Psalms Book Four (90 through 106)
Introduction to Psalms
[Click for Transcript with Audio Description]|[Introduction to Psalms]
Presenter: An introduction to the book of Psalms. Psalms is a compilation of sacred songs which have been an important feature of true worship that highlight giving praise to Jehovah. In fact, God's name, Jehovah, and a shortened form of it, Jah, appear almost 800 times throughout the book.
[A timeline 1513 to 460 BCE]
The writing of the book of Psalms spanned about 1000 years. Moses is considered to be the earliest composer. The Psalms were compiled after the return of the Jews to Jerusalem from Babylonian exile apparently by the scribe Ezra. Although Jehovah inspired such men as Solomon, the sons of Korah, the House of Asaph, and others to pen these moving expressions of faith, more than half of the Psalms are attributed to David. The different experiences and David's life provided the background for many of the psalms.
[Nathan points at David]
The headings or superscriptions found at the beginning of many Psalms identify the writer and give other information about the Psalm.
[Superscription of Psalm 51]
The book is made-up of 150 chapters, it is the largest book of the Bible. The psalms were compiled into five separate books or volumes. Several themes are developed in these lyrical works, consider just three of them: Praise to Jehovah is a recurring theme.
[A priest with outstretched arms]
Many psalms praise Jehovah for his saving acts.
[Moses parts the Red Sea]
Other songs praise Jehovah for his creative works, from the marvels of the human body to the earth and seas.
[A couple with their baby]
Psalm 83 praises Jehovah as the Most High over all the earth.
[The earth rotates in space]
Another theme developed in psalms is that Jehovah helps and comforts those who love him.
[A woman looks heavenward]
Jehovah is referred to as the hearer of prayer and as a merciful father who pardons repentant sinners. Psalm 23 describes Jehovah as the loving shepherd, who guides protects, and cares for his people.
[A shepherd holds a lamb]
An additional theme is that Jehovah will transform the earth into a paradise by means of the Messianic Kingdom.
[Crowned Jesus smiles]
This Kingdom will remove all wickedness and bring peace to the earth.
[A family picks vegetables in paradise]
Certain psalms are grouped together, for example Psalms 113 to 118 formed the group called the Hillel Psalms. Did you know, it is likely that Jesus and his disciples sang these very Psalms after the Lord’s evening meal?
[Jesus and his disciples in the upper room]
Psalms 120 to 134 are called the songs of the ascents. Many believe these psalms were sung as the Israelites ascended to Jerusalem to attend the three great annual festivals. The last five songs form a group in which each begins and ends with the words ‘Praise Jah.’ An important feature of Psalms is that it contains numerous prophecies about the Messiah.
[Jesus hangs on the stake]
Jesus himself said ‘All the things written about me in the Psalms must be fulfilled.’
[A Bible’s pages fan open]
As you read the book of Psalms take note of how it supports Jehovah's sovereignty, how Jehovah helps and comforts those who love him and how Jehovah will transform the earth into a paradise by means of his Messianic Kingdom.
[The Bible closes and transforms into the jw.org icon]
(Logo: Black capital letters JW.ORG inside a white box. Copyright 2016 Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania) {click to close]
Psalm 90
A prayer of Moses, the man of the true God.
90.1 O Jehovah, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.
90.2 Before the mountains were born Or you brought forth the earth and the productive land, From everlasting to everlasting, you are God.
90.3 You make mortal man return to dust; You say: “Return, you sons of men.”
90.4 For a thousand years are in your eyes just as yesterday when it is past, Just as a watch during the night.
90.5 You sweep them away; they become like mere sleep; In the morning they are like grass that sprouts.
90.6 In the morning it blossoms and is renewed, But by evening it withers and dries up.
90.7 For we are consumed by your anger And terrified by your rage.
90.8 You place our errors in front of you; Our secrets are exposed by the light of your face.
90.9 Our days ebb away because of your fury; And our years come to an end like a whisper.
90.10 The span of our life is 70 years, Or 80 if one is especially strong. But they are filled with trouble and sorrow; They quickly pass by, and away we fly.
90.11 Who can fathom the power of your anger? Your fury is as great as the fear you deserve.
90.12 Teach us how to count our days So that we may acquire a heart of wisdom.
90.13 Return, O Jehovah! How long will this last? Have pity on your servants.
90.14 Satisfy us with your loyal love in the morning, So that we may shout joyfully and rejoice during all our days.
90.15 Make us rejoice in proportion to the days you have afflicted us, For as many years as we have experienced calamity.
90.16 May your servants see your activity, And may their sons see your splendor.
90.17 May the favor of Jehovah our God be upon us; May you prosper the work of our hands. Yes, prosper the work of our hands.
