本日經文提要( 詩篇 30:1~ 37:40)
.本篇經文當中,有哪些是當我們遇到困難時,可以向神禱告的經文?
1
詩30:1〔大衛在獻殿的時候,作這詩歌。〕耶和華阿,我要尊崇你,因為你曾提拔我,不叫仇敵向我誇耀。
詩30:2耶和華我的神阿,我曾呼求你,你醫治了我。
詩30:3耶和華阿,你曾把我的靈魂從陰間救上來,使我存活,不至於下坑。
詩30:4耶和華的聖民哪,你們要歌頌他,稱讚他可記念的聖名
詩30:5因為他的怒氣不過是轉眼之間,他的恩典乃是一生之久,一宿雖然有哭泣,早晨便必歡呼。
詩30:6至於我,我凡事平順,便說:我永不動搖。
詩30:7耶和華阿,你曾施恩,叫我的江山穩固,你掩了面,我就驚惶。
詩30:8耶和華阿,我曾求告你,我向耶和華懇求,說:
詩30:9我被害流血,下到坑中,有甚麼益處呢,塵土豈能稱讚你,傳說你的誠實麼。
詩30:10耶和華阿,求你應允我,憐恤我。耶和華阿,求你幫助我。
詩30:11你已將我的哀哭變為跳舞,將我的麻衣脫去,給我披上喜樂。
詩30:12好叫我的靈〔原文作榮耀〕歌頌你,並不住聲。耶和華我的神阿,我要稱謝你,直到永遠。
詩31:1〔大衛的詩,交與伶長。〕耶和華阿,我投靠你,求你使我永不羞愧,憑你的公義搭救我。
詩31:2求你側耳而聽,快快救我,作我堅固的磐石,拯救我的保障。
詩31:3因為你是我的巖石,我的山寨,所以求你為你名的緣故,引導我,指點我。
詩31:4求你救我脫離人為我暗設的網羅,因為你是我的保障。
詩31:5我將我的靈魂交在你手裡,耶和華誠實的神阿,你救贖了我。
詩31:6我恨惡那信奉虛無之神的人,我卻倚靠耶和華。
詩31:7我要為你的慈愛高興歡喜,因為你見過我的困苦,知道我心中的艱難。
詩31:8你未曾把我交在仇敵手裡,你使我的腳站在寬闊之處。
詩31:9耶和華阿,求你憐恤我,因為我在急難之中,我的眼睛因憂愁而乾癟,連我的身心,也不安舒。
詩31:10我的生命為愁苦所消耗,我的年歲為歎息所曠廢,我的力量因我的罪孽衰敗,我的骨頭也枯乾。
詩31:11我因一切敵人成了羞辱,在我的鄰舍跟前更甚,那認識我的都懼怕我,在外頭看見我的都躲避我。
詩31:12我被人忘記,如同死人,無人記念,我好像破碎的器皿。
詩31:13我聽見了許多人的讒謗,四圍都是驚嚇,他們一同商議攻擊我的時候,就圖謀要害我的性命。
詩31:14耶和華阿,我仍舊倚靠你,我說:你是我的神。
詩31:15我終身的事在你手中,求你救我脫離仇敵的手,和那些逼迫我的人。
詩31:16求你使你的臉光照僕人,憑你的慈愛拯救我。
詩31:17耶和華阿,求你叫我不至羞愧,因為我曾呼籲你,求你使惡人羞愧,使他們在陰間緘默無聲。
詩31:18那撒謊的人,逞驕傲輕慢,出狂妄的話攻擊義人,願他的嘴啞而無言。
詩31:19敬畏你投靠你的人,你為他們所積存的,在世人面前所施行的恩惠,是何等大呢。
詩31:20你必把他們藏在你面前的隱密處,免得遇見人的計謀,你必暗暗地保守他們在亭子裡,免受口舌的爭鬧。
詩31:21耶和華是應當稱頌的,因為他在堅固城裡,向我施展奇妙的慈愛。
詩31:22至於我,我曾急促的說:我從你眼前被隔絕,然而,我呼求你的時候,你仍聽我懇求的聲音。
詩31:23耶和華的聖民哪,你們都要愛他,耶和華保護誠實人,足足報應行事驕傲的人。
詩31:24凡仰望耶和華的人,你們都要壯膽,堅固你們的心。
詩32:1〔大衛的訓誨詩。〕得赦免其過,遮蓋其罪的,這人是有福的。
詩32:2凡心裡沒有詭詐,耶和華不算為有罪的,這人是有福的。
