Bible Reading Plan

A Cry of Distress and a Curse on Adversaries.

¹ Save me, God,
For the ^(C1)waters have ^(F1)threatened my life.

² I have sunk in deep ^(C1)mud, and there is no foothold;
I have come into deep waters, and a ^(F1)(C2)flood overflows me.

³ I am ^(C1)weary with my crying; my throat is parched;
My ^(C2)eyes fail while I wait for my God.

⁴ Those ^(C1)who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head;
Those who would ^(F1)destroy me ^(C2)are powerful, those who oppose me with lies;
^(C3)What I did not steal, I then have to restore.

⁵ God, You know ^(C1)my foolishness,
And ^(C2)my guilt is not hidden from You.

⁶ May those who wait for You not ^(C1)be ashamed because of me, Lord ^(F1)GOD of armies;
May those who seek You not be dishonored because of me, God of Israel,

⁷ Because ^(C1)for Your sake I have endured disgrace;
^(C2)Dishonor has covered my face.

⁸ I have become ^(C1)estranged ^(F1)from my brothers,
And a stranger to my mother's sons.

⁹ For ^(C1)zeal for Your house has consumed me,
And ^(C2)the taunts of those who taunt You have fallen on me.

¹⁰ When I wept ^(C1)in my soul with fasting,
It became my ^(C2)disgrace.

¹¹ When I made ^(C1)sackcloth my clothing,
I became ^(C2)a proverb to them.

¹² Those who ^(C1)sit in the gate talk about me,
And ^(C2)songs of mockery by those habitually drunk are about me.

¹³ But as for me, my prayer is to You, LORD, ^(C1)at an acceptable time;
God, in the ^(C2)greatness of Your mercy,
Answer me with ^(F1)Your saving truth.

¹⁴ Rescue me from the ^(C1)mud and do not let me sink;
May I be ^(C2)rescued from those who hate me, and from the ^(C1)depths of water.

¹⁵ May the ^(F1)(C1)flood of water not overflow me
Nor the deep swallow me up,
Nor the ^(C2)pit close its mouth on me.

¹⁶ Answer me, LORD, for ^(C1)Your mercy is good;
^(C2)According to the greatness of Your compassion, ^(C3)turn to me,

¹⁷ And ^(C1)do not hide Your face from Your servant,
For I am ^(C2)in distress; answer me quickly.

¹⁸ Come near to my soul and ^(C1)redeem it;
^(C2)Ransom me because of my enemies!

¹⁹ You know my ^(C1)disgrace, my shame, and my dishonor;
All my enemies are ^(F1)known to You.

²⁰ Disgrace has ^(C1)broken my heart, and I am so sick.
And ^(C2)I waited for sympathy, but there was none;
And for ^(C3)comforters, but I found none.

²¹ They also gave me ^(F1)(C1)a bitter herb in my food,
And for my thirst they ^(C2)gave me vinegar to drink.

²² May ^(C1)their table before them become a snare;
And ^(F1)(C2)when they are at peace, may it become a trap.

²³ May their ^(C1)eyes grow dim so that they cannot see,
And make their ^(C2)hips shake continually.

^24 (C1)Pour out Your indignation on them,
And may Your burning anger overtake them.

²⁵ May their ^(F1)(C1)camp be desolated;
May there be none living in their tents.

²⁶ For they have ^(C1)persecuted him whom ^(C2)You Yourself struck,
And they tell of the pain of those whom ^(C3)You have ^(F1)wounded.

²⁷ Add ^(C1)guilt to their guilt,
And ^(C2)may they not come into ^(C3)Your righteousness.

²⁸ May they be ^(C1)wiped out of the ^(C2)book of life,
And may they not be ^(F1)(C3)recorded with the righteous.

²⁹ But I am ^(C1)afflicted and in pain;
^(F1)May Your salvation, God, ^(C2)set me safely on high.

³⁰ I will ^(C1)praise the name of God with song,
And ^(C2)exalt Him with ^(C3)thanksgiving.

³¹ And it will ^(C1)please the LORD better than an ox
Or bull with horns and hoofs.

³² The ^(C1)humble ^(F1)have seen it and are glad;
You who seek God, ^(C2)let your heart ^(F2)revive.

³³ For ^(C1)the LORD hears the needy,
And ^(C2)does not despise those of His who are prisoners.

^34 (C1)Heaven and earth shall praise Him,
The seas and ^(C2)everything that moves in them.

³⁵ For God will ^(C1)save Zion and ^(C2)build the cities of Judah,
So that they may live there and ^(C3)possess it.

³⁶ The ^(F1)(C1)descendants of His servants will inherit it,
And those who love His name ^(C2)will live in it.

Prayer for Help against Persecutors.

^1 (C1)God, hurry to save me;
LORD, hurry to help me!

^2 (C1)May those who seek my ^(F1)life
Be put to shame and humiliated;
May those who delight ^(F2)in my harm
Be turned back and dishonored.

^3 (C1)May those who say, "Aha, aha!" be ^(F1)turned back
Because of their shame.

⁴ May all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You;
And may those who love Your salvation say continually,
"May God be exalted!"

⁵ But ^(C1)I am afflicted and needy;
^(C2)Hurry to me, God!
You are my help and my savior;
LORD, do not delay.

Prayer of an Old Man for Rescue.

^1 (C1)In You, LORD, I have taken refuge;
Let me never be put to shame.

^2 (C1)In Your righteousness rescue me and save me;
^(C2)Extend Your ear to me and help me.

^3 (C1)Be to me a rock of ^(C2)dwelling to which I may continually come;
You have given the ^(C3)commandment to save me,
For You are ^(C4)my rock and my fortress.

^4 (C1)Save me, my God, from the hand of the wicked,
From the ^(F1)grasp of the wrongdoer and the ruthless,

⁵ For You are my ^(C1)hope;
Lord ^(F1)GOD, You are my ^(C2)confidence from my youth.

