EZ Read Bible

Easy English Bible - Psalms - 2001

Chapter 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150

Psalm 77 (This is) for the music leader. (His name is) Jeduthun. (It is a) psalm of Asaph.

I cried aloud to God.

I cried to God so that he could hear me.

When trouble came, I looked for the Lord.

All through the night, I lifted my hands (to him while I prayed).

But I did not get help.

I remembered God and I cried.

I thought (about my trouble) and my spirit became weak SELAH

(God), you do not let me close my eyes.

I have so much trouble that I do not know what to say.

I think about days that have gone

and the years that have passed.

At night I remember the songs (that I sang).

I ask myself questions and my spirit looks for answers.

· "Will the Lord always say 'No' to us?"

· "Will he never again be good to us?"

· "Will he for ever stop giving us his kind love?"

· "Will he not do what he promised for us and our children?"

· "Has God forgotten to be gracious to us?"

· "Is he so angry with us that he will not love us?" SELAH

Then I said, "I will think about the times

when the Most High did give us help.

I will remember the things that the LORD has done.

Yes, I will remember the miracles that you did in past times.

I will think about all that you have done.

I will think about all the great things that you have done".

Your way, God, is holy.

What god is as great as our God?

You are the God that does miracles.

You show people that you are very powerful.

You saved your people with your strong arm.

You saved the people of Jacob and Joseph. SELAH

The waters saw you, God,

the waters saw you and rolled over and over.

The deepest seas moved round a lot.

The clouds poured down water.

The noise of thunder was in the skies.

Your arrows were everywhere.

The voice of your thunder was in the storm.

Your lightning lit all the world.

The earth moved about and shook.

Your road went through the sea.

Your path was through the great waters,

but nobody saw where your feet went.

You led your people in a group

with Moses and Aaron at the front.

Psalm 78: 1 - 8 (This is one) of Asaph’s Psalms that Teach Us (about God).

My people, hear what I am teaching you.

Listen to the words that I am saying to you.

I will tell you a story.

I will talk about things hard to understand from past times.

We have heard them and know them

because our fathers told them to us.

We will not hide them from their children.

We will tell future children that they should praise the LORD.

(He is) very strong and he has done great things.

He decided what things Jacob must do and made the laws in Israel.

He told our grandfathers that they must teach them to their children.

Then those children would know them, even the children still to be born.

When the time came, they too would tell their children.

Then they (the children) would:

· believe that God would give them help

· not forget what God had done

· obey his laws

So they would not be like their grandfathers who:

· would not listen to God

· would not obey him

· did not make God their leader

· did not continue to follow him

Psalm 78: 9 - 17

The people of Ephraim had bows and arrows for war.

But they ran away when the war started!

They did not keep the covenant of God.

They refused to obey his laws.

And they forgot what he had done

and the wonderful things that he had shown them.

He did miracles in front of their fathers.

(He did them) in the country of Egypt, in the part (they called) Zoan.

He made a road in the sea and led them through it.

He built the waters into a wall (on both sides).

He showed them the way with a cloud in the day

and with light from a fire all night.

He broke rocks in the desert

and gave (his people) water from deep (in the earth).

He made streams to come from the rocks

so that the waters ran like rivers.

But they continued to sin against him.

They fought against the Most High in the desert.

Psalm 78: 18 - 31

They made a plan to test God.

They demanded the food that they liked best!

And they spoke against God.

They said, "Can God do it?

Can he prepare a table in the desert?

It is true that when he hit a rock, water came out,

streams of water were everywhere.

But can he also give bread?

Can he supply meat for his people?’

When the LORD heard (this) he was very angry.

So he sent fire against Jacob

and also his fury against Israel.

(He did this) because they did not believe that God (could do it),

or that he had the power to save them.

So he gave an order to the clouds over (them)

and opened the doors in the skies.

He rained manna down on them, for them to eat.

He gave them bread from heaven.

People ate the (same) bread that angels ate.

(God) sent them plenty of food.

Then (God) sent an east wind blowing through the skies.

And he was so strong that he also sent a south wind.

And he rained meat down on them like powder.

(He rained) flying birds on them like sand by the sea.

He made them fall where (his people) were living,

all round their tents.

And they ate as much as they needed.

God gave them what they wanted.

But before they ate all that they wanted

(while the food was still in their mouths),

God became very angry with them.

He killed the strongest of them

and sent the young men of Israel to their deaths.

Psalm 78: 32 - 39

Even when this happened, they still sinned.

They did not believe that God had done these miracles.

So he made their days seem to blow away like the wind.

He made their years go away fast (so that they were) afraid!

When he killed (some of) them, (the other people) looked to God.

They were sorry and really prayed to him.

And they remembered that God was their Rock.

Also, (they remembered) that God Most High was their Redeemer.

But what they said was not true

and they did not mean what they said with their mouths to praise him.

They were not honest with him.

They did not obey his covenant in their heart.

But he was merciful (to them).

He forgave their sin and did not destroy them.

Many times he was not angry (with them)

and did not become furious (with them).

But he remembered that they were only human,

like a wind that blows away and does not return.

Psalm 78: 40 - 55

The people (of Israel) often fought against God in the desert.

They made him very sad in the wilderness.

Many times they tested God

and this made the Holy One of Israel very unhappy.

They chose not to remember what he did when:

· he saved them from the enemy

· he showed his miracles in Egypt

· he did wonders in that part (of Egypt called) Zoan

(Here is some of what God did to the Egyptians):

He turned their rivers into blood,

so they could not drink from their streams.

He sent very large numbers of flies that made a lot of trouble for them.

And (he sent) frogs that made even more trouble!

He gave the plants that they grew to grasshoppers

and their food to locusts.

He killed their vines with hail

and their fig-trees with frost.

He killed their cows with hail

and their sheep with fire from the sky.

He was so angry that he burned like a fire against them.

He sent a group of angels to destroy them

(called) anger, fury and distress.

He made a path for his anger.

He did not save them from death.

He gave their lives to the plague.

He killed all the first born (sons) in Egypt,

the oldest boys of the men of Ham.

(This is what God did for his people):

But he took his people (from Egypt) like a flock.

And he led them like sheep through the desert.

They were safe with him as a guide and they were not afraid.

But the sea drowned their enemies.

So he brought them to the edge of his holy (land),

to this hill-country, which his right hand took.

He sent away the people that were living there.

He said which parts (of the land) each group (of his people) could have.

He put the families of Israel in their homes.

Psalm 78: 56 - 64

But (the Israelites tested God Most High and fought against him.

Also, they did not obey his laws.

They turned away and did not keep the covenant, like their fathers.

They were like a bow that would not shoot straight!

They made him angry with their high places

and their idols made him jealous.

When God heard this, he was angry

and he stopped giving them help completely.

He left his house (the tent) at Shiloh,

the place where he had lived on earth.

He gave his power and his glory

to the enemy for them to keep.

He let the sword kill his people,

he was so angry with them.

The fire (of war) ate their young men

and the young girls did not hear music (when they married).

The sword killed their priests

and their wives could not cry for them.

Psalm 78: 65 - 72

Then the Lord woke up as from sleep.

He was like a strong man shouting after (drinking) wine.

He beat his enemies so that they went away.

He did this so that they would always be ashamed.

Also, he decided not to let the people of Joseph (continue as leaders).

And he no longer chose the tribe of Ephraim.

But he chose the tribe of Judah.

Mount Zion (was there), which he loved.

(There) he built a temple to live in like his home in heaven.

He made it so that it would always be there, like the earth.

Also, he chose David his servant

and he took him away from the sheep farm.

(He took him) from feeding sheep

and brought him to be shepherd of his people Jacob,

those in Israel that were his.

And so David, with his honest heart, was their shepherd.

He knew how to lead them.

Psalm 79 (This is) a psalm of Asaph.

God, countries that do not love you have attacked us.

They have taken away your land.

They have done bad things to your holy temple

so that we cannot worship you in it.

They have destroyed Jerusalem.

They have given the dead bodies of your people

to the birds (that fly) in the air for food.

They have given the bodies of your servants

for wild animals to eat.

They have poured out the blood (of your servants)

like water all round Jerusalem.

There was nobody to bury your people.

Our neighbours just laugh at us.

The people that live near us scorn us.

How long will this continue?

(God), will you always be angry?

Will your jealousy burn like a fire for ever?

Be very angry with the countries that do not love you

and the nations that do not pray to you.

Because they have beaten Jacob

and destroyed the land where he lived.

Do not be angry with us

because of the wrong things that our fathers did.

Have mercy on us soon.

We have lost all our hope.

God, give us help! (You are the God) that can save us.

For the glory of your name, save us.

So that your name will always be famous, forgive our sins.

Why should the countries that do not love God say,

"Where is their God?"

We want to see you become angry with these countries,

because they poured out the blood of your servants.

Listen to the prisoners that are crying!

By the power of your arm, save those that are going to die.

Lord, make the countries that do not love you

have seven times as much trouble as we have had!

Because they said bad things to you.

Then we, your people (who are as) sheep in your field,

will always thank you.

So will our children and grandchildren.

Psalm 80 (This is) for the music leader. (Sing it) to (music that they call) "Lilies of the Covenant". (It is) a psalm of Asaph.

Shepherd of Israel, listen to us!

You are the one that leads Joseph like a flock.

You sit like a king between the Cherubim.

Shine on Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh.

Get up and show how strong you are.

Come and make us safe.

God, make us return (to you).

Make your face shine (on us) and make us safe.

LORD God (of) Sabaoth,

how long will you be angry when your people pray?

You have fed them tears for food

and buckets of tears for drink.

You have made the people that live near us fight (us)

and our enemies laugh among themselves (at us).

God (of) Sabaoth, make us return (to you).

Make your face shine (on us) and make us safe.

You brought a vine from Egypt.

You moved away the people that lived (in the land) and planted it.

You made (the ground) ready for it,

so that it grew and filled the land.

Its shade covered the mountains (in the south)

and its branches covered the big cedar (trees in the north).

Its branches reached the (Mediterranean) Sea (in the west)

and the River (Euphrates in the east).

Why have you knocked down its walls

so that anyone that passes can rob its fruit?

Pigs from the woods attack it

and wild animals destroy it.

Come back to us, God (of) Sabaoth!

Look down from heaven and see (us)!

Be careful with this vine...

...that your right hand planted.

(The vine is) the son that you made strong for yourself.

You let (the enemy) cut down your vine and burn it with fire.

Destroy them (the enemy) because you are angry!

Let your hand be on the man at your right hand.

(He is) the son of man that you made strong for yourself.

Then we will never turn away from you.

Give us life and we will (always) praise your name.

LORD God (of) Sabaoth, make us return (to you).

Make your face shine (on us) and make us safe.

Psalm 81 (This is) for the music leader. (Use) Gittith. (It is a psalm) of Asaph.

Sing to God because you are so happy!

(Do this because) God makes us strong!

Shout aloud to the God of Jacob.

Start the music! Hit the tambourine

and make beautiful sounds on the harp and the lyre.

Start the New Moon Festival with the sound of the shofar.

Do it at the Full Moon (Festival) also.

For this is a rule for Israel,

something that the God of Jacob said that we must do.

He told it to Joseph when he attacked the land of Egypt.

