Study Desk

How happy is the man who does not follow^[a] the advice of the wicked or take^[b] the path of sinners or join a group^[c] of mockers!^(a)

Instead, his delight is in the Lord 's instruction, and he meditates on it day and night.^(b)

He is like a tree planted beside streams of water^[d] that bears its fruit in season^[e](c) and whose leaf does not wither.^(d) Whatever he does prospers.^(e)

The wicked are not like this; instead, they are like chaff that the wind blows away.^(f)

Therefore the wicked will not survive^[f] the judgment,^(g) and sinners will not be in the community of the righteous.

For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,^(h) but the way of the wicked leads to ruin.⁽ⁱ⁾

Why^(a) do the nations rebel^[a](b) and the peoples plot in vain?^(c)

The kings of the earth take their stand,^(d) and the rulers conspire together against the Lord and His Anointed One:^[b](e)

"Let us tear off their chains and free ourselves from their restraints."^[c](f)

The One enthroned^[d] in heaven laughs; the Lord ridicules them.^(g)

Then He speaks to them in His anger and terrifies them in His wrath:^(h)

"I have consecrated My King^[e] on Zion, My holy mountain."⁽ⁱ⁾

I will declare the Lord 's decree: He said to Me, "You are My Son;^[f] today I have become Your^[g] Father.^(j)

Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your^[h] inheritance and the ends of the earth Your^[i] possession.^(k)

You will break^[j] them with a rod of iron; You^[k] will shatter them like pottery."^[l](l)

So now, kings, be wise; receive instruction, you judges of the earth.

Serve the Lord with reverential awe and rejoice with trembling.^(m)

Pay homage to^[m] the Son or He^[n] will be angry and you will perish in your rebellion,^[o](n) for His^[p] anger may ignite at any moment.^(o) All those who take refuge in Him^[q] are happy.^(p)

A psalm of David when he fled from his son Absalom.^(a)

Lord , how my foes increase! There are many who attack me.^(b)

Many say about me, "There is no help for him in God."^(c) Selah

But You, Lord , are a shield around me,^(d) my glory,^(e) and the One who lifts up my head.^(f)

I cry aloud to the Lord , and He answers me from His holy mountain.^(g) Selah

I lie down and sleep; I wake again because the Lord sustains me.^(h)

I am not afraid of the thousands of people who have taken their stand against me on every side.⁽ⁱ⁾

Rise up, Lord !^(j) Save me, my God! You strike all my enemies on the cheek;^(k) You break the teeth of the wicked.^(l)

Salvation belongs to the Lord ;^(m) may Your blessing be on Your people.⁽ⁿ⁾ Selah

For the choir director: with stringed instruments.^(a) A Davidic psalm.

Answer me when I call, God, who vindicates me.^[a](b) You freed me from affliction;^(c) be gracious to me and hear my prayer.

How long, exalted men, will my honor be insulted?^(d) How long will you love what is worthless^(e) and pursue a lie? Selah

Know that the Lord has set apart the faithful for Himself; the Lord will hear when I call to Him.

Be angry^[b] and do not sin;^(f) on your bed, reflect in your heart and be still.^(g) Selah

Offer sacrifices in righteousness^[c](h) and trust in the Lord .⁽ⁱ⁾

Many are saying, "Who can show us anything good?" Look on us with favor, Lord .^(j)

You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and new wine abound.^(k)

I will both lie down and sleep in peace,^(l) for You alone, Lord , make me live in safety.^(m)

For the choir director: with the flutes. A Davidic psalm.

Listen to my words, Lord ; consider my sighing.^(a)

Pay attention to the sound of my cry,^(b) my King and my God,^(c) for I pray to You.

At daybreak,^(d) Lord , You hear my voice; at daybreak I plead my case to You^(e) and watch expectantly.

