Book One: Psalms 1–41

Psalm 1

The Way of the Righteous and the End of the Ungodly

1 Blessed ais the man

Who walks not in the counsel of the 1ungodly,

Nor stands in the path of sinners,

bNor sits in the seat of the scornful;

2 But chis delight is in the law of the Lord,

dAnd in His law he 2meditates day and night.

3 He shall be like a tree

ePlanted by the 3rivers of water,

That brings forth its fruit in its season,

Whose leaf also shall not wither;

And whatever he does shall fprosper.

4 The ungodly are not so,

But are glike the chaff which the wind drives away.

5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,

Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

6 For hthe Lord knows the way of the righteous,

But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Psalm 2

The Messiah’s Triumph and Kingdom

1 Why ado the 1nations 2rage,

And the people plot a 3vain thing?

2 The kings of the earth set themselves,

And the brulers take counsel together,

Against the Lord and against His cAnointed, 4saying,

3 “Let dus break Their bonds in pieces

And cast away Their cords from us.”

4 He who sits in the heavens eshall laugh;

The Lord shall hold them in derision.

5 Then He shall speak to them in His wrath,

And distress them in His deep displeasure:

6 “Yet I have 5set My King

6On My holy hill of Zion.”

7 “I will declare the 7decree:

The Lord has said to Me,

f‘You are My Son,

Today I have begotten You.

8 Ask of Me, and I will give You

The nations for Your inheritance,

And the ends of the earth for Your possession.

9 gYou shall 8break them with a rod of iron;

You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ ”

10 Now therefore, be wise, O kings;

Be instructed, you judges of the earth.

11 Serve the Lord with fear,

And rejoice with trembling.

12 9Kiss the Son, lest 1He be angry,

And you perish in the way,

When hHis wrath is kindled but a little.

iBlessed are all those who put their trust in Him.

Psalm 3

The Lord Helps His Troubled People

A Psalm of David aWhen He Fled from Absalom His Son.

1 Lord, how they have increased who trouble me!

Many are they who rise up against me.

2 Many are they who say of me,

“There is no help for him in God.”

Selah

3 But You, O Lord, are ba shield 1for me,

My glory and cthe One who lifts up my head.

4 I cried to the Lord with my voice,

And dHe heard me from His eholy hill.

Selah

5 fI lay down and slept;

I awoke, for the Lord sustained me.

6 gI will not be afraid of ten thousands of people

Who have set themselves against me all around.

7 Arise, O Lord;

Save me, O my God!

hFor You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone;

You have broken the teeth of the ungodly.

8 iSalvation belongs to the Lord.

Your blessing is upon Your people.

Selah

Psalm 4

The Safety of the Faithful

To the 1Chief Musician. With Stringed Instruments. A Psalm of David.

1 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness!

You have relieved me in my distress;

2Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.

2 How long, O you sons of men,

Will you turn my glory to shame?

How long will you love worthlessness

And seek falsehood?

Selah

3 But know that athe Lord has 3set apart for Himself him who is godly;

The Lord will hear when I call to Him.

4 bBe 4angry, and do not sin.

cMeditate within your heart on your bed, and be still.

Selah

5 Offer dthe sacrifices of righteousness,

And eput your trust in the Lord.

6 There are many who say,

“Who will show us any good?”

fLord, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us.

7 You have put ggladness in my heart,

More than in the season that their grain and wine increased.

8 hI will both lie down in peace, and sleep;

iFor You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

Psalm 5

A Prayer for Guidance

To the Chief Musician. With 1Flutes. A Psalm of David.

1 Give aear to my words, O Lord,

Consider my 2meditation.

2 Give heed to the voice of my cry,

My King and my God,

For to You I will pray.

3 My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord;

bIn the morning I will direct it to You,

And I will look up.

4 For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness,

Nor shall evil 3dwell with You.

5 The cboastful shall not dstand in Your sight;

You hate all workers of iniquity.

6 You shall destroy those who speak falsehood;

The Lord abhors the ebloodthirsty and deceitful man.

7 But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy;

In fear of You I will worship toward 4Your holy temple.

8 fLead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies;

Make Your way straight before my face.

9 For there is no 5faithfulness in their mouth;

Their inward part is destruction;

gTheir throat is an open tomb;

They flatter with their tongue.

10 Pronounce them guilty, O God!

Let them fall by their own counsels;

Cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions,

For they have rebelled against You.

11 But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You;

Let them ever shout for joy, because You 6defend them;

Let those also who love Your name

Be joyful in You.

12 For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous;

With favor You will surround him as with a shield.

Psalm 6

A Prayer of Faith in Time of Distress

To the Chief Musician. With Stringed Instruments. aOn 1An Eight-Stringed Harp. A Psalm of David.

1 O Lord, bdo not rebuke me in Your anger,

Nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure.

2 Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak;

O Lord, cheal me, for my bones are troubled.

3 My soul also is greatly dtroubled;

But You, O Lord—how long?

4 Return, O Lord, deliver me!

Oh, save me for Your mercies’ sake!

5 eFor in death there is no remembrance of You;

In the grave who will give You thanks?

6 I am weary with my groaning;

2All night I make my bed swim;

I drench my couch with my tears.

7 fMy eye wastes away because of grief;

It grows old because of all my enemies.

8 gDepart from me, all you workers of iniquity;

For the Lord has hheard the voice of my weeping.

9 The Lord has heard my supplication;

The Lord will receive my prayer.

10 Let all my enemies be ashamed and greatly troubled;

Let them turn back and be ashamed suddenly.

Psalm 7

Prayer and Praise for Deliverance from Enemies

A aMeditation 1Of David, Which He Sang to the Lord bConcerning the Words of Cush, a Benjamite.

1 O Lord my God, in You I put my trust; cSave me from all those who persecute me;

And deliver me,

2 dLest they tear me like a lion,

eRending me in pieces, while there is none to deliver.

3 O Lord my God, fif I have done this:

If there is giniquity in my hands,

4 If I have repaid evil to him who was at peace with me,

Or hhave plundered my enemy without cause,

5 Let the enemy pursue me and overtake me;

Yes, let him trample my life to the earth,

And lay my honor in the dust.

Selah

6 Arise, O Lord, in Your anger;

iLift Yourself up because of the rage of my enemies;

jRise up 2for me to the judgment You have commanded!

7 So the congregation of the peoples shall surround You;

For their sakes, therefore, return on high.

8 The Lord shall judge the peoples;

kJudge me, O Lord, laccording to my righteousness,

And according to my integrity within me.

9 Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end,

But establish the just;

mFor the righteous God tests the hearts and 3minds.

10 4My defense is of God,

Who saves the nupright in heart.

11 God is a just judge,

And God is angry with the wicked every day.

12 If he does not turn back,

He will osharpen His sword;

He bends His bow and makes it ready.

13 He also prepares for Himself instruments of death;

He makes His arrows into fiery shafts.

14 pBehold, the wicked brings forth iniquity;

Yes, he conceives trouble and brings forth falsehood.

15 He made a pit and dug it out,

qAnd has fallen into the ditch which he made.

16 rHis trouble shall return upon his own head,

And his violent dealing shall come down on 5his own crown.

17 I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness,

And will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.