Chapters:
01. 11. 21. 31. 41.
51. 61. 71. 81.
91. 101. 111.
121. 131.
141.
1 Oh, the joys of those who do not follow evil men's advice, who do not hang around with sinners, scoffing at the things of God.
2 But they delight in doing everything God wants them to, and day and night are always meditating on his laws and thinking about ways to follow him more closely.
3 They are like trees along a riverbank bearing luscious fruit each season without fail. Their leaves shall never wither, and all they do shall prosper.
4 But for sinners, what a different story! They blow away like chaff before the wind.
5 They are not safe on Judgment Day; they shall not stand among the godly.
6 For the Lord watches over all the plans and paths of godly men, but the paths of the godless lead to doom.
Psalms 1:1-6 (Living)Back to Top
1 How dare you tell me, "Flee to the mountains for safety," when I am trusting in the Lord?
2 For the wicked have strung their bows, drawn their arrows tight against the bowstrings, and aimed from ambush at the people of God.
3 "Law and order have collapsed", we are told. "What can the righteous do but flee?"
4 But the Lord is still in his holy temple; he still rules from heaven. He closely watches everything that happens here on earth.
5 He puts the righteous and the wicked to the test; he hates those loving violence.
6 He will rain down fire and brimstone on the wicked and scorch them with his burning wind.
7 For God is good, and he loves goodness; the godly shall see his face.
Psalms 11:1-7 (Living)Back to Top
1 How the king rejoices in your strength, O Lord! How he exults in your salvation.
2 For you have given him his heart's desire, everything he asks you for!
3 You welcomed him to the throne with success and prosperity. You set a royal crown of solid gold upon his head.
4 He asked for a long, good life, and you have granted his request; the days of his life stretch on and on forever.
5 You have given him fame and honor. You have clothed him with splendor and majesty.
6 You have endowed him with eternal happiness. You have given him the unquenchable joy of your presence.
7 And because the king trusts in the Lord, he will never stumble, never fall; for he depends upon the steadfast love of the God who is above all gods.
8 Your hand, O Lord, will find your enemies, all who hate you.
9 ,10 When you appear, they will be destroyed in the fierce fire of your presence. The Lord will destroy them and their children.
11 For these men plot against you, Lord, but they cannot possibly succeed.
12 They will turn and flee when they see your arrows aimed straight at them.
13 Accept our praise, O Lord, for all your glorious power. We will write songs to celebrate your mighty acts!
Psalms 21:1-13 (Living)Back to Top
1 Lord, I trust in you alone. Don't let my enemies defeat me. Rescue me because you are the God who always does what is right.
2 Answer quickly when I cry to you; bend low and hear my whispered plea. Be for me a great Rock of safety from my foes.
3 Yes, you are my Rock and my fortress; honor your name by leading me out of this peril.
4 Pull me from the trap my enemies have set for me. For you alone are strong enough.
5 ,6 Into your hand I commit my spirit. You have rescued me, O God who keeps his promises. I worship only you; how you hate all those who worship idols, those imitation gods.
7 I am radiant with joy because of your mercy, for you have listened to my troubles and have seen the crisis in my soul.
8 You have not handed me over to my enemy but have given me open ground in which to maneuver.
9 ,10 O Lord, have mercy on me in my anguish. My eyes are red from weeping; my health is broken from sorrow. I am pining away with grief; my years are shortened, drained away because of sadness. My sins have sapped my strength; I stoop with sorrow and with shame.
11 I am scorned by all my enemies and even more by my neighbors and friends. They dread meeting me and look the other way when I go by.
12 I am forgotten like a dead man, like a broken and discarded pot.
13 I heard the lies about me, the slanders of my enemies. Everywhere I looked I was afraid, for they were plotting against my life.
14 ,15 But I am trusting you, O Lord. I said, "You alone are my God; my times are in your hands. Rescue me from those who hunt me down relentlessly.
16 Let your favor shine again upon your servant; save me just because you are so kind!
17 Don't disgrace me, Lord, by not replying when I call to you for aid. But let the wicked be shamed by what they trust in; let them lie silently in their graves,
18 their lying lips quieted at last--the lips of these arrogant men who are accusing honest men of evil deeds."
