PsalmsBook Two

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James B. JordanT R A N S L AT I O N B Y

TheopolisBible Translations

2

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Introduction

The translation here presented is a work in progress. We hope to get feedback from those who use this material. In this Introduction, we set forth how we are doing this and why.

The Structure of the Psalter

To begin with, the structure of the Psalter. The book of Psalms as we have it today is not the psalter used at Solomon's Temple, but the completed and reorganized psalter for the Second Temple, the Temple after the exile. This is clear from Psalm 137, which was written at the exile. It is also clear in that psalms by David are found scattered throughout the whole psalter. The psalter used in Solomon's Temple may well have been arranged quite differently, but while that psalter was inspired and authoritative for that time, what we have today is a rearranged and completed psalter, equally inspired and authoritative, as well as final.

We don't know whom God inspired to produce the final psalter. We can guess at Ezra, since he was a priest, and much involved with setting up the Second Temple order right after the return from Babylon.

The psalter now consists of five books, each of which ends with a doxology.

I: 1-41 (41:13) II: 42-72 (72:18-19) III: 73-89 (89:52) IV: 90-106 (106:48) V: 107-150 (105:6)

It is likely that the doxology for a given book was sung at the end of all the psalms in that book, as the Gloria Patri is sung at the end of psalms in liturgical churches today. In our translation we have made that assumption and included the relevant doxology at the end of each psalm. Book V seems to have no brief doxology, so we anticipate using the Gloria Patri there.

Our Protestant English Bibles have 150 psalms in them, but there are in fact only 146 "whole psalms" in the psalter:

Psalms 9-10 are one psalm, an alphabetic acrostic moving through the Hebrew alphabet from the beginning of Ps. 9 to the end of Ps. 10.

Psalms 42-43 are clearly one psalm in three stanzas, as the refrain makes clear.

Psalms 32-33 are one psalm, for there is no title in Psalm 33, and they are linked in that Ps. 32 says God will instruct, and then Ps. 33 provides the instruction in 22 lines -- the number of letters in the Hebrew alphabet.

Psalms 70-71 are one psalm: Ps. 70 is virtually identical to Ps. 40:13-17, and this duplication makes sense only if it is the first part of Ps. 71, which again has no title.

Our Protestant arrangement follows the Hebrew text. Catholic and Orthodox Bibles follow the order of the Greek translation of the Hebrew text called the Septuagint, which combines and breaks up the psalms differently, resulting in different numbers for many of them. Comparing the Hebrew and the Septuagint shows us that in actual Temple practice, sometimes only part of a psalm might be sung. From the Bible we can also see that psalms were sometimes combined and rearranged, something we see in the composite psalms in 2 Samuel 22 and 1 Chronicles 16.

Looking at the 146 whole psalms, we find that the books of the psalter are significantly structured in their numerical totals:

I: 17 + 22 (Hebrew alphabet) II: 17 + 12 (3 x 4) III: 17 IV: 17 V: 17 + 27 (3 x 3 x 3)

or V: 22 + 22 (two x alphabet) Seventeen is the sum of the two numbers of fullness, 7 and 10, and in I, II, and V another number related to fullness completes the count.

If we look at the order of the psalms, the same significant numbers turn up in Book V:

Ps. 107-118 12 Ps. 119 22 sections (alphabet) Ps. 120-136 17 (15 of ascent to Temple, and then two Temple praise) Ps. 137-150 14 (2 x 7)

All of this makes it clear that the final psalter has been very carefully structured, under divine inspiration.

Of the 146 whole psalms, the central two are 77 and 78. Psalm 77 ends with Moses and Aaron, and Ps. 78 ends with David. Each recounts history, first the history leading to the priestly covenant, and then the history leading to the kingly covenant. Both psalms focus on the exodus from Egypt, from an old world to a new. Psalm 77 ends in the wilderness. Psalm 78 ends at Mt. Zion, with David.

That this is the core of the psalter provides us a perspective on how the psalter begins. Psalm 1 is about priestly obedience, and Psalm 2 is about kingly reign. While these are two different psalms, they are designed to be read together on occasion, so that the righteous obedient man of Psalm 1 is, or becomes, the anointed king of Psalm 2.

Book 1 of the Psalter consists of 17 + 22 psalms, while Book 5 consists of 22 + 22. There are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet and this is significant for Biblical theology and poetry. The second Person of God is the Word of God and also the Alphabet of God. As He says in Revelation, "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end" (see Rev. 1:8; 21:6; 22:13). These are the first and last letters in the Greek alphabet. In Hebrew, they are 'aleph and tav.

In the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies was the Word of God made stone. Corresponding to this Ark-chest was a box on the chest of the High Priest, the pouch of the Ephod. Inside the pouch were stones called 'Urim and Thummim, two words that begin respectively with 'aleph and tav. These two letters summarize the alphabet, which in turn is a symbol of the whole word of God from beginning to end. Israel would consult God's Word either through the written Bible, or through the casting of the lots 'Urim and Thummim.

The Psalter begins with Psalm 1. Psalm 1 begins with the word "Blessed" ('asher) and ends with the word "perish" (to'bher). The first word begins with 'aleph, and the last word begins with tav.

Spun out from this are several alphabetic-acrostic psalms. Psalms 25, 34, and 145 begin each line with a successive letter of the alphabet, for a total of 22 lines. (So does Proverbs 31:10-31.) Psalm 9-10 is also an alphabetic-acrostic, though a few letters are missing. Psalm 37 and Lamentations 4 assigns two lines to each successive letter. In Lamentations 1 and 2, three lines are given to each letter. In Lamentations 3, three successive lines are given to each letter, and in Psalm 119 we find eight lines per letter. Finally, Psalms 33 and 38 (and Lamentations 5) have exactly 22 lines, though not alphabetically ordered. This seems no accident. Nahum 1 also includes a broken alphabetic-acrostic.

Since Psalm 1 introduces not only the Psalter but also Book 1 of the Psalter, it may be significant that all but two of the alphabetic psalms occur in Book 1, to wit: alphabetic-acrostic: Pss. 9-10, 25, and 34; non-acrostic: Pss. 33 and 38.

There are seven acrostic Psalms in the Psalter: Pss. 9-10, 25, 34, 111, 112, 119, and 145. Since Ps. 119 uses each letter eight times, the total with the other six single-use Psalms is fourteen (2x7) acrostic usages.

The Titles of the Psalms

We have translated and included the titles of each psalm, on the assumption that

these are part of the God-given inspired text. We are aware that in some circles this is a disputed point, but we have chosen to err on the side of caution and tradition.

We have also, however, followed the research of James William Thirtle, in his book The Titles of the Psalm: Their Nature and Meaning Explained (Second Edition, New York: Henry Frowde, 1905), as regards these titles. Thirtle made a good case, building on Habakkuk 3, that “Prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, according to Shigionoth” comes at the head of the psalm, and “For the Director, upon my stringed instruments” comes at the end. While Thirtle’s book has often been overlooked, his thesis has met with some favor, and we have provisionally adopted it here. http://tinyurl.com/ohxd5r8

Selah

While the meaning of the term “selah” continues to be disputed, we have found R.

W. Landis’s essay “The Meaning and Use of Selah” in The Danville Review (June, 1864), pp. 214-247, to be of the most help. He argues rather convincingly that the world “selah” indicates that the first lines of the psalm are to be repeated as a kind of refrain. We are very largely convinced, and have followed his advice here.

http://tinyurl.com/nwtwfj8

Some Translational Decisions

‘Asher. The first word in the psalter is usually translated “blessed,” but this is

confusing because barakh is also translated “ blessed.” The word ‘asher also connotes

“happy,” and that is why some translations use “happy.” The same is true of the Greek makarios in the Beatitudes. We have decided to use the phrase “blessed and merry.”

