Psalms. Book Two. James B. Jordan. Theopolis Bible Translations TRANSLATION BY

Transcription

1 Theopolis Bible Translations 2 Psalms Book Two TRANSLATION BY James B. Jordan MISSION Theopolis Institute teaches men and women to lead cultural renewal by renewing the church. Participants in its various programs its courses, conferences, and publications will gain competence to read the Bible imaginatively, worship God faithfully, and engage the culture intelligently. CONTACT a P.O. Box 36476, Birmingham, AL a theopolisinstitue.com e info@theopolisinstitue.com

2 Introduction The translation here presented is a work in progress. We hope to get feedback from those who use this material. In this Introduction, we set forth how we are doing this and why. The Structure of the Psalter To begin with, the structure of the Psalter. The book of Psalms as we have it today is not the psalter used at Solomon's Temple, but the completed and reorganized psalter for the Second Temple, the Temple after the exile. This is clear from Psalm 137, which was written at the exile. It is also clear in that psalms by David are found scattered throughout the whole psalter. The psalter used in Solomon's Temple may well have been arranged quite differently, but while that psalter was inspired and authoritative for that time, what we have today is a rearranged and completed psalter, equally inspired and authoritative, as well as final. We don't know whom God inspired to produce the final psalter. We can guess at Ezra, since he was a priest, and much involved with setting up the Second Temple order right after the return from Babylon. The psalter now consists of five books, each of which ends with a doxology. I: 1-41 (41:13) II: (72:18-19) III: (89:52) IV: (106:48) V: (105:6) It is likely that the doxology for a given book was sung at the end of all the psalms in that book, as the Gloria Patri is sung at the end of psalms in liturgical churches today. In our translation we have made that assumption and included the relevant doxology at the end of each psalm. Book V seems to have no brief doxology, so we anticipate using the Gloria Patri there. Our Protestant English Bibles have 150 psalms in them, but there are in fact only 146 "whole psalms" in the psalter:

3 Psalms 9-10 are one psalm, an alphabetic acrostic moving through the Hebrew alphabet from the beginning of Ps. 9 to the end of Ps. 10. clear. Psalms are clearly one psalm in three stanzas, as the refrain makes Psalms are one psalm, for there is no title in Psalm 33, and they are linked in that Ps. 32 says God will instruct, and then Ps. 33 provides the instruction in 22 lines -- the number of letters in the Hebrew alphabet. Psalms are one psalm: Ps. 70 is virtually identical to Ps. 40:13-17, and this duplication makes sense only if it is the first part of Ps. 71, which again has no title. Our Protestant arrangement follows the Hebrew text. Catholic and Orthodox Bibles follow the order of the Greek translation of the Hebrew text called the Septuagint, which combines and breaks up the psalms differently, resulting in different numbers for many of them. Comparing the Hebrew and the Septuagint shows us that in actual Temple practice, sometimes only part of a psalm might be sung. From the Bible we can also see that psalms were sometimes combined and rearranged, something we see in the composite psalms in 2 Samuel 22 and 1 Chronicles 16. Looking at the 146 whole psalms, we find that the books of the psalter are significantly structured in their numerical totals: I: (Hebrew alphabet) II: (3 x 4) III: 17 IV: 17 V: (3 x 3 x 3) or V: (two x alphabet) Seventeen is the sum of the two numbers of fullness, 7 and 10, and in I, II, and V another number related to fullness completes the count. If we look at the order of the psalms, the same significant numbers turn up in Book V: Ps Ps sections (alphabet) Ps Ps (2 x 7) 17 (15 of ascent to Temple, and then two Temple praise)

4 All of this makes it clear that the final psalter has been very carefully structured, under divine inspiration. Of the 146 whole psalms, the central two are 77 and 78. Psalm 77 ends with Moses and Aaron, and Ps. 78 ends with David. Each recounts history, first the history leading to the priestly covenant, and then the history leading to the kingly covenant. Both psalms focus on the exodus from Egypt, from an old world to a new. Psalm 77 ends in the wilderness. Psalm 78 ends at Mt. Zion, with David. That this is the core of the psalter provides us a perspective on how the psalter begins. Psalm 1 is about priestly obedience, and Psalm 2 is about kingly reign. While these are two different psalms, they are designed to be read together on occasion, so that the righteous obedient man of Psalm 1 is, or becomes, the anointed king of Psalm 2. Book 1 of the Psalter consists of psalms, while Book 5 consists of There are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet and this is significant for Biblical theology and poetry. The second Person of God is the Word of God and also the Alphabet of God. As He says in Revelation, "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end" (see Rev. 1:8; 21:6; 22:13). These are the first and last letters in the Greek alphabet. In Hebrew, they are 'aleph and tav. In the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies was the Word of God made stone. Corresponding to this Ark-chest was a box on the chest of the High Priest, the pouch of the Ephod. Inside the pouch were stones called 'Urim and Thummim, two words that begin respectively with 'aleph and tav. These two letters summarize the alphabet, which in turn is a symbol of the whole word of God from beginning to end. Israel would consult God's Word either through the written Bible, or through the casting of the lots 'Urim and Thummim. The Psalter begins with Psalm 1. Psalm 1 begins with the word "Blessed" ('asher) and ends with the word "perish" (to'bher). The first word begins with 'aleph, and the last word begins with tav. Spun out from this are several alphabetic-acrostic psalms. Psalms 25, 34, and 145 begin each line with a successive letter of the alphabet, for a total of 22 lines. (So does Proverbs 31:10-31.) Psalm 9-10 is also an alphabetic-acrostic, though a few letters are missing. Psalm 37 and Lamentations 4 assigns two lines to each successive letter. In Lamentations 1 and 2, three lines are given to each letter. In Lamentations 3, three successive lines are given to each letter, and in Psalm 119 we find eight lines per letter. Finally, Psalms 33 and 38 (and Lamentations 5) have exactly 22 lines, though not alphabetically ordered. This seems no accident. Nahum 1 also includes a broken alphabetic-acrostic.

