Book V
CXXXVII
An Experience of the Captivity
[1] BY the rivers of Babylon,
There we sat down, yea, we wept,
When we remembered Zion.
[2] Upon the willows in the midst thereof
We hanged up our harps.
[3] For there they that led us captive required of us songs,
And they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying,
Sing us one of the songs of Zion.
[4] How shall we sing Jehovah’s song
In a foreign land?
[5] If I forget thee, O Jerusalem,
Let my right hand forget her skill.
[6] Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth,
If I remember thee not;
If I prefer not Jerusalem
Above my chief joy.
[7] Remember, O Jehovah, against the children of Edom
The day of Jerusalem;
Who said, Rase it, rase it,
Even to the foundation thereof.
[8] O daughter of Babylon, that art to be destroyed,
Happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee
As thou hast served us.
[9] Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones
Against the rock.
CXXXVIII
Thanksgiving for Jehovah’s Favor
A Psalm of David.
[1] I WILL give thee thanks with my whole heart:
Before the gods will I sing praises unto thee.
[2] I will worship toward thy holy temple,
And give thanks unto thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth:
For thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
[3] In the day that I called thou answeredst me,
Thou didst encourage me with strength in my soul.
[4] All the kings of the earth shall give thee thanks, O Jehovah,
For they have heard the words of thy mouth.
[5] Yea, they shall sing of the ways of Jehovah;
For great is the glory of Jehovah.
[6] For though Jehovah is high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly;
But the haughty he knoweth from afar.
[7] Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me;
Thou wilt stretch forth thy hand against the wrath of mine enemies,
And thy right hand will save me.
[8] Jehovah will perfect that which concerneth me:
Thy lovingkindness, O Jehovah, endureth for ever;
Forsake not the works of thine own hands.
CXXXIX
God’s Omnipresence and Omniscience
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.
[1] O JEHOVAH, thou hast searched me, and known me,
[2] Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising;
Thou understandest my thought afar off.
[3] Thou searchest out my path and my lying down,
And art acquainted with all my ways.
[4] For there is not a word in my tongue,
But, lo, O Jehovah, thou knowest it altogether.
[5] Thou hast beset me behind and before,
And laid thy hand upon me.
[6] Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is high, I cannot attain unto it.
[7] Whither shall I go from thy Spirit?
Or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
[8] If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there:
If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, thou art there.
[9] If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
[10] Even there shall thy hand lead me,
And thy right hand shall hold me.
[11] If I say, Surely the darkness shall overwhelm me,
And the light about me shall be night;
[12] Even the darkness hideth not from thee,
But the night shineth as the day:
The darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
[13] For thou didst form my inward parts:
Thou didst cover me in my mother’s womb.
[14] I will give thanks unto thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:
Wonderful are thy works;
And that my soul knoweth right well.
[15] My frame was not hidden from thee,
When I was made in secret,
And curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
[16] Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance;
And in thy book they were all written,
Even the days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was none of them.
[17] How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!
[18] If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand:
When I awake, I am still with thee.
[19] Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God:
Depart from me therefore, ye bloodthirsty men.
[20] For they speak against thee wickedly,
And thine enemies take thy name in vain.
[21] Do not I hate them, O Jehovah, that hate thee?
And am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
[22] I hate them with perfect hatred:
They are become mine enemies.
[23] Search me, O God, and know my heart:
Try me, and know my thoughts;
[24] And see if there be any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.
CXL
Prayer for Protection Against the Wicked
For The Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.
[1] DELIVER me, O Jehovah, from the evil man;
Preserve me from the violent man:
[2] Who devise mischiefs in their heart;
Continually do they gather themselves together for war.
[3] They have sharpened their tongue like a serpent;
Adders’ poison is under their lips. [Selah]
[4] Keep me, O Jehovah, from the hands of the wicked;
Preserve me from the violent man:
Who have purposed to thrust aside my steps.
[5] The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords;
They have spread a net by the wayside;
They have set gins for me. [Selah]
[6] I said unto Jehovah, Thou art my God:
Give ear unto the voice of my supplications, O Jehovah.
[7] O Jehovah the Lord, the strength of my salvation,
Thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.
[8] Grant not, O Jehovah, the desires of the wicked;
Further not his evil device, lest they exalt themselves. [Selah]
[9] As for the head of those that compass me about,
Let the mischief of their own lips cover them.
[10] Let burning coals fall upon them:
Let them be cast into the fire,
Into deep pits, whence they shall not rise.
[11] An evil speaker shall not be established in the earth:
Evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.
[12] I know that Jehovah will maintain the cause of the afflicted,
And justice for the needy.
[13] Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name:
The upright shall dwell in thy presence.
CXLI
An Evening Prayer for Sanctification and Protection
A Psalm of David.
[1] JEHOVAH, I have called upon thee; make haste unto me:
Give ear unto my voice, when I call unto thee.
[2] Let my prayer be set forth as incense before thee;
The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
[3] Set a watch, O Jehovah, before my mouth;
Keep the door of my lips.
[4] Incline not my heart to any evil thing,
To practise deeds of wickedness
With men that work iniquity:
And let me not eat of their dainties.
[5] Let the righteous smite me, it shall be a kindness;
And let him reprove me, it shall be as oil upon the head;
Let not my head refuse it:
For even in their wickedness shall my prayer continue.
[6] Their judges are thrown down by the sides of the rock;
And they shall hear my words; for they are sweet.
[7] As when one ploweth and cleaveth the earth,
Our bones are scattered at the mouth of Sheol.
