Psalms 72

1 Of Solomon.
2 I O God, give your judgment to the king; your justice to the son of kings; That he may govern your people with justice, your oppressed with right judgment,
3 That the mountains may yield their bounty for the people, and the hills great abundance,
4 That he may defend the oppressed among the people, save the poor and crush the oppressor.
5 II May he live as long as the sun endures, like the moon, through all generations.
6 May he be like rain coming down upon the fields, like showers watering the earth,
7 That abundance may flourish in his days, great bounty, till the moon be no more.
8 III May he rule from sea to sea, from the river to the ends of the earth.
9 May his foes kneel before him, his enemies lick the dust.
10 May the kings of Tarshish and the islands bring tribute, the kings of Arabia and Seba offer gifts.
11 May all kings bow before him, all nations serve him.
12 For he rescues the poor when they cry out, the oppressed who have no one to help.
13 He shows pity to the needy and the poor and saves the lives of the poor.
14 From extortion and violence he frees them, for precious is their blood in his sight.
15 IV Long may he live, receiving gold from Arabia, prayed for without cease, blessed day by day.
16 May wheat abound in the land, flourish even on the mountain heights. May his fruit increase like Lebanon's, his wheat like the grasses of the land.
17 May his name be blessed forever; as long as the sun, may his name endure. May the tribes of the earth give blessings with his name; may all the nations regard him as favored.
18 Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who alone does wonderful deeds.
19 Blessed be his glorious name forever; may all the earth be filled with the LORD'S glory. Amen and amen.
20 The end of the psalms of David, son of Jesse.

Psalms 73

1 A psalm of Asaph. How good God is to the upright, the Lord, to those who are clean of heart!
2 I But, as for me, I lost my balance; my feet all but slipped,
3 Because I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For they suffer no pain; their bodies are healthy and sleek.
5 They are free of the burdens of life; they are not afflicted like others.
6 Thus pride adorns them as a necklace; violence clothes them as a robe.
7 Out of their stupidity comes sin; evil thoughts flood their hearts.
8 They scoff and spout their malice; from on high they utter threats.
9 They set their mouths against the heavens, their tongues roam the earth.
10 So my people turn to them and drink deeply of their words.
11 They say, Does God really know? Does the Most High have any knowledge?
12 Such, then, are the wicked, always carefree, increasing their wealth.
13 II Is it in vain that I have kept my heart clean, washed my hands in innocence?
14 For I am afflicted day after day, chastised every morning.
15 Had I thought, I will speak as they do, I would have betrayed your people.
16 Though I tried to understand all this, it was too difficult for me,
17 Till I entered the sanctuary of God and came to understand their end.
18 II You set them, indeed, on a slippery road; you hurl them down to ruin.
19 How suddenly they are devastated; undone by disasters forever!
20 They are like a dream after waking, Lord, dismissed like shadows when you arise.
21 IV Since my heart was embittered and my soul deeply wounded,
22 I was stupid and could not understand; I was like a brute beast in your presence.
23 Yet I am always with you; you take hold of my right hand.
24 With your counsel you guide me, and at the end receive me with honor.
25 Whom else have I in the heavens? None beside you delights me on earth.
26 Though my flesh and my heart fail, God is the rock of my heart, my portion forever.
27 But those who are far from you perish; you destroy those unfaithful to you.
28 As for me, to be near God is my good, to make the Lord GOD my refuge. I shall declare all your works in the gates of daughter Zion.

