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Songs
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Songs/Psalms
Introduction
This collection of Songs includes songs, poems, chants, and prayers that the Hebrews used in their meditation and worship, and then those eventually got added to this collection. We have chosen not to use the name ‘Psalms’ which comes from the Greek word ‘ψαλμός’ which means ‘a song sung to the harp’, because most English readers don’t even know that meaning. The title ‘Songs’ isn’t perhaps ideal, but does at least suggest that they were sung, read, or chanted with music.
There are many classes of the songs for believers in God: there are songs of praising and worshipping God, there are prayers requesting help or rescue from situations, requesting forgiveness, songs thanking or blessing God, and requests to curse their enemies. These prayers are sometimes personal and sometimes on behalf of the entire nation.
Seven of these songs/poems are acrostic poems, i.e., the first verse starts with the first Hebrew letter (alef) and the second with the second Hebrew letter (beyt), etc. We have chosen to display those Hebrew letters to help the English reader understand that there is that acrostic background to the poem. The seven songs are Song 25, Song 34, Song 37, Song 111, Song 112, the longest Song 119, and Song 145.
Yeshua (Jesus) and other contributors to The Messianic Update (The New Testament) used these songs and valued this collection for use in church worship since the beginning.
The one hundred and fifty songs are divided into five sub-collections.
Main components of this collection
Songs 1–41
Songs 42–72
Songs 73–89
Songs 90–106
Songs 107–150
There are a hundred and fifty songs, poems, and prayers in this collection that were used by the Hebrews in their worship. Many seem to have been written in the time of King David and others around the time of the end of David’s kingdom. These songs and prayers are still important today for use by Jewish believers in their worship. These songs reveal the inner emotions of the author like anger and sorrow, happiness and trusting, and hope.
This is still a very early look into the unfinished text of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check the text in advance before using in public.
First collection
1 (Songs 1–41)
1 A person will reap the benefits
if they don’t take advice from wicked people,
and don’t stand around where sinners go,
and don’t sit and join all the scoffers.
2 Instead, they enjoy Yahweh’s instructions
and think about them day and night.
3 Those people are like trees that are planted by a stream[ref]
and which produce fruit in season.
and they prosper in everything they do.[ref]
4 But wicked people won’t prosper—
they’re like straw that gets blown away by the wind.
5 The wicked people won’t be able to stand when God judges them,
and sinners won’t be able to join in the assembly of all the godly people,
2 Why do nations make plans,[ref]
≈ and people groups devise empty schemes?
2 The kings of this world take their stand
≈ and the rulers collaborate against Yahweh and his chosen one,
3 saying, “Let’s break their chains off us.
≈ Let’s throw off their ropes.”
4 The one who sits in the heavens laughs.
≈ The master ridicules them.
5 Then he’ll speak to them in his anger,
≈ and terrify them in his fury.
6 Yahweh says, “I myself have placed my king on Tsiyyon (Zion)—
the hill I’ve chosen to be my holy place.”
7 I’ll explain Yahweh’s decree.[ref]
He told me, “You’re my son. Today I’ve become your father.
8 Ask me and I’ll give the nations to you for your inheritance.
≈ The whole world will be owned by you.
9 You’ll break those nations with an iron bar.[ref]
≈ You’ll smash them to pieces like a clay pot.”
10 So act wisely all you kings.
≈ Be warned all you rulers of the earth.
Be happy for his goodness but tremble because of his power.
12 Honour the son or he might get angry
His severe anger can ignite any moment.
Everyone who goes to him to be safe will reap the benefits.
A song by David when he fled from his son Avshalom (Absalom).
3 Yahweh, how did I get so many enemies?
≈ Many people are rising up against me.
2 Many people are talking about me,
saying that God won’t help me. (Instrumental break.)[fn]
3 But you, Yahweh, protect me like a shield.
You honour and encourage me.
4 I called out with my voice to Yahweh,
and he answered me from his sacred mountain. (Instrumental break.)
I awoke, because Yahweh sustains me.
6 I won’t be afraid even of tens of thousands of people—
those all around who’ve taken a stand against me.
≈ Save me, my god.
Yes, you’ve slapped all my enemies on the cheek—
you’ve broken the teeth of the wicked people.
8 Salvation comes from Yahweh.
Your blessing goes to your people. (Instrumental break.)
For the musical director: a song by David to be accompanied by stringed instruments.
4 God of my righteousness, answer me when I call out.
You who granted me relief from distress.
Be gracious to me and listen to my prayer.
2 How long will you mortal people keep shaming me instead of honouring me?
Why do you all love meaninglessness and enjoy dishonesty? (Instrumental break.)
3 But be aware that Yahweh has treats people who are faithful to him as special to him.
Yahweh pays attention when I call out to him for help.
4 Respect Yahweh and don’t sin.[ref]
Meditate silently on your bed. (Instrumental break.)
5 Sacrifice to him by obeying him,
6 Many people ask, “Who can show us anything that’s good?”
Yahweh, shower your favour down on us.
7 You’ve made me very happy,
even more so than when there’s plenty of food and drink.
For the musical director: a song by David to be accompanied by flutes.
5 Listen to what I say, Yahweh.
≈ Give consideration to my groans of distress.
my king and my god, because it’s you that I pray to.
3 Yahweh, you hear my voice each morning.
≈ In the morning I look in your direction and wait.
4 You’re not a god who takes pleasure in wickedness.
≈ Evil people can’t live with you.
5 Arrogant people can’t stand in your presence.
≈ You hate everyone who does wicked things.
6 You destroy those who tell lies.
≈ Yahweh despises murderers and fraudsters.
7 Because of your loyal commitment, I’m able to enter your house.
≈ I will bow down in awe towards your sacred temple.
8 Yahweh, help me to do what is right because my enemies are watching.
≈ Show me clearly how to stay on your path.
9 Their lips are always flapping.
≈ Their minds are their destruction.
Their throats are open graves[ref]
≈ Their tongues are full of flattery.
10 My god, make them feel guilty.
May their own plans lead to their downfall.
Drive them out because of their frequent disobedience
because they’ve rebelled against you.
11 May those who find safety in you be glad.
≈ Let them shout in happiness forever.
Spread your blanket of protection over them.
May those who love your authority praise you.
A song by David for the singing director to be accompanied by the eight-stringed instrument.
6 Yahweh, don’t rebuke me in your anger,[ref]
≈ or discipline me in your rage.
2 Be gracious to me, Yahweh, because I’m frail.
≈ Heal me, Yahweh, because my bones are aching.
3 I’m emotionally distressed.
How much longer, Yahweh?
4 Turn around, Yahweh, and save my life
to demonstrate your loyal commitment.
5 Once we’re dead we can’t honour you.
Who will give thanks to you from Sheol?
Every night I make my bed swim with my tears.
7 I can barely open my eyes because of my grief.
My enemies make me weak with grief.
8 Keep away from me, all you who do evil things,[ref]
because Yahweh has heard the sound of my weeping.
9 Yahweh has heard my requests—
≈ Yahweh will answer my prayer.
10 Let my enemies be shamed and severely dismayed.
Let them retreat and feel ashamed for a while.
A song by David which he sang to Yahweh concerning the Benyamite, Kush.
7 I’ve taken refuge in you, Yahweh, my god.
Save me from those who are trying to get me,
2 or else they’ll rip me apart like a lion—
tearing me apart without anyone to rescue me.
3 Yahweh my god, if I’m the cause of this,
≈ if it’s my hands that have done wrong,
4 if I repaid my friend with evil instead of good,
≈ or stole from my enemy for no good reason,
5 allow my enemy to chase me and overtake me,
and trample my life into the ground,
and allow my honour to disappear into the dust. (Instrumental break.)
Take out your anger on my enemies
Wake up for my sake—it’s you who demands justice.
7 The countries have gathered around you—
return to ruling them from on high.
8 Yahweh, judge those people groups.
See my obedience and integrity,
and declare me innocent.
9 Bring the evil activities of wicked people to an end,
and establish those who do good instead.
The righteous God examines inner thoughts and motives.[ref]
the one who rescues people who desire to do good.
11 God is a judge who never does wrong.
He’s always against evil.
12 If anyone doesn’t repent, he’ll sharpen his bow,
then bend it back ready to use,
13 because he’s prepared weapons of death—
14 Look at that person who’s pregnant with wickedness
≈ and conceives trouble
15 He digs a pit then makes it deeper,
but he’ll fall into the very hole that he made.
16 His trouble returns on his own head,
≈ and his violence crushes his own skull.
17 I thank Yahweh for how he always does what’s right,
and sing praises to Yahweh the highest one.
For the musical director: a song by David to be accompanied by a stringed instrument.[fn]
8 Our master Yahweh, your reputation all over the earth is magnificent.
Your splendour is displayed across the sky
2 for even infants and children to notice.[ref]
You have established strength because of your enemies—to put an end to the enemy and the avenger.
3 When I look up at the sky, I see your handiwork—
the moon and the stars that you placed there.
4 How come that you even notice humankind?[fn]
Why would you even pay attention to any descendant of ours?[ref]
5 You’ve made him a little lower than God (or ‘gods’),
and poured splendour and majesty over him.[fn]
6 You’ve established him as ruler over your creation—
you’ve put him in charge of everything:[ref]
as well as the animals in the countryside,
8 the birds that fly and the fish in the sea—
everything that moves along the ocean currents.
your magnificent reputation has spread around the whole world.
For the musical director: David’s song about the death of the son
9 I will thank Yahweh with all of my being.
≈ I will tell others all about your miracles.
2 I will be happy and celebrate you,
I will sing praise to your name, the highest one.
3 When my enemies are forced to retreat,
they stumble and die as they run away from you
4 because you have accepted my claim and decided the case in my favour.
You have sat on your throne—a judge who always decides fairly.
5 You scolded countries and destroyed the wicked ones—
making their names disappear, never to return.
6 The enemy are finished—just ruins remaining from now on.
You also uprooted cities—they too will be forgotten.
7 However, Yahweh will reign forever.
He’s established his throne as a platform for justice,
8 so he’ll judge the world without bias,
and he will solve cases for the peoples with fairness.
9 Anyone who’s oppressed can go to Yahweh for safety—
he’s a safe refuge in times of trouble.
10 Those who know your reputation put their trust in you,
because you don’t abandon those who make the effort to find you, Yahweh.
11 Sing praises to Yahweh who lives in Tsiyyon (Zion).
Tell all the peoples about the good things he’s done,
12 because the god who avenges those who’ve been murdered,
doesn’t forget the cries of those who suffered.
See my suffering because of those who hate me.
You’re the one who pulls me away from the gates of death
14 so that I can keep praising you at the gates of Tsiyyon’s daughter.
I’ll celebrate the salvation that comes from you.
15 The nations have sunk down into the pit they themselves made.
≈ Their foot is caught in the hidden net that they themselves had put there.
16 Yahweh has revealed himself—he’s served justice—
the wicked people were trapped by their own actions. (Meditation break.) (Instrumental break.)
17 Wicked people will turn back to Sheol,
all nations are forgetful of God.
18 But the needy won’t always be forgotten,
and those who are suffering won’t always find their hopes dashed.
19 Take action, Yahweh. Don’t let evil people prevail.
Let the nations face you for judgement.
20 Put some fear in them, Yahweh.
Remind the nations that they’re human. (Instrumental break.)
10 Why do you seem so distant, Yahweh?
Why can’t we see you helping us in times of trouble?
2 Wicked people just arrogantly bully the poor and needy.
May they be caught up by the very schemes that they planned for others.
3 Indeed, the wicked people boast about everything they want
≈ and they say that the greedy person is a fine guy, but they despise Yahweh.
4 In their pride, wicked people don’t seek him.
≈ In their minds, they convince themselves that there’s no god.
5 Their don’t want to change their ways.
Your judgements are high above out of their sight.
As for all their enemies, they sigh at them.
6 They tell themselves, “No one’s going to change me.
≈ No one will trouble me, even through all the generations.”
7 Their mouths are full of curses and lies, and they oppress others.
Mischief and evil are under their tongues.[ref]
8 They sit in ambush near the villages.
In isolated places they murder the innocent.
Their eyes stealthily watch for any vulnerable people.
9 They ambush in a hidden places like a lion in cover.
They hide so they can seize helpless people.
They capture the weak by pulling in their nets.
and unfortunate people succumb to their strength.
11 They tell themselves, “God has gone on strike—
he looks away so he never notices.”
≈ God, do something.
Don’t forget those who are poor or needy.
13 Why do wicked people despise God?
They tell themselves, “You’ll never come looking for me.”
14 But you have seen—indeed, you notice mischief and grief to do something about it.
The victims trust you to work on their behalf.
You are a helper for the fatherless.
15 Break the hold of wicked and evil people.
Prevent them from being able to implement their wicked schemes.
16 Yahweh is king forever and ever.
He drove those other nations out of his land.
17 You’ve heard the request of those in need, Yahweh.
You encourage them. You pay close attention
For the musical director: a song by David.
11 I’ve taken refuge in Yahweh.
How can you tell me,
Flutter away to your mountain like a bird?
2 Because, look, wicked people are getting their bows ready.
They’ve got their arrows lined up on the strings
to shoot at the godly people in the darkness.
3 If the foundations get destroyed,
what can good people do then?
4 Yahweh’s in his sacred temple.
His eyes watch—his eyes examine humanity’s children.
5 Yahweh examines both good people and the wicked,
but he hates those who love to inflict violence.
6 He rains burning coals and sulfur upon the wicked.
≈ He’ll send scorching hot winds to punish them
7 because Yahweh loves what is right, and that’s what he does.
Godly people will get to stand in front of him.
For the musical director: a song by David to be played on the eight-stringed instrument.
12 Help, Yahweh, because faithful people seem to have disappeared.
≈ Those who have integrity have vanished from among humanity.
2 Everyone says empty words to their neighbours.
≈ Everyone speaks with flattering lips and deceitful motives.
3 Yahweh, cut off all those flattering lips,
≈ and every tongue that exaggerates.
4 These are those who have said, “With our tongues we’ll get whatever we want.
≈ When our lips speak, who can tell us what to do?”
5 Yahweh says, “I’ll take action
because of the violence against the poor and the groans of the needy.
I’ll provide the safety that they’ve been longing for.”
6 Yahweh’s words are pure words,
like silver purified in a furnace on the earth—
refined seven times over.
7 Yahweh, you will protect them.
Yes, forever protect us from this violent generation.
8 Wicked people prowl all around
when evil is promoted for humanity.
13:1 A prayer for help
For the musical director: a song by David.
13 Yahweh, for how long will you keep forgetting about me?
For how long will you hide yourself from me?
2 How long must I worry?
≈ Must I have grief in my heart all day?
≈ How long will my enemy gloat over me?
3 Look at me and answer me, Yahweh my god.
Restore my strength, or I’ll die in my sleep.
4 Don’t let my enemy boast that they’ve defeated me,
otherwise my enemies will celebrate when I’m defeated.
5 But I’ve trusted in your loyal commitment.
I’m happy inside because you’ve saved me.
6 I’ll sing to Yahweh because he’s been generous to me.
14:1 Responding to evil people
(Psa. 53)
For the musical director: a song by David.
14 Godless people convince themselves that there is no god.
They behave corruptly and do evil things.
No one really does what is good.[ref]
2 Yahweh looks down at humanity from the heavens
to see if there are any who understand—who make an effort to discover him.
3 They’ve all turned away.
Together they’ve become corrupt.
There isn’t anyone who does good—no one.
4 Don’t those evil people know anything—
those who eat up my people just like they’d eat bread,
but they don’t request help from Yahweh?
5 They tremble with dread,
because God is with those who desire to obey him.
6 You want to humiliate poor people,
even though they go to Yahweh to find safety.
7 If only help would come from Tsiyyon (Zion) to rescue Yisrael.
When Yahweh brings back his people from where they were taken as captives,
then Yacob (Jacob) will rejoice and Yisrael will be glad!
A song by David.
15 Who’s allowed to stay in your tent?
Who can live on your sacred hill?
2 Whoever’s innocent because they do what is right
and speaks truth with integrity.
3 Those who don’t use their tongues to slander others.
Those who don’t harm others,
and who don’t insult their neighbours.
4 Those godly people despise those rejected by Yahweh,
but they honour those who respect him.
They do what they’ve promised, even at their own expense.
5 They don’t charge interest when they lend money.
They don’t take bribes to testify against innocent people.
Those who do those things will never be rejected.
A song by David.
16 Protect me, God,
because you are the one I trust for my safety.
2 I tell Yahweh, “You are my master. Anything good I do means nothing without you.
3 As for the godly people who live here, they are noble people.
I really enjoy being with them.
4 Their troubles will increase—
those who choose to worship other gods.
I won’t pour out their drink offerings of blood
or even use my lips to name their gods.
5 Yahweh is all I want as my inheritance and my cup.
You ensure my future security.
6 I’ve had a nice piece of land measured out for me—
it’s definitely a good inheritance that I received.
7 I will praise Yahweh who gives me good advice.
Even at night, my conscience teaches me what’s right.
8 I made a decision to always keep Yahweh on my mind.
Nothing will worry me, because he’s right here beside me
9 so I can relax and be happy,
Also I can live in safety
10 because you won’t abandon my soul to Sheol.[ref]
You wouldn’t permit your faithful follower to see the pit.
11 You show me the path that leads to life.
I’m always happy in your presence.
I’ll have pleasure forever when I’m with you.”[ref]
A prayer by David.
17 Listen to my plea for justice, Yahweh.
≈ Pay attention to my call for help.
≈ Take notice of my prayer coming from honest lips.
2 Consider my case and confirm that I’m innocent.
Let your eyes see what is just.
3 If you test my inner motives,
if you come to me in the night to test me,
you won’t find any evil plans—
my mouth won’t say anything evil.
4 As for people’s actions,
it is at the word from your mouth
that I’ve kept myself from the ways of lawless people.
