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Psalms to the Reader

Psalms to the Reader

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PSALMS TO THE READER

EDITION OF THE GREEK TEXT The NETS translation of the book of has been based primarily on the edition of Alfred Rahlfs, Psalmi cum Odis (Septuaginta: Vetus Testamentum Graecum Auctoritate Academiae Litterarum Gottingensis ed- itum X [Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1967 (1931)]). Although Rahlfs is not a full-fledged criti- cal edition of the Greek , it is the best available and as such an appropriate text with which to begin. The present NETS translation has been revised from its first appearance in a separately published fascicle.1 At not a few places, Rahlfs enclosed within square brackets items of text, which, although they could not in his judgment justifiably be regarded as original, nevertheless have widespread support in the tex- tual traditions. Since in all of these cases I agree with Rahlfs’ conclusion, I have taken the next step and have excluded these items from NETS without comment. Further improvements to Rahlfs’ edition have been made in the light of additional textual information (chiefly II–V CE; especially the famous P. Bodmer XXIV [Rahlfs 2110]) and more recent study. All these, however, have been included in the footnotes to NETS. Nevertheless, there remains good reason to em- phasize that a liturgical text such as the Psalter, with its long and intensive transmission history, can hard- ly be expected to have been fully restored as yet to its pristine purity. I have therefore followed Rahlfs’ lead and, in addition to changing his text, have placed within square brackets items whose originality I consider to be suspect. These may be eliminated altogether by a future editor more courageous than I or armed with additional evidence.

TRANSLATION PROFILE OF THE GREEK General Character There can be no doubt that the NETS paradigm of the Greek as an interlinear translation of the He- brew is applicable to the book of Psalms. That is to say, the linguistic relationship of the Greek text to the Hebrew text is one of dependence and subservience. Yet within that model it has its own profile. Its trans- lation is literal, if literalness is understood to refer to a high degree of consistency in one-to-one equiva- lence, including not only so-called content words but structural words as well. Thus literalness might be labeled its central characteristic. Literalness may, however, be nuanced in several ways. The number of many-to-one Hebrew-Greek equations is relatively high. That is to say, the translator often selected a single Greek word (or root) for several Hebrew counterparts. This feature, semantic leveling, is fully compatible with the interlinear par- adigm and for that reason should not be attributed to the translator’s lack of literary imagination. In- cluded here are words and concepts that seem to have been his default stock-in-trade. Thus, for example, a0ntilh/mptwr (“supporter”) and bohqo/j (“helper”) translate seven Hebrew words each, and their cog- nates further underscore the translator’s predilection for them. Obviously, these readily came to mind when the translator looked for suitable equivalents to the Hebrew. Similarly, Greek words that convey re- latedness to the “law” (no/moj) such as “lawlessness” (a0nomi/a), “lawless” (a1nomoj), “to act in a lawless manner” (a0nome/w), “to transgress the law” (paranome/w), “transgressor of the law” (para/nomoj)—are prominent. Or again a concept like “injustice” (a0diki/a + cognates) receives an emphasis in the Greek dis- proportionate to the Hebrew. As a result, the reader of NETS will read more about ’s “supporting” and “helping” of humans, and similarly more about the law as a yardstick for “good,” “evil” and “injus- tice,” than will the reader of NRSV. Not surprisingly perhaps the number of one-to-many Hebrew-Greek equations is relatively low. In such cases a single Hebrew word or root is translated by at least two or more Greek words. Some exam-

1 Albert Pietersma, ed., A of the : The Psalms (New York: , 2000). 24-Ps-NETS-4.qxd 11/10/2009 10:34 PM Page 543

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ples of such differentiation are “good” (bw+) rendered by “good” (a0gaqo/j) and “kind” (xrhsto/j), and “servant/slave” (db() translated most often by “slave” (dou=loj) but on a few occasions by “child/ser- vant/slave” (pai=j). As might be expected, such differentiation of meaning happens with greater frequen- cy on the verbal (more abstract) side of the language than on the nominal (more concrete) side. Hebrew “to turn” (bw#), for instance, is rendered by twelve different Greek verbs. Nonetheless, though a measure of differentiation occurs, it is typically rather restricted. Thus, in the example just cited, e0pi- and a0po- stre/fw account for nearly two-thirds of all instances. Again, this phenomenon of limited and restricted differentiation or an overemphasis on word-centered meaning may be said to be at home in an interlin- ear linguistic environment. The above does not preclude that leveling, and especially differentiation, cannot at times serve purely stylistic purposes, but given the general nature of the Greek translation of Psalms, leveling and differen- tiation are usually the better explanation. An interesting example, which could be differentiation for purely stylistic reasons, is the equation of Hebrew “to answer” (hn() with Greek “to listen to” (e0pakou/w or ei0sakou/w), when God is the subject. Though it is not difficult to discern something of a semantic shift from Hebrew to Greek, it is not certain that one should make a distinction in meaning between the two Greek words. Interestingly, ei0sakou/w also translates Hebrew “to hear” ((m#), though e0pakou/w does not. Thus, in part at least, here too a dif- ference in the Greek echoes a difference in the Hebrew, and to that extent it is still expressive of literal- ness. For NETS I have opted for the synonyms “to listen” (ei0sakou/w) and “to hearken” (e0pakou/w) re- spectively. Other aspects of literalness—or better isomorphism—at both the lexical and grammatical levels add further flavor to the Greek of Psalms. As noted, expressive of the interlinear model, our translator had a strong tendency to overemphasize the importance of individual words and formal details of the Hebrew, at the expense of communicating its coherent meaning. For example, in a number of passages he me- chanically transferred the Hebrew gender of a pronominal, thereby presenting an exegetical challenge to anyone reading the text independent of the Hebrew: 26.3–4; 73.18; 80.6; 108.27; 117.23; 118.50, 56; 131.6. (I have flagged such instances in the notes.) Indeed, the Greek translator’s starting point was at times almost directly opposite to that advocated by modern semanticists. Not infrequently, he began with the individual word and its supposed core meaning rather than with meaning as it is conveyed by the in- terrelationship of words in syntactic units. Differently put, one could say that he tends to maximize the individual word and to minimize the context in which it stands, rather than vice-versa. Though at times the translator might be charged with throwing at his reader the Hebrew text in Greek guise, to call him a hack would be unfair. Instead, as has been suggested, his translating is heavily cir- cumscribed by linguistic interlinearity, which informs his task. Indeed, from that perspective it clearly makes little sense to charge him with inadequate knowledge of Greek and lack of stylistic sensitivity. Even in the superscripts where no context comes to his assistance, he at times introduces an interpretive spin. One may note, for example, that although lyk#m (a type of song) is rather mechanically glossed by “un- derstanding” (su/nesij), usually the latter is interpretively put into the genitive case (31.1; 51.1; 52.1; 53.1; 54.1; 73.1; 77.1; 87.1; 88.1), with the result that the entire psalm in question might now be read as hav- ing to do with “understanding.” Yet, other such interpretive spins in the titles seem less transparent. When, for example, an individual composition is labeled both a psalm and song (in line with the parent text), he usually makes one an attributive of the other. So in Ps 29.1; 47.1; 66.1; 67.1; 74.1; 86.1; 91.1 we have “a psalm of a song” (yalmo\j w|)dh=j) and in 65.1; 82.1; 87.1; 107.1 “a song of a psalm” (w)|dh\ yal- mou=). Since yalmo/j refers in the first instance to instrumental and w)|dh/ to vocal music, it is not im- possible, as has been suggested ad loc., that he had in mind the relative predominance of these two as- pects. But what of “praise-song of a song”(?) (ai]noj w|)dh=j) in 90.1; 92.1; 94.1, since both terms seem to have a vocal reference? Thus, it is clear that the translator often puts the form of the text above its mean- ing. Admittedly, he is kinder to his readers in the Ps 118, when he not only gives the names of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet, which mark the beginning of each alphabetic strophe, but also sup- plies a standard Greek numerical equivalent. Understandably, it is especially idiomatic and figurative language that tends to suffer severely at the hands of a heavily word-based, interlinear mode of translation. When in 34(35).3 “to empty out the spear” (tynx qrh) is translated by “to pour out the sword”—and a big sword at that!—(e1kxeon r9omfai/an) we have decidedly unidiomatic Greek. NRSV translates idiomatically “draw the spear” and the Greek translator might have done likewise but did not. To be sure, a modern translator, in the nature of the case, tends to overemphasize what is problemat- ic about the work of an ancient translator and underemphasize what causes no problems. In spite of the 24-Ps-NETS-4.qxd 11/10/2009 10:34 PM Page 544

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translation model he used, most of what the Greek translator of Psalms did is intelligible—and that in- cludes many passages in which the Hebrew text is less than clear—if not idiomatic. He will even at times introduce difference—where the Hebrew text is identical—perhaps for the sake of variation in style, though that is not the only available explanation. An instructive example is Ps 59.7–14 in comparison with Ps 107.7–14. Indeed, one can even find some literary sparks, the exceptions that prove the rule of his regular mode. So at 48(49).3 where the Hebrew text speaks of “(sons of) man” (Md) ynb) and “(sons of) men” (#y) ynb), the translator, rather than resorting to his standard equivalents, decided to render the first phrase by “earthborn” (ghgenei=j) (a word virtually unknown in the Septuagint) and neatly balanced the pair by a “both . . . and” conjunctive. In 10(11).2 the phrase “to shoot in the dark (lp)) at the upright in heart” becomes “to shoot in a moonless night (skotomh/nh) at the upright in heart,” thus employing a pictur- esque word rare in Greek and unattested elsewhere in the Septuagint corpus. Or again, in 26(27).9 He- brew “to forsake” (#+n), elsewhere rendered simply as “to reject” (a0pwqe/w), is translated by the rare and graphic verb “to throw to the crows” (a0poskoraki/zw), glossed in NETS by “to damn.” Ps 109.3 features “morning-star” (e9wsfo/roj) for Hebrew “morning” (rx#) rather than the less colorful “morning” (o1rqroj) he uses elsewhere. Such literary nuggets are admittedly not many, and one would scarcely ex- pect them in a text whose evident purpose it is to point the reader away from itself, but they do exist, and they do add a dimension to our translator’s work. Yet, when all is said and done, it is the Psalter’s liter- alness or isomorphism that establishes a baseline for translator and exegete alike.

Of Stereotypes, Calques and Isolates The vast majority of words in the Psalms have standard Greek meanings, and that includes the so- called stereotypes, which, due to rigid equation with a single Hebrew counterpart, sometimes fit poorly into their context. Among these may be counted pikrai/nw (“to embitter”) + cognates, qe/lw (“to want”) + cognates, ei0j te/loj (“completely”), ste/ar (“fat” in a context where “prosperity” is needed), nefro/j (“kidney” in reference to the seat of the emotions), yalmo/j (“psalm”), ei0rh/nh (“peace” in reference to a person’s well-being). Calques (Greek words with Hebrew meaning, institutionalized prior to the translation) can be found in Psalms as well. The clearest example is diaqh/kh, a word that probably began its life in Jewish usage as a stereotype but that in the Psalter is clearly a calque and therefore appropriately translated by “” (the stock meaning of Hebrew tyrb, rather than the “testament” of extra-biblical Greek). It is also pos- sible that no/moj (“law”) carries the added sense of “teaching,” derived from hrt, its standard Hebrew counterpart but more likely represents a semantic shift of hrt by the third century BCE. The Greek translator’s overemphasis on individual words and his preoccupation with the lower levels of constituent structure are most clearly noticeable in his isolate renderings. Typically, in such cases, ety- mology of the Hebrew word plays a central role. By way of illustration, in Ps 7.7 Hebrew hrb( (“over- flow/arrogance/fury”) is translated via rb( = pe/ran (“across”) by pe/raj (“end”)—a word representing entirely different Hebrew lexemes elsewhere in Psalms—and the Greek line as a whole must mean some- thing like: “be exalted at the deaths of my enemies.” A glance at Ps 38.5 confirms that pe/raj within the Psalter can indeed refer to the terminus of human life. Or does the line mean what Thomson thought it did: “Exalt Thyself in the borders of mine enemies”? Whatever the case, as a result of the translator’s ad- herence to interlinearity his text, on the one hand, means something quite different from MT and, on the other, is scarcely intelligible in Greek.

THE NETS TRANSLATION OF PSALMS General Approach But if the Greek translator’s approach to his Hebrew text was all too often indeed what I have alleged it to be, namely, an isomorphic approach with a primary focus on representing the source text, not in- frequently at the expense of coherent sense, what are the options of a NETS translator to render this “in- terlinear” Greek into English? Clearly as long as words are fully concordant with their context and the grammar is at least transparent, NETS can be expected to read relatively smoothly. Though I have eschewed any rigid policy of one-to-one Greek-English equation, a reasonable effort has been made to reproduce word echoes in the Greek, which may or may not reflect echoes in the Hebrew. In passing it deserves to be mentioned that this effort has not infrequently meant that the reading of the NRSV has been replaced by a synonym in NETS. By “reasonable effort” it should be understood that the more circumscribed a word’s meaning the bet- ter it lends itself to representation by a single English equivalent. Not surprisingly, therefore, there are 24-Ps-NETS-4.qxd 11/10/2009 10:34 PM Page 545

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many Greek terms, especially on the nominal (more concrete) side of the language, that have been given a single (or at least a default) English equivalent. Thus a word such as o1roj (“mountain”) has been ren- dered throughout by “mountain,” even when NRSV, for literary reasons, had opted for “hill” to translate the identical Hebrew word (rh). Similarly, a9martwlo/j (+ cognates), the standard equivalent for both )+x and (#r, has been uniformly rendered “sinner.” Countless others have been treated in the same way. When I have judged that the Greek translator differentiates vis-à-vis the Hebrew for semantic reasons, I have typically differentiated in NETS. The highest level of one-to-one Greek-English consistency in Psalms will be observable within indi- vidual psalms. Perhaps the lowest level of one-to-one consistency has been feasible with respect to relational words, notably prepositions, including phrases that function as prepositions. The obvious reason for this is that such words play a primarily structural role and as such carry little fixed meaning. (See further below.) I have already touched on the problem of idiomatic and figurative language. Although in a replacement type of translation idioms and figurative expressions in the source language are typically lost in the process, others are often gained from the target language, thus producing a kind of equilibrium of loss and gain. In Septuagint translationese, however, one would hardly expect that to be the case, and espe- cially in a poetic book such as Psalms we see a decidedly unilateral process. In fact, because of its highly literal approach, what is figurative in Hebrew frequently becomes an oddity in Greek. For example, al- though Hebrew hylk (“kidney”) often figuratively refers to human emotions, nefro/j in Greek means only “kidney.” Therefore any figurative sense is imposed by the (translated) context. Because NETS has opted for a representative translation style, what is unidiomatic and nonfigurative in the Greek will often be the same in English.

Selected Words and Phrases The so-called superscriptions or titles to individual psalms cause a disproportionate grief to a transla- tor, modern and ancient alike. The reason for this, in addition to frequent lexical obscurity, is that the words and expressions used are typically without context. Since there is reason to believe that the super- scriptions grew in a piecemeal, atomistic fashion, I have treated them in NETS in an atomistic fashion even beyond the NRSV. The reader who is troubled by this may simply ignore the punctuation between discrete items and string them together. The Greek translator’s word-based approach is as evident in the superscriptions as everywhere else. Yet within those parameters there is some evidence of differentiation, some of which has already been noted. Thus, for example, one encounters both nominatives and genitives without explicit warrant in the He- brew, and datives as well as ei0j + accusative constructions reflecting Hebrew l +. All in all, whether as a result of differentiation or one-to-one equation with the Hebrew, there is a variety of words/phrases that may be labeled “expressions of general reference.” That is to say, they indicate without much specificity (partly due to lack of context) that x has something to do with y. Where the Greek differs in detail I have followed suit in NETS. One of these “expressions of general reference” is tw~| Daui/d (tw~| 0 Asa/f et al.). Since the Greek trans- lator clearly did not assign authorship per se to such Psalms, I have opted for the reasonably neutral phrase “Pertaining to Dauid” (et al.), since it allows for a range of perceived connections with the per- son(s) in question. NRSV’s “Psalm” has for reasons of tradition been retained in the superscriptions. It is by no means cer- tain, however, that Greek yalmo/j (“psalm”), at the time of the Greek translator, was already a technical term. As noted earlier, I have regarded it as stereotype, which means that it still had its chiefly instru- mental rather than vocal sense and as such referred in the first instance to a tune being played on a stringed instrument (harp or lyre), which was then plucked (ya/llw) with the fingers rather than struck with a plectrum. Along the same lines, dia/yalma, which consistently renders Hebrew hls (“”), a word of uncertain meaning, has been interpreted to mean not simply an interlude but an interlude on strings and rendered accordingly in NETS. Evidently in recognition of the fact that it indicated a pause in the musical proceedings, the Greek translator did not represent “Selah” when it stood at the close of a psalm (3.9; 23.10; 45.12). Another frequent item in the titles is w|)dh/, the regular translation of ry# (“song”). Though “song” would have been defensible for NETS, I have opted, with some hesitation, for “Ode” instead. To be sure, w|)dh/ is the standard equivalent of ry# (36x) and may be a calque, since it already occurs in the Greek Pentateuch as an equivalent for ry#; on five occasions within Psalms (32.3; 39.4; 95.1; 97.1; 149.1) the 24-Ps-NETS-4.qxd 11/10/2009 10:34 PM Page 546

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translator opted for a}|sma (“song”). This may suggest that he meant to differentiate the two. The presence of kaino/n (“new”) with all five instances of a}|sma may further indicate that an w|)dh/ was thought of as being more of a traditional song in distinction from a new and ad hoc composition. But the latter point can clearly not be pressed in light of w|)dh\n kainh/n (“new ode”) in 143.9. Consequently, whatever the pre- cise difference in the Greek, I have sought to mirror a difference in NETS by translating the terms as “Ode” and “song” respectively. Since the Greek Psalter provides no evidence that the translator made any serious attempt at distin- guishing between the divine names hwhy (“,” including the short form “Yah”) and ynd) (“Ado- nai”), I have in accordance with NETS policy rendered all occurrences of ku/rioj, when representing ei- ther, by “Lord.” Hades, one of very few translations into Greek, which has not been translated into English, is proba- bly a calque. If that is correct, to translate it simply by English “hell” would seem to be as inappropriate as rendering its Hebrew counterpart, Sheol, by that term. There is reason to believe that the translator’s chief reason for using skh/nwma, and by extension kataskhno/w, is to reserve skhn/h for the , in line with Pentateuchal usage. Consequently, it ap- pears unlikely that skh/nwma + is meant to carry any special nuance, apart from its general sense of non- permanence. In Psalms (and elsewhere in NETS), therefore, the noun has been rendered by “covert,” and the verb by “encamp,” in distinction from “tent” for skhnh/. Greek dou=loj in Psalms has been rendered, with some hesitation, by “slave.” The hesitation stems purely from the connotation “slave” carries in modern English. The Greek Pentateuch translated Hebrew db( (“servant”/”slave”) almost exclusively by Greek pai=j, a word with a very similar semantic range. Leuitikon 25.44 and 26.13, where dou=loj is found instead, confirm the difference between the two Greek terms. The translator of Psalms chose almost exclusively dou=loj (“slave”) (53x) with only four occur- rences of pai=j. Esaias and Jeremias present a mix with Iezekiel inclining toward dou=loj and the Minor Prophets completely in the latter camp. There is no evidence for arguing that dou=loj in Psalms is a calque. Since a0nabaqmo/j has no prior history within the LXX in the sense of “ascents,” it can scarcely be called a calque (if indeed its Hebrew counterpart has that meaning2). Since both inside and outside the LXX, the word is used only in the sense of steps (of a stairway), it evidently carries its normal semantic range. What we seem to have, therefore, is a stereotype, which arose because the translator insisted on the equa- tion hl( – a0nabai/nw > twl(mh – a0nabaqmoi/. Why he did not choose a0na/basij instead—which oc- curs in 83.6, but for a different Hebrew root—may be surprising but suggests in any case that he was not thinking of “ascending/ascension” as such. Accordingly, NETS readers will read of Songs of the Steps rather than Songs of Ascents. Of interest is that according to Jewish exegetical tradition these psalms were recited by the Levites on the fifteen steps leading from the court of the men to that of the women in the temple.3

Some Problems of Grammar Since the Psalms are poetic literature and furthermore typically do not tell a story with a timeline of its own, the Hebrew verbal categories of tense-aspect presented something of a problem to the Greek translator. Quite clearly he ended up by working with a set of default or unmarked equations. Thus He- brew yiqtol forms are normally translated by the Greek future indicative, the qatal by the aorist indicative, and the participle often by the present indicative. It should be noted, however, that participles are also often translated by participles, even though that may produce either strained syntax in the Greek or an obvious change in syntax. Though he had his default equivalents, apparent awareness of contextual sense brought about some flexibility. Nevertheless, the defaults produced a certain stiltedness and abruptness in the use and se- quence of Greek tenses. In an effort to communicate at least some of this quality to the reader of NETS, I have typically rendered all Greek aorists by the English simple past, even when the NRSV has used the present perfect—which is not to say that the Greek aorist and the English simple past are linguistically identical. A second grammatical item that occasioned some discomfort is the preposition. The primary function of prepositions is grammatical; that is to say, prepositions forge relationships between constituents of

2 See J. Day, Psalms ( Guides; Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1992) 61–62. 3 Adolf Neubauer, “The Authorship and the Titles of the Psalms according to Early Jewish Authorities,” SBE 2 (1890) 1–57. 24-Ps-NETS-4.qxd 11/10/2009 10:34 PM Page 547

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sentences. Nonetheless, like full words or lexemes but unlike lexically empty structural markers such as case endings, prepositions have some lexical content. They may appropriately be referred to as (seman- tically) bleached words or lexemes in distinction from (semantically) full words or lexemes. Once this is realized, it comes as no surprise that when prepositions are treated as though they were full lexemes with a set meaning, idiomatic usage tends to go out the window (cf. the earlier note on idiomatic language). Yet this is precisely what often happens in the Greek Psalms due to the fact that its translator often read the Hebrew text in an atomistic manner. The result is that each Hebrew preposition was typically given a default equivalent in Greek, and this default tended to be used irrespective of whether it produced id- iomatic Greek. Since the issue here is frequently one of infelicity in Greek style (which is difficult to mimic in English) rather than change in meaning from the Hebrew, such instances have been largely ig- nored for the purposes of NETS, lest one produce senseless English! The rule of thumb has been to ig- nore all instances of default equations between Hebrew and Greek but to take seriously instances of non- default equations, the assumption being that when the translator deviated from his routine he did so for a reason. Greek kai/ (“and”), the standard equivalent of Hebrew w (“and”), has been rendered routinely by “and,” even where the NRSV suppresses Hebrew w. Since Greek Psalms often lacks articles when they are not explicitly warranted by the source text, such absence has been taken seriously in NETS.

EDITORIAL DETAIL Punctuation in Rahlfs’ edition of the Greek Psalter has been treated with respect but not regarded as nor- mative. Unlike “Selah” in the NRSV, its equivalent in NETS, “interlude on strings,” is consistently followed by an empty line on the grounds that any interlude signals a pause. In their division of materials the Masoretic and the Greek do not completely agree. Since MT Psalms 9 and 10 are a single psalm in the Greek (9) and Greek is two psalms in MT (114, 115), between these points the numeration of LXX is up by one from MT. Further, since LXX Psalms 114 and 115 equal MT 116.1–9 and 116.10–19 respectively, and MT 147.1–11 and 12–20 constitute LXX 146 and 147, between these points we have an identical number of Psalms, though their enumeration varies by one. Versification in MT, LXX and NRSV is potentially more confusing. While MT and LXX coincide, the NRSV excludes the psalm titles from the numbering and as a result is out of step with both MT and LXX. NETS follows the Rahlfs numbering for chapters and verses but gives the NRSV numbers in parentheses.

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE Apart from standard grammars and lexica, I have benefited from other English translations of the Greek Psalter such as those of Brenton (1844) and Thomson (1808) (see “TO THE READER OF NETS”), but particularly from the more recent renditions by A. Lazarus, The Holy Psalter from the Septuagint (Madras: Diocesan Press, 1966), by the Fathers of the Holy Transfiguration Monastery, The Psalter according to the Seventy (Boston, 1987), and by José M. de Vinck and Leonidas C. Contos, The Psalms Translated from the Greek Septuagint (Allendale NJ: Alleluia Press, 1993). A copy of the The Psalter acc. to the Seventy was kind- ly sent to me by Father Basil. It should be borne in mind, however, that the aim of NETS has been dis- tinctly different from any of these. Among the more exegetical treatments, Martin Flashar’s “Exegetische Studien zum Septuagintapsalter” (ZAW 32 [1912] 81–116, 161–198, 241–268) has been invaluable, as has been F. W. Mozley, The Psalter of the Church (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1905).

My graduate students in Septuagint at the University of Toronto, Cameron Boyd-Taylor, Paul McLean, Tony Michael, Marc Saunders, Tyler Williams, Jannes Smith and Wade White have been of great help. A special debt of gratitude I owe, however, to Cameron for his incisive and persistent critique, which has immeasurably improved the final product. ALBERT PIETERSMA 24-Ps-NETS-4.qxd 11/10/2009 10:34 PM Page 548

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BOOK I 10 And now, O kings, be sensible; be instructed, all you who judge the (Psalms 1–40[41]) earth. 11 Be subject to the Lord with fear, and rejoice in him with trembling. 12 Seize upon instruction, lest the Lord be 1 Happy the man angry, who did not walk by the counsel of the and you will perish from the righteous impious, way, and in the way of sinners did not stand, when his anger quickly blazes out. and on the seat of pestiferous people did not sit down. Happy are all who trust in him. 2 Rather, his will is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he will meditate day and night. 3 And he will be like the tree 1 A Psalm. Pertaining to Dauid. When he was that was planted by the channels of running away from his son Abessalom. waters, which will yield its fruit in its season, 2(1) O Lord, why did those who afflict me and its leaf will not fall off. multiply? And in all that hea does, hea will prosper. Many are rising against me; 3(2) many are saying to my , 4 Not so the impious, not so! “There is no deliverance for him in his Rather, they are like the dust that the God.” wind flings from off the land. Interlude on strings 5 Therefore the impious will not rise up in judgment, 4(3) But you, O Lord, you are my supporter, nor sinners in the council of the my glory, and one who lifts up my righteous, head. 6 because the Lord knows the way of the 5(4) With my voice I cried to the Lord, righteous, and he hearkened to me from his holy and the way of the impious will perish. mountain. Interlude on strings 6(5) I lay down and slept; 1 Why did nations grow insolent, I woke again, because the Lord will and peoples contemplate vain things? support me. 2 The kings of the earth stood side by side, 7(6) I shall not be afraid of ten thousands of and the rulers gathered together, people against the Lord and against his anointed, who are setting themselves against me all Interlude on strings around.

3 “Let us burst their bonds asunder 8(7) Rise up, O Lord! and cast their yoke from us.” Save me, O my God, because you are the one who struck all who 4 He who resides in the heavens will laugh at are hostile to me for nothing; them, the teeth of sinners you shattered. and the Lord will mock them. 5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath, 9(8) Deliverance is the Lord’s, and in his anger he will trouble them. and may your blessing be on your 6 “But I was established king by him, people! on Sion, his holy mountain, 7 by proclaiming the Lord’s ordinance: The Lord said to me, ‘My son you are; today I have begotten you. 1 Regarding completion. Among psalms. An Ode. 8 Ask of me, and I will give you nations as Pertaining to Dauid. your heritage, and as your possession the ends of the 2(1) When I would call, the God of my earth. listened to me. 9 You shall shepherd them with an iron rod; In affliction you gave me room. like a potter’s vessel you will shatter Have compassion on me, and listen to them.’ “ my .

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3(2) You sons of men, how long will you be dull- for the sake of my enemies; witteda? make straight your way before me. Why do you love vanity and seek after falsehood? 10(9) Because there is no truth in their mouth, Interlude on strings their heart is vain; their throat is an opened grave; 4(3) And know that the Lord made marvelous with their tongues they would practice his devout one; deceit. the Lord will listen to me when I cry to 11(10) Judge them, O God; him. let them fall by their own schemes; in accordance with their many impieties cast 5(4) Be angry, and do not ; them out, speak in your hearts, because they embittered you, O Lord. and on your beds be prickedb. Interlude on strings 12(11) And let all who hope in you be glad; forever they will rejoice, 6(5) Sacrifice a sacrifice of righteousness, and you will encamp among them, and hope in the Lord. and thosef who love your name will boast in you, 7(6) Many are saying, “Who will show us good 13(12)because you will bless a righteous one; things? O Lord, you crowned us as with a shield The light of your face was cmade a signc of favor. upon us, O Lord!” 8(7) You gave gladness in my heart; fromd their season of grain and wine and oil they multiplied. 1 Regarding completion. Among . Over the eighth. A Psalm. Pertaining to Dauid. 9(8) In peace altogether, I will lie down and sleep, 2(1) O Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger, because you alone, O Lord, settled me in nor discipline me in your wrath. hope. 3(2) Have mercy on me, O Lord, because I am weak; heal me, O Lord, because my bones were troubled. 1 Regarding completion. Over her that inherits. A 4(3) And my soul was troubled very much, Psalm. Pertaining to Dauid. and you, O Lord—how long?

2(1) To my words give ear, O Lord; 5(4) Turn, O Lord; rescue my soul; take note of my cry. save me for the sake of your mercy, 3(2) Pay attention to the voice of my petition, 6(5) because in death there is no one who makes my King and my God, mention of you, because to you I will pray, (3)O Lord. and in Hades who will acknowledge 4 In the morning you will listen to my voice; you? in the morning I will present myself to you and will look on, 7(6) I was weary with my moaning; 5(4) because you are not a god who wants every night I will bathe my bed; lawlessness; with my tears I will drench my couch. onee who does evil will not sojourn with 8(7) My eye was troubled due to anger; you. I grew old among all my enemies. 6(5) Lawbreakers will not endure before your eyes; 9(8) Keep away from me, all you who practice you hated all who practice lawlessness. lawlessness, 7(6) You will destroy all those who speak the lie; because the Lord listened to the voice of a bloodthirsty and deceitful man the Lord my weeping. abhors. 10(9) The Lord listened to my petition; the Lord accepted my prayer. 8(7) But I, through the abundance of your mercy, 11(10) May all my enemies be ashamed and be very I will enter into your house; much troubled; I will do obeisance toward your holy shrine may they be turned back and, in a in awe of you. moment, be very much put to 9(8) O Lord, guide me in your righteousness shame.

