehovah,
    for his name alone is exalted;
    his majesty is above earth and heaven.
¹⁴ He has raised up a horn for his people,
    praise for all his holy ones,
    for the sons of Israel who are near to him.
Praise Jah![373]

CHAPTER 149

Sing to Jehovah a New Song

149 Praise Jah![374]
Sing to Jehovah a new song,
    his praise in the assembly of the loyal ones!
² Let Israel be glad in his Maker;
    let the sons of Zion rejoice in their King!
³ Let them praise his name with dancing,
    making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!
⁴ For Jehovah takes pleasure in his people;
    he adorns the humble with salvation.
⁵ Let the godly exult in glory;
    let them sing for joy on their beds.
⁶ Let the high praises of God be in their throats
    and two-edged swords in their hands,
⁷ to execute vengeance on the nations
    and punishments on the peoples,
⁸ to bind their kings with chains
    and their nobles with fetters of iron,
⁹ to execute on them the judgment written!
    This is honor for all his godly ones.
Praise Jah![375]

CHAPTER 150

Let Everything Praise Jah for His Greatness

150 Praise Jah![376]
Praise God in his sanctuary;
    praise him in his mighty expanse.[377]
² Praise him for his mighty deeds;
    praise him according to his excellent greatness.

³ Praise him with trumpet sound;
    praise him with harp and lyre.
⁴ Praise him with tambourine and dance;
    praise him with strings and pipe.
⁵ Praise him with sounding cymbals;
    praise him with loud clashing cymbals.
⁶ Let everything that has breath praise Jah![378]
Praise Jah![379]

[1] Happy, blessed is: (Heb. אָשֵׁרִי asheri; Gr. μακάριος makarios) Asre occurs 11 times in the Hebrew Old Testament and makarios 50 times in the Greek New Testament. Happiness and being highly favored by God characterize this joy. It is speaking of a person who is content, full of joy. This is not to be confused with the Hebrew word barak which means, “to bless,” as in a divine blessing. The Hebrew barak and the Greek eulogeo is the act of being blessed, while the Hebrew asre and Greek makarios is the state or condition of the person who is being blessed, who is a highly favored one. – 1 Ki 10:8; Ps 1:1; 119:1-2; Pro. 14;21; 16:20; Matt. 5:3-11; 11:6; 13:16; Lu 1:45; John 13:17; 20:29; Ac 20:35; Rom. 4:7-8 to mention just a few.

[2] This is one of the 134 scribal changes from יהוה [JHVH] to אדני [Adonai]. The earliest MSS have the Tetragrammaton.

[3] LXX SYR AT “You will shepherd” MT “You will break”

[4] “Kiss the son.” (נַשְּׁקוּ־בַ֡ר nashshequ bar.) Here we have the Aramaic bar used not the Hebrew ben. LXX “accept correction” VG “learn discipline”

[5] The meaning is uncertain. Some believe that it is a Heb. term used in music or liturgical direction. It is used frequently in the Psalms.

[6] That is, share one’s intimate thoughts or feelings

[7] The meaning of the term is uncertain. Most believe that the Hebrew word (נְחִילוֹת nékhilot) refers to a wind instrument, linking it to the flute (חָלִיל khalil).

[8] LXX SYR VG “their” MT “his”

[9] The Hebrew term (שְׁמִינִית sheminith) is a musical term that is uncertain, possibly meaning “the eighth,” which may refer to a lower musical register or a particular style of music.

[10] It is thought to be a dirge. However, the exact meaning of the Hebrew term (שִׁגָּיוֹן shiggayon) is uncertain. They speculate that the Hebrew noun is derived from the verbal root (שָׁגָה shagah), which has led them to believe it refers to a deeply moving song with rapid shifts in rhythm. Some think it could indicate a loud cry from elation or danger.

[11] MT “for me” LXX VG “O Jehovah my God”

[12]  MT “God who has indignation” LXX VG “he is not getting angry”

[13] An uncertain musical term (גִּתִּית Gittith) appears to be derived from the Hebrew word (גַּת gath). Some believe that it may be a song connected to winemaking since gath refers to a winepress.

[14] An uncertain term (מוּת לַבֵּן Muth Labben), which meant “to die for the son.” It may have been the name or the opening words of a song when singing this psalm.

[15] LXX VG some Heb. MSS combine Psalms 9 and 10 as one psalm in an acrostic arrangement.

[16] A technical term (הִגָּיוֹן higgayon) of musical direction.

[17] LXX VG some Heb. MSS combine Psalms 9 and 10 as one psalm in an acrostic arrangement.

[18] Or scoffs

[19] LXX VG combine Psalms 9 and 10, and make this Ps 10, which changes the numbers that follows.

[20] The Hebrew term (שְׁמִינִית sheminith) is a musical term that is uncertain, possibly meaning “the eighth,” which may refer to a lower musical register or a particular style of music.

[21] LXX VG “help me” MT SYR “help”

[22] LXX “us”

[23] Asleep in death: In the Scriptures, we find the expressions “sleep” (κοιμάω koimaō) and “fall asleep” (κοιμάω koimaō), with both referring to physical sleep and the sleep of death. (Matthew 28:13; Acts 7:60) When the context refers to death, Bible translators can use a footnote to express to “fall asleep in death.” The same is true in the Hebrew (פֶּן־אִישַׁ֥ן הַמָּֽוֶת׃ pen-isān) “sleep in death” (Psa. 13:3). “David slept (שָׁכַב shakab) with his forefathers.” (1 Ki 2 10) Jesus said to the disciples, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep (κεκοίμηται kekoimētai), but I go to awaken him.” The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep (κεκοίμηται kekoimētai), he will get well.” Now Jesus had spoken of his death (θάνατος thanatos), but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. (ὕπνος hupnos). Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died (ἀποθνῄσκω apothnēskō) …” (John 11:11-13) Some have argued that the dynamic equivalent thought-for-thought translations, for example, (Then David died and was buried, NLT) are conveying the idea more clearly and immediately, but is this really the case? Retaining the literal rendering, the metaphorical use of the word sleep is best because of the similarities between physical sleep and the sleep of death. Without the literal rendering, this would be lost on the reader. Retaining the literal rendering, “slept,” and adding the phrase “in death” in a footnote completes the sense in the English text. Sense: to be asleep in death; the figurative extension of the physical sleep in the sense of being at rest and at peace; the person in the sleep of death exists in God’s memory as they sleep in death; it is only temporary for those who are physically asleep, so it will be true of those who are asleep in death. The idea that death is like a deep sleep that one awakens from at some future point is made by multiple authors and Jesus Christ when talking about Lazarus. – 1 Kings 2:10; Psa. 13:3; Matt 28:13; John 11:11; Acts 7:60; 1 Cor 7:39; 1 Thess. 4:13; 2 Pet 3:4.

[24] LXX VG add: “And I will sing psalms to the name of Jehovah the Most High.”

[25] This is one of eight scribal changes from יהוה [JHVH] to אֱלֹהִים [Elohim]. 

[26] LXX adds “there is not even one”

[27] This is one of eight scribal changes from יהוה [JHVH] to אֱלֹהִים [Elohim]. 

[28] LXX “useless” The word found in Rom 3:12.

[29] LXX VG add the words found in Ro 3:13-18:

Their throat is an opened grave. With their tongues they have dealt treacherously with one another. The poison of asps is under their lips, whose mouth is full of curses and bitterness. Their feet are quick to pour out blood.

Destruction and misery are in their ways, and they know not the way of peace. There is no fear of God before their eyes.

[30] This is one of eight scribal changes from יהוה [JHVH] to אֱלֹהִים [Elohim]. AT VGc “Jehovah”

[31] Counsel: (Heb. ʿetsah) This is God’s advice or counsel that gives one direction in order to make a decision or follow a course of action. (2 Sam. 15:34; Hos. 10:6; Ps 13:3; 106:43) It also refers to a plan, scheme, or purpose where one considers a course of action, which often includes consulting a counselor or advisor.–Ps 14:6. (See 2 Sam. 15:31; 16:23; 17:7, 14, 23; Job 12:13; Isa. 11:2; 19:11)

[32] Lit sojourn

[33] Lit according to

[34] Lit he

[35] LXX SYR VG “sworn to his neighbor”

[36] That is, not to the destitute

[37] An uncertain technical term (מִכְתָּם Miktam), which may be related to the word “inscription.”

