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My Book of Psalms: Psalms 141-150

Here are the final ten Psalms in their finished form!

 

Psalm 141 Domine, clamavi

¹ O Lord, I call to you; come to me quickly; *

hear my voice when I cry to you.

² Let my prayer be set forth in your sight as incense, *

the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

³ Set a watch before my mouth, O Lord, and guard the door of my lips; *

let not my heart incline to any evil thing.

⁵ Let the righteous smite me in friendly rebuke. *

⁸ My eyes are turned to you, Lord God; *

in you I take refuge.

 

Psalm 142     Voce mea ad Dominum

¹ I cry to the Lord with my voice; *

to the Lord I make loud supplication.

² I pour out my complaint before him *

and tell him all my trouble.

³ When my spirit languishes within me, you know my path. *

⁴ I look to my right hand and find no one who knows me; *

I have no place to flee to, and no one cares for me.

⁵ I cry out to you, O Lord; *

I say, "You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living."

⁶ Listen to my cry for help, for I have been brought very low. *

⁷ Bring me out of prison, that I may give thanks to your Name. *

 

Psalm 143     Domine, exaudi

¹ Lord, hear my prayer, and in your faithfulness heed my supplications; *

answer me in your righteousness.

² Enter not into judgment with your servant, *

for in your sight shall no one living be justified.

⁵ I remember the time past; I muse upon all your deeds; *

I consider the works of your hands.

⁶ I spread out my hands to you; *

my soul gasps to you like a thirsty land.

⁸ Let me hear of your loving-kindness in the morning, for I put my trust in you; *

show me the road that I must walk, for I lift up my soul to you.

¹⁰ Teach me to do what pleases you, for you are my God; *

let your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

 

Psalm 144     Benedictus Dominus

¹ Blessed be the Lord my rock! *

² My help and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, *

my shield in whom I trust.

³ O Lord, what are we that you should care for us? *

mere mortals that you should think of us?

⁴ We are like a puff of wind; *

our days are like a passing shadow.

⁹ O God, I will sing to you a new song; *

I will play to you on a ten-stringed lyre.

¹⁴ May our barns be filled to overflowing with all manner of crops; *

may the flocks in our pastures increase by thousands and tens of thousands; may our cattle be fat and sleek.

¹⁵ May there be no breaching of the walls, no going into exile, *

no wailing in the public squares.

¹⁶ Happy are the people of whom this is so! *

happy are the people whose God is the Lord!

 

Psalm 145     Exaltabo te, Deus

¹ I will exalt you, O God my King, *

and bless your Name for ever and ever.

² Every day will I bless you *

and praise your Name for ever and ever.

³ Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; *

there is no end to his greatness.

⁴ One generation shall praise your works to another *

and shall declare your power.

⁵ I will ponder the glorious splendor of your majesty *

and all your marvelous works.

⁶ They shall speak of the might of your wondrous acts, *

and I will tell of your greatness.

⁷ They shall publish the remembrance of your great goodness;*

they shall sing of your righteous deeds.

⁸ The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, *

slow to anger and of great kindness.

⁹ The Lord is loving to everyone *

and his compassion is over all his works.

¹⁰ All your works praise you, O Lord, *

and your faithful servants bless you.

¹¹ They make known the glory of your kingdom *

and speak of your power;

¹² That the peoples may know of your power *

and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

¹³ Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom; *

your dominion endures throughout all ages.

¹⁴ The Lord is faithful in all his words *

and merciful in all his deeds.

¹⁵ The Lord upholds all those who fall; *

he lifts up those who are bowed down.

¹⁶ The eyes of all wait upon you, O Lord, *

and you give them their food in due season.

¹⁷ You open wide your hand *

and satisfy the needs of every living creature.

¹⁸ The Lord is righteous in all his ways *

and loving in all his works.

¹⁹ The Lord is near to those who call upon him, *

to all who call upon him faithfully.

²⁰ He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; *

he hears their cry and helps them.

²¹ The Lord preserves all those who love him, *

²² My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord; *

let all flesh bless his holy Name for ever and ever.

 

Psalm 146     Lauda, anima mea

¹ Hallelujah! Praise the Lord, O my soul! *

I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

⁴ Happy are they who have the God of Jacob for their help! *

whose hope is in the Lord their God;

⁵ Who made heaven and earth, the seas, and all that is in them;*

who keeps his promise for ever;

⁶ Who gives justice to those who are oppressed, *

and food to those who hunger.