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550 psalms 7–9(–10)

Psalm 7 18(17)I will give to the Lord the acknowledgment due to his righteousness 1 A Psalm pertaining to Dauid, which he sang to and make music to the name of the Lord, the Lord over the words of Chousi son of the Most High. Iemeni. 2(1) O Lord my God, in you I hoped; save me from all my pursuers, and 1 Regarding completion. Over the wine vats. A rescue me, Psalm. Pertaining to Dauid. 3(2) lest he like a lion seize my soul, with no one to redeem or save. 2(1) O Lord, our Lord, how admirable is your name in all the 4(3) O Lord my God, if I did this, earth, if there is injustice in my hands, because your magnificence was raised 5(4) if I repaid those who repaid me with evil, beyond the heavens. then may I afall away empty froma my enemies; 3(2) Out of mouths of infants and nurslings 6(5) mayb the enemy pursue and overtake my you furnished praisek for yourself, soul for the sake of your enemies, and trample my life to the ground to put down enemy and avenger, and make my glory encamp in the dust. 4(3) because I will observe the heavens, works of Interlude on strings your fingers— moon and stars—things you alone 7(6) Rise up, O Lord, in your wrath; founded. be exalted cat the deathsc of my 5(4) What is man that you are mindful of him enemies, or son of man that you attend to him? andd awake, O mye God, with the ordinance you commanded. 6(5) You diminished him a little in comparison 8(7) And a congregation of people will surround with ; you, with glory and honor you crowned and abovef this return on high! him. 9(8) The Lord will judge peoples; 7(6) And you set him over the works of your gdo me justiceg, O Lord, according to my hands; righteousness you subjected all under his feet, and according to the innocence in me. 8(7) sheep and cattle, all togetherd, and further the beasts of the plain, 10(9) Do let evil of sinners be brought to an end, 9(8) the birds of the air and the fish of the sea and you shall direct the righteous. —the things that pass through paths of God is one who tests hearts and kidneysh. seas. 11(10) Righteous is my help from God, he who saves the upright in heart. 10(9) O Lord, our Lord, how admirable is your 12(11) God is a righteous judge, i[and strong and name in all the earth! patient]i, one who does not bring on wrath every (–10) day. 1 Regarding completion. Over the secrets of the 13(12)If you do not turn back, he will make his son. A Psalm. Pertaining to Dauid. sword gleam; his bow he bent and prepared it, 2(1) I will acknowledge you, O Lord, with my 14(13)and on it he prepared implements of death; whole heart; he forged his arrows jfor those that are I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. being burntj. 3(2) I will be glad and will rejoice in you; 15(14)Look, he was in travail with injustice; I will make music to your name, O Most he conceived toil High. and brought forth lawlessness. 16(15)A pit he dug and cleaned it out, 4(3) When my enemy turns back, rearwards, and he shall fall into the hole he made. they shall grow weak and shall perish 17(16)His toil shall return upon his own head, from before you, and on his own pate his injustice shall 5(4) because you maintained my right and my descend. cause;

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you sat on a throne, you who judge with let nations know that they are human righteousness. beings. Interlude on strings 6(5) You rebuked nations, and the impious perished; 22(1) Why, O Lord, do you stand far off— their name you blotted out forever and do you overlook at opportune times in forever and ever. affliction? 7(6) The swords of the enemy failed completely, 23(2) When the impious behaves arrogantly, the and cities you destroyed; poor is set on fire; the memory of them perished they are being caught in the schemes they resoundingly. devise, 24(3) because the sinner commends himself for 8(7) And the Lord remains forever; the lusts of his soul, he prepared his throne in judgmenta. and he who acts unjustly counts himself 9(8) And it is he who will judge the world with blessed. righteousness; 25(4) The sinner provoked the Lord, he will judge peoples with uprightness. “According to the full extent of his wrath he will not seek out.” 10(9) And the Lord became a refuge for the God is not before him. needy, a helper at opportune times in affliction. 26(5) His ways are being defiled at every 11(10) And let those who know your name hope in opportunity; you, your judgments are being erased from because you did not forsake those who before him; seek you, O Lord. over all his enemies he will exercise 12(11) Make music to the Lord, who resides in dominion. Sion. 27(6) For he said in his heart, “I shall not be Declare his practices among the shaken, nations, from generation to generation without 13(12)because while avenging blood he was adversity”— mindful of them; 28(7) him whose mouth is full of cursing and he did not forget the cry of the needy. bitterness and deceit; under his tongue are grief and hardship. 14(13)Have mercy on me, O Lord. 29(8) He sits in ambush with the rich, See my humiliation from my enemies; in places to kill the innocent. you are the one who lifts me up from the gates of death His eyes focus on the needy; 15(14)so that I may proclaim all your praises 30(9) he lurks in secret like a lion in its in the gates of daughter Sion; covert; I will rejoice in your deliverance. he lurks that he may seize the poor, that he may seize a poor one by dragging 16(15)Nations got stuck in the corruption they him off. produced; in this trap, which they hid, their own 31(10) In his trap he will humble him; foot was caught. he shall stoop and fall when he exercises 17(16)The Lord is known when he executes dominion over the needy. judgments; 32(11) For he said in his heart, “God has forgotten; the sinner was caught in the work of his he turned away his face so as not to see it own hands. at all.” bOde of an interlude on stringsb 33(12)Rise up, O Lord God; let your hand be lifted 18(17)Let sinners be turned away to Hades, up; all the nations that keep forgetting God. do not forget the needy. 34(13)Why did the impious provoke God? 19(18)Because the poor shall not be completely For he said in his heart, “He will not seek forgotten, out!” the endurance of the needy shall not perish forever. 35(14)You see, because you note hardship and anger, 20(19)Rise up, O Lord! Do not let man prevail; to hand them over into your hands; let nations be judged before you. thec poor has abandoned himself to you; 21(20) Set a lawgiver over them, O Lord; you were one helping the orphan.

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552 psalms 9(–10)–13(14)

36(15)Crush the arm of the sinner and evildoer; our lips are our own his sin shall be sought out, —who is our lord?” and he shall no more be found on account of it. 6(5) “Due to the wretchedness of the poor 37(16)The Lord ais kinga forever and forever and and due to the groaning of the needy, ever; I will now rise up,” says the Lord; you shall perish, O nations, from his land. “I will place in safety; I will speak freely against itd.” 38(17) Lord youb listened to the desire of the 7(6) The sayings of the Lord are pure sayings, needy; silver refined by fire, tested for soil, your ear inclined to the readiness of their cleansed seven times. heart, 39(18)to do justice for the orphan and the humble 8(7) You, O Lord, you will guard us, so that man on the earth may not add to and you will preserve us from this brag. generation and forever. 9(8) All around the impious are walking about; (11) according to your exalted state you showed regard for the sons of men. 1 Regarding completion. A Psalm. Pertaining to Dauid. (13)

(1) In the Lord I trust; how will you say to my 1 Regarding completion. A Psalm. Pertaining to soul, Dauid. “Flee to the mountains like a sparrow”?— 2 because, look, sinners bent a bow; 2(1) How long, O Lord, will you totally forget they prepared arrows for the quiver, me? to shoot in a moonless night at the How long will you turn your face from upright in heart, me? 3 because what you fashioned they took 3(2) Until when shall I hold counsels in my soul, down. have pains in my heart by day? But the righteous—what did he do? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? 4 The Lord is in his holy shrine; the Lord’s throne is in heaven. 4(3) Regard; listen to me, O Lord my God! His eyes focus on the needy; Give light to my eyes, lest I sleep unto his eyelids examine the sons of men. death, 5 The Lord examines the righteous and the 5(4) lest my enemy say, “I prevailed against impious, him”; but he who loves injustice hates his own they who afflict me will rejoice if I am soul. shaken. 6 On sinners he will rain down snares; fire and sulfur and a wind of a tempest 6(5) But I hoped in your mercy; are the portion of their cup. my heart shall rejoice in your 7 Because the Lord is righteous and he loved deliverance. righteous deeds, (6) I will sing to the Lord, my benefactor, his face beheld uprightness. and make music to the name of the Lord, the Most High. (12) (14) 1 Regarding completion. Over the eighth. A Psalm. Pertaining to Dauid. 1 Regarding completion. A Psalm. Pertaining to Dauid. 2(1) Save me, O Lord, a devout one has failed, because truths became scarce among the (1) The fool said in his heart, “There is no sons of men. God.” 3(2) Each spoke vanities to his fellow; They caused corruption and were lips are deceitful, cin the heart and in the abominable in their practices; heartc they spoke. there is no one practicing kindness; 4(3) May the Lord destroy all deceitful lips there is not even one. and a boastful tongue, 5(4) those who say, “Our tongue we will 2 The Lord peered down from the sky on the magnify; sons of men

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to see if there was any who had 3 As for the holy ones who are in his land— understanding he made marvelous all his wants among or who sought after God. them.

3 All turned away, as well they became 4 Their infirmities were multiplied; useless; after that, they were quick; there is no one practicing kindness; I will not gather their gatherings due to there is not even one. spilled blood or make mention of their names with my 4 Shall they never learn, all those who practice lips. lawlessness? Those who eat up my people like eating 5 The Lord is the portion of my inheritance bread and of my cup; did not call upon the Lord. you are the one who restores to me my inheritance. 5 There they dreaded with fear, 6 Boundary lines dropped for me in the most where there was no fear, excellent spotsa; because God is with a righteous indeed, to me my inheritance is most generation. excellent. 6 The plan of the poor you put to shame, because the Lord is his hope. 7 I will bless the Lord who makes me understand; 7 Who shall give out of Sion the deliverance moreover, until night my kidneys of ? instructed me. When the Lord returns the captivity of his 8 I kept seeing the Lord always before me, people, because he is at my right, that I might not let Iakob rejoice and Israel be glad. be shaken.

Psalm 14(15) 9 Therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; 1 A Psalm. Pertaining to Dauid. moreover, my flesh will encamp in hope, 10 because you will not abandon my soul to (1) O Lord, who shall sojourn in your covert? Hades And who shall encamp on your holy or give your devout to see corruption. mountain? 11 You made known to me ways of life. 2 One who walks spotless and practices You will fill me with gladness along with righteousness, your face; who speaks truth in his heart; in your right hand are delights, 3 he who did not beguile with his tongue completely. nor did evil to his fellow and did not take up reproach against his (17) next of kin. 4 Before him one who acts wickedly is 1 A Prayer. bPertaining tob Dauid. despised, but those who fear the Lord he glorifies; (1) Listen, O Lord, to my righteousness; attend he who swears to his fellow and does not to my petition; renege. give ear to my prayer on lips not deceitful. 5 His money he did not give at interest, 2 From before you may my judgment come and gifts he did not take against the forth; innocent. let my eyes see acts of straightforwardness. He who does these things shall never be shaken. 3 You tried my heart; you visited by night; you grilled me, and no injustice was (16) found in me. 4 That my mouth might not (4)speak of the 1 A stele inscription. Pertaining to Dauid. deeds of human beings, on account of the words from your lips, I (1) Guard me, O Lord, because in you I hoped. kept to difficult ways. 2 I said to the Lord, “My Lord you are, 5 Restore my steps in your paths, because you have no need of my goods.” lest my steps be shaken.

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554 psalms 16(17)–17(18)

6 I, I cried out, because you hearkened to me, 7(6) And when I was being afflicted, I called O God; upon the Lord, incline your ear to me, and listen to my and to my God I cried. words. From his holy shrine he heard my voice, 7 Wondrously show your mercies, and my cry before him will enter into his you who save those that hope in you ears. from those that withstand your right hand. 8(7) And the earth shook and was atremble, and the foundations of the mountains 8 Guard me as the eye’s pupil; were disturbed with your wings’ shelter you will shelter and shook, because God was angry with me them. 9 from before the impious that distress me. 9(8) Smoke went up in his wrath, My enemies beset my soul; and fire flamed from before him; 10 atheir fat they shut upa; coals were ignited by himb. their mouth spoke arrogance. 10(9) And he sloped heaven and came down, 11 Casting me out, they then encircled me; and thick darkness was under his feet. their eyes they set to incline at the 11(10) And he mounted upon cheroubin and ground. flew; 12 They seized me like a lion eager for prey he flew upon the wings of winds. and like a whelp living in hiding. 12(11) And he made darkness his hideaway; around him was his tent, 13 Rise up, O Lord; anticipate them, and trip dark water in clouds of air. them up; 13(12)Fromc the brightness before him the clouds rescue my soul from the impious, passed, your sword (14)from the enemies of your hail and coals of fire. hand. 14(13)And the Lord thundered from heaven, 14 O Lord, from few things from earth and the Most High gave forth his voice. separate them in their lives. 15(14)And he sent out arrows and scattered And with your hidden things their belly was themd; filled; and lightnings he multiplied and they were fed with sons, confounded them. and they left the remnants to their 16(15)And the springs of the waters appeared, infants. and the foundations of the world were uncovered 15 But as for me, I shall appear to your face in at your rebuke, O Lord, righteousness; at the blast of the breath of your wrath. I shall be fed when your glory appears. 17(16)He sent out from on high, and he took me; (18) he took me to himself out of many waters. 1 Regarding completion. Pertaining to Dauid the 18(17)He will rescue me from my powerful servant of the Lord, what he said to the Lord, enemies the words of this ode in the day in which the and from those that hate me, Lord rescued him from the hand of all his because they were too stout for me. enemies and from the hand of Saoul. 2and he 19(18)They outran me in the day of my ill- said: treatment, and the Lord became my buttress. (1) I will love you, O Lord, my strength. 20(19)And he brought me out into spaciousness; 3(2) The Lord is my firmness and my refuge and he will rescue me, because he wanted my rescuer; me. my God is my helper, and I will hope in him, 21(20) And the Lord will reward me according to my protector and horn of my deliverance, my righteousness, my supporter. and according to the cleanness of my 4(3) When I praise, I will call upon the Lord, hands he will egive back toe me, and from my enemies I shall be saved. 22(21) because I kept the ways of the Lord and did not impiously depart from my 5(4) Pangs of death encompassed me, God, and wadis of lawlessness alarmed me; 23(22)because all his judgments were before me 6(5) pangs of Hades encircled me; and his statutes I did not put away from snares of death outran me. me.

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psalms 17(18)–18(19) 555

24(23)And I shall be blameless with him, you will appoint me as head of nations; and I shall keep myself from my a people whom I did not know was lawlessness. subject to me. 25(24)And the Lord will reward me according to 45(44)At the ear’s hearing, it obeyed me. my righteousness Sons of strangers lied to me. and according to the cleanness of my 46(45)Sons of strangers grew old hands before his eyes. and limped from their paths.

26(25)With the devout you will be deemed devout, 47(46)The Lord lives! And blessed be my God, and with the innocent man you will be and let the God of my deliverance be innocent, exalted, 27(26)and with the select you will be select, 48(47)the God who gives me vengeance and with the crooked you will pervert, and subdues peoples under me, 28(27)because it is you who will save a humble 49(48)my rescuer from my irascible enemies; people, from those who rise up against me you and the eyes of haughty you will humble, will lift me up; 29(28)because it is you who will light my lamp, you will rescue me from an unjust man. O Lord— O my God, you will light my darkness— 50(49)Therefore I will acknowledge you among 30(29)because in you I shall be rescued from aa nations, O Lord, pirate’s nesta, and make music to your name, and in my God I will scale a wall. 51(50) magnifying the acts of deliverance of his king 31(30) My God—blameless is his way, and doing mercy to his anointed, the sayings of the Lord, tried by fire; to Dauid and his offspring forever. he is a protector of all who hope in him, 32(31) because, who is god exceptb the Lord? (19) And who is god besides our God?— 33(32)God who girded me with power, 1 Regarding completion. A Psalm. Pertaining to and he made my way blameless, Dauid. 34(33)refittingc my feet like a deer’s and setting me on the heights, 2(1) The heavens are telling of divine glory, 35(34)training my hands for battle, and the firmament proclaims his and my arms you made a bronze bow. handiwork. 36(35)And you gave me protection for my 3(2) Day to day spews forth utterance, deliverance, and night to night proclaims knowledge. and your right hand supported me, 4(3) There are no conversations, nor are there and your instruction set me straight words, completely. the articulations of which are not heard. 37(36)You made spacious my strides under me, 5(4) Their sound went out to all the earth, and my footsteps did not weaken. and to the ends of the world their 38(37) I will pursue my enemies and overtake them, utterances. and I will not turn away until they fail. 39(38)I will much afflict them, and they will not In the sun he pitched his covert, be able to stand; 6(5) and he himself, like a bridegroom they shall fall under my feet. going forth from his bride’s chamber, 40(39)And you girded me with power for battle; will rejoice, like a giant, to run his course. you shackled under me thosed who rise 7(6) From the sky’s extremity is his starting up against me under me. point, 41(40) And as for my enemies—you gave me theire and his goal is as far as the sky’s back, extremity, and those who hated me you destroyed. and there is no one that will be hid from 42(41) They cried out, and there was no one to hisf heat. save, to the Lord, and he did not listen to 8(7) The law of the Lord is faultless, turning them. ; 43(42)And I will pulverize them like dust before the testimony of the Lord is reliable, the wind; making infants wise; like the mire of streets I will grind them 9(8) the statutes of the Lord are upright, down. making glad the heart; the commandment of the Lord is radiant, 44(43)You will rescue me from disputes with enlightening the eyes; people; 10(9) the fear of the Lord is pure,

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556 psalms 18(19)–21(22) enduring forever and ever; (21) the judgments of the Lord are valid, justified altogether, 1 Regarding completion. A Psalm. Pertaining to 11(10) athings desireda beyond gold Dauid. and much precious stone and sweeter beyond honey 2(1) O Lord, in your power the king shall be and honeycomb. glad, and at your deliverance he shall rejoice 12(11) Indeed, your slave guards them; greatly! in guarding them there is great reward. 3(2) The desire of his heartc you gave him, 13(12)Transgressions—who shall detect them? and of the wish of his lips you did not From my hidden ones clear me. deprive him. 14(13)Also from strangers spare your slave! Interlude on strings If they will not exercise dominion over me, 4(3) Because you anticipated him with blessings then I shall be blameless of kindness, and be cleansed from great sin. you set on his head a crown of precious stone. 15(14)And the sayings of my mouth shall become 5(4) Life he asked of you, and you gave it to good pleasure, him— and the meditation of my heart is before length of days forever and ever. you always, 6(5) His glory is great by your deliverance; O Lord, my helper and my redeemer. glory and magnificence you will bestow on him. (20) 7(6) Because you will give him blessing forever and ever, 1 Regarding completion. A Psalm. Pertaining to you will make him glad with joy through Dauid. your presence, 8(7) because the king hopes in the Lord, 2(1) May the Lord hearken to you in affliction’s and in the mercy of the Most High he day! shall not be shaken. May the name of the God of Iakob protect you! 9(8) May your hand be found ford all your 3(2) May he send you help from ab holy place enemies; and support you from Sion. may your right hand find all those who 4(3) May he remember your every sacrifice, hate you. and let your whole burnt offering 10(9) You will make them like an oven of fire increase. at the time of your presence. Interlude on strings The Lord will confound them in his wrath, and fire will devour them. 5(4) May he grant you according to your heart, 11(10) Their seed you will destroy from earth, and your every plan may he fulfill. and their offspring from sons of men, 6(5) We shall rejoice in your deliverance, 12(11) because they turned evil against you; and in our God’s name we shall glory. they devised a plan they will never be May the Lord fulfill all your requests. able to realize, 13(12)because you make them ea backe; 7(6) Now I knew that the Lord saved his in your survivors you will prepare their anointed; face. he will hearken to him from his holy heaven; 14(13)Be exalted, O Lord, in your power! the deliverance of his right hand is with We will sing and make music to your acts of dominance. dominance. 8(7) These glory in chariots, and those in horses, (22) but we will glory in the name of the Lord, our God. 1 Regarding completion. Over the support at 9(8) They were shackled and fell, dawn. A Psalm. Pertaining to Dauid. but we rose and were set upright. 2(1) God, my God, attend to me; why did you 10(9) O Lord, save your king, forsake me? and hearken to us in the day we call Far away from my deliverance are the upon you. words of my transgressions.

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psalms 21(22)–22(23) 557

3(2) O my God, I will cry by day, and you will 23(22)I will tell of your name to my kindred; not listen, in the midst of an assembly I will sing a and by night, and it becomes no folly for to you: me. 24(23)You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you offspring of Iakob together glorify 4(3) But you, the commendation of Israel, him; reside in aa holy placea. let all the offspring of Israel fear him, 5(4) In you our fathers hoped; 25(24)because he did not despise or scorn they hoped, and you rescued them. the petition of the poor, 6(5) To you they cried and were saved; nor did he turn away his face from me, in you they hoped and were not put to and when I cried to him, he listened to me. shame. 26(25)From you comes my commendation in a 7(6) But as for me, I am a worm and not human, great assembly; a reproach of mankind and despised by my vows I will pay before those who fear people. him. 8(7) All who saw me mocked at me; 27(26)The needy shall eat and be satisfied, they talked with the lips; they moved the and those who seek him shall praise the head: Lord; 9(8) “He hoped in the Lord; let him rescue him; their hearts shall live forever and ever! let him save him, because he wantedb him,” 28(27)All the ends of the earth shall remember 10(9) because it was you who drew me from the and turn to the Lord, belly, and all the paternal families of the nations my hope from my mother’s breasts. shall do obeisance before himd, 11(10) On you I was cast from the womb; 29(28)because kingship is the Lord’s, from my mother’s stomach you have and it is he who is master over the nations. been my God. 12(11) Do not keep away from me, 30(29)All the fat ones of the earth ate and did because affliction is near, obeisance; because there is no one to help. all who descend into the earth shall fall down before him. 13(12)Many bull calves encircled me; And my soul lives for him, fat bulls surrounded me; 31(30) and my offspring will serve him; 14(13)they opened their mouth at me, the coming generation will be announced like ac lion that ravens and roars. to the Lord, 32(31) and they shall announce his righteousness 15(14)Like water I was poured out, to a people to be born, because the Lord and all my bones were scattered; acted. my heart became like wax melting within my belly; (23) 16(15)my strength was dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue is stuck to my throat, 1 A Psalm. Pertaining to Dauid. and to death’s dust you brought me down, (1) The Lord shepherds me, and I shall lack 17(16)because many dogs encircled me, nothing. a gathering of evildoers surrounded me. 2 In a verdant place, there he made me They gouged my hands and feet; encamp; 18(17)I counted all my bones, by water of rest he reared me; but they took note and observed me; 3 my soul he restored. 19(18)they divided my clothes among He led me into paths of righteousness themselves, for his name’s sake. and for my clothing they cast lots. 4 For even if I walk in the midst of death’s 20(19)But you, O Lord, do not put my help far shadow, away! I will not fear evil, because you are with Attend to my support! me; 21(20) Rescue my soul from the sword, your rod and your staff—they comforted and from a dog’s claw my only life! me. 22(21) Save me from a lion’s mouth, and my lowliness from the horns of 5 You prepared a table before me over against unicorns! those that afflict me;

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558 psalms 22(23)–24(25)

you anointed my head with oil, 5 Guide me to your truth, and your cup was supremely and teach me, because you are God, my (6)intoxicating. savior, 6 And your mercy shall pursue me all the days and for you I waited all day long. of my life, and my residing in the Lord’s house is for 6 Be mindful of your acts of compassion, length of days. O Lord, and your mercies, because they are from (24) of old. 7 The of my youth and my acts of 1 A Psalm. Pertaining to Dauida. ignorance do not remember; you, according to your mercy, remember (1) The Lord’s is the earth and its fullness, me, the world and all those who live in it; for the sake of your kindness, O Lord! 2 it is he that founded it on seas and prepared it on rivers. 8 Kind and upright is the Lord; therefore he will set a law for people that 3 Who shall ascend onto the mountain of the sin in the way. Lord? 9 The meek he will guide in justice; And who shall stand in bthe place of his the meek he will teach his ways. sanctityb? 10 All the ways of the Lord are mercy and 4 One who is guiltless in hand and clean in truth heart; for those who seek his covenant and his he who did not occupy his soul with testimonies. what is vain and did not swear deceitfully to his fellow. 11 For the sake of your name, O Lord— 5 He it is that will receive blessing from the and you will expiate my sin, for it is Lord great. and mercy from his divine savior. 12 Who is the person that fears the Lord? 6 This is the generation of people who seek He will set a law for him in the way he him, chose. who seek the face of the God of Iakob. Interlude on strings 13 His soul will abide in prosperity, and his offspring shall inherit land. 7 Raise the gates, O rulers of yours! 14 The Lord is empowerment for those who And be raised up, O perpetual gates! fear him, And the King of glory shall enter. and his covenant is for making clear to 8 Who is this King of glory? them. The Lord, strong and powerful, 15 My eyes are ever toward the Lord, the Lord, powerful in battle. because it is he that will pull my feet out 9 Raise the gates, O rulers of yours! of a snare. And be raised up, O perpetual gates! And the King of glory shall enter. 16 Look upon me and have mercy on me, 10 Who is this King of glory? because I am an only child and poor. The Lord of hosts, 17 The afflictions of my heart were he is the King of glory. broadened; bring me out of my narrow straits. (25) 18 See my humiliation and my trouble, and forgive all my sins. 1 A Psalm. Pertaining to Dauid. 19 See my enemies, that they multiplied, (1) To you, O Lord, I lifted up my soul, (2)O my and with an unjust hatred they hated God. me. 2 In you I trust; may I not be put to shame, 20 O guard my soul, and rescue me; nor let my enemies deride me. may I not be put to shame, because I 3 Indeed, none of those who wait for you hoped in you. shall be put to shame; 21 The innocent and upright would attach let those who are wantonly lawless be themselves to me, shamed. because I waited for youc.

4 Make known to me, O Lord, your ways, 22 Redeem Israel, O God, and teach me your paths. out of all its afflictions.

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psalms 25(26)–27(28) 559 (26) to live in the Lord’s house all the days of my life, 1aPertaining toa Dauid. to behold the pleasantness of the Lord and to visit his shrine, (1) Vindicateb me, O Lord, 5 because he hid me in a tent in the day of because I walked in my guilelessness, troublesg, and since I hope in the Lord, I shall not he sheltered me in a secret spot of his grow weak. tent; 2 Prove me, O Lord, and try me; high on a rock he set me. test my kidneys and my heart. 3 Because your mercy is before my eyes, 6 And now, look, he set my head high against and I was pleased in your truth. my enemies; I made the rounds and sacrificed in his 4 I did not sit with a council of vanity, tent a sacrifice with shouting; and with transgressors of the law I will I will sing and make music to the Lord. not enter; 5 I hated the assembly of evildoers, 7 Listen, O Lord, to my voice with which I and with the impious I will not sit. cried aloud; have mercy on me, and listen to me! 6 I will wash my hands in innocence and go around your altar, O Lord, 8 To you my heart said, “My face sought!” 7 to hear a voice of praise Your face, Lord, will I seek. and tell all your wondrous deeds. 9 Do not turn your face from me.

8 O Lord, I loved your house’s majesty Do not turn away from your slave in and the spot of your glory’s covert. wrath; 9 Do not destroy my soul together with the be my helper. Do not damn me, impious and do not abandon me, O God, my and my life with men of blood, savior, 10 in whose hands are acts of lawlessness; 10 because my father and my mother their right hand was filled with gifts. abandoned me, but the Lord took me to himself. 11 But as for me, I walked in my guilessness; redeem me, and have mercy on me. 11 Make laws for me by your way, O Lord, and guide me on a straight path for the 12 Myc foot stood in uprightness; sake of my enemies. in assemblies I will bless you, O Lord. 12 Do not give me up to the souls of people that afflict me, (27) because unjust witnesses rose against me and injustice lied to itself. 1aPertaining toa Dauid. d[Before he was anointed.]d 13 I believe, in order that I may see the good things of the Lord in the land of the (1) The Lord is my illumination and my living. savior; 14 Wait for the Lord; whom shall I fear? take courage, and let your heart be strong, The Lord is my life’s protector; and wait for the Lord! of whom shall I be in dread? (28) 2 When wicked people would approach me to devour my flesh— 1aPertaining toa Dauid. those that afflict me and my enemies— they became weak and fell. (1) To you, O Lord, I cried; my God, do not pass me by in silence, 3 Though a camp be arrayed against me, lest you pass me by in silence my heart shall not fear; and I shall be like those who go down though war rise up against me, into a pit. in thise I hope. 2 Listen to the voice of my petition, as I petition you, 4 Onee I requested of the Lord, as I lift up my hands toward your holy thise will I seekf, shrine.