詩32:3我閉口不認罪的時候,因終日唉哼,而骨頭枯乾。
詩32:4黑夜白日,你的手在我身上沉重,我的精液耗盡,如同夏天的乾旱。〔細拉〕
詩32:5我向你陳明我的罪,不隱瞞我的惡,我說:我要向耶和華承認我的過犯,你就赦免我的罪惡。〔細拉〕
詩32:6為此,凡虔誠人,都當趁你可尋找的時候禱告你,大水泛溢的時候,必不能到他那裡。
詩32:7你是我藏身之處,你必保佑我脫離苦難,以得救的樂歌,四面環繞我。〔細拉〕
詩32:8我要教導你,指示你當行的路,我要定睛在你身上勸戒你。
詩32:9你不可像那無知的騾馬,必用嚼環轡頭勒住他,不然,就不能馴服。
詩32:10惡人必多受苦楚,惟獨倚靠耶和華的,必有慈愛四面環繞他。
詩32:11你們義人應當靠耶和華歡喜快樂,你們心裡正直的人,都當歡呼。
詩33:1義人哪,你們應當靠耶和華歡樂,正直人的讚美是合宜的。
詩33:2你們應當彈琴稱謝耶和華,用十絃瑟歌頌他。
詩33:3應當向他唱新歌,彈得巧妙,聲音洪亮。
詩33:4因為耶和華的言語正直,凡他所作的,盡都誠實。
詩33:5他喜愛仁義公平,遍地滿了耶和華的慈愛。
詩33:6諸天藉耶和華的命而造,萬象藉他口中的氣而成。
詩33:7他聚集海水如壘,收藏深洋在庫房。
詩33:8願全地都敬畏耶和華,願世上的居民,都懼怕他。
詩33:9因為他說有,就有,命立,就立。
詩33:10耶和華使列國的籌算歸於無有,使眾民的思念無有功效。
詩33:11耶和華的籌算永遠立定,他心中的思念萬代常存。
詩33:12以耶和華為神的,那國是有福的,他所揀選為自己產業的,那民是有福的。
詩33:13耶和華從天上觀看,他看見一切的世人。
詩33:14從他的居所,往外察看地上一切的居民。
詩33:15他是那造成他們眾人心的,留意他們一切作為的。
詩33:16君王不能因兵多得勝,勇士不能因力大得救。
詩33:17靠馬得救是枉然的,馬也不能因力大救人。
詩33:18耶和華的眼目,看顧敬畏他的人,和仰望他慈愛的人,
詩33:19要救他們的命脫離死亡,並使他們在饑荒中存活。
詩33:20我們的心向來等候耶和華,他是我們的幫助,我們的盾牌。
詩33:21我們的心必靠他歡喜,因為我們向來倚靠他的聖名。
詩33:22耶和華阿,求你照著我們所仰望你的,向我們施行慈愛。
詩34:1〔大衛在亞比米勒面前裝瘋,被他趕出去,就作這詩。〕我要時時稱頌耶和華,讚美他的話必常在我口中。
詩34:2我的心必因耶和華誇耀,謙卑人聽見,就要喜樂。
詩34:3你們和我當稱耶和華為大,一同高舉他的名。
詩34:4我曾尋求耶和華,他就應允我,救我脫離了一切的恐懼。
詩34:5凡仰望他的,便有光榮,他們的臉,必不蒙羞。
詩34:6我這困苦人呼求,耶和華便垂聽,救我脫離一切患難。
詩34:7耶和華的使者,在敬畏他的人四圍安營,搭救他們。
詩34:8你們要嘗嘗主恩的滋味,便知道他是美善,投靠他的人有福了。
詩34:9耶和華的聖民哪,你們當敬畏他,因敬畏他的一無所缺。
詩34:10少壯獅子,還缺食忍餓,但尋求耶和華的,甚麼好處都不缺。
詩34:11眾弟子阿,你們當來聽我的話,我要將敬畏耶和華的道,教訓你們。
詩34:12有何人喜好存活,愛慕長壽,得享美福。
詩34:13就要禁止舌頭不出惡言,嘴唇不說詭詐的話。
詩34:14要離惡行善,尋求和睦,一心追趕。
詩34:15耶和華的眼目,看顧義人,他的耳朵,聽他們的呼求。
詩34:16耶和華向行惡的人變臉,要從世上除滅他們的名號。
詩34:17義人呼求,耶和華聽見了,便救他們脫離一切患難。
