Psalms 66-75
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 66
1Shout joyfully to God, all the earth; 2Sing the glory of His name; Make His praise glorious. 3Say to God, 'How awesome are Your works! Because of the greatness of Your power Your enemies will pretend to obey You. 4All the earth will worship You, And will sing praises to You; They will sing praises to Your name.' Selah 5Come and see the works of God, Who is awesome in His deeds toward the sons of mankind. 6He turned the sea into dry land; They passed through the river on foot; Let’s rejoice there, in Him! 7He rules by His might forever; His eyes keep watch on the nations; The rebellious shall not exalt themselves! Selah 8Bless our God, you peoples, And sound His praise abroad, 9Who keeps us in life, And does not allow our feet to slip. 10For You have put us to the test, God; You have refined us as silver is refined. 11You brought us into the net; You laid an oppressive burden upon us. 12You made men ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water. Yet You brought us out into a place of abundance. 13I shall come into Your house with burnt offerings; I shall pay You my vows, 14Which my lips uttered And my mouth spoke when I was in distress. 15I shall offer to You burnt offerings of fat animals, With the smoke of rams; I shall make an offering of bulls with male goats. Selah 16Come and hear, all who fear God, And I will tell of what He has done for my soul. 17I cried to Him with my mouth, And He was exalted with my tongue. 18If I regard wickedness in my heart, The Lord will not hear; 19But God has heard; He has given attention to the sound of my prayer. 20Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer Nor His favor from me.Chapter 67
1God be gracious to us and bless us, And cause His face to shine upon us— Selah 2That Your way may be known on the earth, Your salvation among all nations. 3May the peoples praise You, God; May all the peoples praise You. 4May the nations be glad and sing for joy; For You will judge the peoples with fairness And guide the nations on the earth. Selah 5May the peoples praise You, God; May all the peoples praise You. 6The earth has yielded its produce; God, our God, blesses us. 7God blesses us, So that all the ends of the earth may fear Him.Chapter 68
1 May God arise, may His enemies be scattered, And may those who hate Him flee from His presence. 2As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; As wax melts before a fire, So the wicked will perish before God. 3But the righteous will be joyful; they will rejoice before God; Yes, they will rejoice with gladness. 4Sing to God, sing praises to His name; Exalt Him who rides through the deserts, Whose name is the Lord, and be jubilant before Him. 5A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows, Is God in His holy dwelling. 6God makes a home for the lonely; He leads out the prisoners into prosperity, Only the rebellious live in parched lands. 7God, when You went forth before Your people, When You marched through the desert, Selah 8The earth quaked; The heavens also dropped rain at the presence of God; Sinai itself quaked at the presence of God, the God of Israel. 9You made plentiful rain fall, God; You confirmed Your inheritance when it was parched. 10Your creatures settled in it; In Your kindness You provided for the poor, God. 11The Lord gives the command; The women who proclaim good news are a great army: 12'Kings of armies flee, they flee, And she who remains at home will divide the spoils!' 13 When you lie down among the sheepfolds, You are like the wings of a dove covered with silver, And its pinions with glistening gold. 14When the Almighty scattered the kings there, It was snowing in Zalmon. 15The mountain of Bashan is a mountain of God; The mountain of Bashan is a mountain of many peaks. 16Why do you look with envy, you mountains of many peaks, At the mountain God has desired as His dwelling? Indeed, the Lord will dwell there forever. 17The chariots of God are myriads, thousands upon thousands; The Lord is among them as at Sinai, in holiness. 18You have ascended on high, You have led captive Your captives; You have received gifts among people, Even among the rebellious as well, that the Lord God may dwell there. 19Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, The God who is our salvation. Selah 20God is to us a God of salvation; And to God the Lord belong ways of escape from death. 21God certainly will shatter the heads of His enemies, The hairy head of one who goes about in his guilt. 22The Lord said, 'I will bring them back from Bashan. I will bring them back from the depths of the sea, 23So that your foot may shatter them in blood, And the tongue of your dogs may have its portion from your enemies.' 24They have seen Your procession, God, The procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary. 25The singers went on, the musicians after them, In the midst of the young women beating tambourines. 26Bless God in the congregations, Even the Lord, you who are of the fountain of Israel. 27Benjamin, the youngest, is there, ruling them, The leaders of Judah in their company, The leaders of Zebulun, the leaders of Naphtali. 28 Your God has commanded your strength; Show Yourself strong, God, You who acted in our behalf. 29 Because of Your temple at Jerusalem Kings will bring gifts to You. 30Rebuke the animals in the reeds, The herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples, Trampling the pieces of silver; He has scattered the peoples who delight in war. 31 Messengers will come from Egypt; Cush will quickly stretch out her hands to God. 32Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth, Sing praises to the Lord, Selah 33To Him who rides upon the highest heavens, which are from ancient times; Behold, He speaks with His voice, a mighty voice. 34Ascribe strength to God; His majesty is over Israel, And His strength is in the skies. 35 God, You are awesome from Your sanctuary. The God of Israel Himself gives strength and power to the people. Blessed be God!Chapter 69
1 Save me, God, For the waters have threatened my life. 2I have sunk in deep mud, and there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and a flood overflows me. 3I am weary with my crying; my throat is parched; My eyes fail while I wait for my God. 4Those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head; Those who would destroy me are powerful, those who oppose me with lies; What I did not steal, I then have to restore. 5God, You know my foolishness, And my guilt is not hidden from You. 6May those who wait for You not be ashamed because of me, Lord God of armies; May those who seek You not be dishonored because of me, God of Israel, 7Because for Your sake I have endured disgrace; Dishonor has covered my face. 8I have become estranged from my brothers, And a stranger to my mother’s sons. 9For zeal for Your house has consumed me, And the taunts of those who taunt You have fallen on me. 10When I wept in my soul with fasting, It became my disgrace. 11When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a proverb to them. 12Those who sit in the gate talk about me, And songs of mockery by those habitually drunk are about me. 13But as for me, my prayer is to You, Lord, at an acceptable time; God, in the greatness of Your mercy, Answer me with Your saving truth. 14Rescue me from the mud and do not let me sink; May I be rescued from those who hate me, and from the depths of water. 15May the flood of water not overflow me Nor the deep swallow me up, Nor the pit close its mouth on me. 16Answer me, Lord, for Your mercy is good; According to the greatness of Your compassion, turn to me, 17And do not hide Your face from Your servant, For I am in distress; answer me quickly. 18Come near to my soul and redeem it; Ransom me because of my enemies! 19You know my disgrace, my shame, and my dishonor; All my enemies are known to You. 20Disgrace has broken my heart, and I am so sick. And I waited for sympathy, but there was none; And for comforters, but I found none. 21They also gave me a bitter herb in my food, And for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. 22May their table before them become a snare; And when they are at peace, may it become a trap. 23May their eyes grow dim so that they cannot see, And make their hips shake continually. 24Pour out Your indignation on them, And may Your burning anger overtake them. 25May their camp be desolated; May there be none living in their tents. 26For they have persecuted him whom You Yourself struck, And they tell of the pain of those whom You have wounded. 27Add guilt to their guilt, And may they not come into Your righteousness. 28May they be wiped out of the book of life, And may they not be recorded with the righteous. 29But I am afflicted and in pain; May Your salvation, God, set me safely on high. 30I will praise the name of God with song, And exalt Him with thanksgiving. 31And it will please the Lord better than an ox Or bull with horns and hoofs. 32The humble have seen it and are glad; You who seek God, let your heart revive. 33For the Lord hears the needy, And does not despise those of His who are prisoners. 34Heaven and earth shall praise Him, The seas and everything that moves in them. 35For God will save Zion and build the cities of Judah, So that they may live there and possess it. 36The descendants of His servants will inherit it, And those who love His name will live in it.Chapter 70
1God, hurry to save me; Lord, hurry to help me! 2May those who seek my life Be put to shame and humiliated; May those who delight in my harm Be turned back and dishonored. 3May those who say, 'Aha, aha!' be turned back Because of their shame. 4May all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; And may those who love Your salvation say continually, 'May God be exalted!' 5But I am afflicted and needy; Hurry to me, God! You are my help and my savior; Lord, do not delay.Chapter 71
1In You, Lord, I have taken refuge; Let me never be put to shame. 2In Your righteousness rescue me and save me; Extend Your ear to me and help me. 3Be to me a rock of dwelling to which I may continually come; You have given the commandment to save me, For You are my rock and my fortress. 4Save me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, From the grasp of the wrongdoer and the ruthless, 5For You are my hope; Lord God, You are my confidence from my youth. 6I have leaned on you since my birth; You are He who took me from my mother’s womb; My praise is continually of You. 7I have become a marvel to many, For You are my strong refuge. 8My mouth is filled with Your praise And with Your glory all day long. 9Do not cast me away at the time of my old age; Do not abandon me when my strength fails. 10For my enemies have spoken against me; And those who watch for my life have consulted together, 11Saying, 'God has abandoned him; Pursue and seize him, for there is no one to save him.' 12God, do not be far from me; My God, hurry to my aid! 13May those who are enemies of my soul be put to shame and consumed; May they be covered with disgrace and dishonor, who seek to injure me. 14But as for me, I will wait continually, And will praise You yet more and more. 15My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness And of Your salvation all day long; For I do not know the art of writing. 16I will come with the mighty deeds of the Lord God; I will make mention of Your righteousness, Yours alone. 17God, You have taught me from my youth, And I still declare Your wondrous deeds. 18And even when I am old and gray, God, do not abandon me, Until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to all who are to come. 19 For Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens, You who have done great things; God, who is like You? 20You who have shown me many troubles and distresses Will revive me again, And will bring me up again from the depths of the earth. 21May You increase my greatness And turn to comfort me. 22I will also praise You with a harp, And Your truth, my God; I will sing praises to You with the lyre, Holy One of Israel. 23My lips will shout for joy when I sing praises to You; And my soul, which You have redeemed. 24My tongue also will tell of Your righteousness all day long; For they are put to shame, for they are humiliated who seek my harm.Chapter 72
