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The Difference between Good and Sinful People

Happy is the man who does not walk in the way sinful men tell him to, or stand in the path of sinners, or sit with those who laugh at the truth. But he finds joy in the Law of the Lord and thinks about His Law day and night. This man is like a tree planted by rivers of water, which gives its fruit at the right time and its leaf never dries up. Whatever he does will work out well for him.

Sinful men are not like this. They are like straw blown away by the wind. So the sinful will not stand. They will be told they are guilty and have to suffer for it. Sinners will not stand with those who are right with God. For the Lord knows the way of those who are right with Him. But the way of the sinful will be lost from God forever.

God’s Chosen One Will Rule

Why are the nations so shaken up and the people planning foolish things? The kings of the earth stand in a line ready to fight, and all the leaders are against the Lord and against His Chosen One. They say, “Let us break their chains and throw them away from us.”

He Who sits in the heavens laughs. The Lord makes fun of them. Then He will speak to them in His anger and make them afraid, saying, “But as for Me, I have set My King on Zion, My holy mountain.” I will make known the words of the Lord. He said to Me, “You are My Son. Today I have become Your Father. Ask of Me, and I will give the nations for you to own. The ends of the earth will belong to You. You will break them using a piece of iron. And they will be broken in pieces like pots of clay.”

10 So, kings, be wise. Listen, you rulers of the earth. 11 Serve the Lord with fear, and be full of joy as you shake in fear. 12 Kiss the Son. Be afraid that He may be angry and destroy you in the way. For His anger is quick. Happy are all who put their trust in Him.

Morning Prayer of Trust

O Lord, how many are they who hate me! How many rise up against me! Many are saying of me, “There is no help for him in God.” But You, O Lord, are a covering around me, my shining-greatness, and the One Who lifts my head. I was crying to the Lord with my voice. And He answered me from His holy mountain. I lay down and slept, and I woke up again, for the Lord keeps me safe.

I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who stand all around against me. Rise up, O Lord! Save me, O my God! For You have hit on the face all those who hate me, and you have broken the teeth of the sinful. It is You Who saves, O Lord. May You bring happiness to Your people.

Evening Prayer of Trust

Answer me when I call, O my God Who is right and good! You have made a way for me when I needed help. Be kind to me, and hear my prayer.

O sons of men, how long will you turn my honor into shame? How long will you love what is of no use, and run after lies? Know that the Lord has set apart him who is God-like for Himself. The Lord hears when I call to Him.

Shake with anger and do not sin. When you are on your bed, look into your hearts and be quiet. Give the gifts that are right and good, and trust in the Lord.

Many are asking, “Who will show us any good?” Let the light of Your face shine on us, O Lord. You have filled my heart with more happiness than they have when there is much grain and wine. I will lie down and sleep in peace. O Lord, You alone keep me safe.

Prayer for Help

Hear my words, O Lord. Think about my crying. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God. For I pray to you. In the morning, O Lord, You will hear my voice. In the morning I will lay my prayers before You and will look up.

You are not a God Who is pleased with what is bad. The sinful cannot be with You. The proud cannot stand before You. You hate all who do wrong. You destroy those who tell lies. The Lord hates liars and men who kill other people.

But as for me, by Your great loving-kindness, I will come into Your house. At Your holy house I will put my face to the ground before You in love and fear. O Lord, lead me in what is right and good, because of the ones who hate me. Make Your way straight in front of me.

For in their talk there is no truth. Their hearts destroy. Their mouths are like an open grave. With their tongues, they say sweet-sounding words that are not true. 10 Hold them guilty, O God! Let them fall by their own plans. Throw them out because of their many sins. For they have fought against You. 11 But let all who put their trust in You be glad. Let them sing with joy forever. You make a covering for them, that all who love Your name may be glad in You. 12 For You will make those happy who do what is right, O Lord. You will cover them all around with Your favor.

Prayer for Help in Time of Trouble

O Lord, do not speak sharp words to me in Your anger, or punish me when You are angry. Be kind to me, O Lord, for I am weak. O Lord, heal me for my bones are shaken. My soul is in great suffering. But You, O Lord, how long? Return, O Lord. Set my soul free. Save me because of Your loving-kindness. No one remembers You when he is dead. Who gives You praise from the grave? I am tired of crying inside myself. All night long my pillow is wet with tears. I flood my bed with them. My eye has grown weak with sorrow. It has grown old because of all who hate me. Go away from me, all you who sin. For the Lord has heard the sound of my crying. The Lord has heard my cry for help. The Lord receives my prayer. 10 All those who hate me will be ashamed and worried. They will turn away. They will be put to shame right away.

Prayer for Help against the Sinful

O Lord my God, in You I have put my trust. Save me from all those who come for me, and keep me safe. Or they will tear me like a lion, carrying me away where there is no one to help. O Lord my God, if I have done this, and there is guilt on my hands, if I have done wrong to him who was at peace with me, or without a reason have robbed him who worked against me, let him who hates me come for me and catch me. Let him break me under his feet until I die, and lay my honor in the dust.

