Psalms 26; Psalms 40; Psalms 58; Psalms 61; Psalms 62; Psalms 64

1 Declare me innocent, O Lord, because I do what is right and trust you completely.

2 Examine me and test me, Lord; judge my desires and thoughts.

3 Your constant love is my guide; your faithfulness always leads me.

4 I do not keep company with worthless people; I have nothing to do with hypocrites.

5 I hate the company of the evil and avoid the wicked.

6 Lord, I wash my hands to show that I am innocent and march in worship around your altar.

7 I sing a hymn of thanksgiving and tell of all your wonderful deeds.

8 I love the house where you live, O Lord, the place where your glory dwells.

9 Do not destroy me with the sinners; spare me from the fate of murderers -

10 those who do evil all the time and are always ready to take bribes.

11 As for me, I do what is right; be merciful to me and save me!

12 I am safe from all dangers; in the assembly of his people I praise the Lord.

1 I waited patiently for the Lord's help; then he listened to me and heard my cry.

2 He pulled me out of a dangerous pit, out of the deadly quicksand. He set me safely on a rock and made me secure.

3 He taught me to sing a new song, a song of praise to our God. Many who see this will take warning and will put their trust in the Lord.

4 Happy are those who trust the Lord, who do not turn to idols or join those who worship false gods.

5 You have done many things for us, O Lord our God; there is no one like you! You have made many wonderful plans for us. I could never speak of them all - their number is so great!

6 You do not want sacrifices and offerings; you do not ask for animals burned whole on the altar or for sacrifices to take away sins. Instead, you have given me ears to hear you,

7 and so I answered, "Here I am; your instructions for me are in the book of the Law.

8 How I love to do your will, my God! I keep your teaching in my heart."

9 In the assembly of all your people, Lord, I told the good news that you save us. You know that I will never stop telling it.

10 I have not kept the news of salvation to myself; I have always spoken of your faithfulness and help. In the assembly of all your people I have not been silent about your loyalty and constant love.

11 Lord, I know you will never stop being merciful to me. Your love and loyalty will always keep me safe.

12 I am surrounded by many troubles - too many to count! My sins have caught up with me, and I can no longer see; they are more than the hairs of my head, and I have lost my courage.

13 Save me, Lord! Help me now!

14 May those who try to kill me be completely defeated and confused. May those who are happy because of my troubles be turned back and disgraced.

15 May those who make fun of me be dismayed by their defeat.

16 May all who come to you be glad and joyful. May all who are thankful for your salvation always say, "How great is the Lord!"

17 I am weak and poor, O Lord, but you have not forgotten me. You are my savior and my God - hurry to my aid!

1 Do you rulers ever give a just decision? Do you judge everyone fairly?

2 No! You think only of the evil you can do, and commit crimes of violence in the land.

3 Evildoers go wrong all their lives; they tell lies from the day they are born.

4 They are full of poison like snakes; they stop up their ears like a deaf cobra,

5 which does not hear the voice of the snake charmer, or the chant of the clever magician.

6 Break the teeth of these fierce lions, O God.

7 May they disappear like water draining away; may they be crushed like weeds on a path.

8 May they be like snails that dissolve into slime; may they be like a baby born dead that never sees the light.

9 Before they know it, they are cut down like weeds; in his fierce anger God will blow them away while they are still living.

10 The righteous will be glad when they see sinners punished; they will wade through the blood of the wicked.

11 People will say, "The righteous are indeed rewarded; there is indeed a God who judges the world."

1 Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer!

2 In despair and far from home I call to you! Take me to a safe refuge,

3 for you are my protector, my strong defense against my enemies.

4 Let me live in your sanctuary all my life; let me find safety under your wings.

5 You have heard my promises, O God, and you have given me what belongs to those who honor you.

6 Add many years to the king's life; let him live on and on!

7 May he rule forever in your presence, O God; protect him with your constant love and faithfulness.

8 So I will always sing praises to you, as I offer you daily what I have promised.

1 I wait patiently for God to save me; I depend on him alone.

2 He alone protects and saves me; he is my defender, and I shall never be defeated.

3 How much longer will all of you attack someone who is no stronger than a broken-down fence?

4 You only want to bring him down from his place of honor; you take pleasure in lies. You speak words of blessing, but in your heart you curse him.

5 I depend on God alone; I put my hope in him.

6 He alone protects and saves me; he is my defender, and I shall never be defeated.

7 My salvation and honor depend on God; he is my strong protector; he is my shelter.

8 Trust in God at all times, my people. Tell him all your troubles, for he is our refuge.

9 Human beings are all like a puff of breath; great and small alike are worthless. Put them on the scales, and they weigh nothing; they are lighter than a mere breath.

10 Don't put your trust in violence; don't hope to gain anything by robbery; even if your riches increase, don't depend on them.

11 More than once I have heard God say that power belongs to him

12 and that his love is constant. You yourself, O Lord, reward everyone according to their deeds.

1 I am in trouble, God - listen to my prayer! I am afraid of my enemies - save my life!

2 Protect me from the plots of the wicked, from mobs of evil people.

3 They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim cruel words like arrows.

4 They are quick to spread their shameless lies; they destroy good people with cowardly slander.

5 They encourage each other in their evil plots; they talk about where they will place their traps. "No one can see them," they say.

6 They make evil plans and say, "We have planned a perfect crime." The human heart and mind are a mystery.

7 But God shoots his arrows at them, and suddenly they are wounded.

8 He will destroy them because of those words; all who see them will shake their heads.

9 They will all be afraid; they will think about what God has done and tell about his deeds.

10 All righteous people will rejoice because of what the Lord has done. They will find safety in him; all good people will praise him.