Fear GOD Alone

       In Judah GOD is known;
          HIS name is great in Israel.
       HIS tent is in Salem,
          HIS dwelling place in Zion.
       There HE broke the flashing arrows,
          the shields and the swords, the weapons of war.

       YOU are resplendent with light,
          more majestic than mountains rich with game.
       Valiant men lie plundered,
          they sleep their last sleep;
       not one of the warriors
          can lift his hands.
       At YOUR rebuke, O GOD OF JACOB,
          both horse and chariot lie still.
       YOU alone are to be feared.
          Who can stand before YOU when YOU are angry?
       From heaven YOU pronounced judgment,
          and the land feared and was quiet--
       when YOU, O GOD, rose up to judge,
          to save all the afflicted of the land.
       Surely YOUR wrath against men brings YOU praise,
          and the survivors of YOUR wrath are restrained.

       Make vows to THE LORD your GOD and fulfill them;
          let all the neighboring lands
          bring gifts to THE ONE to be feared.
       HE breaks the spirit of rulers;
          HE is feared by the kings of the earth.


The Book of Psalms: Psalm 76

Remember the Works of THE LORD

       I cried out to GOD for help;
          I cried out to GOD to hear me.
       When I was in distress, I sought THE LORD;
          at night I stretched out untiring hands
          and my soul refused to be comforted.

       I remembered YOU, O GOD, and I groaned;
          I mused, and my spirit grew faint.
       YOU kept my eyes from closing;
          I was too troubled to speak.
       I thought about the former days,
          the years of long ago;
       I remembered my songs in the night.
          My heart mused and my spirit inquired:

       "Will THE LORD reject forever?
          Will HE never show HIS favor again?
       Has HIS unfailing love vanished forever?
          Has HIS promise failed for all time?
       Has GOD forgotten to be merciful?
          Has HE in anger withheld HIS compassion?"

       Then I thought, "To this I will appeal:
          the years of the right hand of THE MOST HIGH."
       I will remember the deeds of THE LORD;
          yes, I will remember YOUR miracles of long ago.
       I will meditate on all YOUR works
          and consider all YOUR mighty deeds.

       YOUR ways, O GOD, are holy.
          What god is so great as our GOD?
       YOU are THE GOD who performs miracles;
          YOU display YOUR power among the peoples.
       With YOUR mighty arm YOU redeemed YOUR people,
          the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.

       The waters saw YOU, O GOD,
          the waters saw YOU and writhed;
          the very depths were convulsed.
       The clouds poured down water,
          the skies resounded with thunder;
          YOUR arrows flashed back and forth.
       YOUR thunder was heard in the whirlwind,
          YOUR lightning lit up the world;
          the earth trembled and quaked.
       YOUR path led through the sea,
          YOUR way through the mighty waters,
          though YOUR footprints were not seen.

       YOU led YOUR people like a flock
          by the hand of Moses and Aaron.


The Book of Psalms: Psalm 77

The Deeds of THE LORD

       O my people, hear my teaching;
          listen to the words of my mouth.
       I will open my mouth in parables,
          I will utter hidden things, things from of old--
       what we have heard and known,
          what our fathers have told us.
       We will not hide them from their children;
          we will tell the next generation
       the praiseworthy deeds of THE LORD,
          HIS power, and the wonders HE has done.
       HE decreed statutes for Jacob
          and established the law in Israel,
       which HE commanded our forefathers
          to teach their children,
       so the next generation would know them,
          even the children yet to be born,
          and they in turn would tell their children.
       Then they would put their trust in GOD
          and would not forget HIS deeds
          but would keep HIS commands.
       They would not be like their forefathers--
          a stubborn and rebellious generation,
       whose hearts were not loyal to GOD,
          whose spirits were not faithful to HIM.

       The men of Ephraim, though armed with bows,
          turned back on the day of battle;
       they did not keep GOD'S covenant
          and refused to live by HIS law.
       They forgot what HE had done,
          the wonders HE had shown them.
       HE did miracles in the sight of their fathers
          in the land of Egypt, in the region of Zoan.
       HE divided the sea and led them through;
          HE made the water stand firm like a wall.
       HE guided them with the cloud by day
          and with light from the fire all night.
       HE split the rocks in the desert
          and gave them water as abundant as the seas;
       HE brought streams out of a rocky crag
          and made water flow down like rivers.

