Paraphrase of the Psalms

Contents

Reading pages: 1–32 · 33–57 · 58–78 · 79–104 · 105–131 · 132–151

1. 1A hexameter paraphrase of Psalm 1: the man who keeps God’s ordinance flourishes, while the wicked are scattered like dust.
2. 2A paraphrase of Psalm 2: the nations rage against the Lord and his Christ, but God declares his Son and calls the kings to serve him.
3. 3A paraphrase of Psalm 3: David, fleeing Absalom, trusts the Lord who answers him and sustains him in sleep.
4. 4A paraphrase of Psalm 4: a prayer to be heard, a warning against loving vanity, and peaceful sleep in the Lord’s light.
5. 5A paraphrase of Psalm 5: a morning prayer to the God who hates deceit, asking guidance and protection for the righteous.
6. 6A paraphrase of Psalm 6: a sick man’s plea for mercy, sure at the end that God has heard his weeping.
7. 7A paraphrase of Psalm 7: David, slandered by Chusi, protests his innocence and asks God the righteous judge to turn the wicked man’s pit upon himself.
8. 8A paraphrase of Psalm 8: God’s name is glorious, and frail man is set over the works of his hands.
9. 9A paraphrase of Psalm 9 of the Septuagint (Psalms 9–10 in English Bibles): praise of the righteous judge, a portrait of the arrogant wicked man, and a plea that God arise for the poor.
10. 10A paraphrase of Psalm 10 of the Septuagint (Psalm 11): the righteous man trusts the Lord, who watches from heaven and rains fire on the wicked.
11. 11A paraphrase of Psalm 11 of the Septuagint (Psalm 12): when the godly fail and deceit prevails, the Lord’s pure words promise help.
12. 12A paraphrase of Psalm 12 of the Septuagint (Psalm 13): “How long?” — a lament that turns to trust in God’s mercy.
13. 13A paraphrase of Psalm 13 of the Septuagint (Psalm 14): the fool denies God, all have turned aside, but God is the hope of his people.
14. 14A paraphrase of Psalm 14 of the Septuagint (Psalm 15): who may dwell on God’s holy mountain.
15. 15A paraphrase of Psalm 15 of the Septuagint (Psalm 16): the Lord is the psalmist’s portion, and he will not let his holy one see corruption.
16. 16A paraphrase of Psalm 16 of the Septuagint (Psalm 17): a prayer of the innocent man for protection from enemies like lions, ending with the hope of seeing God’s glory.
17. 17A paraphrase of Psalm 17 of the Septuagint (Psalm 18): David’s song of deliverance, describing God’s descent in storm and fire and the victory he gives his king.
18. 18A paraphrase of Psalm 18 of the Septuagint (Psalm 19): the heavens declare God’s glory, and his law gives wisdom and light.
19. 19A paraphrase of Psalm 19 of the Septuagint (Psalm 20): a prayer for the king, who trusts not in chariots but in God.
20. 20A paraphrase of Psalm 20 of the Septuagint (Psalm 21): the king rejoices in God’s strength, which consumes his enemies.
21. 21A paraphrase of Psalm 21 of the Septuagint (Psalm 22): the cry of the forsaken sufferer whose hands and feet are pierced and whose garments are divided, ending in praise among the nations.
22. 22A paraphrase of Psalm 22 of the Septuagint (Psalm 23): the Lord restores the soul, comforts in the valley of death, and spreads a table before the psalmist’s enemies.
23. 23A paraphrase of Psalm 23 of the Septuagint (Psalm 24): the earth is the Lord’s; the pure may ascend his hill; the King of glory enters.
24. 24A paraphrase of Psalm 24 of the Septuagint (Psalm 25): a prayer for guidance and forgiveness from the merciful Lord.
25. 25A paraphrase of Psalm 25 of the Septuagint (Psalm 26): the innocent man asks God to test him and not to sweep him away with sinners.
26. 26A paraphrase of Psalm 26 of the Septuagint (Psalm 27): the Lord is light and salvation; the psalmist seeks his face and waits for him.
