Psalms 4:1-30:12 Jehovah judges the peoples. Judge me Jehovah according to my righteousness and according to the integrity that is in me.

NSB⁽ⁱ⁾ ⁸ Jehovah judges the peoples. Judge me Jehovah according to my righteousness and according to the integrity that is in me. ⁹ Let the evil of the wicked come to an end. Establish the righteous, you who test the minds and hearts, O righteous God. ¹⁰ God is my shield who saves the upright in heart. ¹¹ God is a righteous judge and a God who has indignation every day. ¹² If one does not repent God will sharpen his sword. He has bent and strung his bow. ¹³ He has prepared his deadly weapons, making his arrows fiery shafts. ¹⁴ See how they conceive evil. They are pregnant with wickedness and give birth to lies. ¹⁵ They dig out a pit and fall into the hole that they have made. ¹⁶ Their mischief returns upon their own heads. Their violence descends on their own heads. ¹⁷ I will give to Jehovah the thanks due to his righteousness. I will sing praise to the name of Jehovah, the Most High. ⁸ ¹ ([Psalm of David]) O Jehovah, our Lord, how excellent is your majestic name in all the earth! You have displayed your glory above the heavens. ² From the mouths of little children and infants, you have built a fortress against your opponents to silence the enemy and the avenger. ³ When I look at your heavens, the creation of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have set in place, ⁴ what is man that you remember him or the son of man that you take care of him? ⁵ You made him a little lower than god-like ones (God) (Son of God) (angels). You crowned him with glory and honor. (John 1:18) ⁶ You made him rule what your hands created. You have put everything under his control: ⁷ all the sheep and cattle, the wild animals, ⁸ the birds, the fish, whatever swims in the currents of the seas. ⁹ O Jehovah, our Lord, how excellent is your majestic (magnificent) name in all the earth! ⁹ ¹ ([Psalm of David]) I will give thanks to Jehovah with all my heart. I will tell of all your wonders. ² I will be glad, rejoice and exult in you. I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. ³ When my enemies turn back, they stumble and perish before you. ⁴ You have maintained my just cause. You have sat on the throne judging righteously. ⁵ You condemned nations. You destroyed wicked people. You erased their names forever and ever. ⁶ The enemy is finished-in ruins forever. You have uprooted their cities. Even the memory of them has faded. ⁷ Yet, Jehovah lives forever. He has prepared his throne for judgment. ⁸ He alone judges the world with righteousness. He judges its people fairly. ⁹ Jehovah is a refuge for the oppressed, a place of safety in times of trouble. ¹⁰ Those who know your name, Jehovah, will trust you. You do not abandon anyone who comes to you. ¹¹ Sing praise to Jehovah! He dwells in Zion! Tell every nation what he has done! ¹² God remembers those who suffer. He does not forget their cry, and he punishes those who wrong them. ¹³ Be merciful to me, O Jehovah! See the sufferings my enemies cause me! Rescue me from death, O Jehovah. ¹⁴ Let me stand before the people of Jerusalem and tell them all the things for which I praise you. I will rejoice because you saved me. ¹⁵ The nations have dug a pit and fallen in. They have been caught in their own trap. ¹⁶ Jehovah has revealed himself by his righteous judgments. The wicked are trapped by their deeds. ¹⁷ The grave is the destiny of all the wicked, of all those who reject God. ¹⁸ Needy people will not always be forgotten. Nor will the hope of meek people be lost forever. ¹⁹ Arise, O Jehovah. Do not let mortals gain any power. Let the nations be judged in your presence. ²⁰ Strike them with terror, O Jehovah. Let the nations know that they are only mortal. ¹⁰ ¹ Why are you so distant, Jehovah? Why do you hide in times of trouble? ² The wicked proudly persecutes the poor people. He will be caught in the schemes that he contrived. ³ The wicked person boasts about his selfish desires. He blesses the covetous, which Jehovah abhors. ⁴ In his arrogant attitude he does not search for God. His faulty reasoning concludes: »There is no God.« ⁵ He always succeeds at what he does. Your judgments are beyond his understanding. He scoffs at all his opponents. ⁶ He says to himself: »Nothing can shake me. I will never face trouble.