Psalm 10-31

Good News Translation

³ The wicked are proud of their evil desires;
    the greedy curse and reject the Lord.
⁴ The wicked do not care about the Lord;
    in their pride they think that God doesn't matter.

⁵ The wicked succeed in everything.
    They cannot understand God's judgments;
    they sneer at their enemies.
⁶ They say to themselves, “We will never fail;
    we will never be in trouble.”
^7 (A)Their speech is filled with curses, lies, and threats;
    they are quick to speak hateful, evil words.

⁸ They hide themselves in the villages,
    waiting to murder innocent people.
They spy on their helpless victims;
⁹     they wait in their hiding place like lions.
They lie in wait for the poor;
    they catch them in their traps and drag them away.

¹⁰ The helpless victims lie crushed;
    brute strength has defeated them.
¹¹ The wicked say to themselves, “God doesn't care!
    He has closed his eyes and will never see me!”

¹² O Lord, punish those wicked people!
    Remember those who are suffering!
¹³ How can the wicked despise God
    and say to themselves, “He will not punish me”?

¹⁴ But you do see; you take notice of trouble and suffering
    and are always ready to help.
The helpless commit themselves to you;
    you have always helped the needy.

¹⁵ Break the power of wicked and evil people;
    punish them for the wrong they have done
    until they do it no more.

¹⁶ The Lord is king forever and ever.
    Those who worship other gods
    will vanish from his land.

¹⁷ You will listen, O Lord, to the prayers of the lowly;
    you will give them courage.
¹⁸ You will hear the cries of the oppressed and the orphans;
    you will judge in their favor,
    so that mortal men may cause terror no more.

⁴ The Lord is in his holy temple;
    he has his throne in heaven.
He watches people everywhere
    and knows what they are doing.
⁵ He examines the good and the wicked alike;
    the lawless he hates with all his heart.

⁶ He sends down flaming coals^[c] and burning sulfur on the wicked;
    he punishes them with scorching winds.
⁷ The Lord is righteous and loves good deeds;
    those who do them will live in his presence.

³ Silence those flattering tongues, O Lord!
    Close those boastful mouths that say,
⁴ “With our words we get what we want.
    We will say what we wish,
    and no one can stop us.”

⁵ “But now I will come,” says the Lord,
    “because the needy are oppressed
    and the persecuted groan in pain.
I will give them the security they long for.”

⁶ The promises of the Lord can be trusted;
    they are as genuine as silver
    refined seven times in the furnace.

^7-8 The wicked are everywhere,
    and everyone praises what is evil.
Keep us always safe, O Lord,
    and preserve us from such people.

³ Look at me, O Lord my God, and answer me.
    Restore my strength; don't let me die.
⁴ Don't let my enemies say, “We have defeated him.”
    Don't let them gloat over my downfall.

⁵ I rely on your constant love;
    I will be glad, because you will rescue me.
⁶ I will sing to you, O Lord,
    because you have been good to me.

² The Lord looks down from heaven at us humans
    to see if there are any who are wise,
    any who worship him.
³ But they have all gone wrong;
    they are all equally bad.
Not one of them does what is right,
    not a single one.

⁴ “Don't they know?” asks the Lord.
    “Are all these evildoers ignorant?
They live by robbing my people,
    and they never pray to me.”

⁵ But then they will be terrified,
    for God is with those who obey him.
⁶ Evildoers frustrate the plans of the humble,
    but the Lord is their protection.

⁷ How I pray that victory
    will come to Israel from Zion.
How happy the people of Israel will be
    when the Lord makes them prosperous again!

² Those who obey God in everything
    and always do what is right,
whose words are true and sincere,
³     and who do not slander others.
They do no wrong to their friends
    nor spread rumors about their neighbors.
⁴ They despise those whom God rejects,
    but honor those who obey the Lord.
They always do what they promise,
    no matter how much it may cost.
⁵ They make loans without charging interest
    and cannot be bribed to testify against the innocent.

