To The Word – Day 154

₁Sin speaks to the wicked deep in their hearts;

they reject God and have no reverence for him.

₂Because they think so highly of themselves,

they think that God will not discover their sin and condemn it.

₃Their speech is wicked and full of lies;

they no longer do what is wise and good.

₄They make evil plans as they lie in bed;

nothing they do is good,

and they never reject anything evil.

₅LORD, your constant love reaches the heavens;

your faithfulness extends to the skies.

₆Your righteousness is towering like the mountains;

your justice is like the depths of the sea.

People and animals are in your care.

₇How precious, O God, is your constant love!

We find protection under the shadow of your wings.

₈We feast on the abundant food you provide;

you let us drink from the river of your goodness.

₉You are the source of all life,

and because of your light we see the light.

₁₀Continue to love those who know you

and to do good to those who are righteous.

₁₁Do not let proud people attack me

or the wicked make me run away.

₁₂See where evil people have fallen.

There they lie, unable to rise.

₁Don't be worried on account of the wicked;

don't be jealous of those who do wrong.

₂They will soon disappear like grass that dries up;

they will die like plants that wither.

₃Trust in the LORD and do good;

live in the land and be safe.

₄Seek your happiness in the LORD,

and he will give you your heart's desire.

₅Give yourself to the LORD;

trust in him, and he will help you;

₆he will make your righteousness shine like the noonday sun.

₇Be patient and wait for the LORD to act;

don't be worried about those who prosper

or those who succeed in their evil plans.

₈Don't give in to worry or anger;

it only leads to trouble.

₉Those who trust in the LORD will possess the land,

but the wicked will be driven out.

₁₀Soon the wicked will disappear;

you may look for them, but you won't find them;

₁₁the humble will possess the land

and enjoy prosperity and peace.

₁₂The wicked plot against good people

and glare at them with hate.

₁₃But the Lord laughs at wicked people,

because he knows they will soon be destroyed.

₁₄The wicked draw their swords and bend their bows

to kill the poor and needy,

to slaughter those who do what is right;

₁₅but they will be killed by their own swords,

and their bows will be smashed.

₁₆The little that a good person owns

is worth more than the wealth of all the wicked,

₁₇because the LORD will take away the strength of the wicked,

but protect those who are good.

₁₈The LORD takes care of those who obey him,

and the land will be theirs for ever.

₁₉They will not suffer when times are bad;

they will have enough in time of famine.

₂₀But the wicked will die;

the enemies of the LORD will vanish like wild flowers;

they will disappear like smoke.

₂₁The wicked borrow and never pay back,

but good people are generous with their gifts.

₂₂Those who are blessed by the LORD will possess the land,

but those who are cursed by him will be driven out.

₂₃The LORD guides people in the way they should go

and protects those who please him.

₂₄If they fall, they will not stay down,

because the LORD will help them up.

₂₅I am old now; I have lived a long time,

but I have never seen good people abandoned by the LORD

or their children begging for food.

₂₆At all times they give freely and lend to others,

and their children are a blessing.

₂₇Turn away from evil and do good,

and your descendants will always live in the land;

₂₈for the LORD loves what is right

and does not abandon his faithful people.

He protects them for ever,

but the descendants of the wicked will be driven out.

₂₉The righteous will possess the land

and live in it for ever.

₃₀The words of good people are wise,

and they are always fair.

₃₁They keep the law of their God in their hearts

and never depart from it.

₃₂Wicked people watch good people

and try to kill them;

₃₃but the LORD will not abandon them to their enemy's power

or let them be condemned when they are on trial.

₃₄Put your hope in the LORD and obey his commands;

he will honour you by giving you the land,

and you will see the wicked driven out.

₃₅I once knew a wicked and ruthless person;

he towered over everyone like a cedar of Lebanon;

₃₆but later I passed by, and he wasn't there;

I looked for him, but couldn't find him.

₃₇Notice good people, observe the righteous;

peaceful people have descendants,

₃₈but sinners are completely destroyed,

and their descendants are wiped out.

₃₉The LORD saves the righteous

and protects them in times of trouble.

₄₀He helps them and rescues them;

he saves them from the wicked,

because they go to him for protection.

₁O LORD, don't punish me in your anger!

₂You have wounded me with your arrows;

you have struck me down.

₃Because of your anger, I am in great pain;

my whole body is diseased because of my sins.

₄I am drowning in the flood of my sins;

they are a burden too heavy to bear.

₅Because I have been foolish,

my sores stink and rot.

₆I am bowed down, I am crushed;

I mourn all day long.

₇I am burning with fever

and I am near to death.

₈I am worn out and utterly crushed;

my heart is troubled, and I groan with pain.

₉O Lord, you know what I long for;

you hear all my groans.

₁₀My heart is pounding, my strength is gone,

and my eyes have lost their brightness.

₁₁My friends and neighbours will not come near me,

because of my sores;

even my family keeps away from me.

₁₂Those who want to kill me lay traps for me,

and those who want to hurt me threaten to ruin me;

they never stop plotting against me.

₁₃I am like the deaf and cannot hear,

like the dumb and cannot speak.

₁₄I am like those who do not answer,

because they cannot hear.

₁₅But I trust in you, O LORD;

and you, O Lord my God, will answer me.

₁₆Don't let my enemies gloat over my distress;

don't let them boast about my downfall!

₁₇I am about to fall

and am in constant pain.

₁₈I confess my sins;

they fill me with anxiety.

₁₉My enemies are healthy and strong;

there are many who hate me for no reason.

₂₀Those who pay back evil for good

are against me because I try to do right.

₂₁Do not abandon me, O LORD;

do not stay away, my God!

₂₂Help me now, O Lord my saviour!

₁I said, “I will be careful what I do

and will not let my tongue make me sin;

I will not say anything

while evil people are near.”

₂I kept quiet, not saying a word,

not even about anything good!

But my suffering only grew worse,

₃and I was overcome with anxiety.

The more I thought, the more troubled I became;

I could not keep from asking:

₄“LORD, how long will I live?

When will I die?

Tell me how soon my life will end.”

₅How short you have made my life!

In your sight my lifetime seems nothing.

Indeed every living being is no more than a puff of wind,

₆no more than a shadow.

All they do is for nothing;

they gather wealth, but don't know who will get it.

₇What, then, can I hope for, Lord?

I put my hope in you.

₈Save me from all my sins,

and don't let fools laugh at me.

₉I will keep quiet, I will not say a word,

for you are the one who made me suffer like this.

₁₀Don't punish me any more!

I am about to die from your blows.

₁₁You punish our sins by your rebukes,

and like a moth you destroy what we love.

Indeed we are no more than a puff of wind!

₁₂Hear my prayer, LORD,

and listen to my cry;

come to my aid when I weep.

Like all my ancestors

I am only your guest for a little while.

₁₃Leave me alone so that I may have some happiness

before I go away and am no more.