1Give the king Your judgments, God, And Your righteousness to the king’s son. 2 May he judge Your people with righteousness And Your afflicted with justice. 3 May the mountains bring peace to the people, And the hills, in righteousness. 4 May he vindicate the afflicted of the people, Save the children of the needy, And crush the oppressor. 5 May they fear You while the sun shines, And as long as the moon shines, throughout all generations. 6 May he come down like rain upon the mown grass, Like showers that water the earth. 7 May the righteous flourish in his days, As well as an abundance of peace, until the moon is no more. 8May he also rule from sea to sea, And from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth. 9 May the nomads of the desert bow before him, And his enemies lick the dust. 10 May the kings of Tarshish and of the islands bring gifts; May the kings of Sheba and Seba offer tributes. 11 And may all kings bow down before him, All nations serve him. 12For he will save the needy when he cries for help, The afflicted also, and him who has no helper. 13He will have compassion on the poor and needy, And he will save the lives of the needy. 14He will rescue their life from oppression and violence, And their blood will be precious in his sight; 15So may he live, and may the gold of Sheba be given to him; And they are to pray for him continually; They are to bless him all day long. 16May there be abundance of grain on the earth on top of the mountains; Its fruit will wave like the cedars of Lebanon; And may those from the city flourish like the vegetation of the earth. 17May his name endure forever; May his name produce descendants as long as the sun shines; And may people wish blessings on themselves by him; May all nations call him blessed. 18Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, Who alone works wonders. 19And blessed be His glorious name forever; And may the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen. 20The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.Chapter 73
1God certainly is good to Israel, To those who are pure in heart! 2But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling, My steps had almost slipped. 3For I was envious of the arrogant As I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4For there are no pains in their death, And their belly is fat. 5They are not in trouble like other people, Nor are they tormented together with the rest of mankind. 6Therefore arrogance is their necklace; The garment of violence covers them. 7Their eye bulges from fatness; The imaginations of their heart overflow. 8They mock and wickedly speak of oppression; They speak from on high. 9They have set their mouth against the heavens, And their tongue parades through the earth. 10Therefore his people return here, And abundant waters are drunk by them. 11They say, 'How does God know? And is there knowledge with the Most High?' 12Behold, these are the wicked; And always at ease, they have increased in wealth. 13Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure And washed my hands in innocence; 14For I have been stricken all day long, And punished every morning. 15If I had said, 'I will speak this way,' Behold, I would have betrayed the generation of Your children. 16When I thought of understanding this, It was troublesome in my sight 17Until I entered the sanctuary of God; Then I perceived their end. 18You indeed put them on slippery ground; You dropped them into ruin. 19How they are destroyed in a moment! They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors! 20Like a dream when one awakes, Lord, when stirred, You will despise their image. 21When my heart was embittered And I was pierced within, 22Then I was stupid and ignorant; I was like an animal before You. 23Nevertheless I am continually with You; You have taken hold of my right hand. 24You will guide me with Your plan, And afterward receive me to glory. 25Whom do I have in heaven but You? And with You, I desire nothing on earth. 26My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 27For, behold, those who are far from You will perish; You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to You. 28But as for me, the nearness of God is good for me; I have made the Lord God my refuge, So that I may tell of all Your works.Chapter 74
1 God, why have You rejected us forever? Why does Your anger smoke against the sheep of Your pasture? 2Remember Your congregation, which You purchased of old, Which You have redeemed to be the tribe of Your inheritance; And this Mount Zion, where You have dwelt. 3 Step toward the irreparable ruins; The enemy has damaged everything in the sanctuary. 4Your adversaries have roared in the midst of Your meeting place; They have set up their own signs as signs. 5It seems like one bringing up His axe into a forest of trees. 6And now they break down all its carved work With axe and hammers. 7They have burned Your sanctuary to the ground; They have defiled the dwelling place of Your name. 8They said in their heart, 'Let’s completely subdue them.' They have burned all the meeting places of God in the land. 9We do not see our signs; There is no longer any prophet, Nor is there anyone among us who knows how long. 10How long, God, will the enemy taunt You? Shall the enemy treat Your name disrespectfully forever? 11Why do You withdraw Your hand, even Your right hand? Extend it from Your chest and destroy them! 12Yet God is my King from long ago, Who performs acts of salvation in the midst of the earth. 13 You divided the sea by Your strength; You broke the heads of the sea monsters in the waters. 14 You crushed the heads of Leviathan; You gave him as food for the creatures of the wilderness. 15 You broke open springs and torrents; You dried up ever-flowing streams. 16Yours is the day, Yours also is the night; You have prepared the light and the sun. 17 You have established all the boundaries of the earth; You have created summer and winter. 18Remember this, Lord, that the enemy has taunted You, And a foolish people has treated Your name disrespectfully. 19Do not give the soul of Your turtledove to the wild animal; Do not forget the life of Your afflicted forever. 20Consider the covenant; For the dark places of the land are full of the places of violence. 21May the oppressed person not return dishonored; May the afflicted and the needy praise Your name. 22Arise, God, and plead Your own cause; Remember how the foolish person taunts You all day long. 23Do not forget the voice of Your adversaries, The uproar of those who rise against You, which ascends continually.Chapter 75
1 We give thanks to You, God, we give thanks, For Your name is near; People declare Your wondrous works. 2'When I select an appointed time, It is I who judge fairly. 3The earth and all who inhabit it are unsteady; It is I who have firmly set its pillars. Selah 4I said to the boastful, ‘Do not boast,’ And to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up the horn; 5Do not lift up your horn on high, Do not speak with insolent pride.’?' 6For not from the east, nor from the west, Nor from the desert comes exaltation; 7But God is the Judge; He puts down one and exalts another. 8For a cup is in the hand of the Lord, and the wine foams; It is well mixed, and He pours out of this; Certainly all the wicked of the earth must drain and drink its dregs. 9But as for me, I will declare it forever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob. 10And He will cut off all the horns of the wicked, But the horns of the righteous will be lifted up.King James Version
23That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies, and the tongue of thy dogs in the same.
19Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour: mine adversaries are all before thee.
Chapter 72
1A Psalm for Solomon. Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son.Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 66
1For the choir director. A song. A psalm. Let the whole earth shout joyfully to God! 2Sing about the glory of his name; make his praise glorious. 3Say to God, "How awe-inspiring are your works! Your enemies will cringe before you because of your great strength.
4The whole earth will worship you and sing praise to you. They will sing praise to your name." Selah
5Come and see the wonders of God; his acts for humanity are awe-inspiring.
6He turned the sea into dry land, and they crossed the river on foot. There we rejoiced in him.
7He rules forever by his might; he keeps his eye on the nations. The rebellious should not exalt themselves. Selah
8Bless our God, you peoples; let the sound of his praise be heard.
9He keeps us alive and does not allow our feet to slip.
10For you, God, tested us; you refined us as silver is refined.
11You lured us into a trap; you placed burdens on our backs.
12You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us out to abundance.
13I will enter your house with burnt offerings; I will pay you my vows
14that my lips promised and my mouth spoke during my distress.
15I will offer you fattened sheep as burnt offerings, with the fragrant smoke of rams; I will sacrifice bulls with goats. Selah
16Come and listen, all who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for me.
17I cried out to him with my mouth, and praise was on my tongue.
18If I had been aware of malice in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
19However, God has listened; he has paid attention to the sound of my prayer.
20Blessed be God! He has not turned away my prayer or turned his faithful love from me.
2so that your way may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.
3Let the peoples praise you, God; let all the peoples praise you.
5Let the peoples praise you, God, let all the peoples praise you.
6The earth has produced its harvest; God, our God, blesses us.
7God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will fear him.
Chapter 68
1For the choir director. A psalm of David. A song. God arises. His enemies scatter, and those who hate him flee from his presence. 2As smoke is blown away, so you blow them away. As wax melts before the fire, so the wicked are destroyed before God.
3But the righteous are glad; they rejoice before God and celebrate with joy.
4Sing to God! Sing praises to his name. Exalt him who rides on the clouds — his name is the Lord —and celebrate before him.
5God in his holy dwelling is a father of the fatherless and a champion of widows.
7God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the desert, Selah
8the earth trembled and the skies poured rain before God, the God of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel.
9You, God, showered abundant rain; you revived your inheritance when it languished.
10Your people settled in it; God, you provided for the poor by your goodness.
11The Lord gave the command; a great company of women brought the good news:
12"The kings of the armies flee—they flee!" She who stays at home divides the spoil.
13While you lie among the sheep pens, the wings of a dove are covered with silver, and its feathers with glistening gold.
14When the Almighty scattered kings in the land, it snowed on Zalmon.
15Mount Bashan is God’s towering mountain; Mount Bashan is a mountain of many peaks.
16Why gaze with envy, you mountain peaks, at the mountain God desired for his abode? The Lord will dwell there forever!
17God’s chariots are tens of thousands, thousands and thousands; the Lord is among them in the sanctuary as he was at Sinai.
19Blessed be the Lord! Day after day he bears our burdens; God is our salvation. Selah
20Our God is a God of salvation, and escape from death belongs to the Lord my Lord.
21Surely God crushes the heads of his enemies, the hairy brow of one who goes on in his guilty acts.
22The Lord said, "I will bring them back from Bashan; I will bring them back from the depths of the sea
23so that your foot may wade in blood and your dogs’ tongues may have their share from the enemies."
24People have seen your procession, God, the procession of my God, my King, in the sanctuary.
25Singers lead the way, with musicians following; among them are young women playing tambourines.
26Bless God in the assemblies; bless the Lord from the fountain of Israel.
27There is Benjamin, the youngest, leading them, the rulers of Judah in their assembly, the rulers of Zebulun, the rulers of Naphtali.
28Your God has decreed your strength. Show your strength, God, you who have acted on our behalf.
29Because of your temple at Jerusalem, kings will bring tribute to you.
30Rebuke the beast in the reeds, the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples. Trample underfoot those with bars of silver. Scatter the peoples who take pleasure in war.
32Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth; sing praise to the Lord, Selah
33to him who rides in the ancient, highest heavens. Look, he thunders with his powerful voice!