Whoever does these things will always be secure.

³ How excellent are the Lord's faithful people!
    My greatest pleasure is to be with them.

⁴ Those who rush to other gods
    bring many troubles on themselves.^[j]
I will not take part in their sacrifices;
    I will not worship their gods.

⁵ You, Lord, are all I have,
    and you give me all I need;
    my future is in your hands.
⁶ How wonderful are your gifts to me;
    how good they are!

⁷ I praise the Lord, because he guides me,
    and in the night my conscience warns me.
⁸ I am always aware of the Lord's presence;
    he is near, and nothing can shake me.

⁹ And so I am thankful and glad,
    and I feel completely secure,
^10 (D)because you protect me from the power of death.
I have served you faithfully,
    and you will not abandon me to the world of the dead.

^11 (E)You will show me the path that leads to life;
    your presence fills me with joy
    and brings me pleasure forever.

³ You know my heart.
    You have come to me at night;
    you have examined me completely
    and found no evil desire in me.
I speak no evil,
⁴ as others do;
    I have obeyed your command
    and have not followed paths of violence.
⁵ I have always walked in your way
    and have never strayed from it.

⁶ I pray to you, O God, because you answer me;
    so turn to me and listen to my words.
⁷ Reveal your wonderful love and save me;
    at your side I am safe from my enemies.

⁸ Protect me as you would your very eyes;
    hide me in the shadow of your wings
⁹     from the attacks of the wicked.

Deadly enemies surround me;
¹⁰     they have no pity and speak proudly.
¹¹ They are around me now, wherever I turn,
    watching for a chance to pull me down.
¹² They are like lions, waiting for me,
    wanting to tear me to pieces.

¹³ Come, Lord! Oppose my enemies and defeat them!
Save me from the wicked by your sword;
¹⁴     save me from those who in this life have all they want.
Punish them with the sufferings you have stored up for them;
    may there be enough for their children
    and some left over for their children's children!

¹⁵ But I will see you, because I have done no wrong;
    and when I awake, your presence will fill me with joy.

² The Lord is my protector;
    he is my strong fortress.
My God is my protection,
    and with him I am safe.
He protects me like a shield;
    he defends me and keeps me safe.
³ I call to the Lord,
    and he saves me from my enemies.
Praise the Lord!

⁴ The danger of death was all around me;
    the waves of destruction rolled over me.
⁵ The danger of death was around me,
    and the grave set its trap for me.
⁶ In my trouble I called to the Lord;
    I called to my God for help.
In his temple he heard my voice;
    he listened to my cry for help.

⁷ Then the earth trembled and shook;
    the foundations of the mountains rocked and quivered,
    because God was angry.
⁸ Smoke poured out of his nostrils,
    a consuming flame and burning coals from his mouth.
⁹ He tore the sky open and came down
    with a dark cloud under his feet.
¹⁰ He flew swiftly on his winged creature;^[m]
    he traveled on the wings of the wind.
¹¹ He covered himself with darkness;
    thick clouds, full of water, surrounded him.
¹² Hailstones and flashes of fire
    came from the lightning before him
    and broke through the dark clouds.

¹³ Then the Lord thundered from the sky;
    and the voice of the Most High was heard.^[n]
14 He shot his arrows and scattered his enemies;
    with flashes of lightning he sent them running.
¹⁵ The floor of the ocean was laid bare,
    and the foundations of the earth were uncovered,
when you rebuked your enemies, Lord,
    and roared at them in anger.

¹⁶ The Lord reached down from above and took hold of me;
    he pulled me out of the deep waters.
¹⁷ He rescued me from my powerful enemies
    and from all those who hate me—
    they were too strong for me.
¹⁸ When I was in trouble, they attacked me,
    but the Lord protected me.
¹⁹ He helped me out of danger;
    he saved me because he was pleased with me.

