Category: Psalm

A David Psalm

1-2 God, listen to me shout,

bend an ear to my prayer.

When I’m far from anywhere,

down to my last gasp,

I call out, “Guide me

up High Rock Mountain!”

3-5 You’ve always given me breathing room,

a place to get away from it all,

A lifetime pass to your safe-house,

an open invitation as your guest.

You’ve always taken me seriously, God,

made me welcome among those who know and love you.

6-8 Let the days of the king add up

to years and years of good rule.

Set his throne in the full light of God;

post Steady Love and Good Faith as lookouts,

And I’ll be the poet who sings your glory—

and live what I sing every day.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/85/32k/PSA/61-af10e74545835cb1c9b460ac4556e732.mp3?version_id=97—

A David Psalm

1-2 God, the one and only—

I’ll wait as long as he says.

Everything I need comes from him,

so why not?

He’s solid rock under my feet,

breathing room for my soul,

An impregnable castle:

I’m set for life.

3-4 How long will you gang up on me?

How long will you run with the bullies?

There’s nothing to you, any of you—

rotten floorboards, worm-eaten rafters,

Anthills plotting to bring down mountains,

far gone in make-believe.

You talk a good line,

but every “blessing” breathes a curse.

5-6 God, the one and only—

I’ll wait as long as he says.

Everything I hope for comes from him,

so why not?

He’s solid rock under my feet,

breathing room for my soul,

An impregnable castle:

I’m set for life.

7-8 My help and glory are in God

—granite-strength and safe-harbor-God—

So trust him absolutely, people;

lay your lives on the line for him.

God is a safe place to be.

9 Man as such is smoke,

woman as such, a mirage.

Put them together, they’re nothing;

two times nothing is nothing.

10 And a windfall, if it comes—

don’t make too much of it.

11 God said this once and for all;

how many times

Have I heard it repeated?

“Strength comes

Straight from God.”

12 Love to you, Lord God!

You pay a fair wage for a good day’s work!

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/85/32k/PSA/62-d7d4d983ee6d27994b18fb8ec8091240.mp3?version_id=97—

A David Psalm, When He Was Out in the Judean Wilderness

1 God—you’re my God!

I can’t get enough of you!

I’ve worked up such hunger and thirst for God,

traveling across dry and weary deserts.

2-4 So here I am in the place of worship, eyes open,

drinking in your strength and glory.

In your generous love I am really living at last!

My lips brim praises like fountains.

I bless you every time I take a breath;

My arms wave like banners of praise to you.

5-8 I eat my fill of prime rib and gravy;

I smack my lips. It’s time to shout praises!

If I’m sleepless at midnight,

I spend the hours in grateful reflection.

Because you’ve always stood up for me,

I’m free to run and play.

I hold on to you for dear life,

and you hold me steady as a post.

9-11 Those who are out to get me are marked for doom,

marked for death, bound for hell.

They’ll die violent deaths;

jackals will tear them limb from limb.

But the king is glad in God;

his true friends spread the joy,

While small-minded gossips

are gagged for good.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/85/32k/PSA/63-96f4a8e1e0b24ff830928a6072da6d2b.mp3?version_id=97—

A David Psalm

1 Listen and help, O God.

I’m reduced to a whine

And a whimper, obsessed

with feelings of doomsday.

2-6 Don’t let them find me—

the conspirators out to get me,

Using their tongues as weapons,

flinging poison words,

poison-tipped arrow-words.

They shoot from ambush,

shoot without warning,

not caring who they hit.

They keep fit doing calisthenics

of evil purpose,

They keep lists of the traps

they’ve secretly set.

They say to each other,

“No one can catch us,

no one can detect our perfect crime.”

The Detective detects the mystery

in the dark of the cellar heart.

7-8 The God of the Arrow shoots!

They double up in pain,

Fall flat on their faces

in full view of the grinning crowd.

9-10 Everyone sees it. God’s

work is the talk of the town.

Be glad, good people! Fly toGod!

Good-hearted people, make praise your habit.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/85/32k/PSA/64-4a432e107400e81511965f2139b684ec.mp3?version_id=97—

A David Psalm

1-2 Silence is praise to you,

Zion-dwelling God,

And also obedience.

You hear the prayer in it all.

2-8 We all arrive at your doorstep sooner

or later, loaded with guilt,

Our sins too much for us—

but you get rid of them once and for all.

Blessed are the chosen! Blessed the guest

at home in your place!

We expect our fill of good things

in your house, your heavenly manse.

All your salvation wonders

are on display in your trophy room.

Earth-Tamer, Ocean-Pourer,

Mountain-Maker, Hill-Dresser,

Muzzler of sea storm and wave crash,

of mobs in noisy riot—

Far and wide they’ll come to a stop,

they’ll stare in awe, in wonder.

Dawn and dusk take turns

calling, “Come and worship.”

9-13 Oh, visit the earth,

ask her to join the dance!

Deck her out in spring showers,

fill the God-River with living water.

Paint the wheat fields golden.

Creation was made for this!

Drench the plowed fields,

soak the dirt clods

With rainfall as harrow and rake

bring her to blossom and fruit.