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560 psalms 27(28)–29(30)

3 Do not drag my soul away together with thec Lord will shake the wilderness of sinners; Kades. together with workers of injustice do not destroy me, 9 The Lord’s voice, as he prepares deer, those who speak peace with their fellows, and he will uncover forests, but wrongs are in their hearts. and in his shrine every last one speaks of 4 Give them according to their works, glory. and according to the wickedness of their practices; 10 The Lord will settle the flood, according to the works of their hands give and the Lord will sit as king forever. them; 11 The Lord will give strength to his people! render them their due reward. The Lord will bless his people with 5 Because they took no notice of the works of peace! the Lord and of the works of his hands, (30) you will bring them down and build them up no more. 1dAe Psalm. Of an Oded of the dedicationf of the house. Pertaining to Dauid. 6 Blessed be the Lord, because he listened to the voice of my 2(1) I will exalt you, O Lord, because you upheld petition. me 7 The Lord is my helper and my protector; and did not gladden my enemies over in him my heart hoped, me. and I was helped and my flesh revived, 3(2) O Lord my God, I cried to you, and from my will I shall acknowledge and you healed me. him. 4(3) O Lord, you brought up my soul from Hades; 8 The Lord is empowerment for his people; you saved me from those that go down and he is a protector of the deliverance of into a pit. his anointed one. 9 O save your people, and bless your 5(4) Make music to the Lord, O you his devout, heritage, and acknowledge the mentioning of his and shepherd them, and lift them up holiness, forever. 6(5) because wrath is in his fury and life in his will. (29) Weeping will lodge for the evening, and rejoicing comes with the morning. 1 A Psalm. Pertaining to Dauida. 7(6) But as for me, I said in my prosperity, (1) Bring to the Lord, O divine sonsb, “I shall never be shaken.” bring to the Lord glory and honor. 8(7) O Lord, by your will, 2 Bring to the Lord glory for his name; you furnished my beauty with power, do obeisance to the Lord in his holy court. but you turned away your face, and I became troubled. 3 The Lord’s voice is over the waters; the God of glory thundered, 9(8) To you, O Lord, I will cry, the Lord, over many waters, and to my God I will petition: 4 the Lord’s voice in strength, 10(9) “What profit is there in my blood, the Lord’s voice in magnificence. when I go down to corruption? Surely dust will not acknowledge you 5 The Lord’s voice, as he crushes cedars, or tell of your truth?” and the Lord will crush the cedars of 11(10) The Lord heard and had mercy on me; Lebanon. the Lord became my helper. 6 And he will pulverize them, as the bull calf, the Lebanon, 12(11) You turned my mourning into a dance for and he that is beloved is like a son of me; unicorns. you tore my sackcloth and girded me with gladness 7 The Lord’s voice, as he divides flames of fire. 13(12)so that my glory may make music to you 8 The Lord’s voice, as he shakes a wilderness; and I shall not be stunnedg.

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psalms 30(31)–31(32) 561

O Lord my God, I will acknowledge you rescue me from my enemies’ hand and forever. from my persecutors. 17(16)Shine your face upon your slave; (31) save me in your mercy. 18(17)O Lord, may I not be put to shame, 1 Regarding completion. A Psalm. Pertaining to because I called on you; Dauida. may the impious be shamed and be brought down to Hades. 2(1) In you, O Lord, I hoped; 19(18)Let the deceitful lips become speechless, may I never be put to shame; which speak lawlessness against the in your righteousness rescue me, and righteous deliver me. with pride and contempt. 3(2) Incline your ear to me; be quick to deliver me. 20(19)O how much is the abundance of your Become to me a protector-god kindnessc, and a house of refuge, to save me, which you hid for those who fear you; 4(3) because you are my empowerment and my you accomplished it for those who hope in refuge, you, and for your name’s sake you will guide before the sons of men! me and nourish me; 21(20) You shall hide them in a secret place of your 5(4) you will bring me out of this snare, which presence they hid for me, from human disturbance; because you are my protector. you will shelter them in a tent 6(5) Into your hands I will entrust my spirit; from the contention of tongues. you redeemed me, O Lord, God of truth. 22(21) Blessed be the Lord, because he wondrously showed his mercy 7(6) You hated those who carefully guarded in a city under siege. vanities uselessly, 23(22)But as for me, I said in my alarm, but as for me, I hoped in the Lord. “I haved been cast from before your eyes.” 8(7) I will rejoice and be glad in your mercy, Therefore you listened to the voice of my because you looked upon my petition, humiliation; when I cried out to you. you saved my soul from dire straits 9(8) and did not imprison me in an enemy’s 24(23)Love the Lord, all you his devout, hands; because the Lord seeks out truth you set my feet in a spacious place. and repays those who act excessively with pride. 10(9) Have mercy on me, O Lord, because I am 25(24)Take courage, and let your heart be strong, being afflicted; all you who hope in the Lord. my eye was troubled by vexationb, my soul and my belly. (32) 11(10) Because my life failed in pain and my years in sighing, 1 Pertaining to Dauid. Of understanding. my strength grew weak in poverty, and my bones were troubled. (1) Happy are those whose lawless behavior was forgiven 12(11) With all my enemies I became a reproach, and whose sins were covered over. and to my neighbors, very much, 2 Happy the man whose sin the Lord will not and a fright to my acquaintances; reckon, those who would see me outside fled and in his mouth there is no deceit. from me. 13(12)I passed out of mind like one who is dead; 3 Because I kept silence, my bones grew old I became like a broken vessel, from my crying all day long. 14(13)because I heard censure from many 4 Because day and night your hand was heavy sojourning all around; upon me, when they gathered together against me, I was turned to wretchedness when a they plotted to take my soul. thorn was stuck in me. Interlude on strings 15(14)But as for me, I hoped in you, O Lord; I said, “You are my God.” 5 My sin I made known, 16(15)My times are in your hands; and my lawlessness I did not cover;

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562 psalms 31(32)–33(34)

I said, “I will declare to the Lord, against 10 The Lord scatters counsels of nations, myself, my lawlessness,” and he frustrates thoughts of peoples and you, you forgave the impiety of my and frustrates counsels of rulers. sin. 11 But the counsel of the Lord remains Interlude on strings forever, thoughts of his heart to generation and 6 Over thisa, every devout generation. shall pray to you at an appropriate time, 12 Happy is the nation of whom the Lord is its but at a flood of many waters, God, these will not reach him. a people he chose as a heritage for 7 You are my refuge from affliction that besets himself. me— my enjoyment, redeem me from those 13 From heaven the Lord looked down; that encircle me! he saw all the sons of men. Interlude on strings 14 From his prepared habitation he looked down on all the inhabitants of 8 I will instruct you and teach you in this way the earth— in which you should go; 15 he who alone fashioned their hearts, I will fix my eyes upon you. he who keeps observing all their deeds. 9 Do not be like horse and mule, who have 16 A king is not saved by a great army, no understanding; and a giant will not be saved by the with bridle and muzzle squeeze their jaws greatness of his strength. when they do not come near to you. 17 Unreliable is a horse for deliverance, and by the greatness of its power it will 10 Many are the scourges of the sinner, not be saved. but mercy will surround him that hopes in the Lord. 18 Look, the eyes of the Lord are on those who 11 Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, fear him, O righteous, those who hope in his mercy, and boast, all you upright in heart. 19 to rescue their souls from death and to keep them alive in famine. (33) 20 Our soul waits for the Lord, 1 Pertaining to Dauid. because he is our helper and protector, 21 because in him our heart will be glad, (1) Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous. and in his holy name we hoped. Praise befits the upright. 22 May your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, 2 Acknowledge the Lord with a lyre; even as we hoped in you. with a harp of ten strings make music to him. (34) 3 Sing to him a new song; make music skillfully, with shouting, 1 Pertaining to Dauid. When he bchanged his 4 because upright is the word of the Lord, faceb before Abimelech, and he let him go, and and all his works are in faithfulness. he went away. 5 He loves mercy and justice; the earth is full of the mercy of the Lord. 2(1) I will bless the Lord at every opportunity; continually shall his praise be in my 6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were mouth. made firm, 3(2) In the Lord my soul shall be commended; and by the breath of his mouth all their let the meek hear and be glad. host, 4(3) O magnify the Lord with me, 7 as he gathers the waters of the sea like a and let us exalt his name together. wineskin, as he puts the deeps in storehouses. 5(4) I sought the Lord, and he hearkened to me, and from all my sojournings he rescued 8 Let all the earth fear the Lord, me. and due to him let all the inhabitants of 6(5) Come to him, and be enlightened, the world be shaken, and your faces shall never be put to 9 because he it was that spoke, and they came shame. to be; 7(6) This poor one cried, and the Lord listened he it was that commanded, and they were to him, created. and from all his afflictions he saved him.

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psalms 33(34)–34(35) 563

8(7) An of the Lord will encamp around Let them be turned back, rearwards, those who fear him and be put to shame who devise evil and will rescue them. against me. 9(8) O taste, and see that the Lord is kind; 5 Let them be like dust in front of the wind, happy the man who hopes in him. and an angel of the Lord driving them 10(9) O fear the Lord, you his holy ones, on. because those who fear him have no 6 Let their way be darkness and slipperiness, want. and an angel of the Lord pursuing them, 11(10) The rich became poor and hungry, 7 because without reason they hid for me but those who seek the Lord shall not their snare’s destruction, suffer decrease in any good thing. without cause they cast reproach on my Interlude on strings soul. 8 Let the snare heb does not recognize come 12(11) Come, O children; hear me; upon himb. the fear of the Lord I will teach you. And let the chase, which heb concealed, 13(12)What person is he who wants life, catch himb, coveting to see good days? and in the snare—heb shall fall in it. 14(13)Stop your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. 9 But my soul shall rejoice in the Lord; 15(14)Turn away from evil, and do good; it will delight in his deliverance. seek peace, and pursue it. 10 All my bones shall say, “O Lord, who is like you 16(15)The Lord’s eyes are on the righteous, in rescuing the poor from the hand of those and his ears are toward their petition. too hard for him, 17(16)But the Lord’s face is against evildoers, both poor and needy from those who to destroy the remembrance of them despoil him?” from earth. 18(17)The righteous cried, and the Lord listened to 11 When unjust witnesses rose up, them, they kept asking me about what I was not and from all their afflictions he rescued familiar with. them. 12 They would repay me evil for good, 19(18)The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and my soul with barrennessc. and the humble in spirit he will save. 13 But as for me, when they troubled me, I would put on sackcloth 20(19)Many are the afflictions of the righteous, and would humble my soul with fasting, and from them all he will rescue them. and my prayer shall return into my lap. 21(20) The Lord will guard all their bones; 14 Like a fellow, like a brother of ours, not one of them will be crushed. so I would please them; 22(21) The sinners’ death is wretched, as one grieving and sad, and those who hate the righteous shall go so I would humble myself. wrong. 23(22)The Lord will redeem his slaves’ souls, 15 And against me they were glad and gathered and none of those who hope in him will together; go wrong. scourges gathered together against me, and I did not know; (35) they were split apart and were not stunnedd; 1 Pertaining to Dauid. 16 they tried me; they mocked me with mocking; (1) Render judgment, O Lord, on those who do they gnashed their teeth at me. me wrong; fight against those who fight against me! 17 O Lord, when will you take a look? 2 Take hold of (circular) shielda and (oblong) Restore my soul from their ravages, shielda, from lions my only one! and rise up to help me! 18 I will acknowledge youe in a large assembly; 3 Extend a sword, among a burdensome people I will praise and block against my pursuers; you. say to my soul, “I am your deliverance.” 19 May those who unjustly are my enemies not be happy over me, 4 Let them be shamed those who hate me without cause and and embarrassed who seek my soul. wink with the eyes,

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564 psalms 34(35)–36(37)

20 because as they were speaking peace to me, 8(7) How you increased your mercy, O God! they were also devising treachery in But the sons of men will hope in the wrath. shelter of your wings. 21 And they widened their mouth against me; 9(8) They will be intoxicated with the fatness of they said, “Good, Good, your house, our eyes saw.” and you will give them drink from the wadi of your delightse, 22 You saw, O Lord; do not pass by in silence! 10(9) because with you is life’s fountain; O Lord, do not be far from me! in your light we shall see light. 23 Wake upa! And pay attention to my trial, my God and my Lord, to my case! 11(10) O prolong your mercy to those who know 24 Vindicateb me, O Lord my God, you, according to your righteousness, and your righteousness to the upright of and may they not be happy over me. heart! 25 May they not say in their hearts, 12(11) Let the foot of arrogance not come to me, “Goodc for our soul!” and may the hand of sinners not shake me. Nor may they say, 13(12)There those who practice lawlessness fell; “We swallowed him up.” they were thrust out and will be unable to stand. 26 May those who are happy at my calamities be both shamed and embarrassed; (37) let those who brag against me be clothed with shame and 1fPertaining tof Dauid. embarrassment. (1) Do not fret among wicked people, 27 May those who want my vindication nor be envious of those that do rejoice and be glad, lawlessness, and let those who want the peace of his 2 because like grass they will quickly wither slave and like green herbs they will quickly fall say ever more, off. “Let the Lord be magnified.” 28 And my tongue shall declaim your 3 Hope in the Lord, and keep doing righteousness, kindness, all day long your commendation. and encamp in the landg, and you will be tended by its wealth. (36) 4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the requests of your 1 Regarding completion. Pertaining to the slave of heart. the Lord, to Dauid. 5 Disclose your way to the Lord, 2(1) Says the transgressor of the law in himself, and hope in him, and he will act. in order to sin: 6 And he will publish your vindication like there is no fear of the divine light, before his eyes, and your judgment like noonday. 3(2) because he practiced deceit before him, that he might find lawlessness in him 7 Submit to the Lord, and supplicate him; and hated. do not fret over the one that prospers in 4(3) The words of his mouth are lawlessness and his way, deceit; over a person that commits transgression he did not want to be sensible to do of the law. good. 5(4) Lawlessness he plotted on his bed; 8 Cease from wrath, and forsake anger. he was set on every way that was not Do not fret so as to do evil, good, 9 because the evil doers shall be destroyed, and evil he did not treat with contempt. but those who wait for the Lord—they shall inherit landg. 6(5) O Lord, your mercy is in the sky, and your truth as far as the clouds. 10 And yet a little while, and the sinner will be 7(6) Your righteousness is like divine mountains; no more, your judgments are a great deep; and you will seek his place and will not humans and animals you will save, find. O Lord. 11 But the meek shall inherit landg

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psalms 36(37)–37(38) 565

and take delight in an abundance of 29 Thec righteous shall inherit landa peace. and encamp on it forever and ever.

12 The sinner will closely watch the righteous 30 The mouth of the righteous shall declaim and gnash his teeth at him, wisdom, 13 but the Lord will laugh at him, and his tongue shall speak justice. because he foresees that his day will 31 The law of his God is in his heart, come. and his steps shall not be tripped up.

14 A sword the sinners drew; they bent their 32 The sinner watches for the righteous bow and seeks to put him to death. to bring down poor and needy, 33 But the Lord will not abandon him to his to slay the upright in heart. hands 15 May their sword enter into their own heart, nor have him condemned, should he and their bows be crushed. bring him to trial.

16 Better is a little that the righteous has 34 Wait for the Lord, and keep to his way, than the great wealth of sinners, and he will lift you up to inherit landa; 17 because sinners’ arms shall be crushed, when he destroys sinners, you will look but the Lord upholds the righteous. on.

18 The Lord knows the ways of the blameless, 35 I saw an impious one being highly lifted up and their heritage shall be forever; and being raised up like the cedars of 19 they shall not be put to shame in an evil Lebanon. time, 36 And I passed by, and look, he was not, and in days of famine they shall be fed, and I sought him, but his place was not 20 because the sinners will perish, found. and the enemies of the Lord, as soon as they are glorified and exalted, 37 Mark innocence, and behold uprightness, vanishing like smoke they vanished. because there is a residue for the peaceable person. 21 The sinner borrows and will not pay back, 38 But transgressors of the law shall be but the righteous is compassionate and destroyed together; keeps giving; the residue of the impious shall be 22 because those that bless him shall inherit destroyed. landa, but those that curse him shall be 39 But deliverance of the righteous is from the destroyed. Lord, and he is their protector in a time of 23 A person’s steps are directed by the Lord, affliction. and his way by willb. 40 And the Lord will help them and rescue 24 Should he fall, he will not crash, them, because the Lord steadies his hand. and he will deliver them from sinners and save them, because they hoped in 25 Younger I used to be; indeed, I have grown him. old, and I did not see a righteous one (38) forsaken or his offspring begging bread. 1 A Psalm. Pertaining to Dauid. As a reminderd. 26 All day long he is merciful and lends, and his offspring shall become a 2(1) O Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger blessing. or discipline me in your wrath, 3(2) because your arrows were stuck in me 27 Turn from evil, and do good, and you clamped your hand on me. and encamp forever and ever. 28 Because the Lord loves justice 4(3) There is no healing in my flesh and will not forsake his devout, from before your wrath; they shall be kept safe forever. there is no peace for my bones from before my sins, But the lawless shall be chased away, 5(4) because my acts of lawlessness went over my and the offspring of the impious shall be head; destroyed. like a heavy burden they weighed on me.

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566 psalms 37(38)–38(39)

6(5) My wounds stank and festered (39) from before my foolishness; 7(6) I was wretched and bowed down 1 Regarding completion. Pertaining to Idithoun. completely; An Ode. Pertaining to Dauid. all day long I would go around looking sullen, 2(1) I said, “I will guard my ways, 8(7) because my loin muscles were filled with that I may not sin with my tongue; mockeries I set a watch to my mouth, and there is no healing in my flesh. when the sinner organized against 9(8) I was vilified and humiliated utterly; me.” I would roar due to my heart’s 3(2) I became dumb and was humbled, groaning. and I awas silent froma good things, and my suffering was renewed; 10(9) O Lord, before you is all my desire, 4(3) my heart became hot within me. and my groaning was not hidden from And in my musing, a fire will burn. you. I spoke with my tongue: 11(10) My heart was troubled, my strength failed me, 5(4) “Make known to me, O Lord, my limit, and as for the light of my eyes—it too is and the number of my days—what it not with me. is— 12(11) My friends and my fellows approached that I may know what I lack. opposite me and stood, 6(5) Look, you made my days handbreadths, and my next of kin stood far off. and my existence is as nothing before you. 13(12)And those who seek my soul took to Surely, every person alive is the sum total of violence, vanity. and those who seek my hurt spoke Interlude on strings vanities, and treacheries they contemplated all day 7(6) “In fact, a person passes through as a long. phantom. Surely, for nothing are they in turmoil; 14(13)But as for me, I, like the deaf, would not he lays up treasures hear, and does not know for whom he will and like a mute not opening his mouth. gather them. 15(14)And I became like a person that does not hear 8(7) “And now, what is my endurance? Is it not and that has no retort in his mouth, the Lord? 16(15)because in you, O Lord, I hoped; Even my existence is from you. it is you, O Lord, my God, who will listen; 9(8) From all my acts of lawlessness rescue 17(16)because I said, “Only let not my enemies be me! happy over me,” As a reproach to a fool you gave me. and when my feet were shaken, they 10(9) I became dumb, and I did not open my bragged against me; mouth, because bit is you who did itb. 18(17)because I am ready for scourges, 11(10) Remove from me your scourges; and my pain is ever with me; due to the force of your hand I fainted. 19(18)because my lawlessness I will report, and I will show anxiety over my sin. 12(11) “With reproofs for lawlessness 20(19)But my enemies are alive and are stronger you disciplined a person than I, and melted his soul like a spider’s web; and those who hate me unjustly surely, every person is in turmoil for multiplied. nothing. 21(20) Those who render evil for good Interlude on strings would slander me, since I would follow after righteousness, 13(12)“Listen to my prayer, O Lord, and they cast off me, the beloved, like a and to my petition give ear; horrid corpse. do not pass by my tears in silence, because I am a sojourner with you, 22(21) Do not forsake me, O Lord; and a visiting stranger, like all my O my God, do not stand far from me; fathers. 23(22)attend to helping me, 14(13)Let me be, that I may revive O Lord of my deliverance. before I depart and be no more.”

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psalms 39(40)–40(41) 567

Psalm 39(40) 15(14)May those be put to both shame and embarrassment 1 Regarding completion. Pertaining to Dauid. A who seek my soul to remove it; Psalm. may those be turned back, rearwards, and embarrassed, 2(1) Waiting, I waited for the Lord, who want my hurt. and he paid attention to me and listened 16(15)Let those immediately be awarded shame, to my petition. who say to me, “Good, Good!” 3(2) And he brought me up out of a pit of wretchedness 17(16)May all those rejoice and be glad in you, and from miry mud, who seek you, O Lord, and he set my feet upon a rock and let those who love your deliverance say and directed my steps. continually, 4(3) And he put a new song into my mouth, “Let the Lord be magnified!” a hymn to our God. 18(17)But as for me, poor I am and needy; Many will see and fear the Lord will take thought for me. and put their hope in the Lord. My helper and my protector you are; O my God, do not delay. 5(4) Happy the man, he whose hope is the name of the Lord, (41) and he did not look toward vanities and mad delusions. 1 Regarding completion. A Psalm. Pertaining to 6(5) Many things you made, O Lord my God, Dauid. your wonders. And as for your thoughts— 2(1) Happy is he who considers poor and needy; there is none that will be like you. in an evil day the Lord will rescue him. I proclaimed and told; 3(2) May the Lord carefully guard him and they multiplied beyond number. quicken him and make him happy in the land, 7(6) Sacrifice and offering you did not want, and may he not give him up into his but ears you fashioned for me. enemy’s hands. Whole burnt offering and one for sin 4(3) May the Lord help him on his bed of pain; you did not request. in his illness you aturned his whole beda. 8(7) Then I said, “Look, I have come; in a scroll of a book it is written of me. 5(4) As for me, I said, “O Lord, have mercy on 9(8) To do your will, O my God, I desired— me; and your law, within my belly.” heal my soul, because I sinned against you.” 10(9) I told the glad news of righteousness in a 6(5) My enemies spoke evil against me: great assembly; “When will he die and his name perish?” look, my lips I will not restrain; 7(6) And if he came in to visit, he would speak O Lord, you knew. to no good end; 11(10) Your righteousness I did not hide in my his heart gathered lawlessness to heart; himself; of your truth and your deliverance I spoke; he would go outside and talk. I did not conceal your mercy 8(7) Together all my enemies would whisper and your truth from a large gathering. against me; against me they would devise evil for me. 12(11) But as for you, O Lord, do not distance your compassion from me; 9(8) A criminal phrase they put out against me: your mercy and your truth supported me “Surely, he that lies down will not add to always, rise up?” 13(12)because evils encompassed me, of which 10(9) Indeed, the person at peace with me, in there is no number, whom I hoped, my acts of lawlessness overtook me, and I he who would eat of my bread, was unable to see; magnified trickery against me. they multiplied beyond the hairs of my 11(10) But as for you, O Lord, have mercy on me, head, and raise me up, and I will repay them. and my heart failed me. 12(11) By this I knew that you want me: 14(13)Be pleased, O Lord, to rescue me; thatb my enemy shall not be happy over O Lord, pay attention to helping me. me.

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568 psalms 40(41)–43(44)

13(12)But me you supported on account of my 12(11) Why are you deeply grieved, O mya soul, innocence and why are you throwing me into and secured me before you forever. confusion? Hope in God, because I shall acknowledge 14(13)Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, him; from everlasting to everlasting. my God is the deliverance of my face. May it be; may it be. (43) BOOK II 1 A Psalm. Pertaining to Dauid. (Psalms 41[42]–71[72]) (1) Vindicatec me, O God, and defend my (42) cause from a nation not devout; 1 Regarding completion. Regarding from a person, unjust and deceitful, understanding. Pertaining to the sons of Kore. rescue me! 2 Because you, O God, are my 2(1) Just as the doe longs for the springs of empowerment; water, why did you reject me? so my soul longs for you, O God. And why do I walk about sullenly 3(2) My soul thirsted for the living God. as theb enemy oppresses me? When shall I come and appear to the face of God? 3 O send out your light and your truth; 4(3) My tears became my food day and night, these led me, while it was said to me day after day, and they brought me to your holy mountain “Where is your God?” and to your coverts. 4 And I will enter to the altar of God, 5(4) These things I remembered, to God who makes glad my youth. and I poured out my soul upon me, I will acknowledge you with a lyre, O God, because I shall proceed to a place of a my God. marvelous tent, as far as the house of God, 5 Why are you deeply grieved, O myd soul, with a sound of rejoicing and and why are you throwing me into acknowledging, confusion? a noise of one who is feasting. Hope in God, because I shall acknowledge 6(5) Why are you deeply grieved, O mya soul, him; and why are you throwing me into edeliverance of my face and my God he ise. confusion? Hope in God, because I shall acknowledge (44) him; my God is deliverance (6)of my face. 1 Regarding completion. For the sons of Kore. Regarding understandingf. 7 My soul was troubled at myself; therefore I shall remember you 2(1) O God, we heard with our ears; from a land of Jordan and Hermoniim, our fathers reported to us from a small mountain. a deed which you wrought in their days, 8(7) Deep calls to deep in days of old: at the sound of your cataracts; 3(2) your hand destroyed nations, all your surges and your billows and them you planted; passed over me. you distressed peoples, 9(8) By day the Lord will command his mercy, and cast them out; and at night an ode is with me, 4(3) for not by their own sword did they inherit a prayer to the God of my life. land, and their own arm did not save them; 10(9) I will say to God, “My supporter you are; rather, your right hand and your arm, wherefore did you forget me? and the illumination of your Why must I walk about sullenly, countenance, as theb enemy oppresses me?” because you delighted in them. 11(10) As my oppressors crushed my bones, they insulted me, 5(4) You are my very King and my God, while they say to me day after day, he who commands acts of deliverance for “Where is your God?” Iakob.

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psalms 43(44)–44(45) 569

6(5) Through you we shall gore our enemies, 26(25)Because our soul was humbled down to the and through your name we shall despise dust, our opponents. our stomach clung to the ground. 7(6) For not in my bow shall I hope, 27(26)Rise up, O Lord; help us, and my sword will not save me. and redeem us for the sake of your name. 8(7) For you saved us from those who afflict us, and those who hate us you put to shame. (45) 9(8) In God we shall be commended all day long, 1 Regarding completion. Over thoseb that will and in your name we shall acknowledge be changed. Pertaining to the sons of Kore. forever. Regarding understanding. An Ode. Over the Interlude on strings beloved.

10(9) But now, you rejected us and put us to shame 2(1) My heart erupted with a goodly theme; and will not go out among our hosts. it is I that address my works to the king; 11(10) You turned us back rather than our enemies, my tongue is a pen of a swift scribe. and those who hate us kept snatching spoil for themselves. 3(2) Youthful in beauty you are, beyond the sons 12(11) You gave us like sheep for eating, of men; and among the nations you scattered us. grace was poured on your lips; 13(12)You sold your people without price, therefore God blessed you forever. and athere was no abundance in their 4(3) Gird your sword on your thigh, O powerful exchangea. one, in your bloom and beauty, 14(13)You made us a reproach to our neighbors, 5(4) and drawc, and prosper, and become king a mockery and laughingstock to those for the sake of truth and meekness and around us. righteousness, 15(14)You made us into an illustration among the and your right hand will guide you nations, marvelously. a moving of the head among the peoples. 6(5) Your arrows are sharp, O powerful one, 16(15)All day long my embarrassment is before —peoples shall fall under you— me, in the heart of the king’s enemies. and the shame of my face covered me 17(16)at the sound of one that reproaches and 7(6) Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. babbles, A rod of equity is the rod of your rule; from before enemy and pursuer. 8(7) you loved righteousness and hated lawlessness. 18(17)All this came upon us, Therefore God, your God, anointed you and we did not forget you, with oil of rejoicing beyond your partners. and we did no wrong against your 9(8) Myrrh and myrrh oil and cassia waftd from covenant. your clothes, 19(18)And our heart did not stand back, from ivory bastions, with which they and you diverted our paths from your way, made you glad; 20(19)because you humbled us in a place of ill- 10(9) Daughters of kings are ein youre honor; treatment the queen stood at your right in gold- and death’s shadow covered us. woven clothing, decked out in many colors. 21(20) If we had forgotten the name of our God and if we had spread out our hands to a 11(10) Hear, O daughter, and see, and incline your foreign god, ear, 22(21) would not God search this out? and forget your people and the house of For he it is that knows the secrets of the your father, heart; 12(11) because the king desired your beauty, 23(22)because for your sake we are being put to because he is your lord. death all day long, 13(12)And daughters of Tyre will do obeisance to we were accounted as sheep for slaughter. him with gifts; your face the rich of the people (13)will 24(23)Wake up! Why do you sleep, O Lord? entreat. Arise, and do not reject us totally! 25(24)Why do you turn away your face? 14 Of a king’s daughter—all her glory is within, Why do you forget our poverty and our (14) decked out with golden tassels, in many affliction? colors.