19 Oh, how great is your goodness to those who publicly declare that you will rescue them. For you have stored up great blessings for those who trust and reverence you.
20 Hide your loved ones in the shelter of your presence, safe beneath your hand, safe from all conspiring men.
21 Blessed is the Lord, for he has shown me that his never-failing love protects me like the walls of a fort!
22 I spoke too hastily when I said, "The Lord has deserted me," for you listened to my plea and answered me.
23 Oh, love the Lord, all of you who are his people; for the Lord protects those who are loyal to him, but harshly punishes all who haughtily reject him.
24 So cheer up! Take courage if you are depending on the Lord.
Psalms 31:1-24 (Living)Back to Top
1 God blesses those who are kind to the poor. He helps them out of their troubles.
2 He protects them and keeps them alive; he publicly honors them and destroys the power of their enemies.
3 He nurses them when they are sick and soothes their pains and worries.
4 "O Lord," I prayed, "be kind and heal me, for I have confessed my sins."
5 But my enemies say, "May he soon die and be forgotten!"
6 They act so friendly when they come to visit me while I am sick; but all the time they hate me and are glad that I am lying there upon my bed of pain. And when they leave, they laugh and mock.
7 They whisper together about what they will do when I am dead.
8 "It's fatal, whatever it is," they say. "He'll never get out of that bed!"
9 Even my best friend has turned against me--a man I completely trusted; how often we ate together.
10 Lord, don't you desert me! Be gracious, Lord, and make me well again so I can pay them back!
11 I know you are pleased with me because you haven't let my enemies triumph over me.
12 You have preserved me because I was honest; you have admitted me forever to your presence.
13 Bless the Lord, the God of Israel, who exists from everlasting ages past--and on into everlasting eternity ahead. Amen and amen!
Psalms 41:1-13 (Living)Back to Top
1 Written after Nathan the prophet had come to inform David of God's judgment against him because of his adultery with Bathsheba, and his murder of Uriah, her husband. O loving and kind God, have mercy. Have pity upon me and take away the awful stain of my transgressions.
2 Oh, wash me, cleanse me from this guilt. Let me be pure again.
3 For I admit my shameful deed--it haunts me day and night.
4 It is against you and you alone I sinned and did this terrible thing. You saw it all, and your sentence against me is just.
5 But I was born a sinner, yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.
6 You deserve honesty from the heart; yes, utter sincerity and truthfulness. Oh, give me this wisdom.
7 Sprinkle me with the cleansing blood and I shall be clean again. Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 And after you have punished me, give me back my joy again.
9 Don't keep looking at my sins--erase them from your sight.
10 Create in me a new, clean heart, O God, filled with clean thoughts and right desires.
11 Don't toss me aside, banished forever from your presence. Don't take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me again the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.
13 Then I will teach your ways to other sinners, and they--guilty like me--will repent and return to you.
14 ,15 Don't sentence me to death. O my God, you alone can rescue me. Then I will sing of your forgiveness, for my lips will be unsealed--oh, how I will praise you.
16 You don't want penance; if you did, how gladly I would do it! You aren't interested in offerings burned before you on the altar.
17 It is a broken spirit you want--remorse and penitence. A broken and a contrite heart, O God, you will not ignore.
18 And Lord, don't punish Israel for my sins--help your people and protect Jerusalem.
19 And when my heart is right, then you will rejoice in the good that I do and in the bullocks I bring to sacrifice upon your altar.
Psalms 51:1-19 (Living)Back to Top
1 O God, listen to me! Hear my prayer!
2 For wherever I am, though far away at the ends of the earth, I will cry to you for help. When my heart is faint and overwhelmed, lead me to the mighty, towering Rock of safety.
3 For you are my refuge, a high tower where my enemies can never reach me.
4 I shall live forever in your tabernacle; oh, to be safe beneath the shelter of your wings!
5 For you have heard my vows, O God, to praise you every day, and you have given me the blessings you reserve for those who reverence your name.
