 Psalm 1 through 15 of the Book of the Psalms. Happy the man who walks not in the council of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers, but in the law of Jehovah is his delight, and in his law he meditates day and night. And he shall be as a tree planted by the water-courses, which yields its fruit in its season, and his leaf shall not wither, and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. Not so are the wicked, but as the chaff which the wind drives away, therefore the wicked shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous, for Jehovah knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked shall perish. Psalm 2. Why do the heathen rage and peoples imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and rulers take counsel together against Jehovah and against his anointed. Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sits in the heavens will laugh, the Lord will deride them, then he will speak to them in his anger, and will confound them in his hot displeasure. Yet it is I that have anointed my king on Zion my holy mount. I will declare the decree. Jehovah said to me, Thou art my son. I this day have begotten thee. Ask of me, and I will give the heathen for thine inheritance, and the ends of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron. Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. Now then ye kings, be wise, be warned ye judges of the earth. Serve Jehovah with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the son, lest he be angry, and ye perish in the way, for quickly will his anger burn. Happy are all who put their trust in him. Psalm 3. A Psalm of David when he fled from Absalom his son. Jehovah, how many are my foes. Many are rising up against me. Many are saying of my soul. There is no salvation for him and God. Pause. But Thou Jehovah art a shield about me. My glory, and he that lifts up my head. With my voice I cry unto Jehovah, and he hears me from his holy mount. Pause. I have laid me down and slept. I have awaked, for Jehovah sustains me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have arrayed themselves against me round about. Arise Jehovah, save me, my God, for Thou hast smitten all my enemies on the cheekbone. The teeth of the wicked Thou hast broken. The salvation is of Jehovah. Thy blessing be upon thy people. Pause. Psalm 4. To the chief musician with stringed instruments. A Psalm of David. When I call, answer Thou me, my righteous God. In the distress Thou didst give me enlargement. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer. Sons of men, how long shall my glory be for shame? How long will ye love vanity? Seek a lie. Pause. But know that Jehovah has set apart his beloved. Jehovah will hear when I call to him. Stand in awe and do not sin. Commune with your heart upon your bed and be still. Pause. Offer sacrifices of righteousness and put your trust in Jehovah. Many are saying, who will cause us to see good? Lift upon us the light of thy countenance, O Jehovah. Thou hast put gladness in my heart more than in the time when their corn and their new wine increased. In peace while I both lay me down and sleep, for Thou, Jehovah, alone, wilt make me dwell in safety. Psalm 5. To the chief musician. To the music of wind instruments. A Psalm of David. Give ear to my words, O Jehovah. Consider my complaint. Attend to the voice of my cry, my king and my God. For to thee will I pray. Jehovah, in the morning shall thou hear my voice. In the morning will I direct my prayer to thee, and will watch. For thou art not a God that has pleasure in wickedness. Evil shall not dwell with thee. The proud shall not stand in thy sight. Thou hatest all workers of iniquity. Thou wilt destroy them that speak falsehood. Jehovah will abhor the bloody and deceitful man. But I, in the abundance of thy kindness, will I come into thy house. I will worship toward thy holy temple in thy fear. Jehovah, lead me in thy righteousness, because of my enemies. Make plain thy way before me. For there is nothing certain in their mouth. Their inward part is corruption. Their throat is an open sepulcher. They make smooth their tongue. Let them bear their guilt, O God. And they shall fall by their own counsels. In the multitude of their transgressions thrust them out, for they have rebelled against thee. But all that trust in thee shall rejoice. They shall ever shout for joy, and thou wilt defend them. And they that love thy name shall be joyful in thee. For thou, Jehovah, wilt bless the righteous. With favor as with a shield wilt thou encompass him. Psalm 6 To the chief musician with stringed instruments upon the eighth. A Psalm of David. Jehovah, do not in thine anger rebuke me, and do not in thy hot displeasure correct me. Be gracious to me, Jehovah, for I waste away. Heal me, Jehovah, for my bones are shaken, and my soul is sorely shaken. And thou, Jehovah, how long? Return, O Jehovah, deliver my soul. Save me for thy mercy's sake. For in death there is no remembrance of thee. In the underworld who will give thee thanks? I am wearied with my groaning. All the night I make my couch to swim. With tears I cause my bed to flow. Mine eye is wasted with grief. Is grown old because of all my adversaries. Depart from me all ye workers of iniquity. For Jehovah has heard the voice of my weeping. Jehovah has heard my supplication. Jehovah will receive my prayer. All my enemies shall be ashamed and sorely dismayed. They shall turn back, shall be ashamed suddenly. Psalm 7. A plaintive song of David, which he sang to Jehovah concerning the words of Cush, a Benjaminite. Jehovah my God, in thee I put my trust. Save me from all my persecutors and deliver me, lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending in pieces, and there be no deliverer. Jehovah my God, if I have done this, if there is iniquity in my hands, if I have requited with evil him that was at peace with me, yea, I have delivered him that without cause oppressed me, then let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it, and tread down my life to the earth, and lay my honor in the dust. Pause. Arise, O Jehovah, in thine anger, raise thyself up amid the wrath of my adversaries, and awake for me. Thou hast commanded judgment, and let the assembly of the peoples encompass thee round, and return to the place on high above them. Jehovah will judge the nations. Judge me, O Jehovah, according to my righteousness, and according to my integrity within me. Let now the evil of the wicked come to an end, and thou wilt establish the just, even trying the hearts and reins, righteous God. My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart. God is a righteous judge, and God is angry every day. If one turn not, he will wet his sword. His bow he has bent and made it ready, and has aimed at him weapons of death. His arrows he will make burning ones. Behold, he will travail with iniquity, and conceive mischief, and bring forth falsehood. He digged a pit, and hollowed it out, and fell into the ditch he made. His mischief will return upon his own head, and upon his crown will his violence descend. I will praise Jehovah according to his righteousness, and will sing praise to the name of Jehovah most high. What is man that thou shouldst be mindful of him, and a son of man that thou shouldst visit him, and shouldst make him little lower than angels, and shouldst crown him with glory and honor, shouldst give him dominion over the works of thy hands, all thou hast put under his feet, sheep and oxen all of them, ye and beasts of the field, bird of heaven and fishes of the sea, that which passes through paths of the sea. Jehovah our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! Psalm 9 To the chief musician, after the melody, death of the son, a Psalm of David. I will praise Jehovah with my whole heart. I will recount all thy wondrous works. I will be glad and rejoice in thee. I will sing praise to thy name most high, when my enemies turn backward, stumble and perish before thee. For thou hast maintained my right and my cause, thou saddest in the throne, judging right. Thou hast rebuked the heathen, hast destroyed the wicked. Their name thou hast blotted out forever and ever. As for the enemy, the desolations are ended forever, and cities hast thou destroyed, their memory even theirs is perished. But Jehovah will sit forever. He has founded his throne for judgment, and he will judge the habitable earth in righteousness. He will judge peoples in uprightness. So let Jehovah be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of distress, and they will trust in thee who know thy name. For thou hast not forsaken them that seek thee Jehovah. Sing praise to Jehovah who dwells in Zion. Make known his deeds among the peoples, that he who makes inquisition for blood has remembered them, has not forgotten the cry of the suffering. Be gracious to me, Jehovah, behold my suffering from them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death, that I may recount all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion, may exult in thy salvation. The heathen have sunk down in the pit they made, in the net which they hid as their own foot taken. Jehovah made himself known. He executed judgment, in the work of his hands was the wicked snared. Music, pause. The wicked shall turn back to the underworld, all the heathen that forget God, for the needy shall not always be forgotten. The hope of the humble shall not perish forever. Arise, Jehovah, let not man prevail. Let the heathen be judged before thee. Put them in fear, O Jehovah. Let the heathen know that they are men. Pause. Psalm 10. Wherefore, O Jehovah, standest thou afar off, hideest thyself in times of distress. The wicked in his pride persecutes the lowly. Let them be taken in the devices which they contrived. For the wicked glories in his soul's desire, and greedy of gain forsakes, contends Jehovah. The wicked through his pride of countenance will not seek. God is not in all his thoughts. His ways are sure at all times. Thy judgments are far above, out of his sight. As for all his adversaries, he scoffs at them. He has said in his heart, I shall not be moved. I shall never be in adversity. With cursing is his mouth filled, and with deceits and extortion under his tongue is mischief and falsehood. He sits in ambush