How blessed is the one who does not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand in the pathway with sinners, or sit in the assembly of scoffers!

Instead he finds pleasure in obeying the Lord's commands; he meditates on his commands day and night.

He is like a tree planted by flowing streams; it yields its fruit at the proper time, and its leaves never fall off. He succeeds in everything he attempts.

Certainly the Lord guards the way of the godly, but the way of the wicked ends in destruction.

They say, "Let's tear off the shackles they've put on us! Let's free ourselves from their ropes!"

The one enthroned in heaven laughs in disgust; the Lord taunts them.

Then he angrily speaks to them and terrifies them in his rage, saying,

"I myself have installed my king on Zion, my holy hill."

You will break them with an iron scepter; you will smash them like a potter's jar!'"

Serve the Lord in fear! Repent in terror!

Give sincere homage! Otherwise he will be angry, and you will die because of your behavior, when his anger quickly ignites. How blessed are all who take shelter in him!

A psalm of David, written when he fled from his son Absalom. Lord, how numerous are my enemies! Many attack me.

But you, Lord, are a shield that protects me; you are my glory and the one who restores me.

Rise up, Lord! Deliver me, my God! Yes, you will strike all my enemies on the jaw; you will break the teeth of the wicked.

For the music director, to be accompanied by stringed instruments; a psalm of David. When I call out, answer me, O God who vindicates me! Though I am hemmed in, you will lead me into a wide, open place. Have mercy on me and respond to my prayer!

Realize that the Lord shows the godly special favor; the Lord responds when I cry out to him.

Tremble with fear and do not sin! Meditate as you lie in bed, and repent of your ways! (Selah)

Offer the prescribed sacrifices and trust in the Lord!

You make me happier than those who have abundant grain and wine.

Lord, in the morning you will hear me; in the morning I will present my case to you and then wait expectantly for an answer.

Arrogant people cannot stand in your presence; you hate all who behave wickedly.

Lord, lead me in your righteousness because of those who wait to ambush me, remove the obstacles in the way in which you are guiding me!

For they do not speak the truth; their stomachs are like the place of destruction, their throats like an open grave, their tongues like a steep slope leading into it.

Condemn them, O God! May their own schemes be their downfall! Drive them away because of their many acts of insurrection, for they have rebelled against you.

But may all who take shelter in you be happy! May they continually shout for joy! Shelter them so that those who are loyal to you may rejoice!

Certainly you reward the godly, Lord. Like a shield you protect them in your good favor.

For the music director, to be accompanied by stringed instruments, according to the sheminith style; a psalm of David. Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger! Do not discipline me in your raging fury!

Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am frail! Heal me, Lord, for my bones are shaking!

For no one remembers you in the realm of death, In Sheol who gives you thanks?

I am exhausted as I groan; all night long I drench my bed in tears; my tears saturate the cushion beneath me.

A musical composition by David, which he sang to the Lord concerning a Benjaminite named Cush. O Lord my God, in you I have taken shelter. Deliver me from all who chase me! Rescue me!

Otherwise they will rip me to shreds like a lion; they will tear me to bits and no one will be able to rescue me.

may an enemy relentlessly chase me and catch me; may he trample me to death and leave me lying dishonored in the dust. (Selah)

The Lord judges the nations. Vindicate me, Lord, because I am innocent, because I am blameless, O Exalted One!

May the evil deeds of the wicked come to an end! But make the innocent secure, O righteous God, you who examine inner thoughts and motives!

The Exalted God is my shield, the one who delivers the morally upright.

See the one who is pregnant with wickedness, who conceives destructive plans, and gives birth to harmful lies --

He becomes the victim of his own destructive plans and the violence he intended for others falls on his own head.

For the music director, according to the gittith style; a psalm of David. O Lord, our Lord, how magnificent is your reputation throughout the earth! You reveal your majesty in the heavens above!

From the mouths of children and nursing babies you have ordained praise on account of your adversaries, so that you might put an end to the vindictive enemy.

When I look up at the heavens, which your fingers made, and see the moon and the stars, which you set in place,

the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea and everything that moves through the currents of the seas.

I will be happy and rejoice in you! I will sing praises to you, O sovereign One!

When my enemies turn back, they trip and are defeated before you.

But the Lord rules forever; he reigns in a just manner.

Consequently the Lord provides safety for the oppressed; he provides safety in times of trouble.

Your loyal followers trust in you, for you, Lord, do not abandon those who seek your help.

Sing praises to the Lord, who rules in Zion! Tell the nations what he has done!