⁷ The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind; *

the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;

⁸ The Lord loves the righteous; the Lord cares for the stranger;*

he sustains the orphan and widow.

⁹ The Lord shall reign for ever, *

your God, O Zion, throughout all generations. Hallelujah!

 

Psalm 147     Laudate Dominum

¹ Hallelujah! How good it is to sing praises to our God! *

how pleasant it is to honor him with praise!

² The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem; *

he gathers the exiles of Israel.

³ He heals the brokenhearted *

and binds up their wounds.

⁴ He counts the number of the stars *

and calls them all by their names.

⁵ Great is our Lord and mighty in power; *

there is no limit to his wisdom.

⁶ The Lord lifts up the lowly. *

⁷ Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; *

make music to our God upon the harp.

⁸ He covers the heavens with clouds *

and prepares rain for the earth;

⁹ He makes grass to grow upon the mountains *

and green plants to serve humankind.

¹⁰ He provides food for flocks and herds *

and for the young ravens when they cry.

¹¹ He is not impressed by the might of a horse; *

he has no pleasure in the strength of a man;

¹² But the Lord has pleasure in those who adore him, *

in those who await his gracious favor.

¹³ Worship the Lord, O Jerusalem; *

praise your God, O Zion;

¹⁴ For he has strengthened the bars of your gates; *

he has blessed your children within you.

¹⁵ He has established peace on your borders; *

he satisfies you with the finest wheat.

¹⁶ He sends out his command to the earth, *

and his word runs very swiftly.

¹⁷ He gives snow like wool; *

he scatters hoarfrost like ashes.

¹⁸ He scatters his hail like bread crumbs; *

who can stand against his cold?

¹⁹ He sends forth his word and melts them; *

he blows with his wind, and the waters flow. Hallelujah!

 

Psalm 148     Laudate Dominum

¹ Hallelujah! Praise the Lord from the heavens; *

praise him in the heights.

² Praise him, all you angels of his; *

praise him, all his host.

³ Praise him, sun and moon; *

praise him, all you shining stars.

⁴ Praise him, heaven of heavens, *

and you waters above the heavens.

⁵ Let them praise the Name of the Lord; *

for he commanded, and they were created.

⁶ He made them stand fast for ever and ever; *

he gave them a law which shall not pass away.

⁷ Praise the Lord from the earth, *

you sea-monsters and all deeps;

⁸ Fire and hail, snow and fog, *

tempestuous wind, doing his will;

⁹ Mountains and all hills, *

fruit trees and all cedars;

¹⁰ Wild beasts and all cattle, *

creeping things and winged birds;

¹¹ Kings of the earth and all peoples, *

princes and all rulers of the world;

¹² Young men and maidens, *

old and young together.

¹³ Let them praise the Name of the Lord, *

for his Name only is exalted, his splendor is over earth and heaven.

¹⁴ He has raised up strength for his people and praise for all his loyal servants, *

the children of Israel, a people who are near him. Hallelujah!

 

Psalm 149     Cantate Domino

¹ Hallelujah! Sing to the Lord a new song; *

sing his praise in the congregation of the faithful.

² Let Israel rejoice in his Maker; *

let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.

³ Let them praise his Name in the dance; *

let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.

⁴ For the Lord takes pleasure in his people *

and adorns the poor with victory.

⁵ Let the faithful rejoice in triumph; *

let them be joyful on their beds.

⁶ Let the praises of God be in their throat *

⁹ this is glory for all his faithful people. Hallelujah!

 

Psalm 150     Laudate Dominum

¹ Hallelujah! Praise God in his holy temple; *

praise him in the firmament of his power.

² Praise him for his mighty acts; *

praise him for his excellent greatness.

³ Praise him with the blast of the ram's-horn; *

praise him with lyre and harp.

⁴ Praise him with timbrel and dance; *

praise him with strings and pipe.

⁵ Praise him with resounding cymbals; *

praise him with loud-clanging cymbals.

⁶ Let everything that has breath *

praise the Lord. Hallelujah!

 

Final Notes:

For those of you have managed to accompany me for all 150 Psalms, I am especially grateful!

 

It's been many more than 150 posts, because some of the Psalms have been divided into parts, and Psalm 119 had 22 parts!

One more thing to do before this series ends:

 

Posting "A 21st Century Christian Psalter" with all 150 Psalms.

 

And then, what's next?

 

Although I have a few ideas. . .

 

Is there something you'd like me to blog about? Something that interests you about the Christian faith, the Bible, the Church, Prayer, or some other spiritual topic?