I heard a language that I did not understand.

(It said) "I took the weight off his shoulders.

His hands did not have to carry a heavy basket (any more).

When you had trouble, you called (to me) and I made you safe.

I gave you help from the centre of the storm.

I tested you at the Waters of Meribah. SELAH

My people, hear me! You are near to danger.

Israel, I really want you to listen to me!

There should not be another god among you

and you certainly should not go down on your knees to another god.

I am the LORD your God.

I brought you out of the land of Egypt.

Open your mouth wide and I will fill it".

But my people did not listen to my voice

and Israel did not obey me.

And so I let them follow their own ideas.

They did whatever they wanted to do.

I want my people to listen to me!

I want Israel to walk in my ways!

Then I would quickly beat all their enemies

and fight against all those that are angry with them.

The people that hate the LORD will be afraid of him

and this will happen for a long time.

But he would feed him (Israel) with the best wheat

and I would give you (Israel) plenty of honey from the rock.

Psalm 82 (This is) a psalm of Asaph.

God is the leader of a meeting of the powerful ones.

He is telling the gods what he has decided.

(He says) "How long will you not be fair to people?

(How long) will you say that the godless are right?" SELAH

Be fair and give help to:

· people that are weak

· children with dead parents

· people that are poor

· anyone that has nothing

Make the poor people safe and give them the help that they need.

Take them away from the power of the godless.

They (the godless) know nothing and they understand nothing.

They walk about in darkness.

The ground beneath them moves about.

I (God) say, "You are gods

and you are all sons of the Most High.

But you will die like Adam.

You will fall like rulers".

God, stand up and rule the earth,

because all the countries in it belong to you.

Psalm 83 (This) psalm (is) a song for Asaph.

God, do not seem to be asleep!

Do not remain quiet and do nothing, God!

For look, your enemies are (all) doing something.

The people that hate you are getting ready (to fight you).

They are making clever plans against your people.

They are deciding together what to do with those people that you love.

They are saying, "Come on, we will destroy their country.

Then nobody will ever remember the name of Israel".

They are deciding together what to do.

They are agreeing to do something against you.

The people (doing this are) from:

· Edom and the Ishmaelites

· Moab and the Hagrites

· Gebal, Ammon and Amalek

· Philistia and Tyre

Even Assyria has joined them.

They have made the sons of Lot (Moab and Ammon) strong. SELAH

Do to them what you did to Midian

and to Sisera and Jabin at the River Kishon.

They died at Endor

and they became like dirt on the ground.

Make their leaders like Oreb and Zeeb.

(Make) all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna.

They said, "Let us take all the country that belongs to God".

God, blow them away like chaff in the wind!

As fire burns a forest and lights the mountains,

so they are on fire.

Go after them with bad weather

and frighten them a lot with your storms.

Make their faces ashamed

so that they will look for your name, LORD.

Let them always be ashamed and very frightened.

Let them become so ashamed that then they die!

Then they will know that your name is LORD.

And (they will know that) you are the Most High over all the earth.

Psalm 84 This is) for the music leader. (He must use) Gittith. (It is) a psalm for Korah.

LORD of (huge) armies

people love your temple very much!

I want very much (to go to) the place where the LORD lives.

(I want it so much) that it is making me feel weak!

All that I am and all that I feel is crying out to the Living God!

Even the sparrow has found a home

and the swallow (has found) a nest.

There she may keep her babies.

(They are in places) near your altars,

LORD of (huge) armies.

You are my king and my God.

The people that live in your house are very happy.

They can always tell you how great you are. SELAH

The people that you make strong are very happy.

They want to come to you (in Zion).

As they pass through a dry valley,

it (seems) to become a place with wells of water in it.

The autumn rains cover (the valley) with pools.

The people become stronger as they go,

(until) each one appears before God in Zion.

LORD God of (huge) armies,

hear the words that I am praying!

God of Jacob, listen to me! SELAH

God, look at our shield!

And look kindly at the face of your king.

One day in your (temple) courts

is better than a thousand (days somewhere else).

I would rather stand at the door of God’s house

than sit in the houses of wicked people.

For the LORD is a sun and a shield.

He gives grace and glory (to people).

He gives good things to people that do what is right.

LORD of (huge) armies

everybody is very happy that trusts in you!

Psalm 85 (This is) for the music leader. (It is) a psalm of the sons of Korah.

LORD, you were good to your land.

You turned the fortunes of Jacob.

You forgave the sin of your people

and you pardoned the things that they did wrong.

You were not angry with them any more

and you turned away from your fury.

(But now) turn us (again), God.

(You are the God) that makes us safe.

Stop being so angry with us.

Will you be angry with us for ever?

Will you always be furious with us?

Will you not turn to us (again) and give us new life?

Then your people will be happy and praise you.

LORD, show us your kind love!

Give to us the help that makes us safe!

I will listen to what God the LORD is saying.

He will give peace to his people, to his saints.

But they must not turn back to become fools.

Certainly he will make safe those that obey him.

Then his glory will remain in our land.

Kind love will meet loyalty.

Goodness and peace will kiss each other.

Loyalty will grow (like a plant) in the ground

and goodness will look down from the heavens.

Yes! The LORD will give what is good

and our land will give much fruit.

Goodness will go before him

and make a way for his feet.

Psalm 86 Words that David prayed.

LORD,turn your ear (to me), answer me!

Because I am weak and need (help).

Save me from death because I am one of your people.

Keep (me) your servant safe. You are my God.

(I am) someone that is trusting in you.

My Lord, give me mercy!

All through the day, I am praying (this) to you.

Make (me) your servant happy!

Because I lift up myself to you, my Lord.

My Lord, you are good. Also, you forgive (people).

You give your kind love to everyone that prays to you.

Turn your ear to what I am praying, LORD.

And listen to my voice when I cry for mercy.

On the day that I have trouble I will pray to you,

because you can answer me.

None among the gods is like you, my Lord.

And nobody can do what you can do.

All the countries that you have made will come

and worship before you, my Lord.

They will say how great your name is.

For you are great. You do great things.

You alone are God.

LORD, teach me your way. I will walk in your truth.

Make my heart united when I think of your name.

I will praise you, my Lord and my God, with my united heart.

I will always tell people that you are really great!

(I will do this) because there is so much of your kind love to me.

You will save me from going to the lowest part of Sheol.

God, proud people are attacking me.

A group of cruel men is trying to kill me.

They do not think about you.

But you, my Lord, are a God that loves (people) and gives (them) mercy.

You are slow to become angry and (you are) full of kind love.

You do not leave (your people when they have trouble).

Turn to me and give me mercy. Make (me) your servant strong

and make the son of your woman servant safe.

Show me something that tells me that you are good.

Let my enemies see it and be ashamed.

Because you, LORD, have given me help and been kind to me.

Psalm 87 (This is) a song with music, for the sons of Korah.

He built it on the mountains of holiness.

The LORD loves the gates of Zion.

He loves them more than all the places where Jacob lives.

(People say) wonderful things about you, city of God. SELAH

I will remember the people that I know, from Rahab and Babylon;

also from Philistia, Tyre and Ethiopia.

I will remember that this man was born there.

They will say in Zion, "A man ... this man ... was born there".

So he ... the Most High ... will build her up.

The LORD will write in his book (the name of) everyone that says,

"This man was born there". SELAH

The singers and the musicians (will say),

"All my springs are in you".

Psalm 88 (This) song (is a) psalm for the sons of Korah. The music leader (must use music called) "mahalath leannoth". (It is) a maskil by Heman the Ezrahite.

LORD, (you are) the God that makes me safe.

I always cry to you in the day and at night for help.

I want you to hear the words that I am praying.

Listen to my cry for help!

Because I have a lot of trouble

and my life is coming near to Sheol.

(People) say that I am among those that are going to the Pit.

I am like a strong man that has become weak (and ill).

I am almost with those that are already dead.

(I am) like dead people lying in their graves.

You do not remember them any more

and you cannot give them help where they are.

You are putting me in the lowest Pit,

in a very dark and deep place.

You are very angry with me.

You are like a heavy sea,

pouring all over me and knocking me down.

You have taken my best friends away from me.

You have made me seem very bad to them.

The place that I am in is like a prison that I cannot leave.

My eyes are weak because I am so sad.

LORD, every day I pray to you.

I lift my hands up to you (while I pray).

Do you do miracles for people that are dead?

Do dead people get up and say that you are great?

SELAH

Do people talk about your kind love in the grave?

(Do they say) in Abaddon that you continue to be good to people?

Do they know about your miracles in dark places.

(Do they know about) the good things that you do

in the land where people forget (everything).

But LORD, I cry to you for help.

Every morning I pray to you.

LORD, why are you throwing me away?

Why do you hide your face from me?

I have been ill and near to death since I was young.

You have let bad things happen to me

and I do not know what to do.

Your fury pours over me.

You are attacking me and destroying me!

(The things that you do), they are all round me like a flood.

They are on every side of me.

You have taken away from me my friends

and the people that love me.

My only friend is darkness.

Psalm 89: 1 - 4 (This is) a maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite.

I will always sing about the kind love of the LORD.

I will tell (my) children and (my) grandchildren

that you will do what you have promised.

Yes! I will say that nothing will ever stop your kind love (for us).

You will do the things that you promised in heaven.

(God had said in heaven)

"I have made a covenant with the man that I chose.

I have made special promises to my servant David.

Someone from your family will always be king.

And there will always be a place where they (will rule) as king". SELAH

Psalm 89: 5 - 18

In heaven, they praise the wonderful things that you have done, LORD.

Also, the holy angels that meet together

(know that) you will do what you have promised.

For who is there in heaven that is like the LORD?

Which of the sons of God is like the LORD?

God frightens very much the holy ones that meet together.

He makes them more afraid than anyone else does.

Most Powerful LORD God, who is as strong as you are, LORD?

And you do everything that you have promised!

You are the ruler of the boiling sea.

When the water rises up, you make it quiet again.

You broke Rahab and killed it!

With your strong arm, you destroyed your enemies.

The skies belong to you and so does the earth.

You made the world and everything that is in it.

You made (places in) the north and in the south.

Tabor and Hermon praise you when they hear your name.

You have a strong arm; your hand is powerful;

you have lifted up your right hand (to use your power).

You have built your kingdom doing what is right and fair.

Your kind love and the fact that you keep your promises go in front of you.

The people are very happy when they know how to praise you.

LORD, they will walk in the light from your face.

They will praise your name all day

and talk about your righteousness.

Your glory will make them strong

and by your grace you will lift up our horn.

Yes! Our shield is the LORD’s

and our king belongs to the Holy One of Israel.

Psalm 89: 19 - 37

A long time ago, you spoke to your servants.

It was like a dream. You said (to them),

"I have given help to a brave soldier.

I have chosen a young man from the people.

I have found David my servant.

I have poured my special oil over him (to make him king).

My hand will make him strong and,

Yes! My arm will make him powerful.

No enemy will win a war against him

and no wicked people will conquer him.

I will destroy his enemies before him

and kill those that hate him.

I will do everything that I have promised him.

Also, (I will give him) my kind love.

And by my name I will raise his horn.

I will put his (left) hand over the sea

and his right hand over the rivers.