詩34:18耶和華靠近傷心的人,拯救靈性痛悔的人。
詩34:19義人多有苦難,但耶和華救他脫離這一切。
詩34:20又保全他一身的骨頭,連一根也不折斷。
詩34:21惡必害死惡人,恨惡義人的,必被定罪。
詩34:22耶和華救贖他僕人的靈魂,凡投靠他的,必不至定罪。
詩35:1〔大衛的詩。〕耶和華阿,與我相爭的,求你與他們相爭,與我相戰的,求你與他們相戰。
詩35:2拿著大小的盾牌,起來幫助我。
詩35:3抽出槍來,擋住那追趕我的,求你對我的靈魂說:我是拯救你的。
詩35:4願那尋索我命的,蒙羞受辱,願那謀害我的,退後羞愧。
詩35:5願他們像風前的糠,有耶和華的使者趕逐他們。
詩35:6願他們的道路,又暗又滑,有耶和華的使者追趕他們。
詩35:7因他們無故地為我暗設網羅,無故的挖坑,要害我的性命。
詩35:8願災禍忽然臨到他身上,願他暗設的網纏住自己,願他落在其中遭災禍。
詩35:9我的心必靠耶和華快樂,靠他的救恩高興。
詩35:10我的骨頭都要說:耶和華阿,誰能像你救護困苦人,脫離那比他強壯的,救護困苦窮乏人,脫離那搶奪他的。
詩35:11兇惡的見證人起來,盤問我所不知道的事。
詩35:12他們向我以惡報善,使我的靈魂孤苦。
詩35:13至於我,當他們有病的時候,我便穿麻衣,禁食刻苦己心,我所求的都歸到自己的懷中。
詩35:14我這樣行,好像他是我的朋友,我的弟兄,我屈身悲哀,如同人為母親哀痛。
詩35:15我在患難中,他們卻歡喜,大家聚集,我所不認識的那些下流人,聚集攻擊我,他們不住地把我撕裂。
詩35:16他們如同席上好嬉笑的狂妄人,向我咬牙。
詩35:17主阿,你看著不理,要到幾時呢,求你救我的靈魂,脫離他們的殘害,救我的生命,脫離少壯獅子。〔生命原文作獨一者〕
詩35:18我在大會中要稱謝你,在眾民中要讚美你。
詩35:19求你不容那無理與我為仇的,向我誇耀,不容那無故恨我的,向我擠眼。
詩35:20因為他們不說和平話,倒想出詭詐的言語,害地上的安靜人。
詩35:21他們大大張口攻擊我,說:阿哈,阿哈,我們的眼已經看見了。
詩35:22耶和華阿,你已經看見了,求你不要閉口,主阿,求你不要遠離我。
詩35:23我的神我的主阿,求你奮興醒起,判清我的事,伸明我的冤。
詩35:24耶和華我的神阿,求你按你的公義判斷我,不容他們向我誇耀。
詩35:25不容他們心裡說:阿哈,遂我們的心願了,不容他們說:我們已經把他吞了。
詩35:26願那喜歡我遭難的,一同抱愧蒙羞,願那向我妄自尊大的,披慚愧,蒙羞辱。
詩35:27願那喜悅我冤屈得伸的,〔冤屈得伸原文作公義〕歡呼快樂,願他們常說:當尊耶和華為大,耶和華喜悅他的僕人平安。
詩35:28我的舌頭,要終日論說你的公義,時常讚美你。
詩36:1〔耶和華的僕人大衛的詩,交與伶長。〕惡人的罪過,在他心裡說:我眼中不怕神。
詩36:2他自誇自媚,以為他的罪孽終不顯露,不被恨惡。
詩36:3他口中的言語,盡是罪孽詭詐,他與智慧善行,已經斷絕。
詩36:4他在床上圖謀罪孽,定意行不善的道,不憎惡惡事。
詩36:5耶和華阿,你的慈愛,上及諸天,你的信實,達到穹蒼。
詩36:6你的公義,好像高山,你的判斷,如同深淵,耶和華阿,人民牲畜,你都救護。
詩36:7神阿,你的慈愛,何其寶貴,世人投靠在你翅膀的蔭下。
詩36:8他們必因你殿裡的肥甘,得以飽足,你也必叫他們喝你樂河的水。
詩36:9因為在你那裡,有生命的源頭,在你的光中,我們必得見光。
詩36:10願你常施慈愛給認識你的人,常以公義待心裡正直的人。
