Psalm 36-42

Psalm 36In Hebrew texts 36:1-12 is numbered 36:2-13. 1For the director of music. Of David the servant of the LORD . I have a message from God in my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: Or A message from God: The transgression of the wicked / resides in their hearts. There is no fear of God before their eyes.

2In their own eyes they flatter themselves too much to detect or hate their sin.

3The words of their mouths are wicked and deceitful; they fail to act wisely or do good.

4Even on their beds they plot evil; they commit themselves to a sinful course and do not reject what is wrong.

5Your love, LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.

6Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, LORD, preserve both people and animals.

7How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

8They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights.

9For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.

10Continue your love to those who know you, your righteousness to the upright in heart.

11May the foot of the proud not come against me, nor the hand of the wicked drive me away. 12See how the evildoers lie fallen— thrown down, not able to rise!

Psalm 37This psalm is an acrostic poem, the stanzas of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. 1Of David. Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong;

2for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.

3Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

4Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5Commit your way to the LORD ; trust in him and he will do this:

6He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.

7Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.

8Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil.

9For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

10A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.

11But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.

12The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them;

13but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming.

14The wicked draw the sword and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright.

15But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.

16Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked;

17for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.

18The blameless spend their days under the LORD ’s care, and their inheritance will endure forever.

19In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

20But the wicked will perish: Though the LORD ’s enemies are like the flowers of the field, they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke.

21The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously;

22those the LORD blesses will inherit the land, but those he curses will be destroyed.

23The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him;

24though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.

25I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.

26They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be a blessing. Or freely; / the names of their children will be used in blessings (see Gen. 48:20); or freely; / others will see that their children are blessed

27Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever.

28For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed See Septuagint; Hebrew They will be protected forever ; the offspring of the wicked will perish.

29The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.

30The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom, and their tongues speak what is just.

31The law of their God is in their hearts; their feet do not slip.

32The wicked lie in wait for the righteous, intent on putting them to death;

33but the LORD will not leave them in the power of the wicked or let them be condemned when brought to trial.

34Hope in the LORD and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it.

35I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a luxuriant native tree,

36but he soon passed away and was no more; though I looked for him, he could not be found.

37Consider the blameless, observe the upright; a future awaits those who seek peace. Or upright; / those who seek peace will have posterity

38But all sinners will be destroyed; there will be no future Or posterity for the wicked.

39The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD ; he is their stronghold in time of trouble. 40The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.

Psalm 38In Hebrew texts 38:1-22 is numbered 38:2-23. 1A psalm of David. A petition. LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath.

2Your arrows have pierced me, and your hand has come down on me.

3Because of your wrath there is no health in my body; there is no soundness in my bones because of my sin.

4My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear.

5My wounds fester and are loathsome because of my sinful folly.

6I am bowed down and brought very low; all day long I go about mourning.

7My back is filled with searing pain; there is no health in my body.

8I am feeble and utterly crushed; I groan in anguish of heart.

9All my longings lie open before you, Lord; my sighing is not hidden from you.

10My heart pounds, my strength fails me; even the light has gone from my eyes.

11My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds; my neighbors stay far away.

12Those who want to kill me set their traps, those who would harm me talk of my ruin; all day long they scheme and lie.

13I am like the deaf, who cannot hear, like the mute, who cannot speak;

14I have become like one who does not hear, whose mouth can offer no reply.

15LORD, I wait for you; you will answer, Lord my God.

16For I said, “Do not let them gloat or exalt themselves over me when my feet slip.”

17For I am about to fall, and my pain is ever with me.

18I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin.

19Many have become my enemies without cause One Dead Sea Scrolls manuscript; Masoretic Text my vigorous enemies ; those who hate me without reason are numerous.

20Those who repay my good with evil lodge accusations against me, though I seek only to do what is good.

21LORD, do not forsake me; do not be far from me, my God. 22Come quickly to help me, my Lord and my Savior.

Psalm 39In Hebrew texts 39:1-13 is numbered 39:2-14. 1For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David. I said, “I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth while in the presence of the wicked.”

2So I remained utterly silent, not even saying anything good. But my anguish increased;

3my heart grew hot within me. While I meditated, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue:

4“Show me, LORD, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is.

5You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure. The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 11.

6“Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom; in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth without knowing whose it will finally be.

7“But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.

8Save me from all my transgressions; do not make me the scorn of fools.

9I was silent; I would not open my mouth, for you are the one who has done this.

10Remove your scourge from me; I am overcome by the blow of your hand.

11When you rebuke and discipline anyone for their sin, you consume their wealth like a moth— surely everyone is but a breath.

12“Hear my prayer, LORD, listen to my cry for help; do not be deaf to my weeping. I dwell with you as a foreigner, a stranger, as all my ancestors were. 13Look away from me, that I may enjoy life again before I depart and am no more.”

Psalm 40In Hebrew texts 40:1-17 is numbered 40:2-18. 1For the director of music. Of David. A psalm. I waited patiently for the LORD ; he turned to me and heard my cry.

2He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.

3He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him.

4Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. Or to lies

5Many, LORD my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare.

6Sacrifice and offering you did not desire— but my ears you have opened Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts but a body you have prepared for me — burnt offerings and sin offerings Or purification offerings you did not require.

7Then I said, “Here I am, I have come— it is written about me in the scroll. Or come / with the scroll written for me

8I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.”

9I proclaim your saving acts in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, LORD, as you know.

10I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help. I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness from the great assembly.

11Do not withhold your mercy from me, LORD ; may your love and faithfulness always protect me.

12For troubles without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails within me.

13Be pleased to save me, LORD ; come quickly, LORD, to help me.

14May all who want to take my life be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace.

15May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!” be appalled at their own shame.

16But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who long for your saving help always say, “The LORD is great!” 17But as for me, I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; you are my God, do not delay.

Psalm 41In Hebrew texts 41:1-13 is numbered 41:2-14. 1For the director of music. A psalm of David. Blessed are those who have regard for the weak; the LORD delivers them in times of trouble.

2The LORD protects and preserves them— they are counted among the blessed in the land— he does not give them over to the desire of their foes.

3The LORD sustains them on their sickbed and restores them from their bed of illness.

4I said, “Have mercy on me, LORD ; heal me, for I have sinned against you.”

5My enemies say of me in malice, “When will he die and his name perish?”

6When one of them comes to see me, he speaks falsely, while his heart gathers slander; then he goes out and spreads it around.

7All my enemies whisper together against me; they imagine the worst for me, saying,

8“A vile disease has afflicted him; he will never get up from the place where he lies.”

9Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned Hebrew has lifted up his heel against me.

10But may you have mercy on me, LORD ; raise me up, that I may repay them.

11I know that you are pleased with me, for my enemy does not triumph over me.

12Because of my integrity you uphold me and set me in your presence forever. 13Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen.

BOOK II Psalm 42In many Hebrew manuscripts Psalms 42 and 43 constitute one psalm.,In Hebrew texts 42:1-11 is numbered 42:2-12. 1For the director of music. A maskil Title: Probably a literary or musical term of the Sons of Korah. As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.

2My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?

3My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”

4These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One See Septuagint and Syriac; the meaning of the Hebrew for this line is uncertain. with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng.

5Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

6My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.

7Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.

8By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life.

9I say to God my Rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?”

10My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, “Where is your God?” 11Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.