Rise up in Your anger, O Lord. Rise up against the anger of those who hate me. Awake, my God, and help me. Prove what is right. Let the people gather around You, and rule over them from Your throne. May the Lord judge which people are guilty or not. O Lord, judge in my favor if I am right with You, and if I am without blame. Let the sins of the sinful stop. But build up those who are right with You. For the God Who is right and good tests both the hearts and the minds. 10 I am kept safe by God, Who saves those who are pure in heart.

11 God is always right in how He judges. He is angry with the sinful every day. 12 If a man is not sorry for his sins and will not turn from them, God will make His sword sharp. He will string His bow and make it ready. 13 He takes up His sword and the bow of death. And He makes arrows of fire.

14 See how the sinful man thinks up sins and plans trouble and lies start growing inside him. 15 He has dug out a deep hole, and has fallen into the hole he has dug. 16 The trouble he makes will return to him. When he hurts others it will come down on his own head. 17 I will give thanks to the Lord because He is right and good. I will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.

God’s Shining-Greatness

O Lord, our Lord, how great is Your name in all the earth. You have set Your shining-greatness above the heavens. Out of the mouth of children and babies, You have built up strength because of those who hate You, and to quiet those who fight against You.

When I look up and think about Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in their place, what is man, that You think of him, the son of man that You care for him? You made him a little less than the angels and gave him a crown of greatness and honor. You made him to rule over the works of Your hands. You put all things under his feet: All sheep and cattle, all the wild animals, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, and all that pass through the sea. O Lord, our Lord, how great is Your name in all the earth!

Thanks to God for the Way He Judges

I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart. I will tell of all the great things You have done. I will be glad and full of joy because of You. I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High. When those who hate me turn away, they fall and are lost from You. For You have stood by my right actions. You sit on Your throne, and are right in how You judge. You have spoken sharp words to the nations and have destroyed the sinful. You have thrown out their name forever and ever. Those who fight against You are finished forever. You have destroyed their cities. They will be remembered no more. But the Lord lives forever. He has set up His throne to say who is guilty or not. He will punish the world by what is right. He will be fair as He rules the people.

The Lord also keeps safe those who suffer. He is a safe place in times of trouble. 10 Those who know Your name will put their trust in You. For You, O Lord, have never left alone those who look for You. 11 Sing praises to the Lord, Who lives in Zion! Tell all the nations what He has done! 12 For He Who punishes for the blood of another remembers them. He does not forget the cry of those who suffer. 13 Have pity on me, O Lord! See how I suffer from those who hate me, You Who have lifted me up from the gates of death, 14 that I may tell of all Your praises in the gates of the people of Zion. There I will be full of joy because You save.

15 The nations have fallen into the hole they have dug. Their own feet have been caught in the net they have hidden. 16 The Lord has made Himself known. He is fair in His Law. The sinful trap themselves by the work of their own hands. 17 The sinful, all the nations that forget God, will be turned back into the grave.

18 But those in need will not always be forgotten. The hope of the poor will not be lost forever. 19 Rise up, O Lord! Do not let man win the fight against You. Let the nations come to You and be judged. 20 Make them afraid, O Lord. Let the nations know they are only men.

Prayer for God to Destroy the Sinful

10 Why do You stand far away, O Lord? Why do You hide Yourself in times of trouble? The sinful, in their pride, try to catch the weak. Let them be caught in the plans they have made. The sinful man is proud of the desires of his heart. He praises those who want everything but he speaks against the Lord. The sinful man in his pride does not look for God. All his thoughts are that there is no God. His ways always go well for him. Your laws are too high for him to see. He laughs at those who hate him. He says to himself, “I will not be moved. For all time, I will never have trouble.” With his mouth he swears and lies. He makes it hard for other people. Trouble and sin are under his tongue. He lies hidden in the towns, waiting to kill those who are not guilty. His eyes are always watching for the weak. He lies in wait like a hidden lion. He lies in wait to catch the weak, and they become caught in his net. 10 The weak are hurt and they fall. They cannot stand under his strength. 11 He says to himself, “God has forgotten. He has hidden His face and will never see it.”

12 Rise up, O Lord! Lift up Your hand, O God. Do not forget the weak. 13 Why does the sinful man turn away from God? He has said to himself, “You will not ask it of me.” 14 But You have seen it. You look upon trouble and suffering, to take it into Your hands. The suffering man gives himself to You. You are the Helper of the one who has no father. 15 Break the arm of the bad and sinful man. Find out all his sins until You find no more. 16 The Lord is King forever and ever. Those who worship false gods will be taken from the land.

17 O Lord, You have heard the prayers of those who have no pride. You will give strength to their heart, and You will listen to them. 18 In this way, You will do the right thing for those without a father and those who suffer, so that man who is of the earth will no longer make them afraid.

The Lord—a Safe Place

11 In the Lord I am safe. How can you say to me, “Fly away as a bird to your mountain? For look, the sinful raise their bow. They make their arrow ready on the string to shoot in the dark against the pure in heart. If the base of the building is destroyed, what can those who are right with God do?”

