You will eat from the work of your hands; you will be happy, and it will go well for you.

"Since my youth they have often persecuted me," let Israel repeat it,

"Since my youth they have often persecuted me, yet they haven't defeated me.

May they become like a tuft of grass on a roof top, that withers before it takes root

Lord, listen to my voice; let your ears pay attention to what I ask of you!

I wait for the LORD; my soul waits, and I will hope in his word.

We heard about it in Ephrata; we found it in the fields of Jaar.

Let's go to his dwelling place and worship at his footstool.

For the LORD has chosen Zion, desiring it as his dwelling place.

Look how good and how pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!

It is like precious oil on the head, descending to the beard even to Aaron's beard and flowing down to the edge of his robes.

It is like the dew of Hermon falling on Zion's mountains. For there the LORD commanded his blessing life everlasting. A Song of Ascents

It is Jacob whom the LORD chose for himself Israel as his personal possession.

It was the LORD who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, including both men and animals.

to the one who spread out the earth over the waters, for his gracious love is everlasting

and brought Israel out from among them, for his gracious love is everlasting

and made Israel pass through the middle of it, for his gracious love is everlasting

He it is who remembered us in our lowly circumstances, for his gracious love is everlasting

for it was there that our captors asked us for songs and our torturers demanded joy from us, "Sing us one of the songs about Zion!"

Remember the day of Jerusalem's fall, LORD, because of the Edomites, who kept saying, "Tear it down! Tear it right down to its foundations!"

Daughter of Babylon! You devastator! How blessed will be the one who pays you back for what you have done to us.

I will bow down in worship toward your holy Temple and give thanks to your name for your gracious love and truth, for you have done great things to carry out your word consistent with your name.

When I called out, you answered me; you strengthened me.

LORD, all the kings of the earth will give you thanks, for they have heard what you have spoken.

Though the LORD is highly exalted, yet he pays attention to those who are lowly regarded, but he is aware of the arrogant from afar.

Though I walk straight into trouble, you preserve my life, stretching out your hand to fight the vehemence of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me.

The LORD will complete what his purpose is for me. LORD, your gracious love is eternal; do not abandon your personal work in me. To the Music Director: A Davidic Song

You know when I rest and when I am active. You understand what I am thinking when I am distant from you.

Even before I have formed a word with my tongue, you, LORD, know it completely!

Knowledge like this is too amazing for me. It is beyond my reach, and I cannot fathom it.

It was you who formed my internal organs, fashioning me within my mother's womb.

I praise you, because you are fearful and wondrous! Your work is wonderful, and I am fully aware of it.

Your eyes looked upon my embryo, and everything was recorded in your book. The days scheduled for my formation were inscribed, even though not one of them had come yet.

The arrogant have laid a trap for me; they have spread a net with ropes, lining it with snares along the way. Interlude

LORD, I call to you, be quick to listen to me when I cry out!

Let one who is righteous strike me; It is an act of gracious love. Let him rebuke me, because it is oil for my head; do not let my head refuse it. My prayers continuously will be against their wicked activities.

My voice cries out to the LORD; my voice pleads for mercy to the LORD.

I pour out my complaint to him, telling him all of my troubles.

Break me out of this prison, so I can give thanks to your name. The righteous will surround me, for you will deal generously with me. A Davidic Song

I stretch out my hands toward you, longing for you like a parched land. Interlude

For the sake of your name, LORD, preserve my life. Because you are righteous, bring me out of trouble.

LORD, what are human beings, that you should care about them, or mortal man, that you should think about him?

They will extol the fame of your abundant goodness, and will sing out loud about your righteousness.

The LORD remains near to all who call out to him, to everyone who calls out to him sincerely.

Hallelujah! It is good to sing praise to our God, and it is fitting to sing glorious praise.

He grants peace within your borders, satisfying you with the finest of wheat.

He sends out his command to the earth, making his word go forth quickly.

He sends out his word and melts them. He makes his wind blow and the water flows.

He set them in place to last forever and ever; he gave the command and will not rescind it.

fire, hail, snow, fog, and wind storm that carry out his command,