"His neck is so powerful that all who meet him are terrified.

When he rears up, the mighty are terrified; they are bewildered as he thrashes about.

Arrows won't make him flee; stones from a sling are only pebbles to him.

Clubs are like twigs; he laughs at the whoosh of the javelin.

But this is not the case with the wicked. They are like chaff that the wind blows away.

Why are the nations in an uproar, and their people involved in a vain plot?

Let me announce the decree of the LORD that he told me: "You are my son, today I have become your father.

Kiss the son before he becomes angry, and you die where you stand. Indeed, his wrath can flare up quickly. How blessed are those who take refuge in him. A Davidic Psalm, when he fled from his son Absalom.

LORD, I have so many persecutors! Many are rising up against me!

Many are saying about me, "God will never deliver him!"

But you, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts up my head.

Offer sacrifices that are righteous, and put your confidence in the LORD.

Many are asking, "Who will help us to see better days?" LORD, may the light of your favor shine upon us.

Indeed, you aren't a God who delights in wickedness; evil will never dwell with you.

In death, there is no memory of you. Who will give you thanks where the dead are?

Let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous. For you are the righteous God who discerns the inner thoughts.

The nations have sunk down into the pit they made, their feet are ensnared in the trap they set.

The LORD has made himself known, executing judgment. The wicked are ensnared by what their hands have made. Interlude

The wicked will turn back to where the dead are all the nations that have forgotten God.

Make them afraid, LORD, Let the nations know that they are only human. Interlude

The wicked one arrogantly pursues the afflicted, who are trapped in the schemes he devises.

Their ways always seem prosperous. Your judgments are on high, far away from them. They scoff at all their enemies.

When the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?

"Because the poor are being oppressed, because the needy are sighing, I will now arise," says the LORD, "I will establish in safety those who yearn for it."

The words of the LORD are pure, like silver refined in an earthen furnace, purified seven times over.

Fools say to themselves, "There is no God." They are corrupt and commit evil deeds; not one of them practices what is good.

There they are seized with terror, because God is with those who are righteous.

The one who despises those who are utterly wicked, but who honors the one who fears the LORD, who keeps his word even when it hurts and does not change,

who does not loan his money with interest, and who does not take a bribe against those who are innocent. The one who does these things will stand firm forever. A special Davidic Psalm.

I told the LORD, "You are my master, I have nothing good apart from you."

As for the saints that are in the land, they are noble, and all my delight is in them.

You cause me to know the path of life; in your presence is joyful abundance, at your right hand there are pleasures forever. A Davidic Prayer.

They are imprisoned by their own prosperity, they have boasted proudly with their mouth.

Now they have encircled our paths and are determined to cast us down to the ground.

The LORD will reward me because I am righteous; because my hands are clean he will restore me;

I struck them down, so they are not able to rise up; they fell under my feet.

The heavens are declaring the glory of God, and their expanse shows the work of his hands.

There is no speech nor are there words their voice is not heard

The precepts of the LORD are upright, making the heart rejoice. The commandment of the LORD is pure, giving light to the eyes.

The fear of the LORD is clean, standing forever. The judgments of the LORD are true; they are altogether righteous.

They are more desirable than gold, even much fine gold. They are sweeter than honey, even the drippings from a honeycomb.

Rise up, LORD, because you are strong; we will sing and praise your power. To the Director: To the tune of "Doe of the Dawn".A Davidic Psalm.

My God! My God! Why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far from delivering me from my groaning words?

You are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.

Yet, you are the one who took me from the womb, and kept me safe on my mother's breasts.

Their mouths are opened wide toward me, like roaring and attacking lions.

I am poured out like water; all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax, melting within me.

All the prosperous people will eat and bow down in submission. All those who are about to go down to the grave will bow down in submission, along with the one who can no longer keep himself alive.

He revives my life; he leads me in pathways that are righteous for the sake of his name.

Even when I walk through a valley of deep darkness, I will not be afraid because you are with me. Your rod and your staff they comfort me.

This is the generation that seeks him. Those who seek your face are the true seed of Jacob. Interlude

Guide me in your truth and teach me; for you are the God who delivers me. All day long I have waited for you.

Remember, LORD, your tender mercies and your gracious love; indeed, they are eternal!

