Psalm 38

A psalm of David. A petition.

1 Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger

or discipline me in your wrath.

2 Your arrows have pierced me,

and your hand has come down on me.

3 Because of your wrath there is no health in my body;

there is no soundness in my bones because of my sin.

4 My guilt has overwhelmed me

like a burden too heavy to bear.

5 My wounds fester and are loathsome

because of my sinful folly.

6 I am bowed down and brought very low;

all day long I go about mourning.

7 My back is filled with searing pain;

there is no health in my body.

8 I am feeble and utterly crushed;

I groan in anguish of heart.

9 All my longings lie open before you, Lord;

my sighing is not hidden from you.

10 My heart pounds, my strength fails me;

even the light has gone from my eyes.

11 My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds;

my neighbors stay far away.

12 Those who want to kill me set their traps,

those who would harm me talk of my ruin;

all day long they scheme and lie.

13 I am like the deaf, who cannot hear,

like the mute, who cannot speak;

14 I have become like one who does not hear,

whose mouth can offer no reply.

15 Lord, I wait for you;

you will answer, Lord my God.

16 For I said, “Do not let them gloat

or exalt themselves over me when my feet slip.”

17 For I am about to fall,

and my pain is ever with me.

18 I confess my iniquity;

I am troubled by my sin.

19 Many have become my enemies without cause;

those who hate me without reason are numerous.

20 Those who repay my good with evil

lodge accusations against me,

though I seek only to do what is good.

21 Lord, do not forsake me;

do not be far from me, my God.

22 Come quickly to help me,

my Lord and my Savior.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/3/32k/PSA/38-0c6ce499856a1fa7c9171c97e8decb47.mp3?version_id=111—

Psalm 39

For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.

1 I said, “I will watch my ways

and keep my tongue from sin;

I will put a muzzle on my mouth

while in the presence of the wicked.”

2 So I remained utterly silent,

not even saying anything good.

But my anguish increased;

3 my heart grew hot within me.

While I meditated, the fire burned;

then I spoke with my tongue:

4 “Show me,Lord, my life’s end

and the number of my days;

let me know how fleeting my life is.

5 You have made my days a mere handbreadth;

the span of my years is as nothing before you.

Everyone is but a breath,

# even those who seem secure.

6 “Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom;

in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth

without knowing whose it will finally be.

7 “But now, Lord, what do I look for?

My hope is in you.

8 Save me from all my transgressions;

do not make me the scorn of fools.

9 I was silent; I would not open my mouth,

for you are the one who has done this.

10 Remove your scourge from me;

I am overcome by the blow of your hand.

11 When you rebuke and discipline anyone for their sin,

you consume their wealth like a moth—

surely everyone is but a breath.

12 “Hear my prayer,Lord,

listen to my cry for help;

do not be deaf to my weeping.

I dwell with you as a foreigner,

a stranger, as all my ancestors were.

13 Look away from me, that I may enjoy life again

before I depart and am no more.”

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/3/32k/PSA/39-93406c0632e75b189276779a3a55ba36.mp3?version_id=111—

Psalm 40

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

1 I waited patiently for theLord;

he turned to me and heard my cry.

2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit,

out of the mud and mire;

he set my feet on a rock

and gave me a firm place to stand.

3 He put a new song in my mouth,

a hymn of praise to our God.

Many will see and fear theLord

and put their trust in him.

4 Blessed is the one

who trusts in theLord,

who does not look to the proud,

# to those who turn aside to false gods.

5 Many,Lordmy God,

are the wonders you have done,

the things you planned for us.

None can compare with you;

were I to speak and tell of your deeds,

they would be too many to declare.

6 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire—

# but my ears you have opened—

# burnt offerings and sin offeringsyou did not require.

7 Then I said, “Here I am, I have come—

# it is written about me in the scroll.

8 I desire to do your will, my God;

your law is within my heart.”

9 I proclaim your saving acts in the great assembly;

I do not seal my lips,Lord,

as you know.

10 I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;

I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help.

I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness

from the great assembly.

11 Do not withhold your mercy from me,Lord;

may your love and faithfulness always protect me.

12 For troubles without number surround me;

my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see.

They are more than the hairs of my head,

and my heart fails within me.

13 Be pleased to save me,Lord;

come quickly,Lord, to help me.

14 May all who want to take my life

be put to shame and confusion;

may all who desire my ruin

be turned back in disgrace.

15 May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”

be appalled at their own shame.

