Category: Psalm

[68:1] God rises up and scatters his enemies. Those who hate him run away in defeat.

[68:2] As smoke is blown away, so he drives them off; as wax melts in front of the fire, so do the wicked perish in God's presence.

[68:3] But the righteous are glad and rejoice in his presence; they are happy and shout for joy.

[68:4] Sing to God, sing praises to his name; prepare a way for him who rides on the clouds. His name is the Lord—be glad in his presence!

[68:5] God, who lives in his sacred Temple, cares for orphans and protects widows.

[68:6] He gives the lonely a home to live in and leads prisoners out into happy freedom, but rebels will have to live in a desolate land.

[68:7] O God, when you led your people, when you marched across the desert,

[68:8] the earth shook, and the sky poured down rain, because of the coming of the God of Sinai, the coming of the God of Israel.

[68:9] You caused abundant rain to fall and restored your worn-out land;

[68:10] your people made their home there; in your goodness you provided for the poor.

[68:11] The Lord gave the command, and many women carried the news:

[68:12] “Kings and their armies are running away!” The women at home divided what was captured:

[68:13] figures of doves covered with silver, whose wings glittered with fine gold. (Why did some of you stay among the sheep pens on the day of battle?)

[68:14] When Almighty God scattered the kings on Mount Zalmon, he caused snow to fall there.

[68:15] What a mighty mountain is Bashan, a mountain of many peaks!

[68:16] Why from your mighty peaks do you look with scorn on the mountain on which God chose to live? The Lord will live there forever!

[68:17] With his many thousands of mighty chariots the Lord comes from Sinai into the holy place.

[68:18] He goes up to the heights, taking many captives with him; he receives gifts from rebellious people. The Lord God will live there.

[68:19] Praise the Lord, who carries our burdens day after day; he is the God who saves us.

[68:20] Our God is a God who saves; he is the Lord, our Lord, who rescues us from death.

[68:21] God will surely break the heads of his enemies, of those who persist in their sinful ways.

[68:22] The Lord has said, “I will bring your enemies back from Bashan; I will bring them back from the depths of the ocean,

[68:23] so that you may wade in their blood, and your dogs may lap up as much as they want.”

[68:24] O God, your march of triumph is seen by all, the procession of God, my king, into his sanctuary.

[68:25] The singers are in front, the musicians are behind, in between are the young women beating the tambourines.

[68:26] “Praise God in the meeting of his people; praise the Lord, all you descendants of Jacob!”

[68:27] First comes Benjamin, the smallest tribe, then the leaders of Judah with their group, followed by the leaders of Zebulun and Naphtali.

[68:28] Show your power, O God, the power you have used on our behalf

[68:29] from your Temple in Jerusalem, where kings bring gifts to you.

[68:30] Rebuke Egypt, that wild animal in the reeds; rebuke the nations, that herd of bulls with their calves, until they all bow down and offer you their silver. Scatter those people who love to make war!

[68:31] Ambassadors will come from Egypt; the Ethiopians will raise their hands in prayer to God.

[68:32] Sing to God, kingdoms of the world, sing praise to the Lord,

[68:33] to him who rides in the sky, the ancient sky. Listen to him shout with a mighty roar.

[68:34] Proclaim God's power; his majesty is over Israel, his might is in the skies.

[68:35] How awesome is God as he comes from his sanctuary— the God of Israel! He gives strength and power to his people. Praise God!

[69:1] Save me, O God! The water is up to my neck;

[69:2] I am sinking in deep mud, and there is no solid ground; I am out in deep water, and the waves are about to drown me.

[69:3] I am worn out from calling for help, and my throat is aching. I have strained my eyes, looking for your help.

[69:4] Those who hate me for no reason are more numerous than the hairs of my head. My enemies tell lies against me; they are strong and want to kill me. They made me give back things I did not steal.

[69:5] My sins, O God, are not hidden from you; you know how foolish I have been.

[69:6] Don't let me bring shame on those who trust in you, Sovereign Lord Almighty! Don't let me bring disgrace to those who worship you, O God of Israel!

[69:7] It is for your sake that I have been insulted and that I am covered with shame.

[69:8] I am like a stranger to my relatives, like a foreigner to my family.

[69:9] My devotion to your Temple burns in me like a fire; the insults which are hurled at you fall on me.

[69:10] I humble myself by fasting, and people insult me;

[69:11] I dress myself in clothes of mourning, and they laugh at me.

[69:12] They talk about me in the streets, and drunkards make up songs about me.