It would be nice if we could find one English word that would do, but we have not found it thus far. We remember how Archbishop Thomas Cranmer, in translating the Latin prayers for the English Book of Common Prayer, often used two words for one Latin word. We have followed his principle.

Hesed. Here we have the word traditionally rendered “lovingkindness,” which today is often argued to be better rendered “covenant faithfulness” or even something like “kinship commitment.” We have stuck with the tradition, since many still argue for it, and it seems best to us.

Zamar. Usually translated something like “praise,” this is the word from which “psalm” is derived. It sounds like the playing of an instrument, and the word “psalm” in both Hebrew (mizmor) and Greek (psallo) means something sung with an instrument. In fact, there is no evidence anywhere in the Bible that anything was sung to God without instruments. We have rendered zamar as “play music.

We have rendered ‘elohim as “God,” ‘el as “Mighty One,” ‘adonai as “My Master,” ‘elyon as “Most High,” and ‘eloah as “Mighty Protector.” The Tetragrammaton YHWH we have put as “Yahweh.” We intend this for reading and singing the Psalms, not for Christian prayer, for the Name we have been given to use as a memorial name is Jesus, not Yahweh.

We invite those reading these efforts to write and ask about other words, so that we can expand this list. In time, discussions of particular psalms will be made available.

Those using these materials are free to download them and make any changes they see fit. If you do not wish to use “Yahweh” and to use LORD instead, make that change. If you want the colophon to be shifted into the title of the following psalm, make that change.

Verses or Lines?

In this first edition we have numbered the psalms in actual lines rather than in

awkward verses. Often the verses group lines together curiously. The verses and chapter divisions in our Bibles are not infrequently infelicitous, and someday need to be changed. In future editions we intend to supply verse numbers as well for ease of studying.

 

 

Psalms 42-43

aMaskil. bBy the sons of Korah. I.

1As a hart pants for streams of water, 2So my soul pants for You, O God. 3My soul thirsts for God, 4For the Mighty One of Life. 5When can I come 6And be seen by the face of God? 7My tears have been my bread 8Day and night, 9While they say to me all the day: 10”Where is your God?” 11These things I remember, 12And I pour out within me my soul, 13For I went in the multitude; 14I led them to the house of God, 15With a sound of joyous shouting and thanksgiving, 16A festive throng. 17Why are you cast down, my soul, 18And making an uproar within me? 19Wait for God, 20Because I will yet praise Him 21For the deliverances of His face. II. 22 O God, within me my soul is cast down. 23Therefore I will remember You

 

 

24From the land of Jordan and the Hermons, 25From Mount Mizar. 26Deep to deep calls 27At the sound of Your waterfalls; 28All Your breakers and Your billows 29Have passed over me. 30By day Yahweh commands His lovingkindness, 31And in the night his song is with me, 32A prayer to the Mighty One of my life. 33I will say to the Mighty One, my Rock: 34”Why have You forgotten me? 35Why do I go about in darkness 36Because of the enemy's oppression?” 37To shatter my bones 38My foes have taunted me, 39By saying to me all the day: 40”Where is your God?” 41Why are you cast down, my soul? 42And why are you making an uproar within me? 43Wait for God, 44Because I will yet praise Him, 45The One who repeatedly delivers my face, and my God. (Ps. 43) III.

46 Judge me, O God, 47And argue my case 48Against a disloyal nation. 49From a man of deceit and wickedness rescue me!

 

 

50For You Yourself are my Fortress-God. 51Why have You rejected me? 52Why am I forced to go about in darkness 53Because of the enemy's oppression? 54Send out Your light and Your trustworthiness! 55They will lead me. 56They will bring me to Your holy mountain 57And to Your tabernacles. 58And I will come to the place of communion with God, 59To the Mighty One, the joy of my gladness. 60And I will praise You with a lyre, 61O God, my God. 62Why are you cast down, my soul? 63And why are you making an uproar within me? 64Wait for God, 65Because I will yet praise Him, 66The One who repeatedly delivers my face, and my God. Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonders. And blessed be His glorious Name everlastingly, And filled with His glory be all the earth. Amen! Yes! Amen! cFor the Director.

 

 

Psalm 44

aBy the sons of Korah. bMaschil. 1O God, with our ears we have heard, 2Our fathers have recounted to us, 3The work You worked in their days, 4In the days of old. 5You Yourself with Your hand displaced nations, but You planted them; 6You smashed peoples, but You spread them out. 7Indeed, not by their sword did they possess the land, 8And their arm did not save them, 9For it was Your right hand and Your arm and the light of Your face, 10Because You favored them. 11You are the one, my king, O God! 12Command salvations for Jacob! 13In You our oppressors we shall gore; 14In Your name we shall trample those who rise up against us. 15Not in my bow will I trust, 16And my sword will not save me, 17For You saved us from our oppressors, 18And those who hate us You shamed. 19In God we have boasted all the day; 20And Your name everlastingly we will praise. 21But You have rejected and disgraced us 22And You do not go out with our armies. 23You make us turn back from the oppressor, 24And those who hate us plunder for themselves.

 

 

25You give us like sheep for eating, 26And among the nations You scatter us. 27You sell Your people for no gain; 28And You increase nothing by their price. 29You make us a reproach to our neighbors, 30A mockery and a joke to those around us. 31You make us a parable among the nations, 32A shaking of the head among the peoples. 33All the day my disgrace is before me, 34And the shame of my face has covered me, 35Because of the voice of reproacher and reviler, 36Because of the face of enemy and avenger. 37All of this has come upon us but we have not forgotten You, 38And we have not dealt falsely with Your covenant. 39Our heart has not drawn back, 40Nor have our steps turned away from Your path. 41But You have crushed us in a place of dragons, 42And You have covered over us with deep darkness. 43If we have forgotten the name of our God 44And spread our hands to a foreign Mighty One, 45Will not God spy this out? 46For it is He who knows secrets of heart. 47But for Your sake we have been killed all the day; 48We have been reckoned as sheep for slaughter. 49Awake! Why do You sleep, my Master? 50Wake up! Do not reject us perpetually! 51Why do You hide Your face? 52Do You forget our affliction and our oppression?

 

 

53Indeed, bowed down to the dust is our soul, 54Stuck to the earth is our belly. 55Rise up as a help to us! 56And redeem us for the sake of Your lovingkindness! Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonders. And blessed be His glorious Name everlastingly, And filled with His glory be all the earth. Amen! Yes! Amen! cFor the director. dUpon "Lilies."