« ⁷ His mouth is full of curses, deception, and oppression. Trouble and wrongdoing are on the tip of his tongue. ⁸ He waits in ambush in the villages. From his hiding places he kills innocent people. He searches for victims. ⁹ He lurks in his hiding place like a lion in his den. He hides there to catch oppressed people. He catches oppressed people after he draws them into his net. ¹⁰ His victims are crushed. They collapse, and they fall into the power of the wicked. ¹¹ He says in his heart (to himself): »God has forgotten. He has hidden his face. He will never see it!« ¹² Arise, O Jehovah! Lift your hand, O God. Do not forget oppressed people! ¹³ Why does the wicked person despise God? Why does he say in his heart: »God does not require it?« ¹⁴ You have seen trouble and grief and placed them under your control. The victim entrusts himself to you. You alone have been the helper of orphans. ¹⁵ Break the arm of the wicked and evil person. Pursue his wickedness until you find no more evil. ¹⁶ Jehovah is king forever and ever. The nations have vanished from his land. ¹⁷ You have heard the desire of humble people, O Jehovah. You encourage them. You incline your ear (pay close attention) to them. ¹⁸ You provide justice for orphans and oppressed people so that no man will terrify them again. ¹¹ ¹ ([Psalm of David]) I have taken refuge in Jehovah. How can you say to me: »Flee to your mountain like a bird?« ² Wicked people bend their bows. They set their arrows against the strings to shoot in the dark at people who are upright in heart. ³ What can a righteous person do when the foundations of life are destroyed? ⁴ Jehovah is in his holy temple. Jehovah’s throne is in heaven. His eyes see. They examine the sons of men. ⁵ Jehovah tests (examines) righteous and wicked people alike. He hates wicked people and the ones who love violence. ⁶ He rains down fire and burning sulfur upon wicked people. He makes them drink from a cup filled with scorching wind. ⁷ Jehovah is righteous. He loves a righteous way of life. Upright people will see his face (contemplate his presence). ¹² ¹ ([Psalm of David]) Save me O Jehovah for no godly person is left. Faithful people have vanished from among the sons of men. ² People speak lies to one another. They speak with flattering lips and with double-heart. (Double Heart: They say one thing but mean another.) ³ Jehovah will destroy every flattering lip and every bragging tongue ⁴ ¹ ([Psalm of David]) Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my trouble. Have mercy on me and hear my prayer. ² O sons of men, how long will my glorious honor be turned into shame? How long will you love empty, worthless things and search for the lie? ³ But know that Jehovah has chosen and distinguished the godly man for himself. Jehovah will hear when I call to him. ⁴ Tremble, stand in awe and do not sin! Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and keep silent. ⁵ Offer the sacrifices of righteousness and trust in Jehovah. ⁶ Many are saying: »Who will show us good?« Lift up the light of your countenance (face) (presence) upon us, O Jehovah! ⁷ You will put gladness (joy) in my heart. It will be more than when their grain and new wine abound. ⁸ In peace I will both lie down and sleep. For you alone, O Jehovah, make my dwelling safe and secure. ⁵ ¹ ([Psalm of David]) Listen to my words, O Jehovah, Consider my innermost thoughts. ² Listen to the sound of my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. ³ In the morning, O Jehovah, You will hear my voice. In the morning I will address my prayer to you and be on the watch. ⁴ For you are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness. No evil dwells with you! ⁵ The arrogant shall not stand before your eyes. You hate all who practice sin. ⁶ You destroy those who speak falsehood. Jehovah abhors the man of bloodshed and deceit. ⁷ But as for me, by your abundant loving kindness I will enter your house. At Your holy temple I will bow in reverence of you. ⁸ O Jehovah, lead me in your righteousness because of my enemies. Make your way straight in my presence. ⁹ There is nothing truthful in what they say! Their inward part is destruction. Their throat is an open grave. They flatter with their tongue. ¹⁰ Pronounce them guilty, O God. Let them fall by their own devices. In the multitude of their transgressions thrust them out, because they are rebellious against you. ¹¹ But let all who take refuge in you rejoice. Let them ever sing for joy because you defend them. Let those who love your name exult in you. ¹² You bless the righteous man, O Jehovah. You surround him with favor as with a shield. ⁶ ¹ ([Psalm of David]) O Jehovah, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath. ² Be merciful to me, Jehovah, for I am faint. O