Why do the nations rebel? Why are the countries devising plots that will fail?

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!'"

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!

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

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!

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)

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

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.

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

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.

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

including all the sheep and cattle, as well as the wild animals,

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!

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

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

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

Certainly the Lord is just; he rewards godly deeds; the upright will experience his favor.

"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."

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.

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

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.

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 will praise the Lord who guides me; yes, during the night I reflect and learn.

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

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.

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

Moreover, keep me from committing flagrant sins; do not allow such sins to control me. Then I will be blameless, and innocent of blatant rebellion.

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.

They will fall down, but we will stand firm.

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

Rise up, O Lord, in strength! We will sing and praise your power!

Yes, wild dogs surround me -- a gang of evil men crowd around me; like a lion they pin my hands and feet.

Deliver me from the sword! Save my life from the claws of the wild dogs!

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

I will declare your name to my countrymen! In the middle of the assembly I will praise you!

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

All of the thriving people of the earth will join the celebration and worship; all those who are descending into the grave will bow before him, including those who cannot preserve their lives.

A whole generation will serve him; they will tell the next generation about the sovereign Lord.

They will come and tell about his saving deeds; they will tell a future generation what he has accomplished.

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.

Look up, you gates! Rise up, you eternal doors! Then the majestic king will enter!

Look up, you gates! Rise up, you eternal doors! Then the majestic king will enter!

Certainly none who rely on you will be humiliated. Those who deal in treachery will be thwarted and humiliated.

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

I am safe, and among the worshipers I will praise the Lord.

He will surely give me shelter in the day of danger; he will hide me in his home; he will place me on an inaccessible rocky summit.

Now I will triumph over my enemies who surround me! I will offer sacrifices in his dwelling place and shout for joy! I will sing praises to the Lord!

By David. To you, O Lord, I cry out! My protector, do not ignore me! If you do not respond to me, I will join those who are descending into the grave.

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

The Lord strengthens and protects me; I trust in him with all my heart. I am rescued and my heart is full of joy; I will sing to him in gratitude.

A psalm -- a song used at the dedication of the temple; by David. I will praise you, O Lord, for you lifted me up, and did not allow my enemies to gloat over me.

In my self-confidence I said, "I will never be upended."

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

You will free me from the net they hid for me, for you are my place of refuge.

Into your hand I entrust my life; you will rescue me, O Lord, the faithful God.

I will be happy and rejoice in your faithfulness, because you notice my pain and you are aware of how distressed I am.

Then I confessed my sin; I no longer covered up my wrongdoing. I said, "I will confess my rebellious acts to the Lord." And then you forgave my sins. (Selah)

For this reason every one of your faithful followers should pray to you while there is a window of opportunity. Certainly when the surging water rises, it will not reach them.

I will instruct and teach you about how you should live. I will advise you as I look you in the eye.

Do not be like an unintelligent horse or mule, which will not obey you unless they are controlled by a bridle and bit.

Written by David, when he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, causing the king to send him away. I will praise the Lord at all times; my mouth will continually praise him.

I will boast in the Lord; let the oppressed hear and rejoice!

Come children! Listen to me! I will teach you what it means to fear the Lord.

Then I will rejoice in the Lord and be happy because of his deliverance.

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."

Then I will give you thanks in the great assembly; I will praise you before a large crowd of people!

Then I will tell others about your justice, and praise you all day long.

For they will quickly dry up like grass, and wither away like plants.

Then you will take delight in the Lord, and he will answer your prayers.

Commit your future to the Lord! Trust in him, and he will act on your behalf.

He will vindicate you in broad daylight, and publicly defend your just cause.

Wicked men will be wiped out, but those who rely on the Lord are the ones who will possess the land.

Evil men will soon disappear; you will stare at the spot where they once were, but they will be gone.

But the oppressed will possess the land and enjoy great prosperity.

Their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.

for evil men will lose their power, but the Lord sustains the godly.

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

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

Surely those favored by the Lord will possess the land, but those rejected by him will be wiped out.

Even if he trips, he will not fall headlong, for the Lord holds his hand.

Turn away from evil! Do what is right! Then you will enjoy lasting security.

The godly will possess the land and will dwell in it permanently.

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

Yet I wait for you, O Lord! You will respond, O Lord, my God!

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

For the music director, Jeduthun; a psalm of David. I decided, "I will watch what I say and make sure I do not sin with my tongue. I will put a muzzle over my mouth while in the presence of an evil man."

"O Lord, help me understand my mortality and the brevity of life! Let me realize how quickly my life will pass!