Psalms 40; Psalms 41; Psalms 42; Psalms 43; Psalms 44; Psalms 45

1 I put all my hope in the LORD. He leaned down to me; he listened to my cry for help.

2 He lifted me out of the pit of death, out of the mud and filth, and set my feet on solid rock. He steadied my legs.

3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise for our God. Many people will learn of this and be amazed; they will trust the LORD.

4 Those who put their trust in the LORD, who pay no attention to the proud or to those who follow lies, are truly happy!

5 You, LORD my God! You've done so many things— your wonderful deeds and your plans for us— no one can compare with you! If I were to proclaim and talk about all of them, they would be too numerous to count!

6 You don't relish sacrifices or offerings; you don't require entirely burned offerings or compensation offerings— but you have given me ears!

7 So I said, "Here I come! I'm inscribed in the written scroll.

8 I want to do your will, my God. Your Instruction is deep within me."

9 I've told the good news of your righteousness in the great assembly. I didn't hold anything back— as you well know, LORD!

10 I didn't keep your righteousness only to myself. I declared your faithfulness and your salvation. I didn't hide your loyal love and trustworthiness from the great assembly.

11 So now you, LORD— don't hold back any of your compassion from me. Let your loyal love and faithfulness always protect me,

12 because countless evils surround me. My wrongdoings have caught up with me— I can't see a thing! There's more of them than hairs on my head— my courage leaves me.

13 Favor me, LORD, and deliver me! LORD, come quickly and help me!

14 Let those who seek my life, who want me dead, be disgraced and put to shame. Let those who want to do me harm be thoroughly frustrated and humiliated.

15 Let those who say to me, "Yes! Oh, yes!" be destroyed by their shame.

16 But let all who seek you celebrate and rejoice in you. Let those who love your salvation always say, "The LORD is great!"

17 But me? I'm weak and needy. Let my Lord think of me. You are my help and my rescuer. My God, don't wait any longer!

1 Those who pay close attention to the poor are truly happy! The LORD rescues them during troubling times.

2 The LORD protects them and keeps them alive; they are widely regarded throughout the land as happy people. You won't hand them over to the will of their enemies.

3 The LORD will strengthen them when they are lying in bed, sick. You will completely transform the place where they lie ill.

4 But me? I said, "LORD, have mercy on me! Heal me because I have sinned against you."

5 My enemies speak maliciously about me: "When will he die and his name disappear?"

6 Whenever they come to visit, they say nothing of value. Their hearts collect evil gossip; once they leave, they tell it to everybody.

7 All of those who hate me talk about me, whispering to each other, plotting evil against me:

8 "Some horrible thing has been poured into him; the next time he lies down, he won't get up.

9 Even my good friend, the one I trusted, who shared my food, has kicked me with his heel—a betrayer!

10 But you, LORD, please have mercy on me and lift me up so I can pay them back!

11 Then I'll know you are pleased with me because my enemy won't be shouting in triumph over me.

12 You support me in my integrity; you put me in your presence forever.

13 Bless the LORD, the God of Israel, from forever to forever! Amen and Amen!

1 Just like a deer that craves streams of water, my whole being craves you, God.

2 My whole being thirsts for God, for the living God. When will I come and see God's face?

3 My tears have been my food both day and night, as people constantly questioned me, "Where's your God now?"

4 But I remember these things as I bare my soul: how I made my way to the mighty one's abode, to God's own house, with joyous shouts and thanksgiving songs— a huge crowd celebrating the festival!

5 Why, I ask myself, are you so depressed? Why are you so upset inside? Hope in God! Because I will again give him thanks, my saving presence and my God.

6 My whole being is depressed. That's why I remember you from the land of Jordan and Hermon, from Mount Mizar.

7 Deep called to deep at the noise of your waterfalls; all your massive waves surged over me.

8 By day the LORD commands his faithful love; by night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life.

9 I will say to God, my solid rock, "Why have you forgotten me? Why do I have to walk around, sad, oppressed by enemies?"

10 With my bones crushed, my foes make fun of me, constantly questioning me: "Where's your God now?"

11 Why, I ask myself, are you so depressed? Why are you so upset inside? Hope in God! Because I will again give him thanks, my saving presence and my God.

