(A psalm by King David composed at the time when Nathan confronted him after his adultery with Bathsheba)
Be forgiving of me, O God.
In keeping with your compassion
And your many tender mercies.
Please wipe away my transgressions.
Wash away my iniquity
And purify me of my sin,
For I know that my transgressions,
And my sin is ever present.
Against you, and you alone, have I sinned
And in your eyes have done a wicked thing.
You are justified in your pronouncements,
And your judging of me is without blame.
I was sinful when I was born,
Sinful since my mother conceived me.
But you desire an honest heart
Even in the womb and it was there
That you taught me your hidden wisdom.
Purge me with hyssop and I will be clean.
Wash me and will be whiter than the snow.
Let me hear again sounds of joy and gladness
That the bones you have broken may rejoice.
Turn your face away from my sins
And erase all my iniquities.
Create in me, O God, a heart of virtue.
Renew the devoted spirit within me.
Do not send me away from your presence
Or withdraw your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
And a spirit willing to sustain me.
Then will I teach your ways to transgressors,
So that sinners will be brought back to you.
Save me from the guilt of shedding blood,
O God, the god of my salvation,
And I will extol your righteousness.
Part my lips, O Master Jehovah,
That my mouth may sing your praises.
You do not crave a sacrifice,
Or else I would have brought you one --
Burnt offerings give you no delight.
The sacrifice pleasing to God
Is a bowed and broken spirit,
And you will not reject, O God,
A heart that is humbled and contrite.
At your pleasure, may you favor Zion
And so build up the walls of Jerusalem.
Then you will take delight in sacrifices
Properly made, in the burnt offerings
And the whole burnt offerings when young bulls
Will be sacrificed upon your altar.
Tuesday, May 30, 2017
Psalm 50
(A psalm by Asaph)
Jehovah, who is the Almighty God, has spoken
He summons from east to west the people of the earth.
God shines from Zion, the paragon of beauty.
Our god comes to us and it is not quietly:
A consuming conflagration rages before him,
And a turbulent tempest swirls all about him.
He calls to the heavens above and the earth below
That all may witness the judgment of his people.
“Gather together all my faithful followers,
Who have pledged themselves to me with a sacrifice.”
The heavens proclaim his justice, for God himself is judge.
“Listen, O my people, and I will speak.
I lay charges against you, O Israel.
I am God, your god.
“I do not reprove you for your sacrifices,
The burnt offerings continually made to me.
I need no bull from your pen, or goat from your fold,
For all the animals of the forest are mine,
Even the cattle that graze on a thousand hills.
I know every bird that flies above the mountain slopes,
And all the creatures that creep in the field are mine.
Should I be hungry, I have no need to tell you,
For the earth and all it contains belongs to me.
Need I eat the meat of bulls or drink the blood of goats?
“Make to God sacrifices of thanksgiving
And fulfill the vows you made to the Most High.
Call upon me when you are in distress.
I will save you and you will honor me.”
But to the wicked, God will say,
“What right have you to quote my laws
Or recite aloud my covenant?
You have refused my instruction
And have turned your back on my words.
If you see a thief, you join with him
And take the part of adulterers.
Your mouth gives vent to words of evil
And your tongue practices deceit.
You sit and speak against your brother
And slander your own mother’s son.
“When you did these things I held my peace,
And you assumed I was just like you.
But I will admonish you now
And lay my charges before you.
You who forget God, ponder these things,
Or else I may tear you apart --
And there will been none to save you.
“Whoever makes a sacrifice to me,
An offering of thanksgiving, honors me.
Whoever orders his conduct aright,
To him I will reveal God’s salvation.”
Jehovah, who is the Almighty God, has spoken
He summons from east to west the people of the earth.
God shines from Zion, the paragon of beauty.
Our god comes to us and it is not quietly:
A consuming conflagration rages before him,
And a turbulent tempest swirls all about him.
He calls to the heavens above and the earth below
That all may witness the judgment of his people.
“Gather together all my faithful followers,
Who have pledged themselves to me with a sacrifice.”
The heavens proclaim his justice, for God himself is judge.
“Listen, O my people, and I will speak.
I lay charges against you, O Israel.
I am God, your god.
“I do not reprove you for your sacrifices,
The burnt offerings continually made to me.
