The Readable Bible: Psalms

The Readable Bible

Psalms

From Iron Stream Media

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The

Psalms

Prayers, Praises, and Lessons

Translated and Edited by Rodney S. Laughlin Brendan I. Kennedy, PhD

Birmingham, Alabama

The Readable Bible: Psalms

Iron Stream

An imprint of Iron Stream Media 100 Missionary Ridge Birmingham, AL 35242 www.ironstreammedia.com

Copyright © 2022 by Rodney S. Laughlin

The Readable Bible text may be quoted in any form (written, visual, electronic, or audio) up to and inclusive of five hundred verses without express written permission of the publisher provided that (a) the verses quoted do not account for more than 25 percent of the total work in which they are quoted, (b) no more than 25 percent of a book of the Bible is quoted, (c) all quotations conform accurately to The Readable Bible text, and (d) one of the following credit lines appears on the copyright page or title page of the work:

Scripture quotations marked TRB are taken from The Readable Bible®. Copyright © 2022 by Rodney S. Laughlin, Leawood, Kansas. Used by permission of Iron Stream Media.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from The Readable Bible®. Copyright © 2022 by Rodney S. Laughlin, Leawood, Kansas. Used by permission of Iron Stream Media.

When quotations from The Readable Bible text are used in not-for-sale media (e.g., church bulletins, orders of service, newsletters, digital presentations), a copyright notice is not required, but the initials “TRB” must appear at the end of each quotation. Websites and blogs may quote up to five hundred verses without express written permission provided they include the initials “TRB” at the end of each quotation and provided that the verses quoted account for not more than 25 percent of any web page upon which they appear and that no more than 25 percent of a book of the Bible is quoted.

Quotations not covered by the above guidelines must be approved in writing by Iron Stream Media. Send requests to info@ironstreammedia.com or to the address above.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022938636

Cover design: twoline | | Studio

Interior designer/illustrator: Clyde Adams (www.clydeadams.com) Map geographic features courtesy of Bible Mapper (www.biblemapper.com).

Typeface: Veritas AE from Altered Ego Fonts, a division of Aespire

The Book of Psalms

1

Psalm

The Way of the Righteous

A Warning to Kings and Judges

Trusting God When in Trouble.................................................

Psalm 4: Standing for God

5: A Cry for Help

6: A Sinner’s Prayer of Distress

Psalm 7: A Prayer of the Persecuted Victorious

Psalm 8: The Generosity of God

Psalm 9: A Joyful Song of Confidence in God

Psalm 10: Trusting God in the Midst of the Wicked

Psalm 11: Trusting, Not Fleeing

Psalm 12: A Prayer in the Midst of Vile Behavior

Psalm 13: Singing When God Cannot Be Found

Psalm 14: The Fool

Psalm 15: Who Abides with God?

Psalm 16: Confidence in God Our Refuge

Psalm 17: Seeking Shelter in God

Psalm 18: David’s Song of Victory

Psalm 19: The Heavens Declare

Law Is Perfect

Psalm 20: A Prayer for the King

Psalm 21: Thanksgiving for the King’s Success

Psalm 22: The Suffering Servant

Psalm 23: The Shepherd’s Psalm

24

Psalm 24: He Is the King of Glory 24

Psalm 25: A Prayer for Pardon 25

Psalm 26: A Call for Vindication 26

Psalm 27: The Lord Is My Light and My Salvation 27

Psalm 28: The Lord Is My Strength 28

Psalm 29: The Voice of the Lord 29

Psalm 30: Thanksgiving for Restoration 30

Psalm 31: A Prayer of Trust in God 31

Psalm 32: The Blessing of Forgiveness 33

Psalm 33: Rejoice in the Lord 34

Psalm 34: Fear the Lord 35

Psalm 35: A Call for God’s Protection 36

Psalm 36: The Sin of the Wicked 38

The Mercy of the Lord 39

Psalm 37: Do Not Worry 39

Psalm 38: Remember Me 42

Psalm 39: A Prayer When Under Discipline 43

Psalm 40: Waiting, Praying, and Trusting 44

Psalm 41: Considering the Poor 46 Praying for Mercy 46 Closing Doxology 47

Book 2

Psalm 42: The Downcast Soul (Part 1)................................................... 47