by the villages. In the secret places he slays the innocent, his eyes lurk for the wretched. He lies in wait in the hiding place as a lion in his covert. He lies in wait to seize upon the weak. He seizes upon the weak when he has drawn him into his net. He bows himself. He crouches down, and the wretched fall by his strong ones. He says in his heart, God has forgotten. He has hidden his face. He sees it not forever. Arise, O Jehovah! O God, lift up thy hand. Do not forget the lowly. Wherefore has the wicked contempt God said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it? Thou hast seen. For thou dost look upon trouble and sorrow to set them on thy hand. To thee the wretched will commit it. The orphan's helper hast thou been. Break the arm of the wicked, and the evil man. Thou wilt search out his wickedness till thou find no more. Jehovah is king for ever. The heathen have perished from his land. The desire of the lowly thou hast heard, O Jehovah. Thou wilt confirm their heart. Thou wilt incline thine ear. To judge the orphan and oppressed, that he no more may dread man that is of the earth. Psalm 11. To the chief musician. A Psalm of David. In Jehovah I put my trust. How say ye to my soul? Flea as a bird to your mountain. For lo, the wicked bend the bow. They have fitted their arrow upon the string to shoot covertly at the upright in heart. When the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do? Jehovah is in his holy temple. Jehovah in heaven is his throne. His eyes behold. His eyelids try the sons of men. Jehovah tries the righteous. And the wicked and lover of violence his soul hates. He will reign on the wicked snares, fire and brimstone, and a burning tempest, the portion of their cup. For righteous is Jehovah. He loves righteousness. His countenance beholds the upright. Psalm 12. To the chief musician. On the eighth. A Psalm of David. Save Jehovah for the godly ceases for the faithful fail from the sons of men. They speak falsehood every man with his neighbor, with flattering lips, with a double heart they speak. May Jehovah cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that speaks proud things, who say, with our tongue will we prevail. Our lips are our own. Who is lord over us? For the oppression of the lowly, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith Jehovah. I will set him in safety at whom he scoffs. The sayings of Jehovah are pure sayings, silver tried in a furnace of earth, seven times refined. Thou, Jehovah, wilt keep them, wilt guard them from this generation forever. The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest of the sons of men are exalted. Psalm 13. To the chief musician. A Psalm of David. How long, Jehovah, wilt thou forget me forever? How long wilt thou hide thy face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, bear sorrow in my heart daily? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? Look, I pray, answer me, Jehovah, my God, lighten my eyes lest I sleep the sleep of death, lest my enemies say, I have prevailed over him, lest my foes exult when I am ready to fall. But I, in thy kindness have I trusted, let my heart exult in thy salvation, I will sing to Jehovah, for he has been bountiful to me. Psalm 14. To the chief musician. A Psalm of David. The fool has said in his heart, there is no God. Corrupt, abominable are they in their works. There is none that doeth good. Jehovah looked down from heaven upon the sons of men, to see if there is any that understands, that seeks after God. They have all turned aside, together they are corrupted. There is none that doeth good, not even one. Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, call not upon Jehovah? There were they in great fear, for God is in the righteous generation. Ye put to shame the counsel of the lowly, for Jehovah is his refuge. Oh, for the salvation of Israel out of Zion! When Jehovah turns the captivity of his people, Jacob will exalt, Israel will rejoice. Psalm 15. A Psalm of David. Jehovah, who shall sojourn in thy tabernacle, who shall dwell in thy holy mount? He that walks uprightly and works righteousness and speaks truth in his heart. He has not slandered with his tongue, has not done evil to his fellow, nor taken up a reproach against his neighbor. In his eyes a reprobate is abhorred, but he will honor them that fear Jehovah. If he has sworn to his harm he will not change, his money he has not put out at usury, nor has he taken a bribe against the innocent. He that does these things shall never be moved. The end of Psalms 1 through 15. Recording by Mark Penfold. Psalms 16 through 30 of the book of the Psalms, American Bible Union. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Mark Penfold. Psalms 16 through 30 of the book of the Psalms, American Bible Union. Psalm 16. Memorial Psalm of David. Preserve me, O God, for I trust in thee. Thou my soul hast said to Jehovah, Thou art Lord, my good is not aside from thee. As for the saints who are in the earth they are the excellent in whom is all my delight. Their sorrows shall be multiplied that exchange for another. I will not pour out their drink offerings of blood, and I will not take their names upon my lips. Jehovah is the portion of my heritage and of my cup. Thou wilt maintain my lot. The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places. Yea, I have a goodly heritage. I will bless Jehovah who has counseled me. Also by night my reigns admonish me. I have set Jehovah always before me, because he is on my right hand. I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory exalts. Also my flesh shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not abandon my soul to the underworld. Thou wilt not suffer thy holy one to seek corruption. Thou wilt show me the path of life, fullness of joys in thy presence, pleasures at thy right hand for evermore. Psalm 17. A Prayer of David. Hear, O Jehovah, the right. Be attentive to my cry. Give ear to my prayer, from lips not deceitful. Let my sentence come forth from thy presence. Let thine eyes behold the things that are equal. Thou hast tried my heart. Hast visited by night. Hast assayed me. Thou findest nothing. I have purposed. My mouth shall not transgress. As to the deeds of man. By the word of thy lips I have kept myself from the paths of the violent. My steps have held fast to thy ways. My feet have not wavered. I have called upon thee. For thou wilt answer me, O God. Incline thine ear to me. Hear my speech. Show thy marvelous kindness that thou savest the trusting from such as rise up against them with thy right hand. Keep me as the apple of the eye. In the shadow of thy wings thou wilt hide me. From the wicked that oppress me. My deadly enemies that encompass me round. They are enclosed in their own fat. With their mouth they speak proudly. At our footsteps they have now encompassed us. They have set their eyes to bow us down to the earth. He is like a lion that is greedy for prey. And as a young lion lurking in secret places. Arise, O Jehovah. Confront him. Make him crouch down. Deliver my soul from the wicked. Thy sword from men. Thy hand, Jehovah. From men of the world whose portion is in life. And with thy horde thou wilt fill their belly. They shall be surfited with sons. And leave their excess to their children. As for me in righteousness shall I behold thy face. Shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness. Psalm 18. To the chief musician. By the servant of Jehovah. By David. Who spoke to Jehovah the words of this song in the day when Jehovah had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. And he said, I will love thee, Jehovah, my strength. Jehovah is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock. I will trust in him, my shield, my horn of salvation, my high tower. Praised will I call, Jehovah, and from my enemies shall I be saved. The bands of death encompassed me, and floods of the ungodly made me afraid. The bands of the underworld surrounded me. The snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called upon Jehovah, and unto my God I cried. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry came before him into his ears. Then the earth shook and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains trembled, and were shaken because he was rough. There went up smoke in his nostril, and fire out of his mouth devoured. Coals were kindled from it, and he bowed the heavens and came down, and thick darkness was under his feet. And he rode upon a cherub and did fly, and soared along on wings of the wind. He made darkness his covering, his pavilion round about him. Dark waters, thick clouds of the skies, from the brightness before him his thick clouds passed away. Hail and coals of fire, and Jehovah thundered in the heavens, and the Most High uttered his voice. Hail and coals of fire, and he sent out his arrows and scattered them, and shot forth lightnings and discomfited them. And the channels of water were seen, and the foundations of the world were made bare at thy rebuke, Jehovah, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils. He sent from on high, he took me, he drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me, for they were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my calamity, and Jehovah became a stay for me, and brought me forth to a large place, and delivered me because he delighted in me. Jehovah requited me according to my righteousness. According to the cleanness of my hands he recompensed me, for I have kept the ways of Jehovah, and have not wickedly departed from my God. For all his judgments were before me, and his statutes I put not away from me. And I was upright with him, and kept myself from my iniquity. And Jehovah recompensed me according to my righteousness. According to the cleanness of my hands before his eyes. With the gracious thou wilt show thyself gracious. With an upright man thou wilt show thyself upright. With the pure thou wilt show thyself pure. And with the fro-word thou wilt show thyself fro-word. For thou wilt save an afflicted people. And lofty eyes thou wilt bring low. For thou wilt light my lamp. Jehovah my God will enlighten my darkness. For by thee I shall run through a troop. And by my God I shall leap over a wall. As for God his way is perfect. The word of Jehovah is tried. A shield