²⁰ The Lord rewards me because I do what is right;
    he blesses me because I am innocent.
²¹ I have obeyed the law of the Lord;
    I have not turned away from my God.
²² I have observed all his laws;
    I have not disobeyed his commands.
²³ He knows that I am faultless,
    that I have kept myself from doing wrong.
²⁴ And so he rewards me because I do what is right,
    because he knows that I am innocent.

²⁵ O Lord, you are faithful to those who are faithful to you;
    completely good to those who are perfect.
²⁶ You are pure to those who are pure,
    but hostile to those who are wicked.
²⁷ You save those who are humble,
    but you humble those who are proud.

²⁸ O Lord, you give me light;
    you dispel my darkness.
²⁹ You give me strength to attack my enemies
    and power to overcome their defenses.

³⁰ This God—how perfect are his deeds!
    How dependable his words!
He is like a shield
    for all who seek his protection.
³¹ The Lord alone is God;
    God alone is our defense.
³² He is the God who makes me strong,
    who makes my pathway safe.
^33 (G)He makes me sure-footed as a deer;
    he keeps me safe on the mountains.
³⁴ He trains me for battle,
    so that I can use the strongest bow.

³⁵ O Lord, you protect me and save me;
    your care has made me great,
    and your power has kept me safe.
³⁶ You have kept me from being captured,
    and I have never fallen.
³⁷ I pursue my enemies and catch them;
    I do not stop until I destroy them.
³⁸ I strike them down, and they cannot rise;
    they lie defeated before me.
³⁹ You give me strength for the battle
    and victory over my enemies.
⁴⁰ You make my enemies run from me;
    I destroy those who hate me.
⁴¹ They cry for help, but no one saves them;
    they call to the Lord, but he does not answer.
⁴² I crush them, so that they become like dust
    which the wind blows away.
I trample on them like mud in the streets.

⁴³ You saved me from a rebellious people
    and made me ruler over the nations;
    people I did not know have now become my subjects.
⁴⁴ Foreigners bow before me;
    when they hear me, they obey.
⁴⁵ They lose their courage
    and come trembling from their fortresses.

⁴⁶ The Lord lives! Praise my defender!
    Proclaim the greatness of the God who saves me.
⁴⁷ He gives me victory over my enemies;
    he subdues the nations under me
⁴⁸     and saves me from my foes.

O Lord, you give me victory over my enemies
    and protect me from violent people.
^49 (H)And so I praise you among the nations;
    I sing praises to you.

⁵⁰ God gives great victories to his king;
    he shows constant love to the one he has chosen,
    to David and his descendants forever.

¹² None of us can see our own errors;
    deliver me, Lord, from hidden faults!
¹³ Keep me safe, also, from willful sins;
    don't let them rule over me.
Then I shall be perfect
    and free from the evil of sin.

¹⁴ May my words and my thoughts be acceptable to you,
    O Lord, my refuge and my redeemer!

⁶ Now I know that the Lord gives victory to his chosen king;
    he answers him from his holy heaven
    and by his power gives him great victories.
⁷ Some trust in their war chariots
    and others in their horses,
    but we trust in the power of the Lord our God.
⁸ Such people will stumble and fall,
    but we will rise and stand firm.

⁹ Give victory to the king, O Lord;
    answer^[r] us when we call.

³ You came to him with great blessings
    and set a crown of gold on his head.
⁴ He asked for life, and you gave it,
    a long and lasting life.

⁵ His glory is great because of your help;
    you have given him fame and majesty.
⁶ Your blessings are with him forever,
    and your presence fills him with joy.

⁷ The king trusts in the Lord Almighty;
    and because of the Lord's constant love
    he will always be secure.
⁸ The king will capture all his enemies;
    he will capture everyone who hates him.
⁹ He will destroy them like a blazing fire
    when he appears.

The Lord will devour them in his anger,
    and fire will consume them.
¹⁰ None of their descendants will survive;
    the king will kill them all.