5 Since Psalm 1 introduces not only the Psalter but also Book 1 of the Psalter, it may be significant that all but two of the alphabetic psalms occur in Book 1, to wit: alphabeticacrostic: Pss. 9-10, 25, and 34; non-acrostic: Pss. 33 and 38. There are seven acrostic Psalms in the Psalter: Pss. 9-10, 25, 34, 111, 112, 119, and 145. Since Ps. 119 uses each letter eight times, the total with the other six single-use Psalms is fourteen (2x7) acrostic usages. The Titles of the Psalms We have translated and included the titles of each psalm, on the assumption that these are part of the God-given inspired text. We are aware that in some circles this is a disputed point, but we have chosen to err on the side of caution and tradition. We have also, however, followed the research of James William Thirtle, in his book The Titles of the Psalm: Their Nature and Meaning Explained (Second Edition, New York: Henry Frowde, 1905), as regards these titles. Thirtle made a good case, building on Habakkuk 3, that Prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, according to Shigionoth comes at the head of the psalm, and For the Director, upon my stringed instruments comes at the end. While Thirtle s book has often been overlooked, his thesis has met with some favor, and we have provisionally adopted it here. Selah While the meaning of the term selah continues to be disputed, we have found R. W. Landis s essay The Meaning and Use of Selah in The Danville Review (June, 1864), pp , to be of the most help. He argues rather convincingly that the world selah indicates that the first lines of the psalm are to be repeated as a kind of refrain. We are very largely convinced, and have followed his advice here. Some Translational Decisions Asher. The first word in the psalter is usually translated blessed, but this is confusing because barakh is also translated blessed. The word asher also connotes

6 happy, and that is why some translations use happy. The same is true of the Greek makarios in the Beatitudes. We have decided to use the phrase blessed and merry. It would be nice if we could find one English word that would do, but we have not found it thus far. We remember how Archbishop Thomas Cranmer, in translating the Latin prayers for the English Book of Common Prayer, often used two words for one Latin word. We have followed his principle. Hesed. Here we have the word traditionally rendered lovingkindness, which today is often argued to be better rendered covenant faithfulness or even something like kinship commitment. We have stuck with the tradition, since many still argue for it, and it seems best to us. Zamar. Usually translated something like praise, this is the word from which psalm is derived. It sounds like the playing of an instrument, and the word psalm in both Hebrew (mizmor) and Greek (psallo) means something sung with an instrument. In fact, there is no evidence anywhere in the Bible that anything was sung to God without instruments. We have rendered zamar as play music. We have rendered elohim as God, el as Mighty One, adonai as My Master, elyon as Most High, and eloah as Mighty Protector. The Tetragrammaton YHWH we have put as Yahweh. We intend this for reading and singing the Psalms, not for Christian prayer, for the Name we have been given to use as a memorial name is Jesus, not Yahweh. We invite those reading these efforts to write and ask about other words, so that we can expand this list. In time, discussions of particular psalms will be made available. Those using these materials are free to download them and make any changes they see fit. If you do not wish to use Yahweh and to use LORD instead, make that change. If you want the colophon to be shifted into the title of the following psalm, make that change. Verses or Lines? In this first edition we have numbered the psalms in actual lines rather than in awkward verses. Often the verses group lines together curiously. The verses and chapter divisions in our Bibles are not infrequently infelicitous, and someday need to be changed. In future editions we intend to supply verse numbers as well for ease of studying.

7 Psalms a Maskil. b By the sons of Korah. I. 1 As a hart pants for streams of water, 2 So my soul pants for You, O God. 3 My soul thirsts for God, 4 For the Mighty One of Life. 5 When can I come 6 And be seen by the face of God? 7 My tears have been my bread 8 Day and night, 9 While they say to me all the day: 10 Where is your God? 11 These things I remember, 12 And I pour out within me my soul, 13 For I went in the multitude; 14 I led them to the house of God, 15 With a sound of joyous shouting and thanksgiving, 16 A festive throng. 17 Why are you cast down, my soul, 18 And making an uproar within me? 19 Wait for God, 20 Because I will yet praise Him 21 For the deliverances of His face. II. 22 O God, within me my soul is cast down. 23 Therefore I will remember You

8 24 From the land of Jordan and the Hermons, 25 From Mount Mizar. 26 Deep to deep calls 27 At the sound of Your waterfalls; 28 All Your breakers and Your billows 29 Have passed over me. 30 By day Yahweh commands His lovingkindness, 31 And in the night his song is with me, 32 A prayer to the Mighty One of my life. 33 I will say to the Mighty One, my Rock: 34 Why have You forgotten me? 35 Why do I go about in darkness 36 Because of the enemy's oppression? 37 To shatter my bones 38 My foes have taunted me, 39 By saying to me all the day: 40 Where is your God? 41 Why are you cast down, my soul? 42 And why are you making an uproar within me? 43 Wait for God, 44 Because I will yet praise Him, 45 The One who repeatedly delivers my face, and my God. (Ps. 43) III. 46 Judge me, O God, 47 And argue my case 48 Against a disloyal nation. 49 From a man of deceit and wickedness rescue me!

9 50 For You Yourself are my Fortress-God. 51 Why have You rejected me? 52 Why am I forced to go about in darkness 53 Because of the enemy's oppression? 54 Send out Your light and Your trustworthiness! 55 They will lead me. 56 They will bring me to Your holy mountain 57 And to Your tabernacles. 58 And I will come to the place of communion with God, 59 To the Mighty One, the joy of my gladness. 60 And I will praise You with a lyre, 61 O God, my God. 62 Why are you cast down, my soul? 63 And why are you making an uproar within me? 64 Wait for God, 65 Because I will yet praise Him, 66 The One who repeatedly delivers my face, and my God. Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonders. And blessed be His glorious Name everlastingly, And filled with His glory be all the earth. Amen! Yes! Amen! c For the Director.

