1 The man is very happy that does not:
· walk as godless people suggest
· stand in the way near sinners
· sit with them that scorn (God)
2 He likes what the LORD teaches.
He repeats it day and night.
3 "He will become like a tree planted by rivers of water". (Jeremiah 17:8)
"It will give its fruit in its season. Its leaves will not fall" (Ezekiel 47:12)
"Everything that he does will be very good". (Joshua 1:8)
4 But the godless are like chaff.
The wind blows them away.
5 So godless people will not stand in the judgment.
Sinners will not stay with righteous people.
6 The LORD knows the way of righteous people.
The way of the godless leads to death.
1 Why are nations planning together?
Why are people having such stupid ideas?
2 - v3 Why are their kings saying,
"We will not obey the LORD"?
Why are their leaders saying,
"We will not do what his Messiah says"?
4 He that is sitting above the skies will laugh.
The Lord will say that they are stupid.
5 Then he will say angry words to them.
He will make them very frightened because he is so angry.
6 He will say, "I myself put my king in Zion.
I put him on my holy mountain".
7 I will tell you what God has decided to do.
The LORD said to me, "You are my son.
Today I have given you the *honour that goes with that name.
8 Ask me for anything! I will give you nations.
The whole world can be yours.
9 You will rule them with an iron sceptre.
You will break them like a clay pot".
10 So now, you kings, be careful.
You world leaders, listen to this:
11 Become the servants of the LORD.
Remember that he is very powerful.
12 Kiss his son or God will be angry.
He may be so angry that you will die.
Only the people that come to the LORD are really happy.
He will make them safe.
1 LORD, every day I have more enemies.
Many people fight me.
2 Many people say about me,
"God will not save him". SELAH
3 But LORD, you are a shield over me.
You are my glory.
You have lifted up my head.
4 I shouted aloud to the LORD.
He answered me from his holy mountain. SELAH
5 I lay down and slept.
I awoke because the LORD kept me alive.
He kept me safe.
6 I will not be afraid of 10 000 enemies that are all round me.
7 LORD, stand up! My God, save me!
In the past you hit all my enemies in the face.
You broke their teeth.
8 It was the LORD that saved us.
Lord, do good things for all your people. SELAH
1 Answer me when I shout for help, O God.
You are the God that makes me righteous.
Give me help in my troubles.
Show me that you are kind.
Listen to me when I pray.
2 Sons of man:
· how long will you say that I am bad?
· how long will you love stupid ideas?
· how long will you want to hear lies? SELAH
3 Sons of man:
· the LORD has chosen me
· the LORD has made me separate for himself
· the LORD will listen when I pray to him
4 Get angry - but do nothing wrong. Go to bed.
Argue with yourself - but say nothing (aloud). SELAH
5 Offer the right gifts and believe in the LORD.
6 Many people say, "Who will do anything good for us?"
LORD, shine the light of your face on us.
7 You have made me feel happy deep down inside me.
I feel better than I do at a harvest party.
8 I will lie down in *peace. Soon I will sleep.
This is because only you, LORD, keep me safe.
1 LORD, hear my words.
Listen to what I am saying to you.
2 My king and my God, listen to my voice.
I am praying to you for help.
I am shouting to you!
3 LORD, at sunrise you will hear my voice.
I will watch and pray early in the morning.
4 My God, you do not like what is wrong.
Bad people cannot live with you.
5 Some people think that they are important.
They cannot stay near to God.
God, you hate everyone that does wrong.
6 You destroy all that do not speak the truth.
The LORD hates all people that do murder.
He hates people that do not keep their promises.
7 But I will come into your house because you are so loving and kind.
I will bend low in your holy temple.
8 Lead me in your righteous way because of my enemies.
Make your path straight for me.
9 Nothing that my enemies say is true.
They want to destroy me.
Their mouth is like an open grave.
They only speak what is not true.
10 God, tell them that they are not right.
Show them that their ideas are wrong.
Send them away because they are bad.
They argued with you.
11 Make all the people happy that hide with you.
Make them always sing for joy.
Cover them that love your name. Keep them safe.
Then they will rejoice in you.
12 LORD, you do such good things to the righteous.
Your love is all round them.
1 LORD, do not become angry with me.
Please do not become angry.
2 LORD, be kind to me because I am not strong.
LORD, give me health because my bones are afraid.
3 I myself am very frightened. LORD - for how long?
4 LORD, come back. Give me back my life.
Make me safe because of your kind love.
5 Nobody that dies can remember you.
Who can praise you in Sheol?
6 I am weak with crying.
My bed swims on my tears every night.
The place where I sleep is soaked.
7 My eyes are so sad that they are growing weak.
They are becoming old because of all my enemies.
8 Go away from me all you bad people.
The LORD has listened to the noise of my crying.
9 The LORD heard me when I asked him for a kind answer.
The Lord will listen to what I say.
10 All those that hate me will be very much ashamed.
They will also be disappointed.
They will be disappointed and soon they will turn away.
1 LORD, my God, I am hiding in you.
Keep me safe from all those (people) that are trying to catch me.
Make me safe,
2 or he will tear me to pieces as a wild animal would.
He will tear me to pieces and nobody will find me.
3 - v4 LORD, my God, if I did this:
· if my hand did something wrong
· if I did something bad to a friend
· if I robbed my enemy without a reason
5 then I want him to catch me.
I want him to knock me to the ground.
I want him to kill and bury me. SELAH
6 LORD, get up and how that you are angry.
Fight my angry enemies.
Wake up, my God, and tell us who is right.
7 I want everybody to stand round you.
Rule over them from above.
8 LORD, tell us who is right when people argue.
LORD Most High, say that I am righteous and honest.
9 Stop the godless from fighting. Make the righteous safe.
God of the righteous, look at how we think and feel.
10 God Most High is a shield over me.
He makes everyone that has a clean heart safe.
11 God is a righteous judge.
God shows his anger every day.
12 If he does not change his mind he will make his sword sharp.
He will bend his bow and make it ready.
13 He will prepare weapons of death for bad people.
He will make ready arrows of fire.
14 Look! The bad man is pregnant with evil.
He conceives trouble. He gives birth to false ideas.
15 He digs a hole. He makes it deep.
Then he himself falls into the hole that he has made!
16 The trouble that he makes for others falls on his own head.
His own violence comes down on the top of himself!
17 I will thank the LORD because he is righteous.
I will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.
1 LORD, you are our most powerful king.
Your name is famous in all the wide world.
Your glory is over the skies.
2 From the mouths of children and babies at the breast you show (what it is to be) strong.
This is because you have enemies.
You will beat your enemies and the avenger.
3 When I look at your skies that your fingers made:
· I see the moon
· I see the stars
· You gave them all a place
4 Then I ask:
· why do you remember men (and women)?
· what makes you visit them?
5 You made their place a little below God.
You made them feel as kings.
6 - v8 You made them to rule everything that your hands made.
You put everything under their feet:
· sheep and cows
· wild animals in the fields
· birds in the air
· fish in the waters
· monsters in the deep seas
9 LORD, you are our most powerful king.
Your name is famous in all the wide world.
1 All my heart sings 'thank you' to the LORD.
I will tell (people) of all your wonderful work.
2 I will be very happy with you, (LORD). I will rejoice in you.
I will sing praises to your name, Most High God.
3 Back my enemies went, they fell down. They died in front of you,
4 because you judged that what I did was right .
You sat on your throne. You made a righteous judgment.
5 Clearly you judged the nations and destroyed the wicked.
People will never remember their names.
6 You caught the enemy. You killed them.
You knocked down their cities. People will just forget them.
7 Evermore the LORD will rule.
He has built his throne. On it he will make his judgments.
8 He will make righteous judgments for the world.
His government will give justice to the people.
9 For the LORD is a place where the oppressed can hide.
He will be a fortress in times of trouble.
10 Everyone that knows your name (LORD) will put their trust in you.
LORD, you will never turn away from anyone that looks for you.
11 Go to the LORD with praises. His throne is in Zion.
Tell all the nations all that he has done.
12 (God) will remember the people that somebody murdered.
He will not forget the oppressed people that cry to him.
13 Have mercy on me, LORD.
See how my enemies make my life very difficult.
Make me safe from the gates of death.
14 Then I will tell your praises in the gates of Jerusalem.
I will rejoice that I am safe with you.
15 Into the hole that they dug the nations fell.
They caught their own feet in the net that they hid.
16 You will recognise the LORD by his justice.
The enemies of God will catch themselves in their own nets.
HIGGAION SELAH
17 Just as the enemies of God go to Sheol, so will all the nations that forget him.
18 Know this: God will not always forget the poor.
The oppressed will not have to hope for evermore.
19 LORD, stand up! Do not let men become too powerful.
Let the nations find justice before you.
20 LORD, make them afraid.
1 LORD, why are you standing so far away?
Why do you hide when there is trouble?
2 In his pride the wicked man tries to catch helpless people.
I hope that wicked people catch themselves with their bad plans!
3 The wicked boasts about what he wants.
He says good things about those that want more than is fair.
He says very bad things about the LORD.
4 In his pride, the wicked does not look for God.
He will not even think of God.
5 Everything that the wicked does always works well.
He puts the rules of God far from him.
He laughs at the people that do not like him.
6 He says to himself, "There will be no trouble for me.
Nothing bad will ever happen to me or to my children".
7 His mouth makes bad promises.
It is full of words that are not true.
He says that he will do very bad things to people.
There is evil on his tongue.
8 He hides behind the bushes near the villages.
He watches in secret for people to hurt.
He jumps out and murders people that have done nothing wrong.
9 He lies like a lion under the cover of a bush.
He waits to catch someone that is helpless.
He does catch him and takes him away in his net.
10 He beats the helpless man.
The helpless man fails and falls under the stronger man.
11 He says to himself, "God forgot.
He hid his face. He never saw what happened".
12 Rise up, O God! Lift up your hand.
Do not forget the helpless people.
13 Why does the wicked man say such bad things about God?
Why does he think, 'God will not do anything about it'?
14 See it all, God, all the trouble, all the oppressed people.
Decide what to do about it.
The helpless puts his trust in you.
You give help to the fatherless.
15 The arm of the wicked and evil man . . . break it (LORD)!
Tell him to explain what he has done.
He thought that you would not discover it!
16 The LORD will always be king.
The nations will not remain in his land for evermore.
17 You hear, LORD, what oppressed people want.
You listen when they pray. You give them something to hope for.
18 You care for the fatherless and the oppressed.
People from the earth will not frighten the poor again.
1 (These are words of David.) I am hiding in the LORD.
How can you say to me, (These are the words of David's friends.) Fly away like a bird to the hills?
2 Look at the godless!
They are preparing their bows and arrows.
They are getting ready to shoot at good people.
They are hiding in the shadows.
3 When people destroy the foundations what can the righteous do?
4 (These are words of David.) The LORD is in his holy temple.
The LORD is sitting on his throne in heaven.
He is looking down.
His eyes see what the sons of men are doing.
5 The LORD is (also) checking what the righteous are doing.
But the LORD really hates the godless.
He also hates the people that love to hurt other people.
6 Burning coal and sulphur will rain on the godless.
A very hot wind will be their inheritance and cup.
7 The LORD is righteous.
He loves righteous people.
They will see his face.
1 LORD, give help!
There are no more kind people.
Nobody is faithful anywhere.
2 Everybody tells lies to his neighbour.
Their words sound good, but they are not.
3 LORD, cut off every tongue that tells lies.
Shut every mouth that boasts.
4 Do this to everyone that says:
· what we say will make us powerful
· we will say what we like
· who will stop us?
5 The LORD says, "Now I will do something.
This is because bad people attack the poor.
They make the poor cry.
So, I will make the poor safe.
They will be safe from all that scorn them"
6 The words of the LORD are beautiful words.
They are like silver.
People refine silver 7 times in a very hot fire.
7 LORD, you will keep the poor safe.
You will never let bad people hurt them.
8 The godless are winners when people say that "Wrong is right".
1 How long, LORD, will you forget me? For all time?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I think such sad thoughts? All day long?
How long will my enemy win?
3 Look! Answer me LORD.
My God, give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death.
4 My enemy will say, "I beat him!"
My enemies will be very happy when I fall.
5 But I will believe in your love that never fails.
My heart will be very happy because you make me safe.
6 I will sing to the LORD.
He is so good to me.
1 A man without shame says in his heart, "There is no God".
Everybody is bad. They are all evil.
Nobody is doing anything good.
2 The LORD is looking down from heaven on the sons of man.
He is looking to see if there is anyone that understands.
He is looking to see if anyone is looking for God.
3 But everybody has turned away (from God).
They have all become evil.
Nobody does anything that is good.
4 Will they never learn? They do evil.
They eat my people (as easily) as they eat bread.
They never talk to God.
5 There they were afraid. They were very much afraid.
This was because God was with the righteous.
6 They tried to stop the plans of the poor people.
But the poor people hid in the LORD.
7 Oh, who will come from Zion and make Israel safe?
When the LORD makes his people rich and happy again, then this is what will happen: Jacob will sing and Israel will dance.
1 LORD, who will stay in your house?
Who will live on your holy hill?
2 He that is always:
· making no mistakes
· doing what is fair
· speaking in his heart what is true
3 He says nothing bad.
He does nothing wrong to his neighbours.
He does not call his brother a fool.
4 He does not like bad people, but he does like the servants of the LORD.
He keeps his promises even when it costs a lot.
5 He does not lend money to get more money.
He does not take money to do what is not fair.
Nothing can ever move the man that does all this.
1 (This is) the secret of David.
Keep me safe, my God, because I come to you for help.
2 I said to the LORD, You are my Lord.
All the good things in my life come from you.
3 I have great pleasure in the saints on earth.
It is they that do such good things.
4 But people that run after other (gods) will be sorry.
They will be more than sorry.
I will not offer gifts of blood (to other gods) with them.
I will not even say the names of these (other gods).
5 You, LORD, chose my part and my cup.
You make safe what is mine.
6 The lines fell to me in a pleasing place.
(Or, You chose a part for me that is very pleasing.) Yes. My part is really very beautiful.
7 I will say how great the LORD is. He is my teacher.
In the dark nights my feelings also teach me.
8 I kept the LORD always in front of me.
With him at my right hand nobody will move me.
9 My heart is happy. My mouth is always singing.
My body will be safe when I sleep.
10 You will not send me to Sheol.
You will not let your holy one see the Pit.
11 You will show me the path of life.
With you I will enjoy myself a lot.
At your right hand there is pleasure for ever.
1 LORD, hear what I am saying to you.
What I am asking is righteous.
Listen to me when I cry.
Answer me when I pray to you.
My lips do not tell lies.
2 I want justice from you.
I want your eyes to see what is right.
3 You can look at the secrets of my heart.
You can test me at night.
Though you test me, you will find nothing (wrong).
I promise myself that my mouth will not sin.
4 People do bad things.
The words of your mouth (have given me help).
(They) gave me help not to do bad things.
5 I put my feet on your path.
My feet did not trip over.
6 God, I pray to you, because you will answer me.
Listen to me when I pray to you.
7 Show that your great love is wonderful.
Your right hand saves the people that ask for your help.
It makes them safe from their enemies.
8 Make me as safe as the apple of your eye.
Hide me under the shadow of your wings.
9 Very bad men have attacked me.
Enemies that want to kill me are all round me.
10 Their hearts have become hard.
They speak very proud words.
11 They found me. They are all round me.
Their eyes are open wide.
They want to put me on the ground.
12 They are like a hungry lion.
They are like a great lion that is hunting for its food.
13 LORD, get up! Stand in front of them. Knock them down.
Save me from wicked men by your sword.
14 LORD, by your hand (take them) from the earth.
Remove them from the world. Their reward is in this life.
You give plenty of food to the people that you love.
Their sons also have plenty.
They will give much to their children.
15 And I, because I am righteous, I will see your face, (LORD).
It will be enough for me when I awake.
Then I will really see you.
1 I will love you, LORD.
In you I am strong.
2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress.
He gives me help.
God is my rock.
I run and hide in his shadow.
He is my shield.
He is the one that saves me.
He is my high tower.
3 The LORD is someone that I must praise.
He will save me from my enemies.
(Part 2: David asks for help)
4 Death was all round me.
God's enemies were following me.
5 Sheol was tying me down.
Death was catching me.
6 In my trouble I prayed to the LORD.
I shouted to my God for help.
He heard my voice from his temple.
My words went into his ears.
(Part 3: God answers David)
7 So, the earth moved and shook.
The foundations of the mountains shook.
They moved because God was angry.
8 Smoke rose from his nose.
Burning fire came from his mouth.
Burning coals shot out from him.
9 God opened the heavens and came down.
Dark clouds were under his feet.
10 He sat on a cherub and he flew.
God flew in the arms of the wind.
11 God covered himself with darkness.
He was in the dark waters and clouds in the skies.
12 It was very bright where God was.
Out of the clouds came hail and lightning.
13 The LORD sent thunder from the heavens.
People heard the voice of the Most High.
There was hail and there was lightning.
14 (The LORD) shot his arrows (of lightning).
He made his enemies very frightened.
He sent a lot of lightning and he beat his enemies.
15 People saw how deep the sea was.
They saw the foundations of the earth.
This was because God blew on them through his nose.
16 (The LORD) came down to me. He held me.
He took me out from deep waters.
17 He saved me from my powerful enemy.
He saved me from people that hated me.
They were too strong for me.
18 It was a bad day for me when I met them.
But the LORD gave me help.
19 He led me out to a wide place.
He saved me because he found pleasure in me.
(Part 4: Why God gives help to people)
20 - v21 The LORD did this because: - I am righteous - my hands are clean - I obeyed the rules of the LORD - I did no evil - I did not turn away from God
22 Really, all his rules are in front of me.
I did not turn away from them
23 I did nothing wrong before him.
I did no sin.
24 (The LORD) made me righteous.
My hands are clean when he looks at me.
25 To people that are kind, you (God) are kind.
To people that do nothing wrong, you do nothing wrong.
26 To people that are clean, you are clean.
To people that turn away from you, you turn away from them.
27 You will save humble people.
You will not save people unless they are humble.
(Part 5: Everything that David owns comes from God)
28 LORD, you make my light burn brightly.
My God is my light in the dark.
29 Really, in you I run up to a troop (of soldiers).
In my God I can jump over a wall.
30 The way of God is perfect.
The word of the LORD is true.
He is a shield for everyone that hides in him.
31 Because who is God? Only the LORD!
Who is a rock? Only our God!
32 It is in God that I am strong.
He makes my way perfect.
33 He makes my feet like the feet of a goat.
I do not fall on the hills.
34 He teaches my hands to fight.
My arms can bend a metal bow.
35 (God) you made me into a winner.
You bent down (to earth). You made me great.
36 You made me take long steps.
My ankles did not turn.
37 I ran after my enemies. I caught them.
I did not turn back until I had killed them.
38 I knocked them down. They did not get up again.
They fell beneath my feet.
39 You made me strong for fighting.
You made my enemies bend in front of me.
40 You gave their necks to me.
I destroyed my enemies.
41 They cried for help but nobody saved them.
They cried to the LORD but he did not answer.
42 I cut them into small pieces in the wind.
I put them on the streets as sand.
(Part 6: God made David king)
43 You saved me from the people that attacked me.
You made me the leader of the nations.
I even rule people that I do not know.
44 When they hear about me they obey me.
Foreign people are afraid of me.
45 They will not fight me.
They do not hide in their fortresses.
46 The LORD is alive. Praise my Rock.
Lift high the God that saves me.
47 He is the God that fights for me.
He makes the nations obey me.
48 He saves me from my enemies.
You lifted me above those enemies.
You saved me from angry men.
49 LORD, I will praise you in all the nations.
I will praise your name with songs.
50 (The LORD) will give his king great power.
He will always show kindness to his Messiah, to David.
He will show kindness to his children.
1 The heavens are telling us about the glory of God.
The sky is showing the things that his hands have made.
2 One day pours out the story to another day.
One night tells the next night what it knows.
3 (But) they do not use words and have no languages.
Nobody hears their voice.
4 (Yet) what they say goes into all the earth.
Their words go to the ends of the world.
God has made a home for the sun (in the sky).
5 The sun comes out from his home like a bridegroom.
He is very happy to run fast, like a very strong man.
6 His sunrise is at one end of the heavens.
He travels in a big circle to the other end.
Nothing can hide from the heat of the sun.
7 The book of the LORD is wonderful.
It makes people feel alive again.
We can trust what the LORD tells us.
He points out the way when we are not sure of it.
8 What the LORD tells us to do is always right.
It makes us feel happy deep down inside us.
What the LORD commands us is pure.
It makes our eyes shine with new light.
9 The fear of the LORD is a clean fear.
It will always remain with us.
Every word that the LORD says is true.
Every one of them is righteous.
10 They are of more value than gold, even a lot of pure gold.
They are sweeter than honey, even the best honey that bees make.
11 Also, they are a guide to your servant.
Good things come if he obeys them.
12 Who can know when he has made mistakes?
Forgive me all my secret sins.
13 Also, stop your servant from wanting to sin.
Do not let sin rule over me.
Then nobody will say that I did wrong.
I will be clean (because you help me).
I will not do anything very bad.
14 Lord, I want everything that I say to make you happy.
I want all my thoughts to please you.
You are my Rock and you are my Redeemer.
1 - v3 We are praying that:
· the LORD will answer you when trouble comes
· the name of the God of Jacob will make you safe
· God will send you help from his holy place
· he will make you strong from Zion
· God will remember all your gifts
· he will like all your burnt offerings SELAH
4 We want God to give you all that you really want to make all your plans work well
5 We will shout for joy when you win the war.
We will lift up our banners in the name of our God.
We want the LORD to answer all that you pray.
6 Now I know that the LORD will save his king.
God will answer him from his holy heaven.
The right hand of God will save the king.
7 Some people rely on chariots. Others rely on horses.
But we will trust in the name of the LORD our God.
8 They will falter and fall.
But we will get up and remain strong.
9 Lord, save the king!
Answer us when we pray.
1 LORD, the king is enjoying your power.
He is very happy.
You gave him help to win.
2 - v5 You gave to him what he really wanted.
You gave to him everything that he asked for. SELAH You met him and gave to him such good things:
· you put a crown of the best gold on his head
· he wanted to stay alive and you let him
· his life will go on, it will never finish · he has great glory because you gave him help to win
· you gave to him honour and he now remains as king
6 You will always do good things for him.
He is very happy because you are with him.
7 The king is relying on the LORD.
Because the Most High is loving and kind nobody will move the king.
8 Your hand will find all your enemies.
Your right hand will catch everybody that hates you.
9 When they see you, you will burn them all.
When you are really angry your fire will destroy them.
10 You will remove their children from the earth.
They will have no families anywhere.
11 This is because they planned evil against you.
They had really bad ideas and they did not work.
12 You will make them turn their backs to you.
This is because you will shoot your arrows at their faces.
13 LORD, you are really strong. You sit on high.
We will sing and praise your power.
1 My God!
My God, why have you left me by myself?
Why is my help far away?
I am crying out in agony!
2 My God!
I cry out for help all day long.
You do not answer.
I cry out all through the night.
You send me no peace.
3 But you are the Holy God!
The praise of Israel is like a throne for you.
4 Our fathers trusted in you.
They trusted in you and you made them safe.
5 They cried out to you and you saved them.
They trusted in you and you did not disappoint them.
6 But I am a worm. I am not a man.
People scorn me. Everybody hates me.
7 Everyone that sees me mocks me.
They say bad things. They shake their heads.
8 (They say) If the LORD likes him so much perhaps he (the LORD) will save him.
Perhaps he will rescue him.
9 But you, LORD, you:
· brought me from the womb
· made me trust you at the my mother's breast
10 I trusted you, LORD, from the womb.
From the womb of my mother you were my God.
11 Do not stay far from me. Trouble is near.
There is nobody to give me help.
12 Many bulls are all round me.
They are strong bulls of Bashan.
They make a circle with me in the middle.
13 They open wide their mouths towards me.
They are like lions that tear their food.
They roar while they do it.
14 They are pouring me out like water.
All my bones have become separate.
My heart is becoming soft like butter.
It is changing to milk inside me.
15 My mouth is dry, like a bit of broken pot.
My tongue is sticking to the roof of my mouth.
You laid me down in the dirt of death.
16 A lot of bad men have made a circle round me.
They are everywhere like dogs.
Sharp points are in my hands and feet.
17 I can count all my bones.
They look at me all the time.
They mock me.
18 They took my clothes.
They threw dice for my coat.
19 But LORD, do not stay far away!
You can make me strong, so hurry to give to me help!
20 Save my life from the sword.
Save everything that I love from the dogs.
21 Save me from the mouth of the lion.
You heard me from the horns of wild bulls.
22 I will tell your name to my brothers.
I will praise you in the congregation.
23 Everyone that is in awe of the LORD ... praise him!
All the seed of Jacob, honour him!
24 All the seed of Israel, worship him because: God did not hate or forget the man that suffered God did not hide his face from him God heard him when he prayed
25 I will praise you in the great congregation.
I will keep my promises.
The people that are in awe of you will see it.
26 The poor will eat. They will have plenty.
The people that look for the LORD will praise him.
Your heart will always be alive.
27 People everywhere will remember.
They will turn to the LORD.
Families from every country will worship you.
28 The LORD rules over every nation because he is king.
29 All the rich people on earth will eat well.
They will worship God.
All that die will bend in front of him.
Nobody can keep himself alive.
30 Our children will become his servants.
They will tell their children about the LORD.
31 They will say that the Lord is righteous.
They will say this to people that are not yet born: GOD HAS DONE IT!
1 The LORD is my shepherd.
I will not need anything.
2 He makes me lie down in green fields.
He leads me to waters where I can rest.
3 He gives me new life.
He is my guide to the right road.
He does this to (do what) his name (promises).
4 I will not be afraid when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.
This is because you (LORD) are with me.
Your rod and staff make me feel brave.
5 You prepare a table in front of me when my enemies are present.
You put oil on my head.
My cup is so full that it overflows.
6 I am sure that good and loving and kind things will follow me.
They will follow me all the days of my life.
I will always live in the house of the LORD.
1 The earth belongs to the LORD.
Everything in it is his own.
The world belongs to the LORD.
Everybody in it is his own.
2 The LORD built it on the seas.
He founded it on the waters.
3 Who can go up the hill of the LORD?
Who can stand in his holy place?
4 The person that has clean hands and a pure heart.
The person that does not worship idols.
The person that does not believe in lies.
5 The LORD will do good things to those people.
God will save them. He will say that they are right.
6 They are the people that are looking for God.
They want to see the face of (the God) of Jacob. SELAH
7 Lift up your heads you gates (of the city).
Lift up your very old doors.
