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

The king says, "I will announce the Lord's decree. He said to me: 'You are my son! This very day I have become your father!

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

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.

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

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!

O Lord my God, if I have done what they say, or am guilty of unjust actions,

or have wronged my ally, or helped his lawless enemy,

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!

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.

you appoint them to rule over your creation; you have placed everything under their authority,

The enemy's cities have been reduced to permanent ruins; you destroyed their cities; all memory of the enemies has perished.

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!

The wicked arrogantly chase the oppressed; the oppressed are trapped by the schemes the wicked have dreamed up.

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.

Lord, you have heard the request of the oppressed; you make them feel secure because you listen to their prayer.

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

Then my enemy will say, "I have defeated him!" Then my foes will rejoice because I am upended.

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

It is as if I have been given fertile fields or received a beautiful tract of land.

You have scrutinized my inner motives; you have examined me during the night. You have carefully evaluated me, but you find no sin. I am determined I will say nothing sinful.

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

Lord, use your power to deliver me from these murderers, from the murderers of this world! They enjoy prosperity; you overwhelm them with the riches they desire. They have many children, and leave their wealth to their offspring.

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

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

He asked you to sustain his life, and you have granted him long life and an enduring dynasty.

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.

I have been dependent on you since birth; from the time I came out of my mother's womb you have been my God.

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

Rescue me from the mouth of the lion, and from the horns of the wild oxen! You have answered me!

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

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

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

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

But I have integrity! Rescue me and have mercy on me!

I have asked the Lord for one thing -- this is what I desire! I want to live in the Lord's house all the days of my life, so I can gaze at the splendor of the Lord and contemplate in his temple.

Hear me, O Lord, when I cry out! Have mercy on me and answer me!

Hear, O Lord, and have mercy on me! O Lord, deliver me!"

For the music director; a psalm of David. In you, O Lord, I have taken shelter! Never let me be humiliated! Vindicate me by rescuing me!

Have mercy on me, for I am in distress! My eyes grow dim from suffering. I have lost my strength.

Love the Lord, all you faithful followers of his! The Lord protects those who have integrity, but he pays back in full the one who acts arrogantly.

They repay me evil for the good I have done; I am overwhelmed with sorrow.

Do not let them say to themselves, "Aha! We have what we wanted!" Do not let them say, "We have devoured him!"

I can see the evildoers! They have fallen! They have been knocked down and are unable to get up!

They will not be ashamed when hard times come; when famine comes they will have enough to eat.

I was once young, now I am old. I have never seen a godly man abandoned, or his children forced to search for food.

I have seen ruthless evil men growing in influence, like a green tree grows in its native soil.

But then one passes by, and suddenly they have disappeared! I looked for them, but they could not be found.

Sinful rebels are totally destroyed; evil men have no future.

I have prayed for deliverance, because otherwise they will gloat over me; when my foot slips they will arrogantly taunt me.

They repay me evil for the good I have done; though I have tried to do good to them, they hurl accusations at me.

I am silent and cannot open my mouth because of what you have done.

Please stop wounding me! You have almost beaten me to death!

O Lord, my God, you have accomplished many things; you have done amazing things and carried out your purposes for us. No one can thwart you! I want to declare them and talk about them, but they are too numerous to recount!

I have told the great assembly about your justice. Look! I spare no words! O Lord, you know this is true.

I have not failed to tell about your justice; I spoke about your reliability and deliverance; I have not neglected to tell the great assembly about your loyal love and faithfulness.

As for me, I said: "O Lord, have mercy on me! Heal me, for I have sinned against you!

As for you, O Lord, have mercy on me and raise me up, so I can pay them back!"

For the music director; by the Korahites, a well-written song. O God, we have clearly heard; our ancestors have told us what you did in their days, in ancient times.

All this has happened to us, even though we have not rejected you or violated your covenant with us.

We have not been unfaithful, nor have we disobeyed your commands.

