The Psalms

PSALM 12

 1 For the leader; “upon the eighth.” A psalm of David.

I

 

2 Help, L ORD, for no one loyal remains;

the faithful have vanished from the children of men.^a

 

3 They tell lies to one another,

speak with deceiving lips and a double heart.^b

II

 

4 May the L ORD cut off all deceiving lips,

and every boastful tongue,

 

5 Those who say, “By our tongues we prevail;

when our lips speak, who can lord it over us?”^c

III

 

6 “Because they rob the weak, and the needy groan,

I will now arise,” says the LORD;

“I will grant safety to whoever longs for it.”^d

IV

 

7 The promises of the L ORD are sure,

silver refined in a crucible,^*

silver purified seven times.^e

 

8 You, O L ORD, protect us always;

preserve us from this generation.

 

9 On every side the wicked roam;

the shameless are extolled by the children of men.

PSALM 11

1 For the leader. Of David.

I

In the LORD I take refuge;

how can you say to me,

“Flee like a bird to the mountains!^a

 

2 See how the wicked string their bows,

fit their arrows to the string

to shoot from the shadows at the upright of heart.^b

 

3 ^*If foundations are destroyed,

what can the just one do?”

II

 

4 The L ORD is in his holy temple;

the LORD’s throne is in heaven.^c

God’s eyes keep careful watch;

they test the children of Adam.

 

5 The L ORD tests the righteous and the wicked,

hates those who love violence,

 

6 And rains upon the wicked

fiery coals and brimstone,

a scorching wind their allotted cup.^*d

 

7 The L ORD is just and loves just deeds;

the upright will see his face.

PSALM 10

1 Why, L ORD, do you stand afar

and pay no heed in times of trouble?

 

2 Arrogant scoundrels pursue the poor;

they trap them by their cunning schemes.^a

II

 

3The wicked even boast of their greed;

these robbers curse and scorn the LORD.^b

 

4 In their insolence the wicked boast:

“God does not care; there is no God.”^c

 

5 Yet their affairs always succeed;

they ignore your judgment on high;

they sneer at all who oppose them.

 

6 They say in their hearts, “We will never fall;

never will we see misfortune.”

 

7 Their mouths are full of oaths, violence, and lies;

discord and evil are under their tongues.^d

 

8 They wait in ambush near towns;

their eyes watch for the helpless

to murder the innocent in secret.^e

 

9 They lurk in ambush like lions in a thicket,

hide there to trap the poor,

snare them and close the net.^f

 

10 The helpless are crushed, laid low;

they fall into the power of the wicked,

 

11 Who say in their hearts, “God has forgotten,

shows no concern, never bothers to look.”^g

III

 

12Rise up, L ORD! God, lift up your hand!

Do not forget the poor!

 

13Why should the wicked scorn God,

say in their hearts, “God does not care”?

 

14 But you do see;

you take note of misery and sorrow;^h

you take the matter in hand.

To you the helpless can entrust their cause;

you are the defender of orphans.ⁱ

 

15Break the arm of the wicked and depraved;

make them account for their crimes;

let none of them survive.

IV

 

16 The L ORD is king forever; ^j

the nations have vanished from his land.

 

17 You listen, L ORD, to the needs of the poor;

you strengthen their heart and incline your ear.

 

18 You win justice for the orphaned and oppressed; ^k

no one on earth will cause terror again.

PSALM 9

For the leader; according to  Muth Labben. ^* A psalm of David.

I

 

2 I will praise you, L ORD, with all my heart;

I will declare all your wondrous deeds.

 

3 I will delight and rejoice in you;

I will sing hymns to your name, Most High.

 

4 When my enemies turn back,

they stumble and perish before you.

II

 

5 For you upheld my right and my cause,

seated on your throne, judging justly.

 

6 You rebuked the nations, you destroyed the wicked;

their name you blotted out for all time.^a

 

7 The enemies have been ruined forever;

you destroyed their cities;

their memory has perished.

III

 

8 The L ORD rules forever,

has set up his throne for judgment.

 

9 It is he who judges the world with justice, ^b

who judges the peoples with fairness.

 

10 The L ORD is a stronghold for the oppressed,

a stronghold in times of trouble.^c

 

11 Those who know your name trust in you;

you never forsake those who seek you, LORD.

IV

 

12 Sing hymns to the L ORD enthroned on Zion;

proclaim his deeds among the nations!