5 I’ve kept myself consistently on your paths.
≈ My feet haven’t slipped.
6 I call to you, God, because you answer me.
Take notice of me and listen when I speak.
7 Show your loyal commitment in a wonderful way,
you who use your power to protect
those who take refuge in you from their enemies.
8 Protect me as carefully as the pupil is protected in the eye.
≈ Hide me like a chick under the shadow of your wings.
9 Protect me from the wicked people who assault me—
from my enemies who surround me.
10 They’ve closed their minds to pity.
Their mouths speak with pride.
They have decided to throw me to the ground.
12 They’re like a lion eager for a victim—
like a young lion crouching in ambush.
Confront them.
≈ Knock them down.
Rescue my life from wicked people by your sword!
14 Use your strength, Yahweh, to rescue me from men—
from people in this world whose prosperity is in this life alone.
You’ll fill the bellies of your treasured ones with riches—
they’ll have many children and will leave their wealth to them.
15 Because I’m obedient, I’ll see your face.
≈ When I wake up, I’ll be satisfied at seeing you.
For the musical director: a song by Yahweh’s servant David, when he sang the words of this song to Yahweh on the day that Yahweh rescued him from Shaul (King Saul) and all his other enemies.
I love you, Yahweh, my source of strength.
2 Yahweh is my rock, my fortress, the one who brings me to safety.
≈ He’s my god, my rock. I take refuge in him.
He’s my shield, the power that saves me, my fortress.
3 I will call for help from Yahweh
who deserves all the praise he gets,
and then I’ll be rescued from my enemies.
4 I felt like I was about to die,
≈ and torrents of worthlessness overwhelmed me.
5 The grave seemed to be putting its ropes around me.
≈ The snares of death trapped me.
6 In my distress I called out to Yahweh.
He heard my voice from his temple.
≈ My call for help entered his presence.
≈ It reached his ears.
7 Then the earth quaked and shook.
≈ The foundations of the mountains trembled
≈ and were shaken because God was angry.
8 Smoke went up from out of his nostrils,
≈ and blazing fire came out of his mouth.
Coals were ignited by it.
9 He opened the skies and came down,
and heavy darkness was under his feet.
10 He rode on a winged creature and flew.
≈ He glided on the wings of the wind.
11 He made darkness into a tent around him—
heavy rain clouds in the skies.
12 Hail and burning coals fell from the brightness in front of him.
13 Yahweh thundered from the heavens.
The voice of the highest one shouted.[fn]
14 He shot his arrows and scattered his enemies—
≈ many lightning bolts, and forced them to disperse.
15 Then the water channels appeared.
≈ The foundations of the world were exposed
≈ at the blast of the breath from your nostrils.
16 He reached down from above and took hold of me.
≈ He pulled me out of the surging waters.
17 He rescued me from my powerful enemy—
from those who hated me,
because they were too strong for me.
18 They confronted me when I was in distress,
19 He brought me out to a wide open place.
≈ He saved me because he was pleased with me.
20 Yahweh has rewarded me because I’ve done nothing wrong.
≈ He has restored me because I’m innocent.
21 because I’ve followed Yahweh’s instructions
and haven’t acted wickedly towards my god.
22 I keep all his instructions in mind,
and I haven’t refused to follow any of his rules.
23 I’ve done nothing that he could blame me for
and I’ve kept myself from disobeying him.
24 So Yahweh has restored me because of my obedience,
because I was innocent in his sight.
25 To the faithful, you show yourself faithful.
≈ To the blameless, you show yourself blameless.
26 ≈ To the pure, you show yourself pure,
but you’re shrewd towards anyone who’s crooked,
27 because you save people who are suffering,
but you bring down those with proud, uplifted eyes.
≈ Yahweh my god lights up my darkness.
29 With your help, I can run forward into the invaders.
≈ With my god’s assistance, I can leap over a wall.
30 As for God, his ways are perfect.
≈ Yahweh’s message has been refined.
He is a shield to everyone who goes to him to stay safe,
31 because who is God except Yahweh?
≈ Who is a reliable place of safety except our god?
32 It is God who puts strength onto me like a belt around me—
who makes my path clear of obstacles.
33 He makes me sure-footed like a deer,
and places me in the hills.[ref]
34 He trains my hands for battle,
≈ and my arms to bend a bronze bow.
35 You protect and save me with your shield.
You use your power to support me,
and your favour has made me strong.
36 You’ve made the path for my feet wide beneath me
so that my feet haven’t slipped.
37 I chased my enemies and overtook them.
≈ I didn’t turn back until they were destroyed.
38 I smashed them so that they were unable to regroup.
≈ They have fallen under my feet.
39 You put strength on me for battle like a belt around me.
You made my enemies bow down to me.
40 You allowed me to kill my enemies.
≈ I annihilated those who hated me.
41 They called for help, but no rescuer came.
≈ They called out to Yahweh, but he didn’t answer them.
42 I hammered them into fine pieces like dust in the wind.
≈ I emptied them out like mud in the streets.
43 You rescued me from people’s feuds.
You’ve made me the head over nations.
≈ People serve me that I never knew before.
44 As soon as they heard about me, they obeyed me.
≈ Foreigners cower down to me.
45 The foreigners lose heart,
≈ and came trembling out of their strongholds.
46 Yahweh lives—may my place of security be praised.
≈ Praise the god who saved me.
47 He’s the god who executes vengeance on my behalf—
who subdues the nations under me.
48 I’m set free from my enemies.
Indeed, you helped me stay ahead of those who opposed me.
You rescued me from violent men.
49 Therefore I’ll give thanks to you among the nations, Yahweh,
≈ I’ll sing praises to your name.[ref]
50 God gives great victory to his king,
and he shows his loyal commitment to his anointed one—
to David and to his descendants forever.
For the musical director: a song by David.
19 The skies declare God’s talent and splendour,
≈ and outer space shows off his handiwork.
2 Speech pours out day after day.
≈ Night after night it reveals knowledge.
3 There’s no speech or words spoken.
4 yet their words go out over all the earth,
≈ and their speech to the end of the world.
He’s placed the sun in its home in the sky.[ref]
5 The sun is like a bridegroom coming out of his room.
≈ It’s like a strong man who’s glad when he can run along his path.
6 The sun rises from side of our view
≈ and crosses the sky to the other.
Nothing escapes its heat.
7 Yahweh’s instructions are perfect, restoring our motivation.
Yahweh’s testimony is reliable, making simple people wise.
8 Yahweh’s instructions are right, bringing inner fulfillment.
≈ Yahweh’s commands are pure, bringing light to the eyes.
9 Respect for Yahweh is pure, enduring forever.
≈ Yahweh’s rules are correct and always right.
10 They’re more valuable than gold, even fine gold.
≈ They’re sweeter than honey, even the honey that drips from the honeycomb.
11 Yes, your servant is warned by Yahweh’s rules.
≈ A worthwhile reward comes from obeying them.
12 Who can discern all their own errors?
≈ Cleanse me from hidden faults.
13 Also, keep your servant from willful sins—
≈ don’t let them not rule over me.
Then I’ll be perfect,
≈ and I will be innocent of terrible disobedience.
14 Let the words from my mouth
≈ and even my inner thoughts
be acceptable in your sight, Yahweh—
the secure place that I can run to,
≈ and the one who paid for my release from slavery.
20:1 A prayer for victory
For the musical director: a song by David.
20 May Yahweh help you whenever trouble comes.
≈ Then may Yakob’s (Jacob’s) God protect you
2 and send help from his sanctuary,
≈ to support you from Tsiyyon (Zion).
3 May he call to mind all your offerings
and accept your burnt sacrifice. (Instrumental break.)
4 May he give you your desires that you’ve thought about the most,
≈ and make all the plans that you’ve hoped for come to pass.
5 Then we will celebrate your victory,
≈ and we’ll raise banners in the name of our god.
May Yahweh grant all your requests.
6 Now I know that Yahweh will rescue his anointed one.
He will answer him from his sacred heaven
and use all his strength to save him.
7 Various leaders trust in various different military units,
but we will put our trust in our god Yahweh.
8 They will stumble and fall,
but we will be strong and stand firm.
Answer us when we call for help.
21:1 Praise for victory
For the musical director: a song by David.
21 The king’s glad about your strength, Yahweh.
≈ He’s very happy about the salvation you provide.
2 You’ve given him what he really wanted,
≈ and haven’t held back from answering his requests. (Instrumental break.)
3 You went to meet him with blessings of good things.
≈ You placed a crown of purest gold on his head.
4 He asked you for life and you gave it to him.
You extended his life and gave him an eternal dynasty.
5 He receives great respect because of your victory.
≈ You’ve given him splendour and majesty.
6 When you grant him lasting blessings,
you make him glad with the excitement of your presence.
He won’t waver as he experiences the loyal commitment of the highest one.
8 Your energy will find all your enemies.
Your strength will reach as far as those who hate you.
9 When you get angry, you’ll burn them up like in a flaming furnace.
≈ Yahweh will consume them in his fury, and the fire will devour them.
10 You’ll destroy their offspring from the earth
and their descendants from among humankind
11 because they intended to do evil against you.
They conceived a plot, but they won’t succeed
12 because you will turn them back.
≈ You’ll draw your bow in front of them.
13 Yahweh, show us your strength and we’ll praise you.
We’ll sing, and praise your power.
For the musical director: a song by David to the tune ‘The doe of the dawn’.
22 My god, my god, why have you abandoned me?
Why are you so far from saving me
≈ and far from my plea for help?[ref]
2 My god, I call out in the daytime for help, but you don’t answer me,
≈ and at night I’m not silent either.
3 Yet you are sinless—
accepting Yisrael’s praises.
4 Our ancestors trusted in you.
They trusted in you, and you rescued them.
5 They called out to you for help and they were rescued.
They trusted in you and were not disappointed.
6 But I’m a worm and not a man—
≈ a disgrace to humanity and despised by the people.
7 Everyone who sees me, taunts me.
≈ They make faces at me.
≈ They shake their heads at me.[ref]
8 Go to Yahweh—he’ll save him.
≈ He’ll rescue him because he likes him.[ref]
9 You brought me out from the womb.
≈ You made me trust you when I was at my mother’s breasts.
10 I was forced to be dependant on you since birth.
≈ You are my god since I was in my mother’s womb.
11 Don’t distance yourself from me, because trouble is near.
≈ There’s no one else who can help.
12 Many enemies surround me like angry bulls.
≈ Strong bulls from Bashan have surrounded me.
13 They open their mouths wide against me
≈ like a roaring lion tearing its victim apart.
14 I am being poured out like water and all my bones are out of joint.
≈ My heart is like wax—it melts away within my chest.
15 My strength has dried up like a piece of fired clay.
≈ My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.
You’re about to let me die and return to dust
16 because dogs have surrounded me.
≈ A band of evil men has encircled me.
They’ve pierced my hands and my feet.[fn]
They stand looking, and stare at me.
18 They divide my clothes up among themselves,
≈ They cast lots for my garments.[ref]
19 Yahweh, don’t just stand at a distance.
≈ Please hurry to help me, my strength.
20 Save my life from the sword—
≈ my very existence from the clutch of wild dogs.
21 Save me from the lion’s mouth.
≈ Rescue me from the horns of the wild bulls.
22 I’ll promote your name among my brothers.
≈ I’ll praise you in front of all the assembled people.[ref]
23 ≈ You all who fear Yahweh, praise him.
≈ All you descendants of Yakob, honour him.
≈ Stand in awe of him, all you descendants of Yisrael,
24 because he hasn’t despised or detested the suffering of the one who’s going through it.
≈ Yahweh hasn’t hidden away from him.
≈ When the suffering one called out to him, he heard.
25 You’re the reason that I offer praise when all the people gather.
≈ I’ll fulfill my vows publicly in front of those who fear him.
26 The oppressed people will eat and be satisfied.
Those who are interested in Yahweh will praise him.
27 Peoples from each end of the earth will remember and turn to Yahweh.
≈ All the families of the nations will bow down before you,
29 All the prosperous people in the world will celebrate and worship him.
≈ All mortal people will bow before him—those who can’t extend their own lives.
30 Our future offspring will serve him.
They’ll tell the next generation about the master.
31 They will come and tell about his righteousness.
They’ll tell what he’s done to people not yet born.
A song by David.
23 Yahweh is my shepherd
so I won’t lack anything.
2 He lies me down in paddocks of fresh grass.
He leads me beside a peaceful stream.
3 He refreshes my inner being.
He guides me along paths of obedience so that he’ll be honoured.
4 Even when I walk through a valley in deep darkness,
I won’t be afraid of being harmed.
Your rod and staff will protect and comfort me.
5 You prepare a meal for me while my enemies watch.
You give me olive oil to soothe my head.
I have so many blessings.
6 I’m certain that your goodness and your mercy will pursue me for my whole life,
and then I’ll live in Yahweh’s house forever.
A song by David.
24 The earth and all its content belong to Yahweh—
≈ the world, and everything that lives in it,
2 because he founded it on the seas,
≈ and established it on the rivers.
3 Who will ascend Yahweh’s mountain?
≈ Who will stand in his sacred place?
4 The one with clean hands and a pure heart,
who hasn’t falsely declared to be following me,
≈ and hasn’t made a promise in order to deceive others.
5 He’ll receive a blessing from Yahweh
and he God of his salvation will declare him innocent.
6 Such is the generation of those who try to discover him—
those who want to imitate Yakob. (Instrumental break.)
7 Look up, you gates.
≈ Open up, everlasting doors,
so that the incredible king can come in.
Yahweh, strong and powerful.
≈ Yahweh, victorious in battle.
9 Look up, you gates.
≈ Open up, everlasting doors,
so that the incredible king can come in.
10 Who’s that incredible king?
Army commander Yahweh.
He’s that incredible king. (Instrumental break.)
A song by David.
25 א (Alef)
25 I offer my life to you, Yahweh.
ב (Beyt)
Don’t let me be humiliated.
≈ Don’t let my enemies defeat me and then celebrate.
ג (Gimel)
3 Don’t let anyone be disgraced because they’d put their trust in you.
On the other hand, may those who act treacherously without cause be ashamed.
ד (Dalet)
4 Make your ways known to me, Yahweh.
≈ Teach me your paths.
ה (He)
5 Guide me into your truth and teach me,
because you’re the god who saves me.
I wait all day long to experience your presence.
ו (Vav)
6 Call your acts of compassion and loyal commitment to mind, Yahweh,
because they’ve always existed.
ז (Zayin)
7 Don’t think about my youthful disobedience or my rebelliousness.
Call me to mind with loyal commitment because of your goodness, Yahweh.
ח (Het)
8 Yahweh is both honest and good,
therefore he teaches sinners the way.
ט (Tet)
9 He guides the humble in what is right
≈ and he teaches them his way.
י (Yod)
10 All Yahweh’s ways are loyal commitment and faithfulness
to those who keep his agreement and his solemn commands.
כ (Kaf)
11 For the sake of your reputation, Yahweh,
forgive my disobedience because it’s pretty bad.
ל (Lamed)
12 Who are those who respect Yahweh?
The master will instruct them in the path that they should choose.
מ (Mem)
13 They’ll enjoy a life of goodness,
≈ and their descendants will live peacefully in the land.
נ (Nun)
14 Yahweh’s friendship is for those who respect him,
and he makes his promises known to them.
ס (Samek)
15 My eyes are always on Yahweh,
because he’ll untangle my feet from the net.
ע (Ayin)
16 Turn towards me and have mercy on me,
because I’m alone and suffering.
פ (Pe)
17 My worries keep increasing—
rescue me from my distress.
צ (Tsade)
18 Take note of my suffering and troubles.
Forgive all my sins.
ק (Qof)
19 Look at my enemies because there’s so many of them.
They hate me with cruel hatred.
ר (Resh)
20 Protect my life and rescue me.
Don’t let me be humiliated, because I always take refuge in you.
ש (Sin/Shin)
21 May integrity and godliness preserve me,
because I wait for you to help me.
ת (Tav)
22 Rescue Yisrael, God,
from all its troubles.
A song by David.
26 Declare me innocent, Yahweh, because I have walked with integrity.
≈ I’ve trusted in Yahweh without wavering.
2 Examine me, Yahweh, and test me.
≈ Check out my mind and my motives.
3 I keep my eyes on your loyal commitment,
≈ and I walk about in your faithfulness.
4 I don’t associate with deceitful people,
≈ or with those who are dishonest.
5 I avoid the gatherings of evildoers,
≈ and I don’t meet with the wicked.
6 I wash my hands in innocence,
and I go around your altar, Yahweh,
7 to sing a praise song
≈ and to tell about all the wonderful things you’ve done.
8 Yahweh, I love the house where you live,
≈ the place where your power and splendour is continually displayed.
9 Don’t remove me along with sinners,
≈ or my life with people blood on their hands—
10 people who are plotting wickedness,
and whose pockets are full of bribes.
11 But as for me, I’ll walk with integrity.
Release me from my slavery and have mercy on me.
12 My feet stand on level ground.
I will bless Yahweh at our gatherings.
27:1 A prayer of praise
A song by David.
27 Yahweh is my light and the one who saves me—why should I be afraid of anyone?
≈ Yahweh is where my life is safe—why should I be worrying?
2 When evil people approached me to wear me down,
those adversaries and enemies stumbled and fell.
3 Even when I’m surrounded by an enemy army, I won’t be scared.
≈ Although war breaks out against me, even then I’ll remain confident.
4 There’s one thing that I’ve Yahweh and that I’ll aim for:
that I’ll be able to stay in the house of Yahweh as long as I live.
to see Yahweh’s beauty and to meditate in his temple.
5 He’ll hide me in his shelter when trouble comes—
≈ He’ll conceal me under the cover of his tent .
≈ He’ll lift me high to a safe place up on a rock.