1 Establish justice for me, God! Argue my case against ungodly people! Rescue me from the dishonest and unjust!

2 Because you are my God, my protective fortress! Why have you rejected me? Why do I have to walk around, sad, oppressed by enemies?

3 Send your light and truth—those will guide me! Let them bring me to your holy mountain, to your dwelling place.

4 Let me come to God's altar— let me come to God, my joy, my delight— then I will give you thanks with the lyre, God, my God!

5 Why, I ask myself, are you so depressed? Why are you so upset inside? Hope in God! Because I will again give him thanks, my saving presence and my God.

1 We have heard it, God, with our own ears; our ancestors told us about it: about the deeds you did in their days, in days long past.

2 You, by your own hand, removed all the nations, but you planted our ancestors. You crushed all the peoples, but you set our ancestors free.

3 No, not by their own swords did they take possession of the land— their own arms didn't save them. No, it was your strong hand, your arm, and the light of your face because you were pleased with them.

4 It's you, God! You who are my king, the one who orders salvation for Jacob.

5 We've pushed our foes away by your help; we've trampled our enemies by your name.

6 No, I won't trust in my bow; my sword won't save me

7 because it's you who saved us from our foes, you who put those who hate us to shame.

8 So we glory in God at all times and give thanks to your name forever. Selah

9 But now you've rejected and humiliated us. You no longer accompany our armies.

10 You make us retreat from the enemy; our adversaries plunder us.

11 You've handed us over like sheep for butchering; you've scattered us among the nations.

12 You've sold your people for nothing, not even bothering to set a decent price.

13 You've made us a joke to all our neighbors; we're mocked and ridiculed by everyone around us.

14 You've made us a bad joke to the nations, something to be laughed at by all peoples.

15 All day long my disgrace confronts me, and shame covers my face

16 because of the voices of those who make fun of me and bad-mouth me, because of the enemy who is out for revenge.

17 All this has come upon us, but we haven't forgotten you or broken your covenant.

18 Our hearts haven't turned away, neither have our steps strayed from your way.

19 But you've crushed us in the place where jackals live, covering us with deepest darkness.

20 If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to some strange deity,

21 wouldn't God have discovered it? After all, God knows every secret of the heart.

22 No, God, it's because of you that we are getting killed every day— it's because of you that we are considered sheep ready for slaughter.

23 Wake up! Why are you sleeping, Lord? Get up! Don't reject us forever!

24 Why are you hiding your face, forgetting our suffering and oppression?

25 Look: we're going down to the dust; our stomachs are flat on the ground!

26 Stand up! Help us! Save us for the sake of your faithful love.

1 A marvelous word has stirred my heart as I mention my works to the king. My tongue is the pen of a skillful scribe.

2 You are the most handsome of men; grace has been poured out on your lips. No wonder God has blessed you forever!

3 Strap on your sword, great warrior, with your glory and grandeur.

4 Go and succeed in your grandeur! Ride out on behalf of truth, humility, and righteousness! Let your strong hand perform awesome deeds.

5 Let the peoples fall beneath you. May your sharp arrows pierce the hearts of the king's enemies.

6 Your divine throne is eternal and everlasting. Your royal scepter is a scepter of justice.

7 You love righteousness and hate wickedness. No wonder God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of joy more than all your companions!

8 All your clothes have the pleasing scent of myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. The music of stringed instruments coming from ivory palaces entertains you.

9 The royal princess is standing in your precious jewels; the queen stands at your right, dressed in the gold of Ophir.

10 Listen, daughter; pay attention, and listen closely! Forget your people and your father's house.

11 Let the king desire your beauty. Because he is your master, bow down to him now.

12 The city of Tyre, the wealthiest of all, will seek your favor with gifts,

13 with riches of every sort for the royal princess, dressed in pearls, her robe embroidered with gold.

14 In robes of many colors, she is led to the king. Her attendants, the young women servants following her, are presented to you as well.

15 As they enter the king's palace, they are led in with celebration and joy.

16 Your sons, great king, will succeed your fathers; you will appoint them as princes throughout the land.

17 I will perpetuate your name from one generation to the next so the peoples will praise you forever and always.