10 Psalm 44 a By the sons of Korah. b Maschil. 1 O God, with our ears we have heard, 2 Our fathers have recounted to us, 3 The work You worked in their days, 4 In the days of old. 5 You Yourself with Your hand displaced nations, but You planted them; 6 You smashed peoples, but You spread them out. 7 Indeed, not by their sword did they possess the land, 8 And their arm did not save them, 9 For it was Your right hand and Your arm and the light of Your face, 10 Because You favored them. 11 You are the one, my king, O God! 12 Command salvations for Jacob! 13 In You our oppressors we shall gore; 14 In Your name we shall trample those who rise up against us. 15 Not in my bow will I trust, 16 And my sword will not save me, 17 For You saved us from our oppressors, 18 And those who hate us You shamed. 19 In God we have boasted all the day; 20 And Your name everlastingly we will praise. 21 But You have rejected and disgraced us 22 And You do not go out with our armies. 23 You make us turn back from the oppressor, 24 And those who hate us plunder for themselves.

11 25 You give us like sheep for eating, 26 And among the nations You scatter us. 27 You sell Your people for no gain; 28 And You increase nothing by their price. 29 You make us a reproach to our neighbors, 30 A mockery and a joke to those around us. 31 You make us a parable among the nations, 32 A shaking of the head among the peoples. 33 All the day my disgrace is before me, 34 And the shame of my face has covered me, 35 Because of the voice of reproacher and reviler, 36 Because of the face of enemy and avenger. 37 All of this has come upon us but we have not forgotten You, 38 And we have not dealt falsely with Your covenant. 39 Our heart has not drawn back, 40 Nor have our steps turned away from Your path. 41 But You have crushed us in a place of dragons, 42 And You have covered over us with deep darkness. 43 If we have forgotten the name of our God 44 And spread our hands to a foreign Mighty One, 45 Will not God spy this out? 46 For it is He who knows secrets of heart. 47 But for Your sake we have been killed all the day; 48 We have been reckoned as sheep for slaughter. 49 Awake! Why do You sleep, my Master? 50 Wake up! Do not reject us perpetually! 51 Why do You hide Your face? 52 Do You forget our affliction and our oppression?

12 53 Indeed, bowed down to the dust is our soul, 54 Stuck to the earth is our belly. 55 Rise up as a help to us! 56 And redeem us for the sake of Your lovingkindness! Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonders. And blessed be His glorious Name everlastingly, And filled with His glory be all the earth. Amen! Yes! Amen! c For the director. d Upon "Lilies."

13 Psalm 45 a By the Sons of Korah. b Maskil. c A wedding song. 1 My heart is aroused by a good theme. 2 I am reciting my composition for a king. 3 My tongue is the pen of a skillful scribe. 4 You are the most excellent of the sons of Adam. 5 Grace is poured into your lips. 6 Therefore, God has blessed you everlastingly. 7 Gird your sword upon your thigh, mighty man, 8 Your splendor and your majesty. 9 And let your majesty be victorious! 10 Ride forth on behalf of truth and righteous humility; 11 And let your right hand display awesome deeds. 12 Your arrows are sharp - 13 Nations fall beneath you! 14 - In the heart of the king's enemies. 15 Your throne, O god, is everlasting and forever; 16 A scepter of justice is the scepter of your kingdom. 17 You love righteousness and hate wickedness; 18 Therefore, God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows. 19 Myrrh and aloes, cassia, perfume all your robes. 20 From the ivory palaces, stringed music makes you glad. 21 King's daughters are among your honorable women; 22 The royal bride stands at your right hand in gold of Ophir. 23 Hearken, daughter, and consider, 24 And incline your ear,

14 25 And forget your own people, 26 And your father's house. 27 The king is enthralled by your beauty. 28 Because He is your lord, bow to Him. 29 Now Daughter Tyre brings tribute. 30 Your presence the rich among the people will seek. 31 All glorious is the king's daughter in her chamber; 32 Interwoven with gold is her gown. 33 In embroidered garments she is led to the king. 34 The young women following her, her companions, are brought to you. 35 They are led in with gladness and rejoicing; 36 They enter into the king's palace. 37 In place of your fathers will be your sons; 38 You will make them princes in all the earth. 39 I will memorialize your name generation after generation; 40 Therefore will the people praise you everlastingly and forever. Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonders. And blessed be His glorious Name everlastingly, And filled with His glory be all the earth. Amen! Yes! Amen! d For the Director

15 Psalm 46 a By the Sons of Korah. b Upon Alamoth. c Song. 1 God is our refuge and strength, 2 A help in troubles, always present. 3 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be removed, 4 And though the mountains fall into the heart of the seas; 5 Though its waters roar and foam, 6 Though the mountains shake with its swelling. selah God is our refuge and strength, A help in troubles, always present. 7 There is a river whose streams gladden the city of God, 8 The holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High. 9 God is in her midst, she will not fall. 10 God will help her just at the break of dawn. 11 Nations roar; kingdoms fall. 12 He lifts His voice; earth melts. 13 Yahweh of Armies is with us; 14 Our stronghold is the God of Jacob. selah God is our refuge and strength, A help in troubles, always present. 15 Come, see Yahweh's works, 16 Who has made desolations in the earth, 17 The One making wars cease to the end of the earth: 18 The bow He breaks and He shatters the spear; 19 Chariots He burns with re. 20 Be still, and know that I am God. 21 I will be exalted among the nations,

16 22 I will be exalted in the earth! 23 Yahweh of Armies is with us; 24 Our stronghold is the God of Jacob. selah God is our refuge and strength, A help in troubles, always present. Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonders. And blessed be His glorious Name everlastingly, And filled with His glory be all the earth. Amen! Yes! Amen! d For the Director

