Psalm 17

Hear my plea for justice, Jehovah;
Heed my cry, listen to my prayer,
For it comes from lips that know not lies.
Since you can see what is right and true,
Your judgment must be in my favor.

Though you lay bare the desires of my heart
And examine the dreams I dream at night,
Though you test and probe and scrutinize me,
You will find no wickedness within me.
I speak not lies as others are wont to do;
I have not trod the path of violence,
But have followed the way that you command.
I have held fast and my foot has not slipped.

I call to you, my god, sure of your reply.
Lend me your ear and listen to what I say!
Show me your wondrous love and loyalty.
Save me, take me to your side as you do
Those who seek refuge from their enemies.

Keep me under your protective eye;
Hide me under your sheltering wing;
Save me from my evil oppressors
And the deadly foes all around me,
For their hearts are closed to pity
And their mouths boast arrogantly.
They have tracked me down and surround me,
Intent upon taking me down
And tearing my flesh like a lion. ---
There they couch like a young lion
In cover, awaiting the ambush!

Rise up, Jehovah!  Attack them!
Conquer them!  And, by force of arms,
Deliver me from the wicked!

Use your power, Jehovah, to spare me
From such men, men of the material world
Whose reward is only in the here and now.
Let them fill themselves with your hidden stores;
Let their sons feast upon the surpluses
And have enough to pass on to their children.
But as for me, I am well satisfied,
If you judge me righteous, to behold your face
Or awaken with a vision of you. 

Psalm 16

Protect me, my god, for in you I trust.
To Jehovah I say, "You are my god;
All the good that comes to me comes from you."

It is the men of holiness
Who are the world's nobility;
It is in them I find my joy.

Those who lapse and chase after other gods
Find their sorrows and woes are multiplied.
I make no offerings of blood to them,
Nor will I utter the names of their idols.

My god is my only food and drink;
My destiny is in his hands.
My boundary lines are happily drawn,
My land, a beautiful legacy.

I praise Jehovah, for he is my guide;
Even in the night he is my conscience.
Always I have Jehovah before me;
And with him beside me, I will stand firm.

My heart is glad and my soul rejoices
Even my body dwells in security,
Knowing you will leave not my soul in death's realm
Or let a righteous man rot in the grave.

You show me the path to a holy life.
Your presence fills me with exalted joy;
With you I will know happiness forever!

Psalm 15

Jehovah, who may worship in your Temple
And have leave to ascend your holy mountain?

He who leads a blameless, innocent life
And always aspires to do what is right,
He who speaks from the heart with truthfulness;
Who does not speak slander of his neighbors,
Or slur his friends by spreading hurtful gossip;
Who despises those whom Jehovah rejects
And honors those who respect the divine;
Who keeps his word whatever it may cost him;
Who does not demand interest on a loan,
Or take a bribe to harm the innocent.

Such a person does not bend with the times!  
 

Psalm 14

The immoral do not believe that God exists. ---
Such people are corrupt and commit vile acts;
None of them ever does anything good!

Jehovah looks down from Heaven
To scrutinize the race of men,
To see if any possess wisdom,
To see if any seek out God.

No, all of them have gone astray;
They have all become corrupted.
None of them does anything good,
No, not a single one of them.

Will those who are evil and corrupt ever learn?
Those who consume my people like a piece of bread,
Do they ever call out to Jehovah for help?

The wicked tremble with terror and fright,
For God is on the side of the righteous.
Though the oppressors crush their aspirations,
The oppressed will find refuge in Jehovah.

Would that deliverance and salvation
Come to Israel from the Temple Mount!
When Jehovah will restore his people
And bring them back from their captivity,
How the children of Jacob will rejoice,
And the nation of Israel take delight!

Psalm 13

How long will it be, Jehovah? Forever?
Have long will you forget and ignore me? 
How long must it be that doubt torments my mind
And each day pain and sorrow rend my heart  --
And my enemies triumph over me?

Take heed and respond, Jehovah my god!
Restore to my eyes some glimmer of hope,
Or else they will be shut in the sleep of death.

Let not my enemies gloat and boast,
Claiming, "We have defeated him!"
Let them not rejoice at my downfall.

But I put my trust in your unfailing love,
And in my heart there is a welling of joy
Knowing that my salvation lies with you.

It is thus to Jehovah I sing my prayer
For he bestows his bounty upon me.

Psalm 12

Save us, Jehovah, for godly men are gone,
And the faithful have vanished from the earth.
Men now speak only lies to their neighbors.
Sweet talk and false flattery is on their lips
And they deceive with a duplicitous heart.