Then the king of glory will come in.
8 Who is the king of glory?
The LORD that is strong and mighty.
The LORD that is powerful in war.
9 Lift up your heads you gates of the city.
Lift up its very old doors.
Then the king of glory will come in.
10 Who is the king of glory?
The LORD Almighty.
He is the king of glory! SELAH
1 LORD, I lift myself up to you.
2 My God, I will trust in you.
Do not let me be ashamed.
Do not let my enemies triumph over me.
3 No! Do not let anyone that hopes in you be ashamed.
Let the people that say false things without a reason be ashamed.
4 LORD, show me your ways.
Teach me your paths.
5 Lead me in your truth.
Teach me, because you are the God that saves me.
I hope in you all the day long.
6 LORD, remember your love and your kindness.
They have always been, from long ago.
7 Do not remember my sins when I was young, or the wrong things I did (when I was older).
LORD, remember your kindness to me, because you are good.
8 The LORD is good and always right, so he will teach sinners in the way.
9 He will lead the meek in judgment, he will teach the meek his way.
10 All the ways of the LORD are kindness and truth to the people that keep his covenant.
11 LORD, because of your name forgive my sin, though it is great.
12 Who is the man that is afraid of the LORD?
The LORD will show him the way that the LORD will choose for him.
13 He will have a good life.
His children will inherit the earth
14 (People like this) will be the friends of the LORD, as long as they worship him.
The LORD will show them his covenant.
15 My eyes are always looking towards the LORD, so that he can bring my feet out from the net.
16 Turn yourself to me and be kind to me, because I am lonely and hurt.
17 The troubles in my life just get more and more.
Oh, take away from me the things that make me unhappy.
18 Look at my trouble and pain and forgive all my sins.
19 Look at my enemies, they keep getting more and more.
They hate me very much.
20 Protect my life and make me safe.
Do not let me be ashamed, because I am hiding in you.
21 Protect my life because I am honest and good and I hope in you.
22 God, give to Israel help in all its trouble.
1 LORD, say that I always walk with you.
Say that I will never stop trusting in the LORD.
2 Examine me, LORD, and see what I am.
Look inside me, at my feelings and thoughts.
3 I will always walk in your good ways, because I can see that you are loving and kind.
4 I do not sit with worthless men.
I will not go with people that say that they are good, but they are not.
5 I hate bad people that meet together.
I will not sit with godless men.
6 I will wash my hands to show that I have done nothing wrong.
I will stand near your altar, LORD.
7 I will say with a loud voice that you are great.
I will tell people about all the wonderful things that you have done.
8 LORD, I love the place where your house is.
It is the home of your glory.
9 Do not put my soul with sinners, or my life with murderers.
10 In their hands are bad plans.
Their right hands are full of bribes.
11 But I will always walk with you.
Make me free and be kind to me.
12 My foot stands in a flat place.
In the congregation I will say that the LORD is wonderful.
1 The LORD is my light and he makes me safe.
Who will make me afraid?
The LORD is my hiding place.
So, who will make me afraid?
2 Bad men came near me.
They wanted to eat my body.
But it was my enemies, the people that fought me, that tripped and fell.
3 If an army uses arms against me, my heart will not be afraid.
Even if they fight against me, I will be sure (of God's help).
4 I have asked the LORD for only one thing.
This is what I want: I want to live in the LORD's house all the days of my life.
Then I will see that the LORD is beautiful.
I will look for him in his palace.
5 He will keep me safe in his house in the day of trouble.
He will hide me in the hiding place that is his tent.
He will lift me up on a rock.
6 He will raise up my head above my enemies all round me.
I will give him gifts in his tent.
I will sing and I will make music to the LORD.
7 LORD, hear my voice. I am praying.
Be kind to me and answer me.
8 My heart says, "Look for (God's) face".
I will look for your face, LORD.
9 Do not hide your face from me.
Do not be angry and turn away from your servant.
You gave me help (in the past).
Do not put me out and forget me (now).
You are my God and you make me safe.
10 If my father and my mother forget me, the LORD will care for me.
11 LORD, teach me your way.
Lead me in a straight path, because of my enemies.
12 Do not give me to my enemies.
They will do what they like with me.
People are saying things that are not true about me.
Others are saying that they want to hurt me.
13 (What would happen) if I had not believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living?
14 Wait for the LORD. Be strong.
Make your heart become brave.
Again, wait for the LORD.
1 LORD, you are my rock. I am praying to you for help.
Do not turn your ears away from me.
If you hide your answer from me, I will be as those people that go down into the pit.
2 Hear my voice when I pray for mercy.
I am asking you for help.
I am lifting up my hands towards your most holy place.
3 Do not drag me away with godless people, or with people that have done very bad things.
They say kind words to their friends but plan to do wrong things.
4 Give them what is fair for what they did and for the bad things that they have done.
Pay them for the work of their hands and bring back justice upon them.
5 (Do it) because they do not understand the things that the LORD has done, or the work of his hands.
He will tear them down, he will not build them up again.
6 I say that the LORD does good things, because he heard my voice when I prayed for mercy.
7 The LORD makes me strong. He is my shield.
My heart trusts in him and he gives me help.
Now my heart jumps for joy and I will thank him with my songs.
8 The LORD makes (his people) strong.
He is a safe and strong place for his Messiah.
9 Save your people and do good things for your inheritance.
Be the shepherd of (your people) and always lift them up.
1 Sons of God, say that the LORD is glorious.
Say that the LORD is powerful.
2 Say that the LORD has a glorious name.
Say all this to the LORD that is beautiful and holy.
3 The voice of the LORD is on the waters.
The glorious God is thundering.
The LORD is on the great waters.
4 The voice of the LORD is powerful.
The voice of the LORD is beautiful.
5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedar trees.
The LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon jump like a young cow and Sirion like a young wild animal.
7 The voice of the LORD makes fire in the sky.
8 The voice of the LORD makes the desert move, the LORD makes the desert of Kadesh move.
9 The voice of the LORD blows strongly on the trees and he blows everything from the forest.
But in his temple everyone says that he is glorious.
10 The LORD was king at the time of the Flood.
The LORD will always be king.
11 The LORD will make his people strong.
The LORD will give his people peace.
1 LORD, I will praise you because you have lifted me up (from Sheol).
You have not let my enemies laugh at me.
2 LORD, my God, I prayed to you for help, and you gave me health.
3 LORD, you brought my soul up from Sheol.
You gave me life, so that I am not with those that go down into the Pit.
4 Sing to the LORD all you that believe in him.
Praise his holy name.
5 His anger is for a moment, but his grace will be for as long as you live.
You may cry all night, but in the morning you will sing for joy.
6 I said that I was safe for ever because of what I had done.
7 But LORD, it was your grace that made me safe and protected my mountain.
When you hid your face (from me) I became very sad.
8 I prayed to you LORD and asked you, Lord, for mercy.
9 What value is there in destroying me in the Pit?
Will my dead body praise you?
Will it say that you keep your promises?
10 LORD, listen to me and give me mercy.
LORD, be the person that gives me help.
11 You have changed my crying into dancing.
You have taken away my sad clothes and given me wonderful clothes.
12 So my heart will sing to you, nothing will stop it.
LORD, my God, I will always praise you.
1 LORD, I am trusting in you.
Do not let me ever become ashamed.
Make me free, because you always do what is right.
2 Listen to me and send me help very soon.
LORD, be a rock for me to hide behind.
Make my house a fortress and keep me safe.
3 You really are my rock and my fortress.
Because of your name, lead me and be my guide.
4 You are my fortress.
Make me free from the trap that they hid for me.
5 I put my spirit into your hand.
Send me help, LORD God of truth.
6 I hate people that believe in false gods.
I am trusting in the LORD.
7 I am very happy because of your kind love.
It makes me want to dance.
You saw my trouble.
You knew that I was under stress.
8 You did not give me into the hands of my enemies.
You made my feet to stand in a wide place.
9 LORD, give me mercy because I am in trouble.
My eyes and my stomach and my whole body are sick because I am sad.
10 My life must come to an end because I am so sad.
My years will finish while I am crying.
I am so unhappy that I have become weak.
My bones are weak.
11 All my enemies hate me.
People that live near me do not like me.
Even my friends are afraid of me.
People that see me in the street run away.
12 Everybody has forgotten me.
I am just like a broken pot.
13 I heard people say unkind things about me.
There is danger everywhere.
They are making bad plans for me.
They want to kill me.
14 But I am still trusting in you, LORD.
I am saying that you are my God.
15 My times are in your hand.
Save me from the hand of my enemies and from the people that are trying to catch me.
16 Shine the light of your face on your servant.
Send help to me because of your kind love.
17 LORD, do not let me become ashamed.
I am shouting out to you for help.
Let the godless become ashamed.
Let them be silent in Sheol.
18 Let the lips that tell lies become silent.
They say unkind things about good people.
They think that they are better than them and they hate them.
19 You have prepared many good things for those that are afraid of you.
You did this in front of everybody.
You did it for those that trust in you.
20 You will hide them from the bad plans that men make.
They will not hear the bad things that people say.
They will be in a secret place with you.
21 Bless the LORD.
He showed me his kind love when I was under stress.
22 I said too soon that you were not watching over me.
But you did hear my voice when I prayed to you for help.
23 Love the LORD, everyone that has enjoyed his kind love.
He will keep safe those that are always his servants, but he will pay back those that are proud.
24 Everyone that hopes in the LORD: be strong and be brave in your heart.
5 (Then) I told you about my sin and I did not hide the bad things that I had done.
I said, "I will show my disobedience to the LORD".
You forgave the bad things that I had done in my disobedience. SELAH
6 So let everyone that enjoys your kind love pray to you.
(Let them do it) while they can still find you.
Then the great floods of water will not come near to them.
7 You are my hiding place.
You will keep me safe from trouble.
Your songs will be all around me now that I am free. SELAH
8 I will tell you the way, I will teach you where you must go.
My eye will be your guide.
9 Do not be like the horse, or the mule.
They do not understand.
They need special bits in their mouths to make them obey you.
10 Bad people will be very sad.
People that trust in the LORD will find his kind love all round them.
11 So, all you good people that have clean hearts: - show everyone that the LORD has made you happy - praise him in words and in music
1 Shout to the LORD, everyone that is righteous.
2 Praise the LORD with a harp.
Make music for him with a lyre that has 10 strings.
3 Sing to him a new song.
Make beautiful music with a trumpet.
4 Do this because the LORD says what is right.
Everything that he does is good.
5 He loves all that is right and fair.
The world is full of his kind love.
6 The word of the LORD made the skies.
The breath of his mouth made the stars.
7 He put the waters of the sea together in a bottle.
He hid the deep seas in a safe place.
8 Let everyone that lives in the earth be afraid of the LORD.
Let all the people of the world fall down in front of him.
9 Do this because he spoke and it happened.
At his word everything became fixed in its place.
10 Governments make plans, but the LORD checks them.
He does not let people do everything that they want to do.
11 The plans that the LORD makes will always happen.
His ideas will always be with us.
12 The people that have the LORD as their God will be very happy.
They are the people that he chose to be his own.
13 The LORD looks down from heaven.
He sees every man, woman and child.
14 From where he lives he can see every person that lives on the earth.
15 He made every separate person.
He knows everything that they do.
16 A great army will not save a king.
A soldier does not win because he is strong.
17 A horse will not always give you help to win, even if it is very strong.
18 Look, the eye of the LORD is on the people that are afraid of him.
It is on the people that trust in his kind love.
19 He will save them from death and from famine.
20 We will trust in the LORD.
He will send us help, and he will be our shield.
21 We are singing happy songs for the LORD.
We are trusting in his holy name.
22 LORD, we want you to send to us your kind love.
LORD we are trusting in you.
1 I will always say good things about the LORD.
Every day my lips will sing psalms to him.
2 My soul will boast about the LORD.
Humble people will hear it. It will make them happy.
3 Let us all make people see that the LORD is great.
We will make his name famous together.
4 I prayed to the LORD and he answered me.
He saved me from everything that made me afraid.
5 (Humble people) looked to (the LORD) and were happy.
Their faces were not ashamed.
6 This humble man prayed and the LORD heard (him).
The (LORD) took him away from all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD made a camp.
He stayed in it, round the people that feared the LORD.
He took them away (from danger).
8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good.
The man that trusts in him will be very happy.
9 Oh, fear the LORD all his saints.
People that fear him will need nothing.
10 Young lions may need (food) and become hungry.
People that pray to the LORD will not need any good (thing).
11 Children, come and listen to me.
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12 Which one of you finds pleasure in life?
Who wants time to see good (things)?
13 Do not say anything evil, or let your lips tell anything that is false.
14 Turn away from evil and do good (things).
Look for peace and follow it.
15 The LORD’S face is against the people that do evil.
Nobody in all the earth will remember them.
16 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears (listen) when they pray.
17 The LORD hears them when they cry for help.
He saves them from all their troubles.
18 The LORD is near when their hearts break.
He saves those whose spirits are very sad.
19 Many evil things happen to the righteous, but the LORD saves (the righteous) from them all.
20 (The LORD) keeps all their bones safe.
Not one of them becomes broken.
21 Evil (things) will kill very bad people.
(The LORD) will punish the people that hate righteous (people).
22 The LORD will make his servants free and not punish anyone that trusts him.
1 Lord, argue with those people that are arguing with me.
Fight against those people that are fighting against me.
2 Pick up a small shield and a big one.
Get up and give me help.
3 Pull out a small spear and a long one.
(Use them) against the people that are running after me.
Say to me. "I will make you safe".
4 Some people want to kill me.
I hope that they will become ashamed.
I hope that everyone else will think that they are very bad.
Some people are planning to destroy me.
Turn them back and confuse them.
5 Make them become like chaff in the wind.
Let the angel of the LORD send them away.
6 Make their way dark and dangerous.
Let the angel of the LORD be unkind to them.
7 (Do this) because they hid a trap for me.
There was no reason for it.
For no reason they dug a pit for me.
8 Surprise him and destroy him!
Catch him in the trap that he hid! Let him die in his own pit!
9 Then I will be pleased because of what the LORD has done.
I will be happy when the LORD has made me safe.
10 All my bones will shout, "LORD, who is like you?
You take the poor man away from the man that is too strong for him.
You take the people that need help away from those that hurt them".
11 People say that they saw me do bad things.
They asked me about it, but I knew nothing.
12 They paid me evil for the good things that I did.
I felt as if (my children) had died.
13 When they were ill I wore clothes made from sacks.
I hurt myself by not eating food.
My prayer came back to my own breast.
14 I cried when I walked about. I became bent because I was so sad.
I lived as though my friend or my brother or (even) my mother (was ill).
15 But when I fell down they laughed.
They all met together. They came together against me.
I did not know the people that were attacking me.
They would not stop hurting me.
16 They were like godless people and they mocked me more and more.
They showed their teeth (like a wild animal).
17 LORD, how long will you watch (this)?
Take me away from the people that are destroying me.
Save the thing that I love most from the lions.
18 I will thank you in the great meeting.
I will praise you when all the people are together.
19 Do not let my enemies laugh at me.
They hate me, but have no reason for it.
Do not let them wink at me with their eye.
20 They do not talk about peace.
They say false things to the people in the land that do not want trouble.
21 They open wide their mouth against me.
They say, "Aha! Aha! Our eyes saw it!"
22 LORD, you saw it (also).
Lord, do not remain silent. Do not stay far from me.
23 Wake up! Get up and give me justice!
Argue (for me against them), my Lord and my God.
24 LORD, you are righteous.
Give me justice, my God. Do not let them laugh at me.
25 Do not let them think in their heart, "Aha! (this is) what we wanted".
Do not let them say, "We have eaten him up!"
26 (Do this) to them that laughed at me when I became hurt:
· make them ashamed and confused at the same time
· make them sorry that they said that they were greater than me
· make them feel that they are wearing disgrace like clothes
27 (Other) people will be very happy (when you say) that I am righteous.
They will shout out in their pleasure.
They will always say, "The LORD is great!
He loves it when his servant has peace!"
28 My mouth will say that you are righteous.
I will praise you all day long.
1 – v4 The godless man does not obey (God).
This tells me that: he is not afraid of God
· he does not see (that this matters)
(v2) · he tells himself that (God) will not see the bad things (that he does)
· (he thinks that God) will not hate these bad things
(v3) · he says things that are bad and not true
· he has stopped being honest
· he does not do anything good
(v4) · he makes bad plans on his bed (at night)
· he decides not to do things in a good way
· he does not turn away from doing wrong things
5 LORD, your kind love is (as high) as the skies.
Your truth reaches the clouds.
6 Your goodness is like strong mountains.
Your justice is like a deep sea.
LORD, you make men and animals safe.
7 God, your kind love has great value.
The children of men are safe under the shadow of your wings.
8 There is enough in your house to give them all that they need.
You give them all a drink of pleasure from your river,
9 because you have waters that give life.
In your light we will see light.
10 Go on giving your kind love to the people that know you.
Give your goodness to the people that have clean hearts.
11 Do not let people that walk proudly hurt me.
Do not let bad people make me run away.
12 The people that did bad things lay there, where they fell.
(Somebody) knocked them down and they cannot get up again.
1 Do not make yourself angry because of what evil people do.
Do not feel that you want to be like them.
They are always doing wrong things.
2 They are like grass that will soon become dry.
They will die just as green plants do.
3 Trust in the LORD and do good things.
Live in the land and you will be safe.
You will enjoy what it gives to you.
4 Be happy with the LORD.
He will give to you what you most want.
5 Promise that you will give yourself to the LORD.
Trust in him and he will do (all this).
6 You are righteous. That will shine out like the dawn.
You are a fair person. That will be like the sun at midday.
7 Remain still in front of the LORD.
Wait for him (to do something).
Do not make yourself angry because other people are doing well, or because they are making bad plans.
8 Stop being angry (with God) and do not get heated inside.
Do not make yourself angry, it only brings trouble.
9 Evil people will become cut off, but people that wait for the LORD will inherit the land.
10 Soon the godless man will be gone.
If you look for his place, you will not find him.
11 The meek will inherit the land.
They will enjoy wonderful peace.
12 A godless person makes bad plans against a righteous one.
(The godless person) shows his teeth to him.
13 The LORD laughs at (the godless person), because he can see that his day will come.
14 Godless people get out their swords and point their bows: - to make poor and helpless people fall - to kill people that walk on the right road
15 But their swords will go into their own hearts.
Their bows will become broken.
16 Righteous people may have little (power), but that is better than the noise all the godless people make.
17 The LORD will keep righteous people safe, but will destroy the power of bad people.
18 The LORD knows the days of blameless people, but their inheritance will last for ever.
19 They will not be disappointed in a bad time.
In days of famine they will have enough.
20 But godless people will die.
They are enemies of the LORD.
You will not see them.
Like something beautiful, or like smoke, they will disappear.
21 When people lend something to a godless man he does not give it back.
Righteous people are kind and give things away.
22 The people that (God) says good things about will inherit the land.
The people that he curses he will destroy.
23 If the LORD likes the way that a man is going, he will give him help.
24 Even if (that man) trips over, he will not fall.
The hand of the LORD will hold him up.
25 I was young and now I am old.
Yet I have not seen the righteous man forgotten (by God).
(I have not seen) his children asking people for food.
26 He is always kind. He lends (things to people).
(People) say good things to his children.
27 Turn away from evil and do good (things).
Then you will live for ever!
28 Because the LORD loves justice he will not forget his saints.
He will care for them for ever, but he will destroy the children of the godless.
29 Righteous people will inherit the land.
They will always live there.
30 The righteous man says good things, he talks about justice.
31 The rules of God are in his heart.
His feet do not trip over.
32 The godless man watches the righteous man.
He wants to kill him.
33 The LORD will not let him remain in his hand.
He will not say that he is wrong when people are saying that he is wrong.
34 Stay with the LORD. Do things his way.
He will give you help. The land will be yours.
You will see when godless people become cut off.
35 I have seen the godless man with great power.
He was a tree growing in the best place (for it).
36 But he died. He did not remain alive.
I looked for him but I did not find him.
37 Think about the blameless man.
Look at the man that is good.
He will have peace in the end.
38 But (God) will destroy people that do not obey him.
In the end (God) will cut off godless people.
39 The LORD will make righteous people safe.
He will give them help in time of trouble.
40 The LORD gives them help and makes them safe.
He makes them safe from the godless.
He makes them safe because they trust in him.
1 LORD, do not tell me about my mistakes when you are not pleased (with me).
Do not punish me because you are so angry (with me).
2 For your arrows have gone deep into me and your hand has come down on me.
3 My body is very ill because you are so angry and there is no health in my bones because of my sin.
4 Also, my sin has gone over my head!
Like a heavy weight, it is too heavy for me (to carry).
5 My wounds are going bad, they are making a bad smell.
(This is) because I was so stupid.
6 My sins have bent me down, I am very near to the ground.
Every day I walk about in black (clothes).
7 Also, there is a terrible pain in my stomach.
There is nothing good in my body.
8 I am very weak. Everything is pushing down on me.
I am making a noise (like a wild animal) because my heart is so sad.
9 Lord, you know everything that I want.
Nothing can hide me from you when I cry.
10 My heart is beating fast and my strength is failing me.
There is no light in my eyes.
11 My family and my friends stay away from my wounds.
The people that live near me stay far from me.
12 Also, the people that are trying to kill me set traps for me.
Those people that want bad things (to happen to me) are planning to destroy me.
They only think about (their) lies all day long.
13 But I am like a deaf man. I hear nothing.
Also, I am like a dumb man. I do not open my mouth.
14 So, I have become like someone that hears but does not answer.
15 O LORD, I have waited for you!
(I believe) that you will answer (me), O Lord my God.
16 I say this so that my enemies will not laugh at me.
When my foot slips they stand up against me.
17 For I am ready to fall and my pain is always with me.
18 But I will say that I have done bad things.
My sin is always a trouble to me.
19 Many people hate me for no reason.
A lot of people are saying lies about me.
20 Some people repay evil for good.
They fight me when I try to do what is good.
21 Do not leave me, O LORD.
O God, do not go far away from me.
22 Hurry to give me help, O Lord my Salvation.
1 I said, I will be careful what I do so that I do not sin.
I will be careful what...
2 I say.
I will shut my mouth when the godless are near me.
3 I will be like a dumb man and not speak.
I will not even talk about good things.
But it hurt me to do this and the pain in my heart grew worse.
It was like a fire inside me when I thought about it.
I just had to say something!
4 O LORD, tell me about my life, how long it will be and when it will finish.
Then I will know how weak I am.
5 Look, you have made my life just as wide as my hand!
The length of my life is as nothing to you.
It is true that the life of everybody is like the wind. SELAH
6 People walk about just like shadows.
They are like the wind.
They get a lot of money, but they do not know who will have it when they die.
v7, v8 Now, what do I hope for, O Lord?
I am hoping for you to save me from all the bad things that I do!
Do not put me where fools will laugh at me.
9 I will not say anything.
I will not open my mouth, because you have done something!
10 Do not hit me again.
Your hand is hurting and destroying me.
11 You speak angrily to people about sin and you punish them.
You make all that is pleasant in them fly away like a moth!
It is true that everyone is like the wind. SELAH
12 O LORD, hear my prayer.
Listen to me when I cry. Do not be dumb to my tears.
I am an alien to you. I am a stranger, like all my fathers were.
13 Look away from me.
Then I will be happy until I live no more and die.
1 I was patient while I waited for the LORD.
He turned to me and he heard me when I prayed for help.
2 He lifted me out of the pit where (bad people) were destroying me and from very wet ground.
He put my feet on a rock and made me walk without falling.
3 He gave me a new song to sing.
It was a hymn of praise to God.
Many people will see what happened and be afraid.
Then they will trust in the LORD.
4 The man that trusts in the LORD will be very happy.
He does not listen to proud people that turn to false gods.
5 LORD, my God, you have done many wonderful things.
Nobody can tell you about your plans for us.
If I say that I will talk about them, there would be too many to speak about!
6 You did not want a sacrifice and an offering.
You have made a hole in my ears.
You did not ask for a burnt offering and a sin offering.
7 Then I said, "Here I am.
In this book someone wrote about me".
8 I am pleased to do what you want me to do, my God, and your rules are in my heart.
9 I talk about the good news of (how to become) righteous to everybody.
Look, LORD, I never keep my mouth shut, as you know!
10 I do not keep the righteous things that you do to myself.
I do not hide (from people) that they can trust in you.
I tell everyone that your kind love will save them.
Also, I (show them) the truth.
11 You, LORD, will not keep your mercy from me.
Your kind love and your truth will always protect me.
12 But trouble is all round me.
I cannot see how much there is.
My sins have followed me and caught me.
I cannot see anything.
13 LORD, please save me!
LORD, hurry to give me help!
14 There are people that want to kill me.
I hope that they will become ashamed and confused.
There are people that want to destroy me.
I hope that everyone will say that they are bad people.
15 I want all those people that say to me "Aha! Aha!"
to become very sorry for what they have done.
16 I want everyone that is looking for you to be happy, very happy.
I want everyone that loves it when you save them to say,
"Praise the LORD".
17 But I am poor and I need help. Lord, you think about me.
You are my help and you save me.
O God, do not be a long time!
1 Anyone that is kind to the poor will be very happy.
The LORD will help him when life is difficult.
2 The LORD will make him safe and keep him alive.
He will be happy where he lives.
(The LORD) will not give him to his enemies (for them) to do what they want to do (with him).
3 The LORD will be like a nurse to him when he is ill in bed.
Every time that he is ill you will make him well again.
4 I said, "LORD, have mercy on me.
Heal me, even though I have broken your rules".
5 My enemies say bad things about me.
(They say) "When will he die?
When will people forget his name?"
6 And if one (of them) comes to see me, he tells lies.
He fills his mind with bad things to say about me.
Then he goes out and tells (everyone).
7 All the people that hate me whisper to each other about me.
They hope that worse things will happen to me.
8 (They say that) "someone put a death-wish on him, so he will never get up from his bed".
9 Even my best friend has lifted up his heel against me.
He was someone that I trusted, someone that I often ate food with (in my home).
10 But you, LORD, have mercy on me.
Raise me up so that I can repay them.
11 I know that you are pleased with me because my enemy does not shout over me (that he has won).
12 You will help me because I am honest.
You will always keep me near to you.
13 Say good things about the LORD.
He always was the God of Israel and he always will be!
Amen and amen!
1 My *soul cries out for you, (my) God, *like a *hart crying out for streams of water.
2 My *soul is *thirsty for God, the God that is alive.
When can I come and see the face of God?
