Selected Psalms

Mercy Of God

Psalm 23 Dominus regit me.

THE LORD is my shepherd; * therefore can I lack nothing.

2He shall feed me in a green pasture, * and lead me forth beside the waters of comfort.

3He shall convert my soul, * and bring me forth in the paths of righteousness for his Name’s sake.

4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; * for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff comfort me.

5Thou shalt prepare a table before me in the presence of them that trouble me; * thou hast anointed my head with oil, and my cup shall be full.

6Surely thy loving-kindness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; * and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Psalm 32 Beati quorum.

BLESSED is he whose unrighteousness is forgiven, * and whose sin is covered.

2Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth no sin, * and in whose spirit there is no guile.

3For whilst I held my tongue, * my bones consumed away through my daily complaining.

4For thy hand was heavy upon me day and night, * and my moisture was like the drought in summer.

5I acknowledged my sin unto thee; * and mine unrighteousness have I not hid.

6I said, I will confess my sins unto the LORD; * and so thou forgavest the wickedness of my sin.

7For this shall every one that is godly make his prayer unto thee, in a time when thou mayest be found; * surely the great water-floods shall not come nigh him.

8Thou art a place to hide me in; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; * thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance.

9I will inform thee, and teach thee in the way wherein thou shalt go; * and I will guide thee with mine eye.

10Be ye not like to horse and mule, which have no understanding; * whose mouths must be held with bit and bridle, else they will not obey thee.

11Great plagues remain for the ungodly; * but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD, mercy embraceth him on every side.

12Be glad, O ye righteous, and rejoice in the LORD; * and be joyful, all ye that are true of heart.

Psalm 57 Miserere mei, Deus.

BE merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me; for my soul trusteth in thee; * and under the shadow of thy wings shall be my refuge, until this tyranny be overpast.

2I will call unto the Most High God, * even unto the God that shall perform the cause which I have in hand.

3He shall send from heaven, * and save me from the reproof of him that would eat me up.

4God shall send forth his mercy and truth: * my soul is among lions.

5And I lie even among the children of men, that are set on fire, * whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.

6Set up thyself, O God, above the heavens; * and thy glory above all the earth.

7They have laid a net for my feet, and pressed down my soul; * they have digged a pit before me, and are fallen into the midst of it themselves.

8My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed; * I will sing and give praise.

9Awake up, my glory; awake, lute and harp: * I myself will awake right early.

10I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the peoples; * and I will sing unto thee among the nations.

11For the greatness of thy mercy reacheth unto the heavens, * and thy truth unto the clouds.

12Set up thyself, O God, above the heavens; * and thy glory above all the earth.

Psalm 61 Exaudi, Deus.

HEAR my crying, O God, * give ear unto my prayer.

2From the ends of the earth will I call upon thee, * when my heart is in heaviness.

3O set me up upon the rock that is higher than I; * for thou hast been my hope, and a strong tower for me against the enemy.

4I will dwell in thy tabernacle for ever, * and my trust shall be under the covering of thy wings.

5For thou, O Lord, hast heard my desires, * and hast given an heritage unto those that fear thy Name.

6Thou shalt grant the King a long life, * that his years may endure throughout all generations.

7He shall dwell before God for ever: * O prepare thy loving mercy and faithfulness, that they may preserve him.

8So will I alway sing praise unto thy Name, * that I may daily perform my vows.

Psalm 62 Nonne Deo?

MY soul truly waiteth still upon God; * for of him cometh my salvation.

2He verily is my strength and my salvation; * he is my defence, so that I shall not greatly fall.

3How long will ye imagine mischief against every man? * Ye shall be slain all the sort of you; yea, as a tottering wall shall ye be, and like a broken hedge.

4Their device is only how to put him out whom God will exalt; * their delight is in lies; they give good words with their mouth, but curse with their heart.

5Nevertheless, my soul, wait thou still upon God; * for my hope is in him.

6He truly is my strength and my salvation; * he is my defence, so that I shall not fall.

7In God is my health and my glory; * the rock of my might; and in God is my trust.

8O put your trust in him alway, ye people; * pour out your hearts before him, for God is our hope.

9As for the children of men, they are but vanity; the children of men are deceitful; * upon the weights they are altogether lighter than vanity itself.

10O trust not in wrong and robbery; give not yourselves unto vanity: * if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.

11God spake once, and twice I have also heard the same, * that power belongeth unto God;

12And that thou, Lord, art merciful; * for thou rewardest every man according to his work.

Psalm 63 Deus, Deus meus.

O God, thou art my God; * early will I seek thee.

2My soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh also longeth after thee, * in a barren and dry land where no water is.

3Thus have I looked for thee in the sanctuary, * that I might behold thy power and glory.

4For thy loving-kindness is better than the life itself: * my lips shall praise thee.