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570 psalms 44(45)–47(48)

15 Virgins abehind hera will be brought to the shout to God with a voice of rejoicing, king; 3(2) because the Lord Most High is awesome, her companions will be brought to you. a great king over all the earth. 16(15)They will be brought with gladness and 4(3) He subdued peoples to us, rejoicing; and nations under our feet. they will be led into a king’s shrine. 5(4) He chose for us his ownf heritage, the comeliness of Iakob, which he 17(16)In the place of your fathers byour sons were loved. bornb; Interlude on strings you will appoint them rulers in all the earthc. 6(5) God went up with shouting, 18(17)Id will remember your name in every the Lord with a sound of trumpet. generation and generation; 7(6) Make music to our God; make music; therefore the peoples will acknowledge you make music to our King; make music, forever, even forever and ever. 8(7) because God is king of all the earth; make music with understanding. (46) 9(8) God became king over the nations; 1 Regarding completion. Over the sons of Kore. God is seated on his holy throne. Over hidden things. A Psalm. 10(9) Rulers of peoples gathered with the God of Abraam, 2(1) God is our refuge and power, because the strong of the earth are very much a helper in afflictions that God’s. befall us. They were very much raised up. 3(2) Therefore we will not fear, when the earth is troubled (48) and mountains be transposed in hearts of seas. 1gA Psalm. Of an Odeg. Pertaining to the sons of 4(3) Their waters roared and were troubled; Kore. h[Pertaining to the second day of the the mountains were troubled by his force. week.]h Interlude on strings 2(1) Great is the Lord and very much 5(4) The river’s strong currents make glad the city praiseworthy of God; in our God’s city, his holy mountain, the Most High sanctified his covert. 3(2) since he planted iti well, for the enjoyment 6(5) God is in itse midst; it shall not be shaken; of the whole earth. God will help it in the morning. Mountains of Sion, the slopes of the north, 7(6) Nations were troubled, kingdoms tilted; the city of the great King— he gave forth his voice; the earth was 4(3) within its bastions God is known, shaken. when he supports it, 8(7) The Lord of hosts is with us; 5(4) because, look, the kings assembled; our supporter is the God of Iakob. they came together. Interlude on strings 6(5) They, when they saw it so, were astounded; they were troubled; they were shaken; 9(8) Come, see the works of the Lord, 7(6) trembling took hold of them there, what feats he put on the earth, pains as of one in labor. 10(9) canceling wars to the ends of the earth; 8(7) With a violent blast you will shatter ships of he will shatter bow and break armor, Tharsis. and he will burn shields with fire. 9(8) As we heard, so we saw 11(10) “Relax, and know that I am God! in a city of the Lord of hosts, I will be exalted among the nations; in a city of our God. I will be exalted in the earth.” God founded it forever! 12(11) The Lord of hosts is with us; Interlude on strings our supporter is the God of Iakob. 10(9) We thought of your mercy, O God, (47) in the midst of your shrine. 11(10) Like your name, O God, so also your 1 Regarding completion. Over the sons of Kore. A praise Psalm. is to the ends of the earth. Full of justice is your right hand. 2(1) All you nations, clap your hands; 12(11) Let Mount Sion be glad;

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psalms 47(48)–49(50) 571

let the daughters of Judea rejoice, and help for them will grow old in because of your judgmentsa. Hades, away from their glory. 16(15)On the other hand, God will ransom my 13(12)Surround Sion, and embrace it; soul recount in its towers; from Hades’ hand, when he receives me. 14(13)dispose your hearts for its power, Interlude on strings and inspect its bastions, that you may recount to the next generation 17(16)Do not be afraid when a person becomes 15(14) thatb this is God, rich our God forever, even forever and ever. and when the glory of his house He himself will shepherd us for ages. increases, 18(17)because, when he dies, he will take nothing, (49) nor will his glory go down with him, 19(18)because in his life his soul will be blessed; 1 Regarding completion. Pertaining to the sons of he will acknowledge you when you treat Kore. A Psalm. him well; 20(19)he will enter the company of his fathers; 2(1) Hear this, all you nations; he will never again see light. give ear, all inhabitants of the world, 21(20) A person held in honor did not understand. 3(2) both the earthbornc and the sons of men, He gwas comparable to beastsg and rich one and needy one together. became like them. 4(3) My mouth shall speak wisdom and the meditation of my heart (50) understanding. 5(4) I will incline my ear to an illustration; 1 A Psalm. Pertaining to Asaph. I will work out my problem with a harp. (1) God of , the Lord, spoke 6(5) Why should I fear on an evil day? and summoned the earth The lawlessness at my heel will surround from the sun’s rising even to its setting. me— 2 Out of Sion is the splendor of his beauty; 7(6) those who trust in their power God will come conspicuously, and boast of the abundance of their 3 our God—and he will not pass by in silence; riches. a fire will burn before him, 8(7) A brother does not ransom; shall anyone and all around him is a mighty ransom? tempest—very much. He will not give to God his atonement 4 He will summon the sky above 9(8) and the price for redeeming his soul. and the earth, to judge his people 10 And he desisted forever (9)and will yetd live discerningly. completely; 5 Gather to him his devout, hee will not see corruption, who make a covenant with him by (10)when he sees wise people die! sacrifices. 6 And the heavens will declare his 11 Fool and dolt will perish together righteousness, and leave their wealth to strangers. because God is judge. 12(11) And their graves are their homes forever, Interlude on strings their coverts to generation and generation. 7 “Hear, O my people, and I will speak to you, They named their lands their own. O Israel, and I testify against you. 13(12)And a person held in honor did not God, your God, I am. understand. 8 Not for your sacrifices will I rebuke you; He resembled senseless beasts and nay, your whole burnt offerings are became like them. continually before me. 9 I will not accept calves from your house 14(13)This way of theirs is a pitfall to them, nor young he-goats from your folds, and afterwards with their mouth they will 10 because all wild animals of the forest are express contentment. mine, Interlude on strings beasts on the mountains and cattle. 11 I know all the birds of the air, 15(14)Like sheep they were placed in Hades. and a field’s beauty is with me. Death fshall bef their shepherd, and the upright shall exercise dominion 12 “If I am hungry, I will not tell you, over them at dawn, for the world is mine and its fullness.

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572 psalms 49(50)–51(52)

13 Surely, I shall not eat flesh of bulls the unclear and secret aspects of your or drink blood of he-goats? wisdom you made clear to me. 14 Offer to God a sacrifice of praise, 9(7) You will sprinkle me with hyssop, and I and pay your vows to the Most High. shall be cleansed; 15 And call on me in a day of affliction, you will wash me, and I shall be whiter and I will deliver you, and you shall than snow. glorify me.” 10(8) You will make me hear joy and gladness; Interlude on strings humbled bones will rejoice. 11(9) Turn away your face from my sins, 16 But to the sinner God said: and all my lawless acts blot out. “Why do you recite my statutes and take my covenant on your lips? 12(10) A clean heart create in me, O God, 17 Nay, you hated discipline, and an upright spirit renew within me. and you cast my words behind you. 13(11) Do not cast me away from your face, 18 If you saw a thief, you would join him, and your holy spirit do not take from and with adulterers you would keep me. company. 14(12)Restore to me the joy of your deliverance, and with a leading spirit support me. 19 “Your mouth increased evil, and your tongue would wrap 15(13)I will teach lawless ones your ways, deceitfulness. and impious ones will return to you. 20 Sitting, you would speak against your 16(14)Rescue me from bloodshed, O God, brother, O God of my deliverance; and you would place an obstacle against my tongue will rejoice at your your own mother’s son. righteousness. 21 These things you did, and I kept silent; you assumed lawlessnessa—that I would 17(15)O Lord, my lips you will open, be like you. and my mouth will declare your praise, I will disprove you and present against 18(16)because if you had wanted sacrifice, I would you. have given it; with whole burnt offerings you will not 22 “Mark this, then, you who forget God, be pleased. or he will seize you, and there will be no 19(17)Sacrifice to God is a broken spirit; one to rescue. a broken and humbled heart God will 23 A sacrifice of praise will glorify me, not despise. and there lies a way by which I will show him the deliverance of God.” 20(18)Do goodb to Sion in your good pleasure, and let the walls of Ierousalem be built; (51) 21(19) then you will delight in a sacrifice of righteousness, 1 Regarding completion. A Psalm. Pertaining to in offeringc and whole burnt offerings; Dauid. 2When the prophet Nathan came to then they will offer calves on your altar. him, after he had gone into Bersabee. (52) 3(1) Have mercy on me, O God, according to your great mercy, 1 Regarding completion. Of understanding. and according to the abundance of your Pertaining to Dauid. 2When Doek the Idumean compassion came and reported to Saoul and said to him, blot out my lawless deed. “Dauid came to the house of Abimelech.” 4(2) Wash me thoroughly from my lawlessness, 3(1) Why do you boast in malice, O powerful and from my sin cleanse me, one, 5(3) because my lawlessness I know of lawlessness all day long? and my sin is ever before me. 4(2) Injustice your tongue devised. 6(4) Against you alone did I sin, Like a sharpened razor you produced and what is evil before you I did, treachery. so that you may be justified in your words 5(3) You loved evil more than goodness, and be victorious when you go to law. injustice more than speaking justice. 7(5) For, look, I was conceived in lawlessness, Interlude on strings and in sin did my mother crave for me. 6(4) You loved all words for drowning, 8(6) For, look, you loved truth; a deceitful tongue.

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psalms 51(52)–54(55) 573

7(5) Therefore God will break you down When the Lord returns the captivity of his completely; people, may he snatch you and make you flee Iakob will rejoice, and Israel will be from a covert, glad. and your rootedness from the land of the living. (54) Interlude on strings 1 Regarding completion. Among hymns. Of 8(6) And righteous ones will see and fear understanding. Pertaining to Dauid. 2When the and will laugh at him and say, Ziphites came and told Saoul, “Look, is Dauid 9(7) “Look, a person who did not make God his not hidden with us?” helper but pinned his hopes on the abundance of 3(1) O God, in your name save me, his riches and in your power ayou willa judge me. and was made powerful by his vanity!” 4(2) O God, listen to my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth, 10(8) But I am like a fruitful olive tree 5(3) because strangers rose up against me in the house of God. and strong ones sought my soul; I hoped in the mercy of God they did not set God before them. forever, even forever and ever. Interlude on strings 11(9) I will acknowledge you forever, because of what you did, 6(4) For, look, God helps me, and I will wait for your name, and the Lord is supporter of my soul. because it is beneficial before your devout. 7(5) He will repay the harm to my enemies. With your truth, destroy them. (53) 8(6) Freely I shall sacrifice to you; 1 Regarding completion. Over Maeleth. Of I will acknowledge your name, O Lord, understanding. Pertaining to Dauid. because it is good, 9(7) because you rescued me from every 2(1) A fool said in his heart, “There is no God.” affliction, They became corrupt and were and my eye looked among my enemies. abominable in lawless acts; there is no one who is doing what is (55) good. 1 Regarding completion. Among hymns. Of 3(2) God peered down from the sky on the sons understanding. Pertaining to Dauid. of men to see if there was any who had 2(1) Give ear, O God, to my prayer, understanding and do not disdain my petition. or who sought after God. 3(2) Attend to me, and listen to me; I was vexed in my pondering and was 4(3) All turned away; as well they became useless; troubled there is no one who is doing what is 4(3) by the noise of an enemy and by the good; affliction of a sinner, there is not even one. because they tilted lawlessness against me, and in wrath they kept being indignant at 5(4) Shall they never learn, all those who practice me. lawlessness? Those who eat my people like eating 5(4) My heart was troubled within me, bread and death’s terror fell upon me. did not call upon God. 6(5) Fear and trembling came upon me, and darkness covered me. 6(5) There they wereb in great fear, 7(6) And I said, “Who will give me wings like a where there was no fear, dove, because God scattered bones of men- and I shall fly away and be at rest?” pleasers; 8(7) Look, I became a fugitive far away, they were put to shame, because God and I lodged in the wilderness. despised them. Interlude on strings

7(6) Who shall give out of Sion the deliverance 9(8) I would welcome the one that would save me of Israel? from faintheartedness and tempest.

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574 psalms 54(55)–56(57)

10(9) Drown, O Lord, and confuse their (56) speech, because I saw lawlessness and dispute in 1 Regarding completion. Over the people that are the city. removed far away from their holy things. 11(10) Day and night it will encircle it at its Pertaining to Dauid. For a stele inscription. walls; When the allophyles seized him in Geth. lawlessness and trouble are within it, (11)and injustice 2(1) Have mercy on me, O Lord, because a 12 and usury and deceit did not leave its person trampled on me; streets. all day long, while fighting, he afflicted me; 13(12)Because if an enemy had reproached me, 3(2) my enemies trampled on me all day long, I could have borne it, because many are they that fight against and if he that hates me had bragged against me from on high. me, 4(3) By day I shall be afraid; Ic will hope in you. I could have hidden from him. 5(4) In God I will commend my wordsd; 14(13)But it is you, my fellow human, in God I hoped; I will not fear what flesh my leader and my familiar friend, may do to me. 15(14)who made food sweet together with me; in the house of God we walked in 6(5) All day long they would make my words harmony. loathsome; 16(15)Let death come upon them, all their thoughts against me are for evil. and let them go down to Hades alive, 7(6) They will sojourn and hide; because evils are in their sojournings, in my heel they will watch, their midst. as they waited to have my soul. 8(7) On no account will you save them; 17(16)Ia cried to God, in wrath you will bring down peoples, and the Lord listened to me. O God! 18(17)Evening and morning and at noon I will recount; 9(8) My life I proclaimed to you; I will declare, you put my tears before you, as also by and he will listen to my voice. your promise. 19(18)He will redeem my soul in peace 10(9) My enemies will turn back from those that approach me, in the day when I call upon you. because they were with me in bgreat Look, I knew that you are my God. numberb. 11(10) In God I will praise with a word; 20(19)God will listen and will humble them, in the Lord I will praise with a he who existed before the ages. statement. Interlude on strings 12(11) In God I hoped; I will not fear what ea persone may do to For there is no change for them, me. and they did not fear God. 21(20) He stretched out his hand when he paid 13(12)Inf me, O God, are the vows of praise to back. you, which I will pay, They violated his covenant. 14(13)because you rescued my soul from death 22(21) They were divided due to the anger of his and my feet from slipperiness face, so that I may be pleasing before God and his heart drew near; in the light of the living. his words became smoother than oil, and they are missiles. (57)

23(22)Cast your care on the Lord, 1 Regarding completion. Do Not Destroy. and he himself will nurture you; Pertaining to Dauid. For a stele inscription. he will never give shaking to him who is As he was running away from before Saoul into righteous. the cave. 24(23)But as for you, O God, you will bring them down 2(1) Have mercy on me, O God; have mercy on into a well of corruption; me, men of blood and treachery because in you my soul trusts shall not live out half their days. and in the shadow of your wings I will hope But as for me, I will hope in you, until lawlessness passes by. O Lord. 3(2) I will cry to God the Most High,

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psalms 56(57)–58(59) 575

to God who acts as my benefactor. 8(7) They shall vanish like water that flows 4(3) He sent from heaven and saved me; through; he gave over to reproach those who were he will bend his bow until they become trampling on me. weak. Interlude on strings 9(8) Like wax that melts they will be removed; fire fell, and they did not see the sun. God sent forth his mercy and his truth, 10(9) aBefore your thistles take note of the thorn- 5(4) and he rescued my soul from among shrub, whelps. as if in anger he will bestormb you, as if I slept, though troubled. alivea. As for sons of men—their teeth are a weapon and darts, 11(10) A righteous one will be glad when he sees and their tongue a sharp dagger. vengeance donec; he will wash his hands in the blood of 6(5) Be exalted to the heavens, O God, the sinner. and to all the earth be your glory. 12(11) And a person will say, “If then there is a return for the righteous, 7(6) A trap they prepared for my feet, then God exists, judging them on the and they bowed down my soul. earth.” They dug a hole in front of me, and they fell into it. (59) Interlude on strings 1 Regarding completion. Do Not Destroy. 8(7) My heart is ready, O God; Pertaining to Dauid. For a stele inscription. my heart is ready. When Saoul sent and watched his house to put I will sing and make music. him to death. 9(8) Awake, my glory! Awake, O harp and lyre! 2(1) Deliver me from my enemies, O God, I will awaken at dawn. and redeem me from those who rise up 10(9) I will acknowledge you, O Lord, among against me. peoples; 3(2) Rescue me from those who practice I will make music to you among nations, lawlessness, 11(10) because your mercy was magnified to the and from men of blood save me, heavens, 4(3) because look, they hunted my soul; and to the clouds your truth. strong ones set themselves against me. Neither my lawlessness nor my sin, 12(11) Be exalted to the heavens, O God, O Lord— and to all the earth be your glory. 5(4) without lawlessness they ran straight on.

Psalm 57(58) Rouse yourself to meet me, and see! 6(5) And you, Lord God of hosts, God of 1 Regarding completion. Do Not Destroy. Israel, Pertaining to Dauid. For a stele inscription. pay attention to visiting all the nations; pity none of those who practice 2(1) Do you then truly speak righteousness? lawlessness. Do you judge fairly, O sons of men? Interlude on strings 3(2) Indeed, in the heart you devise acts of lawlessness on the earth; 7(6) Toward evening they will return injustice your hands braid. and be famished like a dog and encircle a city. 4(3) Sinners were estranged from the womb; 8(7) Look, they will bellow with their mouth, they erred from the belly; they spoke and a sword is between their lips— lies. because, “Who has heard?” 5(4) They have wrath in the likeness of the snake, like an adder, deaf and plugging its ears, 9(8) And you, you will laugh at them, O Lord; 6(5) which will not listen to a voice of you will hold all the nations in enchanters, contempt. nor of a charm being administered by a 10(9) O my might, for you I will watch, wise man. because you, O God, are my supporter. 11(10) My God—his mercy will outrun me; 7(6) God crushed their teeth in their mouth; my God will show me among my the molars of lions the Lord shattered! enemies.

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576 psalms 58(59)–61(62)

12(11) Do not kill them, or they may forget my and the vale of the tents I will portion people; out. scatter them by your power, and bring 9(7) Mine is Galaad, and mine is Manasse, them down, and Ephraim is the strengthening of my O Lord, my protector— head; 13(12)sina of their mouth, a word of their lips, Ioudas is my king. and let them be trapped in their pride. 10(8) is a cauldron of my hope; And from curse and lie consummations will on Idumea I will put my sandal; be noised abroad, to me allophyles were subjugated.” 14(13) in wrath of consummation, and they will be no more. 11(9) Who will bring me to a city of fortification? And they will know that God is master over Who will guide me as far as Idumea? Iakob, 12(10) Are you not the one that rejects us, O God? over the ends of the earth. And you will not go out, O God, with our Interlude on strings hosts. 13(11) Grant us help from affliction, 15(14)Toward evening they will return and worthless is human deliverance. and be famished like a dog 14(12)Inb God we shall produce power, and encircle a city. and he it is that will treat with contempt 16(15)They will be scattered in order to eat, those that afflict us. but if they do not get their fill, then they will grumble. (61)

17(16)But as for me, I will sing to your power 1 Regarding completion. Among hymns. and will rejoice in your mercy in the Pertaining to Dauid. morning, because you became my supporter 2(1) Listen to my petition, O God; and a refuge in my day of affliction; pay attention to my prayer. 18(17)my helper, I will make music to you, 3(2) From the ends of the earth I cried to you, because you, O God, are my supporter, when my heart was weary. my God, my mercy. On a rock you exalted me. (60) 4 You guided me, (3)because you became my hope, 1 Regarding completion. For those that shall yet a tower of strength from before an be changed. For a stele inscription. Pertaining to enemy. Dauid. For teaching. 2When he set on fire Mesopotamia of Syria and Syria Soba, and Ioab 5(4) I will sojourn in your covert forever, returned and struck the Ravine of Salt, twelve find shelter in the shelter of your wings. thousand. Interlude on strings

3(1) O God, you rejected us and brought us 6(5) Because you, O God, you listened to my down; vows, you became angry and had compassion you gave a heritage to those who fear on us. your name. 4(2) You caused the land to quake and threw it into confusion; 7(6) You will add days to a king’s days, heal its fractures, because it was shaken. his years until days of generation and 5(3) You showed your people hard things; generation. you gave us to drink wine of 8(7) He will remain forever before God; stupefaction. his mercy and truth, who will seek out? 6(4) You gave a signal to those who fear you, to flee out from before a bow. 9(8) So I will make music to your name forever Interlude on strings and ever, that I pay my vows day after day. 7(5) In order that your beloved might be rescued, save with your right hand, and hearken (62) to me. 1 Regarding completion. Over Idithoun. A Psalm. 8(6) God spoke in his holy place: Pertaining to Dauid. “I will rejoice, and I will divide up Sikima, 2(1) Shall not my soul be subject to God?

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psalms 61(62)–63(64) 577

For from him is my deliverance. and with lips of rejoicing my mouth will 3(2) Indeed, he is my God and my Savior, praise you. my supporter; I shall be shaken no more. 7(6) If I made mention of you on my bed, in the early morning I would meditate on 4(3) How long do you assail against a person? you, You commit murder, all of you, 8(7) because you became my helper, as by means of a wall that leans and a and in the shelter of your wings I will fence that slants. rejoice. 5(4) But they planned to impugn my honor. 9(8) My soul clung to you; They ran with a lie; your right hand upheld me. with their mouth they would bless and curse with their heart. 10(9) But they sought my soul for no good Interlude on strings reason; they shall enter into the deepest parts of 6(5) But to God be subject, O my soul, the earth; because from him is my endurance. 11(10) they shall be given over to a sword’s 7(6) Because he is my God and my Savior, power; my supporter, I shall never be a fugitive. prey for foxes they shall be. 8(7) With God is my deliverance and my glory; 12(11) But the king shall be glad in God; O God of my help—and my hope is with every one who swears by him shall be God. commended, because the mouth of people speaking 9(8) Hope in him, all you congregation of people; unjust things was stopped up. pour out your hearts before him; God is our helper. (64) Interlude on strings 1 Regarding completion. A Psalm. Pertaining to 10(9) But the sons of men are vain; Dauid. false are the sons of men, to do wrong with balances; 2(1) Listen to my voice, O God, when I petition; they together area from vanity. from fear of an enemy deliver my soul. 11(10) Put no hope in wrong, 3(2) You sheltered me from a swarm of wicked and do not long for what is robbed; people, wealth, if it flows, do not badd heartb. from a crowd of people who practice lawlessness, 12(11) Once God spoke; 4(3) who whetted their tongues like a sword, these two things I heard: who bent their bow—a cruel act, 13 that might is God’s, 5(4) to shoot in secret at a blameless one; (12) and to you, O Lord, belongs mercy, suddenly they will shoot at him and will becausec you will repay to each according to not fear. his works. 6(5) They empowered each other with a wicked word; (63) they talked in order to hide snares; they said, “Who can see them?” 1 A Psalm. Pertaining to Dauid. When he was in 7(6) They searched out acts of lawlessness; the wilderness of Judea. they eleft offe conducting their search. A person will come forward and hisd heart 2(1) O God, my God, early I approach you; is deep, my soul thirsted for you. 8(7) and God will be exalted. How many times didd my flesh dthirst ford A dart of infants their blows became, you 9(8) and against them their tongues became in a land, desolate and trackless and weak. waterless? All who saw them were troubled. 3(2) So I appeared to you in the holy place, 10(9) And every person feared, to behold your power and your glory. and they proclaimed the works of God, 4(3) Because your mercy is better than lives, and what he had done they perceived. my lips will commend you. 5(4) So I will bless you in my life; 11(10) One who is righteous will be glad in the in your name I will lift up my hands. Lord and will hope in him. 6(5) As though with fat and creaminess may my And all the upright in heart shall be soul be satisfied, commended.

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578 psalms 64(65)–65(66) (65) give glory to his praise. 3 Say to God, “How awesome are your works! 1 Regarding completion. A Psalm. Pertaining to Because of your great power, your Dauid. An Odea. enemies will play false with you. 4 Let all the earth do obeisance to you 2(1) To you a hymn is due, O God, in Sion, and make music to you; and to you shall a vow be paidb. let them make music to your name.” 3(2) Listen to my prayer! Interlude on strings To you all flesh shall come. 4(3) Words of lawlessness overpowered us, 5 Come, and see the works of God; and our impieties you will atone. he is awesome in his plans beyond the 5(4) Happy is he whom you chose and took to sons of men, yourself; 6 he who turns the sea back into dry land; he shall encamp in your courts. in a river they will pass through on foot. We shall be filled with the good things of There we shall be glad in him, your house; 7 who rules gthe ageg in his dominance; holy is your shrine, (5)admirable in his eyes keep watch on the nations, justice. those that provoke—let them not be exalted in themselves. 6(5) Hearken to us, O God, our savior, Interlude on strings the hope of all the ends of the earth, and in a sea far away, 8 Bless our God, O nations, 7(6) as he prepares mountains by his strength, and make heard the voice of the praise of girded with dominance, him 8(7) he who stirs the hollow of the sea, 9 who placed my soul in life roars of its waves. and does not give my feet to wavering. The nations will be troubled, 10 Because you, O God, tested us, 9(8) and those who inhabit the limits will be you tried us as silver is tried. awed by your signs. 11 You brought us into the snare; Goings-outc of morning and evening you you laid afflictions on our back; will cheer. 12 you mounted persons on our heads; we went through fire and water, 10(9) You visited the earth and intoxicated it; and you brought us out to revival. you dmultiplied enriching itd; the river of God was filled with water; 13 I will enter into your house with whole you prepared itse nourishment, burnt offerings because so is your preparation. I will pay you my vows, 11(10) Intoxicate its furrows! 14 which my lips emitted Multiply its crops; and my mouth spoke in my affliction. it will be glad with its drops, when it 15 Fatted whole burnt offerings I will offer to sprouts. you, 12(11) You will bless the crown of the year of your with incenseh ofi rams; goodness, I will do for you cows with goats. and your plains shall be filled with Interlude on strings fatness. 13(12)The seasonable things of the wilderness will 16 Come, hear, and I will tell, be made fat, all you who fear God, and with rejoicing the hills will gird what all he did for my soul. themselves. 14(13)The rams of the flocks were clad, 17 To him I cried with my mouth, and the valleys multiply grain; and I exalted beneathj my tongue. they will cry out; indeed, they will sing a 18 If I was contemplating injustice in my hymn. heart, let the Lord not listen. (66) 19 Therefore God listened to me; he gave heed to the voice of my petition. 1 Regarding completion. fAn Ode. Of a Psalmf. 20 Blessed be God, (1) Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth; who did not remove my prayer 2 do make music to his name; and his mercy from me.

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psalms 66(67)–67(68) 579

Psalm 66(67) 8(7) O God, when you were going out before your people, 1 Regarding completion. Among hymns. aA when you were marching in the Psalm. Of an Odea. wilderness, Interlude on strings 2(1) May God have compassion on us and bless us 9(8) earth quaked; indeed, the heavens dripped, and display his face to us, from before God—this Sina did— Interlude on strings from before the God of Israel. 10(9) Spontaneous watering, O God, you will 3(2) that we may know your way upon the ordain for your heritage, earth, and it languished, but you restored it; among all nations your salvation. 11(10) your animals live in it; 4(3) Let peoples acknowledge you, O God; in your kindness you provided for the let all peoples acknowledge you. poor, O God.

5(4) Let nations be glad and rejoice, 12(11) The Lord will give a word to those who because you will judge peoples with bring good news to a large host: uprightness 13(12)“The king of the hosts of the beloved, of the and guide nations upon the earth. beloved,” Interlude on strings and tod divide the spoil for the beauty of the house. 6(5) Let peoples acknowledge you, O God; 14(13)If you lie down among the allotments— let all peoples acknowledge you. a dove’s wings covered with silver and its back feathers with golden 7(6) Earth yielded its crop; greenness. may God, our God, bless us. Interlude on strings 8(7) May God bless us, and let all the ends of the earth revere 15(14)When the Heavenly One sets apart kings him. over it, they will be snow-covered in Selmon. (68) 16(15)O mountain of God, fertile mountain; 1 Regarding completion. Pertaining to Dauid. bA O curdled mountain, fertile mountain! Psalm. Of an Odeb. 17(16)Why do you suppose, O curdled mountains, 2(1) Let God rise up, and let his enemies be that it is the mount which God was scattered, pleased to live in it? and let those who hate him flee from Indeed, the Lord will encamp finally. before him. 3(2) As smoke vanishes, let them vanish; 18(17)The chariot of God is ten thousand-fold, as wax melts from before fire, thousands of thriving ones; so may sinners perish from before God. the Lord is among them in Sina, in the 4(3) And let the righteous be glad; holy place. let them rejoice before God; 19(18)You ascended on high; let them delight with gladness. you led captivity captive; you received gifts by a person, 5(4) Sing to God; make music to his name; indeed, whene they were disobedient to make a way for him who rides upon the encamp. sunset; The Lord God be blessed; the Lord is his name— 20(19) blessed be the Lord day by day; c[and rejoice before him.]c the God of our deliverance will prosper us. Interlude on strings They shall be troubled from before him, 6(5) who is the father of orphans and vindicator 21(20) Our God is a god to save, of widows; and to the Lord Lord belong the escape God is in his holy place. routes of death. 7(6) God settles solitary ones into a home, leading out prisoners with manliness, 22(21) But God will shatter his enemies’ heads, likewise those who embitter them that the hairy crown of those who walk in live in tombs. their errors.

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580 psalms 67(68)–68(69)

23(22)The Lord said, my throat was hoarse. “From Basan I will turn round; My eyes failed I will turn round by depths of sea from hoping in my God. 24(23)so that your foot may be dipped in blood, the tongue of your dogs, from enemies, 5(4) They multiplied beyond the hairs of my by him.” head, those who hate me without cause; 25(24)Your processions were viewed, O God, my enemies who persecuted me unjustly the processions of my God the king in became strong. the holy place— What I did not seize 26(25)rulers got a head start, near strummers, I would then repay. among young female drummers: 6(5) O God, you knew my folly, 27(26)“Bless God in assemblies, and the wrongs I did were not hidden the Lord from Israel’s fountains!” from you. 28(27)There is Beniamin, the youngest, in a trance, rulers of Ioudas, their leaders, 7(6) May those who wait for you not be put to rulers of Zaboulon, rulers of Nephthali. shame because of me, O Lord, Lord of hosts; 29(28)Command your power, O God; may those who seek you not be embarrassed make powerful, O God, that which you because of me, wrought for us. O God of Israel, 30(29)Resulting from your shrine at Ierousalem 8(7) because for your sake I bore reproach; kings will offer gifts to you. embarrassment covered my face. 31(30) Rebuke the wild animals of the reeds; 9(8) I became estranged from my brothers, the gathering of the bulls is among the and a visitor to the sons of my mother, heifers of the peoples 10(9) because the zeal for your house consumed in order that those tested by silver not be me, shut out. and the reproaches of those who Scatter nations that want wars. reproach you fell on me. 32(31) Envoys will come from Egypt; 11(10) And I bent my soul with fasting, will outstrip itsa hand to God. and it became reproachesc to me. 12(11) And I made sackcloth my clothing 33(32)As for the kingdoms of the earth—sing to and became an illustration to them. God; 13(12)About me those who sit in a gate would make music to the Lord, gossip, Interlude on strings and against me those who drink wine would make music. 34(33)tob him who rides to the sky of the sky, in the east; 14(13)But as for me, with my prayer to you, look, he will let out, with his voice, a O Lord! voice of power. It is a time of favor, O God, in the 35(34)Give glory to God; abundance of your mercy. over Israel is his magnificence, Hearken to me with truth of (14)your and his power is in the clouds. deliverance. 36(35)Admirable is God among his saints; 15 Save me from the mud so that I shall not get the God of Israel, he will give power and stuck; strength to his people. may I be rescued from those who hate me Blessed be God! and from the depth of waters. 16(15) Do not let a tempest of water overwhelm (69) me or a deep swallow me up 1 Regarding completion. Over those that shall be or a cistern close its mouth over me. changed. Pertaining to Dauid. 17(16)Listen to me, O Lord, because your mercy is 2(1) Save me, O God, kind; because waters came as far as my soul. according to the abundance of your 3(2) I was stuck in deep mire, compassion look upon me. and there is no foothold; 18(17)Do not turn away your face from your I came into the depths of the sea, servant; and a tempest overwhelmed me. because I am in affliction, quickly 4(3) I grew weary of crying; hearken to me.