[38] LXX SYR VG some Heb. MSS “I have said” MT “you have said”

[39] This is one of the 134 scribal changes from יהוה [JHVH] to אדני [Adonai]. The earliest MSS have the Tetragrammaton.

[40] Or heart or mind, which has been interpreted as: innermost thoughts, deepest emotions, innermost person, and innermost being.

[41] LXX VG “tongue”

[42] Or the pit

[43] Lit They are enclosed in their own fat

[44]  LXX “They have now cast me out and compassed me round about” MT “They have now surrounded our steps”

[45] MT “I shall be satisfied when I awake your form” MT^correction by a correction of the Masoretic Text “looking at your form” LXX “seeing of your glory”

[46] LXX lacks “hailstones and coals of fir”

[47] LXX SYR AT some Heb. MSS “I trampled them” instead of “I cast them out”

[48] Expanse: (Heb., raqia) is the atmosphere surrounding earth the space above the earth that contains the clouds, planets, and stars. It is where the birds fly, and the luminaries reside. God began to call the expanse heaven (or sky). The Psalmist tells us ‘The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and the expanse is declaring the work of his hands.’ – Gen. 1:6-8, 14-15, 17, 20; Ps. 19:1; 150:1.

[49] LXX SYR “their voice” MT “their line” SYR “tidings”

[50] MT VG “He” LXX^A SYR five Heb. MSS “Jehovah”

[51] Or counsel

[52] LXX VG “we shall be magnified”

[53] LXX “We shall be magnified” SYR “we shall gain strength” VG “we shall call”

[54] Lit fruitage

[55] Or surrounded by

[56] Or a reproach to

[57] DSS LXX SYR VG few Heb. MSS “they have pierced my hands and my feet” AT “biting like a lion my hands and my feet” MT “Like the lion they are at my hands and my feet”

[58] LXX SYR VG “him”

[59] LXX SYR VG “my soul also lives to him”

[60] This is one of the 134 scribal changes from יהוה [JHVH] to אדני [Adonai]. The earliest MSS have the Tetragrammaton.

[61] AT SYR VG “I shall dwell”

[62] MT “my” AT LXX SYR VG many Heb. MSS “his”

[63] LXX SYR VG “God of Jacob” MT “O Jacob”

[64] Jehovah of armies: (יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֣וֹת Jehovah tsebaot) literally means an army of soldiers or military forces (Gen. 21:22; Deut. 20:9). It can also be used figuratively, “the sun and the moon and the stars, all the armies of heaven.” (Deut. 4:19) In the plural form, it is also used of the Israelites forces as well. (Ex. 6:26; 7:4; Num. 33:1; Psa. 44:9) However, the “armies” in the expression “Jehovah of armies” is a reference to the angelic forces primarily, if not exclusively.

[65] Figurative for innermost thoughts; inner man; deepest emotions

[66] Shameful Behavior: (זִמָּה zimmah) This is wickedness, shameful behavior or conduct that is lewd, shameless regarding sexual behavior. (Lev. 18:17; 19:29; 20:14; Judges 20:6; Job 31:11; Jer. 13:27; Eze. 16:27) It can also refer to the evil thought process that one goes through in plotting their wickedness. (Ps 26:10; 119:150; Pro. 10:23; 21:27; 24:9; Isa 32:7; Hos 6:9) Finally, it can be the plans that results from thinking person’s evil desires. –Job 17:11.

[67] LXX SYR VG and eight Heb. MSS “to his people” MT “to them”

[68] Or worship

[69] Or in the splendor of holiness

[70] Or the faithful God

[71] LXX SYR VG one Heb. MS “you hate”

[72] LXX SYR “my affliction” MT “my error.”

[73] Maskil: An uncertain Hebrew term (מַשְׂכִּיל maskil), which possibly means “contemplative poem” or “skillful poem.” Some think it is derived from the verb (שָׂכַל sakal), meaning “to be prudent; to be wise.”

[74] LXX SYR AT VG “as in a vessel” MT “like a heap”

[75] LXX SYR VG some Heb. MSS “look to him and be radiant” MT “those who look to him are radiant”

[76] Happy, blessed is: (Heb. אָשֵׁרִי asheri; Gr. μακάριος makarios) Asre occurs 11 times in the Hebrew Old Testament and makarios 50 times in the Greek New Testament. Happiness and being highly favored by God characterize this joy. It is speaking of a person who is content, full of joy. This is not to be confused with the Hebrew word barak which means, “to bless,” as in a divine blessing. The Hebrew barak and the Greek eulogeo is the act of being blessed, while the Hebrew asre and Greek makarios is the state or condition of the person who is being blessed, who is a highly favored one. – 1 Ki 10:8; Ps 1:1; 119:1-2; Pro. 14;21; 16:20; Matt. 5:3-11; 11:6; 13:16; Lu 1:45; John 13:17; 20:29; Ac 20:35; Rom. 4:7-8 to mention just a few.

[77] MT SYR “he” LXX VG two Heb. MSS “Jehovah”

[78] LXX “they tempted me; they ridiculed me contemptuously” MT “like ungodly mockers at a feast” These ungodly mockers were apostates because they were not a part of God’s faithful people. They were rejects, the very most worthless part of society. King Saul found joy in the words of these men, who were the lowest part of humanity, ever mocking David. They would gnash their teeth at David, that is, display anger, disdain, and scorn as they ridiculed him.

[79] This is one of the 134 scribal changes from יהוה [JHVH] to אדני [Adonai]. The earliest MSS have the Tetragrammaton.

[80] LXX SYR VG few Heb. MSS “his” MT “my”

[81] That is, the abundance

[82] That is, descendants, children

[83] LXX “like the cedars of Lebanon”

[84] LXX SYR VG “I passed by” MT “he passed by”

[85] This is one of the 134 scribal changes from יהוה [JHVH] to אדני [Adonai]. The earliest MSS have the Tetragrammaton.

[86] This is one of the 134 scribal changes from יהוה [JHVH] to אדני [Adonai]. The earliest MSS have the Tetragrammaton.

[87] LXX^א,A,B “sacrifice and offering you did not want, but you prepared a body for me” MT Lit “ears you dug for me” Hebrews 10:5 follows the LXX reading.

[88] AT many Heb. MSS “in” MT “to” LXX SYR VG “from”

[89] This is one of the 134 scribal changes from יהוה [JHVH] to אדני [Adonai]. The earliest MSS have the Tetragrammaton.

[90] The person (דַּל dal), who has few possessions but I not yet to the point of begging. The poor, needy person, who is in a humble condition and low status and vulnerable to oppression.

[91] LXX “in the hands”

[92] That is, restore him to full health

[93] A (דְּבַר־בְּלִיַּעַל dabar beliyyaal) ruinous thing (something awful), causing or involving great suffering, dread, which is extremely bad or severe. King David was going through such a severe sickness (Psalm 41), it restricted him for a time to a sickbed. The illness hit him so hard, it was as though it was “poured out on him,” something from which his enemies thought he would never “rise again.” This added much ammunition to the report of a revolt against David’s kingship.

[94] MT LXX VG “lifted his heel against me”

[95] Maskil: An uncertain Hebrew term (מַשְׂכִּיל maskil), which possibly means “contemplative poem” or “skillful poem.” Some think it is derived from the verb (שָׂכַל sakal), meaning “to be prudent; to be wise.”

[96] MT LXX VG “O God” AT SYR “O Jehovah”

[97] SYR AT some Heb. MSS “I see the face of God” MT “I come and appear before God”

[98] SYR four Heb. MSS “they”

[99] LXX SYR VG vs. 11 “my face” MT “his face”

[100] LXX SYR VG few Heb. MSS put “O my God” at the end of 42:5 instead of the beginning of 42:6.

[101] Adversaries: (צַר tsar) An enemy, foe, adversary, opponent, or oppressor, i.e., a personal enemy, who is in a state of open hostility or conflict. – Gen. 14:20; Num. 10:9; Ezra 4:1; Ps 44:5, 7.