3 (All) day and (all) night I cry and do not eat.
All day (my enemies) say to me, "Where is your God?"
4 My *soul cries inside me when I remember that:
· I went with a crowd (to *worship you)
· I went to the house of God
· there was the sound of singing
· there was a loud noise of people thanking (you) and dancing.
5 My *soul, why are you so sad?
Why are you so *restless inside me?
Hope in God because I will *praise him again!
When God is with me, he will do great things (for me).
6 My *soul is sad inside me.
So I will remember you (my God) from:
· the land of (the) Jordan (river)
· (the mountains) of Hermon
· the hill of Mizar.
7 The deep (waters) make a noise when your *waterfalls thunder.
All your big *waves and all your little waves roll over me.
8 In the day time the *LORD sends to me his kind love.
At night his song is with me.
My *prayer is to the God of my life.
9 I will say to the God (that is) my Rock,
"Why did you forget me? Why must I be so sad?
You let my enemy do what he likes to me!"
10 My enemies hurt all my bones.
The people that fight me are always saying, "Where is your God?"
11 My *soul, why are you so sad?
Why are you so *restless inside me?
Hope in God, because I will *praise him again!
When God is with me, he will do great things (for me).
1 (My) God, say that I am right.
Tell it to the people that do not love (me).
*Rescue me from the man that tells *lies and does bad things.
2 (This is) because you are my *refuge, God.
Why are you always so *unkind to me?
Why must I continue to be so sad?
You let my enemy do what he likes to me!
3 Send out your light and your *truth.
Let them be my guide.
They will bring me to your *holy mountain and to the house where you live.
4 Then I will come to the *altar of God, the God that makes me happy.
I will *praise you with a *harp, God, my God.
5 My *soul, why are you so sad?
Why are you so *restless inside me?
Hope in God, because I will *praise him again!
When God is with me, he will do great things for me.
1 God, we have heard it for ourselves. Our fathers told it to us.
(They told us) what you did for them a long time ago.
2 Your hand pushed out the people (that lived in the land) and put (our fathers) in.
You broke (our enemies) but gave help to (our fathers).
3 (Our fathers) did not get the land by their own *swords.
Their own power did not win the fight. It was you and
· your right hand
· your arm
· the light on your face (that did it) because you were their friend.
4 You are my king. You are my God.
You are the one (that said that) Jacob must win.
5 Because of you, we pushed back our enemies.
Because of your name, we beat those that fought us.
6 I do not believe that my bow gave me help.
I do not think that my *sword won (the fight).
7 This is because you give us help to beat our enemies.
You make the people that *hate us ashamed.
8 We *praise God *all day long.
We will always *praise your name. *SELAH
9 But now you have turned away from us.
You have made us ashamed.
You do not go out with our armies.
10 You make us run away from an enemy.
Those people that *hate us take what they like from us!
11 You make us *like sheep so that people can eat us!
You have thrown us into other countries.
12 You are selling your people (and the price is) cheap.
You have sold them and not got anything for it!
13 You have made us into something that our *neighbours laugh at.
Everyone round us laughs at us and *scorns us.
14 We are as nothing among the *nations!
Everybody is sorry for us.
15 I am ashamed *all day long.
I do not know where to look.
16 (This is) because of:
· the bad things that people say about me
· the people that do bad things to me
· (the people that are) my enemies
· (the people that are) happy because they hurt me.
17 All this happened to us, but we did not forget you.
We did not forget our *covenant with you.
18 Our *hearts did not turn away, nor did our feet turn from your path.
19 But you broke us where the wild animals are.
You covered us with great *darkness.
20 If we had
· forgotten the name of our God, or
· lifted up our hands to a foreign god
21 would God not have discovered it?
He knows the secrets of (people’s) *hearts.
22 Yet because of you, people kill us *all day long.
They think that we are *like sheep ready for (people to) kill.
23 *Lord, awake! Why are you asleep?
Get up! Do not throw us away *for ever!
24 Why do you hide your face (from us)?
Why do you forget our trouble and the way that people hurt us?
25 We have fallen down to the earth.
Our bodies are on the ground.
26 Wake up and give us help!
Save us, because of your kind love.
1 These good words make my *heart very happy.
I will say these verses to the king.
My *tongue is *like the pen of someone that writes easily.
(Words that the *psalmist says to the king:)
2 You are the most beautiful man (that there is).
You speak words of *grace.
God has made you special *for ever.
3 Wear your *sword by your side.
(You are) the *Mighty One.
(You are) great and (you are) the king!
4 (Because you are) the king, ride out and beat (all your enemies).
Then (people that are) honest and *meek and *righteous will always win.
Your right hand will show you that you can do things that (make people) afraid.
5 Your sharp *arrows will cut into the *heart of the king’s enemies.
*Nations will fall down under your (feet).
6 Your *throne, God, will go on *for ever and ever.
The *sceptre of your *kingdom will be a *righteous *sceptre.
7 You have loved things that are *righteous and you have *hated things that are *wicked.
So God, your God, has put you above the people that are with you.
He did this by putting some *oil on you, which made you happy.
8 All your clothes (smell) of *myrrh, aloes and cassia.
The (beautiful) *ivory in big houses (and the music that you hear from them) makes you happy.
9 Among your great women are the daughters of kings.
Your *queen stands at your right hand.
(She is wearing) gold from *Ophir.
(Words that the *psalmist says to the *queen:)
10 Daughter, listen (to me).
Hear (what I am saying) and think about it.
Forget your people and your father’s house.
11 You are beautiful and so the king loves you.
He is your *lord, so *worship him, (v12) daughter from Tyre.
12 Rich people will make you happy with gifts.
13 The daughter of the king is beautiful inside.
They made what she wore out of cotton made from gold.
14 They led her to the king in her beautiful clothes.
The girls that were her friends followed her.
15 They came in with *joy and were very happy as they entered the king’s *palace. (Words that the king says to the *queen; or the *psalmist says to the king:)
16 You will have sons instead of fathers.
You will make them *princes over all the land.
17 I will make sure that people always remember your name.
So, people will *praise you *for ever and ever.
1 God is *like a place where we can go, where he will *protect us.
He will always give us help when troubles come.
2 So we will not be afraid when the earth moves (under our feet), or when the mountains fall into the middle of the seas.
3 (We will not be afraid) even when the seas make a loud noise and move a lot.
(We will not be afraid) when the mountains move a lot as well. *SELAH
4 (There is) a river (and) the waters from it make the city of God very happy.
(The city) is the *holy place where the *Most High lives.
5 God is in the middle of it. It will not fall down.
God will give it help early in the morning.
6 The *nations made a loud noise. *Kingdoms fell.
When (God) spoke even the earth *melted!
7 The *LORD of Everything is with us.
The God of Jacob makes us safe. *SELAH
8 Go and look at the things that the *LORD has done.
(He has done) surprising things in the earth!
9 He is the one that makes *wars finish all over the world.
He breaks bows; he destroys *spears; and he burns *shields in a fire.
10 Be quiet! Know that I am God.
I will (make them) lift me high among the *nations.
I will (make them) lift me high in (all the) world.
11 The *LORD of Everything is with us.
The God of Jacob makes us safe. *SELAH
1 Peoples from every (country), *clap your hands (together).
Shout aloud to God with the sound of happy singing.
2 Because the *LORD *Most High is wonderful.
(He is) the Great King of all the earth.
3 He won the fight against peoples (that were our enemies).
He put their soldiers under our feet.
4 He chose for us the place where we live.
Jacob, that he loved, is very happy with it. *SELAH
5 God has gone up with a great noise.
The *LORD (has gone up) with the sound of a *shofar.
6 Sing *praises to God, sing *praises!
Sing *praises to our king, sing *praises!
7 Because God is the King of the whole earth.
Sing (to him) a *maskil.
8 God is ruling over the *nations.
God is sitting on his *holy *throne.
9 People that want to be his servants have joined the people that belong to Abraham's God.
The people that rule the earth belong to God.
(They lifted God up) very high.
1 The *LORD is great. He really is worth our *praise.
His *holy mountain is in the city of our God.
2 Mount Zion is in a beautiful place, and it makes the whole world very happy.
It is the city of the Great King.
(It is also called) the High Place of Zaphon.
3 God was in its *defences and he made them very safe.
4 (This was) when we saw the kings meeting each other.
They crossed (into our country) together.
5 (Then) they saw (something) that really surprised them.
It made them very frightened (so that) they hurried away!
6 They were so afraid that they felt pain *like a woman having a baby.
7 It was *like the east wind that destroys great ships, (*like those from) Tarshish.
8 We have seen in the city of the *LORD of Everything that it was just as people told us.
(They told us that) God would keep the city of our God safe *for ever!
*SELAH
9 When we are inside your *temple, God, we think of your kind love.
10 Your name reaches to the ends of the world so that (people) give you *praise.
Your right hand is full of the good things that you do.
11 Because of the things that you decide to do: · Mount Zion will be very happy · the daughters of Judah will *praise you.
12 Walk all round Zion, go to every side of it. Count the *towers,
13 think about its strong buildings and make a note of its *defences.
Then you may describe it to your children.
14 For this God is our God *for ever and ever.
He will be our guide until we die.
1 Hear this, people from every country.
Everybody that is passing through this world, listen!
2 (Listen) together, whether you are important or not, or whether you are rich or poor.
3 I will speak to you words of wisdom.
I will tell you how my *heart understands things.
4 There is a question that I have heard.
I will (make music on) the *harp while I start to answer the problem.
5 Must I be I afraid when bad things happen and bad people are all round me?
6 (These bad people) think that their money will help them.
They are always saying how rich they are.
7 A man cannot pay the price for any man.
He cannot give to God what (his life) costs.
v8, v9 The life (of someone) costs very much.
He can never pay enough:
· so that he can stay alive *for ever
· so that he will not see the *Pit.
v10, v11 Does he not see that *wise people will die?
Fools and people that are not *wise will also die.
Their graves will be their homes *for ever.
That is where they will always be.
They called their land by their own name, but other people will get their money.
12 So, even if a man has riches, he will not live *for ever.
He will die, just *like the animals.
13 This is the way that people that *trust in themselves will go.
(This is also the way) of the people that copy them, that say that they are right. *SELAH
14 They will go to *Sheol, *like sheep. They will feed death!
Their bodies will waste away in *Sheol.
But good people will rule over them in the morning.
They will not (stay in) their big houses!
15 For God will buy me back from the hand of *Sheol.
He will hold me (in his own hand). *SELAH
16 Do not be afraid when a man becomes rich and his house gets even better.
17 He cannot take it with him when he dies.
Nothing will go down (to *Sheol) with him, (not even his) fame!
18 Though good things happened to him in his life (and people will say good things to you when you have a lot of money)
19 he will go to his fathers and people *like that.
He will never see the light again.
20 So, even if a man has riches, he will not (always) understand.
He will die, just *like the animals.
1 God, the powerful God, the *LORD, is speaking.
He is calling (everything on) the earth, from where the sun rises (in the east) to where it goes down (in the west).
2 God is shining out from Zion, that most beautiful place.
3 Our God is coming and he will not be quiet.
A fire burns up everything that is in front of him.
And there is a great storm round him.
4 He is calling the skies above and the earth (below) to say whether his people are good or bad.
5 (He says) "Bring my people to me.
(Bring to me) the people that have made a *covenant with me and have made a *sacrifice to me".
6 Then the skies (above) showed everyone about (God’s) *righteousness and that God himself is the *judge. *SELAH
7 Listen to me, my people, and I will speak (to you).
I have something to say against you, Israel.
I am God, your (own) God.
8 I will not be angry with your *sacrifices, nor with you for always burning offerings to me.
9 I do not need a bull from your farm or goats from your fields.
10 (This is) because all the animals of the forest are mine, and (all) the cows and bulls on a thousand hills.
11 I know every bird in the mountains.
(All) the farm animals are mine.
12 If I am hungry, I will not tell you.
(This is) because the world is mine and everything that is in it.
13 Do I eat the meat of bulls? (No!) Do I drink the blood of goats? (No!)
14 Offer to God thanks.
Do what you have promised for the *Most High.
15 Then pray to me when you are in trouble.
I will make you safe and you will say good things to me.
16 But to the bad people God says:
· why do you repeat my rules?
· why do you talk about my *covenant?
17 For you *hate me telling you what to do.
You put my words behind you.
18 If you see someone robbing (someone else) then you do it with him!
If people have sex with other people’s wives or husbands, you do it too!
19 Your mouth speaks *evil and your *tongue says things that are false.
20 You sit and say things against your own brother.
You repeat bad things about your own mother’s son!
21 You did all this and I said nothing.
(So) you thought that I was just *like you.
But I will be angry with you and tell you to your face what you have done wrong.
22 Now, everyone that forgets God, think about this, or I will tear you into pieces.
No one will save you.
23 Anyone that offers me thanks is giving me *praise.
They that live the right way will see that God will make them safe.
1 Give *mercy to me, God, because of your kind love.
Because you have so much love, forget that I did not obey you.
2 Wash me (from the bad feeling that I have) because of the bad thing that I did.
Make me clean from all my *sin.
3 Because I know that I did not obey you and my *sin is always in front of me.
4 I have *sinned against you and only you.
You saw the *evil that I did.
And so you are right when you talk to me.
You are not wrong when you say that I am bad.
5 I am sure that I have done bad things since my birth.
I have always wanted to *sin since the day that I was born.
6 But you want me to be good and you want to teach me how to live in the proper way.
7 Make me clean with hyssop and I shall be really clean.
Wash me and I will be whiter than snow.
8 I want to hear happy words that give me *joy.
I want the bones that you broke to *rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my *sins and forget all the bad things that I have done.
10 *Create a *pure *heart inside me, O God.
And put a strong spirit in me.
11 Do not send me away from where you are.
Do not take your *Holy Spirit from me.
12 Give me back the *joy that I get when I am safe with you.
And (give me) a spirit that makes me strong to give help (to people).
13 I will teach your ways to those people that fight against you.
Then *sinners will return to you.
14 Take away from me the bad feeling that I have because I killed someone, God, the God that makes me safe.
(Then) my *tongue will sing of your *righteousness.
15 *Lord, open my lips, then my mouth will say how great you are.
16 For animal *sacrifice does not bring you pleasure, or I would make it.
You would not want a whole burnt offering.
17 The *sacrifices that God wants are a broken spirit and a broken *heart that knows that it has *sinned. . . .
18 In your pleasure, do good things to Zion.
Build up the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then:
· there will be the right kind of animal *sacrifice
· whole burnt offerings will bring you pleasure
· they will offer bulls on your *altar.
1 Why do you say how great you are, you strong but *evil man?
The kind love of God is always (with us).
2 Your *tongue talks about ideas to destroy (people).
(It is) *like a sharp knife.
You are always doing (something) to hurt (people).
v3, v4 You love:
· to do *evil things
· not to do good things
· to say *lies
· not to say what is true *SELAH
· every *cruel word
· a false *tongue.
5 So, God will destroy you completely. He will catch you.
He will tear you away from your home.
He will pull you out from the earth where people live. *SELAH
6 And good people will see it and be afraid.
But then they will laugh at him.
7 "Look at the man that did not make God his *fortress.
Instead, he *trusted that all his money would make him safe.
He became strong by destroying (people)".
8 But I am *like an olive tree that is growing well in the house of God.
I will always *trust in the kind love of God.
9 I will always *praise you for what you have done.
I will tell your people what a good name that you have.
1 A fool thinks that there is no God.
People (*like that) are bad. They are *evil.
None of them does anything that is good.
2 God is looking down from *heaven on the people on earth.
He wants to see if there is:
· anyone that understands
· anyone that is looking for God
3 But they have all turned away and have become *evil.
Nobody does anything good, not one person.
4 Will the *evil doers not learn?
They eat my people (as easily) as they eat bread.
They do not speak to God.
5 They were very much afraid when there was nothing to fear!
God threw away the bones of the people that attacked you, (his people).
He made (the *evil doers) ashamed because God did not like them.
6 Oh, who will come from Zion and make Israel safe?
When God makes his people rich and happy again, Jacob will sing and Israel will dance.
1 God, give me help because of your name.
Use your power to make me safe.
2 God, hear my *prayer and listen to what I am saying.
3 Because my enemies are fighting against me and *cruel people are trying to kill me.
They do not think about God. *SELAH
4 But God, listen and give me help!
*Lord, it is you that keeps me alive!
5 Send back this *evil to my enemies.
Because you (love what) is true, destroy them.
6 I want to *sacrifice to you because I am free to do it.
I want to *praise your name, *LORD, because it is good.
7 (Your name) saved me from all my trouble.
When I looked at my enemies I saw (that I had won the battle).
1 God, listen to my *prayer.
Do not turn away when I cry for *mercy.
2 Hear me and answer me.
I cannot sleep because of my trouble. I am very *unhappy
3 because of what my enemies say. They give me a lot of pain.
And they are so angry that they *hate and make trouble for me.
4 My *heart is jumping inside me.
And all the fear of death is on every side of me.
5 Great fear and *shaking have come to me.
They are all over me.
6 So I said, "I would like to fly away as a bird.
Then I would find *peace.
7 Yes! I would go far away and live in a wild place. *SELAH
8 I would hurry to a safe place, safe from angry wind and storm".
9 *Lord, destroy (the *evil people)! Confuse their words!
Because I see fighting and angry people in the city.
10 They walk on its walls in the day and at night.
There are *evil (things) and trouble inside it.
11 *Cruel men that destroy people are in the city.
People that tell *lies never leave her streets.
12 For it was not an enemy that laughed at me.
That would not have hurt me.
It was not someone that fought against me and said bad things (to me).
I could have hidden from him!
13 But it was you, a man just *like me!
We did things together, you were my best friend!
14 We had good times together!
We used to go with a crowd (of people) to the house of God!
15 I want death to take (my enemies) by surprise!
I want them to go down to *Sheol alive!
Because *evil has made its home in them.
16 But I will cry to God for help and the *LORD will make me safe.
17 I will tell (God) that something is wrong, and cry (to him) in the evening, in the morning and at noon.
He will listen to my voice.
18 He will make me safe and well after the many times that I have fought against people (that are my enemies).
19 God will listen to me and he will *punish them.
(God) will always be King! *SELAH He will never change towards the people that are not afraid of God.
20 But my best friend attacks his friends.
He does not do what he promised to do.
21 What he says is as soft as butter, but there is war in his *heart.
His words are as *soothing as *oil but really they are *like sharp knives.
22 Take your problems to the *LORD. He will give you help.
(The *LORD) will never let his people fall.
23 And you, God, you will make bad people go to the *pit.
(The *pit) will destroy them.
(It will destroy) the people that tell *lies and kill (people).
They will only live half their lives!
But I will *trust in you, God.
1 God, be *gracious to me, because people are fighting me.
*All day long they are attacking me.
2 *All day long my enemies are fighting me.
Many people are attacking me!
3 *Most High, when I am afraid I will *trust in you.
4 By God’s help I will *praise his word.
By God’s help I will *trust in him. I will not be afraid.
What can men (on earth) do to me?
5 *All day long they make my words mean something else (that I did not mean).
All their thoughts about me are bad thoughts against me.
6 They meet together and hide themselves.
They watch where I go and hope to kill me.
7 Do not let them *get away with this!
God, destroy these people, because you are angry with them.
8 You count the times when I (cry because I) am not happy.
Put all my *tears in your bottle.
(Make sure that) they are all in your book.
9 Then my enemies will turn back, on the day when I cry (to you).
Then I will know that God is *on my side.
10 By God’s help I will *praise (his) word.
By the help of the *LORD I will *praise (his) word.
11 By God’s help I will *trust in him.
I will not be afraid of what *human beings can do to me.
12 I have made special promises to you, God.
I am ready to give you thanks and *praise.
13 This is because you have saved my life from death.
Keep my feet from falling so that I may walk before God and stay alive.
1 Be *gracious to me, O God, be *gracious to me.
I have looked for a place to hide in that is near to you.
I will hide under the shadow of your *wings until the danger is past.
2 I will pray to God, the *Most High God, to the God who will finish his plan for me.
3 He will send (a word) from *heaven and he will save me.
He will stop the people that are trying to catch me. *SELAH God will send me his kind love and his *truth.
4 There are *lions all round me!
I must lie down near man-eating animals!
They are men and their teeth are *like *spears and *arrows.
Their *tongues are *like sharp *swords.
5 God, lift yourself up above the skies.
Lift your *glory above all the earth.
6 (My enemies) put a *net for my feet.
I was very sad because of my trouble.
They dug a hole in front of me, but they fell into it! *SELAH
7 God, I have decided to be yours always!
I will sing your *praises as well as I can!
8 Wake up, *harp and *lyre.
I will wake up the dawn!
9 *LORD, I will thank you in front of all the people.
I will sing your *praises everywhere.
10 Your kind love is great. It is *higher than the clouds.
Your *truth reaches to the skies.
11 God, lift yourself up above the skies.
Lift your *glory above all the earth.
1 Do you rulers really say what is fair?
Do you say what is right when you *judge people?
2 No! You do not! You think of *evil in your *heart.
Your hands weigh out *cruelty to the land.
3 *Wicked people are bad from their birth.
From the *womb, they start doing wrong and saying *lies.
4 Their poison is *like the poison of a snake.
They close their ears *like a *deaf *cobra.
5 It does not hear the voice of the *charmer, however well he charms!
6 God, break their teeth in their mouths!
*LORD, destroy the teeth of those *lions!
v7, v8 May they:
· become weak and *flow away *like water
· be *like grass that dies after people walk on it
· be *like an *abortion that people forget
· be *like a child born dead that does not see the sun.
9 Before their pots can feel (the heat of burning) wood I want God to blow them away, *like the wind would in a bad storm.
10 *Righteous people will be very happy when (God) *punishes (the *wicked).
They will wash their feet in the blood of the *wicked!
11 People will say, "There is a reward for the *righteous.
There is a God that *judges what happens on earth".
1 My God, save me from my enemies.
Make me strong against the people that are fighting me.
2 Take me away from men that are doing *evil and make me safe from men that kill other people.
3 Look! They are waiting to kill me!
*Cruel men are planning together against me.
*LORD, (I have done) nothing against them and nothing wrong.
4 (I have done) nothing wrong but they are getting ready to attack me.
Get up and see (what they are doing)! Bring me help!
5 For you are the *LORD, a God with *huge armies.
Get up and *punish the foreign *nations.
Do not be *gracious to all these *evil and false people. *SELAH
6 They come back to the city every evening.
They go from place to place and *growl *like *dogs.
7 Look at their mouths ... *dribbling!
*Swords come from their lips because (they think that) nobody will hear.
8 But you, *LORD, you will laugh at them.
You will also laugh at foreign people.
9 I will watch for you, My Strength.
Because you, God, are My *Fortress.
10 My God, your kind love will come to meet me.
God will show me (when he wins the battle against) my enemies.
11 Do not kill them (yet), or my people will forget (them).
Use your power to make them go from place to place.
Our *Shield and our *Lord, you are stronger than they are so make them do it!
12 For the *sin of their mouth and the words of their lips, catch them in their *pride.
And (catch them) for the bad things that they say and the *lies that they tell.
13 Destroy them (now) because you are so angry (with them).
Destroy them and finish their lives.
Then people will know to the ends of the earth that God rules Jacob.
*SELAH
14 They come back to the city every evening.
They go from place to place and *growl *like *dogs.
15 They will go from place to place looking for food, and they will *growl when they do not find any.
16 But I will sing that you are My Strength.
In the morning, I will shout about your kind love.
Because you were My *Fortress where I found *shelter when I was in trouble.
17 I will raise psalms to you, My Strength.
Because you, God, are My *Fortress, the God that will always show me your kind love.
1 (You have said) that you will not be our God any more and you have broken down our walls.
Though you are angry, come back to us!
2 You made the earth move and you tore it open.
Mend its broken parts because it is falling to pieces.
3 You showed hard things to your people.
You made us drink wine that caused us to fall over.
4 You lifted up a *banner for the people that fear you.
They will fight for what is true. *SELAH
5 Give us help so that the friends that you love will be safe.
Use your right hand to answer us!
6 - v8 God did answer us from his *holy place! (He said):
· I will be the master
· I will make a parcel of Shechem
· I will measure the Valley of Succoth
· Gilead is mine
· Manasseh is mine
· Ephraim will cover my head
· Judah will *judge for me
· Moab is my bathroom
· Edom is where I will throw my shoes
· Philistia will be something for me to laugh at.
9 Who will lead me into the strong city?
Who will take me in to Edom?
10 (You have said) that you would not be our God any more.
But God, will you really not go with our armies?
11 Give to us help against the enemy, because help from men is of no value!
12 With God we will beat everybody and walk all over our enemies.
1 Hear me when I ask for help, God.
Listen to my *prayer.
2 I will shout to you from the ends of the earth when my *heart is weak.
Lead me to a rock that is *higher than I am.
3 For you have always been a *shelter for me, a *tower against the enemy.
4 I want to live in your house *for ever.
I want to hide under the shadow of you *wings. *SELAH
. . .
5 For you, God, have heard my promises.
You have given (me) the *inheritance (land) of the people that are afraid of your name.
. . .
6 Give the king a long life, so that he lives for a very long time.
7 Let him sit with God *for ever.
Give him your kind love and *truth to make him safe.
. . .
8 Then I will *praise your name *for ever.
I will keep my promises every day.
1 Only on God is my *soul *resting.
From him comes my *safety.
2 Only he is my rock. He will keep me safe!
He is my *fortress, so nothing will move me much.
3 How long will you shout at a man?
You all attack (as if he was):
· a wall that is breaking
· a *fence that is falling down.
4 They only want to push him off his high place.
They love to tell a *lie.
They say good things with their mouths but (think) bad things in their *hearts. *SELAH
5 Only on God is my *soul *resting, because from him comes my hope.
6 Only he is my rock. He will keep me safe!
He is my *fortress so nothing will move me (at all).
7 (It is) God that made me safe and (put me somewhere) important.
God is a strong rock and a *shelter.
8 Everybody (should) always *trust in him!
Tell him everything that is in your *heart.
God is our *shelter! *SELAH
9 All men are only as a *breath! Everyone is as nothing!
They all weigh less than nothing!
Everybody together is *like a *breath (of air).
10 Do not *trust in things that you:
· make people give to you (or that you)
· *steal (from people).
If you become rich do not think in your *heart that (money) will give you help.
11 God has said one thing (and) I have heard two things.
God is strong,
12 and you, *Lord, have kind love.
I am sure that you will give to everyone what they should get.
1 God, you are my God. I will look for you early (in the morning).
My *soul is *thirsty for you. All of me wants you.