Jehovah, heal me, for my bones are in agony. ³ I am in anguish. How long, O Jehovah, how long? ⁴ Return, O Jehovah, and deliver me. Save me because of your unfailing love. ⁵ No one remembers you when he is dead. Who praises you from the grave? ⁶ I am worn out from groaning. All night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. ⁷ My eyes grow weak with sorrow. I am weak because of all my foes. ⁸ Depart from me, all you who do evil. Jehovah hears my weeping. ⁹ Jehovah hears my supplication for mercy. Jehovah receives my prayer! ¹⁰ All my enemies will be ashamed and dismayed. They will turn back in sudden disgrace. ⁷ ¹ ([Psalm of David]) O Jehovah my God, in you I take refuge; save me from all my pursuers, and deliver me, ² or like a lion they will tear me apart. They will drag me away, with no one to rescue. ³ O Jehovah my God, if I have done this, if there is wrong in my hands, ⁴ if I have repaid my ally with harm or plundered my foe without cause, ⁵ then let the enemy pursue and overtake me, trample my life to the ground, and lay me in the dust. ⁶ O Jehovah do rise up in your anger. Lift yourself up against the fury of my enemies. Awake O my God. You have pronounced judgment. ⁷ Let the assembly of the peoples be gathered around you, and over it take your seat on high. ¹² ⁴ They say: »We will overcome with our tongues. With lips such as ours, who can be our master?« ⁵ »Because oppressed people are robbed and needy people groan, I will now arise,« says Jehovah. »I will provide safety for those who long for it.« ⁶ The words of Jehovah are pure, like silver refined in a furnace on the earth and purified seven times. ⁷ O Jehovah, you will protect them. You will keep each one safe from those people forever. ⁸ The wicked walk about when immorality increases among the sons of men. ¹³ ¹ ([Psalm of David]) How long, O Jehovah? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? ² How long must I make decisions alone with sorrow in my heart day after day? How long will my enemy triumph over me? ³ Look at me! Answer me, O Jehovah my God! Light up my eyes, or else I will die. ⁴ My enemy will say: »I have overpowered him.« My opponents will rejoice because I have been shaken. ⁵ I trust your loving-kindness. My heart finds joy in your salvation. ⁶ I will sing to Jehovah for he has been good to me. ¹⁴ ¹ ([Psalm of David]) The fool says in his heart: »There is no God (Jehovah) (Psalm 10:4).« They are corrupt. They do disgusting things. No one does good things. ² Jehovah looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there is anyone who acts wisely, if there is anyone who seeks help from God. ³ Everyone has turned away. Together they have become rotten to the core. No one, not even one person, does good things. ⁴ Are all the workers of wickedness, those who devour my people as if they were devouring food, so ignorant that they do not call on Jehovah? ⁵ They were in great fear and panic because God is with the righteous person. ⁶ They put the advice of oppressed people to shame because Jehovah is their protection. ⁷ If only salvation for Israel would come from Zion! When Jehovah restores his captive people, Jacob will rejoice. Israel will be glad. ¹⁵ ¹ ([Psalm of David]) O Jehovah, who may stay in your tent? Who may reside on your holy mountain? ² The one who walks with integrity and does what is righteous. He speaks the truth in his heart. ³ The one who does not malign with his tongue, do evil to a friend, or bring disgrace on his neighbor or close friend. ⁴ The one who despises those rejected by God but honors those who reverence (respect) Jehovah. The one who makes a promise and does not break it even though he is hurt by it. ⁵ The one who does not collect interest on a loan or take a bribe against an innocent person. Whoever does these things will never fall or be upset. ¹⁶ ¹ ([Psalm of David]) Preserve and protect me, O God, because I take refuge in you. ² I said to Jehovah: »You are Jehovah my God. Without you, I have nothing good. ³ »The holy ones on earth are the noble ones who fill me with joy.