27. 27A paraphrase of Psalm 27 of the Septuagint (Psalm 28): a prayer not to be dragged away with the wicked, and praise for the Lord who hears.
28. 28A paraphrase of Psalm 28 of the Septuagint (Psalm 29): the voice of the Lord thunders over the waters, breaks the cedars and shakes the desert.
29. 29A paraphrase of Psalm 29 of the Septuagint (Psalm 30): thanksgiving for rescue from death; weeping in the evening, joy in the morning.
30. 30A paraphrase of Psalm 30 of the Septuagint (Psalm 31): “Into your hands I commit my spirit” — trust in God amid sickness, scorn and plots.
31. 31A paraphrase of Psalm 31 of the Septuagint (Psalm 32): the blessedness of the forgiven, who confess their sin to God.
32. 32A paraphrase of Psalm 32 of the Septuagint (Psalm 33): a new song to the Creator whose word made all things and whose eye is on those who fear him.
33. 33Paraphrases of Psalms 33 and 34 of the Septuagint (Psalms 34 and 35), which run together in the scan: the Lord whose angel guards the righteous, and a plea that God take up shield and sword against false witnesses.
34. 35A paraphrase of Psalm 35 of the Septuagint (Psalm 36): the wicked man has no fear of God, but God’s mercy reaches the heavens and with him is the spring of life.
35. 36A paraphrase of Psalm 36 of the Septuagint (Psalm 37): do not envy the wicked, who wither like grass; the righteous will possess the land.
36. 37A paraphrase of Psalm 37 of the Septuagint (Psalm 38): a sick man, suffering for his sin and deserted by friends, waits in silence for God’s help.
37. 38A paraphrase of Psalm 38 of the Septuagint (Psalm 39): the psalmist guards his tongue and asks to know the measure of his brief life.
38. 39A paraphrase of Psalm 39 of the Septuagint (Psalm 40): God refuses sacrifices, and the speaker comes to do his will, as written of him in the book.
39. 40A paraphrase of Psalm 40 of the Septuagint (Psalm 41): blessing on the one who considers the poor, and a lament over the friend who has lifted his heel.
40. 41A paraphrase of Psalm 41 of the Septuagint (Psalm 42): “As the deer longs for the streams” — the exile thirsts for God.
41. 42A paraphrase of Psalm 42 of the Septuagint (Psalm 43): a plea for vindication and for God’s light to lead to his holy mountain.
42. 43A paraphrase of Psalm 43 of the Septuagint (Psalm 44): God gave the fathers the land, yet now his people are slaughtered like sheep for his sake.
43. 44A paraphrase of Psalm 44 of the Septuagint (Psalm 45): the royal wedding song, praising the anointed king and his bride.
44. 45A paraphrase of Psalm 45 of the Septuagint (Psalm 46): God is refuge and strength; he ends wars, and the Lord of hosts is with us.
45. 46A paraphrase of Psalm 46 of the Septuagint (Psalm 47): God has gone up with a shout and reigns over all the earth.
46. 47A paraphrase of Psalm 47 of the Septuagint (Psalm 48): the praise of Zion, the city of God, before which the kings fled.
47. 48A paraphrase of Psalm 48 of the Septuagint (Psalm 49): wealth cannot ransom a soul; the rich fool goes down to Hades like a beast, but God will redeem the soul from death.
48. 49A paraphrase of Psalm 49 of the Septuagint (Psalm 50): God summons the earth to judgment, refuses animal sacrifice and asks for praise and obedience.
49. 50A paraphrase of Psalm 50 of the Septuagint (Psalm 51), introduced by iambic lines on David’s sin with Bathsheba: a prayer for cleansing and a new heart.
50. 51A paraphrase of Psalm 51 of the Septuagint (Psalm 52): the boastful mighty man will be uprooted, but the righteous flourishes like an olive tree in God’s house.
51. 52A paraphrase of Psalm 52 of the Septuagint (Psalm 53): the fool says there is no God.