(It is *like living in) a dry and *thirsty land where there is no water.
2 I want to see you in your house, I want to see your power and your *glory.
3 Your kind love is better than life, so my mouth will sing your *praises.
4 Also I will say how good you are all my life.
I will lift up my hands in your name.
5 My *soul is full, as if I had eaten a lot at a party.
My mouth is full of happy *praises to you.
6 I remember you when I am in bed and I think of you through the night.
7 Because you have given me help and I will *praise you in the shadow of your *wings.
8 My *soul stays very near to you and your right hand keeps me safe.
9 I ask that (someone) will destroy the people that want to kill me.
Then they will go down deep into the earth.
10 The *sword will kill them and wild animals will eat their dead bodies.
11 The king will sing psalms (of *praises) to God.
Everybody that promises to serve God will be very happy.
(This is) because the mouths of people who tell *lies will be shut.
3 - v6 (These *evil people):
· make their *tongues sharp *like *swords
· shoot words that hurt *like *arrows
(v4) · shoot from secret places at good people
· shoot when people do not think it will happen
(v5) · are not afraid (when they have done it)
· will not change their *evil ideas
· talk about hiding *traps and say, "Who will see them?"
(v6) · say "Who will find out the *crimes that we have done?"
· say "We have made a plan that nobody will discover!"
What men think in their *hearts is very deep.
7 But God will shoot an *arrow at them when they do not think it will happen.
It will hurt them a lot.
8 Really, they will destroy themselves with their *tongues!
All the people that see it will *shake their heads.
9 Everyone will be afraid and talk about what God has done.
They will understand what has happened.
10 Good people will be very happy with the *LORD.
They will *trust in him.
Everybody with an honest *heart will *praise (God)!
1 *Silence is *praise to you, God, in Zion.
And we will keep our promises to you.
2 You are the One that Hears *Prayer.
To you every man and woman should come.
3 My *sins are too heavy for me.
You (only) can take away (the bad results of) our *disobedience.
4 The man that you choose will be very happy.
You will bring him near and he will go into your *courts.
We will have plenty of good things in your house, in your *holy *temple.
5 You answer us by doing things that are *righteous, (but) they make us afraid.
You are the God that saves us.
You are the hope of people from the ends of the earth and far away seas.
6 You are so strong that you made the mountains.
Everything that you do shows how powerful you are.
7 You stop the seas from being angry, so that the waters make no noise.
You do the same with people.
8 Those that live far away see the great things that you have done.
It makes them afraid.
Where morning starts and evening finishes (they) shout for *joy (to you).
9 You care for the land.
You send rain on it and you make the ground grow good plants.
The rivers of God are full of water.
They give people *grain because that is how you prepared (the land).
10 Pour water on the land where the plough was. This will make it flat.
Let the rain make the ground soft. (Then) it will grow good (plants).
11 The best part of the year is when you give us good things.
Everywhere you go there is plenty.
12 The fields in wild places pour out good things.
All over the hills there is plenty.
13 The fields are full of sheep. The valleys are full of *grain.
(They seem) to shout and sing for *joy!
1 Shout aloud to God because you are happy, everyone on earth!
2 Sing to the *glory of his name!
Make the sound of his *praises beautiful!
3 Say to God, "The things that you do (sometimes) frighten people.
You are so powerful and strong that your enemies are afraid of you.
4 The whole world will get on its knees in front of you.
It will sing your *praise; it will *praise your name in song". *SELAH
5 Come and see the things that God has done.
The things that he did for people frightened many of them.
6 He made the sea into dry land.
The people walked across the river (Jordan) on their feet!
So, we must *praise him!
7 He is so powerful that he will rule *for ever.
His eyes are always watching the *nations.
Nobody should fight against him. *SELAH
8 Say good things about God, you people.
Let everybody hear the sound of (people) *praising him.
9 He is a God that keeps us alive.
He does not let our feet *slip.
10 Really, God, you have *tested us.
You have made us *pure as they make *silver *pure.
11 You brought us into a prison and made people beat our backs.
12 But you sent a man to lead us.
We went through fire and water, but you brought us into a place where there was plenty.
13 I will bring gifts to burn to you in your house.
I will keep the promises that I made to you.
14 When I was in trouble my lips made a promise.
I said it out aloud.
15 The gifts that I will offer to you will be fat animals.
You will smell the *rams when they burn.
I will also offer to you *bulls and goats. *SELAH
16 Come and listen, all you people that are afraid of God.
I will tell you some of the things that he has done for me.
17 I cried aloud to him, then I *praised him!
18 If I was thinking bad things in my *heart, my *Lord would not have listened.
19 But God did hear me.
He listened to my voice while I prayed.
20 I will say good things about God.
He has not been *deaf to my voice.
He has shown me his kind love.
1 God, be *gracious to us and *bless us.
Make your face to shine on us. *SELAH
2 Then people will know the things that you do on the earth.
People from every *nation will know that you can save them.
3 So people everywhere will say how great you are, God.
People everywhere will say how great you are.
4 The *nations will be so very happy that they will sing aloud for *joy!
Because you make fair decisions about everybody, then you will be a guide to everyone on the earth. *SELAH
5 People everywhere will say how great your are, God.
People everywhere will say how great you are.
6 The ground has given us its *harvest and God, our God, will continue to *bless us.
7 God - *bless us!
Then everyone that lives on the earth will be afraid of you.
1 God will rise up and his enemies will move away in all directions.
The people that *hate him will quickly ride away from him.
2 (God), blow them away as you would blow smoke away.
As butter becomes *oil in a fire, when the *godless see the face of God it will destroy them.
3 But the *righteous will be happy.
They will *rejoice when they see the face of God.
They will shout because they are so happy!
4 Sing to God, sing psalms to his name.
*Praise the One that Rides on the Clouds.
His name is the *LORD! Shout for *joy in front of him.
5 God is the father of those that have no father.
He gives help to women whose husbands have died.
(He does this) from the *holy place where he lives.
6 God gives a home to lonely people.
He leads people out of prison (and they hear) music.
But people that do not obey (God) will continue to live in a land where the hot sun burns the ground.
7 God, you went out in front of your people.
You marched through the *wilderness. *SELAH
8 The ground moved, the skies dropped (rain) when God came to Sinai.
God is the God of Israel.
9 God, you gave plenty of rain.
It made your Promised Land fresh again when it was dry.
10 Your people came to live in it.
God, you gave good things to the poor people that needed them.
You made them strong.
11 The *Lord gave a message and a large number of women passed on the good news.
12 Kings of *huge armies ran away. They *fled!
The women at home decided who should have what their soldiers brought from the war.
13 Even if you sleep where the sheep sleep, the *dove will have *wings of *silver and *feathers of gold!
14 When *Shaddai made (foreign) kings run away in different directions it was *like snow on Mount Zalmon.
15 The mountain called Bashan is a Mountain of God.
The mountain called Bashan has many high hills.
16 High mountains, why do you look at the mountain that God wants to live in?
Why do you want him to live in you instead?
This (mountain) is where the *LORD (himself) will always stay.
17 God has millions of *chariots.
The *Lord came with them to his *holy (mountain) Sinai.
18 You went to the high (mountain).
You took with you the *prisoners that you had caught.
You received gifts from men, the men that had fought against you.
The *LORD God will always live here.
19 Say good things about the *Lord!
Every day he gives us help with what we have to carry.
He is the God that saves us! *SELAH
20 Our God is the God who will make us free.
The *LORD our God will save us from death.
21 But God will break the heads of his enemies.
(He will break) the hairy heads of those people that will not stop doing wrong things.
22 The *Lord says, "I will bring (my enemies) back from Bashan.
I will bring them back (even from) deep down in the sea.
23 Then you can put your feet into their blood and even your *dogs can drink some!"
24 God, they will see your people walking together.
They will see my God and my King leading his *procession into the *temple.
25 The singers will go in front. The musicians will go behind them.
All round them will be girls beating tambourines.
26 "Say good things about God among all the people there!
All you people of Israel, (*praise) the *LORD!"
27 Benjamin, the youngest, will go first.
The leaders of Judah will make a noise (*praising God).
(Then will come) the leaders of Zebulun and Naphtali.
28 Your God sent the power (that gave you help).
God, be powerful (again) as you did (in past times) for us,
29 from your *temple in Jerusalem.
Kings will (then) bring gifts to you.
30 Be angry with:
· the animals that live in the reeds
· the group of bulls among the calves of the *nations.
When they fall on their knees, they will bring to you pieces of *silver.
Make the people that find pleasure in war run away from you in all directions.
31 The government of Egypt will send people and the people from Cush will lift up their hands to (*praise) God.
32 Sing to God, you *kingdoms of the earth!
Sing psalms to the *Lord! *SELAH
33 (Sing) to the One that Rides on the Clouds and on the *heavens that have always been there!
He is shouting with a powerful voice.
34 Tell everyone about the powerful God that is the King of Israel.
His power is in the skies.
35 God, how great you are in your *temple.
He is the God of Israel.
He gives power to his people and makes them strong.
Say good things about God!
1 Save me, God! Because the waters have come to *(take) my life.
2 I am going down into deep *mud and there is nowhere to put my feet.
I have come into deep waters and *floods rush over me.
3 I have shouted so much for help that I am weak.
My mouth is hot and dry. My eyes hurt from looking for God.
4 More people *hate me than (I have) hairs on my head.
They have no reason to be my enemies.
Many people try to destroy me with their *lies.
They made me give back something that I did not rob them of.
5 You, God, know that I am a fool.
I cannot hide my *sin from you.
6 Master, do not let the people that put their hope in you be ashamed because of me.
You are the *LORD of the armies (of *heaven).
Do not let the people that follow you be ashamed because of me.
You are the God of Israel.
7 Because I love you people say bad things about me.
They make me feel ashamed.
8 I have become a stranger to my brothers and my own mother’s sons do not know me.
9 I am angry for your house and it burns me up inside.
People *insult you, but they do it by *insulting me!
10 When I cry and eat no food people still *insult me.
11 When I wear clothes made from *sacks people laugh at me.
12 People that sit by the gate talk about me and people that are drunks sing songs about me.
13 But me ... I am praying to you, *LORD, (at a) time when you will hear me.
God, because you have so much kind love, answer me and make me really safe.
14 Take me out of the *mud and do not let me fall into it any more.
Save me from the people that *hate me and from the very deep waters.
15 Do not let:
· *floods of waters pour over me
· the deep seas drown me
· the *pit close its mouth round me.
16 Answer me, *LORD, because your kind love is (so) good.
Turn to me because you have so much *mercy.
17 And do not hide your face from your servant.
Because of my trouble, answer me very soon.
18 Come near to my *soul and make it safe.
Buy it back because of my enemies.
19 You (God) know that people *insult me and say that I am a *disgrace and make me ashamed.
20 *Insults have broken my *heart. I feel *helpless.
I looked for *sympathy, but there was none.
I wanted someone to *comfort me, but did not find anyone.
21 But they put poison in my food and they gave me *vinegar to drink.
22 I want (the food on) their table to be a *trap (for them) and a *trap for all their good friends!
23 I want their eyes to be in the dark so that they cannot see.
I want their bodies to bend over always,
24 (because) you are so angry with them.
Pour out your anger on them!
25 I want the places where they stay to be empty and nobody to be in their *tents.
26 For they *persecute the people that you (God) hurt and talk about (more) pain for the people that you *punish.
27 Make a note of all their *sins and do not let them have your *righteousness.
28 Take their names out of the book of life.
Take them off the list of *righteous people.
29 But I have pain (in my body) and trouble (in my mind).
God, *protect me and make me safe.
30 I will *praise God’s name with songs and I will say how great he is by giving thanks.
31 This will bring more pleasure to the *LORD than an *ox or a bull with *horns and *hooves.
32 Poor people will see it and be happy.
People that are looking for God will have brave *hearts again.
33 For the *LORD hears what people need and he does not think bad things about his people in *captivity.
34 Let the skies and the earth *praise him!
And let the seas and everything that moves through them *praise him!
35 For God will make Zion safe.
He will build again the cities of Judah.
Then (his servants) will live there and it will be theirs.
36 As for the children of his servants, it will stay their *inheritance also.
The people that love God’s name will always remain there.
1 God, save me!
*LORD, hurry to give me help.
2 There are people that want to kill me.
I hope that they will become ashamed and confused.
There are people that want to destroy me.
I hope that everyone will say that they are bad people.
3 I want all those people that say to me "*Aha! Aha!"
to become very sorry for what they have done.
4 I want everyone looking for you to be happy, very happy.
I want everyone that loves it when you save them to say, "*Praise God".
5 But I am poor and I need help.
God, hurry to give me help.
You are my help, and you save me.
God, do not be long!
1 *LORD, I am *trusting in you.
Do not let me ever become ashamed.
2 Take me away from danger and make me free, because you do what is right.
Listen to me and make me safe.
3 You really are a rock, where I can always go to hide from danger.
Tell people to make me safe, for you are my rock and my *fortress.
4 My God, take me from the hands of *godless people.
Take me from the *cruel and *evil people that are holding me.
5 You are my hope, Master.
*LORD, I have *trusted in you since I was young.
6 Since I was born, I have *trusted in you.
You have given me help since I came out of my mother’s *womb.
I will always tell you how great you are!
7 I make many people think of danger and become afraid.
But you are a strong and safe place for me.
8 My mouth is full of saying how great you are.
All day I am saying that you are beautiful!
9 Do not throw me away when I am old.
Do not forget me when I am not strong.
10 For my enemies say things against me and the people that want to kill me are making plans together.
11 They say, "God has forgotten him.
Run after him and catch him! For nobody will save him".
12 God, do not stay far from me.
God, give me help very soon.
13 Make my enemies become completely ashamed.
Cover in *scorn and *disgrace the people that want to hurt me.
14 But I, I will always have hope.
I will go on saying again and again that you are great.
15 My mouth will say that you are *righteous, that you make people safe *all day long.
(I will do this) even if I do not know how much (you have done).
16 I will come and speak about the great things that you have done, Master and *LORD.
I will talk about how *righteous that you are.
You, only you, (are *righteous).
17 God, you have taught me since I was young.
And until now I have told about the wonderful things that you have done.
18 And even when I am old and grey, do not forget me, God.
Do not forget me until I tell the people still to be born:
· about your great power and
· how strong you are.
19 You are *righteous, God, with *righteousness as high as the sky!
You have done such great things, God, who is *like you?
20 Even when you made me see troubles, many bad troubles, you made me live again.
From deep under the earth you brought me up again.
21 You will make me great again and make me strong.
22 I will sing about how great you are, with *harp music.
You do what you promise, God.
I will sing about how great you are, with *guitar music.
You are the *Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips will shout because I am so happy!
I really want to sing about how great you are.
You have bought me back.
24 My *tongue will talk about your *righteousness *all day long.
The people that want to hurt me will become ashamed and covered with *disgrace.
1 God, give your *justice to the king and your *righteousness to the king’s son.
2 He will rule your people with *righteousness and the poor people with *justice.
3 With *righteousness will the mountains and the hills bring *peace to the people.
4 He will *defend the poor people and save the children of those that are in need.
He will destroy *cruel people
5 and they will be afraid of him as long as there is a sun and a moon.
6 He will be *like rain that falls on grass that people have just cut.
He will be *like showers that bring water to the earth.
7 When he is king, a *righteous person will do well.
There will be *peace until there is no moon!
8 He will rule from sea to sea and from the river to the ends of the earth.
9 People that live in wild places will kneel in front of him and his enemies will eat the dirt.
10 Kings from Spain and other far places will give him money and kings from Arabia and Africa will bring him gifts.
11 All the kings will fall down in front of him and people in every land will become his servants.
12 For he will save the person in need that is crying for help.
And he will save the poor that nobody is giving help to.
13 He will be kind to people that are weak and in need.
He will save the lives of the people in need.
14 He will buy back their lives from *cruel people that hurt them.
Their blood is of great value in his eyes.
15 I pray that he will always be alive and that:
· people will give him gold from Arabia (Sheba)
· people will always pray for him
· people will *bless him all the day.
16 There will be plenty of *grain in the land.
It will blow (in the wind) even on the top of the mountains.
Its fruit will grow as well as (in) Lebanon.
Even people in the towns will be as grass in a field.
17 His name will remain *for ever.
It will continue as long as the sun (shines).
All people will *bless themselves by him and people in every country will say that he is happy.
18 *Bless the *LORD God, the God of Israel.
Only he does wonderful things.
19 *Bless his glorious name *for ever.
Fill all the earth with his *glory.
20 This is the end of the *prayers of David, son of Jesse.
1 I am sure that God is good to (the people of) Israel, to the people whose hearts are clean.
2 But (this is what happened) to me.
My feet nearly *slipped and I almost fell over.
3 Some people had made themselves important.
Because I was angry, I wanted the things they had.
I saw that *godless people had plenty!
4 And so their bodies are fat (and *healthy).
Even when they die, they feel no pain.
5 They do not have trouble *like other people or the difficulties that hit everyone else.
6 So they, (the *godless), wear their *pride *like a *necklace.
The bad things that they do, they wear them *like clothes.
7 Their eyes look out from fat faces.
Their hearts are full of *pride.
8 They laugh (at people) and say bad things (about them).
In their *pride they talk about *oppressing people.
9 The mouths (of the *godless) say that the skies belong to them.
And their *tongues demand the earth.
10 So his (God’s) people turn to them.
They drink everything from them (the *godless).
11 And they (God’s people) ask, "How can God know?"
And (they ask) "Does the *Most High see everything?"
12 This, then, is what *godless people (say and do).
They have no trouble and plenty of money!
13 I was sure that I had made my heart clean for no good purpose!
Also, I had washed my hands to show that I had done nothing wrong (for no reason)!
14 I had trouble all day and it started to hurt me every morning!
15 If I had said, "I will agree (with what the *godless say)"; then I would have let down all your children.
16 When I thought about this, it was so hard for me (to understand).
17 Then I went into the house of God.
That was when I understood what would happen to them (the *godless).
18 (Then) I was sure that you would put them in a place where they would *slip!
You would throw them down and destroy them.
19 It will take just a moment to destroy them!
Great *fear will sweep them away completely.
20 It will be *like when you wake up from a dream.
*Lord, when you get up, you will forget that they were there!
21 When my heart hurt me and my stomach was painful...
22 ...I was *stupid and I knew nothing.
I was as an angry animal with you!
23 But really I was always with you.
(Now) you hold me by my right hand.
24 What you say to me will be my guide.
And then you will take me to *glory.
25 I know nobody in *heaven except you.
And, with you, there is nothing (else) on earth that I want.
26 My heart and my body may fail, but God will always make me strong.
He is all that I will ever need.
27 I am sure that people far from you will die.
You will destroy everybody that does not obey you.
28 But it is good for me to be near to God.
I have made the master and *LORD my safe place.
I will tell (people) about the good things that you do.
1 God, will you never think about us again?
Why are you burning with *anger against the people that belong to you?
2 Think (again) about:
· your people that you bought a long time ago
· the people that you chose and saved
· the Mountain called Zion where you lived
3 Go and look at everything that the enemy broke.
He destroyed your *temple!
4 Your enemies have made an angry noise inside your meeting place.
They have put their own *flags there as signs.
5 They seemed *like wild men!
They used axes to cut the *temple into pieces!
6 They used hammers and axes to break the doors and other things made from wood.
7 They burned your *temple to the ground!
They said that the place where your name lived was *rubbish!
8 They said in their hearts, "We will completely destroy them".
So they burned every meeting place of God in the land.
9 Nobody gives us signs (that are *miracles).
There are no *prophets with us.
Nobody knows how long this will continue.
10 God, how long will the enemy laugh at you?
Will the enemy always laugh at your name?
11 Why do you hide your hand (from us), even your right hand?
Take it out from your pocket! Destroy them!
12 For you, God, have been my king from the beginning.
You have done great things in the earth.
13 It was you that *divided the sea, because you are so strong.
You broke the heads of the *monsters in the waters.
14 It was you that broke the heads of *Leviathan.
You gave him as food for the animals in the *desert.
15 It was you that made *springs and streams.
It was you that made quick-moving rivers dry!
16 You made both day and night.
It was you that put the moon and the sun in their places.
17 It was you that said where the (dry) land must be.
It was you that made both summer and winter.
18 *LORD, think about this:
· an enemy has laughed at you
· and *stupid people have *scorned your name
19 Do not give the life of your *dove to wild animals.
Do not always forget the lives of your poor people.
20 Keep your promise!
Because the earth is full of dark places where bad men hide.
21 Do not let *oppressed people become ashamed.
Let the poor people that need help say how great you are!
22 Stand up, God! Tell everyone that you are right.
Remember that fools are laughing at you all the time.
23 Listen to the noise that your enemies make.
The sound of people fighting against you goes on all the time!
1 God, we thank you.
We really thank you because you are still near to us.
This is what the *wonderful things that you have done tell us!
2 (God said,) "At the time that I will choose, I will be a fair *judge.
3 When the earth *shakes and everything in it (is afraid), I will stop its *foundations moving. *SELAH
4 I say to the people that are *boasting, "Do not *boast".
(I say) to the *godless, "Do not lift up your *horn.
5 Do not lift your *horn up high.
(Do not) push your neck up high when you speak".
6 For nobody
· from the east
· or from the west
· or from the *desert (in the south)
· or from the mountains (in the north)
7 will be *judge. Only God (will be *judge).
He puts one person down and he lifts up another person.
8 Because there is a cup in the *LORD’s hand.
It is full of *wine, mixing with *spice.
(The *LORD) will pour it out from this (cup).
All the *godless people in the world will drink it.
They will drink the last bit of it.
9 But I will always talk about (what God did).
I will sing *praise to the God of *Jacob.
10 (Because he says) "I will cut off all the *horns of the *godless.
But I will lift up the *horns of the *righteous".
1 God is famous in Judah.
His name is great in Israel.
2 His house is in Salem and his home is in Zion.
3 There he broke (the enemy’s):
· bow (shooting) fire
· *shield
· and *sword
· and war (*weapons) *SELAH
4 You (God) are the Shining One!
(You are) the King from the mountains, where you robbed your enemy!
5 (You) took from the brave (enemy) soldiers all (the *weapons) that they had.
Now they are sleeping and will never wake up.
None of the soldiers can use their hands.
6 When you were angry, God of *Jacob, both the horses and the men that rode on them fell down dead.
7 You ... everyone is afraid of you!
Who can remain standing in front of you when you are angry?
8 From the *heavens you said that you would *judge (the people).
All the earth was afraid of you and became quiet.
9 (This happened), God, when you came to *judge and to save the *oppressed people in the land. *SELAH
10 So the *anger of men will *praise you.
What remains of their *anger you will wear (as *praise).
11 Make a promise to the *LORD your God and do (what you promise).
Let everyone that lives near bring a gift to the God that people are afraid of.
12 He breaks the *spirit of rulers.
All the kings of the world are afraid of him.
1 I cried aloud to God.
I cried to God so that he could hear me.
2 When trouble came, I looked for the *Lord.
All through the night, I lifted my hands (to him while I prayed).
But I did not get help.
3 I remembered God and I cried.
I thought (about my trouble) and my *spirit became weak *SELAH
4 (God), you do not let me close my eyes.
I have so much trouble that I do not know what to say.
5 I think about days that have gone and the years that have passed.
6 At night I remember the songs (that I sang).
I ask myself questions and my *spirit looks for answers.
7 · "Will the *Lord always say 'No' to us?"
· "Will he never again be good to us?"
8 · "Will he for ever stop giving us his kind love?"
· "Will he not do what he promised for us and our children?"
9 · "Has God forgotten to be *gracious to us?"
· "Is he so angry with us that he will not love us?" *SELAH
10 Then I said, "I will think about the times when the *Most High did give us help.
11 I will remember the things that the *LORD has done.
Yes, I will remember the *miracles that you did in past times.
12 I will think about all that you have done.
I will think about all the great things that you have done".
13 Your way, God, is *holy.
What god is as great as our God?
14 You are the God that does *miracles.
You show people that you are very powerful.
15 You saved your people with your strong arm.
You saved the people of *Jacob and *Joseph. *SELAH
16 The waters saw you, God, the waters saw you and rolled over and over.
The deepest seas moved round a lot.
17 The clouds poured down water.
The noise of *thunder was in the skies.
Your *arrows were everywhere.
18 The voice of your *thunder was in the storm.
Your *lightning lit all the world.
The earth moved about and *shook.
19 Your road went through the sea.
Your path was through the great waters, but nobody saw where your feet went.
20 You led your people in a group with Moses and Aaron at the front.
1 My people, hear what I am teaching you.
Listen to the words that I am saying to you.
2 I will tell you a story.
I will talk about things hard to understand from past times.
3 We have heard them and know them because our fathers told them to us.
4 We will not hide them from their children.
We will tell future children that they should *praise the *LORD.
(He is) very strong and he has done great things.
5 He decided what things *Jacob must do and made the *laws in Israel.
He told our grandfathers that they must teach them to their children.
6 Then those children would know them, even the children still to be born.
When the time came, they too would tell their children.
7 Then they (the children) would:
· believe that God would give them help
· not forget what God had done
· obey his *laws
8 So they would not be like their grandfathers who:
· would not listen to God
· would not obey him
· did not make God their leader
· did not continue to follow him
9 The people of Ephraim had bows and *arrows for war.
But they ran away when the war started!
10 They did not keep the *covenant of God.
They refused to obey his *laws.
11 And they forgot what he had done and the *wonderful things that he had shown them.
12 He did *miracles in front of their fathers.
(He did them) in the country of Egypt, in the part (they called) Zoan.
13 He made a road in the sea and led them through it.
He built the waters into a wall (on both sides).
14 He showed them the way with a cloud in the day and with light from a fire all night.
15 He broke rocks in the *desert and gave (his people) water from deep (in the earth).
16 He made streams to come from the rocks so that the waters ran like rivers.
17 But they continued to *sin against him.
They fought against the *Most High in the *desert.
18 They made a plan to *test God.
They demanded the food that they liked best!
19 And they spoke against God.
They said, "Can God do it?
Can he prepare a table in the *desert?
20 It is true that when he hit a rock, water came out, streams of water were everywhere.
But can he also give bread?
Can he supply meat for his people?’
21 When the *LORD heard (this) he was very angry.
So he sent fire against *Jacob and also his *fury against Israel.
22 (He did this) because they did not believe that God (could do it), or that he had the power to save them.
23 So he gave an *order to the clouds over (them) and opened the doors in the skies.
24 He rained *manna down on them, for them to eat.
He gave them bread from *heaven.
25 People ate the (same) bread that *angels ate.
(God) sent them plenty of food.