詩36:11不容驕傲人的腳踐踏我,不容兇惡人的手趕逐我。
詩36:12在那裡作孽的人,已經仆倒,他們被推倒,不能再起來。
詩37:1〔大衛的詩。〕不要為作惡的,心懷不平,也不要向那行不義的,生出嫉妒。
詩37:2因為他們如草快被割下,又如青菜快要枯乾。
詩37:3你當倚靠耶和華而行善,住在地上,以他的信實為糧。
詩37:4又要以耶和華為樂,他就將你心裡所求的賜給你。
詩37:5當將你的事交託耶和華,並倚靠他,他就必成全。
詩37:6他要使你的公義,如光發出,使你的公平,明如正午。
詩37:7你當默然倚靠耶和華,耐性等候他,不要因那道路通達的,和那惡謀成就的,心懷不平。
詩37:8當止住怒氣,離棄忿怒,不要心懷不平,以致作惡。
詩37:9因為作惡的,必被剪除,惟有等候耶和華的,必承受地土。
詩37:10還有片時,惡人要歸於無有,你就是細察他的住處,也要歸於無有。
詩37:11但謙卑人必承受地土,以豐盛的平安為樂。
詩37:12惡人設謀害義人,又向他咬牙。
詩37:13主要笑他,因見他受罰的日子將要來到。
詩37:14惡人已經弓上弦,刀出鞘,要打倒困苦窮乏的人,要殺害行動正直的人。
詩37:15他們的刀,必刺入自己的心,他們的弓,必被折斷。
詩37:16一個義人所有的雖少,強過許多惡人的富餘。
詩37:17因為惡人的膀臂,必被折斷,但耶和華是扶持義人。
詩37:18耶和華知道完全人的日子,他們的產業,要存到永遠。
詩37:19他們在急難的時候,不至羞愧,在饑荒的日子,必得飽足。
詩37:20惡人卻要滅亡,耶和華的仇敵,要像羊羔的脂油,〔或作像草地的華美〕他們要消滅,要如煙消滅。
詩37:21惡人借貸而不償還,義人卻恩待人,並且施捨。
詩37:22蒙耶和華賜福的,必承受地土,被他咒詛的,必被剪除。
詩37:23義人的腳步,被耶和華立定,他的道路,耶和華也喜愛。
詩37:24他雖失腳,也不至全身仆倒,因為耶和華用手攙扶他。〔或作攙扶他的手〕
詩37:25我從前年幼,現在年老,卻未見過義人被棄,也未見過他的後裔討飯。
詩37:26他終日恩待人,借給人,他的後裔也蒙福。
詩37:27你當離惡行善,就可永遠安居。
詩37:28因為耶和華喜愛公平,不撇棄他的聖民,他們永蒙保佑,但惡人的後裔必被剪除。
詩37:29義人必承受地土,永居其上。
詩37:30義人的口談論智慧,他的舌頭講說公平。
詩37:31神的律法在他心裡,他的腳總不滑跌。
詩37:32惡人窺探義人,想要殺他。
詩37:33耶和華必不撇他在惡人手中,當審判的時候,也不定他的罪。
詩37:34你當等候耶和華,遵守他的道,他就抬舉你,使你承受地土,惡人被剪除的時候,你必看見。
詩37:35我見過惡人大有勢力,好像一根青翠樹在本土生發。
詩37:36有人從那裡經過,不料,他沒有了,我也尋找他,卻尋不著。
詩37:37你要細察那完全人,觀看那正直人,因為和平人有好結局。
詩37:38至於犯法的人,必一同滅絕,惡人終必剪除。
詩37:39但義人得救,是由於耶和華,他在患難時作他們的營寨。
詩37:40耶和華幫助他們,解救他們,他解救他們脫離惡人,把他們救出來,因為他們投靠他。
JUN 7 ,2018-The Journey of Grace (157/365) PSALM 30:1~ 37:40
Psalm 30
Psalm 30[a]
A psalm. A song. For the dedication of the temple.[b] Of David.