is he to all that trust in him. For who is God besides Jehovah? And who is a rock save our God? The mighty that girds me with strength, and has made my way perfect. Making my feet like hines, and on my high places he makes me stand. Teaching my hands to war, and a bow of brass is bent by my arms. And thou gavest me the shield of thy salvation. And thy right hand will hold me up, and thy condescension will make me great. Thou wilt enlarge my steps under me, and my ankles waver not. I shall pursue my enemies and overtake them, and shall not turn again till they are consumed. I shall smite them, and they will not be able to rise. They will fall beneath my feet, for thou hast girded me with strength for the battle. Thou wilt make them crouch under me that rise up against me, and thou hast given me the neck of my enemies. And those that hate me, I will destroy them. They will cry, and there is no deliverer to Jehovah, and he answers them not. And I shall beat them small as dust before the wind. As mire of the streets I will pour them out. Thou wilt deliver me from the strife of the people. Thou wilt make me the head of the heathen. A people I have not known shall serve me. At the hearing of the ear they will obey me. Strangers will profess submission to me. Strangers will fade away, and will tremble from their strongholds. Jehovah lives, and blessed be my rock, and let the God of my salvation be exalted. The mighty who avenges me, and has subdued peoples under me. Delivering me from my enemies. Thou wilt lift me above those that rise up against me. From the man of violence, thou wilt rescue me. Therefore I will praise thee, Jehovah, among the heathen, and to thy name will I sing. Great deliverance as he gives to his king, and shows kindness to his anointed, to David and to his seed, for evermore. Psalm 19 To the chief musician, a Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God, and his expanse proclaims his handiwork. Day to day utter speech, and night to night shows knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them has he set a tabernacle for the sun, and he is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber. He rejoices as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heavens, and his circuit unto the ends thereof, and there is nothing hidden from his heat. The law of Jehovah is perfect, converting the soul. The testimony of Jehovah is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of Jehovah are right, rejoicing the heart. The commandment of Jehovah is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of Jehovah is clean, enduring forever. The judgments of Jehovah are truth, they are righteous altogether. More to be desired than gold, and much fine gold, and sweeter than honey, and the dropping of the combs. Moreover, by them is thy servant warned, in keeping them there is great reward. Errors, who can understand? Of hidden ones, do thou acquit me? Also from presumptuous ones, withhold thy servant. Let them not have dominion over me. Then shall I be upright, and be free from great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and meditation of my heart dwell in thy sight, Jehovah, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 20 to the chief musician, a Psalm of David. Jehovah answered thee in the day of trouble, the name of the God of Jacob, defend thee, send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee from Zion. Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice. Grant thee according to thy heart, and fulfill all thy counsel. May we shout for joy in thy deliverance, and in the name of our God lift up a banner. Jehovah, fulfill all thy petitions. Now know I, that Jehovah saves his anointed. He will answer him from his holy heavens with the saving strength of his right hand. Some in chariots, and some in horses. But we, in the name of Jehovah, our God will glory. They have bowed down and fallen, but we are risen and stand upright. Jehovah, save! Let the king answer us in the day we call. Psalm 21 to the chief musician, a Psalm of David. Jehovah, in thy strength shall the king rejoice, and in thy salvation how greatly shall he exult. Thou hast given him his heart's desire, and hast not withholding the request of his lips. Pause. For thou dost anticipate him with blessings of goodness. Thou setest a crown of pure gold on his head. He asked of thee life, and thou gavest it to him length of days for ever and ever. Great is his glory in thy salvation. Honor and majesty thou dost lay upon him. For thou makest him a blessing for ever. Thou dost gladden him with joy by thy countenance. For the king trusts in Jehovah, and through the kindness of the most high he shall not be moved. Thy hand will find out all thy enemies. Thy right hand will find out those that hate thee. Thou wilt make them as a fiery furnace in the time of thine anger. Jehovah will swallow them up in his wrath, and fire will devour them. Their fruit thou wilt destroy from the earth, and their seed from the sons of men. For they spread out evil against thee. They devised a plot. They shall not prevail. For thou wilt make them turn their back. With thy bowstrings thou wilt aim against their face. Exult thyself, Jehovah, in thy strength. We will sing and praise in song thy power. Psalm 22 To the chief musician after the melody Hind of the morning. A Psalm of David. My God. My God. Why hast thou forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning. My God, I cry in the daytime and thou answerest not. And in the night season and there is no quiet for me. But thou art holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel. In thee our fathers trusted. They trusted and thou didst deliver them. To thee they cried and were freed. In thee they trusted and were not ashamed. But I am a worm and not a man. A reproach of men and despised of the people. All that see me mock at me. They thrust out the lip. They shake the head saying, Commit it to Jehovah. He will deliver him. He will rescue him, for he delights in him. But thou art he that took me out of the womb. That made me trust when on my mother's breasts. On thee was I cast from the womb. From the bowels of my mother. Thou art my God. Be not far from me, for trouble is near. For there is no helper. Many bulls have encompassed me. Strong ones of Bashan have beset me round. They gaped upon me with their mouth. A ravening and roaring lion. I am poured out like water. And all my bones are parted. My heart has become like wax. Melted in the midst of my bowels. My strength is dried up like a potchard. And my tongue cleaves to my jaws. And thou wilt lay me in the dust of death. For dogs have encompassed me. The assembly of evildoers have enclosed me. Piercing my hands and my feet. I may number all my bones. They look, they stare upon me. They part my garments among them. And for my vesture they cast lots. But thou Jehovah, be not afar off. O my strength, hasten to my help. Rescue my soul from the sword. My life from the power of the dog. Save me from the lion's mouth. And answer and rescue me from the horns of wild oxen. I will declare thy name to my brethren. In the midst of the assembly will I pray. I will praise thee. Ye that fear Jehovah, praise him. All ye seed of Jacob glorify him. And fear him, all ye seed of Israel. For he is not despised, nor abhorred, the affliction of the afflicted. And he has not hid his face from him. And when he cried to him, he heard, of thee shall be my praise. In the great congregation, my vows I will pay before them that fear him. The humble shall eat and shall be satisfied. They will praise Jehovah that seek him. May your heart live for ever. All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to Jehovah. And all the families of nations shall worship before thee. For the kingdom is Jehovah's. And he is ruler among the nations. They eat and worship all the rich of the earth. Before him shall bow all that go down to the dust. And he that cannot keep his soul alive. A seed shall serve him. It shall be told of the Lord for generations. They shall come and shall make known his righteousness to a people that shall be born, that he has done it. Psalm 23 A Psalm of David Jehovah is my shepherd. I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For thou art with me, thy rod, and thy staff. They comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my adversaries. Thou anointest my head with oil. My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life. And I shall dwell in the house of Jehovah for ever. A Psalm of David The earth is Jehovah's and the fullness thereof, the world and they that dwell therein. For he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the floods. Who shall ascend into the mount of Jehovah and who shall stand in his holy place? He that has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to vanity and has not sworn deceitfully. He shall receive a blessing from Jehovah and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, even Jacob. Pause. Lift up your heads, ye gates, and lift yourselves up, ye everlasting doors, that the King of Glory may come in. Who is this, the King of Glory? Jehovah, strong and mighty. Jehovah, mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, ye gates, and lift up ye everlasting doors, that the King of Glory may come in. Who then is he, the King of Glory? Jehovah of hosts. He is the King of Glory. Pause. Psalm 25. A Psalm of David. To thee, O Jehovah, I will lift up my soul, my God, in thee do I trust. Let me not be ashamed. Let not my enemies triumph over me. Let none that wait for thee be ashamed. Let them be ashamed that transgress without cause. Make me know thy ways, O Jehovah. Teach me thy paths. Make me walk in thy truth and teach me for thou art the God of my salvation. On thee I wait all the day. Remember thy tender mercies, O Jehovah, and thy kindnesses, for they have been of old. The sins of my youth and my trespasses do not remember. According to thy kindness, remember thou me, for thy goodness sake, O Jehovah. Good and upright is Jehovah. Therefore will he direct sinners in the way. He will guide the humble in that which is right, and the humble he will teach his way. All the paths of Jehovah are kindness and truth to such as keep his covenant and his testimonies. For thy name, sake, O Jehovah, thou wilt pardon my iniquity. For it is great. What man is he that fears Jehovah? Him will he instruct in the way he should choose. His soul shall dwell at ease and his seed shall possess the land. The secret of Jehovah is for them that fear him and he makes them know his covenant. Mine eyes are ever toward Jehovah, for he will bring out my feet from the net. Turn unto me and be gracious to me, for I am desolate and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged. Bring thou me out of my distresses. Look on my affliction and my pain and forgive all my sins. Behold, my enemies, that they are many and hate me with cruel hatred. Keep my soul and rescue me. Let me not be ashamed, for I have trusted in thee. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait on thee. Read the book of Jehovah and the book of Jehovah and the book of Jehovah. For I wait on thee. Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles. Psalm 26 A Psalm of David Judge me, O Jehovah, for I have walked in my integrity and in Jehovah have I trusted. I shall not waver. Try me, O Jehovah, and test me. Assay my reigns and my heart, for thy loving kindness is before my eyes and I have walked in thy truth. I have not sat with men of falsehood and I will not go in with dissemblers. I have hated the congregation of evildoers and I will not sit with a wicked. I will wash my hands in innocence and will encompass thine altar, O Jehovah, that I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving and recount all thy wondrous works. Jehovah, I have loved the habitation of thy house and the place where thy glory dwells. Gather not my soul with sinners nor my life with bloody men in whose hands is mischief and their right hand is full of bribes. But as for me, I will walk in my integrity, redeem me and be gracious to me. My foot stands in an even place in the congregations while I bless Jehovah. Psalm 27 A Psalm of David Jehovah is my light and my salvation. Of whom shall I be afraid? Jehovah is the stronghold of my life. Of whom shall I be in dread? When the wicked came upon me to eat up my flesh, my foes, and my enemies, it was they that stumbled and fell. If a host shall encamp against me, my heart will not fear. If war shall rise up against me, in this will I be confident. One thing have I asked of Jehovah. That will I seek after that I may dwell in the house of Jehovah all the days of my life to behold the beauty of Jehovah and to inquire in his temple. For in the day of evil he will hide me in his pavilion. He will conceal me in the covert of his tabernacle. He will set me on high upon a rock and now shall my head be high above my enemies' round about me. And I will offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of triumph. I will sing and will praise Jehovah in song. Hear, O Jehovah, my voice I cry and do thou be gracious to me and answer me. Make ye my face. Thy face, Jehovah, will I seek. Hide not thy face from me. Turn not thy servant away in anger. Thou hast been my help. Cast me not off and forsake me not, O God, of my salvation. When my father and my mother have forsaken me, then Jehovah will receive me. Teach me thy way, O Jehovah. Lead me in a plain path because of my enemies. Give me not up to the will of those for false witnesses have risen up against me and such as breathe out violence. Had I not believed that I should see the goodness of Jehovah in the land of the living, wait on Jehovah. Be of good courage and let thy heart be strong and wait on Jehovah. Psalm 28. A Psalm of David. Unto thee, Jehovah, will I call. My rock, be not deaf to me. And I become like them that go down to the pit. Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to thee for help, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle. Draw me not away with the wicked and with workers of iniquity who speak peace with their neighbors and mischief is in their heart. Give them according to their doing and according to the evil of their deeds. Give them according to the work of their hands. Render to them their dessert with the neighbor of his hands. He will destroy them and not build them up. Blessed be Jehovah because he has heard the voice of my supplications. Jehovah is my strength and my shield. In him my heart trusted and I was helped and my heart shall triumph and with my song will I praise him. Jehovah is strength to them and a stronghold of salvation is he to his anointed. Save thy people for Psalm 29 A Psalm of David Give to Jehovah ye sons of God Give to Jehovah glory and strength Give to Jehovah the glory of his name Worship Jehovah in the beauty of holiness The voice of Jehovah is on the waters The God of glory thunders Jehovah is on the great waters The voice of Jehovah is mighty The voice of Jehovah is full of majesty The voice of Jehovah breaks the cedars and Jehovah breaks the cedars of Lebanon and he makes them skip like a calf Lebanon and Syriac like the young of the wild ox The voice of Jehovah cleaves out flames of fire The voice of Jehovah shakes the wilderness Jehovah shakes the wilderness of Kadesh The voice of Jehovah makes the hinds bring forth and lays bare the forests and in his palace they all say Glory! Jehovah sat in judgment at the flood and Jehovah sits a king forever Jehovah will give strength to his people Jehovah will bless his people with peace Psalm 30 A Psalm A song for the dedication of the house of David I will extol thee Jehovah for thou hast delivered me and hast not made my enemies rejoice over me Jehovah my God I cried to thee for help and thou didst heal me Jehovah thou hast brought up my soul from the underworld thou hast kept me alive that I should not go down to the pit sing praise to Jehovah ye his saints and give praise to his holy memorial for his anger is for a moment in his favor is life weeping may endure for a night but in the morning there is joy and as for me in my prosperity I said Jehovah by thy favor thou madeest my mountain stand strong thou didst hide my face I was troubled to thee Jehovah I call and to Jehovah I make supplication what profit is there in my blood when I go down to the pit will dust praise thee will it declare thy truth hear oh Jehovah and be gracious to me Jehovah be thou my helper thou hast turned for me my morning into dancing with a black cloth and girded me with gladness in order that my glory may sing praise to thee and not be silent Jehovah my God I will give thanks to thee forever the end of Psalms 16 through 30 recording by Mark Penfold Psalms 31 through 45 of the book of the Psalms American Bible Union this LibriVox recording is in the public domain recording by Mark Penfold Psalms 31 through 45 of the book of the Psalms American Bible Union Psalm 31 to the chief musician a Psalm of David in thee Jehovah have I trusted let me never be ashamed deliver me in thy righteousness incline to me thine ear rescue me speedily be thou to me for a rock of defense for a house of refuge for my rock and my fortress are thou and for thy namesake thou wilt guide me and lead me thou wilt bring me out from the net which they hid for me for thou art my defense into thy hand I commit my spirit thou hast redeemed me Jehovah God of truth I have hated them that regard lying vanities but I in Jehovah do I trust I will exult and rejoice in thy kindness for thou hast seen my affliction hast known the troubles of my soul and hast not shut me up in the hand of an enemy hast set my feet in a large place be gracious to me Jehovah for I am in trouble wasted is my eye with grief my soul and my bowels for my life is spent with sorrow and my years with sighing my strength fails because of my iniquity and my bones are wasted because of all my adversaries I am become a reproach and to my neighbors exceedingly and a dread to my acquaintance when they saw me in the street they fled from me I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind I am become like a broken vessel for I heard the slander of many terror was on every side while they consulted together against me they plotted to take away my life but I in thee did I trust Jehovah I said thou art my God my sins are in thy hand rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors cause thy face to shine upon thy servant in thy mercy save me Jehovah let me not be ashamed for I have called upon thee let the wicked be ashamed be put to silence in the underworld let lying lips be struck dumb that speak rudely against the righteous in pride and scorn how great is thy goodness which thou hast laid up for them the sons of men thou wilt hide them in the covert of thy presence from the snares of men thou wilt secrete them in a pavilion from the strife of tongues blessed be Jehovah for he has shown me his marvelous kindness as in a strong city and yet I said in my alarm I am cut off from before thine eyes but thou didst hear the voice of my supplications when I cried to thee for help love Jehovah all ye his saints Jehovah preserves the faithful and abundantly requires him that acts proudly be of good courage and let your heart be strong all ye that hope in Jehovah Psalm 32 didactic Psalm of David happy he whose transgression is forgiven whose sin is covered happy the man to whom Jehovah imputes not iniquity and in whose spirit there is no guile when I kept silence my bones wasted away through my groaning all the day long for day and night thy hand was heavy upon me my moisture is turned into the droughts of summer pause I will make known to thee my sin and my iniquity I have not covered I said I will confess my transgressions to Jehovah and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin for this let every godly one pray to thee in a time when thou mayst be found surely in floods of great waters they will not come near him thou art a hiding place for me thou wilt preserve me from trouble thou wilt surround me with songs of deliverance pause I will instruct thee and will direct thee in the way that thou shouldst go I will give counsel with mine eye upon thee be not as the horse as the mule without understanding with bit and bridle his mouth is to be curbed lest he come near to thee many sorrows are to the wicked but he that trusts in Jehovah mercy will encompass him rejoice in Jehovah and shout for joy all ye upright in heart Psalm 33 rejoice in Jehovah ye righteous praise is becoming to the upright give praise