The Lord is in His holy house. The Lord’s throne is in heaven. His eyes see as He tests the sons of men. The Lord tests and proves those who are right and good and those who are sinful. And His soul hates the one who loves to hurt others. He will send down fire upon the sinful. Fire and sulphur and burning wind will be the cup they will drink. For the Lord is right and good. He loves what is right and good. And those who are right with Him will see His face.

God—Our Helper

12 Help, Lord! For God-like men are here no more. The faithful can no longer be seen among the sons of men. They lie to each other. Their lips speak with sweet-sounding words that are not true. May the Lord cut off all lips of false respect, and the tongue that speaks of great things. They say, “We can win with our tongues. Our lips are our own. Who is lord over us?”

“Because of the suffering of the weak, and because of the cries of the poor, I will now rise up,” says the Lord. “I will keep him safe as he has wanted to be.”

The words of the Lord are pure words. They are like silver that has been made pure seven times in a stove of earth. O Lord, You will keep us. You will keep us safe forever from the people of this day. The sinful walk on every side when bad actions are held in honor among the sons of men.

Prayer for Help in Time of Trouble

13 How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long must I plan what to do in my soul, and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long will those who hate me rise above me?

Look on me and answer, O Lord, my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death. Or the one who hates me will say, “I have power over him.” And those who hate me will be happy when I am shaken.

But I have trusted in Your loving-kindness. My heart will be full of joy because You will save me. I will sing to the Lord, because He has been good to me.

Sinful Men

14 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are sinful and their actions are sinful. There is no one who does good. The Lord has looked down from heaven on the sons of men, to see if there are any who understand and look for God. They have all turned aside. Together they have become bad. There is no one who does good, not even one.

Will those who sin never learn? They eat up my people like they eat bread. They do not call on the Lord. There they are in much fear. For God is with the people of this day who do what is right and good. You would put to shame the planning of the poor. But the Lord keeps him safe.

O, that it would come out of Zion that Israel would be saved! When the Lord returns His people to their land, Jacob will be full of joy and Israel will be glad.

Good Men

15 O Lord, who may live in Your tent? Who may live on Your holy hill? He who walks without blame and does what is right and good, and speaks the truth in his heart. He does not hurt others with his tongue, or do wrong to his neighbor, or bring shame to his friend. He looks down upon a sinful person, but honors those who fear the Lord. He keeps his promises even if it may hurt him. He gives money to be used without being paid for its use. And he does not take money to hurt those who are not guilty. He who does these things will never be shaken.

The Lord—Our Safe Place in Life and Covering in Death

16 Keep me, O God, for I am safe in You. I said to the Lord, “You are my Lord. All the good things I have come from You.” As for those in the land who belong to You, they are the great ones in whom is all my joy. Those who have traded for another god bring many troubles on themselves. I will not take part in their altar gifts of blood. And I will not take their names upon my lips.

The Lord is all that I am to receive, and my cup. My future is in Your hands. The land given to me is good. Yes, my share is beautiful to me.

I will give honor and thanks to the Lord, Who has told me what to do. Yes, even at night my mind teaches me. I have placed the Lord always in front of me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be moved. And so my heart is glad. My soul is full of joy. My body also will rest without fear. 10 For You will not give me over to the grave. And You will not allow Your Holy One to return to dust. 11 You will show me the way of life. Being with You is to be full of joy. In Your right hand there is happiness forever.

Prayer for Help in Time of Trouble

17 Hear what is right, O Lord. Listen to my cry. Hear my prayer, for it does not come from lying lips. May You decide in my favor. May Your eyes see what is right. You have tested my heart. You have visited me during the night. You have tested me and have found nothing wrong. I have decided that my mouth will not sin. As for the actions of men, by the word of Your lips, I have kept myself from the paths of those who want to hurt others. My steps have followed Your paths. My feet have not turned from them.

I have called to You, O God, for You will answer me. Listen to me and hear my words. Show Your great loving-kindness. You save by Your right hand the people that come to You for help from those who hate them. Keep me safe as You would Your own eye. Hide me in the shadow of Your wings, from the sinful who fight against me, those who would kill me and are all around me. 10 They have closed their fat hearts to pity. And their mouths speak with pride. 11 They have followed our every step and are all around us. They are watching for a way to bring us down to the ground. 12 He is like a hungry lion, like a young lion hiding and waiting.

13 Rise up, O Lord. Stand against him. Bring him down. Save me from the sinful with Your sword. 14 O Lord, save me by Your hand from such men. Their riches are in this life. Their stomach is filled with what you have stored for them. Their children are filled. Let them leave some for their babies. 15 As for me, I will see Your face in what is right and good. I will be happy to see You when I awake.

Song of Thanks for Being Kept Safe

18 I love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, and my safe place, and the One Who takes me out of trouble. My God is my rock, in Whom I am safe. He is my safe-covering, my saving strength, and my strong tower. I call to the Lord, Who has the right to be praised. And I am saved from those who hate me.

The ropes of death were all around me. The floods of death make me afraid. The ropes of the grave were all around me. The traps of death were set for me. I called to the Lord in my trouble. I cried to God for help. He heard my voice from His holy house. My cry for help came into His ears.