 

 

Psalm 45

aBy the Sons of Korah. bMaskil. cA wedding song. 1My heart is aroused by a good theme. 2I am reciting my composition for a king. 3My tongue is the pen of a skillful scribe. 4You are the most excellent of the sons of Adam. 5Grace is poured into your lips. 6Therefore, God has blessed you everlastingly. 7Gird your sword upon your thigh, mighty man, 8Your splendor and your majesty. 9And let your majesty be victorious! 10Ride forth on behalf of truth and righteous humility; 11And let your right hand display awesome deeds. 12Your arrows are sharp - 13Nations fall beneath you! 14- In the heart of the king's enemies. 15Your throne, O god, is everlasting and forever; 16A scepter of justice is the scepter of your kingdom. 17You love righteousness and hate wickedness; 18Therefore, God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows. 19Myrrh and aloes, cassia, perfume all your robes. 20From the ivory palaces, stringed music makes you glad. 21King's daughters are among your honorable women; 22The royal bride stands at your right hand in gold of Ophir. 23Hearken, daughter, and consider, 24And incline your ear,

 

 

25And forget your own people, 26And your father's house. 27The king is enthralled by your beauty. 28Because He is your lord, bow to Him. 29Now Daughter Tyre brings tribute. 30Your presence the rich among the people will seek. 31All glorious is the king's daughter in her chamber; 32Interwoven with gold is her gown. 33In embroidered garments she is led to the king. 34The young women following her, her companions, are brought to you. 35They are led in with gladness and rejoicing; 36They enter into the king's palace. 37In place of your fathers will be your sons; 38You will make them princes in all the earth. 39I will memorialize your name generation after generation; 40Therefore will the people praise you everlastingly and forever. Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonders. And blessed be His glorious Name everlastingly, And filled with His glory be all the earth. Amen! Yes! Amen! dFor the Director

 

 

Psalm 46

aBy the Sons of Korah. bUpon Alamoth. cSong. 1God is our refuge and strength, 2A help in troubles, always present. 3Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be removed, 4And though the mountains fall into the heart of the seas; 5Though its waters roar and foam, 6Though the mountains shake with its swelling. selahGod is our refuge and strength, A help in troubles, always present. 7There is a river whose streams gladden the city of God, 8The holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High. 9God is in her midst, she will not fall. 10God will help her just at the break of dawn. 11Nations roar; kingdoms fall. 12He lifts His voice; earth melts. 13Yahweh of Armies is with us; 14Our stronghold is the God of Jacob. selahGod is our refuge and strength, A help in troubles, always present. 15Come, see Yahweh's works, 16Who has made desolations in the earth, 17The One making wars cease to the end of the earth: 18The bow He breaks and He shatters the spear; 19Chariots He burns with re. 20”Be still, and know that I am God. 21”I will be exalted among the nations,

 

 

22”I will be exalted in the earth!” 23Yahweh of Armies is with us; 24Our stronghold is the God of Jacob. selahGod is our refuge and strength, A help in troubles, always present. Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonders. And blessed be His glorious Name everlastingly, And filled with His glory be all the earth. Amen! Yes! Amen! dFor the Director

 

 

Psalm 47

aBy the Sons of Korah. bPsalm 1All peoples, clap/clasp hands! 2Shout to God with the voice of triumph! 3For Yahweh, Most High, is awesome; 4A great King over all the earth. 5He subdues peoples under us, 6And populations under our feet. 7He chooses our inheritance for us, 8The excellence of Jacob, whom He loves. selahAll peoples, clap/clasp hands! Shout to God with the voice of triumph! 9God has ascended amidst a shout, 10Yahweh amidst the sound of a trumpet. 11Play music to God! 12Play music! 13Play music to our King! 14Play music! 15For the King of all the earth is God! 16Play music for a maskil! 17God reigns over nations; 18God sits on His holy throne. 19The princes of the peoples have gathered together 20As the people of the God of Abraham. 21For the shields of the earth belong to God. 22He has ascended to the highest.

 

 

Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonders. And blessed be His glorious Name everlastingly, And filled with His glory be all the earth. Amen! Yes! Amen!

 

 

Psalm 48

aSong. bPsalm. cBy the Sons of Korah. 1Great is Yahweh, 2And exceedingly praiseworthy, 3In the city of our God, 4His holy mountain. 5Beautiful in elevation, 6The joy of all the earth, 7Is Mount Zion in the extreme north, 8The city of the Great King. 9God is in her palaces; 10He is known as "Stronghold." 11For behold, the kings assembled, 12They passed by together. 13They saw it themselves and were shocked. 14They twisted in fear; they hurried away. 15Trembling took hold of them there, 16Twisting, like that of a woman in travail. 17By an east wind You broke up the ships of Tarshish. 18As we have heard, 19So we have seen, 20In the city of Yahweh of hosts, 21In the city of our God: 22"God will establish her everlastingly." selahGreat is Yahweh, And exceedingly praiseworthy!

 

 

23We have thought, O God, on Your lovingkindness, 24In the midst of Your temple. 25As is Your name, O God, 26So is Your praise to the ends of earth: 27Full of righteousness is Your right hand. 28Mount Zion rejoices. 29Judah's daughters twirl in joy: 30Because of Your judgments. 31Walk about Zion and go all around her. 32Count her towers; 33Mark well her bulwarks; 34Consider her palaces; 35That you may recount it to the generation following, 36That this God is our God everlastingly and forever; 37He will be our Guide even to death. Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonders. And blessed be His glorious Name everlastingly, And filled with His glory be all the earth. Amen! Yes! Amen! dFor the director.

 

 

Psalm 49

aBy the sons of Korah. bPsalm. 1Hear this, all you peoples; 2Give ear, all you inhabitants of the passing world, 3Both sons of Adam and sons of noble man, 4Rich and poor together. 5My mouth will speak wisdom, 6And the meditation of my heart understanding. 7I shall incline my ear to a parable; 8I shall disclose my dark saying on a harp. 9Why should I fear in the days of evil, 10When the liability at my heels surrounds me? 11As for those who trust in their wealth, 12And in the multitude of their riches boast, 13No noble is able by any means to redeem his brother, 14Nor give to God a covering for him – 15(For costly is the redemption of their souls, 16And it will increase everlasting.) 17– That he should continue to live eternally, 18And not see the pit. 19Surely he can see that wise men die; 20Likewise the fool and the senseless person perish, 21And they leave to others their wealth. 22Their inner thought is that their houses are everlasting, 23Their dwelling places generation after generation; 24They call their lands after their own names.

 

 

25But Adam in honor did not remain: 26He became like the cattle that are silenced. 27This is the way of those confident in themselves, 28And of their followers who delight in their mouth: 29Like sheep for Sheol they are appointed. 30Death will shepherd them; 31The upright will rule over them in the morning; 32And their form Sheol will consume, far from their dwelling. 33Only God will redeem my soul from the hand of Sheol, 34For He will receive me. 35Do not be afraid when a noble becomes rich, 36When the glory of his house is increased; 37For when he dies he will carry nothing away; 38His glory will not descend after him. 39Though while he lives he blesses himself 40(For they will praise you when you do well for yourself), 41He will go to the generation of his fathers; 42They will never see the light. 43Adam in honor rejected understanding; 44He became like the cattle that are silenced. Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonders. And blessed be His glorious Name everlastingly, And filled with His glory be all the earth. Amen! Yes! Amen!

 

 

Psalm 50 aPsalm. bBy Asaph. 1The Mighty One, God, Yahweh speaks, 2And He summons the earth, 3From the rising of the sun to its setting. 4Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth. 5Our God comes and will not keep silent. 6A fire devours before Him, 7And all around Him it storms mightily. 8He summons the heavens above, 9And the earth, that He may judge His people: 10"Gather to Me My loyal ones, 11Those cutting My covenant by Peace Offerings." 12And the heavens declare His righteousness, 13For God Himself is judge. selahThe Mighty One, God, Yahweh speaks, And He summons the earth, From the rising of the sun to its setting. 14"Hear, My people, and I shall speak; 15O Israel, and I shall testify about you. 16I Myself am God, your God. 17Not for your Peace Offerings do I rebuke you, 18Or for your Ascensions, which are before Me continually. 19I will not take from your house a bull, 20From your folds any goats. 21For Mine is every forest beast, 22The cattle of a thousand hills.

