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.

Do not be so certain you have won! Do not speak with your head held so high!

As for me, I will continually tell what you have done; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob!

I will think about all you have done; I will reflect upon your deeds!"

You are the God who does amazing things; you have revealed your strength among the nations.

What we have heard and learned -- that which our ancestors have told us --

because they did not have faith in God, and did not trust his ability to deliver them.

A psalm of Asaph. O God, foreigners have invaded your chosen land; they have polluted your holy temple and turned Jerusalem into a heap of ruins.

They have given the corpses of your servants to the birds of the sky; the flesh of your loyal followers to the beasts of the earth.

They have made their blood flow like water all around Jerusalem, and there is no one to bury them.

We have become an object of disdain to our neighbors; those who live on our borders taunt and insult us.

For they have devoured Jacob and destroyed his home.

You have given them tears as food; you have made them drink tears by the measure.

You have made our neighbors dislike us, and our enemies insult us.

May you give support to the one you have chosen, to the one whom you raised up for yourself!

For the Lord God is our sovereign protector. The Lord bestows favor and honor; he withholds no good thing from those who have integrity.

Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I cry out to you all day long!

Turn toward me and have mercy on me! Give your servant your strength! Deliver your slave!

I am oppressed and have been on the verge of death since my youth. I have been subjected to your horrors and am numb with pain.

The Lord said, "I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have made a promise on oath to David, my servant:

Then you spoke through a vision to your faithful followers and said: "I have energized a warrior; I have raised up a young man from the people.

I have discovered David, my servant. With my holy oil I have anointed him as king.

Once and for all I have vowed by my own holiness, I will never deceive David.

But you have spurned and rejected him; you are angry with your chosen king.

You have repudiated your covenant with your servant; you have thrown his crown to the ground.

You have broken down all his walls; you have made his strongholds a heap of ruins.

All who pass by have robbed him; he has become an object of disdain to his neighbors.

You have allowed his adversaries to be victorious, and all his enemies to rejoice.

You turn back his sword from the adversary, and have not sustained him in battle.

You have brought to an end his splendor, and have knocked his throne to the ground.

You have cut short his youth, and have covered him with shame. (Selah)

A prayer of Moses, the man of God. O Lord, you have been our protector through all generations!

Turn back toward us, O Lord! How long must this suffering last? Have pity on your servants!

Make us happy in proportion to the days you have afflicted us, in proportion to the years we have experienced trouble!

For you have taken refuge in the Lord, my shelter, the sovereign One.

For you, O Lord, have made me happy by your work. I will sing for joy because of what you have done.

They bear fruit even when they are old; they are filled with vitality and have many leaves.

Your throne has been secure from ancient times; you have always been king.

If the Lord had not helped me, I would have laid down in the silence of death.

I will not even consider doing what is dishonest. I hate doing evil; I will have no part of it.

I will have nothing to do with a perverse person; I will not permit evil.

You will rise up and have compassion on Zion. For it is time to have mercy on her, for the appointed time has come.

as well as wine that makes people feel so good, and so they can have oil to make their faces shine, as well as food that sustains people's lives.

How many living things you have made, O Lord! You have exhibited great skill in making all of them; the earth is full of the living things you have made.

We have sinned like our ancestors; we have done wrong, we have done evil.

He caused all their conquerors to have pity on them.

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

May no one show him kindness! May no one have compassion on his fatherless children!

He loved to curse others, so those curses have come upon him. He had no desire to bless anyone, so he has experienced no blessings.

I am so starved my knees shake; I have turned into skin and bones.

Then they will realize this is your work, and that you, Lord, have accomplished it.

They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see,

I will give you thanks, for you answered me, and have become my deliverer.

With my lips I proclaim all the regulations you have revealed.

Then I will have a reply for the one who insults me, for I trust in your word.

(Zayin) Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope.

Your statutes have been my songs in the house where I live.

(Khet) The Lord is my source of security. I have determined to follow your instructions.

I seek your favor with all my heart. Have mercy on me as you promised!

The law you have revealed is more important to me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.

May the arrogant be humiliated, for they have slandered me! But I meditate on your precepts.

They have almost destroyed me here on the earth, but I do not reject your precepts.

Revive me with your loyal love, that I might keep the rules you have revealed.

If I had not found encouragement in your law, I would have died in my sorrow.

I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have revived me.