Then the earth shook. The mountains were shaking. They shook because He was angry. Smoke went out from His nose and the fire that kept coming from His mouth burned everything around it. He parted the heavens and came down. Dark clouds were under His feet. 10 He sat upon a cherub and flew. He traveled on the wings of the wind. 11 He made darkness His hiding place, the covering around Him, the dark rain clouds of the sky. 12 Through the light before Him passed His dark clouds, hail stones and fire. 13 The Lord made thunder in the heavens. The voice of the Most High spoke out, hail stones and fire. 14 He sent out His arrows and divided them. He threw down lightning and sent them running. 15 Then the deep part of the sea could be seen. And the deep part of the earth was opened up, because of Your sharp words, O Lord, because of the powerful breath from Your nose.

16 He sent from above, and took me. He lifted me out of many waters. 17 He took me away from the powerful one who fights against me, and from those who hated me. They were too strong for me. 18 They stood against me in the day of my trouble. But the Lord was my strength. 19 He brought me out into a big place. He gave me a safe place, because He was pleased with me.

20 The Lord has paid me because of my being right with Him. Because of my clean hands He has paid me. 21 For I have kept the ways of the Lord. And I have not sinned by turning from my God. 22 All His Laws are in front of me. I have not set His Laws aside. 23 Before Him I was without blame. And I have kept myself from sin. 24 So the Lord has paid me back for being right with Him, and for my hands being clean in His eyes.

25 To the faithful, You show Yourself faithful. To those without blame, You show Yourself without blame. 26 With the pure, You show Yourself pure. With the sinful You show Yourself to be against them. 27 You save those who are suffering, but You bring low those who have pride in their eyes. 28 You make my lamp bright. The Lord my God lights my darkness. 29 With Your help I can go against many soldiers. With my God I can jump over a wall.

30 As for God, His way is perfect. The Word of the Lord has stood the test. He is a covering for all who go to Him for a safe place. 31 For Who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock except our God? 32 It is God Who covers me with strength and makes my way perfect. 33 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer. And He sets me on my high places. 34 He teaches me how to fight, so that I can use a bow of brass. 35 You have also given me the covering that saves me. Your right hand holds me up. And Your care has made me great. 36 You make the road wide for my steps, and my feet have not tripped.

37 I went after those who fight against me, and caught them. And I did not return until they were destroyed. 38 I hit them so they were not able to rise. They fell under my feet. 39 You have given me strength for war. You have put under me those who have fought against me. 40 You have made them turn their backs to me also. And I destroyed those who hated me. 41 They cried for help, but there was no one to save. They cried to the Lord, but He did not answer them. 42 Then I beat them as small as the dust in the wind. I emptied them out like mud in the streets.

43 You have taken me away from the fighting of the people. You have made me the leader of nations. People whom I have not known will serve me. 44 As soon as they hear, they obey me. Those from other lands obey me. 45 These people from other lands lose their strength of heart. And they come shaking from behind their walls. 46 The Lord lives! How great is my Rock! Praise be to the God Who saves me! 47 He is the God Who punishes those who have done wrong to me. He puts nations under my rule. 48 He saves me from those who hate me. Yes, You lift me above those who rise up against me. You save me from those who want to hurt me. 49 So I will give thanks to You among the nations, O Lord. And I will sing praises to Your name. 50 He gives His king great power over trouble. And He shows loving-kindness to His chosen one, to David, and to his children after him forever.

The Works and the Word of God

19 The heavens are telling of the greatness of God and the great open spaces above show the work of His hands. Day to day they speak. And night to night they show much learning. There is no speaking and no words where their voice is not heard. Their sound has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them He has placed a tent for the sun. It is as a man soon to be married coming out of his room and as a strong man who is happy to run his race. Its rising is from one end of the heavens, and it makes its way to the other end. Nothing is hidden from its heat.

The Law of the Lord is perfect, giving new strength to the soul. The Law He has made known is sure, making the child-like wise. The Laws of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The Word of the Lord is pure, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, lasting forever. The Lord is always true and right in how He judges. 10 The Word of the Lord is worth more than gold, even more than much fine gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey straight from the comb. 11 And by them Your servant is told to be careful. In obeying them there is great reward.

12 Who can see his own mistakes? Forgive my sins that I do not see. 13 And keep Your servant from sinning by going my own way. Do not let these sins rule over me. Then I will be without blame. And I will not be found guilty of big sins. 14 Let the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing in Your eyes, O Lord, my Rock and the One Who saves me.

Prayer to Be Kept Safe

20 May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe. May He send you help from the house of God, and give you strength from Zion. May He remember all your gifts of grain given on the altar in worship. And may He be pleased with your burnt gifts.

May He give you the desire of your heart, and make all your plans go well. We will sing for joy when you win. In the name of our God we will lift up our flags. May the Lord give you all the things you ask Him for.

Now I know that the Lord saves His chosen one. He will answer him from His holy heaven, with the saving power of His right hand. Some trust in wagons and some in horses. But we will trust in the name of the Lord, our God. They have fallen on their knees. But we rise up and stand straight. O Lord, save! May the King answer us when we call.