17 Psalm 47 a By the Sons of Korah. b Psalm 1 All peoples, clap/clasp hands! 2 Shout to God with the voice of triumph! 3 For Yahweh, Most High, is awesome; 4 A great King over all the earth. 5 He subdues peoples under us, 6 And populations under our feet. 7 He chooses our inheritance for us, 8 The excellence of Jacob, whom He loves. selah All peoples, clap/clasp hands! Shout to God with the voice of triumph! 9 God has ascended amidst a shout, 10 Yahweh amidst the sound of a trumpet. 11 Play music to God! 12 Play music! 13 Play music to our King! 14 Play music! 15 For the King of all the earth is God! 16 Play music for a maskil! 17 God reigns over nations; 18 God sits on His holy throne. 19 The princes of the peoples have gathered together 20 As the people of the God of Abraham. 21 For the shields of the earth belong to God. 22 He has ascended to the highest.

18 Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonders. And blessed be His glorious Name everlastingly, And filled with His glory be all the earth. Amen! Yes! Amen!

19 Psalm 48 a Song. b Psalm. c By the Sons of Korah. 1 Great is Yahweh, 2 And exceedingly praiseworthy, 3 In the city of our God, 4 His holy mountain. 5 Beautiful in elevation, 6 The joy of all the earth, 7 Is Mount Zion in the extreme north, 8 The city of the Great King. 9 God is in her palaces; 10 He is known as "Stronghold." 11 For behold, the kings assembled, 12 They passed by together. 13 They saw it themselves and were shocked. 14 They twisted in fear; they hurried away. 15 Trembling took hold of them there, 16 Twisting, like that of a woman in travail. 17 By an east wind You broke up the ships of Tarshish. 18 As we have heard, 19 So we have seen, 20 In the city of Yahweh of hosts, 21 In the city of our God: 22 "God will establish her everlastingly." selah Great is Yahweh, And exceedingly praiseworthy!

20 23 We have thought, O God, on Your lovingkindness, 24 In the midst of Your temple. 25 As is Your name, O God, 26 So is Your praise to the ends of earth: 27 Full of righteousness is Your right hand. 28 Mount Zion rejoices. 29 Judah's daughters twirl in joy: 30 Because of Your judgments. 31 Walk about Zion and go all around her. 32 Count her towers; 33 Mark well her bulwarks; 34 Consider her palaces; 35 That you may recount it to the generation following, 36 That this God is our God everlastingly and forever; 37 He will be our Guide even to death. Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonders. And blessed be His glorious Name everlastingly, And filled with His glory be all the earth. Amen! Yes! Amen! d For the director.

21 Psalm 49 a By the sons of Korah. b Psalm. 1 Hear this, all you peoples; 2 Give ear, all you inhabitants of the passing world, 3 Both sons of Adam and sons of noble man, 4 Rich and poor together. 5 My mouth will speak wisdom, 6 And the meditation of my heart understanding. 7 I shall incline my ear to a parable; 8 I shall disclose my dark saying on a harp. 9 Why should I fear in the days of evil, 10 When the liability at my heels surrounds me? 11 As for those who trust in their wealth, 12 And in the multitude of their riches boast, 13 No noble is able by any means to redeem his brother, 14 Nor give to God a covering for him 15 (For costly is the redemption of their souls, 16 And it will increase everlasting.) 17 That he should continue to live eternally, 18 And not see the pit. 19 Surely he can see that wise men die; 20 Likewise the fool and the senseless person perish, 21 And they leave to others their wealth. 22 Their inner thought is that their houses are everlasting, 23 Their dwelling places generation after generation; 24 They call their lands after their own names.

22 25 But Adam in honor did not remain: 26 He became like the cattle that are silenced. 27 This is the way of those confident in themselves, 28 And of their followers who delight in their mouth: 29 Like sheep for Sheol they are appointed. 30 Death will shepherd them; 31 The upright will rule over them in the morning; 32 And their form Sheol will consume, far from their dwelling. 33 Only God will redeem my soul from the hand of Sheol, 34 For He will receive me. 35 Do not be afraid when a noble becomes rich, 36 When the glory of his house is increased; 37 For when he dies he will carry nothing away; 38 His glory will not descend after him. 39 Though while he lives he blesses himself 40 (For they will praise you when you do well for yourself), 41 He will go to the generation of his fathers; 42 They will never see the light. 43 Adam in honor rejected understanding; 44 He became like the cattle that are silenced. Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonders. And blessed be His glorious Name everlastingly, And filled with His glory be all the earth. Amen! Yes! Amen!

23 Psalm 50 a Psalm. b By Asaph. 1 The Mighty One, God, Yahweh speaks, 2 And He summons the earth, 3 From the rising of the sun to its setting. 4 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth. 5 Our God comes and will not keep silent. 6 A fire devours before Him, 7 And all around Him it storms mightily. 8 He summons the heavens above, 9 And the earth, that He may judge His people: 10 "Gather to Me My loyal ones, 11 Those cutting My covenant by Peace Offerings." 12 And the heavens declare His righteousness, 13 For God Himself is judge. selah The Mighty One, God, Yahweh speaks, And He summons the earth, From the rising of the sun to its setting. 14 "Hear, My people, and I shall speak; 15 O Israel, and I shall testify about you. 16 I Myself am God, your God. 17 Not for your Peace Offerings do I rebuke you, 18 Or for your Ascensions, which are before Me continually. 19 I will not take from your house a bull, 20 From your folds any goats. 21 For Mine is every forest beast, 22 The cattle of a thousand hills.

