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Psalm

Psalm 64

A Prayer for Protection

1 I am in trouble, God—listen to my prayer!

I am afraid of my enemies—save my life!

2 Protect me from the plots of the wicked,

from mobs of evil people.

3 They sharpen their tongues like swords

and aim cruel words like arrows.

4 They are quick to spread their shameless lies;

they destroy good people with cowardly slander.

5 They encourage each other in their evil plots;

they talk about where they will place their traps.

“No one can see them,” they say.

6 They make evil plans and say,

“We have planned a perfect crime.”

The human heart and mind are a mystery.

7 But God shoots his arrows at them,

and suddenly they are wounded.

8 He will destroy them because of those words;

all who see them will shake their heads.

9 They will all be afraid;

they will think about what God has done

and tell about his deeds.

10 All righteous people will rejoice

because of what theLordhas done.

They will find safety in him;

all good people will praise him.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/PSA/64-2451cdb7b6a8f82a8d832c6a39824a42.mp3?version_id=68—

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Psalm

Psalm 65

Praise and Thanksgiving

1 O God, it is right for us to praise you in Zion

and keep our promises to you,

2 because you answer prayers.

People everywhere will come to you

3 on account of their sins.

Our faults defeat us,

but you forgive them.

4 Happy are those whom you choose,

whom you bring to live in your sanctuary.

We shall be satisfied with the good things of your house,

the blessings of your sacred Temple.

5 You answer us by giving us victory,

and you do wonderful things to save us.

People all over the world

and across the distant seas trust in you.

6 You set the mountains in place by your strength,

showing your mighty power.

7 You calm the roar of the seas

and the noise of the waves;

you calm the uproar of the peoples.

8 The whole world stands in awe

of the great things that you have done.

Your deeds bring shouts of joy

from one end of the earth to the other.

9 You show your care for the land by sending rain;

you make it rich and fertile.

You fill the streams with water;

you provide the earth with crops.

This is how you do it:

10 you send abundant rain on the plowed fields

and soak them with water;

you soften the soil with showers

and cause the young plants to grow.

11 What a rich harvest your goodness provides!

Wherever you go there is plenty.

12 The pastures are filled with flocks;

the hillsides are full of joy.

13 The fields are covered with sheep;

the valleys are full of wheat.

Everything shouts and sings for joy.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/PSA/65-61881943ba87e8b86dc54ff6d3415d83.mp3?version_id=68—

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Psalm

Psalm 66

A Song of Praise and Thanksgiving

1 Praise God with shouts of joy, all people!

2 Sing to the glory of his name;

offer him glorious praise!

3 Say to God, “How wonderful are the things you do!

Your power is so great

that your enemies bow down in fear before you.

4 Everyone on earth worships you;

they sing praises to you,

they sing praises to your name.”

5 Come and see what God has done,

his wonderful acts among people.

6 He changed the sea into dry land;

our ancestors crossed the river on foot.

There we rejoiced because of what he did.

7 He rules forever by his might

and keeps his eyes on the nations.

Let no rebels rise against him.

8 Praise our God, all nations;

let your praise be heard.

9 He has kept us alive

and has not allowed us to fall.

10 You have put us to the test, God;

as silver is purified by fire,

so you have tested us.

11 You let us fall into a trap

and placed heavy burdens on our backs.

12 You let our enemies trample us;

we went through fire and flood,

but now you have brought us to a place of safety.

13 I will bring burnt offerings to your house;

I will offer you what I promised.

14 I will give you what I said I would

when I was in trouble.

15 I will offer sheep to be burned on the altar;

I will sacrifice bulls and goats,

and the smoke will go up to the sky.

16 Come and listen, all who honor God,

and I will tell you what he has done for me.

17 I cried to him for help;

I praised him with songs.

18 If I had ignored my sins,

the Lord would not have listened to me.

19 But God has indeed heard me;

he has listened to my prayer.

20 I praise God,

because he did not reject my prayer

or keep back his constant love from me.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/PSA/66-aee0ecb0b8c8a1aaa131695f781c63fa.mp3?version_id=68—

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Psalm

Psalm 67

A Song of Thanksgiving

1 God, be merciful to us and bless us;

look on us with kindness,

2 so that the whole world may know your will;

so that all nations may know your salvation.

3 May the peoples praise you, O God;

may all the peoples praise you!

4 May the nations be glad and sing for joy,

because you judge the peoples with justice

and guide every nation on earth.

5 May the peoples praise you, O God;

may all the peoples praise you!