34Ascribe power to God. His majesty is over Israel, his power is among the clouds.
35God, you are awe-inspiring in your sanctuaries. The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God!
Chapter 69
1For the choir director: according to "The Lilies." Of David. Save me, God, for the water has risen to my neck. 2I have sunk in deep mud, and there is no footing; I have come into deep water, and a flood sweeps over me. 3I am weary from my crying; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God.
4Those who hate me without cause are more numerous than the hairs of my head; my deceitful enemies, who would destroy me, are powerful. Though I did not steal, I must repay.
5God, you know my foolishness, and my guilty acts are not hidden from you.
6Do not let those who put their hope in you be disgraced because of me, Lord God of Armies; do not let those who seek you be humiliated because of me, God of Israel.
7For I have endured insults because of you, and shame has covered my face.
8I have become a stranger to my brothers and a foreigner to my mother’s sons
9because zeal for your house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.
10I mourned and fasted, but it brought me insults.
11I wore sackcloth as my clothing, and I was a joke to them.
12Those who sit at the city gate talk about me, and drunkards make up songs about me.
13But as for me, Lord, my prayer to you is for a time of favor. In your abundant, faithful love, God, answer me with your sure salvation.
14Rescue me from the miry mud; don’t let me sink. Let me be rescued from those who hate me and from the deep water.
15Don’t let the floodwaters sweep over me or the deep swallow me up; don’t let the Pit close its mouth over me.
16Answer me, Lord, for your faithful love is good. In keeping with your abundant compassion, turn to me.
17Don’t hide your face from your servant, for I am in distress. Answer me quickly!
18Come near to me and redeem me; ransom me because of my enemies.
19You know the insults I endure— my shame and disgrace. You are aware of all my adversaries.
20Insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair. I waited for sympathy, but there was none; for comforters, but found no one.
21Instead, they gave me gall for my food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
22Let their table set before them be a snare, and let it be a trap for their allies.
23Let their eyes grow too dim to see, and let their hips continually quake.
24Pour out your rage on them, and let your burning anger overtake them.
25Make their fortification desolate; may no one live in their tents.
26For they persecute the one you struck and talk about the pain of those you wounded.
27Charge them with crime on top of crime; do not let them share in your righteousness.
28Let them be erased from the book of life and not be recorded with the righteous.
29But as for me—poor and in pain— let your salvation protect me, God.
30I will praise God’s name with song and exalt him with thanksgiving.
31That will please the Lord more than an ox, more than a bull with horns and hooves.
32The humble will see it and rejoice. You who seek God, take heart!
33For the Lord listens to the needy and does not despise his own who are prisoners.
34Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and everything that moves in them,
35for God will save Zion and build up the cities of Judah. They will live there and possess it.
36The descendants of his servants will inherit it, and those who love his name will live in it.
Chapter 70
1For the choir director. Of David. To bring remembrance. God, hurry to rescue me. Lord, hurry to help me! 2Let those who seek to kill me be disgraced and confounded; let those who wish me harm be turned back and humiliated.
3Let those who say, "Aha, aha!" retreat because of their shame.
4Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; let those who love your salvation continually say, "God is great!"
5I am oppressed and needy; hurry to me, God. You are my help and my deliverer; Lord, do not delay.
Chapter 71
1 Lord, I seek refuge in you; let me never be disgraced. 2In your justice, rescue and deliver me; listen closely to me and save me. 3Be a rock of refuge for me, where I can always go. Give the command to save me, for you are my rock and fortress. 4Deliver me, my God, from the power of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and oppressive. 5For you are my hope, Lord God, my confidence from my youth. 6I have leaned on you from birth; you took me from my mother’s womb. My praise is always about you. 7I am like a miraculous sign to many, and you are my strong refuge.
8My mouth is full of praise and honor to you all day long.
9Don’t discard me in my old age. As my strength fails, do not abandon me.
10For my enemies talk about me, and those who spy on me plot together,
11saying, "God has abandoned him; chase him and catch him, for there is no one to rescue him."
12God, do not be far from me; my God, hurry to help me.
13May my adversaries be disgraced and destroyed; may those who intend to harm me be covered with disgrace and humiliation.
14But I will hope continually and will praise you more and more.
15My mouth will tell about your righteousness and your salvation all day long, though I cannot sum them up.
16I come because of the mighty acts of the Lord God; I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone.
17God, you have taught me from my youth, and I still proclaim your wondrous works.
18Even while I am old and gray, God, do not abandon me, while I proclaim your power to another generation, your strength to all who are to come.
19Your righteousness reaches the heights, God, you who have done great things; God, who is like you?
20You caused me to experience many troubles and misfortunes, but you will revive me again. You will bring me up again, even from the depths of the earth.
21You will increase my honor and comfort me once again.
22Therefore, I will praise you with a harp for your faithfulness, my God; I will sing to you with a lyre, Holy One of Israel.
23My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you because you have redeemed me.
24Therefore, my tongue will proclaim your righteousness all day long, for those who intend to harm me will be disgraced and confounded.
Chapter 72
1Of Solomon. God, give your justice to the king and your righteousness to the king’s son. 2He will judge your people with righteousness and your afflicted ones with justice. 3May the mountains bring well-being to the people and the hills, righteousness.
4May he vindicate the afflicted among the people, help the poor, and crush the oppressor.
5May they fear you while the sun endures and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.
6May the king be like rain that falls on the cut grass, like spring showers that water the earth.
7May the righteous flourish in his days and well-being abound until the moon is no more.
8May he rule from sea to sea and from the Euphrates to the ends of the earth.
9May desert tribes kneel before him and his enemies lick the dust.
10May the kings of Tarshish and the coasts and islands bring tribute, the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.
11Let all kings bow in homage to him, all nations serve him.
12For he will rescue the poor who cry out and the afflicted who have no helper.
13He will have pity on the poor and helpless and save the lives of the poor.
14He will redeem them from oppression and violence, for their lives are precious in his sight.
15May he live long! May gold from Sheba be given to him. May prayer be offered for him continually, and may he be blessed all day long.
16May there be plenty of grain in the land; may it wave on the tops of the mountains. May its crops be like Lebanon. May people flourish in the cities like the grass of the field.
17May his name endure forever; as long as the sun shines, may his fame increase. May all nations be blessed by him and call him blessed.
18Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does wonders.
19Blessed be his glorious name forever; the whole earth is filled with his glory. Amen and amen.
20The prayers of David son of Jesse are concluded.
Chapter 73
1A psalm of Asaph. God is indeed good to Israel, to the pure in heart. 2But as for me, my feet almost slipped; my steps nearly went astray.
3For I envied the arrogant; I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4They have an easy time until they die, and their bodies are well fed.
5They are not in trouble like others; they are not afflicted like most people.
6Therefore, pride is their necklace, and violence covers them like a garment.
7Their eyes bulge out from fatness; the imaginations of their hearts run wild.
8They mock, and they speak maliciously; they arrogantly threaten oppression.
9They set their mouths against heaven, and their tongues strut across the earth.
10Therefore his people turn to them and drink in their overflowing words.
11The wicked say, "How can God know? Does the Most High know everything?"
12Look at them—the wicked! They are always at ease, and they increase their wealth.
13Did I purify my heart and wash my hands in innocence for nothing?
14For I am afflicted all day long and punished every morning.
15If I had decided to say these things aloud, I would have betrayed your people.
16When I tried to understand all this, it seemed hopeless
17until I entered God’s sanctuary. Then I understood their destiny.
18Indeed, you put them in slippery places; you make them fall into ruin.
19How suddenly they become a desolation! They come to an end, swept away by terrors.
20Like one waking from a dream, Lord, when arising, you will despise their image.
21When I became embittered and my innermost being was wounded,
22I was stupid and didn’t understand; I was an unthinking animal toward you.
23Yet I am always with you; you hold my right hand.
24You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me up in glory.
25Who do I have in heaven but you? And I desire nothing on earth but you.
26My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, my portion forever.
27Those far from you will certainly perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
28But as for me, God’s presence is my good. I have made the Lord God my refuge, so I can tell about all you do.
Chapter 74
1A Maskil of Asaph. Why have you rejected us forever, God? Why does your anger burn against the sheep of your pasture? 2Remember your congregation, which you purchased long ago and redeemed as the tribe for your own possession. Remember Mount Zion where you dwell. 3Make your way to the perpetual ruins, to all that the enemy has destroyed in the sanctuary. 4Your adversaries roared in the meeting place where you met with us. They set up their emblems as signs. 5It was like men in a thicket of trees, wielding axes, 6then smashing all the carvings with hatchets and picks. 7They set your sanctuary on fire; they utterly desecrated the dwelling place of your name. 8They said in their hearts, "Let us oppress them relentlessly." They burned every place throughout the land where God met with us. 9There are no signs for us to see. There is no longer a prophet. And none of us knows how long this will last. 10God, how long will the enemy mock? Will the foe insult your name forever?
11Why do you hold back your hand? Stretch out your right hand and destroy them!
12God my King is from ancient times, performing saving acts on the earth.
13You divided the sea with your strength; you smashed the heads of the sea monsters in the water;
14you crushed the heads of Leviathan; you fed him to the creatures of the desert.
15You opened up springs and streams; you dried up ever-flowing rivers.
16The day is yours, also the night; you established the moon and the sun.
17You set all the boundaries of the earth; you made summer and winter.
18Remember this: the enemy has mocked the Lord, and a foolish people has insulted your name.
19Do not give to beasts the life of your dove; do not forget the lives of your poor people forever.
20Consider the covenant, for the dark places of the land are full of violence.
21Do not let the oppressed turn away in shame; let the poor and needy praise your name.
22Rise up, God, champion your cause! Remember the insults that fools bring against you all day long.
23Do not forget the clamor of your adversaries, the tumult of your opponents that goes up constantly.
Chapter 75
1For the choir director: "Do Not Destroy." A psalm of Asaph. A song. We give thanks to you, God; we give thanks to you, for your name is near. People tell about your wondrous works. 2"When I choose a time, I will judge fairly.
3When the earth and all its inhabitants shake, I am the one who steadies its pillars. Selah
4I say to the boastful, ‘Do not boast,’ and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horn.
