Psalms 121:1-150:6 A Song of the steps. I Have lifted up mine eyes to the mountains, from which my help is to come.

Thomson⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹ A Song of the steps. I Have lifted up mine eyes to the mountains, from which my help is to come. ² My help is from the Lord, who made the heaven and the earth. ³ let him not suffer my feet to stumble: nor let him, who keepeth me, slumber. ⁴ Lo! he who keepeth Israel, will neither slumber nor sleep. ⁵ The Lord will keep thee! The Lord at thy right hand will be thy shelter: ⁶ the sun by day shall not scorch thee; nor shall the moon hurt thee by night. ⁷ May the Lord preserve thee from all evil! the Lord will keep thy soul. ⁸ The Lord will guard thy coming in and going out henceforth and forever. ¹²² ¹ A Song of the steps. I was rejoiced when they said to me; "Let us go to the house of the Lord." ² Our feet have been standing in thy courts, Jerusalem. ³ Jerusalem is built like a city; with regard to which, the participation of it is for this very purpose: ⁴ for thither the tribes have come up; the tribes of the Lord, a testimony to Israel; that they may give thanks to the name of the Lord: ⁵ because there the thrones for judgment are set: thrones for the house of David. ⁶ Pray, I beseech you, for the peace of Jerusalem; and for prosperity to them who love thee. ⁷ let there be peace in thine army and prosperity in thy palaces! ⁸ For the sake of my brethren and neighbours, I have expressed a wish of peace for thee; ⁹ For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I have earnestly sought thy good. ¹²³ ¹ A Song of the steps. To thee who dwellest in heaven, I have raised mine eyes. ² Behold! as the eyes of servants are on the hands of their masters; as the eyes of a maid are on the hands of her mistress, so are our eyes on the Lord our God, till he be gracious to us. ³ Have mercy on us, Lord; have mercy on us; for we are exceedingly filled with contempt. ⁴ Our soul is filled exceedingly; we are the scoff of the prosperous and the contempt of the haughty. ¹²⁴ ¹ A Song of the steps. Had not the Lord been on our side [let Israel now say] ² had not the Lord been on our side, when men rose up against us; ³ they might have swallowed us up alive; when their wrath was kindled against us, ⁴ the water might have overwhelmed us. Our soul hath passed through a torrent. ⁵ Hath our soul then passed through impetuous water? ⁶ Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth! ⁷ Our soul hath escaped as a bird from the fowler's snare. The snare was broken and we have escaped. ⁸ Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made the heaven and the earth. ¹²⁵ ¹ A Song of the steps. They who trust in the Lord shall be like mount Sion; he who inhabiteth Jerusalem shall never be shaken. ² Around her are mountains; and the Lord is around his people, from this time forth and forever; ³ for the Lord will not suffer the rod of the wicked to be over the inheritance of the righteous; that the righteous may not stretch forth their hands to iniquities. ⁴ Do good, O Lord, to the good, and to them who are upright in heart. ⁵ But them who turn aside into crooked ways, the Lord will drive away with the workers of iniquity. Peace be upon Israel! ¹²⁶ ¹ A Song of the steps. When the Lord brought back the captivity of Sion; we were like them who are comforted. ² Then was our mouth filled with joy, and our tongue with exultation; then did they say among the nations, "The Lord hath done great things for them." ³ The Lord hath done great things for us; we are transported with rapturous joy. ⁴ Bring back, Lord, our captivity, like torrents in the south. ⁵ Let them who sow with tears reap with rapture. ⁶ They went step by step and wept sowing their seed; but let them come tripping with joy, carrying their sheaves. ¹²⁷ ¹ A Song of the steps. Unless the Lord build the house, the builders have laboured in vain. Unless the Lord guard the city, in vain hath the watchman watched; ² in vain is your early rising. Ye who eat the bread of care, rise when you have rested; when he hath given his beloved sleep. ³ Behold sons are an heritage of the Lord; a reward of the fruit of the womb. ⁴ Like shafts in the hands of a mighty man, so are the sons of them who were shaken off. ⁵ Happy he who shall satisfy his desire with these. They shall not be put to shame, when