The Psalms.
(This translation of the Psalms has not been proof read. Compare with Bible Treasury Vols. 8, 9 & 18, 19 if text is unclear or apparently wrong.)
PREFACE.
No apology is offered for the close rendering of the Hebrew, often no doubt uncouth to western ears. The aim of a version for public use is wholly different. But the more literal reflection is also full of interest and instruction to those who would weigh the form as well as the substance of the inspired word, whether Old or New; and this is what has been essayed here, however inadequately. This I say for myself in particular, for time failed me with many calls on it to do more than supply what one [Mr Kelly's wife] ever dear to me began, but was compelled by sickness to give up just beyond the first fifty psalms. These first sheets lay for many years in the printer's hands, which it was a little labour of love to complete, with brief notes also on the distinctive aim of each of the hundred and fifty as I understand it. The critical eye may discern slight differences of rendering as to the words translated nation, peoples, and Gentiles. For I felt bound on the one hand not to alter a letter of hers, on the other to be faithful in my part to give, what I believe the precise sense. Also this memorial is given anonymously as all to whom it is of interest will understand that one or other name would not be quite true; and to put both savours to me too much of sentiment, which I dislike publishing especially in divine things.
THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
BOOK FIRST.
Psalm 1.
1 Blessed [is] the man who hath not walked in the counsel of the wicked, and hath not stood in the way of sinners, and hath not sat in the seat of scorners.
2 But in the law of Jehovah [is] his delight, and in his law doth he meditate by day and by night.
3 And he is as a tree planted by the waterbrooks, which yieldeth its fruit in its season, and its leaf fadeth not; and all that he doeth prospereth.
4 The wicked [are] not so, but [are] like the chaff which the wind scattereth.
5 Therefore the wicked shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6 For Jehovah knoweth the way of the righteous; but the way of the wicked shall perish.
Psalm 2.
1 Why have the Gentiles raged, and do the nations meditate a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the princes have consulted together, against Jehovah and against his anointed:
3 "Let us break their bands, and cast away their cords from us."
4 He who sitteth in the heavens laugheth: the Lord derideth them.
5 Then he speaketh unto them in his anger, and in his wrath he confoundeth them:
6 "Yet have I anointed my king upon Zion the mountain of my holiness."
7 "Let me declare the decree; Jehovah said unto me, 'Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
8 Ask of me, and I will give the Gentiles [for] thine inheritance, and the ends of the earth [for] thy possession.
9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; as a potter's vessel shalt thou dash them in pieces.'"
10 And now, O ye kings, be wise; be admonished, ye judges of the earth;
11 Serve Jehovah with fear and rejoice with trembling;
12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and ye perish in the way when his anger consumeth but a little: blessed [are] all who trust in him.
Psalm 3.
1 A Psalm of David, on his fleeing from the face of Absalom his son.
2 Jehovah, how have my persecutors multiplied! Many are rising up against me.
3 Many are saying concerning my soul, "There is no deliverance for him in God." Selah.
4 But thou, Jehovah, [art] a shield round about me; my glory and the lifter up of my head.
5 I cry [with] my voice unto Jehovah, and he answereth me from the mountain of his holiness. Selah.
6 I have lain down and slept, I have awaked; for Jehovah sustaineth me.
7 I will not be afraid of myriads of people which round about have set themselves in array against me.
8 Arise, O Jehovah, save me, O my God; for thou hast smitten all mine enemies [on] the cheek: thou hast broken in pieces the teeth of the wicked.
9 To Jehovah [belongeth] salvation: thy blessing [is] upon thy people. Selah.
Psalm 4.
1 To the chief musician upon stringed instruments a Psalm of David.
2 When I call, answer thou me, O God of my righteousness; in adversity thou hast made room for me: be merciful to me and hear my prayer.
3 Ye sons of men, how long [shall] my glory [be] for a shame? ye love vanity, ye seek a lie. Selah.
4 But know ye that Jehovah hath set apart him that is godly for himself: Jehovah heareth when I call unto him.
5 Tremble and sin not; commune in your heart upon your bed and be still. Selah.
6 Sacrifice the sacrifices of righteousness, and trust in Jehovah.
7 Many are saying, "Who will show us good?" Lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us, O Jehovah.
8 Thou hast put joy into my heart more than at the time their corn and their wine were increased.
9 In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for thou alone, O Jehovah, causest me to dwell safely.
Psalm 5.
1 To the chief musician upon Nehiloth; a Psalm of David.
2 Give ear unto my words, O Jehovah; consider my meditation.
3 Hearken unto the voice of my cry for help, my King and my God; for unto thee will I pray.
4 O Jehovah, in the morning thou shalt hear my voice, in the morning will I set in order [my prayer] before thee and will look out [for help].
5 For thou art not a God delighting in wickedness: evil dwelleth not with thee.
6 The proud shall not stand before thine eyes: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.
7 Thou wilt destroy those that speak lies: a man of blood and deceit Jehovah abborreth.
8 But as for me, in the greatness of thy mercy I will come into thy house, I will worship towards the temple of thy holiness in thy fear.
9 Lead me, O Jehovah, in thy righteousness, on account of mine enemies, make thy way straight before me.
10 For there is nothing certain in his mouth their inward part [is] wickedness; an opened sepulchre, [is] their throat; they make smooth their tongue.
11 Treat them as guilty, O God; they shall fall from their counsels; in the multitude of their transgressions cast them down; for they have rebelled against thee.
12 But all those who trust in thee shall rejoice for ever shall they shout for joy, and thou wilt protect them, and those who love thy name shall exult in thee.
13 For thou, O Jehovah, wilt bless the righteous like the shield with favour thou wilt encompass him.
Psalm 6.
