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Psalm 21-25
Easy-to-Read Version
Psalm 21-25
Easy-to-Read Version
To the director: A song of David.
21 Lord, your strength makes the king happy.
He is so happy when you give him victory.
2 And you gave him what he wanted.
You gave him what he asked for. Selah
3 You gave the king such wonderful blessings.
You put a golden crown on his head.
4 He asked for life, and you gave it.
You gave him life that goes on forever.
5 You led him to victory that brought him great glory.
You gave him honor and fame.
6 You have given him blessings that will last forever.
You have given him the joy of being near you.
7 The king trusts in the Lord,
and the faithful love of God Most High will keep him from falling.
8 Lord, you will show all your enemies that you are strong.
Your power will defeat those who hate you.
9 When you appear,
you will burn them up like a blazing furnace.
In your anger, Lord, you will completely destroy them;
they will be swallowed by flames of fire.[a]
10 Their families will be destroyed.
They will be removed from the earth.
11 That is because they made evil plans against you.
They wanted to do things they could not do.
12 You will make them turn and run away
when you aim your arrows at their faces.
13 Lord, we lift you up with our songs of praise.
We sing and play songs about your power!
To the director: To the tune “The Deer of Dawn.”[b] A song of David.
22 My God, my God, why have you left me?
You seem too far away to save me,
too far to hear my cries for help!
2 My God, I kept calling by day,
and I was not silent at night.
But you did not answer me.
3 God, you are the Holy One.
You sit as King upon the praises of Israel.
4 Our ancestors trusted you.
Yes, they trusted you, and you saved them.
5 They called to you for help and escaped their enemies.
They trusted you and were not disappointed!
6 But I feel like a worm, less than human!
People insult me and look down on me.
7 Everyone who sees me makes fun of me.
They shake their heads and stick out their tongues at me.
8 They say, “Call to the Lord for help.
Maybe he will save you.
If he likes you so much, surely he will rescue you!”
9 God, the truth is, you are the one who brought me into this world.
You made me feel safe while I was still at my mother’s breasts.
10 You have been my God since the day I was born.
I was thrown into your arms as I came from my mother’s womb.
11 So don’t leave me!
Trouble is near, and there is no one to help me.
12 My enemies surround me like angry bulls.
They are like the powerful bulls of Bashan, and they are all around me.
13 Their mouths are opened wide,
like a lion roaring and tearing at its prey.
14 My strength is gone,
like water poured out on the ground.
My bones have separated.
My courage is gone.[c]
15 My mouth[d] is as dry as a piece of baked pottery.
My tongue is sticking to the roof of my mouth.
You have left me dying in the dust.
16 The “dogs” are all around me—
a pack[e] of evil people has trapped me.
They have pierced my hands and feet.[f]
17 I can see each one of my bones.
My enemies are looking at me;
they just keep staring.
18 They divide my clothes among themselves,
and they throw lots for what I am wearing.
19 Lord, don’t leave me!
You are my strength—hurry and help me!
20 Save me from the sword.
Save my precious life from these dogs.
21 Rescue me from the lion’s mouth.
Protect me from the horns of the bulls.[g]
22 I will tell my people about you.
I will praise you in the great assembly.
23 Praise the Lord, all you who worship him!
Honor him, you descendants of Jacob!
Fear and respect him, all you people of Israel!
24 He does not ignore those who need help.
He does not hate them.
He does not turn away from them.
He listens when they cry for help.
25 Lord, because of you I offer praise in the great assembly.
In front of all these worshipers I will do all that I promised.
26 Poor people, come eat and be satisfied.[h]
You who have come looking for the Lord, praise him!
May your hearts be happy[i] forever.
27 May those in faraway countries remember the Lord and come back to him.
May those in distant lands worship him,
28 because the Lord is the King.
He rules all nations.
29 The people have eaten all they wanted
and bowed down to worship him.
Yes, everyone will bow down to him—
all who are on the way to the grave, unable to hold on to life.
30 Our descendants will serve him.
Those who are not yet born will be told about him.
31 Each generation will tell their children
about the good things the Lord has done.
A song of David.
23 The Lord is my shepherd.
I will always have everything I need.[j]
2 He gives me green pastures to lie in.
He leads me by calm pools of water.
3 He restores my strength.
He leads me on right paths[k] to show that he is good.
4 Even if I walk through a valley as dark as the grave,[l]
I will not be afraid of any danger, because you are with me.
Your rod and staff[m] comfort me.
