4
1 “For behold, the day comes, burning like a furnace, when all the proud and all who work wickedness will be stubble. The day that comes will burn them up,” says the LORD of Hosts, “so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But to you who fear my name shall the sun of righteousness arise with healing in its wings. You will go out and leap like calves of the stall. 3 You shall tread down the wicked; for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I make,” says the LORD of Hosts.
4 “Remember the Torah of Moses my servant, which I commanded to him in Horeb for all Israel, even statutes and ordinances.
5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes. 6 He will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”
† 1:1 When rendered in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, “LORD” or “GOD” is the translation of God’s Proper Name.
‡ 1:9 The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “אֱלֹהִ֑ים” (Elohim).
§ 1:13 “Behold”, from “הִנֵּה”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.
† 1:14 The word translated “Lord” (mixed case) is “Adonai.”
† 2:3 or, seed
Psalms
The Psalms BOOK 1
Psalm 1
1 Blessed is the man who doesn’t walk in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stand on the path of sinners,
nor sit in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the LORD’s† law.
On his Torah he meditates day and night.
3 He will be like a tree planted by the streams of water,
that produces its fruit in its season,
whose leaf also does not wither.
Whatever he does shall prosper.
4 The wicked are not so,
but are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the wicked shall not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6 For the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked shall perish.
Psalm 2
1 Why do the nations rage,
and the peoples plot a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth take a stand,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the LORD, and against his Anointed,† saying,
3 “Let’s break their bonds apart,
and cast their cords from us.”
4 He who sits in the heavens will laugh.
The Lord‡ will have them in derision.
5 Then he will speak to them in his anger,
and terrify them in his wrath:
6 “Yet I have set my King on my holy hill of Zion.”
7 I will tell of the decree:
The LORD said to me, “You are my son.
Today I have become your father.
8 Ask of me, and I will give the nations for your inheritance,
the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession.
9 You shall break them with a rod of iron.
You shall dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”
10 Now therefore be wise, you kings.
Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
11 Serve the LORD with fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
12 Give sincere homage to the Son,§ lest he be angry, and you perish on the way,
for his wrath will soon be kindled.
Blessed are all those who take refuge in him.
Psalm 3
A Psalm by David, when he fled from Absalom his son.
1 LORD, how my adversaries have increased!
Many are those who rise up against me.
2 Many there are who say of my soul,
“There is no help for him in God.”†
Selah.
3 But you, LORD, are a shield around me,
my glory, and the one who lifts up my head.
4 I cry to the LORD with my voice,
and he answers me out of his holy hill.
Selah.
5 I laid myself down and slept.
I awakened, for the LORD sustains me.
6 I will not be afraid of tens of thousands of people
who have set themselves against me on every side.
7 Arise, LORD!
Save me, my God!
For you have struck all of my enemies on the cheek bone.
You have broken the teeth of the wicked.
8 Salvation belongs to the LORD.
May your blessing be on your people.
Selah.
Psalm 4
For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. A Psalm by David.
1 Answer me when I call, God of my righteousness.
Give me relief from my distress.
Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.
2 You sons of men, how long shall my glory be turned into dishonor?
Will you love vanity and seek after falsehood?
Selah.
3 But know that the LORD has set apart for himself him who is godly;
The LORD will hear when I call to him.
4 Stand in awe, and don’t sin.
Search your own heart on your bed, and be still.
Selah.
5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness.
Put your trust in the LORD.
6 Many say, “Who will show us any good?”
LORD, let the light of your face shine on us.
7 You have put gladness in my heart,
more than when their grain and their new wine are increased.
8 In peace I will both lay myself down and sleep,
for you alone, LORD, make me live in safety.
Psalm 5
For the Chief Musician, with the flutes. A Psalm by David.
1 Give ear to my words, LORD.
Consider my meditation.
2 Listen to the voice of my cry, my King and my God,
for I pray to you.
3 LORD, in the morning you will hear my voice.
In the morning I will lay my requests before you, and will watch expectantly.
4 For you are not a God who has pleasure in wickedness.
Evil can’t live with you.
5 The arrogant will not stand in your sight.
You hate all workers of iniquity.
6 You will destroy those who speak lies.
The LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.
7 But as for me, in the abundance of your loving kindness I will come into your house.
I will bow toward your holy temple in reverence of you.
8 Lead me, LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies.
Make your way straight before my face.
9 For there is no faithfulness in their mouth.
Their heart is destruction.
Their throat is an open tomb.
They flatter with their tongue.
10 Hold them guilty, God.
Let them fall by their own counsels.
Thrust them out in the multitude of their transgressions,
for they have rebelled against you.
11 But let all those who take refuge in you rejoice.
Let them always shout for joy, because you defend them.
Let them also who love your name be joyful in you.
12 For you will bless the righteous.
LORD, you will surround him with favor as with a shield.
Psalm 6
For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments, upon the eight-stringed lyre. A Psalm by David.
1 LORD, don’t rebuke me in your anger,
neither discipline me in your wrath.
2 Have mercy on me, LORD, for I am faint.
LORD, heal me, for my bones are troubled.
3 My soul is also in great anguish.
But you, LORD—how long?
4 Return, LORD. Deliver my soul,
and save me for your loving kindness’ sake.
5 For in death there is no memory of you.
In Sheol,† who shall give you thanks?
6 I am weary with my groaning.
Every night I flood my bed.
I drench my couch with my tears.
7 My eye wastes away because of grief.
It grows old because of all my adversaries.
8 Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity,
for the LORD has heard the voice of my weeping.
9 The LORD has heard my supplication.
The LORD accepts my prayer.
10 May all my enemies be ashamed and dismayed.
They shall turn back, they shall be disgraced suddenly.
Psalm 7
A meditation by David, which he sang to the LORD, concerning the words of Cush, the Benjamite.
1 LORD, my God, I take refuge in you.
Save me from all those who pursue me, and deliver me,
2 lest they tear apart my soul like a lion,
ripping it in pieces, while there is no one to deliver.
3 LORD, my God, if I have done this,
if there is iniquity in my hands,
4 if I have rewarded evil to him who was at peace with me
(yes, I have plundered him who without cause was my adversary),
5 let the enemy pursue my soul, and overtake it;
yes, let him tread my life down to the earth,
and lay my glory in the dust.
Selah.
6 Arise, LORD, in your anger.
Lift up yourself against the rage of my adversaries.
Awake for me. You have commanded judgment.
7 Let the congregation of the peoples surround you.
Rule over them on high.
8 The LORD administers judgment to the peoples.
Judge me, LORD, according to my righteousness,
and to my integrity that is in me.
9 Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end,
but establish the righteous;
their minds and hearts are searched by the righteous God.
10 My shield is with God,
who saves the upright in heart.
11 God is a righteous judge,
yes, a God who has indignation every day.
12 If a man doesn’t repent, he will sharpen his sword;
he has bent and strung his bow.
13 He has also prepared for himself the instruments of death.
He makes ready his flaming arrows.
14 Behold,† he travails with iniquity.
Yes, he has conceived mischief,
and brought out falsehood.
15 He has dug a hole,
and has fallen into the pit which he made.
16 The trouble he causes shall return to his own head.
His violence shall come down on the crown of his own head.
17 I will give thanks to the LORD according to his righteousness,
and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.
Psalm 8
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