Selected Psalms

God The Redeemer

Psalm 15 Domine, quis habitabit?

LORD, who shall dwell in thy tabernacle? * or who shall rest upon thy holy hill?

2Even he that leadeth an uncorrupt life, * and doeth the thing which is right, and speaketh the truth from his heart.

3He that hath used no deceit in his tongue, nor done evil to his neighbour, * and hath not slandered his neighbour.

4He that setteth not by himself, but is lowly in his own eyes, * and maketh much of them that fear the LORD.

5He that sweareth unto his neighbour, and disappointeth him not, * though it were to his own hindrance.

6He that hath not given his money upon usury, * nor taken reward against the innocent.

7Whoso doeth these things * shall never fall.

Psalm 33 Exultate, justi.

REJOICE in the LORD, O ye righteous; * for it becometh well the just to be thankful.

2Praise the LORD with harp; * sing praises unto him with the lute, and instrument of ten strings.

3Sing unto the LORD a new song; * sing praises lustily unto him with a good courage.

4For the word of the LORD is true; * and all his works are faithful.

5He loveth righteousness and judgment; * the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.

6By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; * and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

7He gathereth the waters of the sea together, as it were upon an heap; * and layeth up the deep, as in a treasure-house.

8Let all the earth fear the LORD: * stand in awe of him, all ye that dwell in the world.

9For he spake, and it was done; * he commanded, and it stood fast.

10The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought, * and maketh the devices of the people to be of none effect, and casteth out the counsels of princes.

11The counsel of the LORD shall endure for ever, * and the thoughts of his heart from generation to generation.

12Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord JEHOVAH; * and blessed are the folk that he hath chosen to him, to be his inheritance.

13The LORD looketh down from heaven, and beholdeth all the children of men; * from the habitation of his dwelling, he considereth all them that dwell on the earth.

14He fashioneth all the hearts of them, * and understandeth all their works.

15There is no king that can be saved by the multitude of an host; * neither is any mighty man delivered by much strength.

16A horse is counted but a vain thing to save a man; * neither shall he deliver any man by his great strength.

17Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, * and upon them that put their trust in his mercy;

18To deliver their soul from death, * and to feed them in the time of dearth.

19Our soul hath patiently tarried for the LORD; * for he is our help and our shield.

20For our heart shall rejoice in him; * because we have hoped in his holy Name.

21Let thy merciful kindness, O LORD, be upon us, * like as we do put our trust in thee.

Psalm 102 Domine, exaudi.

HEAR my prayer, O LORD, * and let my crying come unto thee.

2Hide not thy face from me in the time of my trouble; * incline thine ear unto me when I call; O hear me, and that right soon.

3For my days are consumed away like smoke, * and my bones are burnt up as it were a firebrand.

4My heart is smitten down, and withered like grass; * so that I forget to eat my bread.

5For the voice of my groaning, * my bones will scarce cleave to my flesh.

6I am become like a pelican in the wilderness, * and like an owl that is in the desert.

7I have watched, and am even as it were a sparrow, * that sitteth alone upon the housetop.

8Mine enemies revile me all the day long; * and they that are mad upon me are sworn together against me.

9For I have eaten ashes as it were bread, * and mingled my drink with weeping;

10And that, because of thine indignation and wrath; * for thou hast taken me up, and cast me down.

11My days are gone like a shadow, * and I am withered like grass.

12But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever, * and thy remembrance throughout all generations.

13Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Sion; * for it is time that thou have mercy upon her, yea, the time is come.

14And why? thy servants think upon her stones, * and it pitieth them to see her in the dust.

15The nations shall fear thy Name, O LORD; * and all the kings of the earth thy majesty;

16When the LORD shall build up Sion, * and when his glory shall appear;

17When he turneth him unto the prayer of the poor destitute, * and despiseth not their desire.

18This shall be written for those that come after, * and the people which shall be born shall praise the LORD.

19For he hath looked down from his sanctuary; * out of the heaven did the LORD behold the earth;

20That he might hear the mournings of such as are in captivity, * and deliver them that are appointed unto death;

21That they may declare the Name of the LORD in Sion, * and his worship at Jerusalem;

22When the peoples are gathered together, * and the kingdoms also, to serve the LORD.

23He brought down my strength in my journey, * and shortened my days.

24But I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of mine age; * as for thy years, they endure throughout all generations.

25Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth, * and the heavens are the work of thy hands.

26They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: * they all shall wax old as doth a garment;

27And as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed; * but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

28The children of thy servants shall continue, * and their seed shall stand fast in thy sight.

Psalm 103 Benedic, anima mea.

PRAISE the LORD, O my soul; * and all that is within me, praise his holy Name.

2Praise the LORD, O my soul, * and forget not all his benefits:

3Who forgiveth all thy sin, * and healeth all thine infirmities;

4Who saveth thy life from destruction, * and crowneth thee with mercy and loving-kindness;

5Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things, * making thee young and lusty as an eagle.

6The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment * for all them that are oppressed with wrong.

7He showed his ways unto Moses, * his works unto the children of Israel.