I need no bull from your pen, or goat from your fold,
For all the animals of the forest are mine,
Even the cattle that graze on a thousand hills.
I know every bird that flies above the mountain slopes,
And all the creatures that creep in the field are mine.
Should I be hungry, I have no need to tell you,
For the earth and all it contains belongs to me.
Need I eat the meat of bulls or drink the blood of goats?
“Make to God sacrifices of thanksgiving
And fulfill the vows you made to the Most High.
Call upon me when you are in distress.
I will save you and you will honor me.”
But to the wicked, God will say,
“What right have you to quote my laws
Or recite aloud my covenant?
You have refused my instruction
And have turned your back on my words.
If you see a thief, you join with him
And take the part of adulterers.
Your mouth gives vent to words of evil
And your tongue practices deceit.
You sit and speak against your brother
And slander your own mother’s son.
“When you did these things I held my peace,
And you assumed I was just like you.
But I will admonish you now
And lay my charges before you.
You who forget God, ponder these things,
Or else I may tear you apart --
And there will been none to save you.
“Whoever makes a sacrifice to me,
An offering of thanksgiving, honors me.
Whoever orders his conduct aright,
To him I will reveal God’s salvation.”
Monday, May 22, 2017
Psalm 49
(By the descendants of Korah)
Listen to this, all you people!
Lend an ear, all who live in the world,
High and low, rich and poor alike.
From my mouth are words of wisdom,
The meditations of my mind
Are imbued with understanding.
To a proverb I incline my ear,
With a harp I solve a riddle.
Why should I fear the troublous times ahead,
When the evil of my foes surround me?
Those who rely upon their wealth
And boast of their lavish riches,
They cannot redeem their brother man,
Or pay ransom to God for him,
For the price of a man’s redemption
Is dear: one can never pay enough
To prolong a life forever
That it may know not death and decay.
One can surely see that wise men die,
As do the foolish and slow-witted,
Passing on their wealth to others.
The tomb, he thinks, will be his home,
A monument lasting forever.
His estate will always bear his name,
But wealth will not make a man endure,
For, like a beast, he perishes.
Such is the fate of arrogant fools
And those who find wisdom in their words.
They are like sheep led to the tomb,
And their shepherd is death itself.
In the morning of resurrection
Godly men will be placed above them.
Their bodies will rot in the grave
And they will have no habitation.
But as for me, God will redeem my body
From the power of death and receive me.
Do not be impressed when someone becomes rich
And the prestige of his family grows.
For when he dies, he will take nothing with him,
His wealth will not go with him to the grave.
While alive, he regards himself as blessed,
And is praised for having done well for himself,
Yet, he will go down to join his ancestors
And, like them, never see the light again.
Those who have wealth, but not understanding,
Are like the beasts and will, like them, perish.
Listen to this, all you people!
Lend an ear, all who live in the world,
High and low, rich and poor alike.
From my mouth are words of wisdom,
The meditations of my mind
Are imbued with understanding.
To a proverb I incline my ear,
With a harp I solve a riddle.
Why should I fear the troublous times ahead,
When the evil of my foes surround me?
Those who rely upon their wealth
And boast of their lavish riches,
They cannot redeem their brother man,
Or pay ransom to God for him,
For the price of a man’s redemption
Is dear: one can never pay enough
To prolong a life forever
That it may know not death and decay.
One can surely see that wise men die,
As do the foolish and slow-witted,
Passing on their wealth to others.
The tomb, he thinks, will be his home,
A monument lasting forever.
His estate will always bear his name,
But wealth will not make a man endure,
For, like a beast, he perishes.
Such is the fate of arrogant fools
And those who find wisdom in their words.
They are like sheep led to the tomb,
And their shepherd is death itself.
In the morning of resurrection
Godly men will be placed above them.
Their bodies will rot in the grave
And they will have no habitation.
But as for me, God will redeem my body
From the power of death and receive me.
Do not be impressed when someone becomes rich
And the prestige of his family grows.
For when he dies, he will take nothing with him,
His wealth will not go with him to the grave.
While alive, he regards himself as blessed,
And is praised for having done well for himself,
Yet, he will go down to join his ancestors
And, like them, never see the light again.
Those who have wealth, but not understanding,
Are like the beasts and will, like them, perish.
