Psalm 141

A psalm of David.

I call to you, Lord, come quickly(A) to me;
    hear me(B) when I call to you.
May my prayer be set before you like incense;(C)
    may the lifting up of my hands(D) be like the evening sacrifice.(E)

Set a guard over my mouth,(F) Lord;
    keep watch over the door of my lips.(G)
Do not let my heart(H) be drawn to what is evil
    so that I take part in wicked deeds(I)
along with those who are evildoers;
    do not let me eat their delicacies.(J)

Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness;
    let him rebuke me(K)—that is oil on my head.(L)
My head will not refuse it,
    for my prayer will still be against the deeds of evildoers.

Their rulers will be thrown down from the cliffs,(M)
    and the wicked will learn that my words were well spoken.
They will say, “As one plows(N) and breaks up the earth,(O)
    so our bones have been scattered at the mouth(P) of the grave.”

But my eyes are fixed(Q) on you, Sovereign Lord;
    in you I take refuge(R)—do not give me over to death.
Keep me safe(S) from the traps set by evildoers,(T)
    from the snares(U) they have laid for me.
10 Let the wicked fall(V) into their own nets,
    while I pass by in safety.(W)

Psalm 142[a]

A maskil[b] of David. When he was in the cave.(X) A prayer.

I cry aloud(Y) to the Lord;
    I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy.(Z)
I pour out before him my complaint;(AA)
    before him I tell my trouble.(AB)

When my spirit grows faint(AC) within me,
    it is you who watch over my way.
In the path where I walk
    people have hidden a snare for me.
Look and see, there is no one at my right hand;
    no one is concerned for me.
I have no refuge;(AD)
    no one cares(AE) for my life.

I cry to you, Lord;
    I say, “You are my refuge,(AF)
    my portion(AG) in the land of the living.”(AH)

Listen to my cry,(AI)
    for I am in desperate need;(AJ)
rescue me(AK) from those who pursue me,
    for they are too strong(AL) for me.
Set me free from my prison,(AM)
    that I may praise your name.(AN)
Then the righteous will gather about me
    because of your goodness to me.(AO)

Psalm 143

A psalm of David.

Lord, hear my prayer,(AP)
    listen to my cry for mercy;(AQ)
in your faithfulness(AR) and righteousness(AS)
    come to my relief.
Do not bring your servant into judgment,
    for no one living is righteous(AT) before you.
The enemy pursues me,
    he crushes me to the ground;
he makes me dwell in the darkness(AU)
    like those long dead.(AV)
So my spirit grows faint within me;
    my heart within me is dismayed.(AW)
I remember(AX) the days of long ago;
    I meditate(AY) on all your works
    and consider what your hands have done.
I spread out my hands(AZ) to you;
    I thirst for you like a parched land.[c]

Answer me quickly,(BA) Lord;
    my spirit fails.(BB)
Do not hide your face(BC) from me
    or I will be like those who go down to the pit.
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,(BD)
    for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way(BE) I should go,
    for to you I entrust my life.(BF)
Rescue me(BG) from my enemies,(BH) Lord,
    for I hide myself in you.
10 Teach me(BI) to do your will,
    for you are my God;(BJ)
may your good Spirit
    lead(BK) me on level ground.(BL)

11 For your name’s sake,(BM) Lord, preserve my life;(BN)
    in your righteousness,(BO) bring me out of trouble.
12 In your unfailing love, silence my enemies;(BP)
    destroy all my foes,(BQ)
    for I am your servant.(BR)

Psalm 144

Of David.

Praise be to the Lord my Rock,(BS)
    who trains my hands for war,
    my fingers for battle.
He is my loving God and my fortress,(BT)
    my stronghold(BU) and my deliverer,
my shield,(BV) in whom I take refuge,
    who subdues peoples[d](BW) under me.

Lord, what are human beings(BX) that you care for them,
    mere mortals that you think of them?
They are like a breath;(BY)
    their days are like a fleeting shadow.(BZ)

Part your heavens,(CA) Lord, and come down;(CB)
    touch the mountains, so that they smoke.(CC)
Send forth lightning(CD) and scatter(CE) the enemy;
    shoot your arrows(CF) and rout them.
Reach down your hand from on high;(CG)
    deliver me and rescue me(CH)
from the mighty waters,(CI)
    from the hands of foreigners(CJ)
whose mouths are full of lies,(CK)
    whose right hands(CL) are deceitful.(CM)

I will sing a new song(CN) to you, my God;
    on the ten-stringed lyre(CO) I will make music to you,
10 to the One who gives victory to kings,(CP)
    who delivers his servant David.(CQ)

From the deadly sword(CR) 11 deliver me;
    rescue me(CS) from the hands of foreigners(CT)
whose mouths are full of lies,(CU)
    whose right hands are deceitful.(CV)

12 Then our sons in their youth
    will be like well-nurtured plants,(CW)
and our daughters will be like pillars(CX)
    carved to adorn a palace.
13 Our barns will be filled(CY)
    with every kind of provision.
Our sheep will increase by thousands,
    by tens of thousands in our fields;
14     our oxen(CZ) will draw heavy loads.[e]
There will be no breaching of walls,(DA)
    no going into captivity,
    no cry of distress in our streets.(DB)
15 Blessed is the people(DC) of whom this is true;
    blessed is the people whose God is the Lord.

