Study Desk

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

I waited patiently^(b) for the Lord ; he turned to me and heard my cry.^(c)

He lifted me out of the slimy pit,^(d) out of the mud^(e) and mire;^(f) he set my feet^(g) on a rock^(h) and gave me a firm place to stand.

He put a new song⁽ⁱ⁾ in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord ^(j) and put their trust^(k) in him.

Blessed is the one^(l) who trusts in the Lord ,^(m) who does not look to the proud,⁽ⁿ⁾ to those who turn aside to false gods.^[b](o)

Many, Lord my God, are the wonders^(p) you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare^(q) with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many^(r) to declare.

Sacrifice and offering you did not desire—^(s) but my ears you have opened^[c]—^(t) burnt offerings^(u) and sin offerings^[d] you did not require.

Then I said, "Here I am, I have come— it is written about me in the scroll.^[e](v)

I desire to do your will,^(w) my God;^(x) your law is within my heart."^(y)

I proclaim your saving acts^(z) in the great assembly;^(aa) I do not seal my lips, Lord , as you know.^(ab)

I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness^(ac) and your saving help. I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness from the great assembly.^(ad)

Do not withhold your mercy^(ae) from me, Lord ; may your love^(af) and faithfulness^(ag) always protect^(ah) me.

For troubles^(ai) without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see.^(aj) They are more than the hairs of my head,^(ak) and my heart fails^(al) within me.

Be pleased to save me, Lord ; come quickly, Lord , to help me.^(am)

May all who want to take my life^(an) be put to shame and confusion;^(ao) may all who desire my ruin^(ap) be turned back in disgrace.

May those who say to me, "Aha! Aha!"^(aq) be appalled at their own shame.

But may all who seek you^(ar) rejoice and be glad^(as) in you; may those who long for your saving help always say, "The Lord is great!"^(at)

But as for me, I am poor and needy;^(au) may the Lord think^(av) of me. You are my help^(aw) and my deliverer;^(ax) you are my God, do not delay.^(ay)

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

Blessed^(a) are those who have regard for the weak;^(b) the Lord delivers them in times of trouble.^(c)

The Lord protects^(d) and preserves them—^(e) they are counted among the blessed in the land—^(f) he does not give them over to the desire of their foes.^(g)

The Lord sustains them on their sickbed^(h) and restores them from their bed of illness.⁽ⁱ⁾

I said, "Have mercy^(j) on me, Lord ; heal^(k) me, for I have sinned^(l) against you."

My enemies say of me in malice, "When will he die and his name perish?^(m)"

When one of them comes to see me, he speaks falsely,⁽ⁿ⁾ while his heart gathers slander;^(o) then he goes out and spreads^(p) it around.

All my enemies whisper together^(q) against me; they imagine the worst for me, saying,

"A vile disease has afflicted him; he will never get up^(r) from the place where he lies."

Even my close friend,^(s) someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned^[b] against me.^(t)

But may you have mercy^(u) on me, Lord ; raise me up,^(v) that I may repay^(w) them.

I know that you are pleased with me,^(x) for my enemy does not triumph over me.^(y)

Because of my integrity^(z) you uphold me^(aa) and set me in your presence forever.^(ab)

Praise^(ac) be to the Lord , the God of Israel,^(ad) from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen.^(ae)

BOOK II

Psalms 42–72

For the director of music. A maskil^[c] of the Sons of Korah.

As the deer^(a) pants for streams of water,^(b) so my soul pants^(c) for you, my God.

My soul thirsts^(d) for God, for the living God.^(e) When can I go^(f) and meet with God?

My tears^(g) have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, "Where is your God?"^(h)

These things I remember as I pour out my soul:⁽ⁱ⁾ how I used to go to the house of God^(j) under the protection of the Mighty One^[d] with shouts of joy^(k) and praise^(l) among the festive throng.^(m)

Why, my soul, are you downcast?⁽ⁿ⁾ Why so disturbed^(o) within me? Put your hope in God,^(p) for I will yet praise^(q) him, my Savior^(r) and my God.^(s)

My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember^(t) you from the land of the Jordan,^(u) the heights of Hermon^(v)—from Mount Mizar.

Deep calls to deep^(w) in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.^(x)

By day the Lord directs his love,^(y) at night^(z) his song^(aa) is with me— a prayer to the God of my life.^(ab)

I say to God my Rock,^(ac) "Why have you forgotten^(ad) me? Why must I go about mourning,^(ae) oppressed^(af) by the enemy?"^(ag)

My bones suffer mortal agony^(ah) as my foes taunt^(ai) me, saying to me all day long, "Where is your God?"^(aj)

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.^(ak)

Vindicate me, my God, and plead my cause^(a) against an unfaithful nation. Rescue me^(b) from those who are deceitful and wicked.^(c)

You are God my stronghold. Why have you rejected^(d) me? Why must I go about mourning,^(e) oppressed by the enemy?^(f)

Send me your light^(g) and your faithful care,^(h) let them lead me;⁽ⁱ⁾ let them bring me to your holy mountain,^(j) to the place where you dwell.^(k)

Then I will go^(l) to the altar^(m) of God, to God, my joy⁽ⁿ⁾ and my delight.^(o) I will praise you with the lyre,^(p) O God, my God.