they speak to their enemies in the gates. ¹²⁸ ¹ A Song of the steps. Happy are all they who fear the Lord, who walk continually in his ways. ² Thou shalt eat the labours of thy hands; thou art happy and it shall be well with thee. ³ Thy wife shall be in the sides of thy house, like a fruitful vine; thy children round thy table, like olive plants. ⁴ Behold thus shall the man be blessed, who habitually feareth the Lord. ⁵ May the Lord bless thee for the sake of Sion; and mayst thou see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life! ⁶ And mayst thou see children's children! Peace be upon Israel. ¹²⁹ ¹ A Song of the steps. Many a time have they warred against me from my youth, let Israel now say; ² Many a time they warred against me from my youth; they did not however prevail over me. ³ Upon my back the wicked hammered, they prolonged their iniquity: ⁴ the righteous Lord hath broken the necks of the wicked. ⁵ Let all who hate Sion be confounded and turned back. ⁶ Let them be like a blade on the house tops, which withereth before it is pulled up, ⁷ with which the reaper hath not filled his hand, nor he who gathereth the sheaves, his bosom; ⁸ so that they who passed by did not say, "The blessing of the Lord is upon you." We have blessed you in the name of the Lord. ¹³⁰ ¹ A Song of the steps. Out of depths to thee, Lord, I cried; ² Lord, hearken to my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the sound of my prayer. ³ Shouldst thou, Lord, mark iniquities; Lord, who can subsist? ⁴ Because there is forgiveness with thee, for thy name's sake, ⁵ I have waited for thee, Lord: my soul hath waited for thy word; ⁶ my soul hath hoped for the Lord, from the morning watch till night. ⁷ Let Israel hope in the Lord, for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him plenteous redemption. ⁸ And he himself will redeem Israel from all their iniquities. ¹³¹ ¹ A Song of the steps. O LORD, my heart is not exalted, nor are mine eyes lofty; Nor have I exercised myself in great things: nor in things too wonderful for me. ² Had I not been humble, but exalted myself as a weaned child doth against its mother; how thou wouldst have retributed to my soul! ³ Let Israel hope in the Lord henceforth and forever. ¹³² ¹ A Song of the steps. LORD, remember David, and all his meek humility; ² how he sware to the Lord, and made his vow to the God of Jacob: ³ "I will not enter the lodging of my house, nor go up to my bed of rest; ⁴ nor give sleep to mine eyes or slumber to mine eyelids; ⁵ nor rest to my temples; until I find a place for the Lord; a habitation for the God of Jacob." ⁶ Behold we had heard of this [ark] at Ephrata; we found it in the fields of the forest. ⁷ Let us go to his habitations; let us worship at the place where his feet stood. ⁸ Arise, Lord, and go up to thy rest, thou and the ark of thy holiness. ⁹ Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness, and thy saints shout for joy. ¹⁰ For the sake of thy servant David, turn not away the face of thine anointed. ¹¹ The Lord hath sworn a truth to David, and will not annul it; of the fruit of thy body I will set on thy throne; ¹² if thy children keep my covenant, and these my testimonies, which I will teach them, their children also shall sit on thy throne forever. ¹³ For the Lord hath chosen Sion, and made choice of it for his habitation. ¹⁴ This shall be my rest forever. Here I will dwell, for I have chosen it. ¹⁵ With blessings I will bless her provision; and satisfy her poor with bread. ¹⁶ Her priests I will clothe with salvation; and her saints shall shout for joy. ¹⁷ I will cause a horn for David to spring up there; I have prepared a lamp for mine anointed. ¹⁸ His enemies I will clothe with shame; but on him my crown shall flourish. ¹³³ ¹ A Song of the steps. Behold! what I pray you, so beautiful, or is there anything so pleasant, as brethren dwelling in unity? ² This is like precious ointment on the head, which floweth down to the beard; on the beard of Aaron, down to the hem of his robe. ³ It is like the dew of Hermon, which descendeth on the mountains of Sion; for there the Lord commanded the blessing, Life for evermore. ¹³⁴ ¹ A Song of the steps. Attend! bless the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord, who stand in the house of the Lord; in the courts of the house of our God. ² At night, lift up your hands to the