Psalms 74

1 A maskil of Asaph. I Why, God, have you cast us off forever? Why does your anger burn against the sheep of your pasture?
2 Remember your flock that you gathered of old, the tribe you redeemed as your very own. Remember Mount Zion where you dwell.
3 Turn your steps toward the utter ruins, toward the sanctuary devastated by the enemy.
4 Your foes roared triumphantly in your shrine; they set up their own tokens of victory.
5 They hacked away like foresters gathering boughs, swinging their axes in a thicket of trees.
6 They smashed all your engraved work, pounded it with hammer and pick.
7 They set your sanctuary on fire; the abode of your name they razed and profaned.
8 They said in their hearts, Destroy them all! Burn all the shrines of God in the land!
9 Now we see no signs, we have no prophets, no one who knows how long.
10 How long, O God, shall the enemy jeer? Shall the foe revile your name forever?
11 Why draw back your right hand, why keep it idle beneath your cloak?
12 II Yet you, God, are my king from of old, winning victories throughout the earth.
13 You stirred up the sea in your might; you smashed the heads of the dragons on the waters.
14 You crushed the heads of Leviathan, tossed him for food to the sharks.
15 You opened up springs and torrents, brought dry land out of the primeval waters.
16 Yours the day and yours the night; you set the moon and sun in place.
17 You fixed all the limits of the earth; summer and winter you made.
18 Remember how the enemy has jeered, O LORD, how a foolish people has reviled your name.
19 Do not surrender to beasts those who praise you; do not forget forever the life of your afflicted.
20 Look to your covenant, for the land is filled with gloom; the pastures, with violence.
21 Let not the oppressed turn back in shame; may the poor and needy praise your name.
22 Arise, God, defend your cause; remember the constant jeers of the fools.
23 Do not ignore the clamor of your foes, the unceasing uproar of your enemies.

Psalms 75

1 For the leader. Do not destroy! A psalm of Asaph; a song. I We thank you, God, we give thanks; we call upon your name, declare your wonderful deeds. You said:
2 I will choose the time; I will judge fairly.
3 The earth and all its inhabitants will quake, but I have firmly set its pillars. Selah
4 II So I say to the boastful: Do not boast! to the wicked: Do not raise your horns!
5 Do not raise your horns against heaven! Do not speak arrogantly against the Rock!
6 For judgment comes not from east or from west, not from the desert or from the mountains,
7 But from God who decides, who brings some low and raises others high.
8 Yes, a cup is in the LORD'S hand, foaming wine, fully spiced. When God pours it out, they will drain it even to the dregs; all the wicked of the earth must drink.
9 But I will rejoice forever; I will sing praise to the God of Jacob,
10 Who has said: I will break off all the horns of the wicked, but the horns of the just shall be lifted up.

Psalms 76

1 For the leader; a psalm with stringed instruments. A song of Asaph. I Renowned in Judah is God, whose name is great in Israel.
2 On Salem is God's tent, a shelter on Zion.
3 There the flashing arrows were shattered, shield, sword, and weapons of war. Selah
4 II Terrible and awesome are you, stronger than the ancient mountains.
5 Despoiled are the bold warriors; they sleep their final sleep; the hands of all the mighty have failed.
6 At your roar, O God of Jacob, chariots and steeds lay still.
7 So terrible and awesome are you; who can stand before you and your great anger?
8 From the heavens you pronounced sentence; the earth was terrified and reduced to silence,
9 When you arose, O God, for judgment to deliver the afflicted of the land. Selah
10 Even wrathful Edom praises you; the remnant of Hamath keeps your feast.
11 III Make and keep vows to the LORD your God. May all present bring gifts to this awesome God,
12 Who checks the pride of princes, inspires awe among the kings of earth.

Psalms 77

1 For the leader; al Jeduthun. A psalm of Asaph. I I cry aloud to God, cry to God to hear me.
2 On the day of my distress I seek the Lord; by night my hands are raised unceasingly; I refuse to be consoled.
3 When I think of God, I groan; as I ponder, my spirit grows faint. Selah
4 My eyes cannot close in sleep; I am troubled and cannot speak.
5 I consider the days of old; the years long past
6 I remember. In the night I meditate in my heart; I ponder and my spirit broods:
7 Will the Lord reject us forever, never again show favor?
8 Has God's love ceased forever? Has the promise failed for all ages?
9 Has God forgotten mercy, in anger withheld compassion? Selah
10 I conclude: My sorrow is this, the right hand of the Most High has left us.
11 II I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, your wonders of old I will remember.
12 I will recite all your works; your exploits I will tell.
13 Your way, O God, is holy; what god is as great as our God?
14 You alone are the God who did wonders; among the peoples you revealed your might.
15 With your arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. Selah
16 The waters saw you, God; the waters saw you and lashed about, trembled even to their depths.
17 The clouds poured down their rains; the thunderheads rumbled; your arrows flashed back and forth.
18 The thunder of your chariot wheels resounded; your lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked.
19 Through the sea was your path; your way, through the mighty waters, though your footsteps were unseen.
20 You led your people like a flock under the care of Moses and Aaron.