Nahal Hever Psalms

Language: Hebrew

Date: 50 - 100 A.D.

Location: Nahal Hever

Contents: (English verse numbers) Psalms 7:12-17; 8:1, 3-9; 9:12-21; 10:1-6, 8-10, 18; 11:1-5; 12:5-8; 13:1-2; 14:2-4; 15:1-5; 16:1; 18:5-12, 16-35, 37-42; 22:3-8; 14-20; 23:2-6; 24:1-2; 25:4-7; 29:2; 30:2; 31:1-21

 

Psalms 7

12 If a man doesn’t repent, he will sharpen his sword;

he has bent and strung his bow.

13 He has also prepared for himself the instruments of death.

He makes ready his flaming arrows.

14 Behold, he travails with iniquity.

Yes, he has conceived mischief,

and brought out falsehood.

15 He has dug a hole,

and has fallen into the pit which he made.

16 The trouble he causes shall return to his own head.

His violence shall come down on the crown of his own head.

17 I will give thanks to Yahweh according to his righteousness,

and will sing praise to the name of Yahweh Most High.

 

Psalms 8

For the Chief Musician; on an instrument of Gath. A Psalm by David.

[..]

3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars, which you have ordained;

4 what is man, that you think of him?

What is the son of man, that you care for him?

5 For you have made him a little lower than the angels,

and crowned him with glory and honor.

6 You make him ruler over the works of your hands.

You have put all things under his feet:

7 All sheep and cattle,

yes, and the animals of the field,

8 the birds of the sky, the fish of the sea,

and whatever passes through the paths of the seas.

9 Yahweh, our Lord,

how majestic is your name in all the earth!

 

Psalms 9

 11 Sing praises to Yahweh, who dwells in Zion,

and declare among the people what he has done.

12 For he who avenges blood remembers them.

He doesn’t forget the cry of the afflicted.

13 Have mercy on me, Yahweh.

See my affliction by those who hate me,

and lift me up from the gates of death;

14 that I may show all of your praise.

In the gates of the daughter of Zion, I will rejoice in your salvation.

15 The nations have sunk down in the pit that they made.

In the net which they hid, their own foot is taken.

16 Yahweh has made himself known.

He has executed judgment.

The wicked is snared by the work of his own hands.

Meditation. Selah.

17 The wicked shall be turned back to Sheol,

even all the nations that forget God.

18 For the needy shall not always be forgotten,

nor the hope of the poor perish forever.

19 Arise, Yahweh! Don’t let man prevail.

Let the nations be judged in your sight.

20 Put them in fear, Yahweh.

Let the nations know that they are only men.

Selah.

 

Psalms 10

1 Why do you stand far off, Yahweh?

Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

2 In arrogance, the wicked hunt down the weak.

They are caught in the schemes that they devise.

3 For the wicked boasts of his heart’s cravings.

He blesses the greedy, and condemns Yahweh.

4 The wicked, in the pride of his face,

has no room in his thoughts for God.

5 His ways are prosperous at all times.

He is arrogant, and your laws are far from his sight.

As for all his adversaries, he sneers at them.

6 He says in his heart, “I shall not be shaken.

For generations I shall have no trouble.”

[..]

8 He lies in wait near the villages.

From ambushes, he murders the innocent.

His eyes are secretly set against the helpless.

9 He lurks in secret as a lion in his ambush.

He lies in wait to catch the helpless.

He catches the helpless, when he draws him in his net.

10 The helpless are crushed.

They collapse.

They fall under his strength.

[..]

18 to judge the fatherless and the oppressed,

that man who is of the earth may terrify no more.

[..]

Psalms 11

For the Chief Musician. By David.

1 In Yahweh, I take refuge.

How can you say to my soul, “Flee as a bird to your mountain!”

2 For, behold, the wicked bend their bows.

They set their arrows on the strings,

that they may shoot in darkness at the upright in heart.

3 If the foundations are destroyed,

what can the righteous do?

4 Yahweh is in his holy temple.

Yahweh is on his throne in heaven.

His eyes observe.

His eyes examine the children of men.

5 Yahweh examines the righteous,

but the wicked and him who loves violence his soul hates.