5 You prepared a meal for me in front of my enemies.
You welcomed me as an honored guest.[n]
My cup is full and spilling over.
6 Your goodness and mercy will be with me all my life,
and I will live in the Lord’s house[o] a long, long time.[p]
A song of David.
24 The earth and everything on it belong to the Lord.
The world and all its people belong to him.
2 He built the earth on the water.
He built it over the rivers.
3 Who can go up on the Lord’s mountain[q]?
Who can stand in his holy Temple?
4 Only those who have not done evil,
who have pure hearts,
who have not used my name[r] to hide their lies,
and who have not made false promises.
5 Good people ask the Lord to bless others.
They ask God, their Savior, to do good things.
6 They try to follow God.
They go to the God of Jacob for help. Selah
7 Gates, proudly lift your heads!
Open, ancient doors,
and the glorious King will come in.
8 Who is the glorious King?
He is the Lord, the powerful soldier.
He is the Lord, the war hero.
9 Gates, proudly lift your heads!
Open, ancient doors,
and the glorious King will come in.
10 Who is the glorious King?
The Lord All-Powerful is the glorious King. Selah
[s] A song of David.
25 Lord, I put my life in your hands.[t]
2 I trust in you, my God,
and I will not be disappointed.
My enemies will not laugh at me.
3 No one who trusts in you will be disappointed.
But disappointment will come to those who try to deceive others.
They will get nothing.
4 Lord, help me learn your ways.
Show me how you want me to live.
5 Guide me and teach me your truths.
You are my God, my Savior.
You are the one I have been waiting for.
6 Remember to be kind to me, Lord.
Show me the tender love that you have always had.
7 Don’t remember the sinful things I did when I was young.
Because you are good, Lord, remember me with your faithful love.
8 The Lord is good and does what is right.
He shows sinners the right way to live.
9 He teaches his ways to humble people.
He leads them with fairness.
10 The Lord is kind and true to those
who obey what he said in his agreement.
11 Lord, I have done many wrong things.
But I ask you to forgive them all to show your goodness.
12 When people choose to follow the Lord,
he shows them the best way to live.
13 They will enjoy good things,
and their children will get the land God promised.
14 The Lord tells his secrets to his followers.
He teaches them about his agreement.
15 I always look to the Lord for help.
Only he can free me from my troubles.[u]
16 I am hurt and lonely.
Turn to me, and show me mercy.
17 Free me from my troubles.
Help me solve my problems.
18 Look at my trials and troubles.
Forgive me for all the sins I have done.
19 Look at all the enemies I have.
They hate me and want to hurt me.
20 Protect me! Save me from them!
I come to you for protection, so don’t let me be disappointed.
21 You are good and do what is right.
I trust you to protect me.
22 God, save the people of Israel
from all their enemies.
Footnotes
- Psalm 21:9 Or “You will make your king like a burning oven when you come to help him, Lord. And in his anger, he will completely destroy them.”
- Psalm 22:1 Psalm 22 “The Deer of Dawn” This is probably the name of the tune for this song, but it might refer to a music style or type of instrument.
- Psalm 22:14 My courage is gone Literally, “My heart is melted inside me like wax.”
- Psalm 22:15 mouth Or “strength.”
- Psalm 22:16 pack A group of dogs. Dogs travel together in packs to hunt and kill other animals for food.
- Psalm 22:16 They … feet Literally, “Like a lion, my hands and feet.”
- Psalm 22:21 Protect me … bulls Or “You have answered me and protected me from the horns of the bulls.” This could be both a prayer for help (like the first half of the psalm) and also a statement that God had answered this prayer (like the second half of the psalm).
- Psalm 22:26 come eat … satisfied This person was giving a thank offering that would be shared with other people at the Temple. This was how someone shared their happiness when God blessed them. See Lev. 3:1-5 and Deut. 14:22-29.
- Psalm 22:26 be happy Literally, “live.”
- Psalm 23:1 I will … need Literally, “I will lack nothing.”
- Psalm 23:3 right paths Or “paths of goodness.”
- Psalm 23:4 valley … grave Or “death’s dark valley” or “a very dark valley.”
- Psalm 23:4 rod and staff The club and walking stick a shepherd uses to protect and guide his sheep.
- Psalm 23:5 You welcomed … guest Literally, “You anointed my head with oil.”
- Psalm 23:6 house Or “Temple.” See “Temple” in the Word List.
- Psalm 23:6 I … long time Or “I will return again and again to the Lord’s Temple for as long as I live.”
- Psalm 24:3 Lord’s mountain Mount Zion, the hill in Jerusalem where the Temple was built.