¹¹ They make their plans, and plot against him,
    but they will not succeed.
¹² He will shoot his arrows at them
    and make them turn and run.

¹³ We praise you, Lord, for your great strength!
    We will sing and praise your power.

⁶ But I am no longer a human being; I am a worm,
    despised and scorned by everyone!
^7 (K)All who see me make fun of me;
    they stick out their tongues and shake their heads.
^8 (L)“You relied on the Lord,” they say.
    “Why doesn't he save you?
If the Lord likes you,
    why doesn't he help you?”

⁹ It was you who brought me safely through birth,
    and when I was a baby, you kept me safe.
¹⁰ I have relied on you since the day I was born,
    and you have always been my God.
¹¹ Do not stay away from me!
    Trouble is near,
    and there is no one to help.

¹² Many enemies surround me like bulls;
    they are all around me,
    like fierce bulls from the land of Bashan.
¹³ They open their mouths like lions,
    roaring and tearing at me.

¹⁴ My strength is gone,
    gone like water spilled on the ground.
All my bones are out of joint;
    my heart is like melted wax.
¹⁵ My throat^[u] is as dry as dust,
    and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.
You have left me for dead in the dust.

¹⁶ An evil gang is around me;
    like a pack of dogs they close in on me;
    they tear at^[v] my hands and feet.
¹⁷ All my bones can be seen.
    My enemies look at me and stare.
^18 (M)They gamble for my clothes
    and divide them among themselves.

¹⁹ O Lord, don't stay away from me!
    Come quickly to my rescue!
²⁰ Save me from the sword;
    save my life from these dogs.
²¹ Rescue me from these lions;
    I am helpless^[w] before these wild bulls.

^22 (N)I will tell my people what you have done;
    I will praise you in their assembly:
²³ “Praise him, you servants of the Lord!
    Honor him, you descendants of Jacob!
    Worship him, you people of Israel!
²⁴ He does not neglect the poor or ignore their suffering;
    he does not turn away from them,
    but answers when they call for help.”

²⁵ In the full assembly I will praise you for what you have done;
    in the presence of those who worship you
    I will offer the sacrifices I promised.
²⁶ The poor will eat as much as they want;
    those who come to the Lord will praise him.
May they prosper forever!

²⁷ All nations will remember the Lord.
    From every part of the world they will turn to him;
    all races will worship him.
²⁸ The Lord is king,
    and he rules the nations.

²⁹ All proud people will bow down to him;^[x]
    all mortals will bow down before him.
³⁰ Future generations will serve him;
    they will speak of the Lord to the coming generation.
³¹ People not yet born will be told:
    “The Lord saved his people.”

⁵ You prepare a banquet for me,
    where all my enemies can see me;
you welcome me as an honored guest
    and fill my cup to the brim.
⁶ I know that your goodness and love will be with me all my life;
    and your house will be my home as long as I live.

³ Who has the right to go up the Lord's hill?^[aa]
    Who may enter his holy Temple?
^4 (Q)Those who are pure in act and in thought,
    who do not worship idols
    or make false promises.
⁵ The Lord will bless them and save them;
    God will declare them innocent.
⁶ Such are the people who come to God,
    who come into the presence of the God of Jacob.

⁷ Fling wide the gates,
    open the ancient doors,
    and the great king will come in.
⁸ Who is this great king?
He is the Lord, strong and mighty,
    the Lord, victorious in battle.

⁹ Fling wide the gates,
    open the ancient doors,
    and the great king will come in.
¹⁰ Who is this great king?
The triumphant Lord—he is the great king!

⁴ Teach me your ways, O Lord;
    make them known to me.
⁵ Teach me to live according to your truth,
    for you are my God, who saves me.
    I always trust in you.

⁶ Remember, O Lord, your kindness and constant love
    which you have shown from long ago.
⁷ Forgive the sins and errors of my youth.
In your constant love and goodness,
    remember me, Lord!

