Psalm 96

Proclaim the Good News in All Nations

1Sing a new song to the Lord!

Let the whole earth sing to the Lord!

2Sing to the Lord; praise his name.

Each day proclaim the good news that he saves.

3Publish his glorious deeds among the nations.

Tell everyone about the amazing things he does.

4Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise!

He is to be feared above all gods.

5The gods of other nations are mere idols,

but the Lord made the heavens!

6Honor and majesty surround him;

strength and beauty fill his sanctuary.

7O nations of the world, recognize the Lord;

recognize that the Lord is glorious and strong.

8Give to the Lord the glory he deserves!

Bring your offering and come into his courts.

9Worship the Lord in all his holy splendor.

Let all the earth tremble before him.

10Tell all the nations, “The Lord reigns!”

The world stands firm and cannot be shaken.

He will judge all peoples fairly.

11Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice!

Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise!

12Let the fields and their crops burst out with joy!

Let the trees of the forest sing for joy

13before the Lord, for he is coming!

He is coming to judge the earth.

He will judge the world with justice,

and the nations with his truth.

Psalm 37*37 This psalm is a Hebrew acrostic poem; each stanza begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

Don’t Worry about the Wicked

A psalm of David.

1Don’t worry about the wicked

or envy those who do wrong.

2For like grass, they soon fade away.

Like spring flowers, they soon wither.

3Trust in the Lord and do good.

Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.

4Take delight in the Lord,

and he will give you your heart’s desires.

5Commit everything you do to the Lord.

Trust him, and he will help you.

6He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn,

and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.

7Be still in the presence of the Lord,

and wait patiently for him to act.

Don’t worry about evil people who prosper

or fret about their wicked schemes.

8Stop being angry!

Turn from your rage!

Do not lose your temper—

it only leads to harm.

9For the wicked will be destroyed,

but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land.

10Soon the wicked will disappear.

Though you look for them, they will be gone.

11The lowly will possess the land

and will live in peace and prosperity.

12The wicked plot against the godly;

they snarl at them in defiance.

13But the Lord just laughs,

for he sees their day of judgment coming.

14The wicked draw their swords

and string their bows

to kill the poor and the oppressed,

to slaughter those who do right.

15But their swords will stab their own hearts,

and their bows will be broken.

16It is better to be godly and have little

than to be evil and rich.

17For the strength of the wicked will be shattered,

but the Lord takes care of the godly.

18Day by day the Lord takes care of the innocent,

and they will receive an inheritance that lasts forever.

19They will not be disgraced in hard times;

even in famine they will have more than enough.

20But the wicked will die.

The Lord’s enemies are like flowers in a field—

they will disappear like smoke.

21The wicked borrow and never repay,

but the godly are generous givers.

22Those the Lord blesses will possess the land,

but those he curses will die.

23The Lord directs the steps of the godly.

He delights in every detail of their lives.

24Though they stumble, they will never fall,

for the Lord holds them by the hand.

25Once I was young, and now I am old.

Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned

or their children begging for bread.

26The godly always give generous loans to others,

and their children are a blessing.

27Turn from evil and do good,

and you will live in the land forever.

28For the Lord loves justice,

and he will never abandon the godly.

He will keep them safe forever,

but the children of the wicked will die.

29The godly will possess the land

and will live there forever.

30The godly offer good counsel;

they teach right from wrong.

31They have made God’s law their own,

so they will never slip from his path.

32The wicked wait in ambush for the godly,

looking for an excuse to kill them.

33But the Lord will not let the wicked succeed

or let the godly be condemned when they are put on trial.

34Put your hope in the Lord.

Travel steadily along his path.

He will honor you by giving you the land.

You will see the wicked destroyed.

35I have seen wicked and ruthless people

flourishing like a tree in its native soil.

36But when I looked again, they were gone!

Though I searched for them, I could not find them!

37Look at those who are honest and good,

for a wonderful future awaits those who love peace.

38But the rebellious will be destroyed;

they have no future.

39The Lord rescues the godly;

he is their fortress in times of trouble.

40The Lord helps them,

rescuing them from the wicked.

He saves them,

and they find shelter in him.

Book Three (Psalms 73–89)

Psalm 73

The Foolishness of Envying the Proud

A psalm of Asaph.

1Truly God is good to Israel,

to those whose hearts are pure.

2But as for me, I almost lost my footing.