⁶ I have ^(C1)leaned on You since my birth;
You are He who ^(C2)took me from my mother's womb;
My ^(C3)praise is continually ^(F1)of You.

⁷ I have become a ^(C1)marvel to many,
For You are ^(C2)my strong refuge.

⁸ My ^(C1)mouth is filled with Your praise
And with ^(C2)Your glory all day long.

⁹ Do not cast me away at the ^(C1)time of my old age;
Do not abandon me when my strength fails.

¹⁰ For my enemies have spoken ^(F1)against me;
And those who ^(C1)watch for my ^(F2)life ^(C2)have consulted together,

¹¹ Saying, "^(C1)God has abandoned him;
Pursue and seize him, for there is ^(C2)no one to save him."

¹² God, ^(C1)do not be far from me;
My God, ^(C2)hurry to my aid!

¹³ May those who are enemies of my soul be ^(C1)put to shame and consumed;
May they be ^(C2)covered with disgrace and dishonor, who ^(C3)seek ^(F1)to injure me.

¹⁴ But as for me, I will ^(C1)wait continually,
And will ^(F1)(C2)praise You yet more and more.

¹⁵ My ^(C1)mouth shall tell of Your righteousness
And of ^(C2)Your salvation all day long;
For I ^(C3)do not know the art of writing.

¹⁶ I will come ^(C1)with the mighty deeds of the Lord ^(F1)GOD;
I will ^(C2)make mention of Your righteousness, Yours alone.

¹⁷ God, You ^(C1)have taught me from my youth,
And I still ^(C2)declare Your wondrous deeds.

¹⁸ And even when I am ^(C1)old and gray, God, do not abandon me,
Until I ^(C2)declare Your ^(F1)strength to this generation,
Your power to all who are to come.

^19 (F1)For Your ^(C1)righteousness, God, reaches to the ^(F2)heavens,
You who have ^(C2)done great things;
God, ^(C3)who is like You?

²⁰ You who have ^(C1)shown ^(F1)me many troubles and distresses
Will ^(C2)revive ^(F1)me again,
And will bring ^(F1)me up again ^(C3)from the depths of the earth.

²¹ May You increase my ^(C1)greatness
And turn to ^(C2)comfort me.

²² I will also praise You with ^(F1)(C1)a harp,
And Your ^(F2)truth, my God;
I will sing praises to You with the ^(C2)lyre,
^(C3)Holy One of Israel.

²³ My lips will ^(C1)shout for joy when I sing praises to You;
And my ^(C2)soul, which You have redeemed.

²⁴ My ^(C1)tongue also will tell of Your righteousness all day long;
For they are ^(C2)put to shame, for they are humiliated who seek ^(F1)my harm.

The Reign of the Righteous King.

¹ Give the king ^(C1)Your judgments, God,
And ^(C2)Your righteousness to the king's son.

^2 (F1)May ^(F2)he ^(C1)judge Your people with righteousness
And ^(F3)(C2)Your afflicted with justice.

^3 (F1)May the mountains bring ^(F2)(C1)peace to the people,
And the hills, in righteousness.

^4 (F1)May he ^(C1)vindicate the ^(F2)afflicted of the people,
Save the children of the needy,
And crush the oppressor.

^5 (F1)May they fear You ^(C1)while the sun shines,
And ^(F2)as long as the moon shines, throughout all generations.

^6 (F1)May he come down ^(C1)like rain upon the mown grass,
Like ^(C2)showers that water the earth.

^7 (F1)May the ^(C1)righteous flourish in his days,
As well as an ^(C2)abundance of peace, until the moon is no more.

⁸ May he also rule ^(C1)from sea to sea,
And from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth.

^9 (F1)May ^(C1)the nomads of the desert ^(C2)bow before him,
And his enemies ^(C3)lick the dust.

^10 (F1)May the kings of ^(C1)Tarshish and of the ^(F2)(C2)islands bring gifts;
May the kings of ^(C3)Sheba and ^(C4)Seba ^(C5)offer tributes.

^11 (F1)And may all ^(C1)kings bow down before him,
All ^(C2)nations serve him.

¹² For he will ^(C1)save the needy when he cries for help,
The ^(F1)afflicted also, and him who has no helper.

¹³ He will have ^(C1)compassion on the poor and needy,
And he will save the ^(F1)lives of the needy.

¹⁴ He will ^(F1)(C1)rescue their ^(F2)life from oppression and violence,
And their blood will be ^(C2)precious in his sight;

¹⁵ So may he live, and may the ^(C1)gold of Sheba be given to him;
And ^(F1)they are to pray for him continually;
^(F2)They are to bless him all day long.

¹⁶ May there be abundance of grain on the earth on top of the mountains;
Its fruit will wave like the cedars of ^(C1)Lebanon;
And may those from the city flourish like the ^(C2)vegetation of the earth.

¹⁷ May his ^(C1)name endure forever;
May his name produce descendants ^(F1)(C2)as long as the sun shines;
And may people ^(C3)wish blessings on themselves by him;
^(C4)May all nations call him blessed.

^18 (C1)Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel,
Who alone ^(C2)works wonders.

¹⁹ And blessed be His ^(C1)glorious name forever;
And may the whole ^(C2)earth be filled with His glory.
^(C3)Amen and Amen.

²⁰ The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.

The End of the Wicked Contrasted with That of the Righteous.

¹ God certainly is ^(C1)good to Israel,
To those who are ^(C2)pure in heart!

² But as for me, ^(C1)my feet came close to stumbling,
My steps ^(F1)had almost slipped.

³ For I was ^(C1)envious of the ^(F1)arrogant
As I saw the ^(C2)prosperity of the wicked.

