Study Desk

Father to the fatherless, defender of widows— this is God, whose dwelling is holy.

God 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.

O God, when you led your people out from Egypt, when you marched through the dry wasteland, Interlude

the earth trembled, and the heavens poured down rain before you, the God of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel.

You sent abundant rain, O God, to refresh the weary land.

There your people finally settled, and with a bountiful harvest, O God, you provided for your needy people.

Why do you look with envy, O rugged mountains, at Mount Zion, where God has chosen to live, where the Lord himself will live forever?

When 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.

Praise the Lord; praise God our savior! For each day he carries us in his arms. Interlude

Our God is a God who saves! The Sovereign Lord rescues us from death.

But God will smash the heads of his enemies, crushing the skulls of those who love their guilty ways.

Your procession has come into view, O God— the procession of my God and King as he goes into the sanctuary.

Praise God, all you people of Israel; praise the Lord , the source of Israel's life.

Summon your might, O God. Display your power, O God, as you have in the past.

Let Egypt come with gifts of precious metals; let Ethiopia bring tribute to God.

Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth. Sing praises to the Lord. Interlude

God is awesome in his sanctuary. The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God!

For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be sung to the tune "Lilies." Save me, O God, for the floodwaters are up to my neck.

I am exhausted from crying for help; my throat is parched. My eyes are swollen with weeping, waiting for my God to help me.

O God, you know how foolish I am; my sins cannot be hidden from you.