« ⁴ Those who quickly pursue other gods multiply their sorrows. I will not pour out their sacrificial offerings of blood or use my lips to speak their names. ⁵ Jehovah is the portion of my inheritance and my cup. You determine my position in life. ⁶ Your boundary lines mark out pleasant places for me. Indeed, my inheritance is beautiful to me. ⁷ I will praise Jehovah for he advises me. My conscience (inner self) instructs me at night. ⁸ I always keep Jehovah in front of me. When he is at my right hand (assisting me), I cannot be moved. ⁹ That is why my heart is glad and I rejoice. My body rests securely. ¹⁰ You do not abandon me to the grave or allow your holy one to decay. ¹¹ You make the path of life known to me. Complete joy is in your presence. It is pleasant to be at your right hand forever. ¹⁷ ¹ ([Psalm of David]) Hear my plea for justice, O Jehovah. Pay attention to my cry. Open your ears to my prayer, spoken without deceit. ² Let the verdict of my innocence come directly from you. Let your eyes observe what is right. ³ You have probed my heart. You have confronted me at night. You have tested me like silver, but you found nothing wrong. I have decided that my mouth will not sin. ⁴ I have avoided cruelty because of your word regardless of what others have done. ⁵ My steps have remained firmly in your paths. My feet have not slipped. ⁶ I have called on you because you answer me, O God. Turn your ear toward me. Listen to what I have to say. ⁷ Reveal your miraculous deeds of loving-kindness, O Savior of those who find refuge by your side from those who attack them. ⁸ Keep me as if I were the pupil (apple) of your eye (center of attention). Hide me in the shadow of your wings. ⁹ Hide me from wicked people who violently attack me, from my deadly enemies who surround me. ¹⁰ They have no feeling. Their mouths have spoken arrogantly. ¹¹ They have surrounded me. They have focused their attention on throwing me to the ground. ¹² Each one of them is like a lion eager to tear its prey apart and like a young lion crouching in hiding places. ¹³ Arise, O Jehovah and confront them! Bring them to their knees! With your sword rescue my life from the wicked. ¹⁴ With your power (by your hand) rescue me from mortals, O Jehovah, from mortals who look forward only to this life. You fill their bellies with your treasure. Their children are satisfied with it, and they leave what remains to their children. ¹⁵ I will see your face (be in your presence) when I am declared righteous. When I wake up, I will be satisfied to see (perceive) (comprehend) you. ¹⁸ ¹ ([Psalm of David]) I love you, O Jehovah, my strength. ² Jehovah is my rock and my fortress. He is my deliverer. He is my God and my crag, the one in whom I take refuge. He is my shield, and the strength of my salvation, my stronghold. ³ Jehovah should be praised. I called on him, and I was saved from my enemies. ⁴ The cords of death surrounded me. The torrents of wickedness frightened me. ⁵ The cords of the grave surrounded me. The snares of death confronted me. ⁶ I called on Jehovah in my distress. I cried to my God for help. He heard my voice from his temple, and my cry for help reached his ears. ⁷ Then the earth shook and quaked. Even the foundations of the mountains trembled. They shook violently because he was angry. ⁸ Smoke went up from his nostrils. A raging fire came out of his mouth. Glowing coals were kindled by it. ⁹ He spread apart the heavens and came down with a dark cloud under his feet. ¹⁰ He rode on a cherub and he flew. Yes he did soar on the wings of the wind. ¹¹ He made the darkness his hiding place, his pavilion round about, the dark rain clouds his covering. ¹² Out of the brightness in front of him, those rain clouds passed by with hailstones and lightning. ¹³ Jehovah thundered in the heavens. The Most High made his voice heard with hailstones and lightning. ¹⁴ He shot his arrows and scattered them. He flashed streaks of lightning to agitate (disturb and trouble) them. ¹⁵ The ocean floor could be seen. The foundations of the earth were laid bare at your stern warning, O Jehovah, at the blast of the breath from your nostrils. ¹⁶ He reached down from high above and took hold of me. He pulled me out of the raging water. ¹⁷ He rescued me from my strong enemy and from those who hated me, because they were too strong for me. ¹⁸ On the day of my calamity, they confronted me, and Jehovah came to my support. ¹⁹ He brought me out to a wide-open place. He rescued me because he was pleased with me. ²⁰ Jehovah rewarded me because of my righteousness, because my hands are clean. He paid me back. ²¹ I have kept the ways of Jehovah and I have not wickedly turned away from my God. ²² All his judgments are in front of me and I have not turned away from his laws. ²³ I was innocent as far as he was concerned. I have kept myself from guilt. ²⁴ Jehovah paid me back because of my righteousness. He can see that my hands are clean. ²⁵ In dealing with faithful people you are faithful. With innocent people you are innocent. ²⁶ With pure people