Jun 17 - Psalms 35-37
Psalms
1Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me.2Take up shield and buckler; arise and come to my aid.3Brandish spear and javelin against those who pursue me. Say to my soul, "I am your salvation."4May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plot my ruin be turned back in dismay.5May they be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the LORD driving them away;6may their path be dark and slippery, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them.7Since they hid their net for me without cause and without cause dug a pit for me,8may ruin overtake them by surprise- may the net they hid entangle them, may they fall into the pit, to their ruin.9Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and delight in his salvation.10My whole being will exclaim, "Who is like you, O LORD? You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and needy from those who rob them."11Ruthless witnesses come forward; they question me on things I know nothing about.12They repay me evil for good and leave my soul forlorn.13Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting. When my prayers returned to me unanswered,14I went about mourning as though for my friend or brother. I bowed my head in grief as though weeping for my mother.15But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee; attackers gathered against me when I was unaware. They slandered me without ceasing.16Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked; they gnashed their teeth at me.17O Lord, how long will you look on? Rescue my life from their ravages, my precious life from these lions.18I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among throngs of people I will praise you.19Let not those gloat over me who are my enemies without cause; let not those who hate me without reason maliciously wink the eye.20They do not speak peaceably, but devise false accusations against those who live quietly in the land.21They gape at me and say, "Aha! Aha! With our own eyes we have seen it."22O LORD, you have seen this; be not silent. Do not be far from me, O Lord.23Awake, and rise to my defense! Contend for me, my God and Lord.24Vindicate me in your righteousness, O LORD my God; do not let them gloat over me.25Do not let them think, "Aha, just what we wanted!" or say, "We have swallowed him up."26May all who gloat over my distress be put to shame and confusion; may all who exalt themselves over me be clothed with shame and disgrace.27May those who delight in my vindication shout for joy and gladness; may they always say, "The LORD be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servant."28My tongue will speak of your righteousness and of your praises all day long.
1An oracle is within my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: There is no fear of God before his eyes.2For in his own eyes he flatters himself too much to detect or hate his sin.3The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful; he has ceased to be wise and to do good.4Even on his bed he plots evil; he commits himself to a sinful course and does not reject what is wrong.5Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.6Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep. O LORD, you preserve both man and beast.7How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings.8They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights.9For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.10Continue your love to those who know you, your righteousness to the upright in heart.11May the foot of the proud not come against me, nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.12See how the evildoers lie fallen- thrown down, not able to rise!
1Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong;2for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.3Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.4Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.5Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this:6He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.7Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.8Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret-it leads only to evil.9For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.10A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.11But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.12The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them;13but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming.14The wicked draw the sword and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright.15But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.16Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked;17for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.18The days of the blameless are known to the LORD, and their inheritance will endure forever.19In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.20But the wicked will perish: The LORD's enemies will be like the beauty of the fields, they will vanish-vanish like smoke.21The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously;22those the LORD blesses will inherit the land, but those he curses will be cut off.23If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm;24though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.25I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.26They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed.27Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever.28For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. They will be protected forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off;29the righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.30The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just.31The law of his God is in his heart; his feet do not slip.32The wicked lie in wait for the righteous, seeking their very lives;33but the LORD will not leave them in their power or let them be condemned when brought to trial.34Wait for the LORD and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you will see it.35I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a green tree in its native soil,36but he soon passed away and was no more; though I looked for him, he could not be found.37Consider the blameless, observe the upright; there is a future for the man of peace.38But all sinners will be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off.39The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD; he is their stronghold in time of trouble.40The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.