Psalm 71
[71:1] In you, Yahweh, I take refuge. Never let me be disappointed. [71:2] Deliver me in your righteousness, and rescue me. Turn your ear to me, and save me. [71:3] Be to me a rock of refuge to which I may always go. Give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. [71:4] Rescue me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. [71:5] For you are my hope, Lord Yahweh; my confidence from my youth. [71:6] I have relied on you from the womb. You are he who took me out of my mother's womb. I will always praise you. [71:7] I am a marvel to many, but you are my strong refuge. [71:8] My mouth shall be filled with your praise, with your honor all the day. [71:9] Don't reject me in my old age. Don't forsake me when my strength fails. [71:10] For my enemies talk about me. Those who watch for my soul conspire together, [71:11] saying, "God has forsaken him. Pursue and take him, for no one will rescue him." [71:12] God, don't be far from me. My God, hurry to help me. [71:13] Let my accusers be disappointed and consumed. Let them be covered with disgrace and scorn who want to harm me. [71:14] But I will always hope, and will add to all of your praise. [71:15] My mouth will tell about your righteousness, and of your salvation all day, though I don't know its full measure. [71:16] I will come with the mighty acts of the Lord Yahweh. I will make mention of your righteousness, even of yours alone. [71:17] God, you have taught me from my youth. Until now, I have declared your wondrous works. [71:18] Yes, even when I am old and gray-haired, God, don't forsake me, until I have declared your strength to the next generation, your might to everyone who is to come. [71:19] Your righteousness also, God, reaches to the heavens; you have done great things. God, who is like you? [71:20] You, who have shown us many and bitter troubles, you will let me live. You will bring us up again from the depths of the earth. [71:21] Increase my honor, and comfort me again. [71:22] I will also praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, my God. I sing praises to you with the lyre, Holy One of Israel. [71:23] My lips shall shout for joy! My soul, which you have redeemed, sings praises to you! [71:24] My tongue will also talk about your righteousness all day long, for they are disappointed, and they are confounded, who want to harm me.
Psalm 72
By Solomon.
[72:1] God, give the king your justice; your righteousness to the royal son. [72:2] He will judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice. [72:3] The mountains shall bring prosperity to the people. The hills bring the fruit of righteousness. [72:4] He will judge the poor of the people. He will save the children of the needy, and will break the oppressor in pieces. [72:5] They shall fear you while the sun endures; and as long as the moon, throughout all generations. [72:6] He will come down like rain on the mown grass, as showers that water the earth. [72:7] In his days, the righteous shall flourish, and abundance of peace, until the moon is no more. [72:8] He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, from the River to the ends of the earth. [72:9] Those who dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him. His enemies shall lick the dust. [72:10] The kings of Tarshish and of the islands will bring tribute. The kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. [72:11] Yes, all kings shall fall down before him. All nations shall serve him. [72:12] For he will deliver the needy when he cries; the poor, who has no helper. [72:13] He will have pity on the poor and needy. He will save the souls of the needy. [72:14] He will redeem their soul from oppression and violence. Their blood will be precious in his sight. [72:15] They shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba. Men shall pray for him continually. They shall bless him all day long. [72:16] There shall be abundance of grain throughout the land. Its fruit sways like Lebanon. Let it flourish, thriving like the grass of the field. [72:17] His name endures forever. His name continues as long as the sun. Men shall be blessed by him. All nations will call him blessed. [72:18] Praise be to Yahweh God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. [72:19] Blessed be his glorious name forever! Let the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and amen. [72:20] This ends the prayers by David, the son of Jesse.
BOOK III
Psalm 73
A Psalm by Asaph.
[73:1] Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. [73:2] But as for me, my feet were almost gone. My steps had nearly slipped. [73:3] For I was envious of the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. [73:4] For there are no struggles in their death, but their strength is firm. [73:5] They are free from burdens of men, neither are they plagued like other men. [73:6] Therefore pride is like a chain around their neck. Violence covers them like a garment. [73:7] Their eyes bulge with fat. Their minds pass the limits of conceit. [73:8] They scoff and speak with malice. In arrogance, they threaten oppression. [73:9] They have set their mouth in the heavens. Their tongue walks through the earth. [73:10] Therefore their people return to them, and they drink up waters of abundance. [73:11] They say, "How does God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?" [73:12] Behold, these are the wicked. Being always at ease, they increase in riches. [73:13] Surely in vain I have cleansed my heart, and washed my hands in innocence, [73:14] For all day long have I been plagued, and punished every morning. [73:15] If I had said, "I will speak thus;" behold, I would have betrayed the generation of your children. [73:16] When I tried to understand this, it was too painful for me; [73:17] Until I entered God's sanctuary, and considered their latter end. [73:18] Surely you set them in slippery places. You throw them down to destruction. [73:19] How they are suddenly destroyed! They are completely swept away with terrors. [73:20] As a dream when one wakes up, so, Lord, when you awake, you will despise their fantasies. [73:21] For my soul was grieved. I was embittered in my heart. [73:22] I was so senseless and ignorant. I was a brute beast before you. [73:23] Nevertheless, I am continually with you. You have held my right hand. [73:24] You will guide me with your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. [73:25] Who do I have in heaven? There is no one on earth who I desire besides you. [73:26] My flesh and my heart fails, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. [73:27] For, behold, those who are far from you shall perish. You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to you. [73:28] But it is good for me to come close to God. I have made the Lord Yahweh my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.