Some question you've always wanted to ask?

 

Please let me know by leaving a comment on this post, or, if you prefer, send me a private email by clicking here.

 

And then, keep watching this space!

 

With a few gaps, some longer than others, I have posted daily.

 

For a while at least, blog posts will be intermittent— I hope you'll be on the watch for them!

 

Photograph from the Chicago Botanic Garden

as a Lenten harbinger of the Easter Garden

My Book of Psalms: Psalm 150

No Title

 

Keeping and Jettisoning

 

Psalm 150     Laudate Dominum

 

1 Hallelujah! Praise God in his holy temple; *

praise him in the firmament of his power.

 

2 Praise him for his mighty acts; *

praise him for his excellent greatness.

 

3 Praise him with the blast of the ram's-horn; *

praise him with lyre and harp.

 

4 Praise him with timbrel and dance; *

praise him with strings and pipe.

 

5 Praise him with resounding cymbals; *

praise him with loud-clanging cymbals.

 

6 Let everything that has breath *

praise the Lord. Hallelujah!

 

Explanation

The Psalter ends in delightful and joyous praise, and so all is kept!

And may God keep us all as well. Amen! Hallelujah!

 

Final Notes:

For those of you have managed to accompany me for all 150 Psalms, I am especially grateful!

It's been many more than 150 posts, because some of the Psalms have been divided into parts, and Psalm 119 had 22 parts!

 

Two more things to do before this series ends:

1. Posting the final ten Psalms in their finished form.

2. Posting "A 21st Century Christian Psalter" with all 150 Psalms.

 

And then, what's next?

 

Although I have a few ideas. . .

Is there something you'd like me to blog about?

Something that interests you about the Christian faith, the Bible, the Church, Prayer, or some other spiritual topic?

Some question you've always wanted to ask?

Please let me know by leaving a comment on this post, or, if you prefer, send me a private email by clicking here.

 

And then, keep watching this space!

 

With a few gaps, some longer than others, I have posted daily.

For a while at least, blog posts will be more intermittent— I hope you'll be on the watch for them!

 

Photograph from the Chicago Botanic Garden

as a Lenten harbinger of the Easter Garden

 

My Book of Psalms: Psalm 149

No Title

 

Keeping and Jettisoning

 

Psalm 149     Cantate Domino

 

1 Hallelujah! Sing to the Lord a new song; *

sing his praise in the congregation of the faithful.

 

2 Let Israel rejoice in his Maker; *

let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.

 

3 Let them praise his Name in the dance; *

let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.

 

4 For the Lord takes pleasure in his people *

and adorns the poor with victory.

 

5 Let the faithful rejoice in triumph; *

let them be joyful on their beds.

 

6 Let the praises of God be in their throat *

and a two-edged sword in their hand;

7 To wreak vengeance on the nations *

and punishment on the peoples;

8 To bind their kings in chains *

and their nobles with links of iron;

9 To inflict on them the judgment decreed; *

this is glory for all his faithful people. Hallelujah!

 

Explanation

I love this exuberant Psalm which takes us from "the congregation of the faithful" in verse 1 all the way to the intimacy of their beds in verse 5!

This exuberant Psalm carries right into the first half of verse 6— those who are "joyful on their beds" are exhorted to "let the praises of God be in their throat!"

And suddenly the Psalmist spins out of control—the bedded joyful have two-edged swords in their hand (imperiling the bedsheets at least), and vengeance in their hearts.

So of course these verses are jettisoned, and verse 9b kept as a fitting ending to this otherwise happy Psalm— for the praises of God is our glory, and the only thanksgiving we can offer in return for God's love and mercy.

 

Next: what would you keep and what would you jettison?

 

Psalm 150     Laudate Dominum

 

1 Hallelujah! Praise God in his holy temple; *

praise him in the firmament of his power.

 

2 Praise him for his mighty acts; *

praise him for his excellent greatness.

 

3 Praise him with the blast of the ram's-horn; *

praise him with lyre and harp.

 

4 Praise him with timbrel and dance; *

praise him with strings and pipe.

 

5 Praise him with resounding cymbals; *

praise him with loud-clanging cymbals.

 

6 Let everything that has breath *

praise the Lord. Hallelujah!

 

Photograph from the Chicago Botanic Garden

as a Lenten harbinger of the Easter Garden

 

My Book of Psalms: Psalm 148

No Title

 

Keeping and Jettisoning

 

Psalm 148     Laudate Dominum

 

1 Hallelujah! Praise the Lord from the heavens; *

praise him in the heights.

