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Psalm 141-145
New International Version
Psalm 141-145
New International Version
Psalm 141
A psalm of David.
1 I call to you, Lord, come quickly(A) to me;
hear me(B) when I call to you.
2 May my prayer be set before you like incense;(C)
may the lifting up of my hands(D) be like the evening sacrifice.(E)
3 Set a guard over my mouth,(F) Lord;
keep watch over the door of my lips.(G)
4 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)
5 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.
6 Their rulers will be thrown down from the cliffs,(M)
and the wicked will learn that my words were well spoken.
7 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.”
8 But my eyes are fixed(Q) on you, Sovereign Lord;
in you I take refuge(R)—do not give me over to death.
9 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.
1 I cry aloud(Y) to the Lord;
I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy.(Z)
2 I pour out before him my complaint;(AA)
before him I tell my trouble.(AB)
3 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.
4 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.
6 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.
7 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.
1 Lord, hear my prayer,(AP)
listen to my cry for mercy;(AQ)
in your faithfulness(AR) and righteousness(AS)
come to my relief.
2 Do not bring your servant into judgment,
for no one living is righteous(AT) before you.
3 The enemy pursues me,
he crushes me to the ground;
he makes me dwell in the darkness(AU)
like those long dead.(AV)
4 So my spirit grows faint within me;
my heart within me is dismayed.(AW)
5 I remember(AX) the days of long ago;
I meditate(AY) on all your works
and consider what your hands have done.
6 I spread out my hands(AZ) to you;
I thirst for you like a parched land.[c]
7 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.
8 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)
9 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.
1 Praise be to the Lord my Rock,(BS)
who trains my hands for war,
my fingers for battle.
2 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.
3 Lord, what are human beings(BX) that you care for them,
mere mortals that you think of them?
4 They are like a breath;(BY)
their days are like a fleeting shadow.(BZ)
5 Part your heavens,(CA) Lord, and come down;(CB)
touch the mountains, so that they smoke.(CC)
6 Send forth lightning(CD) and scatter(CE) the enemy;
shoot your arrows(CF) and rout them.
7 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)
8 whose mouths are full of lies,(CK)
whose right hands(CL) are deceitful.(CM)
9 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.
1 I will exalt you,(DD) my God the King;(DE)
I will praise your name(DF) for ever and ever.
2 Every day I will praise(DG) you
and extol your name(DH) for ever and ever.
3 Great(DI) is the Lord and most worthy of praise;(DJ)
his greatness no one can fathom.(DK)
4 One generation(DL) commends your works to another;
they tell(DM) of your mighty acts.(DN)
5 They speak of the glorious splendor(DO) of your majesty—
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.[g](DP)
6 They tell(DQ) of the power of your awesome works—(DR)
and I will proclaim(DS) your great deeds.(DT)
7 They celebrate your abundant goodness(DU)
and joyfully sing(DV) of your righteousness.(DW)
9 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)
Footnotes
- Psalm 142:1 In Hebrew texts 142:1-7 is numbered 142:2-8.
- Psalm 142:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 143:6 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
- 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
- Psalm 144:14 Or our chieftains will be firmly established
- 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.
- 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
- 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.
Psalm 141-145
King James Version
Psalm 141-145
King James Version
141 Lord, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee.
2 Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
3 Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.
4 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.
5 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.
6 When their judges are overthrown in stony places, they shall hear my words; for they are sweet.
7 Our bones are scattered at the grave's mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth.
8 But mine eyes are unto thee, O God the Lord: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute.
9 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.
2 I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble.
3 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.
4 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.
5 I cried unto thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.
6 Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.
7 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.
2 And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.
3 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.
4 Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.
5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.
6 I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.
7 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.
8 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.
9 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:
2 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.
3 Lord, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him!
4 Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away.
5 Bow thy heavens, O Lord, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.
6 Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them.
7 Send thine hand from above; rid me, and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of strange children;
8 Whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
9 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.
2 Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.
3 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.
