For the music director; by David. Fools say to themselves, "There is no God." They sin and commit evil deeds; none of them does what is right.

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

Everyone rejects God; they are all morally corrupt. None of them does what is right, not even one!

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.

Whoever lives a blameless life, does what is right, and speaks honestly.

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.

It is as if I have been given fertile fields or received a beautiful tract of land.

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

Make a just decision on my behalf! Decide what is right!

I call to you for you will answer me, O God. Listen to me! Hear what I say!

In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried out to my God. From his heavenly temple he heard my voice; he listened to my cry for help.

Smoke ascended from his nose; fire devoured as it came from his mouth; he hurled down fiery coals.

He brought me out into a wide open place; he delivered me because he was pleased with me.

I chase my enemies and catch them; I do not turn back until I wipe them out.

I beat them to death; they fall at my feet.

They cry out, but there is no one to help them; they cry out to the Lord, but he does not answer them.

Day after day it speaks out; night after night it reveals his greatness.

Yet its voice echoes throughout the earth; its words carry to the distant horizon. In the sky he has pitched a tent for the sun.

Like a bridegroom it emerges from its chamber; like a strong man it enjoys running its course.

It emerges from the distant horizon, and goes from one end of the sky to the other; nothing can escape its heat.

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

My God, I cry out during the day, but you do not answer, and during the night my prayers do not let up.

To you they cried out, and they were saved; in you they trusted and they were not disappointed.

Yes, you are the one who brought me out from the womb and made me feel secure on my mother's breasts.

I have been dependent on you since birth; from the time I came out of my mother's womb you have been my God.

My strength drains away like water; all my bones are dislocated; my heart is like wax; it melts away inside me.

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.

Let the oppressed eat and be filled! Let those who seek his help praise the Lord! May you live forever!

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

A psalm of David. The Lord owns the earth and all it contains, the world and all who live in it.

For he set its foundation upon the seas, and established it upon the ocean currents.

May he show the humble what is right! May he teach the humble his way!

For the sake of your reputation, O Lord, forgive my sin, because it is great.

I have asked the Lord for one thing -- this is what I desire! I want to live in the Lord's house all the days of my life, so I can gaze at the splendor of the Lord and contemplate in his temple.

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

Teach me how you want me to live; lead me along a level path because of those who wait to ambush me!

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.

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

Pay them back for their evil deeds! Pay them back for what they do! Punish them!

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

Deliver your people! Empower the nation that belongs to you! Care for them like a shepherd and carry them in your arms at all times!

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.

O Lord my God, I cried out to you and you healed me.

To you, O Lord, I cried out; I begged the Lord for mercy:

"What profit is there in taking my life, in my descending into the Pit? Can the dust of the grave praise you? Can it declare your loyalty?

You do not deliver me over to the power of the enemy; you enable me to stand in a wide open place.

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.

O Lord, do not let me be humiliated, for I call out to you! May evil men be humiliated! May they go wailing to the grave!

How great is your favor, which you store up for your loyal followers! In plain sight of everyone you bestow it on those who take shelter in you.

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.

Be strong and confident, all you who wait on the Lord!

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.

You godly ones, shout for joy because of the Lord! It is appropriate for the morally upright to offer him praise.

Sing to him a new song! Play skillfully as you shout out your praises to him!

For he spoke, and it came into existence, he issued the decree, and it stood firm.

From the place where he lives he looks carefully at all the earth's inhabitants.

A horse disappoints those who trust in it for victory; despite its great strength, it cannot deliver.

Look, the Lord takes notice of his loyal followers, those who wait for him to demonstrate his faithfulness

We wait for the Lord; he is our deliverer and shield.

May we experience your faithfulness, O Lord, for we wait for you.

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.

This oppressed man cried out and the Lord heard; he saved him from all his troubles.

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

Turn away from evil and do what is right! Strive for peace and promote it!

But the Lord opposes evildoers and wipes out all memory of them from the earth.

The godly cry out and the Lord hears; he saves them from all their troubles.

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

Do not let those who are my enemies for no reason gloat over me! Do not let those who hate me without cause carry out their wicked schemes!

Do not let them say to themselves, "Aha! We have what we wanted!" Do not let them say, "We have devoured him!"

The words he speaks are sinful and deceitful; he does not care about doing what is wise and right.

He plans ways to sin while he lies in bed; he is committed to a sinful lifestyle; he does not reject what is evil.

Trust in the Lord and do what is right! Settle in the land and maintain your integrity!

Wait patiently for the Lord! Wait confidently for him! Do not fret over the apparent success of a sinner, a man who carries out wicked schemes!

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.

The Lord laughs in disgust at them, for he knows that their day is coming.

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

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

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

For the Lord promotes justice, and never abandons his faithful followers. They are permanently secure, but the children of evil men are wiped out.

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

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

They repay me evil for the good I have done; though I have tried to do good to them, they hurl accusations at 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."

my anxiety intensified. As I thought about it, I became impatient. Finally I spoke these words:

Surely people go through life as mere ghosts. Surely they accumulate worthless wealth without knowing who will eventually haul it away."

But now, O Lord, upon what am I relying? You are my only hope!

I am silent and cannot open my mouth because of what you have done.

Hear my prayer, O Lord! Listen to my cry for help! Do not ignore my sobbing! For I am dependent on you, like one residing outside his native land; I am at your mercy, just as all my ancestors were.

He lifted me out of the watery pit, out of the slimy mud. He placed my feet on a rock and gave me secure footing.

He gave me reason to sing a new song, praising our God. May many see what God has done, so that they might swear allegiance to him and trust in the Lord!

O Lord, my God, you have accomplished many things; you have done amazing things and carried out your purposes for us. No one can thwart you! I want to declare them and talk about them, but they are too numerous to recount!

Then I say, "Look! I come! What is written in the scroll pertains to me.

I want to do what pleases you, my God. Your law dominates my thoughts."

I cannot eat, I weep day and night; all day long they say to me, "Where is your God?"

Why are you depressed, O my soul? Why are you upset? Wait for God! For I will again give thanks to my God for his saving intervention.

One deep stream calls out to another at the sound of your waterfalls; all your billows and waves overwhelm me.

Why are you depressed, O my soul? Why are you upset? Wait for God! For I will again give thanks to my God for his saving intervention.

Why are you depressed, O my soul? Why are you upset? Wait for God! For I will again give thanks to my God for his saving intervention.

For the music director; by the Korahites, a well-written song. O God, we have clearly heard; our ancestors have told us what you did in their days, in ancient times.