1 I will exalt you, Lord,
for you lifted me out of the depths
and did not let my enemies gloat over me.
2 Lord my God, I called to you for help,
and you healed me.
3 You, Lord, brought me up from the realm of the dead;
you spared me from going down to the pit.
4 Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people;
praise his holy name.
5 For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may stay for the night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.
6 When I felt secure, I said,
“I will never be shaken.”
7 Lord, when you favored me,
you made my royal mountain[c] stand firm;
but when you hid your face,
I was dismayed.
8 To you, Lord, I called;
to the Lord I cried for mercy:
9 “What is gained if I am silenced,
if I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise you?
Will it proclaim your faithfulness?
10 Hear, Lord, and be merciful to me;
Lord, be my help.”
11 You turned my wailing into dancing;
you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
12 that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.
Lord my God, I will praise you forever.
Psalm 31
Psalm 31[a]
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame;
deliver me in your righteousness.
2 Turn your ear to me,
come quickly to my rescue;
be my rock of refuge,
a strong fortress to save me.
3 Since you are my rock and my fortress,
for the sake of your name lead and guide me.
4 Keep me free from the trap that is set for me,
for you are my refuge.
5 Into your hands I commit my spirit;
deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.
6 I hate those who cling to worthless idols;
as for me, I trust in the Lord.
7 I will be glad and rejoice in your love,
for you saw my affliction
and knew the anguish of my soul.
8 You have not given me into the hands of the enemy
but have set my feet in a spacious place.
9 Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress;
my eyes grow weak with sorrow,
my soul and body with grief.
10 My life is consumed by anguish
and my years by groaning;
my strength fails because of my affliction,[b]
and my bones grow weak.
11 Because of all my enemies,
I am the utter contempt of my neighbors
and an object of dread to my closest friends—
those who see me on the street flee from me.
12 I am forgotten as though I were dead;
I have become like broken pottery.
13 For I hear many whispering,
“Terror on every side!”
They conspire against me
and plot to take my life.
14 But I trust in you, Lord;
I say, “You are my God.”
15 My times are in your hands;
deliver me from the hands of my enemies,
from those who pursue me.
16 Let your face shine on your servant;
save me in your unfailing love.
17 Let me not be put to shame, Lord,
for I have cried out to you;
but let the wicked be put to shame
and be silent in the realm of the dead.
18 Let their lying lips be silenced,
for with pride and contempt
they speak arrogantly against the righteous.
19 How abundant are the good things
that you have stored up for those who fear you,
that you bestow in the sight of all,
on those who take refuge in you.
20 In the shelter of your presence you hide them
from all human intrigues;
you keep them safe in your dwelling
from accusing tongues.
21 Praise be to the Lord,
for he showed me the wonders of his love
when I was in a city under siege.
22 In my alarm I said,
“I am cut off from your sight!”
Yet you heard my cry for mercy
when I called to you for help.
23 Love the Lord, all his faithful people!
The Lord preserves those who are true to him,
but the proud he pays back in full.
24 Be strong and take heart,
all you who hope in the Lord.
Psalm 32 New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 32
Of David. A maskil.[a]
1 Blessed is the one
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
2 Blessed is the one
whose sin the Lord does not count against them
and in whose spirit is no deceit.
