1King David was now very old, and no matter how many blankets covered him, he could not keep warm.H4428H1732H2204H935H3117H3680H899H3179 2So his advisers told him, "Let us find a young virgin to wait on you and look after you, my lord. She will lie in your arms and keep you warm."H5650H559H1245H113H4428H5291H1330H5975H6440H4428H5532H7901H2436H113H4428H2552 3So they searched throughout the land of Israel for a beautiful girl, and they found Abishag from Shunem and brought her to the king.H1245H3303H5291H1366H3478H4672H49H7767H935H4428 4The girl was very beautiful, and she looked after the king and took care of him. But the king had no sexual relations with her.H5291H3966H3303H5532H4428H8334H4428H3045 5About that time David's son Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, began boasting, "I will make myself king." So he provided himself with chariots and charioteers and recruited fifty men to run in front of him.H138H1121H2294H4984H559H4427H6213H7393H6571H2572H376H7323H6440 6Now his father, King David, had never disciplined him at any time, even by asking, "Why are you doing that?" Adonijah had been born next after Absalom, and he was very handsome.H1H6087H3117H559H6213H3966H2896H8389H3205H310H53 7Adonijah took Joab son of Zeruiah and Abiathar the priest into his confidence, and they agreed to help him become king.H1697H3097H1121H6870H54H3548H310H138H5826 8But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David's personal bodyguard refused to support Adonijah.H6659H3548H1141H1121H3077H5416H5030H8096H7472H1368H1732H138 9Adonijah went to the Stone of Zoheleth near the spring of En-rogel, where he sacrificed sheep, cattle, and fattened calves. He invited all his brothers—the other sons of King David—and all the royal officials of Judah.H138H2076H6629H1241H4806H68H2120H681H5883H7121H251H4428H1121H582H3063H4428H5650 10But he did not invite Nathan the prophet or Benaiah or the king's bodyguard or his brother Solomon.H5416H5030H1141H1368H8010H251H7121 11Then Nathan went to Bathsheba, Solomon's mother, and asked her, "Haven't you heard that Haggith's son, Adonijah, has made himself king, and our lord David doesn't even know about it?H5416H559H1339H517H8010H559H8085H138H1121H2294H4427H1732H113H3045 12If you want to save your own life and the life of your son Solomon, follow my advice.H3212H3289H6098H4422H5315H5315H1121H8010 13Go at once to King David and say to him, 'My lord the king, didn't you make a vow and say to me, "Your son Solomon will surely be the next king and will sit on my throne"? Why then has Adonijah become king?'H3212H935H4428H1732H559H113H4428H7650H519H559H3588H8010H1121H4427H310H3427H3678H138H4427 14And while you are still talking with him, I will come and confirm everything you have said."H1696H4428H935H310H4390H1697 15So Bathsheba went into the king's bedroom. (He was very old now, and Abishag was taking care of him.)H1339H935H4428H2315H4428H3966H2204H49H7767H8334H4428 16Bathsheba bowed down before the king. "What can I do for you?" he asked her.H1339H6915H7812H4428H4428H559 17She replied, "My lord, you made a vow before the LORD your God when you said to me, 'Your son Solomon will surely be the next king and will sit on my throne.'H559H113H7650H3068H430H519H8010H1121H4427H310H3427H3678 18But instead, Adonijah has made himself king, and my lord the king does not even know about it.H138H4427H113H4428H3045 19He has sacrificed many cattle, fattened calves, and sheep, and he has invited all the king's sons to attend the celebration. He also invited Abiathar the priest and Joab, the commander of the army. But he did not invite your servant Solomon.H2076H7794H4806H6629H7230H7121H1121H4428H54H3548H3097H8269H6635H8010H5650H7121 20And now, my lord the king, all Israel is waiting for you to announce who will become king after you.H113H4428H5869H3478H5046H3427H3678H113H4428H310 21If you do not act, my son Solomon and I will be treated as criminals as soon as my lord the king has died."H113H4428H7901H1H1121H8010H2400 22While she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived.H1696H4428H5416H5030H935 23The king's officials told him, "Nathan the prophet is here to see you." Nathan went in and bowed before the king with his face to the ground.H5046H4428H559H5416H5030H935H6440H4428H7812H4428H639H776 24Nathan asked, "My lord the king, have you decided that Adonijah will be the next king and that