6 Then I’ll be helped to achieve victory over my enemies all around me,
and I will offer celebratory sacrifices in his tent.
≈ I’ll make music and sing to Yahweh.
7 Yahweh, listen to me when I call out for help.
Have mercy on me, and answer me.
8 My gut feelings tell me that I should follow you,
so I’ll strive to relate to you, Yahweh.
9 Don’t stay away from me.
Don’t turn your servant away in anger.
You’ve been my helper.
Don’t leave or abandon me, God who saves me.
10 Even if my parents were to abandon me,
11 Teach me your way, Yahweh.
Lead me on a level path
because of my enemies.
12 Don’t let my enemies do what they want to me,
because fraudulent cases have been brought against me,
and those people thrive on violence.
13 What would’ve happened to me
if I hadn’t believed that I would see Yahweh’s goodness in the land of the living?
14 Keep expecting Yahweh to act.
Be strong and courageous. Wait for Yahweh.
28:1 Prayer of requesting
A song by David.
28 Yahweh, I call out to you for help, my rock of safety.
Don’t refuse to hear me
because if you’re silent, I’ll soon be with those who are heading down to their graves.
2 Hear my pleading when I call for help from you—
when I raise my hands toward your most sacred room.
3 Don’t drag me away along with the wicked—those who do evil things,
who talk about peace with their neighbours but have evil plans in their minds.
4 Give them what their actions deserve
≈ and repay them what their wickedness demands.
Repay them what they’ve done
≈ and give them what they deserve.
5 Because they don’t understand what Yahweh does,
he’ll tear them down and never rebuild them.
because he’s heard my requests.
7 Yahweh makes me strong and protects me like a shield.
I trust in him, and he helps me.
That’s why I’m so happy inside,
and I’ll praise him by singing.
8 Yahweh gives strength to his people,
and he is the place of safety for his anointed one.
9 Rescue your people
≈ and bless your inheritance.
Be their shepherd and carry them always.
A praise song by David.
29 Acknowledge Yahweh you sons of the mighty one,
acknowledge that greatness and power are his alone.
2 Honour the authority of Yahweh,
worship him in his pure beauty.
3 The voice of Yahweh commands the oceans,
his power thunders over many waters.
4 Yahweh’s voice is so powerful,
his voice sounds so majestic.
5 Yahweh’s voice splits huge trees,
it shatters the cedar trees in Lebanon.
6 He makes them skip around like a calf,
Lebanon and Sirion acting like a wild, young bull.
7 Yahweh’s voice produces flames of fire.
8 Yahweh’s voice makes the land shake,
he shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
9 Yahweh’s voice makes the deer give birth in fright,
it strips the leaves from the trees,
while all the people in his temple praise him.
10 Yahweh sits on his throne conquering the flood,
he reigns forever from his seat as king.
11 Yahweh gives strength to his people,
he grants tranquil peace to his own.
A song by David for the temple dedication.
30 I’ll praise you, Yahweh, because you’ve helped me succeed
≈ and haven’t allowed my enemies to take advantage of me.
2 Yahweh my god, I called out to you for help,
and you healed me.
3 Yahweh, you’ve saved me from death.
You’ve kept me alive from going down into the grave.
4 Sing praises to Yahweh, you who are faithful to him.
≈ Give thanks to the sinless one
5 because his anger is only for a moment, but his favour is for a lifetime.
≈ Weeping comes for a night, but happiness comes in the morning.
6 When things were going well, I said,
“Nothing will ever shake me.”
7 Yahweh, by your favour you established me as a strong mountain,
but when you moved out of sight from me, I got worried.
8 I called out to you for help, Yahweh,
≈ and tried to win my master’s favour.
9 What advantage would there be in my death,
≈ if I go down to the grave?
Will the dust praise you?
≈ Will it declare your faithfulness?
10 Listen to me, Yahweh, and have mercy on me
≈ Yahweh, be my helper.
11 You’ve turned my mourning into dancing for me.
You’ve removed my mourning clothes and dressed me with gladness instead.
12 So now my glory will sing praise to you and not be silent; Yahweh my god, I will give thanks to you forever.
For the musical director: a song by David.
31 I go to you, Yahweh, to be safe.
Never let me be humiliated.
Rescue me, because you always do what’s right.
2 Listen to me—rescue me quickly.
Be my rock that I can be secure behind—
≈ a fortress to keep me safe.
3 Yes, you’re my rock and my fortress,
and you lead and guide me in order to maintain your reputation.
4 Pluck me out of the net that they’ve hidden for me,
because you’re my place of safety.
5 I entrust my spirit into your capable hands.
You’ll redeem me, Yahweh, God of faithfulness.
6 I hate those who follow worthless trends,
7 I’ll be glad and celebrate your loyal commitment,
because you saw my suffering—
you knew my internal troubles.
8 You didn’t allow any enemy to get the upper hand over me.
You’ve set my feet in a wide open place.
9 Have mercy upon me, Yahweh, because I’m distressed.
My eyes grow weary with the grief I feel in my body and soul.
10 Yes my life is weary with sorrow
≈ and my years with groaning.
My strength fails because of my disobedience,
≈ and my bones are wasting away.
11 People disdain me because of all my enemies.
≈ My neighbours are appalled at my situation,
and those who know me are horrified.
≈ Those who see me in the street cross to the other side.
12 I am forgotten like a dead person that no one thinks about any more.
≈ I’m discarded like a broken pot.
13 I’ve heard the whispering of many—
≈ terrifying news from every side
as they plot together against me.
≈ They plot to take my life.
14 But I trust in you, Yahweh.
≈ I declare that you’re my god.
15 You control my future.
Rescue me from my enemies
≈ and from those who are trying to get me.
16 Act kindly towards me, your servant.
Rescue me due to your loyal commitment.
17 Don’t let me be humiliated, Yahweh, because I’ve called out to you for help.
Let the wicked be the ones who are humiliated.
Send them down to Sheol where they’ll be silent.
18 Let the lying lips be silenced
that speak against the righteous defiantly
≈ with arrogance and contempt.
19 You’ve stored up great goodness for those who revere you,
that you perform for those who take refuge in you
in plain sight of all humanity.
20 In the shelter of your presence, you hide them from people’s evil plots.
≈ You hide them in a shelter from the violence of people’s words.
21 Praise Yahweh, because he showed me his incredible loyal commitment
when I was trapped in a besieged city.
22 In my alarm I thought, “I’ve gone out of your sight,”
yet you did hear my plea for help when I called out to you.
23 Love Yahweh, all you godly people.
Yahweh protects faithful people,
but he pays back the arrogant in full.
all you who trust in Yahweh for help.
A song[fn] by David.
32 Blessed is the person whose transgression is forgiven,
≈ whose disobedience is covered.
2 Blessed is the person who Yahweh counts as guiltless
≈ and in whose spirit there’s no deceit.
3 When I remained silent,
my bones ached inside
≈ while I groaned all day long.
4 You kept the pressure on me day and night.
My strength withered up like in a summer drought. (Instrumental break.)
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you,
≈ and I no longer hid my iniquity.
I said, “I’ll confess my transgressions to Yahweh,”
and you forgave the guilt of my sin. (Instrumental break.)
6 Every one of your faithful followers should pray to you at a time of great distress,
so that when the surging waters overflow, the waters will not reach them.
7 You’re my hiding place—you’ll guard me from trouble.
You surround me with victory songs. (Instrumental break.)
8 I’ll instruct you and teach you in the way that you should follow.
I’ll instruct you and keep my eye on you.
9 Don’t be like a horse or a mule which lacks understanding—
it’s only with a bridle and bit that they can be controlled
so they’ll go where you want them to.
10 The wicked have many sorrows,
but Yahweh’s loyal commitment will surround anyone who trusts in him.
11 Be glad in Yahweh, and celebrate, you righteous people.
≈ Shout for joy, all of you who are honest on the inside.
33:1 A praise song
33 Rejoice in Yahweh, you godly people.
≈ Praise is appropriate for those who are honest on the inside.
2 Give thanks to Yahweh with the harp.
≈ Sing praises to him with the ten-stringed instrument.
3 Sing a new song to him.
≈ Play skillfully and with loud shouts,
4 because Yahweh means what he says,
and everything he does is fair.
5 He loves what is right and just.
Yahweh’s loyal commitment can be seen all over the world.
6 At Yahweh’s command, the heavens were made,
≈ and all the stars were made by the breath of his mouth.
7 He gathers the waters of the sea together like a heap.
≈ He puts the oceans into storehouses.
8 Let the whole planet respect Yahweh.
≈ Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him
9 because he spoke, then it came to be.
He commanded, and it stood in place.
10 Yahweh frustrates the alliances of nations.
≈ He overrules the plans of the peoples.
11 Yahweh’s plans stand forever—
≈ the plans in his mind continue for all generations.
12 This nation will thrive because Yahweh is their god—
≈ the people who he’s chosen as his own inheritance.
13 Yahweh looks from heaven—he sees all the people.
14 ≈ From his residence, he looks down on all the earth’s inhabitants.
15 He who formed the insides of all of them, observes everything that they do.
16 No king is saved by a huge army.
≈ A warrior isn’t saved by his great strength.
17 A horse is a false hope for victory—
in spite of his great strength, he can’t rescue anyone.
18 See, Yahweh’s eye is on those who respect him—
on those who put their hope on his loyal commitment
19 to save their lives from death
≈ and to keep them alive whenever there’s a famine.
20 We wait for Yahweh’s response—
he’s our help and our protection.
21 We’re happy because of what he’s done for us
because we trust in his sacred reputation.
22 Let your loyal commitment, Yahweh, be with us
as we put our hope in you.
A song by David who pretended to be insane in front of King Avimelek, causing the king to send him away.
34 א (Alef)
34 I will praise Yahweh at all times.
I’ll always be praising him out loud.
ב (Beyt)
2 I will praise Yahweh!
Let those who are oppressed hear and celebrate.
ג (Gimel)
Let’s compliment him together.
ד (Dalet)
4 I searched for Yahweh and he answered me,
and he helped me overcome all my fears.
ה (He)
5 Those who put their trust in him are radiant,
and have no need to feel ashamed.
ו (Vav)
6 This oppressed man called out for help
and Yahweh heard him and saved him from all his troubles.
ז (Zayin)
7 Yahweh’s messenger stands guard around those who fear Yahweh
ח (Het)
8 Taste and see that Yahweh is good.
Anyone who looks to him for their safety will prosper.
ט (Tet)
9 Fear Yahweh, you who belong to him.
There’s no lack for those who honour him.
י (Yod)
10 Young lions sometimes lack food and go hungry,
but those who put their trust in Yahweh won’t lack anything good.
כ (Kaf)
11 Come and listen to me, my children.
I’ll teach you how to honour Yahweh.
ל (Lamed)
12 Anyone who desires life and wants a long life
in order to experience good things
מ (Mem)
13 then don’t let evil words come out of your mouth,
≈ and keep your lips from speaking lies.
נ (Nun)
≈ and do good.
Seek peace
≈ and go after it.
ס (Samek)
15 Yahweh’s eyes are on those who try to obey him
≈ and his ears are directed toward their calls for help.
ע (Ayin)
16 Yahweh works against those who do evil—
to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
פ (Pe)
17 The godly people cry out and Yahweh hears
and he rescues them from all their troubles.
צ (Tsade)
18 Yahweh is close to the brokenhearted,
≈ and he saves whose spirits feel crushed.
ק (Qof)
19 Godly people have many troubles,
but Yahweh rescues them from them all.
ר (Resh)
≈ not one of them will be broken.
ש (Sin/Shin)
21 Evil will bounce back and kill the wicked.
≈ and those who hate godly people will be condemned.
ת (Tav)
22 Yahweh rescues the lives of his servants.
≈ None of those who go to him for safety will be condemned.
A song by David.
35 Yahweh, work against those who work against me.
≈ Fight against those who fight against me.
2 Take hold of your shield and your arm protector,
and come to help me.
3 Use your spear and battle ax against those who chase me.
Tell my soul, “I’m here to save you.”
4 May those who seek my life be shamed and dishonoured.
≈ Cause those who plan to harm me to be turned back and confused.
5 May they become like chaff blown around by the wind,
as Yahweh’s messenger drives them away.
6 May their path be dark and slippery,
as Yahweh’s messenger chases after them.
7 They set their net for me for no good reason.
≈ Without cause they dug a pit to take my life.
8 Let destruction overtake them by surprise.
Let their own net that they set, catch them—
let them fall to their destruction in it.
9 But I’ll be happy about Yahweh
and celebrate because he saves me.
10 All my bones will say, “Yahweh, who is like you,
who rescues the oppressed people from those who are too strong for them
and the poor and needy from those who try to rob them?”
11 Violent accusers come out of the woodwork
asking me about things that I know nothing about.
12 They repay me with evil for good—
I feel like I’m dying on the inside.
13 When they were sick, I wore sackcloth
as I fasted for them and prayed with my head bowed on my chest.
14 I went about in grief as if it was my brother.
≈ I bowed my head in mourning as if it was my mother.
15 But any time that I stumbled, they were pleased and gathered together.
They gathered together against me without me knowing.
They tore at me without stopping.
16 With no respect at all, they mocked me.
They grind their teeth at me in rage.
17 My master, how much longer will you just look on for?
Rescue my soul from their destructive attacks—
≈ my life from the lions.
18 Then I’ll thank you when everyone’s gathered together.
≈ I’ll praise you in front of many people.
19 Don’t let my deceitful enemies celebrate over my loses.
Don’t let those who hate me for no reason wink at each other,
20 because they don’t talk peaceably,
but they devise deceitful stories against those in our land who live in peace.
21 They open their mouths wide against me,
having said, “Aha, Aha, our own eyes have seen it.”
22 You’ve seen it, Yahweh, don’t be silent.
≈ My master, don’t be distant from me.
23 Arouse yourself and awake to my defence.
≈ My god and my master, defend my cause.
24 Yahweh, my god, vindicate me because you always do what is right.
Don’t let my enemies celebrate over my defeat.
25 Don’t let them say to themselves, “Aha, we got what we wanted.”
≈ Don’t let them say, “We’ve obliterated him.”
26 Let anyone who’s happy at my distress be put to shame and become confused.
≈ Let those who think they’re better than me be clothed with shame and dishonour.
27 Let those who desire my vindication shout happily and be glad.
May they continually say, “Yahweh be praised—
he who gladly ensues the welfare of his servant.”
28 Then I’ll tell others about your justice
and praise you all day long.
For the musical director: a song by Yahweh’s servant David.
36 My heart struggles with the disobedience of evil people.
They see no need to worry about God
2 because they comfort themselves
thinking that their sin won’t be discovered and be hated.
3 Their words are sinful and deceitful.
They don’t want to be wise and do good.
4 They plot wicked things even when they’re lying in bed.
≈ They decide on a path that’s no good—not rejecting evil.
5 Your loyal commitment, Yahweh, reaches to the heavens.
≈ Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
6 Your righteousness is like the highest[fn] mountains.
≈ Your judgements are like the deepest ocean.
Yahweh, you preserve both people and animals.
7 God, your loyal commitment is so valuable.
You protect us like birds protect their babies under their wings.
8 They feast from the plentiful provisions in your creation.
You let them drink the sweet water from your river.
because you are the fountain of life.
10 Fully show your loyal commitment to those who know you.
≈ Extend your defence to those who are godly.
11 Don’t let arrogant people approach me.
Don’t let the action of wicked people drive me away.
A song by David.
37 א (Alef)
37 Don’t be irritated by those who do evil.
≈ Don’t be envious of those who do what is wrong,
2 because they’ll soon dry up like the grass
≈ and wither as the green plants.
ב (Beyt)
3 Trust in Yahweh and do what is good.
Settle in the land and appreciate faithfulness.
4 Then delight yourself in Yahweh,
and he’ll give you what you really desire.
ג (Gimel)
5 Give your path to Yahweh.
Trust in him, and he’ll act on your behalf.
6 He’ll display your justice like the daylight
≈ and your innocence like the day at noon.
ד (Dalet)
7 Be still in front of Yahweh and wait patiently for him.
Don’t be angry if others succeed in what they do,
or when they make evil plots.
ה (He)
8 Don’t be angry and frustrated.
Don’t be a worrier—that only makes trouble.
9 Those who do evil will be eliminated,
but those who strive to obey Yahweh will end up owning the land.
ו (Vav)
10 In a little while the evil people will disappear.
You’ll look at the place where they were, but they’ll be gone.
11 But the meek will inherit the land
and will delight in great prosperity.
ז (Zayin)
12 The wicked people plot against the righteous
≈ and grind their teeth in rage against them.
13 My master laughs at them,
because he knows that their day is coming.
ח (Het)
14 The wicked have drawn out their swords and have bent their bows
to bring the oppressed and needy down—
yes, to kill those who are godly.
15 Their swords will pierce their own hearts,
and their bows will be broken.
ט (Tet)
16 It’s better to do right and only have a little,
than to be wicked and rich,
17 because the arms of the wicked people will be broken,
but Yahweh supports people who are righteous.
י (Yod)
18 Yahweh keeps an eye on those who are blameless,
and they won’t lose their inheritance.
19 They won’t be shamed when times are bad.
When famine comes, they’ll have enough to eat,
כ (Kaf)
20 because evil people will die.
Yahweh’s enemies will be like the fleeting beauty of the fields—
they’ll be consumed and disappear in the smoke.
ל (Lamed)
21 Wicked people borrow but never repay,
but the godly person is generous and gives.
22 Those who are blessed by God will own the land,
but those who are cursed by him will be wiped out.
מ (Mem)
23 It is by Yahweh that a person’s steps are established,
and he takes pleasure in observing their path.
24 Even if they stumble, they won’t fall on their face,
because Yahweh is right there helping them.
נ (Nun)
25 I was young and now I’m old
and I’ve never seen the righteous person abandoned
or their children out begging for food.