1 To the chief musician on stringed instruments, upon Sheminith;* a Psalm of David.
2 O Jehovah, rebuke me not in thine anger, and chasten me not in thy hot displeasure.
3 Be merciful unto me, O Jehovah, for I am languishing; heal me, O Jehovah, for my bones are terrified.
4 And my soul is greatly terrified; and thou, O, Jehovah, how long?
5 Return, O Jehovah, deliver my soul; save me for thy mercy's sake.
6 For in death there is no remembrance of thee in Sheol† who shall praise thee?
7 I am weary with my sighing; all the night make I my bed to swim; I cause my couch to flow down with my tears.
8 Mine eye is consumed through grief, it has grown old because of all mine adversaries.
9 Depart from me, all workers of iniquity; for Jehovah hath heard the voice of my weeping.
10 Jehovah hath heard my supplication, Jehovah will receive my prayer.
11 All mine enemies shall be greatly ashamed and terrified; they shall turn back, they shall be ashamed suddenly.
*The eighth, or octave.
†Called in Greek Hades, the place or state of departed spirits.
Psalm 7.
1 A Shiggayon* of David which he sane, unto Jehovah because of the words of Cush, the Benjamite.
2 O Jehovah, my God, in thee have I trusted; save me from all those who persecute me, and deliver me.
3 Lest like a lion he tear my soul, tearing it in pieces, and there is none to deliver.
4 O Jehovah, my God, if I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands;
5 If I have recompensed with evil him that is at peace with me;† if I have spoiled mine adversary without a cause;
6 Let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it, and let him tread down my life to the ground, and let him cause mine honour to lie in the dust. Selah.
7 Arise, O Jehovah, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the wrath of mine enemies, and wake up for me the judgment which thou hast commanded.
8 And the congregation of the nations shall encompass thee; because of it return thou to the height.
9 Jehovah will govern the peoples: judge me, O Jehovah, according to my righteousness and according to mine integrity [that is] upon me.
10 Let now the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish thou the righteous [man]: and one who trieth hearts and reins [art thou], O righteous God.
11 My shield [is] upon God who saveth the upright in heart.
12 God judgeth righteously, and God‡ is angry every day.
13 If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow and made it ready.
14 And at him he hath aimed the weapons of death;§ he maketh his arrows to be burning.
15 Behold he travaileth [with] iniquity, and he hath conceived mischief and brought forth falsehood.
16 He hath dug a pit, and enlarged it, and he falleth into the pit which he maketh.
17 His mischief shall return upon his own head, and upon the crown of his head shall his violence come down.
18 I will praise Jehovah according to his righteousness, and I will sing praises unto the name of Jehovah, Most High.
*A Psalm composed on an occasion of wandering.
†Or (yea I have delivered him who without cause is mine adversary).
‡El.
§Or, he prepareth his arrows against the hot pursuers.
Psalm 8.
1 To the chief musician upon Gittith; a Psalm of David.
2 O Jehovah our Lord, bow glorious [is] thy name in all the earth! Thou who hast set thy majesty above the heavens.
3 From the mouth of children and sucklings hast thou ordained praise* because of thine adversaries, to still the enemy and the revenger.
4 When I behold thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars which thou hast established,
5 What [is] man that thou rememberest him, and the son of man that thou visitest him?
6 And thou makest him a little lower than the angels† and [with] glory and honour thou crownest him.
7 Thou makest him to rule over the works of thy bands; thou hast put everything under his feet.
8 All sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field.
9 Birds of heaven and fishes of the sea, [that which] passes through the paths of the sea.
10 O Jehovah our Lord, how glorious [is] thy name in all the earth!
*Or, the ascription of strength.
† Or, God. It may also mean For a little-time lower, etc.
Psalm 9.
1 To the chief musician upon Muth-labben,* a Psalm of David.
2 I will praise Jehovah with all my heart, I will tell all thy marvellous works.
3 I will be glad and exult in thee, I will sing praises to thy name, O most High.
4 When mine enemies turn back, they stumble and perish from before thee.
5 For thou hast maintained my cause and my right; thou satest upon the throne, judging righteously.†
6 Thou hast rebuked the Gentiles, thou hast destroyed the wicked, their name hast thou blotted out for ever and ever.
7 O enemy, the desolations are completed for ever, and thou hast destroyed cities; the remembrance of them hath perished.
8 But Jehovah sitteth for ever; he hath established his throne for judgment.
9 And he, even he, will judge the world in righteousness; he will judge the nations in righteousness
10 And Jehovah will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of distress.
11 And they who know thy name will trust in thee; for thou hast not forsaken those who seek thee, O Jehovah.
12 Sing praises unto Jehovah, who inhabiteth Zion; declare ye among the peoples his deeds.
13 For he who inquireth after bloodshed hath remembered them; he hath not forgotten the cry of the afflicted.
14 Be merciful unto me, O Jehovah; look upon mine affliction from those who hate me, lifting me up from the gates of death;
15 In order that I may recount all thy praises in the gates of the daughter of Zion, [that] I may rejoice in thy salvation.
16 The Gentiles have sunk into the pit [which] they made; in the very net [which] they hid is their foot taken.
17 Jehovah is become known; he hath executed judgment: in the work of his own hands the wicked [man] is ensnared. Higgayon.‡ Selah.
18 The wicked shall turn back into Sheol§ all [the] Gentiles [that are] forgetful of God.
19 For not for ever shall the poor be forgotten, nor shall the expectation of the humble perish everlastingly.
20 Arise, O Jehovah: let not man¶ become strong; let the Gentiles be judged before thy face.
21 Put thou fear into them, O Jehovah; the Gentiles shall know that they are but men.¶ Selah.
*Or, the death of the son.
†Or, a judge of righteousness.
‡Meditation.
§Hades.
¶Enosh, frail man, mortal.
Psalm 10.
1 Wherefore, O Jehovah, standest thou afar off? hidest thou thyself in times of distress?
2 In the pride of the wicked he doth hotly pursue the poor; they are taken in the very devices they devised.
3 For the wicked [man] boasteth of* his soul's desire; he blesseth the plunderer, he despiseth Jehovah.
4 The wicked [man] according to the pride of his anger seeketh not; all his thoughts [are], There is no God.
5 His ways are firm at every time; thy judgments [are] a height away from him; all his adversaries — he puffeth at them.
6 He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved; to generation and generation [I am] he which shall not [be] in any evil.