- Psalm 24:4 my name Literally, “my soul.”
- Psalm 25:1 Psalm 25 In Hebrew, each verse in this psalm begins with the next letter of the alphabet.
- Psalm 25:1 I put … hands Literally, “I lift my soul to you.”
- Psalm 25:15 Only … troubles Literally, “For he will remove my feet from the net.”
Psalm 21-25
New International Version
Psalm 21-25
New International Version
Psalm 21[a]
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
2 You have granted him his heart’s desire(C)
and have not withheld the request of his lips.[b]
3 You came to greet him with rich blessings
and placed a crown of pure gold(D) on his head.(E)
4 He asked you for life, and you gave it to him—
length of days, for ever and ever.(F)
5 Through the victories(G) you gave, his glory is great;
you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty.(H)
6 Surely you have granted him unending blessings
and made him glad with the joy(I) of your presence.(J)
7 For the king trusts in the Lord;(K)
through the unfailing love(L) of the Most High(M)
he will not be shaken.(N)
8 Your hand will lay hold(O) on all your enemies;
your right hand will seize your foes.
9 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.(P)
10 You will destroy their descendants from the earth,
their posterity from mankind.(Q)
11 Though they plot evil(R) against you
and devise wicked schemes,(S) they cannot succeed.
12 You will make them turn their backs(T)
when you aim at them with drawn bow.
Psalm 22[c]
For the director of music. To the tune of “The Doe of the Morning.” A psalm of David.
1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?(W)
Why are you so far(X) from saving me,
so far from my cries of anguish?(Y)
2 My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,(Z)
by night,(AA) but I find no rest.[d]
3 Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;(AB)
you are the one Israel praises.[e](AC)
4 In you our ancestors put their trust;
they trusted and you delivered them.(AD)
5 To you they cried out(AE) and were saved;
in you they trusted(AF) and were not put to shame.(AG)
6 But I am a worm(AH) and not a man,
scorned by everyone,(AI) despised(AJ) by the people.
7 All who see me mock me;(AK)
they hurl insults,(AL) shaking their heads.(AM)
8 “He trusts in the Lord,” they say,
“let the Lord rescue him.(AN)
Let him deliver him,(AO)
since he delights(AP) in him.”
9 Yet you brought me out of the womb;(AQ)
you made me trust(AR) in you, even at my mother’s breast.
10 From birth(AS) I was cast on you;
from my mother’s womb you have been my God.
12 Many bulls(AW) surround me;(AX)
strong bulls of Bashan(AY) encircle me.
13 Roaring lions(AZ) that tear their prey(BA)
open their mouths wide(BB) against me.
14 I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint.(BC)
My heart has turned to wax;(BD)
it has melted(BE) within me.
15 My mouth[f] is dried up like a potsherd,(BF)
and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;(BG)
you lay me in the dust(BH) of death.
16 Dogs(BI) surround me,
a pack of villains encircles me;
they pierce[g](BJ) my hands and my feet.
17 All my bones are on display;
people stare(BK) and gloat over me.(BL)
18 They divide my clothes among them
and cast lots(BM) for my garment.(BN)
19 But you, Lord, do not be far from me.(BO)
You are my strength;(BP) come quickly(BQ) to help me.(BR)
20 Deliver me from the sword,(BS)
my precious life(BT) from the power of the dogs.(BU)
21 Rescue me from the mouth of the lions;(BV)
save me from the horns of the wild oxen.(BW)
22 I will declare your name to my people;
in the assembly(BX) I will praise you.(BY)
23 You who fear the Lord, praise him!(BZ)
All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!(CA)
Revere him,(CB) all you descendants of Israel!
24 For he has not despised(CC) or scorned
the suffering of the afflicted one;(CD)
he has not hidden his face(CE) from him
but has listened to his cry for help.(CF)
25 From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly;(CG)
before those who fear you[h] I will fulfill my vows.(CH)
26 The poor will eat(CI) and be satisfied;
those who seek the Lord will praise him—(CJ)
may your hearts live forever!
27 All the ends of the earth(CK)
will remember and turn to the Lord,
and all the families of the nations
will bow down before him,(CL)
28 for dominion belongs to the Lord(CM)
and he rules over the nations.
29 All the rich(CN) of the earth will feast and worship;(CO)
all who go down to the dust(CP) will kneel before him—
those who cannot keep themselves alive.(CQ)
30 Posterity(CR) will serve him;
future generations(CS) will be told about the Lord.
