Psalm 25

Teach Me Your Paths

Of David.

1To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

2O my God, in you I trust;

let me not be put to shame;

let not my enemies exult over me.

3Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame;

they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.

4 Make me to know your ways, O Lord;

teach me your paths.

5Lead me in your truth and teach me,

for you are the God of my salvation;

for you I wait all the day long.

6Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love,

for they have been from of old.

7Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions;

according to your steadfast love remember me,

for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!

8 Good and upright is the Lord;

therefore he instructs sinners in the way.

9He leads the humble in what is right,

and teaches the humble his way.

10All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,

for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.

11For your name’s sake, O Lord,

pardon my guilt, for it is great.

12Who is the man who fears the Lord?

Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.

13His soul shall abide in well-being,

and his offspring shall inherit the land.

14 The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him,

and he makes known to them his covenant.

15My eyes are ever toward the Lord,

for he will pluck my feet out of the net.

16 Turn to me and be gracious to me,

for I am lonely and afflicted.

17The troubles of my heart are enlarged;

bring me out of my distresses.

18 Consider my affliction and my trouble,

and forgive all my sins.

19Consider how many are my foes,

and with what violent hatred they hate me.

20Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me!

Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.

21May integrity and uprightness preserve me,

for I wait for you.

22 Redeem Israel, O God,

out of all his troubles.

Psalm 29

Ascribe to the Lord Glory

A Psalm of David.

1Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,

ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

2Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;

worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.

3The voice of the Lord is over the waters;

the God of glory thunders,

the Lord, over many waters.

4The voice of the Lord is powerful;

the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.

5The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;

the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.

6He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf,

and Sirion like a young wild ox.

7The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.

8The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;

the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

9The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth

and strips the forests bare,

and in his temple all cry, “Glory!”

10The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;

the Lord sits enthroned as king forever.

11May the Lord give strength to his people!

May the Lord bless his people with peace!

The Lord’s Covenant with David

1 Now when David lived in his house, David said to Nathan the prophet, “Behold, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under a tent.” 2And Nathan said to David, “Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.”

3But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, 4“Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: It is not you who will build me a house to dwell in. 5For I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up Israel to this day, but I have gone from tent to tent and from dwelling to dwelling. 6In all places where I have moved with all Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’ 7Now, therefore, thus shall you say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be prince over my people Israel, 8and I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 9And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall waste them no more, as formerly, 10from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will subdue all your enemies. Moreover, I declare to you that the Lord will build you a house. 11When your days are fulfilled to walk with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. 12He shall build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. 13I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. I will not take my steadfast love from him, as I took it from him who was before you, 14but I will confirm him in my house and in my kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever.’” 15In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.

David’s Prayer

16Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and said, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? 17And this was a small thing in your eyes, O God. You have also spoken of your servant’s house for a great while to come, and have shown me future generations, O Lord God! 18And what more can David say to you for honoring your servant? For you know your servant. 19For your servant’s sake, O Lord, and according to your own heart, you have done all this greatness, in making known all these great things. 20There is none like you, O Lord, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 21And who is like your people Israel, the one nation on earth whom God went to redeem to be his people, making for yourself a name for great and awesome things, in driving out nations before your people whom you redeemed from Egypt? 22And you made your people Israel to be your people forever, and you, O Lord, became their God. 23And now, O Lord, let the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house be established forever, and do as you have spoken, 24and your name will be established and magnified forever, saying, ‘The Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, is Israel’s God,’ and the house of your servant David will be established before you. 25For you, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him. Therefore your servant has found courage to pray before you. 26And now, O Lord, you are God, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. 27Now you have been pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever before you, for it is you, O Lord, who have blessed, and it is blessed forever.”

The Lord’s Covenant with David

1 Now when the king lived in his house and the Lord had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, 2the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent.” 3And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.”

4But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, 5“Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: Would you build me a house to dwell in? 6I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling. 7In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’ 8Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. 9And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 10And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, 11from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. 12When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, 15but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 16And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’” 17In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.

David’s Prayer of Gratitude

18Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and said, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? 19And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord God. You have spoken also of your servant’s house for a great while to come, and this is instruction for mankind, O Lord God! 20And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord God! 21Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it. 22Therefore you are great, O Lord God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 23And who is like your people Israel, the one nation on earth whom God went to redeem to be his people, making himself a name and doing for them great and awesome things by driving out before your people, whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt, a nation and its gods? 24And you established for yourself your people Israel to be your people forever. And you, O Lord, became their God. 25And now, O Lord God, confirm forever the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, and do as you have spoken. 26And your name will be magnified forever, saying, ‘The Lord of hosts is God over Israel,’ and the house of your servant David will be established before you. 27For you, O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you. 28And now, O Lord God, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. 29Now therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you, O Lord God, have spoken, and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever.”

The Lord Has Chosen Zion

A Song of Ascents.

1Remember, O Lord, in David’s favor,

all the hardships he endured,

2how he swore to the Lord

and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob,

3“I will not enter my house

or get into my bed,

4I will not give sleep to my eyes

or slumber to my eyelids,

5until I find a place for the Lord,

a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.”

6Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah;

we found it in the fields of Jaar.

7“Let us go to his dwelling place;

let us worship at his footstool!”

8 Arise, O Lord, and go to your resting place,

you and the ark of your might.

9Let your priests be clothed with righteousness,

and let your saints shout for joy.

10For the sake of your servant David,

do not turn away the face of your anointed one.

