The World English Bible (WEB) Part 53

Psalm 57

For the Chief Musician. To the tune of "Do Not Destroy." A poem by David, when he fled from Saul, in the cave.

57:1 Be merciful to me, G.o.d, be merciful to me, for my soul takes refuge in you. Yes, in the shadow of your wings, I will take refuge, until disaster has pa.s.sed. 57:2 I cry out to G.o.d Most High, to G.o.d who accomplishes my requests for me. 57:3 He will send from heaven, and save me, he rebukes the one who is pursuing me. Selah. G.o.d will send out his loving kindness and his truth. 57:4 My soul is among lions. I lie among those who are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword. 57:5 Be exalted, G.o.d, above the heavens! Let your glory be above all the earth! 57:6 They have prepared a net for my steps. My soul is bowed down. They dig a pit before me. They fall into its midst themselves. Selah. 57:7 My heart is steadfast, G.o.d, my heart is steadfast. I will sing, yes, I will sing praises. 57:8 Wake up, my glory! Wake up, psaltery and harp! I will wake up the dawn. 57:9 I will give thanks to you, Lord, among the peoples. I will sing praises to you among the nations. 57:10 For your great loving kindness reaches to the heavens, and your truth to the skies. 57:11 Be exalted, G.o.d, above the heavens. Let your glory be over all the earth.

Psalm 58

For the Chief Musician. To the tune of "Do Not Destroy." A poem by David.

58:1 Do you indeed speak righteousness, silent ones? Do you judge blamelessly, you sons of men? 58:2 No, in your heart you plot injustice.

You measure out the violence of your hands in the earth. 58:3 The wicked go astray from the womb. They are wayward as soon as they are born, speaking lies. 58:4 Their poison is like the poison of a snake; like a deaf cobra that stops its ear, 58:5 which doesn't listen to the voice of charmers, no matter how skillful the charmer may be. 58:6 Break their teeth, G.o.d, in their mouth. Break out the great teeth of the young lions, Yahweh. 58:7 Let them vanish as water that flows away. When they draw the bow, let their arrows be made blunt. 58:8 Let them be like a snail which melts and pa.s.ses away, like the stillborn child, who has not seen the sun. 58:9 Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns, he will sweep away the green and the burning alike. 58:10 The righteous shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance. He shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked; 58:11 so that men shall say, "Most certainly there is a reward for the righteous. Most certainly there is a G.o.d who judges the earth."

Psalm 59

For the Chief Musician. To the tune of "Do Not Destroy." A poem by David, when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him.

59:1 Deliver me from my enemies, my G.o.d. Set me on high from those who rise up against me. 59:2 Deliver me from the workers of iniquity. Save me from the bloodthirsty men. 59:3 For, behold, they lie in wait for my soul. The mighty gather themselves together against me, not for my disobedience, nor for my sin, Yahweh. 59:4 I have done no wrong, yet they are ready to attack me. Rise up, behold, and help me! 59:5 You, Yahweh G.o.d of Armies, the G.o.d of Israel, rouse yourself to punish the nations. Show no mercy to the wicked traitors. Selah. 59:6 They return at evening, howling like dogs, and prowl around the city. 59:7 Behold, they spew with their mouth. Swords are in their lips, "For," they say, "who hears us?" 59:8 But you, Yahweh, laugh at them. You scoff at all the nations. 59:9 Oh, my Strength, I watch for you, for G.o.d is my high tower. 59:10 My G.o.d will go before me with his loving kindness. G.o.d will let me look at my enemies in triumph. 59:11 Don't kill them, or my people may forget. Scatter them by your power, and bring them down, Lord our s.h.i.+eld. 59:12 For the sin of their mouth, and the words of their lips, let them be caught in their pride, for the curses and lies which they utter. 59:13 Consume them in wrath. Consume them, and they will be no more. Let them know that G.o.d rules in Jacob, to the ends of the earth. Selah. 59:14 At evening let them return. Let them howl like a dog, and go around the city. 59:15 They shall wander up and down for food, and wait all night if they aren't satisfied. 59:16 But I will sing of your strength. Yes, I will sing aloud of your loving kindness in the morning. For you have been my high tower, a refuge in the day of my distress. 59:17 To you, my strength, I will sing praises. For G.o.d is my high tower, the G.o.d of my mercy.

