Psalm 32
By David. A contemplative psalm.
32:1 Blessed is he whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
32:2 Blessed is the man to whom Yahweh doesn"t impute iniquity, in whose spirit there is no deceit. 32:3 When I kept silence, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 32:4 For day and night your hand was heavy on me. My strength was sapped in the heat of summer. Selah.
32:5 I acknowledged my sin to you. I didn"t hide my iniquity. I said, I will confess my transgressions to Yahweh, and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah. 32:6 For this, let everyone who is G.o.dly pray to you in a time when you may be found. Surely when the great waters overflow, they shall not reach to him. 32:7 You are my hiding place. You will preserve me from trouble. You will surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah. 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you shall go. I will counsel you with my eye on you. 32:9 Don"t be like the horse, or like the mule, which have no understanding, who are controlled by bit and bridle, or else they will not come near to you.
32:10 Many sorrows come to the wicked, but loving kindness shall surround him who trusts in Yahweh. 32:11 Be glad in Yahweh, and rejoice, you righteous! Shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart!
Psalm 33
33:1 Rejoice in Yahweh, you righteous! Praise is fitting for the upright. 33:2 Give thanks to Yahweh with the lyre. Sing praises to him with the harp of ten strings. 33:3 Sing to him a new song. Play skillfully with a shout of joy! 33:4 For the word of Yahweh is right.
All his work is done in faithfulness. 33:5 He loves righteousness and justice. The earth is full of the loving kindness of Yahweh. 33:6 By Yahweh"s word, the heavens were made; all their army by the breath of his mouth. 33:7 He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap. He lays up the deeps in storehouses. 33:8 Let all the earth fear Yahweh.
Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. 33:9 For he spoke, and it was done. He commanded, and it stood firm. 33:10 Yahweh brings the counsel of the nations to nothing. He makes the thoughts of the peoples to be of no effect. 33:11 The counsel of Yahweh stands fast forever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose G.o.d is Yahweh, the people whom he has chosen for his own inheritance. 33:13 Yahweh looks from heaven. He sees all the sons of men. 33:14 From the place of his habitation he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, 33:15 he who fashions all of their hearts; and he considers all of their works. 33:16 There is no king saved by the mult.i.tude of an army. A mighty man is not delivered by great strength.
33:17 A horse is a vain thing for safety, neither does he deliver any by his great power. 33:18 Behold, Yahweh"s eye is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his loving kindness; 33:19 to deliver their soul from death, to keep them alive in famine. 33:20 Our soul has waited for Yahweh. He is our help and our shield. 33:21 For our heart rejoices in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. 33:22 Let your loving kindness be on us, Yahweh, since we have hoped in you.
Psalm 34
By David; when he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.*
34:1 I will bless Yahweh at all times. His praise will always be in my mouth. 34:2 My soul shall boast in Yahweh. The humble shall hear of it, and be glad. 34:3 Oh magnify Yahweh with me. Let us exalt his name together. 34:4 I sought Yahweh, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. 34:5 They looked to him, and were radiant. Their faces shall never be covered with shame. 34:6 This poor man cried, and Yahweh heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. 34:7 The angel of Yahweh encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. 34:8 Oh taste and see that Yahweh is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. 34:9 Oh fear Yahweh, you his saints, for there is no lack with those who fear him. 34:10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger, but those who seek Yahweh shall not lack any good thing. 34:11 Come, you children, listen to me. I will teach you the fear of Yahweh. 34:12 Who is someone who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good?
34:13 Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking lies.
34:14 Depart from evil, and do good. seek peace, and pursue it. 34:15 Yahweh"s eyes are toward the righteous. His ears listen to their cry.
34:16 Yahweh"s face is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. 34:17 The righteous cry, and Yahweh hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. 34:18 Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit.
34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but Yahweh delivers him out of them all. 34:20 He protects all of his bones. Not one of them is broken. 34:21 Evil shall kill the wicked. Those who hate the righteous shall be condemned. 34:22 Yahweh redeems the soul of his servants. None of those who take refuge in him shall be condemned.
Psalm 35
By David.