to Jehovah with a harp with a ten-stringed lute sing praise to him sing to him a new song play skillfully with joyful sound for the word of Jehovah is right and all his work is in faithfulness he loves righteousness and judgment the earth is full of the kindness of Jehovah by the word of Jehovah were the heavens made and all their host by the breath of his mouth he gathered the sea as a heap he laid up the depths in storehouses let them be afraid of Jehovah all the earth let them stand in awe of him all the inhabitants of the world for he said it and it was done he commanded and it stood fast Jehovah brought the councils of the nations to knot he frustrated the devices of the peoples the council of Jehovah shall stand forever the devices of his heart to all generations happy the nation whose God is Jehovah the people he has chosen as a heritage for him Jehovah looks from heaven he sees all the sons of man from the place of his habitation he looks on all the inhabitants of the earth he that fashioned all their hearts that considers all their works the king is not saved he is rescued of a host a mighty man is not rescued by great strength the horse is a vain thing for safety and he will not deliver by his great strength behold the eye of Jehovah is on them that fear him on them that hope in his mercy to rescue their soul from death and to keep them alive in famine our soul has waited for Jehovah he is our help and our shield for in him shall our heart rejoice for we have trusted in his holy name let thy mercy Jehovah be upon us according as we have hoped in thee Psalm 34 a Psalm of David when he disguised his reason before Abimelech and he drove him away and he departed I will bless Jehovah at all times his praise shall ever be in my mouth my soul shall make her boast in Jehovah the humble will hear and will be glad magnify Jehovah with me and let us exalt his name together I sought Jehovah and he answered me and from all my fears he delivered me they looked to him and brightened and let not their faces blush this sufferer called and Jehovah heard and saved him out of all his troubles the angel of Jehovah encamps around them that fear him and delivers them taste and see that Jehovah is good happy the man that trusts in him fear Jehovah ye his saints for there is no want to them that fear him young lions lack and suffer hunger but they that seek Jehovah shall want no good come ye sons harken to me I will teach you the fear of Jehovah who is the man that desires life that loves days that he may see good keep thy tongue from evil and thy lips from speaking guile depart from evil and do good seek peace and pursue it the face of Jehovah are toward the righteous and his ears to their cry for help the face of Jehovah is against them that do evil to cut off their memory from the earth they cried and Jehovah heard and rescued them out of all their troubles Jehovah is near to the broken in heart and he will save such as our contrite in spirit many are the evils of the righteous but Jehovah will deliver him out of them all he keeps all his bones and not one of them is broken evil will slay the wicked and they that hate the righteous shall be held guilty Jehovah redeems the soul of his servants and none shall be held guilty that trust in him Psalm 35 a Psalm of David strive oh Jehovah with them that strive with me fight against them that fight against me lay hold of shield and buckler and stand up for my help and draw out the spear and shut up against my pursuers say to my soul I am thy salvation let them be confounded and put to shame that seek for my soul let them be turned back and put to confusion that devise my harm let them be as chaff before the wind and the angel of Jehovah thrust them down let their way be dark and slippery and the angel of Jehovah chase them for without cause for me their pitfall without cause they digged it for my soul let destruction come upon him unawares and his net which he hid let it take him with destruction let him fall therein and my soul shall exult in Jehovah shall rejoice in his salvation all my bones shall say Jehovah who is like thee rescuing the sufferer from one stronger than he the sufferer and the needy from his spoiler cruel witnesses rise up against me what I am not conscious of they ask of me they requite me evil for good forsaken is my soul but as for me in their sickness my clothing was sackcloth I humbled my soul with fasting and my prayer will return into my bosom I behaved as if it were a friend a brother to me I bowed down gloomily as one that mourns for a mother but at my halting they rejoiced and were gathered together and I knew it not they did tear and ceased not among hypocritical mockers for bread they gnashed upon me with their teeth Lord how long will thou look on restore my soul from their destructions my life from the young lions I will give thee thanks in the great congregation in the multitude of people I will praise thee let not them that are wrongfully my enemies rejoice over me nor let them wink with the eye not peace and against the quiet ones of the land they devise words of deceit and they open wide their mouth against me they have said ah ha our eye has seen it thou hast seen it Jehovah be not silent Lord be not far from me arouse thee and awake for my right for my cause my God and my Lord judge me according to thy righteousness Jehovah my God let them not say in their heart ah ha our desire let them not say we have swallowed him up let them be ashamed and put to confusion together that rejoice in my harm let them be clothed with shame and dishonor they that act proudly against me let those shout for joy and be glad that favor my just cause and let them ever say Jehovah be magnified who delights in the welfare of his servant my righteousness of thy praise all the day long Psalm 36 to the chief musician a Psalm of the servant of Jehovah of David the transgression of the wicked says within my heart there is no fear of God before his eyes for he flatters himself in his own eyes till his iniquity be found out to be hated the words of his mouth are falsehood and deceit he devises mischief upon his bed he takes his stand upon a way that is not good he abhors not evil Jehovah thy mercy is in the heavens and thy faithfulness unto the clouds thy righteousness is like the mountains of God thy judgments are a great deep man and beast thou dost save oh Jehovah how precious is thy loving kindness oh God and the sons of man may trust in the world they are fully satisfied with the abundance of thy house and thou wilt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures for with thee is the fountain of life in thy light shall we see light continue thy loving kindness to them that know thee and thy righteousness to the upright in heart let not the foot of pride come against me and let not the hand of the wicked drive me away there are the workers of iniquity fallen they shall soon be cut down like the grass and wither as the green herb trust in Jehovah and do good dwell in the land and feed securely and delight thyself in Jehovah and he will give thee the desires of thy heart commit thy way to Jehovah and trust in him and he will do it and he will bring out thy righteousness as the light and thy righteousness and thy righteousness and he will bring out thy righteousness as the light and thy right as the noon day be silent before Jehovah and wait for him fret not thyself at one that prospers in his way at the man who brings evil devices to pass cease from anger and forsake wrath fret not thyself it is only to do evil for evildoers shall be cut off and those who wait on Jehovah they shall inherit the land for yet a little while they shall consider his place and it shall not be but the humble shall inherit the land and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace the wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes upon him with his teeth the Lord will laugh at him for he sees that his day is coming the wicked have drawn out the sword and they have bent their bow to cast down the humble and needy to slay such as are of upright conduct their sword shall enter into their own heart and their bows shall be broken better is a little that the righteous man has than the abundance of many wicked for the arms of the wicked shall be broken but Jehovah upholds the righteous Jehovah knows the days of the upright and their heritage shall be forever they shall not be ashamed in an evil time and in days of famine they shall be satisfied for the wicked shall perish and the enemies of Jehovah are as the beauty of the pastors they consume in smoke they consume away the wicked borrows and pays not but the righteous shows favor and gives for they that are blessed of him shall inherit the land and they that are cursed of him shall be cut off a man's steps are ordered by Jehovah and he delights in his way for though he fall he shall not be cast down for Jehovah upholds his hand I have been young and have also become old and not forsaken nor his seed begging bread all the day he shows favor and lens and his seed are for a blessing depart from evil and do good and abide forevermore for Jehovah loves judgment and he will not forsake his saints they are preserved forever but the seed of the wicked is cut off the righteous shall inherit the land and shall dwell forever upon it the mouth of the righteous will utter wisdom and his tongue will speak what is right in his heart his steps shall not waver the wicked watches for the righteous and seeks to slay him Jehovah will not leave him in his hand and will not condemn him when he is judged wait on Jehovah and keep his way and he will exalt thee to inherit the land when the wicked are cut off thou shalt see it I saw a wicked man in great power and spreading himself like a tree flourishing in its native soil and one passed by he should not be found mark the perfect man and behold the upright for there is a future to the man of peace but transgressors are destroyed together the future of the wicked is cut off and the salvation of the righteous is of Jehovah their stronghold in time of trouble and Jehovah has helped them and delivered them he will deliver them from the wicked and will save them for they have trusted in him Psalm 38 a Psalm of David to bring to remembrance Jehovah do not in thy wrath rebuke me