Snow-crown the peaks with splendor,

scatter rose petals down your paths,

All through the wild meadows, rose petals.

Set the hills to dancing,

Dress the canyon walls with live sheep,

a drape of flax across the valleys.

Let them shout, and shout, and shout!

Oh, oh, let them sing!

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/85/32k/PSA/65-5b16b68f0ba328f1e737aaeac8272243.mp3?version_id=97—

1-4 All together now—applause for God!

Sing songs to the tune of his glory,

set glory to the rhythms of his praise.

Say of God, “We’ve never seen anything like him!”

When your enemies see you in action,

they slink off like scolded dogs.

The whole earth falls to its knees—

it worships you, sings to you,

can’t stop enjoying your name and fame.

5-6 Take a good look at God’s wonders—

they’ll take your breath away.

He converted sea to dry land;

travelers crossed the river on foot.

Now isn’t that cause for a song?

7 Ever sovereign in his high tower, he keeps

his eye on the godless nations.

Rebels don’t dare

raise a finger against him.

8-12 Bless our God, O peoples!

Give him a thunderous welcome!

Didn’t he set us on the road to life?

Didn’t he keep us out of the ditch?

He trained us first,

passed us like silver through refining fires,

Brought us into hardscrabble country,

pushed us to our very limit,

Road-tested us inside and out,

took us to hell and back;

Finally he brought us

to this well-watered place.

13-15 I’m bringing my prizes and presents to your house.

I’m doing what I said I’d do,

What I solemnly swore I’d do

that day when I was in so much trouble:

The choicest cuts of meat

for the sacrificial meal;

Even the fragrance

of roasted lamb is like a meal!

Or make it an ox

garnished with goat meat!

16-20 All believers, come here and listen,

let me tell you what God did for me.

I called out to him with my mouth,

my tongue shaped the sounds of music.

If I had been cozy with evil,

the Lord would never have listened.

But he most surelydidlisten,

he came on the double when he heard my prayer.

Blessed be God: he didn’t turn a deaf ear,

he stayed with me, loyal in his love.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/85/32k/PSA/66-4d43ce1ec249a812761408f209cb788f.mp3?version_id=97—

1-7 God, mark us with grace

and blessing! Smile!

The whole country will see how you work,

all the godless nations see how you save.

God! Let people thank and enjoy you.

Let all people thank and enjoy you.

Let all far-flung people become happy

and shout their happiness because

You judge them fair and square,

you tend the far-flung peoples.

God! Let people thank and enjoy you.

Let all people thank and enjoy you.

Earth, display your exuberance!

You mark us with blessing, O God, our God.

You mark us with blessing, O God.

Earth’s four corners—honor him!

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/85/32k/PSA/67-41d83005103dac52d52a68fdd675908a.mp3?version_id=97—

A David Psalm

1-4 Up with God!

Down with his enemies!

Adversaries, run for the hills!

Gone like a puff of smoke,

like a blob of wax in the fire—

one look at God and the wicked vanish.

When the righteous see God in action

they’ll laugh, they’ll sing,

they’ll laugh and sing for joy.

Sing hymns to God;

all heaven, sing out;

clear the way for the coming of Cloud-Rider.

EnjoyGod,

cheer when you see him!

5-6 Father of orphans,

champion of widows,

is God in his holy house.

God makes homes for the homeless,

leads prisoners to freedom,

but leaves rebels to rot in hell.

7-10 God, when you took the lead with your people,

when you marched out into the wild,

Earth shook, sky broke out in a sweat;

God was on the march.

Even Sinai trembled at the sight of God on the move,

at the sight of Israel’s God.

You pour out rain in buckets, O God;

thorn and cactus become an oasis

For your people to camp in and enjoy.

You set them up in business;

they went from rags to riches.

11-14 The Lord gave the word;

thousands called out the good news:

“Kings of the armies

are on the run, on the run!”

While housewives, safe and sound back home,

divide up the plunder,

the plunder of Canaanite silver and gold.

On that day that Shaddai scattered the kings,

snow fell on Black Mountain.

15-16 You huge mountains, Bashan mountains,

mighty mountains, dragon mountains.

All you mountains not chosen,

sulk now, and feel sorry for yourselves,

For this is the mountain God has chosen to live on;

he’ll rule from this mountain forever.

17-18 The chariots of God, twice ten thousand,

and thousands more besides,

The Lord in the lead, riding down Sinai—

straight to the Holy Place!

You climbed to the High Place, captives in tow,

your arms full of booty from rebels,

And now you sit there in state,

God, sovereignGod!

19-23 Blessed be the Lord—

day after day he carries us along.

He’s our Savior, our God, oh yes!

He’s God-for-us, he’s God-who-saves-us.

LordGodknows all

death’s ins and outs.

What’s more, he made heads roll,

split the skulls of the enemy

As he marched out of heaven,

saying, “I tied up the Dragon in knots,

put a muzzle on the Deep Blue Sea.”

You can wade through your enemies’ blood,

and your dogs taste of your enemies from your boots.

24-31 See God on parade

to the sanctuary, my God,

my King on the march!

Singers out front, the band behind,

maidens in the middle with castanets.