3 When I kept silent,
my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night
your hand was heavy on me;
my strength was sapped
as in the heat of summer.[b]
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you
and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess
my transgressions to the Lord.”
And you forgave
the guilt of my sin.
6 Therefore let all the faithful pray to you
while you may be found;
surely the rising of the mighty waters
will not reach them.
7 You are my hiding place;
you will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance.
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
9 Do not be like the horse or the mule,
which have no understanding
but must be controlled by bit and bridle
or they will not come to you.
10 Many are the woes of the wicked,
but the Lord’s unfailing love
surrounds the one who trusts in him.
11 Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous;
sing, all you who are upright in heart!
Psalm 33
Psalm 33
1 Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous;
it is fitting for the upright to praise him.
2 Praise the Lord with the harp;
make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.
3 Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully, and shout for joy.
4 For the word of the Lord is right and true;
he is faithful in all he does.
5 The Lord loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of his unfailing love.
6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
their starry host by the breath of his mouth.
7 He gathers the waters of the sea into jars[a];
he puts the deep into storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear the Lord;
let all the people of the world revere him.
9 For he spoke, and it came to be;
he commanded, and it stood firm.
10 The Lord foils the plans of the nations;
he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.
11 But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever,
the purposes of his heart through all generations.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
the people he chose for his inheritance.
13 From heaven the Lord looks down
and sees all mankind;
14 from his dwelling place he watches
all who live on earth—
15 he who forms the hearts of all,
who considers everything they do.
16 No king is saved by the size of his army;
no warrior escapes by his great strength.
17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance;
despite all its great strength it cannot save.
18 But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him,
on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
19 to deliver them from death
and keep them alive in famine.
20 We wait in hope for the Lord;
he is our help and our shield.
21 In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.
22 May your unfailing love be with us, Lord,
even as we put our hope in you.
Psalm 34
Psalm 34[a][b]
Of David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left.
1 I will extol the Lord at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
2 I will glory in the Lord;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3 Glorify the Lord with me;
let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
6 This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.
8 Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
9 Fear the Lord, you his holy people,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
11 Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 Whoever of you loves life
and desires to see many good days,
13 keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from telling lies.
14 Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are attentive to their cry;
16 but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
to blot out their name from the earth.
17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
19 The righteous person may have many troubles,
but the Lord delivers him from them all;
20 he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.
21 Evil will slay the wicked;
the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord will rescue his servants;
no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.
Psalm 35
Psalm 35
Of David.
1 Contend, Lord, with those who contend with me;
fight against those who fight against me.
2 Take up shield and armor;
arise and come to my aid.
3 Brandish spear and javelin[a]
against those who pursue me.
Say to me,
“I am your salvation.”
4 May those who seek my life
be disgraced and put to shame;
may those who plot my ruin
be turned back in dismay.
5 May they be like chaff before the wind,
with the angel of the Lord driving them away;
6 may their path be dark and slippery,
with the angel of the Lord pursuing them.
7 Since they hid their net for me without cause
and without cause dug a pit for me,
8 may ruin overtake them by surprise—
may the net they hid entangle them,
may they fall into the pit, to their ruin.
9 Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord
and delight in his salvation.
10 My whole being will exclaim,
“Who is like you, Lord?
You rescue the poor from those too strong for them,
the poor and needy from those who rob them.”
11 Ruthless witnesses come forward;
they question me on things I know nothing about.
12 They repay me evil for good
and leave me like one bereaved.
13 Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth
and humbled myself with fasting.
When my prayers returned to me unanswered,
14 I went about mourning
as though for my friend or brother.
I bowed my head in grief
as though weeping for my mother.
15 But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee;
assailants gathered against me without my knowledge.
They slandered me without ceasing.
16 Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked;[b]
they gnashed their teeth at me.
17 How long, Lord, will you look on?
Rescue me from their ravages,
my precious life from these lions.
18 I will give you thanks in the great assembly;
among the throngs I will praise you.
19 Do not let those gloat over me
who are my enemies without cause;
do not let those who hate me without reason
maliciously wink the eye.
