So he teaches sinners the way,
He guides the humble aright,
And teaches the meek his way,
All his rules are loving and true,
To those who follow his law and commands.
For thy name's sake, O Lord,
Pardon my guilt, for it is great.
Who is the man that reveres the Lord?
He will teach him the way to choose.
That man shall continue to prosper,
And his children inherit the land.
He is friendly with those who revere him,
And with his covenant he makes them acquainted.
My eyes are ever turned toward the Lord,
For he saves my feet from the net.
Turn to me and be gracious,
For I am alone and afflicted;
Relieve the troubles of my heart,
And deliver me from my distresses;
Look on my affliction and suffering,
And pardon all my sins.
Consider my enemies, for they are many,
And they hate me with violent hatred;
Oh save my life and deliver me,
Let me not be ashamed, for I trust thee.
Let innocence and uprightness preserve me,
For I wait for thee, O Lord.
Safety in God's Care
You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High,
Who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
Who say to the Lord, "Thou art my refuge,
And my fortress, my God in whom I trust,"
He will surely deliver you from the snare,
When entrapped from the destructive pit.
With his pinions he will cover you,
And under his wings you may hide.
His faithfulness is a shield and defense,
You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
Nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.
A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand,
But it shall not come near unto you.
You need but look with your eyes,
To see how the wicked are punished.
Because the Lord is your refuge,
And you have made the Most High your abode,
There shall no evil befall you,
No plague come near your tent;
For he will give his angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways;
They shall bear you up on their hands,
Lest you strike your foot on a stone.
You shall tread on the lion and adder,
You shall trample on the young lion and dragon.
"Because of his love for me I will deliver him,
I will exalt him, for he knows my name.
He shall call upon me and I will answer him,
In time of trouble I will be with him,
I will deliver him and bring him honor,
With long life will I satisfy him,
And show him my power to save."
God Our Refuge
God is our refuge and strength,
An ever-present help in trouble.
So we fear not, though the earth trembles,
And mountains tumble into the heart of the sea;
Though its waters roar and foam,
Though mountains quake at its uproar.
The Lord of hosts is with us,
The God of Jacob is our refuge.
As the brooks refresh the city of God,
So the Most High makes holy his abiding-place;
God is in her midst, she cannot be moved,
God will help her at the turn of the morn.
Nations were in tumult, kingdoms fell,
He uttered his voice, the earth melted.
The Lord of hosts is with us,
The God of Jacob is our refuge.
Come, see the mighty works of the Lord,
Who makes wars cease to the end of the earth
He snaps the bow, and breaks the spear,
And burns up the chariots with fire.
"Be still, and know that I am God,
Exalted over the nations, exalted on earth."
The Lord of hosts is with us,
The God of Jacob is our refuge.
The Joy of Worshipping God
Oh come, let us sing to the Lord,
Let us shout to the Rock who saves us,
Let us come before him with thanksgiving,
Let us sing to him joyful songs;
For the Lord is indeed a great God,
A great King above all gods,
In whose hand are the depths of the earth,
The heights of the mountains are his,
The sea is his, for he made it,
And his hands prepared the dry land.
Oh come, let us worship and bow down,
Let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker;
For he is the Lord our God,
And we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth,
Serve the Lord with gladness,
Come into his presence with singing,
Know that the Lord is God,
He has made us and we are his,
His people, the flock that he tends.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
His courts with songs of rejoicing,
Give thanks to him, praise his name,
He is good, his kindness eternal,
And his faithfulness unto all generations.
What God Asks of Those Who Worship Him
O Lord, who may be a guest in thy tent?
Who may dwell on thy holy hill?
He who lives blamelessly and does right,
And speaks the truth in his heart,
Who utters no slander with his tongue,
Who does no wrong to his friend,
Who makes no charge against his neighbor;
In whose sight the vile are despised,
But he honors those who revere the Lord.
He keeps his oath at all costs,
His money he puts not out to usury,
And cannot be bribed to injure the innocent.
He who does this can never be moved.
A Call to Praise God
Oh, sing to the Lord a new song;
Sing to the Lord, all the earth,
Sing to the Lord, praise his name,
Proclaim his salvation each day;
Tell his glory among the heathen,
His wonders among all peoples.
God is great, and worthy of praise,
Above all gods should he be revered,
For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
But it is the Lord who made the heavens.
Honor and majesty are in his presence,
Strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
Give to the Lord, you tribes of the nations,
Give to the Lord glory and strength.
Give to the Lord the glory that is due him;
Bring an offering, and enter his courts.
Oh, worship the Lord in holy attire,
Tremble before him, all the earth.
Say to the nations, "The Lord reigns,
And he will rule the peoples justly."
Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice,
Let the sea roar and all of its inhabitants,
Let the fields exult, and all that is in them,
Let the trees of the forest sing with joy
Before the Lord, for he has come,
For he has come to rule the earth;
He will rule the world with justice,
He will rule the nations with faithfulness.
The United Song of Praise
Praise the Lord from the heavens,
Praise him on the heights.
Praise him, all his angels,
Praise him, all his host!
Praise him, sun and moon,
Praise him, all stars of light!
Praise him, heavens of heavens,
And waters above the heavens!
Let them praise the name of the Lord,
For at his command they were made;
He fixed them forever and ever,
Set a bound they must not pass.
Praise the Lord from the earth,
Sea-monsters and all deeps!
Fire, hail, snow, and vapor,
Storm wind, fulfilling his word!
Mountains and all hills,
Fruit-trees and all cedars!
Wild beasts and all cattle,
Creeping things and winged birds!
Kings of earth and all peoples,
All rulers and judges of earth,
Young men and maidens too,
Old men and children together!
Let them praise the name of the Lord,
For his name alone is exalted.
Over heaven and earth is his majesty,