he will sit on your throne?H5416H559H113H4428H559H138H4427H310H3427H3678 25Today he has sacrificed many cattle, fattened calves, and sheep, and he has invited all the king's sons to attend the celebration. He also invited the commanders of the army and Abiathar the priest. They are feasting and drinking with him and shouting, 'Long live King Adonijah!'H3381H3117H2076H7794H4806H6629H7230H7121H4428H1121H8269H6635H54H3548H398H8354H6440H559H2421H4428H138 26But he did not invite me or Zadok the priest or Benaiah or your servant Solomon.H5650H6659H3548H1141H1121H3077H5650H8010H7121 27Has my lord the king really done this without letting any of his officials know who should be the next king?"H1697H1961H113H4428H3045H5650H3427H3678H113H4428H310 28King David responded, "Call Bathsheba!" So she came back in and stood before the king.H4428H1732H6030H559H7121H1339H935H4428H6440H5975H6440H4428 29And the king repeated his vow: "As surely as the LORD lives, who has rescued me from every danger,H4428H7650H559H3068H2416H6299H5315H6869 30your son Solomon will be the next king and will sit on my throne this very day, just as I vowed to you before the LORD, the God of Israel."H7650H3068H430H3478H559H8010H1121H4427H310H3427H3678H6213H3117 31Then Bathsheba bowed down with her face to the ground before the king and exclaimed, "May my lord King David live forever!"H1339H6915H639H776H7812H4428H559H113H4428H1732H2421H5769 32Then King David ordered, "Call Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada." When they came into the king's presence,H4428H1732H559H7121H6659H3548H5416H5030H1141H1121H3077H935H6440H4428 33the king said to them, "Take Solomon and my officials down to Gihon Spring. Solomon is to ride on my own mule.H4428H559H3947H5650H113H8010H1121H7392H6506H3381H1521 34There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet are to anoint him king over Israel. Blow the ram's horn and shout, 'Long live King Solomon!'H6659H3548H5416H5030H4886H4428H3478H8628H7782H559H2421H4428H8010 35Then escort him back here, and he will sit on my throne. He will succeed me as king, for I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and Judah."H5927H310H935H3427H3678H4427H6680H5057H3478H3063 36"Amen!" Benaiah son of Jehoiada replied. "May the LORD, the God of my lord the king, decree that it happen.H1141H1121H3077H6030H4428H559H543H3068H430H113H4428H559 37And may the LORD be with Solomon as he has been with you, my lord the king, and may he make Solomon's reign even greater than yours!"H3068H113H4428H8010H1431H3678H1431H3678H113H4428H1732 38So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and the king's bodyguard took Solomon down to Gihon Spring, with Solomon riding on King David's own mule.H6659H3548H5416H5030H1141H1121H3077H3774H6432H3381H8010H7392H4428H1732H6506H3212H1521 39There Zadok the priest took the flask of olive oil from the sacred tent and anointed Solomon with the oil. Then they sounded the ram's horn and all the people shouted, "Long live King Solomon!"H6659H3548H3947H7161H8081H168H4886H8010H8628H7782H5971H559H2421H4428H8010 40And all the people followed Solomon into Jerusalem, playing flutes and shouting for joy. The celebration was so joyous and noisy that the earth shook with the sound.H5971H5927H310H5971H2490H2485H8056H1419H8057H776H1234H6963 41Adonijah and his guests heard the celebrating and shouting just as they were finishing their banquet. When Joab heard the sound of the ram's horn, he asked, "What's going on? Why is the city in such an uproar?"H138H7121H8085H3615H398H3097H8085H6963H7782H559H6963H7151H1993 42And while he was still speaking, Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest arrived. "Come in," Adonijah said to him, "for you are a good man. You must have good news."H1696H3129H1121H54H3548H935H138H559H935H2428H376H381H1319H2896H1319 43"Not at all!" Jonathan replied. "Our lord King David has just declared Solomon king!H3129H6030H559H138H61H113H4428H1732H8010H4427 44The king sent him down to Gihon Spring with Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, protected by the king's bodyguard. They had him ride on the king's own mule,H4428H7971H6659H3548H5416H5030H1141H1121H3077H3774H6432H7392H4428H6506 45and Zadok and Nathan have anointed him at Gihon Spring as the new king. They have just returned, and the whole city is celebrating and rejoicing. That's what all the noise is