and do not in thy hot displeasure correct me for thine arrows are sunk into me and thy hand has come down upon me there is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger there is no health in my bones because of my sin for my iniquities are gone over my head as a heavy burden they are too heavy for me my stripes are putrid and running because of my foolishness I writhe I am greatly bowed down I go mourning all the day long for my loins are filled with burning and there is no soundness in my flesh I am benumbed and bruised exceedingly I cry out from the disquietude of my heart Lord all my desire is before thee and my sighing is not hidden from thee my heart flutters my strength fails me and the light of my eyes they also are gone from me my lovers and my friends stand aloof from my stroke and my neighbors stand afar off and they that seek from my soul laced snares and they that search for my harm speak mischievous things and they devise deceits all the day long but I as a deaf man hear not and as a dumb man opens not his mouth and I am as a man that hears not and in his mouth are no reproofs and I wait thou wilt answer oh lord my god for I said lest they shall rejoice over me act proudly against me when my foot wavers for as for me I am ready to halt and my sorrow is continually before me for I will declare my iniquity will be anxious for my sin but my deadly enemies are strong and many are they that hate me without cause and that require me evil for good they oppose me in return for my seeking good forsake me not oh Jehovah my god be not far from me hasten to my help oh lord my salvation Psalm 39 to the chief musician to Jeduthan a Psalm of David I said I will take heed to my ways that I sin not with my tongue I will keep a muzzle to my mouth while the wicked is before me I was dumb with silence I held my peace even from good and my sorrow was stirred my heart was hot within me while I muse the fire kindles I spoke with my tongue make me know oh Jehovah my end and the measure of my days what it is let me know how frail I am behold thou hast made my days as hand breaths and my fleeting life is as nothing before thee surely a mere breath is every man in his best estate pause surely every man walks in a vain show surely they are disquieted in vain he heaps up treasures and knows not who will gather them and now lord what wait I for my hope it is in thee deliver me from all my transgressions do not make me the reproach of fools I was dumb I will not open my mouth because thou didst it remove thy stroke away from me I am consumed by the strife of thy hand with rebukes for iniquity and waste as the moth what he delights in surely every man is vanity pause hear my prayer oh Jehovah and give ear to my cry for help hold not thy peace at my tears for I am a stranger with thee a sojourner like all my fathers look away from me and let me cheer up before I go hence and be no more Psalm 40 to the chief musician a Psalm of David I waited patiently for Jehovah and he inclined to me and heard my cry for help and he brought me out of a horrible pit out of the myery clay and set my feet upon a rock he made my steps firm and he put in my mouth a new song praise to our God many will see and fear and will trust in Jehovah happy the man who has made Jehovah his trust and has not turned unto the proud and such as swerve to falsehood many things hast thou done Jehovah my God thy wonders and thy thoughts toward us they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee I would declare and speak them they are more than can be numbered sacrifice and offering thou hast not desired my ears hast thou opened burnt offering and sin offering thou hast not required then said I lo I come in the volume of the book it is written of me I delight to do thy will oh my God and thy law is within my heart I preached glad tidings of righteousness in the great congregation lo my lips I do not restrain Jehovah thou knowest thy righteousness I have not hid within my heart thy faithfulness and my salvation I have declared I have not concealed by loving kindness and thy truth from the great congregation thou oh Jehovah will not withhold thy compassion from me thy loving kindness and thy truth will ever preserve me for evils have gathered upon me till they are without number my iniquities have overtaken me and I cannot behold them they are more than the hairs of my head and my heart fails me be pleased oh Jehovah to rescue me Jehovah hasten to my help let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it let them be turned backward and put to shame that delight in my harm let them be desolate because of their shame they that say to me aha aha let all that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee let those say always Jehovah be magnified who love thy salvation but I am afflicted and needy and the Lord will think upon me thou art my help and my deliverer my God do not delay Psalm 41 to the chief musician of the soul of David happy he that considers the poor in the day of evil Jehovah will deliver him Jehovah will keep him and preserve him alive he shall be prospered in the land and thou wilt not give him up to the will of his enemies Jehovah will strengthen him on the couch of languishing thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness as for me I said Jehovah be gracious to me heal my soul against thee my enemies say evil of me when will he die in his name perish and if he come to see he speaks falsehood in his heart he gathers up to himself mischief he goes forth he tells it abroad together they whisper against me all they that hate me against me they devise my harm some evil thing they say cleaves fast to him and where he lies he shall rise up no more I said lift if they heal against me and thou Jehovah be gracious to me and raise me up that I may requite them by this I know that thou delightest in me because my enemy shall not triumph over me and as for me in my integrity thou hast upheld me and hast set me before thy face forever blessed be Jehovah God of Israel from everlasting and to everlasting Amen and Amen second book Psalms 42 and 43 to the chief musician didactic Psalm of the sons of Korah as the heart pants after the waterbrooks so does my soul pant for thee oh God my soul thirsts for God for the living God when shall I come and appear before God my tears have become my food day and night while they continually say to me where is thy God these things will I call to mind and pour out my heart within me when I shall pass along in the thick crowd shall move onward with them to the house of God with the voice of joy and praise a festive throng why art thou bowed down my soul and art disquieted within me hope thou in God for I shall yet praise him the help of my countenance and my God my soul is bowed down within me therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan from the hermons from the Mount Mizar deep calls to deep at the noise of thy waterfalls all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me by day will Jehovah command his loving kindness and by night shall his song be with me a prayer to the God of my life I will say to God my rock why hast thou forgotten me why do I go mourning for the oppression of the enemy as with a crushing in my bones my enemies reproach me while they continually say to me why art thou bowed down my soul and why art thou disquieted within me hope thou in God for I shall yet praise him the help of my countenance and my God judge me oh God and plead my cause from an ungodly nation from the deceitful and unjust man thou wilt deliver me for thou art the God of my strength why hast thou cast me off why do I go mourning for the oppression of the enemy send out thy light and thy truth they shall guide me they shall bring me to thy holy mount and to thy tabernacles and I shall come to the altar of God to God my exceeding joy and I will praise thee upon the harp oh God my God why art thou bowed down my soul and why art thou disquieted within me hope thou in God for I shall yet praise him the help of my countenance and my God Psalm 44 to the chief musician didactic Psalm of the sons of Korah oh God we have heard with our ears our fathers have told us the work thou didst work in their days in the days of old thou with thy hand didst dispossess the heathen and then thou planted didst crush peoples and then thou didst extend for not by their sword did they possess the land and their arm did not save them but thy right hand and thy arm and the light of thy countenance because thou didst favor them thou art he my king oh God command deliverances for Jacob through thee shall we push down our foes through thy name shall we tread them under that rise up against us for I will not trust in my bow and my sword will not save me for thou hast saved us from our foes and then that hate us thou hast put to shame in God will we glory all the day and thy name forever will we praise pause yet thou didst cast us off and put us to shame and thou goest not forth with our armies thou makest us turn back from the foe and they that hate us spoil for themselves thou giveest us as sheep for food and scatterest us among the heathen thou sellest thy people for not and hast not increased by the price thou makest us a reproach to our neighbors a scorn and a derision to them that are about us thou makest us a byword among the heathen a shaking of the head among the peoples all the day my disgrace is before me and the shame of my face covers me for the voice of him that reproaches and blasphemes on account of the enemy and revengeur all this is come upon us and we have not forgotten thee and have not been false to thy covenant our heart has not turned back nor our steps declined from thy way that thou shouldst have crushed us in the place of howling beasts and covered over us with a shadow of death if we have forgotten the name of our God and spread out our hands to a strange God shall not God search this out for he knows the secrets of the heart because for thy sake we are slaying all the day long are accounted as sheep for slaughter arouse thee why sleepeth thou, O Lord awake, do not cast off forever wherefore hideest thou thy face forgettest our affliction and our oppression for our soul is bowed down to the dust our belly cleaves to the earth arise a help for us and redeem us