PSALMS 1-7

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The Righteous and the Wicked Contrasted.1:1 How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,

Nor stand in the path of sinners,

Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!

2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,

And in His law he meditates day and night.

3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,

Which yields its fruit in its season

And its leaf does not wither;

And in whatever he does, he prospers.

4 The wicked are not so,

But they are like chaff which the wind drives away.

5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,

Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

6 For the LORD knows the way of the righteous,

But the way of the wicked will perish.

The Reign of the LORD’S Anointed.2:1 Why are the nations in an uproar

And the peoples devising a vain thing?

2 The kings of the earth take their stand

And the rulers take counsel together

Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying,

3 “Let us tear their fetters apart

And cast away their cords from us!”

4 He who sits in the heavens laughs,

The Lord scoffs at them.

5 Then He will speak to them in His anger

And terrify them in His fury, saying,

6 “But as for Me, I have installed My King

Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”

7 “I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD:

He said to Me, ‘You are My Son,

Today I have begotten You.

8 ‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance,

And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.

9 ‘You shall break them with a rod of iron,

You shall shatter them like earthenware.’”

10 Now therefore, O kings, show discernment;

Take warning, O judges of the earth.

11 Worship the LORD with reverence

And rejoice with trembling.

12 Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way,

For His wrath may soon be kindled.

How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!

Morning Prayer of Trust in God.A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.
3:1 O LORD, how my adversaries have increased!

Many are rising up against me.

2 Many are saying of my soul,

“There is no deliverance for him in God.” Selah.

3 But You, O LORD, are a shield about me,

My glory, and the One who lifts my head.

4 I was crying to the LORD with my voice,

And He answered me from His holy mountain. Selah.

5 I lay down and slept;

I awoke, for the LORD sustains me.

6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people

Who have set themselves against me round about.

7 Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God!

For You have smitten all my enemies on the cheek;

You have shattered the teeth of the wicked.

8 Salvation belongs to the LORD;

Your blessing be upon Your people! Selah.

Evening Prayer of Trust in God.For the choir director; on stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.
4:1 Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!

You have relieved me in my distress;

Be gracious to me and hear my prayer.

2 O sons of men, how long will my honor become a reproach?

How long will you love what is worthless and aim at deception? Selah.

3 But know that the LORD has set apart the godly man for Himself;

The LORD hears when I call to Him.

4 Tremble, and do not sin;

Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,

And trust in the LORD.

6 Many are saying, “Who will show us any good?”

Lift up the light of Your countenance upon us, O LORD!

7 You have put gladness in my heart,

More than when their grain and new wine abound.

8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep,

For You alone, O LORD, make me to dwell in safety.

Prayer for Protection from the Wicked.For the choir director; for flute accompaniment. A Psalm of David.
5:1 Give ear to my words, O LORD,

Consider my groaning.

2 Heed the sound of my cry for help, my King and my God,

For to You I pray.

3 In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice;

In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch.

4 For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness;

No evil dwells with You.

5 The boastful shall not stand before Your eyes;

You hate all who do iniquity.

6 You destroy those who speak falsehood;

The LORD abhors the man of bloodshed and deceit.

7 But as for me, by Your abundant lovingkindness I will enter Your house,

At Your holy temple I will bow in reverence for You.

8 O LORD, lead me in Your righteousness because of my foes;

Make Your way straight before me.

9 There is nothing reliable in what they say;

Their inward part is destruction itself.

Their throat is an open grave;

They flatter with their tongue.

10 Hold them guilty, O God;

By their own devices let them fall!

In the multitude of their transgressions thrust them out,

For they are rebellious against You.

11 But let all who take refuge in You be glad,

Let them ever sing for joy;

And may You shelter them,

That those who love Your name may exult in You.

12 For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O LORD,

You surround him with favor as with a shield.

Prayer for Mercy in Time of Trouble.For the choir director; with stringed instruments, upon an eight-string lyre. A Psalm of David.
6:1 O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your anger,

Nor chasten me in Your wrath.

2 Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am pining away;

Heal me, O LORD, for my bones are dismayed.

3 And my soul is greatly dismayed;

But You, O LORD--how long?

4 Return, O LORD, rescue my soul;

Save me because of Your lovingkindness.

5 For there is no mention of You in death;

In Sheol who will give You thanks?

6 I am weary with my sighing;

Every night I make my bed swim,

I dissolve my couch with my tears.

7 My eye has wasted away with grief;

It has become old because of all my adversaries.

8 Depart from me, all you who do iniquity,

For the LORD has heard the voice of my weeping.

9 The LORD has heard my supplication,

The LORD receives my prayer.

10 All my enemies will be ashamed and greatly dismayed;

They shall turn back, they will suddenly be ashamed.

The LORD Implored to Defend the Psalmist against the Wicked.A Shiggaion of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning Cush, a Benjamite.
7:1 O LORD my God, in You I have taken refuge;

Save me from all those who pursue me, and deliver me,

2 Or he will tear my soul like a lion,

Dragging me away, while there is none to deliver.

3 O LORD my God, if I have done this,

If there is injustice in my hands,

4 If I have rewarded evil to my friend,

Or have plundered him who without cause was my adversary,

5 Let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it;

And let him trample my life down to the ground

And lay my glory in the dust. Selah.

6 Arise, O LORD, in Your anger;

Lift up Yourself against the rage of my adversaries,

And arouse Yourself for me; You have appointed judgment.

7 Let the assembly of the peoples encompass You,

And over them return on high.

8 The LORD judges the peoples;

Vindicate me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and my integrity that is in me.

9 O let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous;

For the righteous God tries the hearts and minds.

10 My shield is with God,

Who saves the upright in heart.

11 God is a righteous judge,

And a God who has indignation every day.

12 If a man does not repent, He will sharpen His sword;

He has bent His bow and made it ready.

13 He has also prepared for Himself deadly weapons;

He makes His arrows fiery shafts.

14 Behold, he travails with wickedness,

And he conceives mischief and brings forth falsehood.

15 He has dug a pit and hollowed it out,

And has fallen into the hole which he made.

16 His mischief will return upon his own head,

And his violence will descend upon his own pate.

17 I will give thanks to the LORD according to His righteousness

And will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.

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