He (David) will say to me, "You are my Father,

my God, and the Rock that makes me safe".

Also, I will make him (as) my first born (son).

(He will be) the most high of the kings of the earth.

I will always give him my kind love

and my covenant with him will have no end.

One of his family will always be king,

as long as there are skies (above us).

If his descendants:

· do not listen to what I am teaching them

· and do not obey my laws

· say that my laws are bad

· and do not do what I tell them (to do)

I will punish their sin with a stick

and the wrong things they do with a whip.

But I will not take my kind love from him (David)

and I will not break any of my promises.

I will not break my covenant (with him)

or change any of my promises.

At one time I made a promise.

Because I am holy I will not lie to David.

His descendants will always continue

and his kingdom will go on as long as the sun (shines).

Like the moon, it will always be there.

From the sky, it will see everything that happens". SELAH

Psalm 89: 38 - 52

But you have said "no" to your anointed (king).

You have turned away (from him)

because you have become angry with him.

You have broken the covenant with your servant.

You threw his crown to the ground and made it dirty.

You have broken all the walls (round his city).

You have destroyed all his strong places.

Everyone that goes near him robs him.

Everybody that lives near him laughs at him.

You have made all his enemies strong,

you have made them all happy (because they beat him).

You made the edge of his sword blunt

and you have not given him help in war.

You have taken away his authority as king

and you threw his throne on the ground.

He does not look like a young man any more.

You have dressed him in shame. SELAH

LORD, how long (will this continue)?

Will you always hide yourself?

Will your great anger (always) burn like a fire?

Remember that my life is so short!

Have you created people for no reason?

What man can live and not die?

Who can save himself from the power of Sheol (death)?

Lord, where is the kind love (that you gave us) in past times?

Where are the special promises that you made to David?

Remember, Lord, that people have scorned your servant.

Many countries have said bad things to me.

LORD, your enemies laugh at the king that you have chosen.

They scorn him everywhere he goes.

Always praise the LORD! Amen and amen!

* * *

Psalm 90 (These are) words that Moses prayed. (He was) a servant of God.

Lord, you have always been (as) a home for us.

You were God before the mountains were born.

(You were God) before you were as a mother to the earth and the world.

You always were and you always will (be God).

You make people go back to (being) powder in the ground (when they die).

You say, "Go back (to the ground), sons of Adam".

For you see a thousand years as just a day (that) passes.

(The years are as) a few hours in the night when they are over.

You pour the sleep (of death) on them (the sons of Adam).

They become as new grass in the morning.

In the morning, it grows well;

but by the evening, it becomes dry and it dies.

You destroy us because you are angry.

Because you are so angry, you make us very much afraid.

You see in front of you the wrong (things) that we do.

Your light (even) shows the secret bad (things) that we do!

All our days hurry past because you are angry with us.

We finish our years in (just the time it takes for) a cry.

The number of our days is 70 years.

Or maybe 80 years if we are strong.

Yet, even in the best years of our lives,

we have trouble and we are not really happy.

And they soon go and we hurry away (towards death).

(LORD), who knows how strong you are when you are very angry?

(The people that) you frighten when you become so angry (will know).

Teach (us) to count well our days.

Then we will get a heart that thinks (as God thinks).

LORD, how long (will it be until) you change your mind?

Be kind to your servants!

Give us your kind love (every) morning.

Then we will sing and be happy for as long as we live.

Make us happy for as long as you have hurt us.

(Make us happy) for as many years as we have had trouble.

Let (us) your servants see the work that you do.

And show how great you are to (our) children.

Let the Lord our God show how happy he is with us.

Let him make the work that our hands do continue.

Let the work that our hands do continue.

Psalm 91

Whoever stays in the secret place of the Most High

will remain under the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say to the LORD,

"(You are) my safe place and my strong castle.

(You are) my God and I am trusting in you".

He (God) really will save you from the trap that the bird-catcher (hid).

And (God will save you) from illnesses that cause death.

He will cover you with his feathers.

You will be safe under his wings.

(God) will do what he promised.

And he will be like big and small shields over you.

Do not be afraid of:

· bad spirits at night,

· or the arrow that flies in the day,

· or illnesses that come when it is dark,

· or something bad that may destroy you at midday.

A thousand (people) may die by your side.

Ten thousand (people may die) by your right hand.

But (the danger) will not come near to you.

Your eyes will see it and watch,

while it destroys bad people.

For you, LORD, make me safe.

(Because) the Most High is your home,

bad things will not happen to you.

And there will be no fighting near where you live.

For (God) will tell his angels what to do for you.

They will make you safe everywhere that you go.

Their hands will give you help

so that you will not (even) hurt your feet on a stone.

You will walk on the lion and the cobra.

The young lion and the serpent will be under your feet.

(God says) I will make the person safe that loves me.

Danger will not hurt him that knows (and trusts in) my name.

He will pray to me and I will answer him.

When he has trouble, I will be with him.

I will save him and make him famous.

I will make him happy with a long life.

He will enjoy what I will do for him.

Psalm 92 (This) psalm (is a) song (to sing) on Saturday.

It is good to tell the LORD that he is great,

and to make music to your name, Most High (God).

(It is good) to talk about your kind love in the morning.

And (to talk) every night (about) how you do what you have promised.

(It is good) to make music with lutes and harps.

And (it is good) to sing with the lyre.

Because, LORD, the things that you have done make me so happy.

I want to tell you that you are great

because of the things that your hands have made!

LORD, how great are the things that you have done!

Your thoughts are (often) hard to understand!

(Only) a silly man would not know this

and (only) a fool would not understand it.

That:

· if bad people grow as grass

· and all the very bad people grow as weeds

(you) will destroy them and they will never (grow) again.

But you, LORD, will always be the Most High!

Because your enemies, LORD, your enemies will certainly die.

You will chase all the people that do bad things to different places.

You have made me very strong, as strong as a big wild animal.

(You did this when) you poured fresh oil over me.

Mine eyes have seen (you) beat mine enemies.

Mine ears have heard you beat the bad people that attack me.

Righteous people will grow as well as a palm-tree.

They will grow as the cedars in Lebanon.

They are as (trees that someone) planted in the house of the LORD.

They grow really well (near) the temple of our God.

When they are old, they will still give fruit!

They will always be fresh and green.

They will show (everyone) that the LORD is good.

He is my rock. There is nothing bad in him.

Psalm 93

The LORD is King! He is ruling with authority.

The LORD is ruling with great power.

Also, the world will not change.

Nobody will move it any more.

You (LORD) have been king for a very long time.

You were alive before the world started.

The rivers rose up, LORD,

the rivers rose up and made a loud noise.

The rivers rose up as a great storm.

But the LORD rules over everyone!

He is greater than all the noise of the waters,

stronger than the sea itself.

LORD, the rules that you make will remain.

Your house will always be beautiful because you are so good.

Psalm 94

LORD, God, you are a great judge.

So, God, show people that you are a great judge!

Judge of the earth, do something!

Give to proud people what they ought to get.

How long will bad people, LORD,

how long will bad people laugh (at good people)?

(The bad people) speak many proud words.

All the bad people are always saying that they are great.

(The bad people) are as a heavy weight on your people, LORD.

They are cruel to the people that belong to you.

They kill widows and foreign people that live here.

They murder children that have no fathers.

They say, "The LORD is not looking (at us).

The God of Jacob will not see (what we are doing)".

Be careful, all you fools among the people!

Fools ... learn to do the right thing!

Does (God) that made the ear not hear?

Does he that made the eye not see?

Will he that rules the world not punish (our bad leaders)?

He teaches people what they know.

The LORD knows people’s thoughts.

(Their thoughts) are worth nothing.

The man that the LORD rules is very happy.

(The LORD) teaches him (God’s) laws.

You (LORD) give him rest from days of trouble,

until someone digs a pit for bad men.

For the LORD will not leave his people;

he will not forget people that belong to him.

Rulers will do what is fair

and people with good in their hearts will do the same.

Who fought for me against the bad people?

Who kept me safe from the people that did wrong things?

Unless the LORD had given me help,

I would soon have gone to live in the quiet (place of death).

When I thought that my feet were nearly falling,

your kind love, LORD, kept me safe.

When I was not happy in my mind,

you made me strong and happy again.

Can you (ever) agree with bad rulers?

(No! Because) their rules make people sad.

They join together against good people.

They say that people that have done nothing wrong must die.

But the LORD is my strong place.

And my God is a rock where I can hide and be safe.

He will punish the bad (leaders).

He will destroy them because they are so bad.

The LORD our God will destroy them.

Psalm 95

Come, we will sing together to the LORD!

We will shout aloud to the Rock that makes us safe!

Come into (God’s) house and thank him!

Tell him that he is great!

(Do it) with music and with songs!

(This is) because the LORD is the great God.

He is the great king that is more important than every other god.

The deep places of the earth are in his hand.

The tops of the mountains are his.

The sea is his, because he made it.

Also, his hands made the dry land.

Come, we will fall down on our knees in front of him.

We will stay on our knees in front of the LORD that made us.

(We will do this) because he is our God.

Also, we are the people that he feeds and keeps safe.

We are as animals and he is as the farmer (that feeds us)!

Today, if you hear his voice,

do not refuse to listen (to him).

You did this at Meribah

and you did it one day at Massah, in the desert.

There, your fathers tested me to discover what I could do.

But they had already seen my work!

For 40 years I was angry with those people.

And I said, "They are people that refuse to obey me.

They (say that they) do not know what I want them to do".

I was so angry that I said,

"They will never come into my rest".

Psalm 96

Sing a new song to the LORD!

Sing to the LORD, all the world!

Sing to the LORD and say good things about him!

Every day, say that he has made us safe!

Tell every nation that he is very great!

Tell everybody the wonderful things that he has done!

Because the LORD is great, and everybody should say that he is great!

People should be more afraid of him than of all (other) gods.

Because all the gods of every country are false.

But the LORD made everything.

(People that) are near him can see that he is a very great king.

(People that) are in his house can see that he is strong and beautiful.

Say to the LORD, you families of nations,

say to the LORD that he is glorious and powerful.

Say that the LORD has a glorious name.

Bring a gift and come near his house.

Fall down in front of the LORD who is beautiful and holy.

Be afraid of him, everyone (that lives) on the earth.

Tell all the nations that the LORD is King!

(He has) fixed the world so that nothing can move it.

He will be a fair judge of the people.

Earth and sky, be happy!

Sea and everything in it, roar (because you are happy!)

Fields, you be happy as well, and everything in you!

Then, all the trees in the forests will sing because they are so happy!

(They will sing) to the LORD when he comes.

He will come to be a judge of the earth.

He will be a good judge and he will be fair to the people.

Psalm 97

The LORD is king! (Everyone) on earth will be very happy!

(Even) all the (people) on far-away islands will be very happy!

Clouds and black (skies) are all round (the LORD).

He is a good and fair ruler.

Fire goes in front of him.

It burns up his enemies on every side.

His lightning is a light over the (whole) world.

The earth sees it and is afraid.

The mountains melt as butter in front of the LORD,

in front of the master of the whole world.

The skies tell (us) that he is righteous

and people (from every country) will see his glory.

All the servants of images (of gods) will be ashamed.