26 Then (God) sent an east wind blowing through the skies.
And he was so strong that he also sent a south wind.
27 And he rained meat down on them like powder.
(He rained) flying birds on them *like sand by the sea.
28 He made them fall where (his people) were living, all round their *tents.
29 And they ate as much as they needed.
God gave them what they wanted.
30 But before they ate all that they wanted (while the food was still in their mouths),
31 God became very angry with them.
He killed the strongest of them and sent the young men of Israel to their deaths.
32 Even when this happened, they still *sinned.
They did not believe that God had done these *miracles.
33 So he made their days seem to blow away like the wind.
He made their years go away fast (so that they were) afraid!
34 When he killed (some of) them, (the other people) looked to God.
They were sorry and really prayed to him.
35 And they remembered that God was their Rock.
Also, (they remembered) that God *Most High was their *Redeemer.
36 But what they said was not true and they did not mean what they said with their mouths to *praise him.
37 They were not honest with him.
They did not obey his *covenant in their heart.
38 But he was *merciful (to them).
He *forgave their *sin and did not destroy them.
Many times he was not angry (with them) and did not become *furious (with them).
39 But he remembered that they were only human, like a wind that blows away and does not return.
40 The people (of Israel) often fought against God in the *desert.
They made him very sad in the *wilderness.
41 Many times they *tested God and this made the *Holy One of Israel very *unhappy.
42 - v43 They chose not to remember what he did when:
· he saved them from the enemy
· he showed his *miracles in Egypt
· he did *wonders in that part (of Egypt called) Zoan
44 (Here is some of what God did to the Egyptians): He turned their rivers into blood, so they could not drink from their streams.
45 He sent very large numbers of flies that made a lot of trouble for them.
And (he sent) *frogs that made even more trouble!
46 He gave the plants that they grew to *grasshoppers and their food to *locusts.
47 He killed their *vines with *hail and their *fig-trees with *frost.
48 He killed their cows with *hail and their sheep with fire from the sky.
49 He was so angry that he burned *like a fire against them.
He sent a group of *angels to destroy them (called) *anger, *fury and *distress.
50 He made a path for his *anger.
He did not save them from death.
He gave their lives to the *plague.
51 He killed all the first born (sons) in Egypt, the oldest boys of the men of Ham.
52 (This is what God did for his people): But he took his people (from Egypt) like a *flock.
And he led them like sheep through the *desert.
53 They were safe with him as a guide and they were not afraid.
But the sea drowned their enemies.
54 So he brought them to the edge of his *holy (land), to this hill-country, which his right hand took.
55 He sent away the people that were living there.
He said which parts (of the land) each group (of his people) could have.
He put the families of Israel in their homes.
56 But (the *Israelites *tested God *Most High and fought against him.
Also, they did not obey his *laws.
57 They turned away and did not keep the *covenant, like their fathers.
They were like a bow that would not shoot straight!
58 They made him angry with their high places and their *idols made him *jealous.
59 When God heard this, he was angry and he stopped giving them help completely.
60 He left his house (the *tent) at Shiloh, the place where he had lived on earth.
61 He gave his power and his *glory to the enemy for them to keep.
62 He let the *sword kill his people, he was so angry with them.
63 The fire (of war) ate their young men and the young girls did not hear music (when they married).
64 The *sword killed their *priests and their wives could not cry for them.
65 Then the *Lord woke up as from sleep.
He was like a strong man shouting after (drinking) *wine.
66 He beat his enemies so that they went away.
He did this so that they would always be ashamed.
67 Also, he decided not to let the people of Joseph (continue as leaders).
And he no longer chose the *tribe of Ephraim.
68 But he chose the *tribe of Judah.
*Mount Zion (was there), which he loved.
69 (There) he built a *temple to live in *like his home in *heaven.
He made it so that it would always be there, *like the earth.
70 Also, he chose David his servant and he took him away from the sheep farm.
71 (He took him) from feeding sheep and brought him to be *shepherd of his people *Jacob, those in Israel that were his.
72 And so David, with his honest heart, was their *shepherd.
He knew how to lead them.
1 God, countries that do not love you have attacked us.
They have taken away your land.
They have done bad things to your *holy *temple so that we cannot *worship you in it.
They have destroyed Jerusalem.
2 They have given the dead bodies of your people to the birds (that fly) in the air for food.
They have given the bodies of your servants for wild animals to eat.
3 They have poured out the blood (of your servants) *like water all round Jerusalem.
There was nobody to bury your people.
4 Our *neighbours just laugh at us.
The people that live near us *scorn us.
5 How long will this continue?
(God), will you always be angry?
Will your *jealousy burn *like a fire for ever?
6 Be very angry with the countries that do not love you and the *nations that do not pray to you.
7 Because they have beaten *Jacob and destroyed the land where he lived.
8 Do not be angry with us because of the wrong things that our fathers did.
Have *mercy on us soon.
We have lost all our hope.
9 God, give us help! (You are the God) that can save us.
For the *glory of your name, save us.
So that your name will always be famous, *forgive our *sins.
10 Why should the countries that do not love God say,
"Where is their God?"
We want to see you become angry with these countries, because they poured out the blood of your servants.
11 Listen to the *prisoners that are crying!
By the power of your arm, save those that are going to die.
12 *Lord, make the countries that do not love you have seven times as much trouble as we have had!
Because they said bad things to you.
13 Then we, your people (who are as) sheep in your field, will always thank you.
So will our children and grandchildren.
1 *Shepherd of Israel, listen to us!
You are the one that leads *Joseph *like a *flock.
You sit *like a king between the *Cherubim.
2 Shine on Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh.
Get up and show how strong you are.
Come and make us safe.
3 God, make us return (to you).
Make your face shine (on us) and make us safe.
4 *LORD God (of) *Sabaoth, how long will you be angry when your people pray?
5 You have fed them tears for food and buckets of tears for drink.
6 You have made the people that live near us fight (us) and our enemies laugh among themselves (at us).
7 God (of) *Sabaoth, make us return (to you).
Make your face shine (on us) and make us safe.
8 You brought a *vine from Egypt.
You moved away the people that lived (in the land) and planted it.
9 You made (the ground) ready for it, so that it grew and filled the land.
10 Its shade covered the mountains (in the south) and its branches covered the big cedar (trees in the north).
11 Its branches reached the (Mediterranean) Sea (in the west) and the River (Euphrates in the east).
12 Why have you knocked down its walls so that anyone that passes can rob its fruit?
13 Pigs from the woods attack it and wild animals destroy it.
14 Come back to us, God (of) *Sabaoth!
Look down from *heaven and see (us)!
Be careful with this *vine...
15 ...that your right hand planted.
(The *vine is) the son that you made strong for yourself.
16 You let (the enemy) cut down your *vine and burn it with fire.
Destroy them (the enemy) because you are angry!
17 Let your hand be on the man at your right hand.
(He is) the son of man that you made strong for yourself.
18 Then we will never turn away from you.
Give us life and we will (always) *praise your name.
19 *LORD God (of) *Sabaoth, make us return (to you).
Make your face shine (on us) and make us safe.
1 Sing to God because you are so happy!
(Do this because) God makes us strong!
Shout aloud to the God of *Jacob.
2 Start the music! Hit the *tambourine and make beautiful sounds on the *harp and the *lyre.
3 Start the New Moon *Festival with the sound of the *shofar.
Do it at the Full Moon (*Festival) also.
4 For this is a rule for Israel, something that the God of *Jacob said that we must do.
5 He told it to *Joseph when he attacked the land of Egypt.
I heard a language that I did not understand.
6 (It said) "I took the weight off his shoulders.
His hands did not have to carry a heavy basket (any more).
7 When you had trouble, you called (to me) and I made you safe.
I gave you help from the centre of the storm.
I *tested you at the Waters of Meribah. *SELAH
8 My people, hear me! You are near to danger.
Israel, I really want you to listen to me!
9 There should not be another god among you and you certainly should not go down on your knees to another god.
10 I am the *LORD your God.
I brought you out of the land of Egypt.
Open your mouth wide and I will fill it".
11 But my people did not listen to my voice and Israel did not obey me.
12 And so I let them follow their own ideas.
They did whatever they wanted to do.
13 I want my people to listen to me!
I want Israel to walk in my ways!
14 Then I would quickly beat all their enemies and fight against all those that are angry with them.
15 The people that hate the *LORD will be afraid of him and this will happen for a long time.
16 But he would feed him (Israel) with the best *wheat and I would give you (Israel) plenty of *honey from the rock.
1 God is the leader of a meeting of the powerful ones.
He is telling the gods what he has decided.
2 (He says) "How long will you not be fair to people?
(How long) will you say that the *godless are right?" *SELAH
3 Be fair and give help to:
· people that are weak
· children with dead parents
· people that are poor
· anyone that has nothing
4 Make the poor people safe and give them the help that they need.
Take them away from the power of the *godless.
5 They (the *godless) know nothing and they understand nothing.
They walk about in *darkness.
The ground beneath them moves about.
6 I (God) say, "You are gods and you are all sons of the *Most High.
7 But you will die like Adam.
You will fall like rulers".
8 God, stand up and rule the earth, because all the countries in it belong to you.
1 God, do not seem to be asleep!
Do not remain quiet and do nothing, God!
2 For look, your enemies are (all) doing something.
The people that hate you are getting ready (to fight you).
3 They are making clever *plans against your people.
They are deciding together what to do with those people that you love.
4 They are saying, "Come on, we will destroy their country.
Then nobody will ever remember the name of Israel".
5 They are deciding together what to do.
They are agreeing to do something against you.
6 - v7 The people (doing this are) from:
· Edom and the Ishmaelites
· Moab and the Hagrites
· Gebal, Ammon and Amalek
· Philistia and Tyre
8 Even Assyria has joined them.
They have made the sons of Lot (Moab and Ammon) strong. *SELAH
9 Do to them what you did to Midian and to Sisera and Jabin at the River Kishon.
10 They died at Endor and they became *like dirt on the ground.
11 Make their leaders *like Oreb and Zeeb.
(Make) all their *princes *like Zebah and Zalmunna.
12 They said, "Let us take all the country that belongs to God".
13 God, blow them away *like *chaff in the wind!
14 As fire burns a forest and *lights the mountains, so they are on fire.
15 Go after them with bad weather and frighten them a lot with your storms.
16 Make their faces ashamed so that they will look for your name, *LORD.
17 Let them always be ashamed and very frightened.
Let them become so ashamed that then they die!
18 Then they will know that your name is *LORD.
And (they will know that) you are the *Most High over all the earth.
1 *LORD of (*huge) armies - people love your *temple very much!
2 I want very much (to go to) the place where the *LORD lives.
(I want it so much) that it is making me feel weak!
All that I am and all that I feel is crying out to the Living God!
3 Even the *sparrow has found a home and the *swallow (has found) a *nest.
There she may keep her babies.
(They are in places) near your *altars, *LORD of (*huge) armies.
You are my king and my God.
4 The people that live in your house are very happy.
They can always tell you how great you are. *SELAH
5 The people that you make strong are very happy.
They want to come to you (in Zion).
6 As they pass through a dry valley, it (seems) to become a place with wells of water in it.
The autumn rains cover (the valley) with pools.
7 The people become stronger as they go, (until) each one appears before God in Zion.
8 *LORD God of (*huge) armies, hear the words that I am praying!
God of *Jacob, listen to me! *SELAH
9 God, look at our *shield!
And look kindly at the face of your king.
10 One day in your (*temple) *courts is better than a thousand (days somewhere else).
I would rather stand at the door of God’s house than sit in the houses of *wicked people.
11 For the *LORD is a sun and a *shield.
He gives *grace and *glory (to people).
He gives good things to people that do what is right.
12 *LORD of (*huge) armies - everybody is very happy that *trusts in you!
1 *LORD, you were good to your land.
You *turned the fortunes of *Jacob.
2 You *forgave the *sin of your people and you *pardoned the things that they did wrong.
3 You were not angry with them any more and you turned away from your *fury.
4 (But now) turn us (again), God.
(You are the God) that makes us safe.
Stop being so angry with us.
5 Will you be angry with us for ever?
Will you always be *furious with us?
6 Will you not turn to us (again) and give us new life?
Then your people will be happy and *praise you.
7 *LORD, show us your kind love!
Give to us the help that makes us safe!
8 I will listen to what God the *LORD is saying.
He will give *peace to his people, to his *saints.
But they must not turn back to become fools.
9 Certainly he will make safe those that obey him.
Then his *glory will remain in our land.
10 Kind love will meet *loyalty.
*Goodness and *peace will kiss each other.
11 *Loyalty will grow (like a plant) in the ground and *goodness will look down from the *heavens.
12 Yes! The *LORD will give what is good and our land will give much fruit.
13 *Goodness will go before him and make a way for his feet.
1 *LORD,turn your ear (to me), answer me!
Because I am weak and need (help).
2 Save me from death because I am one of your people.
Keep (me) your servant safe. You are my God.
(I am) someone that is *trusting in you.
3 My *Lord, give me *mercy!
All through the day, I am praying (this) to you.
4 Make (me) your servant happy!
Because I lift up myself to you, my *Lord.
5 My *Lord, you are good. Also, you *forgive (people).
You give your kind love to everyone that prays to you.
6 *Turn your ear to what I am praying, *LORD.
And listen to my voice when I cry for *mercy.
7 On the day that I have trouble I will pray to you, because you can answer me.
8 None among the gods is like you, my *Lord.
And nobody can do what you can do.
9 All the countries that you have made will come and *worship before you, my *Lord.
They will say how great your name is.
10 For you are great. You do great things.
You alone are God.
11 *LORD, teach me your way. I will walk in your *truth.
Make my heart united when I think of your name.
12 I will *praise you, my *Lord and my God, with my united heart.
I will always tell people that you are really great!
13 (I will do this) because there is so much of your kind love to me.
You will save me from going to the lowest part of *Sheol.
14 God, *proud people are attacking me.
A group of cruel men is trying to kill me.
They do not think about you.
15 But you, my *Lord, are a God that loves (people) and gives (them) *mercy.
You are slow to become angry and (you are) full of kind love.
You do not leave (your people when they have trouble).
16 Turn to me and give me *mercy. Make (me) your servant strong and make the son of your woman servant safe.
17 Show me something that tells me that you are good.
Let my enemies see it and be ashamed.
Because you, *LORD, have given me help and been kind to me.
1 He built it on the mountains of *holiness.
2 The *LORD loves the gates of Zion.
He loves them more than all the places where *Jacob lives.
3 (People say) *wonderful things about you, city of God. *SELAH
4 I will remember the people that I know, from Rahab and Babylon; also from Philistia, Tyre and Ethiopia.
I will remember that this man was born there.
5 They will say in Zion, "A man ... this man ... was born there".
So he ... the *Most High ... will build her up.
6 The *LORD will write in his book (the name of) everyone that says,
"This man was born there". *SELAH
7 The singers and the *musicians (will say),
"All my *springs are in you".
1 *LORD, (you are) the God that makes me safe.
I always cry to you in the day and at night for help.
2 I want you to hear the words that I am praying.
Listen to my *cry for help!
3 Because I have a lot of trouble and my life is coming near to *Sheol.
4 (People) say that I am among those that are going to the *Pit.
I am *like a strong man that has become weak (and ill).
5 I am almost with those that are already dead.
(I am) *like dead people lying in their *graves.
You do not remember them any more and you cannot give them help where they are.
6 You are putting me in the lowest *Pit, in a very dark and deep place.
7 You are very angry with me.
You are like a heavy sea, pouring all over me and knocking me down.
8 You have taken my best friends away from me.
You have made me seem very bad to them.
The place that I am in is *like a prison that I cannot leave.
9 My eyes are weak because I am so sad.
*LORD, every day I pray to you.
I lift my hands up to you (while I pray).
10 Do you do *miracles for people that are dead?
Do dead people get up and say that you are great?
*SELAH
11 Do people talk about your kind love in the *grave?
(Do they say) in *Abaddon that you continue to be good to people?
12 Do they know about your *miracles in dark places.
(Do they know about) the good things that you do in the land where people forget (everything).
13 But *LORD, I cry to you for help.
Every morning I pray to you.
14 *LORD, why are you throwing me away?
Why do you hide your face from me?
15 I have been ill and near to death since I was young.
You have let bad things happen to me and I do not know what to do.
16 Your *fury pours over me.
You are attacking me and destroying me!
17 (The things that you do), they are all round me *like a *flood.
They are on every side of me.
18 You have taken away from me my friends and the people that love me.
My only friend is *darkness.
1 I will always sing about the kind love of the *LORD.
I will tell (my) children and (my) grandchildren that you will do what you have promised.
2 Yes! I will say that nothing will ever stop your kind love (for us).
You will do the things that you promised in *heaven.
3 (God had said in *heaven)
"I have made a *covenant with the man that I chose.
I have made special promises to my servant David.
4 Someone from your family will always be king.
And there will always be a place where they (will rule) as king". *SELAH
5 In *heaven, they *praise the *wonderful things that you have done, *LORD.
Also, the *holy *angels that meet together (know that) you will do what you have promised.
6 For who is there in *heaven that is *like the *LORD?
Which of the *sons of God is *like the *LORD?
7 God frightens very much the *holy ones that meet together.
He makes them more afraid than anyone else does.
8 Most Powerful *LORD God, who is as strong as you are, *LORD?
And you do everything that you have promised!
9 You are the ruler of the boiling sea.
When the water rises up, you make it quiet again.
10 You broke Rahab and killed it!
With your strong arm, you destroyed your enemies.
11 The skies belong to you and so does the earth.
You made the world and everything that is in it.
12 You made (places in) the north and in the south.
Tabor and Hermon *praise you when they hear your name.
13 You have a strong arm; your hand is powerful; you have lifted up your right hand (to use your power).
14 You have built your *kingdom doing what is right and fair.
Your kind love and the fact that you keep your promises go in front of you.
15 The people are very happy when they know how to *praise you.
*LORD, they will walk in the light from your face.
16 They will *praise your name all day and talk about your *righteousness.
17 Your *glory will make them strong and by your *grace you will lift up our *horn.
18 Yes! Our *shield is the *LORD’s and our king belongs to the *Holy One of Israel.
19 A long time ago, you spoke to your servants.
It was like a dream. You said (to them),
"I have given help to a brave soldier.
I have chosen a young man from the people.
20 I have found David my servant.
I have poured my special oil over him (to make him king).
21 My hand will make him strong and, Yes! My arm will make him powerful.
22 No enemy will win a war against him and no *wicked people will *conquer him.
23 I will destroy his enemies before him and kill those that hate him.
24 I will do everything that I have promised him.
Also, (I will give him) my kind love.
And by my name I will raise his *horn.
25 I will put his (left) hand over the sea and his right hand over the rivers.
26 He (David) will say to me, "You are my Father, my God, and the Rock that makes me safe".
27 Also, I will make him (as) my first born (son).
(He will be) the most high of the kings of the earth.
28 I will always give him my kind love and my *covenant with him will have no end.
29 One of his family will always be king, as long as there are skies (above us).
30 - v31 If his *descendants:
· do not listen to what I am teaching them
· and do not obey my *laws
· say that my *laws are bad
· and do not do what I tell them (to do)
32 I will *punish their *sin with a stick and the wrong things they do with a *whip.
33 But I will not take my kind love from him (David) and I will not *break any of my promises.
34 I will not *break my *covenant (with him) or change any of my promises.
35 At one time I made a promise.
Because I am *holy I will not *lie to David.
36 His *descendants will always continue and his *kingdom will go on as long as the sun (shines).
37 Like the moon, it will always be there.
From the sky, it will see everything that happens". *SELAH
38 But you have said "no" to your *anointed (king).
You have turned away (from him) because you have become angry with him.
39 You have *broken the *covenant with your servant.
You threw his *crown to the ground and made it dirty.
40 You have broken all the walls (round his city).
You have destroyed all his strong places.
41 Everyone that goes near him robs him.
Everybody that lives near him laughs at him.
42 You have made all his enemies strong, you have made them all happy (because they beat him).
43 You made the edge of his *sword *blunt and you have not given him help in war.
44 You have taken away his authority as king and you threw his *throne on the ground.
45 He does not look *like a young man any more.
You have dressed him in *shame. *SELAH
46 *LORD, how long (will this continue)?
Will you always hide yourself?
Will your great *anger (always) burn like a fire?
47 Remember that my life is so short!
Have you *created people for no reason?
48 What man can live and not die?
Who can save himself from the power of *Sheol (death)?
49 *Lord, where is the kind love (that you gave us) in past times?
Where are the special promises that you made to David?
50 Remember, *Lord, that people have *scorned your servant.
Many countries have said bad things to me.
51 *LORD, your enemies laugh at the king that you have chosen.
They *scorn him everywhere he goes.
52 Always *praise the *LORD! *Amen and *amen!
1 *Lord, you have always been (as) a home for us.
2 You were God before the mountains were born.
(You were God) before you were as a mother to the earth and the world.
You always were and you always will (be God).
3 You make people go back to (being) powder in the ground (when they die).
You say, "Go back (to the ground), sons of Adam".
4 For you see a thousand years as just a day (that) passes.
(The years are as) a few hours in the night when they are over.
5 You pour the sleep (of death) on them (the sons of Adam).
They become as new grass in the morning.
6 In the morning, it grows well; but by the evening, it becomes dry and it dies.
7 You destroy us because you are angry.
Because you are so angry, you make us very much afraid.
8 You see in front of you the wrong (things) that we do.
Your light (even) shows the secret bad (things) that we do!
9 All our days hurry past because you are angry with us.
We finish our years in (just the time it takes for) a cry.
10 The number of our days is 70 years.
Or maybe 80 years if we are strong.
Yet, even in the best years of our lives, we have trouble and we are not really happy.
And they soon go and we hurry away (towards death).
11 (*LORD), who knows how strong you are when you are very angry?
(The people that) you frighten when you become so angry (will know).
12 Teach (us) to count well our days.
Then we will get a heart that thinks (as God thinks).
13 *LORD, how long (will it be until) you change your mind?
Be kind to your servants!
14 Give us your kind love (every) morning.
Then we will sing and be happy for as long as we live.
15 Make us happy for as long as you have hurt us.
(Make us happy) for as many years as we have had trouble.
16 Let (us) your servants see the work that you do.
And show how great you are to (our) children.
17 Let the *Lord our God show how happy he is with us.
Let him make the work that our hands do continue.
Let the work that our hands do continue.
1 Whoever stays in the secret place of the *Most High will remain under the shadow of the *Almighty.
2 I will say to the *LORD,
"(You are) my safe place and my strong *castle.
(You are) my God and I am *trusting in you".
3 He (God) really will save you from the *trap that the *bird-catcher (hid).
And (God will save you) from illnesses that cause death.
4 He will cover you with his *feathers.
You will be safe under his *wings.
(God) will do what he promised.
And he will be like big and small *shields over you.
v5, v6 Do not be afraid of:
· *bad spirits at night,
· or the *arrow that flies in the day,
· or illnesses that come when it is dark,
· or something bad that may destroy you at midday.
7 A thousand (people) may die by your side.
Ten thousand (people may die) by your right hand.
But (the danger) will not come near to you.
8 Your eyes will see it and watch, while it destroys bad people.
v9, v10 For you, *LORD, make me safe.
(Because) the Most High is your home, bad things will not happen to you.
And there will be no fighting near where you live.
11 For (God) will tell his *angels what to do for you.
They will make you safe everywhere that you go.
12 Their hands will give you help so that you will not (even) hurt your feet on a stone.
13 You will walk on the *lion and the *cobra.
The young lion and the *serpent will be under your feet.
14 (God says) I will make the person safe that loves me.
Danger will not hurt him that knows (and trusts in) my name.
15 He will pray to me and I will answer him.
When he has trouble, I will be with him.
I will save him and make him famous.
16 I will make him happy with a long life.
He will enjoy what I will do for him.
1 It is good to tell the *LORD that he is great, and to make music to your name, Most High (God).
2 (It is good) to talk about your kind love in the morning.
And (to talk) every night (about) how you do what you have promised.
3 (It is good) to make music with *lutes and *harps.
And (it is good) to sing with the *lyre.
4 Because, *LORD, the things that you have done make me so happy.
I want to tell you that you are great because of the things that your hands have made!
5 *LORD, how great are the things that you have done!
Your thoughts are (often) hard to understand!
6 (Only) a silly man would not know this and (only) a fool would not understand it.
7 That:
· if bad people grow as grass
· and all the very bad people grow as weeds (you) will destroy them and they will never (grow) again.
8 But you, *LORD, will always be the Most High!
9 Because your enemies, *LORD, your enemies will certainly die.
You will chase all the people that do bad things to different places.
10 You have made me very strong, as strong as a big wild animal.
(You did this when) you poured fresh oil over me.
11 Mine eyes have seen (you) beat mine enemies.
Mine ears have heard you beat the bad people that attack me.
12 *Righteous people will grow as well as a *palm-tree.
They will grow as the *cedars in Lebanon.
13 They are as (trees that someone) planted in the house of the *LORD.
They grow really well (near) the *temple of our God.
14 When they are old, they will still give fruit!
They will always be fresh and green.
15 They will show (everyone) that the *LORD is good.
He is my rock. There is nothing bad in him.
1 The *LORD is King! He is ruling with authority.
The *LORD is ruling with great power.
Also, the world will not change.
Nobody will move it any more.
2 You (*LORD) have been king for a very long time.
You were alive before the world started.
3 The rivers rose up, *LORD, the rivers rose up and made a loud noise.
The rivers rose up as a great storm.
4 But the *LORD rules over everyone!
He is greater than all the noise of the waters, stronger than the sea itself.
5 *LORD, the rules that you make will remain.
Your house will always be beautiful because you are so good.
6 And God said, "I want a space in the middle of the waters.
I want it to make the waters separate".
7 And God made (created) the space.
He made the waters that were under the space separate from those that were over the space.
And so it happened.
8 And God called the space "sky".
And the evening and the morning were the second day.
9 And God said, "I want the waters under the sky to be together in one place.
I want the dry land to appear. And so it happened.
10 And God called the dry land "earth".
And where the waters were together, he called "seas".
And God saw that it was good.
6 And God said, "I want a space in the middle of the waters.
I want it to make the waters separate".
7 And God made (created) the space.
He made the waters that were under the space separate from those that were over the space.
And so it happened.
8 And God called the space "sky".
And the evening and the morning were the second day.
9 And God said, "I want the waters under the sky to be together in one place.
I want the dry land to appear. And so it happened.
10 And God called the dry land "earth".
And where the waters were together, he called "seas".
And God saw that it was good.
1 Come, we will sing together to the *LORD!
We will shout aloud to the *Rock that makes us safe!
