Psalms 1; Psalms 2; Psalms 15; Psalms 22; Psalms 23; Psalms 24; Psalms 47; Psalms 68

Psalms 1

1 Blessed is the one who obeys the law of the Lord. He doesn't follow the advice of evil people. He doesn't make a habit of doing what sinners do. He doesn't join those who make fun of the LORD and his law.

2 Instead, he takes delight in the law of the Lord. He thinks about his law day and night.

3 He is like a tree that is planted near a stream of water. It always bears its fruit at the right time. Its leaves don't dry up. Everything godly people do turns out well.

4 Sinful people are not like that at all. They are like straw that the wind blows away.

5 When the LORD judges them, their life will come to an end. Sinners won't have any place among those who are godly.

6 The LORD watches over the lives of those who are godly. But the lives of sinful people will lead to their death.

Psalms 2

1 Why do the nations plan evil together? Why do they make useless plans?

2 The kings of the earth take their stand against the Lord. The rulers of the earth gather together against his anointed king.

3 "Let us break free from their chains," they say. "Let us throw off their ropes."

4 The One who sits on his throne in heaven laughs. The Lord makes fun of those rulers and their plans.

5 When he is angry, he warns them. When his anger blazes out, he terrifies them.

6 He says to them, "I have placed my king on my holy mountain of Zion."

7 I will announce what the LORD has promised. He said to me, "You are my son. Today I have become your father.

8 Ask me, and I will give the nations to you. All nations on earth will belong to you.

9 You will rule them with an iron rod. You will break them to pieces like clay pots."

10 Kings, be wise! Rulers of the earth, be warned!

11 Serve the LORD and have respect for him. Serve him with joy and trembling.

12 Obey the son completely, or he will be angry. Your way of life will lead to your death. His anger can blaze out at any moment. Blessed are all those who go to him for safety.

Psalms 15

1 Lord, who can live in your sacred tent? Who can stay on your holy hill?

2 Anyone who lives without blame and does what is right. He speaks the truth from his heart.

3 He doesn't tell lies about others. He doesn't do wrong to his neighbors. He doesn't say anything bad about them.

4 He hates sinful people. He honors those who have respect for the Lord. He keeps his promises even when it hurts.

5 He lends his money without charging too much interest. He doesn't accept money to harm those who aren't guilty. Anyone who lives like that will always be secure.

Psalms 22

1 My God, my God, why have you deserted me? Why do you seem to be so far away when I need you to save me? Why do you seem to be so far away that you can't hear my groans?

2 My God, I cry out in the daytime. But you don't answer. I cry out at night. I can't keep quiet.

3 But you rule from your throne as the Holy One. You are the God Israel praises.

4 Our people of long ago put their trust in you. They trusted in you, and you saved them.

5 They cried out to you and were saved. They trusted in you, and you didn't let them down.

6 People treat me like a worm and not a man. They hate me and look down on me.

7 All those who see me laugh at me. They shout at me and make fun of me. They shake their heads at me.

8 They say, "He trusts in the Lord. Let the LORD help him. If the LORD is pleased with him, let him save him."

9 But you brought me out of my mother's body. You made me trust in you even when I was at my mother's breast.

10 From the time I was born, you took good care of me. Ever since I came out of my mother's body, you have been my God.

11 Don't be far away from me. Trouble is near, and there is no one to help me.

12 Many enemies are all around me. They are like strong bulls from the land of Bashan.

13 They are like roaring lions that tear to pieces what they kill. They open their mouths wide to attack me.

14 My strength is like water that is poured out on the ground. I feel as if my bones aren't connected. My heart has turned to wax. It has melted away inside me.

15 My strength is dried up like a piece of broken pottery. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You bring me down to the edge of the grave.

16 A group of sinful people has closed in on me. They are all around me like a pack of dogs. They have pierced my hands and my feet.

17 I can see all of my bones right through my skin. People stare at me. They laugh when I suffer.

18 They divide up my clothes among them. They cast lots for what I am wearing.

19 Lord, don't be so far away. You give me strength. Come quickly to help me.

20 Save me from the sword. Save the only life I have. Save me from the power of those dogs.

21 Save me from the mouths of those lions. Save me from the horns of those wild oxen.

22 I will announce your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you among those who worship you.

23 You who have respect for the Lord, praise him! All you people of Jacob, honor him! All you people of Israel, worship him!

24 He has not forgotten the one who is hurting. He has not turned away from his suffering. He has not turned his face away from him. He has listened to his cry for help.

25 Because of what you have done, I will praise you in the whole community of those who worship you. In front of those who respect you, I will keep my promises.

26 Those who are poor will eat and be satisfied. Those who look to the LORD will praise him. May their hearts be filled with new hope!

27 People from one end of the earth to the other will remember and turn to the Lord. The people of all the nations will bow down before him.

28 The LORD is King. He rules over the nations.

29 All the rich people of the earth will worship God and take part in his feasts. All those who go down to the edge of the grave will fall on their knees in front of him. I'm talking about those who can hardly keep themselves alive.

30 Those who are not yet born will serve him. Those who are born later will be told about the Lord.

31 And they will tell people who have not yet been born that he has done what is right.

Psalms 23

1 The LORD is my shepherd. He gives me everything I need.

2 He lets me lie down in fields of green grass. He leads me beside quiet waters.

3 He gives me new strength. He guides me in the right paths for the honor of his name.

4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid. You are with me. Your shepherd's rod and staff comfort me

5 You prepare a feast for me right in front of my enemies. You pour oil on my head. My cup runs over.

6 I am sure that your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life. And I will live in the house of the LORD forever.

