Study Desk

A song of ascents. Of David.

How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together^(a) in unity!^(b)

It is like precious oil poured on the head,^(c) running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down on the collar of his robe.

It is as if the dew^(d) of Hermon^(e) were falling on Mount Zion.^(f) For there the Lord bestows his blessing,^(g) even life forevermore.^(h)

A song of ascents.

Praise the Lord , all you servants^(a) of the Lord who minister^(b) by night^(c) in the house of the Lord .

Lift up your hands^(d) in the sanctuary^(e) and praise the Lord .^(f)

May the Lord bless you from Zion,^(g) he who is the Maker of heaven^(h) and earth.

Praise the Lord .^[a] Praise the name of the Lord ; praise him, you servants^(b) of the Lord ,

you who minister in the house^(c) of the Lord , in the courts^(d) of the house of our God.

Praise the Lord , for the Lord is good;^(e) sing praise to his name,^(f) for that is pleasant.^(g)

For the Lord has chosen Jacob^(h) to be his own, Israel to be his treasured possession.⁽ⁱ⁾

I know that the Lord is great,^(j) that our Lord is greater than all gods.^(k)

The Lord does whatever pleases him,^(l) in the heavens and on the earth,^(m) in the seas and all their depths.

He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth; he sends lightning with the rain⁽ⁿ⁾ and brings out the wind^(o) from his storehouses.^(p)

He struck down the firstborn^(q) of Egypt, the firstborn of people and animals.

He sent his signs^(r) and wonders into your midst, Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his servants.^(s)

He struck down many^(t) nations and killed mighty kings—

Sihon^(u) king of the Amorites,^(v) Og king of Bashan,^(w) and all the kings of Canaan^(x)—

and he gave their land as an inheritance,^(y) an inheritance to his people Israel.

Your name, Lord , endures forever,^(z) your renown,^(aa) Lord , through all generations.

For the Lord will vindicate his people^(ab) and have compassion on his servants.^(ac)

The idols of the nations^(ad) are silver and gold, made by human hands.^(ae)

They have mouths, but cannot speak,^(af) eyes, but cannot see.

They have ears, but cannot hear, nor is there breath^(ag) in their mouths.

Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.

All you Israelites, praise the Lord ;^(ah) house of Aaron, praise the Lord ;

house of Levi, praise the Lord ; you who fear him, praise the Lord .

Praise be to the Lord from Zion,^(ai) to him who dwells in Jerusalem.^(aj) Praise the Lord .

Give thanks^(a) to the Lord , for he is good.^(b) His love endures forever.^(c)

Give thanks^(d) to the God of gods.^(e) His love endures forever.

Give thanks^(f) to the Lord of lords:^(g) His love endures forever.

to him who alone does great wonders,^(h) His love endures forever.

who by his understanding⁽ⁱ⁾ made the heavens,^(j) His love endures forever.

who spread out the earth^(k) upon the waters,^(l) His love endures forever.

who made the great lights^(m)— His love endures forever.

the sun to govern⁽ⁿ⁾ the day, His love endures forever.

the moon and stars to govern the night; His love endures forever.

to him who struck down the firstborn^(o) of Egypt His love endures forever.

and brought Israel out^(p) from among them His love endures forever.

with a mighty hand^(q) and outstretched arm;^(r) His love endures forever.

to him who divided the Red Sea^[a](s) asunder His love endures forever.

and brought Israel through^(t) the midst of it, His love endures forever.

but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;^(u) His love endures forever.

to him who led his people through the wilderness;^(v) His love endures forever.

to him who struck down great kings,^(w) His love endures forever.

and killed mighty kings^(x)— His love endures forever.

Sihon king of the Amorites^(y) His love endures forever.

and Og king of Bashan^(z)— His love endures forever.

and gave their land^(aa) as an inheritance,^(ab) His love endures forever.

an inheritance^(ac) to his servant Israel.^(ad) His love endures forever.

He remembered us^(ae) in our low estate His love endures forever.

and freed us^(af) from our enemies.^(ag) His love endures forever.

He gives food^(ah) to every creature. His love endures forever.

Give thanks^(ai) to the God of heaven.^(aj) His love endures forever.^(ak)

By the rivers of Babylon^(a) we sat and wept^(b) when we remembered Zion.^(c)

There on the poplars^(d) we hung our harps,^(e)

for there our captors^(f) asked us for songs, our tormentors demanded^(g) songs of joy; they said, "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!"^(h)

How can we sing the songs of the Lord ⁽ⁱ⁾ while in a foreign land?

If I forget you,^(j) Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill.

May my tongue cling to the roof^(k) of my mouth if I do not remember^(l) you, if I do not consider Jerusalem^(m) my highest joy.

Remember, Lord , what the Edomites⁽ⁿ⁾ did on the day Jerusalem fell.^(o) "Tear it down," they cried, "tear it down to its foundations!"^(p)

Daughter Babylon, doomed to destruction,^(q) happy is the one who repays you according to what you have done to us.

Happy is the one who seizes your infants and dashes them^(r) against the rocks.

Of David.

I will praise you, Lord , with all my heart; before the "gods"^(a) I will sing^(b) your praise.

I will bow down toward your holy temple^(c) and will praise your name^(d) for your unfailing love and your faithfulness,^(e) for you have so exalted your solemn decree that it surpasses your fame.^(f)

When I called,^(g) you answered me;^(h) you greatly emboldened⁽ⁱ⁾ me.

May all the kings of the earth^(j) praise you, Lord , when they hear what you have decreed.

May they sing^(k) of the ways of the Lord , for the glory of the Lord ^(l) is great.

Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly;^(m) though lofty, he sees them⁽ⁿ⁾ from afar.

Though I walk^(o) in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life.^(p) You stretch out your hand^(q) against the anger of my foes;^(r) with your right hand^(s) you save me.^(t)

The Lord will vindicate^(u) me; your love, Lord , endures forever^(v)— do not abandon^(w) the works of your hands.^(x)

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

You have searched me,^(a) Lord , and you know^(b) me.

You know when I sit and when I rise;^(c) you perceive my thoughts^(d) from afar.

You discern my going out^(e) and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.^(f)

Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord , know it completely.^(g)

You hem me in^(h) behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,⁽ⁱ⁾ too lofty^(j) for me to attain.

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee^(k) from your presence?

If I go up to the heavens,^(l) you are there; if I make my bed^(m) in the depths, you are there.

If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,

even there your hand will guide me,⁽ⁿ⁾ your right hand^(o) will hold me fast.

If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,"

even the darkness will not be dark^(p) to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.

For you created my inmost being;^(q) you knit me together^(r) in my mother's womb.^(s)

I praise you^(t) because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful,^(u) I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you when I was made^(v) in the secret place, when I was woven together^(w) in the depths of the earth.^(x)

Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained^(y) for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

How precious to me are your thoughts,^[a](z) God!^(aa) How vast is the sum of them!

Were I to count them,^(ab) they would outnumber the grains of sand^(ac)— when I awake,^(ad) I am still with you.

If only you, God, would slay the wicked!^(ae) Away from me,^(af) you who are bloodthirsty!^(ag)

They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries^(ah) misuse your name.^(ai)

Do I not hate those^(aj) who hate you, Lord , and abhor^(ak) those who are in rebellion against you?

I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies.^(al)

Search me,^(am) God, and know my heart;^(an) test me and know my anxious thoughts.

See if there is any offensive way^(ao) in me, and lead me^(ap) in the way everlasting.