Study Desk

A Davidic song of ascents.

How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!^(a)

It is like fine oil on the head, running down on the beard, running down Aaron's beard onto his robes.^(b)

It is like the dew of Hermon^[a] falling on the mountains of Zion.^(c) For there the Lord has appointed the blessing— life forevermore.^(d)

A song of ascents.

Now praise the Lord , all you servants of the Lord who stand in the Lord 's house at night!^(a)

Lift up your hands in the holy place and praise the Lord !^(b)

May the Lord , Maker of heaven and earth, bless you from Zion.^(c)

Hallelujah! Praise the name of Yahweh. Give praise, you servants of Yahweh^(a)

who stand in the house of Yahweh, in the courts of the house of our God.^(b)

Praise Yahweh, for Yahweh is good; sing praise to His name, for it is delightful.^(c)

For Yahweh has chosen Jacob for Himself, Israel as His treasured possession.^(d)

For I know that Yahweh is great; our Lord is greater than all gods.^(e)

Yahweh does whatever He pleases in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all the depths.^(f)

He causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain and brings the wind from His storehouses.^(g)

He struck down the firstborn of Egypt, both man and beast.^(h)

He sent signs and wonders against you, Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his officials.⁽ⁱ⁾

He struck down many nations and slaughtered mighty kings:^(j)

Sihon king of the Amorites, Og king of Bashan, and all the kings of Canaan.^(k)

He gave their land as an inheritance, an inheritance to His people Israel.^(l)

Yahweh, Your name endures forever, Your reputation, Yahweh, through all generations.^(m)

For Yahweh will vindicate His people and have compassion on His servants.⁽ⁿ⁾

The idols of the nations are of silver and gold, made by human hands.^(o)

They have mouths but cannot speak,^(p) eyes, but cannot see.

They have ears but cannot hear; indeed, there is no breath in their mouths.^(q)

Those who make them are just like them, as are all who trust in them.^(r)

House of Israel, praise Yahweh!^(s) House of Aaron, praise Yahweh!^(t)

House of Levi, praise Yahweh! You who revere the Lord , praise the Lord !^(u)

May the Lord be praised from Zion;^(v) He dwells in Jerusalem.^(w) Hallelujah!

Give thanks to the Lord , for He is good.^(a) His love is eternal.

Give thanks to the God of gods. His love is eternal.

Give thanks to the Lord of lords.^(b) His love is eternal.

He alone does great wonders.^(c) His love is eternal.

He made the heavens skillfully.^(d) His love is eternal.

He spread the land on the waters.^(e) His love is eternal.

He made the great lights:^(f) His love is eternal.

the sun to rule by day, His love is eternal.

the moon and stars to rule by night.^(g) His love is eternal.

He struck the firstborn of the Egyptians^(h) His love is eternal.

and brought Israel out from among them His love is eternal.

with a strong hand and outstretched arm.⁽ⁱ⁾ His love is eternal.

He divided the Red Sea^(j) His love is eternal.

and led Israel through,^(k) His love is eternal.

but hurled Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea.^(l) His love is eternal.

He led His people in the wilderness.^(m) His love is eternal.

He struck down great kings His love is eternal.

and slaughtered famous kings— His love is eternal.

Sihon king of the Amorites His love is eternal.

and Og king of Bashan— His love is eternal.

and gave their land as an inheritance, His love is eternal.

an inheritance to Israel His servant.⁽ⁿ⁾ His love is eternal.

He remembered us in our humiliation^(o) His love is eternal.

and rescued us from our foes.^(p) His love is eternal.

He gives food to every creature.^(q) His love is eternal.

Give thanks to the God of heaven!^(r) His love is eternal.

By the rivers of Babylon— there we sat down and wept when we remembered Zion.^(a)

There we hung up our lyres on the poplar trees,^(b)

for our captors there asked us for songs, and our tormentors, for rejoicing: "Sing us one of the songs of Zion."^(c)

How can we sing the Lord 's song on foreign soil?^(d)

If I forget you, Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill.^(e)

May my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not exalt Jerusalem as my greatest joy!^(f)

Remember, Lord , what the Edomites said that day^[a] at Jerusalem: "Destroy it! Destroy it down to its foundations!"^(g)

Daughter Babylon, doomed to destruction, happy is the one who pays you back what you have done to us.^(h)

Happy is he who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rocks.⁽ⁱ⁾

Davidic.

I will give You thanks with all my heart;^(a) I will sing Your praise before the heavenly beings.^[a](b)

I will bow down toward Your holy temple and give thanks to Your name for Your constant love and truth. You have exalted Your name and Your promise above everything else.^(c)

On the day I called, You answered me; You increased strength within me.^[b](d)

All the kings on earth will give You thanks, Lord , when they hear what You have promised.^[c](e)

They will sing of the Lord 's ways, for the Lord 's glory is great.^(f)

Though the Lord is exalted, He takes note of the humble; but He knows the haughty from a distance.^(g)

If I walk into the thick of danger, You will preserve my life from the anger of my enemies.^(h) You will extend Your hand; Your right hand will save me.⁽ⁱ⁾

The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me.^(j) Lord , Your love is eternal; do not abandon the work of Your hands.^(k)

For the choir director. A Davidic psalm.

Lord , You have searched me and known me.^(a)

You know when I sit down and when I stand up; You understand my thoughts from far away.^(b)

You observe my travels and my rest; You are aware of all my ways.^(c)

Before a word is on my tongue, You know all about it, Lord .^(d)

You have encircled me; You have placed Your hand on me.^(e)

This extraordinary knowledge is beyond me. It is lofty; I am unable to reach it.^(f)

Where can I go to escape Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence?^(g)

If I go up to heaven, You are there;^(h) if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there.⁽ⁱ⁾

If I live at the eastern horizon or settle at the western limits,^[a]

even there Your hand will lead me; Your right hand will hold on to me.^(j)

If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me, and the light around me will be night"^(k)—

even the darkness is not dark to You. The night shines like the day; darkness and light are alike to You.^(l)

For it was You who created my inward parts;^[b] You knit me together in my mother's womb.^(m)

I will praise You because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made.^[c][d] Your works are wonderful, and I know this very well.⁽ⁿ⁾

My bones were not hidden from You when I was made in secret, when I was formed in the depths of the earth.^(o)

Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in Your book and planned before a single one of them began.^(p)

God, how difficult^[e] Your thoughts are for me to comprehend; how vast their sum is!

If I counted them, they would outnumber the grains of sand;^(q) when I wake up,^[f] I am still with You.^(r)

God, if only You would kill the wicked— you bloodthirsty men, stay away from me^(s)—

who invoke You deceitfully. Your enemies swear by You falsely.^(t)

Lord , don't I hate those who hate You, and detest those who rebel against You?

I hate them with extreme hatred; I consider them my enemies.^(u)

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns.^(v)

See if there is any offensive^[g] way in me; lead me in the everlasting way.^(w)