Psalm 34

1 [Of David, when he had feigned insanity before Abimelech, and Abimelech sent him away] I will bless Yahweh at all times, his praise continually on my lips.

2 I will praise Yahweh from my heart; let the humble hear and rejoice.

3 Proclaim with me the greatness of Yahweh, let us acclaim his name together.

4 I seek Yahweh and he answers me, frees me from all my fears.

5 Fix your gaze on Yahweh and your face will grow bright, you will never hang your head in shame.

6 A pauper calls out and Yahweh hears, saves him from all his troubles.

7 The angel of Yahweh encamps around those who fear him, and rescues them.

8 Taste and see that Yahweh is good. How blessed are those who take refuge in him.

9 Fear Yahweh, you his holy ones; those who fear him lack for nothing.

10 Young lions may go needy and hungry, but those who seek Yahweh lack nothing good.

11 Come, my children, listen to me, I will teach you the fear of Yahweh.

12 Who among you delights in life, longs for time to enjoy prosperity?

13 Guard your tongue from evil, your lips from any breath of deceit.

14 Turn away from evil and do good, seek peace and pursue it.

15 The eyes of Yahweh are on the upright, his ear turned to their cry.

16 But Yahweh's face is set against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.

17 They cry in anguish and Yahweh hears, and rescues them from all their troubles.

18 Yahweh is near to the broken-hearted, he helps those whose spirit is crushed.

19 Though hardships without number beset the upright, Yahweh brings rescue from them all.

20 Yahweh takes care of all their bones, not one of them will be broken.

21 But to the wicked evil brings death, those who hate the upright will pay the penalty.

22 Yahweh ransoms the lives of those who serve him, and there will be no penalty for those who take refuge in him.

Psalm 33

1 Shout for joy, you upright; praise comes well from the honest.

2 Give thanks to Yahweh on the lyre, play for him on the ten-stringed lyre.

3 Sing to him a new song, make sweet music for your cry of victory.

4 The word of Yahweh is straightforward, all he does springs from his constancy.

5 He loves uprightness and justice; the faithful love of Yahweh fills the earth.

6 By the word of Yahweh the heavens were made, by the breath of his mouth all their array.

7 He collects the waters of the sea like a dam, he stores away the abyss in his treasure-house.

8 Let the whole earth fear Yahweh, let all who dwell in the world revere him;

9 for, the moment he spoke, it was so, no sooner had he commanded, than there it stood!

10 Yahweh thwarts the plans of nations, frustrates the counsels of peoples;

11 but Yahweh's own plan stands firm for ever, his heart's counsel from age to age.

12 How blessed the nation whose God is Yahweh, the people he has chosen as his heritage.

13 From heaven Yahweh looks down, he sees all the children of Adam,

14 from the place where he sits he watches all who dwell on the earth;

15 he alone molds their hearts, he understands all they do.

16 A large army will not keep a king safe, nor his strength save a warrior's life;

17 it is delusion to rely on a horse for safety, for all its power it cannot save.

18 But see how Yahweh watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his faithful love,

19 to rescue them from death and keep them alive in famine.

20 We are waiting for Yahweh; he is our help and our shield,

21 for in him our heart rejoices, in his holy name we trust.

22 Yahweh, let your faithful love rest on us, as our hope has rested in you.

Psalm 32

1 [Of David Poem] How blessed are those whose offense is forgiven, whose sin blotted out.

2 How blessed are those to whom Yahweh imputes no guilt, whose spirit harbors no deceit.

3 I said not a word, but my bones wasted away from groaning all the day;

4 day and night your hand lay heavy upon me; my heart grew parched as stubble in summer drought.

5 I made my sin known to you, did not conceal my guilt. I said, 'I shall confess my offense to Yahweh.' And you, for your part, took away my guilt, forgave my sin.

6 That is why each of your faithful ones prays to you in time of distress. Even if great floods overflow, they will never reach your faithful.

7 You are a refuge for me, you guard me in trouble, with songs of deliverance you surround me.

8 I shall instruct you and teach you the way to go; I shall not take my eyes off you.

9 Be not like a horse or a mule; that does not understand bridle or bit; if you advance to master them, there is no means of bringing them near.

10 Countless troubles are in store for the wicked, but one who trusts in Yahweh is enfolded in his faithful love.

11 Rejoice in Yahweh, exult all you upright, shout for joy, you honest of heart.

Psalm 31

1 [For the choirmaster Psalm Of David] In you, Yahweh, I have taken refuge, let me never be put to shame, in your saving justice deliver me, rescue me,

2 turn your ear to me, make haste. Be for me a rock-fastness, a fortified citadel to save me.