16 But may all who seek you

rejoice and be glad in you;

may those who long for your saving help always say,

“TheLordis great!”

17 But as for me, I am poor and needy;

may the Lord think of me.

You are my help and my deliverer;

you are my God, do not delay.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/3/32k/PSA/40-e88ee9c6b029dd626981547958c9f36f.mp3?version_id=111—

Psalm 41

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

1 Blessed are those who have regard for the weak;

theLorddelivers them in times of trouble.

2 TheLordprotects and preserves them—

they are counted among the blessed in the land—

he does not give them over to the desire of their foes.

3 TheLordsustains them on their sickbed

and restores them from their bed of illness.

4 I said, “Have mercy on me,Lord;

heal me, for I have sinned against you.”

5 My enemies say of me in malice,

“When will he die and his name perish?”

6 When one of them comes to see me,

he speaks falsely, while his heart gathers slander;

then he goes out and spreads it around.

7 All my enemies whisper together against me;

they imagine the worst for me, saying,

8 “A vile disease has afflicted him;

he will never get up from the place where he lies.”

9 Even my close friend,

someone I trusted,

one who shared my bread,

# has turnedagainst me.

10 But may you have mercy on me,Lord;

raise me up, that I may repay them.

11 I know that you are pleased with me,

for my enemy does not triumph over me.

12 Because of my integrity you uphold me

and set me in your presence forever.

13 Praise be to theLord, the God of Israel,

from everlasting to everlasting.

Amen and Amen.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/3/32k/PSA/41-b8fc1632c92b25c2f3a6e12baa9756bc.mp3?version_id=111—

Psalm 42

For the director of music. A

maskil

#

of the Sons of Korah.

1 As the deer pants for streams of water,

so my soul pants for you, my God.

2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.

When can I go and meet with God?

3 My tears have been my food

day and night,

while people say to me all day long,

“Where is your God?”

4 These things I remember

as I pour out my soul:

how I used to go to the house of God

# under the protection of the Mighty One

with shouts of joy and praise

among the festive throng.

5 Why, my soul, are you downcast?

Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God,

for I will yet praise him,

my Savior and my God.

6 My soul is downcast within me;

therefore I will remember you

from the land of the Jordan,

the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.

7 Deep calls to deep

in the roar of your waterfalls;

all your waves and breakers

have swept over me.

8 By day theLorddirects his love,

at night his song is with me—

a prayer to the God of my life.

9 I say to God my Rock,

“Why have you forgotten me?

Why must I go about mourning,

oppressed by the enemy?”

10 My bones suffer mortal agony

as my foes taunt me,

saying to me all day long,

“Where is your God?”

11 Why, my soul, are you downcast?

Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God,

for I will yet praise him,

my Savior and my God.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/3/32k/PSA/42-09db0eff2dcb4aa5b05d0a084c36795e.mp3?version_id=111—

Psalm 43

1 Vindicate me, my God,

and plead my cause

against an unfaithful nation.

Rescue me from those who are

deceitful and wicked.

2 You are God my stronghold.

Why have you rejected me?

Why must I go about mourning,

oppressed by the enemy?

3 Send me your light and your faithful care,

let them lead me;

let them bring me to your holy mountain,

to the place where you dwell.

4 Then I will go to the altar of God,

to God, my joy and my delight.

I will praise you with the lyre,

O God, my God.

5 Why, my soul, are you downcast?

Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God,

for I will yet praise him,

my Savior and my God.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/3/32k/PSA/43-20e578c8ce53ccbe21564e1a7159656f.mp3?version_id=111—

Psalm 44

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A

maskil.

#

1 We have heard it with our ears, O God;

our ancestors have told us

what you did in their days,

in days long ago.

2 With your hand you drove out the nations

and planted our ancestors;

you crushed the peoples

and made our ancestors flourish.

3 It was not by their sword that they won the land,

nor did their arm bring them victory;

it was your right hand, your arm,

and the light of your face, for you loved them.

4 You are my King and my God,

# who decreesvictories for Jacob.

5 Through you we push back our enemies;

through your name we trample our foes.

6 I put no trust in my bow,

my sword does not bring me victory;

7 but you give us victory over our enemies,

you put our adversaries to shame.

8 In God we make our boast all day long,

# and we will praise your name forever.

9 But now you have rejected and humbled us;

you no longer go out with our armies.

10 You made us retreat before the enemy,

and our adversaries have plundered us.