Psalm 43: The Downcast Soul (Part 2) 48

Psalm 44: Israel’s Lament 49

Psalm 45: A Subject’s Note to His King and Queen 50

Psalm 46: God Is Our Refuge and Our Strength 52

Psalm 47: Clap and Sing Praises 53

Psalm 48: Celebrating Jerusalem 53

Psalm 49: The Futility of Wealth 54

Psalm 50: Offer Praise and Order Your Life 55

Psalm 51: A Psalm for the Penitent 57

Psalm 52: David’s Grief When Saul Murdered the Priests of the Lord 58

Psalm 53: The Fool 59

Psalm 54: David in Distress 60

Psalm 55: A Psalm for the Troubled 60

Psalm 56: David Calls for Help and Trusts God 62

Psalm 57: Praising God in the Midst of Trouble 63

Psalm 58: Confidence That God Will Judge the Wicked 64

Psalm 59: A Call for Deliverance

65

Psalm 60: A Plea for Restoration 66

Psalm 61: Trust in God 67

Psalm 62: Waiting for God 68

Psalm 63: Thirsting for God 69

Psalm 64: Praying and Trusting for Protection 69

Psalm 65: Praise to God 70

God’s Care of the Earth 70

Psalm 66: Praise for God’s Mighty Works 71

Psalm 67: A Blessing 72

Psalm 68: Celebrating God’s Victory 73

Psalm 69: A Prayer of Confession for Deliverance 75

Psalm 70: A Cry for Speedy Deliverance 78

Psalm 71: Taking Refuge in God 78

Psalm 72: A Prayer for a King 80 Closing Doxology 81

Book 3

Psalm 73: The Prosperity of the Wicked Bemoaned

81 The Prosperity of the Wicked Understood

82 Asaph Repents

Psalm 74: Why Has God Deserted Us?

82

83

Psalm 75: God Is the Judge............................................................... 84

Psalm 76: God, the Powerful Judge

Psalm 77: Seeking God in the Day of Trouble

Psalm 78: God’s Faithfulness to Israel

Psalm 79: A Prayer of the Crushed

85

86

87

91

Psalm 80: A Prayer for the Restoration of Israel 92

Psalm 81: A Call to Faithfulness 93

Psalm 82: A Call to Justice 94

Psalm 83: A Prayer for Destruction of God’s Enemies 95

Psalm 84: Longing to Be with God 96

Psalm 85: Confidence in God 97

Psalm 86: A Believer’s Prayer for Favor 98

Psalm 87: Celebrating Zion 99

Psalm 88: A Cry of One Who Is Distressed 100

Psalm 89: Singing Praise When in Turmoil 101 Closing Doxology 103

Book 4

Psalm 90: Establish Us, Though We Are Little

Psalm 91: Abiding in the Shadow of the Almighty

Psalm 92: A Sabbath Song

Psalm 93: The Lord Reigns

Psalm 94: A Call for God’s Vengeance

Psalm 95: Come, Let Us Sing to the Lord

Psalm 96: Sing and Worship the Lord

Psalm 97: Rejoice and Be Glad That God Reigns

Psalm 98: Sing and Make a Joyful Noise

Psalm 99: Exalt the Lord, for He Is Holy

Psalm 100: A Psalm of Thanksgiving

Psalm 101: A Pledge of the Faithful

Psalm 102: A Prayer of the Overwhelmed..............................................