you are pure. In dealing with devious people you are clever. ²⁷ You save humble people, but you humiliate the proud. ²⁸ O Jehovah, you light my lamp. My God turns my darkness into light. ²⁹ With you I can attack a line of soldiers. With my God I can break through barricades. ³⁰ God's way is perfect! The word of Jehovah has proven to be true. He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him. ³¹ Who is God but Jehovah? Who is a rock except our God? ³² God arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. ³³ He makes my feet sure-footed on high places just like those of a deer. ³⁴ He trains my hands for battle so that my arms can bend an archer's bow of bronze. ³⁵ You have given me the shield of your salvation. Your right hand supports me. Your gentleness (humility) (meekness) makes me great. ³⁶ You make a wide path for me to walk on so that my feet do not slip. ³⁷ I chased my enemies and caught up with them. I did not return until I had ended their lives. ³⁸ I wounded them so badly that they were unable to get up. They fell under my feet. ³⁹ You armed me with strength for battle. You made my opponents bow at my feet. ⁴⁰ You made my enemies turn their backs to me. I destroyed those who hated me. ⁴¹ They cried out for help, but there was no one to save them. They cried out to Jehovah, but he did not answer them. ⁴² I beat them into powder as fine as the dust blown by the wind. I threw them out as though they were dirt on the streets. ⁴³ You rescued me from my conflicts with the people. You made me the leader of nations. A people I did not know will serve me: ⁴⁴ As soon as they hear of me, they will obey me. Foreigners will cringe in front of me. ⁴⁵ Foreigners will lose heart (lose courage). They will tremble when they come out of their fortifications. ⁴⁶ Jehovah lives! Blessed is my rock! Praise the God of my salvation. ⁴⁷ God gives me vengeance! He brings people under my authority. ⁴⁸ He saves me from my enemies. You lift me up above my opponents. You rescue me from violent people. ⁴⁹ That is why I will give thanks to you, O Jehovah, among the nations and make music to praise your name. ⁵⁰ He gives great victories to his king. He shows mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his descendants forever. ¹⁹ ¹ ([Psalm of David]) The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky displays what his hands have made. ² Day to day declares speech. Night to night shows knowledge. ³ It is done without talking, without words, without their voices being heard. ⁴ Yet, their measuring line (rule) has gone out into the entire world, their message to the ends of the earth. He has set up a tent in the heavens for the sun. ⁵ It comes out of its chamber like a bridegroom. Like a champion, it is eager to run its course. ⁶ It rises from one end of the heavens. It circles around to the other. Nothing is hidden from its heat. ⁷ The law of Jehovah is perfect. It gives new life. The testimony of Jehovah is dependable. It makes the simple wise. ⁸ The statutes of Jehovah are correct. They make the heart rejoice. The commandments of Jehovah are radiant. They make the eyes shine. ⁹ The reverence of Jehovah is pure. It endures forever. The decisions of Jehovah are true. They are completely fair. ¹⁰ They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even the drippings from a honeycomb. ¹¹ They warn your servant. There is a great reward in following them. ¹² Who can notice (discern) (understand) every mistake? Forgive my hidden faults. ¹³ Keep me from sinning. Do not let anyone gain control over me. Then I will be blameless, and I will be free from any great offense. ¹⁴ May the words from my mouth and the thoughts from my heart be acceptable to you, O Jehovah, my rock and my Redeemer (Purchaser). ²⁰ ¹ ([Psalm of David]) Jehovah will answer you in times of trouble. The name of the God of Jacob will protect you. ² He will send you help from his holy place. He will support you from Zion. ³ He will remember all your grain offerings and look with favor on your burnt offerings. ⁴ He will give you your heart's desire and fulfill all your plans. ⁵ We will rejoice in your salvation. We will wave our flags in the name of our God. Jehovah will fulfill all your petitions. ⁶ Now I know that Jehovah will save his anointed king. He will answer him from his holy heaven with mighty deeds of his powerful hand. ⁷ Some boast in chariots and others in horses, but we will boast in the name of Jehovah our God. ⁸ They will sink to their knees and fall, but we will rise and stand firm. ⁹ Give victory to the