⁸ Because the Lord is righteous and good,
    he teaches sinners the path they should follow.
⁹ He leads the humble in the right way
    and teaches them his will.
¹⁰ With faithfulness and love he leads
    all who keep his covenant and obey his commands.

¹¹ Keep your promise, Lord, and forgive my sins,
    for they are many.
¹² Those who have reverence for the Lord
    will learn from him the path they should follow.
¹³ They will always be prosperous,
    and their children will possess the land.
¹⁴ The Lord is the friend of those who obey him
    and he affirms his covenant with them.

¹⁵ I look to the Lord for help at all times,
    and he rescues me from danger.
¹⁶ Turn to me, Lord, and be merciful to me,
    because I am lonely and weak.
¹⁷ Relieve me of my worries
    and save me from all my troubles.
¹⁸ Consider my distress and suffering
    and forgive all my sins.

¹⁹ See how many enemies I have;
    see how much they hate me.
²⁰ Protect me and save me;
    keep me from defeat.
    I come to you for safety.
²¹ May my goodness and honesty preserve me,
    because I trust in you.

²² From all their troubles, O God,
    save your people Israel!

⁴ I do not keep company with worthless people;
    I have nothing to do with hypocrites.
⁵ I hate the company of the evil
    and avoid the wicked.

⁶ Lord, I wash my hands to show that I am innocent
    and march in worship around your altar.
⁷ I sing a hymn of thanksgiving
    and tell of all your wonderful deeds.

⁸ I love the house where you live, O Lord,
    the place where your glory dwells.
⁹ Do not destroy me with the sinners;
    spare me from the fate of murderers—
¹⁰     those who do evil all the time
    and are always ready to take bribes.

¹¹ As for me, I do what is right;
    be merciful to me and save me!

¹² I am safe from all dangers;
    in the assembly of his people I praise the Lord.

² When evil people attack me and try to kill me,
    they stumble and fall.
³ Even if a whole army surrounds me,
    I will not be afraid;
even if enemies attack me,
    I will still trust God.^[af]

⁴ I have asked the Lord for one thing;
    one thing only do I want:
to live in the Lord's house all my life,
    to marvel there at his goodness,
    and to ask for his guidance.
⁵ In times of trouble he will shelter me;
    he will keep me safe in his Temple
    and make me secure on a high rock.
⁶ So I will triumph over my enemies around me.
    With shouts of joy I will offer sacrifices in his Temple;
    I will sing, I will praise the Lord.

⁷ Hear me, Lord, when I call to you!
    Be merciful and answer me!
⁸ When you said, “Come worship me,”
I answered, “I will come, Lord.”
⁹     Don't hide yourself from me!

Don't be angry with me;
    don't turn your servant away.
You have been my help;
    don't leave me, don't abandon me,
    O God, my savior.
¹⁰ My father and mother may abandon me,
    but the Lord will take care of me.

¹¹ Teach me, Lord, what you want me to do,
    and lead me along a safe path,
    because I have many enemies.
¹² Don't abandon me to my enemies,
    who attack me with lies and threats.

¹³ I know that I will live to see
    the Lord's goodness in this present life.
¹⁴ Trust in the Lord.
    Have faith, do not despair.
Trust in the Lord.

^4 (R)Punish them for what they have done,
    for the evil they have committed.
Punish them for all their deeds;
    give them what they deserve!
⁵ They take no notice of what the Lord has done
    or of what he has made;
so he will punish them
    and destroy them forever.

⁶ Give praise to the Lord;
    he has heard my cry for help.
⁷ The Lord protects and defends me;
    I trust in him.
He gives me help and makes me glad;
    I praise him with joyful songs.

⁸ The Lord protects his people;
    he defends and saves his chosen king.
⁹ Save your people, Lord,
    and bless those who are yours.
Be their shepherd,
    and take care of them forever.