 

2 Praise him, all you angels of his; *

praise him, all his host.

 

3 Praise him, sun and moon; *

praise him, all you shining stars.

 

4 Praise him, heaven of heavens, *

and you waters above the heavens.

 

5 Let them praise the Name of the Lord; *

for he commanded, and they were created.

 

6 He made them stand fast for ever and ever; *

he gave them a law which shall not pass away.

 

7 Praise the Lord from the earth, *

you sea-monsters and all deeps;

 

8 Fire and hail, snow and fog, *

tempestuous wind, doing his will;

 

9 Mountains and all hills, *

fruit trees and all cedars;

 

10 Wild beasts and all cattle, *

creeping things and winged birds;

 

11 Kings of the earth and all peoples, *

princes and all rulers of the world;

 

12 Young men and maidens, *

old and young together.

 

13 Let them praise the Name of the Lord, *

for his Name only is exalted, his splendor is over earth and heaven.

 

14 He has raised up strength for his people and praise for all his loyal servants, *

the children of Israel, a people who are near him. Hallelujah!

 

Explanation

A Psalm which never loses its focus on praise for the God who created all things for all people.

 

All is kept, none is jettisoned.

 

Next: what would you keep and what would you jettison?

 

Psalm 149     Cantate Domino

 

1 Hallelujah! Sing to the Lord a new song; *

sing his praise in the congregation of the faithful.

 

2 Let Israel rejoice in his Maker; *

let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.

 

3 Let them praise his Name in the dance; *

let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.

 

4 For the Lord takes pleasure in his people *

and adorns the poor with victory.

 

5 Let the faithful rejoice in triumph; *

let them be joyful on their beds.

 

6 Let the praises of God be in their throat *

and a two-edged sword in their hand;

 

7 To wreak vengeance on the nations *

and punishment on the peoples;

 

8 To bind their kings in chains *

and their nobles with links of iron;

 

9 To inflict on them the judgment decreed; *

this is glory for all his faithful people. Hallelujah!

 

Photograph from the Chicago Botanic Garden

as a Lenten harbinger of the Easter Garden

My Book of Psalms: Psalm 147

No Title

 

Keeping and Jettisoning

 

Psalm 147     Laudate Dominum

 

1 Hallelujah! How good it is to sing praises to our God! *

how pleasant it is to honor him with praise!

 

2 The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem; *

he gathers the exiles of Israel.

 

3 He heals the brokenhearted *

and binds up their wounds.

 

4 He counts the number of the stars *

and calls them all by their names.

 

5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power; *

there is no limit to his wisdom.

 

6 The Lord lifts up the lowly, *

but casts the wicked to the ground.

 

7 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; *

make music to our God upon the harp.

 

8 He covers the heavens with clouds *

and prepares rain for the earth;

 

9 He makes grass to grow upon the mountains *

and green plants to serve mankind.

 

10 He provides food for flocks and herds *

and for the young ravens when they cry.

 

11 He is not impressed by the might of a horse; *

he has no pleasure in the strength of a man;

 

12 But the Lord has pleasure in those who admire him, *

in those who await his gracious favor.

 

13 Worship the Lord, O Jerusalem; *

praise your God, O Zion;

 

14 For he has strengthened the bars of your gates; *

he has blessed your children within you.

 

15 He has established peace on your borders; *

he satisfies you with the finest wheat.

 

16 He sends out his command to the earth, *

and his word runs very swiftly.

 

17 He gives snow like wool; *

he scatters hoarfrost like ashes.

 

18 He scatters his hail like bread crumbs; *

who can stand against his cold?

 

19 He sends forth his word and melts them; *

he blows with his wind, and the waters flow.

 

20 He declares his word to Jacob, *

his statutes and his judgments to Israel.

21 He has not done so to any other nation; *

to them he has not revealed his judgments. Hallelujah!

 

Explanation

Another wonderful Psalm of Praise for the God who majestically creates and commands all of nature; and who also cares about us, so often dwarfed by nature, providing for us from nature's bounty.

(And how we betray and abuse that bounty today, in our failure to be good stewards of God's good Creation.)

 

I have jettisoned verses 20 and 21 (except the final "Hallelujah!"), because in Jesus Christ, God has declared his word not only to Jacob, and his statutes and judgments not only to Israel, but to every nation—

"Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself" (John 12:31-21).

 

Next: what would you keep and what would you jettison?