Also, all those that say that idols are great (will be ashamed)!

Because (even) the gods will fall down in front of (the LORD).

Zion will hear about it and be happy.

The people of Judah will be very happy!

(This will be) because of what you decide to do, LORD.

Because you, LORD, are the Most High (God) over all the earth.

You are much more important than any other god!

If you love the LORD, then hate what bad people do!

(The LORD) makes safe the lives of his people.

He will make them free from the hands of bad people.

Light will shine on righteous people

and honest people will be very happy.

Everyone that is righteous, you be happy with the LORD!

And say "thanks" to his holy name.

Psalm 98 (This is) a psalm.

Sing a new song to the LORD.

Because he has done wonderful things.

His right hand and his holy arm

have made (his people) safe.

The LORD has made everybody to know

that he has made (his people) safe.

He has shown everybody (in the world)

that he is a righteous (God).

He remembered his kind love to the people of Israel.

And he did what he had promised.

Everyone (that lives) far away has seen

that (God) has made (his people) safe.

Everybody (that lives) on earth,

shout to the LORD because you are so happy!

Start singing and making music!

Make music to the LORD with a harp!

Make music with harp and voice!

With trumpets and the sound of the horn

make a happy noise to the LORD (who is) King!

The sea and everything that is in it

must make a loud noise.

The earth and everything that lives in it

must also (make a loud noise).

The rivers must clap their hands

and the mountains must make a happy sound

to the LORD.

Because he is coming to rule the earth.

He will be a righteous king.

He will be a very fair judge.

Psalm 99

The LORD is king!

People on earth will be afraid!

(The LORD) is sitting between the cherubim!

The earth (itself) will shake!

The LORD is great in Zion.

And he is king over all the (other) people (in the world).

They must (all) praise your great name.

(It is a name) that makes people afraid.

Because he is holy.

(He is) a strong king and he loves what is right.

You have made everything fair.

You have done what is right and fair in Jacob.

Praise the LORD our God!

Kneel before him. He is holy.

Moses and Aaron were among his priests

and Samuel was among those that prayed to him.

They prayed to the LORD and he answered them.

He spoke to them from the column of cloud.

They obeyed his rules and they did what he told them to do.

LORD our God, you answered them.

You were a God that forgave Israel.

Even if you punished them when they did not obey you.

Praise the LORD our God and kneel before him.

Because the LORD our God, he is holy!

Psalm 100 (This is) a "thank-you" psalm.

Everyone on earth, shout to the LORD!

Do something for the LORD to show that you are happy.

Come to him with songs of joy.

Know that the LORD really is God.

He made us and we are his people.

(We are as his) sheep in his fields.

Say "thank-you" when you are walking through his gates.

Stand in front of his temple and say good things about him.

(Do all this) because the LORD is good.

He is always loving and kind.

He will always do what he has promised to us.

Psalm 101 (This is) a psalm of David.

I will sing to you, LORD.

I will sing about your kind love and justice.

I will be careful.

Then nobody can say that I have done wrong.

When will you (LORD) come to me?

Where I rule, I will do nothing that is wrong.

I will not let any wicked people be with me.

I really do not like what wicked people do.

They will not come near to me.

People with wicked ideas will be far from me.

I will not mix with them.

I will destroy anyone that says bad things about people in secret.

I will send away people that have proud eyes and hearts.

My eyes will look at people who obey (the LORD).

They will be with me (in my work).

My servants will be people that do nothing wrong.

People that are not honest will not stay with me.

People that do not say what is true will not remain with me.

Every morning I will destroy people that are wicked in (my) country.

Nobody that is wicked will remain in the city of the LORD.

Psalm 102 (This is) the prayer of a man that is weak and in trouble. He pours out to the LORD this sad song.

LORD, hear my prayer

and listen when I cry to you for help.

Do not hide your face from me when I am in trouble.

Turn your ear to me.

Answer me soon, now that I am praying to you.

Because my life is disappearing like smoke (disappears).

Also, my bones are burning as a fire burns.

I am so ill that I am as dried grass.

I (even) forget to eat my food.

Because of my loud groans,

I am just skin and bone.

I am as a (wild) bird in a lonely place.

I am as a (night) bird in a broken building.

I lie awake and feel like a (small) bird

by itself on the roof of a house.

All day my enemies say bad things about me.

People that are angry with me use my name as a curse.

Because you are so angry with me:

· I eat ashes as my food;

· I mix my drink with my tears.

Because you picked me up and then you threw me away.

My days are as an evening shadow.

I am dying as grass (soon dies).

But you, LORD, will always be king.

You will always be famous,

everybody that will live (will know about you.)

You will stand up and be kind to Zion,

because it is time to show her that you love her.

The time has come when this should happen.

Because her stones are valuable to your servants.

(Her) broken stones make them very sad.

The nations will be afraid of the name of the LORD.

And all the kings of the earth will kneel before your glory.

Because the LORD will build Zion again

and appear in his glory.

He will answer the prayers of people that have nothing

and he will not laugh at what they ask.

Write this down for people that will be alive in future (times).

Then people (that God has) not yet created will praise the LORD.

The LORD looked down from his home in the heavens,

from the skies he saw the earth.

He heard the groans of people in prison.

The people that were going to die he made free.

So people will shout the LORD’s name in Zion

and they will praise him in Jerusalem.

(This will happen) when peoples and kingdoms

meet together to worship the LORD.

He has made me ill in the middle (of my life).

He will make my life short.

So I said, "My God, do not let me die in the middle of my life.

You will always be alive.

At the beginning (of time) you built the earth so that it was strong.

Also, your hands created the heavens.

They will not always remain, but you (LORD) will.

They will wear out as clothes do.

Like clothes, you will change them and throw them away.

But you (LORD) will always be the same

and your life will never end.

(We are) your servants and our children will live always live here.

And their children will be safe where you are.

Psalm 103 (This is a psalm) of David.

I say to myself, "Praise the LORD!

Everything that is in me, praise his holy name!’

I say to myself, "Praise the LORD!

And never forget any of the good things that he has given you!’

(I say to myself) He forgives all your sins.

He makes you well again when you are ill.

He redeems you from the Pit.

His kind love and mercy are special things that he gives to you.

He gives you the good things that you want.

So, you become strong again as a young eagle.

The LORD does righteous and fair things

for all oppressed people.

He showed Moses his plans

and (he showed) the Israelites what he was going to do.

The LORD likes (people) and is very kind.

He is slow to get angry and has a lot of kind love.

He will not always say that we are wrong.

He will not always be angry.

We do wrong things.

He does not punish us for them as much as he should.

The sky is high above the earth.

So his kind love is great to those people that love him.

As far as the east is from the west,

so far has he taken our sins from us.

As a father is kind to his children,

so the LORD is kind to people that are afraid of him.

Because he knows (how he) made us,

he remembers that we are only dust.

The life of a man is as short as (the life of) grass!

He lives as short a time as the (wild) flowers in a field!

The wind blows over it and it dies!

Nothing remembers it any more.

But the kind love of the LORD

will always be with those that are afraid of him.

And his righteousness will be with their children’s children.

(They will be) with those (people) that do what they have agreed (to do).

(They will be with those people) that remember to obey his rules.

The LORD has built his throne in heaven.

He is king over everything.

Praise the LORD, you (who are) his angels.

You are strong and powerful.

You do what he tells you (to do) and you obey his word.

Praise the LORD, all (you) his armies (in heaven).

(You are) his servants that do what he wants you (to do).

Everything that he has made

and (everything) that he rules over, praise the LORD!

I say to myself, praise the LORD!

Psalm 104: 1 - 9

I say to myself, "Praise the LORD!"

LORD, my God, you are very great!

(As a person wears clothes), you wear honour and majesty and light.

You have put the skies as a roof (over the earth).

You have built your home above the waters that are over the skies.

The clouds carry you and you ride on the wind.

The winds carry your messages

and burning fires are your servants.

(The LORD) built the earth on its foundations.

Nobody will ever move it.

You covered it with the deep (sea) as clothes (cover a person).

The waters were higher than the mountains.

When you shouted (the waters) ran away.

At the sound of your thunder they fled.

(The waters) moved over the mountains.

They went down into the valleys.

They went to the place that you had made for them.

You made a mark that they could not cross.

Never again will (the waters) cover the earth.

Psalm 104: 10 - 23

You make water come out of the ground into the valleys.

(You make the rivers) go between the hills.

They give water to every wild animal.

The wild donkeys drink from them.

The birds of the air make their homes (by the streams)

and they sing from the trees near (the streams).

You pour water on to the mountains from your home above the sky.

The earth is happy with the results of what you do.

You make grass to grow for the cows and sheep.

And (you make) plants (grow) that people can use.

This is how people get food from the earth:

· wine (alcohol) that makes people happy,

· oil that makes people’s faces shine, and

· bread that makes people strong.

The trees of the LORD get plenty of rain.

(They are) the cedar trees in Lebanon, which he planted.

The birds make their nests in them.

The stork makes its home in fir trees.

The wild goats live in the high hills

and the rabbits hide in the rocks.

The moon shows (us) which season (it is).

The sun knows when to go down.

You created night.

When it is dark, all the wild animals come out (of their dens).

The young lions roar while they hunt.

They look for the food that God gives to them.

When the sun shines again, they go back to their dens.

There they lie down.

This is when people go out to work.

They work until it is evening.

Psalm 104: 24 - 30

LORD, you have made so many things!

The earth is full of the creatures that you have made.

You were very wise when you made them all.

There is the sea. It is so big and so wide.

It is full of creatures, more than anyone can count.

(In it) there are small and large animals and plants.

Ships sail on it. Leviathan, that you made, plays in it.

All of them hope that you will give them food when they need it.

(When) you give it to them they pick it up.

(When) you open your hand they have plenty of good things.

(When) you hide your face they become very frightened.

When you take away their breath, they die and return to the dust.

(Then) you send out your breath and make new creatures.

You make everything on earth new.

Psalm 104: 31 - 35

I want the glory of the LORD to continue for ever!

I want the LORD to be very happy with everything that he has made!

(When the LORD) looks at the earth it becomes frightened.

When he touches the mountains, they give out smoke.

I will sing to the LORD all my life.

I will always sing praises to my God.

I hope that my thoughts make him happy,

because the LORD makes me happy.

I want (the LORD) to destroy bad people from the earth.

I do not want very bad people to live any more.

I say to myself, "Praise the LORD! Hallelujah!"

Psalm 105: 1 - 6

Say "thank-you!" to the LORD.

Tell (everybody) his name.

Tell people in every country what he has done.

Sing songs to him, make music for him.

Speak about all the great things that he has done.

Be proud of his holy name.

Everybody that goes to the LORD (in his house), be very happy!

Visit the LORD, who is so powerful.

Always go to him (in his house).

Remember the great things that he has done.

(Remember) his miracles and what he said (to Pharaoh).

Abraham your father was (the LORD’s) servant.

(The LORD) chose Jacob and you are (Jacob’s) sons.

Psalm 105: 6 – 11

He, the LORD, is our God.

What he says is to everyone (that lives) on the earth.

He will always remember his covenant.

He will never, never forget his promises.

(He will remember) the covenant that he made with Abraham

and the special promises that he made to Isaac.

