PSALM 36

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, the servant of the Lord.

1 Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart;

there is no fear of God before his eyes.

2 For he flatters himself in his own eyes

that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated.

3 The words of his mouth are mischief and deceit;

he has ceased to act wisely and do good.

4 He plots mischief while on his bed;

he sets himself in a way that is not good;

he spurns not evil.

5 Thy steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens,

thy faithfulness to the clouds.

6 Thy righteousness is like the mountains of God,

thy judgments are like the great deep;

man and beast thou savest, O Lord.

7 How precious is thy steadfast love, O God!

The children of men take refuge in the shadow of thy wings.

8 They feast on the abundance of thy house,

and thou givest them drink from the river of thy delights.

9 For with thee is the fountain of life;

in thy light do we see light.

10 O continue thy steadfast love to those who know thee,

and thy salvation to the upright of heart!

11 Let not the foot of arrogance come upon me,

nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.

12 There the evildoers lie prostrate,

they are thrust down, unable to rise.

PSALM 39

To the choirmaster: to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.

1 I said, “I will guard my ways,

that I may not sin with my tongue;

I will bridley my mouth,

so long as the wicked are in my presence.”

2 I was dumb and silent,

I held my peace to no avail;

my distress grew worse,

3 my heart became hot within me.

As I mused, the fire burned;

then I spoke with my tongue:

4 “Lord, let me know my end,

and what is the measure of my days;

let me know how fleeting my life is!

5 Behold, thou hast made my days a few handbreadths,

and my lifetime is as nothing in thy sight.

Surely every man stands as a mere breath! [Selah]

6 Surely man goes about as a shadow!

Surely for nought are they in turmoil;

man heaps up, and knows not who will gather!

7 “And now, Lord, for what do I wait?

My hope is in thee.

8 Deliver me from all my transgressions.

Make me not the scorn of the fool!

9 I am dumb, I do not open my mouth;

for it is thou who hast done it.

10 Remove thy stroke from me;

I am spent by the blowsz of thy hand.

11 When thou dost chasten man

with rebukes for sin,

thou dost consume like a moth what is dear to him;

surely every man is a mere breath! [Selah]

12 “Hear my prayer, O Lord,

and give ear to my cry;

hold not thy peace at my tears!

For I am thy passing guest,

a sojourner, like all my fathers.

13 Look away from me, that I may know gladness,

before I depart and be no more!”

PSALM 40

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

1 I waited patiently for the Lord;

he inclined to me and heard my cry.

2 He drew me up from the desolate pit,a

out of the miry bog,

and set my feet upon a rock,

making my steps secure.

3 He put a new song in my mouth,

a song of praise to our God.

Many will see and fear,

and put their trust in the Lord.

4 Blessed is the man who makes

the Lord his trust,

who does not turn to the proud,

to those who go astray after false gods!

5 Thou hast multiplied, O Lord my God,

thy wondrous deeds and thy thoughts toward us;

none can compare with thee!

Were I to proclaim and tell of them,

they would be more than can be numbered.

6 Sacrifice and offering thou dost not desire;

but thou hast given me an open ear.*

Burnt offering and sin offering

thou hast not required.

7 Then I said, “Lo, I come;

in the roll of the book it is written of me;

8 I delight to do thy will, O my God;

thy law is within my heart.”

9 I have told the glad news of deliverance

in the great congregation;

lo, I have not restrained my lips,

as thou knowest, O Lord.

10 I have not hid thy saving help within my heart,

I have spoken of thy faithfulness and thy salvation;

I have not concealed thy steadfast love and thy faithfulness

from the great congregation.

11 Do not thou, O Lord, withhold

thy mercy from me,

let thy steadfast love and thy faithfulness

ever preserve me!

12 For evils have encompassed me

without number;

my iniquities have overtaken me,

till I cannot see;

they are more than the hairs of my head;

my heart fails me.

13 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me!

O Lord, make haste to help me!

14 Let them be put to shame and confusion altogether

who seek to snatch away my life;

let them be turned back and brought to dishonor

who desire my hurt!

15 Let them be appalled because of their shame

who say to me, “Aha, Aha!”

16 But may all who seek thee

rejoice and be glad in thee;

may those who love thy salvation

say continually, “Great is the Lord!”

17 As for me, I am poor and needy;

but the Lord takes thought for me.

Thou art my help and my deliverer;

do not tarry, O my God!