[102] Lit to the mountain of your holiness

[103] Maskil: An uncertain Hebrew term (מַשְׂכִּיל maskil), which possibly means “contemplative poem” or “skillful poem.” Some think it is derived from the verb (שָׂכַל sakal), meaning “to be prudent; to be wise.”

[104] LXX SYR “You are indeed my king and my God, who commands victories for Jacob”

[105] Adversaries: (צַר tsar) An enemy, foe, adversary, opponent, or oppressor, i.e., a personal enemy, who is in a state of open hostility or conflict. – Gen. 14:20; Num. 10:9; Ezra 4:1; Ps 44:5, 7.

[106] Adversaries: (צַר tsar) An enemy, foe, adversary, opponent or oppressor, i.e., a personal enemy, who is in a state of open hostility or conflict. – Gen. 14:20; Num. 10:9; Ezra 4:1; Ps 44:5, 7.

[107] This is a transliteration of the Hebrew word (שׁוֹשַׁנִּים Shoshannim) meaning “upon the lilies.” This technical term may be the title of a love song or musical style, a flower used in a service desiring a word from God.

[108] Maskil: An uncertain Hebrew term (מַשְׂכִּיל maskil), which possibly means “contemplative poem” or “skillful poem.” Some think it is derived from the verb (שָׂכַל sakal), meaning “to be prudent; to be wise.”

[109] AT LXX SYR VG “your” MT lacks

[110] See 1 Chronicles 29:23, where it reads, “Then Solomon sat on the throne of Jehovah as king instead of David his father.” The rendering “Your throne, O God” would hardly make sense being addressed to the king. Further, see the footnote at Hebrews 1:8, which quotes from Psalm 45:6.

[111] That is, seek your favor

[112] Alamoth: An unknown musical term (עֲלָמוֹת alamoth) possibly meaning “singing voices of young women” (1Ch 15:20; Ps 46:1 title) probably referring to the soprano voices of young women.​

[113] Jehovah of armies: (יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֣וֹת Jehovah tsebaot) literally means an army of soldiers or military forces (Gen. 21:22; Deut. 20:9). It can also be used figuratively, “the sun and the moon and the stars, all the armies of heaven.” (Deut. 4:19) In the plural form, it is also used of the Israelites forces as well. (Ex. 6:26; 7:4; Num. 33:1; Psa. 44:9) However, the “armies” in the expression “Jehovah of armies” is a reference to the angelic forces primarily, if not exclusively.

[114] See vs. 46:7 fn.

[115] MT “the people of the God” LXX SYR VG “with the God”

[116] MT “shields” LXX “powerful ones” SYR “realms (empires)” VG “strong ones”

[117] Citadel fortress: (אַרְמוֹן armon) A military defensive building, small and relatively tall, is a part of a palace area. – 1 Ki 16:18; Ps. 122:7; Isa. 13:22; Amos 1:4.

[118] Jehovah of armies: (יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֣וֹת Jehovah tsebaot) literally means an army of soldiers or military forces (Gen. 21:22; Deut. 20:9). It can also be used figuratively, “the sun and the moon and the stars, all the armies of heaven.” (Deut. 4:19) In the plural form, it is also used of the Israelites forces as well. (Ex. 6:26; 7:4; Num. 33:1; Psa. 44:9) However, the “armies” in the expression “Jehovah of armies” is a reference to the angelic forces primarily, if not exclusively.

[119] Citadel fortress: (אַרְמוֹן armon) A military defensive building, small and relatively tall, is a part of a palace area. – 1 Ki 16:18; Ps. 122:7; Isa. 13:22; Amos 1:4.

[120] MT SYR “until death” LXX VG “forever”

[121] Lit supplanters

[122] Lit his cover; Heb. kophroh

[123] MT SYR “their” LXX VG “his”

[124] Or grave

[125] LXX SYR VG “their graves”

[126] LXX SYR AT “their graves are their houses forever” MT “wish is that their houses will last forever”

[127] LXX SYR VG “understand” MT “continue”

[128] Lit are destroyed

[129] It may mean a “pause, suspension, or holding back.”

[130] Sheol: (שְׁאֹל sheol) Sheol occurs sixty-six times in the UASV. The Greek Septuagint renders Sheol as Hades. It is the grave. It has the underlying meaning of a place of the dead, where they are conscious of nothing, awaiting a resurrection, for both the righteous and the unrighteous. (Gen. 37:35; Psa. 16:10; Ac 2:31; John 5:28-29; Acts 24:15) It corresponds to “Hades” in the NT. It does not involve torment and punishment.

[131] MT^margin “Their rock”

[132] Sheol: (שְׁאֹל sheol) Sheol occurs sixty-six times in the UASV. The Greek Septuagint renders Sheol as Hades. It is the grave. It has the underlying meaning of a place of the dead, where they are conscious of nothing, awaiting a resurrection, for both the righteous and the unrighteous. (Gen. 37:35; Psa. 16:10; Ac 2:31; John 5:28-29; Acts 24:15) It corresponds to “Hades” in the NT. It does not involve torment and punishment.

[133] That is, power of

[134] Sheol: (שְׁאֹל sheol) Sheol occurs sixty-six times in the UASV. The Greek Septuagint renders Sheol as Hades. It is the grave. It has the underlying meaning of a place of the dead, where they are conscious of nothing, awaiting a resurrection, for both the righteous and the unrighteous. (Gen. 37:35; Psa. 16:10; Ac 2:31; John 5:28-29; Acts 24:15) It corresponds to “Hades” in the NT. It does not involve torment and punishment.

[135] It may mean a “pause, suspension, or holding back.”

[136] LXX SYR AT  “heavens” MT “mountains”

[137] MT “you are pleased” AT LXX SYR VG “you even ran”

[138] Error: (עָווֹן avon) The Hebrew word avon essentially relates to erring, acting illegally or wrongly. This aspect of sin refers to committing a perverseness, wrongness, lawlessness, law breaking, which can also include the rejection of the sovereignty of God. It also focuses on the liability or guilt of one’s wicked, wrongful act. This error may be deliberate or accidental; either willful deviation of what is right or unknowingly making a mistake. (Lev. 4:13-35; 5:1-6, 14-19; Num. 15:22-29; Ps 19:12, 13) Of course, if it is intentional; then, the consequence is far more serious. (Num. 15:30-31) Error is in opposition to the truth, and those willfully sinning corrupt the truth, a course that only brings forth flagrant sin. (Isa 5:18-23) We can be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. – Ex 9:27, 34-35; Heb. 3:13-15.

[139] LXX AT VG “in your words” MT “when you speak”

[140] That is, and my secret self (Or innermost self) you will make me know wisdom.

[141] Maskil: An uncertain Hebrew term (מַשְׂכִּיל maskil), which possibly means “contemplative poem” or “skillful poem.” Some think it is derived from the verb (שָׂכַל sakal), meaning “to be prudent; to be wise.”

[142] Maskil: An uncertain Hebrew term (מַשְׂכִּיל maskil), which possibly means “contemplative poem” or “skillful poem.” Some think it is derived from the verb (שָׂכַל sakal), meaning “to be prudent; to be wise.”

[143] This is one of eight scribal changes from יהוה [JHVH] to אֱלֹהִים [Elohim].

[144] This is one of eight scribal changes from יהוה [JHVH] to אֱלֹהִים [Elohim]. AT “Jehovah” and 14:2 “Jehovah” MT LXX VG “God”

[145] This is one of eight scribal changes from יהוה [JHVH] to אֱלֹהִים [Elohim]. AT “Jehovah” and 14:2 “Jehovah” MT LXX VG “God”

[146] MT LXX VG “God” two Heb. MSS “Jehovah”

[147] This is one of eight scribal changes from יהוה [JHVH] to אֱלֹהִים [Elohim]. AT “Jehovah”

[148] This is one of eight scribal changes from יהוה [JHVH] to אֱלֹהִים [Elohim]. AT “Jehovah” and 14:2 “Jehovah” MT LXX VG “God”

[149] Maskil: An uncertain Hebrew term (מַשְׂכִּיל maskil), which possibly means “contemplative poem” or “skillful poem.” Some think it is derived from the verb (שָׂכַל sakal), meaning “to be prudent; to be wise.”