 

 

23I know every mountain fowl, 24And the field insect is Mine. 25If I were hungry, I would not tell you; 26For Mine is the world and all in it. 27Do I eat the flesh of bulls, 28And the blood of goats do I drink? 29Sacrifice to God a Thank Offering, 30And perform to the Most High your Votive Offerings. 31And call upon Me in the day of trouble; 32I will deliver you, and you will glorify Me." 33But to the wicked says God: 34"What right have you to declare My statutes, 35Or to take My covenant on your lip? 36For you hate instruction, 37And cast My words behind you. 38When you see a thief, you join with him. 39With adulterers is your lot. 40Your mouth you send out in evil, 41And your tongue you harness to deceit. 42You take the chair and speak against your brother; 43To your own mother's son you give out slander. 44These things you did, and I kept silent; 45You thought the I AM was like you. 46I will rebuke you and accuse you before your eyes. 47Now consider this, you who forget the Mighty Protector, 48Lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver; 49Whoever sacrifices Thank Offerings glorifies Me; 50And the one preparing a way, 51I will show him the salvation of God."

 

 

Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonders. And blessed be His glorious Name everlastingly, And filled with His glory be all the earth. Amen! Yes! Amen! cFor the director.

 

 

Psalm 51

aA psalm. bBy David, cWhen Nathan the prophet came to him, dAs he had come to Bathsheba. 1Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; 2According to the multitude of Your mercies blot out my rebellious transgressions. 3Thoroughly wash me from my liability 4And from my failure cleanse me, 5For my rebellious transgressions I myself acknowledge, 6And my failure is before me continually. 7Toward You, toward You alone, have I failed 8And what is evil in Your eyes I have done, 9In order that You may be righteous in Your word, 10And be pure in Your judgment. 11Behold, in liability I was born, 12And in fallenness my mother conceived me. 13Behold, trustworthiness You desired in the inward parts, 14And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom. 15You will purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; 16You will wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 17You will make me hear gladness and joy; 18The bones You crushed will shout for joy. 19Hide Your face from my failures, 20And all my liabilities blot out. 21A clean heart create in me, O God, 22And a steadfast spirit renew within me. 23Do not cast me away from before You, 24And Your holy Spirit do not take from me.

 

 

25Return to me the gladness of Your salvation, 26And with a princely Spirit support me. 27I will teach rebellious transgressors Your way, 28And those who have failed will return to You. 29Free me from bloodguiltiness, O God, 30God of my salvation. 31My tongue will celebrate Your righteousness. 32Lord, my lips You will open, 33And my mouth will declare Your praise, 34For You do not delight in communion sacrifice; 35And were I to give an Ascension, You would not be pleased. 36The communion sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; 37A heart broken and crushed, O God, You do not despise. 38Do good, in Your favor, to Zion; 39You will build the walls of Jerusalem. 40Then You will be pleased with righteous communion sacrifices, 41Ascension and Whole offering. 42Then they will make bulls ascend on Your communion site. Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonders. And blessed be His glorious Name everlastingly, And filled with His glory be all the earth. Amen! Yes! Amen! eFor the director.

 

 

Psalm 52

aMaskil. bBy David. cWhen Doeg the Edomite went and reported to Saul, dAnd said to him, “David has come to the house of Ahimelech.” 1Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man? 2The lovingkindness of the Mighty One lasts all the day. 3Your tongue devises calamities, 4Like a sharpened razor, working deceitfully. 5You love evil more than good, 6Lying more than speaking righteousness. 7You love all devouring words, 8You deceitful tongue. 9Accordingly, the Mighty One will break you down perpetually; 10He will snatch you up and tear you out of your dwelling, 11And he will uproot you from the land of the living. 12And the righteous will see and fear, 13And at him they will laugh: 14”Behold the mighty man who did not make God his strength, 15And trusted in the abundance of his riches, 16And strengthened himself by bringing calamities!” 17But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in the house of God, 18I trust in the lovingkindness of God everlastingly and forever. 19I will praise You everlastingly because You have done it. 20And I will express hope in Your Name: “For it is good,” 21In the presence of Your loyal ones. Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonders. And blessed be His glorious Name everlastingly, And filled with His glory be all the earth.

 

 

Amen! Yes! Amen! eFor the director. fAccording to Mahalath.

 

 

Psalm 53

aMaskil. bBy David. 1The fool said in his heart: “No God!” 2They are destroyers. 3They are abominable. 4As for injustice: “No doer of good!” 5God looks down from heaven on the sons of Adam 6To see if there be one who understands, one who seeks God. 7All have turned back; 8Together they have become corrupt. 9”No doer of good; not even one!” 10Will they never learn, 11All the evildoers who eat up my people? 12They eat bread; 13On God they do not call. 14There they are, dreading what they dread, where no dread was. 15For God has scattered the bones of him who encamps against you. 16You have put them to shame, 17Because God despised them. 18”Oh, let Him bring from Zion the salvation of Israel!” 19When God brings back the captivity of His people! 20Let Jacob rejoice, 21Let Israel be glad! Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonders. And blessed be His glorious Name everlastingly, And filled with His glory be all the earth.

 

 

Amen! Yes! Amen! cFor the director. dWith stringed instruments.

 

 

Psalm 54

aMaskil bBy David. cWhen the Ziphites went and said to Saul, “Is not David hiding among us?” 1O God, by Your name save me, 2And by Your power vindicate me. 3O God, hear my prayer; 4Give ear to the words of my mouth. 5For strangers rise up against me, 6And violent men seek my life; 7They have not set God before themselves. SelahO God, by Your name save me, And by Your power vindicate me. 8Behold, God is my Helper; 9My Master is among the sustainers of my life. 10Let the evil recoil on my slanderers. 11In Your truth destroy them! 12With a freewill offering I will make a communion sacrifice to You; 13I will give thanks to Your name, Yahweh, for it is good. 14For from all distress He has delivered me; 15And on my enemies my eye has looked. Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonders. And blessed be His glorious Name everlastingly, And filled with His glory be all the earth. Amen! Yes! Amen! dFor the director. eOn stringed instruments.

 

 

Psalm 55

aMaskil. bBy David. 1Give ear, O God, to my prayer, 2And do not hide from my supplication. 3Attend to me, 4And answer me. 5I am restless in my complaint, 6And I am distraught, 7Because of the voice of the enemy, 8Because of the pressure of the wicked; 9For they tip trouble over onto me, 10And in wrath they chase after me. 11My heart writhes within me, 12And terrors of death have fallen upon me. 13Fear and trembling come upon me, 14And horror overwhelms me. 15And I say, "Oh, that I had wings like a dove! 16I would fly away and be at rest. 17Behold, I would wander afar, 18I would lodge in the wilderness. SelahGive ear, O God, to my prayer, And do not hide from my supplication. 19I would hurry to a shelter for myself, 20From the windy storm and tempest." 21Swallow up, my Master! 22Split their tongue!

 

 

23For I see Violence and Strife in the city: 24Day and night they make rounds on her walls, 25And Troublemaking and Mischief are in her midst. 26Destruction is in her midst, 27And from her public square do not depart Oppression and Deceit. 28For it is not an enemy who reproaches me; 29Then I could bear it. 30Nor is it one who hates me who has magnified himself against me; 31Then I could hide from him. 32But it is you, a familiar, my equal, 33My companion and my close friend! 34Together we took sweet counsel. 35In the house of God we walked in the throng.... 36Let death seize them! 37Let them go down alive into sheol! 38For wickedness is in their dwelling, in their midst. 39As for me, I call upon God, 40And Yahweh will save me. 41Evening and morning, 42And at noon, 43I complain, 44And I moan, 45And He will hear my voice. 46He will redeem my soul in peace, 47From the battle against me, 48For many are arrayed against me. 49The Mighty One will hear and answer them, 50Even He who abides from of old.