11 The Lord swore to David a sure oath

from which he will not turn back:

“One of the sons of your body

I will set on your throne.

12If your sons keep my covenant

and my testimonies that I shall teach them,

their sons also forever

shall sit on your throne.”

13For the Lord has chosen Zion;

he has desired it for his dwelling place:

14“This is my resting place forever;

here I will dwell, for I have desired it.

15I will abundantly bless her provisions;

I will satisfy her poor with bread.

16Her priests I will clothe with salvation,

and her saints will shout for joy.

17There I will make a horn to sprout for David;

I have prepared a lamp for my anointed.

18His enemies I will clothe with shame,

but on him his crown will shine.”

Tell of All His Wondrous Works

1 Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name;

make known his deeds among the peoples!

2Sing to him, sing praises to him;

tell of all his wondrous works!

3Glory in his holy name;

let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!

4Seek the Lord and his strength;

seek his presence continually!

5Remember the wondrous works that he has done,

his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,

6O offspring of Abraham, his servant,

children of Jacob, his chosen ones!

7He is the Lord our God;

his judgments are in all the earth.

8He remembers his covenant forever,

the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations,

9 the covenant that he made with Abraham,

his sworn promise to Isaac,

10which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute,

to Israel as an everlasting covenant,

11saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan

as your portion for an inheritance.”

12When they were few in number,

of little account, and sojourners in it,

13wandering from nation to nation,

from one kingdom to another people,

14he allowed no one to oppress them;

he rebuked kings on their account,

15saying, “Touch not my anointed ones,

do my prophets no harm!”

16When he summoned a famine on the land

and broke all supply of bread,

17he had sent a man ahead of them,

Joseph, who was sold as a slave.

18His feet were hurt with fetters;

his neck was put in a collar of iron;

19until what he had said came to pass,

the word of the Lord tested him.

20 The king sent and released him;

the ruler of the peoples set him free;

21he made him lord of his house

and ruler of all his possessions,

22to bind his princes at his pleasure

and to teach his elders wisdom.

23Then Israel came to Egypt;

Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.

24And the Lord made his people very fruitful

and made them stronger than their foes.

25He turned their hearts to hate his people,

to deal craftily with his servants.

26He sent Moses, his servant,

and Aaron, whom he had chosen.

27 They performed his signs among them

and miracles in the land of Ham.

28He sent darkness, and made the land dark;

they did not rebel against his words.

29He turned their waters into blood

and caused their fish to die.

30Their land swarmed with frogs,

even in the chambers of their kings.

31He spoke, and there came swarms of flies,

and gnats throughout their country.

32He gave them hail for rain,

and fiery lightning bolts through their land.

33He struck down their vines and fig trees,

and shattered the trees of their country.

34He spoke, and the locusts came,

young locusts without number,

35which devoured all the vegetation in their land

and ate up the fruit of their ground.

36He struck down all the firstborn in their land,

the firstfruits of all their strength.

37Then he brought out Israel with silver and gold,

and there was none among his tribes who stumbled.

38 Egypt was glad when they departed,

for dread of them had fallen upon it.

39He spread a cloud for a covering,

and fire to give light by night.

40 They asked, and he brought quail,

and gave them bread from heaven in abundance.

41He opened the rock, and water gushed out;

it flowed through the desert like a river.

42For he remembered his holy promise,

and Abraham, his servant.

43So he brought his people out with joy,

his chosen ones with singing.

44And he gave them the lands of the nations,

and they took possession of the fruit of the peoples’ toil,

45that they might keep his statutes

and observe his laws.

Praise the Lord!

Psalm 100

His Steadfast Love Endures Forever

A Psalm for giving thanks.

1 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!

2 Serve the Lord with gladness!

Come into his presence with singing!

3Know that the Lord, he is God!

It is he who made us, and we are his;

we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,

and his courts with praise!

Give thanks to him; bless his name!

5 For the Lord is good;

his steadfast love endures forever,

and his faithfulness to all generations.

Psalm 101

I Will Walk with Integrity

A Psalm of David.

1I will sing of steadfast love and justice;

to you, O Lord, I will make music.

2I will ponder the way that is blameless.

Oh when will you come to me?

I will walk with integrity of heart

within my house;

3I will not set before my eyes

anything that is worthless.

I hate the work of those who fall away;

it shall not cling to me.

4 A perverse heart shall be far from me;

I will know nothing of evil.

5Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly

I will destroy.

Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart

I will not endure.

6I will look with favor on the faithful in the land,

that they may dwell with me;

he who walks in the way that is blameless

shall minister to me.

7No one who practices deceit

shall dwell in my house;

no one who utters lies

shall continue before my eyes.

8 Morning by morning I will destroy

all the wicked in the land,

cutting off all the evildoers

from the city of the Lord.

Worship in the Splendor of Holiness

1 Oh sing to the Lord a new song;

sing to the Lord, all the earth!

2Sing to the Lord, bless his name;

tell of his salvation from day to day.

3Declare his glory among the nations,

his marvelous works among all the peoples!

4For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;

he is to be feared above all gods.

5For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,

but the Lord made the heavens.

6Splendor and majesty are before him;

strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

7Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,

ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!

8Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;

bring an offering, and come into his courts!

9Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness;

tremble before him, all the earth!

10Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!

Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved;

he will judge the peoples with equity.”

11Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;

let the sea roar, and all that fills it;

12let the field exult, and everything in it!

Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy

13before the Lord, for he comes,

for he comes to judge the earth.

He will judge the world in righteousness,

and the peoples in his faithfulness.