Psalm 23–25

A David Psalm

^1–323God, my shepherd!

I don’t need a thing.

You have bedded me down in lush meadows,

you find me quiet pools to drink from.

True to your word,

you let me catch my breath

and send me in the right direction.

⁴Even when the way goes through

Death Valley,

I’m not afraid

when you walk at my side.

Your trusty shepherd’s crook

makes me feel secure.

⁵You serve me a six-course dinner

right in front of my enemies.

You revive my drooping head;

my cup brims with blessing.

⁶Your beauty and love chase after me

every day of my life.

I’m back home in the house of God

for the rest of my life.

A David Psalm

^1–224God claims Earth and everything in it,

God claims World and all who live on it.

He built it on Ocean foundations,

laid it out on River girders.

^3–4Who can climb Mount God?

Who can scale the holy north-face?

Only the clean-handed,

only the pure-hearted;

Men who won’t cheat,

women who won’t seduce.

^5–6God is at their side;

with God’s help they make it.

This, Jacob, is what happens

to God-seekers, God-questers.

⁷Wake up, you sleepyhead city!

Wake up, you sleepyhead people!

King-Glory is ready to enter.

⁸Who is this King-Glory?

God, armed

and battle-ready.

⁹Wake up, you sleepyhead city!

Wake up, you sleepyhead people!

King-Glory is ready to enter.

¹⁰Who is this King-Glory?

God-of-the-Angel-Armies:

he is King-Glory.

A David Psalm

^1–225My head is high, God, held high;

I’m looking to you, God;

No hangdog skulking for me.

³I’ve thrown in my lot with you;

You won’t embarrass me, will you?

Or let my enemies get the best of me?

Don’t embarrass any of us

Who went out on a limb for you.

It’s the traitors who should be humiliated.

⁴Show me how you work, God;

School me in your ways.

⁵Take me by the hand;

Lead me down the path of truth.

You are my Savior, aren’t you?

⁶Mark the milestones of your mercy and love, God;

Rebuild the ancient landmarks!

⁷Forget that I sowed wild oats;

Mark me with your sign of love.

Plan only the best for me, God!

⁸God is fair and just;

He corrects the misdirected,

Sends them in the right direction.

⁹He gives the rejects his hand,

And leads them step-by-step.

¹⁰From now on every road you travel

Will take you to God.

Follow the Covenant signs;

Read the charted directions.

¹¹Keep up your reputation, God;

Forgive my bad life;

It’s been a very bad life.

¹²My question: What are God-worshipers like?

Your answer: Arrows aimed at God’s bull’s-eye.

¹³They settle down in a promising place;

Their kids inherit a prosperous farm.

¹⁴God-friendship is for God-worshipers;

They are the ones he confides in.

¹⁵If I keep my eyes on God,

I won’t trip over my own feet.

¹⁶Look at me and help me!

I’m all alone and in big trouble.

¹⁷My heart and kidneys are fighting each other;

Call a truce to this civil war.

¹⁸Take a hard look at my life of hard labor,

Then lift this ton of sin.

¹⁹Do you see how many people

Have it in for me?

How viciously they hate me?

²⁰Keep watch over me and keep me out of trouble;

Don’t let me down when I run to you.

²¹Use all your skill to put me together;

I wait to see your finished product.

²²God, give your people a break

From this run of bad luck.