Category: Psalms

For the choir director: A psalm of David.

1 OLord, I have come to you for protection;

don’t let me be disgraced.

Save me, for you do what is right.

2 Turn your ear to listen to me;

rescue me quickly.

Be my rock of protection,

a fortress where I will be safe.

3 You are my rock and my fortress.

For the honor of your name, lead me out of this danger.

4 Pull me from the trap my enemies set for me,

for I find protection in you alone.

5 I entrust my spirit into your hand.

Rescue me,Lord, for you are a faithful God.

6 I hate those who worship worthless idols.

I trust in theLord.

7 I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love,

for you have seen my troubles,

and you care about the anguish of my soul.

8 You have not handed me over to my enemies

but have set me in a safe place.

9 Have mercy on me,Lord, for I am in distress.

Tears blur my eyes.

My body and soul are withering away.

10 I am dying from grief;

my years are shortened by sadness.

Sin has drained my strength;

I am wasting away from within.

11 I am scorned by all my enemies

and despised by my neighbors—

even my friends are afraid to come near me.

When they see me on the street,

they run the other way.

12 I am ignored as if I were dead,

as if I were a broken pot.

13 I have heard the many rumors about me,

and I am surrounded by terror.

My enemies conspire against me,

plotting to take my life.

14 But I am trusting you, OLord,

saying, “You are my God!”

15 My future is in your hands.

Rescue me from those who hunt me down relentlessly.

16 Let your favor shine on your servant.

In your unfailing love, rescue me.

17 Don’t let me be disgraced, OLord,

for I call out to you for help.

Let the wicked be disgraced;

let them lie silent in the grave.

18 Silence their lying lips—

those proud and arrogant lips that accuse the godly.

19 How great is the goodness

you have stored up for those who fear you.

You lavish it on those who come to you for protection,

blessing them before the watching world.

20 You hide them in the shelter of your presence,

safe from those who conspire against them.

You shelter them in your presence,

far from accusing tongues.

21 Praise theLord,

for he has shown me the wonders of his unfailing love.

He kept me safe when my city was under attack.

22 In panic I cried out,

“I am cut off from theLord!”

But you heard my cry for mercy

and answered my call for help.

23 Love theLord, all you godly ones!

For theLordprotects those who are loyal to him,

but he harshly punishes the arrogant.

24 So be strong and courageous,

all you who put your hope in theLord!

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/6/32k/PSA/31-33fd036930bf3c2080021560e3aff74a.mp3?version_id=116—

A psalm

of David.

1 Oh, what joy for those

whose disobedience is forgiven,

whose sin is put out of sight!

2 Yes, what joy for those

whose record theLordhas cleared of guilt,

whose lives are lived in complete honesty!

3 When I refused to confess my sin,

my body wasted away,

and I groaned all day long.

4 Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me.

My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.

Interlude

5 Finally, I confessed all my sins to you

and stopped trying to hide my guilt.

I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to theLord.”

And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.

Interlude

6 Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time,

that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment.

7 For you are my hiding place;

you protect me from trouble.

You surround me with songs of victory.

Interlude

8 TheLordsays, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.

I will advise you and watch over you.

9 Do not be like a senseless horse or mule

that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.”

10 Many sorrows come to the wicked,

but unfailing love surrounds those who trust theLord.

11 So rejoice in theLordand be glad, all you who obey him!

Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/6/32k/PSA/32-2b90ab1a7d0f11e84134f1ecd0282880.mp3?version_id=116—

1 Let the godly sing for joy to theLord;

it is fitting for the pure to praise him.

2 Praise theLordwith melodies on the lyre;

make music for him on the ten-stringed harp.

3 Sing a new song of praise to him;

play skillfully on the harp, and sing with joy.

4 For the word of theLordholds true,

and we can trust everything he does.

5 He loves whatever is just and good;

the unfailing love of theLordfills the earth.

6 TheLordmerely spoke,

and the heavens were created.

He breathed the word,

and all the stars were born.

7 He assigned the sea its boundaries

and locked the oceans in vast reservoirs.

8 Let the whole world fear theLord,

and let everyone stand in awe of him.

9 For when he spoke, the world began!

It appeared at his command.

10 TheLordfrustrates the plans of the nations

and thwarts all their schemes.

11 But theLord’s plans stand firm forever;

his intentions can never be shaken.

12 What joy for the nation whose God is theLord,

whose people he has chosen as his inheritance.

13 TheLordlooks down from heaven

and sees the whole human race.

14 From his throne he observes

all who live on the earth.

15 He made their hearts,

so he understands everything they do.

16 The best-equipped army cannot save a king,

nor is great strength enough to save a warrior.

17 Don’t count on your warhorse to give you victory—

for all its strength, it cannot save you.