       But they continued to sin against HIM,
          rebelling in the desert against THE MOST HIGH.
       They willfully put GOD to the test
          by demanding the food they craved.
      They spoke against GOD, saying,
          "Can GOD spread a table in the desert?
       When HE struck the rock, water gushed out,
          and streams flowed abundantly.
       But can HE also give us food?
         Can HE supply meat for HIS people?"
       When THE LORD heard them, HE was very angry;
          HIS fire broke out against Jacob,
          and HIS wrath rose against Israel,
       for they did not believe in GOD
          or trust in HIS deliverance.
       Yet HE gave a command to the skies above
          and opened the doors of the heavens;
       HE rained down manna for the people to eat,
          HE gave them the grain of heaven.
       Men ate the bread of angels;
          HE sent them all the food they could eat.
       HE let loose the east wind from the heavens
          and led forth the south wind by HIS power.
       HE rained meat down on them like dust,
          flying birds like sand on the seashore.
       HE made them come down inside their camp,
          all around their tents.
       They ate till they had more than enough,
          for HE had given them what they craved.
       But before they turned from the food they craved,
          even while it was still in their mouths,
       GOD'S anger rose against them;
          HE put to death the sturdiest among them,
          cutting down the young men of Israel.

       In spite of all this, they kept on sinning;
          in spite of HIS wonders, they did not believe.
       So HE ended their days in futility
          and their years in terror.
       Whenever GOD slew them, they would seek HIM;
          they eagerly turned to HIM again.
       They remembered that GOD was their Rock,
          that GOD MOST HIGH was their Redeemer.
       But then they would flatter HIM with their mouths,
          lying to HIM with their tongues;
       their hearts were not loyal to HIM,
          they were not faithful to HIS covenant.
       Yet HE was merciful;
          HE forgave their iniquities
          and did not destroy them.
       Time after time HE restrained HIS anger
          and did not stir up HIS full wrath.
       HE remembered that they were but flesh,
          a passing breeze that does not return.

       How often they rebelled against HIM in the desert
          and grieved HIM in the wasteland!
       Again and again they put GOD to the test;
          they vexed THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL.
       They did not remember HIS power--
          the day HE redeemed them from the oppressor,
       the day HE displayed HIS miraculous signs in Egypt,
          HIS wonders in the region of Zoan.
       HE turned their rivers to blood;
          they could not drink from their streams.
       HE sent swarms of flies that devoured them,
          and frogs that devastated them.
       HE gave their crops to the grasshopper,
          their produce to the locust.
       HE destroyed their vines with hail
          and their sycamore-figs with sleet.
       HE gave over their cattle to the hail,
          their livestock to bolts of lightning.
       HE unleashed against them HIS hot anger,
          HIS wrath, indignation and hostility--
          a band of destroying angels.
       HE prepared a path for HIS anger;
          HE did not spare them from death
          but gave them over to the plague.
       HE struck down all the firstborn of Egypt,
          the firstfruits of manhood in the tents of Ham.
       But HE brought HIS people out like a flock;
          HE led them like sheep through the desert.
       HE guided them safely, so they were unafraid;
          but the sea engulfed their enemies.
       Thus HE brought them to the border of HIS holy land,
          to the hill country HIS right hand had taken.
       HE drove out nations before them
          and allotted their lands to them as an inheritance;
          HE settled the tribes of Israel in their homes.

       But they put GOD to the test
          and rebelled against THE MOST HIGH;
          they did not keep HIS statutes.
       Like their fathers they were disloyal and faithless,
          as unreliable as a faulty bow.
       They angered HIM with their high places;
          they aroused HIS jealousy with their idols.
       When GOD heard them, HE was very angry;
          HE rejected Israel completely.
       HE abandoned the tabernacle of Shiloh,
          the tent HE had set up among men.
       HE sent the ark of HIS might into captivity,
          HIS splendor into the hands of the enemy.
       HE gave HIS people over to the sword;
          HE was very angry with HIS inheritance.
       Fire consumed their young men,
          and their maidens had no wedding songs;
       their priests were put to the sword,
          and their widows could not weep.

