Psalm 35

A psalm of David.

1 Lord, stand up against those who stand up against me.

Fight against those who fight against me.

2 Pick up your large shields and your small shields.

Rise up and help me.

3 Get your spear and javelin ready to fight

against those who are chasing me.

Say to me, “I will save you.”

4 Let those who are trying to kill me

be brought down in dishonor.

Let those who plan to destroy me

be turned back in terror.

5 Let them be like straw blowing in the wind,

while the angel of the Lord drives them away.

6 Let their path be dark and slippery,

while the angel of the Lord chases them.

7 They set a trap for me without any reason.

Without any reason they dug a pit to catch me.

8 So let them be destroyed without warning.

Let the trap they set for me catch them.

Let them fall into the pit and be destroyed.

9 Then I will be full of joy because of what the Lord has done.

I will be glad because he has saved me.

10 My whole being will cry out,

“Who is like you, Lord?

You save poor people from those who are too strong for them.

You save poor and needy people from those who rob them.”

11 Mean people come forward to give witness against me.

They ask me things I don’t know anything about.

12 They pay me back with evil, even though I was good to them.

They leave me without hope.

13 But when they were sick, I put on black clothes.

I made myself low by going without food.

My prayers for them weren’t always answered.

14 So I went around crying

as if I were crying over my friend or relative.

I bowed my head in sadness

as if I were sobbing over my mother.

15 But when I tripped and fell, they were all very happy.

Attackers gathered against me when I didn’t even know it.

They kept on telling lies about me.

16 They were like ungodly people. They made fun of me.

They ground their teeth at me in hate.

17 Lord, how much longer will you just look on?

Save me from their deadly attacks.

Save the only life I have.

Save me from those lions.

18 I will give you thanks in the whole community.

Among all of your people I will praise you.

19 Don’t let those who are my enemies without any reason

laugh at me and make fun of me.

Don’t let those who hate me without any reason

wink at me with an evil purpose.

20 They don’t speak words of peace.

They make up false charges

against those who live quietly in the land.

21 They open their mouths wide at me. They make fun of me.

They say, “With our own eyes we have seen what you did.”

22 Lord, you have seen this. Don’t be silent.

Lord, don’t be far away from me.

23 Wake up! Rise up to help me!

My God and Lord, stand up for me.

24 Lord my God, when you hand down your sentence, let it be in my favor.

You always do what is right.

Don’t let my enemies have the joy of seeing me fall.

25 Don’t let them think, “That’s exactly what we wanted!”

Don’t let them say, “We have swallowed him up.”

26 Let all those who laugh at me because I’m in trouble

be ashamed and bewildered.

Let all who think they are better than I am

put on shame and dishonor as if they were clothes.

27 Let those who are happy when my name is cleared

shout with joy and gladness.

Let them always say, “May the Lord be honored.

He is pleased when everything goes well with the one who serves him.”

28 You always do what is right. My tongue will speak about it

and praise you all day long.

Psalm 36

For the director of music. A psalm of David, the servant of the Lord.

1 Here are the words God has given me to say

about the evil ways of anyone who sins.

He doesn’t have any respect for God.

2 He praises himself so much

that he can’t see his sin or hate it.

3 His mouth speaks words that are evil and false.

He has stopped being wise. He has stopped doing good.

4 Even as he lies in bed he makes evil plans.

He commits himself to a sinful way of life.

He never says no to what is wrong.

5 Lord, your love is as high as the heavens.

Your faithful love reaches up to the skies.

6 You are as holy as the mountains are high.

You are as honest as the oceans are deep.

Lord, you keep people and animals safe.

7 How priceless your faithful love is!

Important and ordinary people alike

find safety in the shadow of your wings.

8 They eat well because there is more than enough in your house.

You let them drink from your river that flows with good things.

9 You have the fountain of life.

We are filled with light because you give us light.

10 Keep on loving those who know you.

Keep on doing right to those whose hearts are honest.

11 Don’t let the feet of those who are proud step on me.

Don’t let the hands of those who are evil drive me away.

12 See how those who do evil have fallen!

They are thrown down. They aren’t able to get up.

Psalm 37

A psalm of David.

1 Don’t be upset because of sinful people.

Don’t be jealous of those who do wrong.

2 Like grass, they will soon dry up.

Like green plants, they will soon die.

3 Trust in the Lord and do good.

Then you will live in the land and enjoy its food.

4 Find your delight in the Lord.

Then he will give you everything your heart really wants.

5 Commit your life to the Lord.

Here is what he will do if you trust in him.

6 He will make your godly ways shine like the dawn.

He will make your honest life shine like the sun at noon.

7 Be still. Be patient. Wait for the Lord to act.

Don’t be upset when other people succeed.

Don’t be upset when they carry out their evil plans.

8 Keep from being angry. Turn away from anger.

Don’t be upset. That only leads to evil.

9 Sinful people will be cut off from the land.

But it will be given to those who put their hope in the Lord.

10 In a little while, there won’t be any more sinners.

Even if you look for them, you won’t be able to find them.

11 But those who are free of pride will be given the land.

They will enjoy great peace.

12 Sinful people make plans to harm those who do what is right.

They grind their teeth at them.

13 But the Lord laughs at those who do evil.

He knows the day is coming when he will judge them.

14 Sinners pull out their swords.

They bend their bows.

They want to kill poor and needy people.

They plan to murder those who lead honest lives.

15 But they will be killed with their own swords.

Their own bows will be broken.

