Psalms 140; Psalms 141; Psalms 142; Psalms 143; Psalms 144; Psalms 145

Psalms 140

1 O LORD, rescue me from evil people. Protect me from those who are violent,

2 those who plot evil in their hearts and stir up trouble all day long.

3 Their tongues sting like a snake; the venom of a viper drips from their lips. Interlude

4 O LORD, keep me out of the hands of the wicked. Protect me from those who are violent, for they are plotting against me.

5 The proud have set a trap to catch me; they have stretched out a net; they have placed traps all along the way. Interlude

6 I said to the LORD, “You are my God!” Listen, O LORD, to my cries for mercy!

7 O Sovereign LORD, the strong one who rescued me, you protected me on the day of battle.

8 LORD, do not let evil people have their way. Do not let their evil schemes succeed, or they will become proud. Interlude

9 Let my enemies be destroyed by the very evil they have planned for me.

10 Let burning coals fall down on their heads. Let them be thrown into the fire or into watery pits from which they can’t escape.

11 Don’t let liars prosper here in our land. Cause great disasters to fall on the violent.

12 But I know the LORD will help those they persecute; he will give justice to the poor.

13 Surely righteous people are praising your name; the godly will live in your presence.

Psalms 141

1 O LORD, I am calling to you. Please hurry! Listen when I cry to you for help!

2 Accept my prayer as incense offered to you, and my upraised hands as an evening offering.

3 Take control of what I say, O LORD, and guard my lips.

4 Don’t let me drift toward evil or take part in acts of wickedness. Don’t let me share in the delicacies of those who do wrong.

5 Let the godly strike me! It will be a kindness! If they correct me, it is soothing medicine. Don’t let me refuse it. But I pray constantly against the wicked and their deeds.

6 When their leaders are thrown down from a cliff, the wicked will listen to my words and find them true.

7 Like rocks brought up by a plow, the bones of the wicked will lie scattered without burial.

8 I look to you for help, O Sovereign LORD . You are my refuge; don’t let them kill me.

9 Keep me from the traps they have set for me, from the snares of those who do wrong.

10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, but let me escape.

Psalms 142

1 I cry out to the LORD ; I plead for the LORD ’s mercy.

2 I pour out my complaints before him and tell him all my troubles.

3 When I am overwhelmed, you alone know the way I should turn. Wherever I go, my enemies have set traps for me.

4 I look for someone to come and help me, but no one gives me a passing thought! No one will help me; no one cares a bit what happens to me.

5 Then I pray to you, O LORD . I say, “You are my place of refuge. You are all I really want in life.

6 Hear my cry, for I am very low. Rescue me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me.

7 Bring me out of prison so I can thank you. The godly will crowd around me, for you are good to me.”

Psalms 143

1 Hear my prayer, O LORD ; listen to my plea! Answer me because you are faithful and righteous.

2 Don’t put your servant on trial, for no one is innocent before you.

3 My enemy has chased me. He has knocked me to the ground and forces me to live in darkness like those in the grave.

4 I am losing all hope; I am paralyzed with fear.

5 I remember the days of old. I ponder all your great works and think about what you have done.

6 I lift my hands to you in prayer. I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain. Interlude

7 Come quickly, LORD, and answer me, for my depression deepens. Don’t turn away from me, or I will die.

8 Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you.

9 Rescue me from my enemies, LORD ; I run to you to hide me.

10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.

11 For the glory of your name, O LORD, preserve my life. Because of your faithfulness, bring me out of this distress.

12 In your unfailing love, silence all my enemies and destroy all my foes, for I am your servant.

Psalms 144

1 Praise the LORD, who is my rock. He trains my hands for war and gives my fingers skill for battle.

2 He is my loving ally and my fortress, my tower of safety, my rescuer. He is my shield, and I take refuge in him. He makes the nations submit to me.

3 O LORD, what are human beings that you should notice them, mere mortals that you should think about them?

4 For they are like a breath of air; their days are like a passing shadow.

5 Open the heavens, LORD, and come down. Touch the mountains so they billow smoke.

6 Hurl your lightning bolts and scatter your enemies! Shoot your arrows and confuse them!

7 Reach down from heaven and rescue me; rescue me from deep waters, from the power of my enemies.

8 Their mouths are full of lies; they swear to tell the truth, but they lie instead.

9 I will sing a new song to you, O God! I will sing your praises with a ten-stringed harp.

10 For you grant victory to kings! You rescued your servant David from the fatal sword.

11 Save me! Rescue me from the power of my enemies. Their mouths are full of lies; they swear to tell the truth, but they lie instead.

12 May our sons flourish in their youth like well-nurtured plants. May our daughters be like graceful pillars, carved to beautify a palace.

13 May our barns be filled with crops of every kind. May the flocks in our fields multiply by the thousands, even tens of thousands,

14 and may our oxen be loaded down with produce. May there be no enemy breaking through our walls, no going into captivity, no cries of alarm in our town squares.

15 Yes, joyful are those who live like this! Joyful indeed are those whose God is the LORD .

Psalms 145

1 I will exalt you, my God and King, and praise your name forever and ever.

2 I will praise you every day; yes, I will praise you forever.

3 Great is the LORD ! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness.

4 Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power.

5 I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor and your wonderful miracles.

6 Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue; I will proclaim your greatness.

7 Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness; they will sing with joy about your righteousness.

8 The LORD is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.

9 The LORD is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation.

10 All of your works will thank you, LORD, and your faithful followers will praise you.

11 They will speak of the glory of your kingdom; they will give examples of your power.

12 They will tell about your mighty deeds and about the majesty and glory of your reign.

13 For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. You rule throughout all generations. The LORD always keeps his promises; he is gracious in all he does.

14 The LORD helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads.

15 The eyes of all look to you in hope; you give them their food as they need it.

16 When you open your hand, you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing.

17 The LORD is righteous in everything he does; he is filled with kindness.

18 The LORD is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth.

19 He grants the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cries for help and rescues them.

20 The LORD protects all those who love him, but he destroys the wicked.

21 I will praise the LORD, and may everyone on earth bless his holy name forever and ever.