2 Come into (God’s) house and thank him!
Tell him that he is great!
(Do it) with music and with songs!
3 (This is) because the *LORD is the great God.
He is the great king that is more important than every other god.
4 The deep places of the earth are in his hand.
The tops of the mountains are his.
5 The sea is his, because he made it.
Also, his hands made the dry land.
6 Come, we will fall down on our knees in front of him.
We will stay on our knees in front of the *LORD that made us.
7 (We will do this) because he is our God.
Also, we are the people that he feeds and keeps safe.
We are as animals and he is as the farmer (that feeds us)!
Today, if you hear his voice,
8 do not refuse to listen (to him).
You did this at *Meribah and you did it one day at *Massah, in the *desert.
9 There, your fathers *tested me to discover what I could do.
But they had already seen my work!
10 For 40 years I was angry with those people.
And I said, "They are people that refuse to obey me.
They (say that they) do not know what I want them to do".
11 I was so angry that I said,
"They will never come into my rest".
1 Sing a new song to the *LORD!
Sing to the *LORD, all the world!
2 Sing to the *LORD and say good things about him!
Every day, say that he has made us safe!
3 Tell every *nation that he is very great!
Tell everybody the *wonderful things that he has done!
4 Because the *LORD is great, and everybody should say that he is great!
People should be more afraid of him than of all (other) gods.
5 Because all the gods of every country are false.
But the *LORD made everything.
6 (People that) are near him can see that he is a very great king.
(People that) are in his house can see that he is strong and beautiful.
7 Say to the *LORD, you families of *nations, say to the *LORD that he is *glorious and powerful.
8 Say that the *LORD has a *glorious name.
Bring a gift and come near his house.
9 Fall down in front of the *LORD who is beautiful and *holy.
Be afraid of him, everyone (that lives) on the earth.
10 Tell all the *nations that the *LORD is King!
(He has) fixed the world so that nothing can move it.
He will be a fair *judge of the people.
11 Earth and sky, be happy!
Sea and everything in it, *roar (because you are happy!)
12 Fields, you be happy as well, and everything in you!
Then, all the trees in the forests will sing because they are so happy!
13 (They will sing) to the *LORD when he comes.
He will come to be a *judge of the earth.
He will be a good *judge and he will be fair to the people.
1 The *LORD is king! (Everyone) on earth will be very happy!
(Even) all the (people) on far-away islands will be very happy!
2 Clouds and black (skies) are all round (the *LORD).
He is a good and fair ruler.
3 Fire goes in front of him.
It burns up his enemies on every side.
4 His *lightning is a light over the (whole) world.
The earth sees it and is afraid.
5 The mountains *melt as butter in front of the *LORD, in front of the master of the whole world.
6 The skies tell (us) that he is *righteous and people (from every country) will see his *glory.
7 All the servants of *images (of gods) will be ashamed.
Also, all those that say that *idols are great (will be ashamed)!
Because (even) the gods will fall down in front of (the *LORD).
8 *Zion will hear about it and be happy.
The people of Judah will be very happy!
(This will be) because of what you decide to do, *LORD.
9 Because you, *LORD, are the *Most High (God) over all the earth.
You are much more important than any other god!
10 If you love the *LORD, then *hate what bad people do!
(The *LORD) makes safe the lives of his people.
He will make them free from the hands of bad people.
11 Light will shine on *righteous people and honest people will be very happy.
12 Everyone that is *righteous, you be happy with the *LORD!
And say "thanks" to his *holy name.
1 Sing a new song to the *LORD.
Because he has done *wonderful things.
His right hand and his *holy arm have made (his people) safe.
2 The *LORD has made everybody to know that he has made (his people) safe.
He has shown everybody (in the world) that he is a *righteous (God).
3 He remembered his kind love to the people of Israel.
And he did what he had promised.
Everyone (that lives) far away has seen that (God) has made (his people) safe.
4 Everybody (that lives) on earth, shout to the *LORD because you are so happy!
Start singing and making music!
5 Make music to the *LORD with a *harp!
Make music with *harp and voice!
6 With *trumpets and the sound of the *horn make a happy noise to the *LORD (who is) King!
7 The sea and everything that is in it must make a loud noise.
The earth and everything that lives in it must also (make a loud noise).
8 The rivers must *clap their hands and the mountains must make a happy sound
9 to the *LORD.
Because he is coming to rule the earth.
He will be a *righteous king.
He will be a very fair *judge.
1 The *LORD is king!
People on earth will be afraid!
(The *LORD) is sitting between the *cherubim!
The earth (itself) will *shake!
2 The *LORD is great in *Zion.
And he is king over all the (other) people (in the world).
3 They must (all) *praise your great name.
(It is a name) that makes people afraid.
Because he is *holy.
4 (He is) a strong king and he loves what is right.
You have made everything fair.
You have done what is right and fair in *Jacob.
5 *Praise the *LORD our God!
*Kneel *before him. He is *holy.
6 Moses and Aaron were among his *priests and Samuel was among those that prayed to him.
They prayed to the *LORD and he answered them.
7 He spoke to them from the *column of cloud.
They obeyed his rules and they did what he told them to do.
8 *LORD our God, you answered them.
You were a God that *forgave Israel.
Even if you *punished them when they did not obey you.
9 *Praise the *LORD our God and *kneel before him.
Because the *LORD our God, he is *holy!
1 Everyone on earth, shout to the *LORD!
2 Do something for the *LORD to show that you are happy.
Come to him with songs of *joy.
3 Know that the *LORD really is God.
He made us and we are his people.
(We are as his) sheep in his fields.
4 Say "*thank-you" when you are walking through his gates.
Stand in front of his *temple and say good things about him.
5 (Do all this) because the *LORD is good.
He is always loving and kind.
He will always do what he has promised to us.
1 I will sing to you, *LORD.
I will sing about your kind love and *justice.
2 I will be careful.
Then nobody can say that I have done wrong.
When will you (*LORD) come to me?
Where I rule, I will do nothing that is wrong.
3 I will not let any *wicked people be with me.
I really do not like what *wicked people do.
They will not come near to me.
4 People with *wicked ideas will be far from me.
I will not mix with them.
5 I will destroy anyone that says bad things about people *in secret.
I will send away people that have *proud eyes and hearts.
6 My eyes will look at people who obey (the *LORD).
They will be with me (in my work).
My servants will be people that do nothing wrong.
7 People that are not honest will not stay with me.
People that do not say what is true will not remain with me.
8 Every morning I will destroy people that are *wicked in (my) country.
Nobody that is *wicked will remain in the city of the *LORD.
1 *LORD, hear my *prayer and listen when I cry to you for help.
2 Do not hide your face from me when I am in trouble.
Turn your ear to me.
Answer me soon, now that I am praying to you.
3 Because my life is *disappearing *like smoke (*disappears).
Also, my bones are burning as a fire burns.
4 I am so ill that I am as dried grass.
I (even) forget to eat my food.
5 Because of my loud *groans, I am just skin and bone.
6 I am as a (wild) bird in a lonely place.
I am as a (night) bird in a broken building.
7 I lie awake and feel *like a (small) bird by itself on the roof of a house.
8 All day my enemies say bad things about me.
People that are angry with me use my name as a *curse.
9 - v10 Because you are so angry with me:
· I eat ashes as my food;
· I mix my drink with my *tears.
Because you picked me up and then you threw me away.
11 My days are as an evening shadow.
I am dying as grass (soon dies).
12 But you, *LORD, will always be king.
You will always be famous, everybody that will live (will know about you.)
13 You will stand up and be kind to *Zion, because it is time to show her that you love her.
The time has come when this should happen.
14 Because her stones are valuable to your servants.
(Her) broken stones make them very sad.
15 The *nations will be afraid of the name of the *LORD.
And all the kings of the earth will *kneel before your *glory.
16 Because the *LORD will build *Zion again and appear in his *glory.
17 He will answer the *prayers of people that have nothing and he will not laugh at what they ask.
18 Write this down for people that will be alive in future (times).
Then people (that God has) not yet *created will *praise the *LORD.
19 The *LORD looked down from his home in the *heavens, from the skies he saw the earth.
20 He heard the *groans of people in prison.
The people that were going to die he made free.
21 So people will shout the *LORD’s name in *Zion and they will *praise him in Jerusalem.
22 (This will happen) when peoples and *kingdoms meet together to *worship the *LORD.
23 He has made me ill in the middle (of my life).
He will make my life short.
24 So I said, "My God, do not let me die in the middle of my life.
You will always be alive.
25 At the beginning (of time) you built the earth so that it was strong.
Also, your hands *created the *heavens.
26 They will not always remain, but you (*LORD) will.
They will *wear out as clothes do.
*Like clothes, you will change them and throw them away.
27 But you (*LORD) will always be the same and your life will never end.
28 (We are) your servants and our children will live always live here.
And their children will be safe where you are.
1 I say to myself, ‘*Praise the *LORD!
Everything that is in me, *praise his *holy name!’
2 I say to myself, ‘*Praise the *LORD!
And never forget any of the good things that he has given you!’
3 (I say to myself) He *forgives all your *sins.
He makes you well again when you are ill.
4 He *redeems you from the *Pit.
His kind love and *mercy are special things that he gives to you.
5 He gives you the good things that you want.
So, you become strong again as a young *eagle.
6 The *LORD does *righteous and fair things for all *oppressed people.
7 He showed Moses his plans and (he showed) the *Israelites what he was going to do.
8 The *LORD likes (people) and is very kind.
He is slow to get angry and has a lot of kind love.
9 He will not always say that we are wrong.
He will not always be angry.
10 We do wrong things.
He does not *punish us for them as much as he should.
11 The sky is high above the earth.
So his kind love is great to those people that love him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has he taken our *sins from us.
13 As a father is kind to his children, so the *LORD is kind to people that are afraid of him.
14 Because he knows (how he) made us, he remembers that we are only *dust.
15 The life of a man is as short as (the life of) grass!
He lives as short a time as the (wild) flowers in a field!
16 The wind blows over it and it dies!
Nothing remembers it any more.
17 But the kind love of the *LORD will always be with those that are afraid of him.
And his *righteousness will be with their children’s children.
18 (They will be) with those (people) that do what they have agreed (to do).
(They will be with those people) that remember to obey his rules.
19 The *LORD has built his *throne in *heaven.
He is king over everything.
20 *Praise the *LORD, you (who are) his *angels.
You are strong and powerful.
You do what he tells you (to do) and you obey his word.
21 *Praise the *LORD, all (you) his armies (in *heaven).
(You are) his servants that do what he wants you (to do).
22 Everything that he has made and (everything) that he rules over, *praise the *LORD!
I say to myself, *praise the *LORD!
1 - v2 I say to myself, "*Praise the *LORD!"
*LORD, my God, you are very great!
(As a person wears clothes), you wear *honour and *majesty and light.
You have put the skies as a roof (over the earth).
3 You have built your home above the waters that are over the skies.
The clouds carry you and you ride on the wind.
4 The winds carry your messages and burning fires are your servants.
5 (The *LORD) built the earth on its *foundations.
Nobody will ever move it.
6 You covered it with the deep (sea) as clothes (cover a person).
The waters were higher than the mountains.
7 When you shouted (the waters) ran away.
At the sound of your *thunder they *fled.
8 (The waters) moved over the mountains.
They went down into the valleys.
They went to the place that you had made for them.
9 You made a mark that they could not cross.
Never again will (the waters) cover the earth.
10 You make water come out of the ground into the valleys.
(You make the rivers) go between the hills.
11 They give water to every wild animal.
The wild *donkeys drink from them.
12 The birds of the air make their homes (by the streams) and they sing from the trees near (the streams).
13 You pour water on to the mountains from your home above the sky.
The earth is happy with the results of what you do.
14 - v15 You make grass to grow for the cows and sheep.
And (you make) plants (grow) that people can use.
This is how people get food from the earth:
· wine (alcohol) that makes people happy,
· oil that makes people’s faces shine, and
· bread that makes people strong.
16 The trees of the *LORD get plenty of rain.
(They are) the cedar trees in Lebanon, which he planted.
17 The birds make their *nests in them.
The *stork makes its home in fir trees.
18 The wild goats live in the high hills and the *rabbits hide in the rocks.
19 The moon shows (us) which season (it is).
The sun knows when to go down.
20 You *created night.
When it is dark, all the wild animals come out (of their *dens).
21 The young *lions *roar while they *hunt.
They look for the food that God gives to them.
22 When the sun shines again, they go back to their *dens.
There they lie down.
23 This is when people go out to work.
They work until it is evening.
24 *LORD, you have made so many things!
The earth is full of the *creatures that you have made.
You were very *wise when you made them all.
25 There is the sea. It is so big and so wide.
It is full of *creatures, more than anyone can count.
(In it) there are small and large animals and plants.
26 Ships sail on it. *Leviathan, that you made, plays in it.
27 All of them hope that you will give them food when they need it.
28 (When) you give it to them they pick it up.
(When) you open your hand they have plenty of good things.
29 (When) you hide your face they become very frightened.
When you take away their *breath, they die and return to the *dust.
30 (Then) you send out your *breath and make new *creatures.
You make everything on earth new.
31 I want the *glory of the *LORD to continue for ever!
I want the *LORD to be very happy with everything that he has made!
32 (When the *LORD) looks at the earth it becomes frightened.
When he touches the mountains, they give out smoke.
33 I will sing to the *LORD all my life.
I will always sing *praises to my God.
34 I hope that my thoughts make him happy, because the *LORD makes me happy.
35 I want (the *LORD) to destroy bad people from the earth.
I do not want very bad people to live any more.
I say to myself, "*Praise the *LORD! *Hallelujah!"
1 Say "thank-you!" to the *LORD.
Tell (everybody) his name.
Tell people in every country what he has done.
2 Sing songs to him, make music for him.
Speak about all the great things that he has done.
3 Be *proud of his *holy name.
Everybody that goes to the *LORD (in his house), be very happy!
4 Visit the *LORD, who is so powerful.
Always go to him (in his house).
5 Remember the great things that he has done.
(Remember) his *miracles and what he said (to Pharaoh).
6 Abraham your *father was (the *LORD’s) servant.
(The *LORD) chose Jacob and you are (Jacob’s) *sons.
7 He, the *LORD, is our God.
What he says is to everyone (that lives) on the earth.
8 He will always remember his *covenant.
He will never, never forget his promises.
9 (He will remember) the *covenant that he made with Abraham and the special promises that he made to Isaac.
10 He made it sure to Jacob with a *law and to (the people of) Israel with a *covenant that will never have an end.
11 He said, "I will give to you (Jacob) the land of Canaan.
It will belong to you, (people of Israel).
12 Once, there was only a small number of them (the people of Israel).
(There were) only a few of them and they were *nomads (in Canaan).
13 They moved from country to country, from one *kingdom to another.
14 (The *LORD) did not let anyone hurt them.
He was angry with kings and gave help to (his people).
15 He said, "Do not hurt my special servants.
Do not *harm my *prophets".
16 (The *LORD) sent a *famine to the land (of Canaan).
He destroyed all the food that they were storing.
17 But he sent a man (into Egypt) before them.
(He was) Joseph, (that his brothers) sold as a slave.
18 (In Egypt) they put his feet into *fetters and his neck into *irons.
19 (They did this) until what he *prophesied really happened.
Until the word of the *LORD showed that he (Joseph) was right.
20 The king sent (someone) to let him out (of prison).
The ruler of the peoples made him free.
21 He (the king) made him (Joseph) master of his house.
He made him ruler of all that he had.
22 He gave him power over his *princes and authority over the leaders of the country.
23 Then (all) Israel came into Egypt and Jacob lived in the land of Ham.
24 (The *LORD) gave many children to his people.
He made them more powerful than their enemies.
25 He made the Egyptians *hate his people (Israel).
They thought of bad things to do against (the *LORD’s) servants.
26 (The *LORD) sent his servant Moses (to Egypt).
(Also), he chose Aaron.
27 (Moses and Aaron) told everybody the things that (the *LORD) would do.
(He would do) *miracles in the land of Ham.
28 He sent *darkness so that it was dark (everywhere in the day-time).
But (the Egyptians) did not obey him.
29 He changed their rivers into blood and killed their fish.
30 Then *frogs filled their land; they even went into the bedrooms of their rulers!
31 (The *LORD) spoke and there came millions of flies.
Insects called lice were everywhere in their country.
32 He changed their rain into *hail and there was *lightning over all their land.
33 He attacked their *vines and *fig trees and he destroyed the trees (everywhere) in their country.
34 (The *LORD) spoke and there came *locusts.
There were too many *locusts to count!
35 They ate all the plants in their country, they ate all their *crops.
36 Then (the *LORD) killed all the oldest (sons) in the land (of Egypt).
(He killed) all the *firstborn sons.
37 So (the *LORD) led Israel out (from Egypt).
They took (valuable things made of) *silver and gold.
And nobody among the Israelites had any trouble.
38 The Egyptians were happy when they went, because they were afraid of the Israelites.
39 (The *LORD) made a cloud to cover them and a fire to give them light at night.
40 They asked, and he sent (birds called) quails.
Also, he fed them with bread from the skies.
41 He opened the rock, and water poured out (from it).
It moved as a river through the dry places.
42 (This happened) because (the *LORD) remembered his *holy promise.
He gave it to his servant Abraham.
43 So, he led the people that he had chosen out (from Egypt).
They were so happy that they sang and they shouted!
44 (The *LORD) gave them the land of the people (that lived in Canaan.) They enjoyed the results of their work.
45 So his people could obey his rules and do what he told them (to do).
*Hallelujah!
1 *Hallelujah! Say "*thank-you" to the *LORD, because he is good.
His kind love will always (remain).
2 (Nobody) can tell about all the great things that the *LORD has done.
(Nobody) can *praise him enough.
3 (The people) that obey his rules are very happy.
They always do what is right.
4 *LORD, do not forget me when you do something good for your people.
Give me help (also) when you make them safe.
5 Then I will:
· enjoy the good things that you do for your people,
· be happy together with them,
· *praise you with the people that belong to you.
6 We have *sinned as our fathers (before us) did.
We have done wrong things; we have been very, very bad.
7 When our fathers were in Egypt, they did not understand your *miracles.
They forgot the kind love that you often (gave to them).
They did not obey (the *LORD) by the sea, the *Sea of Reeds.
8 But he saved them because of his name.
He showed (everybody) that he was very powerful.
9 He shouted at the Sea of *Reeds and it became dry.
He led (his people) through the deep parts of it.
It was as if they went through a *desert!
10 He saved them from the hand of the enemy.
He *redeemed them from the hand of the *foe.
11 The waters covered their enemies.
Not one of them remained alive.
12 Then (God’s people) believed his promises and they all sang and *praised him.
13 But they soon forgot what (the *LORD) had done.
They did not wait for (him to tell them) his plan.
14 In the *wilderness they wanted food very much.
And they *tested God in the *desert.
15 So he gave them what they asked for.
But he (also) sent an illness that made them die.
16 Then they became *jealous of Moses when they were staying in the *desert.
(They were also *jealous of) Aaron, who was a special servant of God.
17 (God made) a hole in the ground and Dathan fell into it.
(God) buried Abiram and all his family.
18 Then (God) sent a fire to their group (of people).
The fire destroyed those very bad people.
19 They made a *calf (out of gold) at Horeb and they *worshipped it.
20 They stopped *worshipping God, who is great.
Instead, they *worshipped the *image of an animal that eats grass!
21 They forgot the God that had saved them and all the great things that he had done in Egypt.
22 (They forgot) the *miracles that he had done in the land of Ham.
(They forgot) the things that surprised them so much by the Sea of *Reeds.
23 So (God) said that he would destroy them.
But Moses stood up and argued with (God).
He prayed that an angry (God) would not destroy them.
24 (Later they said that) they were afraid to go into the good land (of Canaan).
They did not believe the promise (of God).
25 They said bad things (about God) in their *tents.
They did not obey the *LORD.
26 So he lifted up his hand and said that they would die in the *desert.
27 (He said that) their children would die in other countries.
(This was after) he had moved them all over the world.
28 Then they agreed to be the servants of the (false god called) Baal of Peor.
They ate the food given to gods that were never alive.
29 These things made (the *LORD) angry.
(He sent) a *plague against them.
30 But Phinehas stood up and *punished some bad people.
Then (God) stopped the *plague.
31 (The *LORD said) that Phinehas had done a very good thing.
(People) will always remember it.
32 They made (the *LORD) angry at the waters of Meribah.
So, trouble came to Moses because of what they did.
33 (They) made Moses angry and he spoke without thinking.
34 The *LORD told (his people) to destroy the peoples (of Canaan), but they did not.
35 They mixed with the peoples (of Canaan) and learned to do as they did.
36 They *worshipped their *idols and became caught in a *trap.
37 They killed their sons and their daughters for these *idols!
38 Their sons and their daughters had done nothing wrong, but they killed them (for these *idols).
(The *idols) were the false gods of Canaan and these murders made the land dirty.
39 (The *LORD’s people) made themselves dirty by what they did.
They became as *prostitutes!
40 So the *LORD became very angry with his people and he really did not like them.
41 He gave them into the hand of (other) countries and their enemies ruled over them.
42 Their enemies *oppressed them and made them do whatever they wanted (Israel) to do.
43 Often (the *LORD) would save them (from these enemies).
But again and again, they decided not to obey him and they did more and more things that were wrong.
44 Yet (the *LORD) heard them when they prayed to him.
He saw that they had trouble.
45 He remembered what he had agreed.
Because of his kind love, he changed his mind.
46 He made all the people that *oppressed them feel sorry for them!
47 Save us, our *LORD and God.
Bring us back from other countries.
Then we will be very happy to thank you and to *praise your *holy name.
48 *Praise the *LORD, the God of Israel!
*Praise him now and always! Let everybody say, "*Amen!"
*Hallelujah!
1 Thank the *LORD because he is good.
His kind love will never stop.
2 People must say that the *LORD has *redeemed them, when he has redeemed them from the power of an enemy.
3 He brought them from countries to the east, to the west, to the north; and from the sea.
4 They moved from place to place in the wild country.
They did not find the way to a city to live in.
5 They were hungry and wanted a drink.
They thought that they were going to die.
6 Then they prayed to the *LORD in their trouble.
And he saved them from the danger that they were in.
7 He led them by an easy road to a city where they might live.
8 They must thank the *LORD for his kind love.
And they must thank him for the *wonderful things that he does for people.
9 His people have enough to drink and he fills the hungry people with good things.
10 Some people sat in *darkness and in the shadow of death.
They were *prisoners behind iron *bars. And they felt *despair.
11 This happened because they did not obey the words of God.
They laughed at the plans of the Most High.
12 Hard work made them listen to him.
When they fell down, there was nobody to help them.
13 Then they prayed to the *LORD in their trouble.
And he saved them from the danger that they were in.
14 He led them out of the *darkness and the shadow of death.
He broke the *chains that held them.
15 They must thank the *LORD for his kind love.
And they must thank him for the *wonderful things that he does for people.
16 (They must thank him) because he broke the metal gates and destroyed the iron *bars.
17 Fools went away from the right road and were in pain because of their *sin.
18 They would not eat any food, so they nearly died.
19 Then they prayed to the *LORD in their trouble.
And he saved them from the danger that they were in.
20 He sent his word and he *healed them.
He saved them from death.
21 They must thank the *LORD for his kind love.
And they must thank him for the *wonderful things that he does for people.
22 They must give *offerings of *praise.
And they must sing about what he has done.
23 Some went down to the sea, to work in deep waters.
24 They saw the *wonderful things that the *LORD did there.
25 He spoke and a wind started. A storm lifted up the sea.
26 (The sailors) went up to the sky then down into deep places.
The danger made them afraid.
27 It was not possible to stand up, so they fell over like drunks.
They did not know what to do!
28 Then they prayed to the *LORD in their trouble.
And he saved them from the danger that they were in.
29 He stopped the noise of the storm and made the sea become quiet.
30 They were happy when it became quiet.
He showed them the way to the port that they wanted to reach.
31 They must thank the *LORD for his kind love.
And they must thank him for the *wonderful things that he does for people.
32 The people must say that he is great when they meet together.
Their leaders must *praise him when they sit together.
33 - v34 The people who live in some places are very bad.
In those places, God will make:
· rivers become *desert places
· wells of water become dry ground
· good ground become salt *marsh
35 He can make *desert places become pools of water and dry ground become wells of water.
36 He can give a place to hungry people where they can build a city to live in.
37 They can *sow seeds in the fields and plant *vineyards.
Then they will bring home much food.
38 He will be kind to them so that they grow in number.
Their animals will not decrease in number.
39 Then they began to decrease in number because of *oppression, trouble and *despair.
40 He just laughed at their leaders.
And he took them into roads that led nowhere.
41 But he lifts people that are in need out of their trouble.
And he makes their families grow like wild animals.
42 Good people see it and it makes them happy.
Bad people just shut their mouths!
43 People that are not *stupid will think about these things.
Then they will understand the kind love of the *LORD.
1 God, I have decided always to belong to you!
I will sing your *praises as well as I can.
2 Wake up, *harp and *lyre.
I will sing before the dawn.
3 *LORD, I will thank you in front of all the people.
I will sing your *praises everywhere.
4 Your kind love is great. It is higher than the clouds.
Your *truth reaches to the skies.
5 God, lift yourself up above the skies.
Lift your *glory above all the earth.
6 Give us help. Make the friends that you love safe.
Use your right hand to answer us!
7 - v9 God did answer us from his *holy place!
(He said):
· I will be the master.
· I will make a parcel of Shechem.
· I will measure the Valley of Succoth.
· Gilead is mine.
· Manasseh is mine.
· Ephraim will cover my head.
· Judah will *judge for me.
· Moab is my bathroom.
· Edom is where I will throw my shoes.
· Philistia will be something for me to laugh at.
10 Who will lead me into the strong city?
Who will take me into Edom?
11 (You have said) that you would not be our God any more.
But God, will you really not go with our armies?
12 Give to us help against the enemy, because help from men is of no value!
13 With God we will beat everybody and walk all over our enemies!
1 (You are) the God that I *praise.
Let me hear you speak!
2 (Do something) because bad men and *liars say bad things about me.
They say things about me that are not true.
3 Their words of *hate are all round me.
Also, they attack me without a reason.
4 I love them and pray for them.
But they *accuse me.
5 I do good things for them, but they pay me back with bad things.
I love them, but they hate me.
6 Put an *evil man against (my enemy).
Also, make somebody stand by his right hand (side) to *accuse him.
7 Make him be *guilty at his *trial.
And make his words show that he has done wrong things.