52. 53A paraphrase of Psalm 53 of the Septuagint (Psalm 54): David, betrayed by the Ziphites, asks God to save him by his name.
53. 54A paraphrase of Psalm 54 of the Septuagint (Psalm 55): betrayed by a close friend, the psalmist longs for the wings of a dove and casts his care on God.
54. 55A paraphrase of Psalm 55 of the Septuagint (Psalm 56): in fear of men the psalmist trusts God, who keeps his tears.
55. 56A paraphrase of Psalm 56 of the Septuagint (Psalm 57): sheltering in the shadow of God’s wings among lions, the psalmist wakes the dawn with praise.
56. 57A paraphrase of Psalm 57 of the Septuagint (Psalm 58): against unjust judges who are like deaf adders; God judges on earth.
57. 58Paraphrases of Psalms 58 and 59 of the Septuagint (Psalms 59 and 60), which run together in the scan: a prayer for rescue from bloodthirsty enemies, and, after David’s victories over the Philistines, Syrians and Edom, a plea that God who rejected his people should again give them victory.
58. 60A paraphrase of Psalm 60 of the Septuagint (Psalm 61): from the ends of the earth the psalmist asks to be led to the rock higher than he.
59. 61A paraphrase of Psalm 61 of the Septuagint (Psalm 62): the soul waits in silence for God alone, the rock and refuge; power and mercy belong to him.
60. 62A paraphrase of Psalm 62 of the Septuagint (Psalm 63): in the desert the soul thirsts for God, whose love is better than life.
61. 63A paraphrase of Psalm 63 of the Septuagint (Psalm 64): God turns the secret arrows of the wicked against them.
62. 64A paraphrase of Psalm 64 of the Septuagint (Psalm 65): praise is due to God in Zion, who stills the seas and crowns the year with his goodness.
63. 65A paraphrase of Psalm 65 of the Septuagint (Psalm 66): all the earth is called to praise the God who tested his people like silver and heard their prayer.
64. 66A paraphrase of Psalm 66 of the Septuagint (Psalm 67): may God bless us, so that his way may be known among the nations.
65. 67A paraphrase of Psalm 67 of the Septuagint (Psalm 68): God arises, scatters his enemies, marches from Sinai, dwells on his chosen mountain and is praised by the kingdoms of the earth.
66. 68A paraphrase of Psalm 68 of the Septuagint (Psalm 69): sinking in deep waters, mocked and given cause to fast for reproaches, the sufferer prays for rescue and judgment on his enemies.
67. 69A paraphrase of Psalm 69 of the Septuagint (Psalm 70): a brief cry for help, repeating the close of Psalm 39 (40).
68. 70A paraphrase of Psalm 70 of the Septuagint (Psalm 71): an old man’s prayer not to be forsaken by the God he has trusted from the womb.
69. 71A paraphrase of Psalm 71 of the Septuagint (Psalm 72): the righteous reign of the king’s son, to whom the nations bow, who rescues the poor from interest and violence.
70. 72A paraphrase of Psalm 72 of the Septuagint (Psalm 73): envying the prosperity of the wicked, the psalmist nearly slips, until he sees their end and finds that nearness to God is his good.
71. 73A paraphrase of Psalm 73 of the Septuagint (Psalm 74): the enemies have burned the sanctuary; the psalmist recalls God’s power over the sea and asks him to remember his people.
72. 74A paraphrase of Psalm 74 of the Septuagint (Psalm 75): God judges uprightly in his time, bringing one low and lifting up another.
73. 75A paraphrase of Psalm 75 of the Septuagint (Psalm 76): God, known in Judah, breaks the weapons of war and puts the horsemen to sleep.
74. 76A paraphrase of Psalm 76 of the Septuagint (Psalm 77): in sleepless distress the psalmist remembers God’s ancient works and his path through the sea.
75. 77A paraphrase of Psalm 77 of the Septuagint (Psalm 78): the history of Israel’s rebellions in the desert and in the land, and God’s mercy from the exodus to the choice of Zion and David.