       Then THE LORD awoke as from sleep,
          as a man wakes from the stupor of wine.
       HE beat back HIS enemies;
          HE put them to everlasting shame.
       Then HE rejected the tents of Joseph,
          HE did not choose the tribe of Ephraim;
       but HE chose the tribe of Judah,
          Mount Zion, which HE loved.
       HE built HIS sanctuary like the heights,
          like the earth that HE established forever.
       HE chose David HIS servant
          and took HIM from the sheep pens;
       from tending the sheep he brought HIM
          to be the shepherd of HIS people Jacob,
          of Israel HIS inheritance.
       And David shepherded them with integrity of heart;
          with skillful hands he led them.


The Book of Psalms: Psalm 78

Help Us, O GOD

       O GOD, the nations have invaded YOUR inheritance;
          they have defiled YOUR holy temple,
          they have reduced Jerusalem to rubble.
       They have given the dead bodies of YOUR servants
          as food to the birds of the air,
          the flesh of YOUR saints to the beasts of the earth.
       They have poured out blood like water
          all around Jerusalem,
          and there is no one to bury the dead.
       We are objects of reproach to our neighbors,
          of scorn and derision to those around us.

       How long, O LORD? Will YOU be angry forever?
          How long will YOUR jealousy burn like fire?
       Pour out YOUR wrath on the nations
          that do not acknowledge YOU,
       on the kingdoms
          that do not call on YOUR name;
       for they have devoured Jacob
          and destroyed his homeland.
       Do not hold against us the sins of the fathers;
          may YOUR mercy come quickly to meet us,
          for we are in desperate need.

       Help us, O GOD OUR SAVIOR.
          for the glory of YOUR name;
       deliver us and forgive our sins
          for YOUR name's sake.
       Why should the nations say,
          "Where is their GOD?"
       Before our eyes, make known among the nations
          that YOU avenge the outpoured blood of YOUR servants.
       May the groans of the prisoners come before YOU;
          by the strength of YOUR arm
          preserve those condemned to die.

       Pay back into the laps of our neighbors seven times
          the reproach they have hurled at YOU, O LORD.
       Then we YOUR people, the sheep of YOUR pasture,
          will praise YOU forever;
       from generation to generation
          we will recount YOUR praise.


The Book of Psalms: Psalm 79

Restore Us, O GOD

       Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel,
          YOU who lead Joseph like a flock;
       YOU who sit enthroned between the cherubim, shine forth
          before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh.
       Awaken YOUR might;
          come and save us.

       Restore us, O GOD;
          make YOUR face shine upon us,
          that we may be saved.

       O LORD GOD ALMIGHTY,
          how long will YOUR anger smolder
          against the prayers of YOUR people?
       YOU have fed them with the bread of tears;
          YOU have made them drink tears by the bowlful.
       YOU have made us a source of contention to our neighbors,
          and our enemies mock us.

       Restore us, O GOD ALMIGHTY;
          make YOUR face shine upon us,
          that we may be saved.

       YOU brought a vine out of Egypt;
          YOU drove out the nations and planted it.
       YOU cleared the ground for it,
          and it took root and filled the land.
       The mountains were covered with its shade,
          the mighty cedars with its branches.
       It sent out its boughs to the Sea,
          its shoots as far as the River.

       Why have YOU broken down its walls
          so that all who pass by pick its grapes?
       Boars from the forest ravage it
          and the creatures of the field feed on it.
       Return to us, O GOD ALMIGHTY!
          Look down from heaven and see!
       Watch over this vine,
          the root YOUR right hand has planted,
          the son YOU have raised up for YOURSELF.

       YOUR vine is cut down, it is burned with fire;
          at YOUR rebuke YOUR people perish.
       Let YOUR hand rest on the man at YOUR right hand,
          the son of man YOU have raised up for YOURSELF.
       Then we will not turn away from YOU;
          revive us, and we will call on YOUR name.

       Restore us, O LORD GOD ALMIGHTY;
          make YOUR face shine upon us,
          that we may be saved.


The Book of Psalms: Psalm 80

An Ordinance of GOD

       Sing for joy to GOD our strength;
          shout aloud to THE GOD of Jacob!
       Begin the music, strike the tambourine,
          play the melodious harp and lyre.