5As long as I live will I magnify thee in this manner, * and lift up my hands in thy Name.

6My soul shall be satisfied, even as it were with marrow and fatness, * when my mouth praiseth thee with joyful lips.

7Have I not remembered thee in my bed, * and thought upon thee when I was waking?

8Because thou hast been my helper; * therefore under the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.

9My soul hangeth upon thee; * thy right hand hath upholden me.

10These also that seek the hurt of my soul, * they shall go under the earth.

11Let them fall upon the edge of the sword, * that they may be a portion for foxes.

12But the King shall rejoice in God; all they also that swear by him shall be commended; * for the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.

Psalm 73 Quam bonus Israel!

TRULY God is loving unto Israel: * even unto such as are of a clean heart.

2Nevertheless, my feet were almost gone, * my treadings had well-nigh slipt.

3And why? I was grieved at the wicked: * I do also see the ungodly in such prosperity.

4For they are in no peril of death; * but are lusty and strong.

5They come in no misfortune like other folk; * neither are they plagued like other men.

6And this is the cause that they are so holden with pride, * and cruelty covereth them as a garment.

7Their eyes swell with fatness, * and they do even what they lust.

8They corrupt other, and speak of wicked blasphemy; * their talking is against the Most1 High.

9For they stretch forth their mouth unto the heaven, * and their tongue goeth through the world.

10Therefore fall the people unto them, * and thereout suck they no small advantage.

11Tush, say they, how should God perceive it? * is there knowledge in the Most High?

12Lo, these are the ungodly, * these prosper in the world, and these have riches in possession:

13And I said, Then have I cleansed my heart in vain, * and washed my2 hands in innocency.

14All the day long have I been punished, * and chastened every morning.

15Yea, and I had almost said even as they; * but lo, then I should have condemned the generation of thy children.

16Then thought I to understand this; * but it was too hard for me,

17Until I went into the sanctuary of God: * then understood I the end of these men;

18Namely, how thou dost set them in slippery places, * and castest them down, and destroyest them.

19O how suddenly do they consume, * perish, and come to a fearful end!

20Yea, even like as a dream when one awaketh; * so shalt thou make their image to vanish out of the city.

21Thus my heart was grieved, * and it went even through my reins.

22So foolish was I, and ignorant, * even as it were a beast before thee.

23Nevertheless, I am alway by thee; * for thou hast holden me by my right hand.

24Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, * and after that receive me with glory.

25Whom have I in heaven but thee? * and there is none upon earth that I desire in comparison of thee.

26My flesh and my heart faileth; * but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

27For lo, they that forsake thee shall perish; * thou hast destroyed all them that are unfaithful unto thee.

28But it is good for me to hold me fast by God, to put my trust in the Lord GOD, * and to speak of all thy works in the gates of the daughter of Sion.

Psalm 77 Voce mea ad Dominum.

I will cry unto God with my voice; * even unto God will I cry with my voice, and he shall hearken unto me.

2In the time of my trouble I sought the Lord: * I stretched forth my hands unto him, and ceased not in the night season; my soul refused comfort.

3When I am in heaviness, I will think upon God; * when my heart is vexed, I will complain.

4Thou holdest mine eyes waking: * I am so feeble that I cannot speak.

5I have considered the days of old, * and the years that are past.

6I call to remembrance my song, * and in the night I commune with mine own heart, and search out my spirit.

7Will the Lord absent himself for ever? * and will he be no more intreated?

8Is his mercy clean gone for ever? * and is his promise come utterly to an end for evermore?

9Hath God forgotten to be gracious? * and will he shut up his loving-kindness in displeasure?

10And I said, It is mine own infirmity; * but I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most Highest.

11I will remember the works of the LORD, * and call to mind thy wonders of old time.

12I will think also of all thy works, * and my talking shall be of thy doings.

13Thy way, O God, is holy: * who is so great a God as our God?

14Thou art the God that doest wonders, * and hast declared thy power among the peoples.

15Thou hast mightily delivered thy people, * even the sons of Jacob and Joseph.

16The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee, and were afraid; * the depths also were troubled.

17The clouds poured out water, the air thundered, * and thine arrows went abroad.

18The voice of thy thunder was heard round about: * the lightnings shone upon the ground; the earth was moved, and shook withal.

19Thy way is in the sea, and thy paths in the great waters, * and thy footsteps are not known.

20Thou leddest thy people like sheep, * by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

Psalm 85 Benedixisti, Domine.

LORD, thou art become gracious unto thy land; * thou hast turned away the captivity of Jacob.

2Thou hast forgiven the offence of thy people, * and covered all their sins.

3Thou hast taken away all thy displeasure, * and turned thyself from thy wrathful indignation.

4Turn us then, O God our Saviour, * and let thine anger cease from us.