4 One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.
5 I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works.
6 And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness.
7 They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness.
8 The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.
9 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.
Psalm 141-145
New King James Version
Psalm 141-145
New King James Version
Prayer for Safekeeping from Wickedness
A Psalm of David.
141 Lord, I cry out to You;
Make haste to me!
Give ear to my voice when I cry out to You.
2 Let my prayer be set before You (A)as incense,
(B)The lifting up of my hands as (C)the evening sacrifice.
3 Set a guard, O Lord, over my (D)mouth;
Keep watch over the door of my lips.
4 Do not incline my heart to any evil thing,
To practice wicked works
With men who work iniquity;
(E)And do not let me eat of their delicacies.
5 (F)Let the righteous strike me;
It shall be a kindness.
And let him rebuke me;
It shall be as excellent oil;
Let my head not refuse it.
For still my prayer is against the deeds of the wicked.
6 Their judges are overthrown by the sides of the [a]cliff,
And they hear my words, for they are sweet.
7 Our bones are scattered at the mouth of the grave,
As when one plows and breaks up the earth.
8 But (G)my eyes are upon You, O God the Lord;
In You I take refuge;
[b]Do not leave my soul destitute.
9 Keep me from (H)the snares they have laid for me,
And from the traps of the workers of iniquity.
10 (I)Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
While I escape safely.
A Plea for Relief from Persecutors
A (J)Contemplation[c] of David. A Prayer (K)when he was in the cave.
142 I cry out to the Lord with my voice;
With my voice to the Lord I make my supplication.
2 I pour out my complaint before Him;
I declare before Him my trouble.
3 When my spirit [d]was (L)overwhelmed within me,
Then You knew my path.
In the way in which I walk
They have secretly (M)set a snare for me.
4 Look on my right hand and see,
For there is no one who acknowledges me;
Refuge has failed me;
No one cares for my soul.
5 I cried out to You, O Lord:
I said, “You are my refuge,
My portion in the land of the living.
6 [e]Attend to my cry,
For I am brought very low;
Deliver me from my persecutors,
For they are stronger than I.
7 Bring my soul out of prison,
That I may (N)praise Your name;
The righteous shall surround me,
For You shall deal bountifully with me.”
An Earnest Appeal for Guidance and Deliverance
A Psalm of David.
143 Hear my prayer, O Lord,
Give ear to my supplications!
In Your faithfulness answer me,
And in Your righteousness.
2 Do not enter into judgment with Your servant,
(O)For in Your sight no one living is righteous.
3 For the enemy has persecuted my soul;
He has crushed my life to the ground;
He has made me dwell in [f]darkness,
Like those who have long been dead.
4 (P)Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me;
My heart within me is distressed.
5 (Q)I remember the days of old;
I meditate on all Your works;
I [g]muse on the work of Your hands.
6 I spread out my hands to You;
(R)My soul longs for You like a thirsty land. Selah
7 Answer me speedily, O Lord;
My spirit fails!
Do not hide Your face from me,
(S)Lest I [h]be like those who [i]go down into the pit.
8 Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness (T)in the morning,
For in You do I trust;
(U)Cause me to know the way in which I should walk,
For (V)I lift up my soul to You.
9 Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies;
[j]In You I take shelter.
10 (W)Teach me to do Your will,
For You are my God;
(X)Your Spirit is good.
Lead me in (Y)the land of uprightness.
11 (Z)Revive me, O Lord, for Your name’s sake!
For Your righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.
12 In Your mercy (AA)cut[k] off my enemies,
And destroy all those who afflict my soul;
For I am Your servant.
A Song to the Lord Who Preserves and Prospers His People
A Psalm of David.
144 Blessed be the Lord my Rock,
(AB)Who trains my hands for war,
And my fingers for battle—
2 My lovingkindness and my fortress,
My high tower and my deliverer,
My shield and the One in whom I take refuge,
Who subdues [l]my people under me.
3 (AC)Lord, what is man, that You take knowledge of him?
Or the son of man, that You are mindful of him?
