from the
Psalms

When my enemies retreat,
they stumble to their doom at Your presence.

For You uphold my right and claim,
enthroned as righteous judge.

You blast the nations;
You destroy the wicked;
You blot out their name forever.

The enemy is no more—
ruins everlasting;
You have torn down their cities;
their very names are lost.

But the LORD abides forever;
He has set up His throne for judgment;
it is He who judges the world with righteousness,
rules the peoples with equity.

The LORD is a haven for the oppressed,
a haven in times of trouble.

The teaching of the LORD is perfect,
renewing life;
the decrees of the LORD are enduring,
making the simple wise.

The precepts of the LORD are just,
rejoicing the heart;
the instruction of the LORD is lucid,
making the eyes light up.

The fear of the LORD is pure,
abiding forever;
the judgments of the LORD are true,
righteous altogether,
more desirable than gold,
than much fine gold;
sweeter than honey,
than drippings of the comb.

Your servant pays them heed;
in obeying them there is much reward.

Who can be aware of errors?

Clear me of unperceived guilt,
and from willful sins keep Your servant;
let them not dominate me;
then shall I be blameless
and clear of grave offense.

May the words of my mouth
and the prayer of my heart
be acceptable to You,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

The LORD is my shepherd;
I lack nothing.

He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me to water in places of repose;
He renews my life;
He guides me in right paths
as befits His name.

Though I walk through a valley of deepest darkness,
I fear no harm, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff—they comfort me.

You spread a table for me in full view of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
my drink is abundant.

Only goodness and steadfast love shall pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for many long years.

As long as I said nothing,
my limbs wasted away
from my anguished roaring all day long.

For night and day
Your hand lay heavy on me;
my vigor waned
as in the summer drought.    Selah.

Then I acknowledged my sin to You;
I did not cover up my guilt;
I resolved, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,”
and You forgave the guilt of my sin.    Selah.

Therefore let every faithful man pray to You
upon discovering [his sin],
that the rushing mighty waters
not overtake him.

Fashion a pure heart for me, O God;
create in me a steadfast spirit.

Do not cast me out of Your presence,
or take Your holy spirit away from me.

Let me again rejoice in Your help;
let a vigorous spirit sustain me.

I will teach transgressors Your ways,
that sinners may return to You.

Save me from bloodguilt,
O God, God, my deliverer,
that I may sing forth Your beneficence.

O Lord, open my lips,
and let my mouth declare Your praise.

You do not want me to bring sacrifices;
You do not desire burnt offerings;

True sacrifice to God is a contrite spirit;
God, You will not despise
a contrite and crushed heart.

He loved to curse—may a curse come upon him!

He would not bless—may blessing be far from him!

May he be clothed in a curse like a garment,
may it enter his body like water,
his bones like oil.

Let it be like the cloak he wraps around him,
like the belt he always wears.

May the LORD thus repay my accusers,
all those who speak evil against me.

There is not a word on my tongue
but that You, O LORD, know it well.

You hedge me before and behind;
You lay Your hand upon me.

It is beyond my knowledge;
it is a mystery; I cannot fathom it.

Where can I escape from Your spirit?

Where can I flee from Your presence?

If I ascend to heaven, You are there;
if I descend to Sheol, You are there too.

If I take wing with the dawn
to come to rest on the western horizon,
even there Your hand will be guiding me,
Your right hand will be holding me fast.

If I say, “Surely darkness will conceal me,
night will provide me with cover,”
darkness is not dark for You;
night is as light as day;
darkness and light are the same.

It was You who created my conscience;
You fashioned me in my mother’s womb.

I praise You,
for I am awesomely, wondrously made;
You work is wonderful;
I know it very well.

My frame was not concealed from You
when I was shaped in a hidden place,
knit together in the recesses of the earth.

Your eyes saw my unformed limbs;
they were all recorded in Your book;
in due time they were formed,
to the very last one of them.

How weighty Your thoughts seem to me, O God,
how great their number!

I count them—they exceed the grains of sand;
I end—but am still with You.

 [...]

Examine me, O God, and know my mind;
probe me and know my thoughts.

See if I have vexatious ways,
and guide me in ways everlasting.

Unless the LORD builds the house,
its builders labor in vain on it;
unless the LORD watches over the city,
the watchman keeps vigil in vain.

In vain do you rise early
and stay up late,
you who toil for the bread you eat;
He provides as much for His loved ones while they sleep.