Study Desk

A Pilgrim Song I'm in trouble. I cry to God , desperate for an answer: "Deliver me from the liars, God ! They smile so sweetly but lie through their teeth."

A Pilgrim Song I look up to the mountains; does my strength come from mountains? No, my strength comes from God , who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.

He won't let you stumble, your Guardian God won't fall asleep. Not on your life! Israel's Guardian will never doze or sleep.

God 's your Guardian, right at your side to protect you— Shielding you from sunstroke, sheltering you from moonstroke.

God guards you from every evil, he guards your very life. He guards you when you leave and when you return, he guards you now, he guards you always.

A Pilgrim Song of David When they said, "Let's go to the house of God, " my heart leaped for joy. And now we're here, O Jerusalem, inside Jerusalem's walls!

Jerusalem, well-built city, built as a place for worship! The city to which the tribes ascend, all God 's tribes go up to worship, To give thanks to the name of God — this is what it means to be Israel. Thrones for righteous judgment are set there, famous David-thrones.

Pray for Jerusalem's peace! Prosperity to all you Jerusalem-lovers! Friendly insiders, get along! Hostile outsiders, keep your distance! For the sake of my family and friends, I say it again: live in peace! For the sake of the house of our God, God , I'll do my very best for you.

A Pilgrim Song I look to you, heaven-dwelling God, look up to you for help. Like servants, alert to their master's commands, like a maiden attending her lady, We're watching and waiting, holding our breath, awaiting your word of mercy. Mercy, God , mercy! We've been kicked around long enough, Kicked in the teeth by complacent rich men, kicked when we're down by arrogant brutes.

A Pilgrim Song of David If God hadn't been for us —all together now, Israel, sing out!— If God hadn't been for us when everyone went against us, We would have been swallowed alive by their violent anger, Swept away by the flood of rage, drowned in the torrent; We would have lost our lives in the wild, raging water.

Oh, blessed be God ! He didn't go off and leave us. He didn't abandon us defenseless, helpless as a rabbit in a pack of snarling dogs.

God 's strong name is our help, the same God who made heaven and earth.

A Pilgrim Song Those who trust in God are like Zion Mountain: Nothing can move it, a rock-solid mountain you can always depend on. Mountains encircle Jerusalem, and God encircles his people— always has and always will. The fist of the wicked will never violate What is due the righteous, provoking wrongful violence. Be good to your good people, God , to those whose hearts are right! God will round up the backsliders, corral them with the incorrigibles. Peace over Israel!

A Pilgrim Song It seemed like a dream, too good to be true, when God returned Zion's exiles. We laughed, we sang, we couldn't believe our good fortune. We were the talk of the nations— " God was wonderful to them!" God was wonderful to us; we are one happy people.

And now, God , do it again— bring rains to our drought-stricken lives So those who planted their crops in despair will shout hurrahs at the harvest, So those who went off with heavy hearts will come home laughing, with armloads of blessing.

A Pilgrim Song of Solomon If God doesn't build the house, the builders only build shacks. If God doesn't guard the city, the night watchman might as well nap. It's useless to rise early and go to bed late, and work your worried fingers to the bone. Don't you know he enjoys giving rest to those he loves?

Don't you see that children are God 's best gift? the fruit of the womb his generous legacy? Like a warrior's fistful of arrows are the children of a vigorous youth. Oh, how blessed are you parents, with your quivers full of children! Your enemies don't stand a chance against you; you'll sweep them right off your doorstep.

A Pilgrim Song All you who fear God , how blessed you are! how happily you walk on his smooth straight road! You worked hard and deserve all you've got coming. Enjoy the blessing! Revel in the goodness!

Your wife will bear children as a vine bears grapes, your household lush as a vineyard, The children around your table as fresh and promising as young olive shoots. Stand in awe of God's Yes. Oh, how he blesses the one who fears God !

A Pilgrim Song "They've kicked me around ever since I was young" —this is how Israel tells it— "They've kicked me around ever since I was young, but they never could keep me down. Their plowmen plowed long furrows up and down my back; Then God ripped the harnesses of the evil plowmen to shreds."