 

 

SelahGive ear, O God, to my prayer, And do not hide from my supplication. 51Because they do not change, 52And they do not fear God. 53He has put forth his hands against those who were at peace with him, 54He has profaned his covenant. 55Smooth were the butterings of his mouth, 56But war was in his heart. 57His words were softer than oil, 58Yet they were drawn swords. 59Cast upon Yahweh your lot in life, 60And He will sustain you. 61He will not permit the righteous to be shaken everlastingly, 62And You, O God, will bring them down to the pit of destruction. 63Bloodthirsty and deceitful men will not live out half their days, 64But as for me I will trust in You. Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonders. And blessed be His glorious Name everlastingly, And filled with His glory be all the earth. Amen! Yes! Amen! cFor the director. dOn "A Silent Dove in the Distance."

 

 

Psalm 56

aBy David. bMiktam. cWhen Philistines seized him in Gath. 1Be gracious, O God, for mere man pants after me; 2All day long, fighting, he oppresses me. 3My foes pant all day long. 4Indeed, many are fighting against me from the heights. 5In the day that I am afraid, 6I am one who puts my trust in You, 7In God -- I praise His Word! 8In God I put my trust. 9I shall not be afraid. 10What can flesh do to me? 11All day long my words they twist; 12Against me all their thoughts are for evil. 13They stir themselves up; 14They lurk in secret. 15They are the ones who watch my heels, 16When they lie in wait for my life. 17Through such troublemaking should they be delivered? 18In anger put down the peoples, O God! 19Of my wanderings You Yourself have kept count. 20Put my tears in Your bottle; are they not in Your book? 21Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call; 22This I know, because God is for me. 23With God I praise The Word. 24With Yahweh I praise The Word.

 

 

25In God I trust; I do not fear. 26What can mankind do to me? 27Upon me, O God, are Your vows: 28I shall render a Thanksgiving to You. 29For You have delivered my soul from death, 30Have you not kept my feet from stumbling? 31So that I can walk before the face of God 32In the light of life. Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonders. And blessed be His glorious Name everlastingly, And filled with His glory be all the earth. Amen! Yes! Amen! dFor the Director. e"Do Not Destroy."

 

 

Psalm 57

aBy David. bMiktam. cWhen he fled from before Saul in the cave. 1Be gracious to me, O God, 2Be gracious to me, 3For in You my soul takes refuge, 4And in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge until destruction passes by, 5I cry to God Most High, 6To the Mighty One who fulfills for me. 7He will send from heaven and save me; 8He who pants after me makes reproaches. SelahBe gracious to me, O God; Be gracious to me. 9God will send forth His lovingkindness and His faithfulness. 10My soul is among lions; 11I lie among the fire-breathing sons of Adam. 12Their teeth are spears and arrows, 13And their tongue a sharp sword. 14Rise up over the heavens, O God; 15Your glory over all the earth! 16A net they have spread for my steps; 17Bowed down is my soul. 18They dug for me a pit. 19They fell into the midst of it. SelahBe gracious to me, O God; Be gracious to me!

 

 

20Steadfast is my heart, O God, 21Steadfast is my heart! 22I will sing! 23Yes, I will play music! 24Awake, my glory! 25Awake, harp and lyre! 26I will awaken the dawn! 27I will give thanks to You, my Master, among the nations; 28I will sing praises to You among the peoples. 29For great to the heavens is Your lovingkindness, 30And to the clouds is Your faithfulness. 31Rise up over the heavens, O God; 32Your glory over all the earth! Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonders. And blessed be His glorious Name everlastingly, And filled with His glory be all the earth. Amen! Yes! Amen! dFor the Director e"Do Not Destroy."

 

 

Psalm 58

aBy David bMiktam. 1Gods you may be, but just sentences do you speak? 2Uprightly do you judge, O sons of Adam? 3No, in heart injustices you devise; 4On the earth the violence of your hands you weigh out. 5Estranged are the wicked from the womb; 6They go astray from the belly, speaking lies. 7They have venom like venom of a serpent. 8Like a deaf cobra that stops up its ear, 9So that it does not hear the voice of charmers, 10However skillful the enchanter may be. 11O God, shatter their teeth in their mouth; 12The fangs of the young lions tear out, Yahweh! 13Let them vanish like waters that flow away of themselves! 14When he aims his arrows, let them be circumcised, 15Like a slug, melting away as he moves, 16Like a woman's miscarriage that never sees the sun. 17Before your pots can feel the thorn, 18Whether green or dry, He will whirl him away. 19Glad will be the righteous when he sees the vengeance; 20His feet he will bathe in the blood of the wicked. 21And men will say, "Surely there is a reward for the righteous; 22Surely there is a God who judges on earth!" Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonders.

 

 

And blessed be His glorious Name everlastingly, And filled with His glory be all the earth. Amen! Yes! Amen! cFor the director. d"Do not Destroy."

 

 

Psalm 59 aBy David. bMiktam. cWhen Saul sent and they watched the house to kill him. 1Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God. 2From those who rise up against me lift me up. 3Deliver me from troublemakers, 4And from men of bloodshed save me. 5For behold, they lie in wait for my life; 6Fierce men conspire against me. 7For no transgression of mine and for no sin of mine, Yahweh, 8For no liability of mine they run and set themselves against me. 9Rouse Yourself! Help me, and behold! 10And You, Yahweh, God of armies, God of Israel, 11Awake to punish the nations; 12Show no mercy to all troublemaking traitors. SelahDeliver me from mine enemies, O my God. From those who rise up against me lift me up. 13They return at evening; 14They howl like a dog; 15And they prowl around the city. 16Behold, they foam with their mouth; 17Swords are in their lips, 18Because who will hear? 19But You, Yahweh, laugh at them; 20You mock all the nations.

21Because of his strength, for You I watch, 22For God is my Fortress. 23God of my lovingkindness.

 

 

24God will meet me 25He will let me look on mine enemies. 26Do not slay them, lest my people forget; 27Make them wander by Your power, 28And bring them down, my Master, our Shield. 29The sin of their mouth is the word of their confession, 30And they will be trapped in their pride, 31And for the cursing and deceit they utter. 32Consume them in wrath! 33Consume them until they be no more! 34That men may know that God is ruling in Jacob 35To the ends of the earth. SelahDeliver me from mine enemies, O my God. From those who rise up against me lift me up. 36And they return at evening; 37They howl like a dog; 38And they prowl around the city. 39They wander about to devour, 40If they are not satisfied they hang around all night. 41But as for me, I will sing of Your strength; 42Yes, I will joyfully sing in the morning of Your lovingkindness. 43For a Fortress You have been to me, 44And a Refuge in the day of my distress. 45O my Strength, I will play music to You, 46For God is my Fortress, 47God of my lovingkindness. Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonders.

 

 

And blessed be His glorious Name everlastingly, And filled with His glory be all the earth. Amen! Yes! Amen! dFor the Director. eUpon the Testimony Lily.