New Living Translation
Chapter 66
1Shout joyful praises to God, all the earth! 2Sing about the glory of his name! Tell the world how glorious he is. 3Say to God, 'How awesome are your deeds! Your enemies cringe before your mighty power.
5Come and see what our God has done, what awesome miracles he performs for people!
6He made a dry path through the Red Sea, and his people went across on foot. There we rejoiced in him.
8Let the whole world bless our God and loudly sing his praises.
9Our lives are in his hands, and he keeps our feet from stumbling.
10You have tested us, O God; you have purified us like silver.
11You captured us in your net and laid the burden of slavery on our backs.
12Then you put a leader over us. We went through fire and flood, but you brought us to a place of great abundance.
13Now I come to your Temple with burnt offerings to fulfill the vows I made to you —
14yes, the sacred vows that I made when I was in deep trouble.
16Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he did for me.
17For I cried out to him for help, praising him as I spoke.
18If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
19But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer.
20Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer or withdraw his unfailing love from me.
2May your ways be known throughout the earth, your saving power among people everywhere.
3May the nations praise you, O God. Yes, may all the nations praise you.
5May the nations praise you, O God. Yes, may all the nations praise you.
6Then the earth will yield its harvests, and God, our God, will richly bless us.
7Yes, God will bless us, and people all over the world will fear him.
Chapter 68
1Rise up, O God, and scatter your enemies. Let those who hate God run for their lives. 2Blow them away like smoke. Melt them like wax in a fire. Let the wicked perish in the presence of God. 3But let the godly rejoice. Let them be glad in God’s presence. Let them be filled with joy. 4Sing praises to God and to his name! Sing loud praises to him who rides the clouds. His name is the Lord — rejoice in his presence!
5Father to the fatherless, defender of widows — this is God, whose dwelling is holy.
6God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy. But he makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.
7O God, when you led your people out from Egypt, when you marched through the dry wasteland, Interlude
8the earth trembled, and the heavens poured down rain before you, the God of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel.
9You sent abundant rain, O God, to refresh the weary land.
10There your people finally settled, and with a bountiful harvest, O God, you provided for your needy people.
11The Lord gives the word, and a great army brings the good news.
12Enemy kings and their armies flee, while the women of Israel divide the plunder.
13Even those who lived among the sheepfolds found treasures — doves with wings of silver and feathers of gold.
14The Almighty scattered the enemy kings like a blowing snowstorm on Mount Zalmon.
15The mountains of Bashan are majestic, with many peaks stretching high into the sky.
16Why do you look with envy, O rugged mountains, at Mount Zion, where God has chosen to live, where the Lord himself will live forever?
17Surrounded by unnumbered thousands of chariots, the Lord came from Mount Sinai into his sanctuary.
18When you ascended to the heights, you led a crowd of captives. You received gifts from the people, even from those who rebelled against you. Now the Lord God will live among us there.
19Praise the Lord; praise God our savior! For each day he carries us in his arms. Interlude
20Our God is a God who saves! The Sovereign Lord rescues us from death.
21But God will smash the heads of his enemies, crushing the skulls of those who love their guilty ways.
22The Lord says, 'I will bring my enemies down from Bashan; I will bring them up from the depths of the sea.
23You, my people, will wash your feet in their blood, and even your dogs will get their share!'
24Your procession has come into view, O God — the procession of my God and King as he goes into the sanctuary.
25Singers are in front, musicians behind; between them are young women playing tambourines.
26Praise God, all you people of Israel; praise the Lord, the source of Israel’s life.
27Look, the little tribe of Benjamin leads the way. Then comes a great throng of rulers from Judah and all the rulers of Zebulun and Naphtali.
28Summon your might, O God. Display your power, O God, as you have in the past.
29The kings of the earth are bringing tribute to your Temple in Jerusalem.
30Rebuke these enemy nations — these wild animals lurking in the reeds, this herd of bulls among the weaker calves. Make them bring bars of silver in humble tribute. Scatter the nations that delight in war.
31Let Egypt come with gifts of precious metals ; let Ethiopia bring tribute to God.
32Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth. Sing praises to the Lord. Interlude
33Sing to the one who rides across the ancient heavens, his mighty voice thundering from the sky.
34Tell everyone about God’s power. His majesty shines down on Israel; his strength is mighty in the heavens.
Chapter 69
1Save me, O God, for the floodwaters are up to my neck. 2Deeper and deeper I sink into the mire; I can’t find a foothold. I am in deep water, and the floods overwhelm me. 3I am exhausted from crying for help; my throat is parched. My eyes are swollen with weeping, waiting for my God to help me. 4Those who hate me without cause outnumber the hairs on my head. Many enemies try to destroy me with lies, demanding that I give back what I didn’t steal.
5O God, you know how foolish I am; my sins cannot be hidden from you.
6Don’t let those who trust in you be ashamed because of me, O Sovereign Lord of Heaven’s Armies. Don’t let me cause them to be humiliated, O God of Israel.
7For I endure insults for your sake; humiliation is written all over my face.
8Even my own brothers pretend they don’t know me; they treat me like a stranger.
9Passion for your house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.
10When I weep and fast, they scoff at me.
11When I dress in burlap to show sorrow, they make fun of me.
12I am the favorite topic of town gossip, and all the drunks sing about me.
13But I keep praying to you, Lord, hoping this time you will show me favor. In your unfailing love, O God, answer my prayer with your sure salvation.
14Rescue me from the mud; don’t let me sink any deeper! Save me from those who hate me, and pull me from these deep waters.
15Don’t let the floods overwhelm me, or the deep waters swallow me, or the pit of death devour me.
16Answer my prayers, O Lord, for your unfailing love is wonderful. Take care of me, for your mercy is so plentiful.
17Don’t hide from your servant; answer me quickly, for I am in deep trouble!
18Come and redeem me; free me from my enemies.
19You know of my shame, scorn, and disgrace. You see all that my enemies are doing.
20Their insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair. If only one person would show some pity; if only one would turn and comfort me.
21But instead, they give me poison for food; they offer me sour wine for my thirst.
22Let the bountiful table set before them become a snare and their prosperity become a trap.
23Let their eyes go blind so they cannot see, and make their bodies shake continually.
24Pour out your fury on them; consume them with your burning anger.
25Let their homes become desolate and their tents be deserted.
26To the one you have punished, they add insult to injury; they add to the pain of those you have hurt.
27Pile their sins up high, and don’t let them go free.
28Erase their names from the Book of Life; don’t let them be counted among the righteous.
30Then I will praise God’s name with singing, and I will honor him with thanksgiving.
31For this will please the Lord more than sacrificing cattle, more than presenting a bull with its horns and hooves.
32The humble will see their God at work and be glad. Let all who seek God’s help be encouraged.
33For the Lord hears the cries of the needy; he does not despise his imprisoned people.
34Praise him, O heaven and earth, the seas and all that move in them.
35For God will save Jerusalem and rebuild the towns of Judah. His people will live there and settle in their own land.
36The descendants of those who obey him will inherit the land, and those who love him will live there in safety.
Chapter 70
1Please, God, rescue me! Come quickly, Lord, and help me. 2May those who try to kill me be humiliated and put to shame. May those who take delight in my trouble be turned back in disgrace. 3Let them be horrified by their shame, for they said, 'Aha! We’ve got him now!' 4But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, 'God is great!' 5But as for me, I am poor and needy; please hurry to my aid, O God. You are my helper and my savior; O Lord, do not delay.Chapter 71
1O Lord, I have come to you for protection; don’t let me be disgraced. 2Save me and rescue me, for you do what is right. Turn your ear to listen to me, and set me free. 3Be my rock of safety where I can always hide. Give the order to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. 4My God, rescue me from the power of the wicked, from the clutches of cruel oppressors. 5O Lord, you alone are my hope. I’ve trusted you, O Lord, from childhood. 6Yes, you have been with me from birth; from my mother’s womb you have cared for me. No wonder I am always praising you!
7My life is an example to many, because you have been my strength and protection.
8That is why I can never stop praising you; I declare your glory all day long.
9And now, in my old age, don’t set me aside. Don’t abandon me when my strength is failing.
10For my enemies are whispering against me. They are plotting together to kill me.
11They say, 'God has abandoned him. Let’s go and get him, for no one will help him now.'
12O God, don’t stay away. My God, please hurry to help me.
13Bring disgrace and destruction on my accusers. Humiliate and shame those who want to harm me.
14But I will keep on hoping for your help; I will praise you more and more.
15I will tell everyone about your righteousness. All day long I will proclaim your saving power, though I am not skilled with words.
16I will praise your mighty deeds, O Sovereign Lord. I will tell everyone that you alone are just.
17O God, you have taught me from my earliest childhood, and I constantly tell others about the wonderful things you do.
18Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God. Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, your mighty miracles to all who come after me.
19Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the highest heavens. You have done such wonderful things. Who can compare with you, O God?
20You have allowed me to suffer much hardship, but you will restore me to life again and lift me up from the depths of the earth.
21You will restore me to even greater honor and comfort me once again.
22Then I will praise you with music on the harp, because you are faithful to your promises, O my God. I will sing praises to you with a lyre, O Holy One of Israel.
23I will shout for joy and sing your praises, for you have ransomed me.
24I will tell about your righteous deeds all day long, for everyone who tried to hurt me has been shamed and humiliated.
Chapter 72
1Give your love of justice to the king, O God, and righteousness to the king’s son. 2Help him judge your people in the right way; let the poor always be treated fairly. 3May the mountains yield prosperity for all, and may the hills be fruitful. 4Help him to defend the poor, to rescue the children of the needy, and to crush their oppressors. 5May they fear you as long as the sun shines, as long as the moon remains in the sky. Yes, forever!
6May the king’s rule be refreshing like spring rain on freshly cut grass, like the showers that water the earth.
7May all the godly flourish during his reign. May there be abundant prosperity until the moon is no more.
8May he reign from sea to sea, and from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth.
9Desert nomads will bow before him; his enemies will fall before him in the dust.