18 But theLordwatches over those who fear him,

those who rely on his unfailing love.

19 He rescues them from death

and keeps them alive in times of famine.

20 We put our hope in theLord.

He is our help and our shield.

21 In him our hearts rejoice,

for we trust in his holy name.

22 Let your unfailing love surround us,Lord,

for our hope is in you alone.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/6/32k/PSA/33-80d2af97328a97dc3ec4aee8b9e313ea.mp3?version_id=116—

A psalm of David, regarding the time he pretended to be insane in front of Abimelech, who sent him away.

1 I will praise theLordat all times.

I will constantly speak his praises.

2 I will boast only in theLord;

let all who are helpless take heart.

3 Come, let us tell of theLord’s greatness;

let us exalt his name together.

4 I prayed to theLord, and he answered me.

He freed me from all my fears.

5 Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy;

no shadow of shame will darken their faces.

6 In my desperation I prayed, and theLordlistened;

he saved me from all my troubles.

7 For the angel of theLordis a guard;

he surrounds and defends all who fear him.

8 Taste and see that theLordis good.

Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!

9 Fear theLord, you his godly people,

for those who fear him will have all they need.

10 Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry,

but those who trust in theLordwill lack no good thing.

11 Come, my children, and listen to me,

and I will teach you to fear theLord.

12 Does anyone want to live a life

that is long and prosperous?

13 Then keep your tongue from speaking evil

and your lips from telling lies!

14 Turn away from evil and do good.

Search for peace, and work to maintain it.

15 The eyes of theLordwatch over those who do right;

his ears are open to their cries for help.

16 But theLordturns his face against those who do evil;

he will erase their memory from the earth.

17 TheLordhears his people when they call to him for help.

He rescues them from all their troubles.

18 TheLordis close to the brokenhearted;

he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

19 The righteous person faces many troubles,

but theLordcomes to the rescue each time.

20 For theLordprotects the bones of the righteous;

not one of them is broken!

21 Calamity will surely destroy the wicked,

and those who hate the righteous will be punished.

22 But theLordwill redeem those who serve him.

No one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/6/32k/PSA/34-b15896cb6ed587445c2b8a294e5a2238.mp3?version_id=116—

A psalm of David.

1 OLord, oppose those who oppose me.

Fight those who fight against me.

2 Put on your armor, and take up your shield.

Prepare for battle, and come to my aid.

3 Lift up your spear and javelin

against those who pursue me.

Let me hear you say,

“I will give you victory!”

4 Bring shame and disgrace on those trying to kill me;

turn them back and humiliate those who want to harm me.

5 Blow them away like chaff in the wind—

a wind sent by the angel of theLord.

6 Make their path dark and slippery,

with the angel of theLordpursuing them.

7 I did them no wrong, but they laid a trap for me.

I did them no wrong, but they dug a pit to catch me.

8 So let sudden ruin come upon them!

Let them be caught in the trap they set for me!

Let them be destroyed in the pit they dug for me.

9 Then I will rejoice in theLord.

I will be glad because he rescues me.

10 With every bone in my body I will praise him:

“Lord, who can compare with you?

Who else rescues the helpless from the strong?

Who else protects the helpless and poor from those who rob them?”

11 Malicious witnesses testify against me.

They accuse me of crimes I know nothing about.

12 They repay me evil for good.

I am sick with despair.

13 Yet when they were ill, I grieved for them.

I denied myself by fasting for them,

but my prayers returned unanswered.

14 I was sad, as though they were my friends or family,

as if I were grieving for my own mother.

15 But they are glad now that I am in trouble;

they gleefully join together against me.

I am attacked by people I don’t even know;

they slander me constantly.

16 They mock me and call me names;

they snarl at me.

17 How long, O Lord, will you look on and do nothing?

Rescue me from their fierce attacks.

Protect my life from these lions!

18 Then I will thank you in front of the great assembly.

I will praise you before all the people.

19 Don’t let my treacherous enemies rejoice over my defeat.

Don’t let those who hate me without cause gloat over my sorrow.

20 They don’t talk of peace;

they plot against innocent people who mind their own business.

21 They shout, “Aha! Aha!

With our own eyes we saw him do it!”

22 OLord, you know all about this.

Do not stay silent.

Do not abandon me now, O Lord.

23 Wake up! Rise to my defense!

Take up my case, my God and my Lord.

24 Declare me not guilty, OLordmy God, for you give justice.

Don’t let my enemies laugh about me in my troubles.

25 Don’t let them say, “Look, we got what we wanted!

Now we will eat him alive!”

26 May those who rejoice at my troubles

be humiliated and disgraced.

May those who triumph over me

be covered with shame and dishonor.

27 But give great joy to those who came to my defense.

Let them continually say, “Great is theLord,

who delights in blessing his servant with peace!”

