Study Desk

For the director of music. To the tune of "The Death of the Son." A psalm of David.

I will give thanks to you, Lord , with all my heart;^(a) I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.^(b)

I will be glad and rejoice^(c) in you; I will sing the praises^(d) of your name,^(e) O Most High.

My enemies turn back; they stumble and perish before you.

For you have upheld my right^(f) and my cause,^(g) sitting enthroned^(h) as the righteous judge.⁽ⁱ⁾

You have rebuked the nations^(j) and destroyed the wicked; you have blotted out their name^(k) for ever and ever.

Endless ruin has overtaken my enemies, you have uprooted their cities;^(l) even the memory of them^(m) has perished.

The Lord reigns forever;⁽ⁿ⁾ he has established his throne^(o) for judgment.

He rules the world in righteousness^(p) and judges the peoples with equity.^(q)

The Lord is a refuge^(r) for the oppressed,^(s) a stronghold in times of trouble.^(t)

Those who know your name^(u) trust in you, for you, Lord , have never forsaken^(v) those who seek you.^(w)

Sing the praises^(x) of the Lord , enthroned in Zion;^(y) proclaim among the nations^(z) what he has done.^(aa)

For he who avenges blood^(ab) remembers; he does not ignore the cries of the afflicted.^(ac)

Lord , see how my enemies^(ad) persecute me! Have mercy^(ae) and lift me up from the gates of death,^(af)

that I may declare your praises^(ag) in the gates of Daughter Zion,^(ah) and there rejoice in your salvation.^(ai)

The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug;^(aj) their feet are caught in the net they have hidden.^(ak)

The Lord is known by his acts of justice; the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands.^[c](al)

The wicked go down to the realm of the dead,^(am) all the nations that forget God.^(an)

But God will never forget the needy; the hope^(ao) of the afflicted^(ap) will never perish.

Arise,^(aq) Lord , do not let mortals triumph;^(ar) let the nations be judged^(as) in your presence.

Strike them with terror,^(at) Lord ; let the nations know they are only mortal.^(au)

Why, Lord , do you stand far off?^(a) Why do you hide yourself^(b) in times of trouble?

In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak,^(c) who are caught in the schemes he devises.

He boasts^(d) about the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the Lord .^(e)

In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.^(f)

His ways are always prosperous; your laws are rejected by^[b] him; he sneers at all his enemies.

He says to himself, "Nothing will ever shake me." He swears, "No one will ever do me harm."^(g)

His mouth is full^(h) of lies and threats;⁽ⁱ⁾ trouble and evil are under his tongue.^(j)

He lies in wait^(k) near the villages; from ambush he murders the innocent.^(l) His eyes watch in secret for his victims;

like a lion in cover he lies in wait. He lies in wait to catch the helpless;^(m) he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net.⁽ⁿ⁾

His victims are crushed,^(o) they collapse; they fall under his strength.

He says to himself, "God will never notice;^(p) he covers his face and never sees."^(q)

Arise,^(r) Lord ! Lift up your hand,^(s) O God. Do not forget the helpless.^(t)

Why does the wicked man revile God?^(u) Why does he say to himself, "He won't call me to account"?^(v)

But you, God, see the trouble^(w) of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to you;^(x) you are the helper^(y) of the fatherless.

Break the arm of the wicked man;^(z) call the evildoer to account for his wickedness that would not otherwise be found out.

The Lord is King for ever and ever;^(aa) the nations^(ab) will perish from his land.

You, Lord , hear the desire of the afflicted;^(ac) you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,^(ad)

defending the fatherless^(ae) and the oppressed,^(af) so that mere earthly mortals will never again strike terror.