THE BOOK OF

PRAISES

תְּהִלִּים

How blessed is the man
who doesn’t follow the advice of the wicked,
Or stand in the lifestyle of sinners,
Or sit in a chair with mockers.
Instead his delight is in the instruction of Yahweh
And on it he meditates day and night.

He will be like a tree planted by waterstreams
that brings forth his fruit in his season.
His leaf also won’t wither.
Whatever he does will prosper.

Not so are the wicked, not so.
But they’re like the chaff
which the wind drives away
from the face of the earth.
Therefore the wicked will not survive the judgment,
nor sinners in the congress of the righteous.

For the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will be utterly destroyed.

O Yahweh, judge those who wrong me;
fight against those who fight against me.
Take hold of shield and buckler,
and stand up for my help.
Draw out the sword
and shut it up against those who persecute me.
Assure me: “I am your salvation!”

Let those who seek to kill me
be disappointed and brought to dishonor.
Let those who plan my ruin
be turned back and confused.
They were scattered like chaff before the wind,
and Yahweh’s messenger crushed them.
Let their way be dark and slippery,
as Yahweh’s messenger pursues them.
Because for no reason they have hid
their corrupted snare for me.
They've criticized me for no reason.
Let destruction come on him unexpectedly.
Let the net he’s hidden catch him.
Let him fall into that destruction.

But I’ll rejoice in Yahweh;
I’ll be happy when He saves me.
All my bones will say, “Yahweh, who is like You,
who delivers the poor
from him who is too strong for him;
yes, the poor and the needy
from him who robs him?”

Unjust witnesses arose, asking me
about things that didn’t happen.
They pay me evil for good,
to make me lose my soul.

But when they were sick,
my clothing was sackcloth.
I afflicted myself with fasting,
and my prayer was genuine.
I behaved myself as though it had been my friend
or my brother.
I bowed down in mourning,
as one who mourns his mother.
But in my adversity, they were happy
and got together for a reunion against me.
Assailants I didn’t know got together
and tore at me non-stop.
With godless mockery,
they gnashed their teeth at me.

Lord, how long will you look on?
Rescue me from their destruction,
rescue my precious life from the lions.
I will give you thanks in the great assembly.
I will praise you among many people.
Don’t let those who are my enemies
wrongfully rejoice over me.
Don't let those who hate me without a cause
look at me maliciously.
For they don’t speak in a friendly way,
but they make up lies
about peace-loving people in the land.
They opened their mouth wide against me
and say, “Bravo, bravo! We saw it!”

O Yahweh, don’t be silent.
O Yahweh, don’t leave me alone.
Arise, Yahweh, and come to my defense,
my cause, my God and my Lord.

Vindicate me, Yahweh,
according to Your righteousness.
O Yahweh my God,
don’t let them rejoice over me.
Don’t let them think about us, “Bravo, bravo!”
don’t let them say, “Let’s persecute him!”

Let the people who rejoice at my calamity
be disappointed and confused together.
Let the people who exalt themselves against me
be clothed with shame and dishonor.
Let the people who favor my righteous cause
shout for joy and be glad!
Yes, let them say continually, “Yahweh be exalted!
He has pleasure in the prosperity of his slave!”
I will talk about your righteousness
and about your praise all day long.

How