5Wilt thou be displeased at us for ever? * and wilt thou stretch out thy wrath from one generation to another?

6Wilt thou not turn again, and quicken us, * that thy people may rejoice in thee?

7Show us thy mercy, O LORD, * and grant us thy salvation.

8I will hearken what the LORD God will say; * for he shall speak peace unto his people, and to his saints, that they turn not again unto foolishness.

9For his salvation is nigh them that fear him; * that glory may dwell in our land.

10Mercy and truth are met together: * righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

11Truth shall flourish out of the earth, * and righteousness hath looked down from heaven.

12Yea, the LORD shall show loving-kindness; * and our land shall give her increase.

13Righteousness shall go before him, * and shall direct his going in the way.

Psalm 86 Inclina, Domine.

BOW down thine ear, O LORD, and hear me; * for I am poor, and in misery.

2Preserve thou my soul, for I am holy: * my God, save thy servant that putteth his trust in thee.

3Be merciful unto me, O Lord; * for I will call daily upon thee.

4Comfort the soul of thy servant; * for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.

5For thou, Lord, art good and gracious, * and of great mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

6Give ear, LORD, unto my prayer, * and ponder the voice of my humble desires.

7In the time of my trouble I will call upon thee; * for thou hearest me.

8Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; * there is not one that can do as thou doest.

9All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship thee, O Lord; * and shall glorify thy Name.

10For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: * thou art God alone.

11Teach me thy way, O LORD, and I will walk in thy truth: * O knit my heart unto thee, that I may fear thy Name.

12I will thank thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart; * and will praise thy Name for evermore.

13For great is thy mercy toward me; * and thou hast delivered my soul from the nethermost hell.

14O God, the proud are risen against me; * and the congregations of violent men have sought after my soul, and have not set thee before their eyes.

15But thou, O Lord God, art full of compassion and mercy, * long-suffering, plenteous in goodness and truth.

16O turn thee then unto me, and have mercy upon me; * give thy strength unto thy servant, and help the son of thine handmaid.

17Show some token upon me for good; that they who hate me may see it, and be ashamed, * because thou, LORD, hast holpen me, and comforted me.

Psalm 100 Jubilate Deo.

O be joyful in the LORD, all ye lands: * serve the LORD with gladness, and come before his presence with a song.

2Be ye sure that the LORD he is God; it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; * we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

3O go your way into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise; * be thankful unto him, and speak good of his Name.

4For the LORD is gracious, his mercy is everlasting; * and his truth endureth from generation to generation.

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 118 Confitemini Domino

O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is gracious; * because his mercy endureth for ever.

2Let Israel now confess that he is gracious, * and that his mercy endureth for ever.

3Let the house of Aaron now confess, * that his mercy endureth for ever.

4Yea, let them now that fear the LORD confess, * that his mercy endureth for ever.

5I called upon the LORD in trouble; * and the LORD heard me at large.

6The LORD is on my side; * I will not fear what man doeth unto me.

7The LORD taketh my part with them that help me; * therefore shall I see my desire upon mine enemies.

8It is better to trust in the LORD, * than to put any confidence in man.

9It is better to trust in the LORD, * than to put any confidence in princes.

10All nations compassed me round about; * but in the Name of the LORD will I destroy them.

11They kept me in on every side, they kept me in, I say, on every side; * but in the Name of the LORD will I destroy them.

12They came about me like bees, and are extinct even as the fire among the thorns; * for in the Name of the LORD I will destroy them.

13Thou hast thrust sore at me, that I might fall; * but the LORD was my help.

14The LORD is my strength, and my song; * and is become my salvation.

15The voice of joy and health is in the dwellings of the righteous; * the right hand of the LORD bringeth mighty things to pass.

16The right hand of the LORD hath the preeminence; * the right hand of the LORD bringeth mighty things to pass.

17I shall not die, but live, * and declare the works of the LORD.

18The LORD hath chastened and corrected me; * but he hath not given me over unto death.

19Open me the gates of righteousness, * that I may go into them, and give thanks unto the LORD.

20This is the gate of the LORD, * the righteous shall enter into it.

21I will thank thee; for thou hast heard me, * and art become my salvation.

22The same stone which the builders refused, * is become the head-stone in the corner.

23This is the LORD’S doing, * and it is marvellous in our eyes.

24This is the day which the LORD hath made; * we will rejoice and be glad in it.

25Help me now, O LORD: * O LORD, send us now prosperity.

26Blessed be he that cometh in the Name of the LORD: * we have wished you good luck, we that are of the house of the LORD.

27God is the LORD, who hath showed us light: * bind the sacrifice with cords, yea, even unto the horns of the altar.

28Thou art my God, and I will thank thee; * thou art my God, and I will praise thee.

29O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is gracious, * and his mercy endureth for ever.

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.