8 Make his life a short one and let somebody else be leader (instead of him).
9 Make his children have no father and make his wife a *widow.
10 Make his children go from place to place, asking for money.
Destroy their home and send them away (from it).
11 Make the lender of money take everything that he had.
And let strangers get everything that he worked for.
12 Do not let anybody be kind to him.
Do not let anybody be kind to the children that he has left without a father.
13 I pray that you will destroy everyone in his family after him.
I want people that live later never to know the names (of his family)!
14 I want the *LORD to remember the bad things that his *fathers did.
I do not want the *LORD to clean away his mother’s *sins.
15 I want the *LORD always to remember these (bad things) and people on earth never to remember his family.
16 (Do this, Lord) because he (my enemy) did not remember to be kind (to people).
Instead, he was not kind to them.
He killed people that were poor.
(He killed) people that needed (many things).
(He killed) people that had nobody to give them help.
17 He loved to say bad things about people; (so I want) bad things to happen to him!
He did not like to say good things about people; (so I want) nobody to say good things about him!
18 He said bad things (about people) as often as he put on clothes.
(I want these bad things) to go into his body as the water (that he drinks).
(I want them) to go into his bones like oil.
19 Then (the bad things that he says) will cover him like his clothes.
They will cover him like the belt that he wears every day.
20 This is how (I want) the *LORD to pay the people that *accuse me.
(They are) the people that say bad things about me.
21 But you are my *LORD and master.
Give me help, because of your name!
Save me, because you are good and you love me.
22 Save me because I am poor and need (many things).
My *heart inside me is hurting.
23 I am dying, as a shadow at evening.
I am like an insect that (the wind) blows away.
24 My knees are weak because I am not eating (food).
My body is thin and not fat (as it was).
25 The people that see me just laugh at me!
They *shake their heads (at me).
26 My *LORD and Master, send me help!
Because of your kind love, save me!
27 Make everybody know, *LORD, that you have done something!
28 When they say bad things (about me), you will say good things (about me).
When they attack me, they will be ashamed.
Then your servant will be very happy!
29 The people that *accuse me will have *shame all round them.
It will be all round them as their clothes are all round them.
It will be all round them like a coat.
30 My mouth will say that the *LORD is very great!
I will *praise him in front of a big crowd of people.
31 He stands at the right hand (side) of the people that need (help).
He saves the life of (the man) that people are attacking.
(That is why I will *praise him.)
1 The *LORD spoke to my *Lord.
"Sit on the right of me until I put your enemies under your feet", he said.
2 The *LORD will send your great power out from Zion.
You will rule over all the enemies that are round about you.
3 When you fight your enemies, your people will give you help.
In the early morning (on the day of *battle), your young people will be there, on the hills (round Zion).
4 The *LORD has made a special promise. He will not change it.
"You will always be a *priest, as Melchizedek was", (he said).
5 The *Lord is standing on the right of you.
When he gets angry, he will destroy kings!
6 He will be the *judge of all the *nations.
There will be many dead people.
He will destroy kings over all the earth.
7 He will drink from the stream at the side of the road.
And so, he will lift up his head.
1 *Hallelujah! (or, Say that the *LORD is really great!) I will say "thanks" to the *LORD with *all my *heart.
(I will do it) where his people meet together.
2 The things that the *LORD does are really great!
People that find pleasure in them study them.
3 (Everything that) he does makes people understand that he is a king!
He will always be *righteous.
4 The *LORD causes (people) to remember his *miracles.
He is kind and he loves (people).
5 He gave food to the people that are his servants.
He will always remember his *covenant.
6 He has shown his people that he is powerful.
He gave them the lands that belonged to other countries.
7 The things that he does are honest and fair.
People can *trust him when he tells them his rules.
8 He made (his rules) to continue for all time.
(The *LORD) was true and *righteous when he made (these rules.)
9 He made his people free.
He made a *covenant with them for them (to obey) always.
His name is *holy.
And it makes people (see him) as powerful and important.
10 People who are afraid of the *LORD are starting to be *wise.
Everyone that (is *wise) will have really understood (the *LORD).
People should always say that the *LORD is great!
1 *Hallelujah!
(Aleph) The man that is afraid of the *LORD will be very happy.
(Beth) It will give him pleasure when he obeys the *LORD’s rules.
2 (Gimel) His children will become powerful in the land.
(Daleth) (The *LORD) will do good things for the good people in his family.
3 (He) He will be a rich man with valuable things in his house.
(Vav) He will always have (God’s gift) of *righteousness.
4 (Zayin) A good man is like a light that shines in dark (places).
(Heth) He is kind and loving and *righteous.
5 (Teth) A good man is kind and lends (to people).
(Yod) He is fair in everything that he does.
6 (Kaph) So (a good man) will never fail.
(Lamed) (People) will always remember a *righteous man.
7 (Mem) He is not afraid of bad news.
(Nun) His *heart is *steady and he *trusts in the *LORD.
8 (Samech) His *heart is safe. And he will not be afraid, (Ayin) until (God) destroys his enemies.
9 (Pe) He gives a lot to poor people.
(Tsade) He will always be *righteous.
(Qoph) He will be powerful. And people will say that he is good.
10 (Resh) The bad man will see it and be angry.
(Shin) He will *gnash his teeth together, then *disappear.
(Tav) The things that the bad man wants will not happen.
1 *Hallelujah!
Servants of the *LORD, tell (him) that he is very great!
Sing aloud that the name of the *LORD is very great!
2 *Bless the name of the *LORD.
(Do it) now and (do it) always!
3 *Praise the name of the *LORD!
(Do it) from where the sun rises (in the east) to where it goes down (in the west).
4 The *LORD is king over every *nation.
He shines brighter than anything in the sky.
5 There is nobody like the *LORD our God.
He sits on a *throne that is very high (above us).
6 He bends down to look at the sky and the earth.
They are far below him.
7 He lifts up poor people from the ground.
And he lifts up people that need help from the ashes.
8 He gives them a seat with *princes, with the *princes of their country.
9 He makes the woman that is *barren in her home into a happy mother of children. *Hallelujah!
1 (This happened) when *Israel left Egypt.
(It happened) when the people of Jacob left the people that spoke a strange language.
2 (The *LORD led them) to a safe place (called) Judah.
(He took them) to the country of Israel where he (became their) king.
3 The sea looked and ran from (the *LORD).
The (river) Jordan turned back.
4 The mountains jumped as *rams jump.
The hills jumped as *lambs jump.
5 What happened, sea, that made you run away?
(What happened), Jordan, that made you turn back?
6 (What made) you mountains jump as *rams (jump)?
(What made) you hills jump like *lambs?
7 Earth, be like a man who is afraid, in front of the *Lord.
(Be afraid) when the God of Jacob is near.
8 He made the rock into a pool of water and the hard rock into water coming from the ground.
1 Do not give to us, *LORD, do not give to us the *glory.
(Keep) it for yourself! (Do this) because of your kind love (to us).
And (do it) because you always do what you have promised.
2 Why should people say, ‘Where is their God?’
3 Our God is in *heaven. He does what he wants to do.
4 (People) make their *idols with *silver and gold.
Human hands make them!
5 (Each *idol) has a mouth ... but it cannot speak!
It has eyes ... but it cannot see!
6 It has ears ... but it cannot hear!
It has a nose ... but it cannot smell!
7 It has hands ... but it feels nothing!
It has feet ... but it cannot walk!
Its mouth cannot make a sound!
8 The people that make them will become like them.
Also, everyone who believes what they say (will become like them).
9 (People of) Israel ... *trust in the *LORD.
He is their *help and their *shield.
10 People of Aaron ... *trust in the *LORD.
He is their help and their *shield.
11 Everyone that is in awe of the *LORD ... *trust in the *LORD.
He is their help and their *shield.
12 The *LORD will remember us. He will *bless us.
He will *bless the people of Israel.
He will *bless the people of Aaron.
13 He will *bless everybody that is in awe of the *LORD.
(He will *bless them) whether they are important or not.
14 (I pray that) the *LORD will give you more (good things).
(I pray that he will) do this to your children also.
15 I pray that the *LORD will *bless you.
(The *LORD) made *heaven and earth.
16 *Heaven is where the *LORD lives.
He gave the earth to the people that live there.
17 Dead people cannot *praise the *LORD.
Neither can anyone that goes to the *Quiet Place.
18 But we will *bless the *LORD, now and always.
*Hallelujah!
1 I love the *LORD, because he listens to me.
He listens to me when I pray to him.
2 I will always pray to him, because he hears what I say.
3 The danger of death was all round me.
I began to be afraid of *Sheol.
I was sad because (I had) so much trouble.
4 Then I prayed to the name of the *LORD.
(I said) "*LORD, please save me!"
5 The *LORD is kind and good (to people).
Our God (shows us that he) loves (us).
6 The *LORD gives help to those (people) that need it.
When I was in danger, he saved me!
7 (So I could say) to myself, "Now you are safe, because the *LORD has been kind to you".
8 Yes, (*LORD), you saved me from death!
(You saved) my eyes from crying and my feet from falling.
9 Now I can *serve the *LORD in this world where people live (and not in *Sheol).
10 I believed (that God would give me help).
(I believed this) even when I said, "I have much pain".
11 When I was very sad, I said, "Everybody says what is not true".
12 What can I give to the *LORD because he has been so kind to me?
13 I will offer a cup of *wine to the *LORD.
And I will thank him because he saved me!
14 I will do everything that I have promised to the *LORD.
(I will do it) in front of all his people.
15 It hurts God very much when one of his servants dies.
16 *LORD, I really am your servant.
I am your servant just as my mother was.
You have saved me from death!
17 I will offer you my special "thanks"
when I pray to the name of the *LORD.
18 I will make special promises to the *LORD.
(I will do this) in front of all his people.
19 (I will do this) in the *courts of the house of the *LORD.
(I will do this) in the centre of Jerusalem.
Hallelujah! (or, Tell the *LORD that he is very great!)
1 Every country in the world, *praise the *LORD!
All the people (in the world), *praise him!
2 His kind love for us is very strong.
And he will always do what he has promised.
*Praise the *LORD
1 Thank the *LORD because he is good.
His *kind love will always be (with us).
2 Israel must now say,
"His kind love will always be with us".
3 The house of Aaron must now say,
"His kind love will always be with us".
4 Everyone that is afraid of the *LORD must now say,
"His kind love will always be with us".
5 (My enemy) shut me (in a prison).
There I cried to the *LORD.
The *LORD answered me and made me free.
6 The *LORD is with me. I will not be afraid.
What (bad thing) can anybody do to me?
7 The *LORD is with me. He gives me help.
So, I will see (the *LORD destroy) my enemies.
8 It is better to *trust in the *LORD than to *trust in people.
9 It is better to *trust in the *LORD than to *trust in the leaders (of people).
10 All the *nations were round me, (but) I destroyed them *in the name of the *LORD.
11 They were all round me, yes, all round me.
(But) I destroyed them in the name of the *LORD.
12 They were round me like (a cloud of) *bees.
They burnt (quickly) like a (dry) bush (burns quickly).
I destroyed them in the name of the *LORD.
13 (My enemy) pushed me so that I started to fall.
But the *LORD gave me help (not to fall).
14 The *LORD makes me strong and gives me psalms to sing.
He has saved me.
15 Listen to the happy shouts of God’s people in their *tents.
(They do this) because they have destroyed (their enemies).
The *right hand of the *LORD is very strong.
16 The *LORD has lifted his right hand very high.
The right hand of the *LORD is very strong.
17 I will not die. I will live.
I will tell everyone what the *LORD has done.
18 The *LORD has *punished me a lot, but he has not let me die.
19 Open the gates of the *temple for me.
I will go in and thank the *LORD.
20 This is the gate of the *LORD.
*Righteous people can go in through it.
21 Thank you because you answered me.
You saved me.
22 The men who were building threw away a stone.
It is now in an important place at the corner (of the building).
23 The *LORD has done this.
And we think that it is *wonderful.
24 This is the day that the *LORD has made.
We will be happy in it, we will be very happy.
25 *LORD, save us now!
*LORD, make us do very well!
26 The man that comes in the name of the *LORD will be *blessed.
We *bless you from the house of the *LORD.
27 The *LORD is God and he has made his light to shine on us.
With branches in (our) hands we will go with the people who are going to the *feast.
Go to the *horns of the *altar.
28 You are my God and I will thank you.
You are my God and I will say that you are great.
29 Thank the *LORD because he is good.
His kind love will always be (with us).
1 The people that make no mistakes in the way are very happy.
They obey the *teaching of the *LORD.
2 The people that keep to his *instructions are very happy.
They look for him with all their *heart.
3 Also, they do nothing that is wrong.
They walk in his ways.
4 You have made *guidelines for me.
I must follow them all.
5 I want to make sure that my ways obey your *laws.
6 Then I will not be ashamed when I remember all your *commands.
7 I will *praise you with a clean *heart when I learn your *righteous rules.
8 I will obey your *laws.
Do not ever stop giving me help.
BETH
9 How can a young man keep his path clean?
He must obey your words.
10 I have looked for you with all my *heart.
Do not let me forget your *commands.
11 I have hidden your *sayings in my *heart so that I do not *sin against you.
12 *LORD, you are *blessed!
Teach me your *laws.
13 My lips repeat all the *commands of your mouth.
14 I am happier following the way by your *instructions than having a lot of money.
15 I want to think about your *guidelines and follow your paths.
16 I am very happy with your *laws.
I will not forget your word.
GIMEL
17 Be kind to your servant.
Then I will live and obey your word.
18 Open my eyes and I will see *wonderful things in your *teaching.
19 I am a stranger in the earth.
Do not hide your *commands from me.
20 I love to obey your rules so much that I have no interest in other things.
21 You are angry with the people who think that they are important.
Bad things will happen to them when they walk away from your *commands.
22 Some people say bad and *unkind things about me because I keep to your *instructions.
Take me away from those people.
23 *Princes sit down and make plans against me.
But your servant thinks only about your *laws.
24 Yes! Your *instructions make me really happy.
They are like people that tell me what to do.
DALETH
25 I am lying on the ground.
Give me the life that your word promises to me.
26 I told you about my ways and you answered me.
Teach me your *laws.
27 Make me to understand what your *guidelines mean.
Then I will always think about the *wonderful things that you do.
28 My very great *sadness has made me tired.
Make me strong again as your word promises.
29 Take the false way from me.
Be kind to me in your *teaching.
30 I have chosen the right way.
I will not forget your rules.
31 I will keep to your *instructions, *LORD.
Do not make me ashamed.
32 I will run in the way of your *commands because you give help to my *heart. HE
33 *LORD, give me help to understand your *laws, then I will always obey them.
34 Explain your *teaching to me, then I will always obey it.
I will do it with all my *heart.
35 Make me to walk in the path where your *orders send me.
Do that because it will give me much pleasure.
36 Turn my *heart to your *instructions and not to wanting *riches.
37 Turn my eyes away from looking at things that have no value.
Give me the life that is in your word.
38 Do for your servant the things that your *sayings promise.
This will make him be afraid of you.
39 I am afraid of being ashamed.
Do not let it happen, because your rules are good.
40 I really want your *guidelines.
Keep me alive as you are *righteous.
VAV
41 *LORD, I want your kind love to come to me and I want your *sayings to make me safe.
42 Then I will have something to say to the people that laugh at me.
They laugh at me because I *trust in your word.
43 Do not take a true word away from my mouth, because I put my hope in your rules.
44 I will always obey your *teaching, I will never stop.
45 I will be free to walk anywhere because I look for your *guidelines.
46 I will talk about your *instructions before kings.
I will not be ashamed.
47 I love your *commands and I am very happy with them.
48 I lift up my hands to your *commands, which I love.
I am always thinking about your *laws.
ZAYIN
49 Remember your word to your servant.
You made me put my hope in it.
50 Your *sayings *comfort me when I am sad.
They comfort me because they give me life.
51 *Proud people laugh at me all the time, but I do not turn away from your *teaching.
52 *LORD, I remember the rules that you made long ago.
They make me feel better.
53 I get very angry when *godless people turn away from your *teaching.
54 Your *laws are my songs in the house where I live.
55 *LORD, in the night I will remember your name.
I will keep your *teaching.
56 I do this because I follow your *guidelines. HETH
57 *LORD, you are everything to me.
I promise to obey your words.
58 I ask you, with all my *heart, to *have *mercy on me as you have promised.
59 I have thought about my ways, and my feet are going back to follow your *instructions.
60 I will hurry to obey your *commands and I will not be slow.
61 People who do not know God are all round me.
They tie me up but still I do not forget your *teaching.
62 I get up in the middle of the night to *praise you because your rules are *righteous.
63 I am a friend of everyone that is afraid of you.
And I am a friend of those who follow your *guidelines.
64 *LORD, the earth is full of your kind love.
Teach me your *laws.
TETH
65 You do good things for your servant, *LORD, as your word says.
66 Teach me. Then I will choose and know what is right.
I will do that because I *trust your *commands.
67 Before I was in trouble with you I made mistakes.
But now I keep to your *sayings.
68 You are good and you do good things.
Teach me your *laws.
69 *Proud men have told me lots of lies, but your *guidelines are of great value to me.
70 #Their *heart is fat and they are *stupid; but I love your *teaching.
71 My trouble was good for me.
It made me learn your *laws.
72 *Teaching from your mouth is better for me than a lot of *silver and gold. #This is the *heart of the *proud men in verse 69. It means that they cannot think clearly. JODH
73 Your hands*created me. And they made me what I am.
Help me to understand and learn your *commands.
74 The people that are afraid of you will be happy.
They will be happy when they see me.
This is because I am *trusting in your word.
75 *LORD, I know that your rules are *righteous.
You were right when you sent me trouble.
76 Now your kind love makes me feel better.
You promised this to your servant in your *sayings.
77 Send your love to me and I will live!
Your *teaching makes me really happy.
78 *Proud men will be ashamed because they say lies about me without any reason.
79 The people that are afraid of you will turn to me again.
They understand your *instructions.
80 My *heart will make no mistakes about your *laws.
I will not be ashamed.
KAPH
81 I feel weak while I wait for you to save me.
My hope is in your word.
82 My eyes are closing while I look for your *sayings.
I say, "When will you *comfort me?"
83 I am like #a *wineskin in smoke but I will not forget your *guidelines.
84 The life of your servant is not very long.
When will you make the people that *persecute me obey your rules?
85 *Proud people have made *traps for me.
Your *teaching says that they must not do this.
86 All your *commands are true.
But people still *persecute me with lies. Give me help!
87 People on earth almost destroyed me, but I did not stop following your *guidelines.
88 Your kind love gives me life.
I will obey your *instructions.
# We are not sure what this means.
LAMED
89 *LORD, your word will always rule in the *heavens.
90 Your *truth will continue from one century to the next.
You have fixed the earth and it will remain.
91 #They remain today as your rules say they must.
They are all your servants.
92 If your *teaching had not made me happy then my great *sadness would have destroyed me.
93 I will never forget your *guidelines because in them you give me life.
94 I am yours, save me!
Do it because I have looked for your *guidelines.
95 The *godless wait to destroy me, but I am studying your *instructions.
96 I see that all that is good on earth will finish.
But your *commands have no end.
#"they" probably means the earth and the stars in the *heavens (skies).
MEM
97 I love your *teaching very much.
I think about it all day long.
98 Your *commands teach me more than my enemies.
Your *commands are always with me.
99 I understand more than all my teachers because I think about your *commands.
100 I understand more than the old people because I follow your *guidelines.
101 I do not let my feet walk in any *evil path because I obey your word.
102 I do not turn away from your rules, because you teach me.
103 Your *sayings are like *honey to me.
They are like something that tastes good.
104 Your *guidelines give me help to understand things, so I hate every wrong path. NUN
105 Your word is a *lamp to my foot and a light to my path.
106 I have really promised to keep your *righteous rules and I will do it.
107 People have hurt me very much.
Give me the life that your word promises.
108 *LORD, I pray that you will be happy with what I say.
And I pray that you will teach me your rules.
109 I am always in danger, but I never forget your *teaching.
110 *Wicked people have made a *trap for me, but I do not go away from your *guidelines.
111 Your *instructions will always be with me and they make my *heart very happy.
112 I will make my *heart obey your *instructions always, to the end. SAMEKH
113 I hate the people that do not believe you.
But I love your *teaching.
114 You are my secret place where I can hide.
I put my hope in your word.
115 Go away from me, you bad people!
I will obey my God's *commands.
116 Give me help and life, as your word promises.
And do not make me ashamed, because I hope in you.
117 Give me help and I will be safe.
I will always obey your *laws.
118 You turn away from people that do not follow your *laws.
This is because they speak lies.
And they are not honest.
119 You destroy all the bad people in the world as *rubbish.
For this reason I love your *instructions.
120 Am afraid of you and it makes my body *shiver.
I am afraid of your rules.
AYIN
121 I was *righteous and I obeyed the rules.
Do not give me to my *oppressors.
122 Make sure that good things happen to your servant.
Do not let *proud people become my *oppressors.
123 My eyes have stopped seeing that you are saving me.
They do not see your *righteous *sayings.
124 Do with your servant what your kind love suggests.
Teach me your *laws.
125 I am your servant. Explain your *instructions to me so that I understand them.
126 It is time for the *LORD to do something.
People have not obeyed your *teaching.
v127-128 I hate every wrong path because:
· I love your *commands more than gold, *pure gold
· I think that all your *guidelines are right
PE
129 I obey your *instructions because they are *wonderful.
130 When I read your words they bring light.
They help people that do not know enough to understand things.
131 My mouth is wide open as I *breathe.
This is because I am so *eager for your *commands.
132 Turn to me and have *mercy on me.
Your rules say that you will do this.
You will do this to people that love your name.
133 Make my feet follow your *sayings.
Do not let *sin rule over me.
134 Make me free from *oppressors and I will follow your *guidelines.
135 Show a kind face to your servant and teach me your *laws.
136 Streams of water come from my eyes because people do not obey your *teaching. TSADHE
137 *LORD, you are *righteous and your rules are good.
138 The *instructions that you gave are very fair.
And we can *trust in them.
139 I am so *eager that it makes me feel weak.
But my enemies do not listen to your words.
140 We have found that your *sayings are true.
Your servant loves them.
141 I am not important and people do not like me.
But I will not forget your *guidelines.
142 You are always *righteous and fair.
Your *teachings are true.
143 An enemy brought me trouble, but your *commands make me happy.
144 Your *instructions are always fair.
Make me understand them and find life.
KOPH
145 I cried with all my *heart. "Answer me, *LORD".
"I will obey your *laws", I cried.
146 "Save me and I will keep to your *instructions."
147 I woke up before dawn and cried to you for help.
I want all that you promised in your word.
148 I stayed up all night and thought about your *sayings.
149 Listen to my voice, because you are loving and kind.
*LORD, keep me alive as your rules promise me.
150 The people that *persecute me are coming near.
They want to do something very bad to me.
They are far away from your *teaching.
151 *LORD, you are near to me.
All your *commands are true.
152 I have known about your *instructions for a long time.
And I have known that you made them to continue always.
RESH
153 Look at my trouble!
Save me because I do not forget your *teaching.
154 Fight my fight for me and *redeem me.
Keep me alive as your *sayings promise me.
155 *Godless people are far away from being safe.
They do not look for your *laws.
156 *LORD, your love is great, because your rules keep me alive.
157 Many enemies *persecute me but I do not go away from your *instructions.
158 I see people doing such bad things that I hate them.
But, I do not stop obeying your *sayings.
159 See how I love your *guidelines, *LORD.
Keep me alive through your kind love.
160 All your words are true.
All your *righteous rules will continue always.
SHIN
161 *Princes *persecute me for no good reason.
But it is your word that really makes my *heart afraid.
162 I am very happy with your *sayings.
I am like someone that finds great riches.
163 I do not like *lies, I hate them.
Your *teaching is what I love.
164 I *praise you 7 times every day because of your *righteous rules.
165 People that love your *teaching have a lot of *peace.
Nothing will make them fall down.
166 *LORD, I am waiting for you to save me while I obey your *commands.
167 I will keep to your *instructions because I love them so much.
168 I follow your *guidelines and *instructions because you see all that I do. TAV
169 I am calling to you for help, *LORD.
I want to understand your word.
170 Hear what I pray and have *mercy on me.
Save me, as your *sayings promise me.
171 My lips will pour out *praise because you are *teaching me your *laws.
172 My *tongue will sing your *sayings because all your *commands are *righteous.
173 I want your hand to come to my help because I chose to follow your *guidelines.
174 *LORD, I want you to save me.
Your *teaching makes me very happy.
175 Give me life so that I can *praise you.
May your rules give me help.
176 I have become like a lost sheep.
Look for your servant, because I have not forgotten your *commands.
1 I cried to the *LORD in my trouble and he answered me.
2 *LORD, save me from lips that tell *lies.
And save me from a false *tongue.
3 What will he do to you and what else will happen to you, you false *tongue?
4 The sharp *arrows of a soldier (will hurt you), like wood that is burning.
5 It is bad for me to live in Mesech, with a home among the *tents of Kedar.
6 I have lived too long with the people that hate *peace.
7 I want *peace, but when I say this they want war.
1 When I look up to the hills I find no help there.
2 My help comes from the *LORD.
He made the *heaven and the earth.
3 He will not let your foot *slide.
The one that *guards you will not sleep.
4 It is certain that he will not sleep.
The one that *guards Israel will never sleep.
5 The *LORD is the one that *guards you.
The *LORD is near you to *protect you.
6 The sun will not hurt you in the day, nor the moon at night.
7 The *LORD is the one that *guards you from all danger.
He is the one that *guards your life.
8 The *LORD *guards you when you go out.
And he when *guards you when you come in.
(He will do this) now and always.
1 It made me very happy when they said to me,
"We will go into the house of the *LORD".
2 (Now) our feet are standing inside your gates, Jerusalem!
3 Jerusalem is a city with buildings that fit near together.
4 The *tribes go up there, the *tribes of the *LORD.
They go there to thank the *LORD. All Israel will see it.
5 The *thrones of the house of David are there.
Also, they sit there to *judge the people.
6 Pray for the *peace of Jerusalem.
(Pray that) the people that love (Jerusalem) will be safe.
7 "I pray that there will be *peace inside your walls.
And I pray that it will be safe inside your big houses".
8 Because of my brothers and friends I will pray,
"I want *peace inside you."
9 Because of the house of the *LORD our God, I will hope for good things for you.
1 I lift up my eyes to you (God).
You are sitting in *heaven.
2 Our eyes look to the *LORD our God:
· like men who are servants look to the hands of their masters;
· like a woman who is a servant looks to the hand of her *mistress.
(*LORD), have *mercy on us.
