Psalm 19[a]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

The heavens(A) declare(B) the glory of God;(C)
    the skies(D) proclaim the work of his hands.(E)
Day after day they pour forth speech;
    night after night they reveal knowledge.(F)
They have no speech, they use no words;
    no sound is heard from them.
Yet their voice[b] goes out into all the earth,
    their words to the ends of the world.(G)
In the heavens God has pitched a tent(H) for the sun.(I)
    It is like a bridegroom(J) coming out of his chamber,(K)
    like a champion(L) rejoicing to run his course.
It rises at one end of the heavens(M)
    and makes its circuit to the other;(N)
    nothing is deprived of its warmth.

The law of the Lord(O) is perfect,(P)
    refreshing the soul.(Q)
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,(R)
    making wise the simple.(S)
The precepts of the Lord are right,(T)
    giving joy(U) to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
    giving light to the eyes.(V)
The fear of the Lord(W) is pure,
    enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm,
    and all of them are righteous.(X)

10 They are more precious than gold,(Y)
    than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,(Z)
    than honey from the honeycomb.(AA)
11 By them your servant is warned;
    in keeping them there is great reward.
12 But who can discern their own errors?
    Forgive my hidden faults.(AB)
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;(AC)
    may they not rule over me.(AD)
Then I will be blameless,(AE)
    innocent of great transgression.

14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
    be pleasing(AF) in your sight,
    Lord, my Rock(AG) and my Redeemer.(AH)

Psalm 20[c]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

May the Lord answer you when you are in distress;(AI)
    may the name of the God of Jacob(AJ) protect you.(AK)
May he send you help(AL) from the sanctuary(AM)
    and grant you support(AN) from Zion.(AO)
May he remember(AP) all your sacrifices
    and accept your burnt offerings.[d](AQ)
May he give you the desire of your heart(AR)
    and make all your plans succeed.(AS)
May we shout for joy(AT) over your victory
    and lift up our banners(AU) in the name of our God.

May the Lord grant all your requests.(AV)

Now this I know:
    The Lord gives victory to his anointed.(AW)
He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary
    with the victorious power of his right hand.(AX)
Some trust in chariots(AY) and some in horses,(AZ)
    but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.(BA)
They are brought to their knees and fall,(BB)
    but we rise up(BC) and stand firm.(BD)
Lord, give victory to the king!
    Answer us(BE) when we call!

Psalm 21[e]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

The king rejoices in your strength, Lord.(BF)
    How great is his joy in the victories you give!(BG)

You have granted him his heart’s desire(BH)
    and have not withheld the request of his lips.[f]
You came to greet him with rich blessings
    and placed a crown of pure gold(BI) on his head.(BJ)
He asked you for life, and you gave it to him—
    length of days, for ever and ever.(BK)
Through the victories(BL) you gave, his glory is great;
    you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty.(BM)
Surely you have granted him unending blessings
    and made him glad with the joy(BN) of your presence.(BO)
For the king trusts in the Lord;(BP)
    through the unfailing love(BQ) of the Most High(BR)
    he will not be shaken.(BS)

Your hand will lay hold(BT) on all your enemies;
    your right hand will seize your foes.
When you appear for battle,
    you will burn them up as in a blazing furnace.
The Lord will swallow them up in his wrath,
    and his fire will consume them.(BU)
10 You will destroy their descendants from the earth,
    their posterity from mankind.(BV)
11 Though they plot evil(BW) against you
    and devise wicked schemes,(BX) they cannot succeed.
12 You will make them turn their backs(BY)
    when you aim at them with drawn bow.

13 Be exalted(BZ) in your strength, Lord;(CA)
    we will sing and praise your might.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 19:1 In Hebrew texts 19:1-14 is numbered 19:2-15.
  2. Psalm 19:4 Septuagint, Jerome and Syriac; Hebrew measuring line
  3. Psalm 20:1 In Hebrew texts 20:1-9 is numbered 20:2-10.
  4. Psalm 20:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
  5. Psalm 21:1 In Hebrew texts 21:1-13 is numbered 21:2-14.
  6. Psalm 21:2 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.

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