Inspiring Ritual of Temple Worship

The Book of Psalms.

Vol. 44, pp. 286-295 of The Harvard Classics

David - the psalm singer - knew the wondrous ways of the Lord and praised Him in his psalms. Burdened souls in all ages have found comfort in these songs that once were used in the gorgeous ritual of Jerusalem's temple.

Book V

CX

Jehovah Gives Dominion to the King

A Psalm of David.

[1]	JEHOVAH saith unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, Until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
[2]	Jehovah will send 1 forth the rod 2 of thy strength out of Zion: Rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
[3]	Thy people offer 3 themselves willingly In the day of thy power,  4 in 5 holy array: Out of the womb of the morning Thou 6 hast the dew of thy youth.
[4]	Jehovah hath sworn, and will not repent: Thou art a priest for ever After the order 7 of Melchizedek.
[5]	The Lord at thy right hand Will 8 strike through kings in the day of his wrath.
[6]	He will judge among the nations, He 9 will 10 fill the places with dead bodies; He will 11 strike through the head in 12 many countries.
[7]	He will drink of the brook in the way: Therefore will he lift up the head.

Note 1. Or, stretch. 

Note 2. Or, sceptre. 

Note 3. Heb. are freewill-offerings. 

Note 4. Or, army. 

Note 5. Or, in the beauty of holiness. 

Note 6. Or, Thy youth are to thee as the dew. 

Note 7. Or, manner. 

Note 8. Or, is stretched out. 

Note 9. Or, The places are full of &c. 

Note 10. Or, hath filled. 

Note 11. Or, Hath stricken. 

Note 12. Or, over a wide land. 

CXI

Jehovah Praised for His Goodness

[1]	PRAISE 1 ye Jehovah. I will give thanks unto Jehovah with my whole heart, In the council of the upright, and in the congregation.
[2]	The works of Jehovah are great, Sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.
[3]	His work is honor and majesty; And his righteousness endureth for ever.
[4]	He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: Jehovah is gracious and merciful.
[5]	He hath given food 2 unto them that fear him: He will ever be mindful of his covenant.
[6]	He hath showed his people the power of his works, In giving them the heritage of the nations.
[7]	The works of his hands are truth and justice; All his precepts are sure.
[8]	They are established for ever and ever; They are done 3 in truth and uprightness.
[9]	He hath sent redemption unto his people; He hath commanded his covenant for ever: Holy and reverend is his name.
[10]	The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; A 4 good understanding have all they that do his 5 commandments: His praise endureth for ever.

Note 1. Heb. Hallelujah. 

Note 2. Heb. prey. 

Note 3. Or, made. 

Note 4. Or, Good repute. 

Note 5. Heb. them. 

CXII

Prosperity of Him That Fears Jehovah

[1]	PRAISE 1 ye Jehovah. Blessed is the man that feareth Jehovah, That delighteth greatly in his commandments.
[2]	His seed shall be mighty upon earth: The generation of the upright shall be blessed.
[3]	Wealth and riches are in his house; And his righteousness endureth for ever.
[4]	Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: He is gracious, and merciful, and righteous.
[5]	Well is it with the man that dealeth graciously and lendeth; He shall maintain his cause in judgment.
[6]	For he shall never be moved; The righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance.
[7]	He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: His heart is fixed, trusting in Jehovah.
[8]	His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, Until he see his desire upon his adversaries.
[9]	He hath dispersed, he hath given to the needy; His righteousness endureth for ever: His horn shall be exalted with honor.
[10]	The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; He shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: The desire of the wicked shall perish.

Note 1. Heb. Hallelujah.

CXIII

Jehovah Exalts the Humble

[1]	PRAISE 1 ye Jehovah. Praise, O ye servants of Jehovah, Praise the name of Jehovah.
[2]	Blessed be the name of Jehovah From this time forth and for evermore.
[3]	From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same Jehovah’s name is to be praised.
[4]	Jehovah is high above all nations, And his glory above the heavens.
[5]	Who is like unto Jehovah our God, That hath his seat on high,
[6]	That humbleth himself to 2 behold The things that are in heaven and in the earth?
[7]	He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, And lifteth up the needy from the dunghill;
[8]	That he may set him with princes, Even with the princes of his people.
[9]	He maketh the barren woman to keep house, And to be a joyful mother of children. Praise 3 ye Jehovah.