[..]

Psalms 12

5 “Because of the oppression of the weak and because of the groaning of the needy,

I will now arise,” says Yahweh;

“I will set him in safety from those who malign him.”

6 Yahweh’s words are flawless words,

as silver refined in a clay furnace, purified seven times.

7 You will keep them, Yahweh.

You will preserve them from this generation forever.

8 The wicked walk on every side,

when what is vile is exalted among the sons of men.

 

Psalms 13

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.

1 How long, Yahweh?

Will you forget me forever?

How long will you hide your face from me?

2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul,

having sorrow in my heart every day?

How long shall my enemy triumph over me?

 [..]

Psalms 14

2 Yahweh looked down from heaven on the children of men,

to see if there were any who understood,

who sought after God.

3 They have all gone aside.

They have together become corrupt.

There is no one who does good, no, not one.

4 Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge,

who eat up my people as they eat bread,

and don’t call on Yahweh?

[..]

Psalms 15

A Psalm by David.

1 Yahweh, who shall dwell in your sanctuary?

Who shall live on your holy hill?

2 He who walks blamelessly does what is right,

and speaks truth in his heart;

3 He who doesn’t slander with his tongue,

nor does do evil to his friend,

nor casts slurs against his fellow man;

4 In whose eyes a vile man is despised,

but who honors those who fear Yahweh;

he who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and doesn’t change;

5 he who doesn’t lend out his money for usury,

nor take a bribe against the innocent.

 

He who does these things shall never be shaken.

 

Psalms 16

A Poem by David.

1 Preserve me, God, for I take refuge in you.

[..]

Psalms 18

5 The cords of Sheol were around me.

The snares of death came on me.

6 In my distress I called on Yahweh,

and cried to my God.

He heard my voice out of his temple.

My cry before him came into his ears.

7 Then the earth shook and trembled.

The foundations also of the mountains quaked and were shaken,

because he was angry.

8 Smoke went out of his nostrils.

Consuming fire came out of his mouth.

Coals were kindled by it.

9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down.

Thick darkness was under his feet.

10 He rode on a cherub, and flew.

Yes, he soared on the wings of the wind.

11 He made darkness his hiding place, his pavilion around him,

darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies.

12 At the brightness before him his thick clouds passed,

hailstones and coals of fire.

[..]

16 He sent from on high.

He took me.

He drew me out of many waters.

17 He delivered me from my strong enemy,

from those who hated me; for they were too mighty for me.

18 They came on me in the day of my calamity,

but Yahweh was my support.

19 He brought me out also into a large place.

He delivered me, because he delighted in me.

20 Yahweh has rewarded me according to my righteousness.

According to the cleanness of my hands has he recompensed me.

21 For I have kept the ways of Yahweh,

and have not wickedly departed from my God.

22 For all his ordinances were before me.

I didn’t put away his statutes from me.

23 I was also blameless with him.

I kept myself from my iniquity.

24 Therefore Yahweh has rewarded me according to my righteousness,

according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.

25 With the merciful you will show yourself merciful.

With the perfect man, you will show yourself perfect.

26 With the pure, you will show yourself pure.

With the crooked you will show yourself shrewd.

27 For you will save the afflicted people,

but the arrogant eyes you will bring down.

28 For you will light my lamp, Yahweh.

My God will light up my darkness.

29 For by you, I advance through a troop.

By my God, I leap over a wall.

30 As for God, his way is perfect.

Yahweh’s word is tried.

He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him.

31 For who is God, except Yahweh?

Who is a rock, besides our God,

32 the God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect?

33 He makes my feet like deer’s feet,

and sets me on my high places.

34 He teaches my hands to war,

so that my arms bend a bow of bronze.

35 You have also given me the shield of your salvation.

Your right hand sustains me.

Your gentleness has made me great.

[..]

37 I will pursue my enemies, and overtake them.

I won’t turn away until they are consumed.

38 I will strike them through, so that they will not be able to rise.

They shall fall under my feet.

39 For you have armed me with strength to the battle.

You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.

40 You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me,

that I might cut off those who hate me.

41 They cried, but there was no one to save;

even to Yahweh, but he didn’t answer them.