35:1 Contend, Yahweh, with those who contend with me. Fight against those who fight against me. 35:2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for my help. 35:3 Brandish the spear and block those who pursue me. Tell my soul, "I am your salvation." 35:4 Let those who seek after my soul be disappointed and brought to dishonor. Let those who plot my ruin be turned back and confounded. 35:5 Let them be as chaff before the wind, Yahweh"s angel driving them on. 35:6 Let their way be dark and slippery, Yahweh"s angel pursuing them. 35:7 For without cause they have hidden their net in a pit for me. Without cause they have dug a pit for my soul. 35:8 Let destruction come on him unawares. Let his net that he has hidden catch himself. Let him fall into that destruction. 35:9 My soul shall be joyful in Yahweh. It shall rejoice in his salvation. 35:10 All my bones shall say, "Yahweh, who is like you, who delivers the poor from him who is too strong for him; yes, the poor and the needy from him who robs him?" 35:11 Unrighteous witnesses rise up. They ask me about things that I don"t know about. 35:12 They reward me evil for good, to the bereaving of my soul. 35:13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth. I afflicted my soul with fasting. My prayer returned into my own bosom. 35:14 I behaved myself as though it had been my friend or my brother. I bowed down mourning, as one who mourns his mother. 35:15 But in my adversity, they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together. The attackers gathered themselves together against me, and I didn"t know it. They tore at me, and didn"t cease. 35:16 Like the profane mockers in feasts, they gnashed their teeth at me. 35:17 Lord, how long will you look on? Rescue my soul from their destruction, my precious life from the lions. 35:18 I will give you thanks in the great a.s.sembly. I will praise you among many people. 35:19 Don"t let those who are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me; neither let those who hate me without a cause wink their eyes. 35:20 For they don"t speak peace, but they devise deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land. 35:21 Yes, they opened their mouth wide against me. They said, "Aha! Aha! Our eye has seen it!" 35:22 You have seen it, Yahweh. Don"t keep silent. Lord, don"t be far from me. 35:23 Wake up! Rise up to defend me, my G.o.d! My Lord, contend for me! 35:24 Vindicate me, Yahweh my G.o.d, according to your righteousness. Don"t let them gloat over me.
35:25 Don"t let them say in their heart, "Aha! That"s the way we want it!" Don"t let them say, "We have swallowed him up!" 35:26 Let them be disappointed and confounded together who rejoice at my calamity. Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves against me. 35:27 Let them shout for joy and be glad, who favor my righteous cause. Yes, let them say continually, "Yahweh be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of his servant!" 35:28 My tongue shall talk about your righteousness and about your praise all day long.
Psalm 36
For the Chief Musician. By David, the servant of Yahweh.
36:1 An oracle is within my heart about the disobedience of the wicked: "There is no fear of G.o.d before his eyes." 36:2 For he flatters himself in his own eyes, too much to detect and hate his sin. 36:3 The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit. He has ceased to be wise and to do good. 36:4 He plots iniquity on his bed. He sets himself in a way that is not good. He doesn"t abhor evil. 36:5 Your loving kindness, Yahweh, is in the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the skies. 36:6 Your righteousness is like the mountains of G.o.d. Your judgments are like a great deep. Yahweh, you preserve man and animal. 36:7 How precious is your loving kindness, G.o.d! The children of men take refuge under the shadow of your wings. 36:8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the abundance of your house. You will make them drink of the river of your pleasures. 36:9 For with you is the spring of life. In your light shall we see light. 36:10 Oh continue your loving kindness to those who know you, your righteousness to the upright in heart. 36:11 Don"t let the foot of pride come against me. Don"t let the hand of the wicked drive me away. 36:12 There the workers of iniquity are fallen. They are thrust down, and shall not be able to rise.
Psalm 37
By David.
37:1 Don"t fret because of evil-doers, neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness. 37:2 For they shall soon be cut down like the gra.s.s, and wither like the green herb. 37:3 Trust in Yahweh, and do good. Dwell in the land, and enjoy safe pasture. 37:4 Also delight yourself in Yahweh, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 37:5 Commit your way to Yahweh. Trust also in him, and he will do this: 37:6 he will make your righteousness go forth as the light, and your justice as the noon day sun. 37:7 Rest in Yahweh, and wait patiently for him.
