Psalms 17; Psalms 18; Psalms 19; Psalms 20

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Psalms 17

1 Lord, hear me when I ask you to treat me fairly. Listen to my cry for help. Hear my prayer. It doesn't come from lips that tell lies.

2 When you hand down your sentence, may it be in my favor. May your eyes see what is right.

3 Look deep down into my heart. Study me carefully at night. Put me to the test. You won't find anything wrong. I have made up my mind that my mouth won't say sinful things.

4 I don't do the things other people do. By obeying your word I have kept myself from acting like those who try to hurt others.

5 My steps have stayed on your paths. My feet have not slipped.

6 God, I call out to you because you will answer me. Listen to me. Hear my prayer.

7 Show the wonder of your great love. By using your powerful right hand, you save those who go to you for safety from their enemies.

8 Take good care of me, just as you would take care of your own eyes. Hide me in the shadow of your wings.

9 Save me from the sinful people who attack me. Save me from my deadly enemies who are all around me.

10 They make their hearts hard and stubborn. Their mouths speak with pride.

11 They have tracked me down. They are all around me. Their eyes watch for a chance to throw me to the ground.

12 They are like a hungry lion, waiting to attack. They are like a powerful lion, hiding in the bushes.

13 Lord, rise up. Oppose them and bring them down. With your sword, save me from those evil people.

14 Lord, by your power save me from people like that. They belong to this world. They get their reward in this life. You satisfy the hunger of those you love. Their children have plenty. And those children store up wealth for their children.

15 Because I do what is right, I will enjoy your blessing. When I wake up, I will be satisfied because I will see you.

Psalms 18

1 I love you, Lord. You give me strength.

2 The LORD is my rock and my fort. He is the One who saves me. My God is my rock. I go to him for safety. He is like a shield to me. He's the power that saves me. He's my place of safety.

3 I call out to the Lord. He is worthy of praise. He saves me from my enemies.

4 The ropes of death were almost wrapped around me. A destroying flood swept over me.

5 The ropes of the grave were tight around me. Death set its trap in front of me.

6 When I was in trouble, I called out to the Lord. I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice. My cry for help reached his ears.

7 The earth trembled and shook. The base of the mountains rocked back and forth. It trembled because the LORD was angry.

8 Smoke came out of his nose. Flames of fire came out of his mouth. Burning coals blazed out of it.

9 He opened the heavens and came down. Dark clouds were under his feet.

10 He got on the cherubim and flew. The wings of the wind lifted him up.

11 He covered himself with darkness. The dark rain clouds of the sky were like a tent around him.

12 Clouds came out of the brightness that was all around him. They came with hailstones and flashes of lightning.

13 The LORD thundered from heaven. The voice of the Most High God was heard.

14 He shot his arrows and scattered our enemies. He sent great flashes of lightning and chased the enemies away.

15 The bottom of the sea could be seen. The foundations of the earth were uncovered. Lord, it happened when your anger blazed out. It came like a blast of breath from your nose.

16 He reached down from heaven. He took hold of me. He lifted me out of deep waters.

17 He saved me from my powerful enemies. He set me free from those who were too strong for me.

18 They stood up to me when I was in trouble. But the LORD helped me.

19 He brought me out into a wide and safe place. He saved me because he was pleased with me.

20 The LORD has been good to me because I do what is right. He has rewarded me because I lead a pure life.

21 I have lived the way the LORD wanted me to. I haven't done evil by turning away from my God.

22 I keep all of his laws in mind. I haven't turned away from his commands.

23 He knows that I am without blame. He knows I've kept myself from sinning.

24 The LORD has rewarded me for doing what is right. He has rewarded me because I haven't done anything wrong.

25 LORD, to those who are faithful you show that you are faithful. To those who are without blame you show that you are without blame.