Song of Praise for Being Kept Safe

21 O Lord, in Your strength the king is glad! How great is his joy in Your saving power! You have given him the desire of his heart. You have not kept from him anything that he has asked for. For You meet him with gifts of good things. You set a crown of pure gold on his head. He asked You for life and You gave it to him, a long life forever and ever. His honor is great because of Your help. You have given him greatness and power. You have given him honor and respect forever. And You make him glad with the joy of being with You.

For the king trusts in the Lord. Because of the loving-kindness of the Most High, he will not be shaken. Your hand will find all who fight against You. Your right hand will find those who hate You. You will make them like a stove of fire in the time of Your anger. The Lord will eat them up in His anger. And the fire will destroy them. 10 You will destroy their children from the earth, and their sons from the children of men. 11 For they planned much trouble against You. They have made sinful plans that will come to nothing. 12 For You will make them turn their backs when You take up Your bow against them. 13 Be honored in Your strength, O Lord. We will sing and praise Your power.

A Cry of Fear and a Song of Praise

22 My God, my God, why have You left me alone? Why are You so far from helping me, and from the words I cry inside myself? O my God, I cry during the day, but You do not answer. I cry during the night, but I find no rest. Yet You are holy. The praises Israel gives You are Your throne. Our fathers trusted in You, and You saved them. They cried to You and were set free. They trusted in You and were not ashamed.

But I am a worm and not a man. I am put to shame by men, and am hated by the people. All who see me make fun of me. They open their mouths and shake their heads, and say, “He trusts in the Lord. Let the Lord help him. Let the Lord take him out of trouble, because he is happy in Him.”

But You brought me out when I was born. You made me trust when I drank my mother’s milk. 10 I was in Your care from birth. Since my mother gave birth to me, You have been my God.

11 Do not be far from me, for trouble is near. And there is no one to help. 12 Many bulls have gathered all around me. Strong bulls of Bashan stand around me. 13 They open their mouths wide against me, like a loud, hungry lion. 14 I am poured out like water. And all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like a melted candle within me. 15 My strength is dried up like a piece of a broken clay pot. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. And You lay me in the dust of death. 16 For dogs have gathered around me. A group of sinful men stand around me. They have cut through my hands and feet. 17 I can tell how many bones I have. The people look at me with wide eyes. 18 They divide my clothes among them by drawing names to see who would get them.

19 But You, O Lord, be not far from me! O my Strength, hurry to help me! 20 Take me away from the sword. Save my life from the power of the dog. 21 Save me from the lion’s mouth, and from the horns of the wild bulls You answer me.

22 I will make Your name known to my brothers. In the center of the meeting of worship I will praise You. 23 You who fear the Lord, give Him praise. All you children of Jacob, honor Him. Fear Him, all you children of Israel. 24 For He has not turned away from the suffering of the one in pain or trouble. He has not hidden His face from him. But He has heard his cry for help.

25 My praise will be from You in the big meeting of worship. I will keep my promises to Him in front of those who fear Him. 26 Those who suffer will eat and have enough. Those who look for the Lord will praise Him. May your heart live forever! 27 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord. All the families of the nations will worship before Him. 28 For the holy nation is the Lord’s, and He rules over the nations. 29 All the proud ones of the earth will eat and worship. All who go down to the dust will fall to their knees before Him, even he who cannot keep his soul alive. 30 Future children will serve Him. They will tell of the Lord to their children. 31 They will come and tell about His saving power to a people yet to be born. For He has done it.

The Lord—Our Shepherd

23 The Lord is my Shepherd. I will have everything I need. He lets me rest in fields of green grass. He leads me beside the quiet waters. He makes me strong again. He leads me in the way of living right with Himself which brings honor to His name. Yes, even if I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will not be afraid of anything, because You are with me. You have a walking stick with which to guide and one with which to help. These comfort me. You are making a table of food ready for me in front of those who hate me. You have poured oil on my head. I have everything I need. For sure, You will give me goodness and loving-kindness all the days of my life. Then I will live with You in Your house forever.

The King of Shining-Greatness

24 The earth is the Lord’s, and all that is in it, the world, and all who live in it. For He has built it upon the seas. He has set it upon the rivers. Who may go up the mountain of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart. He who has not lifted up his soul to what is not true, and has not made false promises. He will receive what is good from the Lord, and what is right and good from the God Who saves him. Such is the family of those who look for Him, who look for Your face, O God of Jacob.

Lift up your heads, O gates. And be lifted up, O doors that last forever. And the King of shining-greatness will come in. Who is the King of shining-greatness? The Lord strong and powerful. The Lord powerful in war. Lift up your heads, O gates. Lift them up, O doors that last forever and the King of shining-greatness will come in. 10 Who is the King of shining-greatness? The Lord of All. He is the King of shining-greatness.

Prayer to Be Kept Safe from Enemies

25 I lift up my soul to You, O Lord. O my God, I trust in You. Do not let me be ashamed. Do not let those who fight against me win. Yes, let no one who hopes in You be put to shame. But put to shame those who hurt others without a reason.