[69:13] But as for me, I will pray to you, Lord; answer me, God, at a time you choose. Answer me because of your great love, because you keep your promise to save.

[69:14] Save me from sinking in the mud; keep me safe from my enemies, safe from the deep water.

[69:15] Don't let the flood come over me; don't let me drown in the depths or sink into the grave.

[69:16] Answer me, Lord, in the goodness of your constant love; in your great compassion turn to me!

[69:17] Don't hide yourself from your servant; I am in great trouble—answer me now!

[69:18] Come to me and save me; rescue me from my enemies.

[69:19] You know how I am insulted, how I am disgraced and dishonored; you see all my enemies.

[69:20] Insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair. I had hoped for sympathy, but there was none; for comfort, but I found none.

[69:21] When I was hungry, they gave me poison; when I was thirsty, they offered me vinegar.

[69:22] May their banquets cause their ruin; may their sacred feasts cause their downfall.

[69:23] Strike them with blindness! Make their backs always weak!

[69:24] Pour out your anger on them; let your indignation overtake them.

[69:25] May their camps be left deserted; may no one be left alive in their tents.

[69:26] They persecute those whom you have punished; they talk about the sufferings of those you have wounded.

[69:27] Keep a record of all their sins; don't let them have any part in your salvation.

[69:28] May their names be erased from the book of the living; may they not be included in the list of your people.

[69:29] But I am in pain and despair; lift me up, O God, and save me!

[69:30] I will praise God with a song; I will proclaim his greatness by giving him thanks.

[69:31] This will please the Lord more than offering him cattle, more than sacrificing a full-grown bull.

[69:32] When the oppressed see this, they will be glad; those who worship God will be encouraged.

[69:33] The Lord listens to those in need and does not forget his people in prison.

[69:34] Praise God, O heaven and earth, seas and all creatures in them.

[69:35] He will save Jerusalem and rebuild the towns of Judah. His people will live there and possess the land;

[69:36] the descendants of his servants will inherit it, and those who love him will live there.

[70:1] Save me, O God! Lord, help me now!

[70:2] May those who try to kill me be defeated and confused. May those who are happy because of my troubles be turned back and disgraced.

[70:3] May those who make fun of me be dismayed by their defeat.

[70:4] May all who come to you be glad and joyful. May all who are thankful for your salvation always say, “How great is God!”

[70:5] I am weak and poor; come to me quickly, O God. You are my savior and my Lord— hurry to my aid!

[71:1] Lord, I have come to you for protection; never let me be defeated!

[71:2] Because you are righteous, help me and rescue me. Listen to me and save me!

[71:3] Be my secure shelter and a strong fortress to protect me; you are my refuge and defense.

[71:4] My God, rescue me from wicked people, from the power of cruel and evil people.

[71:5] Sovereign Lord, I put my hope in you; I have trusted in you since I was young.

[71:6] I have relied on you all my life; you have protected me since the day I was born. I will always praise you.

[71:7] My life has been an example to many, because you have been my strong defender.

[71:8] All day long I praise you and proclaim your glory.

[71:9] Do not reject me now that I am old; do not abandon me now that I am feeble.

[71:10] My enemies want to kill me; they talk and plot against me.

[71:11] They say, “God has abandoned him; let's go after him and catch him; there is no one to rescue him.”

[71:12] Don't stay so far away, O God; my God, hurry to my aid!

[71:13] May those who attack me be defeated and destroyed. May those who try to hurt me be shamed and disgraced.

[71:14] I will always put my hope in you; I will praise you more and more.

[71:15] I will tell of your goodness; all day long I will speak of your salvation, though it is more than I can understand.

[71:16] I will go in the strength of the Lord God; I will proclaim your goodness, yours alone.

[71:17] You have taught me ever since I was young, and I still tell of your wonderful acts.

[71:18] Now that I am old and my hair is gray, do not abandon me, O God! Be with me while I proclaim your power and might to all generations to come.

[71:19] Your righteousness, God, reaches the skies. You have done great things; there is no one like you.

[71:20] You have sent troubles and suffering on me, but you will restore my strength; you will keep me from the grave.

[71:21] You will make me greater than ever; you will comfort me again.

[71:22] I will indeed praise you with the harp; I will praise your faithfulness, my God. On my harp I will play hymns to you, the Holy One of Israel.

[71:23] I will shout for joy as I play for you; with my whole being I will sing because you have saved me.

[71:24] I will speak of your righteousness all day long, because those who tried to harm me have been defeated and disgraced.

[72:1] Teach the king to judge with your righteousness, O God; share with him your own justice,

[72:2] so that he will rule over your people with justice and govern the oppressed with righteousness.