 

 

Psalm 60

aMikhtam. bBy David. cFor teaching. dWhen he fought Aram of the Double Rivers and Aram-Zobah, eAnd when Joab returned and struck down of Edom in the Valley of Salt twelve thousand. 1O God, You have rejected us. 2You have broken us. 3You have been angry; 4O restore to us! 5You have caused the land to shake. 6You tore her open. 7Heal her fractures, 8For she is quaking. 9You caused Your people to see hardship. 10You caused us to drink bewilderment like wine. 11You established for those who fear You a rally-banner, 12To unfurl itself in the face of the bow. SelahO God, You have rejected us. You have broken us. You have been angry; O restore to us! 13That Your beloved ones may be delivered, 14Save with Your right hand, and answer us. 15God has spoken in His sanctuary: "I will exult! 16"I will portion out Shechem, 17"And the valley of Succoth I will measure out.

 

 

18"Mine is Gilead; 19"And Mine is Manasseh; 20"Indeed, Ephraim is My head's helmet; 21"Judah is My scepter. 22"Moab is My footwashing bowl; 23"Upon Edom I toss My sandal; 24"Over Philistia is My triumphant shout!" 25Who will bring me into the siege-proof city? 26Who will lead me to Edom? 27Have not You Yourself, O God, rejected us? 28And will You not go forth, O God, with our armies? 29Give us aid against the enemy, 30For worthless is the help of man. 31With God we shall do valiantly. 32And it is He who will tread down our adversaries. Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonders. And blessed be His glorious Name everlastingly, And filled with His glory be all the earth. Amen! Yes! Amen! fFor the director. gOn stringed instruments.

 

 

Psalm 61

aBy David. 1Hear, O God, my cry; 2Give heed to my prayer. 3From the end of the earth to You I call when my heart is faint; 4To the Rock that is too high for me, O lead me. 5For You have been a refuge for me, 6A tower of strength from the face of the enemy. 7Let me sojourn in Your tent everlastingly; 8Let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings. SelahHear, O God, my cry; Give heed to my prayer. 9For it is You O God who have heard my vows; 10You have bestowed the inheritance of those who fear Your name. 11Days upon days to the king You increase; 12His years for generation after generation. 13He will sit enthroned everlastingly before God. 14Lovingkindness and truth appoint, that they may preserve him. 15So will I sing praise to Your name forever, 16That I may perform my vows day by day. Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonders. And blessed be His glorious Name everlastingly, And filled with His glory be all the earth. Amen! Yes! Amen!

 

 

Psalm 62

aPsalm. bBy David. 1Only before God is my soul calm; 2From Him is my salvation. 3Only He is my Rock and my Salvation, 4My Fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken. 5How long will you assail a man? 6Will you batter him down, all of you, 7Like a leaning wall, 8Like a tottering fence? 9Their only plan is to topple him from his high position. 10They delight in illusion; 11With their mouths they bless, 12But in their hearts they ridicule. SelahOnly before God is my soul calm; From Him is my salvation. 13Only before God be calm, my soul, 14For from Him is my hope. 15Only He is my Rock and my Salvation, 16My Fortress; I shall not be shaken. 17In God are my salvation and my glory, 18The Rock of my strength, my refuge is in God. 19Trust in Him at all times, O people; 20Pour out before Him your hearts; 21God is a refuge for us. SelahOnly before God is my soul calm; From Him is my salvation.

 

 

22Only a vapor are the sons of Adam, 23An illusion, the sons of man; 24On the balance scales they go up, 25Together they amount to vapor. 26Trust not in oppression; 27And in robbery put no vaporous hopes. 28Though riches increase, 29Do not set your heart there. 30One thing God has spoken; 31These two things I have heard: 32That strength belongs to God, 33And that to You, my Lord, is lovingkindness. 34Surely You Yourself will reward each according to his deed. Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonders. And blessed be His glorious Name everlastingly, And filled with His glory be all the earth. Amen! Yes! Amen!

 

 

Psalm 63

aPsalm. bBy David. cWhen he was in the wilderness of Judah. 1O God, my Mighty One are You; 2I earnestly seek You. 3For You thirsts my soul. 4For You longs my flesh, 5In a dry land, 6Weary, without water. 7Thus in the sanctuary I have beheld You, 8To see Your power and Your glory. 9Because better is Your lovingkindness than life, 10My lips will praise You. 11Thus will I bless You as long as I live; 12In Your name will I lift up my palms, 13When with inner-fat and fat-of-blessing my soul is satisfied, 14And with joyful lips my mouth praises. 15When I memorialize You on my bed, 16In the night-watches I meditate on You, 17For You have been my help, 18And in the shadow of Your wings I shout joyously. 19My soul clings after You; 20Your right hand upholds me. 21But those who, to destroy, seek my soul 22Will go down to the depths of the earth. 23They will be poured out by the power of the sword. 24A meal for jackals will they be.

 

 

25But the king will rejoice in God; 26Everyone who swears by Him will praise. 27For they will be stopped, 28The mouths of those who speak lies. Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonders. And blessed be His glorious Name everlastingly, And filled with His glory be all the earth. Amen! Yes! Amen!

 

 

Psalm 64

aPsalm. bBy David. 1Hear, O God, my voice in my complaint; 2From dread of the enemy preserve my life. 3Hide me from the secret counsel of evildoers, 4From the tumult of troublemakers, 5Who sharpen like a sword their tongue. 6They aim their arrow: a poison word, 7To shoot from concealment at the blameless; 8Suddenly they shoot at him, and do not fear. 9They hold fast to themselves an evil word; 10They discuss laying snares secretly; 11They ask who will see them? 12Who will uncover the crimes? 13"We have completed a well-researched plot. 14Yes, the inward part of a man, the heart, is deep!” 15But God will shoot at them with an arrow; 16Suddenly will appear their wounds, 17And they will make him stumble. 18Their own tongue is against them. 19All who see them will shake the head. 20And all men will fear, 21And will declare the work of God, 22And His work will understand. 23The righteous will rejoice in Yahweh, 24And will take refuge in Him, 25And they will celebrate, all the upright in heart.

 

 

Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonders. And blessed be His glorious Name everlastingly, And filled with His glory be all the earth. Amen! Yes! Amen! cFor the director.

 

 

Psalm 65

aPsalm. bBy David. cSong. 1For You, even silence is praise, O God in Zion; 2And to You will be performed a vow, O You who hear prayer. 3To You all flesh comes! 4Deeds causing liability prevail against me. 5Our transgressions You have covered. 6Blest & merry is the one You choose and bring near; 7He dwells in Your courts. 8We are filled with the good things of Your house, 9With the holiness of Your temple. 10By awesome deeds in righteousness You answer us, 11O God of our salvation-- 12The trust of all the ends of the earth, 13And of the farthest seas-- 14Establishing mountains by His power; 15Arming Himself with strength; 16Stilling the roaring of the seas, 17The roaring of their waves, 18Even the tumult of the peoples. 19They are in awe who dwell at the ends, because of Your wonders. 20The outgoings of the morning and the evening You make shout for joy. 21You visit the earth, 22And cause it to overflow; 23Greatly you enrich it -- 24God's river is full of water.

 

 

25You prepare their grain. 26In this way your prepare it: 27Its furrows You water abundantly; 28Its ridges You level; 29With showers You soften it; 30Its growth You bless. 31You crown the year with Your goodness, 32And Your cart paths drop with fatness. 33Dripping are the grasslands of the desert, 34And with joy the hills clothe themselves. 35Covered are the meadows with flocks, 36And the valleys deck themselves with grain. 37They shout for joy; 38Yes, they sing! Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonders. And blessed be His glorious Name everlastingly, And filled with His glory be all the earth. Amen! Yes! Amen! dFor the Director.