For You are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil cannot dwell with You.^(f)

The boastful cannot stand in Your presence;^(g) You hate all evildoers.^(h)

You destroy those who tell lies;⁽ⁱ⁾ the Lord abhors a man of bloodshed and treachery.^(j)

But I enter Your house by the abundance of Your faithful love;^(k) I bow down toward Your holy temple in reverential awe of You.^(l)

Lord , lead me in Your righteousness^(m) because of my adversaries;^[a] make Your way straight before me.⁽ⁿ⁾

For there is nothing reliable in what they say;^[b](o) destruction is within them; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongues.^(p)

Punish them, God; let them fall by their own schemes.^(q) Drive them out^(r) because of their many crimes, for they rebel against You.^(s)

But let all who take refuge in You rejoice;^(t) let them shout for joy forever. May You shelter them,^(u) and may those who love Your name boast about You.^(v)

For You, Lord , bless the righteous one; You surround him with favor like a shield.^(w)

For the choir director: with stringed instruments, according to Sheminith.^(a) A Davidic psalm.

Lord , do not rebuke me in Your anger; do not discipline me in Your wrath.^(b)

Be gracious to me, Lord , for I am weak;^[a](c) heal me,^(d) Lord , for my bones are shaking;^(e)

my whole being is shaken with terror.^(f) And You, Lord —how long?^(g)

Turn, Lord ! Rescue me; save me because of Your faithful love.^(h)

For there is no remembrance of You in death; who can thank You in Sheol?⁽ⁱ⁾

I am weary from my groaning;^(j) with my tears I dampen my pillow^[b] and drench my bed every night.^(k)

My eyes are swollen from grief;^(l) they^[c] grow old because of all my enemies.

Depart from me, all evildoers, for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping.^(m)

The Lord has heard my plea for help;⁽ⁿ⁾ the Lord accepts my prayer.^(o)

All my enemies will be ashamed and shake with terror; they will turn back^(p) and suddenly be disgraced.^(q)

A Shiggaion^[a] of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning the words of Cush,^[b] a Benjaminite.

Yahweh my God, I seek refuge in You;^(a) save me from all my pursuers and rescue me^(b)

or they^[c] will tear me like a lion, ripping me apart with no one to rescue me.^[d](c)

Yahweh my God, if I have done this, if there is injustice on my hands,^(d)

if I have done harm to one at peace with me^(e) or have plundered^[e] my adversary without cause,^(f)

may an enemy pursue and overtake me; may he trample me to the ground^(g) and leave my honor in the dust.^(h) Selah

Rise up, Lord , in Your anger; lift Yourself up against the fury of my adversaries;⁽ⁱ⁾ awake for me;^[f](j) You have ordained^[g] a judgment.^(k)

Let the assembly of peoples gather around You;^(l) take Your seat^[h] on high over it.^(m)

The Lord judges the peoples;⁽ⁿ⁾ vindicate me, Lord , according to my righteousness and my integrity.^[i](o)

Let the evil of the wicked come to an end,^(p) but establish the righteous.^(q) The One who examines the thoughts and emotions^[j] is a righteous God.^(r)

My shield is with^[k] God,^(s) who saves the upright in heart.^(t)

God is a righteous judge and a God who shows His wrath every day.^(u)

If anyone does not repent, God^[l] will sharpen His sword;^(v) He has strung^[m] His bow and made it ready.^(w)

He has prepared His deadly weapons; He tips His arrows with fire.^(x)

See, the wicked one is pregnant with evil, conceives trouble, and gives birth to deceit.^(y)

He dug a pit and hollowed it out but fell into the hole he had made.^(z)

His trouble comes back on his own head, and his violence falls on the top of his head.^(aa)

I will thank the Lord for His righteousness; I will sing about the name of Yahweh the Most High.^(ab)

For the choir director: on the Gittith.^(a) A Davidic psalm.

Yahweh, our Lord, how magnificent is Your name throughout the earth!^(b) You have covered the heavens with Your majesty.^[a](c)

Because of Your adversaries, You have established a stronghold^[b] from the mouths of children and nursing infants^(d) to silence the enemy and the avenger.

When I observe Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You set in place,^(e)

what is man that You remember him, the son of man that You look after him?^(f)

You made him little less than God^[c][d] and crowned him with glory and honor.

You made him lord over the works of Your hands; You put everything under his feet:^[e](g)

all the sheep and oxen, as well as the animals in the wild,

the birds of the sky, and the fish of the sea that pass through the currents of the seas.^(h)

Yahweh, our Lord, how magnificent is Your name throughout the earth!