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

Psalms 40

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!

Psalms 41

1 Blessed is the one who has concern for helpless people. The LORD will rescue him in times of trouble.

2 The LORD will protect him and keep him alive. He will be blessed in the land. Do not place him at the mercy of his enemies.

3 The LORD will support him on his sickbed. You will restore this person to health when he is ill.

4 I said, "O LORD, have pity on me! Heal my soul because I have sinned against you."

5 My enemies say terrible things about me: "When will he die, and when will his family name disappear?"

6 When one of them comes to visit me, he speaks foolishly. His heart collects gossip. [Then] he leaves to tell others.

7 Everyone who hates me whispers about me. They think evil things about me and say,

8 "A devilish disease has attached itself to him. He will never leave his sickbed."

9 Even my closest friend whom I trusted, the one who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.

10 Have pity on me, O LORD! Raise me up so that I can pay them back

11 and my enemy cannot shout in triumph over me. When you do this, I know that you are pleased with me.

12 You defend my integrity, and you set me in your presence forever.

13 Thank the LORD God of Israel through all eternity! Amen and amen!

Psalms 42

1 As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God.

2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When may I come to see God's face?

3 My tears are my food day and night. People ask me all day long, "Where is your God?"

4 I will remember these things as I pour out my soul: how I used to walk with the crowd and lead it in a procession to God's house. [I sang] songs of joy and thanksgiving while crowds of people celebrated a festival.

5 Why are you discouraged, my soul? Why are you so restless? Put your hope in God, because I will still praise him. He is my savior and my God.

6 My soul is discouraged. That is why I will remember you in the land of Jordan, on the peaks of Hermon, on Mount Mizar.

7 One deep sea calls to another at the roar of your waterspouts. All the whitecaps on your waves have swept over me.

8 The LORD commands his mercy during the day, and at night his song is with me-- a prayer to the God of my life.

9 I will ask God, my rock, "Why have you forgotten me? Why must I walk around in mourning while the enemy oppresses me?"

10 With a shattering blow to my bones, my enemies taunt me. They ask me all day long, "Where is your God?"

11 Why are you discouraged, my soul? Why are you so restless? Put your hope in God, because I will still praise him. He is my savior and my God.

Psalms 43

1 Judge me, O God, and plead my case against an ungodly nation. Rescue me from deceitful and unjust people.

2 You are my fortress, O God! Why have you rejected me? Why must I walk around in mourning while the enemy oppresses me?

3 Send your light and your truth. Let them guide me. Let them bring me to your holy mountain and to your dwelling place.

4 Then let me go to the altar of God, to God my [highest] joy, and I will give thanks to you on the lyre, O God, my God.

5 Why are you discouraged, my soul? Why are you so restless? Put your hope in God, because I will still praise him. He is my savior and my God.

Psalms 44

1 O God, we have heard it with our own ears. Our ancestors have told us about the miracle you performed in their day, in days long ago.

2 By your power you forced nations [out of the land], but you planted our ancestors [there]. You shattered many groups of people, but you set our ancestors free.

3 It was not with their swords that they took possession of the land. They did not gain victory with their own strength. It was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your presence [that did it], because you were pleased with them.

4 You alone are my king, O God. You won those victories for Jacob.

5 With you we can walk over our enemies. With your name we can trample those who attack us.

6 I do not rely on my bow, and my sword will never save me.

7 But you saved us from our enemies. You put to shame those who hate us.

8 All day long we praise our God. We give thanks to you forever. Selah

9 But now you have rejected and disgraced us. You do not even go along with our armies.

10 You make us retreat from the enemy. Those who hate us rob us at will.

11 You hand us over to be butchered like sheep and scatter us among the nations.

12 You sell your people for almost nothing, and at that price you have gained nothing.

13 You made us a disgrace to our neighbors and an object of ridicule and contempt to those around us.

14 You made our [defeat] a proverb among the nations so that people shake their heads at us.

15 All day long my disgrace is in front of me. Shame covers my face

16 because of the words of those who insult and slander us, because of the presence of the enemy and the avenger.

17 Although all of this happened to us, we never forgot you. We never ignored your promise.

18 Our hearts never turned away. Our feet never left your path.

19 Yet, you crushed us in a place for jackals and covered us with the shadow of death.

20 If we forgot the name of our God or stretched out our hands to pray to another god,

21 wouldn't God find out, since he knows the secrets in our hearts?

22 Indeed, we are being killed all day long because of you. We are thought of as sheep to be slaughtered.

23 Wake up! Why are you sleeping, O Lord? Awake! Do not reject us forever!

24 Why do you hide your face? Why do you forget our suffering and misery?

25 Our souls are bowing in the dust. Our bodies cling to the ground.

26 Arise! Help us! Rescue us because of your mercy!

Psalms 45

1 My heart is overflowing with good news. I will direct my song to the king. My tongue is a pen for a skillful writer.

2 You are the most handsome of Adam's descendants. Grace is poured on your lips. That is why God has blessed you forever.

3 O warrior, strap your sword to your side with your splendor and majesty.

4 Ride on victoriously in your majesty for the cause of truth, humility, and righteousness. Let your right hand teach you awe-inspiring things.

5 Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies. Nations fall beneath you.

6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter in your kingdom is a scepter for justice.

7 You have loved what is right and hated what is wrong. That is why God, your God, has anointed you, rather than your companions, with the oil of joy.

8 All your robes are [fragrant] with myrrh, aloes, and cassia. From ivory palaces the music of stringed instruments delights you.

9 The daughters of kings are among your noble ladies. The queen takes her place at your right hand and wears gold from Ophir.

10 Listen, daughter! Look closely! Turn your ear [toward me]. Forget your people, and forget your father's house.

11 The king longs for your beauty. He is your Lord. Worship him.

12 The people of Tyre, the richest people, want to win your favor with a gift.

13 The daughter of the king is glorious inside [the palace]. Her dress is embroidered with gold.

14 Wearing a colorful gown, she is brought to the king. Her bridesmaids follow her. They will be brought to you.

15 With joy and delight they are brought in. They enter the palace of the king.

16 Your sons will take the place of your father. You will make them princes over the whole earth.

17 I will cause your name to be remembered throughout every generation. That is why the nations will give thanks to you forever and ever.