holies and bless the Lord. ³ May the Lord out of Sion bless thee: he who made the heaven and the earth. ¹³⁵ ¹ An Alleluia. Praise the name of the Lord; praise the Lord, ye his servants, ² who wait in the house of the Lord; in the courts of the house of our God. ³ Praise the Lord; for the Lord is good; with instruments of musick praise his name; for it is good. ⁴ For the Lord hath made choice of Jacob for himself; of Israel for his peculiar treasure. ⁵ For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all the Gods. ⁶ All that the Lord pleased he hath done in heaven and on earth: in the seas and in all the deeps. ⁷ When he brought clouds from the end of the earth; he made lightnings for the purpose of rain. He it is who bringeth winds out of his treasuries: ⁸ who smote the first born of Egypt: the first born both of man and beast. ⁹ Amidst thee, Egypt, he sent his signs and wonders, on Pharao and on all his servants. ¹⁰ It was he who smote many nations; and slew kings of mighty power; ¹¹ Seon king of the Amorites, and Og, the king of Basan, and all the kingdoms of Chanaan; ¹² and gave their land for an inheritance; for an inheritance for his people Israel. ¹³ Lord, thy name is forever, and the memorial of thee to all generations; ¹⁴ for the Lord will judge his people, and take comfort in his servants. ¹⁵ The idols of the nations are gold and silver; the workmanship of men's hands. ¹⁶ They have a mouth, but cannot speak: eyes they have, but they cannot see; ¹⁷ they have ears, but they cannot hear; nor is there any breath in their mouth. ¹⁸ May they who make them be like them; and all they who have trusted in them. ¹⁹ O house of Israel, bless ye the Lord: bless the Lord ye of the house of Aaron. ²⁰ O house of Levi, bless ye the Lord; bless him, ye who fear the Lord. ²¹ Blessed be the Lord in Sion; he who inhabiteth Jerusalem. ¹³⁶ ¹ An Alleluia. Give thanks to the Lord for he is good; for his mercy endureth forever. ² O give thanks to the God of Gods, for his mercy endureth forever. ³ Give thanks to the Lord of Lords; for his mercy endureth forever. ⁴ To him who alone hath done great wonders; for his mercy endureth forever; ⁵ to him who made the heavens with wisdom: for his mercy endureth forever; ⁶ to him who established the earth on the waters: for his mercy endureth forever; ⁷ to him who alone made the great lights: for his mercy endureth forever; ⁸ the sun to rule the day: for his mercy endureth forever; ⁹ the moon and the stars to rule the night; for his mercy endureth forever; ¹⁰ to him who smote Egypt with their first born; for his mercy endureth forever; ¹¹ and brought out Israel from among them; for his mercy endureth forever: ¹² with a strong hand and an outstretched arm; for his mercy endureth forever; ¹³ to him who divided the Red sea into parts; for his mercy endureth forever. ¹⁴ And led Israel through the midst thereof: for his mercy endureth forever: ¹⁵ but shook off Pharao and his hosts into the Red sea; for his mercy endureth forever: ¹⁶ to him, who led his people through the desert; for his mercy endureth forever; ¹⁷ to him who smote great kings; for his mercy endureth forever: ¹⁸ and slew kings of mighty power: for his mercy endureth forever; ¹⁹ Seon king of the Amorites; for his mercy endureth forever; ²⁰ And Og the king of Basan; for his mercy endureth forever: ²¹ and gave their land for an inheritance; for his mercy endureth forever: ²² an inheritance for Israel his servant; for his mercy endureth forever: ²³ because in our affliction the Lord remembered us; for his mercy endureth forever; ²⁴ and redeemed us from our enemies; for his mercy endureth forever. ²⁵ He it is who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth forever. ²⁶ give thanks to the God of heaven: for to everlasting his mercy endureth. ¹³⁷ ¹ For David, a Psalm of Jeremias. By the rivers of Babylon there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Sion. ² Upon the willows in the midst of it we hung up our harps; ³ for there they who had captivated us, asked of us the words of a song: and they who had led us away, asked for a hymn, saying, Sing for us some of the odes of Sion. ⁴ How can we sing the song of the Lord in a strange country? ⁵ Jerusalem, if I forget thee, let my right hand be forgotten. ⁶ Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, if I do not remember thee; if I set not