[150] This is one of the 134 scribal changes from יהוה [JHVH] to אדני [Adonai]. The earliest MSS have the Tetragrammaton.

[151] Maskil: An uncertain Hebrew term (מַשְׂכִּיל maskil), which possibly means “contemplative poem” or “skillful poem.” Some think it is derived from the verb (שָׂכַל sakal), meaning “to be prudent; to be wise.”

[152] This is one of the 134 scribal changes from יהוה [JHVH] to אדני [Adonai]. The earliest MSS have the Tetragrammaton.

[153] “He” is referring to the former friend that was mentioned in vss. 13 and 14.

[154] MT^correction by a correction of the Masoretic Text

[155] Mikhtam: An uncertain technical term (מִכְתָּם Miktam), which may be related to the word “inscription.”

[156] Mikhtam: An uncertain technical term (מִכְתָּם Miktam), which may be related to the word “inscription.”

[157] This is one of the 134 scribal changes from יהוה [JHVH] to אדני [Adonai]. The earliest MSS have the Tetragrammaton.

[158] Mikhtam: An uncertain technical term (מִכְתָּם Miktam), which may be related to the word “inscription.”

[159] Mikhtam: An uncertain technical term (מִכְתָּם Miktam), which may be related to the word “inscription.”

[160] Jehovah of armies: (יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֣וֹת Jehovah tsebaot) literally means an army of soldiers or military forces (Gen. 21:22; Deut. 20:9). It can also be used figuratively, “the sun and the moon and the stars, all the armies of heaven.” (Deut. 4:19) In the plural form, it is also used of the Israelites forces as well. (Ex. 6:26; 7:4; Num. 33:1; Psa. 44:9) However, the “armies” in the expression “Jehovah of armies” is a reference to the angelic forces primarily, if not exclusively.

[161] AT LXX VG several Heb. MSS “my strength” MT “his strength”

[162] MT^margin AT many Heb. MSS adds “to me”

[163] LXX VG “my God, his mercy will meet me” MT “my God in his loyal love will meet me”

[164] Mikhtam: An uncertain technical term (מִכְתָּם Miktam), which may be related to the word “inscription.”

[165] MT “us” MT^margin AT LXX SYR VG many Heb. MSS “me”

[166] SYR “over Philistia I shout in triumph” AT “Over the Philistines the congregation of Israel jubilates.” MT “over me, O Philistia, shout in triumph”

[167] Or possibly fortified

[168] Fat and fatness were considered the choicest part at a meal or banquet. Having body fat meant that a person was healthy. Conversely, they referred to a physically fit, healthy person as fat. David had experienced God’s love and care. He felt completely satisfied, like the rich food at the banquet. In life, he had received the best, the choicest part. Therefore, he would joyfully praise God Almighty continually from his lips.

[169] Or foxes

[170] MT LXX VG “them” SYR “us”

[171] Or inward thought or inward mind

[172] VG some LXX MSS “by your strength” MT “by his strength”

[173] See vs. 63:5 fn.

[174] MT “saturation” LXX SYR AT VG MT^emendation by a small alteration of the Masoretic Text “wide open place (i.e., place of relief)”

[175] This is one of the 134 scribal changes from יהוה [JHVH] to אדני [Adonai]. The earliest MSS have the Tetragrammaton.

[176] “Jah” (יָ֔הּ) is a shortened form of the name Jehovah, which is found in the exhortation “Hallelujah!” That is, “Praise Jah!” It occurs 49 times in MT identified by a point (mappiq) in its second letter and once in Ca 8:6, without the mappiq. The mappiq is a diacritic used in the Hebrew alphabet. It is part of the Masoretes’ system of vowel points. It takes the form of a dot in the middle of a letter (usually הּ‎, he).  AT LXX SYR VG “Jehovah”

[177] Or protector of widows

[178] This is one of the 134 scribal changes from יהוה [JHVH] to אדני [Adonai]. The earliest MSS have the Tetragrammaton.

[179] “Jah” (יָ֔הּ) is a shortened form of the name Jehovah, which is found in the exhortation “Hallelujah!” That is, “Praise Jah!” It occurs 49 times in MT identified by a point (mappiq) in its second letter and once in Ca 8:6 without the mappiq. The mappiq is a diacritic used in the Hebrew alphabet. It is part of the Masoretes’ system of vowel points. It takes the form of a dot in the middle of a letter (usually הּ‎, he).

[180] LXX SYR AT “so that you may dip your foot in blood” MT “so that your foot may shatter them in blood.”

[181] LXX SYR AT VG several Heb. MSS “Command, O God, your strength” MT “Your God has commanded your strength.”

[182] Or possibly ambassadors will come

[183] LXX “his sanctuary” MT “your sanctuary”

[184] Jehovah of armies: (יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֣וֹת Jehovah tsebaot) literally means an army of soldiers or military forces (Gen. 21:22; Deut. 20:9). It can also be used figuratively, “the sun and the moon and the stars, all the armies of heaven.” (Deut. 4:19) In the plural form, it is also used of the Israelites forces as well. (Ex. 6:26; 7:4; Num. 33:1; Psa. 44:9) However, the “armies” in the expression “Jehovah of armies” is a reference to the angelic forces primarily, if not exclusively.

[185] LXX SYR VG “and retribution and a snare” MT “when they are at peace, let it become a trap”

[186] Lit arm

[187] MT^margin LXX SYR VG “me” MT “us”

[188] MT “they shall fear you” MT^emendation by a small alteration of the Masoretic Text “they shall he live long”

[189] MT “the righteous one” LXX SYR VG three Heb. MSS “righteousness”

[190] Lit sprout

[191] MT LXX SYR VG “River” AT “Euphrates”

[192] Fat and fatness were considered the choicest part at a meal or banquet. Having body fat meant that a person was healthy. Conversely, they referred to a physically fit, healthy person as fat.

[193] LXX SYR VG “their iniquity” MT “their eye”

[194] Fat and fatness were considered the choicest part at a meal or banquet. Having body fat meant that a person was healthy. Conversely, they referred to a physically fit, healthy person as fat.

[195] This is one of the 134 scribal changes from יהוה [JHVH] to אדני [Adonai]. The earliest MSS have the Tetragrammaton.

[196] When kidneys (כִּלְיָה kilyah – νεφρός nephros) are used figuratively, the term refers to the innermost parts of a person, the mind, the aspects of personality.

[197] Maskil: An uncertain Hebrew term (מַשְׂכִּיל maskil), which possibly means “contemplative poem” or “skillful poem.” Some think it is derived from the verb (שָׂכַל sakal), meaning “to be prudent; to be wise.”

[198] A reptile, serpent-like creature of the sea takes on mythological proportions, which is thought to refer to the crocodile or some other large, powerful aquatic animal. MT SYR “leviathan” AT “the strong ones of Pharaoh” LXX VG “the dragon”

[199] LXX “I will rejoice” MT “I will declare”

[200] LXX SYR “everlasting mountains.” MT “mountains of prey”

[201] Lit chariot

[202] MT “you will clothe yourself” LXX VG “will keep festival to you”

[203] MT “God” AT LXX VG “Jehovah”

[204] This is one of the 134 scribal changes from יהוה [JHVH] to אדני [Adonai]. The earliest MSS have the Tetragrammaton.

[205] MT “my spirit made a diligent search” SYR VG “I searched my spirit”

[206] This is one of the 134 scribal changes from יהוה [JHVH] to אדני [Adonai]. The earliest MSS have the Tetragrammaton.

[207] “Jah” (יָ֔הּ) is a shortened form of the name Jehovah, which is found in the exhortation “Hallelujah!” That is, “Praise Jah!” It occurs 49 times in MT identified by a point (mappiq) in its second letter and once in Ca 8:6 without the mappiq. The mappiq is a diacritic used in the Hebrew alphabet. It is part of the Masoretes’ system of vowel points. It takes the form of a dot in the middle of a letter (usually הּ‎, he).

[208] Maskil: An uncertain Hebrew term (מַשְׂכִּיל maskil), which possibly means “contemplative poem” or “skillful poem.” Some think it is derived from the verb (שָׂכַל sakal), meaning “to be prudent; to be wise.”