Psalm 145[f]

A psalm of praise. Of David.

I will exalt you,(DD) my God the King;(DE)
    I will praise your name(DF) for ever and ever.
Every day I will praise(DG) you
    and extol your name(DH) for ever and ever.

Great(DI) is the Lord and most worthy of praise;(DJ)
    his greatness no one can fathom.(DK)
One generation(DL) commends your works to another;
    they tell(DM) of your mighty acts.(DN)
They speak of the glorious splendor(DO) of your majesty—
    and I will meditate on your wonderful works.[g](DP)
They tell(DQ) of the power of your awesome works—(DR)
    and I will proclaim(DS) your great deeds.(DT)
They celebrate your abundant goodness(DU)
    and joyfully sing(DV) of your righteousness.(DW)

The Lord is gracious and compassionate,(DX)
    slow to anger and rich in love.(DY)

The Lord is good(DZ) to all;
    he has compassion(EA) on all he has made.
10 All your works praise you,(EB) Lord;
    your faithful people extol(EC) you.(ED)
11 They tell of the glory of your kingdom(EE)
    and speak of your might,(EF)
12 so that all people may know of your mighty acts(EG)
    and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.(EH)
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,(EI)
    and your dominion endures through all generations.

The Lord is trustworthy(EJ) in all he promises(EK)
    and faithful in all he does.[h]
14 The Lord upholds(EL) all who fall
    and lifts up all(EM) who are bowed down.(EN)
15 The eyes of all look to you,
    and you give them their food(EO) at the proper time.
16 You open your hand
    and satisfy the desires(EP) of every living thing.

17 The Lord is righteous(EQ) in all his ways
    and faithful in all he does.(ER)
18 The Lord is near(ES) to all who call on him,(ET)
    to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desires(EU) of those who fear him;(EV)
    he hears their cry(EW) and saves them.(EX)
20 The Lord watches over(EY) all who love him,(EZ)
    but all the wicked he will destroy.(FA)

21 My mouth will speak(FB) in praise of the Lord.
    Let every creature(FC) praise his holy name(FD)
    for ever and ever.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 142:1 In Hebrew texts 142:1-7 is numbered 142:2-8.
  2. Psalm 142:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  3. Psalm 143:6 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
  4. Psalm 144:2 Many manuscripts of the Masoretic Text, Dead Sea Scrolls, Aquila, Jerome and Syriac; most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text subdues my people
  5. Psalm 144:14 Or our chieftains will be firmly established
  6. Psalm 145:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the verses of which (including verse 13b) begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
  7. Psalm 145:5 Dead Sea Scrolls and Syriac (see also Septuagint); Masoretic Text On the glorious splendor of your majesty / and on your wonderful works I will meditate
  8. Psalm 145:13 One manuscript of the Masoretic Text, Dead Sea Scrolls and Syriac (see also Septuagint); most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text do not have the last two lines of verse 13.

141 Lord, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee.

Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.

Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.

Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.

When their judges are overthrown in stony places, they shall hear my words; for they are sweet.

Our bones are scattered at the grave's mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth.

But mine eyes are unto thee, O God the Lord: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute.

Keep me from the snares which they have laid for me, and the gins of the workers of iniquity.

10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape.

142 I cried unto the Lord with my voice; with my voice unto the Lord did I make my supplication.

I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble.

When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me.

I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.

I cried unto thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.

Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.

Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.

143 Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.

And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.

For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.

Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.

I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.

I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.

Hear me speedily, O Lord: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.

Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.

Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.

10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.

11 Quicken me, O Lord, for thy name's sake: for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble.

12 And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.

144 Blessed be the Lord my strength which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:

My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me.

Lord, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him!

Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away.

Bow thy heavens, O Lord, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.

Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them.

Send thine hand from above; rid me, and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of strange children;

Whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.

10 It is he that giveth salvation unto kings: who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword.

11 Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood:

12 That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace:

13 That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store: that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets:

14 That our oxen may be strong to labour; that there be no breaking in, nor going out; that there be no complaining in our streets.

15 Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord.

145 I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.

Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.

One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.

I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works.

And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness.

They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness.

The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.

The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.

10 All thy works shall praise thee, O Lord; and thy saints shall bless thee.

11 They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power;

12 To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.

13 Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.

14 The Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.

15 The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season.

16 Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.

17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.

18 The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.

19 He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.

20 The Lord preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.

21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.