He made it sure to Jacob with a law

and to (the people of) Israel with a covenant

that will never have an end.

He said, "I will give to you (Jacob) the land of Canaan.

It will belong to you, (people of Israel).

Psalm 105: 12 - 22

Once, there was only a small number of them (the people of Israel).

(There were) only a few of them and they were nomads (in Canaan).

They moved from country to country, from one kingdom to another.

(The LORD) did not let anyone hurt them.

He was angry with kings and gave help to (his people).

He said, "Do not hurt my special servants.

Do not harm my prophets".

(The LORD) sent a famine to the land (of Canaan).

He destroyed all the food that they were storing.

But he sent a man (into Egypt) before them.

(He was) Joseph, (that his brothers) sold as a slave.

(In Egypt) they put his feet into fetters and his neck into irons.

(They did this) until what he prophesied really happened.

Until the word of the LORD showed that he (Joseph) was right.

The king sent (someone) to let him out (of prison).

The ruler of the peoples made him free.

He (the king) made him (Joseph) master of his house.

He made him ruler of all that he had.

He gave him power over his princes

and authority over the leaders of the country.

Psalm 105: 23 - 25

Then (all) Israel came into Egypt

and Jacob lived in the land of Ham.

(The LORD) gave many children to his people.

He made them more powerful than their enemies.

He made the Egyptians hate his people (Israel).

They thought of bad things to do against (the LORD’s) servants.

Psalm 105: 26 - 36

(The LORD) sent his servant Moses (to Egypt).

(Also), he chose Aaron.

(Moses and Aaron) told everybody the things that (the LORD) would do.

(He would do) miracles in the land of Ham.

He sent darkness so that it was dark (everywhere in the day-time).

But (the Egyptians) did not obey him.

He changed their rivers into blood and killed their fish.

Then frogs filled their land;

they even went into the bedrooms of their rulers!

(The LORD) spoke and there came millions of flies.

Insects called lice were everywhere in their country.

He changed their rain into hail

and there was lightning over all their land.

He attacked their vines and fig trees

and he destroyed the trees (everywhere) in their country.

(The LORD) spoke and there came locusts.

There were too many locusts to count!

They ate all the plants in their country,

they ate all their crops.

Then (the LORD) killed all the oldest (sons) in the land (of Egypt).

(He killed) all the firstborn sons.

Psalm 105: 37 - 41

So (the LORD) led Israel out (from Egypt).

They took (valuable things made of) silver and gold.

And nobody among the Israelites had any trouble.

The Egyptians were happy when they went,

because they were afraid of the Israelites.

(The LORD) made a cloud to cover them

and a fire to give them light at night.

They asked, and he sent (birds called) quails.

Also, he fed them with bread from the skies.

He opened the rock, and water poured out (from it).

It moved as a river through the dry places.

Psalm 105: 42 - 45

(This happened) because (the LORD) remembered his holy promise.

He gave it to his servant Abraham.

So, he led the people that he had chosen out (from Egypt).

They were so happy that they sang and they shouted!

(The LORD) gave them the land of the people (that lived in Canaan.)

They enjoyed the results of their work.

So his people could obey his rules and do what he told them (to do).

Hallelujah!

Psalm 106: 1 - 5

Hallelujah! Say "thank-you" to the LORD, because he is good.

His kind love will always (remain).

(Nobody) can tell about all the great things that the LORD has done.

(Nobody) can praise him enough.

(The people) that obey his rules are very happy.

They always do what is right.

LORD, do not forget me when you do something good for your people.

Give me help (also) when you make them safe.

Then I will:

· enjoy the good things that you do for your people,

· be happy together with them,

· praise you with the people that belong to you.

Psalm 106: 6 - 12

We have sinned as our fathers (before us) did.

We have done wrong things; we have been very, very bad.

When our fathers were in Egypt, they did not understand your miracles.

They forgot the kind love that you often (gave to them).

They did not obey (the LORD) by the sea, the Sea of Reeds.

But he saved them because of his name.

He showed (everybody) that he was very powerful.

He shouted at the Sea of Reeds and it became dry.

He led (his people) through the deep parts of it.

It was as if they went through a desert!

He saved them from the hand of the enemy.

He redeemed them from the hand of the foe.

The waters covered their enemies.

Not one of them remained alive.

Then (God’s people) believed his promises

and they all sang and praised him.

Psalm 106: 13 - 33

But they soon forgot what (the LORD) had done.

They did not wait for (him to tell them) his plan.

In the wilderness they wanted food very much.

And they tested God in the desert.

So he gave them what they asked for.

But he (also) sent an illness that made them die.

Then they became jealous of Moses

when they were staying in the desert.

(They were also jealous of) Aaron,

who was a special servant of God.

(God made) a hole in the ground and Dathan fell into it.

(God) buried Abiram and all his family.

Then (God) sent a fire to their group (of people).

The fire destroyed those very bad people.

They made a calf (out of gold) at Horeb and they worshipped it.

They stopped worshipping God, who is great.

Instead, they worshipped the image of an animal that eats grass!

They forgot the God that had saved them

and all the great things that he had done in Egypt.

(They forgot) the miracles that he had done in the land of Ham.

(They forgot) the things that surprised them so much by the Sea of Reeds.

So (God) said that he would destroy them.

But Moses stood up and argued with (God).

He prayed that an angry (God) would not destroy them.

(Later they said that) they were afraid to go into the good land (of Canaan).

They did not believe the promise (of God).

They said bad things (about God) in their tents.

They did not obey the LORD.

So he lifted up his hand and said that they would die in the desert.

(He said that) their children would die in other countries.

(This was after) he had moved them all over the world.

Then they agreed to be the servants of the (false god called) Baal of Peor.

They ate the food given to gods that were never alive.

These things made (the LORD) angry.

(He sent) a plague against them.

But Phinehas stood up and punished some bad people.

Then (God) stopped the plague.

(The LORD said) that Phinehas had done a very good thing.

(People) will always remember it.

They made (the LORD) angry at the waters of Meribah.

So, trouble came to Moses because of what they did.

(They) made Moses angry and he spoke without thinking.

* * *

Psalm 106: 34 - 47

The LORD told (his people) to destroy the peoples (of Canaan),

but they did not.

They mixed with the peoples (of Canaan) and learned to do as they did.

They worshipped their idols and became caught in a trap.

They killed their sons and their daughters for these idols!

Their sons and their daughters had done nothing wrong,

but they killed them (for these idols).

(The idols) were the false gods of Canaan

and these murders made the land dirty.

(The LORD’s people) made themselves dirty by what they did.

They became as prostitutes!

So the LORD became very angry with his people

and he really did not like them.

He gave them into the hand of (other) countries

and their enemies ruled over them.

Their enemies oppressed them

and made them do whatever they wanted (Israel) to do.

Often (the LORD) would save them (from these enemies).

But again and again, they decided not to obey him

and they did more and more things that were wrong.

Yet (the LORD) heard them when they prayed to him.

He saw that they had trouble.

He remembered what he had agreed.

Because of his kind love, he changed his mind.

He made all the people that oppressed them feel sorry for them!

Save us, our LORD and God. Bring us back from other countries.

Then we will be very happy to thank you and to praise your holy name.

Psalm 107: 1 - 9

Thank the LORD because he is good.

His kind love will never stop.

People must say that the LORD has redeemed them,

when he has redeemed them from the power of an enemy.

He brought them from countries to the east, to the west,

to the north; and from the sea.

They moved from place to place in the wild country.

They did not find the way to a city to live in.

They were hungry and wanted a drink.

They thought that they were going to die.

Then they prayed to the LORD in their trouble.

And he saved them from the danger that they were in.

He led them by an easy road to a city where they might live.

They must thank the LORD for his kind love.

And they must thank him for the wonderful things that he does for people.

His people have enough to drink

and he fills the hungry people with good things.

Psalm 107: 10 - 22

Some people sat in darkness and in the shadow of death.

They were prisoners behind iron bars. And they felt despair.

This happened because they did not obey the words of God.

They laughed at the plans of the Most High.

Hard work made them listen to him.

When they fell down, there was nobody to help them.

Then they prayed to the LORD in their trouble.

And he saved them from the danger that they were in.

He led them out of the darkness and the shadow of death.

He broke the chains that held them.

They must thank the LORD for his kind love.

And they must thank him

for the wonderful things that he does for people.

(They must thank him) because he broke the metal gates

and destroyed the iron bars.

Fools went away from the right road

and were in pain because of their sin.

They would not eat any food, so they nearly died.

Then they prayed to the LORD in their trouble.

And he saved them from the danger that they were in.

He sent his word and he healed them.

He saved them from death.

They must thank the LORD for his kind love.

And they must thank him

for the wonderful things that he does for people.

They must give offerings of praise.

And they must sing about what he has done.

Psalm 107: 23 - 32

Some went down to the sea, to work in deep waters.

They saw the wonderful things that the LORD did there.

He spoke and a wind started. A storm lifted up the sea.

(The sailors) went up to the sky then down into deep places.

The danger made them afraid.

It was not possible to stand up, so they fell over like drunks.

They did not know what to do!

Then they prayed to the LORD in their trouble.

And he saved them from the danger that they were in.

He stopped the noise of the storm and made the sea become quiet.

They were happy when it became quiet.

He showed them the way to the port that they wanted to reach.

They must thank the LORD for his kind love.

And they must thank him

for the wonderful things that he does for people.

The people must say that he is great when they meet together.

Their leaders must praise him when they sit together.

Psalm 107: 33 - 43

The people who live in some places are very bad.

In those places, God will make:

· rivers become desert places

· wells of water become dry ground

· good ground become salt marsh

He can make desert places become pools of water

and dry ground become wells of water.

He can give a place to hungry people where they can build a city to live in.

They can sow seeds in the fields and plant vineyards.

Then they will bring home much food.

He will be kind to them so that they grow in number.

Their animals will not decrease in number.

Then they began to decrease in number

because of oppression, trouble and despair.

He just laughed at their leaders.

And he took them into roads that led nowhere.

But he lifts people that are in need out of their trouble.

And he makes their families grow like wild animals.

Good people see it and it makes them happy.

Bad people just shut their mouths!

People that are not stupid will think about these things.

Then they will understand the kind love of the LORD.

Psalm 108 This song is a psalm of David.

God, I have decided always to belong to you!

I will sing your praises as well as I can.

Wake up, harp and lyre.

I will sing before the dawn.

LORD, I will thank you in front of all the people.

I will sing your praises everywhere.

Your kind love is great. It is higher than the clouds.

Your truth reaches to the skies.

God, lift yourself up above the skies.

Lift your glory above all the earth.

Give us help. Make the friends that you love safe.

Use your right hand to answer us!

God did answer us from his holy place!

(He said):

· I will be the master.

· I will make a parcel of Shechem.

· I will measure the Valley of Succoth.

· Gilead is mine.

· Manasseh is mine.

· Ephraim will cover my head.

· Judah will judge for me.

· Moab is my bathroom.

· Edom is where I will throw my shoes.

· Philistia will be something for me to laugh at.

Who will lead me into the strong city?

Who will take me into Edom?

(You have said) that you would not be our God any more.

But God, will you really not go with our armies?

Give to us help against the enemy,

because help from men is of no value!