6 You will give me added years of life, as rich and full as those of many generations, all packed into one.
7 And I shall live before the Lord forever. Oh, send your loving-kindness and truth to guard and watch over me,
8 and I will praise your name continually, fulfilling my vow of praising you each day.
Psalms 61:1-8 (Living)Back to Top
1 Lord, you are my refuge! Don't let me down!
2 Save me from my enemies, for you are just! Rescue me! Bend down your ear and listen to my plea and save me.
3 Be to me a great protecting Rock, where I am always welcome, safe from all attacks. For you have issued the order to save me.
4 Rescue me, O God, from these unjust and cruel men.
5 O Lord, you alone are my hope; I've trusted you from childhood.
6 Yes, you have been with me from birth and have helped me constantly--no wonder I am always praising you!
7 My success--at which so many stand amazed--is because you are my mighty protector.
8 All day long I'll praise and honor you, O God, for all that you have done for me.
9 And now, in my old age, don't set me aside. Don't forsake me now when my strength is failing.
10 My enemies are whispering,
11 "God has forsaken him! Now we can get him. There is no one to help him now!"
12 O God, don't stay away! Come quickly! Help!
13 Destroy them! Cover them with failure and disgrace--these enemies of mine.
14 I will keep on expecting you to help me. I praise you more and more.
15 I cannot count the times when you have faithfully rescued me from danger. I will tell everyone how good you are, and of your constant, daily care.
16 I walk in the strength of the Lord God. I tell everyone that you alone are just and good.
17 O God, you have helped me from my earliest childhood--and I have constantly testified to others of the wonderful things you do.
18 And now that I am old and gray, don't forsake me. Give me time to tell this new generation (and their children too) about all your mighty miracles.
19 Your power and goodness, Lord, reach to the highest heavens. You have done such wonderful things. Where is there another God like you?
20 You have let me sink down deep in desperate problems. But you will bring me back to life again, up from the depths of the earth.
21 You will give me greater honor than before and turn again and comfort me.
22 I will praise you with music, telling of your faithfulness to all your promises, O Holy One of Israel.
23 I will shout and sing your praises for redeeming me.
24 I will talk to others all day long about your justice and your goodness. For all who tried to hurt me have been disgraced and dishonored.
Psalms 71:1-24 (Living)Back to Top
1 The Lord makes us strong! Sing praises! Sing to Israel's God!
2 Sing, accompanied by drums; pluck the sweet lyre and harp.
3 Sound the trumpet! Come to the joyous celebrations at full moon, new moon, and all the other holidays.
4 For God has given us these times of joy; they are scheduled in the laws of Israel.
5 He gave them as reminders of his war against Egypt where we were slaves on foreign soil. I heard an unknown voice that said,
6 "Now I will relieve your shoulder of its burden; I will free your hands from their heavy tasks."
7 He said, "You cried to me in trouble, and I saved you; I answered from Mount Sinai where the thunder hides. I tested your faith at Meribah, when you complained there was no water.
8 Listen to me, O my people, while I give you stern warnings. O Israel, if you will only listen!
9 You must never worship any other god, nor ever have an idol in your home.
10 For it was I, Jehovah your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt. Only test me! Open your mouth wide and see if I won't fill it. You will receive every blessing you can use!
11 "But no, my people won't listen. Israel doesn't want me around.
12 So I am letting them go their blind and stubborn way, living according to their own desires.
13 "But oh, that my people would listen to me! Oh, that Israel would follow me, walking in my paths!
14 How quickly then I would subdue her enemies! How soon my hands would be upon her foes!
15 Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him; their desolation would last forever.
16 But he would feed you with the choicest foods. He would satisfy you with honey for the taking."
Psalms 81:1-16 (Living)Back to Top
1 We live within the shadow of the Almighty, sheltered by the God who is above all gods.
2 This I declare, that he alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I am trusting him.
3 For he rescues you from every trap and protects you from the fatal plague.
4 He will shield you with his wings! They will shelter you. His faithful promises are your armor.
5 Now you don't need to be afraid of the dark anymore, nor fear the dangers of the day;
6 nor dread the plagues of darkness, nor disasters in the morning.