 

13 For the avenger of bloodshed remembers,

does not forget the cry of the afflicted.^d

V

 

14 Be gracious to me, L ORD;

see how my foes afflict me!

You alone can raise me from the gates of death.^e

 

15 Then I will declare all your praises,

sing joyously of your salvation

in the gates of daughter Zion.^*

VI

 

16 The nations fall into the pit they dig;

in the snare they hide, their own foot is caught.

 

17 ^* The L ORD is revealed in making judgments:

by the deeds they do the wicked are trapped.^f

Higgaion. Selah^*

VII

 

18 To Sheol the wicked will depart,

all the nations that forget God.

 

19 For the needy will never be forgotten,

nor will the hope of the afflicted ever fade.^g

 

20 Arise, L ORD, let no mortal prevail;

let the nations be judged in your presence.

 

21 Strike them with terror, L ORD;

show the nations they are only human.

Selah

PSALM 8

1 For the leader; “upon the  gittith.” ^* A psalm of David.

 

2 O L ORD, our Lord,

how awesome is your name through all the earth!

I will sing of your majesty above the heavens

 

3 with the mouths of babes ^a and infants. ^*

You have established a bulwark^* against your foes,

to silence enemy and avenger.^*

 

4 When I see your heavens, the work of your fingers,

the moon and stars that you set in place—

 

5 ^*What is man that you are mindful of him, ^b

and a son of man that you care for him?^c

 

6 Yet you have made him little less than a god, ^*

crowned him with glory and honor.

 

7 You have given him rule over the works of your hands, ^d

put all things at his feet:

 

8 All sheep and oxen,

even the beasts of the field,

 

9 The birds of the air, the fish of the sea,

and whatever swims the paths of the seas.

 

10  O L ORD, our Lord,

how awesome is your name through all the earth!
 

PSALM 7

A plaintive song of David, which he sang to the L ORD concerning Cush, the Benjaminite.

I

 

2 L ORD my God, in you I trusted;

save me; rescue me from all who pursue me,^a

 

3 Lest someone maul me like a lion,

tear my soul apart with no one to deliver.

II

 

4 L ORD my God, if I have done this, ^*

if there is guilt on my hands,

 

5 If I have maltreated someone treating me equitably—

or even despoiled my oppressor without cause—

 

6 Then let my enemy pursue and overtake my soul,

trample my life to the ground,

and lay my honor in the dust.^b

Selah

III

 

7 Rise up, L ORD, in your anger;

be aroused against the outrages of my oppressors.^c

Stir up the justice, my God, you have commanded.

 

8 Have the assembly of the peoples gather about you;

and return on high above them,

 

9 the L ORD will pass judgment on the peoples.

Judge me, LORD, according to my righteousness,

and my integrity.

 

10 Let the malice of the wicked end.

Uphold the just one,

O just God,^d

who tries hearts and minds.

IV

 

11 God is a shield above me

saving the upright of heart.^e

 

12God is a just judge, powerful and patient, ^*

not exercising anger every day.

 

13 If one does not repent,

God sharpens his sword,

strings and readies the bow,^f

 

14 Prepares his deadly shafts,

makes arrows blazing thunderbolts.^g

V

 

15 Consider how one conceives iniquity;

is pregnant with mischief,

and gives birth to deception.^h

 

16 He digs a hole and bores it deep,

but he falls into the pit he has made.ⁱ

 

17His malice turns back upon his head;

his violence falls on his own skull.

VI

 

18 I will thank the L ORD in accordance with his justice;

I will sing the name of the LORD Most High.^j

PSALM 6

1 For the leader; with stringed instruments, “upon the eighth.” ^*

A psalm of David.

I

 

2 Do not reprove me in your anger, L ORD,

nor punish me in your wrath.^a

 

3 Have pity on me, L ORD, for I am weak;

heal me, LORD, for my bones are shuddering.^b

 

4 My soul too is shuddering greatly—

and you, LORD, how long…?^*c

 

5 Turn back, L ORD, rescue my soul;

save me because of your mercy.

 

6 For in death there is no remembrance of you.

Who praises you in Sheol?^*d

II

 

7 I am wearied with sighing;

all night long I drench my bed with tears;

I soak my couch with weeping.