For the one who takes revenge against murderers took notice of the oppressed; he did not overlook their cry for help

when they prayed: "Have mercy on me, Lord! See how I am oppressed by those who hate me, O one who can snatch me away from the gates of death!

Then I will tell about all your praiseworthy acts; in the gates of Daughter Zion I will rejoice because of your deliverance."

The nations fell into the pit they had made; their feet were caught in the net they had hidden.

The Lord revealed himself; he accomplished justice; the wicked were ensnared by their own actions. (Higgaion. Selah)

Rise up, Lord! Don't let men be defiant! May the nations be judged in your presence!

Yes, the wicked man boasts because he gets what he wants; the one who robs others curses and rejects the Lord.

The wicked man is so arrogant he always thinks, "God won't hold me accountable; he doesn't care."

He waits in ambush near the villages; in hidden places he kills the innocent. His eyes look for some unfortunate victim.

He lies in ambush in a hidden place, like a lion in a thicket; he lies in ambush, waiting to catch the oppressed; he catches the oppressed by pulling in his net.

His victims are crushed and beaten down; they are trapped in his sturdy nets.

You have taken notice, for you always see one who inflicts pain and suffering. The unfortunate victim entrusts his cause to you; you deliver the fatherless.

For the music director; by David. In the Lord I have taken shelter. How can you say to me, "Flee to a mountain like a bird!

For look, the wicked prepare their bows, they put their arrows on the strings, to shoot in the darkness at the morally upright.

When the foundations are destroyed, what can the godly accomplish?"

The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord's throne is in heaven. His eyes watch; his eyes examine all people.

May the Lord rain down burning coals and brimstone on the wicked! A whirlwind is what they deserve!

People lie to one another; they flatter and deceive.

The Lord's words are absolutely reliable. They are as untainted as silver purified in a furnace on the ground, where it is thoroughly refined.

You, Lord, will protect them; you will continually shelter each one from these evil people,

for the wicked seem to be everywhere, when people promote evil.

How long must I worry, and suffer in broad daylight? How long will my enemy gloat over me?

But I trust in your faithfulness. May I rejoice because of your deliverance!

I will sing praises to the Lord when he vindicates me.

Everyone rejects God; they are all morally corrupt. None of them does what is right, not even one!

I wish the deliverance of Israel would come from Zion! When the Lord restores the well-being of his people, may Jacob rejoice, may Israel be happy!

A psalm of David. Lord, who may be a guest in your home? Who may live on your holy hill?

He despises a reprobate, but honors the Lord's loyal followers. He makes firm commitments and does not renege on his promise.

He does not charge interest when he lends his money. He does not take bribes to testify against the innocent. The one who lives like this will never be upended.

A prayer of David. Protect me, O God, for I have taken shelter in you.

As for God's chosen people who are in the land, and the leading officials I admired so much --

their troubles multiply, they desire other gods. I will not pour out drink offerings of blood to their gods, nor will I make vows in the name of their gods.

I constantly trust in the Lord; because he is at my right hand, I will not be upended.

You lead me in the path of life; I experience absolute joy in your presence; you always give me sheer delight.

Make a just decision on my behalf! Decide what is right!

As for the actions of people -- just as you have commanded, I have not followed in the footsteps of violent men.

Protect me as you would protect the pupil of your eye! Hide me in the shadow of your wings!

He is like a lion that wants to tear its prey to bits, like a young lion crouching in hidden places.

As for me, because I am innocent I will see your face; when I awake you will reveal yourself to me.

For the music director; by the Lord's servant David, who sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord rescued him from the power of all his enemies, including Saul. He said: "I love you, Lord, my source of strength!

In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried out to my God. From his heavenly temple he heard my voice; he listened to my cry for help.

He mounted a winged angel and flew; he glided on the wings of the wind.

He shrouded himself in darkness, in thick rain clouds.

From the brightness in front of him came hail and fiery coals.

The Lord thundered in the sky; the sovereign One shouted.

They confronted me in my day of calamity, but the Lord helped me.

You prove to be loyal to one who is faithful; you prove to be trustworthy to one who is innocent.

You prove to be reliable to one who is blameless, but you prove to be deceptive to one who is perverse.

Indeed, with your help I can charge against an army; by my God's power I can jump over a wall.

The one true God acts in a faithful manner; the Lord's promise is reliable; he is a shield to all who take shelter in him.

The one true God gives me strength; he removes the obstacles in my way.

They cry out, but there is no one to help them; they cry out to the Lord, but he does not answer them.