6 The land has produced its harvest;

God, our God, has blessed us.

7 God has blessed us;

may all people everywhere honor him.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/PSA/67-3acfc00af0819074f1739529df315bd1.mp3?version_id=68—

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Psalm

Psalm 68

A National Song of Triumph

1 God rises up and scatters his enemies.

Those who hate him run away in defeat.

2 As smoke is blown away, so he drives them off;

as wax melts in front of the fire,

so do the wicked perish in God’s presence.

3 But the righteous are glad and rejoice in his presence;

they are happy and shout for joy.

4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name;

prepare a way for him who rides on the clouds.

His name is theLord—be glad in his presence!

5 God, who lives in his sacred Temple,

cares for orphans and protects widows.

6 He gives the lonely a home to live in

and leads prisoners out into happy freedom,

but rebels will have to live in a desolate land.

7 O God, when you led your people,

when you marched across the desert,

8 the earth shook, and the sky poured down rain,

because of the coming of the God of Sinai,

the coming of the God of Israel.

9 You caused abundant rain to fall

and restored your worn-out land;

10 your people made their home there;

in your goodness you provided for the poor.

11 The Lord gave the command,

and many women carried the news:

12 “Kings and their armies are running away!”

The women at home divided what was captured:

13 figures of doves covered with silver,

whose wings glittered with fine gold.

(Why did some of you stay among the sheep pens on the day of battle?)

14 When Almighty God scattered the kings on Mount Zalmon,

he caused snow to fall there.

15 What a mighty mountain is Bashan,

a mountain of many peaks!

16 Why from your mighty peaks do you look with scorn

on the mountainon which God chose to live?

TheLordwill live there forever!

17 With his many thousands of mighty chariots

the Lord comes from Sinaiinto the holy place.

18 He goes up to the heights,

taking many captives with him;

he receives gifts from rebellious people.

TheLordGod will live there.

19 Praise the Lord,

who carries our burdens day after day;

he is the God who saves us.

20 Our God is a God who saves;

he is theLord, our Lord,

who rescues us from death.

21 God will surely break the heads of his enemies,

of those who persist in their sinful ways.

22 The Lord has said, “I will bring your enemies back from Bashan;

I will bring them back from the depths of the ocean,

23 so that you may wade in their blood,

and your dogs may lap up as much as they want.”

24 O God, your march of triumph is seen by all,

the procession of God, my king, into his sanctuary.

25 The singers are in front, the musicians are behind,

in between are the young women beating the tambourines.

26 “Praise God in the meeting of his people;

praise theLord, all you descendants of Jacob!”

27 First comes Benjamin, the smallest tribe,

then the leaders of Judah with their group,

followed by the leaders of Zebulun and Naphtali.

28 Show your power, O God,

the power you have used on our behalf

29 from your Temple in Jerusalem,

where kings bring gifts to you.

30 Rebuke Egypt, that wild animal in the reeds;

rebuke the nations, that herd of bulls with their calves,

until they all bow down and offer you their silver.

Scatter those people who love to make war!

31 Ambassadorswill come from Egypt;

the Ethiopianswill raise their hands in prayer to God.

32 Sing to God, kingdoms of the world,

sing praise to the Lord,

33 to him who rides in the sky,

the ancient sky.

Listen to him shout with a mighty roar.

34 Proclaim God’s power;

his majesty is over Israel,

his might is in the skies.

35 How awesome is God as he comes from his sanctuary—

the God of Israel!

He gives strength and power to his people.

Praise God!

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/PSA/68-40c14a01e2289e48b46ae972afa3f193.mp3?version_id=68—

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Psalm

Psalm 69

A Cry for Help

1 Save me, O God!

The water is up to my neck;

2 I am sinking in deep mud,

and there is no solid ground;

I am out in deep water,

and the waves are about to drown me.

3 I am worn out from calling for help,

and my throat is aching.

I have strained my eyes,

looking for your help.

4 Those who hate me for no reason

are more numerous than the hairs of my head.

My enemies tell lies against me;

they are strong and want to kill me.

They made me give back things I did not steal.

5 My sins, O God, are not hidden from you;

you know how foolish I have been.

6 Don’t let me bring shame on those who trust in you,

SovereignLordAlmighty!

Don’t let me bring disgrace to those who worship you,

O God of Israel!

7 It is for your sake that I have been insulted

and that I am covered with shame.

8 I am like a stranger to my relatives,

like a foreigner to my family.