28 Then I will proclaim your justice,

and I will praise you all day long.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/6/32k/PSA/35-eefb8226380fab0914c89e3be1614586.mp3?version_id=116—

For the choir director: A psalm of David, the servant of the

Lord

.

1 Sin whispers to the wicked, deep within their hearts.

They have no fear of God at all.

2 In their blind conceit,

they cannot see how wicked they really are.

3 Everything they say is crooked and deceitful.

They refuse to act wisely or do good.

4 They lie awake at night, hatching sinful plots.

Their actions are never good.

They make no attempt to turn from evil.

5 Your unfailing love, OLord, is as vast as the heavens;

your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.

6 Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,

your justice like the ocean depths.

You care for people and animals alike, OLord.

7 How precious is your unfailing love, O God!

All humanity finds shelter

in the shadow of your wings.

8 You feed them from the abundance of your own house,

letting them drink from your river of delights.

9 For you are the fountain of life,

the light by which we see.

10 Pour out your unfailing love on those who love you;

give justice to those with honest hearts.

11 Don’t let the proud trample me

or the wicked push me around.

12 Look! Those who do evil have fallen!

They are thrown down, never to rise again.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/6/32k/PSA/36-12f0bbb893cde8f8f68e46a7dd2792a7.mp3?version_id=116—

A psalm of David.

1 Don’t worry about the wicked

or envy those who do wrong.

2 For like grass, they soon fade away.

Like spring flowers, they soon wither.

3 Trust in theLordand do good.

Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.

4 Take delight in theLord,

and he will give you your heart’s desires.

5 Commit everything you do to theLord.

Trust him, and he will help you.

6 He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn,

and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.

7 Be still in the presence of theLord,

and wait patiently for him to act.

Don’t worry about evil people who prosper

or fret about their wicked schemes.

8 Stop being angry!

Turn from your rage!

Do not lose your temper—

it only leads to harm.

9 For the wicked will be destroyed,

but those who trust in theLordwill possess the land.

10 Soon the wicked will disappear.

Though you look for them, they will be gone.

11 The lowly will possess the land

and will live in peace and prosperity.

12 The wicked plot against the godly;

they snarl at them in defiance.

13 But the Lord just laughs,

for he sees their day of judgment coming.

14 The wicked draw their swords

and string their bows

to kill the poor and the oppressed,

to slaughter those who do right.

15 But their swords will stab their own hearts,

and their bows will be broken.

16 It is better to be godly and have little

than to be evil and rich.

17 For the strength of the wicked will be shattered,

but theLordtakes care of the godly.

18 Day by day theLordtakes care of the innocent,

and they will receive an inheritance that lasts forever.

19 They will not be disgraced in hard times;

even in famine they will have more than enough.

20 But the wicked will die.

TheLord’s enemies are like flowers in a field—

they will disappear like smoke.

21 The wicked borrow and never repay,

but the godly are generous givers.

22 Those theLordblesses will possess the land,

but those he curses will die.

23 TheLorddirects the steps of the godly.

He delights in every detail of their lives.

24 Though they stumble, they will never fall,

for theLordholds them by the hand.

25 Once I was young, and now I am old.

Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned

or their children begging for bread.

26 The godly always give generous loans to others,

and their children are a blessing.

27 Turn from evil and do good,

and you will live in the land forever.

28 For theLordloves justice,

and he will never abandon the godly.

He will keep them safe forever,

but the children of the wicked will die.

29 The godly will possess the land

and will live there forever.

30 The godly offer good counsel;

they teach right from wrong.

31 They have made God’s law their own,

so they will never slip from his path.

32 The wicked wait in ambush for the godly,

looking for an excuse to kill them.

33 But theLordwill not let the wicked succeed

or let the godly be condemned when they are put on trial.

34 Put your hope in theLord.

Travel steadily along his path.

He will honor you by giving you the land.

You will see the wicked destroyed.

35 I have seen wicked and ruthless people

flourishing like a tree in its native soil.

36 But when I looked again, they were gone!

Though I searched for them, I could not find them!

37 Look at those who are honest and good,

for a wonderful future awaits those who love peace.

38 But the rebellious will be destroyed;

they have no future.

39 TheLordrescues the godly;

he is their fortress in times of trouble.

40 TheLordhelps them,

rescuing them from the wicked.

He saves them,

and they find shelter in him.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/6/32k/PSA/37-374aa1375bd522691293b4d0d4d6d9bf.mp3?version_id=116—

A psalm of David, asking God to remember him.

1 OLord, don’t rebuke me in your anger

or discipline me in your rage!

2 Your arrows have struck deep,

and your blows are crushing me.

3 Because of your anger, my whole body is sick;

my health is broken because of my sins.

4 My guilt overwhelms me—

it is a burden too heavy to bear.