Don"t fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who makes wicked plots happen. 37:8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath.
Don"t fret, it leads only to evildoing. 37:9 For evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for Yahweh shall inherit the land. 37:10 For yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more. Yes, though you look for his place, he isn"t there. 37:11 But the humble shall inherit the land, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. 37:12 The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes at him with his teeth. 37:13 The Lord will laugh at him, for he sees that his day is coming. 37:14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, to kill those who are upright in the way. 37:15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart. Their bows shall be broken. 37:16 Better is a little that the righteous has, than the abundance of many wicked. 37:17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but Yahweh upholds the righteous. 37:18 Yahweh knows the days of the perfect. Their inheritance shall be forever. 37:19 They shall not be disappointed in the time of evil. In the days of famine they shall be satisfied. 37:20 But the wicked shall perish. The enemies of Yahweh shall be like the beauty of the fields. They will vanish--vanish like smoke. 37:21 The wicked borrow, and don"t pay back, but the righteous give generously. 37:22 For such as are blessed by him shall inherit the land. Those who are cursed by him shall be cut off. 37:23 A man"s goings are established by Yahweh. He delights in his way. 37:24 Though he stumble, he shall not fall, for Yahweh holds him up with his hand. 37:25 I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his children begging for bread. 37:26 All day long he deals graciously, and lends. His seed is blessed. 37:27 Depart from evil, and do good. Live securely forever. 37:28 For Yahweh loves justice, and doesn"t forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off. 37:29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and live in it forever. 37:30 The mouth of the righteous talks of wisdom. His tongue speaks justice. 37:31 The law of his G.o.d is in his heart. None of his steps shall slide. 37:32 The wicked watches the righteous, and seeks to kill him. 37:33 Yahweh will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged. 37:34 Wait for Yahweh, and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land.
When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it. 37:35 I have seen the wicked in great power, spreading himself like a green tree in its native soil. 37:36 But he pa.s.sed away, and behold, he was not. Yes, I sought him, but he could not be found. 37:37 Mark the perfect man, and see the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace. 37:38 As for transgressors, they shall be destroyed together. The future of the wicked shall be cut off. 37:39 But the salvation of the righteous is from Yahweh. He is their stronghold in the time of trouble. 37:40 Yahweh helps them, and rescues them. He rescues them from the wicked, and saves them, Because they have taken refuge in him.
Psalm 38
A Psalm by David, for a memorial.
38:1 Yahweh, don"t rebuke me in your wrath, neither chasten me in your hot displeasure. 38:2 For your arrows have pierced me, your hand presses hard on me. 38:3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation, neither is there any health in my bones because of my sin.
38:4 For my iniquities have gone over my head. As a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me. 38:5 My wounds are loathsome and corrupt, because of my foolishness. 38:6 I am pained and bowed down greatly. I go mourning all day long. 38:7 For my waist is filled with burning. There is no soundness in my flesh. 38:8 I am faint and severely bruised. I have groaned by reason of the anguish of my heart. 38:9 Lord, all my desire is before you. My groaning is not hidden from you. 38:10 My heart throbs. My strength fails me. As for the light of my eyes, it has also left me. 38:11 My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my plague. My kinsmen stand far away. 38:12 They also who seek after my life lay snares. Those who seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and meditate deceits all day long. 38:13 But I, as a deaf man, don"t hear. I am as a mute man who doesn"t open his mouth. 38:14 Yes, I am as a man who doesn"t hear, in whose mouth are no reproofs. 38:15 For in you, Yahweh, do I hope. You will answer, Lord my G.o.d. 38:16 For I said, "Don"t let them gloat over me, or exalt themselves over me when my foot slips."
38:17 For I am ready to fall. My pain is continually before me. 38:18 For I will declare my iniquity. I will be sorry for my sin. 38:19 But my enemies are vigorous and many. Those who hate me without reason are numerous. 38:20 They who also render evil for good are adversaries to me, because I follow what is good. 38:21 Don"t forsake me, Yahweh. My G.o.d, don"t be far from me. 38:22 Hurry to help me, Lord, my salvation.
Psalm 39
For the Chief Musician. For Jeduthun. A Psalm by David.
39:1 I said, "I will watch my ways, so that I don"t sin with my tongue.