Psalm 48
(By the descendants of Korah)
How great is Jehovah and worthy of our praise,
In the city of our god, on his holy mountain.
Grand in elevation, a joy to all the earth,
On Mount Zion’s northern slope, lies the great king’s city.
The palaces of God are known as fortresses.
For, behold, when the kings of the earth assembled
And together approached the city, they saw it
And were dazzled and, in fright, beat a hasty retreat.
Panic seized them and pain, like a woman in labor. ---
You smashed them like the ships of Tarshish in an east wind.
As once we heard about it, so now have we seen
The city of Jehovah, the master of armies,
The city of our god, established forever.
Within your temple we contemplate
Upon your loving kindness, O God.
As your name merits, O God, your praise
Extends to the ends of the earth.
With your right hand you wield justice.
(Mount Zion and the towns of Judah
Rejoice because of your judgments).
Examine Zion and walk around it,
Counting the towers of Jerusalem.
Note its ramparts and survey its citadels,
That you may tell future generations.
For this is our god, forever and ever,
And he will guide us even beyond death.
How great is Jehovah and worthy of our praise,
In the city of our god, on his holy mountain.
Grand in elevation, a joy to all the earth,
On Mount Zion’s northern slope, lies the great king’s city.
The palaces of God are known as fortresses.
For, behold, when the kings of the earth assembled
And together approached the city, they saw it
And were dazzled and, in fright, beat a hasty retreat.
Panic seized them and pain, like a woman in labor. ---
You smashed them like the ships of Tarshish in an east wind.
As once we heard about it, so now have we seen
The city of Jehovah, the master of armies,
The city of our god, established forever.
Within your temple we contemplate
Upon your loving kindness, O God.
As your name merits, O God, your praise
Extends to the ends of the earth.
With your right hand you wield justice.
(Mount Zion and the towns of Judah
Rejoice because of your judgments).
Examine Zion and walk around it,
Counting the towers of Jerusalem.
Note its ramparts and survey its citadels,
That you may tell future generations.
For this is our god, forever and ever,
And he will guide us even beyond death.
Monday, May 15, 2017
Psalm 47
(By the descendants of Korah)
Come and clap your hands, all you people,
Shout out to God with songs of joy!
Fearsome is Jehovah the Most High,
The great king over all the world,
Conquering the peoples before us,
Crushing nations under our feet.
He chose for us an inheritance,
The pride of Jacob, whom he loved.
God has ascended with a roar,
Jehovah, with a shofar’s blast.
Sing praises to God, sing praises!
Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
For God is King of all the world.
Sing praises to him in a psalm.
God reigns over the heathen realms,
Seated upon his holy throne.
The princes among them assemble
With the people of Abraham’s god,
Charge of their domains lie with God,
So greatly has he been exalted!
Come and clap your hands, all you people,
Shout out to God with songs of joy!
Fearsome is Jehovah the Most High,
The great king over all the world,
Conquering the peoples before us,
Crushing nations under our feet.
He chose for us an inheritance,
The pride of Jacob, whom he loved.
God has ascended with a roar,
Jehovah, with a shofar’s blast.
Sing praises to God, sing praises!
Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
For God is King of all the world.
Sing praises to him in a psalm.
God reigns over the heathen realms,
Seated upon his holy throne.
The princes among them assemble
With the people of Abraham’s god,
Charge of their domains lie with God,
So greatly has he been exalted!
Psalm 46
(By the descendants of Korah)
God is our refuge and our strength,
A help to us in times of trouble.
Therefore, we will not be afraid
When the earth will quake and mountains
Tumble into the ocean depths,
When the waters will roar and foam
And mountains tremble and erupt.
There is a river whose streams make glad
The city of God, the holy place,
Tabernacles of the Most High.
God dwells within the midst of it.
It cannot be shaken or toppled:
From the break of day God will guard it.
Nations are in chaos, kingdoms fall.
God raises his voice and the earth melts.
Jehovah’s armies are with us;
The god of Jacob is our fortress.
Come, behold the work of Jehovah,
How he has made desolate the earth.
Throughout the world he brings an end to war;
He snaps the bow and cuts the spear asunder;
He sets aflame the chariots of war.
“Cease fighting, acknowledge that I am God.
