PSALM 131

Childlike Trust in the Lord. A Song of Ascents. Of David. 1 Lord, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes haughty; Nor do I involve myself in great matters, Or in things too difficult for me. 2 Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul; Like a weaned child [resting] with his mother, My […]

PSALM 132

Prayer for the Lord’s Blessing Upon the Sanctuary. A Song of Ascents. 1 O Lord, remember on David’s behalf All his hardshipandaffliction; 2 How he swore to the Lord And vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob: 3 “I absolutely will not enter my house, Nor get into my bed– 4 I certainly will not […]

PSALM 133

The Excellency of Brotherly Unity. A Song of Ascents. Of David. 1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brothers to dwell together in unity! 2 It is like the precious oil [of consecration] poured on the head, Coming down on the beard, Even the beard of Aaron, Coming down upon the edge […]

PSALM 134

Greetings of Night Watchers. A Song of Ascents. 1 Behold, blessandpraise the Lord, all servants of the Lord(priests, Levites), Who standandserve by night in the house of the Lord. 2 Lift up your hands to the sanctuary And bless the Lord. 3 May the Lordbless you from Zion, He who made heaven and earth.

PSALM 135

Praise the Lord’s Wonderful Works. Vanity of Idols. 1 Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!) Praise the name of the Lord; Praise Him, O servants of the Lord(priests, Levites), 2 You who stand in the house of the Lord, In the courts of the house of our God, 3 Praise the Lord, for the Lordis good; Sing […]

PSALM 136

Thanks for the Lord’s Goodness to Israel. 1 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His lovingkindness (graciousness, mercy, compassion) endures forever. 2 Give thanks to the God of gods, For His lovingkindness endures forever. 3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords, For His lovingkindness endures forever. 4 To Him who […]

PSALM 137

An Experience of the Captivity. 1 By the rivers of Babylon, There we [captives] sat down and wept, When we remembered Zion [the city God imprinted on our hearts]. 2 On the willow trees in the midst of Babylon We hung our harps. 3 For there they who took us captive demanded of us a […]

PSALM 138

Thanksgiving for the Lord’s Favor. A Psalm of David. 1 I will give You thanks with all my heart; I sing praises to You before the [pagan] gods. 2 I will bow down [in worship] toward Your holy temple And give thanks to Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified […]

PSALM 139

God’s Omnipresence and Omniscience. To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. 1 O Lord, you have searched me [thoroughly] and have known me. 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up [my entire life, everything I do]; You understand my thought from afar. 3 You scrutinize my path and my […]

PSALM 140

Prayer for Protection against the Wicked. To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. 1 Rescue me, O Lord, from evil men; Protect me from violent men. 2 They devise evil things in their hearts; They continually [gather together and] stir up wars. 3 They sharpen their tongues like a serpent’s; Poison of a viper […]