26 To those who are pure you show that you are pure. But to those whose paths are crooked you show that you are clever.

27 You save those who aren't proud. But you bring down those whose eyes are proud.

28 Lord, you keep the lamp of my life burning brightly. You are my God. You bring light into my darkness.

29 With your help I can attack a troop of soldiers. With the help of my God I can climb over a wall.

30 God's way is perfect. The word of the LORD doesn't have any flaws. He is like a shield to all who go to him for safety.

31 Who is God except the Lord? Who is the Rock except our God?

32 God gives me strength for the battle. He makes my way perfect.

33 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer. He helps me stand on the highest places.

34 He trains my hands to fight every battle. My arms can bend a bow of bronze.

35 Lord, you are like a shield that keeps me safe. You help me win the battle. Your strong right hand keeps me going. You bend down to make me great.

36 You give me a wide path to walk on so that I don't twist my ankles.

37 I chased my enemies and caught them. I didn't turn back until they were destroyed.

38 I crushed them so that they couldn't get up. They fell under my feet.

39 Lord, you gave me strength to fight the battle. You made my enemies bow down at my feet.

40 You made them turn their backs and run away. So I destroyed my enemies.

41 They cried out for help. But there was no one to save them. They called out to you. But you didn't answer them.

42 I beat them as fine as dust blown by the wind. I poured them out like mud in the streets.

43 You saved me when my own people attacked me. You made me the ruler over nations. People I didn't know serve me now.

44 As soon as they hear me, they obey me. People from other lands bow down to me in fear.

45 All of them give up hope. They come trembling out of their hiding places.

46 The LORD lives! Give praise to my Rock! Give honor to God my Savior!

47 He is the God who pays my enemies back. He brings the nations under my control.

48 He saves me from my enemies. You have honored me more than them. You have saved me from men who want to hurt me.

49 Lord, I will praise you among the nations. I will sing praises to you.

50 The LORD helps his king win great battles. He shows his faithful love to his anointed king. He shows it to me and my family forever.

Psalms 19

1 The heavens tell about the glory of God. The skies show that his hands created them.

2 Day after day they speak about it. Night after night they make it known.

3 But they don't speak or use words. No sound is heard from them.

4 At the same time, their voice goes out into the whole earth. Their words go out from one end of the world to the other. God has set up a tent in the heavens for the sun.

5 The sun is like a groom coming out of the room where he spent his wedding night. The sun is like a great runner who takes delight in running a race.

6 It rises at one end of the heavens. Then it moves across to the other end. Nothing can hide from its heat.

7 The law of the LORD is perfect. It gives us new strength. The laws of the LORD can be trusted. They make childish people wise.

8 The rules of the LORD are right. They give joy to our hearts. The commands of the LORD shine brightly. They give light to our minds.

9 The law that brings respect for the LORD is pure. It lasts forever. The directions the LORD gives are true. All of them are completely right.

10 They are more priceless than gold. They have greater value than huge amounts of pure gold. They are sweeter than honey that is taken from the honeycomb.

11 I am warned by them. When I obey them, I am greatly rewarded.

12 Can I know my mistakes? Forgive my hidden faults.

13 Keep me also from the sins I want to commit. May they not be my master. Then I will be without blame. I will not be guilty of any great sin against your law.

14 Lord, may the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing in your eyes. You are my Rock and my Redeemer.

Psalms 20

1 May the LORD answer you when you are in trouble. May the God of Jacob keep you safe.

2 May he send you help from the sacred tent. May he give you aid from Zion.

3 May he remember all of your sacrifices. May he accept your burnt offerings. "Selah"

4 May he give you what your heart longs for. May he make all of your plans succeed.

5 We will shout with joy when you win the battle. We will lift up our flags in the name of our God. May the LORD give you everything you ask for.

6 Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed king. He answers him from his holy heaven. The power of God's right hand saves the king.

7 Some trust in chariots. Some trust in horses. But we trust in the LORD our God.

8 They are brought to their knees and fall down. But we get up and stand firm.

9 Lord, save the king! Answer us when we call out to you!