Jerusalem foremost, as the chief object of my joy. ⁷ Remember, Lord, the children of Edom; who in the day of Jerusalem said, Rase! Rase! down to its foundations! ⁸ O daughter of Babylon the miserable! Happy he who shall render thee thy recompense; for what thou hast done to us! ⁹ Happy be who shall seize and dash thy infants against stones! ¹³⁸ ¹ A Psalm by David, used by Aggaius and Zacharias. I Will adore thee, Lord, with my whole heart. And with instrumental musick sing to thee before angels: because thou hast heard all the words of my mouth. ² I will worship before thy holy temple; and adore thy name for thy mercy and thy truth; because thou hast magnified above all thy holy name. ³ On the day when I invoke thee, answer me speedily: thou canst strengthen me in my soul with thy strength; ⁴ let all the kings of this land adore thee, Lord, because they have heard all the words of thy mouth. ⁵ And let them sing in the ways of the Lord: because the glory of the Lord is great. ⁶ For the Lord is high and looketh down on the things which are low: and from afar he knoweth the things which are high. ⁷ Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou canst keep me alive. Against the rage of enemies thou hast stretched forth thy hand: and thy right hand hath saved me. ⁸ Thou, Lord wilt retribute for me. Lord, thy mercy endureth forever; overlook not the works of thy hands. ¹³⁹ ¹ For the conclusion. A Psalm by David. LORD, thou hast proved me and known me. ² Thou knowest my sitting down and my rising up. Thou from afar understandest my thoughts. ³ Thou has tracked my path and my line: and hast seen distinctly all my ways; ⁴ that there is not an evil word on my tongue. Behold thou, Lord, knowest all things; ⁵ the last and the things of earliest date. Thou hast formed me and laid thy hand on me. ⁶ This knowledge of thine is too wonderful for me. It is great beyond my comprehension. ⁷ Whither can I go from thy spirit? And from thy presence whither can I flee? ⁸ If I ascend up to heaven, thou art there. If I go down to the mansion of the dead, there thou art. ⁹ If I wing my flight towards the morning; or dwell at the extremes of this sea; ¹⁰ even there thy hand will guide me; and thy right hand will restrain me. ¹¹ When I said, Darkness will surely trample me down: then to my great joy, night was luminous. ¹² For darkness cannot darken from thee; even night can be made light as day: the darkness of that, as the light of this. ¹³ Because thou, Lord, hast possessed my reins; hast supported me from my mother's womb; ¹⁴ I will adore thee, for thou art awfully wonderful. Thy works are wonderful; as my soul well knoweth. ¹⁵ From thee was not concealed this bone of mine; which thou in secret didst fashion. ¹⁶ When my substance was in the lowest parts of the earth; thine eyes beheld the unwrought part of me. When on thy book all shall be enrolled; they will day by day be fashioned. ¹⁷ When none among these were yet in being; for me these friends of thine, God, were highly prized: their principalities were made very strong. ¹⁸ Were I to number them, they would surpass the sand. I have been raised up and am still with thee. ¹⁹ Since thou, God, slayest sinners: begone from me ye bloody men. ²⁰ For in answer to their reasoning thou wilt say, In vain shall they take these cities of thine. ²¹ Have I not, Lord, hated them who hate thee; and been melted for them who are thine enemies! ²² With perfect hatred I have hated them; I have accounted them mine enemies. ²³ Try me, O God, and know my heart: examine me and know my ways; ²⁴ and see if there be in me any trace of iniquity; and lead me in an everlasting way. ¹⁴⁰ ¹ For the conclusion. A Psalm. By David. Deliver me, Lord, from a wicked commoner: from an unjust man of rank, preserve me; ² who hath contrived mischief in their heart. All the day long they prepared battles: ³ they sharpened their tongue like that of a serpent: the poison of asps was under their lips. ⁴ Keep me, Lord, from the hand of a sinner: deliver me from unjust men; who have formed contrivances to supplant my steps. ⁵ The haughty hid a snare for me; they spread out nets for my feet; close by the way they laid for me a stumbling block. ⁶ I said to the Lord, Thou art my God. Hear Lord, the voice of my supplication. ⁷ O Lord, Lord, the strength of my salvation! Thou hast covered my head in the day of battle. ⁸ Deliver me not up to the wicked from my desire. Against me they have formed devices: Forsake me not, lest they be exalted. ⁹ Let the amount of their compassings; the labour of their lips cover them. ¹⁰ On them shall fall coals of fire in the land; and thou wilt overthrow them with miseries; that they may not rise up again. ¹¹ A tattling chief cannot prosper in the land: evils will hunt to destruction a man of violence. ¹² I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted and the right of the needy: ¹³ moreover, that the righteous will adore thy name; that the upright shall dwell in thy presence. ¹⁴¹ ¹ A Psalm by David. TO thee, Lord, I have cried, hearken to me; attend to the sound of my supplication. When I cry to thee; ² let my prayer come before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice. ³ Set a watch, Lord, on my mouth; and guard the door of my lips. ⁴ Let not my heart turn aside to wicked deeds; to form excuses for sins with men who work iniquity: nor let me associate with their chosen bands. ⁵ Let a righteous man correct me with mercy; and he will work conviction in me: but let not the oil of a sinner [for this shall still be my prayer] anoint my head at their pleasure. ⁶ Their strong men were swallowed up near a rock: let them hear my words for they were sweet. ⁷ As if a lump of earth was broken on the ground; our bones were scattered at the grave's mouth. ⁸ Since mine eyes are to thee, O Lord, Lord; in thee I have placed my confidence; deliver not my soul to destruction. ⁹ Keep me from the snare they have laid for me: and from the stumbling blocks of the workers of iniquity. ¹⁰ The wicked shall fall by their own net, I am in private till I can escape. ¹⁴² ¹ On understanding. By David when he was in the cave. A Prayer. With my voice I cried to the Lord; to the Lord I made supplication with my voice. ² Before him I pour out my prayer: before him I will declare my affliction. ³ When my spirit fainted thou knewest my paths. In the way I was going they hid a snare for me. ⁴ I looked to the right; and observed that none was there, who knew me. Flight was cut off from me; and is he not earnestly seeking my life? ⁵ To thee, O Lord, I cried and said, Thou art my hope; my portion in the land of the living. ⁶ Attend to my supplication; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I. ⁷ Bring my soul out of prison, that I may adore thy name, Lord. Let the righteous wait for me, till thou shalt reward me. ¹⁴³ ¹ A Psalm by David, when his son was pursuing him. O LORD, hearken to my prayer! Listen to my supplication in thy truth; answer me in thy saving goodness; ² and enter not into judgment with thy servant; for in thy sight no man living can be justified. ³ Because the enemy hath earnestly sought my life; hath humbled my life to the ground; hath caused me to sit in dark places, like them who have been long dead; ⁴ therefore my spirit was overwhelmed with grief; my heart within me was troubled and ⁵ I remembered the days of old. I meditated on all thy works; I mused on the works of thy hands. ⁶ I spread forth my hands to thee; for thee my soul thirsted like land without water. ⁷ Hear me speedily, Lord; my spirit hath failed. Turn not away thy face from me; nor let me be like them who go down to the pit. ⁸ Cause me to hear thy kindness in the morning; for in thee I have placed my confidence. O Lord, let me know which way I shall go; for to thee I have lifted up my soul. ⁹ Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies; for to thee I have fled for refuge. ¹⁰ Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God. Let thy good spirit lead me in the right way. ¹¹ For the sake of thy name, thou, Lord, wilt keep me alive; in thy saving goodness thou wilt bring my soul out of trouble, ¹² and in thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul; for I am thy servant. ¹⁴⁴ ¹ By David. On Goliath. Blessed be the Lord my God, who teacheth my hands to war and my fingers to fight. ² He is my mercy and my refuge; my support and my deliverer, my protector in whom I trusted, who subdueth the people under me. ³ Lord, what is man that thou shouldst acknowledge him, or a son of man that thou shouldst regard him! ⁴ Man is like vanity, his days glide away like a shadow. ⁵ O Lord, bow thy heaven and come down: touch the mountains and let them smoke. ⁶ Flash lightnings and thou