king, O Jehovah. Answer us in the day that we call. ²¹ ¹ ([Psalm of David]) The king finds joy in your strength, O Jehovah. What great joy he has in your salvation! ² You gave him his heart's desire. You did not refuse the prayer from his lips. ³ You come to him with the blessings of good things. You set a crown of fine gold on his head. ⁴ He asked you for life. You gave him a long life, forever and ever (perpetuity) (long lasting time). ⁵ Because of your salvation his glory is great. You place magnificence and majesty on him. ⁶ You make him blessed forever. You make him joyful with the pleasure of your presence. ⁷ Indeed, the king trusts Jehovah, and through the mercy of the Most High, he will not be moved. ⁸ Your hand (spirit and power) will discover all your enemies. Your powerful hand will find all who hate you. ⁹ When you appear, you will make them burn like a blazing furnace. Jehovah will swallow them up in his anger. Fire will devour them. ¹⁰ You will destroy their children from the earth and their offspring from among the sons of man. ¹¹ Even though they scheme and devise evil against you, they will not succeed. ¹² They turn their backs and flee because you aim your bow at their faces. ²⁵ ²⁰ Guard me and save me! Do not let me be humiliated for I have taken refuge in you. ²¹ Integrity and honesty will protect me because I wait for you. ²² Rescue Israel, O God, from all its troubles! ²⁶ ¹ ([Psalm of David]) Vindicate me, O Jehovah, because I have walked with (a life-style of) integrity and I have trusted you without wavering. ² Examine me, O Jehovah, and test me. Look closely (deeply) into my heart and mind. ³ Your loving-kindness is in front of me. I walk in your truth. ⁴ I do not sit with deceitful men, and I will not be found among hypocrites. ⁵ I hate the assembly of evildoers and will not sit with wicked people. ⁶ I will wash my hands in innocence. I will walk around your altar, O Jehovah. ⁷ Let me publish with a voice of thanksgiving and recount all your wonders (miracles). ⁸ O Jehovah, I love the place where you live, the home (spiritual retreat) (heart and mind) where your glory dwells. ⁹ Do not sweep me away with hardened sinners or my life along with bloodthirsty people. ¹⁰ Evil schemes are in their hands. Their right hands are full of bribes. ¹¹ As for me, I walk in my integrity. Redeem (ransom) (rescue) me, and show me favor. ¹² My feet stand on level ground. I will praise Jehovah in the congregation. ²⁷ ¹ ([Psalm of David]) Jehovah is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? Jehovah is the stronghold of my life. Who is there to be afraid of? ² Evildoers accosted me to tear me to pieces. My opponents and enemies stumbled and fell. ³ Even though an army sets up camp against me, my heart will not be afraid. Even though a war breaks out against me, I will trust in Jehovah. ⁴ I have asked one thing from Jehovah. This I will seek: to live in the house of Jehovah all the days of my life, to look at Jehovah’s beauty and search for an answer in his temple. ⁵ He hides me in his shelter when there is trouble. He keeps me hidden in his tent. He puts me high on a rock. ⁶ Now my head will be lifted up above my enemies who surround me. I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy in his tent. I will sing, yes I will sing praises to Jehovah. ⁷ Hear O Jehovah when I cry with my voice. Be gracious to me and answer me. ⁸ You said: »Seek my face (look for me) (my presence).« My heart said to you, »O Jehovah, I will look for you.« ⁹ Do not hide your face from me. Do not angrily turn me away. You have been my help. Do not leave me! Do not abandon me, O God of my salvation! ¹⁰ Even if my father and mother abandon (forsake) me, Jehovah will take care of me. ¹¹ Teach me your way, O Jehovah. Lead me on a level path because of my enemies. ¹² Do not surrender me to the will of my opponents. False witnesses have risen against me. They breathe out violence. ¹³ I believe that I will see the goodness of Jehovah in this world of the living. ¹⁴ Hope (wait) (expect) (trust) in Jehovah and be strong. Let your heart be courageous. Yes, hope in Jehovah. ²⁸ ¹ ([Psalm of David]) O Jehovah, I call to you. O my rock, do not turn a deaf ear to me. If you remain silent, I will be like those who go down to the pit (grave). ² Hear the voice of my prayer when I call to you for help, when I lift my hands [in prayer] toward your most holy place. ³ Do not drag me away with the wicked and with troublemakers who speak of peace with their neighbors but have evil in their hearts. ⁴ Pay them back for