for thy mercy's sake Psalm 45 to the chief musician after the melody Lillies didactic Psalm of the sons of Korah a song of delights my heart is overflowing with a goodly theme I say my work is for a king my tongue is the pen of a ready writer fair fair art thou above the sons of men grace is poured into thy lips therefore has God blessed thee forever gird thy sword on the thigh, O mighty one thy honor and thy majesty and in thy majesty ride prosperously for the sake of truth and humble right and thy right hand will teach the fearful deeds thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies peoples shall fall under thee thy throne, O God, is forever and ever a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom thou hast loved righteousness and hated wickedness therefore, God, thy God, has anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows myrrh and allows cassia are all thy garments from palaces of ivory stringed instruments cheer thee, daughters of kings are among thy precious ones at thy right hand stands the queen in gold of o' fear harken, daughter, and behold and incline thine ear and forget thy people and thy father's house and let the king desire thy beauty for he is thy lord and do thou do him homage and the daughter of Tyre with a gift shall port thy favor the rich ones of the people all glorious is the king's daughter within of gold embroidery is her apparel in gaily wrought garments she shall be conducted to the king virgins behind her her companions brought into thee they shall be conducted with gladness and rejoicing they shall enter into the palace of the king in place of thy fathers shall be thy sons thou shalt set them for princes I will cause thy name to be remembered in all generations therefore shall peoples praise thee forever and ever the end of Psalms 31 through 45 Recording by Mark Penfold Psalms 46 through 60 of the book of the Psalms American Bible Union this LibriVox recording is in the public domain recording by Mark Penfold Psalms 46 through 60 of the book of the Psalms American Bible Union Psalm 46 to the chief musician to voices of maidens a song of the sons of Korah God is to us a refuge and strength a help in troubles most surely found therefore we will not fear though the earth change though the mountains be moved into the heart of the seas let its waters roar and foam let the mountains shake with a pause there is a river who streams gladden the city of God the holy place of the dwellings of the most high God is in the midst of her she shall not be moved God will help her at the turning of the morning the heathen raged kingdoms were moved he uttered his voice the earth melted Jehovah of hosts is with us the God of Jacob is a refuge for us Psalm 47 to the chief musician a psalm of the sons of Korah all ye peoples clap your hands shout unto God God is to us a refuge psalm 46 to the chief musician a psalm of the sons of Korah all ye peoples clap your hands shout unto God God is to us a refuge psalm 46 psalm 46 with a voice of triumph for Jehovah most high is terrible a great king over all the earth he will subdue peoples under us and nations under our feet he will choose for us our inheritance the pride of Jacob whom he loved pause God has gone up with shouting Jehovah with sound of trumpet sing praise to God sing praise sing praise to our king sing praise all the earth sing praise in instructive song God reigns over the heathen God sits on his holy throne nobles of the peoples are assembled the people of the God of Abraham for to God belong the shields of the earth he is greatly exalted psalm 48 a psalm a psalm of the sons of Korah great is Jehovah and greatly to be praised in the city of our God beautiful in elevation the joy of the whole earth Mount Zion the sides of the north the city of the great king God is known in her palaces for a refuge for lo the kings were assembled they passed along together they saw then they marveled they were dismayed they fled away trembling took hold on them there pain as of a woman in travail with an east wind the city of hosts in the city of our God God will establish it forever pause we have thought of thy loving kindness oh God in the midst of thy temple as is thy name oh God so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth thy right hand is full of righteousness let Mount Zion rejoice let the daughters of Judah exult because of thy judgments walk about Zion and go round about her number her towers and go through her palaces that ye may tell it to the generation following for this God is our God forever and ever he will guide us until death Psalm 49 to the chief musician a Psalm of the sons of Korah hear this all ye peoples give ear all ye inhabitants of the world both men of low and men of high degree rich and poor together my mouth shall speak wisdom and the meditation of my heart incline my ear to a parable I will open my dark saying on the harp wherefore should I fear in days of evil when the iniquity of my supplantors compasses me about who trust in their might and glory in the abundance of their wealth a brother can know one by any means redeem or give to God a ransom for him for costly is the redemption of their soul and it forever fails that he should live on forever should not see the pit for he shall see it like the fool and the brutish perish and they leave their wealth to others their inward thought is that their houses are forever their dwellings to all generations they call their lands after their own names but man in honor continues not he is like the beasts that perish this is their way to whom folly belongs and they that come after them will delight in their sayings pause like sheep they are laid in the grave death shall feed on them and the upright shall rule over them in the morning and their form shall consume in the grave from its dwelling but God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave for he will take me do not fear because one becomes rich because the glory of his house increases for when he dies he shall take nothing away his glory shall not descend after him though in his life he blesses soul and men praise thee it shall come to the generation of his fathers they shall never see light man that is in honor and understands not is like the beasts that perish Psalm 50 a Psalm of Asaph the mighty one God Jehovah has spoken and has called the earth from the rising of the sun unto its going down out of Zion the perfection of beauty God has shined forth he shall come and shall not keep silence a fire will devour before him and round him tempests rage with violence he will call to the heavens above and to the earth that he may judge his people gather to me my saints who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice and the heavens declare his righteousness for God he is judge pause hear oh my people and I will speak oh Israel and I will testify against thee I am God thy God not for thy sacrifices will I reprove thee and thy burnt offerings are continually before me I will not take a bullock from thy house nor he goats from thy folds for mine is every beast of the forest the cattle on a thousand hills I know every bird of the mountains and the beasts of the field are before me if I were hungry I would not say it to thee for the world is mine and the fullness thereof I will drink the bowls and drink the blood of goats sacrifice to God thanksgiving and pay to the most high thy vows and call upon me in the day of trouble I will deliver thee and thou shalt honor me and to the wicked God says what right has thou to declare my statutes and take my covenant into thy mouth while thou dost hate instruction and cast my words behind thee if thou seeest a thief thou delightest in him and with adulterers is thy portion thy mouth thou hast given up to evil and thy tongue contrives deceit thou sittest and speakest against thy brother at thy mother's son thou dost give a thrust these things hast thou done and I kept silence thou thoughtest I was surely such as thyself I will reproof thee and will array them before thine eyes oh consider this ye that forget God lest I tear in pieces and there be no deliverer he that sacrifices thanksgiving and he that directs his way to him will I show the salvation of God Psalm 51 to the chief musician a Psalm of David when Nathan the prophet came to him after he went into Bathsheba be gracious to me oh God according to thy loving kindness according to the greatness of thy compassion blot out my transgressions wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and from my sin make me clean for my transgressions I know for my sin is before me continually toward thee thee only have I sinned and done the evil in thy sight that thou mayest be just when thou speakest be pure when thou judgest behold in iniquity was I brought forth and in sin did my mother conceive me behold thou desirest truth in the reins and in the hidden part thou wilt make me no wisdom thou wilt purge me of sin with hisop and I shall be clean thou wilt wash me and I shall be whiter than snow thou wilt make me hear joy and gladness the bones thou hast broken shall exult hide thy face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities create in me a clean heart oh God and renew a right spirit within me cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy holy spirit from me restore to me the joy of thy salvation and with a free spirit uphold me I will teach transgressors thy ways and sinners shall return to thee deliver me from blood guiltiness oh God oh God of my salvation my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness oh Lord thou wilt open my lips and my mouth shall declare thy praise for thou desirest not sacrifice else what I give it in burnt offering thou delightest not the sacrifices of God the broken spirit a broken and contrite heart oh God thou wilt not despise do good in thy good pleasure to Zion thou wilt build the walls of Jerusalem then wilt thou be pleased with sacrifices of righteousness with burnt offering and whole burnt offering then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar Psalm 52 to the chief musician didactic Psalm of David like the Edomite came and told Saul and said David came to the house of Abimelech why dost thou boast an evil oh mighty man the goodness of God is continual thy tongue devises mischiefs like