Psalm 1

The Two Ways

How happy is the one who does not
walk in the advice of the wicked
or stand in the pathway with sinners
or sit in the company of mockers!(A)
Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction,
and he meditates on it day and night.(B)
He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams[a]
that bears its fruit in its season,(C)
and its leaf does not wither.(D)
Whatever he does prospers.(E)

The wicked are not like this;
instead, they are like chaff that the wind blows away.(F)
Therefore the wicked will not stand up in the judgment,(G)
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,(H)
but the way of the wicked leads to ruin.(I)

Psalm 2

Coronation of the Son

Why(J) do the nations rage(K)
and the peoples plot in vain?(L)
The kings of the earth take their stand,(M)
and the rulers conspire together
against the Lord and his Anointed One:[b](N)
“Let’s tear off their chains
and throw their ropes off of us.”(O)

The one enthroned[c] in heaven laughs;
the Lord ridicules them.(P)
Then he speaks to them in his anger
and terrifies them in his wrath:(Q)
“I have installed my king
on Zion, my holy mountain.”(R)

I will declare the Lord’s decree.
He said to me, “You are my Son;[d]
today I have become your Father.(S)
Ask of me,
and I will make the nations your inheritance
and the ends of the earth your possession.(T)
You will break them with an iron scepter;
you will shatter them like pottery.”(U)

10 So now, kings, be wise;
receive instruction, you judges of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with reverential awe
and rejoice with trembling.(V)
12 Pay homage to[e] the Son or he will be angry
and you will perish in your rebellion,[f](W)
for his anger may ignite at any moment.(X)
All who take refuge in him are happy.(Y)

Psalm 3

Confidence in Troubled Times

A psalm of David when he fled from his son Absalom.(Z)

Lord, how my foes increase!
There are many who attack me.(AA)
Many say about me,
“There is no help for him in God.”(AB)Selah

But you, Lord, are a shield around me,(AC)
my glory,(AD) and the one who lifts up my head.(AE)
I cry aloud to the Lord,
and he answers me from his holy mountain.(AF)Selah

I lie down and sleep;
I wake again because the Lord sustains me.(AG)
I will not be afraid of thousands of people
who have taken their stand against me on every side.(AH)

Rise up, Lord!(AI)
Save me, my God!
You strike all my enemies on the cheek;(AJ)
you break the teeth of the wicked.(AK)
Salvation belongs to the Lord;(AL)
may your blessing be on your people.(AM)Selah

Footnotes

  1. 1:3 Or beside irrigation channels
  2. 2:2 Or anointed one
  3. 2:4 Lit who sits
  4. 2:7 Or son, also in v. 12
  5. 2:12 Lit Kiss
  6. 2:12 Lit perish in the way

Psalm 16

Confidence in the Lord

A Miktam of David.(A)

Protect me, God, for I take refuge in you.(B)
I[a] said to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
I have nothing good besides you.”[b](C)
As for the holy people who are in the land,(D)
they are the noble ones.
All my delight is in them.
The sorrows of those who take another god
for themselves will multiply;
I will not pour out their drink offerings of blood,
and I will not speak their names with my lips.(E)

Lord, you are my portion[c]
and my cup of blessing;
you hold my future.(F)
The boundary lines have fallen for me
in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.(G)

I will bless the Lord who counsels me(H)
even at night when my thoughts trouble me.[d](I)
I always let the Lord guide me.[e]
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.(J)

Therefore my heart is glad
and my whole being rejoices;
my body also rests securely.(K)
10 For you will not abandon me to Sheol;(L)
you will not allow your faithful one to see decay.(M)
11 You reveal the path of life to me;
in your presence is abundant joy;(N)
at your right hand are eternal pleasures.(O)

Psalm 17

A Prayer for Protection

A prayer of David.

Lord, hear a just cause;(P)
pay attention to my cry;
listen to my prayer—
from lips free of deceit.(Q)
Let my vindication come from you,
for you see what is right.(R)
You have tested my heart;(S)
you have examined me at night.
You have tried me and found nothing evil;(T)
I have determined that my mouth will not sin.[f]
Concerning what people do:
by the words from your lips
I have avoided the ways of the violent.(U)
My steps are on your paths;
my feet have not slipped.(V)

I call on you, God,
because you will answer me;(W)
listen closely to me; hear what I say.
Display the wonders of your faithful love,(X)
Savior of all who seek refuge(Y)
from those who rebel against your right hand.[g]
Protect me as the pupil of your eye;(Z)
hide me in the shadow of your wings(AA)
from[h] the wicked who treat me violently,[i]
my deadly enemies who surround me.(AB)

10 They are uncaring;[j](AC)
their mouths speak arrogantly.(AD)
11 They advance against me;[k] now they surround me.(AE)
They are determined[l]
to throw me to the ground.(AF)
12 They are[m] like a lion eager to tear,
like a young lion lurking in ambush.(AG)

13 Rise up, Lord!
Confront him; bring him down.(AH)
With your sword, save me from the wicked.(AI)
14 With your hand, Lord, save me from men,
from men of the world
whose portion is in this life:
You fill their bellies with what you have in store;
their sons are satisfied,
and they leave their surplus to their children.(AJ)

15 But I will see your face in righteousness;(AK)
when I awake, I will be satisfied with your presence.[n](AL)

Footnotes

  1. 16:2 Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr, Jer; other Hb mss read You
  2. 16:2 Or “Lord, my good; there is none besides you.”
  3. 16:5 Or allotted portion
  4. 16:7 Or at night my heart instructs me
  5. 16:8 Lit I place the Lord in front of me always
  6. 17:3 Or evil; my mouth will not sin
  7. 17:7 Or love, you who save with your right hand those seeking refuge from adversaries
  8. 17:9 Lit from the presence of
  9. 17:9 Or who plunder me
  10. 17:10 Lit have closed up their fat
  11. 17:11 Vg; MT reads Our steps
  12. 17:11 Lit They set their eyes
  13. 17:12 Lit He is
  14. 17:15 Lit form

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