Study Desk

Let destruction come upon my enemy by surprise; Let the net he hid for me catch him; Into that very destruction let him fall.

All my bones will say, "LORD, who is like You, Who rescues the afflicted from him who is too strong for him [to resist alone], And the afflicted and the needy from him who robs him?"

They repay me evil for good, To the sorrow of my soul.

But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth (mourning garment); I humbled my soul with fasting, And I prayed with my head bowed on my chest.

I behaved as if grieving for my friend or my brother; I bowed down in mourning, as one who sorrows for his mother.

For they do not speak peace, But they devise deceitful words [half-truths and lies] against those who are quiet in the land.

Let them shout for joy and rejoice, who favor my vindication and want what is right for me; Let them say continually, "Let the LORD be magnified, who delights and takes pleasure in the prosperity of His servant."

For he flatters and deceives himself in his own eyes Thinking that his sinfulness will not be discovered and hated [by God].

For with You is the fountain of life [the fountain of life-giving water]; In Your light we see light.

For they will wither quickly like the grass, And fade like the green herb.

Be still before the LORD; wait patiently for Him and entrust yourself to Him; Do not fret (whine, agonize) because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.

For those who do evil will be cut off, But those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land.

For yet a little while and the wicked one will be gone [forever]; Though you look carefully where he used to be, he will not be [found].

The Lord laughs at him [the wicked one—the one who oppresses the righteous], For He sees that his day [of defeat] is coming.

For the arms of the wicked will be broken, But the LORD upholds and sustains the righteous [who seek Him].

For those blessed by God will [at last] inherit the land, But those cursed by Him will be cut off.

I have been young and now I am old, Yet I have not seen the righteous (those in right standing with God) abandoned Or his descendants pleading for bread.

For the LORD delights in justice And does not abandon His saints (faithful ones); They are preserved forever, But the descendants of the wicked will [in time] be cut off.

The wicked lies in wait for the righteous And seeks to kill him.

Wait for and expect the LORD and keep His way, And He will exalt you to inherit the land; [In the end] when the wicked are cut off, you will see it.