Psalm 141-145

New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised

³ Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord;
    keep watch over the door of my lips.
⁴ Do not turn my heart to any evil,
    to busy myself with wicked deeds
in company with those who work iniquity;
    do not let me eat of their delicacies.

⁵ Let the righteous strike me;
    let the faithful correct me.
Never let the oil of the wicked anoint my head,^[a]
    for my prayer is continually^[b] against their wicked deeds.
⁶ When they are given over to those who shall condemn them,
    then they shall learn that my words were pleasant.
⁷ Like a rock that one breaks apart and shatters on the land,
    so shall their bones be strewn at the mouth of Sheol.^[c]

⁸ But my eyes are turned towards you, O God, my Lord;
    in you I seek refuge; do not leave me defenceless.
⁹ Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me,
    and from the snares of evildoers.
¹⁰ Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
    while I alone escape.

In the path where I walk
    they have hidden a trap for me.
⁴ Look on my right hand and see—
    there is no one who takes notice of me;
no refuge remains to me;
    no one cares for me.

⁵ I cry to you, O Lord;
    I say, ‘You are my refuge,
    my portion in the land of the living.’
⁶ Give heed to my cry,
    for I am brought very low.

Save me from my persecutors,
    for they are too strong for me.
⁷ Bring me out of prison,
    so that I may give thanks to your name.
The righteous will surround me,
    for you will deal bountifully with me.

³ For the enemy has pursued me,
    crushing my life to the ground,
    making me sit in darkness like those long dead.
⁴ Therefore my spirit faints within me;
    my heart within me is appalled.

⁵ I remember the days of old,
    I think about all your deeds,
    I meditate on the works of your hands.
⁶ I stretch out my hands to you;
    my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.Selah

⁷ Answer me quickly, O Lord;
    my spirit fails.
Do not hide your face from me,
    or I shall be like those who go down to the Pit.
⁸ Let me hear of your steadfast love in the morning,
    for in you I put my trust.
Teach me the way I should go,
    for to you I lift up my soul.

⁹ Save me, O Lord, from my enemies;
    I have fled to you for refuge.^[d]
10 Teach me to do your will,
    for you are my God.
Let your good spirit lead me
    on a level path.

¹¹ For your name’s sake, O Lord, preserve my life.
    In your righteousness bring me out of trouble.
¹² In your steadfast love cut off my enemies,
    and destroy all my adversaries,
    for I am your servant.

³ O Lord, what are human beings that you regard them,
    or mortals that you think of them?
⁴ They are like a breath;
    their days are like a passing shadow.

⁵ Bow your heavens, O Lord, and come down;
    touch the mountains so that they smoke.
⁶ Make the lightning flash and scatter them;
    send out your arrows and rout them.
⁷ Stretch out your hand from on high;
    set me free and rescue me from the mighty waters,
    from the hand of aliens,
⁸ whose mouths speak lies,
    and whose right hands are false.

⁹ I will sing a new song to you, O God;
    upon a ten-stringed harp I will play to you,
¹⁰ the one who gives victory to kings,
    who rescues his servant David.
¹¹ Rescue me from the cruel sword,
    and deliver me from the hand of aliens,
whose mouths speak lies,
    and whose right hands are false.

¹² May our sons in their youth
    be like plants full grown,
our daughters like corner pillars,
    cut for the building of a palace.
¹³ May our barns be filled
    with produce of every kind;
may our sheep increase by thousands,
    by tens of thousands in our fields,
¹⁴     and may our cattle be heavy with young.
May there be no breach in the walls,^[g] no exile,
    and no cry of distress in our streets.

¹⁵ Happy are the people to whom such blessings fall;
    happy are the people whose God is the Lord.

⁴ One generation shall laud your works to another,
    and shall declare your mighty acts.
⁵ On the glorious splendour of your majesty,
    and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
⁶ The might of your awesome deeds shall be proclaimed,
    and I will declare your greatness.
⁷ They shall celebrate the fame of your abundant goodness,
    and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

⁸ The Lord is gracious and merciful,
    slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
⁹ The Lord is good to all,
    and his compassion is over all that he has made.

¹⁰ All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord,
    and all your faithful shall bless you.
¹¹ They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom,
    and tell of your power,
¹² to make known to all people your^[h] mighty deeds,
    and the glorious splendour of your^[i] kingdom.
¹³ Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
    and your dominion endures throughout all generations.

The Lord is faithful in all his words,
    and gracious in all his deeds.^[j]
14 The Lord upholds all who are falling,
    and raises up all who are bowed down.
¹⁵ The eyes of all look to you,
    and you give them their food in due season.
¹⁶ You open your hand,
    satisfying the desire of every living thing.
¹⁷ The Lord is just in all his ways,
    and kind in all his doings.
¹⁸ The Lord is near to all who call on him,
    to all who call on him in truth.
¹⁹ He fulfils the desire of all who fear him;
    he also hears their cry, and saves them.
²⁰ The Lord watches over all who love him,
    but all the wicked he will destroy.

²¹ My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,
    and all flesh will bless his holy name for ever and ever.