Psalm 60

For the Chief Musician. To the tune of "The Lily of the Covenant." A teaching poem by David, when he fought with Aram Naharaim and with Aram Zobah, and Joab returned, and killed twelve thousand of Edom in the Valley of Salt.

60:1 G.o.d, you have rejected us. You have broken us down. You have been angry. Restore us, again. 60:2 You have made the land tremble. You have torn it. Mend its fractures, for it quakes. 60:3 You have shown your people hard things. You have made us drink the wine that makes us stagger. 60:4 You have given a banner to those who fear you, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah. 60:5 So that your beloved may be delivered, save with your right hand, and answer us. 60:6 G.o.d has spoken from his sanctuary: "I will triumph. I will divide Shechem, and measure out the valley of Succoth. 60:7 Gilead is mine, and Mana.s.seh is mine. Ephraim also is the defense of my head. Judah is my scepter. 60:8 Moab is my wash basin. I will throw my shoe on Edom. I shout in triumph over Philistia." 60:9 Who will bring me into the strong city? Who has led me to Edom? 60:10 Haven't you, G.o.d, rejected us? You don't go out with our armies, G.o.d. 60:11 Give us help against the adversary, for the help of man is vain. 60:12 Through G.o.d we shall do valiantly, for it is he who will tread down our adversaries.

Psalm 61

For the Chief Musician. For a stringed instrument. By David.

61:1 Hear my cry, G.o.d. Listen to my prayer. 61:2 From the end of the earth, I will call to you, when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. 61:3 For you have been a refuge for me, a strong tower from the enemy. 61:4 I will dwell in your tent forever. I will take refuge in the shelter of your wings. Selah. 61:5 For you, G.o.d, have heard my vows. You have given me the heritage of those who fear your name. 61:6 You will prolong the king's life; his years shall be for generations. 61:7 He shall be enthroned in G.o.d's presence forever.

Appoint your loving kindness and truth, that they may preserve him. 61:8 So I will sing praise to your name forever, that I may fulfill my vows daily.

Psalm 62

For the Chief Musician. To Jeduthan. A Psalm by David.

62:1 My soul rests in G.o.d alone. My salvation is from him. 62:2 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress--I will never be greatly shaken. 62:3 How long will you a.s.sault a man, would all of you throw him down, Like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence? 62:4 They fully intend to throw him down from his lofty place. They delight in lies.

They bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah. 62:5 My soul, wait in silence for G.o.d alone, for my expectation is from him.

62:6 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress. I will not be shaken. 62:7 With G.o.d is my salvation and my honor. The rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in G.o.d. 62:8 Trust in him at all times, you people. Pour out your heart before him. G.o.d is a refuge for us. Selah.

62:9 Surely men of low degree are just a breath, and men of high degree are a lie. In the balances they will go up. They are together lighter than a breath. 62:10 Don't trust in oppression. Don't become vain in robbery. If riches increase, don't set your heart on them. 62:11 G.o.d has spoken once; twice I have heard this, that power belongs to G.o.d. 62:12 Also to you, Lord, belongs loving kindness, for you reward every man according to his work.

Psalm 63

A Psalm by David, when he was in the desert of Judah.

63:1 G.o.d, you are my G.o.d. I will earnestly seek you. My soul thirsts for you. My flesh longs for you, in a dry and weary land, where there is no water. 63:2 So I have seen you in the sanctuary, watching your power and your glory. 63:3 Because your loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise you. 63:4 So I will bless you while I live. I will lift up my hands in your name. 63:5 My soul shall be satisfied as with the richest food. My mouth shall praise you with joyful lips, 63:6 when I remember you on my bed, and think about you in the night watches. 63:7 For you have been my help. I will rejoice in the shadow of your wings.