about.H6659H3548H5416H5030H4886H4428H1521H5927H8056H7151H1949H6963H8085 46What's more, Solomon is now sitting on the royal throne as king.H8010H3427H3678H4410 47And all the royal officials have gone to King David and congratulated him, saying, 'May your God make Solomon's fame even greater than your own, and may Solomon's reign be even greater than yours!' Then the king bowed his head in worship as he lay in his bed,H4428H5650H935H1288H113H4428H1732H559H430H8034H8010H3190H8034H1431H3678H1431H3678H4428H7812H4904 48and he said, 'Praise the LORD, the God of Israel, who today has chosen a successor to sit on my throne while I am still alive to see it.'"H559H4428H1288H3068H430H3478H5414H3427H3678H3117H5869H7200 49Then all of Adonijah's guests jumped up in panic from the banquet table and quickly scattered.H7121H138H2729H6965H3212H376H1870 50Adonijah was afraid of Solomon, so he rushed to the sacred tent and grabbed onto the horns of the altar.H138H3372H6440H8010H6965H3212H2388H7161H4196 51Word soon reached Solomon that Adonijah had seized the horns of the altar in fear, and that he was pleading, "Let King Solomon swear today that he will not kill me!"H5046H8010H559H138H3372H4428H8010H270H7161H4196H559H4428H8010H7650H3117H4191H5650H2719 52Solomon replied, "If he proves himself to be loyal, not a hair on his head will be touched. But if he makes trouble, he will die."H8010H559H2428H1121H8185H5307H776H7451H4672H4191 53So King Solomon summoned Adonijah, and they brought him down from the altar. He came and bowed respectfully before King Solomon, who dismissed him, saying, "Go on home."H4428H8010H7971H3381H4196H935H7812H4428H8010H8010H559H3212H1004
2As the time of King David's death approached, he gave this charge to his son Solomon.H3117H1732H7126H4191H6680H8010H1121H559 2"I am going where everyone on earth must someday go. Take courage and be a man.H1980H1870H776H2388H376 3Observe the requirements of the LORD your God, and follow all his ways. Keep the decrees, commands, regulations, and laws written in the Law of Moses so that you will be successful in all you do and wherever you go.H8104H4931H3068H430H3212H1870H8104H2708H4687H4941H5715H3789H8451H4872H7919H6213H6437 4If you do this, then the LORD will keep the promise he made to me. He told me, 'If your descendants live as they should and follow me faithfully with all their heart and soul, one of them will always sit on the throne of Israel.'H3068H6965H1697H1696H559H1121H8104H1870H3212H6440H571H3824H5315H3772H559H376H3678H3478 5"And there is something else. You know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me when he murdered my two army commanders, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He pretended that it was an act of war, but it was done in a time of peace, staining his belt and sandals with innocent blood.H3045H3097H1121H6870H6213H6213H8147H8269H6635H3478H74H1121H5369H6021H1121H3500H2026H7760H1818H4421H7965H5414H1818H4421H2290H4975H5275H7272 6Do with him what you think best, but don't let him grow old and go to his grave in peace.H6213H2451H7872H3381H7585H7965 7"Be kind to the sons of Barzillai of Gilead. Make them permanent guests at your table, for they took care of me when I fled from your brother Absalom.H6213H2617H1121H1271H1569H398H7979H7126H1272H6440H53H251 8"And remember Shimei son of Gera, the man from Bahurim in Benjamin. He cursed me with a terrible curse as I was fleeing to Mahanaim. When he came down to meet me at the Jordan River, I swore by the LORD that I would not kill him.H8096H1121H1617H1145H980H7043H4834H7045H3117H3212H4266H3381H7125H3383H7650H3068H559H4191H2719 9But that oath does not make him innocent. You are a wise man, and you will know how to arrange a bloody death for him."H5352H2450H376H3045H6213H7872H3381H7585H1818 10Then David died and was buried with his ancestors in the City of David.H1732H7901H1H6912H5892H1732 11David had reigned over Israel for forty years, seven of them in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem.H3117H1732H4427H3478H705H8141H7651H8141H4427H2275H7970H7969H8141H4427H3389 12Solomon became king and sat on the throne of David his father, and his kingdom was firmly established.H3427H8010H3678H1732H1H4438H3559H3966 13One day Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, came to see Bathsheba, Solomon's mother. "Have you come with peaceful intentions?" she asked him."Yes," he