11 You gave us up to be devoured like sheep

and have scattered us among the nations.

12 You sold your people for a pittance,

gaining nothing from their sale.

13 You have made us a reproach to our neighbors,

the scorn and derision of those around us.

14 You have made us a byword among the nations;

the peoples shake their heads at us.

15 I live in disgrace all day long,

and my face is covered with shame

16 at the taunts of those who reproach and revile me,

because of the enemy, who is bent on revenge.

17 All this came upon us,

though we had not forgotten you;

we had not been false to your covenant.

18 Our hearts had not turned back;

our feet had not strayed from your path.

19 But you crushed us and made us a haunt for jackals;

you covered us over with deep darkness.

20 If we had forgotten the name of our God

or spread out our hands to a foreign god,

21 would not God have discovered it,

since he knows the secrets of the heart?

22 Yet for your sake we face death all day long;

we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.

23 Awake, Lord! Why do you sleep?

Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever.

24 Why do you hide your face

and forget our misery and oppression?

25 We are brought down to the dust;

our bodies cling to the ground.

26 Rise up and help us;

rescue us because of your unfailing love.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/3/32k/PSA/44-5cd1291c7dfbdd07e59301f4d36995cc.mp3?version_id=111—

Psalm 45

For the director of music. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of the Sons of Korah. A

maskil.

#

A wedding song.

1 My heart is stirred by a noble theme

as I recite my verses for the king;

my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.

2 You are the most excellent of men

and your lips have been anointed with grace,

since God has blessed you forever.

3 Gird your sword on your side, you mighty one;

clothe yourself with splendor and majesty.

4 In your majesty ride forth victoriously

in the cause of truth, humility and justice;

let your right hand achieve awesome deeds.

5 Let your sharp arrows pierce the hearts of the king’s enemies;

let the nations fall beneath your feet.

6 Your throne, O God,will last for ever and ever;

a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.

7 You love righteousness and hate wickedness;

therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions

by anointing you with the oil of joy.

8 All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia;

from palaces adorned with ivory

the music of the strings makes you glad.

9 Daughters of kings are among your honored women;

at your right hand is the royal bride in gold of Ophir.

10 Listen, daughter, and pay careful attention:

Forget your people and your father’s house.

11 Let the king be enthralled by your beauty;

honor him, for he is your lord.

12 The city of Tyre will come with a gift,

people of wealth will seek your favor.

13 All glorious is the princess within her chamber;

her gown is interwoven with gold.

14 In embroidered garments she is led to the king;

her virgin companions follow her—

those brought to be with her.

15 Led in with joy and gladness,

they enter the palace of the king.

16 Your sons will take the place of your fathers;

you will make them princes throughout the land.

17 I will perpetuate your memory through all generations;

therefore the nations will praise you for ever and ever.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/3/32k/PSA/45-c60ce987c2acb3f933c8163b597d41e2.mp3?version_id=111—

Psalm 46

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to

alamoth.

#

A song.

1 God is our refuge and strength,

an ever-present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way

and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

3 though its waters roar and foam

# and the mountains quake with their surging.

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,

the holy place where the Most High dwells.

5 God is within her, she will not fall;

God will help her at break of day.

6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;

he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

7 TheLordAlmighty is with us;

the God of Jacob is our fortress.

8 Come and see what theLordhas done,

the desolations he has brought on the earth.

9 He makes wars cease

to the ends of the earth.

He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;

# he burns the shieldswith fire.

10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth.”

11 TheLordAlmighty is with us;

the God of Jacob is our fortress.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/3/32k/PSA/46-f2a59665613919a8d06092a7b2795e02.mp3?version_id=111—

Psalm 47

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

1 Clap your hands, all you nations;

shout to God with cries of joy.

2 For theLordMost High is awesome,

the great King over all the earth.

3 He subdued nations under us,

peoples under our feet.

4 He chose our inheritance for us,

# the pride of Jacob, whom he loved.

5 God has ascended amid shouts of joy,

theLordamid the sounding of trumpets.

6 Sing praises to God, sing praises;

sing praises to our King, sing praises.

7 For God is the King of all the earth;

sing to him a psalm of praise.

8 God reigns over the nations;

God is seated on his holy throne.

9 The nobles of the nations assemble

as the people of the God of Abraham,

# for the kingsof the earth belong to God;

he is greatly exalted.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/3/32k/PSA/47-6ec3754072acff2257763699cca3bea3.mp3?version_id=111—