THE PSALMS.

THE PSALMS.

BOOK I.

PSALM I.

The happiness of the righteous and the misery of the wicked.

HAPPY the man, who walketh not in the paths of the unrighteous,

Nor standeth in the way of sinners,

Nor sitteth in the seat of scoffers;

2 But whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
And who meditates on his precepts day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
That bringeth forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaves also do not wither;

All that he doeth shall prosper.

4 Not so the unrighteous;

They are like chaff, which the wind driveth away. 5 Therefore the wicked shall not stand in judgment, Nor sinners in the assembly of the just.

6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked leadeth to ruin.

1

PSALM II.

Vain attempts of the nations against the king anointed by God.

WHY do the heathen rage,

And the nations meditate a vain thing?

2 Why do the kings of the earth rise up,

And the princes combine together,

Against Jehovah, and against his anointed king?

3" Let us break their bonds asunder;

Let us cast away from us their fetters!"

4 He that sitteth in heaven will laugh;
The Lord will have them in derision.
5 Then shall he speak to them in his wrath,
And confound them in his hot displeasure.
6" I myself have anointed my king,
Upon Zion, my holy hill."

7 I will declare the decree of Jehovah;

He hath said to me: "Thou art my son;

This day I have begotten thee.

8 Ask of me, and I will give thee the nations for thine

inheritance,

And the ends of the earth for thy possession.

9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron;

10

Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.”

Be wise, therefore, O ye kings!

Be admonished, ye rulers of the earth!

11 Be subject to Jehovah with awe,

And fear before him with trembling!

12 Kiss the son, lest he be angry, and ye perish in your way;

For soon shall his wrath be kindled !

Happy are all they who seek refuge in him!

PSALM III.

Trust in God in a time of distress.

A psalm of David, when he fled from his son Absalom.

How many, O Lord, are mine enemies! How many are they who rise up against me! 2 How many are they who say of me, "There is no help for him with God!"

3 But thou, O Lord, art my shield,
My glory, and the lifter up of my head.
4 I call upon the Lord with my voice,
And he heareth me from his holy hill.
5 I lay me down and sleep;

7

I awake, for Jehovah sustaineth me.

I will not fear the ten thousands of people
Who on every side set themselves against me.

Arise, O Lord! Save me, O my God!

For thou smitest the cheek of all my enemies;
Thou breakest the teeth of the wicked.

8 Deliverance cometh from the Lord;
May thy blessing be with thy people!