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¹Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.

²But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night.

³They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.

⁴But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.

⁵They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly.

⁶For the LORD watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.

¹Why are the nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans?

²The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the LORD and against his anointed one.

³“Let us break their chains,” they cry, “and free ourselves from slavery to God.”

⁴But the one who rules in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them.

⁵Then in anger he rebukes them, terrifying them with his fierce fury.

⁶For the Lord declares, “I have placed my chosen king on the throne in Jerusalem, on my holy mountain.”

⁷The king proclaims the LORD’s decree: “The LORD said to me, ‘You are my son. Today I have become your Father.

⁸Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the whole earth as your possession.

⁹You will break them with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots.’”

¹⁰Now then, you kings, act wisely! Be warned, you rulers of the earth!

¹¹Serve the LORD with reverent fear, and rejoice with trembling.

¹²Submit to God’s royal son, or he will become angry, and you will be destroyed in the midst of all your activities — for his anger flares up in an instant. But what joy for all who take refuge in him!

¹O LORD, I have so many enemies; so many are against me.

²So many are saying, “God will never rescue him!” Interlude

³But you, O LORD, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.

⁴I cried out to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy mountain. Interlude

⁵I lay down and slept, yet I woke up in safety, for the LORD was watching over me.

⁶I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies who surround me on every side.

⁷Arise, O LORD! Rescue me, my God! Slap all my enemies in the face! Shatter the teeth of the wicked!

⁸Victory comes from you, O LORD. May you bless your people. Interlude

¹Answer me when I call to you, O God who declares me innocent. Free me from my troubles. Have mercy on me and hear my prayer.

²How long will you people ruin my reputation? How long will you make groundless accusations? How long will you continue your lies? Interlude

³You can be sure of this: The LORD set apart the godly for himself. The LORD will answer when I call to him.

⁴Don’t sin by letting anger control you. Think about it overnight and remain silent. Interlude

⁵Offer sacrifices in the right spirit, and trust the LORD.

⁶Many people say, “Who will show us better times?” Let your face smile on us, LORD.

⁷You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine.

⁸In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O LORD, will keep me safe.

¹O LORD, hear me as I pray; pay attention to my groaning.

²Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for I pray to no one but you.

³Listen to my voice in the morning, LORD. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.

⁴O God, you take no pleasure in wickedness; you cannot tolerate the sins of the wicked.

⁵Therefore, the proud may not stand in your presence, for you hate all who do evil.

⁶You will destroy those who tell lies. The LORD detests murderers and deceivers.

⁷Because of your unfailing love, I can enter your house; I will worship at your Temple with deepest awe.

⁸Lead me in the right path, O LORD, or my enemies will conquer me. Make your way plain for me to follow.

⁹My enemies cannot speak a truthful word. Their deepest desire is to destroy others. Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave. Their tongues are filled with flattery.

¹⁰O God, declare them guilty. Let them be caught in their own traps. Drive them away because of their many sins, for they have rebelled against you.

¹¹But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Spread your protection over them, that all who love your name may be filled with joy.

¹²For you bless the godly, O LORD; you surround them with your shield of love.

¹O LORD, don’t rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your rage.

²Have compassion on me, LORD, for I am weak. Heal me, LORD, for my bones are in agony.

³I am sick at heart. How long, O LORD, until you restore me?

⁴Return, O LORD, and rescue me. Save me because of your unfailing love.

⁵For the dead do not remember you. Who can praise you from the grave?

⁶I am worn out from sobbing. All night I flood my bed with weeping, drenching it with my tears.

⁷My vision is blurred by grief; my eyes are worn out because of all my enemies.

⁸Go away, all you who do evil, for the LORD has heard my weeping.

⁹The LORD has heard my plea; the LORD will answer my prayer.

¹⁰May all my enemies be disgraced and terrified. May they suddenly turn back in shame.

¹I come to you for protection, O LORD my God. Save me from my persecutors — rescue me!

²If you don’t, they will maul me like a lion, tearing me to pieces with no one to rescue me.

³O LORD my God, if I have done wrong or am guilty of injustice,

⁴if I have betrayed a friend or plundered my enemy without cause,

⁵then let my enemies capture me. Let them trample me into the ground and drag my honor in the dust. Interlude

⁶Arise, O LORD, in anger! Stand up against the fury of my enemies! Wake up, my God, and bring justice!

⁷Gather the nations before you. Rule over them from on high.

⁸The LORD judges the nations. Declare me righteous, O LORD, for I am innocent, O Most High!

⁹End the evil of those who are wicked, and defend the righteous. For you look deep within the mind and heart, O righteous God.

¹⁰God is my shield, saving those whose hearts are true and right.

¹¹God is an honest judge. He is angry with the wicked every day.

¹²If a person does not repent, God will sharpen his sword; he will bend and string his bow.

¹³He will prepare his deadly weapons and shoot his flaming arrows.

¹⁴The wicked conceive evil; they are pregnant with trouble and give birth to lies.

¹⁵They dig a deep pit to trap others, then fall into it themselves.

¹⁶The trouble they make for others backfires on them. The violence they plan falls on their own heads.

¹⁷I will thank the LORD because he is just; I will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.

¹O LORD, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens.

²You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength, silencing your enemies and all who oppose you.

³When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers — the moon and the stars you set in place —

⁴what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?

⁵Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor.

⁶You gave them charge of everything you made, putting all things under their authority —

⁷the flocks and the herds and all the wild animals,

⁸the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea, and everything that swims the ocean currents.

⁹O LORD, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!