Their hands are filled with wicked schemes, and their right hands with bribes.

In you, LORD, I have taken refuge. Let me never be ashamed. Because you are righteous, deliver me!

For you are my rock and my fortress; for the sake of your name guide me and lead me.

Rescue me from the net that they concealed to trap me; for you are my strength.

But I trust in you, LORD. I say, "You are my God."

My times are in your hands. Deliver me from the hands of my enemies and from those who pursue me.

You are my hiding place; you will deliver me from trouble and surround me with shouts of deliverance. Interlude

Don't be like a horse or mule, without understanding. They are held in check by a bit and bridle in their mouths; otherwise they will not remain near you.

Righteous ones, be glad in the LORD and rejoice! Shout for joy, all of you who are upright in heart!

For the word of the LORD is upright; and all his works are done in faithfulness.

The words from his mouth are vain and deceptive. He has abandoned behaving wisely and doing good.

They are refreshed from the abundance of your house; You cause them to drink from the river of your pleasures.

Send forth your gracious love to those who know you, and your righteousness to those who are upright in heart.

The wicked take out a sword and bend the bow, to bring down the humble and the poor to slay those who are righteous in conduct.

The wicked borrow but never pay back; but the righteous are generous and give.

A man's steps are established by the LORD, and the LORD delights in his way.

Every day he is generous, lending freely, and his descendants are blessed.

Indeed, the LORD loves justice, and he will not abandon his godly ones. They are kept safe forever, but the lawless will be chased away, and the descendants of the wicked will be cut off.

My iniquities loom over my head; like a cumbersome burden, they are too heavy for me.

My insides are burning and my body is unhealthy.

Lord, all my longings are before you, and my groaning is not hidden from you.

But my enemies are alive and well; those who hate me for no reason are numerous.

I told myself, "I will keep watch over my tongue to keep from sinning. I will muzzle my mouth when the wicked are around."

I remain silent; I do not open my mouth, for you are the one who acted.

LORD, my God, You have done great things: marvelous works and your thoughts toward us. There is no one who compares to you! I will try to recite your actions, even though there are too many to number.

Innumerable evils have surrounded me; my iniquities have overtaken me so that I cannot see. They are more in number than the hair on my head, and my courage has forsaken me.

But I am poor and needy; may the Lord think about me. You are my help and deliverer. My God, do not tarry too long! To the Director: A Davidic Psalm.

Blessed is the one who is considerate of the destitute; the LORD will deliver him when the times are evil.

In this way I will know that you are pleased with me, and that my enemies will not shout in triumph over me.

Why are you in despair, my soul? Why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God, for once again I will praise him, since his presence saves me.

Like the shattering of my bones are the taunts of my oppressors, saying to me all day long, "Where is your God?"

Why are you in despair, my soul? Why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God, for once again I will praise him, since his presence saves me and he is my God.

Since you are the God who strengthens me, why have you forsaken me? Why do I go around mourning under the enemy's oppression?"

Why are you in despair, my soul? Why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God, because I will praise him once again, since his presence saves me and he is my God. To the Director: An instruction of the Sons of Korah.

You are my king, God, command victories for Jacob.

For your sake we are being killed all day long. We are thought of as sheep to be slaughtered.

Wake up! Why are you asleep, Lord? Get up! Don't cast us off forever!

Why are you hiding your face? Why are you ignoring our affliction and oppression?

You are the most handsome of Adam's descendants; grace has anointed your lips; therefore God has blessed you forever.

Your arrows are sharpened to penetrate the hearts of the king's enemies. People will fall under you.

All your clothes are scented with myrrh, aloes, and cassia. From ivory palaces stringed instruments have made you glad.

The king's daughters are among your honorable women; the queen, dressed in gold from Ophir, has taken her place at your right hand."

Filled with joy and gladness, they are presented when they enter the king's palace.

Their inner thoughts are on their homes forever; their dwellings from generation to generation. They even name their lands after themselves.

This is the fate of those who are foolish and of those who correct their words after they speak. Interlude

Like sheep, they are destined for the realm of the dead, with death as their shepherd. The upright will have dominion over them in the morning; their strength will be consumed in the afterlife, so that they have no home.

I do not rebuke you because of your sacrifices; indeed, your burnt offerings are continuously before me.