9 My devotion to your Temple burns in me like a fire;

the insults which are hurled at you fall on me.

10 I humble myselfby fasting,

and people insult me;

11 I dress myself in clothes of mourning,

and they laugh at me.

12 They talk about me in the streets,

and drunkards make up songs about me.

13 But as for me, I will pray to you,Lord;

answer me, God, at a time you choose.

Answer me because of your great love,

because you keep your promise to save.

14 Save me from sinking in the mud;

keep me safe from my enemies,

safe from the deep water.

15 Don’t let the flood come over me;

don’t let me drown in the depths

or sink into the grave.

16 Answer me,Lord, in the goodness of your constant love;

in your great compassion turn to me!

17 Don’t hide yourself from your servant;

I am in great trouble—answer me now!

18 Come to me and save me;

rescue me from my enemies.

19 You know how I am insulted,

how I am disgraced and dishonored;

you see all my enemies.

20 Insults have broken my heart,

and I am in despair.

I had hoped for sympathy, but there was none;

for comfort, but I found none.

21 When I was hungry, they gave me poison;

when I was thirsty, they offered me vinegar.

22 May their banquets cause their ruin;

may their sacred feasts cause their downfall.

23 Strike them with blindness!

Make their backs always weak!

24 Pour out your anger on them;

let your indignation overtake them.

25 May their camps be left deserted;

may no one be left alive in their tents.

26 They persecute those whom you have punished;

they talk about the sufferings of those you have wounded.

27 Keep a record of all their sins;

don’t let them have any part in your salvation.

28 May their names be erased from the book of the living;

may they not be included in the list of your people.

29 But I am in pain and despair;

lift me up, O God, and save me!

30 I will praise God with a song;

I will proclaim his greatness by giving him thanks.

31 This will please theLordmore than offering him cattle,

more than sacrificing a full-grown bull.

32 When the oppressed see this, they will be glad;

those who worship God will be encouraged.

33 TheLordlistens to those in need

and does not forget his people in prison.

34 Praise God, O heaven and earth,

seas and all creatures in them.

35 He will save Jerusalem

and rebuild the towns of Judah.

His people will live there and possess the land;

36 the descendants of his servants will inherit it,

and those who love him will live there.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/PSA/69-bbd71116852e22aafb349edfcd881aec.mp3?version_id=68—

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Psalm

Psalm 70

A Prayer for Help

1 Save me, O God!

Lord, help me now!

2 May those who try to kill me

be defeated and confused.

May those who are happy because of my troubles

be turned back and disgraced.

3 May those who make fun of me

be dismayed by their defeat.

4 May all who come to you

be glad and joyful.

May all who are thankful for your salvation

always say, “How great is God!”

5 I am weak and poor;

come to me quickly, O God.

You are my savior and myLord—

hurry to my aid!

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/PSA/70-deb854c7efea99e25a47095b4ca6c6ec.mp3?version_id=68—

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Psalm

Psalm 71

The Prayer of an Elderly Person

1 Lord, I have come to you for protection;

never let me be defeated!

2 Because you are righteous, help me and rescue me.

Listen to me and save me!

3 Be my secure shelter

and a strong fortressto protect me;

you are my refuge and defense.

4 My God, rescue me from wicked people,

from the power of cruel and evil people.

5 SovereignLord, I put my hope in you;

I have trusted in you since I was young.

6 I have relied on you all my life;

you have protectedme since the day I was born.

I will always praise you.

7 My life has been an example to many,

because you have been my strong defender.

8 All day long I praise you

and proclaim your glory.

9 Do not reject me now that I am old;

do not abandon me now that I am feeble.

10 My enemies want to kill me;

they talk and plot against me.

11 They say, “God has abandoned him;

let’s go after him and catch him;

there is no one to rescue him.”

12 Don’t stay so far away, O God;

my God, hurry to my aid!

13 May those who attack me

be defeated and destroyed.

May those who try to hurt me

be shamed and disgraced.

14 I will always put my hope in you;

I will praise you more and more.

15 I will tell of your goodness;

all day long I will speak of your salvation,

though it is more than I can understand.

16 I will go in the strength of theLordGod;

I will proclaim your goodness, yours alone.

17 You have taught me ever since I was young,

and I still tell of your wonderful acts.

18 Now that I am old and my hair is gray,

do not abandon me, O God!

Be with me while I proclaim your power and might

to all generations to come.

19 Your righteousness, God, reaches the skies.

You have done great things;

there is no one like you.

20 You have sent troubles and suffering on me,

but you will restore my strength;

you will keep me from the grave.