I will be honored among the heathens,
Indeed I will be honored throughout the world.”
Jehovah’s armies are with us;
The god of Jacob is our fortress.
God is our refuge and our strength,
A help to us in times of trouble.
Therefore, we will not be afraid
When the earth will quake and mountains
Tumble into the ocean depths,
When the waters will roar and foam
And mountains tremble and erupt.
There is a river whose streams make glad
The city of God, the holy place,
Tabernacles of the Most High.
God dwells within the midst of it.
It cannot be shaken or toppled:
From the break of day God will guard it.
Nations are in chaos, kingdoms fall.
God raises his voice and the earth melts.
Jehovah’s armies are with us;
The god of Jacob is our fortress.
Come, behold the work of Jehovah,
How he has made desolate the earth.
Throughout the world he brings an end to war;
He snaps the bow and cuts the spear asunder;
He sets aflame the chariots of war.
“Cease fighting, acknowledge that I am God.
I will be honored among the heathens,
Indeed I will be honored throughout the world.”
Jehovah’s armies are with us;
The god of Jacob is our fortress.
Saturday, May 6, 2017
Psalm 45
(By the descendants of Korah)
My heart does overflow with glad tidings,
When I recite my verses to the king.
(My tongue is the pen of a skillful scribe).
You are the handsomest of men;
Words of grace proceed from your lips.
God has therefore blessed you forever.
Strap your sword to your side, O Mighty One!
Along with your splendor and your glory.
In your majesty ride forth to victory,
For truth, humility, and righteousness.
Let your right hand perform deeds of wonder.
Sharpen your arrows that impale the hearts
Of those who are enemies of the king,
So that their people will fall beneath your feet.
Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever;
The scepter of your kingdom is one of justice.
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness.
Therefore, it is you above all others that God,
Your god, has anointed with the oil of gladness.
You robes are fragrant with myrrh, aloes, and cassia.
In palaces of ivory you are entertained.
The daughters of kings serve as your noble ladies;
At your right side stands the queen garbed in gold from Ophir.
Listen, O daughter, pay attention to what I say.
Forget your own people and the house of your father,
For the king will be enamored with your beauty.
Because he is your master, you must submit to him.
The princess of Tyre will come and bring a gift for you.
The rich among the people will seek your favor.
In the palace the princess is magnificent,
Bedecked in garments interwoven with threads of gold.
In this rich raiment she is presented to the king,
And the bridesmaids in her train, will all be brought to you.
They will be brought with jubilation and rejoicing.
As the procession enters the royal palace,
Your sons will assume the places of their fathers,
And you will make them princes, to rule throughout the land.
I will make your name remembered
By generations that are to come.
And all the peoples will give you thanks
For ever and ever.
My heart does overflow with glad tidings,
When I recite my verses to the king.
(My tongue is the pen of a skillful scribe).
You are the handsomest of men;
Words of grace proceed from your lips.
God has therefore blessed you forever.
Strap your sword to your side, O Mighty One!
Along with your splendor and your glory.
In your majesty ride forth to victory,
For truth, humility, and righteousness.
Let your right hand perform deeds of wonder.
Sharpen your arrows that impale the hearts
Of those who are enemies of the king,
So that their people will fall beneath your feet.
Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever;
The scepter of your kingdom is one of justice.
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness.
Therefore, it is you above all others that God,
Your god, has anointed with the oil of gladness.
You robes are fragrant with myrrh, aloes, and cassia.
In palaces of ivory you are entertained.
The daughters of kings serve as your noble ladies;
At your right side stands the queen garbed in gold from Ophir.
Listen, O daughter, pay attention to what I say.
Forget your own people and the house of your father,
For the king will be enamored with your beauty.
Because he is your master, you must submit to him.
The princess of Tyre will come and bring a gift for you.
The rich among the people will seek your favor.
In the palace the princess is magnificent,
Bedecked in garments interwoven with threads of gold.
In this rich raiment she is presented to the king,
And the bridesmaids in her train, will all be brought to you.
They will be brought with jubilation and rejoicing.
As the procession enters the royal palace,
Your sons will assume the places of their fathers,
And you will make them princes, to rule throughout the land.
I will make your name remembered
By generations that are to come.
And all the peoples will give you thanks
For ever and ever.
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