10The western kings of Tarshish and other distant lands will bring him tribute. The eastern kings of Sheba and Seba will bring him gifts.
11All kings will bow before him, and all nations will serve him.
12He will rescue the poor when they cry to him; he will help the oppressed, who have no one to defend them.
13He feels pity for the weak and the needy, and he will rescue them.
14He will redeem them from oppression and violence, for their lives are precious to him.
15Long live the king! May the gold of Sheba be given to him. May the people always pray for him and bless him all day long.
16May there be abundant grain throughout the land, flourishing even on the hilltops. May the fruit trees flourish like the trees of Lebanon, and may the people thrive like grass in a field.
17May the king’s name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun shines. May all nations be blessed through him and bring him praise.
18Praise the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does such wonderful things.
19Praise his glorious name forever! Let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and amen!
Chapter 73
1Truly God is good to Israel, to those whose hearts are pure. 2But as for me, I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone. 3For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness. 4They seem to live such painless lives; their bodies are so healthy and strong. 5They don’t have troubles like other people; they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else. 6They wear pride like a jeweled necklace and clothe themselves with cruelty. 7These fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for! 8They scoff and speak only evil; in their pride they seek to crush others. 9They boast against the very heavens, and their words strut throughout the earth. 10And so the people are dismayed and confused, drinking in all their words. 11'What does God know?' they ask. 'Does the Most High even know what’s happening?' 12Look at these wicked people — enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply.
13Did I keep my heart pure for nothing? Did I keep myself innocent for no reason?
14I get nothing but trouble all day long; every morning brings me pain.
15If I had really spoken this way to others, I would have been a traitor to your people.
16So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is!
17Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked.
18Truly, you put them on a slippery path and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction.
19In an instant they are destroyed, completely swept away by terrors.
20When you arise, O Lord, you will laugh at their silly ideas as a person laughs at dreams in the morning.
21Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside.
22I was so foolish and ignorant — I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you.
23Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand.
24You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny.
25Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth.
26My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.
27Those who desert him will perish, for you destroy those who abandon you.
28But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.
Chapter 74
1 O God, why have you rejected us so long? Why is your anger so intense against the sheep of your own pasture? 2Remember that we are the people you chose long ago, the tribe you redeemed as your own special possession! And remember Jerusalem, your home here on earth. 3Walk through the awful ruins of the city; see how the enemy has destroyed your sanctuary.
4There your enemies shouted their victorious battle cries; there they set up their battle standards.
5They swung their axes like woodcutters in a forest.
6With axes and picks, they smashed the carved paneling.
7They burned your sanctuary to the ground. They defiled the place that bears your name.
8Then they thought, 'Let’s destroy everything!' So they burned down all the places where God was worshiped.
9We no longer see your miraculous signs. All the prophets are gone, and no one can tell us when it will end.
10How long, O God, will you allow our enemies to insult you? Will you let them dishonor your name forever?
11Why do you hold back your strong right hand? Unleash your powerful fist and destroy them.
12You, O God, are my king from ages past, bringing salvation to the earth.
13You split the sea by your strength and smashed the heads of the sea monsters.
14You crushed the heads of Leviathan and let the desert animals eat him.
15You caused the springs and streams to gush forth, and you dried up rivers that never run dry.
16Both day and night belong to you; you made the starlight and the sun.
17You set the boundaries of the earth, and you made both summer and winter.
18See how these enemies insult you, Lord. A foolish nation has dishonored your name.
19Don’t let these wild beasts destroy your turtledoves. Don’t forget your suffering people forever.
20Remember your covenant promises, for the land is full of darkness and violence!
21Don’t let the downtrodden be humiliated again. Instead, let the poor and needy praise your name.
22Arise, O God, and defend your cause. Remember how these fools insult you all day long.
23Don’t overlook what your enemies have said or their growing uproar.
4'I warned the proud, ‘Stop your boasting!’ I told the wicked, ‘Don’t raise your fists!
5Don’t raise your fists in defiance at the heavens or speak with such arrogance.’'
6For no one on earth — from east or west, or even from the wilderness — should raise a defiant fist.
7It is God alone who judges; he decides who will rise and who will fall.
8For the Lord holds a cup in his hand that is full of foaming wine mixed with spices. He pours out the wine in judgment, and all the wicked must drink it, draining it to the dregs.
English Standard Version
Chapter 66
1 Shout for joy to God, all the earth; 2sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise! 3Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you. 4 All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name." Selah 5 Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man. 6He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the river on foot. There did we rejoice in him, 7who rules by his might forever, whose eyes keep watch on the nations — let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah 8Bless our God, O peoples; let the sound of his praise be heard, 9who has kept our soul among the living and has not let our feet slip. 10For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried. 11You brought us into the net; you laid a crushing burden on our backs; 12you let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance. 13I will come into your house with burnt offerings; I will perform my vows to you, 14that which my lips uttered and my mouth promised when I was in trouble. 15I will offer to you burnt offerings of fattened animals, with the smoke of the sacrifice of rams; I will make an offering of bulls and goats. Selah 16 Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul. 17I cried to him with my mouth, and high praise was on my tongue. 18If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. 19But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer. 20Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me!Chapter 67
1 May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, Selah 2that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations. 3 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! 4Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Selah 5 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! 6The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, shall bless us. 7God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him!Chapter 68
1 God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered; and those who hate him shall flee before him! 2As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away; as wax melts before fire, so the wicked shall perish before God! 3But the righteous shall be glad; they shall exult before God; they shall be jubilant with joy! 4Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts; his name is the Lord; exult before him! 5 Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation. 6God settles the solitary in a home; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a parched land. 7O God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, Selah 8 the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain, before God, the One of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel. 9 Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad; you restored your inheritance as it languished; 10your flock found a dwelling in it; in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy. 11The Lord gives the word; the women who announce the news are a great host: 12 "The kings of the armies — they flee, they flee!" The women at home divide the spoil — 13though you men lie among the sheepfolds — the wings of a dove covered with silver, its pinions with shimmering gold. 14When the Almighty scatters kings there, let snow fall on Zalmon. 15O mountain of God, mountain of Bashan; O many-peaked mountain, mountain of Bashan! 16Why do you look with hatred, O many-peaked mountain, at the mount that God desired for his abode, yes, where the Lord will dwell forever? 17 The chariots of God are twice ten thousand, thousands upon thousands; the Lord is among them; Sinai is now in the sanctuary. 18 You ascended on high, leading a host of captives in your train and receiving gifts among men, even among the rebellious, that the Lord God may dwell there. 19Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Selah 20Our God is a God of salvation, and to God, the Lord, belong deliverances from death. 21 But God will strike the heads of his enemies, the hairy crown of him who walks in his guilty ways. 22The Lord said, "I will bring them back from Bashan, I will bring them back from the depths of the sea, 23that you may strike your feet in their blood, that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from the foe." 24Your procession is seen, O God, the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary — 25 the singers in front, the musicians last, between them virgins playing tambourines: 26 "Bless God in the great congregation, the Lord, O you who are of Israel 's fountain!" 27There is Benjamin, the least of them, in the lead, the princes of Judah in their throng, the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali. 28 Summon your power, O God, the power, O God, by which you have worked for us. 29Because of your temple at Jerusalem kings shall bear gifts to you. 30Rebuke the beasts that dwell among the reeds, the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples. Trample underfoot those who lust after tribute; scatter the peoples who delight in war. 31Nobles shall come from Egypt; Cush shall hasten to stretch out her hands to God. 32 O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God; sing praises to the Lord, Selah 33to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens; behold, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice. 34 Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel, and whose power is in the skies. 35 Awesome is God from his sanctuary; the God of Israel — he is the one who gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God!Chapter 69
1 Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. 2I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me. 3 I am weary with my crying out; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God. 4 More in number than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause; mighty are those who would destroy me, those who attack me with lies. What I did not steal must I now restore? 5O God, you know my folly; the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you. 6Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me, O Lord God of hosts; let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me, O God of Israel. 7For it is for your sake that I have borne reproach, that dishonor has covered my face. 8I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my mother 's sons. 9For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me. 10When I wept and humbled my soul with fasting, it became my reproach. 11When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them. 12I am the talk of those who sit in the gate, and the drunkards make songs about me. 13But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness. 14Deliver me from sinking in the mire; let me be delivered from my enemies and from the deep waters. 15Let not the flood sweep over me, or the deep swallow me up, or the pit close its mouth over me. 16Answer me, O Lord, for your steadfast love is good; according to your abundant mercy, turn to me. 17 Hide not your face from your servant, for I am in distress; make haste to answer me. 18Draw near to my soul, redeem me; ransom me because of my enemies! 19You know my reproach, and my shame and my dishonor; my foes are all known to you. 20 Reproaches have broken my heart, so that I am in despair. I looked for pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none. 21They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink. 22 Let their own table before them become a snare; and when they are at peace, let it become a trap. 23 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they cannot see, and make their loins tremble continually. 24Pour out your indignation upon them, and let your burning anger overtake them. 25 May their camp be a desolation; let no one dwell in their tents. 26For they persecute him whom you have struck down, and they recount the pain of those you have wounded. 27 Add to them punishment upon punishment; may they have no acquittal from you. 28Let them be blotted out of the book of the living; let them not be enrolled among the righteous. 29But I am afflicted and in pain; let your salvation, O God, set me on high! 30I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving. 31This will please the Lord more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs. 32When the humble see it they will be glad; you who seek God, let your hearts revive. 33For the Lord hears the needy and does not despise his own people who are prisoners. 34Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and everything that moves in them. 35For God will save Zion and build up the cities of Judah, and people shall dwell there and possess it; 36 the offspring of his servants shall inherit it, and those who love his name shall dwell in it.Chapter 70
1 Make haste, O God, to deliver me! O Lord, make haste to help me! 2Let them be put to shame and confusion who seek my life! Let them be turned back and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt! 3Let them turn back because of their shame who say, "Aha, Aha!" 4May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you! May those who love your salvation say evermore, "God is great!" 5But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay!Chapter 71