With God we will beat everybody

and walk all over our enemies!

Psalm 109 (This is) a psalm of David for the (music) leader.

(You are) the God that I praise.

Let me hear you speak!

(Do something) because bad men and liars say bad things about me.

They say things about me that are not true.

Their words of hate are all round me.

Also, they attack me without a reason.

I love them and pray for them.

But they accuse me.

I do good things for them, but they pay me back with bad things.

I love them, but they hate me.

Put an evil man against (my enemy).

Also, make somebody stand by his right hand (side) to accuse him.

Make him be guilty at his trial.

And make his words show that he has done wrong things.

Make his life a short one

and let somebody else be leader (instead of him).

Make his children have no father

and make his wife a widow.

Make his children go from place to place, asking for money.

Destroy their home and send them away (from it).

Make the lender of money take everything that he had.

And let strangers get everything that he worked for.

Do not let anybody be kind to him.

Do not let anybody be kind to the children that he has left without a father.

I pray that you will destroy everyone in his family after him.

I want people that live later never to know the names (of his family)!

I want the LORD to remember the bad things that his fathers did.

I do not want the LORD to clean away his mother’s sins.

I want the LORD always to remember these (bad things)

and people on earth never to remember his family.

(Do this, Lord)

because he (my enemy) did not remember to be kind (to people).

Instead, he was not kind to them.

He killed people that were poor.

(He killed) people that needed (many things).

(He killed) people that had nobody to give them help.

He loved to say bad things about people;

(so I want) bad things to happen to him!

He did not like to say good things about people;

(so I want) nobody to say good things about him!

He said bad things (about people) as often as he put on clothes.

(I want these bad things) to go into his body as the water (that he drinks).

(I want them) to go into his bones like oil.

Then (the bad things that he says) will cover him like his clothes.

They will cover him like the belt that he wears every day.

This is how (I want) the LORD to pay the people that accuse me.

(They are) the people that say bad things about me.

But you are my LORD and master.

Give me help, because of your name!

Save me, because you are good and you love me.

Save me because I am poor and need (many things).

My heart inside me is hurting.

I am dying, as a shadow at evening.

I am like an insect that (the wind) blows away.

My knees are weak because I am not eating (food).

My body is thin and not fat (as it was).

The people that see me just laugh at me!

They shake their heads (at me).

My LORD and Master, send me help!

Because of your kind love, save me!

Make everybody know, LORD, that you have done something!

When they say bad things (about me), you will say good things (about me).

When they attack me, they will be ashamed.

Then your servant will be very happy!

The people that accuse me will have shame all round them.

It will be all round them as their clothes are all round them.

It will be all round them like a coat.

My mouth will say that the LORD is very great!

I will praise him in front of a big crowd of people.

He stands at the right hand (side) of the people that need (help).

He saves the life of (the man) that people are attacking.

(That is why I will praise him.)

Psalm 110 (This is) a Psalm of David.

The LORD spoke to my Lord.

"Sit on the right of me until I put your enemies under your feet", he said.

The LORD will send your great power out from Zion.

You will rule over all the enemies that are round about you.

When you fight your enemies, your people will give you help.

In the early morning (on the day of battle),

your young people will be there, on the hills (round Zion).

The LORD has made a special promise. He will not change it.

"You will always be a priest, as Melchizedek was", (he said).

The Lord is standing on the right of you.

When he gets angry, he will destroy kings!

He will be the judge of all the nations.

There will be many dead people.

He will destroy kings over all the earth.

He will drink from the stream at the side of the road.

And so, he will lift up his head.

Psalm 111

Hallelujah! (or, Say that the LORD is really great!)

I will say "thanks" to the LORD with all my heart.

(I will do it) where his people meet together.

The things that the LORD does are really great!

People that find pleasure in them study them.

(Everything that) he does makes people understand that he is a king!

He will always be righteous.

The LORD causes (people) to remember his miracles.

He is kind and he loves (people).

He gave food to the people that are his servants.

He will always remember his covenant.

He has shown his people that he is powerful.

He gave them the lands that belonged to other countries.

The things that he does are honest and fair.

People can trust him when he tells them his rules.

He made (his rules) to continue for all time.

(The LORD) was true and righteous when he made (these rules.)

He made his people free.

He made a covenant with them for them (to obey) always.

His name is holy.

And it makes people (see him) as powerful and important.

People who are afraid of the LORD are starting to be wise.

Everyone that (is wise) will have really understood (the LORD).

People should always say that the LORD is great!

Psalm 112

Hallelujah!

(Aleph) The man that is afraid of the LORD will be very happy.

(Beth) It will give him pleasure when he obeys the LORD’s rules.

(Gimel) His children will become powerful in the land.

(Daleth) (The LORD) will do good things for the good people in his family.

(He) He will be a rich man with valuable things in his house.

(Vav) He will always have (God’s gift) of righteousness.

(Zayin) A good man is like a light that shines in dark (places).

(Heth) He is kind and loving and righteous.

(Teth) A good man is kind and lends (to people).

(Yod) He is fair in everything that he does.

(Kaph) So (a good man) will never fail.

(Lamed) (People) will always remember a righteous man.

(Mem) He is not afraid of bad news.

(Nun) His heart is steady and he trusts in the LORD.

(Samech) His heart is safe. And he will not be afraid,

(Ayin) until (God) destroys his enemies.

(Pe) He gives a lot to poor people.

(Tsade) He will always be righteous.

(Qoph) He will be powerful. And people will say that he is good.

(Resh) The bad man will see it and be angry.

(Shin) He will gnash his teeth together, then disappear.

(Tav) The things that the bad man wants will not happen.

Psalm 113

Hallelujah!

Servants of the LORD, tell (him) that he is very great!

Sing aloud that the name of the LORD is very great!

Bless the name of the LORD.

(Do it) now and (do it) always!

Praise the name of the LORD!

(Do it) from where the sun rises (in the east)

to where it goes down (in the west).

The LORD is king over every nation.

He shines brighter than anything in the sky.

There is nobody like the LORD our God.

He sits on a throne that is very high (above us).

He bends down to look at the sky and the earth.

They are far below him.

He lifts up poor people from the ground.

And he lifts up people that need help from the ashes.

He gives them a seat with princes,

with the princes of their country.

He makes the woman that is barren in her home

into a happy mother of children. Hallelujah!

Psalm 114

(This happened) when Israel left Egypt.

(It happened) when the people of Jacob left the people

that spoke a strange language.

(The LORD led them) to a safe place (called) Judah.

(He took them) to the country of Israel where he (became their) king.

The sea looked and ran from (the LORD).

The (river) Jordan turned back.

The mountains jumped as rams jump.

The hills jumped as lambs jump.

What happened, sea, that made you run away?

(What happened), Jordan, that made you turn back?

(What made) you mountains jump as rams (jump)?

(What made) you hills jump like lambs?

Earth, be like a man who is afraid, in front of the Lord.

(Be afraid) when the God of Jacob is near.

He made the rock into a pool of water

and the hard rock into water coming from the ground.

Psalm 115

Do not give to us, LORD, do not give to us the glory.

(Keep) it for yourself! (Do this) because of your kind love (to us).

And (do it) because you always do what you have promised.

Why should people say, ‘Where is their God?’

Our God is in heaven. He does what he wants to do.

(People) make their idols with silver and gold.

Human hands make them!

(Each idol) has a mouth ... but it cannot speak!

It has eyes ... but it cannot see!

It has ears ... but it cannot hear!

It has a nose ... but it cannot smell!

It has hands ... but it feels nothing!

It has feet ... but it cannot walk!

Its mouth cannot make a sound!

The people that make them will become like them.

Also, everyone who believes what they say (will become like them).

(People of) Israel ... trust in the LORD.

He is their help and their shield.

People of Aaron ... trust in the LORD.

He is their help and their shield.

Everyone that is in awe of the LORD ... trust in the LORD.

He is their help and their shield.

The LORD will remember us. He will bless us.

He will bless the people of Israel.

He will bless the people of Aaron.

He will bless everybody that is in awe of the LORD.

(He will bless them) whether they are important or not.

(I pray that) the LORD will give you more (good things).

(I pray that he will) do this to your children also.

I pray that the LORD will bless you.

(The LORD) made heaven and earth.

Heaven is where the LORD lives.

He gave the earth to the people that live there.

Dead people cannot praise the LORD.

Neither can anyone that goes to the Quiet Place.

But we will bless the LORD, now and always.

Hallelujah!

Psalm 116

I love the LORD, because he listens to me.

He listens to me when I pray to him.

I will always pray to him, because he hears what I say.

The danger of death was all round me.

I began to be afraid of Sheol.

I was sad because (I had) so much trouble.

Then I prayed to the name of the LORD.

(I said) "LORD, please save me!"

The LORD is kind and good (to people).

Our God (shows us that he) loves (us).

The LORD gives help to those (people) that need it.

When I was in danger, he saved me!

(So I could say) to myself, "Now you are safe,

because the LORD has been kind to you".

Yes, (LORD), you saved me from death!

(You saved) my eyes from crying and my feet from falling.

Now I can serve the LORD in this world where people live

(and not in Sheol).

I believed (that God would give me help).

(I believed this) even when I said, "I have much pain".

When I was very sad, I said, "Everybody says what is not true".

What can I give to the LORD because he has been so kind to me?

I will offer a cup of wine to the LORD.

And I will thank him because he saved me!

I will do everything that I have promised to the LORD.

(I will do it) in front of all his people.

It hurts God very much when one of his servants dies.

LORD, I really am your servant.

I am your servant just as my mother was.

You have saved me from death!

I will offer you my special "thanks" when I pray to the name of the LORD.

I will make special promises to the LORD.

(I will do this) in front of all his people.

(I will do this) in the courts of the house of the LORD.

(I will do this) in the centre of Jerusalem.

Hallelujah! (or, Tell the LORD that he is very great!)

Psalm 117

Every country in the world, praise the LORD!

All the people (in the world), praise him!

His kind love for us is very strong.

And he will always do what he has promised.

Praise the LORD

Psalm 118

Thank the LORD because he is good.

His kind love will always be (with us).

Israel must now say,

"His kind love will always be with us".

The house of Aaron must now say,

"His kind love will always be with us".

Everyone that is afraid of the LORD must now say,

"His kind love will always be with us".

(My enemy) shut me (in a prison).

There I cried to the LORD.

The LORD answered me and made me free.

The LORD is with me. I will not be afraid.

What (bad thing) can anybody do to me?

The LORD is with me. He gives me help.

So, I will see (the LORD destroy) my enemies.

It is better to trust in the LORD

than to trust in people.

It is better to trust in the LORD

than to trust in the leaders (of people).

All the nations were round me,

(but) I destroyed them in the name of the LORD.

They were all round me, yes, all round me.

(But) I destroyed them in the name of the LORD.

They were round me like (a cloud of) bees.

They burnt (quickly) like a (dry) bush (burns quickly).

I destroyed them in the name of the LORD.

(My enemy) pushed me so that I started to fall.

But the LORD gave me help (not to fall).

The LORD makes me strong and gives me psalms to sing.

He has saved me.

Listen to the happy shouts of God’s people in their tents.

(They do this) because they have destroyed (their enemies).