 

 

Psalm 66 aSong. bPsalm. 1Sing joyfully to God, all the earth! 2Play music to the glory of His name! 3Set forth glory: His praise! 4Say to God: How fearful are Your works! 5So great is Your power that Your enemies cringe before You. 6All the earth bow themselves before You; 7And play musics to You; 8They play musics to Your name. selahSing joyfully to God, all the earth! Play music to the glory of His name! 9Come and see the works of God, 10Fearful dealings among the sons of Adam. 11He turned the sea into dry land; 12Through the river they passed on foot; 13There we rejoiced in Him! 14He is ruling by His might everlastingly; 15His eyes on the nations keep watch. 16Let not the rebellious exalt themselves! selahSing joyfully to God, all the earth! Play music to the glory of His name! 17Bless our God, O peoples, 18Make the sound of His praise be heard, 19He is setting our lives among the living, 20And has not let our feet slip. 21For You have tried us, O God; 22You have refined us as silver is refined.

 

 

23You brought us into the net; 24You laid an oppressive burden upon our hips. 25You caused a mere man to ride at our heads! 26We went through fire and through water, 27And You brought us out into abundance. 28I will come to Your house with Ascensions; 29I will pay You my vows, which my lips uttered, 30And My mouth spoke when I was in distress. 31Ascensions of fatlings will I send up to You with the smoke of rams; 32I will provide cattle with male goats. selahSing joyfully to God, all the earth! Play music to the glory of His name! 33Come, hear, and I will tell all who fear God 34What He has done for my soul. 35To Him I cried with my mouth 36And lifted up with my tongue. 37If I had cherished troublemaking in my heart, 38My Master would not have heard; 39But certainly God has heard; 40He has given heed to the sound of my prayer. 41Blessed be God, who has turned away neither my prayer, 42Nor His lovingkindness from me. Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonders. And blessed be His glorious Name everlastingly, And filled with His glory be all the earth. Amen! Yes! Amen!

 

 

cFor the Director. dWith stringed instruments.

 

 

Psalm 67 aPsalm. bSong. 1God be gracious to us and bless us, 2And cause His face to shine upon us. selahGod be gracious to us and bless us, And cause His face to shine upon us. 3That on earth Your way may be known, 4Among all nations Your salvation. 5Let the peoples praise You, O God; 6Let the peoples praise You, all of them. 7Let the nations be glad and sing for joy; 8For You judge the peoples with uprightness, 9And the nations on the earth You guide. selahGod be gracious to us and bless us, And cause His face to shine upon us. 10Let the peoples praise You, O God; 11Let the peoples praise You, all of them. 12The earth has yielded her produce; 13God, has blessed us, our God. 14God has blessed us, 15And they fear Him, all the ends of the earth. Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonders. And blessed be His glorious Name everlastingly, And filled with His glory be all the earth. Amen! Yes! Amen!

 

 

cFor the Director.

 

 

Psalm 68 aBy David. bA psalm. cA song. 1Let God arise! 2Let His enemies scatter; 3And let those who hate Him flee before Him. 4As smoke is blown away, 5May You blow them away. 6As wax melts before fire, 7Let the wicked perish before God. 8And the righteous: let them rejoice; 9Let them exult before God; 10And let them be glad with rejoicing. 11Sing to God! 12Play music to His Name. 13Prepare a way for the Rider in the Deserts. 14In Yah, His Name, yes, exult before Him. 15"Father of Orphans" and "Defense of Widows" 16Is God in His holy abode. 17God makes the solitary dwell in a house; 18He brings forth the prisoners into prosperity; 19(But the rebellious dwell in a parched land.) 20O God, when You went forth before Your people, 21When You marched through the wilderness: SelahLet God arise; Let His enemies scatter; And let those who hate Him flee before Him.

 

 

22The world shook; 23Indeed, the heavens dripped at the presence of God, the One of Sinai, 24At the presence of God, the God of Israel. 25A rain of gifts You showered, O God; 26Your inheritance, though it languished, You Yourself established. 27Your beasts dwelled in it; 28You prepared it in Your goodness for the lowly, O God. 29My Master gives the word; 30The messengers are a great army. 31Kings of armies flee; they flee; 32And those remaining at home divide the spoil, 33Those remaining with the sheepfolds: 34A dove's wings covered with silver, 35And her pinions with green-gold. 36When the Almighty scattered kings there, 37You made it snow on Black Mountain. 38O mountain of gods, mountain of Bashan, 39O mountain of ridges, mountain of Bashan, 40Why your hostility, you mountains of ridges, 41Toward the mountain God delighted for His dwelling? 42Yes, Yahweh will dwell there endlessly. 43The chariots of God are twice myriads, 44Thousands upon thousands, 45My Master among them, 46At Sinai, in the holy place! 47You ascended on high; 48You captured a captivity; 49You took men as gifts — 50And even rebels — 51In order that Yah, God, might dwell.

 

 

52Blessed be my Master, day after day! 53He bears burdens for us — the Mighty One of our salvation. SelahLet God arise; Let His enemies scatter; And let those who hate Him flee before Him. 54The Mighty One is for us a Mighty One of salvations, 55And to Yahweh my Master belong escapes from death. 56Yes, God will crush the head of His enemies, 57The hairy crown of the one who walks in his guilt. 58My Master said, “From Bashan I will bring back, 59I will bring back from the depths of the sea, 60That you may crush, with your foot in blood, 61That the tongue of your dogs from your enemies may have its portion." 62They saw Your processions, O God, 63The processions of my Mighty One, my King, into the holy place. 64In front are singers; after, string-players; 65In the midst, maidens playing timbrels. 66In assemblies, bless God, 67Yahweh, from the fountain of Israel. 68There is Benjamin, the small, stomping! 69Princes of Judah, stoning them; 70Princes of Zebulun; 71Princes of Naphtali. 72Your God has ordained your strength; 73Be strong, O God, who works for us. 74From Your temple above Jerusalem.

 

 

75To You kings will bring gifts. 76Rebuke the beast of the reeds, 77The congregation of mighty bulls among calves, peoples. 78Let him prostrate himself with pieces of silver! 79Let peoples that delighted in wars be scattered! 80Envoys will come from Egypt; 81Cush will make her hands hasten to God. 82Kingdoms of the earth, sing to God; 83Play music to my Master: SelahLet God arise; Let His enemies scatter; And let those who hate Him flee before Him. 84To the Rider in the heavens, the heavens of old; 85Look! He utters with His voice, a voice of strength. 86Ascribe strength to God; 87Over Israel is His loftiness, 88And His strength in the clouds. 89Fearful are You, O God, from Your holy places! 90The Mighty One of Israel — He gives strength and powers to a people. 91Blessed be God. Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonders. And blessed be His glorious Name everlastingly, And filled with His glory be all the earth. Amen! Yes! Amen! dFor the Director. eUpon "Lilies."

 

 

Psalm 69

aBy David. 1Save me, O God, 2For waters have come up to my soul. 3I have sunk in the mire of the deep, 4And there is no place to stand. 5I have come into depths of water, 6And a torrent has washed me away. 7I am weary with my calling; 8Parched is my throat. 9My eyes fail from waiting for my God. 10More than the hairs of my head are those who hate me undeservedly. 11Mighty are my destroyers, attacking me with lies; 12What I did not steal, I must now return. 13O God, You Yourself know my foolishness, 14And my guilty deeds from You are not hidden. 15Let them not be shamed through me, the ones who wait for You, 16My Master, Yahweh of hosts. 17Let them not be disgraced through me, the ones who seek You, 18O God of Israel; 19Because for You I have borne reproach; 20Disgrace has covered my face. 21Estranged have I been from my brothers, 22And a foreigner to my mother's sons, 23Because the zeal of Your house has consumed me, 24And the reproach of Your reproachers has fallen upon me. 25When I wept in fasting for my soul; 26Then it became a reproach to me.

