Psalm 16
Protect me, God, because I trust in you. I said to the Lord, "You are my Lord. Every good thing I have comes from you." They are godly people in the world. I enjoy them. But those who turn to idols will have much pain. I will not offer blood to those idols. I won't even speak their names. No, the Lord is all I need. He takes care of me. My share in life has been pleasant. My part has been beautiful. I praise the Lord because he guides me. Even at night, I feel his leading. I keep the Lord before me always. Because he is close by my side I will not be hurt. So I rejoice, and I am glad. Even my body has hope. This is because you will not leave me in the grave. You will not let your holy one rot. You will teach me God's way to live. Being with you will fill me with joy. At your right hand I will find pleasure forever.
Psalm 17
Lord, hear me begging for fairness. Listen to my cry for help. Pay attention to my prayer. I speak the truth. You will judge that I am right. Your eyes can see what is true. You have examined my heart. You have tested me all night. You questioned me without finding anything wrong. I did not plan any evil. I have obeyed your commands. I have not done what evil people do. I have done what you told me to do. I have not failed. I call to you, God, and you answer me. Listen to me now. Hear what I say. Your love is wonderful. By your power you save from their enemies those who trust you. Protect me as you would protect your own eye. Protect me as a bird hides her young under her wings. Keep me from the wicked who attack me. Protect me from my enemies who surround me. They are selfish. They brag about themselves. They have chased me. Now they surround me. They plan to throw me to the ground. They are like lions ready to kill. Like lions, they sit in hiding. Lord, rise up and face the enemy. Throw them down. Save me from the wicked with your sword. Lord, save me from them by your power. Their reward is in this life. They have plenty of food. They have many sons. They leave money to their children. Because I have lived right, I will see your face. When I wake up, I will see your likeness and be satisfied.
Psalm 18
I love you Lord. You are my strength. The Lord is my rock, my protection, my Savior. My God is my rock. I can run to him for safety. He is my sheild and my saving strength, my high tower. I will call to the Lord. He is worthy of praise. And I will be saved from my enemies. The ropes of death bound me. The deadly rivers overwhelmed me. The ropes of death wrapped around me. The traps of death were before me. In my trouble I called to the Lord. I cried out to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice. My call for help reached his ears. The earth trembled and shook. The foundations of the mountains began to shake. They shook because the Lord was angry. Smoke came out of his nose. Burning fire came out of his mouth. Burning coals went before him. He tore open the sky and came down. Dark clouds were under his feet. He rode a creature with wings and flew. He flew on the wings of the wind. He made darkness his covering, his shelter around him, surrounded by fog and clouds. Out of the brightness of his presence came clouds. They came with hail and lightning. The Lord thundered from the heaven. God Most High raised his voice. And there was hail and lightning. He shot his arrows and scattered his enemies. His many bolts of lightning confused them with fear. Lord, you spoke strongly. The wind blew from you nose. The vallets of the sea appeared. The foundations of the earth were seen. The Lord reached down from above and took me. He pulled me from the deep water. He saved me from my powerful enemies. Those who hated me were too strong for me. They attacked me at my time of trouble. But the Lord supported me. He took me to a safe place. Because he delights in me, he saved me. The Lord spared me because I did what was right. Because I have not done evil, he has rewarded me. I have followed the ways of the Lord. I have not done evil by turning away from my God. I remember all his laws. I have not broken his rules. I am innocent before him. I have kept myself from doing evil. The Lord rewarded me because I did what was right.I did what the Lord said was right. Lord, you are loyal to those who are loyal. You are good to those who are good. You are pure to those who are pure. But you are against those who are bad. You save those who are not proud. But you make humble those who are proud. Lord, you give light to my lamp. My God brightness the darkness around me. With your help I can attack an army. With God's help I can jump over a wall. The ways of God are without fault. The Lord's words are pure. He is a shield to those who trust him. Who is God? Only the Lord. Who is the Rock? Only our God. God is my protection. He makes my way free from fault. He makes me like a deer, which does not stumble. He helps me stand on the steep mountains. He trains my hands for battle. So my arms can bend a bronze bow. You protect me with your saving sheild. You support me with your right hand. You have stooped to make me great. You give me a wide path on which to walk. My feet have not slipped. I cashed my enemies and caught them. I did not quit till they were destroyed. I crushed them so they couldn't rise up again. They fell beneath my feet. You gave me strength in battle. You made my enemies bow before me. You made my enemies turn back. I destroyed those who hated me. They called for help, but no one came to save the. They called to the Lord, but he did not answer them. I beat my enemies into pieces. They werer like dust in the wind. I poured them out like mud in the streets. You saved me when the people attacked me. You made me the leader of nations. People I never knew serve me. As soon as they hear me, they obey me. Foreigners obey me. They all become afraid. They tremble in their hiding places. The Lord lives! May my Rock be praised. Priase the God who saves me! God gives me victory over my enemies. He brings people under my rule. He saves me from my enemies. You set me over those who hate me. You saved me from cruel men. So I will praise you, Lord, among the natinos. I will sing praises to your name. The Lord gives great victories to his king. He is loyal to his appointed king, to David and his descedants forever.
Psalm 19
The heavens tell the glory of God. And the skies announce what his hands have made. Day after dat they tell the story. Night after night they tell it again. They have no speech or words. They don't make any sound to be heard. But their message goes out through alll the world. It goes everywhere on earth. The sky is like a home for the sun. The sun comes out like a bridegroom from his bedroom. It rejoices like an athlete eager to run a race. The sun rises at one end of the sky, and it follows its path to the other end. Nothing hides from its heat. The Lord's teachings are perfect. They give new strength. The Lord's rules can be trusted. They make plain people wise. The Lord's orders are right. They make people happy. The Lord's commands are pure. They light up the way. It is good to respect the Lord. That respect will last forever. The Lord's judgements are true. They are completely right. They are worth more than gold, even the purest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even the finest honey. They tell your servant what to do. Keeping them brings great reward. No one can see all his own mistakes. Forgive me for my secret sins. Keep me from the sins that I want to do. Don't let them rule me. Then I can be pure and free form the greatest of sins. I hope my words and thoughts please you. Lord, you are my Rock, the one who saves me.
Psalm 20
May the Lord answer you in times of trouble. May the God of Jacob protect you. May he send you help from his Temple. May he support you from Mount Zion. May he remember all your offerings. May he accept all your sacrifices. May he give you what you want. May all your plans succeed. We will shout for joy when you succeed. We will raise a flag in the name of our God. May the Lord give you all that you ask for. Now I know the Lord helps his appointed king. He answers him from his holy heaven. He saves him with his strong right hand. Some trust in chariots, others in horses. But we trust the Lord our God. They are overwhelmed and defeated. But we march forward and win. Lord, save the king! Answer us when we call for help.