26 All day long, they’re gracious and lend to those more needy,
and their children become a blessing to others.
ס (Samek)
27 Turn away from evil and do what is right.
Then you will go on living,
28 because Yahweh loves justice and doesn’t abandon those who are faithful to him.
They’re preserved forever, but the descendants of wicked people will be eliminated.
ע (Ayin)
29 The godly people will inherit the land
≈ and always live there.
פ (Pe)
30 Godly people expound wisdom
≈ and promote justice.
31 God’s law is always on their minds.
Their feet won’t slip.
צ (Tsade)
32 The wicked person watches the righteous
and seeks to kill them.
33 Yahweh won’t abandon them into the evil person’s hand
or condemn them when they’re judged.
ק (Qof)
34 Wait for Yahweh and stay on the path he showed you,
then he’ll assist you to possess the land he promised.
You’ll see those who are wicked get eliminated.
ר (Resh)
35 I’ve seen a wicked and terrifying person
spreading out like a luxuriant tree in its native soil.
36 However, when I passed by again, they weren’t there.
≈ I looked for them, but they couldn’t be found.
ש (Sin/Shin)
37 Observe the person of integrity, and notice those who are godly.
There’s a good future for a peaceful person.
38 Sinners will be totally destroyed;
≈ The future will be cut off for wicked people.
ת (Tav)
39 Yahweh is the one who saves godly people.
≈ He protects them in the times of trouble.
40 Yahweh helps them and rescues them.
He rescues them from evil people and saves them
because they’ve gone to him as a place of safety.
A song by David for the memorial offering.
38 Yahweh, don’t rebuke me in your anger.
≈ Don’t punish me in your rage,
2 because your arrows pierce me,
≈ and your hand presses me down.
3 My whole body is weak because of your anger.
There’s no health in my bones because of my disobedience,
4 because my sins overwhelm me.
They’re a burden that’s too heavy for me.
5 My festering wounds smell bad
because of my foolish behaviour.
6 I’m stooped over and humiliated every day.
I go about mourning all day long,
7 because I have burning pain in my bowels.
≈ My body just isn’t healthy.
8 I’m numb and completely crushed.
I groan because of the anguish in my heart.
9 My master, you understand my heart’s deepest longings,
≈ and my groanings aren’t hidden from you.
≈ my strength fades,
≈ and my eyesight dims.
11 My friends and companions shun me because of my condition.
My relatives keep their distance.
12 Those who want me dead lay snares for me.
They who desire harm for me speak destructive words
and say sprout treachery all day long.
13 But as for me, I’m like a deaf man who can’t hear.
≈ I’m like a mute man who says nothing.
14 I’m like a man who can’t hear
and so can’t so anything in my defence
15 but instead I wait for you, Yahweh.
→ My master God, you’ll answer me
16 because I prayed, “Hear me, so that they won’t gloat over me.
If my foot slips, they’ll do terrible things to me,
17 because I’m about to stumble,
and I’m in constant pain.
18 I confess my guilt.
≈ I’m anxious because of my sin.
≈ Those who hate me wrongfully are many.
20 They repay me with evil for good.
≈ They hurl accusations at me although I try to do what’s good.
For the musical director: A song by David for Yedutun.
39 I decided that I’ll watch what I say
so that I won’t sin with my lips.
I’ll muzzle my mouth while in the presence of evil people.
I refrained even from saying anything good, and my pain grew worse.
3 My heart became hot when I thought about these things.
≈ It burnt like a fire, then finally I spoke.
4 “Yahweh, make me know when the end of my life will be
≈ and the extent of my days.
Let me see how transient I am.
5 See, you’ve made my days only the width of my hand,
and my lifetime is like nothing in your sight.
Surely all of humanity is just a single breath. (Instrumental break.)
6 Surely every person walks around like a shadow.
Surely everyone hurries about to accumulate riches although they don’t know who’ll inherit them.
7 Now, my master, what am I waiting for?
→ My hope is in you.
8 Rescue me from my disobedience.
Don’t allow fools to be able to mock me.
9 I can’t speak and can’t even open my mouth,
because it’s you who has done it.
10 Stop wounding me.
I’m overwhelmed by the blow of your hand.
11 When you discipline people for disobedience,
like a moth, you consume the things they value.
Surely all people are nothing but vapour. (Instrumental break.)
12 Hear my prayer, Yahweh, and my call for help.
≈ Listen to my weeping.
Don’t be deaf to me,
because I’m like a foreigner with you—a refugee like all my ancestors were.
13 Stop staring at me so that I can smile again
before I die.
For the musical director: a song by David.
40 I waited patiently for Yahweh to help me.
He listened to me and heard my cry.
2 He brought me up out of a horrible pit in the sticky clay,
→ and he set my feet on a rock and made my steps secure.
3 He’s given me a new song to sing, praise to our god.
Many will see it and honour him
4 The person who trusts Yahweh will prosper
and doesn’t honour proud people
or those who go astray and follow lies.
5 Yahweh my god, you’ve done many wonderful things,
and your thoughts about us can’t be numbered.
If I declared and spoke about them,
they would be too many to count.
6 Sacrifices and offerings don’t give you pleasure,
but you’ve opened my mind.
You didn’t actually want burnt-offerings or sin-offerings.
7 Then said I, “See, I’ve come.
I’m written about in the scroll of the document.
8 I enjoy doing what you want, my god.
Your instructions are on my mind.”
9 I have told everyone in the national assembly about how you always do what is right.
≈ Yahweh, you know that I haven’t shied back from doing that.
10 I haven’t hidden your righteousness away in my heart—
I’ve declared your faithfulness and how you saved me.
I haven’t concealed your loyal commitment or your trustworthiness from the national assembly.
11 Don’t stop being merciful towards me, Yahweh.
Let your loyal commitment and your trustworthiness always preserve me.
12 More troubles surround me than I can even count.
My disobedience has caught up with me so that I’m no longer able to see anything else.
They’re more than the hairs on my head, and my heart fails me.
13 Be pleased, Yahweh, to rescue me.
≈ Hurry to help me, Yahweh.
14 Let those who chase me to take my life be ashamed and completely disappointed.
≈ Let those who delight in hurting me be turned back and brought to dishonour.
15 Let those who cheer because of my fate be shocked because of their shame.
16 But may all those who seek you celebrate and be glad because of you.
Let everyone who appreciates how you rescued them, say continually, “May Yahweh be praised.”
17 I’m poor and needy, yet my master thinks about me.
41:1 A prayer for healing
For the musical director: a song by David.
41 People who are concerned for the weak will be blessed—
→ in the day of trouble, Yahweh will rescue them.
2 Yahweh will protect them and keep them alive,
and they will be blessed on the earth.
Yahweh will not hand them over to their enemies.
3 Yahweh will support them on the bed of suffering.
You’ll make their bed of sickness into a bed of healing.
4 I said, “Yahweh, have mercy on me.
Heal my soul, because I’ve sinned against you.”
5 My enemies speak evil against me, saying,
‘When will he die and be forgotten?’
6 If my enemy comes to see me, he speaks hollow words.
He plots in his mind how to destroy me.
When he leaves me, he tells others about it.
7 All who hate me, whisper together against me.
They plot how to make trouble for me.
8 They say, “An evil disease has badly affected him.
Now that he’s down flat, he’ll never get up again.”
9 Indeed, even my own close friend who I trusted,
who had meals at my place,
has betrayed me.
10 But Yahweh, you have mercy on me and help me up
so that I can pay them back.
11 Because my enemy doesn’t defeat me,
that’s how I know that you’re pleased with me.
12 As for me, you support me in my integrity
and will keep me in your mind forever.
13 May Yisrael’s god Yahweh be praised from everlasting to everlasting.
Let it be so, yes, let it be.
Second collection
42 (Songs 42–72)
42:1 Hope when depressed
For the musical director: a song[fn] by Korah’s descendants.
42 As a deer thirsts for streams of water,
so too my soul longs for you, God.
2 My soul thirsts for God—for the living God.
When will I go and appear before God?
3 My tears are my food day and night,
as people are asking me every day, “Where’s your god?”
4 These things I remember, and I pour out my soul within myself.
I travelled with the crowd and accompanied them to God’s residence
with shouts of joy and praise—a multitude celebrating a festival.
5 Why are you bowed down, my soul,
and upset within me?
Put your hope in God, because I’ll praise him again—
praise him for how my god’s presence leads to my being saved.
6 My soul is bowed down within me,
therefore I remember you from the land of the Yordan river
and Mt. Hermon’s heights and from Mt. Mizar.
7 Deep is calling to deep with the roar of your waterfalls;
All your waves and gusts flow over me.
8 During the day, Yahweh exercises his loyal commitment,
and in the night, his song is with me—
a prayer to the god who gave me life.
9 I’ll ask God, my place of safety, “Why have you forgotten me?
Why do I walk around mourning because of an enemy’s oppression?”
10 When those who are hostile to me rebuke me, asking me all day long, “Where’s your god?”
it feels like my bones are crushed.
11 My soul, why are you bowed down?
≈ And why are you upset within me?
Put your hope in God, because I’ll thank him again—
my god’s presence leads to my being saved.
43 God, declare me to be innocent,
and defend my case against an unfaithful nation.
Deliver me from deceitful and evil people.
2 For you are the god who’s my place of safety.
Why have you rejected me?
Why do I walk around mourning because of an enemy’s oppression?
3 Send out your light and your truth—let them lead me.
Let them bring me to your sacred mountain
≈ and to your residence.
to the god who gives me great fulfillment.
I will praise you with the harp, oh God, my god.
5 My soul, why are you bowed down?
≈ And why are you upset within me?
Put your hope in God, because I’ll thank him again—
my god’s presence leads to my being saved.
44:1 A prayer for help
For the musical director: a song[fn] by Korah’s descendants.
44 God, we have listened with our ears.
Our ancestors have told us about the miracles you did in their time—in the old days.
2 You drove out the other nations with your power, but you planted our ancestors.
≈ You caused suffering for other people groups, but you sent our ancestors into the land.
3 Yes, they didn’t take over the land with their swords, and their power didn’t save them,
^ but it was your power and your direction, because you were pleased with them.
4 God, you are my king who plans victories for Yakob’s descendants.
5 Through you we will destroy our adversaries.
≈ In your name we will trample those who come against us,
6 because I won’t trust in my bow,
7 Yes, you have saved us from our enemies,
≈ and have humiliated those who hate us.
8 We’ve boasted in God every day,
and we will praise your name forever. (Instrumental break.)
9 Yet you’ve rejected and humiliated us,
and you don’t go out with our armies.
10 You made us turn back from the enemy,
and those who hate us take plunder for themselves.
11 You’ve made us like sheep to be eaten,
and you scattered us among the nations.
12 You’ve sold your people for virtually nothing—
≈ You haven’t profited from their sale.
13 You’ve made us a reproach to our neighbours—
≈ a contempt and a scorn to those around us.
14 You made us an insult among the other nations—
≈ a shaking of the head among the peoples.
15 My dishonour is on my mind all day,
and my shame has overwhelmed me
16 because of hearing those who taunt and insult me—
facing those vengeful enemies.
17 All of this has come against us,
although we haven’t forgotten you and we haven’t violated your agreement.
18 Our heart hasn’t turned back.
Our steps haven’t strayed from your way.
19 But you’ve crushed us out where the jackals live,
and you’ve covered over us with dark blackness.
20 If we’d forgotten the name of our god
and spread out our hands towards a foreign god,
21 wouldn’t God have discovered that
because he even knows our hearts’ secrets?
22 Indeed, because of you we’re killed all day long—
we’re considered to be like sheep to be slaughtered.
23 My master, wake up. Why are you sleeping?
Do something—don’t reject us forever.
24 Why do you hide away
and forget our oppression and suffering?
25 Yes, our life has sunk down into the dust—
it just as if we’re lying face down on the ground.
26 Take action as our helper
and buy our freedom for us because of your loyal commitment.
45:1 A royal wedding song
For the musical director: a song[fn] by Korah’s descendants. A love song to be sung to the tune of ‘Lilies’.
45 My heart is stirred with an excellent message.
I’ll read aloud the words I’ve composed about the king.
My tongue is like the pen of a skilled secretary.
2 You are more perfect to look at than the children of humanity.
so we know that God has blessed you forever.
3 Strap your sword to your side, mighty warrior,
in your splendour and majesty.
4 Ride on triumphantly in your majesty because of trustworthiness, humility, and innocence.
Your powerful actions display your awesome abilities.
5 Your arrows are sharp—the peoples fall under you.
Your arrows pierce the hearts of the king’s enemies.
6 Your reign, God, will continue forever.
Your kingdom is renowned for its true justice.
7 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness,
therefore God, your god, has anointed you with the oil of gladness more than your companions.
8 All your clothes smell of myrrh, aloes, and cassia.
Stringed instruments playing from of ivory palaces have made you glad.
9 Kings’ daughters are among your honourable women.
≈ The queen stands on your right, clothed in gold from Ofir.
10 Listen, daughter, turn this way and take notice.
≈ Forget your own people and your father’s house.
11 Just like that, the king will desire your beauty.
→ He’s your master—submit to him.
12 The princess from Tsor (Tyre) will be there with a gift.
≈ The rich people will beg for your favour.
13 The princess in the palace is just splendid—
≈ her clothing is embroidered with gold thread.
14 She will be led to the king in an embroidered dress.
≈ The virgins, her companions who’ll follow her, will be brought to him.
15 They’ll be led by gladness and celebration.
≈ They’ll enter the king’s palace.
16 Your children will be in the positions that your ancestors used to hold—
≈ you’ll make them princes across the whole country.
17 I’ll ensure that your name will be remembered by all generations,
46:1 God’s right here
For the musical director: a song by Korah’s descendants. To be sung by soprano[fn] voices.
46 God is our protection and our strength,
always ready to help when troubles come.
2 That’s why we won’t be afraid, even if the earth were to change—
even if the mountains were shaken into the ocean depths,
3 making its waters roar and rage,
as the mountains shake against the surging waters. (Instrumental break.)
4 There’s a river whose streams make God’s city happy—
the sacred place where the highest one lives.
5 God is in the middle of that city—she won’t be affected.
God will help her, and he will do so at dawn.
6 The nations raged and the kingdoms were shaken.
He spoke out and the earth melted.
7 Army commander Yahweh is with us.
Yakov’s god is our protection. (Instrumental break.)
8 Come and see what Yahweh has done—
the destruction he’s caused on earth.
9 He stops wars all over the world.
He breaks bows and cuts spears into pieces.
He incinerates the shields.
10 Stay quiet and be aware that I am God.
I will be honoured among the nations.
I will be honoured throughout the world.
11 Army commander Yahweh is with us.
Yakov’s god is our protection. (Instrumental break.)
For the musical director: a song[fn] by Korah’s descendants.
47 Clap your hands, all you peoples.
≈ Shout to God with a cheerful voice.
2 For Yahweh the highest one can be terrifying.
≈ He is a great king over the whole world.
≈ and puts nations under our control.
4 He chooses our inheritance for us—
→ the land which Yakov (who he loved) was proud of. (Instrumental break.)
5 God has gone up with a shout,
≈ Yahweh ascended with a trumpet blast.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises.
≈ Sing praises to our king, sing praises,
7 because God is the king over the whole world.
Sing praises with understanding.
8 God reigns over the nations.
≈ God sits on his sacred throne.
9 The nations’ leaders have gathered together to the people of Abraham’s god,
because God controls the nations’ defences.
He is greatly honoured.
A song by Korah’s descendants.
48 Yahweh is incredible and deserves to be praised a lot,
in our god’s city on his sacred hill.
2 Beautiful on the high hills,
making the whole world happy,
is Mt. Tsiyyon, on the northern sides—
the great king’s city.
3 God has made himself known in her towers as protector,
4 because, look, the kings assembled themselves.
5 They saw it, then they were astounded.
They were dismayed, and they hurried away.
6 Trembling took hold of them there—
pain like woman who’s in labour.
7 You smash the ships from Tarshish
8 We’ve now seen what we’d heard about in army commander Yahweh’s city—
in the city of our god.
God will establish it forever. (Instrumental break.)
9 We thought about your loyal commitment, God,
when we were in the middle of your temple.
10 Your praise reaches the ends of the earth
≈ as does your reputation, God.
→ You rule with power and with justice.
11 Let Mt. Tsiyyon (Zion) be glad.
≈ Let Yehudah’s daughters celebrate
→ because of your righteous decrees.
≈ Go round about her.
→ Count her towers,
13 Take good notice of her walls,
≈ and look at her palaces
→ so that you can tell it to the next generation,
14 because this god is our god forever and ever.
≈ He will be our guide all the way through to death.
For the musical director: a song by Korah’s descendants.
49 Hear this, all you peoples.
Listen to this, all you inhabitants of the world,
2 ≈ both low and high—
≈ rich and poor together.
≈ and my inner thoughts will be about understanding.
I’ll introduce my riddle with a harp piece.
5 Why should I fear in evil times?
≈ Why should I be afraid when I’m surrounded by wickedness?
6 Why should I fear those who trust in their riches
≈ and boast about their extensive wealth?
7 It is certain that no one can redeem his brother
≈ or pay God a ransom for him,
8 because it’s very expensive to buy back someone’s life,
≈ and no one can pay what we owe.
≈ so that they wouldn’t experience the grave,
10 because he will see decay—even wise people die.
≈ The fool and the brute alike come to an end
→ and leave their wealth to others.
11 Their inner thought is that their families will continue forever,
and the places where they live, for all future generations.
They name their lands after themselves,
12 yet people don’t remain alive despite their wealth.
≈ People die just like the animals.
13 That’s the way of foolish people,
yet after they’re gone, people approve of their sayings. (Instrumental break.)
14 Like sheep, they’re destined for slaughter,
≈ and death will be their shepherd.