 

 

27When I made my clothing sackcloth, 28Then I was to them a byword. 29About me are the musings of those sitting in the gate, 30And the songs of those drinking beer. 31But as for me, my prayer is to You: 32"Yahweh, a time of favor!" 33O God, in the abundance of Your lovingkindness, 34Answer me in the trustworthiness of Your salvation. 35Rescue me from the mire and do not let me sink; 36Let me be rescued from my haters and from depths of water. 37Let not the torrent of water wash me away; 38And let not the deep swallow me; 39And let not the pit shut upon me its mouth. 40Answer me, Yahweh, for good is Your lovingkindness; 41According to the abundance of Your compassions, turn to me. 42Do not hide Your face from Your servant; 43For I am distressed -- make haste to answer me! 44Draw near to my soul, redeem me; 45Because of my attackers, ransom me. 46You Yourself know my reproach, 47And my shame and my disgrace; 48Before You are all my oppressors. 49Reproach breaks my heart, and I am sick; 50I wait for sympathy and there is none, 51And for comforters and I do not find them. 52They give for my food poison, 53And for my thirst they make me drink vinegar.

 

 

54Let their table before them become a snare, 55And for their close friends a trap. 56Let their eyes be too dark to see, 57So their loins shake continually. 58Pour out upon them Your wrath, 59And Your burning anger let overtake them. 60Let their encampment be desolate; 61In their tents let there be no one dwelling, 62Because as for You — whom You have struck, they persecute, 63And the suffering of Your wounded ones they recount. 64Place liability upon their liability, 65And let them not come into Your righteousness. 66Let them be blotted from the book of the living, 67And with the righteous let them not be written. 68But I am lowly and suffering; 69Let Your salvation, O God, set me on high. 70I will praise the Name of God in song; 71I will magnify Him with thanksgiving. 72And it will be better to Yahweh than an ox, 73A bull horned and hoofed. 74The lowly have seen and rejoiced; 75Those seeking God, may Your hearts live, 76For Yahweh is listening to the needy, 77And His captives He does not despise. 78Let heaven and earth praise Him; 79Seas and everything swarming in them, 80For God will save Zion, 81And build the cities of Judah,

 

 

82And they will dwell there and possess it, 83And the seed of His servants will inherit it, 84And the lovers of His Name will live in it. Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonders. And blessed be His glorious Name everlastingly, And filled with His glory be all the earth. Amen! Yes! Amen! bFor the Director.

 

 

Psalm 70-71

aBy David. bFor memorializing. 70:1O God, to deliver me, 2Yahweh, to my help, make haste! 3Let them be shamed and confounded, 4Those seeking my soul. 5Let them be turned back and disgraced, 6Those who wish me evil. 7Let them be turned back because of their shame, 8Those saying, “Ha, ha!” 9Let them rejoice and be glad in You – all those who seek You. 10Let them say continually “Great is God!” – those who love Your salvation. 11But I? oppressed and needy! 12O God, hasten to me! 13My help and my deliverer are You. 14Yahweh, do not delay! 71:1In You, Yahweh, I have taken refuge; 2Let me not be shamed forever. 3In Your righteousness rescue me and deliver me. 4Incline to me Your ear and save me. 5Be for me a rock, 6A refuge to come to continually. 7You commanded to save me, 8For my Rock and my Stronghold You are. 9My God, deliver me from the hand of the wicked, 10From the palm of the unjust and the corrupt,

 

 

11For You Yourself are my hope, my Master; 12Yahweh, my confidence from my youth. 13Upon You I leaned from the womb; 14From the belly of my mother it was You who separated me; 15In You is my praise continually. 16As a wonder I was to the many; 17And You are my strong refuge. 18May my mouth be filled with Your praise; 19All the day, with Your beauty. 20Do not cast me off at the time of old age; 21When my strength fails do not forsake me, 22For my enemies speak about me, 23And those who watch my soul counsel together, 24Saying, “God has forsaken him. 25Pursue and catch him because there is no one to rescue.” 26O God, do not be far from me; 27My God, to help me make haste. 28Let them be shamed; let them perish, 29The accusers of my soul. 30Let them be clothed with reproach and be disgraced, 31The ones who seek my harm. 32And I myself, continually will I hope; 33And I will add to all Your praise. 34My mouth will tell Your righteousness -- 35All the day: Your salvation -- 36Though I do not know all the tellings. 37I will come in the powers of my Master, Yahweh. 38I will memorialize Your righteousness, Yours only.

 

 

39O God, You have taught me from my youth; 40And still I declare Your wonders. 41And also unto old age and gray-headedness, 42O God do not forsake me, 43Until I declare Your right arm to the generation, 44To all who will come, Your power. 45And Your righteousness, O God, is unto the heights, 46You who have done great things – 47O God, who is like You? 48You who have shown me oppressions, many and evil, 49You will return; You will make me live, 50And from the depths of the earth, 51You will return; You will bring me up. 52You will multiply my greatness, 53And You will turn around; You will comfort me. 54As for me also, I will thank You with the voice of the harp – 55Your trustworthiness, O God. 56I will play music to You with the lyre, 57O Holy One of Israel. 58My lips will sing when I play music to You, 59And my soul which You have redeemed. 60My tongue also, all the day, 61Will tell Your righteousnesses, 62For they are shamed; for they are confounded, 63Those who sought my harm. Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonders. And blessed be His glorious Name everlastingly, And filled with His glory be all the earth.

 

 

Amen! Yes! Amen!

 

 

Psalm 72

aFor Solomon. 1God, give Your justice to the king, 2And Your righteousness to the son of the king. 3May he arbitrate Your people with righteousness, 4And Your afflicted with justice. 5May the mountains bear peace to the people, 6And the hills, in righteousness. 7May he give justice to the afflicted of the people; 8May he save the sons of the needy, 9And may he crush the oppressor. 10May they fear you while the sun exists, 11And in the moon's presence, generation after generation. 12May he come down like rain upon mown grass, 13Like showers watering the earth. 14May in his days righteousness sprout, 15And abundance of peace until the moon is no more. 16And may he rule from sea to sea, 17And from the River to the ends of the earth. 18May they bow down before him, the wilderness-dwellers, 19And his enemies, may they lick the dust. 20May kings of Tarshish and the coastlands render tribute; 21May kings of Sheba and Seba bring near a gift. 22And may all kings be humble before him; 23May all nations serve him. 24For he rescues the needy man who pleads, 25And the afflicted who has no one to help him.

 

 

26He has pity on the poor and needy one, 27And the souls of the needy ones he saves: 28From oppression and from violence he redeems their souls, 29And precious is their blood in his eyes. 30Let him live, 31And let him give him from the gold of Sheba. 32And let him pray for him continually; 33All the day let him bless him. 34May there be an abundance of grain in the land, 36On the tops of the mountains may its fruit rustle as in Lebanon. 36And may they blossom from the city like the grass of the earth. 37May his name endure everlastingly, 38In the sun's presence may his name continue. 39And may they bless themselves by him. 40May all nations call him blessed and merry. Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonders. And blessed be His glorious Name everlastingly, And filled with His glory be all the earth. Amen. Yes, amen. bFinished are the prayers of David, the son of Jesse.