The whole choir blesses God.

Like a fountain of praise, Israel blessesGod.

Look—little Benjamin’s out

front and leading

Princes of Judah in their royal robes,

princes of Zebulun, princes of Naphtali.

Parade your power, O God,

the power, O God, that made us what we are.

Your temple, High God, is Jerusalem;

kings bring gifts to you.

Rebuke that old crocodile, Egypt,

with her herd of wild bulls and calves,

Rapacious in her lust for silver,

crushing peoples, spoiling for a fight.

Let Egyptian traders bring blue cloth

and Cush come running to God, her hands outstretched.

32-34 Sing, O kings of the earth!

Sing praises to the Lord!

There he is: Sky-Rider,

striding the ancient skies.

Listen—he’s calling in thunder,

rumbling, rolling thunder.

Call out “Bravo!” to God,

the High God of Israel.

His splendor and strength

rise huge as thunderheads.

35 A terrible beauty, O God,

streams from your sanctuary.

It’s Israel’s strong God! He gives

power and might to his people!

O you, his people—bless God!

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/85/32k/PSA/68-dacc25325313a902af92ec5a76cde83a.mp3?version_id=97—

A David Psalm

1 God, God, save me!

I’m in over my head,

2 Quicksand under me, swamp water over me;

I’m going down for the third time.

3 I’m hoarse from calling for help,

Bleary-eyed from searching the sky for God.

4 I’ve got more enemies than hairs on my head;

Sneaks and liars are out to knife me in the back.

What I never stole

Must I now give back?

5 God, you know every sin I’ve committed;

My life’s a wide-open book before you.

6 Don’t let those who look to you in hope

Be discouraged by what happens to me,

Dear Lord!Godof the armies!

Don’t let those out looking for you

Come to a dead end by following me—

Please, dear God of Israel!

7 Because of you I look like an idiot,

I walk around ashamed to show my face.

8 My brothers shun me like a bum off the street;

My family treats me like an unwanted guest.

9 I love you more than I can say.

Because I’m madly in love with you,

They blame me for everything they dislike about you.

10 When I poured myself out in prayer and fasting,

All it got me was more contempt.

11 When I put on a sad face,

They treated me like a clown.

12 Now drunks and gluttons

Make up drinking songs about me.

13 And me? I pray.

God, it’s time for a break!

God, answer in love!

Answer with your sure salvation!

14 Rescue me from the swamp,

Don’t let me go under for good,

Pull me out of the clutch of the enemy;

This whirlpool is sucking me down.

15 Don’t let the swamp be my grave, the Black Hole

Swallow me, its jaws clenched around me.

16 Now answer me,God, because you love me;

Let me see your great mercy full-face.

17 Don’t look the other way; your servant can’t take it.

I’m in trouble. Answer right now!

18 Come close, God; get me out of here.

Rescue me from this deathtrap.

19 You know how they kick me around—

Pin on me the donkey’s ears, the dunce’s cap.

20 I’m broken by their taunts,

Flat on my face, reduced to a nothing.

I looked in vain for one friendly face. Not one.

I couldn’t find one shoulder to cry on.

21 They put poison in my soup,

Vinegar in my drink.

22 Let their supper be bait in a trap that snaps shut;

May their best friends be trappers who’ll skin them alive.

23 Make them become blind as bats,

Give them the shakes from morning to night.

24 Let them know what you think of them,

Blast them with your red-hot anger.

25 Burn down their houses,

Leave them desolate with nobody at home.

26 They gossiped about the one you disciplined,

Made up stories about anyone wounded by God.

27 Pile on the guilt,

Don’t let them off the hook.

28 Strike their names from the list of the living;

No rock-carved honor for them among the righteous.

29 I’m hurt and in pain;

Give me space for healing, and mountain air.

30 Let me shout God’s name with a praising song,

Let me tell his greatness in a prayer of thanks.

31 ForGod, this is better than oxen on the altar,

Far better than blue-ribbon bulls.

32 The poor in spirit see and are glad—

Oh, you God-seekers, take heart!

33 ForGodlistens to the poor,

He doesn’t walk out on the wretched.

34 You heavens, praise him; praise him, earth;

Also ocean and all things that swim in it.

35 For God is out to help Zion,

Rebuilding the wrecked towns of Judah.

Guess who will live there—

The proud owners of the land?

36 No, the children of his servants will get it,

The lovers of his name will live in it.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/85/32k/PSA/69-a1f3cf4da1383cbbc9d9ef85852fab1e.mp3?version_id=97—

A David Prayer

1-3 God! Please hurry to my rescue!

God, come quickly to my side!

Those who are out to get me—

let them fall all over themselves.

Those who relish my downfall—

send them down a blind alley.

Give them a taste of their own medicine,

those gossips off clucking their tongues.

4 Let those on the hunt for you

sing and celebrate.

Let all who love your saving way

say over and over, “God is mighty!”

5 But I’ve lost it. I’m wasted.

God—quickly, quickly!

Quick to my side, quick to my rescue!

God, don’t lose a minute.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/85/32k/PSA/70-52abadc3363d23009760aefcd778829a.mp3?version_id=97—