7 Though a thousand fall at my side, though ten thousand are dying around me, the evil will not touch me.
8 I will see how the wicked are punished, but I will not share it.
9 For Jehovah is my refuge! I choose the God above all gods to shelter me.
10 How then can evil overtake me or any plague come near?
11 For he orders his angels to protect you wherever you go.
12 They will steady you with their hands to keep you from stumbling against the rocks on the trail.
13 You can safely meet a lion or step on poisonous snakes, yes, even trample them beneath your feet!
14 For the Lord says, "Because he loves me, I will rescue him; I will make him great because he trusts in my name.
15 When he calls on me, I will answer; I will be with him in trouble and rescue him and honor him.
16 I will satisfy him with a full life and give him my salvation."
Psalms 91:1-16 (Living)Back to Top
1 I will sing about your loving-kindness and your justice, Lord. I will sing your praises!
2 I will try to walk a blameless path, but how I need your help, especially in my own home, where I long to act as I should.
3 Help me to refuse the low and vulgar things; help me to abhor all crooked deals of every kind, to have no part in them.
4 I will reject all selfishness and stay away from every evil.
5 I will not tolerate anyone who secretly slanders his neighbors; I will not permit conceit and pride.
6 I will make the godly of the land my heroes and invite them to my home. Only those who are truly good shall be my servants.
7 But I will not allow those who deceive and lie to stay in my house.
8 My daily task will be to ferret out criminals and free the city of God from their grip.
Psalms 101:1-8 (Living)Back to Top
1 ,2 Hallelujah! I want to express publicly before his people my heartfelt thanks to God for his mighty miracles. All who are thankful should ponder them with me.
3 For his miracles demonstrate his honor, majesty, and eternal goodness.
4 Who can forget the wonders he performs--deeds of mercy and of grace?
5 He gives food to those who trust him; he never forgets his promises.
6 He has shown his great power to his people by giving them the land of Israel, though it was the home of many nations living there.
7 All he does is just and good, and all his laws are right,
8 for they are formed from truth and goodness and stand firm forever.
9 He has paid a full ransom for his people; now they are always free to come to Jehovah (what a holy, awe-inspiring name that is).
10 How can men be wise? The only way to begin is by reverence for God. For growth in wisdom comes from obeying his laws. Praise his name forever.
Psalms 111:1-10 (Living)Back to Top
1 Shall I look to the mountain gods for help?
2 No! My help is from Jehovah who made the mountains! And the heavens too!
3 ,4 He will never let me stumble, slip, or fall. For he is always watching, never sleeping.
5 Jehovah himself is caring for you! He is your defender.
6 He protects you day and night.
7 He keeps you from all evil and preserves your life.
8 He keeps his eye upon you as you come and go and always guards you.
Psalms 121:1-8 (Living)Back to Top
1 Lord, I am not proud and haughty. I don't think myself better than others. I don't pretend to "know it all."
2 I am quiet now before the Lord, just as a child who is weaned from the breast. Yes, my begging has been stilled.
3 O Israel, you too should quietly trust in the Lord--now, and always.
Psalms 131:1-3 (Living)Back to Top
1 Quick, Lord, answer me--for I have prayed. Listen when I cry to you for help!
2 Regard my prayer as my evening sacrifice and as incense wafting up to you.
3 Help me, Lord, to keep my mouth shut and my lips sealed.
4 Take away my lust for evil things; don't let me want to be with sinners, doing what they do, sharing their delicacies.
5 Let the godly smite me! It will be a kindness! If they reprove me, it is medicine! Don't let me refuse it. But I am in constant prayer against the wicked and their deeds.
6 ,7 When their leaders are condemned, and their bones are strewn across the ground, then these men will finally listen to me and know that I am trying to help them.
8 I look to you for help, O Lord God. You are my refuge. Don't let them slay me.
9 Keep me out of their traps.
10 Let them fall into their own snares, while I escape.
Psalms 141:1-10 (Living)Back to Top
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Author: Emanuel B.
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