Note 1. Heb. Hallelujah. 

Note 2. Or, to regard the heavens and the earth. 

Note 3. Heb. Hallelujah.

CXIV

God’s Deliverance of Israel from Egypt

[1]	WHEN Israel went forth out of Egypt, The house of Jacob from a people of strange language;
[2]	Judah became his sanctuary, Israel his dominion.
[3]	The sea saw it, and fled; The Jordan was driven back.
[4]	The mountains skipped like rams, The little hills like lambs.
[5]	What aileth thee, O thou sea, that thou fleest? Thou Jordan, that thou turnest back?
[6]	Ye mountains, that ye skip like rams; Ye little hills, like lambs?
[7]	Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, At the presence of the God of Jacob,
[8]	Who turned the rock into a pool of water, The flint into a fountain of waters.

CXV

Heathen Idols Contrasted with Jehovah

[1]	NOT unto us, O Jehovah, not unto us, But unto thy name give glory, For thy lovingkindness, and for thy truth’s sake.
[2]	Wherefore should the nations say, Where is now their God?
[3]	But our God is in the heavens: He hath done whatsoever he pleased.
[4]	Their idols are silver and gold, The work of men’s hands.
[5]	They have mouths, but they speak not; Eyes have they, but they see not;
[6]	They have ears, but they hear not; Noses have they, but they smell not;
[7]	They have hands, but they handle not; Feet have they, but they walk not; Neither speak they through their throat.
[8]	They that make them shall be like unto them; Yea, every one that trusteth in them.
[9]	O Israel, trust thou in Jehovah: He is their help and their shield.
[10]	O house of Aaron, trust ye in Jehovah: He is their help and their shield.
[11]	Ye that fear Jehovah, trust in Jehovah: He is their help and their shield.
[12]	Jehovah hath been mindful of us; he will bless us: He will bless the house of Israel; He will bless the house of Aaron.
[13]	He will bless them that fear Jehovah, Both small and great.
[14]	Jehovah increase you more and more, You and your children.
[15]	Blessed are ye of Jehovah, Who made heaven and earth.
[16]	The heavens are the heavens of Jehovah; But the earth hath he given to the children of men.
[17]	The dead praise not Jehovah, 1 Neither any that go down into silence;
[18]	But we will bless Jehovah 2 From this time forth and for evermore. Praise 3 ye Jehovah.

Note 1. Heb. Jah. 

Note 2. Heb. Hallelujah. 

Note 3. Heb. Hallelujah.

CXVI

Thanksgiving for Deliverance from Death

[1]	I LOVE Jehovah, because he heareth My voice and my supplications.
[2]	Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, Therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.
[3]	The cords of death compassed me, And the pains of Sheol gat 1 hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.
[4]	Then called I upon the name of Jehovah: O Jehovah, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.
[5]	Gracious is Jehovah, and righteous; Yea, our God is merciful.
[6]	Jehovah preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he saved me.
[7]	Return unto thy rest, O my soul; For Jehovah hath dealt bountifully with thee.
[8]	For thou hast delivered my soul from death, Mine eyes from tears, And my feet from falling.
[9]	I will walk before Jehovah In the land 2 of the living.
[10]	I believe, 3 for I will speak: I was greatly afflicted:
[11]	I said in my haste, 4 All men are liars.
[12]	What shall I render unto Jehovah For all his benefits toward me?
[13]	I will take the cup of salvation, And call upon the name of Jehovah.
[14]	I will pay my vows unto Jehovah, Yea, in the presence of all his people.
[15]	Precious in the sight of Jehovah Is the death of his saints.
[16]	O Jehovah, truly I am thy servant: I am thy servant, the son of thy handmaid; Thou hast loosed my bonds.
[17]	I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, And will call upon the name of Jehovah.
[18]	I will pay my vows unto Jehovah, Yea, in the presence of all his people,
[19]	In the courts of Jehovah’s house, In the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise 5 ye Jehovah.