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psalms 68(69)–70(71) 581

19(18)Pay attention to my soul, and redeem it; (70) for the sake of my enemies rescue me. 1 Regarding completion. Pertaining to Dauid. As a 20(19)For you know my reproach reminder, 2(1)for the Lord to save me. and my shame and my embarrassment; before you are all those who afflict me. O God, attend to helping me! 21(20) Reproach my hearta expected—and 3(2) May those be put to shame and misery, embarrassment and I waited for one that would who seek my life. sympathize, and none existed, May those be turned back and be put to and for comforters, and I did not find. shame 22(21) And they gave gall as my food, who wish my hurt. and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to 4(3) May those who sayb, “Good, Good!” drink. be turned back promptly with shame.

23(22)Let their table become a trap before them, 5(4) Let all who seek you and a retribution and a stumbling rejoice and be glad in you. block. And let those who love your deliverance 24(23)Let their eyes be darkened so that they say ever more, “Let God be magnified!” cannot see, 6(5) But I am poor and needy; and bend their back permanently. help me, O God! 25(24)Pour out upon them your wrath, My helper and my rescuer you are; and may the anger of your wrath overtake O Lord, do not delay! them. 26(25)Let their steading become desolated, (71) and let there be no one who lives in their coverts, 1 Pertaining to Dauidc. 27(26)because they persecuted him whom you struck, (1) O God, in you I hoped; and to the pain of your wounded they may I never be put to shame. added. 2 In your righteousness, rescue me, and 28(27)Add lawlessness to their lawlessness, deliver me; and let them not enter in your incline your ear to me, and save me. righteousness. 3 Be to me a protector-god, 29(28)Let them be blotted out of the book of the and a strong place, to save me, living, because you are my firmness and my and let them not be enrolled among the refuge. righteous. 30(29)Poor and in pain I am, 4 O my God, rescue me from a sinner’s hand, and the deliverance of your face, O God, from the hand of transgressor of the law supported me. and wrongdoer, 5 because you are my endurance, O Lord; 31(30) I will praise the name of God with an ode; the Lord is my hope from my youth. I will magnify him with praise. 6 Upon you I leaned from my birth; 32(31) And it will please the Lord more than a from my mother’s belly it was you who young bull calf sheltered me. bearing horns and hoofs. Of you is my hymn-singing continually. 33(32)Let the poor see it and be glad; seek God, and your soul shall live, 7 Like a portent to the many I became, 34(33)because the Lord listened to the needy and you are a strong helper. and his own that are in bonds he did not 8 Let my mouth be filled with praise, despise. that I may sing a hymn to your glory, all day long to your magnificence. 35(34)Let the heavens and the earth praise him, 9 Do not cast me off in the time of old age; sea and everything that creeps in them, when my strength fails, do not forsake me, 36(35)because God will save Sion, 10 because my enemies spoke with reference to and the cities of Judea will be built, me, and they shall live there and inherit it. and those who watch for my soul 37(36)And the offspring of his slaves shall possess consulted together, it, 11 saying, “God abandoned him; and those who love his name shall pursue, and seize him, encamp in it. because there is no one to rescue.”

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582 psalms 70(71)–71(72)

12 O God, do not be far from me; and the hills, in righteousness. O my God, attend to helping me! 4 He will judge the poor of the people 13 Let those that slander my soul be put to and save the sons of the needy shame, and let them expire; and humble an extortioner. let those who seek to hurt me be covered with shame and 5 And he will endure along with the sun embarrassment. and longer than the moon, generations of 14 But as for me, I will hope continually generations. and will add to all your praise. 6 Heb will descend like rain on a fleece, 15 My mouth will proclaim your and like drops dripping on the earth. righteousness, 7 In his days righteousness will sprout, all day long your deliverance, and an abundance of peace, until the because I do not know scribal art. moon vanishes. 16 I will enter in the Lord’s dominance; O Lord, I will recall righteousness of you 8 And he shall exercise dominion from sea to alone. sea and from river to the world’s limits. 17 aO Goda, you taught me from my youth, 9 Before him Ethiopians will fall down, and I will still proclaim your wondrous and his enemies will lick dust. deeds. 10 Kings of Tharsis and the isles will present 18 And to old age and advanced years, gifts; O God, do not abandon me kings of Arabs and Saba will bring gifts. until I proclaim your arm to every 11 And all kings shall do obeisance to him; generation to come, all nations shall be subject to him. your dominance (19)and your righteousness. 12 Because he rescued a poor one fromc a mighty one 19 O God, what magnificent things you did are and a needy one who has no helper, the highest heights. 13 he will spare poor and needy, O God, who is like you? and the souls of the needy he will save. 20 What afflictions, many and bad, did you 14 From usury and from injustice he will show me! redeem their soul, And having turned, you revived me, and precious is their name in his sight. and from the depths of the earth you brought me up again. 15 And he shall live long, 21 You made your greatness increase, and there will be given to him of the gold and having turned, you comforted me. of Arabia. And they will pray for him continually; 22 Indeed, I will acknowledge your truth to all day long they will bless him. you 16 There will be sustenance in the land on the with the use of a melody, O God; tops of the mountains; I will make music to you with a lyre, itsd fruit will surpass Lebanon, O Holy One of Israel. and they will blossom forth from a city 23 My lips will rejoice, like the grass of the field. when I make music to you; 17 Let his name be blessed through the ages; my soul also, which you redeemed. his name shall endure longer than the 24 Furthermore, all day long my tongue will sun. contemplate your righteousness, And all the tribes of the earth will be when those who seek to hurt me blessed in him; are put to shame and embarrassment. all the nations will pronounce him happy. (72) 18 Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, 1 Regarding Salomon. who alone does wondrous things. 19 And blessed be the name of his glory (1) O God, give the king your judgment, forever, even forever and ever, and your righteousness to the son of the and the whole earth will be filled with king, his glory. 2 to judge your people with righteousness May it be; may it be. and your poor with justice. 3 Let the mountains restore peace for your 20 The hymns of Dauid the son of Iessai have people, ended.

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psalms 72(73)–73(74) 583

BOOK III 21 Because my heart was burnt up and my kidneys were changed (Psalms 72[73]–88[89]) 22 and I was of no account and ignorant, I became beastlike in your sight. (73) 23 And I am continually with you; you seized my right hand. 1 A Psalm. Pertaining to Asaph. 24 With your counsel you guided me, and with glory you received me. (1) How good is God to Israel, 25 For what do I have in the sky, to the upright in heart! and from you what did I want on the 2 But as for me, my feet were almost shaken; earth? my steps nearly slipped, 26 My heart and my flesh failed; 3 because I was envious of the lawless, God is the God of my heart and is my as I observed sinners’ peace, portion forever, 4 because there is nothing negative to their 27 because, look, those who distance death themselves from you will perish; and no firmness in their scourge. you destroyed every one who whored 5 They are not in trouble of human beings, away from you. and with human beings they will not be 28 But for me, to cling to God is good, scourged. to put my hope in the Lord, 6 Therefore pride seized them; that I may tell of all your promisesd they clothed themselves with injustice e[in the gates of daughter Sion]e. and their impiety. 7 Their injustice will go forth as though from (74) fat; they progressed according to their heart’s 1 Of understanding. Pertaining to Asaph. disposition. 8 They schemed and spoke with malice; (1) Why did you reject, O God, totally; injustice they spoke against athe heighta. was your anger aroused against sheep of 9 They set their mouths against heaven, your pasture? and their tongues ranged over the earth. 2 Remember your congregation, which you acquired long ago; 10 Therefore my people will return here, you redeemed a rod of your heritage; and full days will be found for them. fyou redeemedf this Mount Sion, 11 And they said, “How did God know?” whereon you encamped. and “Is there knowledge in the Most 3 Raise your hands against their acts of pride, High?” totally, 12 Look, these are sinners and bare flourishingb; which evils the enemy committed among always did they possess wealth. your saints. 13 And I said, “So, in vain did I keep my heart just 4 And those who hate you boasted within and washed my hands in innocence. your feast; 14 And I became scourged all day long, they set up their emblems as emblems and my rebuke lasted till morning.” and did not know. 5 As though into the gentrance aboveg— 15 If I said, “I will talk in this way,” 6 as though they were in a forest of trees, look, I would have been faithless to the they felled its doors with axes; family of your sons. (6) together, with woodcutter’s ax 16 And I thought how to understand this; and stonecutter’s chisel, they smashed it. a wearisome task was before me 7 They set on fire your sanctuary with fire; 17 until I went into the sanctuary of God, to the ground they desecrated the covert and perceived their end. of your name. 18 But on account of deceits, you setc for them; 8 They said in their heart—the clan of them you brought them down, when they were together— raised up. “Come, and let us burn all the feasts of 19 How they became desolate in a moment! God from off the land.” They failed; they perished on account of their lawlessness. 9 Our emblems we did not see; 20 Like a dream when one awakes, there is no longer a prophet, O Lord, in your city you will despise their and us he will know no longer. phantom. 10 How long, O God, will the enemy reproach,

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584 psalms 73(74)–75(76)

the opponent utterly provoke your name? I will judge with uprightness. 11 Why do you turn away your hand, 4(3) The earth melted, and all who live in it; and your right hand from within your it was I who firmed up its pillars bosom, totally? Interlude on strings

12 Yet God is our King from of old; 5(4) I said to those who break the law, “Do not he worked deliverance in the midst of the break the law,” earth. and to those that sin, “Do not raise a 13 It was you who strengthened the sea by your horn; power; 6(5) do not lift up your horn on high; youa shattered the heads of the dragons do not speak injustice against God,” upon the water. 7(6) because neither from egressesf nor from 14 It was you who crushed the heads of the settings dragon; nor from desolate mountains— you gave him as food to the Ethiopian 8(7) because God is judge, peoples. this one he humbles and that one he 15 It was you who broke through springs and exalts; wadis; 9(8) because there is a cup in the Lord’s hand, it was you who dried up streams of of pure wine, full of a mixture, Etham. and he tipped it from side to side, 16 Yours is the day, and yours is the night; but its dregs were not emptied out; it was you who established lighting and all the sinners of the earth shall drink. sun. 10(9) But as for me, I will rejoice forever; 17 It was you who made all the bounds of the I will make music to the God of Iakob. earth; summer and spring, it was you who 11(10) And all the horns of sinners I will break fashioned them. off, and the horns of the righteous one shall 18 Remember thisb; an enemy reproached the be exalted. Lord, and a foolish people provoked your (76) name. 19 Do not deliver a soul that acknowledges you 1 Regarding completion. Among hymns. A Psalm. to the wild animals; Pertaining to Asaph. An Odeg. the souls of your needy do not forget totally. 2(1) God is known in Judea; in Israel his name is great. 20 Have regard for your covenant, 3(2) And his place was in peace, because the darkened onesc of the land and his place of settlement was in Sion. were filled with houses of 4(3) There he crushed the power of the bows, lawlessness. shield and sword and war. 21 Let not a humbled one be turned away in Interlude on strings shame; poor and needy will praise your name. 5(4) It is you who gives light marvelously from 22 Rise up, O God; plead your cause; everlasting mountains. remember how you are reproached by the 6(5) All the stupid in heart were troubled; fool all day long. they slept their sleep and found 23 Do not forget the voice of your suppliants; nothing— the pride of those who hate you went up all the men of wealth, with their hands. to you continually. 7(6) At your rebuke, O God of Iakob, those mounted on horses became (75) drowsy.

1 Regarding completion. Do Not Destroy. dA 8(7) You—awesome you are! Psalmd. Pertaining to Asaph. dOf an Oded. And who shall withstand you? From then is your anger. 2(1) We will acknowledge you, O God; 9(8) From the sky you made judgment heard; we will acknowledge and call upon your earth feared and was still, name. 10(9) when God rose up to establish judgment, 3 I will tell ofe your wondrous deeds, (2)when to save all the meek of the earth. I seize an opportune moment; Interlude on strings

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psalms 75(76)–77(78) 585

11(10) Because human thought will acknowledge 17(16)Waters saw you, O God; you, waters saw you, and they were afraid, and a remnant of thought will celebrate and the deep was troubled, a great you. roaring of waters. 12(11) Make vows, and pay to the Lord your God; 18(17)A voice the clouds gave forth; all who are around him will bring gifts indeed, your arrows are passing through. 13 to the one who is awesome 19(18)A voice of your thunder was in the circuitd; and (12)who cuts off the spirits of rulers, your lightnings gave light to the world; awesome to the kings of the earth. the earth shook and was set atremble. 20(19)In the sea was your way, (77) and your paths in many waters, and your footprints will not be known. 1 Regarding completion. Over Idithoun. 21(20) You guided your people like sheep Pertaining to Asaph. A Psalm. by the hand of Moyses and .

2(1) With my voice I cried to the Lord, (78) with my voice to God, and he paid attention to me. 1 Of understanding. Pertaining to Asaph. 3(2) In a day of my affliction I sought God, with my hands, at night, before him, and (1) Pay attention, O my people, to my law; I was not deceived; incline your ears to the words of my my soul refused to be comforted. mouth. 4(3) I thought of God, and ; 2 I will open my mouth in a parablee; I pondered, and my spirit became I will utter problems from of old, discouraged. 3 things that we heard, and we knew them, Interlude on strings and our fathers told us. 4 They were not hidden from their children to 5(4) With watchesa my eyes were preoccupied; a next generation, I was troubled and did not speak. as they kept telling of the praises of the 6(5) I considered days of old, Lord and years of long ago I remembered and and of his dominance meditated; and of the wonders that he did. 7(6) at night I would commune with my heart, and bI would probe my spiritb: 5 And he established a witness in Iakob 8(7) “Surely the Lord will not spurn forever and set a law in Israel, and will not add to be well pleased any which things he commanded our fathers longer? to make them known to their sons, 9(8) Or will he completely cut off his mercy 6 that a next generation might know them, from generation to generation? sons that will be born, 10(9) Or will God forget to be compassionate? and they shall rise up and tell them to their Or will he in his anger shut up his sons compassion?” 7 so that they should set their hope in God Interlude on strings and not forget the works of God and seekf out his commandments, 11(10) And I said, “Now I have begun: 8 that they should not be like their fathers, this change was of the right hand of the a generation, crooked and embittering, Most High!” a generation which did not set its heart aright, 12(11) I called to mind the works of the Lord, and its spirit was not faithful to God. because I will remember your wonders from of old. 9 Ephraim’s sons, though bending and 13(12)And I will meditate on all your works, shooting their bows, and among your practices I will ponder. were turned back on a day of war. 14(13)O God, your way is in cthe holy placec. 10 They did not keep the covenant of God, What god is great like our God? and in his law they did not want to walk. 15(14)You are the God who works wonders; 11 And they forgot his benefactions you made known your power among the and his marvels that he showed them peoples. 12 in the sight of their fathers, which marvels 16(15)You redeemed your people with your he worked arm, in the land of Egypt, in Tanis’ plain. the sons of Iakob and Ioseph. 13 He broke asunder a sea and brought them Interlude on strings through;

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586 psalms 77(78)

he made waters stand like a wineskin. 37 And their heart was not upright with him, 14 And he led them with a cloud by day, nor were they true to his covenant. and all night long with an illumination 38 Yet he is compassionate of fire. and will atone for their sins and not 15 He broke asunder a rock in a wilderness destroy them, and gave them drink as from a and he will increase to turn away his anger voluminous deep. and not ignite all his wrath. 16 And he brought out water from a rock 39 And he remembered that they were flesh, and brought down waters like rivers. a breath that passes and does not come again. 17 And they added still to sin against him; 40 How often they embittered him in the they embittered the Most High in a wilderness; waterless land. they provoked him to anger in an arid 18 And they tested God in their hearts land! by demanding food for their souls. 41 And they turned about and tested God, 19 And they spoke against God and said, and the Holy One of Israel they “Surely, God will not be able to spread a provoked. table in a wilderness? 42 They did not keep in mind his hand, 20 Even though he struck a rock and waters the day on which he redeemed them gushed out from an oppressor’s hand; and wadis deluged, 43 how he displayed in Egypt his signs, surely, he cannot also give bread and his wonders in Tanis’ plain. or spread a table for his people?” 44 And he turned their rivers into blood, and their pools, so that they could not 21 Therefore, the Lord heard and was put out, drink. and a fire was kindled in Iakob, 45 He sent a dog-fly among them, and it and anger mounted against Israel, devoured them, 22 because they had no in God and a frog, and it destroyed them. nor did they hope in his saving power. 46 And he gave their crops over to the rust, 23 And he commanded clouds above and their labors to the grasshopper. and opened heaven’s doors, 47 He killed their vine with hail 24 and he rained down manna for them to eat, and their mulberry trees with the hoar- and heaven’s bread he gave them. frost. 25 Bread of angels man ate; 48 And he gave over their cattle to hail provisions he sent them in abundance. and their property to the fire. 26 He removed a south wind from heaven, 49 He sent among them his anger’s wrath, and he led on, by his dominance, a anger and wrath and affliction, southwest wind, a dispatch through wicked angels. 27 and he rained upon them flesh like dust 50 He made a path for his wrath; and winged birds like the sand of seas, he did not spare their souls from death, 28 and they fell in the midst of their camp, and their cattle he consigned to death. all around their coverts. 51 And he struck every firstborn in Egypt, 29 And they ate and were well filled, first fruit of their labors in the coverts of and what they craved he brought them; Cham. 30 they were not deprived of what they craved. 52 And he removed his people like sheep While their food was still in their and brought them up like a flock in a mouth, wilderness. 31 God’s wrath also rose against them, 53 And he guided them in hope, and they were and he killed among their sleek ones, not in dread, and the select of Israel he shackled. but their enemies a sea covered. 54 And he brought them to a territory of his 32 Amidst all these things they still sinned, holy precinct, and they did not believe in his marvels. this mountain that his right hand 33 And in vanity did their days end, acquired. and their years with haste. 55 And he threw out nations from before them, 34 When he was killing them, they would seek and he distributed to them shares by him out, measuring line and they would turn to God and be early. and made the tribes of Israel encamp in 35 And they remembered that God was their their coverts. helper and God the Most High was their 56 And they tested and embittered God the redeemer. Most High. 36 And they deceived him with their mouth, And his testimonies they did not and with their tongue they lied to him. observe 24-Ps-NETS-4.qxd 11/10/2009 10:34 PM Page 587

psalms 77(78)–79(80) 587

57 and turned away and were faithless as also 5 How long, O Lord, will you be utterly angry, their fathers; will your jealousy burn like fire? theya were twisted into a crooked bow. 6 Pour out your wrath on nations 58 And they provoked him to anger with their that do not know you hills, and on kingdoms and with their carved images they moved that did not call on your name, him to jealousy. 7 because they devoured Iakob 59 God heard and disdained, and his place they laid waste. and he treated Israel with utter contempt. 60 And he rejected his tent at Selob, 8 Do not remember our lawless deeds of long ac covert where he encamped among ago; human beings, let your compassion speedily preoccupy 61 and gave their strength over to captivity us, and their comeliness into an enemy’s because we became very poor. hands. 9 Help us, O God our savior; 62 And he consigned his people to a sword, for the sake of the glory of your name, and his heritage he disdained. O Lord, rescue us, 63 Their young men fire devoured, and atone for our sins, for the sake of and their girls were not bewailed. your name, 64 Their priests fell by sword, 10 so that the nations may not say, and their widows will not be lamented. “Where is their God?”— 65 And the Lord awoke as one that sleeps, and let the avenging of the outpoured blood like a strong man intoxicated with wine. of your slaves 66 And he struck his enemies backwards; be known among the nations before our everlasting disgrace he put them to. eyes.

67 And he rejected the covert of Ioseph, 11 Let the groaning of the prisoners come and the tribe of Ephraim he did not before you; choose, according to the greatness of your arm 68 and he chose the tribe of Ioudas, preserve the sons of those put to death. Mount Sion, which he loved. 12 Return sevenfold into the bosom of our 69 And he built his holy precinct like that of neighbors unicorns, their reproaching with which they in the land—he founded itd forever. reproached you, O Lord! 70 And he chose Dauid his slave 13 But we, your people and sheep of your and took him from the sheepfolds of the pasture, sheep; will acknowledge you openly forever; 71 from behind the lambing ewes he took him to generation and generation we will to shepherd Iakob his people recount your praise. and Israel his inheritance. 72 And he shepherded them in the innocence (80) of his heart, and by the cleverness of his hands he 1 Regarding completion. Over those that will be guided them. changed. A witness. Pertaining to Asaph. A Psalme. (79) 2(1) You who shepherd Israel, pay attention, 1 A Psalm. Pertaining to Asaph. you who guide Ioseph like sheep! You who sit upon the cheroubin, appear! (1) O God, nations came into your inheritance; 3(2) Before Ephraim and Beniamin and Manasse they defiled your holy shrine; arouse your dominance, they made Ierousalem into a garden- and come in order to save us! watcher’s hut. 2 They placed the carcasses of your slaves 4(3) O God, bring us back, as food for the birds of the air, and show your face, and we shall be the flesh of your devout for the wild saved. animals of the earth. 3 They poured out their blood like water 5(4) O Lord God of hosts, all around Ierousalem, how long will you be angry with the and there was no one to bury. prayer of your slave, 4 We became a reproach to our neighbors, 6(5) will you feed themf with bread of tears, mockery and derision to those around us. and give themf tears to drink in measure?

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588 psalms 79(80)–81(82)

7(6) You made us a controversy to our neighbors, A tongue he heard, which he did not and our enemies mocked us. know; 7(6) he removed his back from burdens; 8(7) Oa God of hosts, bring us back, his hands slaved at the basket. and show your face, and we shall be 8(7) “In affliction you called upon me, and I saved. rescued you; Interlude on strings I hearkened to you in a secret spot of a tempest; 9(8) A vine you transferred from Egypt; I tested you at a water of contention. you threw out nations and planted it. Interlude on strings 10(9) You cleared the way for it, and you planted its roots and bit filled 9(8) “Hear, O my people, and I am testifying the landb. against you; 11(10) Its shade covered mountains, O Israel, if you would hear me! and its tendrils the cedars of God; 10(9) There shall be no recent god among you, 12(11) it sent out its branches as far as the sea, nor shall you do obeisance to a foreign and as far as the river its shoots. god. 13(12)Why did you bring down its fence, 11(10) For I am the Lord your God, and all who pass along the way pluck its who brought you up out of the land of fruit? Egypt. 14(13)A boar from the forest ravaged it, Open wide your mouth, and I will fill it. and a lone wild beast fed on it. 12(11) “And my people did not hear my voice; 15(14)O God of hosts, do bring back; and Israel paid no attention to me. look down from heaven, and see, 13(12)And I sent them away in accordance with and have regard for this vine, the practices of their hearts; 16(15) and restore that which your right hand they shall walk in their practices. planted— 14(13)If my people had heard me, and lookc upon a son of man, whom you if Israel had walked by my ways, made strong for yourself. 15(14)in no time I would have humbled their 17(16)Burnt with fire and dug up itd was; enemies, at the rebuke of your face they will and on those that afflict them I would perish. have put my hand.” 18(17)Let your hand be upon the man at your 16(15)The enemies of the Lord lied to him, right hand, and their season will be forever. and upon a son of man, whom you made 17(16)And he fed them with wheat’s fat, strong for yourself. and from a rock he satisfied them with 19(18)And we will never turn away from you; honey. you will revive us, and we will call on your name. (82)

20(19)O Lord God of hosts, bring us back, 1 A Psalm. Pertaining to Asaph. and show your face, and we shall be saved. (1) God stood in a gathering of gods, but in their midst he discerningly judges (81) gods: 2 “How long will you judge with injustice 1 Regarding completion. Over the wine vats. and to sinners show partiality? Pertaining to Asaphe. Interlude on strings

2(1) Rejoice in God our helper; 3 “Give justice to orphan and poor; shout for joy to the God of Iakob. of lowly and needy maintain the right. 3(2) Raise a melody, and sound a drum, 4 Deliver needy and poor; delightful harp with lyre. from a sinner’s hand rescue them.” 4(3) Trumpet with a trumpet at a new moon, at a high day of our feast, 5 They had neither knowledge nor 5(4) because it is an ordinance for Israel understanding; and a judgment belonging to the God of in darkness they walk around; Iakob. all the foundations of the earth will be 6(5) A testimony in Ioseph he made himf, shaken. when he went out from the land of Egypt. 6 I said, “Gods you are,

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psalms 81(82)–84(85) 589

and sons of the Most High, you alone are Most High over all the 7 but you alla are dying like human beings, earth. and like one of the rulers you fall.” (84) 8 Rise up, O God, judge the earth, because you will gain possession of all 1 Regarding completion. Over the wine vats. the nations. Pertaining to the sons of Kore. A Psalm.

Psalm 82(83) 2(1) How beloved are your coverts, O Lord of hosts! 1bAn Ode. Of a Psalmb. Pertaining to Asaph. 3(2) My soul longs and faints for the courts of the Lord; 2(1) O God, who shall be likened to you? my heart and my flesh rejoiced in a living Do not keep silent nor be appeased, God. O God, 3(2) because, look, your enemies made a 4(3) Indeed, a sparrow found itself a home, tumult, and a turtledove a nest for herself, and those who hate you raised their where she will lay her young: head. your altars, O Lord of hosts, 4(3) Against your people they laid villainous my King and my God. plans, 5(4) Happy are those who live in your house; and they conspired against your saints. for ages upon ages they will praise you. 5(4) They said, “Come, and let us destroy them Interlude on strings from being a nation, and the name of Israel shall be 6(5) Happy the man whose support is from you, remembered no more,” O Lord; 6(5) because they conspired together with one ascentsd he arranged in his heart, accord; 7(6) in the valley of weeping, to a place which he against you they made a covenant— appointed. 7(6) the coverts of the Idumeans and the Indeed, the lawgiver will give blessings. Ismaelites, 8(7) They will go from strength to strength; Moab and the Hagarites, God of gods will be seen in Sion. 8(7) Gebal and and Amalek, and allophyles with the inhabitants of 9(8) O Lord God of hosts, listen to my prayer; Tyre; give ear, O God of Iakob! 9(8) indeed, even Assour came along with them; Interlude on strings they came as support for the sons of Lot. Interlude on strings 10(9) O God our protector, see, and look on the face of your anointed, 10(9) Do to them as to Madiam and to Sisara, 11(10) because one day in your courts is better— as Iabin was at Wadi Kison! beyond thousands. 11(10) They were destroyed at Aendor; I chose to be cast aside in the house of God they became dungc for the ground. rather than to live in coverts of sinners. 12(11) Make their rulers like Oreb and Zeb 12(11) Because mercy and truth the Lord God loves, and Zebee and Salmana—all their rulers, favor and glory he will bestow. 13(12)who said, “Let us take for our own The Lord will not withhold good things possession the sanctuary of God.” from those who walk in innocence. 13(12)O Lord of hosts, 14(13)O my God, make them like a wheel, happy is the person who hopes in you. like a straw in the wind. 15(14)Like a fire that will blaze through a forest, (85) as a flame might burn up mountains, 16(15)so you will pursue them with your tempest, 1 Regarding completion. Pertaining to the sons of and with your wrath dismay them. Kore. A Psalm. 17(16)Fill their faces with dishonor, and they will seek your name, O Lord. 2(1) You took pleasure, Lord, in your land; 18(17)Let them be put to shame and be dismayed you turned away the captivity of Iakob. forever and ever, 3(2) You forgave your people their acts of and let them be embarrassed and perish. lawlessness; 19(18)And let them know that your name is the you covered all their sins. Lord; Interlude on strings

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590 psalms 84(85)–86(87)

4(3) You put a stop to all your wrath; 10 Because you are great and one who does you turned away from your hot anger. wondrous things, you alone are Goda. 5(4) Bring us back, O God of our deliverance, 11 Guide me, O Lord, by your way, and turn away your anger from us. and I shall walk in your truth; 6(5) Surely, you will not be angry with us forever let my heart be glad to revere your or prolong your anger from generation to name. generation? 12 I will acknowledge you, O Lord my God, 7(6) O God, when it is you who brings us back with my whole heart, you will revive us, and I will glorify your name forever, and your people will be glad in you. 13 because your mercy toward me is great, 8(7) Show us, O Lord, your mercy, and you rescued my soul from deepest and your deliverance may you grant us. Hades.

9(8) I will hear what the Lord God will speak 14 O God, transgressors of the law rose up with me, against me, because he will speak peace to his people and a band of strong ones sought my and to his devout soul, and to those who turn to him their heart. and they did not set you before them. 10(9) But for those who fear him his deliverance 15 But you, O Lord God, are compassionate is at hand, and merciful, that glory may encamp in our land. slow to anger and abounding in mercy and true. 11(10) Mercy and truth met; 16 Look upon me, and have mercy on me; righteousness and peace kissed. give your might to your servant, 12(11) Truth sprouted from the ground, and save the son of your serving girl. and righteousness peered down from the 17 Make with me a sign for good, sky. and let those who hate me see and be put 13(12)Indeed, the Lord will give kindness, to shame, and our land will yield its crop. because it is you, O Lord, who helped me 14(13)Righteousness will go before him and comforted me. and will place his steps in the way. (87) (86) 1 Pertaining to the sons of Kore. bA Psalm. Of an 1 A Prayer. Pertaining to Dauid. Odeb.

