1 In the Lord have I taken refuge; ♦︎
how then can you say to me,
Flee like a bird to the hills,
2 For see how the wicked bend the bow
and fit their arrows to the string, ♦︎
to shoot from the shadows at the true of heart.
3 When the foundations are destroyed, ♦︎
what can the righteous do?
4 The Lord is in his holy temple; ♦︎
the Lords throne is in heaven.
5 His eyes behold, ♦︎
his eyelids try every mortal being.
6 The Lord tries the righteous as well as the wicked, ♦︎
but those who delight in violence his soul abhors.
7 Upon the wicked he shall rain coals of fire
and burning sulphur; ♦︎
scorching wind shall be their portion to drink.
8 For the Lord is righteous;
he loves righteous deeds, ♦︎
and those who are upright shall behold his face.
1 Help me, Lord, for no one godly is left; ♦︎
the faithful have vanished from the whole human race.
2 They all speak falsely with their neighbour; ♦︎
they flatter with their lips, but speak from a double heart.
3 O that the Lord would cut off all flattering lips ♦︎
and the tongue that speaks proud boasts!
4 Those who say, With our tongue will we prevail; ♦︎
our lips we will use; who is lord over us?
5 Because of the oppression of the needy,
and the groaning of the poor, ♦︎
I will rise up now, says the Lord,
and set them in the safety that they long for.
6 The words of the Lord are pure words, ♦︎
like silver refined in the furnace
and purified seven times in the fire.
7 You, O Lord, will watch over us ♦︎
and guard us from this generation for ever.
8 The wicked strut on every side, ♦︎
when what is vile is exalted by the whole human race.
1 How long will you forget me, O Lord; for ever? ♦︎
How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long shall I have anguish in my soul
and grief in my heart, day after day? ♦︎
How long shall my enemy triumph over me?
3 Look upon me and answer, O Lord my God; ♦︎
lighten my eyes, lest I sleep in death;
4 Lest my enemy say, I have prevailed against him, ♦︎
and my foes rejoice that I have fallen.
5 But I put my trust in your steadfast love; ♦︎
my heart will rejoice in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the Lord, ♦︎
for he has dealt so bountifully with me.