Psalms 24

1 The earth belongs to the Lord. And so does everything in it. The world belongs to him. And so do all those who live in it.

2 He set it firmly on the oceans. He made it secure on the waters.

3 Who can go up to the temple on the hill of the Lord? Who can stand in his holy place?

4 Anyone who has clean hands and a pure heart. He does not worship the statue of a god. He doesn't use the name of that god when he makes a promise.

5 People like that will receive the LORD's blessing. When God their Savior hands down his sentence, it will be in their favor.

6 The people who look to God are like that. God of Jacob, they look to you. "Selah"

7 Open wide, you gates. Open up, you age-old doors. Then the King of glory will come in.

8 Who is the King of glory? The Lord, who is strong and mighty. The Lord, who is mighty in battle.

9 Open wide, you gates. Open wide, you age-old doors. Then the King of glory will come in.

10 Who is he, this King of glory? The LORD who rules over all. He is the King of glory. "Selah"

Psalms 47

1 Clap your hands, all you nations. Shout to God with cries of joy.

2 How wonderful is the LORD Most High! He is the great King over the whole earth.

3 He brought nations under our control. He made them fall under us.

4 He chose our land for us. The people of Jacob are proud of their land, and God loves them. "Selah"

5 God went up to his throne while his people were shouting with joy. The LORD went up while trumpets were playing.

6 Sing praises to God. Sing praises. Sing praises to our King. Sing praises.

7 God is the King of the whole earth. Sing a psalm of praise to him.

8 God rules over the nations. He is seated on his holy throne.

9 The nobles of the nations come together. They are now part of the people of the God of Abraham. The kings of the earth belong to God. He is greatly honored.

Psalms 68

1 May God rise up and scatter his enemies. May they turn and run away from him.

2 As wind blows smoke away, so may God blow them away. As fire melts wax, so may he destroy sinful people.

3 But may those who do what is right be glad and filled with joy when they are with him. May they be happy and joyful.

4 Sing to God. Sing praise to his name. Lift up a song to the One who rides on the clouds. His name is the Lord. Be glad when you are with him.

5 God is in his holy temple. He is a father to those whose fathers have died. He takes care of women whose husbands have died.

6 God gives lonely people a family. He sets prisoners free, and they go out singing. But those who refuse to obey him live in a land that is baked by the sun.

7 God, you led your people out. You marched through a dry and empty land. "Selah"

8 The ground shook when you, the God of Sinai, appeared. The heavens poured down rain when you, the God of Israel, appeared.

9 God, you gave us plenty of rain. You renewed your worn-out land.

10 God, your people settled in it. From all of your riches, you provided for those who were poor.

11 The Lord gave a message. Many people made it widely known.

12 They said, "Kings and armies are running away. In the camps, Israel's soldiers are dividing up the things they have taken from their enemies.

13 Even while the soldiers sleep near the campfires, God wins the battle for them. He gives the enemy's silver and gold to Israel, his dove."

14 The Mighty One has scattered the kings around the land. It was like snow falling on Mount Zalmon.

15 The mountains of Bashan are majestic. The mountains of Bashan are very rocky.

16 You rocky mountains are jealous of Mount Zion, aren't you? That's where God chooses to rule. That's where the LORD himself will live forever.

17 God has come with tens of thousands of his chariots. He has come with thousands and thousands of them. The Lord has come from Mount Sinai. He has entered his holy place.

18 When he went up to his place on high, he led a line of prisoners. He received gifts from people, even from those who refused to obey him. The LORD God went up to live on Mount Zion.

19 Give praise to the Lord. Give praise to God our Savior. He carries our heavy loads day after day. "Selah"

20 Our God is a God who saves. He is the King and the Lord. He saves us from death.

21 God will certainly smash the heads of his enemies. He will break the hairy heads of those who keep on sinning.

22 The Lord says, "I will bring your enemies from Bashan. I will bring them up from the bottom of the sea.

23 Then your feet can wade in their blood. The tongues of your dogs can lick up all the blood they want."

24 God, those who worship you come marching into view. My God and King, those who follow you have entered the sacred tent.

25 The singers are walking in front. Next come those who play the music. Young women playing tambourines are with them.

26 The leaders sing, "Praise God among all those who worship him. Praise the LORD in the community of Israel."

27 The little tribe of Benjamin leads the worshipers. Next comes the great crowd of Judah's princes. Then come the princes of Zebulun and the princes of Naphtali.

28 God, show us your power. Show us your strength. God, do as you have done before.

29 Do it from your temple at Jerusalem, where kings will bring you gifts.

30 Give a strong warning to Egypt, that beast among the tall grass. Warn the leaders of the nations, who are like bulls among the calves. May they bow down before you with gifts of silver. Scatter the nations who like to make war.

31 Messengers will come from Egypt. The people of Cush will be quick to bring gifts to you.

32 Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth. Sing praise to the Lord. "Selah"

33 He rides in the age-old skies above. He thunders with his mighty voice.

34 Tell how powerful God is. He rules as king over Israel. The skies show how powerful he is.

35 How wonderful is God in his holy place! The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Give praise to God!