a sharpened razor working deceit thou lovest evil more than good lying more than to speak righteousness pause thou lovest all devouring words oh deceitful tongue God will also destroy thee forever hold of thee and pluck thee out of the tent and uproot thee from the land of the living pause and the righteous will see and fear and will laugh at him behold the man that makes not God his strength and trusts in the abundance of his riches is strong in his wickedness but I am like a green olive tree in the house of God I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever I will praise thee forever because thou didst it and will wait on thy name for the saints Psalm 53 to the chief musician of moral disease didactic Psalm of David the fool has said in his heart there is no God corrupt and abominable are they in iniquity there is none that doeth good God looked down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if there is any that understands that seeks after God they have all turned back to one and all are they polluted there is none that doeth good not even one have the workers of iniquity no knowledge who eat up my people as they eat bread call not upon God there were they in great fear where no fear was for God has scattered the bones of thy besiegers thou hast put them to shame because God despised them oh for the salvation of Israel out of Zion when God turns the captivity of his people Israel will rejoice Psalm 54 to the chief musician with stringed instruments didactic Psalm of David when the Ziphites came and said to Saul is not David hiding himself with us oh God by thy name save me and in thy might judge me oh God hear my prayer give ear to the words of my mouth for strangers have risen up against me and the violent seek after my soul they have not set God before them pause behold God is a helper for me the Lord is with them that uphold my soul he will return the evil to my enemies in thy truth cut them off with a free will offering will I sacrifice to thee I will praise thy name Jehovah for it is good for out of all distress has he delivered me and my eye has seen its desire on my enemies Psalm 55 to the chief musician with stringed instruments didactic Psalm of David give ear oh God to my prayer and do not hide thyself from my supplication attend to me and answer me I am restless in my complaining and disquieted because of the voice of the enemy on account of the oppression of the wicked for they cause mischief to impend over me and in anger lay a snare for me my heart quakes within me and terrors of death have fallen upon me fear and trembling enter into me and horror overwhelms me and I say oh that I had wings like the dove I would fly away and be at rest low I would wander far away I would lodge in the wilderness pause I would make haste to escape from the stormy wind from the tempest destroy oh Lord divide their tongue for I have seen violence and strife in the city day and night they go about her on her walls and trouble and sorrow are within her corruption is within her and from her marketplace depart not extortion and deceit for it is not an enemy that reproaches me else I could bear it not one that hates me has acted proudly against me else I would hide myself from him but thou a man esteemed my equal my associate and my familiar friend together we hold sweet familiar converse walk to the house of God in the festival crowd desolations are upon them they shall go down alive to the underworld for wickedness is in their dwelling in the midst of them as for me I will call upon God and Jehovah will save me evening and morning and noon will I lament and sigh and he will hear my voice he redeemed my soul in peace from the war against me God will hear and he will answer them even he that sits as judge of old pause to whom there were no changes and they feared not God he put forth his hand against those at peace with him he profaned his covenant smooth are the buttered tones of his mouth but his heart is war softer than oil are his words but they are drawn swords cast thy burden on Jehovah and he will sustain thee he will never suffer the righteous man to be moved but thou oh God wilt bring them down to the pit of destruction bloody and deceitful men shall not live half their days but as for me I will trust in thee Psalm 56 to the chief musician after the melody the mute dove in far off lands memorial Psalm of David when the Philistines seized him in gath for man would devour me continually fighting he oppresses me daily would my enemies devour me for many are they that fight against me proudly what time I am afraid I will put my trust in thee in God will I praise his word in God do I trust I will not fear what can flesh do to me every day they rest my words against me are all their thoughts for evil they gather together they lie in wait shall they escape by iniquity in anger bring down the peoples oh God my wanderings hast thou numbered put thou my tears in thy bottle are they not in thy reckoning then shall my enemies turn back when I cry this I know for God is for me in God will I praise the word in Jehovah will I praise the word in God do I trust I will not fear what can man do to me on me oh God are thy vows I will pay thanksgivings unto thee for thou hast delivered my soul from death well thou not deliver my feet from stumbling that I may walk before God in the light of life Psalm 57 to the chief musician do not destroy memorial Psalm of David when he fled from Saul in the cave be gracious to me oh God be gracious to me for in thee has my soul sought refuge in the shadow of thy wings will I seek refuge until the calamities shall pass by I will cry unto God most high to the mighty who completes the purpose concerning me he will send from heaven and save me whom he that would devour me has reviled pause God will send his mercy and his truth my soul is in the midst of lions I will lie down with them that breathe out flames sons of men whose teeth are spears and arrows and their tongue a sharp sword be thou exalted above the heavens oh God thy glory over all the earth they prepared a net for my steps he bowed down my soul they dug a pit before me they fell into the midst of it pause my heart is fixed oh God my heart is fixed I will sing and will sing praise awake my glory awake luten harp I will awake the dawn I will praise thee among the people I will sing the nations for great unto the heavens is thy mercy and unto the clouds thy truth be thou exalted above the heavens oh God thy glory over all the earth Psalm 58 to the chief musician do not destroy memorial Psalm of David do ye in truth with silence speak righteousness with equity do you judge ye sons of men yea and heart ye work iniquities and meet out the violence of your hands in the land the wicked are estranged from the womb from birth they go astray speaking lies they have poison like the poison of a serpent as a deaf adder stops its ear that hearkens not to the voice of enchanters of one charming with charms well skilled oh God break their teeth in their mouth the fangs of the young lions beat out oh Jehovah they shall melt away as waters flow off he will fit his arrows they shall be as if severed as a snail melts as it goes they have not seen the sun before your pots can feel the thorns as well green as burning he will sweep it away with a tempest the righteous will rejoice that he has seen vengeance his steps he will bathe in the blood of the wicked and men will say verily there is fruit for the righteous verily there is a God that judges in the earth Psalm 59 to the chief musician do not destroy memorial Psalm of David and they watched the house to slay him deliver me from my enemies oh my God thou wilt set me on high from them that rise up against me deliver me from workers of iniquity and from men of blood save me for lo they lie in wait for my soul strong ones are gathered against me not for my transgression and not for my sin oh Jehovah for no iniquity they run and prepare themselves awake to meet me and behold and thou Jehovah God of hosts God of Israel to visit all the heathen spare no iniquitous traitors pause they return at evening they howl like the dog and they go round the city low they belch out with their mouth swords are in their lips for who doth hear but thou Jehovah will laugh at them thou wilt mock at all the heathen my strength I will wait on thee for God is my defense God with his loving kindness will anticipate me the rest my people forget make them real by thy might and bring them down our shield oh Lord a sin of their mouth is the word of their lips and they shall be taken in their pride and for cursing and for the falsehood they tell consume and wrath consume till they are no more and let them know that God rules in Jacob to the ends of the earth pause and they will return at evening will howl like the dog and will go round the city and out for food if they are not sated they will remain all night but as for me I will sing of thy might and will sing aloud of thy loving kindness in the morning for thou hast been a tower of defense for me and a refuge in the day of my distress my strength unto thee will I sing praise for God is my defense my gracious God Psalm 60 to the chief musician after the melody when he strove with Aram the haraim and with Aram of Zoba and Joab returned and smote Edom in the valley of salt twelve thousand oh God thou hast cast us off hast scattered us thou hast angry thou wilt restore to us thou hast made the earthquake thou hast rented heal the breeches thereof for it shakes thou hast showed thy people a hard thing the best given to them that fear thee a banner to be lifted up because of truth pause that thy beloved ones may be delivered save with thy right hand and answer me God has spoken in his holiness I will triumph I will divide Shechem and will meet out the valley of Sukkoth Gilead is mine and Manasseh is mine and Ephraim is the defense of my head Judah is my ruler's staff Moab is my wash basin Philistia cry aloud who will conduct me to the fenced city who has led me unto Edom is it not thou oh God that did cast us off and go ast not forth oh God with our armies give us help from the foe for vain is the deliverance of man through God we will do valiantly and he it is that will tread down our foes the end of Psalms 46 through 60 recording by Mark Penfold