7 Of cursing his mouth is full, and of deceits and violence; under his tongue [is] mischief and iniquity.
8 He sitteth in the place of ambush of the villages; in the lurking places he slayeth the innocent; his eyes lurk for the wretched.
9 He lieth in wait in the secret place like a lion in his covert; he lieth in wait to catch the afflicted; he catcheth the afflicted when he draweth him into his net.
10 And he is crushed, be is brought low, the wretched hath fallen by his might.
11 He hath said in his heart, God† hath forgotten, he hath hidden his face; he will not see for ever.
12 Arise, O Jehovah; O God, lift up thy hand; forget not the afflicted.
13 Wherefore hath the wicked [man] despised God? He hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require.‡
14 Thou hast seen; thou beholdest mischief and provocation to requite it with thy hand;§ the wretched committeth himself to thee; [of] the orphan thou hast been the helper.
15 Break thou the arm of the wicked [man] and the evil [man]: thou shall search out his wickedness, [till] thou shalt find nothing.
16 Jehovah is king for ever and ever; the Gentiles have perished from his land.
17 The desire of the afflicted; thou hast heard, O Jehovah; thou strengthenest their heart, thou causest thine ear to hearken,
18 To judge the orphan and the oppressed: he shall continue no more to terrify man¶ from the earth.
*Or, praiseth.
†El.
‡Or, inquire, search into.
§Or, Thou beholdest trouble and grief to place [it] in thy hand.
¶Frail man.
Psalm 11.
1 To the chief musician, [a Psalm] of David. In Jehovah have I trusted. how say ye to my soul, Flee to your mountain [as] a bird?
2 For, lo, the wicked bend the bow; they have fixed their arrows upon the string to shoot in darkness at the upright in heart.
3 For the foundations are broken down. What hath the righteous [man] done?
4 Jehovah [is] in the temple of his holiness; Jehovah, his throne [is] in the heavens; his eyes behold, his eyelids prove, the sons of men.
5 Jehovah proveth the righteous [man]; and the wicked [man] and him who loveth violence his soul hateth.
6 He will rain upon the wicked snares, fire and brimstone and a burning tempest — the portion of their cup.
7 For righteous [is] Jehovah; he loveth righteousness; his face beholdeth the upright.
Psalm 12.
1 To the chief musician upon Sheminith,* a Psalm of David.
2 Save, O Jehovah, for the godly [man] hath ceased, for the faithful have failed from the sons of men.
3 They speak falsehood, every one with his neighbour; [with] a flattering lip, with a double heart do they speak.
4 Jehovah will cut off all flattering lips, [the] tongue speaking great things.
5 Which have said, With our tongue will we be mighty; our lips are our own: who is lord to us?
6 Because of the oppression of the afflicted, because of the groaning of the needy, now will I arise, saith Jehovah; I will place in safety [from] him that puffeth at him.
7 The words of Jehovah [are] pure words, silver refined in a crucible of earth, sevenfold purified.
8 Thou, O Jehovah, wilt keep them; thou wilt preserve him from this generation for ever.
9 The wicked walk round about when vileness is exalted among the sons of men.
*The eighth, or octave.
Psalm 13.
1 To the chief musician, a Psalm of David.
2 Until when, O Jehovah? Wilt thou forget me for ever? Until when wilt thou bide thy face from me?
3 Until when shall I lay up counsels in my soul, grief in my heart daily? Until when shall mine enemy be lifted up above me?
4 Behold, answer me, O Jehovah, my God; enlighten mine eyes lest I sleep the [sleep of] death.
5 Lest mine enemies say, I have overcome him, [and] mine adversaries exult when I am moved.
6 But I in thy mercy have trusted; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation; I will sing to Jehovah, for he hath dealt well with me.
Psalm 14.
1 To the chief musician, by David. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They have acted corruptly, they have acted abominably [in] work; there is none doing good.
2 Jehovah hath looked down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if there were [one] acting wisely, seeking God.
3 They all have* turned aside, they have together been corrupted; there is none doing good, there is not even one.
4 Have they not known, all [the] workers of iniquity, eating my people [as] they have eaten bread? Jehovah they have not called upon.
5 There have they greatly feared;† for God [is] in the generation of the righteous.
6 Ye put to shame the counsel of the afflicted; because Jehovah [is] his refuge.
7 Who shall give out of Zion the salvation of Israel? When Jehovah bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, Israel shall be glad.
* Or, the whole hath.
†Literally, feared a fear.
Psalm 15.
1 A Psalm of David. O Jehovah, who shall sojourn in thy tent? who shall dwell in the hill of thy holiness?
2 He who walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness and speaketh truth in his heart.
3 [Who] hath not slandered with his tongue, hath not done evil to his neighbour, and hath not taken up a reproach against his neighbour.
4 Despised in his eyes [is] the contemned [one], and the fearers of Jehovah he honoureth; that hath sworn to the injury of [himself] and hath not changed.
5 His silver he hath not given for usury, and a bribe against an innocent [person] he hath not taken. He who doeth these things shall not be moved for ever.
Psalm 16.
1 Michtam* or David. Preserve me, O God,† for I have trusted in thee.
2 Thou hast said unto Jehovah, Thou [art] the‡ Lord: my goodness [is] not to thee;
3 Unto the saints which are upon the earth, [even] them, and the excellent, All my delight [is] in them.
4 Their sorrows shall be multiplied; they have hastened [after] another; I will not pour out their drink-offerings of blood, and I will not take their names upon my lips.
5 Jehovah [is] the portion of mine inheritance and my cup; thou maintainest my lot.
6 The lines have fallen unto me in pleasant places, yea, the portion hath been fair to me.
7 I will bless Jehovah who hath counselled me; also by night my reins have admonished me.
8 I have set Jehovah before me always; because [he is] at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
9 Therefore my heart hath been glad, and my soul rejoiceth; my flesh also shall lie down in confidence.
10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in Sheol;§ thou wilt not suffer thine holy one to see corruption.