21 You will make me greater than ever;

you will comfort me again.

22 I will indeed praise you with the harp;

I will praise your faithfulness, my God.

On my harp I will play hymns to you,

the Holy One of Israel.

23 I will shout for joy as I play for you;

with my whole being I will sing

because you have saved me.

24 I will speak of your righteousness all day long,

because those who tried to harm me

have been defeated and disgraced.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/PSA/71-a187f8d94c00edab7b4d3f88825f444d.mp3?version_id=68—

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Psalm

Psalm 72

A Prayer for the King

1 Teach the king to judge with your righteousness, O God;

share with him your own justice,

2 so that he will rule over your people with justice

and govern the oppressed with righteousness.

3 May the land enjoy prosperity;

may it experience righteousness.

4 May the king judge the poor fairly;

may he help the needy

and defeat their oppressors.

5 May your people worship you as long as the sun shines,

as long as the moon gives light, for ages to come.

6 May the king be like rain on the fields,

like showers falling on the land.

7 May righteousness flourish in his lifetime,

and may prosperity last as long as the moon gives light.

8 His kingdom will reach from sea to sea,

from the Euphrates to the ends of the earth.

9 The peoples of the desert will bow down before him;

his enemies will throw themselves to the ground.

10 The kings of Spain and of the islands will offer him gifts;

the kings of Sheba and Sebawill bring him offerings.

11 All kings will bow down before him;

all nations will serve him.

12 He rescues the poor who call to him,

and those who are needy and neglected.

13 He has pity on the weak and poor;

he saves the lives of those in need.

14 He rescues them from oppression and violence;

their lives are precious to him.

15 Long live the king!

May he be given gold from Sheba;

may prayers be said for him at all times;

may God’s blessings be on him always!

16 May there be plenty of grain in the land;

may the hills be covered with crops,

as fruitful as those of Lebanon.

May the cities be filled with people,

like fields full of grass.

17 May the king’s name never be forgotten;

may his fame last as long as the sun.

May all nations ask God to bless them

as he has blessed the king.

18 Praise theLord, the God of Israel!

He alone does these wonderful things.

19 Praise his glorious name forever!

May his glory fill the whole world.

Amen! Amen!

20 This is the end of the prayers of David son of Jesse.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/PSA/72-09eec5b229f8381e629302dd4e821c2a.mp3?version_id=68—

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Psalm

Psalm 73

The Justice of God

1 God is indeed good to Israel,

to those who have pure hearts.

2 But I had nearly lost confidence;

my faith was almost gone

3 because I was jealous of the proud

when I saw that things go well for the wicked.

4 They do not suffer pain;

they are strong and healthy.

5 They do not suffer as other people do;

they do not have the troubles that others have.

6 And so they wear pride like a necklace

and violence like a robe;

7 their hearts pour out evil,

and their minds are busy with wicked schemes.

8 They laugh at other people and speak of evil things;

they are proud and make plans to oppress others.

9 They speak evil of God in heaven

and give arrogant orders to everyone on earth,

10 so that even God’s people turn to them

and eagerly believe whatever they say.

11 They say, “God will not know;

the Most High will not find out.”

12 That is what the wicked are like.

They have plenty and are always getting more.

13 Is it for nothing, then, that I have kept myself pure

and have not committed sin?

14 O God, you have made me suffer all day long;

every morning you have punished me.

15 If I had said such things,

I would not be acting as one of your people.

16 I tried to think this problem through,

but it was too difficult for me

17 until I went into your Temple.

Then I understood what will happen to the wicked.

18 You will put them in slippery places

and make them fall to destruction!

19 They are instantly destroyed;

they go down to a horrible end.

20 They are like a dream that goes away in the morning;

when you rouse yourself, O Lord, they disappear.

21 When my thoughts were bitter

and my feelings were hurt,

22 I was as stupid as an animal;

I did not understand you.

23 Yet I always stay close to you,

and you hold me by the hand.

24 You guide me with your instruction

and at the end you will receive me with honor.

25 What else do I have in heaven but you?

Since I have you, what else could I want on earth?

26 My mind and my body may grow weak,

but God is my strength;

he is all I ever need.

27 Those who abandon you will certainly perish;

you will destroy those who are unfaithful to you.

28 But as for me, how wonderful to be near God,

to find protection with the SovereignLord

and to proclaim all that he has done!

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/PSA/73-2f08841b8b0f0fc9a4afca40dcebd82e.mp3?version_id=68—