20 They do not speak peaceably,
but devise false accusations
against those who live quietly in the land.
21 They sneer at me and say, “Aha! Aha!
With our own eyes we have seen it.”
22 Lord, you have seen this; do not be silent.
Do not be far from me, Lord.
23 Awake, and rise to my defense!
Contend for me, my God and Lord.
24 Vindicate me in your righteousness, Lord my God;
do not let them gloat over me.
25 Do not let them think, “Aha, just what we wanted!”
or say, “We have swallowed him up.”
26 May all who gloat over my distress
be put to shame and confusion;
may all who exalt themselves over me
be clothed with shame and disgrace.
27 May those who delight in my vindication
shout for joy and gladness;
may they always say, “The Lord be exalted,
who delights in the well-being of his servant.”
28 My tongue will proclaim your righteousness,
your praises all day long.
Psalm 36
Psalm 36[a]
For the director of music. Of David the servant of the Lord.
1 I have a message from God in my heart
concerning the sinfulness of the wicked:[b]
There is no fear of God
before their eyes.
2 In their own eyes they flatter themselves
too much to detect or hate their sin.
3 The words of their mouths are wicked and deceitful;
they fail to act wisely or do good.
4 Even on their beds they plot evil;
they commit themselves to a sinful course
and do not reject what is wrong.
5 Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the skies.
6 Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,
your justice like the great deep.
You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.
7 How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!
People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
8 They feast on the abundance of your house;
you give them drink from your river of delights.
9 For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light.
10 Continue your love to those who know you,
your righteousness to the upright in heart.
11 May the foot of the proud not come against me,
nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.
12 See how the evildoers lie fallen—
thrown down, not able to rise!
Psalm 37
Psalm 37[a]
Of David.
1 Do not fret because of those who are evil
or be envious of those who do wrong;
2 for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.
3 Trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun.
7 Be still before the Lord
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.
8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.
9 For those who are evil will be destroyed,
but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.
10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look for them, they will not be found.
11 But the meek will inherit the land
and enjoy peace and prosperity.
12 The wicked plot against the righteous
and gnash their teeth at them;
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
for he knows their day is coming.
14 The wicked draw the sword
and bend the bow
to bring down the poor and needy,
to slay those whose ways are upright.
15 But their swords will pierce their own hearts,
and their bows will be broken.
16 Better the little that the righteous have
than the wealth of many wicked;
17 for the power of the wicked will be broken,
but the Lord upholds the righteous.
18 The blameless spend their days under the Lord’s care,
and their inheritance will endure forever.
19 In times of disaster they will not wither;
in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.
20 But the wicked will perish:
Though the Lord’s enemies are like the flowers of the field,
they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke.
21 The wicked borrow and do not repay,
but the righteous give generously;
22 those the Lord blesses will inherit the land,
but those he curses will be destroyed.
23 The Lord makes firm the steps
of the one who delights in him;
24 though he may stumble, he will not fall,
for the Lord upholds him with his hand.
25 I was young and now I am old,
yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken
or their children begging bread.
26 They are always generous and lend freely;
their children will be a blessing.[b]
27 Turn from evil and do good;
then you will dwell in the land forever.
28 For the Lord loves the just
and will not forsake his faithful ones.
Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed[c];
the offspring of the wicked will perish.
29 The righteous will inherit the land
and dwell in it forever.
30 The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom,
and their tongues speak what is just.
31 The law of their God is in their hearts;
their feet do not slip.
32 The wicked lie in wait for the righteous,
intent on putting them to death;
33 but the Lord will not leave them in the power of the wicked
or let them be condemned when brought to trial.
34 Hope in the Lord
and keep his way.
He will exalt you to inherit the land;
when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it.
35 I have seen a wicked and ruthless man
flourishing like a luxuriant native tree,
36 but he soon passed away and was no more;
though I looked for him, he could not be found.
37 Consider the blameless, observe the upright;
a future awaits those who seek peace.[d]
38 But all sinners will be destroyed;
there will be no future[e] for the wicked.
39 The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord;
he is their stronghold in time of trouble.
40 The Lord helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.