1 A psalm of David.

The Lord owns the earth and all it contains,

the world and all who live in it.

2 For he set its foundation upon the seas,

and established it upon the ocean currents.

3 Who is allowed to ascend the mountain of the Lord?

Who may go up to his holy dwelling place?

4 The one whose deeds are blameless

and whose motives are pure,

who does not lie,

or make promises with no intention of keeping them.

5 Such godly people are rewarded by the Lord,

and vindicated by the God who delivers them.

6 Such purity characterizes the people who seek his favor,

Jacob’s descendants, who pray to him. (Selah)

7 Look up, you gates.

Rise up, you eternal doors.

Then the majestic king will enter.

8 Who is this majestic king?

The Lord who is strong and mighty.

The Lord who is mighty in battle.

9 Look up, you gates.

Rise up, you eternal doors.

Then the majestic king will enter.

10 Who is this majestic king?

The Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

He is the majestic king. (Selah)

25:1 By David.

O Lord, I come before you in prayer.

2 My God, I trust in you.

Please do not let me be humiliated;

do not let my enemies triumphantly rejoice over me.

3 Certainly none who rely on you will be humiliated.

Those who deal in treachery will be thwarted and humiliated.

4 Make me understand your ways, O Lord.

Teach me your paths.

5 Guide me into your truth and teach me.

For you are the God who delivers me;

on you I rely all day long.

6 Remember your compassionate and faithful deeds, O Lord,

for you have always acted in this manner.

7 Do not hold against me the sins of my youth or my rebellious acts.

Because you are faithful to me, extend to me your favor, O Lord.

8 The Lord is both kind and fair;

that is why he teaches sinners the right way to live.

9 May he show the humble what is right.

May he teach the humble his way.

10 The Lord always proves faithful and reliable

to those who follow the demands of his covenant.

11 For the sake of your reputation, O Lord,

forgive my sin, because it is great.

12 The Lord shows his faithful followers

the way they should live.

13 They experience his favor;

their descendants inherit the land.

14 The Lord’s loyal followers receive his guidance,

and he reveals his covenantal demands to them.

15 I continually look to the Lord for help,

for he will free my feet from the enemy’s net.

16 Turn toward me and have mercy on me,

for I am alone and oppressed.

17 Deliver me from my distress;

rescue me from my suffering.

18 See my pain and suffering.

Forgive all my sins.

19 Watch my enemies, for they outnumber me;

they hate me and want to harm me.

20 Protect me and deliver me!

Please do not let me be humiliated,

for I have taken shelter in you.

21 May integrity and godliness protect me,

for I rely on you.

22 O God, rescue Israel

from all their distress!

26:1 By David.

Vindicate me, O Lord,

for I have integrity,

and I trust in the Lord without wavering.

2 Examine me, O Lord, and test me.

Evaluate my inner thoughts and motives.

3 For I am ever aware of your faithfulness,

and your loyalty continually motivates me.

4 I do not associate with deceitful men,

or consort with those who are dishonest.

5 I hate the mob of evil men,

and do not associate with the wicked.

6 I maintain a pure lifestyle,

so I can appear before your altar, O Lord,

7 to give you thanks,

and to tell about all your amazing deeds.

8 O Lord, I love the temple where you live,

the place where your splendor is revealed.

9 Do not sweep me away with sinners,

or execute me along with violent people,

10 who are always ready to do wrong

or offer a bribe.

11 But I have integrity.

Rescue me and have mercy on me!

12 I am safe,

and among the worshipers I will praise the Lord.

27:1 By David.

The Lord is my light and my salvation.

I fear no one.

The Lord protects my life.

I am afraid of no one.

2 When evil men attack me

to devour my flesh,

when my adversaries and enemies attack me,

they stumble and fall.

3 Even when an army is deployed against me,

I do not fear.

Even when war is imminent,

I remain confident.

4 I have asked the Lord for one thing—

this is what I desire!

I want to live in the Lord’s house all the days of my life,

so I can gaze at the splendor of the Lord

and contemplate in his temple.

5 He will surely give me shelter in the day of danger;

he will hide me in his home.

He will place me on an inaccessible rocky summit.

6 Now I will triumph

over my enemies who surround me.

I will offer sacrifices in his dwelling place and shout for joy.

I will sing praises to the Lord.

7 Hear me, O Lord, when I cry out.

Have mercy on me and answer me.

8 My heart tells me to pray to you,

and I do pray to you, O Lord.

9 Do not reject me.

Do not push your servant away in anger.

You are my deliverer.

Do not forsake or abandon me,

O God who vindicates me.

10 Even if my father and mother abandoned me,

the Lord would take me in.

11 Teach me how you want me to live, Lord;

lead me along a level path because of those who wait to ambush me.

12 Do not turn me over to my enemies,

for false witnesses who want to destroy me testify against me.

13 Where would I be if I did not believe I would experience

the Lord’s favor in the land of the living?

14 Rely on the Lord!

Be strong and confident!

Rely on the Lord!

28:1 By David.

To you, O Lord, I cry out!

My Protector, do not ignore me.

If you do not respond to me,

I will join those who are descending into the grave.

2 Hear my plea for mercy when I cry out to you for help,

when I lift my hands toward your holy temple.

3 Do not drag me away with evil men,

with those who behave wickedly,

who talk so friendly to their neighbors,

while they plan to harm them.

4 Pay them back for their evil deeds.

Pay them back for what they do.

Punish them.

5 For they do not understand the Lord’s actions,

or the way he carries out justice.

The Lord will permanently demolish them.

6 The Lord deserves praise,

for he has heard my plea for mercy.

7 The Lord strengthens and protects me;

I trust in him with all my heart.

I am rescued and my heart is full of joy;

I will sing to him in gratitude.

8 The Lord strengthens his people;

he protects and delivers his chosen king.

9 Deliver your people.

Empower the nation that belongs to you.

Care for them like a shepherd and carry them in your arms at all times!

29:1 A psalm of David.

Acknowledge the Lord, you heavenly beings,

acknowledge the Lord’s majesty and power.

2 Acknowledge the majesty of the Lord’s reputation.

Worship the Lord in holy attire.

3 The Lord’s shout is heard over the water;

the majestic God thunders,

the Lord appears over the surging water.

4 The Lord’s shout is powerful;

the Lord’s shout is majestic.

5 The Lord’s shout breaks the cedars;

the Lord shatters the cedars of Lebanon.

6 He makes them skip like a calf,

Lebanon and Sirion like a young ox.

7 The Lord’s shout strikes with flaming fire.

8 The Lord’s shout shakes the wilderness;

the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

9 The Lord’s shout bends the large trees

and strips the leaves from the forests.

Everyone in his temple says, “Majestic!”

10 The Lord sits enthroned over the engulfing waters;

the Lord sits enthroned as the eternal king.

11 The Lord gives his people strength;

the Lord grants his people security.