The Holy Bible

[62:1] I wait patiently for God to save me; I depend on him alone.

[62:2] He alone protects and saves me; he is my defender, and I shall never be defeated.

[62:3] How much longer will all of you attack someone who is no stronger than a broken-down fence?

[62:4] You only want to bring him down from his place of honor; you take pleasure in lies. You speak words of blessing, but in your heart you curse him.

[62:5] I depend on God alone; I put my hope in him.

[62:6] He alone protects and saves me; he is my defender, and I shall never be defeated.

[62:7] My salvation and honor depend on God; he is my strong protector; he is my shelter.

[62:8] Trust in God at all times, my people. Tell him all your troubles, for he is our refuge.

[62:9] Human beings are all like a puff of breath; great and small alike are worthless. Put them on the scales, and they weigh nothing; they are lighter than a mere breath.

[62:10] Don't put your trust in violence; don't hope to gain anything by robbery; even if your riches increase, don't depend on them.

[62:11] More than once I have heard God say that power belongs to him

[62:12] and that his love is constant. You yourself, O Lord, reward everyone according to their deeds.

[63:1] O God, you are my God, and I long for you. My whole being desires you; like a dry, worn-out, and waterless land, my soul is thirsty for you.

[63:2] Let me see you in the sanctuary; let me see how mighty and glorious you are.

[63:3] Your constant love is better than life itself, and so I will praise you.

[63:4] I will give you thanks as long as I live; I will raise my hands to you in prayer.

[63:5] My soul will feast and be satisfied, and I will sing glad songs of praise to you.

[63:6] As I lie in bed, I remember you; all night long I think of you,

[63:7] because you have always been my help. In the shadow of your wings I sing for joy.

[63:8] I cling to you, and your hand keeps me safe.

[63:9] Those who are trying to kill me will go down into the world of the dead.

[63:10] They will be killed in battle, and their bodies eaten by wolves.

[63:11] Because God gives him victory, the king will rejoice. Those who make promises in God's name will praise him, but the mouths of liars will be shut.

[64:1] I am in trouble, God—listen to my prayer! I am afraid of my enemies—save my life!

[64:2] Protect me from the plots of the wicked, from mobs of evil people.

[64:3] They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim cruel words like arrows.

[64:4] They are quick to spread their shameless lies; they destroy good people with cowardly slander.

[64:5] They encourage each other in their evil plots; they talk about where they will place their traps. “No one can see them,” they say.

[64:6] They make evil plans and say, “We have planned a perfect crime.” The human heart and mind are a mystery.

[64:7] But God shoots his arrows at them, and suddenly they are wounded.

[64:8] He will destroy them because of those words; all who see them will shake their heads.

[64:9] They will all be afraid; they will think about what God has done and tell about his deeds.

[64:10] All righteous people will rejoice because of what the Lord has done. They will find safety in him; all good people will praise him.

[65:1] O God, it is right for us to praise you in Zion and keep our promises to you,

[65:2] because you answer prayers. People everywhere will come to you

[65:3] on account of their sins. Our faults defeat us, but you forgive them.

[65:4] Happy are those whom you choose, whom you bring to live in your sanctuary. We shall be satisfied with the good things of your house, the blessings of your sacred Temple.

[65:5] You answer us by giving us victory, and you do wonderful things to save us. People all over the world and across the distant seas trust in you.

[65:6] You set the mountains in place by your strength, showing your mighty power.

[65:7] You calm the roar of the seas and the noise of the waves; you calm the uproar of the peoples.

[65:8] The whole world stands in awe of the great things that you have done. Your deeds bring shouts of joy from one end of the earth to the other.

[65:9] You show your care for the land by sending rain; you make it rich and fertile. You fill the streams with water; you provide the earth with crops. This is how you do it:

[65:10] you send abundant rain on the plowed fields and soak them with water; you soften the soil with showers and cause the young plants to grow.

[65:11] What a rich harvest your goodness provides! Wherever you go there is plenty.

[65:12] The pastures are filled with flocks; the hillsides are full of joy.

[65:13] The fields are covered with sheep; the valleys are full of wheat. Everything shouts and sings for joy.

[66:1] Praise God with shouts of joy, all people!

[66:2] Sing to the glory of his name; offer him glorious praise!

[66:3] Say to God, “How wonderful are the things you do! Your power is so great that your enemies bow down in fear before you.

[66:4] Everyone on earth worships you; they sing praises to you, they sing praises to your name.”

[66:5] Come and see what God has done, his wonderful acts among people.

[66:6] He changed the sea into dry land; our ancestors crossed the river on foot. There we rejoiced because of what he did.

[66:7] He rules forever by his might and keeps his eyes on the nations. Let no rebels rise against him.

[66:8] Praise our God, all nations; let your praise be heard.

[66:9] He has kept us alive and has not allowed us to fall.

[66:10] You have put us to the test, God; as silver is purified by fire, so you have tested us.

[66:11] You let us fall into a trap and placed heavy burdens on our backs.

[66:12] You let our enemies trample us; we went through fire and flood, but now you have brought us to a place of safety.

[66:13] I will bring burnt offerings to your house; I will offer you what I promised.

[66:14] I will give you what I said I would when I was in trouble.

[66:15] I will offer sheep to be burned on the altar; I will sacrifice bulls and goats, and the smoke will go up to the sky.

[66:16] Come and listen, all who honor God, and I will tell you what he has done for me.

[66:17] I cried to him for help; I praised him with songs.

[66:18] If I had ignored my sins, the Lord would not have listened to me.

[66:19] But God has indeed heard me; he has listened to my prayer.

[66:20] I praise God, because he did not reject my prayer or keep back his constant love from me.

[67:1] God, be merciful to us and bless us; look on us with kindness,

[67:2] so that the whole world may know your will; so that all nations may know your salvation.

[67:3] May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you!

[67:4] May the nations be glad and sing for joy, because you judge the peoples with justice and guide every nation on earth.

[67:5] May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you!

[67:6] The land has produced its harvest; God, our God, has blessed us.

[67:7] God has blessed us; may all people everywhere honor him.

[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.