[72:3] May the land enjoy prosperity; may it experience righteousness.

[72:4] May the king judge the poor fairly; may he help the needy and defeat their oppressors.

[72:5] May your people worship you as long as the sun shines, as long as the moon gives light, for ages to come.

[72:6] May the king be like rain on the fields, like showers falling on the land.

[72:7] May righteousness flourish in his lifetime, and may prosperity last as long as the moon gives light.

[72:8] His kingdom will reach from sea to sea, from the Euphrates to the ends of the earth.

[72:9] The peoples of the desert will bow down before him; his enemies will throw themselves to the ground.

[72:10] The kings of Spain and of the islands will offer him gifts; the kings of Sheba and Seba will bring him offerings.

[72:11] All kings will bow down before him; all nations will serve him.

[72:12] He rescues the poor who call to him, and those who are needy and neglected.

[72:13] He has pity on the weak and poor; he saves the lives of those in need.

[72:14] He rescues them from oppression and violence; their lives are precious to him.

[72:15] Long live the king! May he be given gold from Sheba; may prayers be said for him at all times; may God's blessings be on him always!

[72:16] May there be plenty of grain in the land; may the hills be covered with crops, as fruitful as those of Lebanon. May the cities be filled with people, like fields full of grass.

[72:17] May the king's name never be forgotten; may his fame last as long as the sun. May all nations ask God to bless them as he has blessed the king.

[72:18] Praise the Lord, the God of Israel! He alone does these wonderful things.

[72:19] Praise his glorious name forever! May his glory fill the whole world.

[72:20] This is the end of the prayers of David son of Jesse.

[73:1] God is indeed good to Israel, to those who have pure hearts.

[73:2] But I had nearly lost confidence; my faith was almost gone

[73:3] because I was jealous of the proud when I saw that things go well for the wicked.

[73:4] They do not suffer pain; they are strong and healthy.

[73:5] They do not suffer as other people do; they do not have the troubles that others have.

[73:6] And so they wear pride like a necklace and violence like a robe;

[73:7] their hearts pour out evil, and their minds are busy with wicked schemes.

[73:8] They laugh at other people and speak of evil things; they are proud and make plans to oppress others.

[73:9] They speak evil of God in heaven and give arrogant orders to everyone on earth,

[73:10] so that even God's people turn to them and eagerly believe whatever they say.

[73:11] They say, “God will not know; the Most High will not find out.”

[73:12] That is what the wicked are like. They have plenty and are always getting more.

[73:13] Is it for nothing, then, that I have kept myself pure and have not committed sin?

[73:14] O God, you have made me suffer all day long; every morning you have punished me.

[73:15] If I had said such things, I would not be acting as one of your people.

[73:16] I tried to think this problem through, but it was too difficult for me

[73:17] until I went into your Temple. Then I understood what will happen to the wicked.

[73:18] You will put them in slippery places and make them fall to destruction!

[73:19] They are instantly destroyed; they go down to a horrible end.

[73:20] They are like a dream that goes away in the morning; when you rouse yourself, O Lord, they disappear.

[73:21] When my thoughts were bitter and my feelings were hurt,

[73:22] I was as stupid as an animal; I did not understand you.

[73:23] Yet I always stay close to you, and you hold me by the hand.

[73:24] You guide me with your instruction and at the end you will receive me with honor.

[73:25] What else do I have in heaven but you? Since I have you, what else could I want on earth?

[73:26] My mind and my body may grow weak, but God is my strength; he is all I ever need.

[73:27] Those who abandon you will certainly perish; you will destroy those who are unfaithful to you.

[73:28] But as for me, how wonderful to be near God, to find protection with the Sovereign Lord and to proclaim all that he has done!

[74:1] Why have you abandoned us like this, O God? Will you be angry with your own people forever?

[74:2] Remember your people, whom you chose for yourself long ago, whom you brought out of slavery to be your own tribe. Remember Mount Zion, where once you lived.

[74:3] Walk over these total ruins; our enemies have destroyed everything in the Temple.

[74:4] Your enemies have shouted in triumph in your Temple; they have placed their flags there as signs of victory.

[74:5] They looked like woodsmen cutting down trees with their axes.

[74:6] They smashed all the wooden panels with their axes and sledge hammers.

[74:7] They wrecked your Temple and set it on fire; they desecrated the place where you are worshiped.

[74:8] They wanted to crush us completely; they burned down every holy place in the land.

[74:9] All our sacred symbols are gone; there are no prophets left, and no one knows how long this will last.