The upright will rule over them in the morning,
and their bodies will rot in the grave,
≈ far from their fancy homes.
15 But God will buy back my life from the power of the grave,
because he’ll receive me. (Instrumental break.)
16 Don’t be afraid when someone gets rich,
≈ and if their family becomes very prominent,
17 → because when they die, they’ll take nothing with them.
≈ Their splendour can’t follow them down.
18 They looked after themselves well while they lived
(and people do praise you when you live for yourself),
19 but they’ll go to join their ancestors
and won’t ever see the light again.
20 Anyone who has prestige but no understanding
is like the wild animals that will die.
and summoned the world from the sun’s rising to its setting.
2 God has shone out of Tsiyyon (Zion)—
the perfection of beauty.
3 Our god comes and doesn’t stay silent.
A fire devours ahead of him,
and it’s very stormy around him.
4 He calls to the heavens above and to the earth
→ so that he can judge his people.
5 “Bring my faithful ones together to me—
those who’ve made an agreement with me by sacrificing.”
6 The heavens will declare his righteousness,
because God himself is judge. (Instrumental break.)
7 “My people, listen and I’ll speak.
I’ll bring accusations against you, Yisrael.
I’m God, your god.
8 I won’t scold you for your sacrifices.
You’re continually sacrificing burnt-offerings to me.
9 I won’t accept any bull off your property,
≈ or any billy goats out of your pens,
10 because every animal in the forest is mine,
≈ and the cattle on a thousand hills.
11 I know all the birds in the hills,
≈ and the wild animals in the countryside are mine.
12 I wouldn’t bother telling you if I was hungry
because the world is mine including everything in it.
13 Do I eat the meat from bulls that have been sacrificed,
≈ or drink the blood from the goats?
14 Present a thank-offering to God
≈ and honour your promises to the highest one.
15 Call out to me whenever you get into trouble.
I’ll rescue you, and you’ll honour me.”
16 But God tells the wicked people,
“What do you have to do with reciting my instructions,
that you’ve taken telling others about my agreement,
17 since you hate correction
≈ and just toss my warnings back over your shoulders?
18 When you see a thief, you think it’s fine,
≈ and you participate with those who commit adultery.
19 You allow evil to come out of your mouth,
≈ and you use your words to deceive others.
20 You sit and speak against your brother.
≈ You slander your own mother’s son.
21 You’ve done these things, but I’ve stayed silent,
so you thought that I was someone just like yourself.
However, I’ll scold you
≈ and bring up all the things you have done, right in front of your eyes.
22 Give this careful consideration, all of you who forget God,
otherwise I will tear you to pieces,
and there’ll be no one to rescue you.
23 Anyone who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honours me,
and anyone who decides to follow God will experience his salvation.”
For the musical director: a song by David from when the prophet Natan had gone to him after David had committed adultery with Bat-Sheva.
51 Have mercy on me, God, because of your loyal commitment.
≈ Blot out my disobedience, because you’re so merciful.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity
≈ and make me clean from my sin
3 because I’m aware of my transgressions,
≈ and my sin is always on my mind.
4 It’s you and only you that I’ve sinned against,
≈ and done what’s evil in your sight.
You are right when you speak.
≈ You are correct when you judge.
5 Yes, I was born in iniquity.
≈ As soon as my mother conceived me, I was in sin.
6 You desire integrity in my inner self,
≈ and you teach me wisdom in the secret place within.
7 Purify me with blood (applied to the doorway with a sprig of hyssop), and I’ll be clean.
≈ Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness
→ so that the bones that you’ve broken can be happy again.
9 Look away from my sins
≈ and blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create a clean heart in me, God,
≈ and renew an unwavering spirit within me.
11 Don’t drive me away from your presence,
≈ and don’t take your holy spirit away from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
≈ and sustain me with a willing spirit.
13 Then I’ll teach other transgressors your ways,
≈ and sinners will be converted to you.
14 God of my salvation, forgive me for shedding blood,
→ and I’ll happily shout about how good and righteous you are.
≈ and my mouth will express praise to you
16 because a sacrifice wouldn’t make you happy or I would give it.
≈ You get no pleasure from burnt offerings.
17 The sacrifices that God wants are a broken spirit—
≈ a humbled and repentant heart won’t be despised by you, God.
18 Express your pleasure at Tsiyyon (Zion) by doing good to us.
Rebuild Yerushalem’s walls.
19 Then you’ll delight in the sacrifices of righteousness,
in burnt offerings and completely burnt offerings.
For the musical director: a song[fn] by David written when Doeg the Edomite reported to King Shaul that, “David went there to Ahimilik.”
52 Why are you proud of making trouble, you powerful man?
God’s loyal commitment comes every day.
2 Your tongue plans destruction—
working deceitfully like a sharp razor.
3 You love evil more than good
≈ and lying rather than speaking the truth. (Instrumental break.)
4 You love saying anything that destroys other people, you deceitful tongue,
5 ≈ so God will also destroy you forever.
He’ll snatch you up and pluck you out of your tent
≈ and root you out of the land of the living. (Instrumental break.)
6 Godly people will also see it and fear.
They’ll laugh at him and say,
7 “Look, that’s a man who didn’t rely on God for his protection,
but instead trusted in the abundance of his wealth,
and he was strong when he destroyed others.”
8 But as for me, I’m like a flourishing olive tree in God’s house.
I’ll trust in God’s loyal commitment forever.
9 I’ll continually thank you for what you’ve done.
I’ll rely on your reputation, because it’s good,
in the presence of your faithful followers.
For the musical director: a song[fn] by David to be sung to the tune of ‘Mahalat’.[fn]
53 Fools tell themselves that there is no god.
They are corrupt and have done disgusting acts of evil.
There’s no one who does good.[ref]
2 God looks down from heaven on the children of humanity
to see if there are any with insight—
≈ who strive to obey him.
3 They’ve all turned away.
≈ Together they have become corrupt.
≈ There’s not one who does good, not even one.
4 Do those who do evil have no understanding—
those who devour my people as if they were eating bread,
and it’s not God that they trust in to help them?
5 They were very worried even though it was quite irrational
because God will scatter the bones of any army that comes to attack you.
Those people will be put to shame because God has rejected them.
6 If only Yisrael’s rescue would come from Tsiyyon.
When God brings his people back from the captivity,
then Yakov will celebrate
≈ and Yisrael will be glad.
54:1 God is my helper
For the musical director: a song[fn] by David written when some people from Zif went to King Shaul and told him that David was hiding in their area.[ref] To be accompanied by stringed instruments.
54 Use the strength that’s part of your reputation to rescue me, God,
≈ and use your power to declare me innocent.
≈ Listen to what I’m saying
3 because strangers have acted against me,
≈ and pitiless men have tried to eliminate me.
They don’t have any respect for God. (Instrumental break.)
≈ My master is the one who supports me.
5 He will repay my enemies with evil.
≈ In your faithfulness, destroy them.
6 I’ll sacrifice a freewill offering to you.
I’ll give thanks for your reputation, Yahweh, because it’s good,
7 because he’s rescued me from every trouble.
I’ve seen my enemies being defeated.
For the musical director: a song[fn] by David to be accompanied by stringed instruments.
2 Pay attention to me and answer me.
I’m restless and overwhelmed by my problems
3 because of what my enemy is saying.
Yes, because of the oppression by wicked people—
because they bring trouble on me and angrily persecute me.
4 My stomach has gone into a knot,
≈ and thoughts of death terrify me.
5 Fearfulness and trembling have hit me,
≈ and horror has overwhelmed me.
6 I said, “Oh, if only I had wings like a dove
→ then I’d fly away and find a peaceful place.
7 See, then I would wander far away.
≈ I would stay in the wilderness. (Instrumental break.)
8 I would hurry to a safe spot,
≈ away from the stormy wind and tempest.”
9 Confuse them, my master, so their words don’t make sense,
because I’ve seen violence and strife in the city.
10 Day and night they wander around the city walls.
Wickedness and trouble are in the middle of it.
11 Destruction is right there among it,
≈ and oppression and deceit never leave its marketplace,
12 because it wasn’t an enemy who taunted me. (Then I could have borne it.)
≈ It wasn’t my opponent who set himself up against me. (Then I would have hidden myself from him.)
13 But it was you—a man of similar status to myself.
≈ My companion and close friend.
14 We’d had good times together.
We’d walked among the crowd in God’s residence.
15 Let death hit them suddenly.
Let them go down alive to Sheol,
because wickedness is where they live, right among them.
16 As for me, I’ll trust God to help me,
17 I complain and moan morning, noon, and evening.
→ He will hear my voice.
18 He’ll peacefully rescue my life from those who approach me,
because there’s many who fight against me.
19 God, the one who’s ruled from eternity, will hear them and answer them with what they deserve. (Instrumental break.)
They never change, and they don’t respect God.
20 My friend took action against those who were at peace with him.
≈ He hasn’t respected the agreement that we had.
21 His mouth was as smooth as butter, but his heart was hostile.
His words were softer than oil, but they were actually drawn swords.
22 Give your problems to Yahweh, and he’ll sustain you.
He’ll never allow a righteous person to be toppled.
23 But you, God, will send the wicked down into the pit of destruction.
Bloodthirsty and deceitful people won’t live even half as long as others,
For the musical director: a song[fn] by David, written when the Philistines captured him at Gat.[ref] To be sung to the tune of “A dove on distant oak trees”.
56 Be merciful to me, God, because men are attacking me.
Those who fight me press their assault all day long.
2 My enemies trample me all day long,
because there are many who proudly fight against me.
3 Any time I’m afraid, I’ll put my trust in you—4 in God, whose message I praise.
≈ I’ve put my trust in God—I won’t be afraid of what people can do to me?
5 All day long they twist my words.
They’re always thinking about how to harm me.
6 They conspire then lie hidden—watching my steps
as they just wait for the opportunity to take my life.
7 Don’t let them escape when they’ve done evil things.
In your anger, God, bring down those people groups.
8 You keep track of my wanderings
and put my tears into your bottle.
Aren’t they recorded in your book?
9 Then my enemies will pull back when call out to you for help.
I know that because God is for me.
10 In God—whose message I praise,
in Yahweh—whose message I praise,
I’m not scared—what can anyone do to me?
12 The duty to fulfill my promises to you is on me, God.
I’ll give thank-offerings to you
13 because you’ve rescued my life from death.
≈ You’ve kept me from falling into danger,
so that I can walk in front of God in the light of the living.
For the musical director: a song[fn] by David written when he was fleeing from Shaul and hid in a cave. To be sung to the tune of ‘Don’t destroy’.
57 Be merciful to me, God, be merciful to me,
because I come to you to be safe until these troubles are over.
≈ I stay under your wings for protection until this destruction is over.
2 I will cry to the highest God—
to God, who ensures that I get justice.
3 He will send help from heaven and rescue me,
He’s angry with those who crush me. (Instrumental break.)
God will let me experience his loyal commitment and his faithfulness.
≈ I’m among those who are ready to devour me.
I’m among people whose teeth are spears and arrows,
≈ and whose tongues are sharp swords.
5 May you be lifted up, God, above the skies.
≈ May your splendour be seen by the whole world.
6 They spread out a net to catch my feet—I was distressed.
≈ They dug a pit in front of me. They themselves have fallen into it. (Instrumental break.)
7 My heart is fixed, God, I’ve made my decision.
I will sing, yes, I’ll sing praises.
8 Wake up, my honoured heart. Wake up, harp and other stringed instrument.
I’ll wake up the dawn.
9 My master, I’ll give thanks to you among the peoples.
≈ I’ll sing praises to you among the nations.
10 because your loyal commitment is great—reaching to the heavens,
≈ and your faithfulness to the clouds.
11 May you be lifted up, God, above the skies.
≈ May your splendour be seen by the whole world.
For the musical director: a song[fn] by David. To be sung to the tune of ‘Don’t destroy’.
58 When you rulers speak, do you actually say what is right?
≈ Do you give justice, you people?
2 No, you plan wicked schemes in your mind.
≈ You use your hands to distribute violence throughout the land.
3 From the womb, the wicked turn from what’s right.
≈ They go astray from birth, speaking lies.
4 Their poison is like snake venom.
≈ They’re like a deaf cobra that blocks its own ears
5 then pays no attention to the snake-charmer’s voice
no matter how skillful they are.
6 Break their teeth in their mouths, God.
≈ Yahweh, break off the fangs of the young lions.
7 Let them melt away like water.
When they shoot their arrows, let them be as though they were cut in half.
8 Let them be like a snail that quietly disappears.
≈ Like a woman’s still-born child that never sees the sunlight.
9 Before your pots can feel the heat of the burning thorn twigs,
he’ll sweep the branches away.
10 The godly people will celebrate when they see God’s vengeance.
≈ They’ll wash their feet in the blood of the wicked
11 so that people will say, “There’s definitely a reward for the righteous person.
59:1 A prayer for safety
For the musical director: a song[fn] by David written when King Shaul (Saul) had sent men to watch David’s house in order to kill him. To be sung to the tune of ‘Don’t destroy’.
59 Rescue me from my enemies, my god.
≈ Protect me from those who want to attack me.
2 Keep me safe from those who do evil,
≈ and save me from the bloodthirsty men.
3 For, see, they wait in ambush to take my life.
Fierce men gather themselves together against me,
but not because of my disobedience or my sin, Yahweh.
4 They prepare to rush me even though I’ve done nothing wrong.
Wake up and look, and help me.
5 You, army commander Yahweh, the god of Yisrael,
Take action and punish all the nations.
Don’t be merciful to any wicked people who’ve been treacherous. (Instrumental break.)
6 They return in the evening, growling like dogs
7 Wow, they belch out with their mouths.
≈ They use their lips like daggers
because they say, “Who can hear us?”
8 But Yahweh, you laugh at them—
≈ you mock all the pagan nations.
9 God, my strength, I’ll pay attention to you.
You are my high fortress.
10 My god will meet me with his loyal commitment.
God will allow me to see my enemies defeated.
11 Don’t just kill them, or my people will forget.
Use your power to scatter them and make them fall, my master, our shield.
12 Despite their pride, let them be caught
for the sins of their mouths and the words of their lips,
and for the curses and lies that they express.
13 Eliminate them in your anger
≈ Consume them so that they’ll no longer exist.
Let them know that God rules in Yakov (Jacob),
→ and to the ends of the earth. (Instrumental break.)
howling like dogs prowling around the city.
15 They wander around looking for food
and they growl if they’re not satisfied.
16 But I’ll sing about your strength,
≈ and in the morning I’ll sing about your loyal commitment.
because you’ve been my high fortress
≈ and a place of safety at the time of my distress.
17 To you, my strength, I’ll sing praises
because God is my high fortress—the god who demonstrates loyal commitment.
For the musical director: a song[fn] by David for teaching written when he fought with Aram-Naharayim and with Aram-Tsovah, and Yoav returned and killed twelve thousand Edomites in the Salt Valley. To be sung to the tune of ‘The Lily of Testimony’.
60 God, you’ve abandoned us—you’ve broken through our defenses.
≈ You’ve been angry—restore us again.
2 You’ve made the land tremble—you’ve torn it apart.
→ Heal its fissures, because it’s shaking.
3 You’ve made your people see difficult things.
≈ You’ve given us wine to drink that makes us stagger.
4 You’ve set up a banner for those who honour you,
to be displayed against those who flee from the battle. (Instrumental break.)
5 Use your strength to rescue those you love
and answer us
6 God has spoken from his sacred place, “I’ll celebrate.
I’ll divide Shekem
≈ and apportion out the Sukkot Valley.
7 Gilead is mine,
≈ and Menashsheh (Manasseh) is mine.
Efrayim/Yisrael also is my helmet.
≈ Yehudah (Judah) is my scepter.
8 Moab is my wash-basin.
I’ll toss my shoe on Edom to indicate my ownership of it.
I’ll shout triumphantly because of Philistia.”
9 Who will bring me into the fortified city?
≈ Who will lead me to Edom?
10 But it seems that you’ve rejected us, God?
You don’t join our army when they go into battle.
11 Give us help against our enemy,
because human help is worthless.
≈ He’ll trample our enemies down.
For the musical director: a song by David to be accompanied by stringed instruments.
61 Hear my call for help, God.
≈ Answer my prayer.
2 I call to you from the ends of the earth when I feel faint.
→ Lead me to the rock of stability that’s high above me
3 because you’ve been a place of protection for me—
≈ a tower that’s fortified from the enemy.
4 Let me live in your tent forever.
≈ Let me find protection under the shelter of your wings. (Instrumental break.)
5 because you, God, have heard my promises.
You’ve given me the inheritance that’s given to those who honour you.
6 You’ll prolong the king’s life—
≈ his years will be like generation upon generation.
7 May he sit enthroned in God’s presence forever.
≈ May loyal commitment and faithfulness preserve him.
8 I’ll sing praise to you forever
so that I can fulfil my promises every day.
62:1 Trusting in God
For the musical director: a song by David Hidutun.
62 I wait in silence for God alone.
He’s the only one who can rescue me.
2 He alone is my rock and the one who rescues me.
He’s my fortified tower—no enemy will get me out of there.
3 How long, all of you, will you attack a man?
All of you will be murdered INVESTIGATE
like a leaning wall or a wobbling fence.
4 They plan to bring him down from his high position.
They love to tell lies—
they bless him with their mouths, but in their minds they curse him. (Instrumental break.)
5 I wait in silence for God alone
because I’ve placed my hope in him.
6 He alone is my rock and the one who rescues me.
He’s my fortified tower—no enemy will get me out of there.
7 It’s God who saves and honours me.
≈ I find my safe place in God and he’s the source of my strength.
8 Trust him at all times, you people.
Tell him all your troubles.
God is a place where we can be protected. (Instrumental break.)
9 Humans are nothing but a puff of wind.
≈ They don’t weigh much on the scales.