1 In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame! 2In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; incline your ear to me, and save me! 3Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I may continually come; you have given the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. 4 Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man. 5For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth. 6Upon you I have leaned from before my birth; you are he who took me from my mother 's womb. My praise is continually of you. 7I have been as a portent to many, but you are my strong refuge. 8My mouth is filled with your praise, and with your glory all the day. 9 Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent. 10For my enemies speak concerning me; those who watch for my life consult together 11and say, "God has forsaken him; pursue and seize him, for there is none to deliver him." 12O God, be not far from me; O my God, make haste to help me! 13May my accusers be put to shame and consumed; with scorn and disgrace may they be covered who seek my hurt. 14But I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more. 15My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge. 16With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come; I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone. 17O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. 18So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come. 19Your righteousness, O God, reaches the high heavens. You who have done great things, O God, who is like you? 20You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again; from the depths of the earth you will bring me up again. 21You will increase my greatness and comfort me again. 22I will also praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praises to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel. 23My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed. 24And my tongue will talk of your righteous help all the day long, for they have been put to shame and disappointed who sought to do me hurt.Chapter 72
1 Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the royal son! 2May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice! 3Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness! 4May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor! 5May they fear you while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations! 6May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth! 7In his days may the righteous flourish, and peace abound, till the moon be no more! 8May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth! 9May desert tribes bow down before him, and his enemies lick the dust! 10May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands render him tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts! 11May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him! 12For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper. 13He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy. 14From oppression and violence he redeems their life, and precious is their blood in his sight. 15Long may he live; may gold of Sheba be given to him! May prayer be made for him continually, and blessings invoked for him all the day! 16May there be abundance of grain in the land; on the tops of the mountains may it wave; may its fruit be like Lebanon; and may people blossom in the cities like the grass of the field! 17 May his name endure forever, his fame continue as long as the sun! May people be blessed in him, all nations call him blessed! 18 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. 19Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen! 20 The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are ended.Chapter 73
1 Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. 2But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. 3 For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4For they have no pangs until death; their bodies are fat and sleek. 5They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind. 6Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment. 7Their eyes swell out through fatness; their hearts overflow with follies. 8They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression. 9They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue struts through the earth. 10Therefore his people turn back to them, and find no fault in them. 11And they say, "How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?" 12Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches. 13All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence. 14For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning. 15If I had said, "I will speak thus," I would have betrayed the generation of your children. 16But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, 17until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end. 18Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin. 19How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors! 20Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms. 21When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, 22I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you. 23Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. 24You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 27For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. 28But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.Chapter 74
1O God, why do you cast us off forever? Why does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture? 2 Remember your congregation, which you have purchased of old, which you have redeemed to be the tribe of your heritage! Remember Mount Zion, where you have dwelt. 3Direct your steps to the perpetual ruins; the enemy has destroyed everything in the sanctuary! 4Your foes have roared in the midst of your meeting place; they set up their own signs for signs. 5They were like those who swing axes in a forest of trees. 6And all its carved wood they broke down with hatchets and hammers. 7They set your sanctuary on fire; they profaned the dwelling place of your name, bringing it down to the ground. 8They said to themselves, "We will utterly subdue them"; they burned all the meeting places of God in the land. 9We do not see our signs; there is no longer any prophet, and there is none among us who knows how long. 10How long, O God, is the foe to scoff? Is the enemy to revile your name forever? 11Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand? Take it from the fold of your garment and destroy them! 12Yet God my King is from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth. 13You divided the sea by your might; you broke the heads of the sea monsters on the waters. 14You crushed the heads of Leviathan; you gave him as food for the creatures of the wilderness. 15You split open springs and brooks; you dried up ever-flowing streams. 16Yours is the day, yours also the night; you have established the heavenly lights and the sun. 17You have fixed all the boundaries of the earth; you have made summer and winter. 18 Remember this, O Lord, how the enemy scoffs, and a foolish people reviles your name. 19Do not deliver the soul of your dove to the wild beasts; do not forget the life of your poor forever. 20Have regard for the covenant, for the dark places of the land are full of the habitations of violence. 21Let not the downtrodden turn back in shame; let the poor and needy praise your name. 22Arise, O God, defend your cause; remember how the foolish scoff at you all the day! 23Do not forget the clamor of your foes, the uproar of those who rise against you, which goes up continually!Chapter 75
1We give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks, for your name is near. We recount your wondrous deeds. 2"At the set time that I appoint I will judge with equity. 3When the earth totters, and all its inhabitants, it is I who keep steady its pillars. Selah 4I say to the boastful, ‘Do not boast,’ and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horn; 5do not lift up your horn on high, or speak with haughty neck.’" 6For not from the east or from the west and not from the wilderness comes lifting up, 7but it is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another. 8 For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup with foaming wine, well mixed, and he pours out from it, and all the wicked of the earth shall drain it down to the dregs. 9But I will declare it forever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob. 10 All the horns of the wicked I will cut off, but the horns of the righteous shall be lifted up.New International Version
Chapter 66
1For the director of music. A song. A psalm. Shout for joy to God, all the earth! 2Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious. 3Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you.
4All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing the praises of your name."
5Come and see what God has done, his awesome deeds for mankind!
6He turned the sea into dry land, they passed through the waters on foot— come, let us rejoice in him.
7He rules forever by his power, his eyes watch the nations— let not the rebellious rise up against him.
8Praise our God, all peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard;
9he has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping.
10For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver.
11You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs.
12You let people ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance.
13I will come to your temple with burnt offerings and fulfill my vows to you—
14vows my lips promised and my mouth spoke when I was in trouble.
15I will sacrifice fat animals to you and an offering of rams; I will offer bulls and goats.
16Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me.
17I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue.
18If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened;
19but God has surely listened and has heard my prayer.
20Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!
2so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.
3May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you.
4May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples with equity and guide the nations of the earth.
5May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you.
6The land yields its harvest; God, our God, blesses us.
7May God bless us still, so that all the ends of the earth will fear him.
Chapter 68
1For the director of music. Of David. A psalm. A song. May God arise, may his enemies be scattered; may his foes flee before him. 2May you blow them away like smoke— as wax melts before the fire, may the wicked perish before God.
3But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful.
4Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds ; rejoice before him—his name is the Lord.
5A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.
6God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.
7When you, God, went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness,
8the earth shook, the heavens poured down rain, before God, the One of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel.
9You gave abundant showers, O God; you refreshed your weary inheritance.
10Your people settled in it, and from your bounty, God, you provided for the poor.
11The Lord announces the word, and the women who proclaim it are a mighty throng:
12"Kings and armies flee in haste; the women at home divide the plunder.
13Even while you sleep among the sheep pens, the wings of my dove are sheathed with silver, its feathers with shining gold."
14When the Almighty scattered the kings in the land, it was like snow fallen on Mount Zalmon.
15Mount Bashan, majestic mountain, Mount Bashan, rugged mountain,
16why gaze in envy, you rugged mountain, at the mountain where God chooses to reign, where the Lord himself will dwell forever?
17The chariots of God are tens of thousands and thousands of thousands; the Lord has come from Sinai into his sanctuary.
18When you ascended on high, you took many captives; you received gifts from people, even from the rebellious— that you, Lord God, might dwell there.
19Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.
20Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death.
21Surely God will crush the heads of his enemies, the hairy crowns of those who go on in their sins.
22The Lord says, "I will bring them from Bashan; I will bring them from the depths of the sea,
23that your feet may wade in the blood of your foes, while the tongues of your dogs have their share."
24Your procession, God, has come into view, the procession of my God and King into the sanctuary.
25In front are the singers, after them the musicians; with them are the young women playing the timbrels.
26Praise God in the great congregation; praise the Lord in the assembly of Israel.
27There is the little tribe of Benjamin, leading them, there the great throng of Judah’s princes, and there the princes of Zebulun and of Naphtali.
28Summon your power, God ; show us your strength, our God, as you have done before.
29Because of your temple at Jerusalem kings will bring you gifts.
30Rebuke the beast among the reeds, the herd of bulls among the calves of the nations. Humbled, may the beast bring bars of silver. Scatter the nations who delight in war.
31Envoys will come from Egypt; Cush will submit herself to God.
32Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth, sing praise to the Lord,
33to him who rides across the highest heavens, the ancient heavens, who thunders with mighty voice.
34Proclaim the power of God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose power is in the heavens.
Chapter 69
1For the director of music. To the tune of "Lilies." Of David. Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. 2I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me. 3I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God.
5You, God, know my folly; my guilt is not hidden from you.
6Lord, the Lord Almighty, may those who hope in you not be disgraced because of me; God of Israel, may those who seek you not be put to shame because of me.
7For I endure scorn for your sake, and shame covers my face.
8I am a foreigner to my own family, a stranger to my own mother’s children;
9for zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult you fall on me.
10When I weep and fast, I must endure scorn;
11when I put on sackcloth, people make sport of me.
12Those who sit at the gate mock me, and I am the song of the drunkards.
13But I pray to you, Lord, in the time of your favor; in your great love, O God, answer me with your sure salvation.
14Rescue me from the mire, do not let me sink; deliver me from those who hate me, from the deep waters.
15Do not let the floodwaters engulf me or the depths swallow me up or the pit close its mouth over me.
16Answer me, Lord, out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me.
17Do not hide your face from your servant; answer me quickly, for I am in trouble.
18Come near and rescue me; deliver me because of my foes.
19You know how I am scorned, disgraced and shamed; all my enemies are before you.
20Scorn has broken my heart and has left me helpless; I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found none.
21They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst.
22May the table set before them become a snare; may it become retribution and a trap.
23May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever.
24Pour out your wrath on them; let your fierce anger overtake them.
25May their place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in their tents.
26For they persecute those you wound and talk about the pain of those you hurt.
27Charge them with crime upon crime; do not let them share in your salvation.
29But as for me, afflicted and in pain— may your salvation, God, protect me.
30I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.
31This will please the Lord more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hooves.
32The poor will see and be glad— you who seek God, may your hearts live!
33The Lord hears the needy and does not despise his captive people.
34Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and all that move in them,
35for God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah. Then people will settle there and possess it;
36the children of his servants will inherit it, and those who love his name will dwell there.
