Psalm 2

1 Why do the nations conspirea

and the peoples plotw in vain?

2 The kingsx of the earth rise up

and the rulers band together

against the Lord and against his anointed,y saying,

3 “Let us break their chainsz

and throw off their shackles.”a

4 The One enthronedb in heaven laughs;c

the Lord scoffs at them.

5 He rebukes them in his angerd

and terrifies them in his wrath,e saying,

6 “I have installed my kingf

on Zion,g my holy mountain.h”

7 I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:

He said to me, “You are my son;i

today I have become your father.j

8 Ask me,

and I will make the nationsk your inheritance,l

the ends of the earthm your possession.

9 You will break them with a rod of ironb;n

you will dash them to pieceso like pottery.p”

10 Therefore, you kings, be wise;q

be warned, you rulersr of the earth.

11 Serve the Lord with fears

and celebrate his rulet with trembling.u

12 Kiss his son,v or he will be angry

and your way will lead to your destruction,

for his wrathw can flare up in a moment.

Blessedx are all who take refugey in him.

Psalm 3a

A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom.z

1 Lord, how many are my foes!

How many rise up against me!

2 Many are saying of me,

“God will not deliver him.a”b

3 But you, Lord, are a shieldb around me,

my glory, the One who lifts my head high.c

4 I call out to the Lord,d

and he answers me from his holy mountain.e

5 I lie down and sleep;f

I wake again,g because the Lord sustains me.

6 I will not fearh though tens of thousands

assail me on every side.i

7 Arise,j Lord!

Deliver me,k my God!

Strikel all my enemies on the jaw;

break the teethm of the wicked.

8 From the Lord comes deliverance.n

May your blessingo be on your people.

Psalm 4a

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of David.

1 Answer mep when I call to you,

my righteous God.

Give me relief from my distress;q

have mercyr on me and hear my prayer.s

2 How long will you people turn my gloryt into shame?u

How long will you love delusions and seek false godsb?c v

3 Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servantw for himself;

the Lord hearsx when I call to him.

4 Tremble andd do not sin;y

when you are on your beds,z

search your hearts and be silent.

5 Offer the sacrifices of the righteous

and trust in the Lord.a

6 Many, Lord, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?”

Let the light of your face shine on us.b

7 Fill my heartc with joyd

when their grain and new winee abound.

8 In peacef I will lie down and sleep,g

for you alone, Lord,

make me dwell in safety.h

Psalm 5a

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

1 Listeni to my words, Lord,

consider my lament.j

2 Hear my cry for help,k

my King and my God,l

for to you I pray.

3 In the morning,m Lord, you hear my voice;

in the morning I lay my requests before you

and wait expectantly.n

4 For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness;

with you, evil peopleo are not welcome.

5 The arrogantp cannot standq

in your presence.

You hater all who do wrong;

6 you destroy those who tell lies.s

The bloodthirsty and deceitful

you, Lord, detest.

7 But I, by your great love,

can come into your house;

in reverencet I bow downu

toward your holy temple.v

8 Lead me, Lord, in your righteousnessw

because of my enemies—

make your way straightx before me.

9 Not a word from their mouth can be trusted;

their heart is filled with malice.

Their throat is an open grave;y

with their tongues they tell lies.z

10 Declare them guilty, O God!

Let their intrigues be their downfall.

Banish them for their many sins,a

for they have rebelledb against you.

11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad;

let them ever sing for joy.c

Spread your protection over them,

that those who love your named may rejoice in you.e

12 Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous;f

you surround themg with your favor as with a shield.h

Psalm 6a

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. According to sheminith.b A psalm of David.

1 Lord, do not rebuke me in your angeri

or discipline me in your wrath.

2 Have mercy on me,j Lord, for I am faint;k

heal me,l Lord, for my bones are in agony.m

3 My soul is in deep anguish.n

How long,o Lord, how long?

4 Turn,p Lord, and deliver me;

save me because of your unfailing love.q

5 Among the dead no one proclaims your name.

Who praises you from the grave?r

6 I am worn outs from my groaning.t

All night long I flood my bed with weepingu

and drench my couch with tears.v

7 My eyes grow weakw with sorrow;

they fail because of all my foes.

8 Away from me,x all you who do evil,y

for the Lord has heard my weeping.

9 The Lord has heard my cry for mercy;z

the Lord accepts my prayer.

10 All my enemies will be overwhelmed with shame and anguish;a

they will turn back and suddenly be put to shame.b