→ Even when weighed together, they’re lighter than air.
10 Don’t rely on extortion or robbery.
≈ Don’t hope uselessly in your wealth,
→ because it’ll bear no fruit—don’t fix your heart on them.
→ all power comes from God.
12 Also, loyal commitment comes from you, my master,
because you pay back every person for what they’ve done.
63:1 Staying close to God
A song by David when he was in the Yehudah wilderness.
63 God, you’re my god. I’m eager to get to know you.
My inner being thirsts for you, and my body needs you
in a dry and depressing land where there’s no water,
2 so I’ve been to the sanctuary to see you—
to see your power and your splendour
3 because your loyal commitment is better than life itself.
4 So I will use my life to bless you.
≈ I will lift up my hands to honour you.
5 My mind will be satisfied as if it’s had a good meal.
My mouth will gladly praise you
6 on my bed as I think about you.
≈ I will meditate about you during the night
Under your protection, I sing with happiness
8 I stay close to you—
you use your power to support me.
9 Those who are trying to destroy me
will end up down deep under the earth instead.
10 They’ll experience the wrong end of the sword—
they’ll become food for jackals.
11 But the king will express his happiness about God.
Everyone who trusts in God will boast,
but he won’t allow liars to say anything.
For the musical director: a song by David.
64 Hear my voice of complaint, God.
Save my from my enemies that I fear.
2 Protect me from the secret plots of wicked people—
≈ from the scheming of those who do evil.
3 They have sharpened their tongues like swords.
≈ They have targeted their bitter words like aiming arrows
4 to shoot at innocent people from their ambush—
≈ they shoot suddenly and don’t fear any consequences.
5 They encourage each other with their wicked plans.
They talk about secretly laying their traps,
asking who will notice them.
6 They plot crimes, conceiving the ‘perfect plan’.
Humankind’s inner thoughts and desires run deep.
suddenly they’ll be wounded by arrows.
8 Their own tongues will bring them to ruin.
Everyone who sees them will just shake their heads.
9 All of humankind will fear God
and talk about what he’s done.
Yes, they’ll ponder what happened.
10 Those who do what is right will be glad about Yahweh
Every godly person will praise him.
For the musical director: a song by David.
65 Our praise is ready for you, God in Tsiyyon (Zion).
We’ve fulfilled our vows.
≈ Everyone goes to you.
3 Our sinful deeds hold us back,
but you forgive our disobedience.
4 Anyone you choose to bring near to you is honoured,
≈ then they can live in your courtyards.
We’ll be satisfied with the goodness of your house—
≈ your holy temple.
5 God of our salvation, answer us
by awesome acts of justice—
yes, you who are hope of all this entire region,
as well as the hope of those who are far across the sea.
6 You created the mountains with your power.
You have plenty of strength.
7 You calm the roaring oceans—
and the turmoil of the nations.
8 Those who live all around the world
are amazed by the evidence of your activities.
You make them happy from the east to the west.
9 You look after the world and water it.
You greatly enrich it.
God’s river is full of water.
You’ve prepared the earth to produce grain.
10 You generously water its ploughed furrows—
your rain flattens down the ridges between them.
You make the soil soft with rain showers
then you bless what grows there.
11 You crown the yearly harvest with your bounty,
and your farm-wagons overflow with plenty.
12 The pastures in the wilderness drip with dew,
and the hills are cloaked with gladness.
13 The pastures are blanketed with sheep and goats.
≈ The valleys also are covered over with grain;
They shout with gladness and sing.
For the musical director: a song.
66 Shout happily to God you people all over the world.
2 Sing about his incredible reputation.
≈ Make your praise of him sound great.
3 Tell God, “It’s awesome what you do.
Your incredible power causes your enemies to cower.
4 The whole world will bow down to you.
They’ll sing to praise you and your reputation.” (Instrumental break.)
5 Come and see what God’s done.
His activities among humanity are awesome.
6 He turned the sea into dry land.[ref]
≈ They walked through the river on foot.[ref]
Let’s keep celebrating what he did there.
7 He rules forever with his strength.
His eyes keep watch on the nations.
Don’t let rebellious people pat themselves on the back. (Instrumental break.)
8 Be a blessing to God, you people groups.
Let the sounds of praising him be heard.
9 He maintains us among the living,
≈ and doesn’t allow our feet to slip.
10 For you, God, have tested us.
≈ You’ve purified us like refined silver.
11 You led us like fish into a net.
≈ You made us carry a heavy load on our backs.
12 You let enemy horsemen ride over our heads.
We went through fire and through water,
but you brought us out to a wide-open place.
13 I will enter your temple with burnt offerings.
≈ I will give the amount that I promised
14 with my own lips—
that vow that I made when I was in a predicament.
15 I’ll offer burnt offerings of fattened animals to you
with the sweet aroma of rams.
I will offer bulls and goats. (Instrumental break.)
16 All of you who respect God, come and listen
and I’ll tell you about what he’s done for me.
17 I called out to him for help with my mouth,
≈ then I praised him with my tongue.
18 If I had considered doing evil,
my master wouldn’t have listened to me.
19 Nevertheless God listened to me.
≈ He paid attention to my prayers.
20 God deserves praise—he hasn’t turned away from my prayer
or withheld his loyal commitment to me.
67:1 A song thanking God
For the musical director: a praise song to be accompanied by stringed instruments.
67 May God be gracious to us and bless us,
and show kindness towards us (Instrumental break.)
2 so that those living on earth will know what you’re like.
All the nations will learn about your salvation.
3 Let the peoples praise you, God.
≈ Let all the people groups praise you.
4 Let the nations be glad and sing happily,
because you’ll judge the peoples with impartiality,
≈ and govern the nations around the world. (Instrumental break.)
5 Let the peoples praise you, God.
≈ Let all the people groups praise you.
6 The earth has yielded its harvest.
≈ God, our god, has blessed us.
and may people all around the world respect him.
68:1 A song of victory
For the musical director: a song by David.
68 Let God take action so his enemies get scattered.
Let those who hate him flee away from him
Drive them away like wax melts beside a flame,
Let the wicked perish in God’s presence.
3 However let the godly people be glad.
Let them be happy in God’s presence.
May they celebrate with gladness.
4 Sing to God—sing praises about his reputation.
Praise the one who rides on the clouds.
His name is Yah, so celebrate in front of him.
≈ a protector of the widows,
is God in the sin-free place where he lives.
6 God puts solitary people into homes.
He brings out the prisoners to live in prosperity,
but those who are rebellious live in a dry, barren land.
7 God, when you went out ahead of your people,
you marched through the wilderness. (Instrumental break.)
8 The earth trembled and the skies also dropped rain in God’s presence—
in the presence of God at Sinai,
in the presence of Yisrael’s god.
9 You sent plentiful rain around.
You strengthened your inheritance when it was famished.
10 Your people lived in that land.
You, God, gave to the poor out of your goodness.
and a large army proclaimed it.
12 Kings of armies flee—they take off—
she who waits at home divides out the loot.
13 Although you lie down out there among the sheepfolds,
you’ll be like the wings of a dove covered with silver,
and her feathers covered with yellow gold
14 The powerful one scattered kings there.
It was as when it snowed on Mt. Zalmon.
15 Mt. Bashan is one of God’s large mountains.
The hill country of Bashan has many mountain peaks.
16 Why do you look in envy, you high hill country,
at the mountain which God desires for the place he will live?
Indeed, Yahweh will live in it forever.
17 God has many thousands of chariots—thousands of thousands.
My master is among them in the sacred place,
You have led away captives.
You have received gifts from among men,
even from those who were rebellious,
so that you, Yahweh God, might live there.
19 Blessed be my master, who carries a load for us each day—
the god who’s our salvation. (Instrumental break.)
20 God is a god who saves people.
My master Yahweh is the one who is able to rescue us from death.
21 But God will smash the heads of his enemies—
the hair on the head of those who continue with their guilty acts.
22 My master said, “I’ll bring my enemies back from Bashan.
I’ll bring them back from the depths of the ocean
23 so that you can crush your enemies—dipping your foot in blood,
and so that your dogs’ tongues can have their share too from your enemies.”
24 People have seen your processions, God—
the processions of my god, my King, into the sacred place.
25 The singers went first with the musicians behind them,
and the girls playing tambourines were in the middle.
26 Bless God in the large congregation.
Praise Yahweh, you who are from the fountain of Yisrael.
27 First there’s Benyamin, the smallest tribe,
then the leaders of Yehudah with their large numbers,
then the leaders of Zebulun and the leaders of Naftali.
28 Israel, your god has predetermined your strength.
Reveal your power to us, God, as you have done in times past
29 because of your temple in Yerushalem,
where kings bring gifts to you.
30 Shout in battle against the wild animals in the reeds,
≈ against the peoples, that multitude of bulls and calves.
Humiliate them and make them bring you gifts.
Scatter the people groups who love to attack other countries.
31 Princes will come out of Egypt (Heb. Mitsrayim).
Ethiopia (Heb. Kush) will hurry to reach out to God with her hands.
32 Sing to God, you kingdoms around the world. (Instrumental break.)
33 To him who rides on the heaven of heavens, which exists from ancient times.
See, he lifts up his voice with strength.
34 Acknowledge God’s strength—
His sovereignty is over Yisrael and his power in the skies.
35 God, you are awesome in your sacred place.
The God of Yisrael—he’s the one who gives power and strength to his people.
Praise God.
69:1 A request for help
For the musical director: a song by David to be sung to the tune of ‘Lilies’.
69 Save me, God, because the waters have reached my neck.
2 I sink in deep mud where there’s nowhere to stand.
≈ I have come into deep waters where the floods flow over me.
3 I’m exhausted from my crying for help—my throat is dry.
My eyes have failed while I’ve been waiting for my god.
4 There’s more people who hate me without even knowing why, than there are hairs on my head.
≈ I have many enemies who want to destroy me, but for no good reason.
I’m forced to ‘give back’ what I didn’t steal in the first place.
5 God, you know the silly things that I do,
and none of my sins can be hidden from you.
6 Don’t let those who hope in you be put to shame because of me, my master, army commander Yahweh.
≈ Don’t let those who need your help be humiliated because of me, God of Yisrael.
7 I’ve been ridiculed for following you—
8 I’ve become a stranger to my siblings—
≈ yes, a foreigner to my mother’s children
9 because my zeal for your temple has eaten me up,
and the rebukes of those who rebuke you have fallen on me.
10 When I wept and chose not to eat,
they insulted me.
11 When I put on rough sackcloth,
they just turned me into a joke.
12 Those who sit around the community court talk about me,
and drunkards sing about me.
13 Even so, my prayer is to you, Yahweh,
when you’re feeling favourable towards me.
From the strength of your loyal commitment,
answer me for sure by rescuing me.
14 Pull me out of the mud, and don’t let me sink.
≈ Rescue me from those who hate me, and from deep waters.
15 Don’t let the floods of water overwhelm me,
or let the deep swallow me up.
Don’t let the pit close its mouth over me.
16 Answer me, Yahweh, because your loyal commitment is good.
≈ Turn to me because you’ve shown so much mercy towards me.
17 Don’t hide from me, your servant.
≈ Answer me quickly, because I’m in distress.
Ransom me because of my enemies.
19 You know my rebuke, my shame, and my dishonour.
All my adversaries report my failings to you.
20 Their insults have broken my heart—I’m full of heaviness.
I looked for someone to take pity, but no one was there.
≈ I looked for someone to encourage me, but I didn’t find anyone.
21 They gave me poison to eat.
≈ When I was thirsty, they gave me vinegar to drink.
22 Let their table become a snare to catch them in their own schemes.
≈ When they think they’re safe, let it become a trap.
23 Let their eyes be darkened so they won’t be able to see anything,
and make their legs continually shake.
24 Pour your indignation out on them,
≈ and let the fierceness of your anger overtake them.
25 Let their place become uninhabited.
≈ Don’t let anyone live in their tents
26 because they persecuted the one you struck down.
≈ They multiplied the pain of those that you had already wounded.
27 Add sin after sin to their record.
≈ Don’t let them try to tell you about their ‘innocence’.
28 Let them be blotted out of the book of life
≈ and not have their names written down along with the names of the godly.
29 As for me, I’m suffering and in pain.
Yes God, protect me and rescue me.
30 I’ll praise God with a song
≈ and with thankfulness, I’ll tell about his goodness.
31 That will please Yahweh better than sacrificing a cow,
≈ or a physical bull that has horns and hooves.
32 Humble people will see it and be glad.
You who want to obey God, let your hearts live
33 because Yahweh listens to the poor,
and he doesn’t despise his people when they’re imprisoned.
34 Let heaven and earth praise him,
including the seas and everything in them that moves.
35 For God will save Tsiyyon (Zion)
and will rebuild the cities of Yehudah.
The people will live there and have it for their own.
36 The descendants of his people will inherit it,
and those who love him will live there safely.
70:1 A prayer for help
For the musical director: a song by David for the memorial offering.
≈ Yahweh, hurry here to help me.
2 Let those who try to take my life be ashamed and humiliated.
≈ Let those who take pleasure in my pain be turned back and brought to dishonour.
3 Let those who say, “Aha, aha,” be turned back because of their shame.
4 Let all those who strive to follow you, celebrate and be glad about you.
≈ Let those who rely on you to rescue them always say, “May God be praised.”
71 I find my safety in you, Yahweh.
Let me never be put to shame.
2 Rescue me and make me safe in your righteousness.
≈ Turn your ear to me and save me.
3 Be a rock of safety for me, where I can always go.
≈ You’ve given the command to save me because you’re my rock and my fortress.
4 Rescue me, my god, out of the control of wicked people—
≈ out of the grasp of the unrighteous and cruel
5 because you’re my hope, Yahweh my master.
≈ I’ve trusted in you ever since I was a child.
6 I’ve been supported by you from the womb.
≈ It was you who took me out of my mother’s belly.
→ My praise will be always about you.
7 I’m a marvel to many people.
You’re my secure shelter.
8 My mouth will be filled with praise for you,
filled all day with your honour.
9 Don’t throw me away in my time of old age.
≈ Don’t abandon me when my strength fails,
10 because my enemies are talking about me.
≈ Those who watch for my life are plotting together.
11 They say, “God’s abandoned him now.
Pursue him and capture him, because there’s no one to rescue him.”
12 Don’t stay far away from me, God.
13 Let those who are hostile to my life be put to shame and destroyed.
Let those who seek my hurt be covered with rebuke and dishonour.
14 Meanwhile, I’ll always be expecting you to help me
and will praise you more and more.
15 I’ll tell about your righteousness and your salvation all day,
although I can’t count your goodness.
16 I will talk about the powerful actions by Yahweh my master.
≈ I’ll make mention of your righteousness, yours alone.
17 God, you have taught me from my youth.
Even now I’m excited to tell about the wonderful things you’ve done.
18 Indeed, even when I’m old and gray, God, don’t abandon me,
as I’ve been declaring your strength to the next generation—
≈ your power to everyone who is to come.
19 Your justice and fairness is unable to be challenged.
≈ You who’ve done great things, God, who else is like you?
20 You who made me see many troubles, will revive us again,
≈ and will bring us back up from the depths of the earth.
21 May you increase my honour.
22 I’ll also praise you for your trustworthiness with the harp, my god.
≈ I’ll make music for you with the harp, holy one of Yisrael.
23 When I sing praise to you, my lips will shout for joy,
along with my soul which you have paid to have released.
24 ≈ My tongue will also talk about your righteousness all day long,
→ because those who sought to hurt me have been put to shame and are confused.
A song by Shelomoh (Solomon).
72 Give the king your righteous decrees, God,
≈ your righteousness to the king’s son.
2 May he judge your people fairly
3 May the mountains produce peace for the people.
≈ May the hills produce godliness.
4 May he vindicate the poor among the people.
≈ May he save the children of the needy
and crush the oppressors.
5 May they honour you while the sun endures,
≈ and as long as the moon lasts throughout all the generations.
6 May he come down like rain on the mown grass,
≈ like showers that water the earth.
7 May godly people flourish throughout his days as king,
≈ and may there be an abundance of peace till the moon is no more.
8 May he have dominion from sea to sea,
≈ and from the Euphrates to the ends of the earth.
9 May those who live in the wilderness bow down before him.
≈ May his enemies lick the dust.
10 May the kings of Tarshish and of the islands be forced to pay tribute.
≈ May the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.
11 Indeed, may all kings bow down to him.
≈ May all nations serve him
12 because he helps any needy person who cries out
≈ and the poor person who has no other helper.
13 He has pity on the poor and needy,
≈ and he saves the lives of needy people.
14 He redeems their lives from oppression and violence.
≈ Their life is precious to him.
15 May he live—may Sheba’s gold be given to him.
May people always pray for him.
≈ May God bless him all day long.
16 May there be abundance of grain in the land—on the mountaintops may their crops wave.
May the fruit of it be like Lebanon.
May the people flourish in the cities like the grass across the land.
17 May his good reputation endure forever.
≈ May his fame continue as long as the sun.
May people be blessed in him.
≈ May all nations call him blessed.
18 May Yisrael’s god, Yahweh, be blessed.
He alone does wonderful things.
19 May his wonderful name be blessed forever,
and may the whole earth be filled with his splendour. May it be so.
20 This ends the prayers of Yesse’s son, David.
Third collection
73 (Songs 73–89)
73:1 The need for justice
73 Surely God is good to Yisrael—
to those with pure motives
2 but as for me, my feet almost slipped.
My steps were caused to nearly slide out from under me
3 because I was envious of arrogant people
when I saw how wicked people prosper,
4 because they live without pains
and their bodies are strong and healthy.
5 They are free from normal human struggles,
≈ and they don’t suffer along with everyone else.
6 Therefore pride is a necklace for them—
violence covers them like a coat.
7 Their eyes bulge out from their fatness.
Their heads are full of imaginative schemes.