said, "I come in peace.H138H1121H2294H935H1339H517H8010H559H935H7965H559H7965 14In fact, I have a favor to ask of you." "What is it?" she asked.H559H1697H559H1696 15He replied, "As you know, the kingdom was rightfully mine; all Israel wanted me to be the next king. But the tables were turned, and the kingdom went to my brother instead; for that is the way the LORD wanted it.H559H3045H4410H3478H7760H6440H4427H4410H5437H251H3068 16So now I have just one favor to ask of you. Please don't turn me down." "What is it?" she asked.H7592H259H7596H7725H6440H559H1696 17He replied, "Speak to King Solomon on my behalf, for I know he will do anything you request. Ask him to let me marry Abishag, the girl from Shunem."H559H559H8010H4428H7725H6440H7725H5414H49H7767H802 18"All right," Bathsheba replied. "I will speak to the king for you."H1339H559H2896H1696H4428 19So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak on Adonijah's behalf. The king rose from his throne to meet her, and he bowed down before her. When he sat down on his throne again, the king ordered that a throne be brought for his mother, and she sat at his right hand.H1339H935H4428H8010H1696H138H4428H6965H7125H7812H3427H3678H3678H7760H4428H517H3427H3225 20"I have one small request to make of you," she said. "I hope you won't turn me down." "What is it, my mother?" he asked. "You know I won't refuse you."H559H7592H259H6996H7596H7725H6440H7725H4428H559H7592H517H7725H6440H7725 21"Then let your brother Adonijah marry Abishag, the girl from Shunem," she replied.H559H49H7767H5414H138H251H802 22"How can you possibly ask me to give Abishag to Adonijah?" King Solomon demanded. "You might as well ask me to give him the kingdom! You know that he is my older brother, and that he has Abiathar the priest and Joab son of Zeruiah on his side."H4428H8010H6030H559H517H7592H49H7767H138H7592H4410H1419H251H54H3548H3097H1121H6870 23Then King Solomon made a vow before the LORD: "May God strike me and even kill me if Adonijah has not sealed his fate with this request.H4428H8010H7650H3068H559H430H6213H3254H138H1696H1697H5315 24The LORD has confirmed me and placed me on the throne of my father, David; he has established my dynasty as he promised. So as surely as the LORD lives, Adonijah will die this very day!"H3068H2416H3559H3427H3678H1732H1H6213H1004H1696H138H4191H3117 25So King Solomon ordered Benaiah son of Jehoiada to execute him, and Adonijah was put to death.H4428H8010H7971H3027H1141H1121H3077H6293H4191 26Then the king said to Abiathar the priest, "Go back to your home in Anathoth. You deserve to die, but I will not kill you now, because you carried the Ark of the Sovereign LORD for David my father and you shared all his hardships."H54H3548H559H4428H3212H6068H7704H376H4194H3117H4191H5375H727H136H3069H6440H1732H1H6031H1H6031 27So Solomon deposed Abiathar from his position as priest of the LORD, thereby fulfilling the prophecy the LORD had given at Shiloh concerning the descendants of Eli.H8010H1644H54H3548H3068H4390H1697H3068H1696H1004H5941H7887 28Joab had not joined Absalom's earlier rebellion, but he had joined Adonijah's rebellion. So when Joab heard about Adonijah's death, he ran to the sacred tent of the LORD and grabbed onto the horns of the altar.H8052H935H3097H3097H5186H310H138H5186H310H53H3097H5127H168H3068H2388H7161H4196 29When this was reported to King Solomon, he sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada to execute him.H5046H4428H8010H3097H5127H168H3068H681H4196H8010H7971H1141H1121H3077H559H3212H6293 30Benaiah went to the sacred tent of the LORD and said to Joab, "The king orders you to come out!" But Joab answered, "No, I will die here." So Benaiah returned to the king and told him what Joab had said.H1141H935H168H3068H559H559H4428H3318H559H4191H1141H7725H4428H1697H7725H559H1696H3097H6030 31"Do as he said," the king replied. "Kill him there beside the altar and bury him. This will remove the guilt of Joab's senseless murders from me and from my father's family.H4428H559H6213H1696H6293H6912H5493H2600H1818H3097H8210H1004H1 32The LORD will repay him for the murders of two men who were more righteous and better than he. For my father knew nothing about the deaths of Abner son of Ner, commander of the army of Israel, and of Amasa son of Jether, commander of the army of Judah.H3068H7725H1818H7218H6293H8147H582H6662H2896H2026H2719H1H1732H3045H74H1121H5369H8269H6635H3478H6021H1121H3500H8269H6635H3063 