76. 78A paraphrase of Psalm 78 of the Septuagint (Psalm 79): the nations have defiled the temple and poured out the blood of God’s servants; the psalmist asks for mercy and vengeance.
77. 79A paraphrase of Psalm 79 of the Septuagint (Psalm 80): the Shepherd of Israel is asked to restore his ravaged vine and to strengthen the man of his right hand.
78. 80A paraphrase of Psalm 80 of the Septuagint (Psalm 81): a festival summons to praise, and God’s lament that his people would not listen to him.
79. 81A paraphrase of Psalm 81 of the Septuagint (Psalm 82): God judges among the “gods” who fail to do justice; they will die like men.
80. 82A paraphrase of Psalm 82 of the Septuagint (Psalm 83): the nations conspire against Israel; God is asked to deal with them as with Sisera and Midian.
81. 83A paraphrase of Psalm 83 of the Septuagint (Psalm 84): longing for the courts of the Lord; one day there is better than a thousand.
82. 84A paraphrase of Psalm 84 of the Septuagint (Psalm 85): a prayer for restoration; mercy and truth meet, righteousness and peace kiss.
83. 85A paraphrase of Psalm 85 of the Septuagint (Psalm 86): a poor man’s prayer to the incomparable, merciful God.
84. 86A paraphrase of Psalm 86 of the Septuagint (Psalm 87): Zion, mother of the nations, whom God founded on the holy mountains.
85. 87A paraphrase of Psalm 87 of the Septuagint (Psalm 88): a lament from the edge of death, among those whom God no longer remembers.
86. 88A paraphrase of Psalm 88 of the Septuagint (Psalm 89): God’s covenant with David, his firstborn and anointed, set against the present humiliation of the king.
87. 89A paraphrase of Psalm 89 of the Septuagint (Psalm 90): the prayer of Moses — a thousand years are as yesterday to God, and human life is seventy years of toil.
88. 90A paraphrase of Psalm 90 of the Septuagint (Psalm 91): the one who dwells under God’s wings need fear neither the terror of night nor the noonday demon.
89. 91A paraphrase of Psalm 91 of the Septuagint (Psalm 92): a Sabbath song — the wicked spring up like grass to perish, the righteous flourish like the palm into old age.
90. 92A paraphrase of Psalm 92 of the Septuagint (Psalm 93): the Lord reigns, robed in majesty, above the floods.
91. 93A paraphrase of Psalm 93 of the Septuagint (Psalm 94): the God of vengeance will not abandon his people; he who planted the ear will surely hear.
92. 94A paraphrase of Psalm 94 of the Septuagint (Psalm 95): come, let us worship the Shepherd who made sea and land; today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.
93. 95A paraphrase of Psalm 95 of the Septuagint (Psalm 96): a new song to the Lord, before whom the gods of the nations are demons, who comes to judge the earth.
94. 96A paraphrase of Psalm 96 of the Septuagint (Psalm 97): the Lord reigns; mountains melt before him and idolaters are put to shame.
95. 97A paraphrase of Psalm 97 of the Septuagint (Psalm 98): a new song for the Lord’s victory, as sea and land hail the coming judge.
96. 98A paraphrase of Psalm 98 of the Septuagint (Psalm 99): the holy King enthroned on the cherubim, who answered Moses, Aaron and Samuel.
97. 99A paraphrase of Psalm 99 of the Septuagint (Psalm 100): all the earth shouts to the Lord who made us; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture.
98. 100A paraphrase of Psalm 100 of the Septuagint (Psalm 101): the king resolves to walk blamelessly and to keep the deceitful and arrogant from his house.
99. 101A paraphrase of Psalm 101 of the Septuagint (Psalm 102): the prayer of the afflicted, whose days vanish like smoke, to the eternal Lord who will rebuild Zion; the heavens perish, but he remains.
100. 102A paraphrase of Psalm 102 of the Septuagint (Psalm 103): bless the Lord, who forgives, heals and pities his children like a father, knowing that they are dust.