⁴ For there are no pains in their death,
And their belly is fat.

⁵ They are ^(C1)not ^(F1)in trouble like other people,
Nor are they ^(C2)tormented together with the rest of mankind.

⁶ Therefore arrogance is ^(C1)their necklace;
The ^(C2)garment of violence covers them.

⁷ Their eye ^(F1)bulges from ^(C1)fatness;
The imaginations of their heart overflow.

⁸ They ^(C1)mock and ^(F1)wickedly speak of oppression;
They ^(C2)speak from on high.

⁹ They have ^(C1)set their mouth ^(F1)against the heavens,
And their tongue ^(F2)parades through the earth.

¹⁰ Therefore ^(F1)his people return here,
And ^(C1)abundant waters are drunk by them.

¹¹ They say, "^(C1)How does God know?
And is there knowledge ^(F1)with the Most High?"

¹² Behold, ^(C1)these are the wicked;
And always ^(C2)at ease, they have increased in wealth.

¹³ Surely ^(C1)in vain I have ^(F1)kept my heart pure
And ^(C2)washed my hands in innocence;

¹⁴ For I have been stricken ^(C1)all day long,
And ^(F1)(C2)punished every morning.

¹⁵ If I had said, "I will speak this way,"
Behold, I would have betrayed the ^(C1)generation of Your children.

¹⁶ When I ^(C1)thought of understanding this,
It was ^(F1)troublesome in my sight

¹⁷ Until I entered the ^(F1)(C1)sanctuary of God;
Then I perceived their ^(C2)end.

¹⁸ You indeed put them on ^(C1)slippery ground;
You dropped them into ^(F1)(C2)ruin.

¹⁹ How they are ^(F1)(C1)destroyed in a moment!
They are utterly swept away by ^(C2)sudden terrors!

²⁰ Like a ^(C1)dream when one awakes,
Lord, when ^(C2)stirred, You will ^(C3)despise their image.

²¹ When my ^(C1)heart was embittered
And I was ^(C2)pierced ^(F1)within,

²² Then I was ^(C1)stupid and ignorant;
I was like an ^(C2)animal ^(F1)before You.

²³ Nevertheless ^(C1)I am continually with You;
You have taken hold of my right hand.

²⁴ You will ^(C1)guide me with Your plan,
And afterward ^(C2)receive me ^(F1)to glory.

^25 (C1)Whom do I have in heaven but You?
And with You, I desire nothing on earth.

²⁶ My ^(C1)flesh and my heart may fail,
But God is the ^(F1)strength of my heart and my ^(C2)portion forever.

²⁷ For, behold, ^(C1)those who are far from You will ^(C2)perish;
You have destroyed all those who ^(F1)(C3)are unfaithful to You.

²⁸ But as for me, ^(C1)the nearness of God is good for me;
I have made the Lord ^(F1)GOD my ^(C2)refuge,
So that I may ^(C3)tell of all Your works.

An Appeal against the Devastation of the Land by the Enemy.

¹ God, why have You ^(C1)rejected us forever?
Why does Your anger ^(C2)smoke against the ^(C3)sheep of Your ^(F1)pasture?

² Remember Your congregation, which You ^(C1)purchased of old,
Which You have ^(C2)redeemed to be the ^(C3)tribe of Your inheritance;
And this Mount ^(C4)Zion, where You have dwelt.

^3 (F1)Step toward the ^(F2)(C1)irreparable ruins;
The enemy ^(C2)has damaged everything in the sanctuary.

⁴ Your adversaries have ^(C1)roared in the midst of Your meeting place;
They have set up their ^(C2)own signs as ^(C3)signs.

⁵ It ^(F1)seems like one bringing up
His ^(C1)axe into a ^(F2)forest of trees.

⁶ And now they break down ^(F1)all its ^(C1)carved work
With axe and hammers.

⁷ They have ^(F1)(C1)burned Your sanctuary ^(F2)to the ground;
They have ^(C2)defiled the dwelling place of Your name.

⁸ They ^(C1)said in their heart, "Let's ^(F1)completely ^(F2)subdue them."
They have burned all the meeting places of God in the land.

⁹ We do not see our ^(C1)signs;
There is ^(C2)no longer any prophet,
Nor is there anyone among us who knows ^(C3)how long.

¹⁰ How long, God, will the enemy ^(C1)taunt You?
Shall the enemy ^(C2)treat Your name disrespectfully forever?

¹¹ Why ^(C1)do You withdraw Your hand, even Your right hand?
Extend it from Your chest and ^(C2)destroy them!

¹² Yet God is ^(C1)my King from long ago,
Who performs acts of salvation in the midst of the earth.

^13 (F1)You ^(C1)divided the sea by Your strength;
^(F1)You ^(C2)broke the heads of the ^(C3)sea monsters ^(F2)in the waters.

^14 (F1)You crushed the heads of ^(F2)(C1)Leviathan;
You gave him as food for the ^(F3)creatures ^(C2)of the wilderness.

^15 (F1)You ^(C1)broke open springs and torrents;
^(F1)You ^(C2)dried up ever-flowing streams.

¹⁶ Yours is the day, Yours also is the night;
^(F1)You have ^(C1)prepared the ^(F2)light and the sun.

^17 (F1)You have ^(C1)established all the boundaries of the earth;
^(F1)You have ^(F2)created ^(C2)summer and winter.

¹⁸ Remember this, ^(F1)LORD, that the enemy has ^(C1)taunted You,
And a ^(C2)foolish people has treated Your name disrespectfully.

¹⁹ Do not give the soul of Your ^(C1)turtledove to the wild animal;
^(C2)Do not forget the life of Your afflicted forever.

²⁰ Consider the ^(C1)covenant;
For the ^(C2)dark places of the land are full of the places of violence.