16 Those who do what is right may have very little.

But it’s better than the wealth of many sinners.

17 The power of those who are evil will be broken.

But the Lord takes good care of those who do what is right.

18 Every day the Lord watches over those who are without blame.

What he has given them will last forever.

19 When trouble comes to them, they will have what they need.

When there is little food in the land, they will still have plenty.

20 But sinful people will die.

The Lord’s enemies will be like flowers in the field.

They will disappear like smoke.

21 Sinful people borrow and don’t pay back.

But those who are godly give freely to others.

22 The Lord will give the land to those he blesses.

But he will cut off those he puts a curse on.

23 If the Lord is pleased with the way a man lives,

he makes his steps secure.

24 Even if the man trips, he won’t fall.

The Lord’s hand takes good care of him.

25 I once was young, and now I’m old.

But I’ve never seen godly people deserted.

I’ve never seen their children begging for bread.

26 The godly are always giving and lending freely.

Their children will be blessed.

27 Turn away from evil and do good.

Then you will live in the land forever.

28 The Lord loves those who are honest.

He will not desert those who are faithful to him.

They will be kept safe forever.

But the children of sinners will be cut off from the land.

29 Those who do what is right will be given the land.

They will live in it forever.

30 The mouths of those who do what is right speak words of wisdom.

They say what is honest.

31 God’s law is in their hearts.

Their feet do not slip.

32 Those who are evil hide and wait for godly people.

They are trying to kill them.

33 But the Lord will not leave the godly in their power.

He will not let them be found guilty when they are brought into court.

34 Wait for the Lord to act.

Live as he wants you to.

He will honor you by giving you the land.

When sinners are cut off from it, you will see it.

35 I saw a mean and sinful person.

He was doing well, like a green tree in its own soil.

36 But he soon passed away and was gone.

Even though I looked for him, I couldn’t find him.

37 Think about those who are without blame. Look at those who are honest.

A man who loves peace will have a tomorrow.

38 But all sinners will be destroyed.

Those who are evil won’t have a tomorrow.

They will be cut off from the land.

39 The Lord saves those who do what is right.

He is their place of safety when trouble comes.

40 The Lord helps them and saves them.

He saves them from sinful people

because they go to him for safety.

Psalm 38

A psalm of David. A prayer.

1 Lord, don’t correct me when you are angry.

Don’t punish me when you are burning with anger.

2 You have wounded me with your arrows.

You have struck me with your hand.

3 Because of your anger, my whole body is sick.

Because of my sin, I’m not healthy.

4 My guilt has become too much for me.

It is a load too heavy to carry.

5 My wounds are ugly. They stink.

I’ve been foolish. I have sinned.

6 I am bent over. I’ve been brought very low.

All day long I go around sobbing.

7 My back is filled with burning pain.

My whole body is sick.

8 I am weak. I feel as if I’ve been broken in pieces.

I groan because of the great pain in my heart.

9 Lord, everything I really want is clearly known to you.

You always hear me when I sigh.

10 My heart pounds. My strength is gone.

My eyes can hardly see.

11 My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds.

My neighbors stay far away from me.

12 Those who are trying to kill me set their traps.

Those who want to harm me talk about destroying me.

All day long they plan ways to trick me.

13 I’m like a deaf person. I can’t hear.

I’m like someone who can’t speak, who can’t say a word.

14 I’m like a man who doesn’t hear.

I’m like someone whose mouth can’t make any reply.

15 Lord, I wait for you to help me.

Lord my God, I know you will answer.

16 I said, “Don’t let my enemies have the joy of seeing me fall.

Don’t let them brag when my foot slips.”

17 I am about to fall.

My pain never leaves me.

18 I admit that I have done wrong.

I am troubled by my sin.

19 I have many powerful enemies. They are strong and healthy.

They hate me without any reason.

20 They pay me back with evil, even though I was good to them.

They tell lies about me because I try to do what is good.

21 Lord, don’t desert me.

My God, don’t be far away from me.

22 Lord my Savior,

come quickly to help me.

Psalm 39

For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.

1 I said, “I will be careful about how I live.

I will not sin by what I say.

I will keep my mouth closed

when sinful people are near me.”

2 I was silent and kept quiet.

I didn’t even say anything good.

But the pain inside me grew worse.

3 My heart was deeply troubled.

As I thought about what was happening to me,

I became even more troubled.

Then I spoke out.

4 I said, “Lord, show me when my life will end.

Show me how many days I have left.

Tell me how short my life will be.

5 You have given me only a few days to live.

My whole life doesn’t seem like anything to you.

No man’s life lasts any longer than a breath. Selah

6 People are only shadows as they go here and there.

They rush around, but it doesn’t mean anything.

They pile up wealth, but they don’t know who will get it.

7 “Lord, what can I look forward to now?

You are the only hope I have.

8 Save me from all the wrong things I’ve done.

Don’t let foolish people make fun of me.

9 I keep silent. I don’t open my mouth.

You are the one who has caused all of this to happen.

10 Please stop beating me.

I’m about to die from the blows of your hand.

11 You correct and punish people for their sin.

Just as a moth eats cloth, you destroy their wealth.

No one’s life lasts any longer than a breath. Selah

12 “Lord, hear my prayer.

Listen to my cry for help.

Pay attention to my sobbing.

I’m like a guest in your home.

I’m only a visitor, like all of my family who lived before me.

13 Leave me alone.

Let me be full of joy again before I die.”