31 They will proclaim his righteousness,(CT)
declaring to a people yet unborn:(CU)
He has done it!(CV)
Psalm 23
A psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my shepherd,(CW) I lack nothing.(CX)
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,(CY)
3 he refreshes my soul.(CZ)
He guides me(DA) along the right paths(DB)
for his name’s sake.(DC)
4 Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,[i](DD)
I will fear no evil,(DE)
for you are with me;(DF)
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table(DG) before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;(DH)
my cup(DI) overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love(DJ) will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
Psalm 24
Of David. A psalm.
1 The earth is the Lord’s,(DK) and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;(DL)
2 for he founded it on the seas
and established it on the waters.(DM)
3 Who may ascend the mountain(DN) of the Lord?
Who may stand in his holy place?(DO)
4 The one who has clean hands(DP) and a pure heart,(DQ)
who does not trust in an idol(DR)
or swear by a false god.[j]
5 They will receive blessing(DS) from the Lord
and vindication(DT) from God their Savior.
6 Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek your face,(DU) God of Jacob.[k][l]
7 Lift up your heads, you gates;(DV)
be lifted up, you ancient doors,
that the King(DW) of glory(DX) may come in.(DY)
8 Who is this King of glory?
The Lord strong and mighty,(DZ)
the Lord mighty in battle.(EA)
9 Lift up your heads, you gates;
lift them up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
10 Who is he, this King of glory?
The Lord Almighty(EB)—
he is the King of glory.
Psalm 25[m]
Of David.
1 In you, Lord my God,
I put my trust.(EC)
2 I trust in you;(ED)
do not let me be put to shame,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.
3 No one who hopes in you
will ever be put to shame,(EE)
but shame will come on those
who are treacherous(EF) without cause.
4 Show me your ways, Lord,
teach me your paths.(EG)
5 Guide me in your truth(EH) and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,(EI)
and my hope is in you(EJ) all day long.
6 Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love,(EK)
for they are from of old.
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth(EL)
and my rebellious ways;(EM)
according to your love(EN) remember me,
for you, Lord, are good.(EO)
8 Good and upright(EP) is the Lord;
therefore he instructs(EQ) sinners in his ways.
9 He guides(ER) the humble in what is right
and teaches them(ES) his way.
10 All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful(ET)
toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.(EU)
11 For the sake of your name,(EV) Lord,
forgive(EW) my iniquity,(EX) though it is great.
12 Who, then, are those who fear the Lord?(EY)
He will instruct them in the ways(EZ) they should choose.[n]
13 They will spend their days in prosperity,(FA)
and their descendants will inherit the land.(FB)
14 The Lord confides(FC) in those who fear him;
he makes his covenant known(FD) to them.
15 My eyes are ever on the Lord,(FE)
for only he will release my feet from the snare.(FF)
16 Turn to me(FG) and be gracious to me,(FH)
for I am lonely(FI) and afflicted.
17 Relieve the troubles(FJ) of my heart
and free me from my anguish.(FK)
18 Look on my affliction(FL) and my distress(FM)
and take away all my sins.(FN)
19 See how numerous are my enemies(FO)
and how fiercely they hate me!(FP)
20 Guard my life(FQ) and rescue me;(FR)
do not let me be put to shame,(FS)
for I take refuge(FT) in you.
21 May integrity(FU) and uprightness(FV) protect me,
because my hope, Lord,[o] is in you.(FW)
22 Deliver Israel,(FX) O God,
from all their troubles!
Footnotes
- Psalm 21:1 In Hebrew texts 21:1-13 is numbered 21:2-14.
- Psalm 21:2 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
- Psalm 22:1 In Hebrew texts 22:1-31 is numbered 22:2-32.
- Psalm 22:2 Or night, and am not silent
- Psalm 22:3 Or Yet you are holy, / enthroned on the praises of Israel
- Psalm 22:15 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text strength
- Psalm 22:16 Dead Sea Scrolls and some manuscripts of the Masoretic Text, Septuagint and Syriac; most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text me, / like a lion
- Psalm 22:25 Hebrew him
- Psalm 23:4 Or the valley of the shadow of death
- Psalm 24:4 Or swear falsely
- Psalm 24:6 Two Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac (see also Septuagint); most Hebrew manuscripts face, Jacob
- Psalm 24:6 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 10.
- Psalm 25:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
- Psalm 25:12 Or ways he chooses
- Psalm 25:21 Septuagint; Hebrew does not have Lord.
Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
Copyright © 2006 by Bible League International
New International Version (NIV) 
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