wilt scatter them; dart thy bolts and thou wilt discomfit them; ⁷ stretch forth thy hand from on high; rescue me and deliver me from many waters; out of the hand of the children of strangers, ⁸ whose mouth hath uttered falsehood, and whose right hand is a right hand of deceit ⁹ O God, to thee I will sing a new song; to thee I will play on a ten stringed psaltery, ¹⁰ to him who giveth salvation to kings, who hath redeemed his servant David from the hurtful sword. ¹¹ Rescue me and deliver me out of the hand of the children of strangers, whose mouth hath uttered falsehood, and whose right hand is a right hand of deceit; ¹² whose sons are like trees well planted when young; their daughters beauteous, adorned like shrines; ¹³ their store houses full and overflowing; their flocks prolific, abounding in their outwalks; ¹⁴ their herds fat. There is no destruction of enclosures; no breaking out; no screaming in their folds. ¹⁵ The people who had such things were hailed happy; but happy is the people, whose God is the Lord. ¹⁴⁵ ¹ A Psalm of praise. By David, I will extol thee, my God, my king: and bless thy name for ever and ever. ² Day by day I will bless thee, and praise thy name for ever and ever. ³ The Lord is great and greatly to be praised; and of his greatness there is no end. ⁴ Let generation after generation praise thy works, and proclaim thy mighty power: ⁵ Let them speak of the transcendant glory of thy majesty, and relate thy wonderous works. ⁶ Let them express the might of thine awful dealings, and rehearse thy greatness. ⁷ Let them make mention of thine abundant goodness, and exult with joy in thy saving mercy. ⁸ The Lord is gracious and merciful: long suffering and abundant in kindness. ⁹ The Lord is kind to them who wait, and his mercies are over all his works. ¹⁰ Let all thy works, O Lord, praise thee, and let thy saints bless thee; ¹¹ let them speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy government: ¹² to make known thy government to the sons of men, and the transcendant glory of thy kingdom. ¹³ Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion, throughout all generations. ¹⁴ The Lord is faithful in his words, and bountiful in all his works. ¹⁵ The Lord upholdeth all that are falling, and raiseth up all who are broken down. ¹⁶ The eyes of all wait upon thee: and thou givest them their food in due season; thou openest thy hands, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing. ¹⁷ The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and bountiful in all his works. ¹⁸ The Lord is near to all who invoke him; to all that call upon him with truth. ¹⁹ He will fulfil the desire of them who fear him: he will hear their prayer and save them. ²⁰ The Lord keepeth all them who love him; but all the wicked he will utterly destroy. ²¹ Let my mouth speak the praise of the Lord: and let all flesh bless his holy name, for ever and for evermore. ¹⁴⁶ ¹ An Alleluia, of Aggaius and Zacharias. Praise the Lord, my soul: while I live I will praise the Lord. ² I will sing praises to God, while I have a being. ³ Trust not in chiefs, nor in sons of men, in whom there is no safety. ⁴ His breath goeth out and he shall return to his earth; on that day all his projects shall perish. ⁵ Happy he whose helper is the God of Jacob: his hope is in the Lord his God, ⁶ who made the heaven and the earth, the sea and all the things in them; ⁷ who keepeth truth forever, executing judgment for the aggrieved, giving food to the hungry. ⁸ The Lord looseth them who were bound. The Lord causeth the blind to see clearly. The Lord raiseth up them who were broken down. The Lord loveth the righteous. ⁹ The Lord preserveth the strangers. He will support the orphan and the widow, and destroy the way of the wicked. ¹⁰ The Lord will reign forever; thy God, Sion, throughout all generations. ¹⁴⁷ ¹ An Alleluia, of Aggaius and Zacharias. Praise the Lord, for good is a song of praise; to our God let praise be sweetly sung. ² The Lord is rebuilding Jerusalem; and he will gather the dispersions of Israel. ³ He healeth the broken hearted, and bindeth up their wounds; ⁴ he numbereth the multitudes of stars, and calleth them all by their names. ⁵ Great is our Lord and great his power; and infinite in his understanding. ⁶ The Lord raiseth up the meek; and humbleth sinners to the ground. ⁷ Sing alternately to the Lord with thanksgiving. In concert with the kithara, sing praises to our God; ⁸ to him who covereth the heaven with clouds; to him who provideth rain for the earth; to him who causeth grass to grow on mountains, and bladed corn for the use of man; ⁹ and who giveth suitable food to cattle, and to the young ravens which call on him. ¹⁰ In the courage of the horse he will not delight, nor is he pleased with the agility of the warrior. ¹¹ The Lord delighteth in them who fear him, and in all them who trust in his mercy. ¹² An Alleluia, of Aggaius and Zacharias. