Psalms 5; Psalms 38; Psalms 41; Psalms 42

Psalms 5

1 Lord, listen to my words. Pay attention when I sigh.

2 My King and my God, listen to me when I cry for help. I pray to you.

3 Lord, in the morning you hear my voice. In the morning I pray to you. I wait for you in hope.

4 God, you aren't happy with anything that is evil. Those who do what is wrong can't live where you are.

5 Those who are proud can't stand in front of you. You hate everyone who does what is evil.

6 You destroy those who tell lies. Lord, you hate murderers and those who cheat others.

7 Because of your great love I will come into your house. With deep respect I will bow down toward your holy temple.

8 Lord, I have many enemies. Lead me in your right path. Make your way smooth and straight for me.

9 Not a word from their mouths can be trusted. Their hearts are filled with plans to destroy others. Their throats are like open graves. With their tongues they tell lies.

10 God, show that they are guilty. Let their evil plans bring them down. Send them away because of their many sins. They have refused to obey you.

11 But let all those who go to you for safety be glad. Let them always sing with joy. Spread your cover over them and keep them safe. Then those who love you will be glad because of you.

12 Lord, you bless those who do what is right. Like a shield, your loving care keeps them safe.

Psalms 38

1 Lord, don't correct me when you are angry. Don't punish me when you are burning with anger.

2 You have wounded me with your arrows. You have struck me with your hand.

3 Because of your anger, my whole body is sick. Because of my sin, I'm not healthy.

4 My guilt has become too much for me. It is a load too heavy to carry.

5 My wounds are ugly. They stink. I've been foolish. I have sinned.

6 I am bent over. I've been brought very low. All day long I go around sobbing.

7 My back is filled with burning pain. My whole body is sick.

8 I am weak. I feel as if I've been broken in pieces. I groan because of the great pain in my heart.

9 Lord, everything I really want is clearly known to you. You always hear me when I sigh.

10 My heart pounds. My strength is gone. My eyes can hardly see.

11 My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds. My neighbors stay far away from me.

12 Those who are trying to kill me set their traps. Those who want to harm me talk about destroying me. All day long they plan ways to trick me.

13 I'm like a deaf person. I can't hear. I'm like someone who can't speak, who can't say a word.

14 I'm like a man who doesn't hear. I'm like someone whose mouth can't make any reply.

15 Lord, I wait for you to help me. LORD my God, I know you will answer.

16 I said, "Don't let my enemies have the joy of seeing me fall. Don't let them brag when my foot slips."

17 I am about to fall. My pain never leaves me.

18 I admit that I have done wrong. I am troubled by my sin.

19 I have many powerful enemies. They are strong and healthy. They hate me without any reason.

20 They pay me back with evil, even though I was good to them. They tell lies about me because I try to do what is good.

21 Lord, don't desert me. My God, don't be far away from me.

22 Lord my Savior, come quickly to help me.

Psalms 41

1 Blessed is the one who cares about weak people. When he is in trouble, the LORD saves him.

2 The LORD will guard him and keep him alive. He will bless him in the land. He won't hand him over to the wishes of his enemies.

3 The LORD will take care of him when he is lying sick in bed. He will make him well again.

4 I said, "Lord, show me your favor. Heal me. I have sinned against you."

5 My enemies are saying bad things about me. They say, "When will he die and be forgotten?"

6 When anyone comes to see me, he says things he doesn't mean. At the same time, he thinks up lies to tell against me. Then he goes out and spreads those lies around.

7 All of my enemies whisper to each other about me. They want something terrible to happen to me.

8 They say, "He is sick and will die very soon. He will never get up from his bed again."

9 Even my close friend, whom I trusted, has deserted me. I even shared my bread with him.

10 But Lord, show me your favor. Make me well, so I can pay them back.

11 Then I will know that you are pleased with me, because my enemies haven't won the battle over me.

12 You will take good care of me because I've been honest. You will let me be with you forever.

13 Give praise to the Lord, the God of Israel, for ever and ever. Amen and Amen.

Psalms 42

1 A deer longs for streams of water. God, I long for you in the same way.

2 I am thirsty for God. I am thirsty for the living God. When can I go and meet with him?

3 My tears have been my food day and night. All day long people say to me, "Where is your God?"

4 When I remember what has happened, I tell God all of my troubles. I remember how I used to walk along with the crowd of worshipers. I led them to the house of God. We shouted with joy and gave thanks as we went to the holy feast.

5 My spirit, why are you so sad? Why are you so upset deep down inside me? Put your hope in God. Once again I will have reason to praise him. He is my Savior and

6 my God. My spirit is very sad deep down inside me. So I will remember you here where the Jordan River begins. I will remember you here on the Hermon mountains and on Mount Mizar.

7 You have sent wave upon wave of trouble over me. It roars down on me like a waterfall. All of your waves and breakers have rolled over me.

8 During the day the LORD sends his love to me. During the night I sing about him. I say a prayer to the God who gives me life.

9 I say to God my Rock, "Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go around in sorrow? Why am I beaten down by my enemies?"

10 My body suffers deadly pain as my enemies make fun of me. All day long they say to me, "Where is your God?"

11 My spirit, why are you so sad? Why are you so upset deep down inside me? Put your hope in God. Once again I will have reason to praise him. He is my Savior and my God.