Your enemies take your name in vain. 139:21 Yahweh, don"t I hate those who hate you? Am I not grieved with those who rise up against you?
139:22 I hate them with perfect hatred. They have become my enemies.
139:23 Search me, G.o.d, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts.
139:24 See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.
Psalm 140
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.
140:1 Deliver me, Yahweh, from the evil man. Preserve me from the violent man; 140:2 those who devise mischief in their hearts. They continually gather themselves together for war. 140:3 They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent. Viper"s poison is under their lips. Selah. 140:4 Yahweh, keep me from the hands of the wicked.
Preserve me from the violent men who have determined to trip my feet.
140:5 The proud have hidden a snare for me, they have spread the cords of a net by the path. They have set traps for me. Selah. 140:6 I said to Yahweh, "You are my G.o.d." Listen to the cry of my pet.i.tions, Yahweh.
140:7 Yahweh, the Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle. 140:8 Yahweh, don"t grant the desires of the wicked. Don"t let their evil plans succeed, or they will become proud. Selah. 140:9 As for the head of those who surround me, let the mischief of their own lips cover them. 140:10 Let burning coals fall on them. Let them be thrown into the fire, into miry pits, from where they never rise. 140:11 An evil speaker won"t be established in the earth.
Evil will hunt the violent man to overthrow him. 140:12 I know that Yahweh will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and justice for the needy. 140:13 Surely the righteous will give thanks to your name. The upright will dwell in your presence.
Psalm 141
A Psalm by David.
141:1 Yahweh, I have called on you. Come to me quickly! Listen to my voice when I call to you. 141:2 Let my prayer be set before you like incense; the lifting up of my hands like the evening sacrifice. 141:3 Set a watch, Yahweh, before my mouth. Keep the door of my lips. 141:4 Don"t incline my heart to any evil thing, to practice deeds of wickedness with men who work iniquity. Don"t let me eat of their delicacies. 141:5 Let the righteous strike me, it is kindness; let him reprove me, it is like oil on the head; don"t let my head refuse it; Yet my prayer is always against evil deeds. 141:6 Their judges are thrown down by the sides of the rock. They will hear my words, for they are well spoken. 141:7 "As when one plows and breaks up the earth, our bones are scattered at the mouth of Sheol." 141:8 For my eyes are on you, Yahweh, the Lord. In you, I take refuge. Don"t leave my soul dest.i.tute.
141:9 Keep me from the snare which they have laid for me, from the traps of the workers of iniquity. 141:10 Let the wicked fall together into their own nets, while I pa.s.s by.
Psalm 142
A contemplation by David, when he was in the cave. A Prayer.
142:1 I cry with my voice to Yahweh. With my voice, I ask Yahweh for mercy. 142:2 I pour out my complaint before him. I tell him my troubles.
142:3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, you knew my path. In the way in which I walk, they have hidden a snare for me. 142:4 Look on my right, and see; for there is no one who is concerned for me. Refuge has fled from me. No one cares for my soul. 142:5 I cried to you, Yahweh. I said, "You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living." 142:6 Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need. deliver me from my persecutors, For they are stronger than me. 142:7 Bring my soul out of prison, that I may give thanks to your name. The righteous will surround me, for you will be good to me.
Psalm 143
A Psalm by David.
143:1 Hear my prayer, Yahweh. Listen to my pet.i.tions. In your faithfulness and righteousness, relieve me. 143:2 Don"t enter into judgment with your servant, for in your sight no man living is righteous. 143:3 For the enemy pursues my soul. He has struck my life down to the ground. He has made me live in dark places, as those who have been long dead. 143:4 Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me.
My heart within me is desolate. 143:5 I remember the days of old. I meditate on all your doings. I contemplate the work of your hands. 143:6 I spread forth my hands to you. My soul thirsts for you, like a parched land. Selah. 143:7 Hurry to answer me, Yahweh. My spirit fails. Don"t hide your face from me, so that I don"t become like those who go down into the pit. 143:8 Cause me to hear your loving kindness in the morning, for I trust in you. Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to you. 143:9 Deliver me, Yahweh, from my enemies. I flee to you to hide me. 143:10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my G.o.d. Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness.
143:11 Revive me, Yahweh, for your name"s sake. In your righteousness, bring my soul out of trouble. 143:12 In your loving kindness, cut off my enemies, and destroy all those who afflict my soul, For I am your servant.
Psalm 144
By David.
144:1 Blessed be Yahweh, my rock, who teaches my hands to war, and my fingers to battle: 144:2 my loving kindness, my fortress, my high tower, my deliverer, my shield, and he in whom I take refuge; who subdues my people under me. 144:3 Yahweh, what is man, that you care for him? Or the son of man, that you think of him? 144:4 Man is like a breath. His days are like a shadow that pa.s.ses away. 144:5 Part your heavens, Yahweh, and come down. Touch the mountains, and they will smoke. 144:6 Throw out lightning, and scatter them. Send out your arrows, and rout them. 144:7 Stretch out your hand from above, rescue me, and deliver me out of great waters, out of the hands of foreigners; 144:8 whose mouths speak deceit, Whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood. 144:9 I will sing a new song to you, G.o.d. On a ten-stringed lyre, I will sing praises to you. 144:10 You are he who gives salvation to kings, who rescues David, his servant, from the deadly sword. 144:11 Rescue me, and deliver me out of the hands of foreigners, whose mouths speak deceit, whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood. 144:12 Then our sons will be like well-nurtured plants, our daughters like pillars carved to adorn a palace. 144:13 Our barns are full, filled with all kinds of provision.
Our sheep bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields. 144:14 Our oxen will pull heavy loads. There is no breaking in, and no going away, and no outcry in our streets. 144:15 Happy are the people who are in such a situation. Happy are the people whose G.o.d is Yahweh.
Psalm 145
A praise psalm by David.*
145:1 I will exalt you, my G.o.d, the King. I will praise your name forever and ever. 145:2 Every day I will praise you. I will extol your name forever and ever. 145:3 Great is Yahweh, and greatly to be praised!
His greatness is unsearchable. 145:4 One generation will commend your works to another, and will declare your mighty acts. 145:5 Of the glorious majesty of your honor, of your wondrous works, I will meditate.
145:6 Men will speak of the might of your awesome acts. I will declare your greatness. 145:7 They will utter the memory of your great goodness, and will sing of your righteousness. 145:8 Yahweh is gracious, merciful, slow to anger, and of great loving kindness. 145:9 Yahweh is good to all. His tender mercies are over all his works. 145:10 All your works will give thanks to you, Yahweh. Your saints will extol you. 145:11 They will speak of the glory of your kingdom, and talk about your power; 145:12 to make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, the glory of the majesty of his kingdom. 145:13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. Your dominion endures throughout all generations. Yahweh is faithful in all his words, and loving in all his deeds. 145:14 Yahweh upholds all who fall, and raises up all those who are bowed down. 145:15 The eyes of all wait for you. You give them their food in due season.
145:16 You open your hand, and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
145:17 Yahweh is righteous in all his ways, and gracious in all his works. 145:18 Yahweh is near to all those who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. 145:19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear him. He also will hear their cry, and will save them. 145:20 Yahweh preserves all those who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.
145:21 My mouth will speak the praise of Yahweh. Let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.
Psalm 146
146:1 Praise Yah! Praise Yahweh, my soul. 146:2 While I live, I will praise Yahweh. I will sing praises to my G.o.d as long as I exist. 146:3 Don"t put your trust in princes, each a son of man in whom there is no help. 146:4 His spirit departs, and he returns to the earth. In that very day, his thoughts perish. 146:5 Happy is he who has the G.o.d of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in Yahweh, his G.o.d: 146:6 who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps truth forever; 146:7 who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. Yahweh frees the prisoners. 146:8 Yahweh opens the eyes of the blind. Yahweh raises up those who are bowed down. Yahweh loves the righteous. 146:9 Yahweh preserves the foreigners. He upholds the fatherless and widow, but the way of the wicked he turns upside down.
146:10 Yahweh will reign forever; your G.o.d, O Zion, to all generations.
Praise Yah!