what they have done, for their evil deeds. Pay them back for what their hands have done, and give them recompense. ⁵ Jehovah will tear them down and never build them up again. This is because they never consider what he has done or what his hands have made. ⁶ Blessed is Jehovah for he has heard my prayer (supplication)! ⁷ Jehovah is my strength and my shield. My heart trusted him, so I received help. My heart is triumphant and I thank him with my song. ⁸ Jehovah is the strength of his people and a fortress for the victory of his anointed. ⁹ Save your people, and bless those who belong to you. Be their shepherd, and carry them forever. ²⁹ ¹ ([Psalm of David]) Give to Jehovah, you sons of the mighty ones. Give to Jehovah glory and power. ² Give to Jehovah the glory his name deserves. Worship Jehovah in his holy splendor. ³ The voice of Jehovah is upon the waters. The God of glory thunders, Jehovah is over many waters. ⁴ The voice of Jehovah is powerful. The voice of Jehovah is glorious. ⁵ The voice of Jehovah breaks the cedars. Jehovah splinters the cedars of Lebanon. ⁶ He makes Lebanon skip along like a calf and Mount Sirion like a wild bull. ⁷ The voice of Jehovah cuts with flames of fire from lightning. ⁸ The voice of Jehovah shakes the wilderness. Jehovah makes the wilderness of Kadesh tremble. ⁹ The voice of Jehovah makes the deer to calve and strips the forests bare. In His temple everything says: »Glory!« ¹⁰ Jehovah sat enthroned over the flood. Jehovah sits enthroned as king forever. ¹¹ Jehovah will give power (strength) to his people. Jehovah will bless his people with peace (prosperity) (health) (safety). ³⁰ ¹ ([Psalm of David]) I will praise and exalt You, O Jehovah, for you lifted me up. You did not let my enemies rejoice over me. ² O Jehovah my God, I cried to you for help, and you healed me. ³ O Jehovah, you brought me up from the grave. You kept me alive, that I would not go down to the pit. ⁴ Sing praise to Jehovah, you his godly ones, and give thanks to his holy name. ⁵ For His anger is only for a moment. His favor is for a lifetime! Weeping may last for the night but a shout of joy comes in the morning. ⁶ Now as for me, I said in my prosperity: »I will never be shaken.« ⁷ By your favor, O Jehovah, you made my mountain to stand strong. You hid your face and I was alarmed (dismayed). ⁸ To You, O Jehovah, I called. To Jehovah I made supplication: ⁹ What profit is there in my blood, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it declare your truth? ¹⁰ Hear, O Jehovah, and be gracious to me. O Jehovah help me. ¹¹ You turned my mourning into dancing. You loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness. ¹² Now I sing praise to you. I am not silent! O Jehovah my God, I will give thanks and praise you forever. ²¹ ¹³ Arise O Jehovah be exalted in your strength. We will sing to praise your power. ²² ¹ ([Psalm of David]) My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far away from my deliverance, so far away from the words of my moaning? ² My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer. I cry by night, but I find no rest. ³ Yet you are holy, you who dwell seated on the praises of Israel. ⁴ Our ancestors trusted you. They trusted, and you delivered them. ⁵ They cried to you and were delivered. They trusted you and were never disappointed. ⁶ Yet, I am a worm and not a man. I am scorned by humanity and despised by people. ⁷ All who see me laugh at me. Insults pour from their mouths. They shake their heads and say: ⁸ »Put yourself in Jehovah’s hands. Let Jehovah save him! Let God rescue him since he is pleased with him!« ⁹ You are the one who brought me out of the womb. You made me feel safe at my mother's breasts. ¹⁰ I was placed in your care from birth. From my mother's womb you have been my God. ¹¹ Do not be so far away from me. Trouble is near, and there is no one to help. ¹² Many bulls have surrounded me. Strong bulls from Bashan have encircled me. ¹³ They opened their mouths to attack me like ferocious, roaring lions. ¹⁴ I am poured out like water. All my bones are out of joint. My heart has melted within me like wax (I am weak). ¹⁵ My power is dried up like pieces of broken pottery. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You lay me down in the dust of death. ¹⁶ Dogs have surrounded me. A mob has encircled me. They have pierced my hands and feet. ¹⁷ I can count all my bones. People stare and gloat over me. ¹⁸ They divide my clothes among themselves. They cast lots (throw dice) for my clothing. ¹⁹ Do not stay far off, O Jehovah. Come quickly to assist me, O my strength. ²⁰ Rescue me from the sword, my life from vicious dogs. ²¹ Save me from the mouth of the lion and from the horns of wild oxen. You have answered me. ²² I will tell my people about your name. I will praise you within the congregation. ²³ All who reverence Jehovah, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob honor him! Stand in awe of him, all you descendants of Israel. ²⁴ Jehovah has not despised or been disgusted with the plight of the oppressed one. He has not hidden his face from that person. Jehovah heard when that oppressed person cried out to him for help. ²⁵ My praise comes from you while I am among those assembled for worship. I will fulfill my vows in the presence of those who respect Jehovah. ²⁶ Humble (meek) people will eat until they are full. Those who look to Jehovah will praise him. May your heart live forever. ²⁷ All the ends of the earth will remember and return to Jehovah. All the families from all the nations will worship you. ²⁸ This is because the kingdom belongs to Jehovah and he rules the nations. ²⁹ All prosperous people on earth will eat and worship. All those who go down to the dust will kneel in front of him, even those who are barely alive. ³⁰ There will be descendants who serve him, a generation that will be told about Jehovah. ³¹ They will tell people yet to be born about the righteousness he has performed. ²³ ¹ ([Psalm of David]) Jehovah is my shepherd; I shall not want. ² He makes me to lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside the still waters. ³ He restores me and he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. ⁴ Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me. Your rod and your staff they comfort me. ⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies: you anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. ⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of Jehovah forever. ²⁴ ¹ ([Psalm of David]) The earth and all it contains the world and those who dwell in it belong to Jehovah. ² For He has ordained it upon the seas and decreed it upon the rivers. ³ Who will go up to the mountain of Jehovah? Who may stand in His holy place? ⁴ He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up (turned) to falsehood and has not sworn deceitfully. ⁵ He will obtain blessing from Jehovah and righteousness from the God of his salvation. ⁶ This is the person who seeks him, who searches for the face of the God of Jacob. ⁷ Lift your heads, you gates. Be lifted up, you ancient doors, so that the king of glory will come in. ⁸ Who is this king of glory? Jehovah, strong and mighty! Jehovah, powerful in battle! ⁹ Lift your heads, you gates. Be lifted, you ancient doors, so that the king of glory may come in. ¹⁰ Who, then, is this king of glory? Jehovah of Hosts is the king of glory! ²⁵ ¹ ([Psalm of David]) I offer myself to you, O Jehovah. ² I trust you, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame. Do not let my enemy’s triumph over me. ³ No one who waits for you will ever be put to shame, but all who are treacherous will be put to shame. ⁴ Make your ways known to me, O Jehovah, and teach me your paths. ⁵ Make me walk (guide me) (bend me) in your truth and teach me because you are my God of salvation. I wait all day long for you. ⁶ O Jehovah, remember your loving kindness and merciful deeds. They have existed from eternity. ⁷ Do not remember the sins of my youth or my rebellious ways. O Jehovah, remember me in keeping with your loving kindness and your goodness. ⁸ Jehovah is good and decent. That is why he teaches sinners the way they should live. ⁹ He leads humble people to do what is right, and he teaches them his way. ¹⁰ All the paths of Jehovah are loving-kindness (mercy) and truth for those who cling to his promise and written instructions. ¹¹ O Jehovah, for the sake of your name pardon my guilt, because it is great. ¹² Who is this person who respects Jehovah? He is the one whom Jehovah will teach the way he should choose. ¹³ He will enjoy good things in life, and his descendants will inherit the land. ¹⁴ Jehovah is intimate with those who respect him. He reveals the intent of his covenant to them. ¹⁵ My eyes are always on Jehovah. He removes my feet from traps. ¹⁶ Turn to me, and have pity on me for I am lonely and afflicted. ¹⁷ My troubles have increased. Relieve my troubled heart, and bring me out of my distress. ¹⁸ Look at my misery and suffering, and forgive all my sins. ¹⁹ See how my enemies have increased in number, how they have hated me with vicious hatred!