11 Thou wilt show me the path of life, fulness of joys in thy presence, pleasures at thy right hand for ever.
*An uncertain word, variously rendered by ancients and moderns as "golden Psalm, or Jewel," or, as some consider it, "hidden or mystery."
†El.
‡Grammarians disagree as to the force of the Hebrew termination. Some regard it as a plural form; others, as the suffix of 1 pers. with pl. nouns; and others again, as an adjective termination.
§Hades.
Psalm 17.
1 A prayer of David. Hear, O Jehovah, righteousness; attend unto my cry; give ear unto my prayer [which is] not from lips of deceit.
2 My judgment goeth forth from thy presence; thine eyes behold that which is right.
3 Thou hast proved my heart, thou hast visited [me] by night; thou hast refined me; thou shalt find nothing; I have purposed, my mouth shall not transgress.
4 As to the works of man, by the words of thy lips I have watched the paths of the violent,
5 To hold fast my feet in thy paths; my footsteps were not moved.
6 I have called upon thee, for thou answerest me, O God;* incline thine ear unto me, hear my speech.
7 Distinguish thy mercies, [O thou] who by thy right hand savest those who trust from those rising up against them.
8 Keep me as the apple of the eye; under the shadow of thy wings thou wilt hide me,
9 From the face of the wicked who have oppressed me: mine enemies in soul will surround me.
10 Their fat they have closed; [with] their mouth they have spoken in pride.
11 [In] our steps they have now surrounded us; their eyes they set to stretch out over the earth.
12 His likeness [is] as a lion; he longeth to tear in pieces, and as a young lion sitting in secret places.
13 Arise, O Jehovah, go before his face, cause him to bow down; deliver my soul from the wicked [man] thy sword:
14 From men, thy hand, O Jehovah, from men of the world: their portion is in this life and [with] thy treasure thou fillest their belly; they are satisfied with sons, and they leave their abundance to their children.
15 As for me, in righteousness I shall behold thy face; I shall be satisfied in awaking [with] thy likeness.
Psalm 18.
1 To the chief musician, by a servant of Jehovah, by David, who spake unto Jehovah the words of this song in the day Jehovah delivered him from the ban
of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul.
2 And he said, I love thee, O Jehovah, my strength.
3 Jehovah [is] my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God,* my rock, I will trust in him; my shield and horn of my salvation, my refuge.
4 Worthy to be praised will I call Jehovah, and from mine enemies shall I be delivered.
5 Pains of death encompassed me, and streams of wickedness terrify me.
6 Pains of Sheol† surrounded me, snares of death fell upon me.
7 In my distress I call upon Jehovah, and unto my God do I cry for help; from his temple heareth he my voice, and my supplication before him cometh into his ears.
8 Then the earth shaketh and trembleth, and the foundations of mountains are moved; they are shaken because he was angry.
9 There went up a smoke in his anger, and fire from his mouth devoureth; coals were kindled by it.
10 And he boweth the heavens and cometh down, and darkness [is] under his feet.
11 And he rideth upon a cherub and flieth, yea, he flieth upon the wings of the wind.
12 He maketh darkness his covering, his tent round about him, darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies.
13 From the brightness before him his thick clouds passed away: hail, and coals of fire.
14 And Jehovah thundereth in the heavens, and the Most High giveth his voice, hail and coals of fire.
15 And he sendeth his arrows and scattereth them, and lightnings in abundance,‡ and discomfiteth them.
16 And the channels of waters are seen, and the foundations of the world are made bare through thy rebuke, O Jehovah, through the breath of the wind of thy wrath.
17 He sendeth from on high, he taketh me, he draweth me out of great waters.
18 He delivereth me from my strong enemies and from my haters, for they were stronger than I.
19 They fell upon me in the day of my trouble; but Jehovah was for a stay to me.
20 And he bringeth me forth into the wide place; he delivereth me because he delighted in me.
21 Jehovah recompenseth me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he requiteth me.
22 For I have kept the ways of Jehovah and have not acted wickedly against my God.
23 For all his judgments [are] before me, and his statutes I will not put away from me.
24 And I am upright§ before him and keep myself from mine iniquity.
25 And Jehovah requiteth me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands before his eyes.
26 With the merciful thou showest thyself merciful, with the upright§ man thou showest thyself upright.§
27 With the pure thou showest thyself pure, and with the perverse thou showest thyself perverse.¶
28 For thou savest an afflicted people, and lofty eyes thou bringest down.
29 For thou lightest my lamp; Jehovah my God enlighteneth my darkness.
30 For by thee I run [through] a troop, and by my God* I leap [over] a wall.
31 [As for] God, his way [is] perfect; the word of Jehovah [is] tried;|| a shield [is] he to all those who trust in him.
32 For who [is] God besides Jehovah? and who [is] a rock except our God?
33 [It is] God* that girdeth me with strength, and he maketh my way perfect.
34 He maketh my feet like binds; and upon my high places he causeth me to stand,
35 Instructing my bands for the war; and a bow of brass is bent [by] mine arms.
36 And thou givest unto me a shield, thy salvation; and thy right hand upholdeth me, and thy meekness maketh me great.
37 Thou enlargest my steps under me, and my ankles have not slipped.
38 I pursue mine enemies and overtake them, and I turn not back until they are destroyed.
39 I break them in pieces and they are not able to rise; they fall under my feet.
40 And thou girdest me with strength for the battle, thou causest to bow down under me those that rise up against me..
41 And wine enemies, thou turnest their back to me; and my haters — I will destroy them.
42 They cry for help, but there is no deliverer — unto Jehovah, but he answereth them not.
43 And I bruise them as dust before the wind, and as mire of the streets I pour them out.
44 Thou deliverest me from the strivings of the people; thou placest me at the head of Gentiles, a people that I have not known serve me.
