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 64

A Lament over Violent Words

For the choir director: A psalm of David.

1O God, listen to my complaint.

Protect my life from my enemies’ threats.

2Hide me from the plots of this evil mob,

from this gang of wrongdoers.

3They sharpen their tongues like swords

and aim their bitter words like arrows.

4They shoot from ambush at the innocent,

attacking suddenly and fearlessly.

5They encourage each other to do evil

and plan how to set their traps in secret.

“Who will ever notice?” they ask.

6As they plot their crimes, they say,

“We have devised the perfect plan!”

Yes, the human heart and mind are cunning.

7But God himself will shoot them with his arrows,

suddenly striking them down.

8Their own tongues will ruin them,

and all who see them will shake their heads in scorn.

9Then everyone will be afraid;

they will proclaim the mighty acts of God

and realize all the amazing things he does.

10The godly will rejoice in the Lord

and find shelter in him.

And those who do what is right

will praise him.

Psalm 65

Praise for God’s Care of the Earth

For the choir director: A song. A psalm of David.

1What mighty praise, O God,

belongs to you in Zion.

We will fulfill our vows to you,

2for you answer our prayers.

All of us must come to you.

3Though we are overwhelmed by our sins,

you forgive them all.

4What joy for those you choose to bring near,

those who live in your holy courts.

What festivities await us

inside your holy Temple.

5You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds,

O God our savior.

You are the hope of everyone on earth,

even those who sail on distant seas.

6You formed the mountains by your power

and armed yourself with mighty strength.

7You quieted the raging oceans

with their pounding waves

and silenced the shouting of the nations.

8Those who live at the ends of the earth

stand in awe of your wonders.

From where the sun rises to where it sets,

you inspire shouts of joy.

9You take care of the earth and water it,

making it rich and fertile.

The river of God has plenty of water;

it provides a bountiful harvest of grain,

for you have ordered it so.

10You drench the plowed ground with rain,

melting the clods and leveling the ridges.

You soften the earth with showers

and bless its abundant crops.

11You crown the year with a bountiful harvest;

even the hard pathways overflow with abundance.

12The grasslands of the wilderness become a lush pasture,

and the hillsides blossom with joy.

13The meadows are clothed with flocks of sheep,

and the valleys are carpeted with grain.

They all shout and sing for joy!

Psalm 147

The Lord Rebuilds Jerusalem

1Praise the Lord!

How good to sing praises to our God!

How delightful and how fitting!

2The Lord is rebuilding Jerusalem

and bringing the exiles back to Israel.

3He heals the brokenhearted

and bandages their wounds.

4He counts the stars

and calls them all by name.

5How great is our Lord! His power is absolute!

His understanding is beyond comprehension!

6The Lord supports the humble,

but he brings the wicked down into the dust.

7Sing out your thanks to the Lord;

sing praises to our God with a harp.

8He covers the heavens with clouds,

provides rain for the earth,

and makes the grass grow in mountain pastures.

9He gives food to the wild animals

and feeds the young ravens when they cry.

10He takes no pleasure in the strength of a horse

or in human might.

11No, the Lord’s delight is in those who fear him,

those who put their hope in his unfailing love.

12Glorify the Lord, O Jerusalem!

Praise your God, O Zion!

13For he has strengthened the bars of your gates

and blessed your children within your walls.

14He sends peace across your nation

and satisfies your hunger with the finest wheat.

15He sends his orders to the world—

how swiftly his word flies!

16He sends the snow like white wool;

he scatters frost upon the ground like ashes.

17He hurls the hail like stones.*147:17 Hebrew like bread crumbs.

Who can stand against his freezing cold?

18Then, at his command, it all melts.

He sends his winds, and the ice thaws.

19He has revealed his words to Jacob,

his decrees and regulations to Israel.

20He has not done this for any other nation;

they do not know his regulations.

Praise the Lord!