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.^(q)

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil.^[b]

We have heard it with our ears,^(a) O God; our ancestors have told us^(b) what you did in their days, in days long ago.^(c)

With your hand you drove out^(d) the nations and planted^(e) our ancestors; you crushed^(f) the peoples and made our ancestors flourish.^(g)

It was not by their sword^(h) that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand,⁽ⁱ⁾ your arm,^(j) and the light^(k) of your face, for you loved^(l) them.

You are my King^(m) and my God,⁽ⁿ⁾ who decrees^[c] victories^(o) for Jacob.

Through you we push back^(p) our enemies; through your name we trample^(q) our foes.

I put no trust in my bow,^(r) my sword does not bring me victory;

but you give us victory^(s) over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame.^(t)

In God we make our boast^(u) all day long,^(v) and we will praise your name forever.^[d](w)

But now you have rejected^(x) and humbled us;^(y) you no longer go out with our armies.^(z)

You made us retreat^(aa) before the enemy, and our adversaries have plundered^(ab) us.

You gave us up to be devoured like sheep^(ac) and have scattered us among the nations.^(ad)

You sold your people for a pittance,^(ae) gaining nothing from their sale.

You have made us a reproach^(af) to our neighbors,^(ag) the scorn^(ah) and derision^(ai) of those around us.

You have made us a byword^(aj) among the nations; the peoples shake their heads^(ak) at us.

I live in disgrace^(al) all day long, and my face is covered with shame^(am)

at the taunts^(an) of those who reproach and revile^(ao) me, because of the enemy, who is bent on revenge.^(ap)

All this came upon us, though we had not forgotten^(aq) you; we had not been false to your covenant.

Our hearts had not turned^(ar) back; our feet had not strayed from your path.

But you crushed^(as) us and made us a haunt for jackals;^(at) you covered us over with deep darkness.^(au)

If we had forgotten^(av) the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god,^(aw)

would not God have discovered it, since he knows the secrets of the heart?^(ax)

Yet for your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep^(ay) to be slaughtered.^(az)

Awake,^(ba) Lord! Why do you sleep?^(bb) Rouse yourself!^(bc) Do not reject us forever.^(bd)

Why do you hide your face^(be) and forget^(bf) our misery and oppression?^(bg)

We are brought down to the dust;^(bh) our bodies cling to the ground.

Rise up^(bi) and help us; rescue^(bj) us because of your unfailing love.^(bk)

For the director of music. To the tune of "Lilies." Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil.^[b] A wedding song.^(a)

My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.

You are the most excellent of men and your lips have been anointed with grace,^(b) since God has blessed you forever.^(c)

Gird your sword^(d) on your side, you mighty one;^(e) clothe yourself with splendor and majesty.^(f)

In your majesty ride forth victoriously^(g) in the cause of truth, humility and justice;^(h) let your right hand⁽ⁱ⁾ achieve awesome deeds.^(j)

Let your sharp arrows^(k) pierce the hearts^(l) of the king's enemies;^(m) let the nations fall beneath your feet.

Your throne, O God,^[c] will last for ever and ever;⁽ⁿ⁾ a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.

You love righteousness^(o) and hate wickedness;^(p) therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing^(q) you with the oil of joy.^(r)

All your robes are fragrant^(s) with myrrh^(t) and aloes^(u) and cassia;^(v) from palaces adorned with ivory^(w) the music of the strings^(x) makes you glad.

Daughters of kings^(y) are among your honored women; at your right hand^(z) is the royal bride^(aa) in gold of Ophir.^(ab)

Listen, daughter,^(ac) and pay careful attention:^(ad) Forget your people^(ae) and your father's house.

Let the king be enthralled by your beauty;^(af) honor^(ag) him, for he is your lord.^(ah)

The city of Tyre^(ai) will come with a gift,^[d](aj) people of wealth will seek your favor.

All glorious^(ak) is the princess within her chamber; her gown is interwoven with gold.^(al)

In embroidered garments^(am) she is led to the king;^(an) her virgin companions^(ao) follow her— those brought to be with her.

Led in with joy and gladness,^(ap) they enter the palace of the king.

Your sons will take the place of your fathers; you will make them princes^(aq) throughout the land.

I will perpetuate your memory through all generations;^(ar) therefore the nations will praise you^(as) for ever and ever.^(at)