Show me Your ways, O Lord. Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me. For You are the God Who saves me. I wait for You all day long. Remember Your loving-pity and Your loving-kindness, O Lord. For they have been from old. Do not remember my sins from when I was young, or my sinful ways. By Your loving-kindness remember me for You are good, O Lord.

Good and right is the Lord. So He teaches sinners in His ways. He leads those without pride into what is right, and teaches them His way. 10 All the paths of the Lord are loving and true for those who keep His agreement and keep His Laws. 11 For the good of Your name, O Lord, forgive my sin, even as big as it is.

12 Who is the man who fears the Lord? He will teach him in the way he should choose. 13 His soul will live a rich life. And his children will be given the land. 14 The secret of the Lord is for those who fear Him. And He will make them know His agreement. 15 My eyes are always on the Lord. For He will take my feet out of the net.

16 Turn to me and show me Your loving-kindness. For I am alone and in trouble. 17 The troubles of my heart have grown. Bring me out of my suffering. 18 Look upon my troubles and my pain, and forgive all my sins. 19 Look upon those who hate me, for they are many. And how very much they hate me! 20 Keep me safe, Lord, and set me free. Do not let me be put to shame for I put my trust in You. 21 Let what is good and what is right keep me safe, because I wait for You. 22 O God, make Israel free from all their troubles.

Prayer of a Good Man

26 O Lord, stand by me for I have lived my life without blame. I have trusted in the Lord without changing. Test me and try me, O Lord. Test my mind and my heart. For Your loving-kindness is always in front of my eyes. And I have walked in Your truth. I do not sit with men who lie about the truth. I would not be seen with those who pretend to be someone they are not. I hate the meeting of sinners, and will not sit with the sinful. I will wash my hands of any guilt. And I will go around Your altar, O Lord. I will speak with the voice of thanks, and tell of all Your great works.

O Lord, I love the house where You live, the place where Your shining-greatness lives. Do not take my soul away with sinners, or my life with men who kill other people. 10 Sinful plans are in their hands. And their right hand is full of pay for hurting others. 11 But as for me, I will live a life without blame. Make me free, and show me loving-kindness. 12 My foot stands on a good place. I will give honor to the Lord, in the meeting of worship.

Prayer of Trust in God

27 The Lord is my light and the One Who saves me. Whom should I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life. Of whom should I be afraid? When sinful men, and all who hated me, came against me to destroy my flesh, they tripped and fell. Even if an army gathers against me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if war rises against me, I will be sure of You.

One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I will look for: that I may live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to look upon the beauty of the Lord, and to worship in His holy house. For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His holy tent. In the secret place of His tent He will hide me. He will set me high upon a rock. Then my head will be lifted up above all those around me who hate me. I will give gifts in His holy tent with a loud voice of joy. I will sing. Yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.

O Lord, listen to my cry. Show loving-kindness to me and answer me. You have said, “Look for My face.” My heart said to You, “O Lord, Your face will I look for.” Do not hide Your face from me. Do not turn Your servant away in anger. You have been my Helper. Do not turn away from me or leave me alone, O God Who saves me! 10 For my father and my mother have left me. But the Lord will take care of me.

11 Teach me Your way, O Lord. Lead me in a straight path, because of those who fight against me. 12 Do not give me over to the desire of those who hate me. For people who tell lies about me rise against me, and breathe a desire to hurt me. 13 I would have been without hope if I had not believed that I would see the loving-kindness of the Lord in the land of the living. 14 Wait for the Lord. Be strong. Let your heart be strong. Yes, wait for the Lord.

Prayer for Help—Praise for the Answer

28 O Lord, to You I call. O my Rock, listen to me. If You will not hear me, I will be like those who have gone down to the grave. Hear my cry for loving-kindness as I call to You for help, and when I lift up my hands to Your holy place. Do not drag me away with the sinful and with those who do bad things. They speak peace with their neighbors, while sin is in their hearts. Pay them for their work and for the sins they do. Pay them for the works of their hands. Give them what they have earned. They do not think about the works of the Lord and what His hands have done. So He will pull them down and not build them up again.

May honor and thanks be given to the Lord, because He has heard my prayer. The Lord is my strength and my safe cover. My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. So my heart is full of joy. I will thank Him with my song. The Lord is the strength of His people. He is a safe place for His chosen one. Save Your people and bring good to what is Yours. Be their shepherd and carry them forever.

The Voice of the Lord in the Storm

29 Give to the Lord, O sons of the powerful. Give to the Lord shining-greatness and strength. Give to the Lord the honor that belongs to Him. Worship the Lord in the beauty of holy living.

The voice of the Lord is upon the waters. The God of shining-greatness thunders. The Lord is over many waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful. The voice of the Lord is great. The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars. Yes, the Lord breaks in pieces the tall cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon jump like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild bull. The voice of the Lord sends out lightning. The voice of the Lord shakes the desert. The Lord shakes the desert of Kadesh. The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth, and tears away the leaves of the trees. And in His holy house everything says, “Honor to God!”