 

Psalm 148     Laudate Dominum

 

1 Hallelujah! Praise the Lord from the heavens; *

praise him in the heights.

 

2 Praise him, all you angels of his; *

praise him, all his host.

 

3 Praise him, sun and moon; *

praise him, all you shining stars.

 

4 Praise him, heaven of heavens, *

and you waters above the heavens.

 

5 Let them praise the Name of the Lord; *

for he commanded, and they were created.

 

6 He made them stand fast for ever and ever; *

he gave them a law which shall not pass away.

 

7 Praise the Lord from the earth, *

you sea-monsters and all deeps;

 

8 Fire and hail, snow and fog, *

tempestuous wind, doing his will;

 

9 Mountains and all hills, *

fruit trees and all cedars;

 

10 Wild beasts and all cattle, *

creeping things and winged birds;

 

11 Kings of the earth and all peoples, *

princes and all rulers of the world;

 

12 Young men and maidens, *

old and young together.

 

13 Let them praise the Name of the Lord, *

for his Name only is exalted, his splendor is over earth and heaven.

 

14 He has raised up strength for his people and praise for all his loyal servants, *

the children of Israel, a people who are near him. Hallelujah!

 

Photograph from the Chicago Botanic Garden

as a Lenten harbinger of the Easter Garden

 

My Book of Psalms: Psalm 146

No Title

 

Keeping and Jettisoning

 

Psalm 146     Lauda, anima mea

 

1 Hallelujah! Praise the Lord, O my soul! *

I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

 

2 Put not your trust in rulers, nor in any child of earth, *

for there is no help in them.

3 When they breathe their last, they return to earth, *

and in that day their thoughts perish.

 

4 Happy are they who have the God of Jacob for their help! *

whose hope is in the Lord their God;

 

5 Who made heaven and earth, the seas, and all that is in them;*

who keeps his promise for ever;

 

6 Who gives justice to those who are oppressed, *

and food to those who hunger.

 

7 The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind; *

the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;

 

8 The Lord loves the righteous; the Lord cares for the stranger;*

he sustains the orphan and widow, but frustrates the way of the wicked.

 

9 The Lord shall reign for ever, *

your God, O Zion, throughout all generations. Hallelujah!

 

Explanation

I have jettisoned verses 2 and 3 because they move the Psalm's focus from positive praises for God to negative notes about ruler and their demise (a fate we also share with them, pending our resurrection!).

I have also jettisoned the last phrase in verse 8, because sometimes the wicked's way is not frustrated.

 

Next: what would you keep and what would you jettison?

 

Psalm 147     Laudate Dominum

 

1 Hallelujah! How good it is to sing praises to our God! *

how pleasant it is to honor him with praise!

 

2 The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem; *

he gathers the exiles of Israel.

 

3 He heals the brokenhearted *

and binds up their wounds.

 

4 He counts the number of the stars *

and calls them all by their names.

 

5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power; *

there is no limit to his wisdom.

 

6 The Lord lifts up the lowly, *

but casts the wicked to the ground.

 

7 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; *

make music to our God upon the harp.

 

8 He covers the heavens with clouds *

and prepares rain for the earth;

 

9 He makes grass to grow upon the mountains *

and green plants to serve mankind.

 

10 He provides food for flocks and herds *

and for the young ravens when they cry.

 

11 He is not impressed by the might of a horse; *

he has no pleasure in the strength of a man;

 

12 But the Lord has pleasure in those who fear him, *

in those who await his gracious favor.

 

13 Worship the Lord, O Jerusalem; *

praise your God, O Zion;

 

14 For he has strengthened the bars of your gates; *

he has blessed your children within you.

 

15 He has established peace on your borders; *

he satisfies you with the finest wheat.

 

16 He sends out his command to the earth, *

and his word runs very swiftly.

 

17 He gives snow like wool; *

he scatters hoarfrost like ashes.

 

18 He scatters his hail like bread crumbs; *

who can stand against his cold?

 

19 He sends forth his word and melts them; *

he blows with his wind, and the waters flow.

 

20 He declares his word to Jacob, *

his statutes and his judgments to Israel.

 

21 He has not done so to any other nation; *

to them he has not revealed his judgments. Hallelujah!

 

Photograph from the Chicago Botanic Garden

as a Lenten harbinger of the Easter Garden

 

My Book of Psalms: Psalm 145

Title: Praise. Of David.

 

Ingrid's dad used verses 16 and 17 as a Grace before meals, as many others do:

 

The eyes of all wait upon you, O Lord, * and you give them their food in due season.