²¹ May the ^(C1)oppressed person not return dishonored;
May the ^(C2)afflicted and the needy praise Your name.

²² Arise, God, and ^(C1)plead Your own cause;
Remember ^(F1)how the ^(C2)foolish person taunts You all day long.

²³ Do not forget the voice of Your ^(C1)adversaries,
The ^(C2)uproar of those who rise against You, which ascends continually.

God Humbles the Proud, but Exalts the Righteous.

¹ We ^(C1)give thanks to You, God, we give thanks,
For Your name is ^(C2)near;
People declare ^(C3)Your wondrous works.

² "When I select an ^(C1)appointed time,
It is I who ^(C2)judge fairly.

³ "The ^(C1)earth and all who inhabit it ^(F1)are unsteady;
It is I who have firmly set its ^(C2)pillars. Selah

⁴ "I said to the boastful, 'Do not boast,'
And to the wicked, '^(C1)Do not lift up the horn;

⁵ Do not lift up your horn on high,
^(C1)Do not speak with insolent ^(F1)pride.'"

⁶ For not from the east, nor from the west,
Nor from the ^(F1)(C1)desert comes exaltation;

⁷ But ^(C1)God is the Judge;
He ^(C2)puts down one and exalts another.

⁸ For a ^(C1)cup is in the hand of the LORD, and the wine foams;
It is ^(F1)(C2)well mixed, and He pours out of this;
Certainly all the wicked of the earth must drain and ^(C3)drink its dregs.

⁹ But as for me, I will ^(C1)declare it forever;
I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.

¹⁰ And ^(F1)He will cut off all the ^(C1)horns of the wicked,
But ^(C2)the horns of the righteous will be lifted up.

The Victorious Power of the God of Jacob.

¹ God is ^(C1)known in Judah;
His name is ^(C2)great in Israel.

² His ^(F1)(C1)tabernacle is in ^(C2)Salem;
His ^(C3)dwelling place also is in Zion.

³ There He ^(C1)broke the ^(F1)flaming arrows,
The shield, the sword, and the ^(F2)weapons of war. Selah

⁴ You are resplendent,
^(F1)More majestic than the mountains of prey.

⁵ The ^(C1)stouthearted were plundered,
^(F1)They sank into sleep;
And none of the ^(F2)warriors could use his hands.

⁶ At Your ^(C1)rebuke, God of Jacob,
Both ^(F1)(C2)rider and horse were cast into a dead sleep.

⁷ You, You indeed are ^(C1)to be feared,
And ^(C2)who may stand in Your presence, ^(F1)once You are angry?

⁸ You caused judgment to be heard from heaven;
The earth ^(C1)feared and was still

⁹ When God ^(C1)arose to judgment,
To save all the humble of the earth. Selah

¹⁰ For the ^(F1)(C1)wrath of mankind shall praise You;
You will encircle Yourself with a remnant of wrath.

^11 (C1)Make vows to the LORD your God and ^(C2)fulfill them;
All who are around Him are to ^(C3)bring gifts to Him who is to be feared.

¹² He will cut off the spirit of princes;
He is ^(F1)(C1)feared by the kings of the earth.

Comfort in Trouble from Recalling God's Mighty Deeds.

¹ My voice rises to God, and I will ^(C1)cry aloud;
My voice rises to God, and He will listen to me.

² In the ^(C1)day of my trouble I sought the Lord;
^(C2)In the night my ^(C3)hand was stretched out and did not grow weary;
My soul ^(C4)refused to be comforted.

³ When I remember God, then I am ^(C1)restless;
When I ^(C2)sigh, then ^(C3)my spirit feels weak. Selah

⁴ You have held my eyelids open;
I am so troubled that I ^(C1)cannot speak.

⁵ I have considered the ^(C1)days of old,
The years of long ago.

⁶ I will remember my ^(C1)song in the night;
I ^(C2)will meditate with my heart,
And my spirit ^(F1)ponders:

⁷ Will the Lord ^(C1)reject forever?
And will He ^(C2)never be favorable again?

⁸ Has His ^(C1)favor ceased forever?
Has His ^(F1)(C2)promise come to an end ^(F2)forever?

⁹ Has God ^(C1)forgotten to be gracious,
Or has He in anger ^(F1)withdrawn His ^(C2)compassion? Selah

¹⁰ Then I said, "^(C1)It is my ^(F1)grief,
That the ^(C2)right hand of the Most High has changed."

¹¹ I shall remember the ^(C1)deeds of ^(F1)the LORD;
I will certainly ^(C1)remember Your wonders of old.

¹² I will ^(C1)meditate on all Your work,
And on Your deeds with thanksgiving.

¹³ Your way, God, is ^(C1)holy;
^(C2)What god is great like our God?

¹⁴ You are the ^(C1)God who works wonders;
You have ^(C2)made known Your strength among the peoples.

¹⁵ By Your ^(F1)power You have ^(C1)redeemed Your people,
The sons of Jacob and ^(C2)Joseph. Selah

¹⁶ The ^(C1)waters saw You, God;
The waters saw You, they were in anguish;
The ocean depths also trembled.

¹⁷ The ^(C1)clouds poured out water;
The skies ^(F1)(C2)sounded out;
Your ^(C3)arrows ^(F2)flashed here and there.

¹⁸ The ^(C1)sound of Your thunder was in the whirlwind;
The ^(C2)lightning lit up the world;
The ^(C3)earth trembled and shook.

¹⁹ Your ^(C1)way was in the sea
And Your paths in the mighty waters,
And Your footprints were not known.

²⁰ You ^(C1)led Your people like a flock
By the hand of ^(C2)Moses and Aaron.

God's Guidance of His People in Spite of Their Unfaithfulness.