3 You are my rock, my rampart; true to your name, lead me and guide me!

4 Draw me out of the net they have spread for me, for you are my refuge;

5 to your hands I commit my spirit, by you have I been redeemed. God of truth,

6 you hate those who serve useless idols; but my trust is in Yahweh:

7 I will delight and rejoice in your faithful love! You, who have seen my misery, and witnessed the miseries of my soul,

8 have not handed me over to the enemy, but have given me freedom to roam at large.

9 Take pity on me, Yahweh, for I am in trouble. Vexation is gnawing away my eyes, my soul deep within me.

10 For my life is worn out with sorrow, and my years with sighs. My strength gives way under my misery, and my bones are all wasted away.

11 The sheer number of my enemies makes me contemptible, loathsome to my neighbors, and my friends shrink from me in horror. When people see me in the street they take to their heels.

12 I have no more place in their hearts than a corpse, or something lost.

13 All I hear is slander -- terror wherever I turn -- as they plot together against me, scheming to take my life.

14 But my trust is in you, Yahweh; I say, 'You are my God,'

15 every moment of my life is in your hands, rescue me from the clutches of my foes who pursue me;

16 let your face shine on your servant, save me in your faithful love.

17 I call on you, Yahweh, so let disgrace fall not on me, but on the wicked. Let them go down to Sheol in silence,

18 muzzles on their lying mouths, which speak arrogantly against the upright in pride and contempt.

19 Yahweh, what quantities of good things you have in store for those who fear you, and bestow on those who make you their refuge, for all humanity to see.

20 Safe in your presence you hide them, far from human plotting, shielding them in your tent, far from contentious tongues.

21 Blessed be Yahweh who works for me miracles of his faithful love (in a fortified city)!

22 In a state of terror I cried, 'I have been cut off from your sight!' Yet you heard my plea for help when I cried out to you.

23 Love Yahweh, all his faithful: Yahweh protects his loyal servants, but he repays the arrogant with interest.

24 Be brave, take heart, all who put your hope in Yahweh.

Psalm 30

1 [Psalm Canticle for the Dedication of the House Of David] I praise you to the heights, Yahweh, for you have raised me up, you have not let my foes make merry over me.

2 Yahweh, my God, I cried to you for help and you healed me.

3 Yahweh, you have lifted me out of Sheol, from among those who sink into oblivion you have given me life.

4 Make music for Yahweh, all you who are faithful to him, praise his unforgettable holiness.

5 His anger lasts but a moment, his favor through life; In the evening come tears, but with dawn cries of joy.

6 Carefree, I used to think, 'Nothing can ever shake me!'

7 Your favor, Yahweh, set me on impregnable heights, but you turned away your face and I was terrified.

8 To you, Yahweh, I call, to my God I cry for mercy.

9 What point is there in my death, my going down to the abyss? Can the dust praise you or proclaim your faithfulness?

10 Listen, Yahweh, take pity on me, Yahweh, be my help!

11 You have turned my mourning into dancing, you have stripped off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.

12 So my heart will sing to you unceasingly, Yahweh, my God, I shall praise you for ever.

Psalm 29

1 [Psalm Of David] Give Yahweh his due, sons of God, give Yahweh his due of glory and strength,

2 give Yahweh the glory due to his name, adore Yahweh in the splendor of holiness.

3 Yahweh's voice over the waters, the God of glory thunders; Yahweh over countless waters,

4 Yahweh's voice in power, Yahweh's voice in splendor;

5 Yahweh's voice shatters cedars, Yahweh shatters cedars of Lebanon,

6 he makes Lebanon skip like a calf, Sirion like a young wild ox.

7 Yahweh's voice carves out lightning-shafts,

8 Yahweh's voice convulses the desert, Yahweh convulses the desert of Kadesh,

9 Yahweh's voice convulses terebinths, strips forests bare. In his palace all cry, 'Glory!'

10 Yahweh was enthroned for the flood, Yahweh is enthroned as king for ever.

11 Yahweh will give strength to his people, Yahweh blesses his people with peace.

Memorial Day

"Remembering the Fallen"  - by Chris Hopkins

Psalm 28

1 [Of David] To you, Yahweh, I cry, my rock, do not be deaf to me! If you stay silent I shall be like those who sink into oblivion.

2 Hear the sound of my prayer when I call upon you, when I raise my hands, Yahweh, towards your Holy of Holies.

3 Do not drag me away with the wicked, with evil-doers, who talk to their partners of peace with treachery in their hearts.

4 Repay them as their deeds deserve, as befits their treacherous actions; as befits their handiwork repay them, let their deserts fall back on themselves.