8 They mock and speak with oppressive evil.
They speak from an elevated place.[fn]
9 They set their mouth in the heavens,
and their tongue goes through the earth.[fn]
10 Therefore his people turn here,
and full waters are drained in/by them.[fn]
11 Then they say, “How does God know?
≈ Does the highest one notice what’s going on?”
12 Look at these wicked people.
They’re always at ease—increasing in wealth.
13 Surely I wasted my time keeping my mind pure
and washing my hands in innocence,
14 because I’ve been stricken throughout the day,
≈ and punished every morning.
15 If I’d said that I’d speak like that,
wow, I would have betrayed your children’s generation.
16 And when I thought about how to understand this,
it was very difficult for me to figure it out
17 until I went into God’s sanctuaries,
then I discerned their end.
18 Surely you put them onto slippery places.
≈ You make them fall to destruction.
19 How they are brought down to nothing as in a moment.
They’re finished—they come to a terrifying end
20 My master, when you rouse yourself, you’ll despise their image,
like a dream after the person wakes up.
21 When my heart was embittered,
and my organs felt like they had a knife in them,
I acted toward you like an animal.
23 Yet I’m with you continuously—
you take hold of my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you’ll receive me with honour.
25 Who else do I have I in heaven to help me other than you?
≈ And there’s nothing on the earth that I desire more than you.
26 My muscles and my heart fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my fulfilment forever.
27 Yes, listen, those who are far from you must die.
You destroy every one who’s unfaithful to you.
28 As for me, approaching God is good for me.
I have made my master Yahweh my safe place
so that I can tell everyone about what you’ve done.
74 Why God, have you rejected us forever?
Why are you so angry at the sheep in your pasture?
2 Remember your congregation that you acquired in times past,
which you have redeemed to be the tribe of your inheritance.
This Mt. Tsiyyon (Zion), where you’ve lived.
3 Take your feet to see the perpetual ruins.
All the damage that the enemy has done to the sanctuary.
4 Your adversaries have roared in the middle of your meeting place.
They’ve set up their banners as signs.
5 They acted like men chopping down a forest with axes.
6 And now, with axe and hammers,
they smash up all its carved panels.
7 They have burnt your sanctuary to the ground.
They have profaned the place where your name is attached.
8 They said in their hearts, “We’ll totally crush them.”
They’ve burnt all of the meeting places of God in the country.
9 There aren’t any signs for us to watch.
There’s no longer any prophet,
≈ and there’s no one among us who knows how long this will last.
10 How much longer, God, will the enemy be able to mock for?
≈ Will the enemy be able to treat your name with contempt forever?
11 Why do you withdraw your hand of power?
Take it out of your pocket and destroy them.
12 Yet God is my king from times past,
rescuing us in a range of locations.
13 You divided the sea by your strength.
≈ You smashed the heads of the sea monsters in the waters.
14 You crushed the sea dragon’s heads.[ref]
You fed him to those living in the wilderness.
15 You broke open springs and streams.
You dried up flowing rivers.
16 The day is yours, and the night is also yours.
You set the sun and moon in place.
17 You have set all the borders of the earth.
You have made summer and winter.
18 Call to mind how the enemy hurled insults at you, Yahweh,
and that a foolish nation has belittled your name.
19 Don’t just allow a wild animal to take your dove’s life.
Don’t forget the life of your oppressed people forever.
20 Remember your promises as part of our agreement,
because the dark regions of the country are full of places of violence.
21 Don’t let the oppressed be turned back in shame.
Let the poor and oppressed have good reason to praise you.
22 Take action, God; defend your own honour.
Take notice of how fools insult you all day long.
23 Don’t forget the voice of your enemies
or the uproar of those who continually defy you.
75:1 God the judge
For the musical director: a song by Asaf to be sung to the tune of ‘Don’t destroy’.
75 We give thanks to you, God.
We thank you because you reveal your presence.
People talk about the amazing things you’ve done.
2 At the appointed time I will judge fairly.
3 Although the earth and all its inhabitants shake in fear,
I’ll steady the earth’s foundations. (Instrumental break.)
4 I told the arrogant, “Stop bragging,”
and the wicked, “Don’t blow your own trumpet.
5 Don’t raise your head ready to charge.
Don’t speak with your nose in the air.”
6 It’s not from the east or from the west,
and it is not from the wilderness that lifting up comes
He brings one down one and lifts up another
8 because Yahweh has a full cup of foaming wine mixed with spices
that he holds in his hand and pours it out.
Surely all the wicked people across the earth will drink it to the last drop.
9 But I will continually talk about what you’ve done;
I’ll sing praises to Yakov’s god.
76:1 God is victorious
For the musical director: a song by Asaf to be accompanied by stringed instruments.
76 God has made himself known in Yehudah (Judah).
≈ His reputation is great in Yisrael (Israel).
≈ His residence is in Tsiyyon (Zion).
3 There he broke the arrows that were for the bow,
the shield, the sword, and the other weapons of war. (Instrumental break.)
4 You shine brightly and reveal your splendour,
above the hills where you killed your victims.
5 The brave warriors were plundered.
All the warriors were helpless.
6 At your rebuke, God of Yakov,
both rider and horse fell asleep.
7 You, yes you, are to be feared.
≈ Who can stand in your sight when you are angry?
8 You made your judgement heard from heaven.
The earth was afraid and silent
9 when you, God, took action to execute judgement
and to save all oppressed people across the world. (Instrumental break.)
10 Surely your angry judgement against humanity will bring you praise.
You cloak yourself with what’s left of your anger.
11 Make promises to your god Yahweh, then keep them.
May all who surround him bring gifts to him who expects to be obeyed.
77:1 God’s leadership
For the musical director: a song for Yedutun by Asaf.
77 I will call out to God with my voice.
I’ll call with my voice to God, and my god will hear me.
2 When I had troubles, I asked my master for help.
At night I stretched my hands out, and they didn’t get tired.
The knot in my stomach wouldn’t go away.
3 I thought of God as I groaned.
I thought about him as I grew faint. (Instrumental break.)
I was too troubled to speak.
5 I thought about the days of old,
≈ about times long past.
6 I call my song to remembrance in the night.
and my spirit makes searches around diligently.
7 Will my master reject me forever?
≈ Will he never again show me favour?
8 Was his loyal commitment gone forever?
≈ Had his promise failed forever?
9 Had God forgotten to be gracious?
≈ Had his anger masked his compassion? (Instrumental break.)
10 I said, “This is what saddens me:
→ the highest one no longer using his power to help us.”
11 But I will call to mind what you’ve done previously, Yahweh.
≈ I will think about the wonderful things that you did in the past.
12 I will ponder all your activities
≈ and will reflect on them.
13 Your way, God, is without imperfection.
What god compares to our terrific God?
14 You are the god who does miracles.
You’ve revealed your strength among the peoples.
15 You gave your people victory by use of your great power—
the descendants of Yakov and Yosef. (Instrumental break.)
The waters saw you, and they were afraid.
≈ The ocean depths trembled.
17 The clouds poured down water.
The cloudy skies also emitted a thunderous sound.
≈ Your arrows of lightning flew about.
18 Your thunderous voice was heard in the wind.
The lightning lit up the world.
The earth trembled and shook.
19 Your path went through the sea
and your trail through the surging waters,
but your footprints couldn’t be seen.
20 You led your people like a flock
under the supervision of Mosheh and Aharon (Moses and Aaron).
78:1 God’s past goodness
78 Hear my teaching, my people.
≈ Listen to what I’m saying.
2 I will speak out in parables;
≈ I will sing about hidden things about the past.
3 These are things that we have heard and learnt—
things that our ancestors have told us.
4 We won’t keep them from their descendants.
We’ll tell the next generation about Yahweh’s praiseworthy actions,
his strength, and the miracles that he has done.
5 Also he established a rule in Yakov
≈ and appointed a law in Yisrael.
He commanded our ancestors
→ that they were to teach them to their children.
6 He commanded this so that the generation to come might know his decrees—
the children not yet born who should tell them in turn to their own children.
7 Then they would place their hope in God
and not forget what he’s done
but obey his commands.
8 Then they would not be like their ancestors,
who were a stubborn and rebellious generation—
a generation who didn’t control their hearts,
and whose spirits were not committed and faithful to God.
9 The Efrayimites had many archers,
but they turned back on the day of battle.
10 They didn’t keep their agreement with God,
and they refused to obey his law.
11 They forgot about what he’d done—
the wonderful things that he had shown them.
12 They forgot the marvellous things that he’d done
in the sight of their ancestors in Egypt (Heb. Mitsrayim) in the Tsoan region.
13 He divided the sea and led them across it.
≈ He made the water on each side stand up like walls.
14 In the daytime he led them with a cloud,
^ and throughout the night with the light from fire.
15 He split the rocks in the wilderness,
and he gave them plenty of water—enough to fill the ocean.
16 He made streams flow out of the rock
≈ and made the water flow like rivers.
17 Yet they continued to sin against him,
rebelling against the highest one in the wilderness.
18 They challenged God in their hearts
by asking for food to satisfy their appetites.
19 They spoke against God, saying,
“Can God really lay out food on a table for us in the wilderness?
20 See, when he struck the rock, water gushed out
≈ and streams overflowed.
But can he give food also?
≈ Will he provide meat for his people?”
21 When Yahweh heard that, he was angry
and his fire burned against Yakov.
His anger attacked Yisrael,
22 because they didn’t believe in God
and didn’t trust that he would save them.
23 Yet he commanded the skies above
and opened the doors in the sky.
24 He rained down manna for them to eat.
≈ He gave them the grain from heaven.
25 People ate angels’ bread.
He sent them plenty of food.
26 He caused the east wind to blow in the sky,
≈ and by his power he guided the south wind.
27 He rained meat down on them like dust—
→ birds as numerous as the sand on the seashore.
28 They fell in the middle of their camp—
all around their tents.
29 So they ate and were full.
≈ He gave them what they craved.
30 But they hadn’t filled their stomachs yet—
their food was still in their mouths
31 and then God’s anger attacked them
and killed the strongest of them.
≈ He brought down Yisrael’s young men.
32 Despite that, they continued to sin
and wouldn’t trust in the wonderful things he would do.
33 So their days were ended uselessly.
Their years were filled with terror.
34 Whenever God afflicted them, they would start to search for him,
and they would return and earnestly look for him.
35 They would call to mind that God was their security
≈ and that the highest God was their rescuer.
36 But they’d flatter him with their mouth,
≈ and lie to him with their words.
37 Their hearts weren’t firmly fixed on him,
and they weren’t faithful to his agreement.
38 Yet he, being merciful, forgave their disobedience and didn’t destroy them.
Yes, many times he held back his anger
≈ and didn’t stir up all his rage.
39 He called to mind that they were only made of flesh—
a breath of wind that passes away and doesn’t return.
40 How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness,
≈ and grieved him in those barren regions.
41 Again and again they challenged God
≈ and offended the holy one of Yisrael.
42 They didn’t think about his power,
≈ or about how he’d rescued them from their enemy,
43 when he performed his miracles in Egypt
≈ and his wonders in the Tsoan region.
44 He turned the Egyptians’ rivers into blood
≈ so that they couldn’t drink from their streams.
45 He sent swarms of flies that bit them
≈ and frogs that overran their land.
46 He gave their crops to the grasshoppers
≈ and the results of their labour to the locusts.
47 He destroyed their grapevines with hail
≈ and their sycamore fig trees with frost.
48 He rained hail on their cattle
≈ and hurled lightning bolts at their livestock.
49 The fierceness of his anger lashed out against them.
He sent rage, fury, and trouble
like agents to bring disaster.
50 He levelled a path for his anger.
He didn’t spare them from death
but gave them over to the plague.
51 He killed all the firstborn in Egypt—
the firstborn of their reproductive strength in Ham’s tents.
52 He led his own people out like sheep
and guided them through the wilderness like a flock.
53 He led them secure and unafraid,
but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
54 Then he brought them to the border of his holy land—
to this mountain that he acquired with his power.
55 He drove out the nations ahead of them
and assigned them their inheritance.
He settled the Israeli tribes in their tents.[ref]
56 Yet they challenged and defied the highest God
and didn’t obey his solemn commands.
57 They were unfaithful and acted treacherously like their ancestors.
They were as unreliable as a faulty bow.
58 They made him angry with their hilltop shrines
≈ and provoked him to jealous anger with their idols.
59 When God heard this, he was angry
and completely rejected Yisrael.
60 He abandoned the sanctuary at Shiloh—
the tent where he had lived among people.[ref]
61 He allowed his strength[fn] to be captured
and gave control of his splendour to the enemy.
62 He handed his people over to the sword,
and he was angry with his heritage.
63 Fire devoured their young men,
and their young women had no wedding songs.
64 Their priests fell by the sword,
and their widows had no opportunity to weep.
65 Then my master awakened like someone who’d been asleep—
like a warrior who shouts because he’s been drinking.
66 He drove his opponents back.
He put them to perpetual shame.
67 He rejected Yosef’s tent,
and he didn’t chose the tribe of Efrayim.
68 He chose the tribe of Yehudah
and Mt. Tsiyyon (Zion) that he loved.
69 He built his sanctuary like the heavens—
≈ like the earth that he has established forever.
70 He chose his servant David,
≈ and took him from the sheep pens.
71 He took him from following the ewes with their young,
and he brought him to shepherd Yakov, his people,
≈ and Yisrael, his heritage.
72 David shepherded them with sincere integrity,
and he guided them with his skillful hands.
A song by Asaf.
79 God, foreign nations have come into the land you gave as an inheritance.
They have defiled your holy temple.
They have turned Yerushalem (Jerusalem) into a heap of ruins.
2 They have given the dead bodies of your servants as food to the birds in the skies—
the bodies of your faithful ones to the animals on the ground.
3 They’ve shed their blood around Yerushalem like water,
and there wasn’t anyone to bury them.
4 We have become a reproach for our neighbours—
mocked and scorned by those around us.
5 How long, Yahweh? Will you stay angry forever?
For how long will your jealous anger burn like fire?
6 Pour out your rage on the nations that don’t know you
and on the kingdoms that don’t pray to you,
7 because they’ve devoured Yakov (Jacob/Israel)
and destroyed his villages.
8 Don’t hold the sins of our ancestors against us.
May we experience your acts of mercy, because we’re very discouraged.
9 Help us, God of our salvation, for the sake of the glory of your name.
≈ Save us and forgive our sins for the sake of your reputation.
10 Why should the nations say, “Where is their god?”
Let your servants’ blood that was shed
be avenged on the nations before our eyes.
11 May the groans of the prisoners come before you.
Keep those condemned to death alive with the greatness of your power.
12 Pay back seven times as much into the laps of our neighbouring countries
as repayment for the insults with which they have insulted you, Lord.
13 So we your people, and sheep of your pasture,
will give you thanks forever.
≈ We will tell your praises to all generations.
For the musical director: a song by Asaf to be sung to the tune of ‘Lilies of Agreement.’
80 Pay attention, Yisrael’s shepherd.
You who lead Yosef (Joseph, meaning Israel) like a flock;
You who sit above the winged creatures on the sacred chest, shine on us!
2 In the sight of Efrayim and Benyamin and Menashsheh, stir up your power.
Come and save us.
Show us your favour and then we’ll be saved.
how long will you be angry at your people when they pray?
5 You have fed them with bread made from tears
and given them tears to drink in great quantities.
6 You make us something for our neighbours to argue over,
and our enemies laugh about us among themselves.
7 Army commander God, restore us.
Show us your favour and then we’ll be saved.
8 You brought a grapevine out of Egypt.
You drove out nations then transplanted it.
9 You cleared the land for it,
→ and the grapevine took root and filled the land.
10 The mountains were covered with its shade.
≈ God’s cedars were covered by its branches.
11 It sent out its branches as far as the sea
≈ and its shoots to the Euphrates River.
12 Why have you broken down the walls around it
→ so that all who pass by along the road pick its fruit?
13 The boars out of the forest ruin it,
≈ and the animals in the countryside feed on it.
14 Turn back, army commander God.
Look down from heaven and take notice and take care of this grapevine.
15 This is the root that you planted by your power—
the shoot that you made grow.
16 It has been cut down and burnt.
17 May your hand be on the man you’ve given your power to—
on the son of humanity who you made strong for yourself.
18 Then we won’t turn away from you.
Revive us, and we’ll always pray to you.
For the musical director: a song by Asaf to be accompanied by stringed instruments.[fn]
81 Sing aloud to God our strength.
≈ Shout out to Yakov’s god with happiness.
2 Sing a song and play the tambourine—
the pleasant lyre with the harp.
3 Blow the trumpet on the day of the new moon,
≈ on the day of the full moon, when our celebration begins,
4 because it’s a statute for Yisrael—
≈ a decree given by Yakov’s god.
5 He issued it as a regulation in Yosef (Joseph, but referring to Yisrael)
when he went against Egypt,
where I heard a voice that I didn’t recognize:
6 “I removed the burden from his shoulder.
His hands were freed from having to hold the basket.
7 In your distress you called out, and I helped you.
I answered you from a dark thundercloud.
I tested you at the waters of Meribah. (Instrumental break.)
8 Listen, my people, yes, I’ll warn you, Yisrael.
If you would only listen to me.
9 There mustn’t be any foreign god among you.
≈ You mustn’t worship any foreign god.
10 I’m your god Yahweh who brought you out of Egypt.
Open your mouth wide, and I’ll fill it.
11 But my people didn’t listen to my words.
≈ Yisrael didn’t obey me.
12 So I let them go their own stubborn way
so that they could do whatever seemed okay to them.
13 If only my people would listen to me.
If only my people would follow my ways.
14 If they did, I’d quickly subdue their enemies
and use my strength against those who oppress them.
15 May those who hate Yahweh cringe in fear before him.
≈ May they be humiliated forever.
82:1 God the defender
A song by Asaf.