^1 (C1)Listen, my people, to my ^(F1)instruction;
^(C2)Incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

² I will ^(C1)open my mouth in a parable;
I will tell ^(C2)riddles of old,

³ Which we have heard and known,
And ^(C1)our fathers have told us.

⁴ We will ^(C1)not conceal them from their children,
But we will ^(C2)tell the generation to come the praises of the LORD,
And His power and His ^(C3)wondrous works that He has done.

⁵ For He established a ^(C1)testimony in Jacob,
And appointed a ^(C2)law in Israel,
Which He ^(C3)commanded our fathers
That they were to ^(F1)(C4)teach them to their children,

^6 (C1)So that the generation to come would know, ^(C2)the children yet to be born,
That they would arise and ^(C3)tell them to their children,

⁷ So that they would put their confidence in God
And ^(C1)not forget the works of God,
But ^(C2)comply with His commandments,

⁸ And ^(C1)not be like their fathers,
A ^(C2)stubborn and rebellious generation,
A generation that ^(C3)did not ^(F1)prepare its heart
And whose spirit was not ^(C4)faithful to God.

⁹ The sons of Ephraim ^(F1)were ^(C1)archers equipped with bows,
Yet ^(C2)they turned back on the day of battle.

¹⁰ They ^(C1)did not keep the covenant of God
And refused to ^(C2)walk in His Law;

¹¹ They ^(C1)forgot His deeds
And His ^(F1)miracles that He had shown them.

^12 (C1)He performed wonders before their fathers
In the land of Egypt, in the ^(C2)field of Zoan.

¹³ He ^(C1)divided the sea and caused them to pass through,
And He made the waters stand ^(C2)up like a heap.

¹⁴ Then He led them with the cloud by ^(C1)day
And all the night with a ^(C2)light of fire.

¹⁵ He ^(C1)split the rocks in the wilderness
And gave them plenty to drink like the ocean depths.

¹⁶ He ^(C1)brought forth streams from the rock
And made waters run down like rivers.

¹⁷ Yet they still continued to sin against Him,
To ^(C1)rebel against the Most High in the desert.

¹⁸ And in their heart they ^(C1)put God to the test
By asking for ^(C2)food ^(F1)that suited their taste.

¹⁹ Then they spoke against God;
They said, "^(C1)Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?

²⁰ "Behold, He ^(C1)struck the rock so that waters gushed out,
And streams were overflowing;
Can He also provide bread?
Will He prepare ^(C2)meat for His people?"

²¹ Therefore the LORD heard and ^(F1)was ^(C1)full of wrath;
And a fire was kindled against Jacob,
And anger also mounted against Israel,

²² Because they ^(C1)did not believe in God
And did not trust in His salvation.

²³ Yet He commanded the clouds above
And ^(C1)opened the doors of heaven;

²⁴ He ^(C1)rained down manna upon them to eat,
And gave them ^(F1)(C2)food from heaven.

²⁵ Man ate the bread of ^(F1)angels;
He sent them ^(F2)food ^(F3)(C1)in abundance.

²⁶ He ^(C1)made the east wind blow in the sky
And by His ^(F1)power He directed the south wind.

²⁷ When He rained meat upon them like the dust,
Even ^(C1)winged fowl like the sand of the seas,

²⁸ He let them fall in the midst of ^(F1)their camp,
All around their dwellings.

²⁹ So they ^(C1)ate and were well filled,
And He ^(F1)satisfied their longing.

^30 (F1)Yet before they had abandoned their longing,
^(C1)While their food was in their mouths,

³¹ The ^(C1)anger of God rose against them
And killed ^(F1)some of their ^(C2)strongest ones,
And ^(F2)subdued the choice men of Israel.

³² In spite of all this they still sinned
And ^(C2)did not believe in His wonderful works.

³³ So He brought ^(C1)their days to an end in futility,
And their years to an end in sudden terror.

³⁴ When He killed them, then they ^(C1)sought Him,
And they returned and searched ^(C2)diligently for God;

³⁵ And they remembered that God was their ^(C1)rock,
And the Most High God their ^(C2)Redeemer.

³⁶ But they ^(C1)flattered Him with their mouth
And ^(C2)lied to Him with their tongue.

³⁷ For their heart was not ^(C1)steadfast toward Him,
Nor were they faithful with His covenant.

³⁸ But He, being ^(C1)compassionate, ^(F1)(C2)forgave their wrongdoing and did not destroy them;
And often He ^(F2)(C3)restrained His anger
And did not stir up all His wrath.

³⁹ So ^(C1)He remembered that they were only ^(C2)flesh,
A ^(F1)(C3)wind that passes and does not return.

⁴⁰ How often they ^(C1)rebelled against Him in the wilderness
And ^(C2)grieved Him in the ^(C3)desert!

⁴¹ Again and again they ^(F1)(C1)tempted God,
And pained the ^(C2)Holy One of Israel.

⁴² They ^(C1)did not remember ^(C2)His ^(F1)power,
The day when He ^(C3)redeemed them from the enemy,

⁴³ When He performed His ^(C1)signs in Egypt
And His ^(C2)marvels in the field of Zoan,

⁴⁴ And ^(C1)turned their rivers to blood,
And their streams, so that they could not drink.

⁴⁵ He sent swarms of ^(C1)flies among them that devoured them,
And ^(C2)frogs that destroyed them.

⁴⁶ He also gave their crops to the ^(C1)grasshopper
And the product of their labor to the ^(C2)locust.

⁴⁷ He ^(F1)destroyed their vines with ^(C1)hailstones
And their sycamore trees with frost.

⁴⁸ He also turned their ^(C1)cattle over to the hailstones,
And their herds to bolts of lightning.

⁴⁹ He ^(C1)sent His burning anger upon them,
Fury and indignation and trouble,
A band of ^(F1)destroying angels.

