Psalm 24-26

Common English Bible

Psalm 24

A psalm of David.

24 The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it,
the world and its inhabitants too.
²Because God is the one who established it on the seas;
God set it firmly on the waters.

³Who can ascend the Lord’s mountain?
    Who can stand in his holy sanctuary?
⁴Only the one with clean hands and a pure heart;
    the one who hasn’t made false promises,
    the one who hasn’t sworn dishonestly.
⁵That kind of person receives blessings from the Lord
    and righteousness from the God who saves.
⁶And that’s how things are
    with the generation that seeks him—
    that seeks the face of Jacob’s God.^[a] Selah

⁷Mighty gates: lift up your heads!
    Ancient doors: rise up high!
        So the glorious king can enter!
⁸Who is this glorious king?
    The Lord—strong and powerful!
    The Lord—powerful in battle!
⁹Mighty gates: lift up your heads!
    Ancient doors: rise up high!
        So the glorious king can enter!
¹⁰Who is this glorious king?
    The Lord of heavenly forces—
        he is the glorious king! Selah

Psalm 25^[b]

Of David.

25 I offer my life^[c] to you, Lord.
²    My God, I trust you.
Please don’t let me be put to shame!
    Don’t let my enemies rejoice over me!
³For that matter,
    don’t let anyone who hopes in you
        be put to shame;
    instead, let those who are treacherous without excuse be put to shame.

⁴Make your ways known to me, Lord;
    teach me your paths.
⁵Lead me in your truth—teach it to me—
    because you are the God who saves me.
        I put my hope in you all day long.
⁶Lord, remember your compassion and faithful love—
    they are forever!
⁷But don’t remember the sins of my youth or my wrongdoing.
    Remember me only according to your faithful love
        for the sake of your goodness, Lord.

⁸The Lord is good and does the right thing;
    he teaches sinners which way they should go.
⁹God guides the weak to justice,
    teaching them his way.
¹⁰All the Lord’s paths are loving and faithful
    for those who keep his covenant and laws.
¹¹Please, for the sake of your good name, Lord, forgive my sins, which are many!

¹²Where are the ones who honor the Lord?
    God will teach them which path to take.
¹³They will live a good life,
    and their descendants will possess the land.
¹⁴The Lord counsels those who honor him;
    he makes his covenant known to them.
¹⁵My eyes are always looking to the Lord
    because he will free my feet from the net.

¹⁶Turn to me, God, and have mercy on me
    because I’m alone and suffering.
¹⁷My heart’s troubles keep getting bigger—
    set me free from my distress!
¹⁸Look at my suffering and trouble—
    forgive all my sins!
¹⁹Look at how many enemies I have
    and how violently they hate me!
²⁰Please protect my life! Deliver me!
    Don’t let me be put to shame
    because I take refuge in you.
²¹Let integrity and virtue guard me
    because I hope in you.

²²Please, God, save Israel from all its troubles!

Psalm 26

Of David.

26 Establish justice for me, Lord,
    because I have walked with integrity.
    I’ve trusted the Lord without wavering.
²Examine me, Lord; put me to the test!
    Purify^[d] my mind^[e] and my heart.
³Because your faithful love is right in front of me—
    I walk in your truth!
⁴I don’t spend time with people up to no good;
    I don’t keep company with liars.
⁵I detest the company of evildoers,
    and I don’t sit with wicked people.
⁶I wash my hands—they are innocent!
    I walk all around your altar, Lord,
⁷        proclaiming out loud my thanks,
        declaring all your wonderful deeds!
⁸I love the beauty^[f] of your house, Lord;
    I love the place where your glory resides.

⁹Don’t gather me^[g] up with the sinners,
    taking my life along with violent people
¹⁰    in whose hands are evil schemes,
    whose strong hands are full of bribes.
¹¹But me? I walk with integrity.
    Save me! Have mercy on me!