Psalm 91
91.1 Anyone dwelling in the secret place of the Most High Will lodge under the shadow of the Almighty.
91.2 I will say to Jehovah: “You are my refuge and my stronghold, My God in whom I trust.”
91.3 For he will rescue you from the trap of the birdcatcher, From the destructive pestilence.
91.4 With his pinions he will cover you, And under his wings you will take refuge. His faithfulness will be a large shield and a protective wall.
91.5 You will not fear the terrors of the night, Nor the arrow that flies by day,
91.6 Nor the pestilence that stalks in the gloom, Nor the destruction that ravages at midday.
91.7 A thousand will fall at your side And ten thousand at your right hand, But to you it will not come near.
91.8 You will only see it with your eyes As you witness the punishment of the wicked.
91.9 Because you said: “Jehovah is my refuge,” You have made the Most High your dwelling;
91.10 No disaster will befall you, And no plague will come near your tent.
91.11 For he will give his angels a command concerning you, To guard you in all your ways.
91.12 They will carry you on their hands, So that you may not strike your foot against a stone.
91.13 On the young lion and the cobra you will tread; You will trample underfoot the maned lion and the big snake.
91.14 God said: “Because he has affection for me, I will rescue him. I will protect him because he knows my name.
91.15 He will call on me, and I will answer him. I will be with him in distress. I will rescue him and glorify him.
91.16 I will satisfy him with long life, And I will cause him to see my acts of salvation.”
Psalm 92
A melody. A song for the Sabbath day.
92.1 It is good to give thanks to Jehovah And to sing praises to your name, O Most High,
92.2 To declare your loyal love in the morning And your faithfulness during the nights,
92.3 Accompanied by a ten-stringed instrument and a lute, By the melodious sound of a harp.
92.4 For you have made me rejoice, O Jehovah, because of your deeds; Because of the works of your hands I shout joyfully.
92.5 How great your works are, O Jehovah! How very deep your thoughts are!
92.6 No unreasoning man can know them; And no foolish person can understand this:
92.7 When the wicked sprout like weeds And all the wrongdoers flourish, It is that they may be annihilated forever.
92.8 But you are exalted forever, O Jehovah.
92.9 Indeed, look in triumph on your enemies, O Jehovah, Look at how your enemies will perish; All the wrongdoers will be scattered.
92.10 But you will exalt my strength like that of a wild bull; I will moisten my skin with fresh oil.
92.11 My eyes will look in triumph on my foes; My ears will hear about the downfall of the evil men who attack me.
92.12 But the righteous will flourish like a palm tree And grow big like a cedar in Lebanon.
92.13 They are planted in the house of Jehovah; They flourish in the courtyards of our God.
92.14 Even in old age they will still be thriving; They will remain vigorous and fresh,
92.15 Declaring that Jehovah is upright. He is my Rock, in whom there is no unrighteousness.
Psalm 93
93.1 Jehovah has become King! With grandeur he is clothed; Jehovah is clothed with strength; He wears it like a belt. The earth is firmly established; It cannot be moved.
93.2 Your throne was firmly established long ago; From eternity you have existed.
93.3 The rivers have surged, O Jehovah, The rivers have surged and roared; The rivers keep surging and pounding.
93.4 Above the sound of many waters, Mightier than the breaking waves of the sea, Jehovah is majestic in the heights.
93.5 Your reminders are very trustworthy. Holiness adorns your house, O Jehovah, for all times.
Psalm 94
94.1 O God of vengeance, Jehovah, O God of vengeance, shine forth!
94.2 Rise up, O Judge of the earth. Repay to the haughty what they deserve.
94.3 How long will the wicked, O Jehovah, How long will the wicked continue to exult?
94.4 They babble and speak arrogantly; All the wrongdoers brag about themselves.
94.5 They crush your people, O Jehovah, And oppress your inheritance.
94.6 They kill the widow and the foreign resident, And they murder the fatherless children.
94.7 They say: “Jah does not see; The God of Jacob does not take notice of it.”
94.8 Understand this, you who are unreasoning; You foolish ones, when will you ever show insight?
94.9 The One who made the ear, can he not hear? The One who formed the eye, can he not see?
94.10 The One correcting the nations, can he not reprove? He is the One who imparts knowledge to people!
94.11 Jehovah knows the thoughts of men, That they are but a mere breath.
94.12 Happy is the man whom you correct, O Jah, Whom you teach from your law,
94.13 To give him tranquility during days of calamity, Until a pit is dug for the wicked.
94.14 For Jehovah will not forsake his people, Nor will he abandon his inheritance.
94.15 For judgment will once again be righteous, And all the upright in heart will follow it.
94.16 Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will take a stand for me against the wrongdoers?