(1) Incline your ear, O Lord, and hearken to me, (1) His foundations are on the holy because poor and needy I am. mountains; 2 Preserve my life, because I am a devotee; 2 the Lord loves the gates of Sion save your slave who hopes in you, O my more than all the coverts of Iakob. God. 3 Glorious things were spoken of you, 3 Have mercy on me, O Lord, O city of God. because to you I will cry all day long. Interlude on strings 4 Gladden the soul of your slave, because to you, O Lord, I lifted up my soul, 4 I will mention Raab and Babylon to those 5 because it is you, O Lord, who are kind and who know me. gentle And look, allophyles and Tyre and a and abounding in mercy to all who call people of Ethiopians— on you. these were born there. 6 Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer, and attend to the voice of my petition. 5cWith regard to Sion, surely noc person will 7 In a day of my affliction I cried to you, say, because you listened to me. “And da persond was born in it?” And himself founded it—the Most High! 8 There is none like you among gods, O Lord, 6 The Lord will recount, in a list of peoples and there are no works like yours. and rulers, those that were born in it. 9 All the nations, as many as you made, shall Interlude on strings come and do obeisance before you, O Lord, 7 Seeing that they are glad, the habitation of and shall glorify your name. all is in you.

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psalms 87(88)–88(89) 591

Psalm 87(88) yourf scares threw me in disarray. 18(17)They surrounded me like water all day 1aAn Ode. Of a Psalma. Pertaining to the sons of long; Kore. Regarding completion. Over Maeleth in they closed in on me at once. order that he be answered. Of understanding. 19(18)You distanced from me friend and fellow Pertaining to Haiman the Israelite. and my acquaintances due to misery.

2(1) O Lord, God of my deliverance, (89) by day I cried out, and at night, before you; 1 Of understanding. Pertaining to Aithan the 3(2) let my prayer come before you; Israelite. incline your ear to my petitionb. 2(1) Of your mercies, O Lord, I will sing forever; 4(3) Because my soul was full of troubles to generation and generation I will and my life drew near to Hades, proclaim your truth with my 5(4) I was counted among those who go down mouth, into a pit; 3(2) because you said, “Forever mercy will be I became like a helpless person, free built.” among corpses, In the heavens your truth will be 6(5) like casualtiesc lying asleep in a grave, prepared. whom you remembered no more, and they were thrust away from your 4(3) “I made a covenant with my chosen ones; hand. I swore to Dauid my slave: 7(6) They put me in a very deep pit, 5(4) ‘Forever I will provide offspring for you in dark places and in death’s shadow. and will build your throne for generation 8(7) Upon me your anger was fixed, and generation.’ “ and all your billows you brought upon Interlude on strings me. Interlude on strings 6(5) The heavens will acknowledge your wonders, O Lord, 9(8) You distanced my acquaintances from me; indeedg, your truth in an assembly of they made me an abomination to holy ones, themselves. 7(6) because who in the clouds shall be deemed I was handed over and could not walk equal to the Lord? away; And who among divine sons shall be 10(9) my eyed grew weak through poverty. compared with the Lord? I cried out to you, O Lord, all day long; 8(7) God is glorified in a council of holy ones, I spread out my hands to you. great and awesome to all that are around 11(10) Surely, you shall not work wonders for the him. dead? 9(8) O Lord God of hosts, who is like you? Or will physicians raise up, and theye You are powerful, O Lord, and your truth acknowledge you? is around you. 10(9) It is you who rule the might of the sea, 12(11) Surely, no one will declare your mercy in a and the surge of its waves you calm. grave 11(10) It is you who brought low a proud one like and your truth in the ruin? one wounded; 13(12)Surely, your wonders will not be known in withf the arm of your power you scattered the darkness, your enemies. and your righteousness in a land 12(11) Yours are the heavens, and yours is the forgotten? earth; the world and all that is in it you 14(13)And I, O Lord, I cried out to you, founded. and in the morning my prayer will 13(12)The north and seas you created; anticipate you. Thabor and Hermon will rejoice in your 15(14)Why, O Lord, do you cast off my soul, name. do you turn away your face from me? 14(13)Yours is the arm with dominance; 16(15)Poor I am and in troubles from my let your hand be strong; youth, let your right hand be exalted. and after being exalted I was humbled 15(14)Righteousness and judgment are a provision and became perplexed. of your throne; 17(16)Your wrath swept over me; mercy and truth will go in front of you.

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592 psalms 88(89)–89(90)

16(15)Happy are the people who know a shout for 39(38)But you, you spurned and rejected; joy; you put off your anointed. O Lord, in the light of your countenance 40(39) You renounced the covenant with your slave; they will walk, you defiled his sanctityb in the dust. 17(16)and in your name they will rejoice all day 41(40) You broke down all his defenses; long, you reduced his strongholds to and in your righteousness they will be cowardice. exalted, 42(41) All the way-farers plundered him; 18(17)because you are the boast of their power he became a reproach to his neighbors. and by your favor our horn shall be 43(42)You exalted the right hand of his enemies; exalted, you made glad all his enemies. 19(18)because support is of the Lord 44(43)You turned away the help of his sword, and of the Holy One of Israel, our king. and you did not support him in battle. 45(44)You dismissed him from purification; 20(19)Then you spoke in a vision to your devout his throne you smashed to the ground. ones and said: 46(45)You diminished the days of his time; “I added help to one who is powerful; you covered him with shame. I exalted one chosen from my people. Interlude on strings 21(20) I found Dauid my slave; with my holy oil I anointed him. 47(46)How long, O Lord? Will you turn away 22(21) For my hand shall sustain him; completely? my arm also shall strengthen him. Will your wrath burn like fire? 23(22)An enemy shall not profit by him, 48(47)Remember what my substance is. and a son of lawlessness shall not add to For, surely, you did not create all the sons harm him. of men in vain? 24(23)And I will crush his enemies from before 49(48)Who is the person who shall live and not him, see death, and those who hate him I will rout. shall rescue his soul from the power of 25(24)And my truth and my mercy shall be with Hades? him, Interlude on strings and in my name his horn shall be exalted. 50(49)Lord, where are your mercies of long ago, 26(25)And I will set his hand in a sea, which you swore to Dauid by your truth? and in rivers his right hand. 51(50) Remember, O Lord, the reproach against 27(26)He shall call upon me, ‘My Father you are, your slaves, my God and supporter of my deliverance!’ which I bore in my bosom, from many 28(27)And I will make him a firstborn, nations, high among the kings of the earth. 52(51) with which your enemies reproached, 29(28)Forever I will keep my mercy for him, O Lord, and my covenant with him will stand with which they reproached what had firm. been exchanged for your anointed. 30(29)And I will establish his seed forever and ever 53(52)Blessed be the Lord forever. and his throne as the days of the sky. May it be; may it be. 31(30) If his sons forsake my law and by my judgments do not walk, BOOK IV 32(31) if my statutes they shall violate and my commandments they do not (Psalms 89[90]–105[106]) keep, 33(32)I will visit their lawlessness with a rod, (90) and with scourges their sins, 34(33)but my mercy I will never disperse from him 1 A Prayer. cPertaining toc Moyses, man of God. nor be unjust in my truth, 35(34)nor will I violate my covenant (1) Lord, you became a refuge to us and set aside what proceeds from my lips. in generation and generation. 36(35)Once and for all I swore aby my holinessa, 2 Before mountains were brought forth ‘If I will lie to Dauid.’ and the earth and the world were formed, 37(36)His seed shall remain forever, and from everlasting to everlasting you and his throne is like the sun before me, are. 38(37)and like the moon, established forever. And the witness in heaven is faithful.” 3 Do not turn man away to humiliation. Interlude on strings And you said, “Return, you sons of men,”

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4 because a thousand years in your sight 3 because it is he who will rescue me from a are like the day of yesterday that passed trap of hunters and a watch in a night. and from a troublesome word; 4 with the broad of his back he will shade you, 5 Years shall be the objects of their scorn; and under his wings you will find hope; in the morning may ita pass like young with a shield his truth will surround you. growth; 5 You will not be afraid of nocturnal fright, 6 in the morning may it flourish and pass; of an arrow that flies by day, in the evening may it fall, become hard 6 of a deed that travels in darkness, and wither. of mishap and noonday demon.

7 Because we expired by your wrath 7 At your side a thousand will fall, and by your anger we were troubled, and ten thousand at your right, 8 you set our lawless deeds before you; but it will not come near you. our lifetime became an illumination of 8 Only with your eyes will you perceive, your face. and the requital of sinners you will see.

9 Because all our days expired 9 Because you, O Lord, are my hope, and by your wrath we expired the Most High you made your refuge. our years Ib would ponder like a cobweb. 10 No evil shall come before you, 10 The days of our years—in them are seventy and no scourge shall come near your years, covert, but if in acts of dominance eighty years, 11 because he will command his angels and the greater part of them is toil and concerning you trouble, to guard you in all your ways; because meekness came upon us, and we 12 upon hands they will bear you up shall become disciplined. so that you will not dash your foot against a stone. 11 Who knows the might of your wrath, 13 On asp and cobra you will tread, and your anger from your fear? and you will trample lion and dragon 12 cMake thus known to reckon up your right under foot. hand and those fettered in heart by wisdomc. 14 Because in me he hoped, I will also rescue him; 13 Bring back, O Lord! How long? I will protect him, because he knew my And be consoled over your slaves! name. 14 In the morning we were filled with your 15 He will call to me, and I will listen to him; mercy, I am with him in trouble; and we rejoiced and were glad in all our If will deliver and glorify him. days. 16 With length of days I will satisfy him 15 We were glad as many days as you humbled and show him my deliverance. us, years as we saw evil. (92) 16 And look upon your slaves and upond your works, 1gA Psalm. Of an Odeg. Regarding the day of the and guide their sons. sabbath. 17 And let the splendor of the Lord our God be upon us 2(1) It is good to acknowledge the Lord and prosper upon us the work of our and to make music to your name, O Most hands. High, 3(2) in order to declare your mercy in the (91) morning and your truth every night 1eA laudation. Of an Odee. Pertaining to Dauid. 4(3) on a ten-stringed harp, with an ode on a lyre, (1) He who lives by the help of the Most High, 5(4) because you, O Lord, made me glad by your in a shelter of the God of the sky he will work, lodge. and at the deeds of your hands I will 2 He will say to the Lord, “My supporter you rejoice. are and my refuge; my God, I will hope in him,” 6(5) How were your deeds extolled, O Lord!

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594 psalms 91(92)–93(94)

Your thoughts reached great depth! the God of vengeance spoke openly! 7(6) A foolish man will not know, 2 Be exalted, O you who judge the earth; and a stupid one will not understand give to the proud what they deserve! these things. 3 How long shall sinners, O Lord, 8(7) When the sinners sprang up like grass how long shall sinners boast, also all who practice lawlessness popped 4 shall they utter and talk injustice, up shall they talk—all those who practice so that they may be destroyed forever and lawlessness? ever. 5 Your people, O Lord, they humbled, 9(8) But you are most high forever, O Lord, and your heritage they wronged. 10(9) because, look, your enemies, O Lord, 6 Widow and guest they killed, because, look, your enemies shall perish and orphans they murdered, and all those who practice lawlessness 7 and they said, “The Lord will not see, shall be scattered. nor will the God of Iakob understand.”

11(10) And my horn will be exalted like a unicorn’s, 8 Do understand, O fools among the people, and my old age with thick oil. and, O stupid ones, think for once! 12(11) And my eye looked at my enemies, 9 He who planted the ear, does he not hear? and among those who keep rising against Or he who formed the eye, does he not me, doing evil, my ear will hear. perceive? 10 He who disciplines nations, will he not 13(12)A righteous one will flourish like a palm, chastise, and like a cedar ina Lebanon he will he who teaches man knowledge? increase. 11 The Lord knows the thoughts of human 14(13)Planted in the house of the Lord, beings, in the courts of our God, they will that they are vain. flourish. 15(14)In prosperous old age they will still increase, 12 Happy the person whom you discipline, and they will be living in comfort, O Lord, 16(15)to declare that the Lord my God is upright, and teach him out of your law, and there is no injustice in him. 13 to calm him due to wicked days until a hole is dug for the sinner, (93) 14 because the Lord will not reject his people and his heritage he will not abandon 1bAc laudation. Of an Odeb. Pertaining to Dauid. 15 until justice turns into judgment, and with all the upright in heart clinging (1) The Lord became king; he was robed in to it. majesty; Interlude on strings the Lord was robed in power and girded himself. 16 Who will rise up for me against wicked Indeed, he made firm the world, that it shall people? not be shaken; Or who will stand with me against 2 your throne is prepared from then on; people that practice lawlessness? from everlasting you are. 17 If it had not been that the Lord had helped me, 3 The streams lifted up, O Lord; my soul would virtually have sojourned the streams lifted up their voices. in Hades. 4 Due to the voices of many waters 18 If I were to say, “My foot has been shaken,” wondrous are the billows of the sea; your mercy, O Lord, ewould helpe me. wondrous on high is the Lord! 19 Accordingf to the multitude of my pains in my heart 5 Your testimonies were made very sure; your consolations loved my soul. sanctity befits your house, 20 Surely a throne of lawlessness shall not be O Lord, unto length of days. in your presence, he who shapes mischief by ordinance? (94) 21 They will hunt down the soul of a righteous one, 1 A Psalm. Pertaining to Dauid. d[Pertaining to and innocent blood they condemn. the fourth day of the week.]d 22 And the Lord became to me a refuge, and my God my hoped-for helper. (1) The Lord is God of vengeance; 23 And he will repay them for their lawlessness,

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psalms 94(95)–96(97) 595

and according to their wickedness but the Lord made the heavens. the Lord our God will wipe them out. 6 Acknowledgment and beauty are before him; (95) holiness and magnificence comprise his sanctityc. 1aA laudation. Of an Odea. Pertaining to Dauid. 7 Bring to the Lord, O paternal families of the (1) O come, let us rejoice in the Lord; nations; let us make a joyful noise to God our bring to the Lord glory and honor. savior! 8 Bring to the Lord glory due his name; 2 Let us anticipate his face with raise offerings, and enter into his courts. acknowledgment, 9 Do obeisance to the Lord in his holy court; and with melodies let us make a joyful let all the earth shake from before him. noise to him, 3 because the Lord is a great God 10 Say among the nations, “The Lord became and a great King over all the gods, king! 4 because in his hand are the ends of the Indeed, he set right the world, which earth shall not be shaken. and the heights of the mountains are He will judge peoples with his, forthrightness.” 5 because his is the sea and he made it 11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth and the dry land his hands formed! rejoice; let the sea shake, and all that fills it; 6 O come, let us do obeisance and prostrate 12 let the plains exult, and everything in them. ourselves before him, Then shall all the trees of the forest and let us weep before the Lord, who rejoice made us, 13 before the Lord, because he is coming, 7 because he is our God because he is coming to judge the earth. and we are people of his pasture He will judge the world with righteousness and sheep of his hand! and peoples with his truth.

Today if you hear his voice, (97) 8 do not harden your hearts, as at the embittering, 1 Pertaining to Dauid. b[When his land is being like the day of the trial in the wilderness, brought to order.]b 9 where your fathers tried; they put to the proof and saw my (1) The Lord became king! Let the earth rejoice; works. let many islands be glad! 10 For forty years I loathed that generation, 2 Cloud and thick darkness are around him; and said, “Always do they stray in heart, righteousness and judgment keep his and they did not know my ways.” throne straight. 11 As I swore in my wrath, 3 Fire will go before him “If they shall enter into my rest!” and blaze around his enemies. 4 His lightnings gave light to the world; (96) the earth saw and shook. 5 The mountains melted like wax from before 1b[When the house was being rebuilt after the the Lord, captivity.]b An Ode. Pertaining to Dauid. from before the Lord of all the earth.

(1) Sing to the Lord a new song; 6 The heavens proclaimed his righteousness, sing to the Lord, all the earth. and all the peoples beheld his glory. 2 Sing to the Lord; bless his name; 7 Let all who do obeisance to carved images tell of his deliverance from day to day. be put to shame, 3 Declare his glory among the nations, those who make their boast in their idols. among all the peoples his marvelous Do obeisance to him, all his angels! works, 8 Sion heard and was glad, 4 because great is the Lord and very much and the daughters of Judea rejoiced praiseworthy; on account of your judgments, O Lord. he is terrible to all the gods, 9 Because you are the Lord mostd high over all 5 because all the gods of the nations are the earth, demons, you were exalted far above all the gods.

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596 psalms 96(97)–100(101)

10 You who love the Lord, hate evil! and do obeisance at the footstool of his Hea guards the souls of his devout; feet, from the hand of sinners he will rescue because holy is he! them. 11 Light dawned for the righteous, 6 Moyses and Aaron were among his priests, and gladness for the upright in heart. and Samouel among those who called on 12 Be glad in the Lord, O you righteous, his name. and acknowledge the mention of his They called on the Lord, holiness! and he hearkened to them. 7 In a pillar of cloud he would speak to them; (98) they would keep his testimonies and the ordinancec that he gave them. 1 A Psalm. Pertaining to Dauid. 8 O Lord our God, it was you who would (1) Sing to the Lord a new song, hearken to them; because the Lord did marvelous things. O God, it was you who was being very His right hand saved for him, merciful to them and his holy arm. and an avenger of all their practices. 2 The Lord made known his deliverance; 9 Exalt the Lord our God, before the nations he revealed his and do obeisance toward his holy righteousness. mountain, 3 He remembered his mercy to Iakob because the Lord our God is holy. and his truth to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth saw (100) the deliverance of our God. 1 A Psalm. Regarding acknowledgment. 4 Make a joyful noise to bthe Lordb, all the earth; (1) Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the sing, and rejoice, and make music. earth. 5 Make music to the Lord with a lyre, 2 Be subject to the Lord with gladness; with a lyre and the sound of a tune. enter before him with rejoicing. 6 With metal trumpets and the sound of a horn trumpet 3 Know that the Lord, he is God. make a joyful noise before the King, the It is he who made us, dand not wed; Lord. his people ewe aree, and sheep of his pasture. 7 Let the sea shake, and all that fills it, the world and those who live in it. 4 Enter into his gates with acknowledgment, 8 Streams will together clap their hands; into his courts with hymns. the mountains will rejoice, Acknowledge him; praise his name, 9 because he has come 5 because the Lord is kind; to judge the earth. his mercy endures forever, He will judge the world with righteousness and to generation and generation is his and peoples with uprightness. truth.

Psalm 98(99) (101)

1 A Psalm. Pertaining to Dauid. 1 Pertaining to Dauid. A Psalm.

(1) The Lord became king; let peoples grow (1) Of mercy and of justice I will sing to you, angry! O Lord; He who sits upon the cheroubin—let the 2 I will make music earth shake! (2) and take note of a blameless way. 2 The Lord is great in Sion, When will you come to me? and he is high over all the peoples. 3 Let them acknowledge your great name, I would walk in my innocence of heart because it is awesome and holy! within my house. 4 A king’s honor loves justice; 3 I did not set before my eyes it was you who provided uprightness; an act against the law. it was you who executed justice and righteousness in Iakob. People who practice transgression I hated; 5 Exalt the Lord our God, 4 a crooked heart did not cling to me.

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psalms 100(101)–102(103) 597

When the wicked kept turning away from 12(11) My days faded like a shadow, me, and I, like grass, I withered away. I would no longer know hima. 13(12)But you, O Lord, remain forever, 5 The one who was secretly slandering his and the mention of you to generation fellow, and generation. him I would chase away. 14(13)When you rise up you will have compassion With a haughty eye and insatiate heart— on Sion, with him I would not eat. because it is the appointed time to have compassion on it, 6 My eyes would be on the faithful in the because the appointed time has come, land 15(14)because your slaves held its stones dear so that they might sit with me. and on its dust they will have compassion. If one walked in a blameless way, 16(15)And the nations will fear the name of the he would minister to me. Lord, and all the kings of the earth your glory, 7 No one who practiced haughtiness 17(16)because the Lord will build up Sion, would live in my house; and he will be seen in his glory. no one who uttered injustice 18(17)He regarded the prayer of the lowly would prosper before my eyes. and did not despise their petition.

8 Morning by morning I would kill 19(18)Let thisd be recorded for another all the sinners in the land generation, in order to destroy from the Lord’s city and a people, which is being created, will all who practice lawlessness. praise the Lord, 20(19)because he peered down from his holy (102) height, the Lord from heaven looked at the earth, 1 A prayer. Pertaining to the poor one. When he is 21(20) to hear the groaning of the prisoners, weary and pours out his petition before the to set free the sons of those put to death, Lord. 22(21) to declare the name of the Lord in Sion, and his praise in Ierousalem, 2(1) bO Lordb, listen to my prayer, 23(22)when peoples gather together, and let my cry come to you. and kingdoms, to be subject to the Lord. 3(2) Do not turn away your face from me. In the day when I am afflicted, 24(23)He answered him in the way of his strength, incline your ear to me; “Tell me the paucity of my days. in the day when I call upon you, 25(24)Do not take me away at the mid-point of listen to me speedily, my days, 4(3) because my days vanished like smoke while your years aree in generation of and my bones were burnt up like generations!” firewood. 5(4) My heart was stricken like grass and it 26(25)At the beginning it was you, O Lord, who withered, founded the earth, because I forgot to eat my bread. and the heavens are works of your hands. 6(5) Due to the sound of my groaning, 27(26)They will perish, but you will endure, my bone clung to my flesh. and they will all become old like a 7(6) I resembled a desert pelican, garment. I became like a clong-eared owlc on a Likef clothing you will change them, building-site. and they will be changed. 8(7) I lay awake, 28(27)But you are the same, and I became like a lone sparrow on a and your years will not fail. housetop. 29(28)The sons of your slaves shall encamp, 9(8) All day long my enemies would reproach and their offspring shall prosper for ever. me, and those who used to commend me (103) would swear against me, 10(9) because I ate ashes like bread 1 Pertaining to Dauid. and would mix my drink with weeping, 11(10) from before your wrath and your anger, (1) Bless the Lord, O my soul, because when you had lifted me up you and all that is within me, his holy name. dashed me down. 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,

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598 psalms 102(103)–103(104) and do not forget all his repayments— (104) 3 who is very conciliatory toward all your acts of lawlessness, 1 Pertaining to Dauid. who heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from corruption, (1) Bless the Lord, O my soul. who crowns you with mercy and O Lord my God, you were greatly compassion, magnified. 5 who satisfies your desire with good, With acknowledgment and splendor you your youth will be renewed like an were clothed, eagle’s. 2 wrapping yourself in light as in a garment, stretching out the sky like a skin. 6 One who performs aacts of pitya is the 3 He who covers his upper stories with waters, Lord he who makes cloud masses his step-up, and judgment for all who are being he who walks about on wings of winds. wronged. 4 He who makes spirits his messengersc, 7 He made known his ways to Moyses, and flaming fire his ministers. to the sons of Israel his will. 8 Compassionate and merciful is the Lord, 5 He founded the earth on its stability; slow to anger and abounding in mercy. it will never ever be tilted. 9 He will not be totally angry, 6 The deep like a garment is his clothing; nor will he keep his wrath forever. above the mountains the waters will 10 Not according to our sins did he deal with stand. us, 7 At your rebuke they will flee; nor according to our acts of lawlessness at a voice of your thunder they will cower did he repay us, with fright. 11 because, as the sky is high above the earth, 8 Mountains ascend, and plains descend heb strengthened his mercy toward those to a spot that you founded for them. who fear him; 9 A boundary you set that they shall not pass, 12 as far as east is from west, nor shall they return to cover the earth. he has removed from us our acts of lawlessness. 10 He who make springs gush forth in ravines; 13 As a father has compassion for sons, between the mountains theyd will flow. the Lord has had compassion for those 11 They will give drink to all the animals of the who fear him, field; 14 because he knew our makeup. onagers will receive for their thirst. Remember that we are dust! 12 On theme the birds of the air will encamp; from among the rocks they will give forth 15 As for man, his days are like grass; sound. like a flower of the field, so it will 13 When he waters mountains from his upper bloom, stories, 16 because a breath passed through it, and it with the fruit of your work the earth shall will be gone, be fed, and it will no longer recognize its place. 14 when he causes grass to grow for the cattle, 17 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting and plants for the service of human even to everlasting beings, on those who fear him, to bring forth bread from the earth. and his righteousness on sons’ sons, 15 And wine gladdens a human heart, 18 for those who keep his covenant to brighten a face with oil, and remember his commandments, to do and bread sustains a human heart. them. 16 The trees of the plain shall be fed, the cedars of Lebanon, which he 19 The Lord prepared his throne in the sky, planted. and his kingdom rules over all. 17 There sparrows will build their nests; 20 Bless the Lord, O all you, his angels, the home of the heron fleads themf. powerful in strength doing his bidding, 18 The high mountains are for the does; to obey the voice of his words. a rock is a refuge for the haresg. 21 Bless the Lord, all his hosts, 19 He made a moon for seasons; his ministers doing his will. the sun knew its setting. 22 Bless the Lord, all his works, 20 You set darkness, and it became night; in every place of his dominion. in ith all the animals of the forest will Bless the Lord, O my soul. pass through,

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psalms 103(104)–104(105) 599

21 thea whelps roaring to seize 5 Remember the wonderful things which he and to seek their food from God. did, 22 The sun rose, and they gathered, his miracles and the judgments of his and in their dens they will lie down. mouth, 23 A person will go out to his work 6 O offspring of Abraam, his slaves, and to his labor until the evening. sons of Iakob, his chosen.

24 How magnified were your works, O Lord! 7 The Lord himself is our God; In wisdom you made them all; in all the earth are his judgments. the earth was filled with your 8 He remembered his covenant forever, acquisition. a word that he commanded for a 25 This great and wide sea; thousand generations there creeping things innumerable, 9 —that he pledged to Abraam— living things, small with great. and his oath to Isaak 26 There ships travel, 10 And he established itc for Iakob as an this dragon that you formed to mock at ordinance him. and for Israel as an everlasting covenant, 11 saying, “To you I will give the land of 27 All look to you Chanaan to give them food in due season; as parcels for your inheritance.” 28 when you give to them, they will gather, and when you open your hand, 12 When they were small in number, ball things togetherb will be filled with very few and resident aliens in it, kindness. 13 they also passed from nation to nation, 29 But when you turn away your face, they will from kingdom to another people. be dismayed; 14 He allowed no person to do them wrong, you cancel their spirit, and they will fail and he rebuked kings on their account, and return to their dust. 15 “Do not touch my anointed ones, 30 You will send forth your spirit, and they will and among my prophets do no harm.” be created, and you will renew the face of the 16 And he summoned famine against the land; ground. every sustenance of bread he crushed; 17 he sent a person ahead of them; 31 Let the glory of the Lord be forever. Ioseph was sold as a slave. The Lord will be glad at his works— 18 They debased his feet with fetters; 32 he who looks on the earth and makes it his soul passed through iron tremble, 19 until what he had said came to pass; he who touches the mountains and they the saying of the Lord purified him. smoke. 20 A king sent out and released him, 33 I will sing to the Lord in my life; a ruler of peoples, and set him free. I will make music to my God while I 21 He made him lord of his house have being. and ruler of all his possessions, 34 May my conversation be pleasing to him, 22 to educate his officials to be like himself and I will be glad in the Lord! and to teach his elders wisdom. 35 May sinners fail from the earth, and the lawless, so that they be no more. 23 And Israel entered into Egypt, Bless the Lord, O my soul. and Iakob lived as a resident alien in Cham’s land. (105) 24 And hed increased his people very much and made them strong beyond their 1 Hallelouia. enemies. 25 He changed their hearts to hate his people, (1) Acknowledge the Lord, and call on his to deal craftily with his slaves. name; announce his deeds among the nations. 26 He sent out Moyses, his slave, 2 Sing to him, and make music to him; Aaron, him whom he chose. tell of all his wonderful things. 27 In them he placed the words of his signs 3 Be commended in his holy name; and wonders in Cham’s land. let the heart of people that seek the Lord 28 He sent out darkness, and it grew dark, be glad. and they did note embitter his words. 4 Seek the Lord and be strengthened; 29 He changed their waters into blood seek his face continually. and killed their fish.