45 At the hearing of the ear they show themselves obedient to me; sons of a stranger feign submission to me.
46 Sons of a stranger fade away,** and they tremble out of their enclosed places.
47 Jehovah liveth, and blessed [is] my rock and exalted the God of my salvation,
48 The God* who giveth revenges unto me and subdueth peoples under me,
49 My deliverer from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up from among those who rise up against me, from a man of violence thou deliverest me.
50 Therefore I give thanks to thee among the Gentiles, O Jehovah, and to thy name I sing praises,
51 That maketh great the deliverances of his king and showeth kindness to his anointed, to David and to his seed for ever.
*El.
†Hades.
‡Or, he shot forth lightnings
§Or, perfect, clear.
¶Or, contrary.
||Or, refined.
**Or, sink down.
Psalm 19.
1 To the chief musician; a Psalm of David.
2 The heavens [are] telling the glory of God,* and the expanse [is] showing the work of his hands.
3 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge.
4 [There is] no speech and [there are] no words; their voice is not heard.
5 In all the earth their line has gone forth, and their speech unto the end of the world; in them hath, he set a tabernacle for the sun;
6 And it [is] as a bridegroom going forth from his bridal chamber; it rejoiceth as a mighty man to run a course.
7 From the end of the heavens [is] its going forth, and its circuit unto their ends, and nothing is hidden from its heat.
8 The law of Jehovah [is] perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of Jehovah [is] true, making wise the simple.
9 The precepts of Jehovah [are] right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of Jehovah [is] clear, enlightening the eyes.
10 The fear of Jehovah [is] pure, enduring for ever; the judgments of Jehovah [are] truth, they [are] righteous altogether,
11 To be desired more than gold, and more than much pure gold; and sweeter than honey and the dropping of the honeycomb.
12 Also thy servant is admonished by them, in keeping them [is] great reward.
13 Errors — who discerneth them? cleanse thou me from secret [ones];
14 Also from presumptuous [ones] keep back thy servant; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and be clear from much transgression.
15 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable before thee, O Jehovah, my rock and my redeemer.
*El.
Psalm 20.
1 To the chief musician; a Psalm of David.
2 Jehovah hear thee in the day of trouble: the name of the God of Jacob protect thee.*
3 Send thee help from the sanctuary and sustain thee from Zion;
4 Remember all thine offerings and accept thy burnt sacrifices. Selah.
5 Give unto thee according to thy heart and fulfil all thy counsels.
6 May we rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God set up a banner: Jehovah fulfil all thy petitions.
7 Now I know that Jehovah saveth his anointed he answereth him from the heavens of his holiness with the mighty deeds of salvation of his right hand.
8 These of chariots and these of horses, but we of the name of Jehovah our God make mention.
9 They have bent and have fallen; but we have risen and keep ourselves upright.
10 Save, O Jehovah: may the king hear us in the day of our calling.†
*Or, set thee in safety on high.
†Or, day when we call.
Psalm 21.
1 To the chief musician; a Psalm of David.
2 O Jehovah, in thy strength the king rejoiceth, and in thy salvation how exceedingly doth he exult!
3 Thou hast given unto him the desire of his heart, and the request of his lips thou hast not withholden. Selah.
4 For thou meetest him [with] blessings of goodness, thou settest upon his head a crown of pure gold.
5 He asked life from thee; thou gavest [it] him — length of days for ever and ever.
6 Great [is] his glory in thy salvation; majesty and honour thou puttest upon him.
7 For thou givest him blessings for ever; thou makest him glad with joy by thy countenance.
8 For the king trusteth in Jehovah, and through the mercy of the Most High he is not moved.
9 Thy hand shall find out all thine enemies, thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee.
10 Thou wilt make them as a furnace of fire at the time of thy presence; Jehovah in his anger will consume them, and fire shall devour them.
11 Thou wilt destroy their fruit from the earth and their seed from among the sons of men.
12 For they stretched out evil over thee, they have devised a wicked device; they are not able.
13 For thou makest them to turn their back,* when thou preparest thy strings against their face.
14 Lift thyself up, O Jehovah, in thy might; we will sing and praise thy power.
*Literally "them a shoulder."
Psalm 22.
1 To the chief musician, upon the hind of the dawn; a Psalm of David.
2 My God,* my God,* why hast thou forsaken me? far off from my deliverance, the words of my roaring?
3 My God, I call by day, and thou answerest not, and by night, and there is no silence for me.
4 And thou art holy, inhabiting the praises of Israel.
5 In thee our fathers trusted; they trusted, and thou dost deliver them;
6 Unto thee they cried and they were delivered in thee they trusted and they were not ashamed.
7 But I am a worm and not a man, a reproach of men and despised of the people.
8 All those who see me mock me, they open wide with the lip, they shake the head.
9 Commit† [thyself] unto Jehovah; let him deliver him; he will deliver him because he hath delighted in him.
10 For thou [art] he that didst bring me forth from the womb, causing me to trust‡ upon the breasts of my mother.
11 Upon thee was I cast from the womb; from the belly of my mother thou [art] my God.*
12 Be not far from me, for trouble is near, for there is no helper.
13 Many bulls have surrounded me; strong ones of Bashan have encompassed me.
14 They opened their mouth upon me, [like] a lion tearing in pieces and roaring.
15 I have been poured out like water, and all my bones have been separated; my heart has become like wax, it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
16 My strength has been dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue is cleaving to my jaws; and in the dust if death thou settest me.
17 For dogs have surrounded me, the congregation of evil-doers have encompassed me, piercing my hands and my feet.
18 I number all my bones; they behold, they look upon me.
19 They divide my garments amongst themselves and upon my vestment they cast lets.
20 But thou, O Jehovah, be not far off; O my strength, make haste to my help.
21 Deliver my soul from the sword, mine only one from the power§ of the dog.
22 Save me from the mouth of the lion, and from the horns of the buffaloes|| thou hast answered me.
23 I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
24 Ye who fear Jehovah, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all *ye the seed of Israel.
25 For he hath not despised nor hath he abhorred the affliction of the poor, and he hath not hidden his face from him, and when he cried for help unto him, he heard.
