The Living Bible (201 page)
Authors: Inc. Tyndale House Publishers
Tags: #BIBLES / Other Translations / Text
Weeping, we sat beside the rivers of Babylon thinking of Jerusalem.
2
We have put away our lyres, hanging them upon the branches of the willow trees,
3-4
for how can we sing? Yet our captors, our tormentors, demand that we sing for them the happy songs of Zion!
5-6
If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill upon the harp. If I fail to love her more than my highest joy, let me never sing again.
7
O Jehovah, do not forget what these Edomites did on that day when the armies of Babylon captured Jerusalem. “Raze her to the ground!” they yelled.
8
O Babylon, evil beast, you shall be destroyed. Blessed is the man who destroys you as you have destroyed us.
9
Blessed is the man who takes your babies and smashes them against the rocks!
*
Lord, with all my heart I thank you. I will sing your praises before the armies of angels.
*
2
I face your Temple as I worship, giving thanks to you for all your loving-kindness and your faithfulness, for your promises are backed by all the honor of your name.
*
3
When I pray, you answer me and encourage me by giving me the strength I need.
4
Every king in all the earth shall give you thanks, O Lord, for all of them shall hear your voice.
5
Yes, they shall sing about Jehovah’s glorious ways, for his glory is very great.
6
Yet though he is so great, he respects the humble, but proud men must keep their distance.
7
Though I am surrounded by troubles, you will bring me safely through them. You will clench your fist against my angry enemies! Your power will save me.
8
The Lord will work out his plans for my life—for your loving-kindness, Lord, continues forever. Don’t abandon me—for you made me.
O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.
2
You know when I sit or stand. When far away you know my every thought.
3
You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment you know where I am.
4
You know what I am going to say before I even say it.
5
You both precede and follow me and place your hand of blessing on my head.
6
This is too glorious, too wonderful to believe!
7
I can
never
be lost to your Spirit! I can
never
get away from my God!
8
If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the place of the dead, you are there.
9
If I ride the morning winds to the farthest oceans,
10
even there your hand will guide me, your strength will support me.
11
If I try to hide in the darkness, the night becomes light around me.
12
For even darkness cannot hide from God; to you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are both alike to you.
13
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit them together in my mother’s womb.
14
Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! It is amazing to think about. Your workmanship is marvelous—and how well I know it.
15
You were there while I was being formed in utter seclusion!
16
You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your book!
17-18
How precious it is, Lord, to realize that you are thinking about me constantly! I can’t even count how many times a day your thoughts turn toward me.
*
And when I waken in the morning, you are still thinking of me!
19
Surely you will slay the wicked, Lord! Away, bloodthirsty men! Begone!
20
They blaspheme your name and stand in arrogance against you—how silly can they be?
21
O Lord, shouldn’t I hate those who hate you? Shouldn’t I be grieved with them?
22
Yes, I hate them, for your enemies are my enemies too.
23
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test my thoughts.
24
Point out anything you find in me that makes you sad, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
O Lord, deliver me from evil men. Preserve me from the violent,
2
who plot and stir up trouble all day long.
3
Their words sting like poisonous snakes.
4
Keep me out of their power. Preserve me from their violence, for they are plotting against me.
5
These proud men have set a trap to catch me, a noose to yank me up and leave me dangling in the air; they wait in ambush with a net to throw over and hold me helpless in its meshes.
6-8
O Jehovah, my Lord and Savior, my God and my shield—hear me as I pray! Don’t let these wicked men succeed; don’t let them prosper and be proud.
9
Let their plots boomerang! Let them be destroyed by the very evil they have planned for me.
10
Let burning coals fall down upon their heads, or throw them into the fire or into deep pits from which they can’t escape.
11
Don’t let liars prosper here in our land; quickly punish them.
12
But the Lord will surely help those they persecute; he will maintain the rights of the poor.
13
Surely the godly are thanking you, for they shall live in your presence.
Quick, Lord, answer me—for I have prayed. Listen when I cry to you for help!
2
Regard my prayer as my evening sacrifice and as incense wafting up to you.
3
Help me, Lord, to keep my mouth shut and my lips sealed.
4
Take away my lust for evil things; don’t let me want to be with sinners, doing what they do, sharing their delicacies.
5
Let the godly smite me! It will be a kindness! If they reprove me, it is medicine! Don’t let me refuse it. But I am in constant prayer against the wicked and their deeds.
6-7
When their leaders are condemned, and their bones are strewn across the ground,
*
then these men will finally listen to me and know that I am trying to help them.
8
I look to you for help, O Lord God. You are my refuge. Don’t let them slay me.
9
Keep me out of their traps.
10
Let them fall into their own snares, while I escape.
How I plead with God, how I implore his mercy, pouring out my troubles before him.
3
For I am overwhelmed and desperate, and you alone know which way I ought to turn to miss the traps my enemies have set for me.
4
(There’s one—just over there to the right!) No one gives me a passing thought. No one will help me; no one cares a bit what happens to me.
5
Then I prayed to Jehovah. “Lord,” I pled, “you are my only place of refuge. Only you can keep me safe.
6
“Hear my cry, for I am very low. Rescue me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me.
7
Bring me out of prison so that I can thank you. The godly will rejoice with me for all your help.”