[209] Lit the fattest of the men. Fat and fatness were considered the choicest part at a meal or banquet. Having body fat meant that a person was healthy. Conversely, they referred to a physically fit, healthy person as fat.

[210] That is, in futility

[211] That is, power

[212] MT “his” LXX SYR VG “their”

[213] That is, the greatness of your power

[214] This is one of the 134 scribal changes from יהוה [JHVH] to אדני [Adonai]. The earliest MSS have the Tetragrammaton.

[215] MT “an object of strife to” SYR “the scorn of”

[216] That is, the Euphrates

[217] MT “son” LXX SYR VG^c “son of man” AT “king Messiah”

[218] Gittith: An uncertain musical term (גִּתִּית Gittith) appears to be derived from the Hebrew word (גַּת gath). Some believe that it may be a song connected to winemaking since gath refers to a winepress.

[219] MT “when he went out over the land of Egypt” LXX SYR VG “when he went forth out of the land of Egypt”

[220] MT SYR “I” LXX VG “he”

[221]  MT “God” LXX VG “gods” SYR “angels”

[222] That is, treasured ones

[223] MT “Asshur” LXX VG “Assur”

[224] This is referring to the Moabites and the Ammonites in vss 6, 7.

[225] Gittith: An uncertain musical term (גִּתִּית Gittith) appears to be derived from the Hebrew word (גַּת gath). Some believe that it may be a song connected to winemaking since gath refers to a winepress.

[226] Jehovah of armies: (יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֣וֹת Jehovah tsebaot) literally means an army of soldiers or military forces (Gen. 21:22; Deut. 20:9). It can also be used figuratively, “the sun and the moon and the stars, all the armies of heaven.” (Deut. 4:19) In the plural form, it is also used of the Israelites forces as well. (Ex. 6:26; 7:4; Num. 33:1; Psa. 44:9) However, the “armies” in the expression “Jehovah of armies” is a reference to the angelic forces primarily, if not exclusively.

[227] See vs. 84:1 fn.

[228] MT VG “you” LXX “you, O Jehovah” AT “your Meimra”

[229] MT “they make it” LXX several Heb. MSS “he makes it”

[230] MT^correction by a correction of the Masoretic Text “they will see the God of gods in Zion” LXX SYR VG “the God of gods will be seen in Zion”

[231] See vs. 84:1 fn.

[232] MT “restore us” LXX SYR VG “bring us back”

[233] This is one of the 134 scribal changes from יהוה [JHVH] to אדני [Adonai]. The earliest MSS have the Tetragrammaton.

[234] See vs 3 fn.

[235] See vs 3 fn.

[236] See vs 3 fn.

[237] See vs 3 fn.

[238] See vs 3 fn.

[239] Or and truth

[240] LXX VG “and Babylon” MT “and Babel”

[241] MT “Cush” LXX VG “Ethiopian”

[242] Maskil: An uncertain Hebrew term (מַשְׂכִּיל maskil), which possibly means “contemplative poem” or “skillful poem.” Some think it is derived from the verb (שָׂכַל sakal), meaning “to be prudent; to be wise.”

[243] MT “those powerless in death” AT “bodies dissolved in the dust” LXX VG “healers” SYR “mighty ones”

[244] Or in Abaddon

[245] Maskil: An uncertain Hebrew term (מַשְׂכִּיל maskil), which possibly means “contemplative poem” or “skillful poem.” Some think it is derived from the verb (שָׂכַל sakal), meaning “to be prudent; to be wise.”

[246] “Jah” (יָ֔הּ) is a shortened form of the name Jehovah, which is found in the exhortation “Hallelujah!” That is, “Praise Jah!” It occurs 49 times in MT identified by a point (mappiq) in its second letter and once in Ca 8:6 without the mappiq. The mappiq is a diacritic used in the Hebrew alphabet. It is part of the Masoretes’ system of vowel points. It takes the form of a dot in the middle of a letter (usually הּ‎, he).

[247] MT LXX AT VG “faithful ones” some Heb. MSS “loyal one” some LXX MSS “your children”

[248] That is, my covenant will never fail

[249] This is one of the 134 scribal changes from יהוה [JHVH] to אדני [Adonai]. The earliest MSS have the Tetragrammaton.

[250] MT LXX “servants” SYR some Heb. MSS “servant”

[251] That is, carry in my heart

[252] This is one of the 134 scribal changes from יהוה [JHVH] to אדני [Adonai]. The earliest MSS have the Tetragrammaton.

[253] Or possibly our refuge; referring to a shelter from danger or hardship

[254] That is, life

[255] Or span

[256] This is one of the 134 scribal changes from יהוה [JHVH] to אדני [Adonai]. The earliest MSS have the Tetragrammaton.

[257] Or secret place

[258] LXX SYR VG “he will say”

[259] MT AT SYR VG LXX^Aquila “Jehovah.”  The Tetragrammaton (יהוה) in ancient Heb. characters within the Gr. translation of the Heb. Scriptures.

[260] LXX SYR VG “enemies” MT “walls”

[261] LXX has the superscription: “For the day before the sabbath, when the earth was settled. The praise of a song by David”; VG is similar.

[262] “Jah” (יָ֔הּ) is a shortened form of the name Jehovah, which is found in the exhortation “Hallelujah!” That is, “Praise Jah!” It occurs 49 times in MT identified by a point (mappiq) in its second letter and once in Ca 8:6 without the mappiq. The mappiq is a diacritic used in the Hebrew alphabet. It is part of the Masoretes’ system of vowel points. It takes the form of a dot in the middle of a letter (usually הּ‎, he).

[263] The expression “cut them off” or “cut off” or “cutting off” means a cutting off in death. Some rabbinic scholars think that it simply commissioned the expulsion of the offender from the congregation of Israel. However, when we examine the offenses for which this penalty is directed, we can see that the expressions reference the death penalty, which was carried out by the Israelite leaders or by God. The offenses for which cutting off is directed are severe.

[264] LXX has the superscription: “When the house was built after the captivity: a song of David” VG is similar.

[265] Or worship

[266] MT “light is sown” AT LXX SYR VG one Heb. MSS “light dawns.”

[267] MT LXX SYR VG some Heb. MSS “and not we ourselves” MT^margin AT LXX^Aq and many Heb. MSS “and we are his”

[268] The expression “cut them off” or “cut off” or “cutting off” means a cutting off in death. Some rabbinic scholars think that it simply commissioned the expulsion of the offender from the congregation of Israel. However, when we examine the offenses for which this penalty is directed, we can see that the expressions reference the death penalty, which was carried out by the Israelite leaders or by God. The offenses for which cutting off is directed are severe.

[269] “Jah” (יָ֔הּ) is a shortened form of the name Jehovah, which is found in the exhortation “Hallelujah!” That is, “Praise Jah!” It occurs 49 times in MT identified by a point (mappiq) in its second letter and once in Ca 8:6 without the mappiq. The mappiq is a diacritic used in the Hebrew alphabet. It is part of the Masoretes’ system of vowel points. It takes the form of a dot in the middle of a letter (usually הּ‎, he).

[270] Or grave

[271] Error: (עָווֹן avon) The Hebrew word avon essentially relates to erring, acting illegally or wrongly. This aspect of sin refers to committing a perverseness, wrongness, lawlessness, law breaking, which can also include the rejection of the sovereignty of God. It also focuses on the liability or guilt of one’s wicked, wrongful act. This error may be deliberate or accidental; either willful deviation of what is right or unknowingly making a mistake. (Lev. 4:13-35; 5:1-6, 14-19; Num. 15:22-29; Ps 19:12, 13) Of course, if it is intentional; then, the consequence is far more serious. (Num. 15:30-31) Error is in opposition to the truth, and those willfully sinning corrupt the truth, a course that only brings forth flagrant sin. (Isa 5:18-23) We can be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.–Ex 9:27, 34-35; Heb. 3:13-15.

[272] Leviathan: MT SYR “Leviathan” LXX VG “the dragon.” A reptile, serpent-like creature of the sea takes on mythological proportions, which is thought to refer to the crocodile or some other large, powerful aquatic animal.