You open wide your hand * and satisfy the needs of every living creature.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning is now and every shall be. Amen.

 

Keeping and Jettisoning

 

Psalm 145     Exaltabo te, Deus

 

1 I will exalt you, O God my King, *

and bless your Name for ever and ever.

 

2 Every day will I bless you *

and praise your Name for ever and ever.

 

3 Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; *

there is no end to his greatness.

 

4 One generation shall praise your works to another *

and shall declare your power.

 

5 I will ponder the glorious splendor of your majesty *

and all your marvelous works.

 

6 They shall speak of the might of your wondrous acts, *

and I will tell of your greatness.

 

7 They shall publish the remembrance of your great goodness;*

they shall sing of your righteous deeds.

 

8 The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, *

slow to anger and of great kindness.

 

9 The Lord is loving to everyone *

and his compassion is over all his works.

 

10 All your works praise you, O Lord, *

and your faithful servants bless you.

 

11 They make known the glory of your kingdom *

and speak of your power;

 

12 That the peoples may know of your power *

and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

 

13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom; *

your dominion endures throughout all ages.

 

14 The Lord is faithful in all his words *

and merciful in all his deeds.

 

15 The Lord upholds all those who fall; *

he lifts up those who are bowed down.

 

16 The eyes of all wait upon you, O Lord, *

and you give them their food in due season.

 

17 You open wide your hand *

and satisfy the needs of every living creature.

 

18 The Lord is righteous in all his ways *

and loving in all his works.

 

19 The Lord is near to those who call upon him, *

to all who call upon him faithfully.

 

20 He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; *

he hears their cry and helps them.

 

21 The Lord preserves all those who love him, *

but he destroys all the wicked.

    

22 My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord; *

let all flesh bless his holy Name for ever and ever.

 

Explanation

This is, as the title announces, a lovely Psalm of Praise, marred only by verse 21b, with its assertion that the Lord "destroys all the wicked." The Lord revealed in Jesus desires the redemption of the wicked.

 

Next: what would you keep and what would you jettison?

 

Psalm 146     Lauda, anima mea

 

1 Hallelujah! Praise the Lord, O my soul! *

I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

 

2 Put not your trust in rulers, nor in any child of earth, *

for there is no help in them.

 

3 When they breathe their last, they return to earth, *

and in that day their thoughts perish.

 

4 Happy are they who have the God of Jacob for their help! *

whose hope is in the Lord their God;

 

5 Who made heaven and earth, the seas, and all that is in them; *

who keeps his promise for ever;

 

6 Who gives justice to those who are oppressed, *

and food to those who hunger.

 

7 The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind; *

the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;

 

8 The Lord loves the righteous; the Lord cares for the stranger;*

he sustains the orphan and widow, but frustrates the way of the wicked.

 

9 The Lord shall reign for ever, *

your God, O Zion, throughout all generations. Hallelujah!

 

Photograph from the Chicago Botanic Garden

as a Lenten harbinger of the Easter Garden

 

My Book of Psalms: Psalm 144

Title: Of David.

 

Keeping and Jettisoning

 

Psalm 144     Benedictus Dominus

 

1 Blessed be the Lord my rock! *

who trains my hands to fight and my fingers to battle;

 

2 My help and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, *

my shield in whom I trust, who subdues the peoples under me.

 

3 O Lord, what are we that you should care for us? *

mere mortals that you should think of us?

 

4 We are like a puff of wind; *

our days are like a passing shadow.

 

5 Bow your heavens, O Lord, and come down; *

touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.

6 Hurl the lightning and scatter them; *

shoot out your arrows and rout them.

7 Stretch out your hand from on high; *

rescue me and deliver me from the great waters, from the hand of foreign peoples,

8 Whose mouths speak deceitfully *

and whose right hand is raised in falsehood.

 

9 O God, I will sing to you a new song; *

I will play to you on a ten-stringed lyre.

 

10 You give victory to kings *

and have rescued David your servant.

11 Rescue me from the hurtful sword *

and deliver me from the hand of foreign peoples,

12 Whose mouths speak deceitfully *

and whose right hand is raised in falsehood.

13 May our sons be like plants well nurtured from their youth, *

and our daughters like sculptured corners of a palace.

 

14 May our barns be filled to overflowing with all manner of crops; *

may the flocks in our pastures increase by thousands and tens of thousands; may our cattle be fat and sleek.

 

15 May there be no breaching of the walls, no going into exile, *

no wailing in the public squares.

