18.

1 [For the choir director： A psalm of David, the servant of the LORD. He sang this song to the LORD on the day the LORD rescued him from all his enemies and from Saul. He sang.] I love you, LORD; you are my strength.

2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.

3 I called on the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies.

4 The ropes of death entangled me; floods of destruction swept over me.

5 The grave wrapped its ropes around me; death laid a trap in my path.

6 But in my distress I cried out to the LORD; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to him reached his ears.

7 Then the earth quaked and trembled. The foundations of the mountains shook; they quaked because of his anger.

8 Smoke poured from his nostrils; fierce flames leaped from his mouth. Glowing coals blazed forth from him.

9 He opened the heavens and came down; dark storm clouds were beneath his feet.

10 Mounted on a mighty angelic being, he flew, soaring on the wings of the wind.

11 He shrouded himself in darkness, veiling his approach with dark rain clouds.

12 Thick clouds shielded the brightness around him and rained down hail and burning coals.

13 The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded amid the hail and burning coals.

14 He shot his arrows and scattered his enemies; his lightning flashed, and they were greatly confused.

15 Then at your command, O LORD, at the blast of your breath, the bottom of the sea could be seen, and the foundations of the earth were laid bare.

16 He reached down from heaven and rescued me; he drew me out of deep waters.

17 He rescued me from my powerful enemies, from those who hated me and were too strong for me.

18 They attacked me at a moment when I was in distress, but the LORD supported me.

19 He led me to a place of safety; he rescued me because he delights in me.

20 The LORD rewarded me for doing right; he restored me because of my innocence.

21 For I have kept the ways of the LORD; I have not turned from my God to follow evil.

22 I have followed all his regulations; I have never abandoned his decrees.

23 I am blameless before God; I have kept myself from sin.

24 The LORD rewarded me for doing right. He has seen my innocence.

25 To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity you show integrity.

26 To the pure you show yourself pure, but to the wicked you show yourself hostile.

27 You rescue the humble, but you humiliate the proud.

28 You light a lamp for me. The LORD, my God, lights up my darkness.

29 In your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall.

30 God's way is perfect. All the LORD's promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.

31 For who is God except the LORD? Who but our God is a solid rock?

32 God arms me with strength, and he makes my way perfect.

33 He makes me as surefooted as a deer, enabling me to stand on mountain heights.

34 He trains my hands for battle; he strengthens my arm to draw a bronze bow.

35 You have given me your shield of victory. Your right hand supports me; your help has made me great.

36 You have made a wide path for my feet to keep them from slipping.

37 I chased my enemies and caught them; I did not stop until they were conquered.

38 I struck them down so they could not get up; they fell beneath my feet.

39 You have armed me with strength for the battle; you have subdued my enemies under my feet.

40 You placed my foot on their necks. I have destroyed all who hated me.

41 They called for help, but no one came to their rescue. They even cried to the LORD, but he refused to answer.

42 I ground them as fine as dust in the wind. I swept them into the gutter like dirt.

43 You gave me victory over my accusers. You appointed me ruler over nations; people I don't even know now serve me.

44 As soon as they hear of me, they submit; foreign nations cringe before me.

45 They all lose their courage and come trembling from their strongholds.

46 The LORD lives! Praise to my Rock! May the God of my salvation be exalted!

47 He is the God who pays back those who harm me; he subdues the nations under me

48 and rescues me from my enemies. You hold me safe beyond the reach of my enemies; you save me from violent opponents.

49 For this, O LORD, I will praise you among the nations; I will sing praises to your name.

50 You give great victories to your king; you show unfailing love to your anointed, to David and all his descendants forever.

 

 

19.

1 [For the choir director： A psalm of David.] The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship.

2 Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known.

3 They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard.

4 Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world. God has made a home in the heavens for the sun.

5 It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding. It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race.

6 The sun rises at one end of the heavens and follows its course to the other end. Nothing can hide from its heat.

7 The instructions of the LORD are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

8 The commandments of the LORD are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are clear, giving insight for living.

9 Reverence for the LORD is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the LORD are true; each one is fair.

10 They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb.

11 They are a warning to your servant, a great reward for those who obey them.

12 How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults.

13 Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don't let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin.