May you, Jehovah, still those flattering lips
And silence those boastful tongues that proclaim,
"We, by the words of our tongue, will prevail.
Our lips belong to no one but ourselves.
No master can to tell us what we can say!”

"I will now take action!" cries Jehovah,
"For the downtrodden are sorely oppressed,
And the needy groan in hunger and pain.
I will give them the succor they pray for."

True is the promise of Jehovah,
As true and pure as silver refined
In the fire of an earthen kiln
And purified seven times over.

The human race exalts what is vile,
And the wicked are on every side.
From such a generation of men
You, Jehovah, will protect us
And keep us -- for now and always.   

Psalm 11

In Jehovah I find my refuge,
So why then do you exhort me,
"Fly like a bird and head for the hills!
Look! The wicked have bent their bows
And loaded arrows on their strings.
They shoot in stealth, from the shadows,
Piercing the flesh of the pure in heart.
The foundations of the country
Are now collapsing and crumbling!
Even good men can do nothing."

Jehovah remains in his holy Temple,
And he rules still from his heavenly throne.
His eyes are upon the affairs of men;
He examines and scrutinizes them
And will test the mettle of the righteous.

But he detests those who love violence.
And he will rain down upon the wicked
Burning lava and fiery sulphur,
And a scorching wind will be their just lot.

Jehovah is the essence of righteousness,
He loves the righteous deed, and the upright man
Will know his favor.
  

Psalm 10

Why, Jehovah, do you stand aloof
And hide yourself in troublous times?

The wicked in their pride make prey of the poor
And catch them in the traps of their devising.
They flaunt the evil cravings of their heart. 
They bless the greedy and curse the divine.
They in their pride will never seek out God,
Who has no place in their philosophy.

They seem to succeed in all they do.
They see your laws as far beneath them.
At their enemies they sneer and scoff.
This is what they say to themselves:
"Nothing can ever affect me;
No evil will ever befall me."

Out of their mouths come curses, lies, and threats;
Under their tongues simmer evil and sin.
Outside the villages they lie in wait,
To ambush and murder the innocent.
Secretly watching for helpless victims,
They lie in wait like a lion in cover,
Ready to pounce on their powerless prey.
Or like a hunter they trap in their nets
Poor unfortunates, then drag them away.
Bruised and bowed, the helpless victims stagger
And fall before the strength of the wicked.

They say to themselves, "God does not notice,
For he covers his eyes and will never see."

Rouse yourself, O Jehovah!
Punish the wicked, O God!
Ignore not the helpless!

Why do the wicked reject the true God? ---
Because they think, "He won't hold me to account."

But you, Jehovah, have seen the misery
And the grief to the poor and downtrodden
The wicked have caused -- and taken note of it.
And those afflicted put their faith in you,
For you are protector to the fatherless.

Stay the hand of the guilty evil-doers!
Bring to light their crimes, otherwise hidden, --
And make them pay for every last one of them!
Jehovah is king forever and ever!
Such nations will be banished from his earth.

You've heard the longing cries of those oppressed.
Heed them, Jehovah, and give strength to their hearts.
Protect the fatherless and downtrodden
So they may no more fear the men of this earth. 

Psalm 9

With all my heart I sing my praises to you,
Jehovah, recounting your wondrous deeds.
I rejoice and exult because of you
And exalt the name of the God Most High.

My enemies turn and flee in retreat;
They stumble and drop dead in front of you.
From your throne, judging wisely and justly,
You hear my case and rule in my favor.

You have had strong words for foreign countries,
And those who are wicked, you have destroyed,
Erasing their names for now and for all time.
Your enemies find their final destruction
In the ruins of their overthrown cities.
Even the memory of them will be lost!

For Jehovah will reign forever,
Installed upon his throne of justice,
Ruling the world with righteousness
And judging all people equally --
A sanctuary for those oppressed,
A refuge in adversity.

Those who know your name, Jehovah, put their trust in you,
For you do not abandon those who follow you.

Sing the praises of the God who reigns from Mount Zion!
Tell the peoples of the world his glorious deeds!
Those murdered he remembers, avenging their blood,
Nor does he ignore the cries of the afflicted.

See how my enemies torment me.
Have mercy on me, O Jehovah!
Rescue me from the gates of death
So, at the gate of Jerusalem,
I may proclaim my praise of you
And rejoice how you have saved me.