Psalm 103: Bless the Lord

Psalm 104: Blessing God and Praising His Works

Psalm 105: Make Known the Deeds of the Lord 119

How God Remembers His Covenant

Psalm 106: Israel’s Unfaithfulness, God’s Faithfulness

Doxology

Book 5

Psalm 107: Give Thanks to the Lord 124

Psalm 108: The Steadfast Heart

Psalm 109: A Prayer Against the Wicked

Psalm 110: David Sings of His Messiah

127

Psalm 111: The Works of the Lord Are Great 129

Psalm 112: About the Righteous

Psalm 113: Praise the Lord

Psalm 114: The Lord Delivered Israel

Psalm 115: Trust the Lord, Not Idols

Psalm 116: The Lord Is Gracious

Psalm 117: Praise Him

Psalm 118: Trusting in the Lord

Psalm 119: Blessed Are the Blameless

My Way Pure

for God’s Law in My Life

God’s Word Brings Hope

Is My Portion

Benefit of Affliction

Hands

for God’s

God’s Words Are Forever

The Law Brings

141

Word Is a Lamp 141

and Faithful 142

A Prayer of the Righteous 142 God Is Righteous 143

Out to God 143

A Prayer for Deliverance 144

with God in Persecution 144

Cry for Understanding and Help 145

Psalm 120: A Cry for Deliverance from Deceivers 145

Psalm 121: Our Help Comes from the Lord 146

Psalm 122: Jerusalem 146

Psalm 123: A Prayer for Mercy 147

Psalm 124: Recognizing God’s Deliverance 147

Psalm 125: The Lord Surrounds His People 148

Psalm 126: Sowing in Tears, Reaping in Joy 148

Psalm 127: God Is Our Provider 149

Psalm 128: Blessed Is Everyone Who Fears the Lord 149 Psalm 129: Against the Wicked 150 Psalm 130: Waiting upon the Lord 150 Psalm 131: Content Before the Lord 151

Psalm 132: David’s Devotion and God’s Promise

Psalm 133: Family Unity

Psalm 134: Bless and Be Blessed

Psalm 135: Praise the Lord

Psalm 136: His Lovingkindness Endures Forever

Psalm 137: Remembering Jerusalem in Babylon

Psalm 138: Praising God with a Whole Heart

Psalm 139: The Ever-Present, All-Knowing God

Psalm 140: Deliver Me from the Evil Man

Psalm 141: Lord, Keep Me from Evil

Psalm 142: You Are My Refuge

Psalm 143: A Prayer of the Troubled

Psalm 144: Blessed Lord, Deliver Us!

Psalm 145: God Is Great and Near

Psalm 146: Trust in God, Not Princes

Psalm 147: God Does It All

Psalm 148: Everyone, Praise the Lord

Psalm 149: Sing and Fight

150: Praise Him

Preface

To the Reader

One day I was standing in an airport bookstore looking for a book to read. I asked myself, “Why am I looking for something to read when I have a Bible in my briefcase?” I answered, “The Bible is hard to read. I want to read something easier.” Then I asked myself, “Why is it so hard to read? You’re a seminary graduate, a former pastor, a Bible teacher!” Thus began a quest that has led to The Readable Bible—the Bible as it would look if Moses, Joshua, Matthew, Mark, Paul, and the other writers had been sitting in front of a computer when God spoke through them. It seems to me that the Bible is hard to read because all material is presented in sentence format. Today we use tables to present census information and charts for genealogies. When we want something built, we draw up a specification document. Law codes are organized in outline form. We use bullet points, bold text, and other aids to help us grasp information. Yet in today’s Bibles, all the information is still presented in sentence format in plain text. Surely those men of old would have used modern formats if they had known about them when God spoke through them. Modern formatting does not change the information; it simply presents it in a way that makes it easier to grasp. The Readable Bible brings you the biblical text in modern formats.

You may struggle with the idea of Scripture in modern formats. Actually, all of today’s Bibles present the text in a form much different from that of the original manuscripts. Consider how many format changes that were developed over the past two thousand years led to the format considered normal today. Each change was radical in its time:

• Vowels: The earliest Hebrew manuscripts have no vowels; they were added hundreds of years later.

• Capital Letters: The Hebrew Old Testament and the Greek New Testament manuscripts have no uppercase and lowercase letters.

• Punctuation: The original manuscripts have no punctuation (no commas or periods!).

• Chapter Numbers: These were not common in Bibles until the thirteenth century AD.

• Verse Numbers: The first verse-numbering system was developed over a thousand years after the last Bible book was written. It had one-third of today’s verse numbers, making verses three or four times longer. Today’s Christian Bible numbering system was not developed until the sixteenth century.

• Paragraphs: The first paragraphed King James Bible was published in the mid-1800s.

