Psalms 32; Psalms 33; Psalms 34; Psalms 35

Psalms 32

1 Blessed is the one whose lawless acts are forgiven. His sins have been taken away.

2 Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD never counts against him. He doesn't want to cheat anyone.

3 When I kept silent about my sin, my body became weak because I groaned all day long.

4 Day and night your heavy hand punished me. I became weaker and weaker as I do in the heat of summer. "Selah"

5 Then I admitted my sin to you. I didn't cover up the wrong I had done. I said, "I will admit my lawless acts to the Lord." And you forgave the guilt of my sin. "Selah"

6 Let everyone who is godly pray to you while they can still look to you. When troubles come like a flood, they certainly won't reach those who are godly.

7 You are my hiding place. You will keep me safe from trouble. You will surround me with songs sung by those who praise you because you save your people. "Selah"

8 I will guide you and teach you the way you should go. I will give you good advice and watch over you.

9 Don't be like the horse or the mule. They can't understand anything. They have to be controlled by bits and bridles. If they aren't, they won't come to you.

10 Sinful people have all kinds of trouble. But the LORD's faithful love is all around those who trust in him.

11 Be glad because of what the LORD has done for you. Be joyful, you who do what is right! Sing, all of you whose hearts are honest!

Psalms 33

1 You who are godly, sing with joy to the Lord. It is right for honest people to praise him.

2 Praise the LORD with the harp. Make music to him on the lyre that has ten strings.

3 Sing a new song to him. Play with skill, and shout with joy.

4 What the LORD says is right and true. He is faithful in everything he does.

5 The LORD loves what is right and fair. The earth is full of his faithful love.

6 The heavens were made when the LORD commanded it to happen. All of the stars were created by the breath of his mouth.

7 He gathers the waters of the sea together. He puts the oceans in their places.

8 Let the whole earth have respect for the Lord. Let all of the people in the world honor him.

9 He spoke, and the world came into being. He commanded, and it stood firm.

10 The LORD blocks the sinful plans of the nations. He keeps them from doing what they want to do.

11 But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever. What he wants to do will last for all time.

12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. Blessed are the people he chose to be his own.

13 From heaven the LORD looks down and sees everyone.

14 From his throne he watches all those who live on the earth.

15 He creates the hearts of all people. He is aware of everything they do.

16 A king isn't saved just because his army is big. A soldier doesn't escape just because he is very strong.

17 People can't trust a horse to save them either. Though it is very strong, it can't save them.

18 But the LORD looks with favor on those who respect him. He watches over those who put their hope in his faithful love.

19 He watches over them to save them from death. He wants to keep them alive when there is no food in the land.

20 We wait in hope for the Lord. He helps us. He is like a shield that keeps us safe.

21 Our hearts are full of joy because of him. We trust in him, because he is holy.

22 Lord, may your faithful love rest on us. We put our hope in you.

Psalms 34

1 I will thank the LORD at all times. My lips will always praise him.

2 I will honor the Lord. Let those who are hurting hear and be joyful.

3 Join me in giving glory to the Lord. Let us honor him together.

4 I looked to the Lord, and he answered me. He saved me from everything I was afraid of.

5 Those who look to him beam with joy. They are never put to shame.

6 This poor man called out, and the LORD heard him. He saved him out of all of his troubles.

7 The angel of the LORD stands guard around those who have respect for him. And he saves them.

8 Taste and see that the LORD is good. Blessed is the man who goes to him for safety.

9 You people of God, have respect for the Lord. Those who respect him have everything they need.

10 The lions may grow weak and hungry. But those who look to the LORD have every good thing they need.

11 My children, come. Listen to me. I will teach you to have respect for the Lord.

12 Do you love life and want to see many good days?

13 Then keep your tongues from speaking evil. Keep your lips from telling lies.

14 Turn away from evil, and do good. Look for peace, and go after it.

15 The LORD looks with favor on those who are godly. His ears are open to their cry.

16 The LORD doesn't look with favor on those who do evil. He removes all memory of them from the earth.

17 Godly people cry out, and the LORD hears them. He saves them from all of their troubles.

18 The LORD is close to those whose hearts have been broken. He saves those whose spirits have been crushed.

19 Anyone who does what is right may have many troubles. But the LORD saves him from all of them.

20 The LORD watches over all of his bones. Not one of them will be broken.

21 Sinners will be killed by their own evil. The enemies of godly people will be judged.

22 The LORD sets those who serve him free. No one who goes to him for safety will be judged.

Psalms 35

1 Lord, stand up against those who stand up against me. Fight against those who fight against me.

2 Pick up your large shields and your small shields. Rise up and help me.

3 Get your spear and javelin ready to fight against those who are chasing me. Say to me, "I will save you."

4 Let those who are trying to kill me be brought down in dishonor. Let those who plan to destroy me be turned back in terror.

5 Let them be like straw blowing in the wind, while the angel of the LORD drives them away.

6 Let their path be dark and slippery, while the angel of the LORD chases them.

7 They set a trap for me without any reason. Without any reason they dug a pit to catch me.

8 So let them be destroyed without warning. Let the trap they set for me catch them. Let them fall into the pit and be destroyed.

9 Then I will be full of joy because of what the LORD has done. I will be glad because he has saved me.

10 My whole being will cry out, "Who is like you, Lord? You save poor people from those who are too strong for them. You save poor and needy people from those who rob them."

11 Mean people come forward to give witness against me. They ask me things I don't know anything about.

12 They pay me back with evil, even though I was good to them. They leave me without hope.

13 But when they were sick, I put on black clothes. I made myself low by going without food. My prayers for them weren't always answered.

14 So I went around crying as if I were crying over my friend or relative. I bowed my head in sadness as if I were sobbing over my mother.

15 But when I tripped and fell, they were all very happy. Attackers gathered against me when I didn't even know it. They kept on telling lies about me.

16 They were like ungodly people. They made fun of me. They ground their teeth at me in hate.

17 Lord, how much longer will you just look on? Save me from their deadly attacks. Save the only life I have. Save me from those lions.

18 I will give you thanks in the whole community. Among all of your people I will praise you.

19 Don't let those who are my enemies without any reason laugh at me and make fun of me. Don't let those who hate me without any reason wink at me with an evil purpose.

20 They don't speak words of peace. They make up false charges against those who live quietly in the land.

21 They open their mouths wide at me. They make fun of me. They say, "With our own eyes we have seen what you did."

22 Lord, you have seen this. Don't be silent. Lord, don't be far away from me.

23 Wake up! Rise up to help me! My God and Lord, stand up for me.

24 LORD my God, when you hand down your sentence, let it be in my favor. You always do what is right. Don't let my enemies have the joy of seeing me fall.

25 Don't let them think, "That's exactly what we wanted!" Don't let them say, "We have swallowed him up."

26 Let all those who laugh at me because I'm in trouble be ashamed and bewildered. Let all who think they are better than I am put on shame and dishonor as if they were clothes.

27 Let those who are happy when my name is cleared shout with joy and gladness. Let them always say, "May the LORD be honored. He is pleased when everything goes well with the one who serves him."

28 You always do what is right. My tongue will speak about it and praise you all day long.