151 – 152 – 153 – 154 – 155 – 156 – 157 – 158 – 159 – 160
Psalm 151 is a short psalm found in most copies of the Septuagint but not in the Hebrew Bible. The Greek title given to this psalm indicates that it is supernumerary. It is also included in some manuscripts of the Peshitta. The psalm concerns the story of David and Goliath. The Eastern Orthodox Church, as well as the Coptic Orthodox Church, Armenian Apostolic Church, and the Armenian Catholic Church accept Psalm 151 as deuterocanonical. Psalms 152–155 are found extant in two Syriac manuscripts and appear to have been composed in the pre-Christian era. Psalms 154 and 155 have also been found in Hebrew in the Dead Sea Scrolls. Psalms 156–160 come from the Great Psalms Scroll (11Q5) and 4Q88. Probable interpolations are made in a number of instances to make the text more readable.
I. This Psalm is ascribed to David and is outside the number. When he slew Goliath in a duel.
I was the youngest among my brothers, || and a youth in my father’s house. I used to feed my father’s flock, || and I found a lion and a wolf, || and slew them and tore them. My hands made an organ, || and my fingers fashioned a harp. Who will show me my Lord? He, my Lord, has become my God. He sent His messenger and took me away from my father’s flock, || and anointed me with the oil of anointing. My brothers, the fair and the tall, || in them the Lord had no pleasure. And I went forth to meet the Philistine, || and he cursed me by his idols. But I drew his sword and cut off his head, || and took away the reproach from the sons of Israel.
II. The Prayer of Hezekiah when enemies surrounded him.
With a loud voice glorify God; In the assembly of many proclaim His glory. Amid the multitude of the upright glorify His praise; And speak of His glory with the righteous. Join your soul to the good and to the perfect, || to glorify the Most High. Gather yourselves together to make known His strength; And do not be slow in showing forth His deliverance and His glory to all babies. That the honor of the Lord may be known, wisdom has been given; And to tell of His works it has been made known to men: To make known to babies His strength, || and to make them that lack understanding [[or heart]] to comprehend His glory; Who are far from His entrances and distant from His gates: Because the Lord of Jacob is exalted, || and His glory is on all His works. And a man who glorifies the Most High, in him will He take pleasure; As in one who offers fine meal, || and as in one who offers male goats and calves; And as in one who makes fat the altar with a multitude of burnt-offerings; And as the smell of incense from the hands of the just. From your upright gates will be heard His voice, || and from the voice of the upright admonition. And in their eating will be satisfying in truth, || and in their drinking, when they share together. Their dwelling is in the law of the Most High, || and their speech is to make known His strength. How far from the wicked is speech of Him, || and from all transgressors to know Him! Behold, the eye of the Lord takes pity on the good, || and to them that glorify Him will He multiply mercy, || and from the time of evil will He deliver their soul. Blessed is the Lord, who has delivered the wretched from the hand of the wicked; Who raises up a horn out of Jacob and a judge of the nations out of Israel; That He may prolong His dwelling in Zion, || and may adorn our age in Jerusalem.
III. When the People obtained permission from Cyrus to return home.
O Lord, I have cried to You; Listen to me. I have lifted up my hands to Your holy dwelling-place; Incline Your ear to me. And grant me my request; Do not withhold my prayer from me. Build up my soul, and do not destroy it; And do not lay it bare before the wicked. Them that repay evil things—turn [them] away from me, O judge of truth. O Lord, do not judge me according to my sins, || because no flesh is innocent before You. Make plain to me, O Lord, Your law, || and teach me Your judgments; And many will hear of Your works, || and the nations will praise Your honor. Remember me and do not forget me; And do not lead me into things that are too hard for me. Make the sins of my youth pass from me, || and my discipline—do not let them remember [it] against me. Cleanse me, O Lord, from the evil leprosy, || and let it no longer come to me. Dry up its roots from me, || and do not let its leaves sprout within me. Great are You, O Lord; Therefore, my request will be fulfilled from before You. To whom will I complain that he may give to me? And what can the strength of men add [to me]? From before You, O Lord, is my confidence; I cried to the Lord and He heard me, and healed the breaking of my heart. I slumbered and slept; I dreamed and was helped, and the Lord sustained me. They severely pained my heart; I will return thanks because the Lord delivered me. Now I will rejoice in their shame; I have hoped in You, and I will not be ashamed. Give You honor for all time—even forever and ever! Deliver Israel, Your chosen one, || and them of the house of Jacob Your proved one.
IV. Spoken by David when he was contending with the lion and the wolf which took a sheep from his flock.
O God, O God, come to my aid; Help me and save me; Deliver my soul from the slayer. Will I go down to Sheol by the mouth of the lion? Or will the wolf confound me? Was it not enough for them that they lay in wait for my father’s flock, || and tore in pieces a sheep of my father’s drove, || but they were also wishing to destroy my soul? Have pity, O Lord, and save Your holy one from destruction; That he may rehearse Your glories in all his times, || and may praise Your great Name: When You have delivered him from the hands of the destroying lion and of the ravening wolf, || and when You have rescued my captivity from the hands of the wild beasts. Quickly, O my Lord, send a deliverer from before You, || and draw me out of the gaping pit, || which imprisons me in its depths.