So presenting the words of Scripture in tables, cascading the text of long, complex sentences, and using other modern formatting techniques is simply continuing the long-term trend of making the Bible easier to understand.

Our hope is that people who have never read the Bible will decide to read this version because it is so approachable. Please give a copy to someone who struggles to understand the Bible and, especially, to those who do not read the Bible.

Acknowledgments

My thanks to all the members of our editing team, our volunteer development team, and the many others who have donated funds and worked to bring The Readable Bible to completion.

A big “thank you” to my designer and partner in this project, Clyde Adams, for joining me in this faith venture. He has turned the translation into well-laid-out text and my formatting concepts into reality. The maps, tables, charts, book layout, and cover are all his work.

Most of all, I thank my wife, Rebecca, for her ideas, her love, and her strong support of this endeavor over the past twelve years.

Dedication

And now I dedicate to our Lord this translation of his holy Word, humbly asking him to grant that it may bring forth fruit to his glory and the building up of his people.

L

Introduction to Psalmsa

Psalms is that unique book in which we can all discover that we are just like the people of old. Like them:

Our hearts yearn to know God.

We grieve over our sins.

We ask for mercy when we go wrong.

We cry out for God’s help when we are under pressure.

We rejoice in the Lord when he delivers us.

Individuals, groups, and congregations have used psalms to express their hearts and minds to the Lord and to each other. The 150 psalms gathered together in the Book of Psalms are the ones that Jewish believers accepted as inspired by God, and they have been accepted as such by the Christian church. Some tell us about Israel’s history and relationship with God. Others express complaints, calls for help, anguish, fear, faith, awe, joy, and praise. Though all the psalms poured out of the hearts and minds of real people, each is the Word of God. Thus, each one gives us insight into our Creator. In addition, every psalm gives us some insight into the inner and outer lives of the psalmists. We see the reality, depth, strengths, and weaknesses of their faith. We see their hearts laid open in conversation with God.

Jesus had not yet come to earth at the time the Psalms were written, so the psalmists had not been taught of his love or how we are to love our enemies and pray for them. Not knowing the full love of God, not having the Holy Spirit in their lives on a daily basis, they prayed against their enemies and for God to curse them and bring his judgment upon them. We know what they did not know, so we do not follow their example in such matters. On the other hand, the psalmists loved God and left us a great heritage of words of praise, wonder, truth, and beauty.

Marvel at how the hearts of these people, who lived thousands of years ago and live in heaven today, are no different than our hearts. As you read, join them by placing an open mind and heart before God.

Before You Read

Words in italics are additions to the biblical text.

We encourage you to read “Translation Notes” and “Format and Presentation Notes” in the back of the book. They are easy reading and will increase your understanding of the text.

Please browse the glossary before you begin reading. You will find helpful information about words that appear frequently in this book, as well as important explanations of the words “L,” “Yahweh,” and “Selah” (which is presented in gray text at the right margin).

a “Psalms”: a transliterated Greek word referring to songs accompanied by instruments. The Hebrew Bible title, tehillim, means “praises.”

Psalms

1

Psalm 1

The Way of the Righteous

1 Blessed is the one

Who does not Walk in the counsel of the wicked, Stand in the way of sinners, or Sit in a seat with scoffers;

2 Whose delight is in the law of the L, and Who meditates on his law day and night.

3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water That yields its fruit in season and Whose leaf does not wither. Whatever that person does prospers.

4 The wicked are not so But are like the chaff a that the wind drives away.

5 Therefore The wicked will not have standingb in the judgment, Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

6 For

The L knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked will perish.

Psalm 2

A Warning to Kings and Judges

1 Why do The pagan nations rage, The people plot in vain,

2 The kings of the earth take their stand, and The rulers take counsel together Against the L and Against his anointed? They say,

3 “Let us break their chains and cast away their cords.”

a “Chaff”: the cover of the grain that is separated by threshing and then discarded. Since it is much lighter than the grain, the wind can be used to separate it from the grain.

b Literally, “will not rise,” in the sense of exercising rule or having influence.