8The LORD is full of compassion and mercy, * long-suffering, and of great goodness.

9He will not alway be chiding; * neither keepeth he his anger for ever.

10He hath not dealt with us after our sins; * nor rewarded us according to our wickednesses.

11For look how high the heaven is in comparison of the earth; * so great is his mercy also toward them that fear him.

12Look how wide also the east is from the west; * so far hath he set our sins from us.

13Yea, like as a father pitieth his own children; * even so is the LORD merciful unto them that fear him.

14For he knoweth whereof we are made; * he remembereth that we are but dust.

15The days of man are but as grass; * for he flourisheth as a flower of the field.

16For as soon as the wind goeth over it, it is gone; * and the place thereof shall know it no more.

17But the merciful goodness of the LORD endureth for ever and ever upon them that fear him; * and his righteousness upon children's children;

18Even upon such as keep his covenant, * and think upon his commandments to do them.

19The LORD hath prepared his seat in heaven, * and his kingdom ruleth over all.

20O praise the LORD, ye angels of his, ye that excel in strength; * ye that fulfil his commandment, and hearken unto the voice of his word.

21O praise the LORD, all ye his hosts; * ye servants of his that do his pleasure.

22O speak good of the LORD, all ye works of his, in all places of his dominion: * praise thou the LORD, O my soul.

Psalm 111 Confitebor tibi.

I will give thanks unto the LORD with my whole heart, * secretly among the faithful, and in the congregation.

2The works of the LORD are great, * sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.

3His work is worthy to be praised and had in honour, * and his righteousness endureth for ever.

4The merciful and gracious LORD hath so done his marvellous works, * that they ought to be had in remembrance.

5He hath given meat unto them that fear him; * he shall ever be mindful of his covenant.

6He hath showed his people the power of his works, * that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.

7The works of his hands are verity and judgment; * all his commandments are true.

8They stand fast for ever and ever, * and are done in truth and equity.

9He sent redemption unto his people; * he hath commanded his covenant for ever; holy and reverend is his Name.

10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; * a good understanding have all they that do thereafter; his praise endureth for ever.

Psalm 113 Laudate, pueri

PRAISE the LORD, ye servants; * O praise the Name of the LORD.

2Blessed be the Name of the LORD * from this time forth for evermore.

3The LORD’S Name is praised * from the rising up of the sun unto the going down of the same.

4The LORD is high above all nations, * and his glory above the heavens.

5Who is like unto the LORD our God, that hath his dwelling so high, * and yet humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven and earth!

6He taketh up the simple out of the dust, * and lifteth the poor out of the mire;

7That he may set him with the princes, * even with the princes of his people.

8He maketh the barren woman to keep house, * and to be a joyful mother of children.

Psalm 114 In exitu Israel

WHEN Israel came out of Egypt, * and the house of Jacob from among the strange people,

2Judah was his sanctuary, * and Israel his dominion.

3The sea saw that, and fled; * Jordan was driven back.

4The mountains skipped like rams, * and the little hills like young sheep.

5What aileth thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest? * and thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back?

6Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams? * and ye little hills, like young sheep?

7Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord: * at the presence of the God of Jacob;

8Who turned the hard rock into a standing water, * and the flint-stone into a springing well.

Psalm 126 In convertendo

WHEN the LORD turned again the captivity of Sion, * then were we like unto them that dream.

2Then was our mouth filled with laughter, * and our tongue with joy.

3Then said they among the heathen, * The LORD hath done great things for them.

4Yea, the LORD hath done great things for us already; * whereof we rejoice.

5Turn our captivity, O LORD, * as the rivers in the south.

6They that sow in tears * shall reap in joy.

7He that now goeth on his way weeping, and beareth forth good seed, * shall doubtless come again with joy, and bring his sheaves with him.

Psalm 130 De profundis

OUT of the deep have I called unto thee, O LORD; * Lord, hear my voice.

2O let thine ears consider well * the voice of my complaint.

3If thou, LORD, wilt be extreme to mark what is done amiss, * O Lord, who may abide it?

4For there is mercy with thee; * therefore shalt thou be feared.

5I look for the LORD; my soul doth wait for him; * in his word is my trust.

6My soul fleeth unto the Lord before the morning watch; * I say, before the morning watch.

7O Israel, trust in the LORD; for with the LORD there is mercy, * and with him is plenteous redemption.

8And he shall redeem Israel * from all his sins.

Psalm 138 Confitebor tibi.

I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; * even before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.

2I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy Name, because of thy loving-kindness and truth; * for thou hast magnified thy Name, and thy word, above all things.

3When I called upon thee, thou heardest me; * and enduedst my soul with much strength.

4All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD; * for they have heard the words of thy mouth.

5Yea, they shall sing of the ways of the LORD, * that great is the glory of the LORD.

6For though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly; * as for the proud, he beholdeth them afar off.

7Though I walk in the midst of trouble, yet shalt thou refresh me; * thou shalt stretch forth thy hand upon the furiousness of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.

8The LORD shall make good his loving-kindness toward me; * yea, thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever; despise not then the works of thine own hands.