Praying the Psalms

¹A Psalm by David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall lack nothing. ²He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. ³He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. ⁴Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. ⁵You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup runs over. ⁶Surely goodness and loving kindness shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the LORD’s house forever.

¹For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, God, according to your loving kindness. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. ²Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity. Cleanse me from my sin. ³For I know my transgressions. My sin is constantly before me. ⁴Against you, and you only, I have sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight, so you may be proved right when you speak, and justified when you judge. ⁵Behold, I was born in iniquity. My mother conceived me in sin. ⁶Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts. You teach me wisdom in the inmost place. ⁷Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. ⁸Let me hear joy and gladness, that the bones which you have broken may rejoice. ⁹Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all of my iniquities. ¹⁰Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me. ¹¹Don’t throw me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. ¹²Restore to me the joy of your salvation. Uphold me with a willing spirit. ¹³Then I will teach transgressors your ways. Sinners will be converted to you. ¹⁴Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, the God of my salvation. My tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. ¹⁵Lord, open my lips. My mouth will declare your praise. ¹⁶For you don’t delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it. You have no pleasure in burnt offering. ¹⁷The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. O God, you will not despise a broken and contrite heart. ¹⁸Do well in your good pleasure to Zion. Build the walls of Jerusalem. ¹⁹Then you will delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, in burnt offerings and in whole burnt offerings. Then they will offer bulls on your altar.

¹A Psalm by David, when he was in the desert of Judah. God, you are my God. I will earnestly seek you. My soul thirsts for you. My flesh longs for you, in a dry and weary land, where there is no water. ²So I have seen you in the sanctuary, watching your power and your glory. ³Because your loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise you. ⁴So I will bless you while I live. I will lift up my hands in your name. ⁵My soul shall be satisfied as with the richest food. My mouth shall praise you with joyful lips, ⁶when I remember you on my bed, and think about you in the night watches. ⁷For you have been my help. I will rejoice in the shadow of your wings. ⁸My soul stays close to you. Your right hand holds me up.

¹A Song of Ascents. I will lift up my eyes to the hills. Where does my help come from? ²My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. ³He will not allow your foot to be moved. He who keeps you will not slumber. ⁴Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. ⁵The LORD is your keeper. The LORD is your shade on your right hand. ⁶The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. ⁷The LORD will keep you from all evil. He will keep your soul. ⁸The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in, from this time forward, and forever more.