For this reason the wicked cannot withstand judgment, nor can sinners join the assembly of the godly.

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

Serve the Lord in fear! Repent in terror!

I rested and slept; I awoke, for the Lord protects me.

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!

You men, how long will you try to turn my honor into shame? How long will you love what is worthless and search for what is deceptive? (Selah)

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

I will lie down and sleep peacefully, for you, Lord, make me safe and secure.

For the music director, to be accompanied by wind instruments; a psalm of David. Listen to what I say, Lord! Carefully consider my complaint!

Pay attention to my cry for help, my king and my God, for I am praying to you!

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.

But as for me, because of your great faithfulness I will enter your house; I will bow down toward your holy temple as I worship you.

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!

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?

Turn back from me, all you who behave wickedly, for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping!

The Lord has heard my appeal for mercy; the Lord has accepted my prayer.

Stand up angrily, Lord! Rise up with raging fury against my enemies! Wake up for my sake and execute the judgment you have decreed for them!

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

I will thank the Lord for his justice; I will sing praises to the sovereign Lord!

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!

For the music director; according to the alumoth-labben style; a psalm of David. I will thank the Lord with all my heart! I will tell about all your amazing deeds!

For you defended my just cause; from your throne you pronounced a just decision.

He judges the world fairly; he makes just legal decisions for the nations.

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.

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

for the needy are not permanently ignored, the hopes of the oppressed are not forever dashed.

Why, Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you pay no attention during times of trouble?

He is secure at all times. He has no regard for your commands; he disdains all his enemies.

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

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.

Break the arm of the wicked and evil man! Hold him accountable for his wicked deeds, which he thought you would not discover.

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.

For the music director; according to the sheminith style; a psalm of David. Deliver, Lord! For the godly have disappeared; people of integrity have vanished.

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

For the music director; a psalm of David. How long, Lord, will you continue to ignore me? How long will you pay no attention to me?

For the music director; by David. Fools say to themselves, "There is no God." They sin and commit evil deeds; none of them does what is right.

They are absolutely terrified, for God defends the godly.

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 --

A prayer of David. Lord, consider my just cause! Pay attention to my cry for help! Listen to the prayer I sincerely offer!

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

I call to you for you will answer me, O God. Listen to me! Hear what I say!

Accomplish awesome, faithful deeds, you who powerfully deliver those who look to you for protection from their enemies.

Protect me from the wicked men who attack me, my enemies who crowd around me for the kill.

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.

Smoke ascended from his nose; fire devoured as it came from his mouth; he hurled down fiery coals.

He rescued me from my strong enemy, from those who hate me, for they were too strong for me.

The Lord repaid me for my godly deeds; he rewarded my blameless behavior.

For I have obeyed the Lord's commands; I have not rebelled against my God.

For I am aware of all his regulations, and I do not reject his rules.

The Lord rewarded me for my godly deeds; he took notice of my blameless behavior.

For you deliver oppressed people, but you bring down those who have a proud look.

He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend even the strongest bow.

You give me strength for battle; you make my foes kneel before me.

foreigners lose their courage; they shake with fear as they leave their strongholds.

For the music director; a psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; the sky displays his handiwork.

Yet its voice echoes throughout the earth; its words carry to the distant horizon. In the sky he has pitched a tent for the sun.

The Lord's precepts are fair and make one joyful. The Lord's commands are pure and give insight for life.

The commands to fear the Lord are right and endure forever. The judgments given by the Lord are trustworthy and absolutely just.

Who can know all his errors? Please do not punish me for sins I am unaware of.

For the music director; a psalm of David. May the Lord answer you when you are in trouble; may the God of Jacob make you secure!

Then we will shout for joy over your victory; we will rejoice in the name of our God! May the Lord grant all your requests!

Now I am sure that the Lord will deliver his chosen king; he will intervene for him from his holy heavenly temple, and display his mighty ability to deliver.

The Lord will deliver the king; he will answer us when we call to him for help!

For the music director; a psalm of David. O Lord, the king rejoices in the strength you give; he takes great delight in the deliverance you provide.

For you bring him rich blessings; you place a golden crown on his head.

For you grant him lasting blessings; you give him great joy by allowing him into your presence.

For the king trusts in the Lord, and because of the sovereign Lord's faithfulness he is not upended.

You prevail over all your enemies; your power is too great for those who hate you.

You burn them up like a fiery furnace when you appear; the Lord angrily devours them; the fire consumes them.

For you make them retreat when you shoot your arrows at them.

For the music director; according to the tune "Morning Doe;" a psalm of David. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? I groan in prayer, but help seems far away.

They say, "Commit yourself to the Lord! Let the Lord rescue him! Let the Lord deliver him, for he delights in him."

Do not remain far away from me, for trouble is near and I have no one to help me.

They are dividing up my clothes among themselves; they are rolling dice for my garments.

But you, O Lord, do not remain far away! You are my source of strength! Hurry and help me!

For he did not despise or detest the suffering of the oppressed; he did not ignore him; when he cried out to him, he responded.

For the Lord is king and rules over the nations.

He restores my strength. He leads me down the right paths for the sake of his reputation.

Even when I must walk through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff reassure me.

Surely your goodness and faithfulness will pursue me all my days, and I will live in the Lord's house for the rest of my life.

For he set its foundation upon the seas, and established it upon the ocean currents.

Guide me into your truth and teach me. For you are the God who delivers me; on you I rely all day long.

Remember your compassionate and faithful deeds, O Lord, for you have always acted in this manner.

The Lord is both kind and fair; that is why he teaches sinners the right way to live.

For the sake of your reputation, O Lord, forgive my sin, because it is great.

I continually look to the Lord for help, for he will free my feet from the enemy's net.

Turn toward me and have mercy on me, for I am alone and oppressed!

Watch my enemies, for they outnumber me; they hate me and want to harm me.

Protect me and deliver me! Please do not let me be humiliated, for I have taken shelter in you!

May integrity and godliness protect me, for I rely on you!

By David. Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have integrity, and I trust in the Lord without wavering.