14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

 

 

20.

1 [For the choir director： A psalm of David.] In times of trouble, may the LORD answer your cry. May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm.

2 May he send you help from his sanctuary and strengthen you from Jerusalem.

3 May he remember all your gifts and look favorably on your burnt offerings. Interlude

4 May he grant your heart's desires and make all your plans succeed.

5 May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory and raise a victory banner in the name of our God. May the LORD answer all your prayers.

6 Now I know that the LORD rescues his anointed king. He will answer him from his holy heaven and rescue him by his great power.

7 Some nations boast of their chariots and horses, but we boast in the name of the LORD our God.

8 Those nations will fall down and collapse, but we will rise up and stand firm.

9 Give victory to our king, O LORD! Answer our cry for help.

 

 

21.

1 [For the choir director： A psalm of David.] How the king rejoices in your strength, O LORD! He shouts with joy because you give him victory.

2 For you have given him his heart's desire; you have withheld nothing he requested. Interlude

3 You welcomed him back with success and prosperity. You placed a crown of finest gold on his head.

4 He asked you to preserve his life, and you granted his request. The days of his life stretch on forever.

5 Your victory brings him great honor, and you have clothed him with splendor and majesty.

6 You have endowed him with eternal blessings and given him the joy of your presence.

7 For the king trusts in the LORD. The unfailing love of the Most High will keep him from stumbling.

8 You will capture all your enemies. Your strong right hand will seize all who hate you.

9 You will throw them in a flaming furnace when you appear. The LORD will consume them in his anger; fire will devour them.

10 You will wipe their children from the face of the earth; they will never have descendants.

11 Although they plot against you, their evil schemes will never succeed.

12 For they will turn and run when they see your arrows aimed at them.

13 Rise up, O LORD, in all your power. With music and singing we celebrate your mighty acts.

 

 

22.

1 [For the choir director： A psalm of David, to be sung to the tune "Doe of the Dawn."] My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help?

2 Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer. Every night you hear my voice, but I find no relief.

3 Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.

4 Our ancestors trusted in you, and you rescued them.

5 They cried out to you and were saved. They trusted in you and were never disgraced.

6 But I am a worm and not a man. I am scorned and despised by all!

7 Everyone who sees me mocks me. They sneer and shake their heads, saying,

8 "Is this the one who relies on the LORD? Then let the LORD save him! If the LORD loves him so much, let the LORD rescue him!"

9 Yet you brought me safely from my mother's womb and led me to trust you at my mother's breast.

10 I was thrust into your arms at my birth. You have been my God from the moment I was born.

11 Do not stay so far from me, for trouble is near, and no one else can help me.

12 My enemies surround me like a herd of bulls; fierce bulls of Bashan have hemmed me in!

13 Like lions they open their jaws against me, roaring and tearing into their prey.

14 My life is poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax, melting within me.

15 My strength has dried up like sunbaked clay. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You have laid me in the dust and left me for dead.

16 My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs; an evil gang closes in on me. They have pierced my hands and feet.

17 I can count all my bones. My enemies stare at me and gloat.

18 They divide my garments among themselves and throw dice for my clothing.

19 O LORD, do not stay far away! You are my strength; come quickly to my aid!

20 Save me from the sword; spare my precious life from these dogs.

21 Snatch me from the lion's jaws and from the horns of these wild oxen.

22 I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you among your assembled people.

23 Praise the LORD, all you who fear him! Honor him, all you descendants of Jacob! Show him reverence, all you descendants of Israel!

24 For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy. He has not turned his back on them, but has listened to their cries for help.

25 I will praise you in the great assembly. I will fulfill my vows in the presence of those who worship you.

26 The poor will eat and be satisfied. All who seek the LORD will praise him. Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy.

27 The whole earth will acknowledge the LORD and return to him. All the families of the nations will bow down before him.

28 For royal power belongs to the LORD. He rules all the nations.

29 Let the rich of the earth feast and worship. Bow before him, all who are mortal, all whose lives will end as dust.

30 Our children will also serve him. Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord.

31 His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born. They will hear about everything he has done.

 

 

23.

1 [A psalm of David.] The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need.

2 He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.

3 He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.

4 Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

5 You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.

6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.