Study Desk

If one does not repent, God will whet his sword; he has bent and strung his bow;

he has prepared his deadly weapons, making his arrows fiery shafts.

I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness, and sing praise to the name of the Lord , the Most High.

But the Lord sits enthroned forever, he has established his throne for judgment.

Sing praises to the Lord , who dwells in Zion. Declare his deeds among the peoples.

They think in their heart, "God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it."

The Lord is king forever and ever; the nations shall perish from his land.

The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord 's throne is in heaven. His eyes behold, his gaze examines humankind.

The Lord tests the righteous and the wicked, and his soul hates the lover of violence.

For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face.

O that deliverance for Israel would come from Zion! When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people, Jacob will rejoice; Israel will be glad.

To the leader. A Psalm of David the servant of the Lord , who addressed the words of this song to the Lord on the day when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. He said: I love you, O Lord , my strength.

In my distress I called upon the Lord ; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.

Smoke went up from his nostrils, and devouring fire from his mouth; glowing coals flamed forth from him.

He bowed the heavens, and came down; thick darkness was under his feet.

He made darkness his covering around him, his canopy thick clouds dark with water.

Out of the brightness before him there broke through his clouds hailstones and coals of fire.

The Lord also thundered in the heavens, and the Most High uttered his voice.

And he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; he flashed forth lightnings, and routed them.

For all his ordinances were before me, and his statutes I did not put away from me.