23 I was upright before him, And kept myself from iniquity. 24 Therefore hath Jehovah rewarded me according to my righteousness, According to the cleanness of my hands before his eyes. 25 To the merciful thou showest thyself merciful; To the upright thou showest thyself upright; 26 To the pure thou showest thyself pure; And to the perverse thou showest thyself perverse. 27 For thou savest the afflicted people, 28 But the haughty countenance thou bringest down. Thou causest my lamp to shine, Jehovah, my God, enlighteneth my darkness. 29 For through thee I have broken through troops; Through my God I have leaped over walls. 30 The ways of God are just and true; His word is pure, tried in the fire; He is a shield to all, who put their trust in him. 31 Who then is God, save Jehovah ? And who is a rock, save our God? 32 It is God that girded me with strength, And made my way plain. 33 He made my feet like the hind's, And set me in my high places; 34 He taught my hands to war, So that my arm bent the bow of brass. 35 Thou gavest me the shield of thy protection ; Thy right hand held me up, And thy goodness made me great! 36 Thou didst make a wide path for my steps, feet did not stumble. So that my 37 I pursued my enemies, and overtook them, And turned not back, till I had destroyed them. 38 I smote them, so that they could not rise; They fell under my feet. 39 Thou didst gird me with strength for the battle; Thou didst prostrate my adversaries under me. 40 Thou didst cause my enemies to turn their backs, So that I destroyed them that hated me. 41 They cried, but there was none to help; To Jehovah, but he answered them not. 42 I beat them small, like dust before the wind; 43 I cast them out as the dirt of the streets. Thou hast delivered me from the assaults of the Thou hast made me the head of the nations; 44 They, who have only heard of me, obey me. Yea, men of a strange land are suppliants to me; 45 Men of a strange land fade away, like a leaf, And come trembling from their strong holds. 46 Jehovah is the living God; blessed be my 47 It is God, who hath given me vengeance, 48 He delivered me from my enemies; rock; Yea, thou hast lifted me up above mine adversaries; 49 Therefore I will give thanks to thee, O Lord, among the people, And sing praises to thy name! 50 Great deliverance giveth he to his king, And showeth mercy to his anointed; To David and to his race for ever. PSALM XIX. The glory of God manifested in the material creation, and in the law givPrayer for forgiveness and deliverance from temptation. 1 en to man. For the leader of the music. A psalm of David. THE heavens declare the glory of God; The firmament showeth forth the work of his hands. 2 Day uttereth instruction to day, And night showeth knowledge to night. 3 They have no speech, nor language, And their voice is not heard; 4 Yet their sound goeth forth to all the earth, And their words to the ends of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, 5 Which cometh forth like a bridegroom from his cham ber, And rejoiceth, like a strong man, to run his course. 6 He goeth forth from the extremity of heaven, 7 And maketh his circuit to the end of it; The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; The precepts of the Lord are sure, giving wisdom to the simple; 8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandments of the Lord are pure, enlighten ing the eyes; 9 The word of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. 10 More precious are they than gold; yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter than honey, and the honey-comb. 11 By them also is thy servant admonished, 12 And in keeping of them there is great reward. Who knoweth his own offences? O cleanse thou me from secret faults! 13 Keep back also thy servant from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me! Then shall I be upright; I shall not be polluted with gross transgression. 14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer ! V. 2. Day uttereth instruction to day, i. c. One day gives the lesson of praise to God to the following. — V. 8. Enlightening the eyes. See note on xiii. 3. PSALM XX. Prayer of a people for their king going to war. It may have been composed when David was going to war with the Syrians. 2 Sam. ch. viii. x. For the leader of the music. A psalm of David. 1 MAY Jehovah hear thee in the day of trouble; May the name of the God of Jacob defend thee! 2 May he send thee help from his sanctuary, And strengthen thee out of Zion! 3 May he have regard to all thine offerings, And accept thy burnt sacrifice! 4 May he grant thee thy heart's desire, And fulfil all thy purposes ! 5 We will rejoice in thy protection; 6 We will triumph in the name of our God; Now I know that Jehovah helpeth his anointed, That he heareth him from his holy heaven, And aideth him with the saving strength of his right hand. 7 Some glory in chariots, and some in horses, Triumphal song of a people for the victories of their king. Some suppose this psalm to relate to the Messiah. 1 For the leader of the music. A psalm of David. THE king rejoiceth in thy strength, O Lord! 2 Thou hast given him his heart's desire, And hast not denied him the request of his lips. 3 Yea, thou hast met him with rich blessings, Thou hast placed a crown of pure gold upon his head. 4 He asked life of thee; thou gavest it him ; Even long life, enduring for ever. |