My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone.

3For I envied the proud

when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness.

4They seem to live such painless lives;

their bodies are so healthy and strong.

5They don’t have troubles like other people;

they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else.

6They wear pride like a jeweled necklace

and clothe themselves with cruelty.

7These fat cats have everything

their hearts could ever wish for!

8They scoff and speak only evil;

in their pride they seek to crush others.

9They boast against the very heavens,

and their words strut throughout the earth.

10And so the people are dismayed and confused,

drinking in all their words.

11“What does God know?” they ask.

“Does the Most High even know what’s happening?”

12Look at these wicked people—

enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply.

13Did I keep my heart pure for nothing?

Did I keep myself innocent for no reason?

14I get nothing but trouble all day long;

every morning brings me pain.

15If I had really spoken this way to others,

I would have been a traitor to your people.

16So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper.

But what a difficult task it is!

17Then I went into your sanctuary, O God,

and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked.

18Truly, you put them on a slippery path

and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction.

19In an instant they are destroyed,

completely swept away by terrors.

20When you arise, O Lord,

you will laugh at their silly ideas

as a person laughs at dreams in the morning.

21Then I realized that my heart was bitter,

and I was all torn up inside.

22I was so foolish and ignorant—

I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you.

23Yet I still belong to you;

you hold my right hand.

24You guide me with your counsel,

leading me to a glorious destiny.

25Whom have I in heaven but you?

I desire you more than anything on earth.

26My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,

but God remains the strength of my heart;

he is mine forever.

27Those who desert him will perish,

for you destroy those who abandon you.

28But as for me, how good it is to be near God!

I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter,

and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.

Daleth

25I lie in the dust;

revive me by your word.

26I told you my plans, and you answered.

Now teach me your decrees.

27Help me understand the meaning of your commandments,

and I will meditate on your wonderful deeds.

28I weep with sorrow;

encourage me by your word.

29Keep me from lying to myself;

give me the privilege of knowing your instructions.

30I have chosen to be faithful;

I have determined to live by your regulations.

31I cling to your laws.

Lord, don’t let me be put to shame!

32I will pursue your commands,

for you expand my understanding.

Psalm 40

The Joys of Those Who Trust the Lord

For the choir director: A psalm of David.

1I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,

and he turned to me and heard my cry.

2He lifted me out of the pit of despair,

out of the mud and the mire.

He set my feet on solid ground

and steadied me as I walked along.

3He has given me a new song to sing,

a hymn of praise to our God.

Many will see what he has done and be amazed.

They will put their trust in the Lord.

4Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord,

who have no confidence in the proud

or in those who worship idols.

5O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us.

Your plans for us are too numerous to list.

You have no equal.

If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds,

I would never come to the end of them.

6You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings.

Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand*40:6 Greek version reads You have given me a body. Compare Heb 10:5.—

you don’t require burnt offerings or sin offerings.

7Then I said, “Look, I have come.

As is written about me in the Scriptures:

8I take joy in doing your will, my God,

for your instructions are written on my heart.”

9I have told all your people about your justice.

I have not been afraid to speak out,

as you, O Lord, well know.

10I have not kept the good news of your justice hidden in my heart;

I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power.

I have told everyone in the great assembly

of your unfailing love and faithfulness.

11Lord, don’t hold back your tender mercies from me.

Let your unfailing love and faithfulness always protect me.

12For troubles surround me—

too many to count!

My sins pile up so high

I can’t see my way out.

They outnumber the hairs on my head.

I have lost all courage.

13Please, Lord, rescue me!

Come quickly, Lord, and help me.

14May those who try to destroy me

be humiliated and put to shame.

May those who take delight in my trouble

be turned back in disgrace.

15Let them be horrified by their shame,

for they said, “Aha! We’ve got him now!”

16But may all who search for you

be filled with joy and gladness in you.

May those who love your salvation

repeatedly shout, “The Lord is great!”

17As for me, since I am poor and needy,

let the Lord keep me in his thoughts.

You are my helper and my savior.

O my God, do not delay.

Psalm 50

The Lord Summons the People for Judgment

A psalm of Asaph.

1The Lord, the Mighty One, is God,

and he has spoken;

he has summoned all humanity

from where the sun rises to where it sets.

2From Mount Zion, the perfection of beauty,

God shines in glorious radiance.