The nations fall into the pit they themselves have dug,
Entangled are their feet in the snare they have hidden.
Jehovah is renown for his pursuit of justice:
He entraps the wicked with their own handiwork.
Wicked people will return to the grave of death.
Such is the fate of the nations that forget God.

The needy will not always be forgotten,
Nor the hopes of the humble crushed forever.

Rise up, O Jehovah, and take action!
Let not humans defy you and prevail.
Punish the nations yourself; strike them with fear,
So they may know that they are mere mortals.
 

Psalm 8

Jehovah, my god, the majesty of your name
Has spread abroad across the face of all the earth,
And your glory reaches far above the heavens.
Through the praise of suckling babes and toddling infants
Comes your strength, the power over your enemies,
To silence your foes and to thwart the false avengers.

I gaze up to the heavens to view your handiwork,
The moon and the stars set surely in their places,
And I wonder why you give thought to us mortals,
Why you concern yourself with the affairs of men.
You created man to be slightly less than divine, 
Endowing him with dignity, grandeur, and glory.
You made him to be master of your creations,
To be a steward of all that lives upon the earth,
The sheep and cattle, the beasts of field and forest,
The birds in the heavens and the fish in the sea,
All that ply the currents of the vast ocean depths.

Jehovah, my god, how majestic is your name
Known throughout the entire world!
  

Psalm 7

Jehovah, my god, in whom I find my refuge,
Deliver me, save me from those who pursue me,
Lest they, like a lion, carry me off as prey,
Dragging me to the lair from which there is no rescue,
There to be clawed and rent and torn to shreds.

If I have wronged anyone, Jehovah, my god,
If my hands are stained with the guilt of sinful actions,
If I have betrayed or mistreated my allies,
Or have taken from my enemy without cause,
Then let my enemy track me down and take me,
Let him tread upon me, stomping me into the ground,
And let my life and honor moulder in the dust.

Jehovah, rouse yourself with righteous anger
And quell the fury of my adversaries!
Rise up, my god, and delivery justice.
Let the nations around you assemble,
And resume your seat in judgment above them.
You, Jehovah, are the judge of all people.
Rule then, in my favor, O Jehovah,
(Owing to the rectitude of my actions
And the integrity of my character).
You, god of righteousness who knows hearts and minds,
Thwart the evil actions of the wicked
And lend protection to those in the right.

My protector is the God in Heaven,
The savior of those who are pure of heart.
A just judge is he, but of righteous wrath,
Ever ready to punish the wicked.
For those who will not repent and change their ways 
He will sharpen his sword and string his bow.
He will ready his weapons of destruction
And take aim with his flaming arrows.

Those who conceive with evil and ill intent
Will be pregnant with mischief and malice
And will give birth to falsehoods and deceptions.
They prepare a pit and will dig it deep,
But into the trap they themselves will fall.
The trouble they cause will rebound upon them,
And the violence they do will harm only themselves.

I thank Jehovah for his righteousness
And sing the praises of Jehovah Most High!  


 

Psalm 6

Pray not reprove me with your anger, O God,
Or punish me in a rage, but have mercy,
For I am faint, Jehovah, and languishing.
My frame shakes with terror and apprehension,
My soul is tormented by anguish, O God.  
Restore my well-being and peace of mind!

How long must I wait to receive your help?
Come back and rescue me, O God, save me
For the sake of your love and loyalty,
For there's no remembrance of you in death
And no words of thanks spoken from the grave.

Weary from sighs and worn out by weeping,
I lie awake in restless meditation
And every night bath my pillow in tears.
My eyes are red and swollen from grieving,
And from the vexation of my enemies.

Be gone from me, all you evil doers,
For God has heard the sound of my weeping.
He has heard my cry and will answer my prayer.
Those who oppose me will be put to flight.
They will know fear and humiliation,
And, in a moment, they will retreat in shame.

Psalm 5

To my lament, O God, lend a sympathetic ear
And listen to the groans and sighs of my sad heart!
My sovereign, my god, to you and you alone I pray.
In the first light of day I will call upon you.
In the first light of day, O God, listen to my plea,
And then your reply will I await.

You are not a god that finds pleasure in evil.
You will not brook the company of the wicked.
Sinners boastful and proud may not stand before you.
You hate all those who further the ends of evil.
You bring down destruction upon the tellers of lies,
And men of violence, cruelty and treachery 
Do you, Jehovah, ardently detest.

Yet, with kindness am I welcomed into your house
And with reverence I worship at your altar. 