The right hand of the LORD is very strong.

The LORD has lifted his right hand very high.

The right hand of the LORD is very strong.

I will not die. I will live.

I will tell everyone what the LORD has done.

The LORD has punished me a lot,

but he has not let me die.

Open the gates of the temple for me.

I will go in and thank the LORD.

This is the gate of the LORD.

Righteous people can go in through it.

Thank you because you answered me.

You saved me.

The men who were building threw away a stone.

It is now in an important place at the corner (of the building).

The LORD has done this.

And we think that it is wonderful.

This is the day that the LORD has made.

We will be happy in it, we will be very happy.

LORD, save us now!

LORD, make us do very well!

The man that comes in the name of the LORD will be blessed.

We bless you from the house of the LORD.

The LORD is God and he has made his light to shine on us.

With branches in (our) hands

we will go with the people who are going to the feast.

Go to the horns of the altar.

You are my God and I will thank you.

You are my God and I will say that you are great.

Thank the LORD because he is good.

His kind love will always be (with us).

Psalm 119

ALEPH

The people that make no mistakes in the way are very happy.

They obey the teaching of the LORD.

The people that keep to his instructions are very happy.

They look for him with all their heart.

Also, they do nothing that is wrong.

They walk in his ways.

You have made guidelines for me.

I must follow them all.

I want to make sure

that my ways obey your laws.

Then I will not be ashamed

when I remember all your commands.

I will praise you with a clean heart

when I learn your righteous rules.

I will obey your laws.

Do not ever stop giving me help.

BETH

How can a young man keep his path clean?

He must obey your words.

I have looked for you with all my heart.

Do not let me forget your commands.

I have hidden your sayings in my heart

so that I do not sin against you.

LORD, you are blessed!

Teach me your laws.

My lips repeat all the commands of your mouth.

I am happier following the way by your instructions

than having a lot of money.

I want to think about your guidelines

and follow your paths.

I am very happy with your laws.

I will not forget your word.

GIMEL

Be kind to your servant.

Then I will live and obey your word.

Open my eyes

and I will see wonderful things in your teaching.

I am a stranger in the earth.

Do not hide your commands from me.

I love to obey your rules so much

that I have no interest in other things.

You are angry with the people who think that they are important.

Bad things will happen to them

when they walk away from your commands.

Some people say bad and unkind things about me

because I keep to your instructions.

Take me away from those people.

Princes sit down and make plans against me.

But your servant thinks only about your laws.

Yes! Your instructions make me really happy.

They are like people that tell me what to do.

DALETH

I am lying on the ground.

Give me the life that your word promises to me.

I told you about my ways and you answered me.

Teach me your laws.

Make me to understand what your guidelines mean.

Then I will always think about the wonderful things that you do.

My very great sadness has made me tired.

Make me strong again as your word promises.

Take the false way from me.

Be kind to me in your teaching.

I have chosen the right way.

I will not forget your rules.

I will keep to your instructions, LORD.

Do not make me ashamed.

I will run in the way of your commands

because you give help to my heart.

LORD, give me help to understand your laws,

then I will always obey them.

Explain your teaching to me, then I will always obey it.

I will do it with all my heart.

Make me to walk in the path where your orders send me.

Do that because it will give me much pleasure.

Turn my heart to your instructions

and not to wanting riches.

Turn my eyes away from looking at things that have no value.

Give me the life that is in your word.

Do for your servant the things that your sayings promise.

This will make him be afraid of you.

I am afraid of being ashamed.

Do not let it happen, because your rules are good.

I really want your guidelines.

Keep me alive as you are righteous.

VAV

LORD, I want your kind love to come to me

and I want your sayings to make me safe.

Then I will have something to say to the people that laugh at me.

They laugh at me because I trust in your word.

Do not take a true word away from my mouth,

because I put my hope in your rules.

I will always obey your teaching,

I will never stop.

I will be free to walk anywhere

because I look for your guidelines.

I will talk about your instructions before kings.

I will not be ashamed.

I love your commands

and I am very happy with them.

I lift up my hands to your commands, which I love.

I am always thinking about your laws.

ZAYIN

Remember your word to your servant.

You made me put my hope in it.

Your sayings comfort me when I am sad.

They comfort me because they give me life.

Proud people laugh at me all the time,

but I do not turn away from your teaching.

LORD, I remember the rules that you made long ago.

They make me feel better.

I get very angry

when godless people turn away from your teaching.

Your laws are my songs

in the house where I live.

LORD, in the night I will remember your name.

I will keep your teaching.

I do this

because I follow your guidelines.

HETH

LORD, you are everything to me.

I promise to obey your words.

I ask you, with all my heart,

to have mercy on me as you have promised.

I have thought about my ways,

and my feet are going back to follow your instructions.

I will hurry to obey your commands

and I will not be slow.

People who do not know God are all round me.

They tie me up but still I do not forget your teaching.

I get up in the middle of the night to praise you

because your rules are righteous.

I am a friend of everyone that is afraid of you.

And I am a friend of those who follow your guidelines.

LORD, the earth is full of your kind love.

Teach me your laws.

TETH

You do good things for your servant, LORD,

as your word says.

Teach me. Then I will choose and know what is right.

I will do that because I trust your commands.

Before I was in trouble with you I made mistakes.

But now I keep to your sayings.

You are good and you do good things.

Teach me your laws.

Proud men have told me lots of lies,

but your guidelines are of great value to me.

Their heart is fat and they are stupid;

but I love your teaching.

My trouble was good for me.

It made me learn your laws.

Teaching from your mouth is better for me

than a lot of silver and gold.

JODH

Your handscreated me. And they made me what I am.

Help me to understand and learn your commands.

The people that are afraid of you will be happy.

They will be happy when they see me.

This is because I am trusting in your word.

LORD, I know that your rules are righteous.

You were right when you sent me trouble.

Now your kind love makes me feel better.

You promised this to your servant in your sayings.

Send your love to me and I will live!

Your teaching makes me really happy.

Proud men will be ashamed

because they say lies about me without any reason.

The people that are afraid of you will turn to me again.

They understand your instructions.

My heart will make no mistakes about your laws.

I will not be ashamed.

KAPH

I feel weak while I wait for you to save me.

My hope is in your word.

My eyes are closing while I look for your sayings.

I say, "When will you comfort me?"

I am like a wineskin in smoke

but I will not forget your guidelines.

The life of your servant is not very long.

When will you make the people that persecute me obey your rules?

Proud people have made traps for me.

Your teaching says that they must not do this.

All your commands are true.

But people still persecute me with lies. Give me help!

People on earth almost destroyed me,

but I did not stop following your guidelines.

Your kind love gives me life.

I will obey your instructions.

LAMED

LORD, your word will always rule in the heavens.

Your truth will continue from one century to the next.

You have fixed the earth and it will remain.

They remain today as your rules say they must.

They are all your servants.

If your teaching had not made me happy

then my great sadness would have destroyed me.

I will never forget your guidelines

because in them you give me life.

I am yours, save me!

Do it because I have looked for your guidelines.

The godless wait to destroy me,

but I am studying your instructions.

I see that all that is good on earth will finish.

But your commands have no end.

MEM

I love your teaching very much.

I think about it all day long.

Your commands teach me more than my enemies.

Your commands are always with me.

I understand more than all my teachers

because I think about your commands.

I understand more than the old people

because I follow your guidelines.

I do not let my feet walk in any evil path

because I obey your word.

I do not turn away from your rules,

because you teach me.

Your sayings are like honey to me.

They are like something that tastes good.

Your guidelines give me help to understand things,

so I hate every wrong path.

NUN

Your word is a lamp to my foot

and a light to my path.

I have really promised to keep your righteous rules

and I will do it.

People have hurt me very much.

Give me the life that your word promises.

LORD, I pray that you will be happy with what I say.

And I pray that you will teach me your rules.

I am always in danger,

but I never forget your teaching.

Wicked people have made a trap for me,

but I do not go away from your guidelines.

Your instructions will always be with me

and they make my heart very happy.

I will make my heart obey your instructions always, to the end.

* * *

SAMEKH

I hate the people that do not believe you.

But I love your teaching.

You are my secret place where I can hide.

I put my hope in your word.

Go away from me, you bad people!

I will obey my God's commands.

Give me help and life, as your word promises.

And do not make me ashamed, because I hope in you.

Give me help and I will be safe.

I will always obey your laws.

You turn away from people that do not follow your laws.

This is because they speak lies.

And they are not honest.

You destroy all the bad people in the world as rubbish.

For this reason I love your instructions.

Am afraid of you and it makes my body shiver.

I am afraid of your rules.

AYIN

I was righteous and I obeyed the rules.

Do not give me to my oppressors.

Make sure that good things happen to your servant.

Do not let proud people become my oppressors.

My eyes have stopped seeing that you are saving me.

They do not see your righteous sayings.

Do with your servant what your kind love suggests.

Teach me your laws.

I am your servant. Explain your instructions to me

so that I understand them.

It is time for the LORD to do something.

People have not obeyed your teaching.

I hate every wrong path because:

· I love your commands more than gold, pure gold

· I think that all your guidelines are right

I obey your instructions

because they are wonderful.

When I read your words they bring light.

They help people that do not know enough to understand things.

My mouth is wide open as I breathe.

This is because I am so eager for your commands.

Turn to me and have mercy on me.

Your rules say that you will do this.

You will do this to people that love your name.

Make my feet follow your sayings.

Do not let sin rule over me.

Make me free from oppressors

and I will follow your guidelines.

Show a kind face to your servant

and teach me your laws.

Streams of water come from my eyes

because people do not obey your teaching.

TSADHE

LORD, you are righteous

and your rules are good.

The instructions that you gave are very fair.

And we can trust in them.

I am so eager that it makes me feel weak.

But my enemies do not listen to your words.

We have found that your sayings are true.

Your servant loves them.

I am not important and people do not like me.

But I will not forget your guidelines.

You are always righteous and fair.

Your teachings are true.

An enemy brought me trouble,

but your commands make me happy.

Your instructions are always fair.

Make me understand them and find life.

KOPH

I cried with all my heart. "Answer me, LORD".

"I will obey your laws", I cried.

"Save me

and I will keep to your instructions."

I woke up before dawn and cried to you for help.

I want all that you promised in your word.

I stayed up all night

and thought about your sayings.

Listen to my voice, because you are loving and kind.

LORD, keep me alive as your rules promise me.

The people that persecute me are coming near.

They want to do something very bad to me.

They are far away from your teaching.

LORD, you are near to me.

All your commands are true.

I have known about your instructions for a long time.

And I have known that you made them to continue always.

RESH

Look at my trouble!

Save me because I do not forget your teaching.

Fight my fight for me and redeem me.

Keep me alive as your sayings promise me.

Godless people are far away from being safe.

They do not look for your laws.

LORD, your love is great,

because your rules keep me alive.

Many enemies persecute me

but I do not go away from your instructions.

I see people doing such bad things that I hate them.

But, I do not stop obeying your sayings.

See how I love your guidelines, LORD.

Keep me alive through your kind love.

All your words are true.

All your righteous rules will continue always.

SHIN

Princes persecute me for no good reason.

But it is your word that really makes my heart afraid.

I am very happy with your sayings.