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem: Sion, praise thy God; ¹³ for he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee. ¹⁴ He maketh thy borders peace, and feedeth thee with the finest wheat; ¹⁵ He is sending his oracle to this land: his word shall run with speed. ¹⁶ When he giveth snow like wool; when he scattereth the hoar frost like ashes; ¹⁷ when he sendeth down like morsels his chrystal hail; who can stand before his cold? ¹⁸ Let him but send forth his word and he will melt them; let him but blow his breath and the waters will flow. ¹⁹ He is sending his word to Jacob; his statutes and his judgments to Israel. ²⁰ He hath not dealt thus with any nation, nor hath he laid open to them his judgments. ¹⁴⁸ ¹ An Alleluia of Aggaius and Zacharias. Praise the Lord, ye of the heavens: praise him, ye in the highest. ² Praise him all ye his angels: praise him all ye his hosts. ³ Sun and moon! Praise him: praise him all ye stars and light. ⁴ Praise him ye heavens of heavens: and thou water under the heavens! ⁵ let them praise the name of the Lord; for he spake and they were produced: he commanded and they were created. ⁶ He established them forever and ever: he made a decree and it shall not pass away. ⁷ Praise the Lord ye of the earth! dragons and all deeps! ⁸ Fire, hail, snow, ice, tempestuous wind, which execute his commands! ⁹ Mountains, and all hills! fruit trees and all cedars! ¹⁰ wild beasts and all cattle! creeping things and winged fowls! ¹¹ Kings of the earth, and all peoples! chiefs and all judges of the earth! ¹² youths and virgins! elders with them of younger years! ¹³ let them praise the name of the Lord; for his name alone is exalted. To him belongeth thanksgiving, on earth and in heaven. ¹⁴ When he shall exalt the horn of his people, let there be a song of praise among all his saints; among the children of Israel; a people who draw near to him. ¹⁴⁹ ¹ An Alleluia. Sing to the Lord a new song. Praise is his due in the congregation of saints. ² Let Israel rejoice in his maker; and the children of Sion exult in their king. ³ Let them praise his name in choirs; on the tympanum and psaltery sing praises to him: ⁴ for the Lord taketh pleasure in his people; and with salvation he will exalt the meek. ⁵ Let the saints triumph in glory; and exult with joy on their beds. ⁶ Let the high praises of God be in their mouth; and in their hands two edged swords; ⁷ to execute vengeance on the nations; rebukes among peoples. ⁸ To bind their kings with fetters; and their nobles with chains of iron: ⁹ to execute on them the judgments written. Such is the honour which all his saints have. ¹⁵⁰ ¹ An Alleluia. Praise God in his holies; praise him in the firmament of his power. ² Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his abundant majesty: ³ praise him with the sounding trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and kithara: ⁴ praise him with the tympanum and chorus: praise him with stringed instruments and organs; ⁵ praise him with soft sounding cymbals: praise him with the cymbals of triumph: ⁶ let every breath praise the Lord. Psalm 151 N.B. There is in the Septuagint another Psalm, with this title: This Psalm on David was written by himself in prose, when he fought in single combat with Goliath. I was little among my brethren, and the youngest of my father's family. I fed my father's flocks. My hands had made an organ; and my fingers had tuned a psaltery. But who will tell my Lord. My Lord himself heareth. He sent his messenger and took me from my father's flocks and anointed me with anointing oil. My brothers were comely and great; but the Lord did not delight in them. I went out to meet the Philistine, and he cursed me by his idols. But I drew his own sword and cut off his head, and took away reproach from the children of Israel.