Through the Bible – Day 194

₁All you angels in heaven,

honour the glory and power

of the LORD!

₂Honour the wonderful name

of the LORD,

and worship the LORD

most holy and glorious.

₃The voice of the LORD

echoes over the oceans.

The glorious LORD God

thunders above the roar

of the raging sea,

₄and his voice is mighty

and marvellous.

₅The voice of the LORD

destroys the cedar trees;

the LORD shatters cedars

on Mount Lebanon.

₆God makes Mount Lebanon

skip like a calf

and Mount Hermon

jump like a wild ox.

₇The voice of the LORD

makes lightning flash

₈and the desert tremble.

And because of the LORD,

the desert near Kadesh

shivers and shakes.

₉The voice of the LORD

makes deer give birth

before their time.

Forests are stripped of leaves,

and the temple is filled

with shouts of praise.

₁₀The LORD rules on his throne,

king of the flood for ever.

₁₁Pray that our LORD

will make us strong

and give us peace.

₁I will praise you, LORD!

You saved me from the grave

and kept my enemies

from celebrating my death.

₂I prayed to you, LORD God,

and you healed me,

₃saving me from death

and the grave.

₄Your faithful people, LORD,

will praise you with songs

and honour your holy name.

₅Your anger lasts a little while,

but your kindness lasts

for a lifetime.

At night we may cry,

but when morning comes

we will celebrate.

₆I was carefree and thought,

“I'll never be shaken!”

₇You, LORD, were my friend,

and you made me strong

as a mighty mountain.

But when you hid your face,

I was crushed.

₈I prayed to you, LORD,

and in my prayer I said,

₉“What good will it do you

if I am in the grave?

Once I have turned to dust,

how can I praise you

or tell how loyal you are?

₁₀Have pity, LORD! Help!”

₁₁You have turned my sorrow

into joyful dancing.

No longer am I sad

and wearing sackcloth.

₁₂I thank you from my heart,

and I will never stop

singing your praises,

my LORD and my God.

₁I come to you, LORD,

for protection.

Don't let me be ashamed.

Do as you have promised

and rescue me.

₂Listen to my prayer

and hurry to save me.

Be my mighty rock

and the fortress

where I am safe.

₃You, LORD God,

are my mighty rock

and my fortress.

Lead me and guide me,

so that your name

will be honoured.

₄Protect me from hidden traps

and keep me safe.

₅You are faithful,

and I trust you

because you rescued me.

₆I hate the worshippers

of worthless idols,

but I trust you, LORD.

₇I celebrate and shout

because you are kind.

You saw all my suffering,

and you cared for me.

₈You kept me from the hands

of my enemies,

and you set me free.

₉Have pity, LORD!

I am suffering and almost blind.

My whole body aches.

₁₀I have known only sorrow

all my life long, and I suffer

year after year.

I am weak from sin,

and my bones are limp.

₁₁My enemies insult me.

Neighbours are even worse,

and I disgust my friends.

People meet me in the street,

and they turn and run.

₁₂I am completely forgotten

like someone dead.

I am merely a broken dish.

₁₃I hear the crowds whisper,

“Everyone is afraid!”

They are plotting and scheming

to murder me.

₁₄But I trust you, LORD,

and I claim you as my God.

₁₅My life is in your hands.

Save me from enemies

who hunt me down.

₁₆Smile on me, your servant.

Have pity and rescue me.

₁₇I pray only to you.

Don't disappoint me.

Disappoint my cruel enemies

until they lie silent

in their graves.

₁₈Silence those proud liars!

Make them stop boasting

and insulting your people.

₁₉You are wonderful,

and while everyone watches,

you store up blessings for all

who honour and trust you.

₂₀You are their shelter

from harmful plots,

and you are their protection

from vicious gossip.

₂₁I will praise you, LORD,

for showing great kindness

when I was like a city

under attack.

₂₂I was terrified and thought,

“They've chased me

far away from you!”

But you answered my prayer

when I shouted for help.

₂₃All who belong to the LORD,

show how you love him.

The LORD protects the faithful,

but he severely punishes

everyone who is proud.

₂₄All who trust the LORD,

be cheerful and strong.

₁Our God, you bless everyone

whose sins you forgive

and wipe away.

₂You bless them by saying,

“You told me your sins,

without trying to hide them,

and now I forgive you.”

₃Before I confessed my sins,

my bones felt limp,

and I groaned all day long.

₄Night and day your hand

weighed heavily on me,

and my strength was gone

as in the summer heat.

₅So I confessed my sins

and told them all to you.

I said, “I'll tell the LORD

each one of my sins.”

Then you forgave me

and took away my guilt.

₆We worship you, Lord,

and we should always pray

whenever we find out

that we have sinned.

Then we won't be swept away

by a raging flood.

₇You are my hiding place!

You protect me from trouble,

and you put songs in my heart

because you have saved me.

₈You said to me,

“I will point out the road

that you should follow.

I will be your teacher

and watch over you.

₉Don't be stupid

like horses and mules

that must be led with ropes

to make them obey.”

₁₀All kinds of troubles

will strike the wicked,

but your kindness shields those

who trust you, LORD.

₁₁And so your good people

should celebrate and shout.