[273] Or breath

[274] Or breath

[275] “Jah” (יָ֔הּ) is a shortened form of the name Jehovah, which is found in the exhortation “Hallelujah!” That is, “Praise Jah!” It occurs 49 times in MT identified by a point (mappiq) in its second letter and once in Ca 8:6 without the mappiq. The mappiq is a diacritic used in the Hebrew alphabet. It is part of the Masoretes’ system of vowel points. It takes the form of a dot in the middle of a letter (usually הּ‎, he).

[276] MT LXX VG “they” AT SYR many Heb. MSS and 1Ch 16:19 “you” plural.

[277] Or he himself was put in irons

[278] MT “they” LXX SYR VG “he”

[279] AT LXX SYR VG “they” MT “he” collectively.

[280] “Jah” (יָ֔הּ) is a shortened form of the name Jehovah, which is found in the exhortation “Hallelujah!” That is, “Praise Jah!” It occurs 49 times in MT identified by a point (mappiq) in its second letter and once in Ca 8:6 without the mappiq. The mappiq is a diacritic used in the Hebrew alphabet. It is part of the Masoretes’ system of vowel points. It takes the form of a dot in the middle of a letter (usually הּ‎, he).

[281] “Jah” (יָ֔הּ) is a shortened form of the name Jehovah, which is found in the exhortation “Hallelujah!” That is, “Praise Jah!” It occurs 49 times in MT identified by a point (mappiq) in its second letter and once in Ca 8:6 without the mappiq. The mappiq is a diacritic used in the Hebrew alphabet. It is part of the Masoretes’ system of vowel points. It takes the form of a dot in the middle of a letter (usually הּ‎, he).

[282] AT LXX SYR VG “those who do” MT “he who does”

[283] Or wilderness

[284] MT^margin “my glory” MT “their glory” This is one of the Eighteen Emendations of the Sopherim. Some notes read in the Masoretic text margin: “This is one of the eighteen emendations of the Sopherim” or similar words. The scribe who made these revisions had good intentions as he saw the original reading “my glory” as though it showed a lack of respect for God or his people. LXX VG “his glory”

[285] by worshiping idols

[286] Counsel: (Heb. ʿetsah) This is God’s advice or counsel that gives one direction in order to make a decision or follow a course of action. (2 Sam. 15:34; Hos. 10:6; Ps 13:3; 106:43) It also refers to a plan, scheme, or purpose where one considers a course of action, which often includes consulting a counselor or advisor.–Ps 14:6. (See 2 Sam. 15:31; 16:23; 17:7, 14, 23; Job 12:13; Isa. 11:2; 19:11)

[287] MT SYR VG “he” LXX^A one Heb. MS “Jehovah”

[288] The Hebrew word (נִחוּם nichum or נִחֻם nichum) has the sense of feel regret over. It can be translated as “be sorry,” “grieved,” “repent,” “regret,” “be comforted, “compassion,” “comfort,” “reconsider,” and “change one’s mind.” It can pertain to a change of attitude or intention. God is perfect and therefore does not make mistakes in his dealings with his creation. However, he can have a change of attitude or intention regarding how humans react to his warnings. God can go from the Creator of humans to that of a destroyer of them because of their unrepentant wickedness and failure to heed his warnings. On the other hand, if they repent and turn from their wicked ways, the Father can be compassionate and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in loyal love. He will “reconsider” the calamity that he may have intended. (Genesis 6:6; Exodus 32:14; Joel 2:13) This is not really God changing his mind per se but rather his altering circumstances once persons with free will brought those altered circumstances about so God could carry out his will and purposes. Second, draw comfort in the fact that we can be sure that God will never change his standards of love and justice regardless of what created beings do with their free will. Nevertheless, just as any of us might change our mind about someone who has altered the way they treat us, God does change in the way that he deals with humans to the evolving circumstances, situations, and conditions. There are also times when God has changed his commands, laws, and instructions according to his people’s situation and needs. We should not be astonished by this because God has foreknowledge, and he is well aware of conditions that will come where he will have to change or alter circumstances. The English word “regret” means ‘to feel sorry and sad about something previously done or said that now appears wrong, mistaken, or hurtful to others.’ The Hebrew word (nacham here translated as “regretted” relates to a change of attitude or intention. The Hebrew could not be used to suggest that God felt that he had made a mistake in creating man.

[289] “Jah” (יָ֔הּ) is a shortened form of the name Jehovah, which is found in the exhortation “Hallelujah!” That is, “Praise Jah!” It occurs 49 times in MT identified by a point (mappiq) in its second letter and once in Ca 8:6 without the mappiq. The mappiq is a diacritic used in the Hebrew alphabet. It is part of the Masoretes’ system of vowel points. It takes the form of a dot in the middle of a letter (usually הּ‎, he).

[290] DSS SYR “the waves of the sea” MT “their waves” LXX VG “its waves”

[291] That is, protects because of being out of reach

[292] Fat and fatness were considered the choicest part at a meal or banquet. Having body fat meant that a person was healthy. Conversely, they referred to a physically fit, healthy person as fat. David had experienced God’s love and care. He felt completely satisfied, like the rich food at the banquet. In life, he had received the best, the choicest part. Therefore, he would joyfully praise God Almighty continually from his lips.

[293] This is one of the 134 scribal changes from יהוה [JHVH] to אדני [Adonai]. The earliest MSS have the Tetragrammaton.

[294] SYR two Heb. MSS “his head” MT LXX VG “the head”

[295] “Jah” (יָ֔הּ) is a shortened form of the name Jehovah, which is found in the exhortation “Hallelujah!” That is, “Praise Jah!” It occurs 49 times in MT identified by a point (mappiq) in its second letter and once in Ca 8:6 without the mappiq. The mappiq is a diacritic used in the Hebrew alphabet. It is part of the Masoretes’ system of vowel points. It takes the form of a dot in the middle of a letter (usually הּ‎, he).

[296] “Jah” (יָ֔הּ) is a shortened form of the name Jehovah, which is found in the exhortation “Hallelujah!” That is, “Praise Jah!” It occurs 49 times in MT identified by a point (mappiq) in its second letter and once in Ca 8:6 without the mappiq. The mappiq is a diacritic used in the Hebrew alphabet. It is part of the Masoretes’ system of vowel points. It takes the form of a dot in the middle of a letter (usually הּ‎, he).

[297] LXX^Theodotion many Heb. MSS combine Ps 114 and 115, which makes psalm 114:1-26.

[298] LXX SYR several Heb. MSS “O house of Israel”

[299] “Jah” (יָ֔הּ) is a shortened form of the name Jehovah, which is found in the exhortation “Hallelujah!” That is, “Praise Jah!” It occurs 49 times in MT identified by a point (mappiq) in its second letter and once in Ca 8:6 without the mappiq. The mappiq is a diacritic used in the Hebrew alphabet. It is part of the Masoretes’ system of vowel points. It takes the form of a dot in the middle of a letter (usually הּ‎, he).

[300] “Jah” (יָ֔הּ) is a shortened form of the name Jehovah, which is found in the exhortation “Hallelujah!” That is, “Praise Jah!” It occurs 49 times in MT identified by a point (mappiq) in its second letter and once in Ca 8:6 without the mappiq. The mappiq is a diacritic used in the Hebrew alphabet. It is part of the Masoretes’ system of vowel points. It takes the form of a dot in the middle of a letter (usually הּ‎, he).

[301] “Jah” (יָ֔הּ) is a shortened form of the name Jehovah, which is found in the exhortation “Hallelujah!” That is, “Praise Jah!” It occurs 49 times in MT identified by a point (mappiq) in its second letter and once in Ca 8:6 without the mappiq. The mappiq is a diacritic used in the Hebrew alphabet. It is part of the Masoretes’ system of vowel points. It takes the form of a dot in the middle of a letter (usually הּ‎, he).

[302] MT “my voice, my entreaties” LXX SYR VG “my voice and my supplications”

[303] LXX VG start Ps 115 here with the superscription, “Hallelujah”

[304] “Jah” (יָ֔הּ) is a shortened form of the name Jehovah, which is found in the exhortation “Hallelujah!” That is, “Praise Jah!” It occurs 49 times in MT identified by a point (mappiq) in its second letter and once in Ca 8:6 without the mappiq. The mappiq is a diacritic used in the Hebrew alphabet. It is part of the Masoretes’ system of vowel points. It takes the form of a dot in the middle of a letter (usually הּ‎, he).