Note 1. Heb. Jah. 

Note 2. Heb. lands. 

Note 3. Or, believed, when I spake thus. 

Note 4. Or, alarm. 

Note 5. Heb. Hallelujah. 

CXVII

A Psalm of Praise

[1]	OH praise Jehovah, all ye nations; Laud him, all ye peoples.
[2]	For his lovingkindness is great toward us; And the truth of Jehovah endureth for ever. Praise 1 ye Jehovah.

Note 1. Heb. Hallelujah.

CXVIII

Thanksgiving for Jehovah’s Saving Goodness

[1]	OH give thanks unto Jehovah; for he is good; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever.
[2]	Let Israel now say, That his lovingkindness endureth for ever.
[3]	Let the house of Aaron now say, That his lovingkindness endureth for ever.
[4]	Let them now that fear Jehovah say, That his lovingkindness endureth for ever.
[5]	Out of my distress I called upon Jehovah: 1 Jehovah 2 answered me and set me in a large place.
[6]	Jehovah is on my side; I will not fear: What can man do unto me?
[7]	Jehovah is on my side among them that help me: Therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.
[8]	It is better to take refuge in Jehovah Than to put confidence in man.
[9]	It is better to take refuge in Jehovah Than to put confidence in princes.
[10]	All nations compassed me about: In the name of Jehovah I will cut them off.
[11]	They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: In the name of Jehovah I will cut them off.
[12]	They compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: In the name of Jehovah I will cut them off.
[13]	Thou didst thrust sore at me that I might fall; But Jehovah helped me.
[14]	Jehovah 3 is my strength and song; And he is become my salvation.
[15]	The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous: The right hand of Jehovah doeth valiantly.
[16]	The right hand of Jehovah is exalted: The right hand of Jehovah doeth valiantly.
[17]	I shall not die, but live, And declare the works of Jehovah. 4
[18]	Jehovah 5 hath chastened me sore; But he hath not given me over unto death.
[19]	Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will enter into them, I will give thanks unto Jehovah. 6
[20]	This is the gate of Jehovah; The righteous shall enter into it.
[21]	I will give thanks unto thee; for thou hast answered me, And art become my salvation.
[22]	The stone which the builders rejected Is become the head of the corner.
[23]	This is Jehovah’s 7 doing; It is marvellous in our eyes.
[24]	This is the day which Jehovah hath made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.
[25]	Save now, we beseech thee, O Jehovah: O Jehovah, we beseech thee, send now prosperity.
[26]	Blessed be he that cometh 8 in the name of Jehovah: We have blessed you out of the house of Jehovah.
[27]	Jehovah is God, and he hath given us light: Bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.
[28]	Thou art my God, and I will give thanks unto thee: Thou art my God, I will exalt thee.
[29]	Oh give thanks unto Jehovah; for he is good; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever.

Note 1. Heb. Jah. 

Note 2. Heb. Jah. 

Note 3. Heb. Jah. 

Note 4. Heb. Jah. 

Note 5. Heb. Jah. 

Note 6. Heb. Jah. 

Note 7. Heb. from Jehovah. 

Note 8. Or, entereth. 

CXIX

Meditations and Prayers Relating to the Law of God

[1]	ALEPH BLESSED are they that are perfect 1 in the way, Who walk in the law of Jehovah.
[2]	Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, That seek him with the whole heart.
[3]	Yea, they do no unrighteousness; They walk in his ways.
[4]	Thou hast commanded us thy precepts, That we should observe them diligently.
[5]	Oh that my ways were established To observe thy statutes!
[6]	Then shall I not be put to shame, When I have respect unto all thy commandments.
[7]	I will give thanks unto thee with uprightness of heart, When I learn thy righteous judgments.
[8]	I will observe thy statutes: Oh forsake me not utterly.

Note 1. Or, upright in way.