26 Of thee [is] my praise in the great congregation; I will perform my vows before those who fear him.
27 The humble eat and are satisfied; they praise Jehovah, who seek him; your heart shall live for ever.
28 All the ends of the earth shall remember and shall turn unto Jehovah, and all tribes of Gentiles shall bow down before thee.
29 For the kingdom is Jehovah's; and he ruleth among the Gentiles.
30 All the fat ones of the earth have eaten and shall bow down; before him shall bend all those who go down to the dust, and he [who] hath not kept alive his soul.
31 A seed shall serve him; it shall be declared by the Lord to the generation;
32 They shall come and shall tell his righteousness to a people that shall be born, that he hath done [it].
*El.
†Or, roll.
‡Or, hang.
§Literally, hand.
||Or, unicorns.
Psalm 23.
1 A Psalm of David. Jehovah [is] my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 In pastures of tender grass he causeth me to lie down, he leadeth me by the waters of rest.
3 He restoreth my soul; he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Yea when I shall walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou [art] with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest before me a table in the presence of mine adversaries; thou hast anointed my head with* oil, my cup [is] overflowing.
6 Surely† goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of Jehovah to length of days.
*In Hebrew the definite article is used here.
†Or, only.
Psalm 24.
1 A Psalm of David. To Jehovah [belongeth] the earth and its fulness, the world and those who dwell in it.
2 For he hath founded it upon the seas, and upon the rivers he establisheth it.
3 Who shall ascend into the mountain of Jehovah, and who shall stand in the place of his holiness?
4 The clean of hands and pure of heart, who hath not lifted up his soul unto falsehood and hath not sworn to deceit.
5 He shall receive a blessing from Jehovah and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 This [is] the generation of those who seek him, who seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
7 Lift up, O gates, your beads, and be lifted up, O doors of eternity, and the king of glory shall come in.
8 Who [is] this king of glory? Jehovah strong and mighty, Jehovah mighty in battle.
9 Lift up, O gates, your heads, and lift up yourselves, O doors of eternity, and the king of glory shall come in.
10 Who [is] he, this king of glory? Jehovah of hosts, he [is] the king of glory. Selah.
Psalm 25.
1 Of David. Unto thee, O Jehovah, do I lift up my soul.
2 My God, in thee have I trusted; let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.
3 Yea, all those who wait on thee shall not be ashamed; they shall be ashamed who deal falsely without a cause.
4 Make me to know thy ways, O Jehovah; teach me thy paths.
5 Lead me in thy truth and teach me, for thou [art] the God of my salvation; for thee have I waited all the day.
6 Remember thy tender mercies, O Jehovah, and thy kindness, for they [are] from everlasting.
7 The sins of my youth and my transgressions remember thou not; according to thy mercy remember thou me, for thy goodness sake, O Jehovah.
8 Good and upright [is] Jehovah; therefore be teacheth sinners in the way.
9 He guideth the meek in judgment, and he teacheth the meek his way.
10 All the paths of Jehovah [are] mercy and truth to those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.
11 For thy name's sake, O Jehovah, thou hast even pardoned mine iniquity, for it [is] great.
12 Who [is] this, the man that feareth Jehovah? He teacheth him in the way he chooseth.
13 His soul abideth in goodness, and his seed shall inherit the earth.
14 The secret of Jehovah [is] for those who fear him, and his covenant, to instruct them.
15 Mine eyes [are] continually unto Jehovah, for he bringeth forth my feet from a net.
16 Turn thyself unto me and be gracious to me, for I [am] desolate and afflicted.
17 The troubles of my heart have been enlarged, bring me out of mine afflictions.
18 Look upon mine affliction and my sorrow, and forgive all my sins.
19 Look upon mine enemies, for they are many; and [with] a hatred of violence they have hated me.
20 Keep my soul and deliver O; let me not be ashamed, for I have trusted in thee.
21 Integrity and uprightness shall preserve me, for I have waited for thee.
22 Redeem Israel, O God, from all his distresses.
Psalm 26.
1 Of David. Judge me, O Jehovah, for I *have walked in mine integrity, and in Jehovah have I trusted; I shall not be moved.
2 Prove me, O Jehovah, and try me; purify my reins and my heart.
3 For thy mercy [is] before mine eyes, and I have walked in thy truth.
4 I have not sat with vain men,* and with dissemblers I go not in.
5 I have hated the congregation of evil doers, and with the wicked I sit not.
6 I wash my hands in innocency, and I surround thine altar, O Jehovah,
7 To proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving and to tell all thy marvellous deeds.
8 O Jehovah, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the dwelling place of thy glory.
9 Gather not my soul with sinners, and my life with bloody men.†
10 In whose hands [is] an evil device, and their right hand is filled with a bribe.
11 But I walk in mine integrity; redeem me and be gracious to me.
12 My foot hath stood in righteousness; in congregations will I bless Jehovah.
* Or, men of vanity.
† Or, men of blood.
Psalm 27.
1 Of David. Jehovah [is] my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? Jehovah is the fortress of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When evil-doers drew near unto me to eat my flesh, mine adversaries and mine enemies against me, they stumbled and fell.
3 Though a host encamp against me, my heart doth not fear; though war rise up against me, in this I [am] confident.
4 One [thing] have I asked from Jehovah, that will I seek after; to dwell in the house of Jehovah all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of Jehovah and to consider in his temple.
5 For he will bide me in his tabernacle in the day of evil; in the secret place of his tent will he hide me; he will set me upon a rock.
6 And now shall my head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me, and I will sacrifice in his tent sacrifices of joyful noise, I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto Jehovah.
7 Hear, O Jehovah, my voice: I call, and be thou merciful unto me, and answer me.
8 Unto thee my heart said, Seek ye my face: thy face, O Jehovah, I seek;
9 Bide not thy face from me, turn not away in anger thy servant; thou hast been my help; leave me not and forsake me not, O God of my salvation.
10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but Jehovah gathereth* me.
