After that a voice roars; he thunders with an exalted voice, and he does not hold back his lightning bolts when his voice is heard.

You, whose garments are hot when the earth is still because of the south wind,

"Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you possess understanding!

when the morning stars sang in chorus, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

"Who shut up the sea with doors when it burst forth, coming out of the womb,

when I made the storm clouds its garment, and thick darkness its swaddling band,

when I prescribed its limits, and set in place its bolts and doors,

when I said, 'To here you may come and no farther, here your proud waves will be confined'?

when the waters become hard like stone, when the surface of the deep is frozen solid?

when the dust hardens into a mass, and the clumps of earth stick together?

when they crouch in their dens, when they wait in ambush in the thicket?

Who prepares prey for the raven, when its young cry out to God and wander about for lack of food?

In excitement and impatience it consumes the ground; it cannot stand still when the trumpet is blown.

Is it not fierce when it is awakened? Who is he, then, who can stand before it?

When it rises up, the mighty are terrified, at its thrashing about they withdraw.

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.

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!

Realize that the Lord shows the godly special favor; the Lord responds when I cry out to him.

When I look up at the heavens, which your fingers made, and see the moon and the stars, which you set in place,

When my enemies turn back, they trip and are defeated before you.

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!

When the foundations are destroyed, what can the godly accomplish?"

for the wicked seem to be everywhere, when people promote evil.

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

I wish the deliverance of Israel would come from Zion! When the Lord restores the well-being of his people, may Jacob rejoice, may Israel be happy!

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.

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!

When they hear of my exploits, they submit to me. Foreigners are powerless before me;

For the music director; a psalm of David. May the Lord answer you when you are in trouble; may the God of Jacob make you secure!

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

You burn them up like a fiery furnace when you appear; the Lord angrily devours them; the fire consumes them.

For you make them retreat when you shoot your arrows at them.

For he did not despise or detest the suffering of the oppressed; he did not ignore him; when he cried out to him, he responded.

Even when I must walk through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff reassure me.

When evil men attack me to devour my flesh, when my adversaries and enemies attack me, they stumble and fall.

Even when an army is deployed against me, I do not fear. Even when war is imminent, I remain confident.

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

Hear my plea for mercy when I cry out to you for help, when I lift my hands toward your holy temple!

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.

The Lord deserves praise for he demonstrated his amazing faithfulness to me when I was besieged by enemies.

I jumped to conclusions and said, "I am cut off from your presence!" But you heard my plea for mercy when I cried out to you for help.

When I refused to confess my sin, my whole body wasted away, while I groaned in pain all day long.

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.

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.

When they were sick, I wore sackcloth, and refrained from eating food. (If I am lying, may my prayers go unanswered!)

But when I stumbled, they rejoiced and gathered together; they gathered together to ambush me. They tore at me without stopping to rest.

When I tripped, they taunted me relentlessly, and tried to bite me.

By David. Do not fret when wicked men seem to succeed! Do not envy evildoers!

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

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; a psalm of David. How blessed is the one who treats the poor properly! When trouble comes, the Lord delivers him.

My enemies ask this cruel question about me, 'When will he finally die and be forgotten?'

When someone comes to visit, he pretends to be friendly; he thinks of ways to defame me, and when he leaves he slanders me.

I thirst for God, for the living God. I say, "When will I be able to go and appear in God's presence?"

For this reason we do not fear when the earth shakes, and the mountains tumble into the depths of the sea,

when its waves crash and foam, and the mountains shake before the surging sea. (Selah)

Why should I be afraid in times of trouble, when the sinful deeds of deceptive men threaten to overwhelm me?

They will travel to Sheol like sheep, with death as their shepherd. The godly will rule over them when the day of vindication dawns; Sheol will consume their bodies and they will no longer live in impressive houses.

Do not be afraid when a man becomes rich and his wealth multiplies!

For he will take nothing with him when he dies; his wealth will not follow him down into the grave.

Pray to me when you are in trouble! I will deliver you, and you will honor me!"

When you see a thief, you join him; you associate with men who are unfaithful to their wives.

When you did these things, I was silent, so you thought I was exactly like you. But now I will condemn you and state my case against you!

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; a well-written song by David. It was written when Doeg the Edomite went and informed Saul: "David has arrived at the home of Ahimelech." Why do you boast about your evil plans, O powerful man? God's loyal love protects me all day long!

When the godly see this, they will be filled with awe, and will mock the evildoer, saying:

I will continually thank you when you execute judgment; I will rely on you, for your loyal followers know you are good.

I wish the deliverance of Israel would come from Zion! When God restores the well-being of his people, may Jacob rejoice, may Israel be happy!

For the music director, to be accompanied by stringed instruments; a well-written song by David. It was written when the Ziphites came and informed Saul: "David is hiding with us." O God, deliver me by your name! Vindicate me by your power!

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.

When I am afraid, I trust in you.

My enemies will turn back when I cry out to you for help; I know that God is on my side.

when you deliver my life from death. You keep my feet from stumbling, so that I might serve God as I enjoy life.

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.

The godly will rejoice when they see vengeance carried out; they will bathe their feet in the blood of the wicked.

For the music director; according to the al-tashcheth style; a prayer of David, written when Saul sent men to surround his house and murder him. Deliver me from my enemies, my God! Protect me from those who attack me!

As for me, I will sing about your strength; I will praise your loyal love in the morning. For you are my refuge and my place of shelter when I face trouble.

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!

Men are nothing but a mere breath; human beings are unreliable. When they are weighed in the scales, all of them together are lighter than air.

A psalm of David, written when he was in the Judean wilderness. O God, you are my God! I long for you! My soul thirsts for you, my flesh yearns for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.

which my lips uttered and my mouth spoke when I was in trouble.

O God, when you lead your people into battle, when you march through the desert, (Selah)

O God, you cause abundant showers to fall on your chosen people. When they are tired, you sustain them,

When you lie down among the sheepfolds, the wings of the dove are covered with silver and with glittering gold.

When the sovereign judge scatters kings, let it snow on Zalmon!

Many are appalled when they see me, but you are my secure shelter.

Do not reject me in my old age! When my strength fails, do not abandon me!

Even when I am old and gray, O God, do not abandon me, until I tell the next generation about your strength, and those coming after me about your power.

My lips will shout for joy! Yes, I will sing your praises! I will praise you when you rescue me!

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

May his fame endure! May his dynasty last as long as the sun remains in the sky! May they use his name when they formulate their blessings! May all nations consider him to be favored by God!

When I tried to make sense of this, it was troubling to me.

They are like a dream after one wakes up. O Lord, when you awake you will despise them.

When the earth and all its inhabitants dissolve in fear, I make its pillars secure." (Selah)

when God arose to execute judgment, and to deliver all the oppressed of the earth. (Selah)

When the Lord heard this, he was furious. A fire broke out against Jacob, and his anger flared up against Israel,

when the anger of God flared up against them. He killed some of the strongest of them; he brought the young men of Israel to their knees.