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

Not so with the wicked! Instead they are like wind-driven chaff.

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

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!

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

So now, you kings, do what is wise; you rulers of the earth, submit to correction!

Many say about me, "God will not deliver him." (Selah)

Many say, "Who can show us anything good?" Smile upon us, Lord!

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

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!

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

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

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.

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

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.

You defend the fatherless and oppressed, so that mere mortals may no longer terrorize them.

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!

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

They say, "We speak persuasively; we know how to flatter and boast. Who is our master?"

"Because of the violence done to the oppressed, because of the painful cries of the needy, I will spring into action," says the Lord. "I will provide the safety they so desperately desire."

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.

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

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.

The Lord looks down from heaven at the human race, to see if there is anyone who is wise and seeks God.

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

I say to the Lord, "You are the Lord, my only source of well-being."

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

So my heart rejoices and I am happy; My life is safe.

You will not abandon me to Sheol; you will not allow your faithful follower to see the Pit.

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.

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

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!

The depths of the sea were exposed; the inner regions of the world were uncovered by your battle cry, Lord, by the powerful breath from your nose.

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

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.

So I will give you thanks before the nations, O Lord! I will sing praises to you!

The law of the Lord is perfect and preserves one's life. The rules set down by the Lord are reliable and impart wisdom to the inexperienced.

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

May he grant your heart's desire; may he bring all your plans to pass!

You grant him his heart's desire; you do not refuse his request. (Selah)

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

All who see me taunt me; they mock me and shake their heads.

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

Yes, you are the one who brought me out from the womb and made me feel secure on my mother's breasts.

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

You are the reason I offer praise in the great assembly; I will fulfill my promises before the Lord's loyal followers.

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.

Such purity characterizes the people who seek his favor, Jacob's descendants, who pray to him. (Selah)

The Lord's loyal followers receive his guidance, and he reveals his covenantal demands to them.

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

See my pain and suffering! Forgive all my sins!

I maintain a pure lifestyle, so I can appear before your altar, O Lord,

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.

Where would I be if I did not believe I would experience the Lord's favor in the land of the living?

Do not drag me away with evil men, with those who behave wickedly, who talk so friendly to their neighbors, while they plan to harm them!

For they do not understand the Lord's actions, or the way he carries out justice. The Lord will permanently demolish them.

A psalm of David. Acknowledge the Lord, you heavenly beings, acknowledge the Lord's majesty and power!

Acknowledge the majesty of the Lord's reputation! Worship the Lord in holy attire!

The Lord's shout is heard over the water; the majestic God thunders, the Lord appears over the surging water.

The Lord's shout is powerful, the Lord's shout is majestic.

The Lord's shout breaks the cedars, the Lord shatters the cedars of Lebanon.

The Lord's shout strikes with flaming fire.

The Lord's shout shakes the wilderness, the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

The Lord's shout bends the large trees and strips the leaves from the forests. Everyone in his temple says, "Majestic!"

For his anger lasts only a brief moment, and his good favor restores one's life. One may experience sorrow during the night, but joy arrives in the morning.

So now my heart will sing to you and not be silent; O Lord my God, I will always give thanks to you.

Because of all my enemies, people disdain me; my neighbors are appalled by my suffering -- those who know me are horrified by my condition; those who see me in the street run away from me.

For I hear what so many are saying, the terrifying news that comes from every direction. When they plot together against me, they figure out how they can take my life.

An evil person suffers much pain, but the Lord's faithfulness overwhelms the one who trusts in him.

For the Lord's decrees are just, and everything he does is fair.

The Lord promotes equity and justice; the Lord's faithfulness extends throughout the earth.

By the Lord's decree the heavens were made; by a mere word from his mouth all the stars in the sky were created.

He piles up the water of the sea; he puts the oceans in storehouses.

The Lord's decisions stand forever; his plans abide throughout the ages.

From the place where he lives he looks carefully at all the earth's inhabitants.

Magnify the Lord with me! Let's praise his name together!

I sought the Lord's help and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.

The Lord's angel camps around the Lord's loyal followers and delivers them.

Taste and see that the Lord is good! How blessed is the one who takes shelter in him!

May they be like wind-driven chaff, as the Lord's angel attacks them!

May their path be dark and slippery, as the Lord's angel chases them!

With all my strength I will say, "O Lord, who can compare to you? You rescue the oppressed from those who try to overpower them; the oppressed and needy from those who try to rob them."

They are ready to devour me; they say, "Aha! Aha! We've got you!"

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

May those who desire my vindication shout for joy and rejoice! May they continually say, "May the Lord be praised, for he wants his servant to be secure."

For the music director; written by the Lord's servant, David; an oracle. An evil man is rebellious to the core. He does not fear God,

Your justice is like the highest mountains, your fairness like the deepest sea; you preserve mankind and the animal kingdom.

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

But evil men will die; the Lord's enemies will be incinerated -- they will go up in smoke.

Rely on the Lord! Obey his commands! Then he will permit you to possess the land; you will see the demise of evil men.

A psalm of David, written to get God's attention. O Lord, do not continue to rebuke me in your anger! Do not continue to punish me in your raging fury!

O Lord, you understand my heart's desire; my groaning is not hidden from you.

My heart beats quickly; my strength leaves me; I can hardly see.

Those who seek my life try to entrap me; those who want to harm me speak destructive words; all day long they say deceitful things.