Study Desk

A song of ascents.

In my distress I called to the Lord , and He answered me.^(a)

" Lord , deliver me from lying lips and a deceitful tongue."^(b)

What will He give you, and what will He do to you, you deceitful tongue?^(c)

A warrior's sharp arrows with burning charcoal!^[a](d)

What misery that I have stayed in Meshech,^[b](e) that I have lived among the tents of Kedar!^[c](f)

I have lived too long with those who hate peace.^(g)

I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war.^(h)

A song of ascents.

I lift my eyes toward the mountains. Where will my help come from?^(a)

My help comes from the Lord , the Maker of heaven and earth.^(b)

He will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber.^(c)

Indeed, the Protector of Israel does not slumber or sleep.^(d)

The Lord protects you; the Lord is a shelter right by your side.^[a](e)

The sun will not strike you by day or the moon by night.^(f)

The Lord will protect you from all harm; He will protect your life.^(g)

The Lord will protect your coming and going both now and forever.^(h)

A Davidic song of ascents.

I rejoiced with those who said to me, "Let us go to the house of the Lord ."^(a)

Our feet are standing within your gates, Jerusalem^(b)—

Jerusalem, built as a city should be, solidly joined together,^(c)

where the tribes, Yahweh's tribes, go up to give thanks to the name of Yahweh.^(d) (This is an ordinance for Israel.^(e))

There, thrones for judgment are placed, thrones of the house of David.^(f)

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May those who love you prosper;^(g)

may there be peace within your walls, prosperity within your fortresses."^(h)

Because of my brothers and friends, I will say, "Peace be with you."⁽ⁱ⁾

Because of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good.^(j)

A song of ascents.

I lift my eyes to You, the One enthroned in heaven.^(a)

Like a servant's eyes on his master's hand, like a servant girl's eyes on her mistress's hand, so our eyes are on the Lord our God until He shows us favor.^(b)

Show us favor, Lord , show us favor, for we've had more than enough contempt.^(c)

We've had more than enough scorn from the arrogant and contempt from the proud.^(d)

A Davidic song of ascents.

If the Lord had not been on our side— let Israel say—

If the Lord had not been on our side^(a) when men attacked us,^(b)

then they would have swallowed us alive in their burning anger against us.^(c)

Then the waters would have engulfed us; the torrent would have swept over us;

the raging waters would have swept over us.^(d)

Praise the Lord , who has not let us be ripped apart by their teeth.^(e)

We have escaped like a bird from the hunter's net; the net is torn, and we have escaped.^(f)

Our help is in the name of Yahweh, the Maker of heaven and earth.^(g)

A song of ascents.

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion. It cannot be shaken; it remains forever.^(a)

Jerusalem—the mountains surround her. And the Lord surrounds His people, both now and forever.^(b)

The scepter of the wicked will not remain over the land allotted to the righteous, so that the righteous will not apply their hands to injustice.^(c)

Do what is good, Lord , to the good, to those whose hearts are upright.^(d)

But as for those who turn aside to crooked ways, the Lord will banish them with the evildoers.^(e) Peace be with Israel.^(f)

A song of ascents.

When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,^[a] we were like those who dream.^(a)

Our mouths were filled with laughter then,^(b) and our tongues with shouts of joy.^(c) Then they said among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for them."^(d)

The Lord had done great things for us; we were joyful.^(e)

Restore our fortunes,^[b] Lord , like watercourses in the Negev.^(f)

Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy.^(g)

Though one goes along weeping, carrying the bag of seed, he will surely come back with shouts of joy, carrying his sheaves.^(h)

A Solomonic song of ascents.

Unless the Lord builds a house, its builders labor over it in vain;^(a) unless the Lord watches over a city, the watchman stays alert in vain.^(b)

In vain you get up early and stay up late, working hard to have enough food— yes, He gives sleep to the one He loves.^[a](c)

Sons are indeed a heritage from the Lord , children, a reward.^(d)

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the sons born in one's youth.^(e)

Happy is the man who has filled his quiver with them.^(f) Such men will never be put to shame when they speak with their enemies at the city gate.^(g)

A song of ascents.

How happy is everyone who fears the Lord , who walks in His ways!^(a)

You will surely eat what your hands have worked for.^(b) You will be happy, and it will go well for you.^(c)

Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house, your sons, like young olive trees around your table.^(d)

In this very way the man who fears the Lord will be blessed.^(e)

May the Lord bless you from Zion, so that you will see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life^(f)

and will see your children's children! Peace be with Israel.^(g)

A song of ascents.

Since my youth they have often attacked me— let Israel say—

Since my youth they have often attacked me, but they have not prevailed against me.^(a)

Plowmen plowed over my back; they made their furrows long.^(b)

The Lord is righteous; He has cut the ropes of the wicked.^(c)

Let all who hate Zion be driven back in disgrace.^(d)

Let them be like grass on the rooftops, which withers before it grows up^[a](e)

and can't even fill the hands of the reaper or the arms of the one who binds sheaves.^(f)

Then none who pass by will say, "May the Lord 's blessing be on you." We bless you in the name of Yahweh.^(g)

A song of ascents.

Out of the depths I call to You, Yahweh!^(a)

Lord, listen to my voice; let Your ears be attentive to my cry for help.^(b)

Yahweh, if You considered sins, Lord, who could stand?^(c)

But with You there is forgiveness, so that You may be revered.^(d)

I wait for Yahweh; I wait and put my hope in His word.^(e)

I wait for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning— more than watchmen for the morning.^(f)

Israel, put your hope in the Lord .^(g) For there is faithful love with the Lord , and with Him is redemption in abundance.^(h)

And He will redeem Israel from all its sins.⁽ⁱ⁾

A Davidic song of ascents.

Lord , my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty.^(a) I do not get involved with things too great or too difficult for me.^(b)

Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself like a little weaned child with its mother; I am like a little child.^(c)

Israel, put your hope in the Lord , both now and forever.^(d)

A song of ascents.

Lord , remember David and all the hardships he endured,^(a)

and how he swore an oath to the Lord , making a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob:^(b)

"I will not enter my house^[a] or get into my bed,^[b]

I will not allow my eyes to sleep or my eyelids to slumber^(c)

until I find a place for the Lord , a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob."^(d)

We heard of the ark in Ephrathah;^[c](e) we found it in the fields of Jaar.^[d](f)

Let us go to His dwelling place; let us worship at His footstool.^(g)

Rise up, Lord , come to Your resting place, You and Your powerful ark.^(h)

May Your priests be clothed with righteousness, and may Your godly people shout for joy.⁽ⁱ⁾

Because of Your servant David, do not reject Your anointed one.^[e](j)

The Lord swore an oath to David, a promise He will not abandon: "I will set one of your descendants^[f] on your throne.^(k)

If your sons keep My covenant and My decrees that I will teach them, their sons will also sit on your throne forever."^(l)

For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His home:^(m)

"This is My resting place forever; I will make My home here because I have desired it.⁽ⁿ⁾

I will abundantly bless its food; I will satisfy its needy with bread.^(o)

I will clothe its priests with salvation, and its godly people will shout for joy.^(p)

There I will make a horn grow for David;^(q) I have prepared a lamp for My anointed one.^(r)

I will clothe his enemies with shame,^(s) but the crown he wears^[g] will be glorious."^(t)