Psalms 123; Psalms 124; Psalms 125

1 I look up to you, to the one who sits enthroned in heaven.

2 As servants depend on their masters, as a maid depends on her mistress, so we depend on the LORD our God until he has pity on us.

3 Have pity on us, O LORD. Have pity on us because we have suffered more than our share of contempt.

4 We have suffered more than our share of ridicule from those who are carefree. We have suffered more than our share of contempt from those who are arrogant.

1 "If the LORD had not been on our side..." (Israel should repeat this.)

2 "If the LORD had not been on our side when people attacked us,

3 then they would have swallowed us alive when their anger exploded against us.

4 Then the floodwaters would have swept us away. An [overflowing] stream would have washed us away.

5 Then raging water would have washed us away."

6 Thank the LORD, who did not let them sink their teeth into us.

7 We escaped like a bird caught in a hunter's trap. The trap was broken, and we escaped.

8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth.

1 Those who trust the LORD are like Mount Zion, which can never be shaken. It remains firm forever.

2 [As] the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people now and forever.

3 A wicked ruler will not be allowed to govern the land set aside for righteous people. That is why righteous people do not use their power to do wrong.

4 Do good, O LORD, to those who are good, to those whose motives are decent.

5 But when people become crooked, the LORD will lead them away with troublemakers. Let there be peace in Israel!