Chapter 70
1For the director of music. Of David. A petition. Hasten, O God, to save me; come quickly, Lord, to help me. 2May those who want to take my life be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace. 3May those who say to me, "Aha! Aha!" turn back because of their shame.
4But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who long for your saving help always say, "The Lord is great!"
5But as for me, I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer; Lord, do not delay.
Chapter 71
1In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame. 2In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me; turn your ear to me and save me. 3Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.
4Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel.
5For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth.
6From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother’s womb. I will ever praise you.
7I have become a sign to many; you are my strong refuge.
8My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long.
9Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone.
10For my enemies speak against me; those who wait to kill me conspire together.
11They say, "God has forsaken him; pursue him and seize him, for no one will rescue him."
12Do not be far from me, my God; come quickly, God, to help me.
13May my accusers perish in shame; may those who want to harm me be covered with scorn and disgrace.
14As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.
15My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds, of your saving acts all day long— though I know not how to relate them all.
16I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign Lord; I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.
17Since my youth, God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.
18Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come.
19Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens, you who have done great things. Who is like you, God?
20Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up.
21You will increase my honor and comfort me once more.
22I will praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, my God; I will sing praise to you with the lyre, Holy One of Israel.
23My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you— I whom you have delivered.
24My tongue will tell of your righteous acts all day long, for those who wanted to harm me have been put to shame and confusion.
Chapter 72
1Of Solomon. Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness.
2May he judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice.
3May the mountains bring prosperity to the people, the hills the fruit of righteousness.
4May he defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; may he crush the oppressor.
5May he endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations.
6May he be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth.
7In his days may the righteous flourish and prosperity abound till the moon is no more.
8May he rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.
9May the desert tribes bow before him and his enemies lick the dust.
10May the kings of Tarshish and of distant shores bring tribute to him. May the kings of Sheba and Seba present him gifts.
11May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him.
12For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help.
13He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death.
14He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight.
15Long may he live! May gold from Sheba be given him. May people ever pray for him and bless him all day long.
16May grain abound throughout the land; on the tops of the hills may it sway. May the crops flourish like Lebanon and thrive like the grass of the field.
17May his name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun. Then all nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed.
18Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds.
19Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen.
20This concludes the prayers of David son of Jesse.
Chapter 73
1A psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. 2But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.
3For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong.
5They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills.
6Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence.
7From their callous hearts comes iniquity ; their evil imaginations have no limits.
8They scoff, and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.
9Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth.
10Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance.
12This is what the wicked are like— always free of care, they go on amassing wealth.
13Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence.
14All day long I have been afflicted, and every morning brings new punishments.
15If I had spoken out like that, I would have betrayed your children.
16When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply
17till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.
18Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin.
19How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors!
20They are like a dream when one awakes; when you arise, Lord, you will despise them as fantasies.
21When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered,
22I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.
23Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.
24You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.
25Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
28But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.
Chapter 74
1A maskil of Asaph. O God, why have you rejected us forever? Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture? 2Remember the nation you purchased long ago, the people of your inheritance, whom you redeemed— Mount Zion, where you dwelt.
3Turn your steps toward these everlasting ruins, all this destruction the enemy has brought on the sanctuary.
4Your foes roared in the place where you met with us; they set up their standards as signs.
5They behaved like men wielding axes to cut through a thicket of trees.
6They smashed all the carved paneling with their axes and hatchets.
7They burned your sanctuary to the ground; they defiled the dwelling place of your Name.
8They said in their hearts, "We will crush them completely!" They burned every place where God was worshiped in the land.
9We are given no signs from God; no prophets are left, and none of us knows how long this will be.
10How long will the enemy mock you, God? Will the foe revile your name forever?
12But God is my King from long ago; he brings salvation on the earth.
13It was you who split open the sea by your power; you broke the heads of the monster in the waters.
14It was you who crushed the heads of Leviathan and gave it as food to the creatures of the desert.
15It was you who opened up springs and streams; you dried up the ever-flowing rivers.
16The day is yours, and yours also the night; you established the sun and moon.
17It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth; you made both summer and winter.
18Remember how the enemy has mocked you, Lord, how foolish people have reviled your name.
19Do not hand over the life of your dove to wild beasts; do not forget the lives of your afflicted people forever.
20Have regard for your covenant, because haunts of violence fill the dark places of the land.
21Do not let the oppressed retreat in disgrace; may the poor and needy praise your name.
22Rise up, O God, and defend your cause; remember how fools mock you all day long.
23Do not ignore the clamor of your adversaries, the uproar of your enemies, which rises continually.
Chapter 75
1For the director of music. To the tune of "Do Not Destroy." A psalm of Asaph. A song. We praise you, God, we praise you, for your Name is near; people tell of your wonderful deeds. 2You say, "I choose the appointed time; it is I who judge with equity. 3When the earth and all its people quake, it is I who hold its pillars firm. 4To the arrogant I say, ‘Boast no more,’ and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horns.
5Do not lift your horns against heaven; do not speak so defiantly.’ "
6No one from the east or the west or from the desert can exalt themselves.
7It is God who judges: He brings one down, he exalts another.
8In the hand of the Lord is a cup full of foaming wine mixed with spices; he pours it out, and all the wicked of the earth drink it down to its very dregs.
9As for me, I will declare this forever; I will sing praise to the God of Jacob,
10who says, "I will cut off the horns of all the wicked, but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up."
New King James Version
Chapter 66
1{To the Chief Musician. A Song. A Psalm.} Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth! 2Sing out the honor of His name; Make His praise glorious. 3Say to God, “How awesome are Your works! Through the greatness of Your power Your enemies shall submit themselves to You.
5Come and see the works of God; He is awesome in His doing toward the sons of men.
6 He turned the sea into dry land; They went through the river on foot. There we will rejoice in Him.
8Oh, bless our God, you peoples! And make the voice of His praise to be heard,
9Who keeps our soul among the living, And does not allow our feet to be moved.
10For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined.
11 You brought us into the net; You laid affliction on our backs.
12 You have caused men to ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water; But You brought us out to rich fulfillment.
13 I will go into Your house with burnt offerings; I will pay You my vows,
14Which my lips have uttered And my mouth has spoken when I was in trouble.
16Come and hear, all you who fear God, And I will declare what He has done for my soul.
17I cried to Him with my mouth, And He was extolled with my tongue.
18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear.
19 But certainly God has heard me; He has attended to the voice of my prayer.
20Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer, Nor His mercy from me!
2That Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations.
3Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You.
5Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You.
6 Then the earth shall yield her increase; God, our own God, shall bless us.
7God shall bless us, And all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.
Chapter 68
1{To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. A Song.} Let God arise, Let His enemies be scattered; Let those also who hate Him flee before Him. 2 As smoke is driven away, So drive them away; As wax melts before the fire, So let the wicked perish at the presence of God. 3But let the righteous be glad; Let them rejoice before God; Yes, let them rejoice exceedingly. 4Sing to God, sing praises to His name; Extol Him who rides on the clouds, By His name YAH, And rejoice before Him. 5 A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, Is God in His holy habitation. 6 God sets the solitary in families; He brings out those who are bound into prosperity; But the rebellious dwell in a dry land.
8The earth shook; The heavens also dropped rain at the presence of God; Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
9 You, O God, sent a plentiful rain, Whereby You confirmed Your inheritance, When it was weary.
10Your congregation dwelt in it; You, O God, provided from Your goodness for the poor.
11The Lord gave the word; Great was the company of those who proclaimed it:
12“Kings of armies flee, they flee, And she who remains at home divides the spoil.
13 Though you lie down among the sheepfolds, You will be like the wings of a dove covered with silver, And her feathers with yellow gold.”
14 When the Almighty scattered kings in it, It was white as snow in Zalmon.
15A mountain of God is the mountain of Bashan; A mountain of many peaks is the mountain of Bashan.
16Why do you fume with envy, you mountains of many peaks? This is the mountain which God desires to dwell in; Yes, the Lord will dwell in it forever.
17 The chariots of God are twenty thousand, Even thousands of thousands; The Lord is among them as in Sinai, in the Holy Place.
18 You have ascended on high, You have led captivity captive; You have received gifts among men, Even from the rebellious, That the Lord God might dwell there.
20Our God is the God of salvation; And to God the Lord belong escapes from death.
21But God will wound the head of His enemies, The hairy scalp of the one who still goes on in his trespasses.
22The Lord said, “I will bring back from Bashan, I will bring them back from the depths of the sea,
23 That your foot may crush them in blood, And the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from your enemies.”
24They have seen Your procession, O God, The procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary.
25 The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; Among them were the maidens playing timbrels.
26Bless God in the congregations, The Lord, from the fountain of Israel.
27 There is little Benjamin, their leader, The princes of Judah and their company, The princes of Zebulun and the princes of Naphtali.
28Your God has commanded your strength; Strengthen, O God, what You have done for us.
29Because of Your temple at Jerusalem, Kings will bring presents to You.
30Rebuke the beasts of the reeds, The herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples, Till everyone submits himself with pieces of silver. Scatter the peoples who delight in war.
31 Envoys will come out of Egypt; Ethiopia will quickly stretch out her hands to God.
33To Him who rides on the heaven of heavens, which were of old! Indeed, He sends out His voice, a mighty voice.
34 Ascribe strength to God; His excellence is over Israel, And His strength is in the clouds.
35O God, You are more awesome than Your holy places. The God of Israel is He who gives strength and power to His people. Blessed be God!