24 23 I know every mountain fowl, 24 And the field insect is Mine. 25 If I were hungry, I would not tell you; 26 For Mine is the world and all in it. 27 Do I eat the flesh of bulls, 28 And the blood of goats do I drink? 29 Sacrifice to God a Thank Offering, 30 And perform to the Most High your Votive Offerings. 31 And call upon Me in the day of trouble; 32 I will deliver you, and you will glorify Me." 33 But to the wicked says God: 34 "What right have you to declare My statutes, 35 Or to take My covenant on your lip? 36 For you hate instruction, 37 And cast My words behind you. 38 When you see a thief, you join with him. 39 With adulterers is your lot. 40 Your mouth you send out in evil, 41 And your tongue you harness to deceit. 42 You take the chair and speak against your brother; 43 To your own mother's son you give out slander. 44 These things you did, and I kept silent; 45 You thought the I AM was like you. 46 I will rebuke you and accuse you before your eyes. 47 Now consider this, you who forget the Mighty Protector, 48 Lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver; 49 Whoever sacrifices Thank Offerings glorifies Me; 50 And the one preparing a way, 51 I will show him the salvation of God."

25 Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonders. And blessed be His glorious Name everlastingly, And filled with His glory be all the earth. Amen! Yes! Amen! c For the director.

26 Psalm 51 a A psalm. b By David, c When Nathan the prophet came to him, d As he had come to Bathsheba. 1 Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; 2 According to the multitude of Your mercies blot out my rebellious transgressions. 3 Thoroughly wash me from my liability 4 And from my failure cleanse me, 5 For my rebellious transgressions I myself acknowledge, 6 And my failure is before me continually. 7 Toward You, toward You alone, have I failed 8 And what is evil in Your eyes I have done, 9 In order that You may be righteous in Your word, 10 And be pure in Your judgment. 11 Behold, in liability I was born, 12 And in fallenness my mother conceived me. 13 Behold, trustworthiness You desired in the inward parts, 14 And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom. 15 You will purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; 16 You will wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 17 You will make me hear gladness and joy; 18 The bones You crushed will shout for joy. 19 Hide Your face from my failures, 20 And all my liabilities blot out. 21 A clean heart create in me, O God, 22 And a steadfast spirit renew within me. 23 Do not cast me away from before You, 24 And Your holy Spirit do not take from me.

27 25 Return to me the gladness of Your salvation, 26 And with a princely Spirit support me. 27 I will teach rebellious transgressors Your way, 28 And those who have failed will return to You. 29 Free me from bloodguiltiness, O God, 30 God of my salvation. 31 My tongue will celebrate Your righteousness. 32 Lord, my lips You will open, 33 And my mouth will declare Your praise, 34 For You do not delight in communion sacrifice; 35 And were I to give an Ascension, You would not be pleased. 36 The communion sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; 37 A heart broken and crushed, O God, You do not despise. 38 Do good, in Your favor, to Zion; 39 You will build the walls of Jerusalem. 40 Then You will be pleased with righteous communion sacrifices, 41 Ascension and Whole offering. 42 Then they will make bulls ascend on Your communion site. Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonders. And blessed be His glorious Name everlastingly, And filled with His glory be all the earth. Amen! Yes! Amen! e For the director.

28 Psalm 52 a Maskil. b By David. c When Doeg the Edomite went and reported to Saul, d And said to him, David has come to the house of Ahimelech. 1 Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man? 2 The lovingkindness of the Mighty One lasts all the day. 3 Your tongue devises calamities, 4 Like a sharpened razor, working deceitfully. 5 You love evil more than good, 6 Lying more than speaking righteousness. 7 You love all devouring words, 8 You deceitful tongue. 9 Accordingly, the Mighty One will break you down perpetually; 10 He will snatch you up and tear you out of your dwelling, 11 And he will uproot you from the land of the living. 12 And the righteous will see and fear, 13 And at him they will laugh: 14 Behold the mighty man who did not make God his strength, 15 And trusted in the abundance of his riches, 16 And strengthened himself by bringing calamities! 17 But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in the house of God, 18 I trust in the lovingkindness of God everlastingly and forever. 19 I will praise You everlastingly because You have done it. 20 And I will express hope in Your Name: For it is good, 21 In the presence of Your loyal ones. Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonders. And blessed be His glorious Name everlastingly, And filled with His glory be all the earth.

29 Amen! Yes! Amen! e For the director. f According to Mahalath.

30 Psalm 53 a Maskil. b By David. 1 The fool said in his heart: No God! 2 They are destroyers. 3 They are abominable. 4 As for injustice: No doer of good! 5 God looks down from heaven on the sons of Adam 6 To see if there be one who understands, one who seeks God. 7 All have turned back; 8 Together they have become corrupt. 9 No doer of good; not even one! 10 Will they never learn, 11 All the evildoers who eat up my people? 12 They eat bread; 13 On God they do not call. 14 There they are, dreading what they dread, where no dread was. 15 For God has scattered the bones of him who encamps against you. 16 You have put them to shame, 17 Because God despised them. 18 Oh, let Him bring from Zion the salvation of Israel! 19 When God brings back the captivity of His people! 20 Let Jacob rejoice, 21 Let Israel be glad! Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonders. And blessed be His glorious Name everlastingly, And filled with His glory be all the earth.

31 Amen! Yes! Amen! c For the director. d With stringed instruments.

32 Psalm 54 a Maskil b By David. c When the Ziphites went and said to Saul, Is not David hiding among us? 1 O God, by Your name save me, 2 And by Your power vindicate me. 3 O God, hear my prayer; 4 Give ear to the words of my mouth. 5 For strangers rise up against me, 6 And violent men seek my life; 7 They have not set God before themselves. Selah O God, by Your name save me, And by Your power vindicate me. 8 Behold, God is my Helper; 9 My Master is among the sustainers of my life. 10 Let the evil recoil on my slanderers. 11 In Your truth destroy them! 12 With a freewill offering I will make a communion sacrifice to You; 13 I will give thanks to Your name, Yahweh, for it is good. 14 For from all distress He has delivered me; 15 And on my enemies my eye has looked. Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonders. And blessed be His glorious Name everlastingly, And filled with His glory be all the earth. Amen! Yes! Amen! d For the director. e On stringed instruments.