63:8 My soul stays close to you. Your right hand holds me up. 63:9 But those who seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth. 63:10 They shall be given over to the power of the sword.

They shall be jackal food. 63:11 But the king shall rejoice in G.o.d.

Everyone who swears by him will praise him, for the mouth of those who speak lies shall be silenced.

Psalm 64

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.

64:1 Hear my voice, G.o.d, in my complaint. Preserve my life from fear of the enemy. 64:2 Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked, from the noisy crowd of the ones doing evil; 64:3 who sharpen their tongue like a sword, and aim their arrows, deadly words, 64:4 to shoot innocent men from ambushes. They shoot at him suddenly and fearlessly. 64:5 They encourage themselves in evil plans. They talk about laying snares secretly. They say, "Who will see them?" 64:6 They plot injustice, saying, "We have made a perfect plan!" Surely man's mind and heart are cunning. 64:7 But G.o.d will shoot at them. They will be suddenly struck down with an arrow. 64:8 Their own tongues shall ruin them. All who see them will shake their heads. 64:9 All mankind shall be afraid. They shall declare the work of G.o.d, and shall wisely ponder what he has done.

64:10 The righteous shall be glad in Yahweh, and shall take refuge in him. All the upright in heart shall praise him!

Psalm 65

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. A song.

65:1 Praise waits for you, G.o.d, in Zion. To you shall vows be performed.

65:2 You who hear prayer, to you all men will come. 65:3 Sins overwhelmed me, but you atoned for our transgressions. 65:4 Blessed is one whom you choose, and cause to come near, that he may live in your courts. We will be filled with the goodness of your house, your holy temple. 65:5 By awesome deeds of righteousness, you answer us, G.o.d of our salvation. You who are the hope of all the ends of the earth, of those who are far away on the sea; 65:6 Who by his power forms the mountains, having armed yourself with strength; 65:7 who stills the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations. 65:8 They also who dwell in far-away places are afraid at your wonders. You call the morning's dawn and the evening with songs of joy.

65:9 You visit the earth, and water it. You greatly enrich it. The river of G.o.d is full of water. You provide them grain, for so you have ordained it. 65:10 You drench its furrows. You level its ridges. You soften it with showers. You bless it with a crop. 65:11 You crown the year with your bounty. Your carts overflow with abundance. 65:12 The wilderness gra.s.slands overflow. The hills are clothed with gladness.

65:13 The pastures are covered with flocks. The valleys also are clothed with grain. They shout for joy! They also sing.

Psalm 66

For the Chief Musician. A song. A Psalm.

66:1 Make a joyful shout to G.o.d, all the earth! 66:2 Sing to the glory of his name! Offer glory and praise! 66:3 Tell G.o.d, "How awesome are your deeds! Through the greatness of your power, your enemies submit themselves to you. 66:4 All the earth will wors.h.i.+p you, and will sing to you; they will sing to your name." Selah. 66:5 Come, and see G.o.d's deeds--awesome work on behalf of the children of men. 66:6 He turned the sea into dry land. They went through the river on foot. There, we rejoiced in him. 66:7 He rules by his might forever. His eyes watch the nations. Don't let the rebellious rise up against him. Selah. 66:8 Praise our G.o.d, you peoples! Make the sound of his praise heard, 66:9 who preserves our life among the living, and doesn't allow our feet to be moved. 66:10 For you, G.o.d, have tested us. You have refined us, as silver is refined. 66:11 You brought us into prison. You laid a burden on our backs. 66:12 You allowed men to ride over our heads. We went through fire and through water, but you brought us to the place of abundance. 66:13 I will come into your temple with burnt offerings. I will pay my vows to you, 66:14 which my lips promised, and my mouth spoke, when I was in distress. 66:15 I will offer to you burnt offerings of fat animals, with the offering of rams, I will offer bulls with goats. Selah. 66:16 Come, and hear, all you who fear G.o.d. I will declare what he has done for my soul. 66:17 I cried to him with my mouth. He was extolled with my tongue. 66:18 If I cherished sin in my heart, the Lord wouldn't have listened. 66:19 But most certainly, G.o.d has listened. He has heard the voice of my prayer. 66:20 Blessed be G.o.d, who has not turned away my prayer, nor his loving kindness from me.