 

16 Happy are the people of whom this is so! *

happy are the people whose God is the Lord!

 

Explanation

 

Verse 1b and the last phrase in the second half of verse 2, and verses 5-8 and 10-12, speak of war and vengeance against "foreign peoples," so these are all jettisoned because they do not reflect my situation, nor the God of peace revealed in Jesus Christ.

 

It's also interesting to note that the Psalmist uses verses 8 and 12 as bellicose refrains.

 

Verse 13 is jettisoned for its sexist stereotype of sons as living and useful creatures and daughters as inanimate adornments!

 

Next: what would you keep and what would you jettison?

 

Psalm 145     Exaltabo te, Deus

 

1 I will exalt you, O God my King, *

and bless your Name for ever and ever.

 

2 Every day will I bless you *

and praise your Name for ever and ever.

 

3 Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; *

there is no end to his greatness.

 

4 One generation shall praise your works to another *

and shall declare your power.

 

5 I will ponder the glorious splendor of your majesty *

and all your marvelous works.

 

6 They shall speak of the might of your wondrous acts, *

and I will tell of your greatness.

 

7 They shall publish the remembrance of your great goodness; *

they shall sing of your righteous deeds.

 

8 The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, *

slow to anger and of great kindness.

 

9 The Lord is loving to everyone *

and his compassion is over all his works.

 

10 All your works praise you, O Lord, *

and your faithful servants bless you.

 

11 They make known the glory of your kingdom *

and speak of your power;

 

12 That the peoples may know of your power *

and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

 

13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom; *

your dominion endures throughout all ages.

 

14 The Lord is faithful in all his words *

and merciful in all his deeds.

 

15 The Lord upholds all those who fall; *

he lifts up those who are bowed down.

 

16 The eyes of all wait upon you, O Lord, *

and you give them their food in due season.

 

17 You open wide your hand *

and satisfy the needs of every living creature.

 

18 The Lord is righteous in all his ways *

and loving in all his works.

 

19 The Lord is near to those who call upon him, *

to all who call upon him faithfully.

 

20 He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; *

he hears their cry and helps them.

 

21 The Lord preserves all those who love him, *

but he destroys all the wicked.

 

22 My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord; *

let all flesh bless his holy Name for ever and ever.

 

 

Photograph from the Chicago Botanic Garden

as a Lenten harbinger of the Easter Garden

 

My Book of Psalms: Psalm 143

 

Title: A Psalm of David.

 

Keeping and Jettisoning

 

Psalm 143     Domine, exaudi

 

1 Lord, hear my prayer, and in your faithfulness heed my supplications; *

answer me in your righteousness.

 

2 Enter not into judgment with your servant, *

for in your sight shall no one living be justified.

 

3 For my enemy has sought my life; he has crushed me to the ground; *

he has made me live in dark places like those who are long dead.

4 My spirit faints within me; *

my heart within me is desolate.

 

5 I remember the time past; I muse upon all your deeds; *

I consider the works of your hands.

 

6 I spread out my hands to you; *

my soul gasps to you like a thirsty land.

 

7 O Lord, make haste to answer me; my spirit fails me; *

do not hide your face from me or I shall be like those who go down to the Pit.

 

8 Let me hear of your loving-kindness in the morning, for I put my trust in you; *

show me the road that I must walk, for I lift up my soul to you.

 

9 Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord, *

for I flee to you for refuge.

 

10 Teach me to do what pleases you, for you are my God; *

let your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

 

11 Revive me, O Lord, for your Name's sake; *

for your righteousness' sake, bring me out of trouble.

12 Of your goodness, destroy my enemies and bring all my foes to naught, *

for truly I am your servant.

 

Explanation

Because once again David's situation is not mine, I have jettisoned verses 3-4, 7, 9, and 11-12.

 

This is a great Psalm of trust, and the first verse sets the tone.

 

In verse 2, the Psalmist's humility anticipates St. Paul's insight that we are justified by God's grace and not by the Law.

 

In verse 5, the Psalmist meditates on God's past faithfulness, which leads to his trusting declaration in verse 6.

 

Verse 8 makes this a fitting morning Psalm, as the Psalmist asks God's guidance for the day ahead.

 

The second half of verse 10, "let your good Spirit lead me on level ground," reminds me of something a seminary professor said many years ago: "At the foot of the cross we are all on level ground."

 

Next: what would you keep and what would you jettison?