4 He who is enthroneda in the heavens laughs; The Lord scoffs at them.

5 In time he will

Speak to them in his wrath, Terrify them with his fury, 6 and Tell them, “I, yes I, have installed my king in Zion, upon my holy hill.”

7 I will proclaim the L’s decree, for he has said to me, “You are my son; Today I have become your father.b

8 Ask me, and I will make The pagan nations your inheritance and The ends of the earth your possession.

9 You will break them with a rod of iron and shatter them like pottery.”

10 Now therefore, you kings, Be wise.

You rulers of the earth, Be warned:

11 Serve the L with fear; Rejoice with trembling;

12 Pay homage to the son,c So he will not be angry and you will not perish while on your way, For his wrath lights up quickly.

Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

3 Psalm

Trusting God When in Trouble

A psalm of David.

Written when he fled from Absalom, his son.

1 O L

,

How my foes have increased. So many rise up against me; 2 So many say about my life,d “God will not save him.”e Selah

3 But you, O L

, are A shield around me, My glory, and The lifter of my head.f

a Literally, “who sits.”

b Literally, “I am becoming your father,” or “I am fathering you,” in the sense of doing the things a father does to raise his child.

c Literally, “kiss the son”: a metaphor for paying homage (i.e., making a formal public acknowledgment of allegiance to a ruler).

d Or “of my soul.”

e Literally, “There is no salvation from God for him.”

f Meaning, “You lift my chin,” an encouraging gesture.

4 I cry aloud to the L,

And he answers me from his holy hill.

5 I, yes I, lie down, sleep, and wake up, Because the L sustains me.

6 I will not be afraid, even if ten thousand enemies surround me.a

7 Arise, O L;

Save me, O my God; Strike all my enemies on the cheek; Shatter the teeth of the wicked.b

8 Salvation comes from the L.

May your blessing be upon your people.

A psalm of David. To the music director: accompanied by stringed instruments.

1 O God of my righteousness,c Answer me when I call; Relieve me of distress; Have mercy on me; and Hear my prayer.

2 O you children of men, How long will you Turn my glory into shame, Love what is worthless, and Chase after what is not true?

3 Know that

The L has set apart the godly for himself; The L hears when I call to him.

Selah

Selah

Psalm 4

Standing for God

Selah

4 Tremble, and do not sin; Commune d with your own heart upon your bed, and be still; Selah

5 Offer righteous sacrifices,e and trust in the L.

a Literally, “be afraid of ten thousand people set against me all around.”

b Or “You have broken my enemies . . . you have broken the teeth.”

c Or “O righteous God.”

d Literally, “Speak.”

e Or “proper sacrifices.”

6 Many say, “Who will show us any good?” But I say,

, Smile,

Shine the light of your face upon us.

7 You have put gladness in my heart More than they have when their grain and wine abound.

8 I will both lie down in peace and sleep, For only you, O L

, make me dwell in safety.”

5 Psalm A Cry for Help

A psalm of David.

To the music director: accompanied by flutes.a

1 Listen to my words, O L

; Consider my groans.

2 Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, For I am praying to you.

3 In the morning you hear my voice, O L

; In the morning I lay my prayersb before you; And then I wait.

4 For you are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness. Evil does not dwell in you;

5 The arrogant do not stand before your eyes; You hate all who do evil;

6 You destroy those who tell lies; You, the L, abhor men of bloodshed and deceit.

7 As for me, I enter your house only because of your abundant lovingkindness; I bow down in fear toward your holy temple.

8 Guide me, O L, in your righteousness because of my enemies; Make your way straight before me.

9 For

There is no truth in their mouths; Their inward desires are destructive; Their throats are open graves; and They flatter with their tongues.

10 Hold them guilty, O God; Let them fall by their own intrigues. Cast them out because of the multitude of their transgressions, For they have rebelled against you.

a “Flutes”: The exact musical instrument is uncertain. b Literally, “lay it.”

But

Let all those who take refuge in you rejoice;

Let them sing for joy forever.

Shelter them;a

Let those who love your name rejoice in you.

12 For you, O L

, bless the godly person;b You surround them with your favor like a shield.

Psalm 6

A Sinner’s Prayer of Distress

A psalm of David.