33May their blood be on Joab and his descendants forever, and may the LORD grant peace forever to David, his descendants, his dynasty, and his throne."H1818H7725H7218H3097H7218H2233H5769H1732H2233H1004H3678H7965H5704H5769H3068 34So Benaiah son of Jehoiada returned to the sacred tent and killed Joab, and he was buried at his home in the wilderness.H1141H1121H3077H5927H6293H4191H6912H1004H4057 35Then the king appointed Benaiah to command the army in place of Joab, and he installed Zadok the priest to take the place of Abiathar.H4428H5414H1141H1121H3077H6635H6659H3548H4428H5414H54 36The king then sent for Shimei and told him, "Build a house here in Jerusalem and live there. But don't step outside the city to go anywhere else.H4428H7971H7121H8096H559H1129H1004H3389H3427H3318H575 37On the day you so much as cross the Kidron Valley, you will surely die; and your blood will be on your own head."H3117H3318H5674H5158H6939H3045H3045H4191H4191H1818H7218 38Shimei replied, "Your sentence is fair; I will do whatever my lord the king commands." So Shimei lived in Jerusalem for a long time.H8096H559H4428H1697H2896H113H4428H1696H5650H6213H8096H3427H3389H7227H3117 39But three years later two of Shimei's slaves ran away to King Achish son of Maacah of Gath. When Shimei learned where they were,H7093H7969H8141H8147H5650H8096H1272H397H1121H4601H4428H1661H5046H8096H559H5650H1661 40he saddled his donkey and went to Gath to search for them. When he found them, he brought them back to Jerusalem.H8096H6965H2280H2543H3212H1661H397H1245H5650H8096H3212H935H5650H1661 41Solomon heard that Shimei had left Jerusalem and had gone to Gath and returned.H5046H8010H8096H1980H3389H1661H7725 42So the king sent for Shimei and demanded, "Didn't I make you swear by the LORD and warn you not to go anywhere else or you would surely die? And you replied, 'The sentence is fair; I will do as you say.'H4428H7971H7121H8096H559H7650H3068H5749H559H3045H3045H3117H3318H1980H575H4191H4191H559H1697H8085H2896 43Then why haven't you kept your oath to the LORD and obeyed my command?"H8104H7621H3068H4687H6680 44The king also said to Shimei, "You certainly remember all the wicked things you did to my father, David. May the LORD now bring that evil on your own head.H4428H559H8096H3045H7451H3824H3045H6213H1732H1H3068H7725H7451H7218 45But may I, King Solomon, receive the LORD's blessings, and may one of David's descendants always sit on this throne in the presence of the LORD."H4428H8010H1288H3678H1732H3559H6440H3068H5704H5769 46Then, at the king's command, Benaiah son of Jehoiada took Shimei outside and killed him. So the kingdom was now firmly in Solomon's grip.H4428H6680H1141H1121H3077H3318H6293H4191H4467H3559H3027H8010
37[A psalm of David.] Don't worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong.H1732H2734H7489H7065H6213H57662For like grass, they soon fade away. Like spring flowers, they soon wither.H4120H5243H2682H5034H3418H18773Trust in the LORD and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.H982H3068H6213H2896H7931H776H530H74624Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart's desires.H6026H3068H5414H4862H38205Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you.H1556H1870H3068H982H62136He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.H3318H6664H216H4941H66727Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act. Don't worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.H1826H3068H2342H2734H6743H1870H376H6213H4209H62138Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper—it only leads to harm.H7503H639H5800H2534H2734H389H74899For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the LORD will possess the land.H7489H3772H6960H3068H3423H77610Soon the wicked will disappear. Though you look for them, they will be gone.H4592H7563H995H472511The lowly will possess the land and will live in peace and prosperity.H6035H3423H776H6026H7230H796512The wicked plot against the godly; they snarl at them in defiance.H7563H2161H6662H2786H812713But the Lord just laughs, for he sees their day of judgment coming.H136H7832H7200H3117H93514The wicked draw their swords and string their bows to kill the poor and the oppressed, to slaughter those who do right.H7563H6605H2719H1869H7198H5307H6041H34H2873H3477H187015But their swords will stab their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.H2719H935H3820H7198H766516It