Psalm 147
147:1 Praise Yah, for it is good to sing praises to our G.o.d; for it is pleasant and fitting to praise him. 147:2 Yahweh builds up Jerusalem. He gathers together the outcasts of Israel. 147:3 He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds. 147:4 He counts the number of the stars. He calls them all by their names. 147:5 Great is our Lord, and mighty in power. His understanding is infinite. 147:6 Yahweh upholds the humble. He brings the wicked down to the ground. 147:7 Sing to Yahweh with thanksgiving. Sing praises on the harp to our G.o.d, 147:8 who covers the sky with clouds, who prepares rain for the earth, who makes gra.s.s grow on the mountains. 147:9 He provides food for the livestock, and for the young ravens when they call. 147:10 He doesn"t delight in the strength of the horse. He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man. 147:11 Yahweh takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his loving kindness. 147:12 Praise Yahweh, Jerusalem! Praise your G.o.d, Zion!
147:13 For he has strengthened the bars of your gates. He has blessed your children within you. 147:14 He makes peace in your borders. He fills you with the finest of the wheat. 147:15 He sends out his commandment to the earth. His word runs very swiftly. 147:16 He gives snow like wool, and scatters frost like ashes. 147:17 He hurls down his hail like pebbles. Who can stand before his cold? 147:18 He sends out his word, and melts them. He causes his wind to blow, and the waters flow. 147:19 He shows his word to Jacob; his statutes and his ordinances to Israel. 147:20 He has not done this for just any nation. They don"t know his ordinances. Praise Yah!
Psalm 148
148:1 Praise Yah! Praise Yahweh from the heavens! Praise him in the heights! 148:2 Praise him, all his angels! Praise him, all his army!
148:3 Praise him, sun and moon! Praise him, all you shining stars! 148:4 Praise him, you heavens of heavens, You waters that are above the heavens. 148:5 Let them praise the name of Yahweh, For he commanded, and they were created. 148:6 He has also established them forever and ever.
He has made a decree which will not pa.s.s away. 148:7 Praise Yahweh from the earth, you great sea creatures, and all depths! 148:8 Lightning and hail, snow and clouds; stormy wind, fulfilling his word; 148:9 mountains and all hills; fruit trees and all cedars; 148:10 wild animals and all livestock; small creatures and flying birds; 148:11 kings of the earth and all peoples; princes and all judges of the earth; 148:12 both young men and maidens; old men and children: 148:13 let them praise the name of Yahweh, for his name alone is exalted. His glory is above the earth and the heavens. 148:14 He has lifted up the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near to him. Praise Yah!
Psalm 149
149:1 Praise Yahweh! Sing to Yahweh a new song, his praise in the a.s.sembly of the saints. 149:2 Let Israel rejoice in him who made them.
Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. 149:3 Let them praise his name in the dance! Let them sing praises to him with tambourine and harp! 149:4 For Yahweh takes pleasure in his people. He crowns the humble with salvation. 149:5 Let the saints rejoice in honor. Let them sing for joy on their beds. 149:6 May the high praises of G.o.d be in their mouths, and a two-edged sword in their hand; 149:7 To execute vengeance on the nations, and punishments on the peoples; 149:8 To bind their kings with chains, and their n.o.bles with fetters of iron; 149:9 to execute on them the written judgment. All his saints have this honor.
Praise Yah!
Psalm 150
150:1 Praise Yah! Praise G.o.d in his sanctuary! Praise him in his heavens for his acts of power! 150:2 Praise him for his mighty acts! Praise him according to his excellent greatness! 150:3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet! Praise him with harp and lyre! 150:4 Praise him with tambourine and dancing! Praise him with stringed instruments and flute!
150:5 Praise him with loud cymbals! Praise him with resounding cymbals!
150:6 Let everything that has breath praise Yah! Praise Yah!
Notes:
[1] back to 2:2 The word "Anointed" is the same as the word for "Messiah" or "Christ"
[2] back to 2:12 or, Kiss the son
[3] back to 8:5 Hebrew: Elohim. The word Elohim, used here, usually means "G.o.d," but can also mean "G.o.ds," "princes," or "angels."
[4] back to 22:16 or, They have pierced my hands and feet. (DSS)
[5] back to 34:0 Psalm 34 is an acrostic poem, with each verse starting with a letter of the alphabet (ordered from Alef to Tav).
[6] back to 46:0 Alamoth is a musical term.
[7] back to 87:4 Rahab is a reference to Egypt.