[8] For mine eyes are unto thee, O Jehovah the Lord:
In thee do I take refuge; leave not my soul destitute.
[9] Keep me from the snare which they have laid for me,
And from the gins of the workers of iniquity.
[10] Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
Whilst that I withal escape.
CXLII
Prayer for Help in Trouble
Maschil of David, when he was in the cave; a Prayer.
[1] I CRY with my voice unto Jehovah;
With my voice unto Jehovah do I make supplication.
[2] I pour out my complaint before him;
I show before him my trouble.
[3] When my spirit was overwhelmed within me,
Thou knewest my path.
In the way wherein I walk
Have they hidden a snare for me.
[4] Look on my right hand, and see;
For there is no man that knoweth me:
Refuge hath failed me;
No man careth for my soul.
[5] I cried unto thee, O Jehovah;
I said, Thou art my refuge,
My portion in the land of the living.
[6] Attend unto my cry;
For I am brought very low:
Deliver me from my persecutors;
For they are stronger than I.
[7] Bring my soul out of prison,
That I may give thanks unto thy name:
The righteous shall compass me about;
For thou wilt deal bountifully with me.
CXLIII
Prayer for Deliverance and Guidance
A Psalm of David.
[1] HEAR my prayer, O Jehovah; give ear to my supplications:
In thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.
[2] And enter not into judgment with thy servant;
For in thy sight no man living is righteous.
[3] For the enemy hath persecuted my soul;
He hath smitten my life down to the ground:
He hath made me to dwell in dark places, as those that have been long dead.
[4] Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me;
My heart within me is desolate.
[5] I remember the days of old;
I meditate on all thy doings;
I muse on the work of thy hands.
[6] I spread forth my hands unto thee:
My soul thirsteth after thee, as a weary land. [Selah]
[7] Make haste to answer me, O Jehovah; my spirit faileth:
Hide not thy face from me,
Lest I become like them that go down into the pit.
[8] Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning;
For in thee do I trust:
Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk;
For I lift up my soul unto thee.
[9] Deliver me, O Jehovah, from mine enemies:
I flee unto thee to hide me.
[10] Teach me to do thy will;
For thou art my God:
Thy Spirit is good;
Lead me in the land of uprightness.
[11] Quicken me, O Jehovah, for thy name’s sake:
In thy righteousness bring my soul out of trouble.
[12] And in thy lovingkindness cut off mine enemies,
And destroy all them that afflict my soul;
For I am thy servant.
CXLIV
Prayer for Rescue and Prosperity
A Psalm of David.
[1] BLESSED be Jehovah my rock,
Who teacheth my hands to war,
And my fingers to fight:
[2] My lovingkindness, and my fortress,
My high tower, and my deliverer;
My shield, and he in whom I take refuge;
Who subdueth my people under me.
[3] Jehovah, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him?
Or the son of man, that thou makest account of him?
[4] Man is like to vanity:
His days are as a shadow that passeth away.
[5] Bow thy heavens, O Jehovah, and come down:
Touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.
[6] Cast forth lightning, and scatter them;
Send out thine arrows, and discomfit them.
[7] Stretch forth thy hand from above;
Rescue me, and deliver me out of great waters,
Out of the hand of aliens;
[8] Whose mouth speaketh deceit,
And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
[9] I will sing a new song unto thee, O God:
Upon a psaltery of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.
[10] Thou art he that giveth salvation unto kings;
Who rescueth David his servant from the hurtful sword.
[11] Rescue me, and deliver me out of the hand of aliens,
Whose mouth speaketh deceit,
And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
[12] When our sons shall be as plants grown up in their youth,
And our daughters as cornerstones hewn after the fashion of a palace;
[13] When our garners are full, affording all manner of store,
And our sheep bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields;
[14] When our oxen are well laden;
When there is no breaking in, and no going forth,
And no outcry in our streets:
[15] Happy is the people that is in such a case;
Yea, happy is the people whose God is Jehovah.
CXLV
Jehovah Extolled for His Goodness
A Psalm of praise; of David.
[1] I WILL extol thee, my God, O King;
And I will bless thy name for ever and ever.
[2] Every day will I bless thee;
And I will praise thy name for ever and ever.
[3] Great is Jehovah, and greatly to be praised;
And his greatness is unsearchable.
[4] One generation shall laud thy works to another,
And shall declare thy mighty acts.
[5] Of the glorious majesty of thine honor,
And of thy wondrous works, will I meditate.
[6] And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts;
And I will declare thy greatness.
[7] They shall utter the memory of thy great goodness,
And shall sing of thy righteousness.
[8] Jehovah is gracious, and merciful;
Slow to anger, and of great lovingkindness.
[9] Jehovah is good to all;
And his tender mercies are over all his works.
[10] All thy works shall give thanks unto thee, O Jehovah;
And thy saints shall bless thee.
[11] They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom,
And talk of thy power;
[12] To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts,
And the glory of the majesty of his kingdom.
[13] Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
And thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.
[14] Jehovah upholdeth all that fall,
And raiseth up all those that are bowed down.
[15] The eyes of all wait for thee;
And thou givest them their food in due season.
[16] Thou openest thy hand,
And satisfiest the desire of every living thing.
[17] Jehovah is righteous in all his ways,
And gracious in all his works.
[18] Jehovah is nigh unto all them that call upon him,
To all that call upon him in truth.
[19] He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him;
He also will hear their cry, and will save them.
[20] Jehovah preserveth all them that love him;
But all the wicked will he destroy.
[21] My mouth shall speak the praise of Jehovah;
And let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.