Yet you have battered us, leaving us a heap of ruins overrun by wild dogs; you have covered us with darkness.

For the music director; according to the tune of "Lilies;" by the Korahites, a well-written poem, a love song. My heart is stirred by a beautiful song. I say, "I have composed this special song for the king; my tongue is as skilled as the stylus of an experienced scribe."

We heard about God's mighty deeds, now we have seen them, in the city of the Lord, the invincible Warrior, in the city of our God. God makes it permanently secure. (Selah)

He pronounces this blessing on himself while he is alive: "May men praise you, for you have done well!"

For the music director; a psalm of David, written when Nathan the prophet confronted him after David's affair with Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, because of your loyal love! Because of your great compassion, wipe away my rebellious acts!

Against you -- you above all -- I have sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. So you are just when you confront me; you are right when you condemn me.

For the music director; according to the yonath-elem-rechovim style; a prayer of David, written when the Philistines captured him in Gath. Have mercy on me, O God, for men are attacking me! All day long hostile enemies are tormenting me.

For the music director; according to the al-tashcheth style; a prayer of David, written when he fled from Saul into the cave. Have mercy on me, O God! Have mercy on me! For in you I have taken shelter. In the shadow of your wings I take shelter until trouble passes.

They have prepared a net to trap me; I am discouraged. They have dug a pit for me. They will fall into it! (Selah)

For look, they wait to ambush me; powerful men stalk me, but not because I have rebelled or sinned, O Lord.

Though I have done nothing wrong, they are anxious to attack. Spring into action and help me! Take notice of me!

You, O Lord God, the invincible warrior, the God of Israel, rouse yourself and punish all the nations! Have no mercy on any treacherous evildoers! (Selah)

For the music director; according to the shushan-eduth style; a prayer of David written to instruct others. It was written when he fought against Aram Naharaim and Aram-Zobah. That was when Joab turned back and struck down 12,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. O God, you have rejected us. You suddenly turned on us in your anger. Please restore us!

You have made your people experience hard times; you have made us drink intoxicating wine.

You have given your loyal followers a rallying flag, so that they might seek safety from the bow. (Selah)

Have you not rejected us, O God? O God, you do not go into battle with our armies.

God has declared one principle; two principles I have heard: God is strong,

Yes, in the sanctuary I have seen you, and witnessed your power and splendor.

If I had harbored sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.

God settles those who have been deserted in their own homes; he frees prisoners and grants them prosperity. But sinful rebels live in the desert.

You ascend on high, you have taken many captives. You receive tribute from men, including even sinful rebels. Indeed the Lord God lives there!

God has decreed that you will be powerful. O God, you who have acted on our behalf, demonstrate your power,

In you, O Lord, I have taken shelter! Never let me be humiliated!

For you give me confidence, O Lord; O Lord, I have trusted in you since I was young.

I have leaned on you since birth; you pulled me from my mother's womb. I praise you continually.

O God, you have taught me since I was young, and I am still declaring your amazing deeds.

Your justice, O God, extends to the skies above; you have done great things. O God, who can compare to you?

Though you have allowed me to experience much trouble and distress, revive me once again! Bring me up once again from the depths of the earth!

For he will rescue the needy when they cry out for help, and the oppressed who have no defender.

Therefore they have more than enough food to eat, and even suck up the water of the sea.

Take a good look! This is what the wicked are like, those who always have it so easy and get richer and richer.

I concluded, "Surely in vain I have kept my motives pure and maintained a pure lifestyle.

If I had publicized these thoughts, I would have betrayed your loyal followers.

Whom do I have in heaven but you? I desire no one but you on earth.

But as for me, God's presence is all I need. I have made the sovereign Lord my shelter, as I declare all the things you have done.

A well-written song by Asaph. Why, O God, have you permanently rejected us? Why does your anger burn against the sheep of your pasture?

We do not see any signs of God's presence; there are no longer any prophets and we have no one to tell us how long this will last.