10 The Lord sat as King over the flood. The Lord sits as King forever. 11 The Lord will give strength to His people. The Lord will give His people peace.

Prayer of Thanks

30 I will lift You up, O Lord, for You have lifted me up. You have not let those who hate me stand over me in joy. O Lord my God, I cried to You for help and You healed me. O Lord, You have brought me up from the grave. You have kept me alive, so that I will not go down into the deep. Sing praise to the Lord, all you who belong to Him. Give thanks to His holy name. For His anger lasts only a short time. But His favor is for life. Crying may last for a night, but joy comes with the new day.

As for me, when all was going well, I said, “I will never be moved.” O Lord, by Your favor You have made my mountain stand strong. But when You hid Your face, I was troubled. I cried to You, O Lord. I begged the Lord for loving-kindness. What good will come from my blood, if I go down to the grave? Will the dust thank You? Will it tell how You are faithful?

10 Hear, O Lord. And show me loving-kindness. O Lord, be my Helper. 11 You have turned my crying into dancing.You have taken off my clothes made from hair, and dressed me with joy. 12 So my soul may sing praise to You, and not be quiet. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.

Prayer of Trust in God

31 O Lord, in You I have found a safe place. Let me never be ashamed. Set me free, because You do what is right and good. Turn Your ear to me, and be quick to save me. Be my rock of strength, a strong place to keep me safe. For You are my rock and my safe place. For the honor of Your name, lead me and show me the way. You will free me from the net that they have hidden for me. For You are my strength. I give my spirit into Your hands. You have made me free, O Lord, God of truth.

I hate those who worship false gods. But I trust in the Lord. I will be glad and full of joy in Your loving-kindness. For You have seen my suffering. You have known the troubles of my soul. You have not given me into the hand of those who hate me. You have set my feet in a large place.

Show me loving-kindness, O Lord, for I am in trouble. My eyes, my soul and my body are becoming weak from being sad. 10 For my life gets weaker with sorrow, and my years with crying inside myself. My strength has left me because of my sin. And my bones waste away. 11 Because of all those who hate me, I have become a shame to my neighbors. Even my friends do not want to be with me. Those who see me on the street run from me. 12 I am forgotten like a dead man and they do not think about me. I am like a broken pot. 13 For I have heard many say things to hurt me. Fear is on every side. They planned together against me. They thought of ways to take away my life.

14 But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord. I say, “You are my God.” 15 My times are in Your hands. Free me from the hands of those who hate me, and from those who try to hurt me. 16 Make Your face shine upon Your servant. Save me in Your loving-kindness. 17 Do not let me be put to shame, O Lord. For I call to You. Let the sinful be put to shame. Let them be quiet in the grave. 18 Let the lying lips be quiet. For they speak with pride and hate those who do right and good.

19 How great is Your loving-kindness! You have stored it up for those who fear You. You show it to those who trust in You in front of the sons of men. 20 You will hide them with You in secret from the sinful plans of men. You keep them in Your tent in secret from those who fight with tongues. 21 Honor and thanks be to the Lord. For He has shown His great loving-favor to me when I was in a city with armies all around. 22 In my fear I said, “You have closed Your eyes to me!” But You heard my cry for loving-kindness when I called to You.

23 Love the Lord, all you who belong to Him! The Lord keeps the faithful safe. But He gives the proud their pay in full. 24 Be strong. Be strong in heart, all you who hope in the Lord.

Joy of Being Forgiven

32 How happy he is whose wrong-doing is forgiven, and whose sin is covered! How happy is the man whose sin the Lord does not hold against him, and in whose spirit there is nothing false.

When I kept quiet about my sin, my bones wasted away from crying all day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me. My strength was dried up as in the hot summer. I told my sin to You. I did not hide my wrong-doing. I said, “I will tell my sins to the Lord.” And You forgave the guilt of my sin. So let all who are God-like pray to You while You may be found, because in the floods of much water, they will not touch him. You are my hiding place. You keep me safe from trouble. All around me are your songs of being made free.

I will show you and teach you in the way you should go. I will tell you what to do with My eye upon you. Do not be like the horse or the donkey which have no understanding. They must be made to work by using bits and leather ropes or they will not come to you. 10 Many are the sorrows of the sinful. But loving-kindness will be all around the man who trusts in the Lord. 11 Be glad in the Lord and be full of joy, you who are right with God! Sing for joy all you who are pure in heart!

Song of Praise

33 Sing for joy in the Lord, you who are right with Him. It is right for the pure in heart to praise Him. Give thanks to the Lord with harps. Sing praises to Him with a harp of ten strings. Sing to Him a new song. Play well with loud sounds of joy. For the Word of the Lord is right. He is faithful in all He does. He loves what is right and good and what is fair. The earth is full of the loving-kindness of the Lord.

The heavens were made by the Word of the Lord. All the stars were made by the breath of His mouth. He gathers the waters of the sea together as in a bag. He places the waters in store-houses. Let all the earth fear the Lord. Let all the people of the world honor Him. For He spoke, and it was done. He spoke with strong words, and it stood strong. 10 The Lord brings the plans of nations to nothing. He wrecks the plans of the people. 11 The plans of the Lord stand forever. The plans of His heart stand through the future of all people. 12 Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord. Happy are the people He has chosen for His own.