Psalm 67

For the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. A Psalm. A song.

67:1 May G.o.d be merciful to us, bless us, and cause his face to s.h.i.+ne on us. Selah. 67:2 That your way may be known on earth, and your salvation among all nations, 67:3 let the peoples praise you, G.o.d. Let all the peoples praise you. 67:4 Oh let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you will judge the peoples with equity, and govern the nations on earth. Selah. 67:5 Let the peoples praise you, G.o.d. Let all the peoples praise you. 67:6 The earth has yielded its increase. G.o.d, even our own G.o.d, will bless us. 67:7 G.o.d will bless us. All the ends of the earth shall fear him.

Psalm 68

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. A song.

68:1 Let G.o.d arise! Let his enemies be scattered! Let them who hate him also flee before him. 68:2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away.

As wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of G.o.d. 68:3 But let the righteous be glad. Let them rejoice before G.o.d.

Yes, let them rejoice with gladness. 68:4 Sing to G.o.d! Sing praises to his name! Extol him who rides on the clouds: to Yah, his name! Rejoice before him! 68:5 A father of the fatherless, and a defender of the widows, is G.o.d in his holy habitation. 68:6 G.o.d sets the lonely in families. He brings out the prisoners with singing, but the rebellious dwell in a sun-scorched land. 68:7 G.o.d, when you went forth before your people, when you marched through the wilderness... Selah. 68:8 The earth trembled. The sky also poured down rain at the presence of the G.o.d of Sinai--at the presence of G.o.d, the G.o.d of Israel. 68:9 You, G.o.d, sent a plentiful rain. You confirmed your inheritance, when it was weary. 68:10 Your congregation lived therein. You, G.o.d, prepared your goodness for the poor. 68:11 The Lord announced the word. The ones who proclaim it are a great company. 68:12 "Kings of armies flee! They flee!" She who waits at home divides the spoil, 68:13 while you sleep among the campfires, the wings of a dove sheathed with silver, her feathers with s.h.i.+ning gold. 68:14 When the Almighty scattered kings in her, it snowed on Zalmon. 68:15 The mountains of Bashan are majestic mountains. The mountains of Bashan are rugged. 68:16 Why do you look in envy, you rugged mountains, at the mountain where G.o.d chooses to reign? Yes, Yahweh will dwell there forever. 68:17 The chariots of G.o.d are tens of thousands and thousands of thousands. The Lord is among them, from Sinai, into the sanctuary. 68:18 You have ascended on high. You have led away captives. You have received gifts among men, yes, among the rebellious also, that Yah G.o.d might dwell there. 68:19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burdens, even the G.o.d who is our salvation.

Selah. 68:20 G.o.d is to us a G.o.d of deliverance. To Yahweh, the Lord, belongs escape from death. 68:21 But G.o.d will strike through the head of his enemies, the hairy scalp of such a one as still continues in his guiltiness. 68:22 The Lord said, "I will bring you again from Bashan, I will bring you again from the depths of the sea; 68:23 That you may crush them, dipping your foot in blood, that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from your enemies." 68:24 They have seen your processions, G.o.d, even the processions of my G.o.d, my King, into the sanctuary. 68:25 The singers went before, the minstrels followed after, in the midst of the ladies playing with tambourines, 68:26 "Bless G.o.d in the congregations, even the Lord in the a.s.sembly of Israel!" 68:27 There is little Benjamin, their ruler, the princes of Judah, their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali. 68:28 Your G.o.d has commanded your strength. Strengthen, G.o.d, that which you have done for us. 68:29 Because of your temple at Jerusalem, kings shall bring presents to you. 68:30 Rebuke the wild animal of the reeds, the mult.i.tude of the bulls, with the calves of the peoples. Being humbled, may it bring bars of silver. Scatter the nations that delight in war.

