Book Two (Psalms 42–72)

Psalm 42

Longing for God in Sadness

For the choir director: A psalm*42: title Hebrew maskil. This may be a literary or musical term. of the descendants of Korah.

1As the deer longs for streams of water,

so I long for you, O God.

2I thirst for God, the living God.

When can I go and stand before him?

3Day and night I have only tears for food,

while my enemies continually taunt me, saying,

“Where is this God of yours?”

4My heart is breaking

as I remember how it used to be:

I walked among the crowds of worshipers,

leading a great procession to the house of God,

singing for joy and giving thanks

amid the sound of a great celebration!

5Why am I discouraged?

Why is my heart so sad?

I will put my hope in God!

I will praise him again—

my Savior and 6my God!

Now I am deeply discouraged,

but I will remember you—

even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan,

from the land of Mount Mizar.

7I hear the tumult of the raging seas

as your waves and surging tides sweep over me.

8But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me,

and through each night I sing his songs,

praying to God who gives me life.

9“O God my rock,” I cry,

“why have you forgotten me?

Why must I wander around in grief,

oppressed by my enemies?”

10Their taunts break my bones.

They scoff, “Where is this God of yours?”

11Why am I discouraged?

Why is my heart so sad?

I will put my hope in God!

I will praise him again—

my Savior and my God!

Psalm 43

A Prayer for Guidance in Sadness

1Declare me innocent, O God!

Defend me against these ungodly people.

Rescue me from these unjust liars.

2For you are God, my only safe haven.

Why have you tossed me aside?

Why must I wander around in grief,

oppressed by my enemies?

3Send out your light and your truth;

let them guide me.

Let them lead me to your holy mountain,

to the place where you live.

4There I will go to the altar of God,

to God—the source of all my joy.

I will praise you with my harp,

O God, my God!

5Why am I discouraged?

Why is my heart so sad?

I will put my hope in God!

I will praise him again—

my Savior and my God!

Psalm 44

A Lament over Defeat in Battle

For the choir director: A psalm*44: title Hebrew maskil. This may be a literary or musical term. of the descendants of Korah.

1O God, we have heard it with our own ears—

our ancestors have told us

of all you did in their day,

in days long ago:

2You drove out the pagan nations by your power

and gave all the land to our ancestors.

You crushed their enemies

and set our ancestors free.

3They did not conquer the land with their swords;

it was not their own strong arm that gave them victory.

It was your right hand and strong arm

and the blinding light from your face that helped them,

for you loved them.

4You are my King and my God.

You command victories for Israel.*44:4 Hebrew for Jacob. The names “Jacob” and “Israel” are often interchanged throughout the Old Testament, referring sometimes to the individual patriarch and sometimes to the nation.

5Only by your power can we push back our enemies;

only in your name can we trample our foes.

6I do not trust in my bow;

I do not count on my sword to save me.

7You are the one who gives us victory over our enemies;

you disgrace those who hate us.

8O God, we give glory to you all day long

and constantly praise your name.

Interlude

9But now you have tossed us aside in dishonor.

You no longer lead our armies to battle.

10You make us retreat from our enemies

and allow those who hate us to plunder our land.

11You have butchered us like sheep

and scattered us among the nations.

12You sold your precious people for a pittance,

making nothing on the sale.

13You let our neighbors mock us.

We are an object of scorn and derision to those around us.

14You have made us the butt of their jokes;

they shake their heads at us in scorn.

15We can’t escape the constant humiliation;

shame is written across our faces.

16All we hear are the taunts of our mockers.

All we see are our vengeful enemies.

17All this has happened though we have not forgotten you.

We have not violated your covenant.

18Our hearts have not deserted you.

We have not strayed from your path.

19Yet you have crushed us in the jackal’s desert home.

You have covered us with darkness and death.

20If we had forgotten the name of our God

or spread our hands in prayer to foreign gods,

21God would surely have known it,

for he knows the secrets of every heart.

22But for your sake we are killed every day;

we are being slaughtered like sheep.

23Wake up, O Lord! Why do you sleep?

Get up! Do not reject us forever.

24Why do you look the other way?

Why do you ignore our suffering and oppression?

25We collapse in the dust,

lying face down in the dirt.

26Rise up! Help us!

Ransom us because of your unfailing love.

Psalm 45

A Wedding Song for the King

For the choir director: A love song to be sung to the tune “Lilies.” A psalm*45: title Hebrew maskil. This may be a literary or musical term. of the descendants of Korah.

1Beautiful words stir my heart.

I will recite a lovely poem about the king,

for my tongue is like the pen of a skillful poet.

2You are the most handsome of all.

Gracious words stream from your lips.

God himself has blessed you forever.

3Put on your sword, O mighty warrior!

You are so glorious, so majestic!

4In your majesty, ride out to victory,

defending truth, humility, and justice.

Go forth to perform awe-inspiring deeds!

5Your arrows are sharp, piercing your enemies’ hearts.

The nations fall beneath your feet.

6Your throne, O God,*45:6 Or Your divine throne. endures forever and ever.

You rule with a scepter of justice.

7You love justice and hate evil.

Therefore God, your God, has anointed you,

pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.

8Myrrh, aloes, and cassia perfume your robes.

In ivory palaces the music of strings entertains you.

9Kings’ daughters are among your noble women.

At your right side stands the queen,

wearing jewelry of finest gold from Ophir!

10Listen to me, O royal daughter; take to heart what I say.

Forget your people and your family far away.

11For your royal husband delights in your beauty;

honor him, for he is your lord.

