Psalms 131; Psalms 138; Psalms 139; Psalms 143; Psalms 144; Psalms 145

Psalms 131

1 Lord, my heart isn't proud. My eyes aren't proud either. I don't concern myself with important matters. I don't concern myself with things that are too wonderful for me.

2 I have made myself calm and content like a young child in its mother's arms. Deep down inside me, I am as content as a young child.

3 Israel, put your hope in the LORD both now and forever.

Psalms 138

1 Lord, I will praise you with all my heart. In front of those who think they are gods I will sing praise to you.

2 I will bow down facing your holy temple. I will praise your name, because you are loving and faithful. You have honored your name and your word more than anything else.

3 When I called out to you, you answered me. You made me strong and brave.

4 Lord, may all of the kings on earth praise you when they hear about what you have promised.

5 Lord, may they sing about what you have done, because your glory is great.

6 The LORD is in heaven. But he watches over those who are free of pride. He knows those who are proud and stays far away from them.

7 Trouble is all around me, but you keep me alive. You reach out your hand to put a stop to the anger of my enemies. With your powerful right hand you save me.

8 Lord, you will do everything you have planned for me. Lord, your faithful love continues forever. You have done so much for us. Don't stop now.

Psalms 139

1 Lord, you have seen what is in my heart. You know all about me.

2 You know when I sit down and when I get up. You know what I'm thinking even though you are far away.

3 You know when I go out to work and when I come back home. You know exactly how I live.

4 Lord, even before I speak a word, you know all about it.

5 You are all around me. You are behind me and in front of me. You hold me in your power.

6 I'm amazed at how well you know me. It's more than I can understand.

7 How can I get away from your Spirit? Where can I go to escape from you?

8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there. If I lie down in the deepest parts of the earth, you are also there.

9 Suppose I were to rise with the sun in the east and then cross over to the west where it sinks into the ocean.

10 Your hand would always be there to guide me. Your right hand would still be holding me close.

11 Suppose I were to say, "I'm sure the darkness will hide me. The light around me will become as dark as night."

12 Even that darkness would not be dark to you. The night would shine like the day, because darkness is like light to you.

13 You created the deepest parts of my being. You put me together inside my mother's body.

14 How you made me is amazing and wonderful. I praise you for that. What you have done is wonderful. I know that very well.

15 None of my bones was hidden from you when you made me inside my mother's body. That place was as dark as the deepest parts of the earth. When you were putting me together there,

16 your eyes saw my body even before it was formed. You planned how many days I would live. You wrote down the number of them in your book before I had lived through even one of them.

17 God, your thoughts about me are priceless. No one can possibly add them all up.

18 If I could count them, they would be more than the grains of sand. If I were to fall asleep counting and then wake up, you would still be there with me.

19 God, I wish you would kill the people who are evil! I wish those murderers would get away from me!

20 They are your enemies. They misuse your name. They misuse it for their own evil purposes.

21 Lord, I really hate those who hate you! I really hate those who rise up against you!

22 I have nothing but hatred for them. I consider them to be my enemies.

23 God, see what is in my heart. Know what is there. Put me to the test. Know what I'm thinking.

24 See if there's anything in my life you don't like. Help me live in the way that is always right.

Psalms 143

1 Lord, hear my prayer. Listen to my cry for your favor. You are faithful and right. Come and help me.

2 Don't take me to court and judge me, because in your eyes no living person does what is right.

3 My enemies chase me. They crush me down to the ground. They make me live in darkness like those who died long ago.

4 So I grow weak. Deep down inside me, I'm afraid.

5 I remember what happened long ago. I spend time thinking about all of your acts. I consider what your hands have done.

6 I spread out my hands to you in prayer. I'm thirsty for you, just as dry ground is thirsty for rain. "Selah"

7 Lord, answer me quickly. I'm growing weak. Don't turn your face away from me, or I will be like those who go down into the grave.

8 In the morning let me hear about your faithful love, because I've put my trust in you. Show me the way I should live, because I pray to you.

9 Lord, save me from my enemies, because I go to you for safety.

10 Teach me to do what you want, because you are my God. May your good Spirit lead me on a level path.

11 Lord, be true to your name. Keep me alive. Because you do what is right, get me out of trouble.

12 Because your love is faithful, put an end to my enemies. Destroy all of them, because I serve you.

Psalms 144

1 Give praise to the Lord. He is my rock. He trains my hands for war. He trains my fingers for battle.

2 He is my loving God. He is like a fort to me. He is my place of safety and the One who saves me. He is like a shield that keeps me safe. I go to him for safety. He brings nations under my control.

3 Lord, what is a human being that you take care of him? What is a son of man that you think about him?

4 His life doesn't last any longer than a breath. His days are like a shadow that quickly disappears.

5 Lord, open up your heavens and come down. Touch the mountains, and they will pour out smoke.

6 Send flashes of lightning and scatter my enemies. Shoot your arrows and chase them away.

7 My enemies are like a mighty flood. Reach down from heaven and save me. Save me from strangers who attack me.

8 They tell all kinds of lies with their mouths. Even when they make a promise by raising their right hands, they don't mean it.

9 God, I will sing a new song to you. I will make music to you on a harp that has ten strings.

10 You are the One who helps kings win battles. You save your servant David from dying by the sword.

11 Save me. Set me free from strangers who attack me. They tell all kinds of lies with their mouths. Even when they make a promise by raising their right hands, they don't mean it.

12 While our sons are young, they will be like healthy plants. Our daughters will be like pillars that have been made to decorate a palace.

13 Our storerooms will be filled with every kind of food. The sheep in our fields will increase by thousands. They will increase by tens of thousands.

14 Our oxen will pull heavy loads. None of our city walls will be broken down. No one will be carried off as a prisoner. No cries of pain will be heard in our streets.

15 Blessed are the people about whom all of those things are true. Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord.

Psalms 145

1 I will honor you, my God the King. I will praise your name for ever and ever.

2 Every day I will praise you. I will praise your name for ever and ever.

3 Lord, you are great. You are really worthy of praise. No one can completely understand how great you are.

4 Parents will praise your works to their children. They will tell about your mighty acts.

5 They will speak about your glorious majesty. I will spend time thinking about your miracles.

6 They will speak about the powerful and wonderful things you do. I will talk about the great things you have done.

7 They will celebrate your great goodness. They will sing with joy about your holy acts.

8 The LORD is gracious. He is kind and tender. He is slow to get angry. He is full of love.

9 The LORD is good to all. He shows deep concern for everything he has made.

10 Lord, every living thing you have made will praise you. Your faithful people will praise you.

11 They will tell about your glorious kingdom. They will speak about your power.

12 Then all people will know about the mighty things you have done. They will know about the glorious majesty of your kingdom.

13 Your kingdom is a kingdom that will last forever. Your rule will continue for all time to come. The LORD is faithful and will keep all of his promises. He is loving toward everything he has made.

14 The LORD takes good care of all those who fall. He lifts up all those who feel helpless.

15 Every living thing looks to you for food. You give it to them exactly when they need it.

16 You open your hand and satisfy the needs of every living creature.

17 The LORD is right in everything he does. He is loving toward everything he has made.

18 The LORD is ready to help all those who call out to him. He helps those who really mean it when they call out to him.

19 He satisfies the needs of those who have respect for him. He hears their cry and saves them.

20 The LORD watches over all those who love him. But he will destroy all sinful people.

21 I will praise the LORD with my mouth. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever.