Psalms 131; Psalms 138; Psalms 139; Psalms 143; Psalms 144; Psalms 145

1 O LORD, my heart is not conceited. My eyes do not look down on others. I am not involved in things too big or too difficult for me.

2 Instead, I have kept my soul calm and quiet. My soul is content as a weaned child is content in its mother's arms.

3 Israel, put your hope in the LORD now and forever.

1 I will give thanks to you with all my heart. I will make music to praise you in front of the false gods.

2 I will bow toward your holy temple. I will give thanks to your name because of your mercy and truth. You have made your name and your promise greater than everything.

3 When I called, you answered me. You made me bold by strengthening my soul.

4 All the kings of the earth will give thanks to you, O LORD, because they have heard the promises you spoke.

5 They will sing this about the ways of the LORD: "The LORD's honor is great!"

6 Even though the LORD is high above, he sees humble people [close up], and he recognizes arrogant people from a distance.

7 Even though I walk into the middle of trouble, you guard my life against the anger of my enemies. You stretch out your hand, and your right hand saves me.

8 The LORD will do everything for me. O LORD, your mercy endures forever. Do not let go of what your hands have made.

1 O LORD, you have examined me, and you know me.

2 You alone know when I sit down and when I get up. You read my thoughts from far away.

3 You watch me when I travel and when I rest. You are familiar with all my ways.

4 Even before there is a [single] word on my tongue, you know all about it, LORD.

5 You are all around me--in front of me and in back of me. You lay your hand on me.

6 Such knowledge is beyond my grasp. It is so high I cannot reach it.

7 Where can I go [to get away] from your Spirit? Where can I run [to get away] from you?

8 If I go up to heaven, you are there. If I make my bed in hell, you are there.

9 If I climb upward on the rays of the morning sun [or] land on the most distant shore of the sea where the sun sets,

10 even there your hand would guide me and your right hand would hold on to me.

11 If I say, "Let the darkness hide me and let the light around me turn into night,"

12 even the darkness is not too dark for you. Night is as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same [to you].

13 You alone created my inner being. You knitted me together inside my mother.

14 I will give thanks to you because I have been so amazingly and miraculously made. Your works are miraculous, and my soul is fully aware of this.

15 My bones were not hidden from you when I was being made in secret, when I was being skillfully woven in an underground workshop.

16 Your eyes saw me when I was only a fetus. Every day [of my life] was recorded in your book before one of them had taken place.

17 How precious are your thoughts concerning me, O God! How vast in number they are!

18 If I try to count them, there would be more of them than there are grains of sand. When I wake up, I am still with you.

19 I wish that you would kill wicked people, O God, and that bloodthirsty people would leave me alone.

20 They say wicked things about you. Your enemies misuse your name.

21 Shouldn't I hate those who hate you, O LORD? Shouldn't I be disgusted with those who attack you?

22 I hate them with all my heart. They have become my enemies.

23 Examine me, O God, and know my mind. Test me, and know my thoughts.

24 See whether I am on an evil path. Then lead me on the everlasting path.

1 O LORD, listen to my prayer. Open your ears to hear my urgent requests. Answer me because you are faithful and righteous.

2 Do not take me to court for judgment, because there is no one alive who is righteous in your presence.

3 The enemy has pursued me. He has ground my life into the dirt. He has made me live in dark places like those who have died long ago.

4 That is why I begin to lose hope and my heart is in a state of shock.

5 I remember the days long ago. I reflect on all that you have done. I carefully consider what your hands have made.

6 I stretch out my hands to you in prayer. Like parched land, my soul thirsts for you. Selah

7 Answer me quickly, O LORD. My spirit is worn out. Do not hide your face from me, or I will be like those who go into the pit.

8 Let me hear about your mercy in the morning, because I trust you. Let me know the way that I should go, because I long for you.

9 Rescue me from my enemies, O LORD. I come to you for protection.

10 Teach me to do your will, because you are my God. May your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

11 O LORD, keep me alive for the sake of your name. Because you are righteous, lead me out of trouble.

12 In keeping with your mercy, wipe out my enemies and destroy all who torment me, because I am your servant.

1 Thank the LORD, my rock, who trained my hands to fight and my fingers to do battle,

2 my merciful one, my fortress, my stronghold, and my savior, my shield, the one in whom I take refuge, and the one who brings people under my authority.

3 O LORD, what are humans that you should care about them? What are mere mortals that you should think about them?

4 Humans are like a breath of air. Their life span is like a fleeting shadow.

5 O LORD, bend your heaven low, and come down. Touch the mountains, and they will smoke.

6 Hurl bolts of lightning, and scatter them. Shoot your arrows, and throw them into confusion.

7 Stretch out your hands from above. Snatch me, and rescue me from raging waters and from foreigners' hands.

8 Their mouths speak lies. Their right hands take false pledges.

9 O God, I will sing a new song to you. I will sing a psalm to you on a ten-stringed harp.

10 You are the one who gives victory to kings. You are the one who snatches your servant David away from a deadly sword.

11 Snatch me, and rescue me from foreigners' hands. Their mouths speak lies. Their right hands take false pledges.

12 May our sons be like full-grown, young plants. May our daughters be like stately columns that adorn the corners of a palace.

13 May our barns be filled with all kinds of crops. May our sheep give birth to thousands of lambs, tens of thousands in our fields.

14 May our cattle have many calves. May no one break in, and may no one be dragged out. May there be no cries of distress in our streets.

15 Blessed are the people who have these blessings! Blessed are the people whose God is the LORD!

1 I will highly praise you, my God, the king. I will bless your name forever and ever.

2 I will bless you every day. I will praise your name forever and ever.

3 The LORD is great, and he should be highly praised. His greatness is unsearchable.

4 One generation will praise your deeds to the next. Each generation will talk about your mighty acts.

5 I will think about the glorious honor of your majesty and the miraculous things you have done.

6 People will talk about the power of your terrifying deeds, and I will tell about your greatness.

7 They will announce what they remember of your great goodness, and they will joyfully sing about your righteousness.

8 The LORD is merciful, compassionate, patient, and always ready to forgive.

9 The LORD is good to everyone and has compassion for everything that he has made.

10 Everything that you have made will give thanks to you, O LORD, and your faithful ones will praise you.

11 Everyone will talk about the glory of your kingdom and will tell the descendants of Adam about your might

12 in order to make known your mighty deeds and the glorious honor of your kingdom.

13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. Your empire endures throughout every generation.

14 The LORD supports everyone who falls. He straightens [the backs] of those who are bent over.

15 The eyes of all creatures look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time.

16 You open your hand, and you satisfy the desire of every living thing.

17 The LORD is fair in all his ways and faithful in everything he does.

18 The LORD is near to everyone who prays to him, to every faithful person who prays to him.

19 He fills the needs of those who fear him. He hears their cries for help and saves them.

20 The LORD protects everyone who loves him, but he will destroy all wicked people.

21 My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, and all living creatures will praise his holy name forever and ever.