94.17 If Jehovah had not been my helper, I would soon have perished.
94.18 When I said: “My foot is slipping,” Your loyal love, O Jehovah, kept supporting me.
94.19 When anxieties overwhelmed me, You comforted and soothed me.
94.20 Can a throne of corruption be allied with you While it is framing trouble in the name of the law?
94.21 They make vicious attacks on the righteous one And condemn the innocent one to death.
94.22 But Jehovah will become a secure refuge for me, My God is my rock of refuge.
94.23 He will make their wicked deeds come back upon them. He will do away with them by means of their own evil. Jehovah our God will do away with them.
Psalm 95
95.1 Come, let us shout joyfully to Jehovah! Let us shout in triumph to our Rock of salvation.
95.2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; Let us sing and shout in triumph to him.
95.3 For Jehovah is a great God, A great King over all other gods.
95.4 In his hand are the depths of the earth; The mountain peaks belong to him.
95.5 The sea, which he made, belongs to him, And his hands formed the dry land.
95.6 Come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before Jehovah our Maker.
95.7 For he is our God, And we are the people of his pasture, The sheep in his care. Today if you listen to his voice,
95.8 Do not harden your heart as at Meribah, As in the day of Massah in the wilderness,
95.9 When your forefathers tested me; They challenged me, though they had seen my works.
95.10 For 40 years I felt a loathing toward that generation, and I said: “They are a people who always go astray in their hearts; They have not come to know my ways.”
95.11 So I swore in my anger: “They will not enter into my rest.”
Psalm 96
96.1 Sing to Jehovah a new song. Sing to Jehovah, all the earth!
96.2 Sing to Jehovah; praise his name. Proclaim the good news of his salvation day after day.
96.3 Declare his glory among the nations, His wonderful works among all the peoples.
96.4 Jehovah is great and most worthy of praise. He is more awe-inspiring than all other gods.
96.5 All the gods of the peoples are worthless gods, But Jehovah is the one who made the heavens.
96.6 In his presence are majesty and splendor; Strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
96.7 Give Jehovah his due, you families of the peoples, Give Jehovah his due for his glory and strength.
96.8 Give Jehovah the glory due his name; Bring a gift and come into his courtyards.
96.9 Bow down to Jehovah in holy adornment; Tremble before him, all the earth!
96.10 Declare among the nations: “Jehovah has become King! The earth is firmly established, it cannot be moved. He will judge the peoples fairly.”
96.11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be joyful; Let the sea thunder and all that fills it;
96.12 Let the fields and everything in them rejoice. At the same time let all the trees of the forest shout joyfully
96.13 Before Jehovah, for he is coming, He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the inhabited earth with righteousness And the peoples with his faithfulness.
Psalm 97
97.1 Jehovah has become King! Let the earth be joyful. Let the many islands rejoice.
97.2 Clouds and thick gloom are all around him; Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
97.3 Fire goes before him And consumes his adversaries on every side.
97.4 His lightning bolts light up the land; The earth sees it and trembles.
97.5 The mountains melt like wax before Jehovah, Before the Lord of the whole earth.
97.6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness, And all the peoples see his glory.
97.7 Let all those serving any carved image be put to shame, Those who boast about their worthless gods. Bow down to him, all you gods.
97.8 Zion hears and rejoices; The towns of Judah are joyful Because of your judgments, O Jehovah.
97.9 For you, O Jehovah, are the Most High over all the earth; You are exalted far above all other gods.
97.10 O you who love Jehovah, hate what is bad. He is guarding the lives of his loyal ones; He rescues them from the hand of the wicked.
97.11 Light has flashed up for the righteous And rejoicing for those upright in heart.
97.12 Rejoice in Jehovah, you righteous ones, And give thanks to his holy name.
Psalm 98
A melody.
98.1 Sing to Jehovah a new song, For he has done wonderful things. His right hand, his holy arm, has brought about salvation.
98.2 Jehovah has made known his salvation; He has revealed his righteousness before the nations.
98.3 He has remembered his loyal love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation by our God.
98.4 Shout in triumph to Jehovah, all the earth. Be cheerful and shout joyfully and sing praises.
98.5 Sing praises to Jehovah with the harp, With the harp and the melodious song.
98.6 With the trumpets and the sound of the horn, Shout in triumph before the King, Jehovah.
98.7 Let the sea thunder and all that fills it, The earth and those dwelling in it.
98.8 Let the rivers clap their hands; Let the mountains shout joyfully together
98.9 Before Jehovah, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the inhabited earth with righteousness And the peoples with fairness.
Psalm 99
99.1 Jehovah has become King. Let the peoples tremble. He sits enthroned above the cherubs. Let the earth shake.
99.2 Jehovah is great in Zion, And he is high over all the peoples.
99.3 Let them praise your great name, For it is awe-inspiring and holy.
99.4 He is a mighty king who loves justice. You have firmly established what is upright. You have brought about justice and righteousness in Jacob.