⁵⁰ He leveled a path for His anger;
He did not spare their souls from death,
But ^(C1)turned their lives over to the plague,

⁵¹ And ^(C1)struck all the firstborn in Egypt,
The ^(C2)first and best of their vigor in the tents of ^(C3)Ham.

⁵² But He ^(C1)led His own people out like sheep,
And guided them in the wilderness ^(C2)like a flock;

⁵³ He led them ^(C1)safely, so that they did not fear;
But ^(C2)the sea engulfed their enemies.

⁵⁴ So ^(C1)He brought them to His holy ^(F1)land,
To this ^(F2)(C2)hill country ^(C3)which His right hand had gained.

⁵⁵ He also ^(C1)drove out the nations from them
And ^(C2)apportioned them as an inheritance by measurement,
And had the tribes of Israel dwell in their tents.

⁵⁶ Yet they ^(F1)(C1)tempted and ^(C2)rebelled against the Most High God
And did not keep His testimonies,

⁵⁷ But turned back and ^(C1)acted treacherously like their fathers;
They ^(C2)turned aside like a treacherous bow.

⁵⁸ For they ^(C1)provoked Him with their ^(C2)high places
And ^(C3)moved Him to jealousy with their ^(C4)carved images.

⁵⁹ When God heard them, He ^(F1)was filled with ^(C1)wrath
And He utterly ^(C2)rejected Israel;

⁶⁰ So that He ^(C1)abandoned the ^(C2)dwelling place at Shiloh,
The tent ^(F1)which He had pitched among people,

⁶¹ And He gave up His ^(C1)strength to captivity
And His glory ^(C2)into the hand of the enemy.

⁶² He also ^(C1)turned His people over to the sword,
And ^(F1)was filled with wrath at His inheritance.

^63 (C1)Fire devoured ^(F1)His young men,
And ^(F1)His ^(C2)virgins had no wedding songs.

^64 (F1)His ^(C1)priests fell by the sword,
And ^(F1)His ^(C2)widows could not weep.

⁶⁵ Then the Lord ^(C1)awoke as if from sleep,
Like a ^(C2)warrior ^(F1)overcome by wine.

⁶⁶ He ^(F1)(C1)drove His adversaries backward;
He put on them an everlasting disgrace.

⁶⁷ He also ^(C1)rejected the tent of Joseph,
And did not choose the tribe of Ephraim,

⁶⁸ But chose the tribe of Judah,
Mount ^(C1)Zion, which He loved.

⁶⁹ And He ^(C1)built His sanctuary like the heights,
Like the earth which He has established forever.

⁷⁰ He also ^(C1)chose His servant David
And took him from the sheepfolds;

⁷¹ From ^(F1)(C1)the care of the ^(F2)ewes ^(C2)with nursing lambs He brought him
To ^(C3)shepherd Jacob His people,
And Israel ^(C4)His inheritance.

⁷² So he shepherded them according to the ^(C1)integrity of his heart,
And guided them with his skillful hands.

Grieving over the Destruction of Jerusalem, and Prayer for Help.

¹ God, the ^(C1)nations have ^(F1)invaded ^(C2)Your inheritance;
They have defiled Your ^(C3)holy temple;
They have ^(C4)laid Jerusalem in ruins.

² They have given the ^(C1)dead bodies of Your servants to the birds of the sky as food,
The flesh of Your godly ones to the animals of the earth.

³ They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem;
And there was ^(C1)no one to bury them.

⁴ We have become a ^(C1)disgrace before our neighbors,
An object of derision and ridicule to those around us.

^5 (C1)How long, LORD? Will You be angry forever?
Will Your ^(C2)jealousy ^(C3)burn like fire?

^6 (C1)Pour out Your wrath upon the nations which ^(C2)do not know You,
And upon the kingdoms which ^(C3)do not call upon Your name.

⁷ For they have ^(C1)devoured Jacob
And ^(C2)laid waste his ^(F1)settlement.

^8 (C1)Do not ^(F1)hold us responsible for ^(F2)the guilty deeds of our forefathers;
Let Your compassion come quickly to ^(C2)meet us,
For we have ^(C3)become very low.

^9 (C1)Help us, God of our salvation, for the glory of ^(C2)Your name;
And save us and ^(F1)(C3)forgive our sins ^(C4)for the sake of Your name.

^10 (C1)Why should the nations say, "Where is their God?"
Let ^(C2)vengeance for the blood of Your servants which has been shed
Be known among the nations in our sight.

¹¹ Let ^(C1)the groaning of the prisoner come before You;
According to the greatness of Your ^(F1)power, let ^(F2)those who are ^(C1)doomed to die remain.

¹² And return to our neighbors ^(C1)seven times as much ^(C2)into their lap
Their ^(C3)taunts with which they have taunted You, Lord.

¹³ So we Your people and the ^(C1)sheep of Your ^(F1)pasture
Will ^(C2)give thanks to You forever;
To all generations we will ^(C3)tell of Your praise.

God Implored to Rescue His People from Their Calamities.

¹ Listen, ^(C1)Shepherd of Israel,
Who leads ^(C2)Joseph like a flock;
You who ^(C3)are enthroned above the cherubim, shine forth!

² Before ^(C1)Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, ^(C2)awaken Your power,
And come to save us!

³ God, ^(C1)restore us
And ^(C2)make Your face shine upon us, ^(F1)and we will be saved.

^4 (C1)LORD God of armies,
^(C2)How long will You ^(F1)be angry with the prayer of Your people?

⁵ You have fed them with the ^(C1)bread of tears,
And You have made them drink tears in ^(F1)large measure.

⁶ You make us ^(F1)an object of contention ^(C1)to our neighbors,
And our enemies laugh among themselves.

⁷ God of armies, restore us
And make Your face shine upon us, ^(F1)and we will be saved.

