The One True God (PSA 115:1-18)

[115:1] To you alone, O Lord, to you alone, and not to us, must glory be given because of your constant love and faithfulness.

[115:2] Why should the nations ask us, “Where is your God?”

[115:3] Our God is in heaven; he does whatever he wishes.

[115:4] Their gods are made of silver and gold, formed by human hands.

[115:5] They have mouths, but cannot speak, and eyes, but cannot see.

[115:6] They have ears, but cannot hear, and noses, but cannot smell.

[115:7] They have hands, but cannot feel, and feet, but cannot walk; they cannot make a sound.

[115:8] May all who made them and who trust in them become like the idols they have made.

[115:9] Trust in the Lord, you people of Israel. He helps you and protects you.

[115:10] Trust in the Lord, you priests of God. He helps you and protects you.

[115:11] Trust in the Lord, all you that worship him. He helps you and protects you.

[115:12] The Lord remembers us and will bless us; he will bless the people of Israel and all the priests of God.

[115:13] He will bless everyone who honors him, the great and the small alike.

[115:14] May the Lord give you children— you and your descendants!

[115:15] May you be blessed by the Lord, who made heaven and earth!

[115:16] Heaven belongs to the Lord alone, but he gave the earth to us humans.

[115:17] The Lord is not praised by the dead, by any who go down to the land of silence.

[115:18] But we, the living, will give thanks to him now and forever. Praise the Lord!

Someone Saved from Death Praises God (PSA 116:1-17)

[116:1] I love the Lord, because he hears me; he listens to my prayers.

[116:2] He listens to me every time I call to him.

[116:3] The danger of death was all around me; the horrors of the grave closed in on me; I was filled with fear and anxiety.

[116:4] Then I called to the Lord, “I beg you, Lord, save me!”

[116:5] The Lord is merciful and good; our God is compassionate.

[116:6] The Lord protects the helpless; when I was in danger, he saved me.

[116:7] Be confident, my heart, because the Lord has been good to me.

[116:8] The Lord saved me from death; he stopped my tears and kept me from defeat.

[116:9] And so I walk in the presence of the Lord in the world of the living.

[116:10] I kept on believing, even when I said, “I am completely crushed,”

[116:11] even when I was afraid and said, “No one can be trusted.”

[116:12] What can I offer the Lord for all his goodness to me?

[116:13] I will bring a wine offering to the Lord, to thank him for saving me.

[116:14] In the assembly of all his people I will give him what I have promised.

[116:15] How painful it is to the Lord when one of his people dies!

[116:16] I am your servant, Lord; I serve you just as my mother did. You have saved me from death.

[116:17] I will give you a sacrifice of thanksgiving and offer my prayer to you. in the sanctuary of your Temple in Jerusalem, I will give you what I have promised. Praise the Lord!

A Prayer of Thanks for Victory (PSA 118:1-29)

[118:1] Give thanks to the Lord, because he is good, and his love is eternal.

[118:2] Let the people of Israel say, “His love is eternal.”

[118:3] Let the priests of God say, “His love is eternal.”

[118:4] Let all who worship him say, “His love is eternal.”

[118:5] In my distress I called to the Lord; he answered me and set me free.

[118:6] The Lord is with me, I will not be afraid; what can anyone do to me?

[118:7] It is the Lord who helps me, and I will see my enemies defeated.

[118:8] It is better to trust in the Lord than to depend on people.

[118:9] It is better to trust in the Lord than to depend on human leaders.

[118:10] Many enemies were around me; but I destroyed them by the power of the Lord!

[118:11] They were around me on every side; but I destroyed them by the power of the Lord!

[118:12] They swarmed around me like bees, but they burned out as quickly as a brush fire; by the power of the Lord I destroyed them.

[118:13] I was fiercely attacked and was being defeated, but the Lord helped me.

[118:14] The Lord makes me powerful and strong; he has saved me.

[118:15] Listen to the glad shouts of victory in the tents of God's people: “The Lord's mighty power has done it!

[118:16] His power has brought us victory— his mighty power in battle!”

[118:17] I will not die; instead, I will live and proclaim what the Lord has done.

[118:18] He has punished me severely, but he has not let me die.

[118:19] Open to me the gates of the Temple; I will go in and give thanks to the Lord!

[118:20] This is the gate of the Lord; only the righteous can come in.