I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me." 39:2 I was mute with silence. I held my peace, even from good. My sorrow was stirred. 39:3 My heart was hot within me. While I meditated, the fire burned: I spoke with my tongue: 39:4 "Yahweh, show me my end, what is the measure of my days. Let me know how frail I am. 39:5 Behold, you have made my days handbreadths. My lifetime is as nothing before you.
Surely every man stands as a breath." Selah. 39:6 "Surely every man walks like a shadow. Surely they busy themselves in vain. He heaps up, and doesn"t know who shall gather. 39:7 Now, Lord, what do I wait for?
My hope is in you. 39:8 Deliver me from all my transgressions. Don"t make me the reproach of the foolish. 39:9 I was mute. I didn"t open my mouth, because you did it. 39:10 Remove your scourge away from me. I am overcome by the blow of your hand. 39:11 When you rebuke and correct man for iniquity, You consume his wealth like a moth. Surely every man is but a breath." Selah. 39:12 "Hear my prayer, Yahweh, and give ear to my cry. Don"t be silent at my tears. For I am a stranger with you, a foreigner, as all my fathers were. 39:13 Oh spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go away, and exist no more."
Psalm 40
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.
40:1 I waited patiently for Yahweh. He turned to me, and heard my cry.
40:2 He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay.
He set my feet on a rock, and gave me a firm place to stand. 40:3 He has put a new song in my mouth, even praise to our G.o.d. Many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in Yahweh. 40:4 Blessed is the man who makes Yahweh his trust, and doesn"t respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. 40:5 Many, Yahweh, my G.o.d, are the wonderful works which you have done, and your thoughts which are toward us. They can"t be declared back to you. If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. 40:6 Sacrifice and offering you didn"t desire. You have opened my ears. You have not required burnt offering and sin offering.
40:7 Then I said, "Behold, I have come. It is written about me in the book in the scroll. 40:8 I delight to do your will, my G.o.d. Yes, your law is within my heart." 40:9 I have proclaimed glad news of righteousness in the great a.s.sembly. Behold, I will not seal my lips, Yahweh, you know. 40:10 I have not hidden your righteousness within my heart. I have declared your faithfulness and your salvation. I have not concealed your loving kindness and your truth from the great a.s.sembly.
40:11 Don"t withhold your tender mercies from me, Yahweh. Let your loving kindness and your truth continually preserve me. 40:12 For innumerable evils have surrounded me. My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up. They are more than the hairs of my head. My heart has failed me. 40:13 Be pleased, Yahweh, to deliver me.
Hurry to help me, Yahweh. 40:14 Let them be disappointed and confounded together who seek after my soul to destroy it. Let them be turned backward and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt. 40:15 Let them be desolate by reason of their shame that tell me, "Aha! Aha!" 40:16 Let all those who seek you rejoice and be glad in you. Let such as love your salvation say continually, "Let Yahweh be exalted!" 40:17 But I am poor and needy. May the Lord think about me. You are my help and my deliverer. Don"t delay, my G.o.d.
Psalm 41
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.
41:1 Blessed is he who considers the poor. Yahweh will deliver him in the day of evil. 41:2 Yahweh will preserve him, and keep him alive. He shall be blessed on the earth, and he will not surrender him to the will of his enemies. 41:3 Yahweh will sustain him on his sickbed, and restore him from his bed of illness. 41:4 I said, "Yahweh, have mercy on me!
Heal me, for I have sinned against you." 41:5 My enemies speak evil against me: "When will he die, and his name perish?" 41:6 If he comes to see me, he speaks falsehood. His heart gathers iniquity to itself. When he goes abroad, he tells it. 41:7 All who hate me whisper together against me. They imagine the worst for me. 41:8 "An evil disease," they say, "has afflicted him. Now that he lies he shall rise up no more."
41:9 Yes, my own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, who ate bread with me, has lifted up his heel against me. 41:10 But you, Yahweh, have mercy on me, and raise me up, that I may repay them. 41:11 By this I know that you delight in me, because my enemy doesn"t triumph over me. 41:12 As for me, you uphold me in my integrity, and set me in your presence forever. 41:13 Blessed be Yahweh, the G.o.d of Israel, from everlasting and to everlasting! Amen and amen. BOOK II
Psalm 42
For the Chief Musician. A contemplation by the sons of Korah.