82 God stands in the divine assembly.
He renders judgement among the gods.
2 For how long will you judge unjustly
and show favouritism to the wicked? (Instrumental break.)
3 Defend the poor and the fatherless.
≈ Maintain the rights of those who are afflicted and destitute.
4 Rescue the poor and needy—
≈ help them escape from the control of the wicked people.
5 They neither know nor understand.
They wander around in the darkness.
All the earth’s foundations crumble.
6 I said, “You are ‘gods’,
and all of you are sons of the highest one.
7 Nevertheless you will die like men
and fall like one of the leaders.”
8 Take action, God, judge the earth,
because you have an inheritance in all the nations.
A song by Asaf.
≈ Don’t ignore us and remain unmoved, God.
2 Look, your enemies are making a commotion,
≈ and those who hate you starting to cause trouble.
3 They conspire against your people,
≈ and plan together against your protected ones.
4 They’ve said, “Come, and let’s destroy them as a nation,
→ then the name of Yisrael will soon be forgotten.”
5 They schemed together with a unified strategy.
≈ they made an alliance against you—
6 the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites,
and also Philistia and the inhabitants of Tsor.
8 Assyria also has joined with them.
They have become an arm for the descendants of Lot. (Instrumental break.)
9 Do to them as you did to Midyan,[ref]
as you did to Sisera and to Yabin at the Kishon River.[ref]
→ and became like dung on the ground.
11 Make their nobles like Orev and Zeev,
and all their princes like Zevah and Tsalmunna.
12 They said, “Let’s take God’s pastures for ourselves.”
13 My god, make them like the whirling dust.
≈ Make them like chaff blown around by the wind,
14 like the fire that burns a forest,
≈ or like a flame that sets mountains on fire.
15 Chase them with your strong wind,
≈ and terrify them with your windstorm.
16 Cause them to be very ashamed
so that they might want to find out more about you, Yahweh.
17 May they be put to shame and be terrified forever.
18 Then they will know that you alone, Yahweh,
are to be honoured as the highest one over all the earth.
For the musical director: a song by Korah’s descendants to be accompanied by stringed instruments.[fn]
84 How lovely is the place where you live,
2 I long to be in Yahweh’s temple courtyards—my desire for them has made me exhausted.
My heart and all of my being call out to the living God.
3 Even the sparrow has found herself a house,
≈ and the swallow a nest for herself where she may lay her young
near your altars, army commander Yahweh, my King, and my god.
4 Blessed are they who live in your house;
They praise you continually. (Instrumental break.)
5 Blessed is the person who trusts you for their strength—
who thinks about how to travel to Mt. Tsiyyon (Zion).
6 Passing through the Valley of Tears, they find springs of water to drink.
The early rains cover it with blessings.
7 They go from strength to strength.
Every one of them appears before God in Tsiyyon.
8 Army commander God Yahweh, hear my prayer.
≈ God of Yakov, listen to what I’m saying. (Instrumental break.)
9 God, watch over our defender.
Show concern for your anointed one.
10 Yes, one day in your courtyards is better than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in my god’s house,
than to live in the tents of the wicked,
11 because Yahweh God is our sun and shield.
Yahweh will give grace and glory.
He doesn’t withhold any good thing from those who walk in integrity.
For the musical director: a song by Korah’s descendants.
85 Yahweh, you’ve shown favour to your country.
≈ You have restored Yakov’s well-being.
2 You have forgiven your people’s disobedience.
≈ You’ve covered over all their sin. (Instrumental break.)
3 You have withdrawn all your rage.
≈ You’ve turned back from your hot anger.
4 Restore us, God who saves us,
and don’t stay upset with us.
5 Will you be angry with us forever?
≈ Will you remain angry throughout future generations?
Then your people could be happy about you.
7 Show us your loyal commitment, Yahweh.
≈ Grant us your salvation.
8 I will listen to what Yahweh God says,
because he will make peace with his people—his faithful ones,
yet they mustn’t turn back again to doing foolish things.
9 Certainly he must be close to rescuing those who strive to obey him,
then glory[fn] will remain in our land.
10 Loyal commitment and trustworthiness have met together.
≈ Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
11 Trustworthiness springs up from the ground,
≈ and righteousness looks down from the sky.
12 Yes, Yahweh will give his good blessings,
→ and then our land will yield its crops.
13 Righteousness will go before Yahweh,
→ and make a way for his footsteps.
86:1 God’s great love
86 Turn this way and listen, Yahweh,
and answer me because I’m weak and needy.
2 Protect me, because I’m faithful.
My god, save your servant who trusts in you.
3 Be merciful to me, my master,
because I call out to you for help all day long.
because I sincerely offer myself to you, my master.
5 You, my master, are good, and ready to forgive,
and you show loyal commitment to everyone who calls out to you for help.
6 Yahweh, listen to my prayer.
Hear the sound of my pleas.
7 In my times of trouble, I call to you for help,
because you’ll answer me.
8 There isn’t any other god who’s comparable with you, my master.
No one else does the things that you do.
9 All the nations that you’ve made will come and bow before you, my master.
They will honour your name
10 because you are powerful and do wonderful things.
You alone are God.
11 Teach me your ways, Yahweh, then I’ll walk in your truth.
Give me an undivided heart to revere you.
12 My master God, I’ll praise you with my entire being.
I’ll praise you forever
13 because your loyal commitment to me is so great.
You have rescued my life from the depths of the grave.
14 God, the arrogant have risen up against me.
A gang of violent men seek my life—
they don’t care what you might do to them.
15 But you, my master, are a merciful and gracious God,
slow to get angry, and generous with loyal commitment and trustworthiness.
16 Turn toward me and have mercy on me.
Give your strength to your servant.
Save the son of your servant woman.
17 Show me a sign of your favour,
then those who hate me will see it and be put to shame
because you, Yahweh, have helped me and comforted me.
A song by Korah’s descendants.
87 On the sacred hill stands the city he founded.
2 Yahweh loves Tsiyyon’s (Zion’s) gates
more than all of Yakov’s tents.
3 Wonderful things are said about you, city of God. (Instrumental break.)
4 “I mention Rahab and Babylon to my followers.
See, there are Philistia, and Tsor (Tyre), along with Kush—
and will say, ‘This one was born there.’ ”
5 It will be said about Tsiyyon, “Each of those was born in her,
and the highest one himself will establish her.”
6 Yahweh writes in the census book of the nations,
“That one was born there.” (Instrumental break.)
7 So also the singers and the dancers say together,
“All my fountains are in you.”
For the musical director: a song by Korah’s descendants. To be sung to the tune of ‘Mahalat-Le’annot’ a song[fn] by Heyman, one of Ezra’s descendants.
I call out day and night to you for help.
2 Let my prayer be noticed by you.
≈ Pay attention to my cry
3 because I’m filled with troubles,
≈ and my life is approaching the grave.
4 People treat me like those who are going down into the pit.
≈ I’m a man with no strength left.
5 I’m abandoned among the dead.
≈ I’m like the dead who lie in the grave,
about whom you don’t care any more
because they’re cut off from your power.
6 You place me in the lowest part of the pit—
≈ in the dark and deep places.
7 Your rage lies heavy on me,
≈ and all your waves crash over me. (Instrumental break.)
8 Because of you, my acquaintances avoid me.
You have made me a shocking sight to them.
I am hemmed in and I cannot escape.
9 My eyes grow weary from trouble.
All day long I call out to you for help, Yahweh—
10 Will you do wonders for the dead?
≈ Will those who’ve died rise and praise you? (Instrumental break.)
11 Will your loyal commitment be proclaimed in the grave—
≈ your loyalty in the place of the dead?
12 Will your wonderful activities be known in the darkness,
≈ or your righteousness in the place of forgetfulness?
13 But I cry to you for help, Yahweh—
in the morning my prayer goes before you.
14 Yahweh, why do you reject me?
≈ Why do you hide yourself from me?
15 Since my youth, I’ve always been afflicted and close to death.
≈ I have suffered from your terrors—I’m in despair.
16 Your severe anger has swept over me,
≈ and your terrifying deeds have annihilated me.
17 They surround me like water all the day long.
≈ They’ve all encircled me.
18 You’ve taken all my friends and acquaintances away from me.
Now my only acquaintance is the darkness.
A song[fn] of Eytan, one of Ezra’s descendants.
89 I will sing of Yahweh’s acts of loyal commitment forever.
≈ I will proclaim your truthfulness to future generations.
2 because I’ve said, “Loyal commitment has been established forever.
≈ You have established your truthfulness in the heavens.”
3 “I have made an agreement with my chosen one,
≈ I’ve made a promise to my servant David.
4 I will establish your descendants forever,
≈ and I will establish your throne through all generations.”[ref] (Instrumental break.)
5 ≈ The heavens praise your wonders, Yahweh.
Your truthfulness is praised in the assembly of the holy ones
6 because who in the heavens can be compared to Yahweh?
≈ Who among the sons of the gods is like Yahweh?
7 He’s a god who is greatly honoured in the council of the holy ones
≈ and is awesome among all who are around him.
who is strong like you, Yahweh?
Your truthfulness surrounds you.
≈ when the waves surge, you calm them.
10 You crushed the proud one,[fn] like someone that’s killed.
≈ You scattered your enemies with your strong arm.
11 The heavens belong to you, and the earth as well.
≈ You made the world and all it contains.
12 You created the north and the south.
Mt. Tabor and Mt. Hermon happily shout your name.
13 You have a powerful fighting arm
≈ and a strong hand, and your sword hand is held high.
14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne.
≈ Loyal commitment and trustworthiness come before you.
15 The people who know the happy shout are fortunate.
Yahweh, they live knowing that you are always watching over them.
16 They celebrate your reputation all day long,
≈ and they praise you for always doing what is right.
17 You are their majestic strength,
≈ and by your favour our strength turns into victory.
18 because our shield belongs to Yahweh—
≈ our king belongs to Yisrael’s holy one.
19 Long ago you spoke in a vision to your faithful ones.
You said, “I’ve helped a warrior.”
≈ I’ve raised up one chosen from among the people.
20 I have chosen David my servant—
≈ I’ve anointed him with my sacred oil.
≈ My arm will also be with him to strengthen him.
≈ No wicked man will oppress him.
23 I will crush his enemies in front of him.
≈ I will kill those who hate him.
24 My truth and my loyal commitment will be with him.
He will win victories with my help.
25 I will place his hand over the sea
and his right hand over the rivers.
26 He will call out to me, ‘You are my father,
my god, and the reliable one who rescues me.’
27 I also will place him as my firstborn son,
the highest king on the earth.
28 I will extend my loyal commitment to him forever,
and my agreement with him will be secure.
29 I will make his descendants endure forever
and his throne as enduring as the skies above.
30 If his children forsake my law
and don’t follow my regulations,
31 if they break my rules
32 then will I punish their rebellion with a rod
and their disobedience with stripes from a whip.
33 But I won’t break off my loyal commitment to him
or be unfaithful to my promise.
or change the words of my lips.
35 Once and for all I have made an oath by my holiness—
I won’t lie to David:
36 his descendants will continue forever
and his throne as long as the sun before me.
37 It will be established forever like the moon,
the faithful witness in the sky.” (Instrumental break.)
38 But you have refused and rejected—
you’ve been angry with your anointed king.
39 You have renounced the agreement with your servant.
You have desecrated his crown in the dust.
40 You have broken down all his walls.
≈ You have ruined his fortresses.
41 Everyone who goes past on the road rob him.
He’s become an object of disgust to his neighbours.
42 You have given strength to his enemies;
≈ You’ve made all his enemies celebrate.
43 You turn back the edge of his sword
≈ and haven’t supported him in the battle.
44 You have brought his splendour to an end.
≈ You’ve thrown his throne down to the ground.
45 You have shortened the days of his youth.
You have covered him with shame. (Instrumental break.)
46 How long, Yahweh? Will you hide yourself forever?
≈ How long will your anger burn like fire?
47 Oh, think about how short my time is,
≈ and for what emptiness you’ve created all of humanity’s children.
48 Who can live and not see death,
≈ or rescue his own life from the clutch of the grave? (Instrumental break.)
49 Lord, where are your former acts of loyal commitment
that you sincerely promised to David?
50 My master, call to mind the mocking directed against your servants
≈ and how I bear so many insults from the nations in my heart.
51 Your enemies hurl insults, Yahweh.
They mock the footsteps of your anointed one.
Fourth collection
90 (Songs 90–106)
A prayer by God’s man Mosheh (Moses).
90 My master, you’ve been our protection
throughout all generations.
2 Before the mountains were formed or you formed the earth and the world,
from the entire past through to all the future, you are God.
3 You return man to dust,
and you say, “Return, you descendants of humanity,”
4 because a thousand years in your sight
are just like yesterday when it’s over,
≈ and like a watch of several hours in the night.
5 You sweep them away as with a flood and they sleep.
In the morning they are like the grass that sprouts up:
6 In the morning it blooms and grows up,
but by the evening, it has withered and dried up.
7 Certainly we’re consumed in your anger,
≈ and in your rage we’re terrified.
8 You’ve placed our disobedience in front of you—
≈ our hidden sins in the light of your presence,
9 because our life passes away under your rage—
our years pass quickly like a sigh does.
10 We might reach the age of seventy,
or even eighty if we’re healthy,
but even our best years are marked by trouble and sorrow.
Yes, they pass quickly, then we ‘fly away’.
11 Who knows the intensity of your anger,
and your rage that’s equal to the respect that we should have had for you?
12 So teach us to consider the fragility of our lives
so that we might live wisely.
13 Turn back, Yahweh.
How long will this last?
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your loyal commitment
so that we can celebrate and be glad for the rest of our lives.
15 Make us glad in proportion to the days you made us suffer,
and to the years we have experienced trouble.
16 Let your servants see your actions,
and let our children see your splendour.
17 May the favour of my master God be ours.
Prosper the work of our hands.
Yes, prosper the work that we do.
91:1 God our protector
91 Anyone who stays where they’re sheltered by the highest one,
≈ will be able to rest safely in the powerful one’s shadow.
2 I will tell people that Yahweh is my safe place and my fortress,
≈ my god that I’ll put my trust in.
3 He will keep you safe from the hunter’s traps,
≈ and from deadly diseases.
4 He’ll cover you with his wings,
and you’ll feel safe underneath them.
His faithfulness is a shield and protection.
5 You won’t be afraid of the terror of the night,
≈ or of a flying arrow hitting you in the day.
6 You won’t be afraid of the forces that roam around in the darkness,
≈ or of the destruction that causes devastation at noon time.
7 A thousand warriors might fall dead at your side,
≈ and ten thousand at your right hand,
yet you still won’t be reached by the enemy.
8 Just look with your own eyes,
and you’ll see the wicked people being punished.
9 Yes, Yahweh is my safe place.
Make every effort to stay with the highest one.
10 Then nothing will be able to harm you.
≈ No evil will approach your home
11 because he’ll command his messengers about you[ref]—
to guard you wherever you’re going.
12 They’ll lift you up in their hands,[ref]
so that you won’t hit your foot on a rock.
13 You’ll beat back the lion and the cobra with your feet.[ref]
≈ You’ll trample on the young lion and the snake.
14 I’ll rescue those who are devoted to me.
≈ I’ll protect them because they know my name.
15 When anyone calls out to me, I’ll answer them,
I’ll be with them in times of trouble.
16 I’ll satisfy them with a long life,
and I’ll show them how I can save them.
92:1 A praise song
An accompanied song for Rest Days.
92 It’s good when people thank you, Yahweh,
≈ and sing praises to you, the highest one
2 to proclaim your loyal commitment in the morning,
≈ and your truthfulness every night,
3 using the ten-stringed instrument,
4 Yes, you, Yahweh, have made me happy by your actions.
≈ I will cheerfully sing because of what you’ve done.
5 Yahweh, you do incredible things.
≈ Your thoughts are extremely complex.
6 A stupid person doesn’t know that,
≈ and a fool can’t understand it.
7 Wicked people sprout up like plants,
They’re doomed to eternal destruction,
8 but you, Yahweh, will always rule on high.
9 Take note of your enemies, Yahweh,
because your enemies will perish.
All those who do evil will be forced to flee.
10 You’ve made me as powerful as a wild bull.
I’ve been anointed with fresh oil.
11 With my own eyes, I’ve looked at my enemies.
≈ With my own ears, I’ve heard the opposition against me.
12 A godly person flourishes like a palm tree.
≈ That person will grow like a cedar tree in Lebanon.
13 They’ll be planted in Yahweh’s house.
≈ They’ll flourish in God’s courtyards.
14 They’ll still bear fruit even when they’re old.
≈ They’ll be fresh and vigorous.
15 They’ll proclaim that Yahweh is an honest judge.
≈ He’s reliable and can only ever do what is right.
93:1 The God King
93 Yahweh reigns—he’s robed in majesty.
≈ Yahweh has clothed and girded himself with strength.
The world is firmly established—
2 Your rule was established long ago.
≈ You have always existed.
3 The rivers have filled up, Yahweh.
Their roar has become very loud.
They’ve lifted up their pounding waves.
4 The breaking ocean waves are even greater than the noisy rivers.
Yahweh is majestic on his high throne.
5 Your commands are very trustworthy.
Your temple is enhanced by your holy presence, Yahweh, forever.
94:1 God the judge of all
God of vengeance, let your radiance shine.
2 Rise up, judge of the earth.
Give the proud what they deserve.
3 How long will the wicked last, Yahweh,
≈ How long will the wicked rejoice?
4 They blabber out their arrogant words.
≈ All those who do wicked things boast.
5 They crush your people, Yahweh.
≈ They oppress the nation that belongs to you.
6 They kill widows and strangers,
≈ and they murder the fatherless.
7 They say, “Yahweh won’t see it.
≈ Yacob’s god won’t take any notice of it.”
8 Understand, you stupid people.