O Jehovah, show me the proper path, clear and true,
For as I walk I am harried by enemies.
Mendacious are their tongues and malicious are their hearts.
Smooth talking they are, but when they open their mouths
It's like the opening of a grave.

Pronounce them guilty, O my god!
Let them be caught in their own snares.
Cast them out and put them to flight.
For are their sins and crimes not many,
And have they not rebelled against you?

Let those who have faith in you celebrate
And sing forever songs of jubilation!
Let your divine protection extend to them,
Those who love you and worship you devoutly.
Bless them, Jehovah, those who are godly,
And surround them like a shield with your grace.

Psalm 4

Answer me when I call to you,
God of mine, granter of justice!

When troubles crowd and constrict me
You always free me and clear the way.
Therefore, have mercy upon me
And hear my prayer!

O people, how much longer will you persist
In scorning my glorious achievements,
Besmirching my honor and character?
How much longer will you pursue falsehoods
And cling to illusions?

Know that God brings to his side the godly,
Protecting those who are loyal to him:
When I call out to him, he listens and heeds.

"Respect the law and do no wrong."
Say that silently to your heart
As you lie meditating in bed.

Make the proper sacrifices,
And put your trust in the divine.

Many folks complain, "When we will see better times?
Please God, let the light from your face beam upon us!"
But you have gladdened my heart and brought me more joy
Than the richest harvests of the field and vineyard,
For when I go to bed at night,
I fall into a peaceful sleep. ---
All because of you, Jehovah,  and you alone,
Can I live in such confident security!

Psalm 3

(Composed by King David when he was in flight from the forces of his son Absalom)

O my God, how my adversaries have multiplied!
Many are those who have taken up arms against me,
And many are those who are scoffing and taunting me,
"Even his god can't save him now.”

But Jehovah, You are my shield and glory,
You are the one that keeps my head held high.

When I raise my voice to call out to him,
He answers me from his holy mountain.
I lay down to sleep to awaken again,
Safe in the protecting arms of Jehovah.
Now when hordes from all sides set upon me
To attack, I will have no fear of them.

Rise up, Jehovah!  Save me, O my God!
My enemies -- Beat them over the head!
And as for the wicked -- Knock their teeth out!

Deliverance will come from Jehovah.
May your blessing be upon your people.

Psalm 2

Why do nations assemble with such a tumult?
Why do people consider such a futile scheme?
See how the kings of the earth line up in array 
And the rulers unite themselves in common cause
Against Jehovah and against his anointed king,
Proclaiming, "Let us break the chains of our bondage
And cast off the heavy ties that bind us to them."

But he who dwells in Heaven only laughs at their threats
And dismisses them with mockery and contempt.
He will soon voice his displeasure and his anger,
And his anger will frighten, confuse, and thwart them.

He will say, "Here on my holy mountain of Zion
Have I anointed the king of my own choosing."

This I proclaim as a divine decree:
"You are my son," I was told by Jehovah,
 "I, on this day, attest that I fathered you.   
Ask of me what you will, for I will grant you
The nations of the world as your legacy
And the ends of the earth as your domain. 
With an iron rod you will rule and break them
And dash them to pieces like crockery."

You princes of power who run the world
Be duly warned and learn this lesson well:

Give service to God, but tremble in fear before Him,
Rejoice in his presence, but revere him in your hearts,
Pay homage to him, but with earnest piety,
Dare not arouse his ire by straying from the path,
For his vengeful wrath may suddenly be inflamed.

Blessed are they who find their refuge and put their trust in him!

Psalm 1

Blest with happiness and good fortune is the man
Who will not walk in the footsteps of evil doers,
Or conform to their counsels of iniquity, 
Who will not stand silent, impassive, and yielding
As sinners go on their way to evil doings,
Who will not sit complacent in the company
Of those who scorn the truth and mock the just and good.

This man's joy and heart's delight is in divine law.
The teachings of religion he ponders and studies,
And upon them he meditates both day and night.

Like a tree he is, that grows by a nurturing brook,
Firmly planted, well watered, and carefully tended,
Ready to bear its fruit in the proper season,
With leaves that will never wither, or fade, or fall:
And all his endeavors will flower with success.

Not so with the wicked, for they are like the chaff,
Weightless and worthless and wholly without substance,
Blown into the air and swept away by gusts of wind.

The wicked will not be absolved when they are judged,
For when they rise to speak, their pleadings will come to naught:
They will never find themselves among the righteous.

For God recognizes the ways of the righteous
And that the ways of the wicked lead to ruin.