[305] “Jah” (יָ֔הּ) is a shortened form of the name Jehovah, which is found in the exhortation “Hallelujah!” That is, “Praise Jah!” It occurs 49 times in MT identified by a point (mappiq) in its second letter and once in Ca 8:6 without the mappiq. The mappiq is a diacritic used in the Hebrew alphabet. It is part of the Masoretes’ system of vowel points. It takes the form of a dot in the middle of a letter (usually הּ‎, he).

[306] “Jah” (יָ֔הּ) is a shortened form of the name Jehovah, which is found in the exhortation “Hallelujah!” That is, “Praise Jah!” It occurs 49 times in MT identified by a point (mappiq) in its second letter and once in Ca 8:6 without the mappiq. The mappiq is a diacritic used in the Hebrew alphabet. It is part of the Masoretes’ system of vowel points. It takes the form of a dot in the middle of a letter (usually הּ‎, he).

[307] “Jah” (יָ֔הּ) is a shortened form of the name Jehovah, which is found in the exhortation “Hallelujah!” That is, “Praise Jah!” It occurs 49 times in MT identified by a point (mappiq) in its second letter and once in Ca 8:6 without the mappiq. The mappiq is a diacritic used in the Hebrew alphabet. It is part of the Masoretes’ system of vowel points. It takes the form of a dot in the middle of a letter (usually הּ‎, he).

[308] LXX “they blazed”

[309] LXX SYR VG “I was pushed”

[310] “Jah” (יָ֔הּ) is a shortened form of the name Jehovah, which is found in the exhortation “Hallelujah!” That is, “Praise Jah!” It occurs 49 times in MT identified by a point (mappiq) in its second letter and once in Ca 8:6 without the mappiq. The mappiq is a diacritic used in the Hebrew alphabet. It is part of the Masoretes’ system of vowel points. It takes the form of a dot in the middle of a letter (usually הּ‎, he).

[311] LXX SYR VG “exalts me”

[312] “Jah” (יָ֔הּ) is a shortened form of the name Jehovah, which is found in the exhortation “Hallelujah!” That is, “Praise Jah!” It occurs 49 times in MT identified by a point (mappiq) in its second letter and once in Ca 8:6 without the mappiq. The mappiq is a diacritic used in the Hebrew alphabet. It is part of the Masoretes’ system of vowel points. It takes the form of a dot in the middle of a letter (usually הּ‎, he).

[313] “Jah” (יָ֔הּ) is a shortened form of the name Jehovah, which is found in the exhortation “Hallelujah!” That is, “Praise Jah!” It occurs 49 times in MT identified by a point (mappiq) in its second letter and once in Ca 8:6 without the mappiq. The mappiq is a diacritic used in the Hebrew alphabet. It is part of the Masoretes’ system of vowel points. It takes the form of a dot in the middle of a letter (usually הּ‎, he).

[314] “Jah” (יָ֔הּ) is a shortened form of the name Jehovah, which is found in the exhortation “Hallelujah!” That is, “Praise Jah!” It occurs 49 times in MT identified by a point (mappiq) in its second letter and once in Ca 8:6 without the mappiq. The mappiq is a diacritic used in the Hebrew alphabet. It is part of the Masoretes’ system of vowel points. It takes the form of a dot in the middle of a letter (usually הּ‎, he).

[315] Happy, blessed is: (Heb. אָשֵׁרִי asheri; Gr. μακάριος makarios) Asre occurs 11 times in the Hebrew Old Testament and makarios 50 times in the Greek New Testament. Happiness and being highly favored by God characterize this joy. It is speaking of a person who is content, full of joy. This is not to be confused with the Hebrew word barak which means, “to bless,” as in a divine blessing. The Hebrew barak and the Greek eulogeo is the act of being blessed, while the Hebrew asre and Greek makarios is the state or condition of the person who is being blessed, who is a highly favored one. – 1 Ki 10:8; Ps 1:1; 119:1-2; Pro. 14;21; 16:20; Matt. 5:3-11; 11:6; 13:16; Lu 1:45; John 13:17; 20:29; Ac 20:35; Rom. 4:7-8 to mention just a few.

[316] LXX some Heb. MSS “your words.” This plural reading in these sources is found multiple times throughout Psalm 119.

[317] SYR “more than over all other riches”

[318] Lit drops

[319] That is, give greater understanding

[320] Older translations read, quickened me

[321] That is, your favor

[322] MT^margin AT LXX SYR “and those who know your reminders” MT “that they may know your reminders”

[323] SYR “Forever you are, O Jehovah; your word is established in heaven”

[324] Older translations read, quickened me

[325] Instructions: (Heb. piqquḏim) This Hebrew noun means instructions, precepts, directions, procedures, regulation, i.e., a principle or rule concerning the personal conduct that is to be obeyed within a community.– Ps 19:9; 103:18; 111:7; 119:4, 15, 27, 40, 45, 56, 63, 69, 78, 87, 93-94, 100, 104, 110, 128, 134, 141, 159, 168, 173.

[326] LXX “your law” several Heb. MSS “your words”

[327] MT “foot” LXX SYR VG one Heb. MS “feet”

[328] Older translations read, quickened me

[329] This (Heb. sā·mǎr) is literally to “bristle up” from some fearful expectation.

[330] This (Heb. pǎ·ḥǎḏ) is literally “to shake” because of fear, terror or dread over an expectation or anticipation of an impending judgment.

[331] Older translations read, quickened me

[332] Older translations read, quickened me

[333] Older translations read, quickened me

[334] Older translations read, quickened me

[335] LXX SYR VG eight Heb. MSS “haters” MT “hater”

[336] The psalmist does not look to imperfect humans or creation, but rather to the Creator for help.

[337] 121:3-4: The true God is living unlike the pagan gods/dead idols (cf. 1 Kin. 18:27).

[338] This pictures the place of human need.

[339] “Jah” (יָ֔הּ) is a shortened form of the name Jehovah, which is found in the exhortation “Hallelujah!” That is, “Praise Jah!” It occurs 49 times in MT identified by a point (mappiq) in its second letter and once in Ca 8:6 without the mappiq. The mappiq is a diacritic used in the Hebrew alphabet. It is part of the Masoretes’ system of vowel points. It takes the form of a dot in the middle of a letter (usually הּ‎, he).

[340] The restoration of the Israelites from Babylonian captivity to the homeland was anything but splendid, grand, and perfect (cf. Hag 1:10, 11; 2:19). Therefore, the above plea.

[341] Or the south. That is the southern part of the Promised Land. The Negev was an arid region in the southern part of Palestine, and its name came to mean south.

[342] This is one of the 134 scribal changes from יהוה [JHVH] to אדני [Adonai]. The earliest MSS have the Tetragrammaton.

[343] “Jah” (יָ֔הּ) is a shortened form of the name Jehovah, which is found in the exhortation “Hallelujah!” That is, “Praise Jah!” It occurs 49 times in MT identified by a point (mappiq) in its second letter and once in Ca 8:6 without the mappiq. The mappiq is a diacritic used in the Hebrew alphabet. It is part of the Masoretes’ system of vowel points. It takes the form of a dot in the middle of a letter (usually הּ‎, he).

[344] “Jah” (יָ֔הּ) is a shortened form of the name Jehovah, which is found in the exhortation “Hallelujah!” That is, “Praise Jah!” It occurs 49 times in MT identified by a point (mappiq) in its second letter and once in Ca 8:6 without the mappiq. The mappiq is a diacritic used in the Hebrew alphabet. It is part of the Masoretes’ system of vowel points. It takes the form of a dot in the middle of a letter (usually הּ‎, he).

[345] “Jah” (יָ֔הּ) is a shortened form of the name Jehovah, which is found in the exhortation “Hallelujah!” That is, “Praise Jah!” It occurs 49 times in MT identified by a point (mappiq) in its second letter and once in Ca 8:6 without the mappiq. The mappiq is a diacritic used in the Hebrew alphabet. It is part of the Masoretes’ system of vowel points. It takes the form of a dot in the middle of a letter (usually הּ‎, he).

