1 For the music director, according to the gittith style; a psalm of David.

O Lord, our Lord,

how magnificent is your reputation throughout the earth!

You reveal your majesty in the heavens above.

2 From the mouths of children and nursing babies

you have ordained praise on account of your adversaries,

so that you might put an end to the vindictive enemy.

3 When I look up at the heavens, which your fingers made,

and see the moon and the stars, which you set in place,

4 Of what importance is the human race, that you should notice them?

Of what importance is mankind, that you should pay attention to them?

5 You made them a little less than the heavenly beings.

You crowned mankind with honor and majesty.

6 you appoint them to rule over your creation;

you have placed everything under their authority,

7 including all the sheep and cattle,

as well as the wild animals,

8 the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea,

and everything that moves through the currents of the seas.

9 O Lord, our Lord,

how magnificent is your reputation throughout the earth!

9:1 For the music director, according to the alumoth-labben style; a psalm of David.

I will thank the Lord with all my heart!

I will tell about all your amazing deeds.

2 I will be happy and rejoice in you.

I will sing praises to you, O Most High.

3 When my enemies turn back,

they trip and are defeated before you.

4 For you defended my just cause;

from your throne you pronounced a just decision.

5 You terrified the nations with your battle cry.

You destroyed the wicked;

you permanently wiped out all memory of them.

6 The enemy’s cities have been reduced to permanent ruins.

You destroyed their cities;

all memory of the enemies has perished.

7 But the Lord rules forever;

he reigns in a just manner.

8 He judges the world fairly;

he makes just legal decisions for the nations.

9 Consequently the Lord provides safety for the oppressed;

he provides safety in times of trouble.

10 Your loyal followers trust in you,

for you, Lord, do not abandon those who seek your help.

11 Sing praises to the Lord, who rules in Zion.

Tell the nations what he has done.

12 For the one who takes revenge against murderers took notice of the oppressed;

he did not overlook their cry for help

13 when they prayed:

“Have mercy on me, Lord!

See how I am oppressed by those who hate me,

O one who can snatch me away from the gates of death!

14 Then I will tell about all your praiseworthy acts;

in the gates of Daughter Zion I will rejoice because of your deliverance.”

15 The nations fell into the pit they had made;

their feet were caught in the net they had hidden.

16 The Lord revealed himself;

he accomplished justice.

The wicked were ensnared by their own actions. (Higgaion. Selah)

17 The wicked are turned back and sent to Sheol;

this is the destiny of all the nations that ignore God,

18 for the needy are not permanently ignored,

the hopes of the oppressed are not forever dashed.

19 Rise up, Lord!

Don’t let men be defiant.

May the nations be judged in your presence.

20 Terrify them, Lord.

Let the nations know they are mere mortals. (Selah)

10:1 Why, Lord, do you stand far off?

Why do you pay no attention during times of trouble?

2 The wicked arrogantly chase the oppressed;

the oppressed are trapped by the schemes the wicked have dreamed up.

3 Yes, the wicked man boasts because he gets what he wants;

the one who robs others curses and rejects the Lord.

4 The wicked man is so arrogant he always thinks,

“God won’t hold me accountable; he doesn’t care.”

5 He is secure at all times.

He has no regard for your commands;

he disdains all his enemies.

6 He says to himself,

“I will never be shaken,

because I experience no calamity.”

7 His mouth is full of curses and deceptive, harmful words;

his tongue injures and destroys.

8 He waits in ambush near the villages;

in hidden places he kills the innocent.

His eyes look for some unfortunate victim.

9 He lies in ambush in a hidden place, like a lion in a thicket.

He lies in ambush, waiting to catch the oppressed;

he catches the oppressed by pulling in his net.

10 His victims are crushed and beaten down;

they are trapped in his sturdy nets.

11 He says to himself,

“God overlooks it;

he does not pay attention;

he never notices.”

12 Rise up, Lord!

O God, strike him down.

Do not forget the oppressed.

13 Why does the wicked man reject God?

He says to himself, “You will not hold me accountable.”

14 You have taken notice,

for you always see one who inflicts pain and suffering.

The unfortunate victim entrusts his cause to you;

you deliver the fatherless.

15 Break the arm of the wicked and evil man.

Hold him accountable for his wicked deeds,

which he thought you would not discover.

16 The Lord rules forever!

The nations are driven out of his land.

17 Lord, you have heard the request of the oppressed;

you make them feel secure because you listen to their prayer.

18 You defend the fatherless and oppressed,

so that mere mortals may no longer terrorize them.

11:1 For the music director, by David.

In the Lord I have taken shelter.

How can you say to me,

“Flee to a mountain like a bird.

2 For look, the wicked prepare their bows,

they put their arrows on the strings,

to shoot in the darkness at the morally upright.

3 When the foundations are destroyed,

what can the godly accomplish?”

4 The Lord is in his holy temple;

the Lord’s throne is in heaven.

His eyes watch;

his eyes examine all people.

5 The Lord approves of the godly,

but he hates the wicked and those who love to do violence.

6 May he rain down burning coals and brimstone on the wicked!

A whirlwind is what they deserve.

7 Certainly the Lord is just;

he rewards godly deeds.

The upright will experience his favor.

12:1 For the music director, according to the sheminith style; a psalm of David.

Deliver, Lord!

For the godly have disappeared;

people of integrity have vanished.

2 People lie to one another;

they flatter and deceive.

3 May the Lord cut off all flattering lips,

and the tongue that boasts!

4 They say, “We speak persuasively;

we know how to flatter and boast.

Who is our master?”

5 “Because of the violence done to the oppressed,

because of the painful cries of the needy,

I will spring into action,” says the Lord.

“I will provide the safety they so desperately desire.”

6 The Lord’s words are absolutely reliable.

They are as untainted as silver purified in a furnace on the ground,

where it is thoroughly refined.

7 You, Lord, will protect them;

you will continually shelter each one from these evil people,

8 for the wicked seem to be everywhere,

when people promote evil.

13:1 For the music director, a psalm of David.

How long, Lord, will you continue to ignore me?

How long will you pay no attention to me?

2 How long must I worry,

and suffer in broad daylight?

How long will my enemy gloat over me?

3 Look at me! Answer me, O Lord my God!

Revive me, or else I will die.

4 Then my enemy will say, “I have defeated him.”

Then my foes will rejoice because I am shaken.

5 But I trust in your faithfulness.

May I rejoice because of your deliverance.

6 I will sing praises to the Lord

when he vindicates me.

14:1 For the music director, by David.

Fools say to themselves, “There is no God.”

They sin and commit evil deeds;

none of them does what is right.

2 The Lord looks down from heaven at the human race,

to see if there is anyone who is wise and seeks God.

3 Everyone rejects God;

they are all morally corrupt.

None of them does what is right,

not even one.

4 All those who behave wickedly do not understand—

those who devour my people as if they were eating bread

and do not call out to the Lord.

5 They are absolutely terrified,

for God defends the godly.

6 You want to humiliate the oppressed,

even though the Lord is their shelter.

7 I wish the deliverance of Israel would come from Zion!

When the Lord restores the well-being of his people,

may Jacob rejoice,

may Israel be happy!