3 Have *mercy on us, *LORD, have *mercy on us.
We have had more than enough *contempt.
4 We have had more than enough *contempt from the *proud people that are *oppressing us.
1 If the *LORD was not fighting for us – now Israel say it –
2 - v5 if the *LORD was not fighting for us when men attacked:
· they would have eaten us alive because they were so angry,
· waters would have rushed over us and a deep river would be over our heads,
· the angry waters would have gone over our heads and drowned us.
6 We will say good things to the *LORD.
He did not let them eat us.
7 We are free and still alive, like a bird that got out of a *trap.
The *trap became broken and we are free.
8 The name of the person that sent us help is the *LORD.
He made *heaven and earth.
1 People that *trust in the *LORD are like the mountain called Zion.
Nothing will move it; it will always be there.
2 Jerusalem has mountains all round it.
Also, the *LORD is all round his people, now and always.
3 *Wicked (people) will not always rule over the land.
(That is, the land) that (the *LORD) gave to *righteous people.
If they did, the *righteous people might start doing bad things themselves.
4 Do good things, *LORD, to good people.
(Good people) are *upright in their *hearts.
5 But *LORD, take away those people that start doing bad things themselves.
Take them away with the *wicked (people).
Let Israel be *at peace!
1 An army was attacking Zion.
When the *LORD turned them away, we were like people that were dreaming!
2 Then we laughed a lot.
And we shouted because we were so happy!
And (people in) other countries said (to each other),
"The *LORD has done something *wonderful for them!"
3 The *LORD has done something *wonderful for us and we are very, very happy.
4 The *LORD will give back again what we have lost.
It will be like water coming into a dry place where there is a lot of sand.
5 People that are crying will go out and plant seeds.
(Later) they will sing as they pick the fruits.
6 Someone will go out crying, but with a basket of seeds.
He will come home laughing, with a lot of food.
1 If the *LORD does not build the house, the workers cannot do anything.
There are men who watch (for danger).
But if the *LORD does not *guard the city, they will be *useless.
2 If you work all day for food, from early morning to late at night, you will get nothing.
It is God who gives sleep. He gives it to the people that he loves.
3 Children are something that God gives.
The fruit of your body is a gift (from him).
4 The sons of a young man are like *arrows in the hand of a soldier.
5 The man with many of them will be very happy.
He will not be ashamed when he meets his enemies in the city gates.
1 Everyone that is *in awe of the *LORD will be very happy.
They will *walk in his ways.
2 You will eat the things that your hands have worked for.
You are very sure that you will. You will be happy!
Good things will happen to you!
3 Your wife in your house will be like a *vine that grows much fruit.
Your sons round your table will be like branches of an *olive tree.
4 The *LORD does good things to the man that is *in awe of him.
This is how he does it. Make a note of that.
5 The *LORD of Zion will do good things to you.
Then you will see that Jerusalem is a good place for as long as you are alive.
6 You will see your grandsons and there will be *peace in Israel.
1 My enemies have often hurt me since I was a child.
Israel can now say this.
2 They have often hurt me since I was a child, but they have not beaten me.
3 They ploughed on my back like a farmer ploughing long *furrows.
4 The *LORD is *righteous.
He has cut me free from my enemies.
5 Everybody that hates Zion will be ashamed.
So they will turn away.
6 They will become like a green plant on a roof.
It dies before it starts to grow!
7 A gardener cannot fill his hand (with it) or a farmer (fill) his pocket.
8 People that go past will not say,
"We want the *LORD to be kind to you!"
(They will not say) “We want good things to happen to you in the name of the *LORD!”
1 *LORD, I am crying to you because I am in great (trouble).
2 *Lord, listen to my voice.
Turn your ears to hear what I am saying to you.
3 *LORD, if you make a note of *sins, who will stand?
4 But you *forgive (people) so that they are *in awe of you.
5 I will wait for the *LORD.
I will wait for him and *hope in his word.
6 I want the *Lord more than people want the morning to come, more than people want the morning.
7 Israel, hope in the *LORD, because with the *LORD there is kind love and a lot of *redeeming.
8 He will *redeem Israel from all his *sins.
1 *LORD, my *heart is not *proud, neither are my eyes (*proud).
I do not try to do things that are too important for me.
I do not try to do things that are too hard for me.
2 Really, I have made myself *calm and I have become quiet.
I am like a young child with its mother.
Yes, I am like a young child with its mother.
3 Israel, put your hope in the *LORD, now and always.
1 *LORD, remember David and all his troubles.
2 He promised the *LORD.
He made this special promise to the *Mighty One of Jacob.
3 "I will not go into my house or get into my bed.
4 I will not shut my eyes or go to sleep until I find a place for the *LORD.
5 It will be a place where the *Mighty One of Jacob will live".
6 We heard that it was at Ephratah.
And we found it in the fields of Jaar.
7 We will go into the place where he lives.
And we will *worship at his feet.
8 Get up, *LORD. And go into the place where you can rest.
Go in yourself, with the *ark.
The *ark shows that you are strong.
9 (I pray that) all your *priests will be *righteous and all your *saints will shout.
They will shout because they are so happy.
10 Remember your servant David and do not turn away the face of your *messiah.
11 The *LORD promised David what would happen.
He will not turn from it.
"I will put the fruit of your body on your *throne.
12 Your children should obey my rules.
And they should do what I will teach them.
Then their children will always sit on your *throne".
13 The *LORD chose Zion.
He wants it for a place to live in.
14 "This is where I will always rest. This is what I want.
So I will live here", he said.
15 "I will do a lot of good things for her.
I will give food to the poor people in her.
16 All her *priests will be safe and her *saints will shout aloud.
They will shout because they are so happy.
17 There I will make David very strong.
The light of my *messiah will never go out.
18 His enemies will be ashamed.
But his *crown will shine and be bright!”
1 See how good it is.
And see what pleasure it brings when brothers stay together.
2 It is as a sweet *oil poured on the head.
It goes down on to the beard, as it did on to Aaron’s beard.
It then poured down over his clothes.
3 It is like the *dew on the mountain called Hermon.
It (also) pours down on to the mountains of Zion.
The *LORD has said that it is a *good place to be.
There is always life there.
1 Come, all you servants of the *LORD that stand in his house at night.
And say good things to the *LORD.
2 Lift up your hands to where he lives.
And say good things to him.
3 Say good things to the *LORD in Zion.
He made the *heaven and the earth.
1 *Hallelujah! *Praise the name of the *LORD!
*Praise him, you servants of the *LORD!
2 You are standing in the house of the *LORD.
You are standing in the *courts of the house of our God.
3 *Praise the *LORD, because the *LORD is good.
*Praise his name with songs, because it is *pleasant to do this.
4 (*Praise his name) because the *LORD chose *Jacob for himself.
Israel is his own *treasure.
5 (*Praise his name) because I know that the *LORD is great.
Our *Lord is greater than all other gods.
6 The *LORD does whatever he wants to do.
(He does this) in the sky and on the earth.
(And he does it) in the deepest parts of the sea.
7 (The *LORD) makes clouds rise up all over the earth.
He sends rain with *lightning.
He brings winds from where he stores them.
8 (God) destroyed the *firstborn in Egypt, both men and animals.
9 He sent signs to *warn Egypt. He did *miracles in Egypt.
(He did them) to *warn *Pharaoh and his servants.
10 He destroyed many countries and killed many kings.
11 (He killed) Sihon the king of the *Amorites.
(He also killed) Og the king of *Bashan and all the kings of *Canaan.
12 Then he gave their lands to his people Israel.
He gave (their lands) to them as a gift.
13 *LORD, people will always remember your name.
You will always be famous.
14 And the *LORD will *defend his people.
Also, he will show his love to his servants.
15 (Other) countries make their *idols with *silver and gold.
Human hands made (those *idols)!
16 They have mouths ... but they cannot speak!
(They have) eyes ... but they cannot see!
17 (They have) ears ... but they cannot hear!
(They have) mouths ... but they cannot *breathe!
18 The people that made them will become as they are.
Also, everyone that *trusts in them (will become as they are).
19 House of Israel, *bless the *LORD.
House of Aaron, *bless the *LORD.
20 House of Levi, *bless the *LORD.
(Everyone) that is afraid of him, *bless the *LORD.
21 Zion, *bless the *LORD that lives in Jerusalem.
*Hallelujah!
1 Thank the *LORD, because he is good!
Thank him because his kind love will always continue.
2 Thank God, (who is) the greatest of the gods.
Thank him because his kind love will always continue.
3 Thank the *Lord, (who is) the greatest *lord.
Thank him because his kind love will always continue.
4 - v9 (Thank the *LORD because):
· only he does great *miracles (and) because his kind love will always continue;
· he made the skies with understanding (and) because his kind love will always continue;
· he put the earth on the waters (and) because his kind love will always continue;
· he made the great lights (and) because his kind love will always continue;
· (he made) the sun to rule the day (and) because his kind love will always continue;
· (he made) the moon and stars to rule the night (and) his kind love will always continue.
10 - v16 (Thank the *LORD because):
· he destroyed the *firstborn in Egypt (and) because his kind love will always continue;
· he brought Israel out from (Egypt) (and) because his kind love will always continue;
· (he did this) with a strong hand and a powerful arm (and) because his kind love will always continue;
· he cut the Red Sea into two parts (and) because his kind love will always continue
· he brought Israel through the middle of it (and) because his kind love will always continue;
· he pushed Pharaoh (the king of Egypt) and his army into the Red Sea (and) because his kind love will always continue;
· he led his people through the *desert (and) because his kind love will always continue.
17 - v22 (Thank the *LORD because):
· he destroyed great kings (and) because his kind love will always continue;
· he killed very strong kings (and) because his kind love will always continue;
· (he killed) Sihon, king of the Amorites (and) because his kind love will always continue;
· (he killed) Og, the king of Bashan (and) because his kind love will always continue;
· he gave their land as a gift (and) because his kind love will always continue;
· (he gave it) as a gift to his servant Israel (and) because his kind love will always continue.
23 - v25 (Thank the *LORD because):
· he remembered us when we were very sad (and) because his kind love will always continue;
· he made us free from our enemies (and) because his kind love will always continue;
· he gives food to everything that he has made (and) because his kind love will always continue.
26 Thank the God of *heaven!
Because his kind love will always continue.
1 There we sat down, by the rivers in Babylon.
We cried when we remembered Zion.
2 There we hung up our *harps on the willow trees (special kind of tree).
3 For there the people that made us *prisoners were very *unkind.
"Sing us a song" they shouted. "Make us laugh with a song from Zion!"
4 We just cannot sing the *LORD’s song in a foreign land.
5 Jerusalem, if I forget you my right hand (will drop off!)
6 My *tongue will stick to the top of my mouth if I do not remember you, Jerusalem.
I think of you more than the things that I like best.
7 *LORD, remember the people of Edom.
This is what they said in the Day of Jerusalem.
"Knock it down, knock it down to its *foundations!"
8 Daughter of Babylon, someone will destroy you!
That person will do to you what you did to us.
He will be very happy then!
9 He will catch your children and hit them with a rock.
He will be very happy then!
1 I will thank you, *LORD, *with all my *heart.
I will sing your *praises in front of the (false) gods.
2 I will fall down before (you in) your *holy *temple.
I will give thanks to *your name for your kind love that never fails.
(Also we will give thanks,) because you have lifted your name and your word above everything else.
3 When I prayed to you, you answered me.
You made me brave and strong.
4 All the kings in the world will thank you, *LORD.
They have heard the promises that you have made.
That is why they will thank you.
5 They will sing about what you have done.
(And) they will sing because of your great *glory.
6 The *LORD is high (above the earth).
But he can see what people below him (need).
Also he can see what *proud people are doing.
They are far away (from him) but he can still see them.
7 You keep me alive when there is trouble all round me.
When my enemy is angry you fight against him.
You save me with your right hand.
8 The *LORD will do for me everything that he has promised.
*LORD, your kind love will always continue.
Finish the work of your hands.
1 *LORD, when you look at me you know all about me.
2 You know when I sit down.
And you know when I get up.
You understand what I am thinking about (even when you are) far away.
3 You see when I go (somewhere).
And you see when I stay (at home).
You remember everything that I do!
4 For example, before I say a word, *LORD, you know all about it.
5 You are all round me, in front (of me) and behind (me).
You have put your *hand upon me.
6 What you know (about me) is *wonderful.
I cannot understand it.
It is so high that I cannot climb up to it.
7 Where can I go from your *Spirit?
How can I run away from you?
8 If I went up to *heaven, you would be there.
If I went down to *Sheol, you would be there also.
9 If I went:
· to where the sun rises (in the east)
· to the other side of the sea (in the west)
10 your hand would be there.
It would be my guide.
Your right hand would give me help.
11 If I say:
· I am sure that *darkness will hide me
· or, the light round me will change into night,
12 *darkness and light are the same to you!
*Darkness is not dark to you.
The night shines as bright as the day (to you).
13 But you, you made every part of me.
You made me grow in my mother’s *womb.
14 I *praise you for the *mysterious and *wonderful way that you made me.
I know very well that everything that you made is *wonderful.
15 (Nothing) hid my body from you when I was growing in a secret place.
This happened deep in the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my body growing.
Before I had lived one day, you wrote in your book how long I should live for!
17 You have so many ideas, God.
They are so difficult for me to understand.
18 If I could count them all, there would be more than the *grains of sand (by the side of the sea).
I would have to live (as long) as you to count them all!
19 God, I hope that you will kill the *wicked (people)!
And go away from me you *men of blood (murderers).
20 They are your enemies.
They say bad things about you that are not true.
21 Do I *hate them that hate you, *LORD?
Do I really hate them that attack you?
22 (Yes) I do hate them, I really hate them.
I think of them as my enemies.
23 Look at me, God. And know (what is in) my *heart.
Look into my mind and know my thoughts.
24 See if I am doing anything bad that might hurt me.
And lead me in the old ways.
1 Save me, *LORD, from *evil people.
Do not let the men that attack people hurt me.
2 They have *evil ideas and are always starting wars.
3 Their *tongues are as sharp as a snake’s *tongue.
The poison of vipers (a kind of snake) is on their lips. *SELAH
4 Keep me, *LORD, (away) from *the hands of *evil people.
Do not let people that love to fight hurt me.
They want my feet to *trip over!
5 *Proud people have hidden a *trap for me.
They have put their *nets (where I cannot see them).
They have put *snares along my path. *SELAH
6 *LORD, I say to you, "You are my God".
*LORD, hear my *prayer for *mercy!
7 *LORD, my *Lord, you are my strong *helper.
You cover my head when there is a fight.
8 *LORD, do not let *evil people do what they want (to do).
They will become *proud if their plans do well. *SELAH
9 Pour trouble on the heads of the people round me!
(I mean the trouble) that their lips caused.
10 Drop burning *coals on them! Throw (these people) into the fire!
(Put them) in holes full of wet mud (dirt and water) so they cannot get out!
11 Do not let these *slanderers live in the land (of Israel)!
Make *evil follow these people that love to attack (other people).
12 I know that the *LORD will be fair to poor people.
He will also fight (to help) people *in need.
13 I am sure that *righteous people will *praise *your name.
Good people will always live near you.
1 *LORD, I am praying to you. Come to me soon.
I am talking to you. Please hear what I am saying.
2 When I pray to you it will be like *incense.
When I raise my hands (to you) it will be like an evening *prayer.
3 *LORD, do not let my mouth (speak *evil words).
Listen to what my lips (are saying).
4 Stop me wanting to do what is wrong.
Do not let me go with *evil people to do what is wrong.
Do not let me eat in their *feasts.
5 If a good man hits me, he is being kind (to me).
If he is angry with me, it is like *oil on my head.
I will not say "no" to it.
I am always praying against what bad people do.
6 They will throw their rulers down from the rocks on the sides of the hills.
Then they will know that my words were true.
7 (They will say) "as people break the earth (to plant seeds), so they will throw our bones down to *Sheol’.
8 But *LORD, my eyes are looking to you, (my) *Lord.
I am hoping that you will give me help.
Do not let (people) kill me.
9 Keep me (away) from the *snares they have put (to catch) me.
(Keep me away) from the *traps that *evil (people) have hidden for me.
10 I pray that their own *nets will catch these *evil (people).
And I pray that I will be safe as I pass (the *nets).
1 I am praying aloud to the *LORD.
I am asking aloud for help from the *LORD.
2 I am telling him about everything that I think is wrong.
I am telling him all my troubles.
3 Sometimes I do not feel brave.
Then you (*LORD) know what I should do.
In the path where I walk (my enemies) have hidden a *trap for me.
4 Look round me and see.
No (friend) sees that I am here.
There is no safe place for me to go to.
Nobody cares about me.
5 I am praying to you, *LORD.
You are my safe place (where I can go).
You are all that I need in this life.
6 Listen to me as I cry (to you).
I have a very great need.
Make me safe from the people that follow me (to hurt me).
You make me safe because they are too strong for me.
7 Take me out of this prison so that I can *praise *your name.
Then *righteous people will come to me because you are so kind to me.
1 *LORD, hear my *prayer.
Listen to me when I ask you for help.
Answer me, because you are a loving and fair (God).
2 Do not *judge (me) your servant, because nobody alive (on earth) is *righteous.
3 An enemy is following me.
He is trying to kill me.
He wants to put me in a dark place, like (people) who have been dead for a long time.
4 My *spirit inside me is becoming weak.
My *heart inside me has no hope.
5 I remember (what happened) many years ago.
I think about all that you did.
Also, I see in my mind all that your hands have done.
6 I raise my hands to you.
I want you as badly as dry ground (wants rain). *SELAH
7 Answer me soon, *LORD. I am losing hope.
Do not hide your face from me.
(If you do) I will be as those (people) that go down into the *Pit.
8 I want to hear news of your kind love in the morning.
(This is) because I am *trusting in you.
Show me what I should do.
Show me because I have asked you (to show me).
9 *LORD, make me free from my enemies, because I am hiding in you.
10 Teach me what you want me to do.
Teach me because you are my God.
Your *spirit is good.
It will lead me to ground that is flat.
11 Save my life, *LORD, because of your (great) name.
Bring me out of trouble, because you are *righteous.
12 Because you love me, kill my enemies.
And destroy the people that fight against me.
(Do this) because I am your servant.
1 *LORD, I *bless you! You are my Rock!
You prepared my hands for war.
You taught my fingers to fight.
2 You give me your kind love.
You are my *fortress.
You are like a strong place that you can take me to.
You are a *shield that keeps me safe.
You make my people obey me.
3 *LORD, why do you want to know about people?
Why do you think about them?
4 People are just like the wind.
They are just like a shadow that passes.
5 *LORD, open your *heavens and come down (to earth).
Touch the mountains so that they give out smoke.
6 Send *flashes of *lightning to frighten (your enemies).
Shoot your *arrows and destroy them.
7 Put your hand down from high (in the *heavens).
Take me from the dangerous waters.
Make me safe from the hands of foreign people.
8 Their mouths speak *lies.
Even when they make a promise, they are saying a *lie.
9 I will sing to you a new song, God.
I will make music to you on a *ten-stringed harp.
10 You give help to kings to win their wars.
Save your servant David from death by a *sword.
11 Make me safe from the hands of foreign people.
Their mouths speak lies.
Even when they make a promise, they are saying a *lie.
12 I pray that, when they are young, our sons will be like strong plants.
(I pray that) our daughters will be beautiful, like parts of the wall of a great house.
13 (I pray that you, *LORD,) will fill the places where we store many different foods.
(I pray that) our sheep will have thousands of young sheep.
Then there will be tens of thousands of them in our fields.
14 (I pray that) our cows will have good health.
(I pray that) none of them will be sick or have *abortions.
(I pray that) none of them will cry aloud in our fields.
15 If this happens, then (God has) *blessed our people.
If the *LORD is their God, then (God) will *bless people.
1 Always I will *praise you, my God and my king, and I will *bless your name!
2 "*Bless you" I will say every day and I will always *praise your name.
3 Clearly the *LORD is great and we can never *praise him enough.
We will never know how great he really is!
4 Down from father to son people will say what *wonderful things you have done.
They will tell each other how powerful you are.
5 Everyone is talking about your *glory and your *beauty.
I will keep thinking about the *wonderful things that you do.
6 Famous are the things that you have done. People talk about them.
I also will say what great things you do.
7 Good things are what everybody remembers about you.
They all sing about how kind you are.
8 How full of *grace and *mercy is the *LORD.
He is slow to become angry and is full of kind love.
9 It is the *LORD that is kind to everybody.
He shows his *mercy to everything that he has made.
10 Joining together, everything that you have made will *praise you, *LORD.
Your *saints will *bless you!
11 "*Kingdom of *Glory" is where you rule.
People talk about it and about how powerful you are.
12 Let everybody know the powerful things that you have done; and the *glory and *beauty of your *kingdom.
13 Many years, even for always, will your *kingdom remain.
You will always rule over it.
Now the *LORD will do as he has promised.
All that he does shows his *mercy.
14 Out of trouble the *LORD will bring everybody.
He will give help to everyone that has fallen down.
15 People and other living things look to you.
You give them food when they need it.
16 Really, you open your hand.
And you give every living thing what it wants.
17 So the *LORD is fair in all his ways.
Everything that he does shows us his *mercy.
18 The *LORD is near to all that pray to him.
He is near to all that are honest when they pray to him.
19 Very soon he will give what they need to those that love him.
He will hear what they say and save them.
20 *Wicked people will the *LORD destroy.
But he will save the people that love him.
21 You will hear me speak the *praises of the *LORD.
All that he has made will *bless his *holy name.
1 *Hallelujah!
I say to myself, "*Praise the *LORD!"
2 I will *praise the *LORD all my life.
I will always sing *praises to my God while I am alive.
3 Do not *trust in human leaders.
Nobody that is only human can save you.
4 When they die, they return to the ground.
On that day, their plans come to an end.
5 The person that receives help from the God of Jacob is very happy.
(That person) hopes (for help) from the *LORD their God.
6 (The *LORD) made the skies and the earth, the sea and everything that is in them.
He always does what he has promised (to do).
7 He gives help to people that are *oppressed.
He gives food to the hungry.
He makes people free that are in a prison.
8 The *LORD makes *blind people see again.
The *LORD lifts up people that have fallen down (because they carried heavy things).
The *LORD loves people that are *righteous.
9 The *LORD *protects strangers living in our land, the children with no fathers and the *widows.
But he does not *protect *wicked people.
10 The *LORD will always be (your) king.
Zion, he will be your God for all time.
*Hallelujah!
1 *Hallelujah!
It is good to sing *praises to our God.
And it is *pleasant and right to *praise him.
2 The *LORD is building Jerusalem again.
He is bringing home the *exiles to Israel.
3 He makes people well again that have *broken hearts.
And he puts *bandages on their *injuries.
4 He decided how many stars (to make) and he even gave them all a name.
5 Our *Lord is great and very powerful.
He understands everything!
6 The *LORD gives help to poor people (but) he throws *wicked people to the ground.
7 Sing to the *LORD and thank him (for what he has done).
Make music to our God with a *harp.
8 He puts clouds into the sky.
He sends rain to the earth.
He makes the grass grow on the hills.
9 He gives food for the animals.
He feeds the young *ravens when they cry.
10 He has no pleasure because a horse is so strong, nor in the legs of a man (who is riding the horse).
11 (Instead) the *LORD becomes pleased by people who are *in awe of him.
They *trust in his kind love.
12 Jerusalem ... *praise the *LORD!
Zion ... *praise your God!
13 Praise him because he makes your gates strong.
And he is kind to the people inside your (city).
14 He makes your *borders safe (from an enemy attacking you).
He fills you with the best food.
15 He tells the earth what to do.
What he says soon reaches it.
16 He covers (the earth) with snow like a (white) blanket.
He puts *frost everywhere like ashes (that the wind blows).
17 He sends *hail like small stones.
Nobody can stand up in his *icy wind.
18 (Then) he sends his word and the ice changes into water.
He makes the wind blow and the water moves.
19 He showed his word to Jacob.
(He showed) his rules and *laws to Israel.
20 He has done this for no other country.
They do not know his *laws.
*Hallelujah!
1 *Hallelujah!
*Praise the *LORD from the *heavens.
*Praise him in the high places.
2 *Praise him, all his *angels.
*Praise him all his armies (in *heaven).
3 *Praise him, sun and moon.
*Praise him, all shining stars.
4 *Praise him, highest *heavens and the waters above the sky.
5 They will all *praise the name of the *LORD, because he created (made) them by his *command.
6 He has fixed them in their places for all time.
This rule will never change.
7 - v10 *Praise the *LORD from the earth:
· sea *monsters and all deep waters,
· fire and *hail,
· snow and clouds,
· wind and storm obeying his *commands,
· mountains and all hills,
· fruit trees and all forests,
· wild animals and farm animals,
· *reptiles and flying birds.
11 - v13a *Praise the name of the *LORD:
· kings of the earth and every country,
· *princes and all rulers on earth,
· young men and young girls,
· old men and children.
13 13b (The *LORD’s) name is the only great name.
He is king over *heaven and earth.
14 He has made his people strong.
So all the people that have accepted his kind love will *praise him.
They are the people of Israel who are near to him.
*Hallelujah!
1 *Hallelujah!
Sing a new song to the *LORD.
*Praise him where *his people meet together.
2 (People of) Israel, be very happy because (God) made you.
Sons of Zion, be very happy because he is your king.
3 *Praise his name with dancing.
Make music to him with *harp and *tambourine.
4 (When they do this) his people will give the *LORD pleasure.
He gives help to those who will take it.
He does this so that they can beat (their enemies).
5 His people will be very happy because he has made them feel important.
They will sing (all night) on their beds because they are so happy.
6 The *praises of God will always be in their mouths.
Also, *swords with two edges will be in their hands.
7 - v9 (They must):
· bring (God’s) *vengeance on (foreign) countries;
· *punish people (that do not obey God);
· lock their kings (in prison);
· put their leaders in *chains of iron;
· do whatever (God) decided should happen to them.
This is how (God will make) his people feel important.
*Hallelujah!
8
9
1 *Hallelujah!
Shout, "You are the best" to God the *LORD.
Do it in his *temple. Do it in the skies.
2 Shout, "You are the best" to him because he is very strong.
Shout, "You are the best" to him because he is very powerful.
3 Sing, "You are the best" to him with music.
Use *horns and *harps and *guitars.
4 Sing, "You are the best" to him with music.
Use dancing and *drums, *strings and *pipes.
5 Sing, "You are the best" to him with music.
Use big and small *cymbals.
6 Everything that is alive, shout to the *LORD, "You are the best".
*Hallelujah!