Study Desk

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)

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

I said, "I will watch my ways^(a) and keep my tongue from sin;^(b) I will put a muzzle on my mouth^(c) while in the presence of the wicked."

So I remained utterly silent,^(d) not even saying anything good. But my anguish^(e) increased;

my heart grew hot^(f) within me. While I meditated,^(g) the fire^(h) burned; then I spoke with my tongue:

"Show me, Lord , my life's end and the number of my days;⁽ⁱ⁾ let me know how fleeting^(j) my life is.^(k)

You have made my days^(l) a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath,^(m) even those who seem secure.^[b]

"Surely everyone goes around⁽ⁿ⁾ like a mere phantom;^(o) in vain they rush about,^(p) heaping up wealth^(q) without knowing whose it will finally be.^(r)

"But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.^(s)

Save me^(t) from all my transgressions;^(u) do not make me the scorn^(v) of fools.

I was silent;^(w) I would not open my mouth,^(x) for you are the one who has done this.^(y)

Remove your scourge from me; I am overcome by the blow^(z) of your hand.^(aa)

When you rebuke^(ab) and discipline^(ac) anyone for their sin, you consume^(ad) their wealth like a moth^(ae)— surely everyone is but a breath.^(af)

"Hear my prayer, Lord , listen to my cry for help;^(ag) do not be deaf^(ah) to my weeping.^(ai) I dwell with you as a foreigner,^(aj) a stranger,^(ak) as all my ancestors were.^(al)

Look away from me, that I may enjoy life again before I depart and am no more."^(am)