Nations are in uproar, kingdoms are overthrown. God gives a shout, the earth dissolves.

As soon as they see, they are shocked; they are terrified, they quickly retreat.

Mount Zion rejoices; the towns of Judah are happy, because of your acts of judgment.

but, despite their wealth, people do not last, they are like animals that perish.

Wealthy people do not understand; they are like animals that perish.

I keep track of every bird in the hills, and the insects of the field are mine.

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.

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.

The sacrifices God desires are a humble spirit -- O God, a humble and repentant heart you will not reject.

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

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

They are absolutely terrified, even by things that do not normally cause fear. For God annihilates those who attack you. You are able to humiliate them because God has rejected them.

Day and night they walk around on its walls, while wickedness and destruction are within it.

His words are as smooth as butter, but he harbors animosity in his heart. His words seem softer than oil, but they are really like sharp swords.

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.

Those who anticipate my defeat attack me all day long. Indeed, many are fighting against me, O Exalted One.

Because they are bent on violence, do not let them escape! In your anger bring down the nations, O God!

You keep track of my misery. Put my tears in your leather container! Are they not recorded in your scroll?

I am surrounded by lions; I lie down among those who want to devour me; men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are a sharp sword.

The wicked turn aside from birth; liars go astray as soon as they are born.

Then observers will say, "Yes indeed, the godly are rewarded! Yes indeed, there is a God who judges in the earth!"

Though I have done nothing wrong, they are anxious to attack. Spring into action and help me! Take notice of me!

You are my source of strength! I will wait for you! For God is my refuge.

They wander around looking for something to eat; they refuse to sleep until they are full.

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.

You are my source of strength! I will sing praises to you! For God is my refuge, the God who loves me.

Indeed, you are my shelter, a strong tower that protects me from the enemy.

How long will you threaten a man? All of you are murderers, as dangerous as a leaning wall or an unstable fence.

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.

For you are my deliverer; under your wings I rejoice.

in order to shoot down the innocent in secluded places. They shoot at him suddenly and are unafraid of retaliation.

For the music director; a psalm of David, a song. Praise awaits you, O God, in Zion. Vows made to you are fulfilled.

Even those living in the most remote areas are awestruck by your acts; you cause those living in the east and west to praise you.

The pastures in the wilderness glisten with moisture, and the hills are clothed with joy.

The meadows are clothed with sheep, and the valleys are covered with grain. They shout joyfully, yes, they sing.

Say to God: "How awesome are your deeds! Because of your great power your enemies cower in fear before you.

Come and witness God's exploits! His acts on behalf of people are awesome!

Come! Listen, all you who are loyal to God! I will declare what he has done for me.

Then those living on earth will know what you are like; all nations will know how you deliver your people.

As smoke is driven away by the wind, so you drive them away. As wax melts before fire, so the wicked are destroyed before God.

But the godly are happy; they rejoice before God and are overcome with joy.

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.

You are awe-inspiring, O God, as you emerge from your holy temple! It is the God of Israel who gives the people power and strength. God deserves praise!

Those who hate me without cause are more numerous than the hairs of my head. Those who want to destroy me, my enemies for no reason, outnumber me. They make me repay what I did not steal!

O God, you are aware of my foolish sins; my guilt is not hidden from you.

Their insults are painful and make me lose heart; I look for sympathy, but receive none, for comforters, but find none.

The descendants of his servants will inherit it, and those who are loyal to him will live in it.

May those who are trying to take my life be embarrassed and ashamed! May those who want to harm me be turned back and ashamed!

I am oppressed and needy! O God, hurry to me! You are my helper and my deliverer! O Lord, do not delay!

Be my protector and refuge, a stronghold where I can be safe! For you are my high ridge and my stronghold.

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

A psalm by Asaph. Certainly God is good to Israel, and to those whose motives are pure!

For I envied those who are proud, as I observed the prosperity of the wicked.

For they suffer no pain; their bodies are strong and well-fed.

They are immune to the trouble common to men; they do not suffer as other men do.

Their prosperity causes them to do wrong; their thoughts are sinful.

Take a good look! This is what the wicked are like, those who always have it so easy and get richer and richer.

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

And now they are tearing down all its engravings with axes and crowbars.

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.

Remember your covenant promises, for the dark regions of the earth are full of places where violence rules.

You are awesome! Yes, you! Who can withstand your intense anger?

O God, your deeds are extraordinary! What god can compare to our great God?

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

Do not hold us accountable for the sins of earlier generations! Quickly send your compassion our way, for we are in serious trouble!

It is burned and cut down. They die because you are displeased with them.

I thought, 'You are gods; all of you are sons of the Most High.'

For look, your enemies are making a commotion; those who hate you are hostile.

They say, "Come on, let's annihilate them so they are no longer a nation! Then the name of Israel will be remembered no more."

Then they will know that you alone are the Lord, the sovereign king over all the earth.

How blessed are those who live in your temple and praise you continually! (Selah)

How blessed are those who find their strength in you, and long to travel the roads that lead to your temple!

They are sustained as they travel along; each one appears before God in Zion.

O Lord who rules over all, how blessed are those who trust in you!

Certainly O Lord, you are kind and forgiving, and show great faithfulness to all who cry out to you.

None can compare to you among the gods, O Lord! Your exploits are incomparable!

For you are great and do amazing things. You alone are God.

But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and merciful God. You are patient and demonstrate great loyal love and faithfulness.

I mention Rahab and Babylon to my followers. Here are Philistia and Tyre, along with Ethiopia. It is said of them, "This one was born there."

adrift among the dead, like corpses lying in the grave, whom you remember no more, and who are cut off from your power.

Are your amazing deeds experienced in the dark region, or your deliverance in the land of oblivion?

Equity and justice are the foundation of your throne. Loyal love and faithfulness characterize your rule.

How blessed are the people who worship you! O Lord, they experience your favor.

They rejoice in your name all day long, and are vindicated by your justice.

For you give them splendor and strength. By your favor we are victorious.

He will call out to me, 'You are my father, my God, and the protector who delivers me.'

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

Where are your earlier faithful deeds, O Lord, the ones performed in accordance with your reliable oath to David?

Take note, O Lord, of the way your servants are taunted, and of how I must bear so many insults from people!

Yes, in your eyes a thousand years are like yesterday that quickly passes, or like one of the divisions of the nighttime.

You bring their lives to an end and they "fall asleep." In the morning they are like the grass that sprouts up;

Yes, we are consumed by your anger; we are terrified by your wrath.

You are aware of our sins; you even know about our hidden sins.

The days of our lives add up to seventy years, or eighty, if one is especially strong. But even one's best years are marred by trouble and oppression. Yes, they pass quickly and we fly away.

How great are your works, O Lord! Your plans are very intricate!

Indeed, look at your enemies, O Lord! Indeed, look at how your enemies perish! All the evildoers are scattered!

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