Don't Know Much About the Bible - Kenneth C. Davis [117]
Greatest Hits from the Psalms
While most people would agree that the most familiar psalm, the twenty-third, is the greatest of all, the following highlights come from some of the other most beautiful, memorable or frequently cited psalms. (See Appendix 2 for the full text of the twenty-third psalm in two translations.)
Psalm 1
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. (1:1-4 KJV)
Psalm 8
Out of the mouths of babes and
infants
you have founded a bulwark
because of your foes,
to silence the enemy and the avenger.
When I look at your heavens, the
work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars that you
have established;
what are human beings that you are mindful of them,
mortals that you care for them?
Yet you have made them a little lower than God [or angels].
(8:2-5 NRSV)
Psalm 13
How long, O lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have
sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?
Look on me and answer, O Lord my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death; my enemy will say,
“I have overcome him” and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord,
because he has been good to me. (KJV)
Psalm 14
Fools say in their hearts, “There is
no God.” (14:1 NRSV)
Psalm 19
The heavens declare the glory of God,
the sky proclaims His handiwork.
Day to day makes utterance,
night to night speaks out
There is no utterance,
there are no words,
whose sound goes unheard
Their voice carries throughout the earth,
their words to the end of the world. (19:1-4 JPS)
The precepts of the Lord are just,
rejoicing the heart;
the instruction of the Lord is lucid,
making the eyes light up.
The fear of the Lord is pure,
abiding forever,
the judgments of the Lord are true,
righteous altogether,
more desirable than gold,
than much fine honey
than drippings of the comb. (19:9-10 JPS)
Psalm 22
(The “crucifixion” psalm, quoted by Jesus on the cross)
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from
helping me, from the
words of my groaning?
O my God, I cry by day, but you
do not answer;
and by night, but find no rest. (22:1-2 NRSV)
Psalm 24
Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?
And who shall stand in his holy place?
Those who have cleans hands and pure hearts,
Who do not lift up their souls to what is false,
and do not swear deceitfully. (24:1-4 NRSV)
Psalm 27
The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
When evildoers assail me to devour my flesh—
my adversaries and foes—they shall stumble and fall.
Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear;
though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident. (27:1-3)
Psalm 37
Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath.
Do not fret—it leads only to evil.
For the wicked shall be cut off,
but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.
Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look diligently for their place, they will not be there.
But the meek shall inherit the land,
and delight themselves in abundant prosperity.
(37:8-11 NRSV)
Psalm 42
As the deer pants