Psalm 81 | |||
1
|
Sing merrily to God our strength, • | ||
shout for joy to the God of Jacob. | |||
2
|
Take up the song and sound the timbrel, • | ||
the tuneful lyre with the harp. | |||
3
|
Blow the trumpet at the new moon, • | ||
as at the full moon, upon our solemn feast day. | |||
4
|
For this is a statute for Israel, • | ||
a law of the God of Jacob, | |||
5
|
The charge he laid on the people of Joseph, • | ||
when they came out of the land of Egypt. | |||
6
|
I heard a voice I did not know, that said: • | ||
'I eased their shoulder from the burden; | |||
their hands were set free from bearing the load. | |||
7
|
'You called upon me in trouble and I delivered you; • | ||
I answered you from the secret place of thunder | |||
and proved you at the waters of Meribah. | |||
8
|
'Hear, O my people, and I will admonish you: • | ||
O Israel, if you would but listen to me! | |||
9
|
'There shall be no strange god among you; • | ||
you shall not worship a foreign god. | |||
10
|
'I am the Lord your God, | ||
who brought you up from the land of Egypt; • | |||
open your mouth wide and I shall fill it.' | |||
11
|
But my people would not hear my voice • | ||
and Israel would not obey me. | |||
12
|
So I sent them away in the stubbornness of their hearts, • | ||
and let them walk after their own counsels. | |||
13
|
O that my people would listen to me, • | ||
that Israel would walk in my ways! | |||
14
|
Then I should soon put down their enemies • | ||
and turn my hand against their adversaries. | |||
15
|
Those who hate the Lord would be humbled before him, • | ||
and their punishment would last for ever. | |||
16
|
But Israel would I feed with the finest wheat • | ||
and with honey from the rock would I satisfy them. | |||
Psalm 82 | |||
1
|
God has taken his stand in the council of heaven; • | ||
in the midst of the gods he gives judgement: | |||
2
|
'How long will you judge unjustly • | ||
and show such favour to the wicked? | |||
3
|
'You were to judge the weak and the orphan; • | ||
defend the right of the humble and needy; | |||
4
|
'Rescue the weak and the poor; • | ||
deliver them from the hand of the wicked. | |||
5
|
'They have no knowledge or wisdom; | ||
they walk on still in darkness: • | |||
all the foundations of the earth are shaken. | |||
6
|
'Therefore I say that though you are gods • | ||
and all of you children of the Most High, | |||
7
|
'Nevertheless, you shall die like mortals • | ||
and fall like one of their princes.' | |||
8
|
Arise, O God and judge the earth, • | ||
for it is you that shall take all nations for your possession. | |||
Psalm 83 | |||
1
|
Hold not your peace, O God, do not keep silent; • | ||
be not unmoved, O God; | |||
2
|
For your enemies are in tumult • | ||
and those who hate you lift up their heads. | |||
3
|
They take secret counsel against your people • | ||
and plot against those whom you treasure. | |||
4
|
They say, 'Come, let us destroy them as a nation, • | ||
that the name of Israel be remembered no more.' | |||
5
|
They have conspired together with one mind; • | ||
they are in league against you: | |||
6
|
The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, • | ||
Moab and the Hagarenes, | |||
7
|
Gebal and Ammon and Amalek, • | ||
the Philistines and those who dwell in Tyre. | |||
8
|
Ashur also has joined them • | ||
and has lent a strong arm to the children of Lot. | |||
9
|
Do to them as you did to Midian, • | ||
to Sisera and to Jabin at the river of Kishon, | |||
10
|
Who perished at Endor • | ||
and became as dung for the earth. | |||
11
|
Make their commanders like Oreb and Zeëb, • | ||
and all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna, | |||
12
|
Who said, 'Let us take for ourselves • | ||
the pastures of God as our possession.' | |||
13
|
O my God, make them like thistledown, • | ||
like chaff before the wind. | |||
14
|
Like fire that consumes a forest, • | ||
like the flame that sets mountains ablaze, | |||
15
|
So drive them with your tempest • | ||
and dismay them with your storm. | |||
16
|
Cover their faces with shame, O Lord, • | ||
that they may seek your name. | |||
17
|
Let them be disgraced and dismayed for ever; • | ||
let them be put to confusion and perish; | |||
18
|
And they shall know that you, whose name is the Lord, • | ||
are alone the Most High over all the earth. | |||
Psalm 84 | |||
1
|
How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! • | ||
My soul has a desire and longing to enter the courts of the Lord; | |||
my heart and my flesh rejoice in the living God. | |||
2
|
The sparrow has found her a house | ||
and the swallow a nest where she may lay her young: • | |||
at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. | |||
3
|
Blessed are they who dwell in your house: • | ||
they will always be praising you. | |||
4
|
Blessed are those whose strength is in you, • | ||
in whose heart are the highways to Zion, | |||
5
|
Who going through the barren valley find there a spring, • | ||
and the early rains will clothe it with blessing. | |||
6
|
They will go from strength to strength • | ||
and appear before God in Zion. | |||
7
|
O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; • | ||
listen, O God of Jacob. | |||
8
|
Behold our defender, O God, • | ||
and look upon the face of your anointed. | |||
9
|
For one day in your courts • | ||
is better than a thousand. | |||
10
|
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God • | ||
than dwell in the tents of ungodliness. | |||
11
|
For the Lord God is both sun and shield; | ||
he will give grace and glory; • | |||
no good thing shall the Lord withhold | |||
from those who walk with integrity. | |||
12
|
O Lord God of hosts, • | ||
blessed are those who put their trust in you. | |||
Psalm 85 | |||
1
|
Lord, you were gracious to your land; • | ||
you restored the fortunes of Jacob. | |||
2
|
You forgave the offence of your people • | ||
and covered all their sins. | |||
3
|
You laid aside all your fury • | ||
and turned from your wrathful indignation. | |||
4
|
Restore us again, O God our Saviour, • | ||
and let your anger cease from us. | |||
5
|
Will you be displeased with us for ever? • | ||
Will you stretch out your wrath from one generation to another? | |||
6
|
Will you not give us life again, • | ||
that your people may rejoice in you? | |||
7
|
Show us your mercy, O Lord, • | ||
and grant us your salvation. | |||
8
|
I will listen to what the Lord God will say, • | ||
for he shall speak peace to his people and to the faithful, | |||
that they turn not again to folly. | |||
9
|
Truly, his salvation is near to those who fear him, • | ||
that his glory may dwell in our land. | |||
10
|
Mercy and truth are met together, • | ||
righteousness and peace have kissed each other; | |||
11
|
Truth shall spring up from the earth • | ||
and righteousness look down from heaven. | |||
12
|
The Lord will indeed give all that is good, • | ||
and our land will yield its increase. | |||
13
|
Righteousness shall go before him • | ||
and direct his steps in the way. | |||