 

8 My eyes are dimmed with sorrow,

worn out because of all my foes.^e

III

 

9 Away from me, all who do evil! ^f

The LORD has heard the sound of my weeping.

 

10 The L ORD has heard my plea;

the LORD will receive my prayer.

 

11 My foes will all be disgraced and will shudder greatly;

they will turn back in sudden disgrace.^g
 

PSALM 5

1 For the leader; with wind instruments. A psalm of David.

I

 

2 Give ear to my words, O L ORD;

understand my sighing.^a

 

3 Attend to the sound of my cry,

my king and my God!

For to you I will pray, LORD;

 

4 in the morning you will hear my voice;

in the morning I will plead before you and wait.^b

II

 

5 You are not a god who delights in evil;

no wicked person finds refuge with you;

 

6 the arrogant cannot stand before your eyes.

You hate all who do evil;

 

7 you destroy those who speak falsely. ^c

A bloody and fraudulent man

the LORD abhors.

III

 

8 But I, through the abundance of your mercy, ^*

will enter into your house.

I will bow down toward your holy sanctuary

out of fear of you.^d

 

9 L ORD, guide me in your justice because of my foes;

make straight your way before me.^e

IV

 

10 For there is no sincerity in their mouth;

their heart is corrupt.

Their throat^* is an open grave;^f

on their tongue are subtle lies.

 

11 Declare them guilty, God;

make them fall by their own devices.^g

Drive them out for their many sins;

for they have rebelled against you.

V

 

12 Then all who trust in you will be glad

and forever shout for joy.^h

You will protect them and those will rejoice in you

who love your name.

 

13 For you, L ORD, bless the just one;

you surround him with favor like a shield.

PSALM 4

1 For the leader; ^* with stringed instruments. A psalm of David.

I

 

2 Answer me when I call, my saving God.

When troubles hem me in, set me free;

take pity on me, hear my prayer.^a

II

 

3 How long, O people, will you be hard of heart?

Why do you love what is worthless, chase after lies?^*b

Selah

 

4 Know that the L ORD works wonders for his faithful one;

the LORD hears when I call out to him.

 

5 Tremble ^* and sin no more;

weep bitterly^* within your hearts,

wail upon your beds,^c

 

6 Offer fitting sacrifices

and trust in the LORD.^d

III

 

7 Many say, “May we see better times!

LORD, show us the light of your face!”^e

Selah

 

8 But you have given my heart more joy

than they have when grain and wine abound.

 

9  ^{f *}In peace I will lie down and fall asleep,

for you alone, LORD, make me secure.
 

PSALM 3

1 A psalm of David, when he fled from his son Absalom. ^{* a}

I

2 How many are my foes, L ORD!

How many rise against me!

3 How many say of me,

“There is no salvation for him in God.”^b

Sela

4 But you, L ORD, are a shield around me;

my glory, you keep my head high.^c

II

5 With my own voice I will call out to the L ORD,

and he will answer me from his holy mountain.

Selah

6 I lie down and I fall asleep,

[and] I will wake up, for the LORD sustains me.^d

 

7  I do not fear, then, thousands of people

arrayed against me on every side.

III

8 Arise, L ORD! Save me, my God!

For you strike the cheekbone of all my foes;

you break the teeth of the wicked.^e

 

9 Salvation is from the L ORD!

May your blessing be upon your people!^f

Selah

PSALM 2

1 Why do the nations protest

and the peoples conspire in vain?^a

 

2 Kings on earth rise up

and princes plot together

against the LORD and against his anointed one:^*b

 

3 “Let us break their shackles

and cast off their chains from us!”^c

 

4 The one enthroned in heaven laughs;

the Lord derides them,^d

 

5 Then he speaks to them in his anger,

in his wrath he terrifies them:

 

6 “I myself have installed my king

on Zion, my holy mountain.”

 

7 I will proclaim the decree of the L ORD,

he said to me, “You are my son;

today I have begotten you.^e

 

8 Ask it of me,

and I will give you the nations as your inheritance,

and, as your possession, the ends of the earth.

 

9 With an iron rod you will shepherd them,

like a potter’s vessel you will shatter them.”^f

 

10 And now, kings, give heed;

take warning, judges on earth.

 

11 Serve the L ORD with fear;

exult with trembling,

Accept correction

lest he become angry and you perish along the way

when his anger suddenly blazes up.^g

Blessed are all who take refuge in him!