3Our God approaches,

and he is not silent.

Fire devours everything in his way,

and a great storm rages around him.

4He calls on the heavens above and earth below

to witness the judgment of his people.

5“Bring my faithful people to me—

those who made a covenant with me by giving sacrifices.”

6Then let the heavens proclaim his justice,

for God himself will be the judge.

Interlude

7“O my people, listen as I speak.

Here are my charges against you, O Israel:

I am God, your God!

8I have no complaint about your sacrifices

or the burnt offerings you constantly offer.

9But I do not need the bulls from your barns

or the goats from your pens.

10For all the animals of the forest are mine,

and I own the cattle on a thousand hills.

11I know every bird on the mountains,

and all the animals of the field are mine.

12If I were hungry, I would not tell you,

for all the world is mine and everything in it.

13Do I eat the meat of bulls?

Do I drink the blood of goats?

14Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God,

and keep the vows you made to the Most High.

15Then call on me when you are in trouble,

and I will rescue you,

and you will give me glory.”

16But God says to the wicked:

“Why bother reciting my decrees

and pretending to obey my covenant?

17For you refuse my discipline

and treat my words like trash.

18When you see thieves, you approve of them,

and you spend your time with adulterers.

19Your mouth is filled with wickedness,

and your tongue is full of lies.

20You sit around and slander your brother—

your own mother’s son.

21While you did all this, I remained silent,

and you thought I didn’t care.

But now I will rebuke you,

listing all my charges against you.

22Repent, all of you who forget me,

or I will tear you apart,

and no one will help you.

23But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me.

If you keep to my path,

I will reveal to you the salvation of God.”

Psalm 71

A Prayer of Lifelong Trust

1O Lord, I have come to you for protection;

don’t let me be disgraced.

2Save me and rescue me,

for you do what is right.

Turn your ear to listen to me,

and set me free.

3Be my rock of safety

where I can always hide.

Give the order to save me,

for you are my rock and my fortress.

4My God, rescue me from the power of the wicked,

from the clutches of cruel oppressors.

5O Lord, you alone are my hope.

I’ve trusted you, O Lord, from childhood.

6Yes, you have been with me from birth;

from my mother’s womb you have cared for me.

No wonder I am always praising you!

7My life is an example to many,

because you have been my strength and protection.

8That is why I can never stop praising you;

I declare your glory all day long.

9And now, in my old age, don’t set me aside.

Don’t abandon me when my strength is failing.

10For my enemies are whispering against me.

They are plotting together to kill me.

11They say, “God has abandoned him.

Let’s go and get him,

for no one will help him now.”

12O God, don’t stay away.

My God, please hurry to help me.

13Bring disgrace and destruction on my accusers.

Humiliate and shame those who want to harm me.

14But I will keep on hoping for your help;

I will praise you more and more.

15I will tell everyone about your righteousness.

All day long I will proclaim your saving power,

though I am not skilled with words.*71:15 Or though I cannot count it.

16I will praise your mighty deeds, O Sovereign Lord.

I will tell everyone that you alone are just.

17O God, you have taught me from my earliest childhood,

and I constantly tell others about the wonderful things you do.

18Now that I am old and gray,

do not abandon me, O God.

Let me proclaim your power to this new generation,

your mighty miracles to all who come after me.

19Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the highest heavens.

You have done such wonderful things.

Who can compare with you, O God?

20You have allowed me to suffer much hardship,

but you will restore me to life again

and lift me up from the depths of the earth.

21You will restore me to even greater honor

and comfort me once again.

22Then I will praise you with music on the harp,

because you are faithful to your promises, O my God.

I will sing praises to you with a lyre,

O Holy One of Israel.

23I will shout for joy and sing your praises,

for you have ransomed me.

24I will tell about your righteous deeds

all day long,

for everyone who tried to hurt me

has been shamed and humiliated.

He

33Teach me your decrees, O Lord;

I will keep them to the end.

34Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions;

I will put them into practice with all my heart.

35Make me walk along the path of your commands,

for that is where my happiness is found.

36Give me an eagerness for your laws

rather than a love for money!

37Turn my eyes from worthless things,

and give me life through your word.*119:37 Some manuscripts read in your ways.

38Reassure me of your promise,

made to those who fear you.

39Help me abandon my shameful ways;

for your regulations are good.

40I long to obey your commandments!

Renew my life with your goodness.