Psalms 1; Psalms 2; Psalms 3; Psalms 4; Psalms 5; Psalms 6; Psalms 7; Psalms 8

Psalms 1

1 Happy are those who don't listen to the wicked, who don't go where sinners go, who don't do what evil people do.

2 They love the Lord's teachings, and they think about those teachings day and night.

3 They are strong, like a tree planted by a river. The tree produces fruit in season, and its leaves don't die. Everything they do will succeed.

4 But wicked people are not like that. They are like chaff that the wind blows away.

5 So the wicked will not escape God's punishment. Sinners will not worship with God's people.

6 This is because the Lord takes care of his people, but the wicked will be destroyed.

Psalms 2

1 Why are the nations so angry? Why are the people making useless plans?

2 The kings of the earth prepare to fight, and their leaders make plans together against the Lord and his appointed one.

3 They say, "Let's break the chains that hold us back and throw off the ropes that tie us down."

4 But the one who sits in heaven laughs; the Lord makes fun of them.

5 Then the Lord warns them and frightens them with his anger.

6 He says, "I have appointed my own king to rule in Jerusalem on my holy mountain, Zion."

7 Now I will tell you what the Lord has declared: He said to me, "You are my son. Today I have become your father.

8 If you ask me, I will give you the nations; all the people on earth will be yours.

9 You will rule over them with an iron rod. You will break them into pieces like pottery."

10 So, kings, be wise; rulers, learn this lesson.

11 Obey the Lord with great fear. Be happy, but tremble.

12 Show that you are loyal to his son, or you will be destroyed by his anger, because he can quickly become angry. But happy are those who trust him for protection. David sang this when he ran away from his son Absalom.

Psalms 3

1 Lord, I have many enemies! Many people have turned against me.

2 Many are saying about me, "God won't rescue him."Selah

3 But, Lord, you are my shield, my wonderful God who gives me courage.

4 I will pray to the Lord, and he will answer me from his holy mountain.Selah

5 I can lie down and go to sleep, and I will wake up again, because the Lord gives me strength.

6 Thousands of troops may surround me, but I am not afraid.

7 Lord, rise up! My God, come save me! You have struck my enemies on the cheek; you have broken the teeth of the wicked.

8 The Lord can save his people. Lord, bless your people.Selah For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of David.

Psalms 4

1 Answer me when I pray to you, my God who does what is right. Make things easier for me when I am in trouble. Have mercy on me and hear my prayer.

2 People, how long will you turn my honor into shame? How long will you love what is false and look for new lies?Selah

3 You know that the Lord has chosen for himself those who are loyal to him. The Lord listens when I pray to him.

4 When you are angry, do not sin. Think about these things quietly as you go to bed.Selah

5 Do what is right as a sacrifice to the Lord and trust the Lord.

6 Many people ask, "Who will give us anything good?" Lord, be kind to us.

7 But you have made me very happy, happier than they are, even with all their grain and new wine.

8 I go to bed and sleep in peace, because, Lord, only you keep me safe. For the director of music. For flutes. A psalm of David.

Psalms 5

1 Lord, listen to my words. Understand my sadness.

2 Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, because I pray to you.

3 Lord, every morning you hear my voice. Every morning, I tell you what I need, and I wait for your answer.

4 You are not a God who is pleased with the wicked; you do not live with those who do evil.

5 Those people who make fun of you cannot stand before you. You hate all those who do evil.

6 You destroy liars; the Lord hates those who kill and trick others.

7 Because of your great love, I can come into your Temple. Because I fear and respect you, I can worship in your holy Temple.

8 Lord, since I have many enemies, show me the right thing to do. Show me clearly how you want me to live.

9 My enemies' mouths do not tell the truth; in their hearts they want to destroy others. Their throats are like open graves; they use their tongues for telling lies.

10 God, declare them guilty! Let them fall into their own traps. Send them away because their sins are many; they have turned against you.

11 But let everyone who trusts you be happy; let them sing glad songs forever. Protect those who love you and who are happy because of you.

12 Lord, you bless those who do what is right; you protect them like a soldier's shield. For the director of music. With stringed instruments. Upon the sheminith. A psalm of David.

Psalms 6

1 Lord, don't correct me when you are angry; don't punish me when you are very angry.

2 Lord, have mercy on me because I am weak. Heal me, Lord, because my bones ache.

3 I am very upset. Lord, how long will it be?

4 Lord, return and save me; save me because of your kindness.

5 Dead people don't remember you; those in the grave don't praise you.

6 I am tired of crying to you. Every night my bed is wet with tears; my bed is soaked from my crying.

7 My eyes are weak from so much crying; they are weak from crying about my enemies.

8 Get away from me, all you who do evil, because the Lord has heard my crying.

9 The Lord has heard my cry for help; the Lord will answer my prayer.

10 All my enemies will be ashamed and troubled. They will turn and suddenly leave in shame. A shiggaion of David which he sang to the Lord about Cush, from the tribe of Benjamin.

Psalms 7

1 Lord my God, I trust in you for protection. Save me and rescue me from those who are chasing me.

2 Otherwise, like a lion they will tear me apart. They will rip me to pieces, and no one can save me.

3 Lord my God, what have I done? Have my hands done something wrong?

4 Have I done wrong to my friend or stolen without reason from my enemy?

5 If I have, let my enemy chase me and capture me. Let him trample me into the dust and bury me in the ground.Selah

6 Lord, rise up in your anger; stand up against my enemies' anger. Get up and demand fairness.

7 Gather the nations around you and rule them from above.

8 Lord, judge the people. Lord, defend me because I am right, because I have done no wrong, God Most High.

9 God, you do what is right. You know our thoughts and feelings. Stop those wicked actions done by evil people, and help those who do what is right.

10 God protects me like a shield; he saves those whose hearts are right.

11 God judges by what is right, and God is always ready to punish the wicked.

12 If they do not change their lives, God will sharpen his sword; he will string his bow and take aim.

13 He has prepared his deadly weapons; he has made his flaming arrows.

14 There are people who think up evil and plan trouble and tell lies.

15 They dig a hole to trap others, but they will fall into it themselves.

16 They will get themselves into trouble; the violence they cause will hurt only themselves.

17 I praise the Lord because he does what is right. I sing praises to the Lord Most High. For the director of music. On the gittith. A psalm of David.

Psalms 8

1 Lord our Lord, your name is the most wonderful name in all the earth! It brings you praise in heaven above.

2 You have taught children and babies to sing praises to you because of your enemies. And so you silence your enemies and destroy those who try to get even.

3 I look at your heavens, which you made with your fingers. I see the moon and stars, which you created.

4 But why are people important to you? Why do you take care of human beings?

5 You made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor.

6 You put them in charge of everything you made. You put all things under their control:

7 all the sheep, the cattle, and the wild animals,

8 the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea, and everything that lives under water.

9 Lord our Lord, your name is the most wonderful name in all the earth! For the director of music. To the tune of "The Death of the Son." A psalm of David.