To the music director: accompanied by stringed instruments. According to sheminith.

1 O L

L

L

4 L

Do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath.

2 Be gracious to me, O

for I am frail.

Heal me, for my bones are in agony, and 3 my soul is so troubled.

How long until you act?

Turn to me; Rescue my soul; Save me according to your lovingkindness,

5 For no one remembers you, O Lord, when they are dead.c (Who gives praise to you from the grave?)

6 I am tired of my groaning.

Every night my bed swims in tears—I’m dissolving my couch in tears!

7 My eyes are blurredd from weeping because of my grief, worn out because of all my enemies.

8 Get away from me, all you who do evil, For

The L

9 The L

has heard the sound of my weeping;

has heard my supplication; The L

will receive my prayer.

10 All my enemies will be ashamed and deeply troubled. They will turn back suddenly, in shame.

a Literally, “Cover them.”

b Or “the righteous person.

c Literally, “There is no remembrance of you in death.”

d Literally, “My eyes waste away.”

A Prayer of the Persecuted Victorious

A shiggaion of David, which he sang to the L regarding the words of Cush, the Benjamite.

1 O L my God, I take refuge in you; Save me from all those who pursue me. Deliver me, 2 So they do not Tear apart my soul like a lion and Drag me away a while there is no one to deliver me.

3 O L my God, if I have done this: If there is injustice on my hands, 4 If I have rewarded my friend with evil, If I have plundered my enemy without cause, 5 Then let my enemy Pursue my soul and overtake it, Trample my life into the ground, and Lay my glory in the dust. Selah

6 O L, Arise in anger; Rise up against the rage of my enemies; Wake up and command justice. 7 Gather the assembled peoples around you; Then return to your throne on high and rule over them.b

8 The L judges the peoples. Judge me, O L, According to my righteousness, according to my integrity.

9 O righteous God, who testsc hearts and minds,d

Let the evil acts of the wicked come to an end; Establish the just.e

10 My shield is God alone, who saves the upright in heart.

11 God is a righteous judge, a God who feels indignation every day.

12 If the wicked f do not repent, God will sharpen his sword. He has bent his bow, strung it, and made it ready.

13 He has prepared deadly weapons, even made flaming arrows.

a Or “Rip me to pieces.”

b The Hebrew is not clear.

c Or “who examines.”

d Literally, “and kidneys.”

e Or “the righteous.”

f Literally, “If they.”

Look,

They conceive mischief, are pregnant with evil, and give birth to lies.

They design a pit for others, dig it, and fall into the hole they made.

16 Their mischief will backfire on them;

Their violent deeds will come down upon their heads.

I will give thanks to the

I

sing praise

name

the

High.

The Generosity of God

A psalm of David.

To the music director: according to gittith.b

1 O L, our Lord, How majestic is your name in all the earth.

You have set your glory above the heavens.

2 Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants you have ordained praisec

Because of your enemies, To silence the adversary and the avenger.

3 When I consider Your heavens, The work of your fingers, The moon and the stars, which you set in place,

4 What is a human that you should notice? A mere mortal d—yet you care!

5 You have

Made him a little lower than the heavenly beings,e Crowned him with glory and honor, 6 Made him ruler over the works of your hands, and Put all things under his feet:

7 All the sheep and oxen and also the beasts of the field,

8 The birds of the air and the fish of the sea, And whatever swims through the ocean currents.f

9 O L, our Lord, How majestic is your name in all the earth.

a Literally, “on their heads.”

b Or “on the gittith.”

c Literally, “you have established strength.” The translation is based on the Septuagint, because that is how Jesus quoted it. See Matthew 21:16.

d Literally, “The son of man.”

e Or “than God.” Hebrew: elohim. Or “angels” (in the Septuagint and Hebrews 2:7).

f Literally, “passes through the paths of the seas.”

A Joyful Song of Confidence in God

A psalm of David.

To the music director: to the tune of “Death of the Son.”

1 O L, I will

Give thanks to you with all my heart, Tell of all your marvelous works, 2 Be glad and rejoice in you, and Sing praises to your name, O Most High.

