Study Desk

A psalm of Asaph.

O God, the nations have invaded your inheritance;^(a) they have defiled^(b) your holy temple, they have reduced Jerusalem to rubble.^(c)

They have left the dead bodies of your servants as food for the birds of the sky,^(d) the flesh of your own people for the animals of the wild.^(e)

They have poured out blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there is no one to bury^(f) the dead.^(g)

We are objects of contempt to our neighbors, of scorn^(h) and derision to those around us.⁽ⁱ⁾

How long,^(j) Lord ? Will you be angry^(k) forever? How long will your jealousy burn like fire?^(l)

Pour out your wrath^(m) on the nations that do not acknowledge⁽ⁿ⁾ you, on the kingdoms that do not call on your name;^(o)

for they have devoured^(p) Jacob and devastated his homeland.

Do not hold against us the sins of past generations;^(q) may your mercy come quickly to meet us, for we are in desperate need.^(r)

Help us,^(s) God our Savior, for the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for your name's sake.^(t)

Why should the nations say, "Where is their God?"^(u) Before our eyes, make known among the nations that you avenge^(v) the outpoured blood^(w) of your servants.

May the groans of the prisoners come before you; with your strong arm preserve those condemned to die.

Pay back into the laps^(x) of our neighbors seven times^(y) the contempt they have hurled at you, Lord.

Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture,^(z) will praise you forever;^(aa) from generation to generation we will proclaim your praise.

For the director of music. To the tune of "The Lilies of the Covenant." Of Asaph. A psalm.

Hear us, Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock.^(a) You who sit enthroned between the cherubim,^(b) shine forth

²before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh.^(c) Awaken^(d) your might; come and save us.^(e)

Restore^(f) us,^(g) O God; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.^(h)

How long,⁽ⁱ⁾ Lord God Almighty, will your anger smolder^(j) against the prayers of your people?

You have fed them with the bread of tears;^(k) you have made them drink tears by the bowlful.^(l)

You have made us an object of derision^[b] to our neighbors, and our enemies mock us.^(m)

Restore us, God Almighty; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.⁽ⁿ⁾

You transplanted a vine^(o) from Egypt; you drove out^(p) the nations and planted^(q) it.

You cleared the ground for it, and it took root and filled the land.

The mountains were covered with its shade, the mighty cedars with its branches.

Its branches reached as far as the Sea,^[c] its shoots as far as the River.^[d](r)

Why have you broken down its walls^(s) so that all who pass by pick its grapes?

Boars from the forest ravage^(t) it, and insects from the fields feed on it.

Return to us, God Almighty! Look down from heaven and see!^(u) Watch over this vine,

the root your right hand has planted, the son^[e] you have raised up for yourself.

Your vine is cut down, it is burned with fire;^(v) at your rebuke^(w) your people perish.

Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand, the son of man^(x) you have raised up for yourself.

Then we will not turn away from you; revive^(y) us, and we will call on your name.

Restore us, Lord God Almighty; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.

For the director of music. According to gittith.^[b] Of Asaph.

Sing for joy to God our strength; shout aloud to the God of Jacob!^(a)

Begin the music, strike the timbrel,^(b) play the melodious harp^(c) and lyre.^(d)

Sound the ram's horn^(e) at the New Moon,^(f) and when the moon is full, on the day of our festival;

this is a decree for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob.^(g)

When God went out against Egypt,^(h) he established it as a statute for Joseph. I heard an unknown voice say:⁽ⁱ⁾

"I removed the burden^(j) from their shoulders;^(k) their hands were set free from the basket.

In your distress you called^(l) and I rescued you, I answered^(m) you out of a thundercloud; I tested you at the waters of Meribah.^[c](n)

Hear me, my people,^(o) and I will warn you— if you would only listen to me, Israel!

You shall have no foreign god^(p) among you; you shall not worship any god other than me.

I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt.^(q) Open^(r) wide your mouth and I will fill^(s) it.

"But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me.^(t)

So I gave them over^(u) to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.

"If my people would only listen to me,^(v) if Israel would only follow my ways,

how quickly I would subdue^(w) their enemies and turn my hand against^(x) their foes!

Those who hate the Lord would cringe^(y) before him, and their punishment would last forever.

But you would be fed with the finest of wheat;^(z) with honey from the rock I would satisfy you."

A psalm of Asaph.

God presides in the great assembly; he renders judgment^(a) among the "gods":^(b)

"How long will you^[a] defend the unjust and show partiality^(c) to the wicked?^[b](d)

Defend the weak and the fatherless;^(e) uphold the cause of the poor^(f) and the oppressed.

Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

"The ‘gods' know nothing, they understand nothing.^(g) They walk about in darkness;^(h) all the foundations⁽ⁱ⁾ of the earth are shaken.

"I said, ‘You are "gods";^(j) you are all sons of the Most High.'

But you will die^(k) like mere mortals; you will fall like every other ruler."

Rise up,^(l) O God, judge^(m) the earth, for all the nations are your inheritance.⁽ⁿ⁾