101. 103A paraphrase of Psalm 103 of the Septuagint (Psalm 104): praise of the Creator, clothed in light, who set the bounds of the waters and feeds every creature.
102. 104A paraphrase of Psalm 104 of the Septuagint (Psalm 105): the history of God’s covenant faithfulness from Abraham and Joseph to the plagues, the exodus and the gift of the land.
103. 105A paraphrase of Psalm 105 of the Septuagint (Psalm 106): Israel’s confession of its rebellions in the desert and in the land, and of God’s repeated mercy.
104. 106A paraphrase of Psalm 106 of the Septuagint (Psalm 107): wanderers, prisoners, the sick and sailors in the storm cry to the Lord, who rescues them; let them thank him for his mercy.
105. 107A paraphrase of Psalm 107 of the Septuagint (Psalm 108), which joins the end of Psalm 56 (57) to the end of Psalm 59 (60).
106. 108A paraphrase of Psalm 108 of the Septuagint (Psalm 109): the curses upon the treacherous accuser, and the poor man’s plea for help.
107. 109A paraphrase of Psalm 109 of the Septuagint (Psalm 110): God says to God, “Sit at my right hand”; the one begotten before the morning star is a priest for ever.
108. 110A paraphrase of Psalm 110 of the Septuagint (Psalm 111): praise for God’s works and covenant; the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
109. 111A paraphrase of Psalm 111 of the Septuagint (Psalm 112): the blessing of the man who fears the Lord, lends generously and is not shaken.
110. 112A paraphrase of Psalm 112 of the Septuagint (Psalm 113): praise the Lord, high above all, who raises the poor and gives the barren woman a home.
111. 113A paraphrase of Psalm 113 of the Septuagint (Psalms 114–115): the sea fled at Israel’s exodus; not to us but to your name give glory; idols have mouths but cannot speak.
112. 114A paraphrase of Psalm 114 of the Septuagint (Psalm 116:1–9): the Lord heard the voice of one caught by the pangs of death.
113. 115A paraphrase of Psalm 115 of the Septuagint (Psalm 116:10–19): what shall I render to the Lord? Precious in his sight is the death of his holy ones.
114. 116A paraphrase of Psalm 116 of the Septuagint (Psalm 117): all peoples praise the Lord for his mercy.
115. 117A paraphrase of Psalm 117 of the Septuagint (Psalm 118): thanksgiving for victory; the gate of the Lord, the stone that became the head of the corner, and blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
116. 118A paraphrase of Psalm 118 of the Septuagint (Psalm 119), the great psalm of the law: blessed are those who walk in God’s ordinances, which are a lamp to the feet and sweeter than gold.
117. 119A paraphrase of Psalm 119 of the Septuagint (Psalm 120): a song of ascents — deliverance from lying lips; long have I dwelt among those who hate peace.
118. 120A paraphrase of Psalm 120 of the Septuagint (Psalm 121): my help is from the Lord, the keeper who neither slumbers nor sleeps.
119. 121A paraphrase of Psalm 121 of the Septuagint (Psalm 122): gladness at going up to the house of the Lord; pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
120. 122A paraphrase of Psalm 122 of the Septuagint (Psalm 123): as servants look to their masters, so our eyes look to the Lord.
121. 123A paraphrase of Psalm 123 of the Septuagint (Psalm 124): had the Lord not been on our side, the waters would have swept us away.
122. 124A paraphrase of Psalm 124 of the Septuagint (Psalm 125): those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion; as the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people.
123. 125A paraphrase of Psalm 125 of the Septuagint (Psalm 126): the joy of Zion’s restoration; those who sow in tears will reap with joy.
124. 126A paraphrase of Psalm 126 of the Septuagint (Psalm 127): unless the Lord guards the city the watch is vain; sons are his inheritance and reward.
125. 127A paraphrase of Psalm 127 of the Septuagint (Psalm 128): the blessing of the one who fears the Lord, with his children like olive shoots around his table.