5 My wounds fester and stink

because of my foolish sins.

6 I am bent over and racked with pain.

All day long I walk around filled with grief.

7 A raging fever burns within me,

and my health is broken.

8 I am exhausted and completely crushed.

My groans come from an anguished heart.

9 You know what I long for, Lord;

you hear my every sigh.

10 My heart beats wildly, my strength fails,

and I am going blind.

11 My loved ones and friends stay away, fearing my disease.

Even my own family stands at a distance.

12 Meanwhile, my enemies lay traps to kill me.

Those who wish me harm make plans to ruin me.

All day long they plan their treachery.

13 But I am deaf to all their threats.

I am silent before them as one who cannot speak.

14 I choose to hear nothing,

and I make no reply.

15 For I am waiting for you, OLord.

You must answer for me, O Lord my God.

16 I prayed, “Don’t let my enemies gloat over me

or rejoice at my downfall.”

17 I am on the verge of collapse,

facing constant pain.

18 But I confess my sins;

I am deeply sorry for what I have done.

19 I have many aggressive enemies;

they hate me without reason.

20 They repay me evil for good

and oppose me for pursuing good.

21 Do not abandon me, OLord.

Do not stand at a distance, my God.

22 Come quickly to help me,

O Lord my savior.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/6/32k/PSA/38-2b4125957f120430e02a4307d7b00be9.mp3?version_id=116—

For Jeduthun, the choir director: A psalm of David.

1 I said to myself, “I will watch what I do

and not sin in what I say.

I will hold my tongue

when the ungodly are around me.”

2 But as I stood there in silence—

not even speaking of good things—

the turmoil within me grew worse.

3 The more I thought about it,

the hotter I got,

igniting a fire of words:

4 “Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.

Remind me that my days are numbered—

how fleeting my life is.

5 You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand.

My entire lifetime is just a moment to you;

at best, each of us is but a breath.”

Interlude

6 We are merely moving shadows,

and all our busy rushing ends in nothing.

We heap up wealth,

not knowing who will spend it.

7 And so, Lord, where do I put my hope?

My only hope is in you.

8 Rescue me from my rebellion.

Do not let fools mock me.

9 I am silent before you; I won’t say a word,

for my punishment is from you.

10 But please stop striking me!

I am exhausted by the blows from your hand.

11 When you discipline us for our sins,

you consume like a moth what is precious to us.

Each of us is but a breath.

Interlude

12 Hear my prayer, OLord!

Listen to my cries for help!

Don’t ignore my tears.

For I am your guest—

a traveler passing through,

as my ancestors were before me.

13 Leave me alone so I can smile again

before I am gone and exist no more.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/6/32k/PSA/39-853541345b3d5a5e452037e34a9e3abc.mp3?version_id=116—

For the choir director: A psalm of David.

1 I waited patiently for theLordto help me,

and he turned to me and heard my cry.

2 He lifted me out of the pit of despair,

out of the mud and the mire.

He set my feet on solid ground

and steadied me as I walked along.

3 He has given me a new song to sing,

a hymn of praise to our God.

Many will see what he has done and be amazed.

They will put their trust in theLord.

4 Oh, the joys of those who trust theLord,

who have no confidence in the proud

or in those who worship idols.

5 OLordmy God, you have performed many wonders for us.

Your plans for us are too numerous to list.

You have no equal.

If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds,

I would never come to the end of them.

6 You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings.

Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand—

you don’t require burnt offerings or sin offerings.

7 Then I said, “Look, I have come.

As is written about me in the Scriptures:

8 I take joy in doing your will, my God,

for your instructions are written on my heart.”

9 I have told all your people about your justice.

I have not been afraid to speak out,

as you, OLord, well know.

10 I have not kept the good news of your justice hidden in my heart;

I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power.

I have told everyone in the great assembly

of your unfailing love and faithfulness.

11 Lord, don’t hold back your tender mercies from me.

Let your unfailing love and faithfulness always protect me.

12 For troubles surround me—

too many to count!

My sins pile up so high

I can’t see my way out.

They outnumber the hairs on my head.

I have lost all courage.

13 Please,Lord, rescue me!

Come quickly,Lord, and help me.

14 May those who try to destroy me

be humiliated and put to shame.

May those who take delight in my trouble

be turned back in disgrace.

15 Let them be horrified by their shame,

for they said, “Aha! We’ve got him now!”

16 But may all who search for you

be filled with joy and gladness in you.

May those who love your salvation

repeatedly shout, “TheLordis great!”

17 As for me, since I am poor and needy,

let the Lord keep me in his thoughts.

You are my helper and my savior.

O my God, do not delay.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/6/32k/PSA/40-b4061338fe82ca843355730861552ce7.mp3?version_id=116—