[118:21] I praise you, Lord, because you heard me, because you have given me victory.

[118:22] The stone which the builders rejected as worthless turned out to be the most important of all.

[118:23] This was done by the Lord; what a wonderful sight it is!

[118:24] This is the day of the Lord's victory; let us be happy, let us celebrate!

[118:25] Save us, Lord, save us! Give us success, O Lord!

[118:26] May God bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord! From the Temple of the Lord we bless you.

[118:27] The Lord is God; he has been good to us. With branches in your hands, start the festival and march around the altar.

[118:28] You are my God, and I give you thanks; I will proclaim your greatness.

[118:29] Give thanks to the Lord, because he is good, and his love is eternal.

The Law of the Lord (PSA 119:1-8)

[119:1] Happy are those whose lives are faultless, who live according to the law of the Lord.

[119:2] Happy are those who follow his commands, who obey him with all their heart.

[119:3] They never do wrong; they walk in the Lord's ways.

[119:4] Lord, you have given us your laws and told us to obey them faithfully.

[119:5] How I hope that I shall be faithful in keeping your instructions!

[119:6] If I pay attention to all your commands, then I will not be put to shame.

[119:7] As I learn your righteous judgments, I will praise you with a pure heart.

[119:8] I will obey your laws; never abandon me!

Obedience to the Law of the Lord (PSA 119:9-16)

[119:9] How can young people keep their lives pure? By obeying your commands.

[119:10] With all my heart I try to serve you; keep me from disobeying your commandments.

[119:11] I keep your law in my heart, so that I will not sin against you.

[119:12] I praise you, O Lord; teach me your ways.

[119:13] I will repeat aloud all the laws you have given.

[119:14] I delight in following your commands more than in having great wealth.

[119:15] I study your instructions; I examine your teachings.

[119:16] I take pleasure in your laws; your commands I will not forget.

Happiness in the Law of the Lord (PSA 119:17-24)

[119:17] Be good to me, your servant, so that I may live and obey your teachings.

[119:18] Open my eyes, so that I may see the wonderful truths in your law.

[119:19] I am here on earth for just a little while; do not hide your commands from me.

[119:20] My heart aches with longing; I want to know your judgments at all times.

[119:21] You reprimand the proud; cursed are those who disobey your commands.

[119:22] Free me from their insults and scorn, because I have kept your laws.

[119:23] The rulers meet and plot against me, but I will study your teachings.

[119:24] Your instructions give me pleasure; they are my advisers.

Determination to Obey the Law of the Lord (PSA 119:25-32)

[119:25] I lie defeated in the dust; revive me, as you have promised.

[119:26] I confessed all I have done, and you answered me; teach me your ways.

[119:27] Help me to understand your laws, and I will meditate on your wonderful teachings.

[119:28] I am overcome by sorrow; strengthen me, as you have promised.

[119:29] Keep me from going the wrong way, and in your goodness teach me your law.

[119:30] I have chosen to be obedient; I have paid attention to your judgments.

[119:31] I have followed your instructions, Lord; don't let me be put to shame.

[119:32] I will eagerly obey your commands, because you will give me more understanding.

A Prayer for Understanding (PSA 119:33-40)

[119:33] Teach me, Lord, the meaning of your laws, and I will obey them at all times.

[119:34] Explain your law to me, and I will obey it; I will keep it with all my heart.

[119:35] Keep me obedient to your commandments, because in them I find happiness.

[119:36] Give me the desire to obey your laws rather than to get rich.

[119:37] Keep me from paying attention to what is worthless; be good to me, as you have promised.

[119:38] Keep your promise to me, your servant— the promise you make to those who obey you.

[119:39] Save me from the insults I fear; how wonderful are your judgments!

[119:40] I want to obey your commands; give me new life, for you are righteous.

Trusting the Law of the Lord (PSA 119:41-48)

[119:41] Show me how much you love me, Lord, and save me according to your promise.

[119:42] Then I can answer those who insult me because I trust in your word.

[119:43] Enable me to speak the truth at all times, because my hope is in your judgments.

[119:44] I will always obey your law, forever and ever.

[119:45] I will live in perfect freedom, because I try to obey your teachings.

[119:46] I will announce your commands to kings and I will not be ashamed.

[119:47] I find pleasure in obeying your commands, because I love them.

[119:48] I respect and love your commandments; I will meditate on your instructions.