68:31 Princes shall come out of Egypt. Ethiopia shall hurry to stretch out her hands to G.o.d. 68:32 Sing to G.o.d, you kingdoms of the earth! Sing praises to the Lord! Selah. 68:33 To him who rides on the heaven of heavens, which are of old; behold, he utters his voice, a mighty voice.

68:34 Ascribe strength to G.o.d! His excellency is over Israel, his strength is in the skies. 68:35 You are awesome, G.o.d, in your sanctuaries. The G.o.d of Israel gives strength and power to his people.

Praise be to G.o.d!

Psalm 69

For the Chief Musician. To the tune of "Lilies." By David.

69:1 Save me, G.o.d, for the waters have come up to my neck! 69:2 I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold. I have come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. 69:3 I am weary with my crying. My throat is dry. My eyes fail, looking for my G.o.d. 69:4 Those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head. Those who want to cut me off, being my enemies wrongfully, are mighty. I have to restore what I didn't take away. 69:5 G.o.d, you know my foolishness. My sins aren't hidden from you. 69:6 Don't let those who wait for you be shamed through me, Lord Yahweh of Armies. Don't let those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me, G.o.d of Israel. 69:7 Because for your sake, I have borne reproach. Shame has covered my face. 69:8 I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my mother's children. 69:9 For the zeal of your house consumes me. The reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me. 69:10 When I wept and I fasted, that was to my reproach.

69:11 When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them.

69:12 Those who sit in the gate talk about me. I am the song of the drunkards. 69:13 But as for me, my prayer is to you, Yahweh, in an acceptable time. G.o.d, in the abundance of your loving kindness, answer me in the truth of your salvation. 69:14 Deliver me out of the mire, and don't let me sink. Let me be delivered from those who hate me, and out of the deep waters. 69:15 Don't let the flood waters overwhelm me, neither let the deep swallow me up. Don't let the pit shut its mouth on me. 69:16 Answer me, Yahweh, for your loving kindness is good. According to the mult.i.tude of your tender mercies, turn to me. 69:17 Don't hide your face from your servant, for I am in distress. Answer me speedily!

69:18 Draw near to my soul, and redeem it. Ransom me because of my enemies. 69:19 You know my reproach, my shame, and my dishonor. My adversaries are all before you. 69:20 Reproach has broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness. I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; for comforters, but I found none. 69:21 They also gave me gall for my food. In my thirst, they gave me vinegar to drink. 69:22 Let their table before them become a snare. May it become a retribution and a trap. 69:23 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they can't see. Let their backs be continually bent. 69:24 Pour out your indignation on them. Let the fierceness of your anger overtake them. 69:25 Let their habitation be desolate. Let no one dwell in their tents. 69:26 For they persecute him whom you have wounded. They tell of the sorrow of those whom you have hurt. 69:27 Charge them with crime upon crime. Don't let them come into your righteousness. 69:28 Let them be blotted out of the book of life, and not be written with the righteous. 69:29 But I am in pain and distress. Let your salvation, G.o.d, protect me. 69:30 I will praise the name of G.o.d with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. 69:31 It will please Yahweh better than an ox, or a bull that has horns and hoofs. 69:32 The humble have seen it, and are glad.

You who seek after G.o.d, let your heart live. 69:33 For Yahweh hears the needy, and doesn't despise his captive people. 69:34 Let heaven and earth praise him; the seas, and everything that moves therein! 69:35 For G.o.d will save Zion, and build the cities of Judah. They shall settle there, and own it. 69:36 The children also of his servants shall inherit it. Those who love his name shall dwell therein.