[74:10] How long, O God, will our enemies laugh at you? Will they insult your name forever?

[74:11] Why have you refused to help us? Why do you keep your hands behind you?

[74:12] But you have been our king from the beginning, O God; you have saved us many times.

[74:13] With your mighty strength you divided the sea and smashed the heads of the sea monsters;

[74:14] you crushed the heads of the monster Leviathan and fed his body to desert animals.

[74:15] You made springs and fountains flow; you dried up large rivers.

[74:16] You created the day and the night; you set the sun and the moon in their places;

[74:17] you set the limits of the earth; you made summer and winter.

[74:18] But remember, O Lord, that your enemies laugh at you, that they are godless and despise you.

[74:19] Don't abandon your helpless people to their cruel enemies; don't forget your persecuted people!

[74:20] Remember the covenant you made with us. There is violence in every dark corner of the land.

[74:21] Don't let the oppressed be put to shame; let those poor and needy people praise you.

[74:22] Rouse yourself, God, and defend your cause! Remember that godless people laugh at you all day long.

[74:23] Don't forget the angry shouts of your enemies, the continuous noise made by your foes.

[75:1] We give thanks to you, O God, we give thanks to you! We proclaim how great you are and tell of the wonderful things you have done.

[75:2] “I have set a time for judgment,” says God, “and I will judge with fairness.

[75:3] Though every living creature tremble and the earth itself be shaken, I will keep its foundations firm.

[75:4] I tell the wicked not to be arrogant;

[75:5] I tell them to stop their boasting.”

[75:6] Judgment does not come from the east or from the west, from the north or from the south;

[75:7] it is God who is the judge, condemning some and acquitting others.

[75:8] The Lord holds a cup in his hand, filled with the strong wine of his anger. He pours it out, and all the wicked drink it; they drink it down to the last drop.

[75:9] But I will never stop speaking of the God of Jacob or singing praises to him.

[75:10] He will break the power of the wicked, but the power of the righteous will be increased.

[76:1] God is known in Judah; his name is honored in Israel.

[76:2] He has his home in Jerusalem; he lives on Mount Zion.

[76:3] There he broke the arrows of the enemy, their shields and swords, yes, all their weapons.

[76:4] How glorious you are, O God! How majestic, as you return from the mountains where you defeated your foes.

[76:5] Their brave soldiers have been stripped of all they had and now are sleeping the sleep of death; all their strength and skill was useless.

[76:6] When you threatened them, O God of Jacob, the horses and their riders fell dead.

[76:7] But you, Lord, are feared by all. No one can stand in your presence when you are angry.

[76:8] You made your judgment known from heaven; the world was afraid and kept silent,

[76:9] when you rose up to pronounce judgment, to save all the oppressed on earth.

[76:10] Human anger only results in more praise for you; those who survive the wars will keep your festivals.

[76:11] Give the Lord your God what you promised him; bring gifts to him, all you nearby nations. God makes everyone fear him;

[76:12] he humbles proud princes and terrifies great kings.

[77:1] I cry aloud to God; I cry aloud, and he hears me.

[77:2] In times of trouble I pray to the Lord; all night long I lift my hands in prayer, but I cannot find comfort.

[77:3] When I think of God, I sigh; when I meditate, I feel discouraged.

[77:4] He keeps me awake all night; I am so worried that I cannot speak.

[77:5] I think of days gone by and remember years of long ago.

[77:6] I spend the night in deep thought; I meditate, and this is what I ask myself:

[77:7] “Will the Lord always reject us? Will he never again be pleased with us?

[77:8] Has he stopped loving us? Does his promise no longer stand?

[77:9] Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has anger taken the place of his compassion?”

[77:10] Then I said, “What hurts me most is this— that God is no longer powerful.”

[77:11] I will remember your great deeds, Lord; I will recall the wonders you did in the past.

[77:12] I will think about all that you have done; I will meditate on all your mighty acts.

[77:13] Everything you do, O God, is holy. No god is as great as you.

[77:14] You are the God who works miracles; you showed your might among the nations.

[77:15] By your power you saved your people, the descendants of Jacob and of Joseph.

[77:16] When the waters saw you, O God, they were afraid, and the depths of the sea trembled.

[77:17] The clouds poured down rain; thunder crashed from the sky, and lightning flashed in all directions.

[77:18] The crash of your thunder rolled out, and flashes of lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and shook.

[77:19] You walked through the waves; you crossed the deep sea, but your footprints could not be seen.

[77:20] You led your people like a shepherd, with Moses and Aaron in charge.