33 Psalm 55 a Maskil. b By David. 1 Give ear, O God, to my prayer, 2 And do not hide from my supplication. 3 Attend to me, 4 And answer me. 5 I am restless in my complaint, 6 And I am distraught, 7 Because of the voice of the enemy, 8 Because of the pressure of the wicked; 9 For they tip trouble over onto me, 10 And in wrath they chase after me. 11 My heart writhes within me, 12 And terrors of death have fallen upon me. 13 Fear and trembling come upon me, 14 And horror overwhelms me. 15 And I say, "Oh, that I had wings like a dove! 16 I would fly away and be at rest. 17 Behold, I would wander afar, 18 I would lodge in the wilderness. Selah Give ear, O God, to my prayer, And do not hide from my supplication. 19 I would hurry to a shelter for myself, 20 From the windy storm and tempest." 21 Swallow up, my Master! 22 Split their tongue!

34 23 For I see Violence and Strife in the city: 24 Day and night they make rounds on her walls, 25 And Troublemaking and Mischief are in her midst. 26 Destruction is in her midst, 27 And from her public square do not depart Oppression and Deceit. 28 For it is not an enemy who reproaches me; 29 Then I could bear it. 30 Nor is it one who hates me who has magnified himself against me; 31 Then I could hide from him. 32 But it is you, a familiar, my equal, 33 My companion and my close friend! 34 Together we took sweet counsel. 35 In the house of God we walked in the throng Let death seize them! 37 Let them go down alive into sheol! 38 For wickedness is in their dwelling, in their midst. 39 As for me, I call upon God, 40 And Yahweh will save me. 41 Evening and morning, 42 And at noon, 43 I complain, 44 And I moan, 45 And He will hear my voice. 46 He will redeem my soul in peace, 47 From the battle against me, 48 For many are arrayed against me. 49 The Mighty One will hear and answer them, 50 Even He who abides from of old.

35 Selah Give ear, O God, to my prayer, And do not hide from my supplication. 51 Because they do not change, 52 And they do not fear God. 53 He has put forth his hands against those who were at peace with him, 54 He has profaned his covenant. 55 Smooth were the butterings of his mouth, 56 But war was in his heart. 57 His words were softer than oil, 58 Yet they were drawn swords. 59 Cast upon Yahweh your lot in life, 60 And He will sustain you. 61 He will not permit the righteous to be shaken everlastingly, 62 And You, O God, will bring them down to the pit of destruction. 63 Bloodthirsty and deceitful men will not live out half their days, 64 But as for me I will trust in You. Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonders. And blessed be His glorious Name everlastingly, And filled with His glory be all the earth. Amen! Yes! Amen! c For the director. d On "A Silent Dove in the Distance."

36 Psalm 56 a By David. b Miktam. c When Philistines seized him in Gath. 1 Be gracious, O God, for mere man pants after me; 2 All day long, fighting, he oppresses me. 3 My foes pant all day long. 4 Indeed, many are fighting against me from the heights. 5 In the day that I am afraid, 6 I am one who puts my trust in You, 7 In God -- I praise His Word! 8 In God I put my trust. 9 I shall not be afraid. 10 What can flesh do to me? 11 All day long my words they twist; 12 Against me all their thoughts are for evil. 13 They stir themselves up; 14 They lurk in secret. 15 They are the ones who watch my heels, 16 When they lie in wait for my life. 17 Through such troublemaking should they be delivered? 18 In anger put down the peoples, O God! 19 Of my wanderings You Yourself have kept count. 20 Put my tears in Your bottle; are they not in Your book? 21 Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call; 22 This I know, because God is for me. 23 With God I praise The Word. 24 With Yahweh I praise The Word.

37 25 In God I trust; I do not fear. 26 What can mankind do to me? 27 Upon me, O God, are Your vows: 28 I shall render a Thanksgiving to You. 29 For You have delivered my soul from death, 30 Have you not kept my feet from stumbling? 31 So that I can walk before the face of God 32 In the light of life. Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonders. And blessed be His glorious Name everlastingly, And filled with His glory be all the earth. Amen! Yes! Amen! d For the Director. e "Do Not Destroy."

38 Psalm 57 a By David. b Miktam. c When he fled from before Saul in the cave. 1 Be gracious to me, O God, 2 Be gracious to me, 3 For in You my soul takes refuge, 4 And in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge until destruction passes by, 5 I cry to God Most High, 6 To the Mighty One who fulfills for me. 7 He will send from heaven and save me; 8 He who pants after me makes reproaches. Selah Be gracious to me, O God; Be gracious to me. 9 God will send forth His lovingkindness and His faithfulness. 10 My soul is among lions; 11 I lie among the fire-breathing sons of Adam. 12 Their teeth are spears and arrows, 13 And their tongue a sharp sword. 14 Rise up over the heavens, O God; 15 Your glory over all the earth! 16 A net they have spread for my steps; 17 Bowed down is my soul. 18 They dug for me a pit. 19 They fell into the midst of it. Selah Be gracious to me, O God; Be gracious to me!

39 20 Steadfast is my heart, O God, 21 Steadfast is my heart! 22 I will sing! 23 Yes, I will play music! 24 Awake, my glory! 25 Awake, harp and lyre! 26 I will awaken the dawn! 27 I will give thanks to You, my Master, among the nations; 28 I will sing praises to You among the peoples. 29 For great to the heavens is Your lovingkindness, 30 And to the clouds is Your faithfulness. 31 Rise up over the heavens, O God; 32 Your glory over all the earth! Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonders. And blessed be His glorious Name everlastingly, And filled with His glory be all the earth. Amen! Yes! Amen! d For the Director e "Do Not Destroy."