11 Teach me thy way, O Jehovah, and lead me in a path of righteousness† because of those who watch for me.
12 Give me not unto the will of mine adversaries, for witnesses of falsehood have risen up against me and he that breatheth out violence.
13 If I had not trusted to look upon the goodness of Jehovah in the land of the living!
14 Wait for Jehovah; be strong, and he shall strengthen thy heart; yea, wait for Jehovah.
* Or, receiveth.
† Or, path of a plain.
Psalm 28.
1 Of David. Unto thee, O Jehovah, do I call; O my rock, be not silent to me, lest thou be silent to me and I become like unto those that go down to the pit.
2 Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry for help unto thee, when I lift up my hands towards thy holy oracle.*
3 Take me not away with the wicked and with the doers of iniquity, who speak peace with their neighbours and evil is in their hearts.
4 Give unto them according to their deed and according to the evil of their works; according to the work of their hands give thou to them; return their recompense unto them.
5 For they attend not unto the deeds of Jehovah and unto the work of his hands; he will destroy them and will not build them.
6 Blessed [be] Jehovah, for he hath heard the voice of my supplications.
7 Jehovah [is] my strength and my shield, in him hath my heart trusted, and I have been helped; my heart also exulteth, and with my song do I praise him.
8 Jehovah [is] strength to him, yea, a stronghold or the salvation of his anointed [is] he.
9 Save thy people and bless thine inheritance, and feed them and lift them up for ever.
*Or, the oracle of thy holiness.
Psalm 29.
1 A Psalm of David. Give unto Jehovah, ye sons of the mighty, give unto Jehovah glory and strength.
2 Give unto Jehovah the glory of his name; bow down to Jehovah in the beauty of holiness.
3 The voice of Jehovah [is] upon the waters; the God* of† glory hath thundered; Jehovah [is] upon many waters.
4 The voice of Jehovah [is] in† strength, the voice of Jehovah [is] in majesty.
5 The voice of Jehovah breaketh cedars in pieces; Jehovah even breaketh the cedars of Lebanon in pieces.
6 And he causeth them to skip like a calf, Lebanon and Sirion like a young buffalo.
7 The voice of Jehovah heweth out flames of fire.
8 The voice of Jehovah shaketh a wilderness, Jehovah shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh.
9 The voice of Jehovah causeth the hinds to bring forth and maketh bare the forests; and in his temple every one‡ saith glory.
10 Jehovah hath sat upon the flood, yea, Jehovah sitteth king for ever.
11 Jehovah giveth strength unto his people, Jehovah blesseth his people with† peace.
*Heb., El.
†Heb. gives the definite article here.
‡Or, the whole of it.
Psalm 30.
1 A Psalm; a song of the dedication of the house of David.
2 I extol thee, O Jehovah, for thou hast lifted me up,* and hast not caused mine enemies to rejoice over me.
3 O Jehovah, my God, I have cried for help unto thee, and thou healest me.
4 Thou, O Jehovah, hast brought up my soul from Sheol;† thou hast kept me alive from going down to the pit.
5 Sing praises unto Jehovah, ye his holy ones, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.
6 For a moment [is] in his anger, a life [is] in his favour; weeping remaineth in the evening, but in the morning rejoicing.
7 And I, I said in my prosperity I shall not be moved for ever.
8 O Jehovah, in thy favour thou hast established strength for my mountain;‡ thou hast hidden thy face: I have been confounded.
9 Unto thee, O Jehovah, I call, and unto Jehovah do I supplicate.
10 What gain [is] in my blood, in my going down to the pit?§ Shall dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth
11 Hear, O Jehovah, and be gracious to me; O Jehovah, be a he] per unto me.
12 Thou hast turned my lamentation into a dance; thou hast loosed for me my sackcloth, and thou girdest me with joy..
13 So that glory may sing praise to thee and not be silent. O Jehovah, my God, I will give thee thanks for ever.
*Literally, drawn me up (as from a prison).
†Or, Hades.
‡Or, made my mountain to stand with strength.
§Or, corruption.
Psalm 31.
1 To the chief musician; a Psalm of David.
2 In thee, O Jehovah, have I trusted; let me not be ashamed for ever; in thy righteousness deliver me.
3 Incline thine ear unto me, deliver me speedily; be to me for a rock of strength, for a house of defence to save me.
4 For thou [art] my rock and my fortress, and for thy name's sake thou guidest and leadest me.
5 Thou bringest me forth from the net which they hid for me, for thou [art] my fortress.
6 Into thy hand I commit my spirit; thou hast redeemed me, O Jehovah, God* of truth.
7 I have hated those who observe lying vanities; but I have trusted in Jehovah.
8 I will exult and rejoice in thy mercy, thou who hast seen my affliction; thou hast known my soul in distresses.
9 And thou hast not delivered me up into the hand of the enemy; thou hast made my feet to stand in the wide place.
10 Be gracious unto me, O Jehovah, for I am distressed; consumed with grief [is] mine eye, my soul and my belly.
11 For my life hath been spent† in sorrow, and my years in sighing; my strength hath been feeble through mine iniquity, and my bones have been consumed.
12 I have been a reproach among all mine adversaries, and especially to my neighbours; and a fear to mine acquaintances who see me without;‡ they fled from me.
13 I have been forgotten, as a dead man from the heart; I have been as a perishing vessel.
14 For I have heard the slander of many; fear [is] round about when they consult together against me; they have devised to take my life.
15 But I have trusted in thee, O Jehovah; I have said, Thou art my God.
16 My times [are] in thy hand; deliver me from the hand of mine enemies and from my persecutors.
17 Cause thy face to shine upon thy servant; in thy mercy save me.
18 O Jehovah, I shall not be ashamed, for I have called on thee; the wicked shall be ashamed, they shall be silent in Sheol.§
19 The lips of falsehood shall be dumb, which speak against the righteous one insolently, with pride and contempt.
20 How great [is] thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for those who fear thee, thou hast wrought for those who trust in thee before the sons of men.
21 Thou hidest them in the secret place, of thy presence from the plots of man, thou concealest them in a tabernacle from the strife of tongues.
