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!
Sunday, April 27, 2014
Thursday, April 24, 2014
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.
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.
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
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!
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!
Thursday, April 17, 2014
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.
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.
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