42:1 As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants after you, G.o.d. 42:2 My soul thirsts for G.o.d, for the living G.o.d. When shall I come and appear before G.o.d? 42:3 My tears have been my food day and night, while they continually ask me, "Where is your G.o.d?" 42:4 These things I remember, and pour out my soul within me, how I used to go with the crowd, and led them to the house of G.o.d, with the voice of joy and praise, a mult.i.tude keeping a holy day. 42:5 Why are you in despair, my soul? Why are you disturbed within me? Hope in G.o.d! For I shall still praise him for the saving help of his presence. 42:6 My G.o.d, my soul is in despair within me. Therefore I remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon, from the hill Mizar. 42:7 Deep calls to deep at the noise of your waterfalls. All your waves and your billows have swept over me. 42:8 Yahweh will command his loving kindness in the daytime. In the night his song shall be with me: a prayer to the G.o.d of my life. 42:9 I will ask G.o.d, my rock, "Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?" 42:10 As with a sword in my bones, my adversaries reproach me, while they continually ask me, "Where is your G.o.d?" 42:11 Why are you in despair, my soul? Why are you disturbed within me? Hope in G.o.d! For I shall still praise him, the saving help of my countenance, and my G.o.d.
Psalm 43
43:1 Vindicate me, G.o.d, and plead my cause against an unG.o.dly nation.
Oh, deliver me from deceitful and wicked men. 43:2 For you are the G.o.d of my strength. Why have you rejected me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? 43:3 Oh, send out your light and your truth. Let them lead me. Let them bring me to your holy hill, To your tents. 43:4 Then I will go to the altar of G.o.d, to G.o.d, my exceeding joy. I will praise you on the harp, G.o.d, my G.o.d. 43:5 Why are you in despair, my soul? Why are you disturbed within me? Hope in G.o.d! For I shall still praise him: my Savior, my helper, and my G.o.d.
Psalm 44
For the Chief Musician. By the sons of Korah. A contemplative psalm.
44:1 We have heard with our ears, G.o.d; our fathers have told us, what work you did in their days, in the days of old. 44:2 You drove out the nations with your hand, but you planted them. You afflicted the peoples, but you spread them abroad. 44:3 For they didn"t get the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them; but your right hand, and your arm, and the light of your face, because you were favorable to them. 44:4 You are my King, G.o.d. Command victories for Jacob! 44:5 Through you, will we push down our adversaries. Through your name, will we tread them under who rise up against us. 44:6 For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me. 44:7 But you have saved us from our adversaries, and have shamed those who hate us. 44:8 In G.o.d we have made our boast all day long, we will give thanks to your name forever. Selah. 44:9 But now you rejected us, and brought us to dishonor, and don"t go out with our armies. 44:10 You make us turn back from the adversary. Those who hate us take spoil for themselves. 44:11 You have made us like sheep for food, and have scattered us among the nations. 44:12 You sell your people for nothing, and have gained nothing from their sale. 44:13 You make us a reproach to our neighbors, a scoffing and a derision to those who are around us. 44:14 You make us a byword among the nations, a shaking of the head among the peoples. 44:15 All day long my dishonor is before me, and shame covers my face, 44:16 At the taunt of one who reproaches and verbally abuses, because of the enemy and the avenger. 44:17 All this has come on us, yet have we not forgotten you, Neither have we been false to your covenant. 44:18 Our heart has not turned back, neither have our steps strayed from your path, 44:19 Though you have crushed us in the haunt of jackals, and covered us with the shadow of death. 44:20 If we have forgotten the name of our G.o.d, or spread forth our hands to a strange G.o.d; 44:21 won"t G.o.d search this out? For he knows the secrets of the heart. 44:22 Yes, for your sake we are killed all day long. We are regarded as sheep for the slaughter. 44:23 Wake up! Why do you sleep, Lord? Arise! Don"t reject us forever. 44:24 Why do you hide your face, and forget our affliction and our oppression? 44:25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust. Our body cleaves to the earth. 44:26 Rise up to help us. Redeem us for your loving kindness" sake.