13 The Lord looks from heaven. He sees all the sons of men. 14 From where He sits He looks upon all who live on the earth. 15 He made the hearts of them all. And He understands whatever they do. 16 No king is saved by the power of his strong army. A soldier is not saved by great strength. 17 A horse cannot be trusted to win a battle. Its great strength cannot save anyone.

18 See, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, and on those who hope for His loving-kindness, 19 to save their soul from death, and to keep them alive when there is nothing to eat. 20 Our soul waits for the Lord. He is our help and our safe cover. 21 For our heart is full of joy in Him, because we trust in His holy name. 22 O Lord, let Your loving-kindness be upon us as we put our hope in You.

Those Who Trust in God Are Happy

34 I will honor the Lord at all times. His praise will always be in my mouth. My soul will be proud to tell about the Lord. Let those who suffer hear it and be filled with joy. Give great honor to the Lord with me. Let us praise His name together.

I looked for the Lord, and He answered me. And He took away all my fears. They looked to Him and their faces shined with joy. Their faces will never be ashamed. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him. And He saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord stays close around those who fear Him, and He takes them out of trouble.

O taste and see that the Lord is good. How happy is the man who trusts in Him! O fear the Lord, all you who belong to Him. For those who fear Him never want for anything. 10 The young lions suffer want and hunger. But they who look for the Lord will not be without any good thing. 11 Come, you children, listen to me. I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 12 Who is the man who has a desire for life, and wants to live long so that he may see good things? 13 Keep your tongue from sin and your lips from speaking lies. 14 Turn away from what is sinful. Do what is good. Look for peace and follow it.

15 The eyes of the Lord are on those who do what is right and good. His ears are open to their cry. 16 The face of the Lord is against those who sin. He will keep the people of the earth from remembering them. 17 Those who are right with the Lord cry, and He hears them. And He takes them from all their troubles. 18 The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart. And He saves those who are broken in spirit.

19 A man who does what is right and good may have many troubles. But the Lord takes him out of them all. 20 He keeps all his bones safe. Not one of them is broken. 21 Sin will kill the sinful. And those who hate God’s people will be held guilty and punished forever. 22 The Lord saves the soul of those who work for Him. None of those who trust in Him will be held guilty.

Prayer for Help

35 O Lord, stand against those who stand against me. Fight those who fight me. Take hold of a safe-covering and rise up to help me. Take a spear and battle-ax against those who come to get me. Say to my soul, “I am the One Who saves you.” Let the people be ashamed and without honor who want to take my life. Let those be turned away and brought to shame who plan to hurt me. Let them be like straw in the wind. May the angel of the Lord drive them away. Let their way be dark and dangerous, with the angel of the Lord going to get them. For without a reason they hid their net for me. Without a reason, they dug a hole for my soul. Let them be destroyed before they know it. And let them be caught in their own net. May they destroy themselves as they fall into their own hole.

My soul will be happy in the Lord. It will be full of joy because He saves. 10 All my bones will say, “Lord, who is like You? Who saves the weak from those too strong for them? Who saves the poor from those who would rob them?” 11 People come telling lies. They ask me of things that I do not know. 12 They pay me what is bad in return for what is good. My soul is sad. 13 But when they were sick, I put on clothes made from hair. With no pride in my soul, I would not eat. And I prayed with my head on my chest. 14 I went about as if it were my friend or brother. I put my head down in sorrow, like one crying for his mother. 15 But when I would fall, they would gather together in joy. Those who say things to hurt people would gather against me. I did not know them. They spoke against me without stopping. 16 They ground their teeth at me like bad people making fun of others at a special supper.

17 Lord, how long will You look on? Save me from being destroyed by them. Save my life from the lions. 18 I will give You thanks in the big meeting. I will praise You among many people. 19 Do not let those who hate me for no reason stand over me with joy. Do not let those who hate me for no reason wink their eye. 20 They do not speak peace. But they make up lies against those who are quiet in the land. 21 And they opened their mouth wide against me. They said, “O, O, our eyes have seen it.”

22 You have seen it, O Lord. Do not keep quiet. O Lord, do not be far from me. 23 Awake Yourself. Come and help me. Fight for me, my God and my Lord. 24 Say what is right or wrong with me, O Lord my God, because You are right and good. Do not let them have joy over me. 25 Do not let them say in their heart, “O, just what we wanted!” Do not let them say, “We have swallowed him up!” 26 Let all who are happy because of my trouble be ashamed and without honor. Let those who think they are better than I, be covered with shame and without honor.

27 Let them call out for joy and be glad, who want to see the right thing done for me. Let them always say, “May the Lord be honored. He is pleased when all is going well for His servant.” 28 And my tongue will tell about how right and good You are, and about Your praise all day long.

Sinful Men—Loving God

36 Sin speaks to the sinful man within his heart. There is no fear of God in his eyes.