Chapter 69
1{To the Chief Musician. Set to “The Lilies.” A Psalm of David.} Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. 2 I sink in deep mire, Where there is no standing; I have come into deep waters, Where the floods overflow me. 3 I am weary with my crying; My throat is dry; My eyes fail while I wait for my God. 4Those who hate me without a cause Are more than the hairs of my head; They are mighty who would destroy me, Being my enemies wrongfully; Though I have stolen nothing, I still must restore it. 5O God, You know my foolishness; And my sins are not hidden from You. 6Let not those who wait for You, O Lord God of hosts, be ashamed because of me; Let not those who seek You be confounded because of me, O God of Israel. 7Because for Your sake I have borne reproach; Shame has covered my face. 8 I have become a stranger to my brothers, And an alien to my mother’s children; 9 Because zeal for Your house has eaten me up, And the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me. 10When I wept and chastened my soul with fasting, That became my reproach. 11I also made sackcloth my garment; I became a byword to them. 12Those who sit in the gate speak against me, And I am the song of the drunkards. 13But as for me, my prayer is to You, O Lord, in the acceptable time; O God, in the multitude of Your mercy, Hear me in the truth of Your salvation. 14Deliver me out of the mire, And let me not sink; Let me be delivered from those who hate me, And out of the deep waters. 15Let not the floodwater overflow me, Nor let the deep swallow me up; And let not the pit shut its mouth on me. 16Hear me, O Lord, for Your lovingkindness is good; Turn to me according to the multitude of Your tender mercies. 17And do not hide Your face from Your servant, For I am in trouble; Hear me speedily. 18Draw near to my soul, and redeem it; Deliver me because of my enemies. 19You know my reproach, my shame, and my dishonor; My adversaries are all before You. 20Reproach has broken my heart, And I am full of heaviness; I looked for someone to take pity, but there was none; And for comforters, but I found none. 21They also gave me gall for my food, And for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. 22 Let their table become a snare before them, And their well-being a trap. 23 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see; And make their loins shake continually. 24 Pour out Your indignation upon them, And let Your wrathful anger take hold of them. 25 Let their dwelling place be desolate; Let no one live in their tents. 26For they persecute the ones You have struck, And talk of the grief of those You have wounded. 27 Add iniquity to their iniquity, And let them not come into Your righteousness. 28Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, And not be written with the righteous. 29But I am poor and sorrowful; Let Your salvation, O God, set me up on high. 30 I will praise the name of God with a song, And will magnify Him with thanksgiving. 31 This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bull, Which has horns and hooves. 32 The humble shall see this and be glad; And you who seek God, your hearts shall live. 33For the Lord hears the poor, And does not despise His prisoners. 34 Let heaven and earth praise Him, The seas and everything that moves in them. 35 For God will save Zion And build the cities of Judah, That they may dwell there and possess it. 36Also, the descendants of His servants shall inherit it, And those who love His name shall dwell in it.Chapter 70
1{To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. To bring to remembrance.} Make haste, O God, to deliver me! Make haste to help me, O Lord! 2 Let them be ashamed and confounded Who seek my life; Let them be turned back and confused Who desire my hurt. 3 Let them be turned back because of their shame, Who say, “Aha, aha!” 4Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; And let those who love Your salvation say continually, “Let God be magnified!” 5 But I am poor and needy; Make haste to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay.Chapter 71
1In You, O Lord, I put my trust; Let me never be put to shame. 2 Deliver me in Your righteousness, and cause me to escape; Incline Your ear to me, and save me. 3 Be my strong refuge, To which I may resort continually; You have given the commandment to save me, For You are my rock and my fortress. 4 Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, Out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. 5For You are my hope, O Lord God; You are my trust from my youth. 6 By You I have been upheld from birth; You are He who took me out of my mother’s womb. My praise shall be continually of You. 7 I have become as a wonder to many, But You are my strong refuge. 8Let my mouth be filled with Your praise And with Your glory all the day. 9Do not cast me off in the time of old age; Do not forsake me when my strength fails. 10For my enemies speak against me; And those who lie in wait for my life take counsel together, 11Saying, “God has forsaken him; Pursue and take him, for there is none to deliver him.” 12 O God, do not be far from me; O my God, make haste to help me! 13Let them be confounded and consumed Who are adversaries of my life; Let them be covered with reproach and dishonor Who seek my hurt. 14But I will hope continually, And will praise You yet more and more. 15My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness And Your salvation all the day, For I do not know their limits. 16I will go in the strength of the Lord God; I will make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only. 17O God, You have taught me from my youth; And to this day I declare Your wondrous works. 18Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, do not forsake me, Until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come. 19Also Your righteousness, O God, is very high, You who have done great things; O God, who is like You? 20 You, who have shown me great and severe troubles, Shall revive me again, And bring me up again from the depths of the earth. 21You shall increase my greatness, And comfort me on every side. 22Also with the lute I will praise You— And Your faithfulness, O my God! To You I will sing with the harp, O Holy One of Israel. 23My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing to You, And my soul, which You have redeemed. 24My tongue also shall talk of Your righteousness all the day long; For they are confounded, For they are brought to shame Who seek my hurt.Chapter 72
1{A Psalm of Solomon.} Give the king Your judgments, O God, And Your righteousness to the king’s Son. 2 He will judge Your people with righteousness, And Your poor with justice. 3 The mountains will bring peace to the people, And the little hills, by righteousness. 4 He will bring justice to the poor of the people; He will save the children of the needy, And will break in pieces the oppressor. 5They shall fear You As long as the sun and moon endure, Throughout all generations. 6 He shall come down like rain upon the grass before mowing, Like showers that water the earth. 7In His days the righteous shall flourish, And abundance of peace, Until the moon is no more. 8 He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, And from the River to the ends of the earth. 9 Those who dwell in the wilderness will bow before Him, And His enemies will lick the dust. 10 The kings of Tarshish and of the isles Will bring presents; The kings of Sheba and Seba Will offer gifts. 11 Yes, all kings shall fall down before Him; All nations shall serve Him. 12For He will deliver the needy when he cries, The poor also, and him who has no helper. 13He will spare the poor and needy, And will save the souls of the needy. 14He will redeem their life from oppression and violence; And precious shall be their blood in His sight. 15And He shall live; And the gold of Sheba will be given to Him; Prayer also will be made for Him continually, And daily He shall be praised. 16There will be an abundance of grain in the earth, On the top of the mountains; Its fruit shall wave like Lebanon; And those of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth. 17 His name shall endure forever; His name shall continue as long as the sun. And men shall be blessed in Him; All nations shall call Him blessed. 18 Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, Who only does wondrous things! 19And blessed be His glorious name forever! And let the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen. 20The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.Chapter 73
1{A Psalm of Asaph.} Truly God is good to Israel, To such as are pure in heart. 2But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; My steps had nearly slipped. 3 For I was envious of the boastful, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4For there are no pangs in their death, But their strength is firm. 5 They are not in trouble as other men, Nor are they plagued like other men. 6Therefore pride serves as their necklace; Violence covers them like a garment. 7 Their eyes bulge with abundance; They have more than heart could wish. 8 They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression; They speak loftily. 9They set their mouth against the heavens, And their tongue walks through the earth. 10Therefore his people return here, And waters of a full cup are drained by them. 11And they say, “How does God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?” 12Behold, these are the ungodly, Who are always at ease; They increase in riches. 13Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, And washed my hands in innocence. 14For all day long I have been plagued, And chastened every morning. 15If I had said, “I will speak thus,” Behold, I would have been untrue to the generation of Your children. 16When I thought how to understand this, It was too painful for me— 17Until I went into the sanctuary of God; Then I understood their end. 18Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction. 19Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors. 20As a dream when one awakes, So, Lord, when You awake, You shall despise their image. 21Thus my heart was grieved, And I was vexed in my mind. 22 I was so foolish and ignorant; I was like a beast before You. 23Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand. 24 You will guide me with Your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. 26 My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 27For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish; You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry. 28But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, That I may declare all Your works.Chapter 74
1{A Contemplation of Asaph.} O God, why have You cast us off forever? Why does Your anger smoke against the sheep of Your pasture? 2Remember Your congregation, which You have purchased of old, The tribe of Your inheritance, which You have redeemed— This Mount Zion where You have dwelt. 3Lift up Your feet to the perpetual desolations. The enemy has damaged everything in the sanctuary. 4 Your enemies roar in the midst of Your meeting place; They set up their banners for signs. 5They seem like men who lift up Axes among the thick trees. 6And now they break down its carved work, all at once, With axes and hammers. 7They have set fire to Your sanctuary; They have defiled the dwelling place of Your name to the ground. 8 They said in their hearts, “Let us destroy them altogether.” They have burned up all the meeting places of God in the land. 9We do not see our signs; There is no longer any prophet; Nor is there any among us who knows how long. 10O God, how long will the adversary reproach? Will the enemy blaspheme Your name forever? 11 Why do You withdraw Your hand, even Your right hand? Take it out of Your bosom and destroy them. 12For God is my King from of old, Working salvation in the midst of the earth. 13 You divided the sea by Your strength; You broke the heads of the sea serpents in the waters. 14You broke the heads of Leviathan in pieces, And gave him as food to the people inhabiting the wilderness. 15 You broke open the fountain and the flood; You dried up mighty rivers. 16The day is Yours, the night also is Yours; You have prepared the light and the sun. 17You have set all the borders of the earth; You have made summer and winter. 18Remember this, that the enemy has reproached, O Lord, And that a foolish people has blasphemed Your name. 19Oh, do not deliver the life of Your turtledove to the wild beast! Do not forget the life of Your poor forever. 20 Have respect to the covenant; For the dark places of the earth are full of the haunts of cruelty. 21Oh, do not let the oppressed return ashamed! Let the poor and needy praise Your name. 22Arise, O God, plead Your own cause; Remember how the foolish man reproaches You daily. 23Do not forget the voice of Your enemies; The tumult of those who rise up against You increases continually.Chapter 75
1{To the Chief Musician. Set to “Do Not Destroy.” A Psalm of Asaph. A Song.} We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks! For Your wondrous works declare that Your name is near. 2“When I choose the proper time, I will judge uprightly.
4“I said to the boastful, ‘Do not deal boastfully,’ And to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up the horn.
5Do not lift up your horn on high; Do not speak with a stiff neck.’ ”
6For exaltation comes neither from the east Nor from the west nor from the south.
7But God is the Judge: He puts down one, And exalts another.
8For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, And the wine is red; It is fully mixed, and He pours it out; Surely its dregs shall all the wicked of the earth Drain and drink down.
9But I will declare forever, I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.
10“All the horns of the wicked I will also cut off, But the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.”
