Meditative Music

Psalm 36

 

 Psalm 36
 

 Psalm 36 For the director of music. Of David the servant of the LORD.
 

An oracle is within my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: [1] 

  There is no fear of God before his eyes  

For in his own eyes he flatters himself too much to detect or hate his sin.
The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful; 

  he has ceased to be wise and to do good.
Even on his bed he plots evil; 

he commits himself to a sinful course and does not reject what is wrong. 

Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, 

  your faithfulness to the skies.
Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, 

  your justice like the great deep. 

O LORD, you preserve both man and beast.
  How priceless is your unfailing love! 

Both high and low among men find [2] refuge in the shadow of your wings.
  They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights.
For with you is the fountain of life;

  in your light we see light.

Continue your love to those who know you, 

  your righteousness to the upright in heart.
May the foot of the proud not come against me, 

  nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.
See how the evildoers lie fallen-- 

  thrown down, not able to rise!

    [1] Or heart: Sin proceeds from the wicked.
    [2] Or love, O God! Men find; or love! Both heavenly beings and men find

Fret Not!

A Psalm of David.

Psalm 37

 Fret not yourself because of the wicked,
    be not envious of wrongdoers!
2
For they will soon fade like the grass,
    and wither like the green herb.
3
Trust in the Lord, and do good;
    so you will dwell in the land, and enjoy security.
4
Take delight in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5
Commit your way to the Lord;
    trust in him, and he will act.
6
He will bring forth your vindication as the light,
    and your right as the noonday.
7
Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him;
    fret not yourself over him who prospers in his way,
    over the man who carries out evil devices!
8
Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!
    Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
9
For the wicked shall be cut off;
    but those who wait for the Lord shall possess the land.
10
Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more;
    though you look well at his place, he will not be there.
11
But the meek shall possess the land,
    and delight themselves in abundant prosperity.
12
The wicked plots against the righteous,
    and gnashes his teeth at him;
13
but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
    for he sees that his day is coming.
14
The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows,
    to bring down the poor and needy,
    to slay those who walk uprightly;
15
their sword shall enter their own heart,
    and their bows shall be broken.
16
Better is a little that the righteous has
    than the abundance of many wicked.
17
For the arms of the wicked shall be broken;
    but the Lord upholds the righteous.
18
The Lord knows the days of the blameless,
    and their heritage will abide for ever;
19
they are not put to shame in evil times,
    in the days of famine they have abundance.
20
But the wicked perish;
    the enemies of the Lord are like the glory of the pastures,
    they vanish—like smoke they vanish away.
21
The wicked borrows, and cannot pay back,
    but the righteous is generous and gives;
22
for those blessed by the Lord shall possess the land,
    but those cursed by him shall be cut off.
23
The steps of a man are from the Lord,
    and he establishes him in whose way he delights;
24
though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong,
    for the Lord is the stay of his hand.
25
I have been young, and now am old;
    yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
    or his children begging bread.
26
He is ever giving liberally and lending,
    and his children become a blessing.
27
Depart from evil, and do good;
    so shall you abide for ever.
28
For the Lord loves justice;
    he will not forsake his saints.
The righteous shall be preserved for ever,
    but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
29
The righteous shall possess the land,
    and dwell upon it for ever.
30
The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom,
    and his tongue speaks justice.
31
The law of his God is in his heart;
    his steps do not slip.
32
The wicked watches the righteous,
    and seeks to slay him.
33
The Lord will not abandon him to his power,
    or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial.
34
Wait for the Lord, and keep to his way,
    and he will exalt you to possess the land;
    you will look on the destruction of the wicked.
35
I have seen a wicked man overbearing,
    and towering like a cedar of Lebanon.
36
Again I passed by, and lo, he was no more;
    though I sought him, he could not be found.
37
Mark the blameless man, and behold the upright,
    for there is posterity for the man of peace.
38
But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed;
    the posterity of the wicked shall be cut off.
39
The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;
    he is their refuge in the time of trouble.
40
The Lord helps them and delivers them;
    he delivers them from the wicked, and saves them,
    because they take refuge in him.

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