40 Psalm 58 a By David b Miktam. 1 Gods you may be, but just sentences do you speak? 2 Uprightly do you judge, O sons of Adam? 3 No, in heart injustices you devise; 4 On the earth the violence of your hands you weigh out. 5 Estranged are the wicked from the womb; 6 They go astray from the belly, speaking lies. 7 They have venom like venom of a serpent. 8 Like a deaf cobra that stops up its ear, 9 So that it does not hear the voice of charmers, 10 However skillful the enchanter may be. 11 O God, shatter their teeth in their mouth; 12 The fangs of the young lions tear out, Yahweh! 13 Let them vanish like waters that flow away of themselves! 14 When he aims his arrows, let them be circumcised, 15 Like a slug, melting away as he moves, 16 Like a woman's miscarriage that never sees the sun. 17 Before your pots can feel the thorn, 18 Whether green or dry, He will whirl him away. 19 Glad will be the righteous when he sees the vengeance; 20 His feet he will bathe in the blood of the wicked. 21 And men will say, "Surely there is a reward for the righteous; 22 Surely there is a God who judges on earth!" Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonders.

41 And blessed be His glorious Name everlastingly, And filled with His glory be all the earth. Amen! Yes! Amen! c For the director. d "Do not Destroy."

42 Psalm 59 a By David. b Miktam. c When Saul sent and they watched the house to kill him. 1 Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God. 2 From those who rise up against me lift me up. 3 Deliver me from troublemakers, 4 And from men of bloodshed save me. 5 For behold, they lie in wait for my life; 6 Fierce men conspire against me. 7 For no transgression of mine and for no sin of mine, Yahweh, 8 For no liability of mine they run and set themselves against me. 9 Rouse Yourself! Help me, and behold! 10 And You, Yahweh, God of armies, God of Israel, 11 Awake to punish the nations; 12 Show no mercy to all troublemaking traitors. Selah Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God. From those who rise up against me lift me up. 13 They return at evening; 14 They howl like a dog; 15 And they prowl around the city. 16 Behold, they foam with their mouth; 17 Swords are in their lips, 18 Because who will hear? 19 But You, Yahweh, laugh at them; 20 You mock all the nations. 21 Because of his strength, for You I watch, 22 For God is my Fortress. 23 God of my lovingkindness.

43 24 God will meet me 25 He will let me look on mine enemies. 26 Do not slay them, lest my people forget; 27 Make them wander by Your power, 28 And bring them down, my Master, our Shield. 29 The sin of their mouth is the word of their confession, 30 And they will be trapped in their pride, 31 And for the cursing and deceit they utter. 32 Consume them in wrath! 33 Consume them until they be no more! 34 That men may know that God is ruling in Jacob 35 To the ends of the earth. Selah Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God. From those who rise up against me lift me up. 36 And they return at evening; 37 They howl like a dog; 38 And they prowl around the city. 39 They wander about to devour, 40 If they are not satisfied they hang around all night. 41 But as for me, I will sing of Your strength; 42 Yes, I will joyfully sing in the morning of Your lovingkindness. 43 For a Fortress You have been to me, 44 And a Refuge in the day of my distress. 45 O my Strength, I will play music to You, 46 For God is my Fortress, 47 God of my lovingkindness. Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonders.

44 And blessed be His glorious Name everlastingly, And filled with His glory be all the earth. Amen! Yes! Amen! d For the Director. e Upon the Testimony Lily.

45 Psalm 60 a Mikhtam. b By David. c For teaching. d When he fought Aram of the Double Rivers and Aram-Zobah, e And when Joab returned and struck down of Edom in the Valley of Salt twelve thousand. 1 O God, You have rejected us. 2 You have broken us. 3 You have been angry; 4 O restore to us! 5 You have caused the land to shake. 6 You tore her open. 7 Heal her fractures, 8 For she is quaking. 9 You caused Your people to see hardship. 10 You caused us to drink bewilderment like wine. 11 You established for those who fear You a rally-banner, 12 To unfurl itself in the face of the bow. Selah O God, You have rejected us. You have broken us. You have been angry; O restore to us! 13 That Your beloved ones may be delivered, 14 Save with Your right hand, and answer us. 15 God has spoken in His sanctuary: "I will exult! 16 "I will portion out Shechem, 17 "And the valley of Succoth I will measure out.

46 18 "Mine is Gilead; 19 "And Mine is Manasseh; 20 "Indeed, Ephraim is My head's helmet; 21 "Judah is My scepter. 22 "Moab is My footwashing bowl; 23 "Upon Edom I toss My sandal; 24 "Over Philistia is My triumphant shout!" 25 Who will bring me into the siege-proof city? 26 Who will lead me to Edom? 27 Have not You Yourself, O God, rejected us? 28 And will You not go forth, O God, with our armies? 29 Give us aid against the enemy, 30 For worthless is the help of man. 31 With God we shall do valiantly. 32 And it is He who will tread down our adversaries. Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonders. And blessed be His glorious Name everlastingly, And filled with His glory be all the earth. Amen! Yes! Amen! f For the director. g On stringed instruments.

47 Psalm 61 a By David. 1 Hear, O God, my cry; 2 Give heed to my prayer. 3 From the end of the earth to You I call when my heart is faint; 4 To the Rock that is too high for me, O lead me. 5 For You have been a refuge for me, 6 A tower of strength from the face of the enemy. 7 Let me sojourn in Your tent everlastingly; 8 Let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings. Selah Hear, O God, my cry; Give heed to my prayer. 9 For it is You O God who have heard my vows; 10 You have bestowed the inheritance of those who fear Your name. 11 Days upon days to the king You increase; 12 His years for generation after generation. 13 He will sit enthroned everlastingly before God. 14 Lovingkindness and truth appoint, that they may preserve him. 15 So will I sing praise to Your name forever, 16 That I may perform my vows day by day. Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonders. And blessed be His glorious Name everlastingly, And filled with His glory be all the earth. Amen! Yes! Amen!