126. 128A paraphrase of Psalm 128 of the Septuagint (Psalm 129): Israel has often been afflicted, but the Lord cut the cords of the wicked; those who hate Zion are like grass on the roof.
127. 129A paraphrase of Psalm 129 of the Septuagint (Psalm 130): out of the depths — if you kept account of sins, who could stand? With the Lord is mercy and redemption.
128. 130A paraphrase of Psalm 130 of the Septuagint (Psalm 131): a humble heart, quieted like a weaned child with its mother.
129. 131A paraphrase of Psalm 131 of the Septuagint (Psalm 132): David’s vow to find a dwelling for the Lord, and the Lord’s oath to David and choice of Zion.
130. 132A paraphrase of Psalm 132 of the Septuagint (Psalm 133): how good it is for brothers to dwell in unity.
131. 133A paraphrase of Psalm 133 of the Septuagint (Psalm 134): the servants of the Lord bless him by night in his house.
132. 134A paraphrase of Psalm 134 of the Septuagint (Psalm 135): praise the Lord who chose Israel, struck Egypt and the kings of Canaan, unlike the idols of the nations.
133. 135A paraphrase of Psalm 135 of the Septuagint (Psalm 136): thanks to the King of kings for creation, the exodus and the gift of the land.
134. 136A paraphrase of Psalm 136 of the Septuagint (Psalm 137): by the rivers of Babylon the exiles cannot sing the Lord’s song, and they remember Jerusalem and Edom.
135. 137A paraphrase of Psalm 137 of the Septuagint (Psalm 138): wholehearted thanks to the Lord, high yet regarding the lowly, who preserves his servant amid trouble.
136. 138A paraphrase of Psalm 138 of the Septuagint (Psalm 139): God knows the psalmist wholly, everywhere present, and formed him in the womb.
137. 139A paraphrase of Psalm 139 of the Septuagint (Psalm 140): rescue from violent men with serpents’ tongues, who hide snares.
138. 140A paraphrase of Psalm 140 of the Septuagint (Psalm 141): may my prayer rise like incense; set a guard over my mouth.
139. 141A paraphrase of Psalm 141 of the Septuagint (Psalm 142): a cry from the cave — no one cares for my soul; you are my portion in the land of the living.
140. 142A paraphrase of Psalm 142 of the Septuagint (Psalm 143): no one living is righteous before God; the psalmist thirsts for him like a dry land and asks to be led by his good Spirit.
141. 143A paraphrase of Psalm 143 of the Septuagint (Psalm 144): praise of God who trains the king for war and rescues him; blessed the people whose God is the Lord.
142. 144A paraphrase of Psalm 144 of the Septuagint (Psalm 145): every generation praises the gracious King, who upholds the falling and opens his hand to feed all.
143. 145A paraphrase of Psalm 145 of the Septuagint (Psalm 146): do not trust princes, but the Maker of heaven and earth, who frees prisoners, opens the eyes of the blind and guards the stranger.
144. 146A paraphrase of Psalm 146 of the Septuagint (Psalm 147:1–11): praise the Lord who heals the broken-hearted, numbers the stars and delights not in the strength of the horse but in those who fear him.
145. 147A paraphrase of Psalm 147 of the Septuagint (Psalm 147:12–20): Jerusalem praises the Lord who sends his word and snow, and has shown his statutes to Israel alone.
146. 148A paraphrase of Psalm 148 of the Septuagint (Psalm 148): heaven and earth, sun and moon, fire and hail, beasts, kings and peoples are called to praise the Lord.
147. 149A paraphrase of Psalm 149 of the Septuagint (Psalm 149): a new song of the holy ones, who rejoice in their King and execute the judgment written.
148. 150A paraphrase of Psalm 150 of the Septuagint (Psalm 150): praise him with lyre, dance and cymbals.
149. 151A paraphrase of Psalm 151 of the Septuagint, outside the numbered Psalter: David recalls his youth, his anointing in place of his brothers, and his victory over the idol-trusting Philistine.