12The princess of Tyre*45:12 Hebrew The daughter of Tyre. will shower you with gifts.

The wealthy will beg your favor.

13The bride, a princess, looks glorious

in her golden gown.

14In her beautiful robes, she is led to the king,

accompanied by her bridesmaids.

15What a joyful and enthusiastic procession

as they enter the king’s palace!

16Your sons will become kings like their father.

You will make them rulers over many lands.

17I will bring honor to your name in every generation.

Therefore, the nations will praise you forever and ever.

Psalm 46

God Is Our Refuge and Strength

For the choir director: A song of the descendants of Korah, to be sung by soprano voices.*46: title Hebrew according to alamoth.

1God is our refuge and strength,

always ready to help in times of trouble.

2So we will not fear when earthquakes come

and the mountains crumble into the sea.

3Let the oceans roar and foam.

Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!

Interlude

4A river brings joy to the city of our God,

the sacred home of the Most High.

5God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed.

From the very break of day, God will protect it.

6The nations are in chaos,

and their kingdoms crumble!

God’s voice thunders,

and the earth melts!

7The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;

the God of Israel*46:7 Hebrew of Jacob; also in 46:11. See note on 44:4. is our fortress.

Interlude

8Come, see the glorious works of the Lord:

See how he brings destruction upon the world.

9He causes wars to end throughout the earth.

He breaks the bow and snaps the spear;

he burns the shields with fire.

10“Be still, and know that I am God!

I will be honored by every nation.

I will be honored throughout the world.”

11The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;

the God of Israel is our fortress.

Interlude

Psalm 47

God Is King over All the Earth

For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah.

1Come, everyone! Clap your hands!

Shout to God with joyful praise!

2For the Lord Most High is awesome.

He is the great King of all the earth.

3He subdues the nations before us,

putting our enemies beneath our feet.

4He chose the Promised Land as our inheritance,

the proud possession of Jacob’s descendants, whom he loves.

Interlude

5God has ascended with a mighty shout.

The Lord has ascended with trumpets blaring.

6Sing praises to God, sing praises;

sing praises to our King, sing praises!

7For God is the King over all the earth.

Praise him with a psalm.*47:7 Hebrew maskil. This may be a literary or musical term.

8God reigns above the nations,

sitting on his holy throne.

9The rulers of the world have gathered together

with the people of the God of Abraham.

For all the kings of the earth belong to God.

He is highly honored everywhere.

Psalm 48

The Victory of Mount Zion

A song. A psalm of the descendants of Korah.

1How great is the Lord,

how deserving of praise,

in the city of our God,

which sits on his holy mountain!

2It is high and magnificent;

the whole earth rejoices to see it!

Mount Zion, the holy mountain,*48:2 Or Mount Zion, in the far north; Hebrew reads Mount Zion, the heights of Zaphon.

is the city of the great King!

3God himself is in Jerusalem’s towers,

revealing himself as its defender.

4The kings of the earth joined forces

and advanced against the city.

5But when they saw it, they were stunned;

they were terrified and ran away.

6They were gripped with terror

and writhed in pain like a woman in labor.

7You destroyed them like the mighty ships of Tarshish

shattered by a powerful east wind.

8We had heard of the city’s glory,

but now we have seen it ourselves—

the city of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

It is the city of our God;

he will make it safe forever.

Interlude

9O God, we meditate on your unfailing love

as we worship in your Temple.

10As your name deserves, O God,

you will be praised to the ends of the earth.

Your strong right hand is filled with victory.

11Let the people on Mount Zion rejoice.

Let all the towns of Judah be glad

because of your justice.

12Go, inspect the city of Jerusalem.*48:12 Hebrew Zion.

Walk around and count the many towers.

13Take note of the fortified walls,

and tour all the citadels,

that you may describe them

to future generations.

14For that is what God is like.

He is our God forever and ever,

and he will guide us until we die.

Psalm 49

God Will Redeem My Life from Death

For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah.

1Listen to this, all you people!

Pay attention, everyone in the world!

2High and low,

rich and poor—listen!

3For my words are wise,

and my thoughts are filled with insight.

4I listen carefully to many proverbs

and solve riddles with inspiration from a harp.

5Why should I fear when trouble comes,

when enemies surround me?

6They trust in their wealth

and boast of great riches.

7Yet they cannot redeem themselves from death*49:7 Some Hebrew manuscripts read no one can redeem the life of another.

by paying a ransom to God.

8Redemption does not come so easily,

for no one can ever pay enough

9to live forever

and never see the grave.

10Those who are wise must finally die,

just like the foolish and senseless,

leaving all their wealth behind.

11The grave*49:11 As in Greek and Syriac versions; Hebrew reads Their inward [thought]. is their eternal home,

where they will stay forever.

They may name their estates after themselves,

12but their fame will not last.

They will die, just like animals.

13This is the fate of fools,

though they are remembered as being wise.*49:13 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.

Interlude

14Like sheep, they are led to the grave,*49:14 Hebrew Sheol; also in 49:14b, 15.

where death will be their shepherd.

In the morning the godly will rule over them.

Their bodies will rot in the grave,

far from their grand estates.

15But as for me, God will redeem my life.

He will snatch me from the power of the grave.

Interlude

16So don’t be dismayed when the wicked grow rich

and their homes become ever more splendid.

17For when they die, they take nothing with them.

Their wealth will not follow them into the grave.

18In this life they consider themselves fortunate

and are applauded for their success.

19But they will die like all before them

and never again see the light of day.

20People who boast of their wealth don’t understand;

they will die, just like animals.