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600 psalms 104(105)–105(106)

30 Their land crawled with frogs, 6 We sinned together with our fathers; in the chambers of their kings. we acted lawlessly; we committed 31 He spoke, and dog-flies came, injustice. and gnats in all their territories. 7 Our fathers in Egypt did not consider your 32 He made their showers hail; wonderful works; consuming fire was in their land. they did not remember the abundance of 33 And he struck their vines and their fig trees your mercy and shattered aa tree of their territory. and embittered, when going up at the 34 He spoke, and the grasshopper came, Red Sea. and locust larva without number, 8 And he saved them for his name’s sake, 35 and they devoured all the vegetation in their to make known his dominance. land 9 And he rebuked the Red Sea, and it became and devoured the fruit of their land. dry, 36 And he struck down every firstborn in their and he guided them in the deep as in a land, wilderness. first fruit of all their toil. 10 And he saved them from the hand of people that hate 37 And he brought them out with silver and and redeemed them from an enemy’s gold, hand. and there was no one among their tribes 11 And water covered those that afflicted them; who was weak. not one of them was left. 38 Egypt was glad at their exodus, 12 And they believed in his words, because fear of them fell upon them. and they sang his praise. 39 He spread a cloud as a coveringb, and fire to give lightb during the night. 13 They were quick to forget his works; 40 They asked, and quailsc came, they did not wait for his counsel. and with heaven’s bread he filled them. 14 And they craved with craving in the 41 He split a rock, and waters gushed out; wilderness rivers ran in waterless terrain, and put God to the test in a waterless 42 because he remembered his holy word region, to Abraam, his slave. 15 and he gave them their request and sent surfeit into their souls. 43 And he brought his people out with rejoicing, and his chosen ones with gladness. 16 And they angered Moyses in the camp, 44 And he gave them lands of nations, Aarond, the holy one of the Lord. and labors of peoples they inherited, 17 The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan 45 that they might keep his statutes and covered the company of Abiron. and seek out his law. 18 And fire broke out in their company; a flame burned up sinners. (106) 19 And they made a calf at Choreb 1 Hallelouia. and did obeisance to the carved image. 20 And they exchanged their glory (1) Acknowledge the Lord, because he is kind, for a likeness of a bull calf that eats because his mercy is forever. grass. 2 Who shall speak of the acts of dominance of 21 They forgot the God who was saving them, the Lord, who did great things in Egypt, make heard all his praises? 22 wondrous things in Cham’s land; 3 Happy are those who observe justice awesome things by the Red Sea. and do righteousness at every 23 And he spoke in order to destroy them— opportunity. had not Moyses, his chosen one, stood in the breach before him, 4 Remember us, O Lord, in the good pleasure to turn away his wrath from destroying. of your people; regard us in your deliverance, 24 And they despised a desirable land; 5 that we may look at the kindness of your they had no faith in his word. chosen ones, 25 And they grumbled in their coverts; that we may be glad in the gladness of they did not listen to the voice of the your nation, Lord. that we may be commended with your 26 And he raised his hand against them, heritage. to cast them down in the wilderness

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psalms 105(106)–106(107) 601

27 and to cast down their offspring among the and gather us from among the nations, nations that we may acknowledge your holy and scatter them in the lands. name; boast in your praise. 28 And they were initiated to Beelphegor and ate sacrifices of the dead, 48 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, from 29 and they provoked him with their practices, everlasting even to everlasting. and the falling broke out among them. And all the people shall say, “May it be; 30 And Phinees stood and made atonement, may it be.” and the breach abated. 31 And it was reckoned to him as righteousness BOOK V to generation and generation forever. (Psalms 106[107]–151) 32 And they angered him at a water of contention, (107) and it went ill with Moyses on their account, 1 Hallelouia. 33 because they made his spirit bitter, and he aparted with his lipsa. (1) Acknowledge the Lord, because he is kind, because his mercy is forever. 34 They did not destroy the nations, which the 2 Let those redeemed by the Lord say so, Lord told them, whom he redeemed from an enemy’s 35 and they mingled with the nations hand. and learned their works. 3 From the lands he gathered them in, 36 And they were subject to their carved from east and west and north and sea. images, and it became to them a stumbling block. 4 They wandered in the wilderness in a 37 And they sacrificed their sons waterless region; and their daughters to the demons, a way to a city of habitation they did not 38 and they poured out innocent blood, find, blood of their sons and daughters 5 being hungry and thirsty; whom they sacrificed to the carved images their soul fainted within them. of Chanaan, 6 And they cried to the Lord when they were and the land was bmurdered with bloodb. being afflicted, 39 And it was defiled by their acts, and from their anguish he rescued them and they played the prostitute in their 7 and led them by a straight way, practices. to go to a city of habitation. 8 Let them acknowledge the Lord for his 40 And the Lord became furiously angry with mercies his people, and for his wonderful works to the sons and he abhorred his heritage, of men, 41 and he gave them into the hands of nations, 9 because he fed an empty soul and those who hated them ruled over and a hungry soul he filled with good them. things, 42 And their enemies oppressed them, 10 when they sat in darkness and death’s and they were brought low under their shadow, hands. imprisoned in poverty and iron, 43 Many times he rescued them, 11 because they had embittered the sayings of but they embittered him by their God, purposes and the counsel of the Most High they and were brought low by their had provoked. lawlessness. 12 And their heart was brought low by exertion; 44 And he regarded them when they were they became weak, and there was no one being afflicted, to help. when he listened to their petition. 13 And they cried to the Lord when they were 45 And he remembered his covenant being afflicted, and showed regret according to the and from their anguish he saved them, abundance of his mercy. 14 and he brought them out of darkness and 46 And he gave them over to be pitied death’s shadow, before all who took them captive. and their bonds he broke asunder. 15 Let them acknowledge the Lord for his 47 Save us, O Lord our God, mercies

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602 psalms 106(107)–107(108)

and for his wonderful works to the sons 37 and they sowed fields and planted vineyards of men, and produced a fruit of a yield. 16 because he shattered bronze gates 38 And he blessed them, and they were and iron bars he crumpled. multiplied greatly, and their cattle he did not decrease. 17 He aided them from their lawless way, for on account of their lawless acts they 39 And they were diminished and maltreated were brought low; through affliction, wrong and sorrow. 18 any kind of food their soul loathed, 40 Contempt poured down on rulers, and they drew near to the gates of death. and he a made them wander in an 19 And they cried to the Lord when they were impassable and trackless region, being afflicted, 41 and he helped a needy one out of poverty and from their anguish he saved them; and made their paternal families like 20 he sent out his word and healed them sheep. and rescued them from their corruption. 42 The upright will see it and be glad, 21 Let them acknowledge the Lord for his and all lawlessness will stop its mouth. mercies 43 Who is wise and will keep these things?— and for his wonderful works to the sons and will they take note of the mercies of of men. the Lord? 22 And let them sacrifice a sacrifice of praise and tell of his deeds with rejoicing. (108)

23 Those who used to go down to the sea in 1aAn Ode. Of a Psalma. Pertaining to Dauid. ships, doing business on many waters— 2(1) Ready is my heart, O God; ready is my heart; 24 it was they who saw the deeds of the Lord I will sing and make music in my glory. and his wondrous works in the deep. 3(2) Awake, O harp and lyre! 25 He spoke and the tempest’s blast stood, I will awaken at dawn. and its waves were raised on high. 4(3) I will acknowledge you among peoples, 26 They mount up as far as the heavens, O Lord, and they go down as far as the depths; and I will make music to you among their soul would melt away in calamity; nations, 27 they were troubled; they staggered like the 5(4) because great above the heavens is your drunkard, mercy, and all their wisdom was gulped down. and as far as the clouds is your truth. 28 And they cried to the Lord when they were being afflicted, 6(5) Be exalted to the heavens, O God, and out of their anguish he brought and over all the earth your glory. them, 7(6) In order that your beloved might be rescued, 29 and he ordered the tempest, and it subsided save with your right hand, and hearken to a breeze, to me. and its waves became silent. 30 And they were glad, because they had quiet, 8(7) God spoke in his holy place: and he guided them to a haven of their “I will be exalted, and I will divide up want. Sikima, 31 Let them acknowledge the Lord for his and the vale of the tents I will portion out. mercies 9(8) Mine is Galaad, and mine is Manasse, and for his wonderful works to the sons and Ephraim is the support of my head; of men. Ioudas is my king. 32 Let them exalt him in an assembly of people 10(9) Moab is a cauldron of my hope; and in a session of elders praise him. on Idumea I will hurlb my sandal; to me allophyles were subjugated.” 33 He turned rivers into a wilderness and channels of water into thirst, 11(10) Who will bring me cas far as a strong cityc? 34 a fruitful land into a salt marsh, Who will guide me as far as Idumea? due to the evil of its inhabitants. 12(11) Are you not the one that rejects us, O God? 35 He turned a wilderness into pools of water And you will not go out, O God, with our and a parched land into channels of armies. water. 13(12)Grant us help from affliction, 36 And there he settled hungry ones, and worthless is human deliverance. and they established a city for settlement, 14(13)In God we shall do valiantly,

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psalms 108(109)–109(110) 603

and he it is who will treat our enemies 19 Let it be like a coat that he wraps around with contempt. himself and like a belt that he always wears.” (109) 20 aThis isa the work from the Lord against 1 Regarding completion. Pertaining to Dauid. A those that slander me Psalm. and those that speak evil against my soul. (1) O God, do not pass over my praise in 21 And you, O Lord, Lord, silence, do mercy with me for your name’s sake, 2 because a sinner’s mouth and a deceiver’s because your mercy is kind. mouth—it was opened against me; 22 Rescue me, (22)because poor and needy I they spoke against me with a deceitful am, tongue. and my heart is troubled within me. 3 And they surrounded me with words of 23 Like a shadow when it fades, I was erased; hate I was shaken off like grasshoppers. and made war on me without cause. 24 My knees became weak from fasting, 4 In return for my love they would slander and my flesh was changed because of me, oil. but I, I would pray. 25 And I, I became a reproach to them; 5 And they rewarded me evil for good they saw me; they shook their heads. and hatred for my love: 26 Help me, O Lord, my God! 6 “Appoint a sinner against him, Save me according to your mercy. and let a slanderer stand on his right. 27 And let them know that this is your hand, 7 When he is tried, may he come out and you, O Lord, you did itb. condemned, 28 They will curse, but you will bless. and let his prayer be counted as sin. Let my opponents be put to shame, 8 Let his days become few, but your slave will be glad. and may another seize his position. 29 Let those who slander me be clothed with 9 Let his sons become orphans, embarrassment, and his wife a widow. and let them be wrapped in their own 10 As they totter, let his sons wander about and shame as in a cdouble cloakc. beg; 30 I will greatly acknowledge the Lord with my let them be driven out of their mouth, homesteads. and in the midst of many I will praise 11 Let a creditor scrutinize all that he has; him, let strangers plunder his toils. 31 because he stood at the right of a needy one, 12 Let there be no one to support him to save my soul from those that keep nor anyone to pity his orphans. pursuing. 13 Let his children go to destruction; in one generation let his name be blotted (110) out. 14 May the lawlessness of his fathers be 1 Pertaining to Dauid. A Psalm. remembered before the Lord, and may the sin of his mother not be (1) The Lord said to my lord, “Sit on my right blotted out. until I make your enemies a footstool for 15 Let them be before the Lord continually, your feet.” and may their memory be destroyed from earth, 2 A rod of your power the Lord will send out 16 since he did not remember to do mercy from Sion. and pursued to death a person And exercise dominion in the midst of needy and poor and stunned in heart. your enemies! 17 And he loved cursing, and it shall come on 3 With you isd rule on a day of your power him. among the splendors of the holy ones. And he did not want blessing, and it shall From the womb, before Morning-star, I be put far away from him. brought you forth. 18 And he clothed himself with cursing as his 4 The Lord swore and will not change his coat, mind, and it entered into his inwards like water “You are a priest forever according to the and like oil in his bones. order of Melchisedek.”

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604 psalms 109(110)–113(114, 115)

5 The Lord at your right shattered kings on a 6 Because he will never be shaken, day of his wrath. a righteous person will be remembered 6 He will judge among the nations, forever. will make full with corpsesa; 7 Of evil tidings he will not be afraid; he will shatter heads bon the land of prepared is his heart to hope in the Lord. manyb. 8 Firm is his heart; he will never be afraid 7 From a wadi by a road he will drink; until he looks on his enemies. therefore he will raise headc high. 9 He scatteredf; he gave to the needy; his righteousness endures forever and (111) ever; his horn will be exalted in glory. 1 Hallelouia. 10 A sinner will see it and be angered; he will gnash his teeth and melt away; (1) I will acknowledge you, O Lord, with my sinners’ desire will come to nothing. whole heart, in a council of upright and a (113) congregation. 2 Great are the works of the Lord; 1 Hallelouia. sought out are his wants regarding all things. (1) Praise the Lord, O servants; 3 Acknowledgment and magnificence are his praise the name of the Lord. work, 2 May the name of the Lord be blessed and his righteousness endures forever and from now on and forevermore. ever. 3 From the sun’s rising to its setting, 4 He made mention of his wonderful deeds; praise the name of the Lord! merciful and compassionate is the Lord. 4 High is the Lord to all nations; 5 Food he provided for those who fear him; to the heavens is his glory. he will be ever mindful of his covenant. 6 Strength of his works he proclaimed to his 5 Who is like the Lord our God, people, who resides on high, to give them heritage of nations. 6 and looks upon that which is lowly 7 Works of his hands are truth and justice; in the sky and on the earth? trustworthy are all his commandments, 7 It is he who raises a poor one from the 8 fixed forever and ever, ground, made in truth and uprightness. and from a trash heap he lifts a needy one, 9 Redemption he sent to his people; 8 to make him sit with rulers, he commanded his covenant forever. with rulers of his people. Holy and awesome is his name. 9 It is he who establishes a barren one in a 10 Fear of the Lord is wisdom’s beginning; home, a good understanding belongs to all who a gladdened mother of children. practice itd. His praise endures forevere. Psalm 113(114, 115)

Psalm 111(112) 1 Hallelouia.

1 Hallelouia. (1) At Israel’s exodus from Egypt, of Iakob’s house from a barbarian people, (1) Happy the man who fears the Lord; 2 Judea became his holy precinct, in his commandments he will greatly Israel his seat of authority. want. 2 Powerful in the land his offspring will be; 3 The sea saw it and fled; a generation of upright will be blessed. Jordan was turned backwards. 3 Glory and riches are in his house, 4 The mountains skipped like rams, and his righteousness endures forever and and the hills like lambs of sheep. ever. 4 In darkness light dawned for the upright 5 Why was it, O sea, that you fled? ones; And why was it, O Jordan, that you merciful and compassionate and withdrew backwards? righteous is he. 6 O mountains, that you skipped like rams? 5 Kind is the man who is compassionate and O hills, like lambs of sheep? lends; he will manage his words with discretion. 7 From before the Lord, the earth was shaken,

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psalms 113(114, 115)–117(118) 605

from before the God of Iakob, 4 And on the name of the Lord I called: 8 who turned the rock into pools of water “Ah Lord, rescue my soul!” and the flint into springs of water. 5 Merciful is the Lord, and righteous, 9(115.1) Not to us, O Lord, not to us, and our God shows mercy. rather to your name give glory, 6 The Lord is one who protects infants; for your mercy and your truth, I was brought low, and he saved me. 10(2) lest the nations say, 7 Return, O my soul, to your rest, “Where is their God?” because the Lord acted as your benefactor, 11(3) But our God is in the sky a[above, 8 because he delivered my soul from death, in the heavens and on the earth]a; my eyes from tears, whatever he wanted he did. myc feet from slipping. 12(4) The idols of the nations are silver and gold, 9 I will be well pleasing before the Lord in the works of human hands. country of the living. 13(5) A mouth they have and will not speak; eyes they have and will not see. (116.10–19) 14(6) Ears they have and will not hear; nostrils they have and will not smell. 1 Hallelouia. 15(7) Hands they have and will not feel; feet they have and will not walk about; (116.10) I believed; therefore I spoke, they will not articulate in their throats. but I, I was brought very low. 16(8) May those who make them become like 2(11) I, I said in my alarm, them, “Every person is a liar.” and all who trust in them! 3(12) What shall I return to the Lord 17(9) Israel’s house hoped in the Lord. for all that he returned to me? Their helper and their protector is he. 4(13) A cup of deliverance I will take, 18(10) Aaron’s house hoped in the Lord. and the name of the Lord I will call Their helper and their protector is he. upon. 19(11) Those who fear the Lord hoped in the Lord. 6(15) Precious before the Lord Their helper and their protector is he. is the death of his devout ones. 7(16) Ah Lord, I am a slave of yours; 20(12)The Lord was mindful of us and blessed us; I am a slave of yours and son of your he blessed the house of Israel; serving girl. he blessed the house of Aaron; You broke through my bonds. 21(13) he blessed those who fear the Lord, 8(17) To you I will sacrifice a sacrifice of praise. the small with the great. 9(18) My vows to the Lord I will pay before all his people, 22(14)May the Lord add to you, 10(19) in courts of the Lord’s house, to you and your sons. in your midst, O Ierousalem. 23(15)bBlessed are youb to the Lord, who made the sky and the earth. (117)

24(16)The sky of the sky belongs to the Lord, 1 Hallelouia. but the earth he gave to the sons of men. 25(17)The dead will not praise you, O Lord, (1) Praise the Lord, all you nations! nor will all who go down to Hades. Commend him, all you peoples, 26(18)But we that are alive will bless the Lord, 2 because his mercy became strong toward us, from now on and forevermore. and the truth of the Lord endures forever.

Psalm 114(116.1–9) (118)

1 Hallelouia. 1 Hallelouia.

(1) I loved, because the Lord will listen (1) Acknowledge the Lord, because he is good, to the voice of my petition, because his mercy is forever. 2 because he inclined his ear to me, and in my days I will call. 2 Do let Israel’s house say that he is good, 3 Pangs of death encompassed me; because his mercy is forever. hazards of Hades found me; 3 Do let Aaron’s house say that he is good, affliction and grief I found. because his mercy is forever.

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606 psalms 117(118)–118(119)

4 Do let all those who fear the Lord say that 26 Blessed is the one who comes in the name he is good, of the Lord. because his mercy is forever. We bless you from the house of the Lord. 27 The Lord is God, and he showed us light. 5 In affliction I called on the Lord, Arrange a feast with the dthick onesd, and he hearkened me intoa spaciousness. up to the horns of the altar. 6 The Lord is a helper to me; I will not fear what a person may do to 28 My God you are, and I will acknowledge me. you; 7 The Lord is a helper to me, my God you are, and I will exalt you. and I, I shall observe my enemies. I will acknowledge you because you 8 It is better to trust in the Lord hearkened to me than to trust in a person. and became deliverance for me. 9 It is better to hope in the Lord than to hope in rulers. 29 Acknowledge the Lord, because he is good, because his mercy is forever. 10 All nations surrounded me, and in the name of the Lord I fended (119) them off! 11 In surrounding they surrounded me, 1 Hallelouia. and in the name of the Lord I fended them off! 1 alph. 12 They surrounded me like bees a (1) Happy are the blameless in way, honeycomb, who walk in the Lord’s law. and they blazed like a fire among 2 Happy are those who search out his thorns, testimonies; and in the name of the Lord I fended wholeheartedly they will seek him. them off! 3 For those who practice lawlessness 13 Pushed hard I turned to fall, did not walk in his ways. and the Lord supported me. 4 It is you who commanded your 14 My strength and my celebration is the Lord, commandments and he became deliverance for me. to keep diligently. 5 O that my ways may be directed 15 There is a voice of rejoicing and deliverance to keep your statutes! in the righteous’ tents: 6 Then I shall not be put to shame, “The Lord’s right hand produced power; as I regard all your commandments. 16 the Lord’s right hand exalted me; 7 I will acknowledge youe with uprightness of the Lord’s right hand produced power.” heart, 17 I shall not die, but I shall live when I have learned the judgments of and recountb the deeds of the Lord. your righteousness. 18 In disciplining the Lord disciplined me, 8 Your statutes I will observe; and to death he did not surrender me. do not utterly forsake me.

19 Open to me gates of righteousness; 9 2 beth. when I enter in them, How shall the young keep his way straight? I will acknowledge the Lord. By observing your words! 10 With my whole heart I sought you; 20 This is the gate of the Lord; do not thrust me aside from your righteous ones shall enter in it. commandments. 11 In my heart I hid your sayings 21 I will acknowledge you because you so that I may not sin against you. hearkened to me 12 Blessed are you, O Lord; and became deliverance for me. teach me your statutes. 22 A stone which the builders rejected, 13 With my lips I declared this one became the chief cornerstone. all the judgments of your mouth. 23 Thisc was from the Lord, 14 In the way of your testimonies I delighted and it is marvelous in our eyes. as much as in all riches. 24 This is the day that the Lord made; 15 In your commandments I will ponder let us rejoice and be glad in it. and put my mind to your ways. 25 Ah Lord, do save! 16 In your statutes I will meditate; Ah Lord, do give success! I will not forget your words.

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17 3 gimal. your deliverance according to your Requite your slave; saying. I shall live and observe your words. 42 And I shall have a word for those who 18 Uncover my eyes, reproach me, and I will put my mind to thea wondrous because I hoped in your words. things out of your law. 43 And do not remove a word of truth utterly 19 I am a resident alien in the land; from my mouth, do not hide your commandments from me. because I pinned my hopes on your 20 My soul was consumed with longing judgments. for your judgments in every situation. 44 And I will keep your law continually, 21 You rebuked arrogant ones; forever and forever and ever. accursed are those who deviate from your 45 And I would walk in spaciousness, commandments; because your commandments I sought. 22 take away from me reproach and contempt, 46 And I would speak of your testimonies because I sought your testimonies. before kings, and I was not ashamed. 23 Indeed, rulers sat and kept railing at me, 47 And I would meditate on your but your slave would ponder in your commandments, statutes. which I loved very much. 24 Indeed, your testimonies are my meditation, 48 And I raised my hands to your and your statutes are my counsels. commandments, which I loved, and I would ponder in your statutes. 25 4 delth. My soul clung to the ground; 49 7 zai. quicken me according to your word. Remember your word to your slave, 26 I told of my ways, and you hearkened to me; by which you buoyed me with hope. teach me your statutes. 50 Thisc comforted me in my humiliation, 27 Your statutes’ way make me understand, because your saying quickened me. and I will ponder in your wondrous works. 51 Arrogant ones would blatantly transgress the 28 My soul was drowsy from exhaustion; law, confirm me in your words. but from your law I did not deviate. 29 Injustice’s way put far from me, 52 I remembered your judgments from of old, and by your law have mercy on me. O Lord, 30 Truth’s way I chose; and I took comfort. your judgments I did not forget. 53 Despondency beset me due to sinners, 31 I clung to your testimonies; those who keep forsaking your law. O Lord, do not put me to shame. 54 Your statutes were musical to me 32 I ran the way of your commandments, in my place of sojourn. when you made my heartb spacious. 55 I remembered your name at night, O Lord, and kept your law. 33 5 he. 56 Thisc fell to me, Make the way of your statutes, O Lord, my because I sought your statutes. law, and I will seek it continually. 57 8 heth. 34 Make me understand, and I will search out You are my portion, O Lord; your law I said dthat I should keepd your law. and observe it with my whole heart. 58 I implored your face with all my heart; 35 Guide me in a path of your commandments, have mercy on me according to your because I wanted it. saying. 36 Incline my heart to your testimonies 59 Your ways I considered, and not to greediness. and I turned my feet to your testimonies; 37 Turn my eyes from looking at vanity; 60 I was prepared and not troubled in your way quicken me. to keep your commandments. 38 Establish for your slave your saying, 61 Cords of sinners ensnared me, for fear of you. and your law I did not forget. 39 Take away my scorn, which I suspected, 62 At midnight I would rise to acknowledge for your judgments are kind. you, 40 See, I longed for your commandments; because of your righteous judgments. in your righteousness quicken me. 63 I am a partner with all who fear you and with those who keep your 41 6 ouau. commandments. And may your mercy come upon me, 64 The earth, O Lord, is full of your mercy; O Lord, teach me your statutes.

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608 psalm 118(119)

65 9 teth. 87 They almost made an end of me on the earth, You practiced kindness with your slave, but as for me, I did not forsake your O Lord, according to your word. commandments. 66 Kindness and discipline and knowledge 88 In your mercy quicken me, teach me, and I will keep the testimonies of your because in your commandments I believed. mouth. 67 Before I was humbled I was in error; therefore I kept your saying. 89 12 labd. 68 You are kind, O Lord, and in your Forever, O Lord; kindness your word endures in the sky, teach me your statutes. 90 your truth to generation and generation; 69 Injustice of the arrogant filled out against you founded the earth, and it endures. me, 91 By your arrangement the day endures, but I, with my whole heart, I will because aall things togethera are slaves of examine your commandments. yours. 70 Their heart was curdled like milk, 92 If it were not for the fact that your law was but I, on your law I meditated. my meditation, 71 It was good for me that you humbled me then I would have perished in my so that I might learn your statutes. humiliation. 72 Better to me is the law of your mouth 93 Your statutes I will never forget, than thousands of gold and silver. because by them you quickened meb. 94 Yours I am; save me, 73 10 ioth. because your statutes I sought. Your hands made and fashioned me; 95 Sinners waited for me to destroy me; give me understanding, and I will learn your testimonies I considered. your commandments. 96 I saw a limit to all perfectionc; 74 Those who fear you shall see me and be your commandment is exceedingly glad, spacious. because on your words I pinned my hopes. 75 I knew, O Lord, that your judgments are 97 13 mem. righteousness Oh, how I loved your law, O Lord! and that with truth you humbled me. All day long it is my meditation. 76 Do let your mercy come to comfort me 98 Wiser than my enemies you made me according to your saying to your slave. regarding your commandment, 77 Let your compassion come to me, and I because it is mine forever. shall live, 99 More than all who were teaching me, I because your law is my meditation. understood, 78 Let arrogant ones be put to shame, because your testimonies were my because they acted unjustly and lawlessly meditation. against me, 100 More than the agedd, I understood, but as for me, I will ponder in your because I sought out your commandments. commandments. 101 From every way of evil I held back my feet 79 Let those who fear you turn to me, in order to keep your words. and those who know your testimonies. 102 From your judgments I did not deviate, 80 Let my heart become blameless by your because you legislated for me. statutes 103 How sweet are your sayings to my throat, so that I may not be put to shame. beyond honey and honeycomb to my mouth! 81 11 chaph. 104 Due to your commandments, I understood; My soul fails for your deliverance, therefore I hated every way of injustice. and on your word I pinned my hopes. 82 My eyes failed for your saying, 105 14 noun. saying, “When will you comfort me?” Your word is a lamp to my feet 83 Because I became like a wineskin in hoarfrost, and a light to my paths. your statutes I did not forget. 106 I have sworn an oath and confirmed, 84 How many are the days of your slave? to observe your righteous judgments. When will you do me right against those 107 I was deeply humbled; who persecute me? O Lord, quicken me according to your 85 Transgressors of the law told me tales, word. but not so your law, O Lord. 108 With the freewill offerings of my mouth do 86 All your commandments are truth; be pleased, O Lord, unjustly did they persecute me; help me! and your judgments teach me.

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109 My soul was in my hands continually, 132 Look upon me, and be merciful to me, and your law I did not forget. as is your judgment toward those who 110 Sinners laid a snare for me, love your name. and from your commandments I did not 133 Direct my steps according to your saying, stray. and do not let any lawlessness exercise 111 Your testimonies were my heritage forever, dominion over me. because they are my heart’s joy. 134 Redeem me from extortion of human beings, 11 2 I inclined my heart to perform your statutes and I will keep your commandments. forever on account of an exchange. 135 Make your face shine upon your slave, and teach me your statutes. 11 3 15 samch. 136 My eyes shed streams of water, Transgressors of the law I hated, since they did not keep your law. and your law I loved. 11 4 You are my helper and my supporter; 137 18 sade. I pinned my hopes on your word. Righteous you are, O Lord, 11 5 Go away from me, you evildoers, and upright is your judgment. and I will examine the commandments 138 You commanded your testimonies of my God. to be righteousness and truth, very much. 11 6 Support me according to your saying, and I 139 Zeal for youd wasted me, shall live, because my enemies forgot your words. and do not put me to shame due to my 140 Your saying was well tried, expectation. and your slave loved it. 11 7 Help me, and I shall be saved 141 Rather young I am and of no account; and shall meditate on your statutes your statutes I did not forget. continually. 142 Your righteousness is righteousness forever, 11 8 You despised all who stood aloof from your and your law is truth. statutes, 143 Affliction and anguish found me; because their notiona was wrong. your commandments are my meditation. 11 9 All the sinners of the earth I counted as 144 Your testimonies are righteousness forever; transgressors; give me understanding, and I shall live. therefore I loved your testimoniesb. 120 Nail down my flesh from fear of you, 145 19 koph. for I was afraid of your judgments. I cried with my whole heart; hearken to me, O Lord. 121 16 ain. Your statutes will I seek. I did what was just and right; 146 I cried for you; save me, do not hand me over to those that do me and I will observe your testimonies. wrong. 147 I got a head start at an unseemly hour, and I 122 Accept your slave for good; cried; let not arrogant ones extort from me. on your words I pinned my hope. 123 My eyes failed for your deliverance 148 My eyes got a head start at dawn, and for the saying of your righteousness. that I may meditate on your sayings. 124 Deal with your slave according to your mercy, 149 Hear my voice, O Lord, according to your and teach me your statutes. mercy; 125 Your slave I am; give me understanding, by your judgment quicken me. and I shall know your testimonies. 150 Those who persecute me with lawlessness 126 It is time for the Lord to act; drew near, they scattered your law. but they were put far from your law. 127 Therefore I loved your commandments 151 You are near, O Lord, beyond gold and topaz. and all your commandments are truth. 128 Therefore I would cset myself straight byc all 152 Long ago I learned from your testimonies your commandments; that you established them forever. every wrong way I hated. 153 20 res. 129 17 phe. Look on my humiliation, and deliver me, Your testimonies are wonderful; because your law I did not forget. therefore my soul searched them out. 154 Plead my cause, and redeem me; 130 The exposition of your words will enlighten because of your word quicken me. and will impart understanding to infants. 155 Deliverance is far from sinners, 131 I opened my mouth and drew breath, because they did not seek your statutes. because I was longing for your 156 Your compassion is great, O Lord; commandments. by your judgment quicken me.