³ The voice of the Lord is heard on the seas;
    the glorious God thunders,
    and his voice echoes over the ocean.
⁴ The voice of the Lord is heard
    in all its might and majesty.

⁵ The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars,
    even the cedars of Lebanon.
⁶ He makes the mountains of Lebanon jump like calves
    and makes Mount Hermon leap like a young bull.

⁷ The voice of the Lord makes the lightning flash.
⁸ His voice makes the desert shake;
    he shakes the desert of Kadesh.
⁹ The Lord's voice shakes the oaks^[aj]
    and strips the leaves from the trees
    while everyone in his Temple shouts, “Glory to God!”

¹⁰ The Lord rules over the deep waters;
    he rules as king forever.
¹¹ The Lord gives strength to his people
    and blesses them with peace.

⁴ Sing praise to the Lord,
    all his faithful people!
Remember what the Holy One has done,
    and give him thanks!
⁵ His anger lasts only a moment,
    his goodness for a lifetime.
Tears may flow in the night,
    but joy comes in the morning.

⁶ I felt secure and said to myself,
    “I will never be defeated.”
⁷ You were good to me, Lord;
    you protected me like a mountain fortress.
But then you hid yourself from me,
    and I was afraid.

⁸ I called to you, Lord;
    I begged for your help:
⁹ “What will you gain from my death?
    What profit from my going to the grave?
Are dead people able to praise you?
    Can they proclaim your unfailing goodness?
¹⁰ Hear me, Lord, and be merciful!
    Help me, Lord!”

¹¹ You have changed my sadness into a joyful dance;
    you have taken away my sorrow
    and surrounded me with joy.
¹² So I will not be silent;
    I will sing praise to you.
Lord, you are my God;
    I will give you thanks forever.

³ You are my refuge and defense;
    guide me and lead me as you have promised.
⁴ Keep me safe from the trap that has been set for me;
    shelter me from danger.
^5 (T)I place myself in your care.
You will save me, Lord;
    you are a faithful God.

⁶ You hate those who worship false gods,
    but I trust in you.
⁷ I will be glad and rejoice
    because of your constant love.
You see my suffering;
    you know my trouble.
⁸ You have not let my enemies capture me;
    you have given me freedom to go where I wish.

⁹ Be merciful to me, Lord,
    for I am in trouble;
my eyes are tired from so much crying;
    I am completely worn out.
¹⁰ I am exhausted by sorrow,
    and weeping has shortened my life.
I am weak from all my troubles;^[an]
    even my bones are wasting away.

¹¹ All my enemies, and especially my neighbors,
    treat me with contempt.
Those who know me are afraid of me;
    when they see me in the street, they run away.
¹² Everyone has forgotten me, as though I were dead;
    I am like something thrown away.
¹³ I hear many enemies whispering;
    terror is all around me.
They are making plans against me,
    plotting to kill me.

¹⁴ But my trust is in you, O Lord;
    you are my God.
¹⁵ I am always in your care;
    save me from my enemies,
    from those who persecute me.
¹⁶ Look on your servant with kindness;
    save me in your constant love.
¹⁷ I call to you, Lord;
    don't let me be disgraced.
May the wicked be disgraced;
    may they go silently down to the world of the dead.
¹⁸ Silence those liars—
    all the proud and arrogant
    who speak with contempt about the righteous.

¹⁹ How wonderful are the good things
    you keep for those who honor you!
Everyone knows how good you are,
    how securely you protect those who trust you.
²⁰ You hide them in the safety of your presence
    from the plots of others;
in a safe shelter you hide them
    from the insults of their enemies.

²¹ Praise the Lord!
How wonderfully he showed his love for me
    when I was surrounded and attacked!
²² I was afraid and thought
    that he had driven me out of his presence.
But he heard my cry,
    when I called to him for help.

²³ Love the Lord, all his faithful people.
The Lord protects the faithful,
    but punishes the proud as they deserve.
²⁴ Be strong, be courageous,
    all you that hope in the Lord.