3 My enemies turn back and fall and perish before your face; 4 For you have Maintained my right and my cause, Sat on the throne and judged righteously, 5 Rebuked the nations, Destroyed the wicked, Blotted out their name forever and ever, and 6 Destroyed their cities so that my enemies have come to an end in everlasting ruins—even the memory of them has perished.

7 The L reignsa forever. He has established his throne for justice;b 8 He will judge the world in righteousness; and He will judge the peoples fairly.

9 The L is a refuge for the oppressed, a secure place in times of trouble.

10 Those who know your name trust in you, For you do not forsake those who seek you, O L

11 Sing praises to the L, who sits enthroned in Zion. Proclaim his works among his people, 12 For he who avenges murder c remembers them. He does not forget the cry of the afflicted.

13 O L,

Have mercy on me;

Look at my affliction at the hands of d those who hate me; Lift me up from the gates of death, 14 That I may tell of all your praises, That I may rejoice in your salvation in the gates of Daughter Zion.

15 The pagan nations have fallen— Fallen into the pit they dug and caught their foot in the net they hid!

16 The wicked are trapped by the work of their own hands! Higgaion

The L is known for the judgments that he carries out. Selah

a Or “dwells.”

b Or “for judgment.”

c Literally, “avenges blood.”

d Literally, “at my affliction from.”

The wicked, all the nations

forget God,

return to Sheol.

For the needy will not always be forgotten; The hope of the afflicted will not perish forever.

Arise, O L

Do not let mere mortals

prevail.

Let the nations be judged before you.

Put them in dread of you, O L

the nations know that they are but human.

Trusting God in the Midst of the Wicked

O L

Why do you stand far away?

Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

2 In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the afflicted; Let them be caught in the schemes they’ve devised.

3 The wicked man

Boasts of his life’sb desire, Blesses the greedy and spurns the L

4 With a proud face he does not seek after God; All his thoughts are, “There is no god”;

5 Thinks his way is always prosperous, That God’s judgments c are high above his, out of his sight; Sneers at his enemies;

6 Says in his heart, “I will never be moved; Throughout all generations I will never have trouble”;

7 Has a mouth full of curses, deceit, and oppression; Mischief and iniquity hide under his tongue;

8 Sits in ambush in the villages, hiding, killing the innocent— his eyes watching for the helpless;

9 Lurks—

Hiding like a lion in its den, Lying in wait to catch the afflicted,d Drawing them into their nets and catching them;

10 (They fall, sink down, and are crushed by the might of the wicked.e)

11 Says in his heart, “God has forgotten; He is hiding his face; He will never see it.”

a Literally, “let man.”

b Or “his heart’s” or “his soul’s.”

c Literally, “your judgments.”

d Or “the poor” or “the helpless.” And verses 12, 14, and 17.

e The Hebrew is not clear.

12 O L

,

Rise up! O God,

Lift up your hand; Do not forget the afflicted.

13 Why do the wicked spurn God and say in their hearts, “He won’t call me to account”?

14 You have seen the trouble and grief of the afflicted; You note it and take it in hand.

The unfortunate commit themselves to you, you who help the fatherless. 15 Break the arm of wicked and evil men; Call them to account for their wickedness until none are left.a

16 The L is King forever and ever; The pagan nations will vanishb from his land.

17 O L

, you

Hear the desires of the afflicted; Turn your ear to them and strengthen their hearts; and 18 Dispense justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, So mere mortalsc may no longer terrify them.

11 Psalm

Trusting, Not Fleeing

A psalm of David.

To the music director.

1 I take refuge in the L, So how can you say to me,d “Flee like a bird to the mountains”?

2 Look, the wicked Are stringing e their bows, Are fitting arrows to the string, and Plan to shoot the upright in heart when it’s dark.

3 If the foundations of justice are destroyed, what can the righteous do?

4 The L is in his holy temple; The L is on his throne in heaven. His eyes see, and his gaze f examines the children of men.

5 The L tests g the righteous,

a Literally, “until you find none.” b Literally, “will perish from.” c Literally, “So men who are of the earth.” d Literally, “to my soul.” e Literally, “Are bending.” f Literally, “his eyelids.” g Or “examines.”