[346] “Jah” (יָ֔הּ) is a shortened form of the name Jehovah, which is found in the exhortation “Hallelujah!” That is, “Praise Jah!” It occurs 49 times in MT identified by a point (mappiq) in its second letter and once in Ca 8:6 without the mappiq. The mappiq is a diacritic used in the Hebrew alphabet. It is part of the Masoretes’ system of vowel points. It takes the form of a dot in the middle of a letter (usually הּ‎, he).

[347] “Jah” (יָ֔הּ) is a shortened form of the name Jehovah, which is found in the exhortation “Hallelujah!” That is, “Praise Jah!” It occurs 49 times in MT identified by a point (mappiq) in its second letter and once in Ca 8:6 without the mappiq. The mappiq is a diacritic used in the Hebrew alphabet. It is part of the Masoretes’ system of vowel points. It takes the form of a dot in the middle of a letter (usually הּ‎, he).

[348] LXX VG “Babylon” MT SYR “Babel”

[349] DSS LXX SYR AT have “O Jehovah” after “I will give you thanks”

[350] MT “gods” LXX SYR VG “angels” AT “judges”

[351] Kidneys: figuratively, the term in Hebrew or Greek refers to the innermost aspects of the human personality. The verse can be also rendered my inward parts

[352] LXX SYR VG “because you are fearfully wonderful” MT “for I am fearfully and wonderfully made”

[353] LXX VG “they take your cities in vain” MT “your enemies take your name in vain”

[354] Or disquieting

[355] Or hurtful way 

[356] SYR some LXX MSS “their bones” MT  “our bones”

[357] Maskil: An uncertain Hebrew term (מַשְׂכִּיל maskil), which possibly means “contemplative poem” or “skillful poem.” Some think it is derived from the verb (שָׂכַל sakal), meaning “to be prudent; to be wise.”

[358] DSS LXX SYR AT VG “I looked to the right and saw” MT “look to the right and see”

[359] Some Heb. MSS “to you I have covered” MT “I take refuge in you”

[360] LXX VG add “against Goliath”

[361] AT SYR many Heb. MSS “peoples” MT LXX VG “my people”

[362] Or make music to you

[363] DSS LXX SYR VG “they will speak of the splendor” MT “On the glorious splendor”

[364] LXX SYR VG “your mighty deeds” MT “his mighty deeds”

[365] LXX SYR VG “your kingdom” MT “his kingdom”

[366] Psalm 145 is an acrostic psalm. Each verse following one another begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. However, in the MT there is no verse that begins with the letter nun (נ). LXX SYR VG DSS some Heb. MSS the vs beginning with the Hebrew letter Nun reads: “Jehovah is faithful in all his words, and kind in all his works.” MT lacks

[367] “Jah” (יָ֔הּ) is a shortened form of the name Jehovah, which is found in the exhortation “Hallelujah!” That is, “Praise Jah!” It occurs 49 times in MT identified by a point (mappiq) in its second letter and once in Ca 8:6 without the mappiq. The mappiq is a diacritic used in the Hebrew alphabet. It is part of the Masoretes’ system of vowel points. It takes the form of a dot in the middle of a letter (usually הּ‎, he).

[368] “Jah” (יָ֔הּ) is a shortened form of the name Jehovah, which is found in the exhortation “Hallelujah!” That is, “Praise Jah!” It occurs 49 times in MT identified by a point (mappiq) in its second letter and once in Ca 8:6 without the mappiq. The mappiq is a diacritic used in the Hebrew alphabet. It is part of the Masoretes’ system of vowel points. It takes the form of a dot in the middle of a letter (usually הּ‎, he).

[369] “Jah” (יָ֔הּ) is a shortened form of the name Jehovah, which is found in the exhortation “Hallelujah!” That is, “Praise Jah!” It occurs 49 times in MT identified by a point (mappiq) in its second letter and once in Ca 8:6 without the mappiq. The mappiq is a diacritic used in the Hebrew alphabet. It is part of the Masoretes’ system of vowel points. It takes the form of a dot in the middle of a letter (usually הּ‎, he).

[370] AT LXX SYR VG “and his judgments he has not made known to them”

[371] “Jah” (יָ֔הּ) is a shortened form of the name Jehovah, which is found in the exhortation “Hallelujah!” That is, “Praise Jah!” It occurs 49 times in MT identified by a point (mappiq) in its second letter and once in Ca 8:6 without the mappiq. The mappiq is a diacritic used in the Hebrew alphabet. It is part of the Masoretes’ system of vowel points. It takes the form of a dot in the middle of a letter (usually הּ‎, he).

[372] “Jah” (יָ֔הּ) is a shortened form of the name Jehovah, which is found in the exhortation “Hallelujah!” That is, “Praise Jah!” It occurs 49 times in MT identified by a point (mappiq) in its second letter and once in Ca 8:6 without the mappiq. The mappiq is a diacritic used in the Hebrew alphabet. It is part of the Masoretes’ system of vowel points. It takes the form of a dot in the middle of a letter (usually הּ‎, he).

[373] “Jah” (יָ֔הּ) is a shortened form of the name Jehovah, which is found in the exhortation “Hallelujah!” That is, “Praise Jah!” It occurs 49 times in MT identified by a point (mappiq) in its second letter and once in Ca 8:6 without the mappiq. The mappiq is a diacritic used in the Hebrew alphabet. It is part of the Masoretes’ system of vowel points. It takes the form of a dot in the middle of a letter (usually הּ‎, he).

[374] “Jah” (יָ֔הּ) is a shortened form of the name Jehovah, which is found in the exhortation “Hallelujah!” That is, “Praise Jah!” It occurs 49 times in MT identified by a point (mappiq) in its second letter and once in Ca 8:6 without the mappiq. The mappiq is a diacritic used in the Hebrew alphabet. It is part of the Masoretes’ system of vowel points. It takes the form of a dot in the middle of a letter (usually הּ‎, he).

[375] “Jah” (יָ֔הּ) is a shortened form of the name Jehovah, which is found in the exhortation “Hallelujah!” That is, “Praise Jah!” It occurs 49 times in MT identified by a point (mappiq) in its second letter and once in Ca 8:6 without the mappiq. The mappiq is a diacritic used in the Hebrew alphabet. It is part of the Masoretes’ system of vowel points. It takes the form of a dot in the middle of a letter (usually הּ‎, he).

[376] “Jah” (יָ֔הּ) is a shortened form of the name Jehovah, which is found in the exhortation “Hallelujah!” That is, “Praise Jah!” It occurs 49 times in MT identified by a point (mappiq) in its second letter and once in Ca 8:6 without the mappiq. The mappiq is a diacritic used in the Hebrew alphabet. It is part of the Masoretes’ system of vowel points. It takes the form of a dot in the middle of a letter (usually הּ‎, he).

[377] Expanse: (Heb., raqia) is the atmosphere surrounding earth the space above the earth that contains the clouds, planets, and stars. It is where the birds fly and the luminaries reside. God began to call the expanse heaven (or sky). The Psalmist tells us ‘The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and the expanse is declaring the work of his hands.’–Gen. 1:6-8, 14-15, 17, 20; Ps. 19:1; 150:1.

[378] “Jah” (יָ֔הּ) is a shortened form of the name Jehovah, which is found in the exhortation “Hallelujah!” That is, “Praise Jah!” It occurs 49 times in MT identified by a point (mappiq) in its second letter and once in Ca 8:6 without the mappiq. The mappiq is a diacritic used in the Hebrew alphabet. It is part of the Masoretes’ system of vowel points. It takes the form of a dot in the middle of a letter (usually הּ‎, he).

[379] “Jah” (יָ֔הּ) is a shortened form of the name Jehovah, which is found in the exhortation “Hallelujah!” That is, “Praise Jah!” It occurs 49 times in MT identified by a point (mappiq) in its second letter and once in Ca 8:6 without the mappiq. The mappiq is a diacritic used in the Hebrew alphabet. It is part of the Masoretes’ system of vowel points. It takes the form of a dot in the middle of a letter (usually הּ‎, he).