I am like someone that finds great riches.

I do not like lies, I hate them.

Your teaching is what I love.

I praise you 7 times every day

because of your righteous rules.

People that love your teaching have a lot of peace.

Nothing will make them fall down.

LORD, I am waiting for you to save me

while I obey your commands.

I will keep to your instructions

because I love them so much.

I follow your guidelines and instructions

because you see all that I do.

TAV

I am calling to you for help, LORD.

I want to understand your word.

Hear what I pray and have mercy on me.

Save me, as your sayings promise me.

My lips will pour out praise

because you are teaching me your laws.

My tongue will sing your sayings

because all your commands are righteous.

I want your hand to come to my help

because I chose to follow your guidelines.

LORD, I want you to save me.

Your teaching makes me very happy.

Give me life so that I can praise you.

May your rules give me help.

I have become like a lost sheep.

Look for your servant,

because I have not forgotten your commands.

Psalm 120 (This is) a song for climbing.

I cried to the LORD in my trouble

and he answered me.

LORD, save me from lips that tell lies.

And save me from a false tongue.

What will he do to you

and what else will happen to you, you false tongue?

The sharp arrows of a soldier (will hurt you),

like wood that is burning.

It is bad for me to live in Mesech,

with a home among the tents of Kedar.

I have lived too long with the people that hate peace.

I want peace, but when I say this they want war.

Psalm 121 (This is) a song for climbing.

When I look up to the hills I find no help there.

My help comes from the LORD.

He made the heaven and the earth.

He will not let your foot slide.

The one that guards you will not sleep.

It is certain that he will not sleep.

The one that guards Israel will never sleep.

The LORD is the one that guards you.

The LORD is near you to protect you.

The sun will not hurt you in the day,

nor the moon at night.

The LORD is the one that guards you from all danger.

He is the one that guards your life.

The LORD guards you when you go out.

And he when guards you when you come in.

(He will do this) now and always.

Psalm 122 (This is) a song for climbing by David.

It made me very happy when they said to me,

"We will go into the house of the LORD".

(Now) our feet are standing inside your gates, Jerusalem!

Jerusalem is a city with buildings that fit near together.

The tribes go up there, the tribes of the LORD.

They go there to thank the LORD. All Israel will see it.

The thrones of the house of David are there.

Also, they sit there to judge the people.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

(Pray that) the people that love (Jerusalem) will be safe.

"I pray that there will be peace inside your walls.

And I pray that it will be safe inside your big houses".

Because of my brothers and friends I will pray,

"I want peace inside you."

Because of the house of the LORD our God,

I will hope for good things for you.

Psalm 123 (This is) a song for climbing.

I lift up my eyes to you (God).

You are sitting in heaven.

Our eyes look to the LORD our God:

· like men who are servants look to the hands of their masters;

· like a woman who is a servant looks to the hand of her mistress.

(LORD), have mercy on us.

Have mercy on us, LORD, have mercy on us.

We have had more than enough contempt.

We have had more than enough contempt

from the proud people that are oppressing us.

Psalm 124 (This is) a song for climbing by David.

If the LORD was not fighting for us – now Israel say it –

if the LORD was not fighting for us when men attacked:

· they would have eaten us alive because they were so angry,

· waters would have rushed over us

and a deep river would be over our heads,

· the angry waters would have gone over our heads and drowned us.

We will say good things to the LORD.

He did not let them eat us.

We are free and still alive, like a bird that got out of a trap.

The trap became broken and we are free.

The name of the person that sent us help is the LORD.

He made heaven and earth.

Psalm 125 (This is) a psalm for climbing.

People that trust in the LORD are like the mountain called Zion.

Nothing will move it; it will always be there.

Jerusalem has mountains all round it.

Also, the LORD is all round his people, now and always.

Wicked (people) will not always rule over the land.

(That is, the land) that (the LORD) gave to righteous people.

If they did, the righteous people might start doing bad things themselves.

Do good things, LORD, to good people.

(Good people) are upright in their hearts.

But LORD, take away those people that start doing bad things themselves.

Take them away with the wicked (people).

Let Israel be at peace!

Psalm 126 (This is) a psalm for climbing.

An army was attacking Zion.

When the LORD turned them away,

we were like people that were dreaming!

Then we laughed a lot.

And we shouted because we were so happy!

And (people in) other countries said (to each other),

"The LORD has done something wonderful for them!"

The LORD has done something wonderful for us

and we are very, very happy.

The LORD will give back again what we have lost.

It will be like water coming into a dry place where there is a lot of sand.

People that are crying will go out and plant seeds.

(Later) they will sing as they pick the fruits.

Someone will go out crying, but with a basket of seeds.

He will come home laughing, with a lot of food.

Psalm 127 (This is) a psalm for climbing by Solomon.

If the LORD does not build the house,

the workers cannot do anything.

There are men who watch (for danger).

But if the LORD does not guard the city,

they will be useless.

If you work all day for food,

from early morning to late at night,

you will get nothing.

It is God who gives sleep.

He gives it to the people that he loves.

Children are something that God gives.

The fruit of your body is a gift (from him).

The sons of a young man

are like arrows in the hand of a soldier.

The man with many of them will be very happy.

He will not be ashamed when he meets his enemies in the city gates.

Psalm 128 (This is) a song for climbing.

Everyone that is in awe of the LORD will be very happy.

They will walk in his ways.

You will eat the things that your hands have worked for.

You are very sure that you will. You will be happy!

Good things will happen to you!

Your wife in your house

will be like a vine that grows much fruit.

Your sons round your table

will be like branches of an olive tree.

The LORD does good things to the man that is in awe of him.

This is how he does it. Make a note of that.

The LORD of Zion will do good things to you.

Then you will see that Jerusalem is a good place

for as long as you are alive.

You will see your grandsons

and there will be peace in Israel.

Psalm 129 (This is) a song for climbing.

My enemies have often hurt me since I was a child.

Israel can now say this.

They have often hurt me since I was a child,

but they have not beaten me.

They ploughed on my back

like a farmer ploughing long furrows.

The LORD is righteous.

He has cut me free from my enemies.

Everybody that hates Zion will be ashamed.

So they will turn away.

They will become like a green plant on a roof.

It dies before it starts to grow!

A gardener cannot fill his hand (with it)

or a farmer (fill) his pocket.

People that go past will not say,

"We want the LORD to be kind to you!"

(They will not say)

“We want good things to happen to you in the name of the LORD!”

Psalm 130 (This is) a song for climbing.

LORD, I am crying to you because I am in great (trouble).

Lord, listen to my voice.

Turn your ears to hear what I am saying to you.

LORD, if you make a note of sins, who will stand?

But you forgive (people) so that they are in awe of you.

I will wait for the LORD.

I will wait for him and hope in his word.

I want the Lord more than people want the morning to come,

more than people want the morning.

Israel, hope in the LORD,

because with the LORD there is kind love and a lot of redeeming.

He will redeem Israel from all his sins.

Psalm 131

(This is) a song for climbing by David.

LORD, my heart is not proud, neither are my eyes (proud).

I do not try to do things that are too important for me.

I do not try to do things that are too hard for me.

Really, I have made myself calm and I have become quiet.

I am like a young child with its mother.

Yes, I am like a young child with its mother.

Israel, put your hope in the LORD, now and always.

Psalm 132 (This is) a song for climbing.

LORD, remember David and all his troubles.

He promised the LORD.

He made this special promise to the Mighty One of Jacob.

"I will not go into my house or get into my bed.

I will not shut my eyes or go to sleep

until I find a place for the LORD.

It will be a place where the Mighty One of Jacob will live".

We heard that it was at Ephratah.

And we found it in the fields of Jaar.

We will go into the place where he lives.

And we will worship at his feet.

Get up, LORD. And go into the place where you can rest.

Go in yourself, with the ark.

The ark shows that you are strong.

(I pray that) all your priests will be righteous

and all your saints will shout.

They will shout because they are so happy.

Remember your servant David

and do not turn away the face of your messiah.

The LORD promised David what would happen.

He will not turn from it.

"I will put the fruit of your body on your throne.

Your children should obey my rules.

And they should do what I will teach them.

Then their children will always sit on your throne".

The LORD chose Zion.

He wants it for a place to live in.

"This is where I will always rest. This is what I want.

So I will live here", he said.

"I will do a lot of good things for her.

I will give food to the poor people in her.

All her priests will be safe and her saints will shout aloud.

They will shout because they are so happy.

There I will make David very strong.

The light of my messiah will never go out.

His enemies will be ashamed.

But his crown will shine and be bright!’

Psalm 133 (This is) a song for climbing by David.

See how good it is.

And see what pleasure it brings when brothers stay together.

It is as a sweet oil poured on the head.

It goes down on to the beard, as it did on to Aaron’s beard.

It then poured down over his clothes.

It is like the dew on the mountain called Hermon.

It (also) pours down on to the mountains of Zion.

The LORD has said that it is a good place to be.

There is always life there.

Psalm 134 (This is) a song for climbing.

Come, all you servants of the LORD that stand in his house at night.

And say good things to the LORD.

Lift up your hands to where he lives.

And say good things to him.

Say good things to the LORD in Zion.

He made the heaven and the earth.

Psalm 135

Hallelujah! Praise the name of the LORD!

Praise him, you servants of the LORD!

You are standing in the house of the LORD.

You are standing in the courts of the house of our God.

Praise the LORD, because the LORD is good.

Praise his name with songs, because it is pleasant to do this.

(Praise his name) because the LORD chose Jacob for himself.

Israel is his own treasure.

(Praise his name) because I know that the LORD is great.

Our Lord is greater than all other gods.

The LORD does whatever he wants to do.

(He does this) in the sky and on the earth.

(And he does it) in the deepest parts of the sea.

(The LORD) makes clouds rise up all over the earth.

He sends rain with lightning.

He brings winds from where he stores them.

(God) destroyed the firstborn in Egypt, both men and animals.

He sent signs to warn Egypt. He did miracles in Egypt.

(He did them) to warn Pharaoh and his servants.

He destroyed many countries and killed many kings.

(He killed) Sihon the king of the Amorites.

(He also killed) Og the king of Bashan and all the kings of Canaan.

Then he gave their lands to his people Israel.

He gave (their lands) to them as a gift.

LORD, people will always remember your name.

You will always be famous.

And the LORD will defend his people.

Also, he will show his love to his servants.

(Other) countries make their idols with silver and gold.

Human hands made (those idols)!

They have mouths ... but they cannot speak!

(They have) eyes ... but they cannot see!

(They have) ears ... but they cannot hear!

(They have) mouths ... but they cannot breathe!

The people that made them will become as they are.

Also, everyone that trusts in them (will become as they are).

House of Israel, bless the LORD.

House of Aaron, bless the LORD.

House of Levi, bless the LORD.

(Everyone) that is afraid of him, bless the LORD.

Zion, bless the LORD that lives in Jerusalem.

Hallelujah!

Psalm 136

Thank the LORD, because he is good!

Thank him because his kind love will always continue.

Thank God, (who is) the greatest of the gods.

Thank him because his kind love will always continue.

Thank the Lord, (who is) the greatest lord.

Thank him because his kind love will always continue.

(Thank the LORD because):

· only he does great miracles