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!

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.

The kings of the earth form a united front; the rulers collaborate against the Lord and his anointed king.

"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!

Ask me, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the ends of the earth as your personal property.

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!

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.

To the Lord I cried out, and he answered me from his holy hill. (Selah)

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

I am not afraid of the multitude of people who attack me from all directions.

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.

The Lord delivers; you show favor to your people. (Selah)

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)

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)

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

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

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.

Certainly you are not a God who approves of evil; evil people cannot dwell with you.

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

You destroy liars; the Lord despises violent and deceitful people.

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.

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!

I am absolutely terrified, and you, Lord -- how long will this continue?

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.

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

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.

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

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!

The countries are assembled all around you; take once more your rightful place over them!

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.

God is a just judge; he is angry throughout the day.

If a person does not repent, God sharpens his sword and prepares to shoot his bow.

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

he digs a pit and then falls into the hole he has made.

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!

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,

Of what importance is the human race, that you should notice them? Of what importance is mankind, that you should pay attention to them,

and make them a little less than the heavenly beings? You grant mankind honor and majesty;

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

O Lord, our Lord, how magnificent is your reputation throughout the earth!

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!

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.

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

You terrified the nations with your battle cry; you destroyed the wicked; you permanently wiped out all memory of them.

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

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

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."

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

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

He says to himself, "I will never be upended, because I experience no calamity."

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.

Rise up, Lord! O God, strike him down! Do not forget the oppressed!

Why does the wicked man reject God? He says to himself, "You will not hold me accountable."

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.

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

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 approves of the godly, but he hates the wicked and those who love to do violence.

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

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.

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.

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

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?

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

Look at me! Answer me, O Lord my God! Revive me, or else I will die!

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

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

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

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

All those who behave wickedly do not understand -- those who devour my people as if they were eating bread, and do not call out to the Lord.