⁸ You removed a ^(C1)vine from Egypt;
You ^(C2)drove out the ^(F1)nations and ^(C3)planted it.

⁹ You ^(C1)cleared the ground before it,
And it ^(C2)took deep root and filled the land.

¹⁰ The mountains were covered with its shadow,
And ^(F1)the cedars of God with its ^(C1)branches.

¹¹ It was sending out its branches ^(C1)to the sea
And its shoots to the Euphrates River.

¹² Why have You ^(C1)broken down its ^(F1)hedges,
So that all who pass that way pick its fruit?

¹³ A boar from the forest ^(C1)eats it away,
And whatever moves in the field feeds on it.

¹⁴ God of armies, do ^(C1)turn back;
^(C2)Look down from heaven and see, and take care of this vine,

¹⁵ The ^(F1)(C1)shoot which Your right hand has planted,
And of the ^(F2)son whom You have ^(F3)strengthened for Yourself.

¹⁶ It is ^(C1)burned with fire, it is cut down;
They perish from the ^(C2)rebuke of Your face.

¹⁷ Let ^(C1)Your hand be upon the man of Your right hand,
Upon the son of man whom You ^(C2)made strong for Yourself.

¹⁸ Then we will not ^(C1)turn back from You;
^(C2)Revive us, and we will call upon Your name.

¹⁹ LORD God of armies, ^(C1)restore us;
Make Your face shine upon us, ^(F1)and we will be saved.

God's Goodness and Israel's Waywardness.

^1 (C1)Sing for joy to God our ^(C2)strength;
Shout ^(C3)joyfully to the ^(C4)God of Jacob.

² Raise a song, strike ^(C1)the tambourine,
The sweet sounding ^(C2)lyre with the ^(C3)harp.

³ Blow the trumpet at the ^(C1)new moon,
At the full moon, on our ^(C2)feast day.

⁴ For it is a statute for Israel,
An ordinance of the God of Jacob.

⁵ He established it as a testimony in Joseph
When he ^(F1)(C1)went throughout the land of Egypt.
I heard a ^(C2)language I did not know:

⁶ "I ^(F1)(C1)relieved his shoulder of the burden,
His hands were freed from the ^(F2)basket.

⁷ "You ^(C1)called in trouble and I rescued you;
I ^(C2)answered you in the hiding place of thunder;
I put you to the test at the ^(C3)waters of Meribah. Selah

⁸ "^(C1)Hear, My people, and I will admonish you;
Israel, if you ^(C2)would listen to Me!

⁹ "There shall be no ^(C1)strange god among you;
Nor shall you worship a foreign god.

¹⁰ "^(C1)I, the LORD, am your God,
Who brought you up from the land of Egypt;
^(C2)Open your mouth wide and I will ^(C3)fill it.

¹¹ "But My people ^(C1)did not listen to My voice,
And Israel did not ^(F1)obey Me.

¹² "So I ^(C1)gave ^(F1)them over to the stubbornness of their heart,
To walk by their own plans.

¹³ "Oh that My people ^(C1)would listen to Me,
That Israel would ^(C2)walk in My ways!

¹⁴ "I would quickly ^(C1)subdue their enemies
And ^(C2)turn My hand against their adversaries.

¹⁵ "^(C1)Those who hate the LORD would ^(C2)pretend to obey Him,
And their time of punishment would be forever.

¹⁶ "^(F1)But I would feed you with the ^(F2)(C1)finest of the wheat,
And with ^(C2)honey from the rock I would satisfy you."

Unjust Judgments Rebuked.

¹ God takes His ^(C1)position in ^(F1)His assembly;
He ^(C2)judges in the midst of the ^(C3)gods.

² How long will you ^(C1)judge unjustly
And ^(C2)show partiality to the wicked? Selah

^3 (C1)Vindicate the weak and fatherless;
Do justice to the afflicted and destitute.

^4 (C1)Rescue the weak and needy;
Save them from the hand of the wicked.

⁵ They ^(C1)do not know nor do they understand;
They ^(C2)walk around in darkness;
All the ^(C3)foundations of the earth are shaken.

^6 (F1)I ^(C1)said, "You are gods,
And all of you are ^(C2)sons of the Most High.

⁷ "Nevertheless ^(C1)you will die like men,
And fall like ^(C2)one of the princes."

^8 (C1)Arise, God, ^(C2)judge the earth!
For You ^(C3)possess all the nations.

God Implored to Confound His Enemies.

¹ God, ^(C1)do not remain quiet;
^(C2)Do not be silent and, God, do not be still.

² For behold, Your enemies ^(C1)make an uproar,
And ^(C2)those who hate You have ^(F1)(C3)exalted themselves.

³ They ^(C1)make shrewd plans against Your people,
And ^(F1)conspire together against ^(C2)Your ^(F2)treasured ones.

⁴ They have said, "Come, and ^(C1)let's wipe them out ^(F1)as a nation,
So that the ^(C2)name of Israel will no longer be remembered."

⁵ For they have ^(F1)(C1)conspired together with one mind;
They make a covenant against You:

⁶ The tents of ^(C1)Edom and the ^(C2)Ishmaelites,
^(C3)Moab and the ^(C4)Hagrites;

^7 (C1)Gebal, ^(C2)Ammon, and ^(C3)Amalek,
^(C4)Philistia with the inhabitants of ^(C5)Tyre;

^8 (C1)Assyria also has joined them;
They have become ^(F1)a help to the ^(C2)children of Lot. Selah

⁹ Deal with them ^(C1)as with Midian,
As ^(C2)with Sisera and Jabin at the river of Kishon,

¹⁰ Who were destroyed at En-dor,
Who ^(C1)became like dung for the ground.

¹¹ Make their nobles like ^(C1)Oreb and Zeeb,
And all their leaders like ^(C2)Zebah and Zalmunna,

¹² Who said, "^(C1)Let's possess for ourselves
The ^(C2)pastures of God."

