Category: A Psalm a Day

¹ Ascribe to the Lord, you heavenly beings,
    ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
² Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
    worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.

³ The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
    the God of glory thunders,
    the Lord thunders over the mighty waters.
⁴ The voice of the Lord is powerful;
    the voice of the Lord is majestic.
⁵ The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
    the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
⁶ He makes Lebanon leap like a calf,
    Sirion like a young wild ox.
⁷ The voice of the Lord strikes
    with flashes of lightning.
⁸ The voice of the Lord shakes the desert;
    the Lord shakes the Desert of Kadesh.
⁹ The voice of the Lord twists the oaks
    and strips the forests bare.
And in his temple all cry, “Glory!”

¹⁰ The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
    the Lord is enthroned as King forever.
¹¹ The Lord gives strength to his people;
    the Lord blesses his people with peace.

Lord, my Rock, I call out to you for help.
    Do not be deaf to me.
If you are silent,
    I will be like those in the grave.
² Hear the sound of my prayer,
    when I cry out to you for help.
I raise my hands
    toward your Most Holy Place.
³ Don’t drag me away with the wicked,
    with those who do evil.
They say, “Peace” to their neighbors.
    But evil is in their hearts.
⁴ Pay them back for what they have done.
    They have done evil.
Pay them back for what they have done.
    Give them their reward.
⁵ They don’t understand what the Lord has done
    or what he has made.
So he will knock them down
    and not lift them up.

⁶ Praise the Lord.
    He heard my prayer for help.
⁷ The Lord is my strength and shield.
    I trust him, and he helps me.
I am very happy.
    And I praise him with my song.
⁸ The Lord is powerful.
    He gives power and victory to his chosen one.
⁹ Save your people.
    Bless those who are your own.
    Be their shepherd and carry them forever.

The Lord is my light and the one who saves me.
    So why should I fear anyone?
The Lord protects my life.
    So why should I be afraid?
² Evil people may try to destroy my body.
    My enemies and those who hate me attack me.
But they are overwhelmed and defeated.
³ If an army surrounds me,
    I will not be afraid.
If war breaks out,
    I will trust the Lord.

⁴ I ask only one thing from the Lord.
    This is what I want:
Let me live in the Lord’s house
    all my life.
Let me see the Lord’s beauty.
    Let me look around in his Temple.
⁵ During danger he will keep me safe in his shelter.
    He will hide me in his Holy Tent.
    Or he will keep me safe on a high mountain.
⁶ My head is higher
    than my enemies around me.
I will offer joyful sacrifices in his Holy Tent.
    I will sing and praise the Lord.

⁷ Lord, hear me when I call.
    Be kind and answer me.
⁸ My heart said of you, “Go, worship him.”
    So I come to worship you, Lord.
⁹ Do not turn away from me.
    Do not turn your servant away in anger.
    You have helped me.
Do not push me away or leave me alone,
    God, my Savior.
¹⁰ If my father and mother leave me,
    the Lord will take me in.
¹¹ Lord, teach me your ways.
    Guide me to do what is right
    because I have enemies.
¹² Do not let my enemies defeat me.
    They tell lies about me.
    They say they will hurt me.

¹³ I truly believe
    I will live to see the Lord’s goodness.
¹⁴ Wait for the Lord’s help.
    Be strong and brave
    and wait for the Lord’s help.

Lord, defend me.
    I have lived an innocent life.
I trusted the Lord and never doubted.
² Lord, try me and test me.
    Look closely into my heart and mind.
³ I see your love.
    I live by your truth.
⁴ I do not spend time with liars.
    I do not make friends with people who hide their sin.
⁵ I hate the company of evil people.
    I won’t sit with the wicked.
⁶ I wash my hands to show I am innocent.
    I come to your altar, Lord.
⁷ I raise my voice in praise.
    I tell of all the miracles you have done.
⁸ Lord, I love the Temple where you live.
    It is where your greatness is.
⁹ Do not kill me with those sinners.
    Do not take my life with those murderers.
¹⁰ Evil is in their hands.
    They do wrong for money.
¹¹ But I have lived an innocent life.
    So save me and be kind to me.
¹² I stand in a safe place.
    Lord, I praise you in the great meeting.