Psalm 100

Shout with Joy to the Lord

A psalm of thanksgiving.

1Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!

2Worship the Lord with gladness.

Come before him, singing with joy.

3Acknowledge that the Lord is God!

He made us, and we are his.*100:3 As in an alternate reading in the Masoretic Text; the other alternate and some ancient versions read and not we ourselves.

We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

4Enter his gates with thanksgiving;

go into his courts with praise.

Give thanks to him and praise his name.

5For the Lord is good.

His unfailing love continues forever,

and his faithfulness continues to each generation.

Psalm 51

A Plea for Cleansing from Sin

For the choir director: A psalm of David, regarding the time Nathan the prophet came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.

1Have mercy on me, O God,

because of your unfailing love.

Because of your great compassion,

blot out the stain of my sins.

2Wash me clean from my guilt.

Purify me from my sin.

3For I recognize my rebellion;

it haunts me day and night.

4Against you, and you alone, have I sinned;

I have done what is evil in your sight.

You will be proved right in what you say,

and your judgment against me is just.*51:4 Greek version reads and you will win your case in court. Compare Rom 3:4.

5For I was born a sinner—

yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.

6But you desire honesty from the womb,*51:6 Or from the heart; Hebrew reads in the inward parts.

teaching me wisdom even there.

7Purify me from my sins,*51:7 Hebrew Purify me with the hyssop branch. and I will be clean;

wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

8Oh, give me back my joy again;

you have broken me—

now let me rejoice.

9Don’t keep looking at my sins.

Remove the stain of my guilt.

10Create in me a clean heart, O God.

Renew a loyal spirit within me.

11Do not banish me from your presence,

and don’t take your Holy Spirit*51:11 Or your spirit of holiness. from me.

12Restore to me the joy of your salvation,

and make me willing to obey you.

13Then I will teach your ways to rebels,

and they will return to you.

14Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves;

then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness.

15Unseal my lips, O Lord,

that my mouth may praise you.

16You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one.

You do not want a burnt offering.

17The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit.

You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.

18Look with favor on Zion and help her;

rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

19Then you will be pleased with sacrifices offered in the right spirit—

with burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings.

Then bulls will again be sacrificed on your altar.

Psalm 143

A Prayer for Guidance in Distress

A psalm of David.

1Hear my prayer, O Lord;

listen to my plea!

Answer me because you are faithful and righteous.

2Don’t put your servant on trial,

for no one is innocent before you.

3My enemy has chased me.

He has knocked me to the ground

and forces me to live in darkness like those in the grave.

4I am losing all hope;

I am paralyzed with fear.

5I remember the days of old.

I ponder all your great works

and think about what you have done.

6I lift my hands to you in prayer.

I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain.

Interlude

7Come quickly, Lord, and answer me,

for my depression deepens.

Don’t turn away from me,

or I will die.

8Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning,

for I am trusting you.

Show me where to walk,

for I give myself to you.

9Rescue me from my enemies, Lord;

I run to you to hide me.

10Teach me to do your will,

for you are my God.

May your gracious Spirit lead me forward

on a firm footing.

11For the glory of your name, O Lord, preserve my life.

Because of your faithfulness, bring me out of this distress.

12In your unfailing love, silence all my enemies

and destroy all my foes,

for I am your servant.

Psalm 148

Praise from All Creation

1Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord from the heavens!

Praise him from the skies!

2Praise him, all his angels!

Praise him, all the armies of heaven!

3Praise him, sun and moon!

Praise him, all you twinkling stars!

4Praise him, skies above!

Praise him, vapors high above the clouds!

5Let every created thing give praise to the Lord,

for he issued his command, and they came into being.

6He set them in place forever and ever.

His decree will never be revoked.

7Praise the Lord from the earth,

you creatures of the ocean depths,

8fire and hail, snow and clouds,*148:8 Or mist, or smoke.

wind and weather that obey him,

9mountains and all hills,

fruit trees and all cedars,

10wild animals and all livestock,

small scurrying animals and birds,

11kings of the earth and all people,

rulers and judges of the earth,

12young men and young women,

old men and children.

13Let them all praise the name of the Lord.

For his name is very great;

his glory towers over the earth and heaven!

14He has made his people strong,

honoring his faithful ones—

the people of Israel who are close to him.

Praise the Lord!