4 (AD)Man is like a breath;
(AE)His days are like a passing shadow.
5 (AF)Bow down Your heavens, O Lord, and come down;
(AG)Touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.
6 (AH)Flash forth lightning and scatter them;
Shoot out Your arrows and destroy them.
7 Stretch out Your hand from above;
Rescue me and deliver me out of great waters,
From the hand of foreigners,
8 Whose mouth (AI)speaks [m]lying words,
And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
9 I will (AJ)sing a new song to You, O God;
On a harp of ten strings I will sing praises to You,
10 The One who gives [n]salvation to kings,
(AK)Who delivers David His servant
From the deadly sword.
11 Rescue me and deliver me from the hand of foreigners,
Whose mouth speaks lying words,
And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood—
12 That our sons may be (AL)as plants grown up in their youth;
That our daughters may be as [o]pillars,
Sculptured in palace style;
13 That our barns may be full,
Supplying all kinds of produce;
That our sheep may bring forth thousands
And ten thousands in our fields;
14 That our oxen may be well laden;
That there be no [p]breaking in or going out;
That there be no outcry in our streets.
15 (AM)Happy are the people who are in such a state;
Happy are the people whose God is the Lord!
A Song of God’s Majesty and Love
(AN)A Praise of David.
145 I will [q]extol You, my God, O King;
And I will bless Your name forever and ever.
2 Every day I will bless You,
And I will praise Your name forever and ever.
3 (AO)Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
And (AP)His greatness is [r]unsearchable.
4 (AQ)One generation shall praise Your works to another,
And shall declare Your mighty acts.
5 [s]I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty,
And [t]on Your wondrous works.
6 Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts,
And I will declare Your greatness.
7 They shall [u]utter the memory of Your great goodness,
And shall sing of Your righteousness.
8 (AR)The Lord is gracious and full of compassion,
Slow to anger and great in mercy.
9 (AS)The Lord is good to all,
And His tender mercies are over all His works.
10 (AT)All Your works shall praise You, O Lord,
And Your saints shall bless You.
11 They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom,
And talk of Your power,
12 To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts,
And the glorious majesty of His kingdom.
13 (AU)Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
And Your dominion endures throughout all [v]generations.
14 The Lord upholds all who fall,
And (AV)raises up all who are bowed down.
15 (AW)The eyes of all look expectantly to You,
And (AX)You give them their food in due season.
16 You open Your hand
(AY)And satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17 The Lord is righteous in all His ways,
Gracious in all His works.
18 (AZ)The Lord is near to all who call upon Him,
To all who call upon Him (BA)in truth.
19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;
He also will hear their cry and save them.
20 (BB)The Lord preserves all who love Him,
But all the wicked He will destroy.
21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord,
And all flesh shall bless His holy name
Forever and ever.
Footnotes
- Psalm 141:6 rock
- Psalm 141:8 Lit. Do not make my soul bare
- Psalm 142:1 Heb. Maschil
- Psalm 142:3 Lit. fainted
- Psalm 142:6 Give heed
- Psalm 143:3 dark places
- Psalm 143:5 ponder
- Psalm 143:7 become
- Psalm 143:7 Die
- Psalm 143:9 LXX, Vg. To You I flee
- Psalm 143:12 put an end to
- Psalm 144:2 So with MT, LXX, Vg.; Syr., Tg. the peoples (cf. 18:47)
- Psalm 144:8 empty or worthless
- Psalm 144:10 deliverance
- Psalm 144:12 corner pillars
- Psalm 144:14 Lit. breach
- Psalm 145:1 praise
- Psalm 145:3 Beyond our understanding
- Psalm 145:5 So with MT, Tg.; DSS, LXX, Syr., Vg. They
- Psalm 145:5 Lit. on the words of Your wondrous works
- Psalm 145:7 eagerly utter, lit. bubble forth
- Psalm 145:13 So with MT, Tg.; DSS, LXX, Syr., Vg. add The Lord is faithful in all His words, And holy in all His works
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.