Sermon Central
Psalm 141-144
Psalm 141 1A psalm of David. I call to you, LORD, come quickly to me; hear me when I call to you.
2May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.
3Set a guard over my mouth, LORD ; keep watch over the door of my lips.
4Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil so that I take part in wicked deeds along with those who are evildoers; do not let me eat their delicacies.
5Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness; let him rebuke me—that is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it, for my prayer will still be against the deeds of evildoers.
6Their rulers will be thrown down from the cliffs, and the wicked will learn that my words were well spoken.
7They will say, “As one plows and breaks up the earth, so our bones have been scattered at the mouth of the grave.”
8But my eyes are fixed on you, Sovereign LORD ; in you I take refuge—do not give me over to death.
9Keep me safe from the traps set by evildoers, from the snares they have laid for me. 10Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by in safety.
Psalm 142
2I pour out before him my complaint; before him I tell my trouble.
3When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who watch over my way. In the path where I walk people have hidden a snare for me.
4Look and see, there is no one at my right hand; no one is concerned for me. I have no refuge; no one cares for my life.
5I cry to you, LORD ; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”
6Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me. 7Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name. Then the righteous will gather about me because of your goodness to me.
Psalm 143 1A psalm of David. LORD, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief.
2Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before you.
3The enemy pursues me, he crushes me to the ground; he makes me dwell in the darkness like those long dead.
4So my spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed.
5I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.
6I spread out my hands to you; I thirst for you like a parched land.
7Answer me quickly, LORD ; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit.
8Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.
9Rescue me from my enemies, LORD, for I hide myself in you.
10Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
11For your name’s sake, LORD, preserve my life; in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble. 12In your unfailing love, silence my enemies; destroy all my foes, for I am your servant.
Psalm 144 1Of David. Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.
2He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples
3LORD, what are human beings that you care for them, mere mortals that you think of them?
4They are like a breath; their days are like a fleeting shadow.
5Part your heavens, LORD, and come down; touch the mountains, so that they smoke.
6Send forth lightning and scatter the enemy; shoot your arrows and rout them.
7Reach down your hand from on high; deliver me and rescue me from the mighty waters, from the hands of foreigners
8whose mouths are full of lies, whose right hands are deceitful.
9I will sing a new song to you, my God; on the ten-stringed lyre I will make music to you,
10to the One who gives victory to kings, who delivers his servant David. From the deadly sword
11deliver me; rescue me from the hands of foreigners whose mouths are full of lies, whose right hands are deceitful.
12Then our sons in their youth will be like well-nurtured plants, and our daughters will be like pillars carved to adorn a palace.
13Our barns will be filled with every kind of provision. Our sheep will increase by thousands, by tens of thousands in our fields;
14our oxen will draw heavy loads.