Study Desk

For the director of music. Of David the servant of the Lord .

I have a message from God in my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked:^[b](a) There is no fear^(b) of God before their eyes.^(c)

In their own eyes they flatter themselves too much to detect or hate their sin.^(d)

The words of their mouths^(e) are wicked and deceitful;^(f) they fail to act wisely^(g) or do good.^(h)

Even on their beds they plot evil;⁽ⁱ⁾ they commit themselves to a sinful course^(j) and do not reject what is wrong.^(k)

Your love, Lord , reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness^(l) to the skies.^(m)

Your righteousness⁽ⁿ⁾ is like the highest mountains,^(o) your justice like the great deep.^(p) You, Lord , preserve both people and animals.^(q)

How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!^(r) People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.^(s)

They feast on the abundance of your house;^(t) you give them drink from your river^(u) of delights.^(v)

For with you is the fountain of life;^(w) in your light^(x) we see light.

Continue your love^(y) to those who know you,^(z) your righteousness to the upright in heart.^(aa)

May the foot of the proud not come against me, nor the hand of the wicked^(ab) drive me away.

See how the evildoers lie fallen— thrown down, not able to rise!^(ac)

Of David.

Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious^(a) of those who do wrong;^(b)

for like the grass they will soon wither,^(c) like green plants they will soon die away.^(d)

Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land^(e) and enjoy safe pasture.^(f)

Take delight^(g) in the Lord , and he will give you the desires of your heart.^(h)

Commit your way to the Lord ; trust in him⁽ⁱ⁾ and he will do this:

He will make your righteous reward^(j) shine like the dawn,^(k) your vindication like the noonday sun.

Be still^(l) before the Lord and wait patiently^(m) for him; do not fret⁽ⁿ⁾ when people succeed in their ways,^(o) when they carry out their wicked schemes.^(p)

Refrain from anger^(q) and turn from wrath; do not fret^(r)—it leads only to evil.

For those who are evil will be destroyed,^(s) but those who hope^(t) in the Lord will inherit the land.^(u)

A little while, and the wicked will be no more;^(v) though you look for them, they will not be found.

But the meek will inherit the land^(w) and enjoy peace and prosperity.^(x)

The wicked plot^(y) against the righteous and gnash their teeth^(z) at them;

but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming.^(aa)

The wicked draw the sword^(ab) and bend the bow^(ac) to bring down the poor and needy,^(ad) to slay those whose ways are upright.

But their swords will pierce their own hearts,^(ae) and their bows will be broken.^(af)

Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth^(ag) of many wicked;

for the power of the wicked will be broken,^(ah) but the Lord upholds^(ai) the righteous.

The blameless spend their days under the Lord 's care,^(aj) and their inheritance will endure forever.^(ak)

In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

But the wicked will perish:^(al) Though the Lord 's enemies are like the flowers of the field, they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke.^(am)

The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously;^(an)

those the Lord blesses will inherit the land, but those he curses^(ao) will be destroyed.^(ap)

The Lord makes firm the steps^(aq) of the one who delights^(ar) in him;

though he may stumble, he will not fall,^(as) for the Lord upholds^(at) him with his hand.

I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken^(au) or their children begging^(av) bread.

They are always generous and lend freely;^(aw) their children will be a blessing.^[b](ax)

Turn from evil and do good;^(ay) then you will dwell in the land forever.^(az)

For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones.^(ba) Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed^[c]; the offspring of the wicked will perish.^(bb)

The righteous will inherit the land^(bc) and dwell in it forever.^(bd)

The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom,^(be) and their tongues speak what is just.

The law of their God is in their hearts;^(bf) their feet do not slip.^(bg)

The wicked lie in wait^(bh) for the righteous,^(bi) intent on putting them to death;

but the Lord will not leave them in the power of the wicked or let them be condemned^(bj) when brought to trial.^(bk)

Hope in the Lord ^(bl) and keep his way.^(bm) He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are destroyed,^(bn) you will see^(bo) it.

I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing^(bp) like a luxuriant native tree,

but he soon passed away and was no more; though I looked for him, he could not be found.^(bq)

Consider the blameless,^(br) observe the upright;^(bs) a future awaits those who seek peace.^[d](bt)

But all sinners^(bu) will be destroyed;^(bv) there will be no future^[e] for the wicked.^(bw)

The salvation^(bx) of the righteous comes from the Lord ; he is their stronghold in time of trouble.^(by)

The Lord helps^(bz) them and delivers^(ca) them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves^(cb) them, because they take refuge^(cc) in him.

A psalm of David. A petition.

Lord , do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath.^(a)

Your arrows^(b) have pierced me, and your hand has come down on me.

Because of your wrath there is no health^(c) in my body; there is no soundness in my bones^(d) because of my sin.

My guilt has overwhelmed^(e) me like a burden too heavy to bear.^(f)

My wounds^(g) fester and are loathsome^(h) because of my sinful folly.⁽ⁱ⁾

I am bowed down^(j) and brought very low; all day long I go about mourning.^(k)

My back is filled with searing pain;^(l) there is no health^(m) in my body.

I am feeble and utterly crushed;⁽ⁿ⁾ I groan^(o) in anguish of heart.^(p)

All my longings^(q) lie open before you, Lord; my sighing^(r) is not hidden from you.

My heart pounds,^(s) my strength fails^(t) me; even the light has gone from my eyes.^(u)

My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds;^(v) my neighbors stay far away.

Those who want to kill me set their traps,^(w) those who would harm me talk of my ruin;^(x) all day long they scheme and lie.^(y)

I am like the deaf, who cannot hear,^(z) like the mute, who cannot speak;

I have become like one who does not hear, whose mouth can offer no reply.

Lord , I wait^(aa) for you; you will answer,^(ab) Lord my God.

For I said, "Do not let them gloat^(ac) or exalt themselves over me when my feet slip."^(ad)

For I am about to fall,^(ae) and my pain^(af) is ever with me.

I confess my iniquity;^(ag) I am troubled by my sin.

Many have become my enemies^(ah) without cause^[b]; those who hate me^(ai) without reason^(aj) are numerous.

Those who repay my good with evil^(ak) lodge accusations^(al) against me, though I seek only to do what is good.

Lord , do not forsake me;^(am) do not be far^(an) from me, my God.

Come quickly^(ao) to help me,^(ap) my Lord and my Savior.^(aq)