 

Psalm 144     Benedictus Dominus

 

1 Blessed be the Lord my rock! *

who trains my hands to fight and my fingers to battle;

 

2 My help and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, *

my shield in whom I trust, who subdues the peoples under me.

 

3 O Lord, what are we that you should care for us? *

mere mortals that you should think of us?

 

4 We are like a puff of wind; *

our days are like a passing shadow.

 

5 Bow your heavens, O Lord, and come down; *

touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.

 

6 Hurl the lightning and scatter them; *

shoot out your arrows and rout them.

 

7 Stretch out your hand from on high; *

rescue me and deliver me from the great waters, from the hand of foreign peoples,

 

8 Whose mouths speak deceitfully *

and whose right hand is raised in falsehood.

 

9 O God, I will sing to you a new song; *

I will play to you on a ten-stringed lyre.

 

10 You give victory to kings *

and have rescued David your servant.

 

11 Rescue me from the hurtful sword *

and deliver me from the hand of foreign peoples,

 

12 Whose mouths speak deceitfully *

and whose right hand is raised in falsehood.

 

13 May our sons be like plants well nurtured from their youth,*

and our daughters like sculptured corners of a palace.

 

14 May our barns be filled to overflowing with all manner of crops; *

may the flocks in our pastures increase by thousands and tens of thousands; may our cattle be fat and sleek.

 

15 May there be no breaching of the walls, no going into exile, *

no wailing in the public squares.

 

16 Happy are the people of whom this is so! *

happy are the people whose God is the Lord!

 

Photograph from the Chicago Botanic Garden

as a Lenten harbinger of the Easter Garden

 

My Book of Psalms: Psalm 142

Title: A Maskil of David. When he was in the cave. A Prayer.

 

It's been a while since we encountered the word "Maskil." The Hebrew root of Maskil is sakal, which means "to have insight, to teach."

It's hard to see teaching or insight in this Psalm, unless it's David's realization in verse 4 that "no one cares for me," and therefore "I cry out to you, O Lord; I say, 'You are my [only] refuge. . . ."

 

1 Samuel 21:10-22:2 describes David's fleeing King Achish of Gath and hiding in a cave.

There is another story about a cave, both highly amusing and poignant, which you can read in 1 Samuel 24:1-22.

 

Keeping and Jettisoning

 

Psalm 142     Voce mea ad Dominum

 

1 I cry to the Lord with my voice; *

to the Lord I make loud supplication.

 

2 I pour out my complaint before him *

and tell him all my trouble.

 

3 When my spirit languishes within me, you know my path; *

in the way wherein I walk they have hidden a trap for me.

 

4 I look to my right hand and find no one who knows me; *

I have no place to flee to, and no one cares for me.

 

5 I cry out to you, O Lord; *

I say, "You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living."

 

6 Listen to my cry for help, for I have been brought very low; *

save me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me.

 

7 Bring me out of prison, that I may give thanks to your Name;*

when you have dealt bountifully with me, the righteous will gather around me.

 

Explanation

David's situation is not mine, and so his references to those who "have hidden a trap for me," and "pursue me" have been jettisoned, along with his rather cynical observation that once the Lord has dealt bountifully with him, the [sunshine patriots] will gather around him again.

 

Next: what would you keep and what would you jettison?

 

Psalm 143     Domine, exaudi

 

1 Lord, hear my prayer, and in your faithfulness heed my supplications; *

answer me in your righteousness.

 

2 Enter not into judgment with your servant, *

for in your sight shall no one living be justified.

 

3 For my enemy has sought my life; he has crushed me to the ground; *

he has made me live in dark places like those who are long dead.

 

4 My spirit faints within me; *

my heart within me is desolate.

 

5 I remember the time past; I muse upon all your deeds; *

I consider the works of your hands.

 

6 I spread out my hands to you; *

my soul gasps to you like a thirsty land.

 

7 O Lord, make haste to answer me; my spirit fails me; *

do not hide your face from me or I shall be like those who go down to the Pit.

 

8 Let me hear of your loving-kindness in the morning, for I put my trust in you; *

show me the road that I must walk, for I lift up my soul to you.

 

9 Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord, *

for I flee to you for refuge.

 

10 Teach me to do what pleases you, for you are my God; *

let your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

 

11 Revive me, O Lord, for your Name's sake; *

for your righteousness' sake, bring me out of trouble.

 

12 Of your goodness, destroy my enemies and bring all my foes to naught, *

for truly I am your servant.

 

Photograph from the Chicago Botanic Garden

as a Lenten harbinger of the Easter Garden