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

1 Judge me favorably, O LORD, because I have walked with integrity and I have trusted you without wavering.

2 Examine me, O LORD, and test me. Look closely into my heart and mind.

3 I see your mercy in front of me. I walk in the light of your truth.

4 I did not sit with liars, and I will not be found among hypocrites.

5 I have hated the mob of evildoers and will not sit with wicked people.

6 I will wash my hands in innocence. I will walk around your altar, O LORD,

7 so that I may loudly sing a hymn of thanksgiving and tell about all your miracles.

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

9 Do not sweep away my soul along with hardened sinners or my life along with bloodthirsty people.

10 Evil schemes are in their hands. Their right hands are full of bribes.

11 But I walk with integrity. Rescue me, and have pity on me.

12 My feet stand on level ground. I will praise the LORD with the choirs in worship.

1 I waited patiently for the LORD. He turned to me and heard my cry for help.

2 He pulled me out of a horrible pit, out of the mud and clay. He set my feet on a rock and made my steps secure.

3 He placed a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see this and worship. They will trust the LORD.

4 Blessed is the person who places his confidence in the LORD and does not rely on arrogant people or those who follow lies.

5 You have done many miraculous things, O LORD my God. You have made many wonderful plans for us. No one compares to you! I will tell others about your miracles, which are more than I can count.

6 You were not pleased with sacrifices and offerings. You have dug out two ears for me. You did not ask for burnt offerings or sacrifices for sin.

7 Then I said, "I have come! (It is written about me in the scroll of the book.)

8 I am happy to do your will, O my God." Your teachings are deep within me.

9 I will announce the good news of righteousness among those assembled for worship. I will not close my lips. You know that, O LORD.

10 I have not buried your righteousness deep in my heart. I have been outspoken about your faithfulness and your salvation. I have not hidden your mercy and your truth from those assembled for worship.

11 Do not withhold your compassion from me, O LORD. May your mercy and your truth always protect me.

12 Countless evils have surrounded me. My sins have caught up with me so that I can no longer see. They outnumber the hairs on my head. I have lost heart.

13 O LORD, please rescue me! Come quickly to help me, O LORD!

14 Let all those who seek to end my life be confused and put to shame. Let those who want my downfall be turned back and disgraced.

15 Let those who say to me, "Aha! Aha!" be stunned by their own shame.

16 Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad because of you. Let those who love your salvation continually say, "The LORD is great!"

17 But I am oppressed and needy. May the Lord think of me. You are my help and my savior. O my God, do not delay!

1 Do you rulers really give fair verdicts? Do you judge Adam's descendants fairly?

2 No, you invent new crimes on earth, and your hands spread violence.

3 [Even] inside the womb wicked people are strangers [to God]. From their birth liars go astray.

4 They have poisonous venom like snakes. They are like a deaf cobra that shuts its ears

5 so that it cannot hear the voice of a snake charmer or of anyone trained to cast spells.

6 O God, knock the teeth out of their mouths. Break the young lions' teeth, O LORD.

7 Let them disappear like water that drains away. When they aim their bows, let their arrows miss the target.

8 Let them become like a snail that leaves behind a slimy trail or like a stillborn child who never sees the sun.

9 Let [God] sweep them away faster than a cooking pot is heated by burning twigs.

10 Righteous people will rejoice when they see [God] take revenge. They will wash their feet in the blood of wicked people.

11 Then people will say, "Righteous people certainly have a reward. There is a God who judges on earth."

1 Listen to my cry for help, O God. Pay attention to my prayer.

2 From the ends of the earth, I call to you when I begin to lose heart. Lead me to the rock that is high above me.

3 You have been my refuge, a tower of strength against the enemy.

4 I would like to be a guest in your tent forever and to take refuge under the protection of your wings. Selah

5 O God, you have heard my vows. You have given me the inheritance that belongs to those who fear your name.

6 Add days upon days to the life of the king. May his years endure throughout every generation.

7 May he sit enthroned in the presence of God forever. May mercy and truth protect him.

8 Then I will make music to praise your name forever, as I keep my vows day after day.

1 My soul waits calmly for God alone. My salvation comes from him.

2 He alone is my rock and my savior--my stronghold. I cannot be severely shaken.

3 How long will all of you attack a person? How long will you try to murder him, as though he were a leaning wall or a sagging fence?

4 They plan to force him out of his high position. They are happy to lie. They bless with their mouths, but in their hearts they curse. Selah

5 Wait calmly for God alone, my soul, because my hope comes from him.

6 He alone is my rock and my savior--my stronghold. I cannot be shaken.

7 My salvation and my glory depend on God. God is the rock of my strength, my refuge.

8 Trust him at all times, you people. Pour out your hearts in his presence. God is our refuge. Selah

9 Common people are only a whisper in the wind. Important people are only a delusion. When all of them are weighed on a scale, they amount to nothing. They are less than a whisper in the wind.

10 Do not count on extortion [to make you rich]. Do not hope to gain anything through robbery. When riches increase, do not depend on them.

11 God has spoken once. I have heard it [said] twice: "Power belongs to God.

12 Mercy belongs to you, O Lord. You reward a person based on what he has done."

1 Hear my voice, O God, when I complain. Protect my life from a terrifying enemy.

2 Hide me from the secret plots of criminals, from the mob of troublemakers.

3 They sharpen their tongues like swords. They aim bitter words like arrows

4 to shoot at innocent people from their hiding places. They shoot at them suddenly, without any fear.

5 They encourage one another in their evil plans. They talk about setting traps and say, "Who can see them?"

6 They search for the perfect crime and say, "We have perfected a foolproof scheme!" Human nature and the human heart are a mystery!

7 But God will shoot them with an arrow. Suddenly, they will be struck dead.

8 They will trip over their own tongues. Everyone who sees them will shake his head.

9 Everyone will be afraid and conclude, "This is an act of God!" They will learn from what he has done.

10 Righteous people will find joy in the LORD and take refuge in him. Everyone whose motives are decent will be able to brag.