Study Desk

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

May God arise,^(a) may his enemies be scattered;^(b) may his foes flee^(c) before him.

May you blow them away like smoke—^(d) as wax melts^(e) before the fire, may the wicked perish^(f) before God.

But may the righteous be glad and rejoice^(g) before God; may they be happy and joyful.

Sing to God, sing in praise of his name,^(h) extol him who rides on the clouds^[b](i); rejoice before him—his name is the Lord .^(j)

A father to the fatherless,^(k) a defender of widows,^(l) is God in his holy dwelling.^(m)

God sets the lonely⁽ⁿ⁾ in families,^[c](o) he leads out the prisoners^(p) with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.^(q)

When you, God, went out^(r) before your people, when you marched through the wilderness,^[d](s)

the earth shook,^(t) the heavens poured down rain,^(u) before God, the One of Sinai,^(v) before God, the God of Israel.^(w)

You gave abundant showers,^(x) O God; you refreshed your weary inheritance.

Your people settled in it, and from your bounty,^(y) God, you provided^(z) for the poor.

The Lord announces the word, and the women who proclaim it are a mighty throng:^(aa)

"Kings and armies flee^(ab) in haste; the women at home divide the plunder.^(ac)

Even while you sleep among the sheep pens,^[e](ad) the wings of my dove are sheathed with silver, its feathers with shining gold."

When the Almighty^[f] scattered^(ae) the kings in the land, it was like snow fallen on Mount Zalmon.^(af)

Mount Bashan,^(ag) majestic mountain,^(ah) Mount Bashan, rugged mountain,

why gaze in envy, you rugged mountain, at the mountain where God chooses^(ai) to reign, where the Lord himself will dwell forever?^(aj)

The chariots^(ak) of God are tens of thousands and thousands of thousands;^(al) the Lord has come from Sinai into his sanctuary.^[g]

When you ascended^(am) on high,^(an) you took many captives;^(ao) you received gifts from people,^(ap) even from^[h] the rebellious^(aq)— that you,^[i] Lord God, might dwell there.

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior,^(ar) who daily bears our burdens.^(as)

Our God is a God who saves;^(at) from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death.^(au)

Surely God will crush the heads^(av) of his enemies, the hairy crowns of those who go on in their sins.

The Lord says, "I will bring them from Bashan; I will bring them from the depths of the sea,^(aw)

that your feet may wade in the blood of your foes,^(ax) while the tongues of your dogs^(ay) have their share."

Your procession, God, has come into view, the procession of my God and King into the sanctuary.^(az)

In front are the singers,^(ba) after them the musicians;^(bb) with them are the young women playing the timbrels.^(bc)

Praise God in the great congregation;^(bd) praise the Lord in the assembly of Israel.^(be)

There is the little tribe^(bf) of Benjamin,^(bg) leading them, there the great throng of Judah's princes, and there the princes of Zebulun and of Naphtali.^(bh)

Summon your power,^(bi) God^[j]; show us your strength,^(bj) our God, as you have done^(bk) before.

Because of your temple at Jerusalem kings will bring you gifts.^(bl)

Rebuke the beast^(bm) among the reeds,^(bn) the herd of bulls^(bo) among the calves of the nations. Humbled, may the beast bring bars of silver. Scatter the nations^(bp) who delight in war.^(bq)

Envoys will come from Egypt;^(br) Cush^[k](bs) will submit herself to God.

Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth,^(bt) sing praise^(bu) to the Lord,

to him who rides^(bv) across the highest heavens, the ancient heavens, who thunders^(bw) with mighty voice.^(bx)

Proclaim the power^(by) of God, whose majesty^(bz) is over Israel, whose power is in the heavens.

You, God, are awesome^(ca) in your sanctuary;^(cb) the God of Israel gives power and strength^(cc) to his people.^(cd) Praise be to God!^(ce)

Of Solomon.

Endow the king with your justice,^(a) O God, the royal son with your righteousness.

May he judge your people in righteousness,^(b) your afflicted ones with justice.

May the mountains bring prosperity to the people, the hills the fruit of righteousness.

May he defend the afflicted^(c) among the people and save the children of the needy;^(d) may he crush the oppressor.^(e)

May he endure^[a](f) as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations.^(g)

May he be like rain^(h) falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth.

In his days may the righteous flourish⁽ⁱ⁾ and prosperity abound till the moon is no more.

May he rule from sea to sea and from the River^[b](j) to the ends of the earth.^(k)

May the desert tribes bow before him and his enemies lick the dust.

May the kings of Tarshish^(l) and of distant shores^(m) bring tribute to him. May the kings of Sheba⁽ⁿ⁾ and Seba present him gifts.^(o)

May all kings bow down^(p) to him and all nations serve^(q) him.

For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help.

He will take pity^(r) on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death.

He will rescue^(s) them from oppression and violence, for precious^(t) is their blood in his sight.

Long may he live! May gold from Sheba^(u) be given him. May people ever pray for him and bless him all day long.^(v)

May grain^(w) abound throughout the land; on the tops of the hills may it sway. May the crops^(x) flourish like Lebanon^(y) and thrive^[c] like the grass of the field.^(z)

May his name endure forever;^(aa) may it continue as long as the sun.^(ab) Then all nations will be blessed through him,^[d] and they will call him blessed.^(ac)

Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel,^(ad) who alone does marvelous deeds.^(ae)

Praise be to his glorious name^(af) forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory.^(ag) Amen and Amen.^(ah)

This concludes the prayers of David son of Jesse.^(ai)

A prayer of David.

Hear me, Lord , and answer^(a) me, for I am poor and needy.

Guard my life, for I am faithful to you; save your servant who trusts in you.^(b) You are my God;

³have mercy^(c) on me, Lord, for I call^(d) to you all day long.

Bring joy to your servant, Lord, for I put my trust^(e) in you.

You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love^(f) to all who call to you.

Hear my prayer, Lord ; listen to my cry^(g) for mercy.

When I am in distress,^(h) I call⁽ⁱ⁾ to you, because you answer^(j) me.

Among the gods^(k) there is none like you,^(l) Lord; no deeds can compare with yours.

All the nations you have made will come^(m) and worship⁽ⁿ⁾ before you, Lord; they will bring glory^(o) to your name.

For you are great^(p) and do marvelous deeds;^(q) you alone^(r) are God.

Teach me your way,^(s) Lord , that I may rely on your faithfulness;^(t) give me an undivided^(u) heart, that I may fear^(v) your name.

I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;^(w) I will glorify your name forever.

For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me^(x) from the depths, from the realm of the dead.^(y)

Arrogant foes are attacking me, O God; ruthless people are trying to kill me— they have no regard for you.^(z)

But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious^(aa) God, slow to anger,^(ab) abounding^(ac) in love and faithfulness.^(ad)

Turn to me^(ae) and have mercy^(af) on me; show your strength^(ag) in behalf of your servant; save me, because I serve you just as my mother did.^(ah)

Give me a sign^(ai) of your goodness, that my enemies may see it and be put to shame, for you, Lord , have helped me and comforted me.