42 Then I beat them small as the dust before the wind.

I cast them out as the mire of the streets.

[..]

Psalms 22

3 But you are holy,

you who inhabit the praises of Israel.

4 Our fathers trusted in you.

They trusted, and you delivered them.

5 They cried to you, and were delivered.

They trusted in you, and were not disappointed.

6 But I am a worm, and no man;

a reproach of men, and despised by the people.

7 All those who see me mock me.

They insult me with their lips. They shake their heads, saying,

8 “He trusts in Yahweh.

Let him deliver him.

Let him rescue him, since he delights in him.”

[..]

14 I am poured out like water.

All my bones are out of joint.

My heart is like wax;

it is melted within me.

15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd.

My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.

You have brought me into the dust of death.

16 For dogs have surrounded me.

A company of evildoers have enclosed me.

They have pierced[1] my hands and feet.

17 I can count all of my bones.

They look and stare at me.

18 They divide my garments among them.

They cast lots for my clothing.

 

19 But don’t be far off, Yahweh.

You are my help: hurry to help me.

20 Deliver my soul from the sword,

my precious life from the power of the dog.

[..]

Psalms 23

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

3 He restores my soul.

He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil, for you are with me.

Your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil.

My cup runs over.

6 Surely goodness and loving kindness shall follow me all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in Yahweh’s house forever.

 

Psalms 24

A Psalm by David.

1 The earth is Yahweh’s, with its fullness;

the world, and those who dwell therein.

2 For he has founded it on the seas,

and established it on the floods.

[..]

Psalms 25

4 Show me your ways, Yahweh.

Teach me your paths.

5 Guide me in your truth, and teach me,

For you are the God of my salvation,

I wait for you all day long.

6 Yahweh, remember your tender mercies and your loving kindness,

for they are from old times.

7 Don’t remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions.

Remember me according to your loving kindness,

for your goodness’ sake, Yahweh.

[..]

Psalms 29

2 Ascribe to Yahweh the glory due to his name.

Worship Yahweh in holy array.

[..]

Psalms 30

2 Yahweh my God, I cried to you,

and you have healed me.

[..]

Psalms 31

1 In you, Yahweh, I take refuge.

Let me never be disappointed.

Deliver me in your righteousness.

2 Bow down your ear to me.

Deliver me speedily.

Be to me a strong rock,

a house of defense to save me.

3 For you are my rock and my fortress,

therefore for your name’s sake lead me and guide me.

4 Pluck me out of the net that they have laid secretly for me,

for you are my stronghold.

5 Into your hand I commend my spirit.

You redeem me, Yahweh, God of truth.

6 I hate those who regard lying vanities,

but I trust in Yahweh.

7 I will be glad and rejoice in your loving kindness,

for you have seen my affliction.

You have known my soul in adversities.

8 You have not shut me up into the hand of the enemy.

You have set my feet in a large place.

9 Have mercy on me, Yahweh, for I am in distress.

My eye, my soul, and my body waste away with grief.

10 For my life is spent with sorrow,

my years with sighing.

My strength fails because of my iniquity.

My bones are wasted away.

11 Because of all my adversaries I have become utterly contemptible to my neighbors,

a horror to my acquaintances.

Those who saw me on the street fled from me.

12 I am forgotten from their hearts like a dead man.

I am like broken pottery.

13 For I have heard the slander of many, terror on every side,

while they conspire together against me,

they plot to take away my life.

14 But I trust in you, Yahweh.

I said, “You are my God.”

15 My times are in your hand.

Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me.

16 Make your face to shine on your servant.

Save me in your loving kindness.

17 Let me not be disappointed, Yahweh, for I have called on you.

Let the wicked be disappointed.

Let them be silent in Sheol.

18 Let the lying lips be mute,

which speak against the righteous insolently, with pride and contempt.

19 Oh how great is your goodness,

which you have laid up for those who fear you,

which you have worked for those who take refuge in you,

before the sons of men!

20 In the shelter of your presence you will hide them from the plotting of man.

You will keep them secretly in a dwelling away from the strife of tongues.

21 Praise be to Yahweh,

for he has shown me his marvelous loving kindness in a strong city.