is better to be godly and have little than to be evil and rich.H4592H6662H2896H1995H7227H756317For the strength of the wicked will be shattered, but the LORD takes care of the godly.H2220H7563H7665H3068H5564H666218Day by day the LORD takes care of the innocent, and they will receive an inheritance that lasts forever.H3068H3045H3117H8549H5159H576919They will not be disgraced in hard times; even in famine they will have more than enough.H954H7451H6256H3117H7459H764620But the wicked will die. The LORD's enemies are like flowers in a field—they will disappear like smoke.H7563H6H341H3068H3368H3733H3615H6227H361521The wicked borrow and never repay, but the godly are generous givers.H7563H3867H7999H6662H2603H541422Those the LORD blesses will possess the land, but those he curses will die.H1288H3423H776H7043H377223The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.H4703H1397H3559H3068H2654H187024Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the LORD holds them by the hand.H5307H2904H3068H5564H302725Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread.H5288H2204H7200H6662H5800H2233H1245H389926The godly always give generous loans to others, and their children are a blessing.H3117H2603H3867H2233H129327Turn from evil and do good, and you will live in the land forever.H5493H7451H6213H2896H7931H576928For the LORD loves justice, and he will never abandon the godly. He will keep them safe forever, but the children of the wicked will die.H3068H157H4941H5800H2623H8104H5769H2233H7563H377229The godly will possess the land and will live there forever.H6662H3423H776H7931H570330The godly offer good counsel; they teach right from wrong.H6310H6662H1897H2451H3956H1696H494131They have made God's law their own, so they will never slip from his path.H8451H430H3820H838H457132The wicked wait in ambush for the godly, looking for an excuse to kill them.H7563H6822H6662H1245H419133But the LORD will not let the wicked succeed or let the godly be condemned when they are put on trial.H3068H5800H3027H7561H819934Put your hope in the LORD. Travel steadily along his path. He will honor you by giving you the land. You will see the wicked destroyed.H6960H3068H8104H1870H7311H3423H776H7563H3772H720035I have seen wicked and ruthless people flourishing like a tree in its native soil.H7200H7563H6184H6168H7488H24936But when I looked again, they were gone! Though I searched for them, I could not find them!H5674H1245H467237Look at those who are honest and good, for a wonderful future awaits those who love peace.H8104H8535H7200H3477H319H376H796538But the rebellious will be destroyed; they have no future.H6586H8045H3162H319H7563H377239The LORD rescues the godly; he is their fortress in times of trouble.H8668H6662H3068H4581H6256H686940The LORD helps them, rescuing them from the wicked. He saves them, and they find shelter in him.H3068H5826H6403H6403H7563H3467H2620
71O Lord, I have come to you for protection; don’t let me be disgraced.H3068H2620H408H5769H954 2Save me and rescue me, for you do what is right. Turn your ear to listen to me, and set me free.H5337H6666H6403H5186H241H3467 3Be my rock of safety where I can always hide. Give the order to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.H6697H4583H8548H935H6680H3467H5553H4686 4My God, rescue me from the power of the wicked, from the clutches of cruel oppressors.H6403H430H3027H7563H3709H5765H2556 5O Lord, you alone are my hope. I’ve trusted you, O Lord, from childhood.H8615H136H3069H4009H5271 6Yes, you have been with me from birth; from my mother’s womb you have cared for me. No wonder I am always praising you!H5564H990H1491H517H4578H8416H8548 7My life is an example to many, because you have been my strength and protection.H4159H7227H5797H4268 8That is why I can never stop praising you; I declare your glory all day long.H6310H4390H8416H8597H3117 9And now, in my old age, don’t set me aside. Don’t abandon me when my strength is failing.H7993H6256H2209H5800H3581H3615 10For my enemies are whispering against me. They are plotting together to kill me.H341H559H8104H5315H3289H3162 11They say, “God has abandoned him. Let’s go and get him, for no one will help him now.”H559H430H5800H7291H8610H5337 12O God, don’t stay away. My God, please hurry to help me.H430H7368H430H2363H2439H5833 13Bring disgrace and destruction on my accusers. Humiliate and shame those who want to harm me.H954H3615H7853H5315H5844H2781H3639H1245H7451 14But I will keep on hoping for your help; I will praise you more and more.H3176H8548H8416H3254H3254 15I will tell everyone about your righteousness. All day long I will proclaim your saving power, though I am not skilled with words.H6310H5608H6666H8668H3117H3045H5615 16I will praise your mighty deeds, O Sovereign Lord. I will tell everyone that you alone are just.H935H1369H136H3069H2142H6666 17O God, you have taught me from my earliest childhood, and I constantly tell others about the wonderful things you do.H430H3925H5271H5046H6381 18Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God. Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, your mighty miracles to all who come after me.H5704H2209H7872H430H5800H5046H2220H1755H1369H935 19Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the highest heavens. You have done such wonderful things. Who can compare with you, O God?H6666H430H4791H6213H1419H430 20You have allowed me to suffer much hardship, but you will restore me to life again and lift me up from the depths of the earth.H7200H7227H7451H6869H2421H7725H5927H7725H8415H776 21You will restore me to even greater honor and comfort me once again.H7235H1420H5162H5437 22Then I will praise you with music on the harp, because you are faithful to your promises, O my God. I will sing praises to you with a lyre, O Holy One of Israel.H3034H3627H5035H571H430H2167H3658H6918H3478 23I will shout for joy and sing your praises, for you have ransomed me.H8193H7442H2167H5315H6299 24I will tell about your righteous deeds all day long, for everyone who tried to hurt me has been shamed and humiliated.H3956H1897H6666H3117H954H2659H1245H7451
94O Lord, the God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, let your glorious justice shine forth!H3068H410H5360H410H5360H33132Arise, O judge of the earth. Give the proud what they deserve.H5375H8199H776H7725H1576H13433How long, O Lord? How long will the wicked be allowed to gloat?H3068H7563H7563H59374How long will they speak with arrogance? How long will these evil people boast?H5042H1696H6277H6466H205H5595They crush your people, Lord, hurting those you claim as your own.H1792H5971H3068H6031H51596They kill widows and foreigners and murder orphans.H2026H490H1616H7523H34907“The Lord isn’t looking,” they say, “and besides, the God of Israel doesn’t care.”H559H3050H7200H430H3290H9958Think again, you fools! When will you finally catch on?H995H1197H5971H3684H79199Is he deaf—the one who made your ears? Is he blind—the one who formed your eyes?H5193H241H8085H3335H5869H502710He punishes the nations—won’t he also punish you? He knows everything—doesn’t he also know what you are doing?H3256H1471H3198H3925H120H184711The Lord knows people’s thoughts; he knows they are worthless!H3068H3045H4284H120H189212Joyful are those you discipline, Lord, those you teach with your instructions.H835H1397H3256H3050H3925H845113You give them relief from troubled times until a pit is dug to capture the wicked.H8252H3117H7451H7845H3738H756314The Lord will not reject his people; he will not abandon his special possession.H3068H5203H5971H5800H515915Judgment will again be founded on justice, and those with virtuous hearts will pursue it.H4941H7725H6664H3477H3820H31016Who will protect me from the wicked? Who will stand up for me against evildoers?H6965H7489H3320H6466H20517Unless the Lord had helped me, I would soon have settled in the silence of the grave.H3884H3068H5833H5315H4592H7931H174518I cried out, “I am slipping!” but your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me.H559H7272H4131H2617H3068H558219When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.H7230H8312H7130H8575H8173H531520Can unjust leaders claim that God is on their side—leaders whose decrees permit injustice?H3678H1942H2266H3335H5999H270621They gang up against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death.H1413H5315H6662H7561H5355H181822But the Lord is my fortress; my God is the mighty rock where I hide.H3068H4869H430H6697H426823God will turn the sins of evil people back on them. He will destroy them for their sins. The Lord our God will destroy them.H7725H205H6789H7451H3068H430H6789
Dublin, OH
near the spring of En-rogel, where he sacrificed sheep, cattle, and fattened calves. He invited all his brothers—the other sons of King David—and all the royal officials of Judah.H138