V. Spoken by David when returning thanks to God, who had delivered him from the lion and the wolf and he had slain both of them.
Praise the Lord, all you nations; Glorify Him, and bless His Name— Who rescued the soul of His chosen one from the hands of death, || and delivered His holy one from destruction, And saved me from the nets of Sheol, || and my soul from the pit that cannot be fathomed. Because, before my deliverance could go forth from before Him, || I was well nearly torn in two pieces by two wild beasts. But He sent His messenger, || and shut up from me the gaping mouths, || and rescued my life from destruction. My soul will glorify Him and exalt Him, || because of all His kindnesses which He has done and will do to me.
VI. A Plea for Deliverance.
A worm does not thank You, || Nor can a maggot recount Your loving-kindness. Only the living thank You, || All they whose feet stumble thank You, || When You make Your loving-kindness known to them, || And cause them to understand Your righteousness; For the soul of all the living is in Your hand, || And You have given breath to all flesh. O Lord, do to us according to Your goodness, || According to the greatness of Your mercies, || And according to the greatness of Your righteous works. The Lord listens to the voice of all who love His Name, || And He does not permit His loving-kindness to depart from them. Blessed be the Lord, || Who does righteous works, || Who crowns His holy ones with loving-kindness and mercies. My soul shouts to praise Your Name, || To praise Your mercies with gladness, || To announce Your faithfulness; For there is no limit to Your praises. I belonged to death because of my sins, || And my iniquities had sold me to Sheol; But You saved me, O Lord, || According to the greatness of Your mercies, || And according to the greatness of Your righteous works. I have, indeed, loved Your Name, || And have taken refuge in Your shadow. My heart is strengthened when I remember Your power, || And I rely on Your mercies. Forgive my sins, O Lord, || And purify me of my iniquity. Grant me a spirit of faithfulness and knowledge; Do not let me be dishonored in ruin. Do not allow the evil one || Or an unclean spirit to overtake me, || And do not allow pain || Or the evil inclination to possess my bones; For You, O Lord, are my praise, || And I hope in You every day. My brothers rejoice with me, || And the house of my father is astounded by Your graciousness. I will always rejoice in You.
VII. A Love Song for Zion.
I will remember you, O Zion, for a blessing. I love you with all My strength, || For your memory is to be blessed forever. Your hope is great, O Zion—Peace and your expected salvation will come. Generation after generation will dwell in you, || And generations of the righteous will be your decoration. They who desire the day of your salvation || Will rejoice in the greatness of your glory. They will be suckled on the fullness of your glory, || And in your beautiful streets they will make ringing sounds. You will remember the righteous works of your prophets, || And will glorify yourself in the works of your righteous ones. Cleanse violence from your midst; May lying and iniquity be cut off from [within] you. Your sons will rejoice within you, || And your cherished ones will be joined to you. How much have they hoped in your salvation? How much have your perfect ones mourned for you? Your hope, O Zion, will not perish, || And your expectation will not be forgotten. Is there a righteous man who has perished? Is there a man who has escaped his iniquity? Man is tried according to his way—Each is repaid according to his works. Your oppressors will be cut off from around you, O Zion, || And all who hate you will be scattered. Your praise is pleasing, O Zion; It rises up in all the world. I will remember you many times for a blessing, || And I will bless you with all My heart. You will attain to continuous righteousness, || And will receive blessings from the noble. Take the vision which speaks of you, || And the dreams of the prophets requested for you. Be exalted and increase, O Zion, || And praise the Most High, your Redeemer! May my soul rejoice in your glory!
VIII. A Psalm for the Name of the Lord.
In the midst of the congregation || They will praise the Name of the Lord, For He has come to judge every action, || To remove the wicked from the earth, || So that the children of iniquity will no longer be found. The heavens will give their dew, || And there will be no drought within their boundaries. The earth will give its fruit in its season, || And its produce will never fail. The fruit trees will give of the fruit of its vineyards, || And the ground will not cheat of its produce. The poor will eat, || And those who fear God will be filled.
IX. A Psalm for Judah.
The heavens and earth will give praise together. Let all the stars of the evening give praise! Rejoice, Judah, rejoice! Rejoice, rejoice and be glad with gladness! Celebrate your feasts and pay your vows, || For there is no wickedness in your midst. Raise your hand and fortify your right hand! Behold, the enemy will perish, || And all the workers of iniquity will be scattered; But You, O Lord, are forever, || And Your glory will be forever and ever. Praise the Lord!
X. A Psalm for the Creator.
The Lord is great and holy—The most holy for generation after generation. Majesty goes before Him, || And abundance of many waters comes after Him. Loving-kindness and truth surround His face; Truth, judgment, and righteousness are the foundation of His throne. He divides light from the unknown, || And He establishes the dawn || By the knowledge of His heart. All His messengers sang when they saw it, || For He showed them that which they had not known. He crowns the mountains with fruit, || With good food for all the living. May the Lord of the earth be blessed, || Along with His power, || For He establishes the world by His wisdom. He stretches out the heavens by His understanding, || And brings forth wind from His treasures. He made lightnings for the rain || And raised mist from the ends of the earth.