¹³ My God, make them like the ^(F1)(C1)whirling dust,
Like ^(C2)chaff before the wind.

¹⁴ Like ^(C1)fire that burns the forest,
And like a flame that ^(C2)sets the mountains on fire,

¹⁵ So pursue them ^(C1)with Your heavy gale,
And terrify them with Your storm.

^16 (C1)Fill their faces with dishonor,
So that they will seek Your name, LORD.

¹⁷ May they be ^(C1)ashamed and dismayed forever,
And may they be humiliated and perish,

¹⁸ So that they will ^(C1)know that ^(C2)You alone, whose name is the LORD,
Are the ^(C3)Most High over all the earth.

Longing for the Temple Worship.

¹ How lovely are Your ^(C1)dwelling places,
LORD of armies!

² My ^(C1)soul longed and even yearned for the courtyards of the LORD;
My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the ^(C2)living God.

³ The bird also has found a house,
And the swallow a nest for herself, where she may put her young:
Your ^(C1)altars, LORD of armies,
^(C2)My King and my God.

^4 (C1)Blessed are those who dwell in Your house!
They are ^(C2)ever praising You. Selah

⁵ Blessed is the person whose ^(C1)strength is in You,
In ^(F1)whose heart are the ^(C2)roads to Zion!

⁶ Passing through the Valley of ^(F1)Baca they make it a ^(F2)spring;
The ^(C1)early rain also covers it with blessings.

⁷ They ^(C1)go from strength to strength,
^(F1)Every one of them ^(C2)appears before God in Zion.

^8 (C1)LORD God of armies, hear my prayer;
Listen, ^(C2)God of Jacob! Selah

⁹ See our ^(C1)shield, God,
And look at the face of ^(C2)Your anointed.

¹⁰ For ^(C1)a day in Your courtyards is better than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God
Than live in the tents of wickedness.

¹¹ For the LORD God is ^(C1)a sun and ^(C2)shield;
The LORD gives grace and ^(C3)glory;
^(C4)He withholds no good thing ^(F1)from those who walk with integrity.

¹² LORD of armies,
^(C1)Blessed is the person who trusts in You!

Prayer for God's Mercy upon the Nation.

¹ LORD, You showed ^(C1)favor to Your land;
You ^(C2)restored the fortunes of Jacob.

² You ^(C1)forgave the guilt of Your people;
You ^(C2)covered all their sin. Selah

³ You ^(C1)withdrew all Your fury;
You ^(C2)turned away from Your burning anger.

^4 (C1)Restore us, God of our salvation,
And ^(C2)cause Your indignation toward us to cease.

⁵ Will ^(C1)You be angry with us forever?
Will You prolong Your anger to ^(F1)all generations?

⁶ Will You not ^(F1)(C1)revive us again,
So that Your people may ^(C2)rejoice in You?

⁷ Show us Your mercy, LORD,
And ^(C1)grant us Your salvation.

^8 (F1)I will hear what God the LORD will say;
For He will ^(C1)speak peace to His people, to His godly ones;
And may they not ^(C2)turn back to ^(F2)foolishness.

⁹ Certainly ^(C1)His salvation is near to those who ^(F1)fear Him,
That ^(C2)glory may dwell in our land.

^10 (C1)Graciousness and ^(F1)truth have met together;
^(C2)Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

^11 (F1)Truth ^(C1)sprouts from the earth,
And righteousness looks down from heaven.

¹² Indeed, ^(C1)the LORD will give what is good,
And our ^(C2)land will yield its produce.

^13 (C1)Righteousness will go before Him
And will make His footsteps into a way.

Pleading and Trust.

^1 (C1)Incline Your ear, LORD, and answer me;
For I am ^(C2)afflicted and needy.

^2 (C1)Protect my ^(F1)soul, for I am ^(C2)godly;
You my God, save Your servant who ^(C3)trusts in You.

³ Be ^(C1)gracious to me, Lord,
For ^(C2)I call upon You all day long.

⁴ Make the soul of Your servant joyful,
For to You, Lord, ^(C1)I lift up my soul.

⁵ For You, Lord, are ^(C1)good, and ^(C2)ready to forgive,
And ^(C3)abundant in mercy to all who call upon You.

^6 (C1)Listen, LORD, to my prayer;
And give Your attention to the sound of my pleading!

⁷ On ^(C1)the day of my trouble I will call upon You,
For ^(C2)You will answer me.

⁸ There is ^(C1)no one like You among the gods, Lord,
Nor are there any works ^(C2)like Yours.

^9 (C1)All nations whom You have made will come and worship before You, Lord,
And they will glorify Your name.

¹⁰ For You are ^(C1)great, and You ^(C2)do ^(F1)wondrous deeds;
You alone ^(C3)are God.

^11 (C1)Teach me Your way, LORD;
I will walk in Your truth;
^(C2)Unite my heart to fear Your name.

¹² I will ^(C1)give thanks to You, Lord my God, with all my heart,
And I will glorify Your name forever.

¹³ For Your graciousness toward me is great,
And You have ^(C1)saved my soul from the ^(F1)depths of ^(F2)Sheol.

¹⁴ God, arrogant men have ^(C1)risen up against me,
And a gang of violent men have sought my ^(F1)life,
And they have not set You before them.

¹⁵ But You, Lord, are a ^(C1)compassionate and gracious God,
Slow to anger and abundant in mercy and ^(F1)truth.

^16 (C1)Turn to me, and be gracious to me;
^(C2)Grant Your strength to Your servant,
And save the ^(C3)son of Your maidservant.

^17 (C1)Show me a sign of good,
That those who hate me may ^(C2)see it and be ashamed,
Because You, LORD, ^(C3)have helped me and comforted me.