22 Blessed [be] Jehovah, for he hath made his mercy wonderful to me in a city of defence.
23 As for me, I said in my haste, I have been cut off from before thine eyes; surely thou hast heard the voice of my supplication when I cried for help unto thee.
24 Love Jehovah, all ye his saints: Jehovah preserveth the faithful and abundantly requiteth the proud doer.
25 Be strong, and he will strengthen your heart, all ye who wait for Jehovah.
*Heb., El.
†Or, hath wasted away.
‡Or, in the street.
§Or, Hades.
Psalm 32.
1 Of David: Maschil.* Blessed [is] the one forgiven [as to] transgression, covered [as to] sin.
2 Blessed [is] the man to whom Jehovah imputeth not iniquity, and in his spirit [there is] no guile.
3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day.
4 For by day and by night thy hand is heavy upon me; my moisture hath been changed into the droughts of summer. Selah.
5 I make known my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not covered; I said I will confess concerning my transgressions unto Jehovah, and thou hast taken away the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
6 Because of this shall every godly one pray unto thee at a time for finding [thee]; surely in a flood of many waters they shall not come unto him.
7 Thou [art] a hiding-place for me; thou preservest me from distress, thou surroundest me with shouts of deliverance. Selah.
8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go; I will fix mine eye upon thee.
9 Be ye not as a horse [or] as a mule, without understanding with a bit and bridle his mouth is to be curbed lest he come near unto thee.
10 Many sorrows [are there] to the wicked; but he that trusteth in Jehovah, mercy shall encompass him.
11 Be glad in Jehovah and rejoice, ye righteous; and shout for joy, all ye upright of heart.
*Or, instructing.
Psalm 33.
1 Shout for joy, ye righteous, in Jehovah; praise is comely for the upright.
2 Give ye thanks unto Jehovah upon the harp; upon a psaltery of ten strings sing ye praises unto him.
3 Sing ye unto him a new song; be ye skilful to play with shouting.
4 For the word of Jehovah [is] upright, and all his works [are] in truth.
5 He loveth righteousness and judgment; the earth is full of the mercy of Jehovah.
6 By the word of Jehovah the heavens were made, and all their host by the breath of his mouth;
7 Gathering together as a heap the waters of the sea, putting the depths in storehouses.
8 All the earth shall fear before Jehovah, all the inhabitants of the world shall be afraid before him.
9 For he spake and it was; he commanded and it stood.
10 Jehovah hath made void the counsel of the Gentiles; he hath frustrated the devices of the peoples.
11 The counsel of Jehovah shall stand for ever, the devices of his heart to all generations.
12 Happy [is] the nation* whose God is Jehovah, the people he hath chosen to himself for an inheritance.
13 From the heavens Jehovah looked; he saw all the sons of men.
14 Prom the place of his dwelling he looked upon all the inhabitants of the earth,
15 He who formeth their hearts together, who considereth all their works.
16 The king is not caved by the multitude of a host; a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.
17 The horse [is] a vain thing for salvation, and by the greatness of his strength will he not deliver.
18 Behold, the eye of Jehovah [is] towards those who fear him, to those who hope in his mercy,
19 To deliver their soul from death and to keep them alive in famine.
20 Our soul hath waited for Jehovah; he [is] our help and our shield.
21 For in him our heart rejoiceth; for in his holy name† have we trusted.
22 Thy mercy, O Jehovah, shall be upon us, according as we have hoped in thee.
*Heb. Goi, a nation, used in plural of the Gentiles.
†Or, the name of his holiness.
Psalm 34.
1 Of David, when he changeth his judgment before Abimelech; and he driveth him away, and he departeth.
2 I will bless Jehovah at all times: his praise [shall be] continually in my mouth.
3 My soul shall glory in Jehovah; the afflicted* shall hear and be glad.
4 Exalt ye Jehovah with me, and let us extol his name together.
5 I sought Jehovah, and be answered me, and he delivered me from all my fears.
6 They looked unto him and they shone;† and their faces shall not be ashamed.
7 This afflicted one called, and Jehovah heard and saved him out of all his distresses.
8 The angel of Jehovah encampeth round about those who rear him and delivereth them.
9 Taste ye and see that Jehovah [is] good; blessed [is] the man that trusteth in him.
10 Fear ye Jehovah, ye his holy ones; for there is no want to those who fear him.
11 Young lions have been in want and have suffered hunger; but those who seek Jehovah shall not lack any good thing.
12 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of Jehovah.
13 Who [is] the man that desireth life, loving days that he may see good?
14 Keep thy tongue from evil and thy lips from speaking deceit.
15 Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
16 The eyes of Jehovah [are] upon the righteous and his ears toward their cry.
17 The face of Jehovah [is] against those that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
18 They cried, and Jehovah heard and he delivered them from all their distresses.
19 Jehovah [is] nigh unto the broken in heart and he saveth the contrite in spirit.
20 Many [are] the troubles of the righteous [one] but out of them all Jehovah delivereth him,
21 Keeping all his bones: not one of them hath been broken.
22 Evil shall slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous shall incur guilt.‡
23 Jehovah redeemeth the soul of his servants, and all those who trust in him shall not incur guilt.‡
*Or, humble.
†Or, figuratively, they were cheerful.
‡Or, punishment.
Psalm 35.
1 Of David. Strive, O Jehovah, with mine adversaries; fight with those that fight against me.
2 Take hold of shield and buckler and arise for my help,
3 And draw out the spear, and shut [the way] against my pursuers; say unto my soul, I [am] thy salvation.
4 They shall be ashamed and put to shame who seek after my soul; they shall be driven backward and confounded who devise my hurt.
5 They shall be as chaff before the wind, and the angel of Jehovah overthrowing [them]
6 Their way shall be darkness and slippery places; and the angel of Jehovah pursuing them.
7 For without cause they have hidden a pit for me, their net; without cause they have dug a pit for my soul.
8 Destruction shall come upon him; be shall not know; and his net which he hid shall catch h