Study Desk

By the word^(m) of the Lord the heavens were made,⁽ⁿ⁾ their starry host^(o) by the breath of his mouth.

He gathers the waters^(p) of the sea into jars^[a];^(q) he puts the deep into storehouses.

Let all the earth fear the Lord ;^(r) let all the people of the world^(s) revere him.^(t)

For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded,^(u) and it stood firm.

The Lord foils^(v) the plans^(w) of the nations;^(x) he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.

But the plans of the Lord stand firm^(y) forever, the purposes^(z) of his heart through all generations.

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord ,^(aa) the people he chose^(ab) for his inheritance.^(ac)

From heaven the Lord looks down^(ad) and sees all mankind;^(ae)

from his dwelling place^(af) he watches all who live on earth—

he who forms^(ag) the hearts of all, who considers everything they do.^(ah)

No king is saved by the size of his army;^(ai) no warrior escapes by his great strength.

A horse^(aj) is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save.

But the eyes^(ak) of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,^(al)

to deliver them from death^(am) and keep them alive in famine.^(an)

We wait^(ao) in hope for the Lord ; he is our help and our shield.

In him our hearts rejoice,^(ap) for we trust in his holy name.^(aq)

May your unfailing love^(ar) be with us, Lord , even as we put our hope in you.

Of David. When he pretended to be insane^(a) before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left.

I will extol the Lord at all times;^(b) his praise will always be on my lips.

I will glory^(c) in the Lord ; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.^(d)

Glorify the Lord ^(e) with me; let us exalt^(f) his name together.

I sought the Lord ,^(g) and he answered me; he delivered^(h) me from all my fears.

Those who look to him are radiant;⁽ⁱ⁾ their faces are never covered with shame.^(j)

This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.^(k)

The angel of the Lord ^(l) encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers^(m) them.

Taste and see that the Lord is good;⁽ⁿ⁾ blessed is the one who takes refuge^(o) in him.

Fear the Lord ,^(p) you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing.^(q)

The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.^(r)

Come, my children, listen^(s) to me; I will teach you^(t) the fear of the Lord .^(u)

Whoever of you loves life^(v) and desires to see many good days,

keep your tongue^(w) from evil and your lips from telling lies.^(x)

Turn from evil and do good;^(y) seek peace^(z) and pursue it.

The eyes of the Lord ^(aa) are on the righteous,^(ab) and his ears are attentive^(ac) to their cry;

but the face of the Lord is against^(ad) those who do evil,^(ae) to blot out their name^(af) from the earth.

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears^(ag) them; he delivers them from all their troubles.

The Lord is close^(ah) to the brokenhearted^(ai) and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

The righteous person may have many troubles,^(aj) but the Lord delivers him from them all;^(ak)

he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.^(al)

Evil will slay the wicked;^(am) the foes of the righteous will be condemned.

The Lord will rescue^(an) his servants; no one who takes refuge^(ao) in him will be condemned.

Of David.

Contend,^(a) Lord , with those who contend with me; fight^(b) against those who fight against me.

Take up shield^(c) and armor; arise^(d) and come to my aid.^(e)

Brandish spear^(f) and javelin^[a](g) against those who pursue me. Say to me, "I am your salvation.^(h)"

May those who seek my life⁽ⁱ⁾ be disgraced^(j) and put to shame;^(k) may those who plot my ruin be turned back^(l) in dismay.

May they be like chaff^(m) before the wind, with the angel of the Lord ⁽ⁿ⁾ driving them away;

may their path be dark and slippery, with the angel of the Lord pursuing them.

Since they hid their net^(o) for me without cause^(p) and without cause dug a pit^(q) for me,

may ruin overtake them by surprise—^(r) may the net they hid entangle them, may they fall into the pit,^(s) to their ruin.

Then my soul will rejoice^(t) in the Lord and delight in his salvation.^(u)

My whole being will exclaim, "Who is like you,^(v) Lord ? You rescue the poor from those too strong^(w) for them, the poor and needy^(x) from those who rob them."

Ruthless witnesses^(y) come forward; they question me on things I know nothing about.

They repay me evil for good^(z) and leave me like one bereaved.

Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth^(aa) and humbled myself with fasting.^(ab) When my prayers returned to me unanswered,

I went about mourning^(ac) as though for my friend or brother. I bowed my head in grief as though weeping for my mother.

But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee;^(ad) assailants gathered against me without my knowledge. They slandered^(ae) me without ceasing.

Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked;^[b](af) they gnashed their teeth^(ag) at me.

How long,^(ah) Lord, will you look on? Rescue me from their ravages, my precious life^(ai) from these lions.^(aj)

I will give you thanks in the great assembly;^(ak) among the throngs^(al) I will praise you.^(am)

Do not let those gloat over me who are my enemies^(an) without cause; do not let those who hate me without reason^(ao) maliciously wink the eye.^(ap)

They do not speak peaceably, but devise false accusations^(aq) against those who live quietly in the land.

They sneer^(ar) at me and say, "Aha! Aha!^(as) With our own eyes we have seen it."