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610 psalms 118(119)–121(122)

157 Many are those who persecute me and afflict me; against a deceitful tongue? from your testimonies I did not deviate. 4 The arrows of the powerful one are sharp, 158 I looked at faithless ones and wasted away, together with desert coals! because they did not keep your sayings. 159 See how I loved your commandments; 5 Woe is me, that my place of sojourn was put O Lord, by your mercy quicken me. at a distance; 160 The beginning of your words is truth, I encamped among the coverts of Kedar. and forever are all the judgments of your 6 Very much did my soul sojourn. righteousness. 7 Among those who hate peace (7)I was for peace; 161 21 sen. when I would speak to them, Rulers persecuted me without cause, they would fight me without reason. and my heart was in dread of your words. 162 I will rejoice at your sayings (121) like him who finds much spoil. 163 Injustice I hated and abhorred, 1 An Ode of the Steps. but your law I loved. 164 Seven times a day I praised you (1) I lifted up my eyes to the mountains— for the judgments of your righteousness. from where will my help come? 165 Great peace have those who love your law, 2 My help comes from the Lord, and nothing can make them stumble. who made the sky and the earth. 166 I kept waiting for your deliverance, O Lord, and your commandments I loved. 3 Do not give your foot to shaking, 167 My soul kept your testimonies, nor let him who keeps you slumber. and it loved them exceedingly. 4 Look, he who keeps Israel 168 I kept your commandments and your will neither slumber nor sleep. testimonies, because all my ways were before you, 5 The Lord will keep you; O Lord. the Lord is your shelter at your right hand. 6 By day the sun shall not burn you up, 169 22 thau. nor the moon during the night. Let my petition come before you, O Lord; according to your saying give me 7 The Lord will keep you from every evil; understanding. he will keep your soul. 170 May my request come before you; 8 The Lord will keep your coming in and your according to your saying rescue me. going out 171 May my lips pour forth a hymn, from now on and forevermore. when you teach me your statutes. 172 May my tongue articulate your saying, (122) because all your commandments are righteousness. 1 An Ode of the Steps. aPertaining to Dauida. 173 Let your hand be ready to save me, because your commandments I chose. (1) I was glad in those who had said to me, 174 I longed for your deliverance, O Lord, “To the Lord’s house we shall go!” and your law is my meditation. 2 Our feet stood 175 My soul shall live and praise you, in your courts, O Ierousalem. and your judgments will help me. 176 I went astray like a lost sheep; 3 Ierousalem—being built as a city seek your slave, because I did not forget that is shared in common. your commandments. 4 For there the tribes went up, tribes of the Lord, as a testimony to Israel, (120) to acknowledge the name of the Lord, 5 because there thrones for judgment sat, 1 An Ode of the Steps. thrones for Dauid’s house.

(1) When I was being afflicted, I cried 6 Do inquire after what pertains to the peace of to the Lord, and he listened to me: Ierousalem, 2 “O Lord, rescue my soul from unjust lips and bmay there beb abundance for those and from a deceitful tongue.” who love you. 7 Do let there be peace in your power 3 What might be given to you, and what and abundance in your towered might be added to you, strongholds.

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psalms 121(122)–126(127) 611

8 For the sake of my brothers and my he who inhabits Ierousalem will never be fellows, shaken. I would surely speak of peace concerning 2 Mountains are around her, you. and the Lord is around his people, 9 For the sake of the house of the Lord our from now on and forevermore, God, 3 because he shall not allow the rod of the I sought out your good. sinners over the allotment of the righteous (123) so that the righteous might not stretch out their hands in lawlessness. 1 An Ode of the Steps. 4 Do good, O Lord, to those who are good and to those who are upright in heart. (1) To you I lifted up my eyes, 5 But those who turn aside to strangulations you who reside in the sky. the Lord will lead away with those that 2 Look, as slaves’ eyes look to their masters’ practice lawlessness. hands, Peace be upon Israel! as a maid’s eyes to her mistress’ hands, so our eyes look to the Lord our God (126) until he has compassion on us. 1 An Ode of the Steps. 3 Have mercy upon us, O Lord; have mercy upon us, (1) When the Lord returned the captivity of Sion, because we have more than our fill of we became like people comforted. contempt; 2 Then our mouth was filled with joy, 4 our soul has had more than its fill. and our tongue with rejoicing; Reproach is for those who are prosperous, then they will say among the nations, and contempt for the proud! “The Lord did great to act with them.” 3 The Lord did great to act with us; (124) we became people gladdened.

1 An Ode of the Steps. aPertaining to Dauida. 4 Return our captivity, O Lord, like wadis in the south. (1) If it had not been that the Lord was among 5 Those who sow in tears us with rejoicing will reap— —do let Israel say— 6 going they would go and weep, 2 if it had not been that the Lord was among carrying their seed, us, but coming they shall come with when people rose up against us, rejoicing, 3 then they would have swallowed us up alive, carrying their sheaves. when their anger was kindled against us; 4 then the water would have drowned us; (127) through a wadi our soul would have passed; 1 An Ode of the Steps. Pertaining to Salomon. 5 then our soul would have passed through the irresistible water. (1) Unless the Lord builds a house, those who build it labored in vain. 6 Blessed be the Lord who did not give us Unless the Lord guards a city, as prey to their teeth. the guard kept awake in vain. 7 Our soul was rescued like a sparrow 2 It is in vain for you to rise up early, from the snare of the fowlers; to get up after sitting down, the snare was crushed, O you who eat bread of pain, and we were rescued. when he gives sleep to his beloved ones.

8 Our help is in the Lord’s name, 3 Look, the heritage from the Lord is sons, who made the sky and the earth. the wage of the fruit of the womb. 4 Like arrows in the hand of a powerful one, (125) so are the sons of those expelled. 5 Happy the person who will satisfy 1 An Ode of the Steps. his desire with them. They shall not be put to shame (1) Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount when they speak with their enemies in a Sion; gate.

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612 psalms 127(128)–131(132)

Psalm 127(128) 5 For the sake of your law (5)I waited for you, O Lord. 1 An Ode of the Steps. My soul waited for your word. 6 My soul hoped in the Lord (1) Happy are all who fear the Lord, from morning watch until night; who walk in his ways. from morning watch, (7)let Israel hope in 2 The labors of your wrists you shall eat; the Lord, happy you are, and it shall be well with 7 because with the Lord there is mercy you. and much redemption is with him. 8 And it is he who will redeem Israel 3 Your wife is like a thriving vine from all its acts of lawlessness. on the sides of your house; your sons are like shoots of olives (131) around your table. 4 Look, thus shall a person be blessed 1 An Ode of the Steps. Pertaining to Dauid. who fears the Lord. (1) O Lord, my heart was not exalted, 5 May the Lord bless you from Sion, nor were my eyes raised too high, and may you see the good of Ierousalem nor did I occupy myself with great things, all the days of your life. nor with marvelous things beyond me. 6 And may you see your sons’ sons. 2 If I was not humble-minded Peace be upon Israel! but exalted my soul, like the weaned child against its mother, (129) like a requital it is, against my soul.

1 An Ode of the Steps. 3 Let Israel hope in the Lord from now on and forevermore. (1) “Often they made war against me from my youth” (132) —do let Israel say— 2 “often they made war against me from my 1 An Ode of the Steps. youth; indeed, they did not prevail against me. (1) O Lord, remember Dauid 3 On my back the sinners were practicing and all his meekness, their skill; 2 how he swore to the Lord; they prolonged their lawlessness.” he vowed to the God of Iakob, 4 The righteous Lord cut up necks of sinners. 3 “If I will enter into a covert of my house, 5 Let all who hate Sion if I go up on a bed of my spreading, be put to shame and turned backward. 4 if I will give sleep to my eyes 6 Let them become like grass on rooftops and slumber to my eyelids that withered before it was pulled out, and rest to my temples, 7 with which no reaper filled his hand 5 until I find a place for the Lord, and a gatherer of sheaves the fold of his a covert for the God of Iakob!” garment. 8 And those who were passing by did not 6 Look, we heard of ita in Ephratha; say, we found ita in the plains of the forest. “The blessing of the Lord be upon you! 7 “We shall enter into his coverts; We have blessed you in the name of the we shall do obeisance at the place where Lord!” his feet stood.”

Psalm 129(130) 8 Rise up, O Lord, into your rest, you and the ark of your sanctityb! 1 An Ode of the Steps. 9 Your priests will clothe themselves with righteousness, (1) Out of depths I cried out for you, O Lord. and your devout will rejoice. 2 Lord, listen to my voice! 10 For your slave Dauid’s sake Let your ears become attentive do not turn away the face of your to the voice of my petition! anointed one.

3 If you mark acts of lawlessness, O Lord, 11 The Lord swore to Dauid the truth, Lord, who shall stand?— and he will never annul it: 4 because with you there is atonement. “Of your belly’s fruit

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psalms 131(132)–135(136) 613

I will set on your throne. 3 Praise the Lord, because the Lord is good; 12 If your sons keep my covenant make music to his name, because it is and these my testimonies that I shall beautiful, teach them, 4 because the Lord chose Iakob for himself, also their sons, forevermore, Israel as his valued possession, shall sit on your throne.” 5 because I knew that the Lord is great, and our Lord in comparison with all the 13 Because the Lord selected Sion, gods. he chose it as a habitation for himself: 6 Whatever the Lord wanted he did, 14 “This is my repose forever and ever; in the sky and on the earth, here I will reside, because I chose it. in the seas and in all deeps. 15 Its pursuits I will bless when blessing; 7 Bringing up clouds from the earth’s end, its poor I will feed with bread. he made lightnings into rain, 16 Its priests I will clothe with deliverance, he who brought out winds from his and its devout will rejoice with rejoicing. storehouses. 17 There I will cause a horn to sprout up for Dauid; 8 He who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, I prepared a lamp for my anointed one. from human to animal, 18 His enemies I will clothe with disgrace, 9 he sent out signs and wonders in your but on him my sanctity will blossom.” midst, O Egypt, against Pharao and against all his slaves. (133) 10 He who struck down many nations and killed mighty kings— 1 An Ode of the Steps. Pertaining to Dauid. 11 Seon, king of the Amorrites, and Og, king of Basan, (1) Look now, what is beautiful or what is pleasant and all the kingdoms of Chanaan— more than that kindred live together? 12 and he gave their land as a heritage, 2 It is like the perfume on the head, a heritage to his people Israel. which descends upon a beard, the beard of Aaron, 13 O Lord, your name is forever; whicha descends upon the fringe of his O Lord your renown is to generation and clothing. generation, 3 It is like the dew of Haërmon, 14 because the Lord will judge his people, which descends onto the mountains of and over his slaves he will be consoled. Sion, because there the Lord commanded the 15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold, blessing, works of human hands. lifeb forevermore. 16 A mouth they have and will not speak; eyes they have and will not see; (134) 17 ears they have and will not hear, for there is not even breath in their mouth. 1 An Ode of the Steps. 18 May those who make them and all who trust them become like (1) Look now, bless the Lord, all you slaves of them. the Lord, who stand in the Lord’s housec! 19 O house of Israel, bless the Lord! O house of Aaron, bless the Lord! 2 In the nights lift up your hands to the holy 20 O house of Leui, bless the Lord! precincts, You that fear the Lord, bless the Lord! and bless the Lord. 21 Blessed be the Lord from Sion, he who resides in Ierousalem. 3 The Lord will bless you from Sion, he who made the sky and the earth. (136)

Psalm 134(135) 1 Hallelouia.

1 Hallelouia. (1) Acknowledge the Lord, because he is kind, because his mercy is forever. (1) Praise the name of the Lord; 2 Acknowledge the God of gods, praise, O slaves, the Lord, because his mercy is forever. 2 you that stand in the Lord’s house, 3 Acknowledge the Lord of lords, in courts of our God’s house. —because his mercy is forever—

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614 psalms 135(136)–137(138)

4 him, who alone is doing great wonders, (137) —because his mercy is forever— 5 him, who by understanding made the 1 Byd the — heavens, there we sat down, also wept —because his mercy is forever— when we remembered Sion. 6 him, who made firm the earth upon the 2 On the willows in its midst waters, we hung up our instruments, —because his mercy is forever— 3 because there our captors 7 him, whoa made great lights, asked us for words of odes, —because his mercy is forever— and those who led us away 8 the sun to have authority over the day, for a hymn, —because his mercy is forever— “Sing us some of the odes of Sion!” 9 the moon and the stars to have authority over the night, 4 How could we sing the Lord’s ode —because his mercy is forever— in a foreign land? 5 If I forget you, O Ierousalem, 10 him, who struck Egypt together with their may my right hand be forgotten! firstborn 6 May my tongue stick in my throat, —because his mercy is forever— if I do not remember you, 11 and brought Israel out from among them if I do not set Ierousalem at the beginning —because his mercy is forever— of my gladness. 12 with a strong hand and a raised arm, —because his mercy is forever— 7 Remember, O Lord, against the sons of , 13 him, who divided the Red Sea into the day of Ierousalem, divisions how they said, “Clear out! Clear out! —because his mercy is forever— As long as its foundation is in it!” 14 and brought Israel through the midst 8 O daughter Babylon, you wretch! of it Happy shall he be who will requite you —because his mercy is forever— with the requital 15 and shook off Pharao and his force into the with which you requited us! Red Sea, 9 Happy shall he be who will grab your —because his mercy is forever— infants 16 him, who brought through his people in the and dash them against the rock! wilderness, —because his mercy is forever— (138) b[him, who brought water out of a sharp rock, 1 Pertaining to Dauid. —because his mercy is forever—]b 17 him, who struck down great kings (1) I will acknowledge you, O Lord, with my —because his mercy is forever— whole heart, 18 and killed strong kings, because you heard the words of my mouth, —because his mercy is forever— and before angels I will make music to 19 Seon, king of the Amorrites, you. —because his mercy is forever— 2 I will do obeisance toward your holy shrine 20 and Og, king of Basan, and acknowledge your name for your —because his mercy is forever— mercy and for your truth, 21 and gave their land as a heritage, because you magnified your saying upone —because his mercy is forever— every name. 22 a heritage to Israel his slave, 3 In the day I call upon you, hearken to me —because his mercy is forever, quickly; you will care for me with power in my 23 because in our humiliation the Lord soul. remembered us —because his mercy is forever— 4 Let all the kings of the earth acknowledge 24 and redeemed us from our enemies, you, O Lord, —because his mercy is forever— because they heard all the words of your 25 he, who gives nourishment to all flesh, mouth. —because his mercy is forever. 5 And let them sing in the ways of the Lord, because great is the glory of the Lord, 26 Acknowledge the God of the sky, 6 because the Lord is high and he regards because his mercy is foreverc. things that are lowly

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and things that are high he perceives which you made in secret, from far away. and my substance in the deepest parts of the earth. 7 If I walk in the midst of affliction, you will 16 My unwrought state your eyes beheld, quicken me; and in your book all shall be written; against wrath of my enemies you din a dayd they will be formed eand no stretched out your hand, one among theme. and your right hand saved me. 17 But to me your friends were very much 8 The Lord will repay on my behalf; prized, O God. O Lord, your mercy is forever. Their beginningsf were much The works of your hands do not strengthened. disregard. 18 I shall count them, and they will be multiplied beyond sand; (139) I awoke and I am still with you.

1 Regarding completion. aPertaining to Dauid. A 19 If you kill sinners, O God— Psalma. O men of blood, depart from me! 20 Because you will speak against contriving, (1) O Lord, you examined me and knew me. they will take your cities into vanity. 2 It was you who knew my sitting down and 21 Did I not hate those who hate you, O Lord? my rising up; And at your enemies was I not wasting it was you who discerned my thoughts away? from far away. 22 I would hate them with perfect hatred; 3 My path and bmy milesb you tracked I counted them my enemies. and all my ways foresaw, 23 Examine me, O God, and know my heart; 4 because there was no word on my test me, and know my paths. tongue— 24 And see if there is a way of lawlessness in 5 look, O Lord; it was you who knew all me, things, the last and the first. and guide me in a way everlasting. It was you who shaped me and placed your hand upon me. (140) 6 Your knowledge was made wonderful fromc me; 1 Regarding completion. A Psalm. Pertaining to it became strong; I can never attain to it. Dauid.

7 Where should I go from your spirit? 2(1) Deliver me, O Lord, from an evil person; And from your face where should I flee? from an unjust man rescue me, 8 If I ascend to the sky, you are there; 3(2) whoever schemed acts of injustice in theirg if I descend to Hades, you are present. heart; 9 If I were to take up my wings at dawn all day long they kept waging wars. and make my covert at the farthest limits 4(3) They made their tongue sharp as a snake’s; of the sea, venom of vipers is under their lips. 10 indeed, there your hand shall guide me, Interlude on strings and your right hand shall hold me fast. 11 And I said, “So then, darkness shall trample 5(4) Guard me, O Lord, from a sinner’s hand; me, from unjust people deliver me— and night be illumination in my delight,” whoever schemed to trip up my steps. 12 because darkness will not be made dark due 6(5) Arrogant ones hid a trap for me, to you, and they stretched cords, traps for my and night will be illumined as day; feet; as its darkness, so also its light. close to a path they set an obstacle for me. Interlude on strings 13 Because it was you who procured my kidneys, O Lord, 7(6) I said to the Lord, “My God you are; you supported me from my mother’s give ear, O Lord, to the voice of my womb. petition.” 14 I will acknowledge you, because I was made 8(7) O Lord, Lord, power of my deliverance, awesomely wonderful. you shaded my head in a day of battle. Wonderful are your works, 9(8) Do not hand me over, O Lord, to a sinner and my soul knows very well. due to my desireh; 15 My frame was not hidden from you, they schemed against me;

aPert. to Dauid/A Psalm tr = Ra bI.e. the miles I traveled; Gk 1 schoinos = ca.11 km cPerhaps beyond dOr by day ePerhaps when none of them as yet existed fPerhaps authorities gLacking in Gk hOr craving 24-Ps-NETS-4.qxd 11/10/2009 10:34 PM Page 616

616 psalms 139(140)–142(143) do not abandon me, that they not be (142) exalted! Interlude on strings 1 Of understanding. Pertaining to Dauid. When he was in the cave. A Prayer. 10(9) The heada of their encirclement— mischief of their lips will cover them! 2(1) With my voice I cried to the Lord; 11(10) Coals will fall on them; with my voice I petitioned the Lord. with fire you will throw them down; 3(2) I will pour out my petition before him; in misery they will not bear up. my affliction I will announce before him. 12(11) A garrulous man will not succeed in the 4(3) When my spirit was failing me, land; you also knew my paths. evil will hunt down an unjust man to corruption! In the very way in which I would walk, they hid a trap for me. 13(12)I knew that the Lord would maintain the 5(4) I would look to my right and would observe cause of the poor one that there was no one who recognized me; and the case of the needy. escapec vanished from me, 14(13)But the righteous shall acknowledge your and there was no one to seek out my name, soul. and the upright shall live together with your presenceb. 6(5) I cried to you, O Lord; I said, “You are my hope, (141) my portion in the land of the living.” 7(6) Pay attention to my petition, 1 A Psalm. Pertaining to Dauid. because I was brought very low.

(1) O Lord, I cried to you; listen to me; Rescue me from those that persecute me, pay attention to the voice of my petition because they became too strong for me. when I cry to you. 8(7) Bring my soul out of prison 2 Let my prayer succeed as incense before you, so that I may acknowledge your named. a lifting up of my hands be an evening Righteous ones will wait for me sacrifice. until you requite me.

3 Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord, (143) and a door of constraint about my lips. 4 Do not incline my heart to words of evil, 1 A Psalm. Pertaining to Dauide. to concocting pretexts for sins, in company with people practicing (1) O Lord, listen to my prayer; lawlessness, give ear to my petition in your truth; and I shall not team up with their choice hearken to me in your righteousness. ones. 2 And do not enter into judgment with your slave, 5 A righteous one shall discipline me with because no one living will be counted mercy and correct me, righteous before you. but let not a sinner’s oil anoint my head, 3 Because the enemy pursued my soul, because my prayer is continually against he humbled my life to the ground; their contentment. he made me sit in dark places like those 6 Their judges were swallowed up close to a long dead. rock; 4 And my spirit became weary in me; they shall hear my words, because they within me my heart was troubled. were made sweet. 7 As a clod of earth was crushed on the land, 5 I remembered days of old, our bones were strewn beside Hades, and I meditated on all your deeds; 8 because toward you, O Lord, Lord, were my on works of your hands I would eyes; meditate. in you I hoped; do not erase my soul. 6 I spread out my hands to you; 9 Keep me from a trap that they set for me my soul was like a parched land. and from obstacles of those who practice Interlude on strings lawlessness. 10 Sinners will fall into his net; 7 Listen to me quickly, O Lord; alone I am until I pass by. my spirit failed.

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psalms 142(143)–144(145) 617

Do not turn your face from me, 10 to you, who gives deliverance to kings, and I shall be like those who go down to you, who redeems his slave Dauid into a pit. from an evil sword. 8 Make me hear your mercy in the morning, 11 Rescue me, and deliver me from the hand of because in you I hoped. sons of strangers, Make known to me, O Lord, a way in which whose mouth spoke vanity, I should go, and their right hand was a right hand of because to you I lifted up my soul. injustice, 12 whose sons are like young plants 9 Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord; mature in their youth. Ia fled to you for refuge. Their daughters have been beautified, 10 Teach me that I do your will, because you decorated like a replica of a shrine. are my God. 13 Their storehouses are full, Your good spirit will guide me on level bursting cfrom side to sidec. ground. Their sheep are prolific, multiplying in their issue. 11 For your name’s sake, O Lord, you will 14 Their cattle are massive. quicken me. There is no collapsing of fence nor a In your righteousness you will bring my break-through soul out of affliction. nor a cry in their streets. 12 And in your mercy you will destroy my enemies 15 They counted happy the people to whom and ruin all who afflict my soul, these things fall; because your slave I am. happy are the people, those whose God is the Lord. (144) (145) 1 Pertaining to Dauidb. 1 Praise. Pertaining to Dauid. (1) Blessed be the Lord, my God, who trains my hands for battle; my (1) I will exalt you, my God, my King, fingers for war; and bless your name forever and forever 2 my mercy and my refuge, and ever. my supporter and my rescuer, 2 Every day I will bless you my protector and in him I hoped, and praise your name forever and forever who subdues my people under me. and ever. 3 Great is the Lord, and very much 3 O Lord, what is man that you became praiseworthy, known to him and to his greatness there is no limit. or a son of man that you reckon with him? 4 Generation and generation shall commend 4 Man became like vanity; your works, his days are passing like a shadow. and your power they shall declare. 5 Of the magnificence of the glory of your 5 O Lord, tilt your heavens, and come down; holiness they shall speak, touch the mountains, and they will and your wondrous works they shall smoke. recount. 6 Flash a lightning flash, and you will scatter 6 And the power of your awesome deeds they them; shall relate, send out your arrows, and you will throw and your greatness they shall recount. them into disarray. 7 Mention of the abundance of your kindness 7 Send out your hand from on high; they shall gush forth, deliver me, and rescue me from many and at your righteousness they shall rejoice. waters, from the hand of sons of strangers, 8 Compassionate and merciful is the Lord, 8 whose mouth spoke vanity, slow to anger and abounding in mercy. and their right hand was a right hand of 9 Kind is the Lord to dall things togetherd, injustice. and his compassion is over all his works.

9 O God, a new ode I will sing to you; 10 Let all your works acknowledge you, O Lord, with a ten-stringed harp I will make and let all your devout bless you. music to you, 11 Your kingdom’s glory they shall relate,

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618 psalms 144(145)–147(147.12–20)

and of your dominance they shall speak, the Lord loves the righteous. 12 to make known to the sons of men your 9 The Lord watches over the guests; dominance orphan and widow he will pick up, and the glory of the magnificence of your and a way of sinners he will wipe out. kingdom. 13 Your kingdom is a kingdom of all the ages, 10 The Lord will be king forever, and your dominion is in every generation your God, O Sion, for generation and and generation. generation.

13a Faithful is the Lord in his words, (147.1–11) and devout in all his works. 14 The Lord upholds all who are falling 1 Hallelouiab. and sets upright all who are cast down. 15 The eyes of all hope in you, (1) Praise the Lord, and it is you who give them their food in because a melody is a good thing; due season. to our God may praise be pleasing. 16 You, you open your hand 2 When the Lord builds Ierousalem, and satisfy every living thing witha good he will also gather in the dispersions of pleasure. Israel, 17 Just is the Lord in all his ways, 3 he who heals the broken in heart and devout in all his works. and binds up their fractures, 18 Near is the Lord to all who call on him, 4 he who numbers multitudes of stars to all who call on him in truth. and to all of them gives names. 19 The will of all who fear him he will do, 5 Great is our Lord, and great is his strength, and to their petition he will hearken and and of his understanding there is no sum, will save them. 6 when the Lord picks up the meek 20 The Lord watches over all who love him, but humbles sinners to the ground. and all the sinners he will destroy. 7 Lead off to the Lord with acknowledgment; 21 Praise of the Lord my mouth will speak, make music to our God on a lyre, and let all flesh bless his holy name 8 to him who cloaks the sky with clouds, forever and forever and ever. to him who prepares rain for the earth, to him who makes grass grow on (146) mountains, 9 giving to the animals their food 1 Hallelouiab. and to the young of ravens that call on him. (1) Praise the Lord, O my soul! 10 To the dominance of the horse he will not 2 I will praise the Lord in my life; be disposed, I will make music to my God while I nor with the shanks of the man is he have being. pleased. 11 The Lord is pleased with those who fear him 3 Do not put your trust in rulers and with those who hope in his mercy. and in sons of men, who have no deliverance. (147.12–20) 4 His breath will depart, and he will return to his earth; 1 Hallelouiab. in that very day all their designs will perish. (12) Commend the Lord, O Ierousalem; praise your God, O Sion, 5 Happy is he whose helper is the God of 2(13) because he strengthened the bars of your Iakob; gates; his hope is in the Lord his God, he blessed your sons within you, 6 who made the sky and the earth, 3(14) he who makes your borders peaceful the sea and all that is in them, and keeps filling you with fatc of wheat, who guards truth forever, 4(15) he who sends out his saying to the earth; 7 executing judgment for the wronged, his word will run swiftly, giving food to the hungry. 5(16) dthe wordd of him who gives snow like wool, The Lord releases prisoners. who scatters fog like ashes, 8 The Lord sets upright those cast down; 6(17) who hurls down his ice like crumbs. the Lord makes the blind skilled; Who shall stand against his cold?

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psalms 147(147.12–20)–151 619

7(18) He will send out his word and will melt them; his praise is in an assembly of devout. he will blow his breath, and waters will 2 Let Israel be glad in the one who made it, flow. and let the sons of Sion rejoice in their 8(19) In declaring his word to Iakob, king. his statutes and judgments to Israel, 3 Let them praise his name with a dance; 9(20) he did not deal thus with every nation, with drum and harp let them make music and his judgments he did not explain to to him, them. 4 because the Lord takes pleasure in his people, and he exalts the meek with deliverance. 5 The devout will boast in glory, 1 Hallelouiaa. and they will rejoice on their beds. 6 The exaltations of God are in their throats, Praise the Lord from the heavens; and two-edged swords in their hands, praise him in the highest heights! 7 to execute vengeance among the nations, 2 Praise him, all his angels; rebukes among the peoples, praise him, all his hosts! 8 to bind their kings with fetters and their nobles with iron handcuffs, 3 Praise him, sun and moon; 9 to execute among them a judgment praise him, all the stars and the light! inscribed. 4 Praise him, you heavens of heavens This glory is for all his devout. and you water above the heavens! 5 Let them praise the name of the Lord, because he b[spoke, and they came to be; 1 Hallelouia. he]b commanded, and they were created. 6 He established them forever and forever and Praise God among his saints; ever; praise him in the firmament of his an ordinance he issued, and it will not power! pass away. 2 Praise him for his acts of dominance; praise him according to the abundance of 7 Praise the Lord from the earth, his greatness! you dragons and all deeps, 8 fire, hail, snow, ice, 3 Praise him with trumpet sound; tempest blast, those things that do his praise him with harp and lyre! word! 4 Praise him with drum and dance; praise him with strings and instrument! 9 The mountains and all the hills, 5 Praise him with tuneful cymbals; fruit trees and all cedars! praise him with loud clashing cymbals! 10 The wild animals and all the cattle, 6 Let all breath praise the Lord! creeping things and winged birds! Hallelouia.

11 Kings of the earth and all peoples, rulers and all judges of earth! 12 Young men and unmarried women, 1 This Psalm is autographical. Regarding Dauid old with young! and outside the numberc.

13 Let them praise the name of the Lord, I was small among my brothers because the name of him alone was and the youngest in the house of my exalted; father; acknowledgement of him is in earth and I would shepherd the sheep of my father. sky. 14 And he will exalt his people’s horn; 2 My hands made an instrument; a hymn belongs to all his devout, my fingers tuned a harp. the sons of Israel, a people drawing near to him. 3 And who will report to my lord? The Lord himself, it is he who listens. 4 It was he who sent his messengerd 1 Hallelouia. and took me from the sheep of my father and anointed me with the oil of his Sing to the Lord a new song; .

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620 psalm 151; prayer of manasses

5 My brothers were handsome and tall, for Abraam and Isaak and Iakob, who had and the Lord did not take delight in them. not sinned against you, but you appointed repentance for me, the 6 I went out to meet the allophyle, sinner, and he cursed me by his idols. 9 because I sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea. 7 But I, having drawn the dagger from him, My acts of lawlessness multiplied, O Lord, I beheaded him they multiplied, and removed reproach from Israel’s sons. and I am not worthy to gaze at and see the height of the sky, due to the multitude of my injustices. Prayer of Manasses 10 Bent down I am by many a fetter of iron, for me to say, “No,” over my sins. (Rahlfs Ode 12) And I find no relief, because I provoked your anger 1 O Lord Almighty, and did what was evil before you, God of our fathers, having set up abominations of Abraam and Isaak and Iakob and having multipied objects of wrath. and of their righteous offspring, 11 And now I bend my heart’s knee, 2 you who made the sky and the earth begging for kindness from you. together with all their order, 12 I have sinned, O Lord; I have sinned, you who shackled the sea by the word of and my lawless acts I know. your ordinance, 13 I plead, begging you; 3 you who shut up the deep relieve me, O Lord; relieve me! and sealed it with your awesome and Do not destroy me together with my acts of notable name, lawlessness 4 at whom all things shudder nor be angry forever and retain evil for and tremble from before your power, me 5 because the magnificence of your glory nor condemn me in the deepest places of cannot be borne, the earth, and the wrath of your threat against sinners because you, O Lord, are the God of those cannot be withstood; who repent, 6 both immeasurable and inscrutable is the 14 and in me show your goodness, mercy of your promise, because, though unworthy, you will save 7 because you are Lord Most High, me compassionate, slow to anger and according to your abundant mercy, abounding in mercy 15 and I will praise you always throughout the and repenting at ills of human beings. days of my life, 8 So you, O Lord God of the righteous, because all the host of the heavens will sing you did not appoint repentance for a hymn to you, righteous ones, and yours is the glory forever. . 00-Front-NETS-4.qxd 11/10/2009 10:48 PM Page iv

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