5 They do not comprehend the deeds of Yahweh, the work of his hands. May he pull them down and not rebuild them!

6 Blessed be Yahweh for he hears the sound of my prayer.

7 Yahweh is my strength and my shield, in him my heart trusts. I have been helped; my body has recovered its vigor, with all my heart I thank him.

8 Yahweh is the strength of his people, a safe refuge for his anointed.

9 Save your people, bless your heritage, shepherd them and carry them for ever!

Psalm 27

1 [Of David] Yahweh is my light and my salvation, whom should I fear? Yahweh is the fortress of my life, whom should I dread?

2 When the wicked advance against me to eat me up, they, my opponents, my enemies, are the ones who stumble and fall.

3 Though an army pitch camp against me, my heart will not fear, though war break out against me, my trust will never be shaken.

4 One thing I ask of Yahweh, one thing I seek: to dwell in Yahweh's house all the days of my life, to enjoy the sweetness of Yahweh, to seek out his temple.

5 For he hides me away under his roof on the day of evil, he folds me in the recesses of his tent, sets me high on a rock.

6 Now my head is held high above the enemies who surround me; in his tent I will offer sacrifices of acclaim. I will sing, I will make music for Yahweh.

7 Yahweh, hear my voice as I cry, pity me, answer me!

8 Of you my heart has said, 'Seek his face!' Your face, Yahweh, I seek;

9 do not turn away from me. Do not thrust aside your servant in anger, without you I am helpless. Never leave me, never forsake me, God, my Savior.

10 Though my father and mother forsake me, Yahweh will gather me up.

11 Yahweh, teach me your way, lead me on the path of integrity because of my enemies;

12 do not abandon me to the will of my foes -- false witnesses have risen against me, and are breathing out violence.

13 This I believe: I shall see the goodness of Yahweh, in the land of the living.

14 Put your hope in Yahweh, be strong, let your heart be bold, put your hope in Yahweh.

Psalm 26

1 [Of David] Yahweh, be my judge! I go on my way in innocence, my trust in Yahweh never wavers.

2 Probe me, Yahweh, examine me, Test my heart and my mind in the fire.

3 For your faithful love is before my eyes, and I live my life by your truth.

4 No sitting with wastrels for me, no travelling with hypocrites;

5 I hate the company of sinners, I refuse to sit down with the wicked.

6 I will wash my hands in innocence and join the procession round your altar, Yahweh,

7 to make heard the sound of thanksgiving, to proclaim all your wonders.

8 Yahweh, I love the beauty of your house and the place where your glory dwells.

9 Do not couple me with sinners, nor my life with men of violence,

10 whose hands are stained with guilt, their right hands heavy with bribes.

11 In innocence I will go on my way; ransom me, take pity on me.

12 I take my stand on the right path; I will bless you, Yahweh, in the assemblies.

Psalm 25

1 [Of David] ADORATION I offer, Yahweh,

2 to you, my God. BUT in my trust in you do not put me to shame, let not my enemies gloat over me.

3 CALLING to you, none shall ever be put to shame, but shame is theirs who groundlessly break faith.

4 DIRECT me in your ways, Yahweh, and teach me your paths.

5 ENCOURAGE me to walk in your truth and teach me since you are the God who saves me. FOR my hope is in you all day long -- such is your generosity, Yahweh.

6 GOODNESS and faithful love have been yours for ever, Yahweh, do not forget them.

7 HOLD not my youthful sins against me, but remember me as your faithful love dictates.

8 INTEGRITY and generosity are marks of Yahweh for he brings sinners back to the path.

9 JUDICIOUSLY he guides the humble, instructing the poor in his way.

10 KINDNESS unfailing and constancy mark all Yahweh's paths, for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.

11 LET my sin, great though it is, be forgiven, Yahweh, for the sake of your name.

12 MEN who respect Yahweh, what of them? He teaches them the way they must choose.

13 NEIGHBORS to happiness will they live, and their children inherit the land.

14 ONLY those who fear Yahweh have his secret and his covenant, for their understanding.

15 PERMANENTLY my eyes are on Yahweh, for he will free my feet from the snare.

16 QUICK, turn to me, pity me, alone and wretched as I am!

17 RELIEVE the distress of my heart, bring me out of my constraint.

18 SPARE a glance for my misery and pain, take all my sins away.

19 TAKE note how countless are my enemies, how violent their hatred for me.

20 UNLESS you guard me and rescue me I shall be put to shame, for you are my refuge.

21 VIRTUE and integrity be my protection, for my hope, Yahweh, is in you.

22 Ransom Israel, O God, from all its troubles.