48 Psalm 62 a Psalm. b By David. 1 Only before God is my soul calm; 2 From Him is my salvation. 3 Only He is my Rock and my Salvation, 4 My Fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken. 5 How long will you assail a man? 6 Will you batter him down, all of you, 7 Like a leaning wall, 8 Like a tottering fence? 9 Their only plan is to topple him from his high position. 10 They delight in illusion; 11 With their mouths they bless, 12 But in their hearts they ridicule. Selah Only before God is my soul calm; From Him is my salvation. 13 Only before God be calm, my soul, 14 For from Him is my hope. 15 Only He is my Rock and my Salvation, 16 My Fortress; I shall not be shaken. 17 In God are my salvation and my glory, 18 The Rock of my strength, my refuge is in God. 19 Trust in Him at all times, O people; 20 Pour out before Him your hearts; 21 God is a refuge for us. Selah Only before God is my soul calm; From Him is my salvation.

49 22 Only a vapor are the sons of Adam, 23 An illusion, the sons of man; 24 On the balance scales they go up, 25 Together they amount to vapor. 26 Trust not in oppression; 27 And in robbery put no vaporous hopes. 28 Though riches increase, 29 Do not set your heart there. 30 One thing God has spoken; 31 These two things I have heard: 32 That strength belongs to God, 33 And that to You, my Lord, is lovingkindness. 34 Surely You Yourself will reward each according to his deed. Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonders. And blessed be His glorious Name everlastingly, And filled with His glory be all the earth. Amen! Yes! Amen!

50 Psalm 63 a Psalm. b By David. c When he was in the wilderness of Judah. 1 O God, my Mighty One are You; 2 I earnestly seek You. 3 For You thirsts my soul. 4 For You longs my flesh, 5 In a dry land, 6 Weary, without water. 7 Thus in the sanctuary I have beheld You, 8 To see Your power and Your glory. 9 Because better is Your lovingkindness than life, 10 My lips will praise You. 11 Thus will I bless You as long as I live; 12 In Your name will I lift up my palms, 13 When with inner-fat and fat-of-blessing my soul is satisfied, 14 And with joyful lips my mouth praises. 15 When I memorialize You on my bed, 16 In the night-watches I meditate on You, 17 For You have been my help, 18 And in the shadow of Your wings I shout joyously. 19 My soul clings after You; 20 Your right hand upholds me. 21 But those who, to destroy, seek my soul 22 Will go down to the depths of the earth. 23 They will be poured out by the power of the sword. 24 A meal for jackals will they be.

51 25 But the king will rejoice in God; 26 Everyone who swears by Him will praise. 27 For they will be stopped, 28 The mouths of those who speak lies. Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonders. And blessed be His glorious Name everlastingly, And filled with His glory be all the earth. Amen! Yes! Amen!

52 Psalm 64 a Psalm. b By David. 1 Hear, O God, my voice in my complaint; 2 From dread of the enemy preserve my life. 3 Hide me from the secret counsel of evildoers, 4 From the tumult of troublemakers, 5 Who sharpen like a sword their tongue. 6 They aim their arrow: a poison word, 7 To shoot from concealment at the blameless; 8 Suddenly they shoot at him, and do not fear. 9 They hold fast to themselves an evil word; 10 They discuss laying snares secretly; 11 They ask who will see them? 12 Who will uncover the crimes? 13 "We have completed a well-researched plot. 14 Yes, the inward part of a man, the heart, is deep! 15 But God will shoot at them with an arrow; 16 Suddenly will appear their wounds, 17 And they will make him stumble. 18 Their own tongue is against them. 19 All who see them will shake the head. 20 And all men will fear, 21 And will declare the work of God, 22 And His work will understand. 23 The righteous will rejoice in Yahweh, 24 And will take refuge in Him, 25 And they will celebrate, all the upright in heart.

53 Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonders. And blessed be His glorious Name everlastingly, And filled with His glory be all the earth. Amen! Yes! Amen! c For the director.

54 Psalm 65 a Psalm. b By David. c Song. 1 For You, even silence is praise, O God in Zion; 2 And to You will be performed a vow, O You who hear prayer. 3 To You all flesh comes! 4 Deeds causing liability prevail against me. 5 Our transgressions You have covered. 6 Blest & merry is the one You choose and bring near; 7 He dwells in Your courts. 8 We are filled with the good things of Your house, 9 With the holiness of Your temple. 10 By awesome deeds in righteousness You answer us, 11 O God of our salvation-- 12 The trust of all the ends of the earth, 13 And of the farthest seas-- 14 Establishing mountains by His power; 15 Arming Himself with strength; 16 Stilling the roaring of the seas, 17 The roaring of their waves, 18 Even the tumult of the peoples. 19 They are in awe who dwell at the ends, because of Your wonders. 20 The outgoings of the morning and the evening You make shout for joy. 21 You visit the earth, 22 And cause it to overflow; 23 Greatly you enrich it God's river is full of water.

55 25 You prepare their grain. 26 In this way your prepare it: 27 Its furrows You water abundantly; 28 Its ridges You level; 29 With showers You soften it; 30 Its growth You bless. 31 You crown the year with Your goodness, 32 And Your cart paths drop with fatness. 33 Dripping are the grasslands of the desert, 34 And with joy the hills clothe themselves. 35 Covered are the meadows with flocks, 36 And the valleys deck themselves with grain. 37 They shout for joy; 38 Yes, they sing! Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonders. And blessed be His glorious Name everlastingly, And filled with His glory be all the earth. Amen! Yes! Amen! d For the Director.