       Sound the ram's horn at the New Moon,
          and when the moon is full, on the day of our Feast;
       this is a decree for Israel,
          an ordinance of THE GOD OF JACOB.
       HE established it as a statute for Joseph
          when HE went out against Egypt,
          where we heard a language we did not understand.

       HE says, "I removed the burden from their shoulders;
          their hands were set free from the basket.
       In your distress you called and I rescued you,
          I answered you out of a thundercloud;
          I tested you at the waters of Meribah.

       "Hear, O MY people, and I will warn you--
          if you would but listen to ME, O Israel!
       You shall have no foreign god among you;
          you shall not bow down to an alien god.
       I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD,
          who brought you up out of Egypt.
          Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.

       "But MY people would not listen to ME;
          Israel would not submit to ME.
       So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts
          to follow their own devices.

       "If MY people would but listen to ME,
          if Israel would follow MY ways,
       how quickly would I subdue their enemies
          and turn MY hand against their foes!
       Those who hate THE LORD would cringe before HIM,
          and their punishment would last forever.
       But you would be fed with the finest of wheat;
          with honey from the rock I would satisfy you."


The Book of Psalms: Psalm 81

THE GOD of "gods"

       GOD presides in the great assembly;
          HE gives judgment among the "gods":
       "How long will you defend the unjust
          and show partiality to the wicked?
       Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless;
          maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.
       Rescue the weak and needy;
          deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

       "They know nothing, they understand nothing.
          They walk about in darkness;
          all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

       "I said, 'You are "gods";
          you are all sons of THE MOST HIGH.'
       But you will die like mere men;
          you will fall like every other ruler."

       Rise up, O GOD, judge the earth,
          for all the nations are YOUR inheritance.


The Book of Psalms: Psalm 82

Enemies of GOD

       O GOD, do not keep silent;
          be not quiet, O GOD, be not still.
       See how YOUR enemies are astir,
          how YOUR foes rear their heads.
       With cunning they conspire against YOUR people;
          they plot against those YOU cherish.
       "Come," they say, "let us destroy them as a nation,
          that the name of Israel be remembered no more."

       With one mind they plot together;
          they form an alliance against YOU--
       the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites,
          of Moab and the Hagrites,
       Gebal, Ammon and Amalek,
          Philistia, with the people of Tyre.
       Even Assyria has joined them
          to lend strength to the descendants of Lot.

       Do to them as YOU did to Midian,
          as YOU did to Sisera and Jabin at the river Kishon,
       who perished at Endor
          and became like refuse on the ground.
       Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb,
          all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,
       who said, "Let us take possession
          of the pasturelands of GOD."

       Make them like tumbleweed, O my GOD,
          like chaff before the wind.
       As fire consumes the forest
          or a flame sets the mountains ablaze,
       so pursue them with YOUR tempest
          and terrify them with YOUR storm.
       Cover their faces with shame
          so that men will seek YOUR name, O LORD.

       May they ever be ashamed and dismayed;
          may they perish in disgrace.
       Let them know that YOU, whose name is THE LORD--
          that YOU alone are THE MOST HIGH over all the earth.


The Book of Psalms: Psalm 83

The House of GOD

       How lovely is YOUR dwelling place,
          O LORD ALMIGHTY!
       My soul yearns, even faints,
          for the courts of THE LORD;
       my heart and my flesh cry out
          for THE LIVING GOD.

       Even the sparrow has found a home,
          and the swallow a nest for herself,
          where she may have her young--
       a place near YOUR altar,
          O LORD ALMIGHTY, my KING and my GOD.
       Blessed are those who dwell in YOUR house;
          they are ever praising YOU.

       Blessed are those whose strength is in YOU,
          who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.
       As they pass through the Valley of Baca,
          they make it a place of springs;
          the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
       They go from strength to strength,
          till each appears before GOD in Zion.

       Hear my prayer, O LORD GOD ALMIGHTY;
          listen to me, O GOD OF JACOB.
       Look upon our shield, O GOD;
          look with favor on YOUR anointed one.

       Better is one day in YOUR courts
          than a thousand elsewhere;
       I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my GOD
          than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
       For THE LORD GOD is a sun and shield;
          THE LORD bestows favor and honor;
       no good thing does HE withhold
          from those whose walk is blameless.

       O LORD ALMIGHTY,
          blessed is the man who trusts in YOU.


The Book of Psalms: Psalm 84