99.5 Exalt Jehovah our God and bow down at his footstool; He is holy.
99.6 Moses and Aaron were among his priests, And Samuel was among those calling on his name. They would call to Jehovah, And he would answer them.
99.7 He would speak to them from the pillar of cloud. They kept his reminders and the decree that he gave to them.
99.8 O Jehovah our God, you answered them. You were a God who pardoned them, But you punished them for their sinful deeds.
99.9 Exalt Jehovah our God And bow down before his holy mountain, For Jehovah our God is holy.
Psalm 100
A melody of thanksgiving.
100.1 Shout in triumph to Jehovah, all the earth.
100.2 Serve Jehovah with rejoicing. Come into his presence with joyful shouting.
100.3 Know that Jehovah is God. He is the one who made us, and we belong to him. We are his people and the sheep of his pasture.
100.4 Come into his gates with thanksgiving, Into his courtyards with praise. Give thanks to him; praise his name.
100.5 For Jehovah is good; His loyal love endures forever, And his faithfulness through all generations.
Psalm 101
Of David. A melody.
101.1 I will sing about loyal love and justice. To you, O Jehovah, I will sing praises.
101.2 I will act with discretion and blamelessness. When will you come to me? I will walk with integrity of heart inside my house.
101.3 I will not set anything worthless before my eyes. I hate the deeds of those who deviate from what is right; I will have nothing to do with them.
101.4 A crooked heart is far from me; I will not accept what is bad.
101.5 Anyone slandering his neighbor in secret, I will silence. Anyone with haughty eyes and an arrogant heart, I will not tolerate.
101.6 I will look to the faithful ones of the earth, So that they may dwell with me. The one walking in blamelessness will minister to me.
101.7 No deceitful person will dwell in my house, And no liar will stand in my presence.
101.8 Every morning I will silence all the wicked of the earth, To cut off all wrongdoers from the city of Jehovah.
Psalm 102
A prayer of the oppressed one when he is in despair and pours out his concern before Jehovah.
102.1 O Jehovah, hear my prayer; Let my cry for help reach you.
102.2 Do not hide your face from me in my time of distress. Incline your ear to me; Do answer me quickly when I call.
102.3 For my days are vanishing like smoke, And my bones are charred like a fireplace.
102.4 My heart has been struck down like grass and has withered, For I forget to eat my food.
102.5 Because of my loud groaning, My bones cling to my flesh.
102.6 I resemble the pelican of the wilderness; I am like a little owl among the ruins.
102.7 I lie awake; I am like a solitary bird on a roof.
102.8 All day long my enemies taunt me. Those who mock me use my name as a curse.
102.9 For I eat ashes as my bread, And my drink is mingled with tears,
102.10 Because of your anger and your indignation, For you lifted me up only to cast me aside.
102.11 My days are like a fading shadow, And I am withering like grass.
102.12 But you remain forever, O Jehovah, And your fame will endure for all generations.
102.13 Surely you will rise up and show mercy on Zion, For it is time to show her your favor; The appointed time has come.
102.14 For your servants find pleasure in her stones And have affection even for her dust.
102.15 The nations will fear the name of Jehovah, And all the kings of the earth your glory.
102.16 For Jehovah will rebuild Zion; He will appear in his glory.
102.17 He will pay attention to the prayer of the destitute; He will not despise their prayer.
102.18 This is written for the future generation, So that a people yet to be brought forth will praise Jah.
102.19 For he looks down from his holy height, From the heavens Jehovah views the earth,
102.20 To hear the sighing of the prisoner, To release those sentenced to death,
102.21 So that the name of Jehovah will be declared in Zion And his praise in Jerusalem,
102.22 When the peoples and kingdoms Gather together to serve Jehovah.
102.23 He prematurely robbed me of my strength; He cut short my days.
102.24 I said: “O my God, Do not do away with me in the middle of my life, You whose years span all generations.
102.25 Long ago you laid the foundations of the earth, And the heavens are the work of your hands.
102.26 They will perish, but you will remain; Just like a garment they will all wear out. Just like clothing you will replace them, and they will pass away.
102.27 But you are the same, and your years will never end.
102.28 The children of your servants will dwell securely, And their offspring will be firmly established before you.”
Psalm 103
Of David.
103.1 Let me praise Jehovah; Let everything within me praise his holy name.
103.2 Let me praise Jehovah; May I never forget all that he has done.
103.3 He forgives all your errors And heals all your ailments;
103.4 He reclaims your life from the pit And crowns you with his loyal love and mercy.
103.5 He satisfies you with good things all your life, So that your youth is renewed like that of an eagle.
103.6 Jehovah acts with righteousness and justice For all who are oppressed.
103.7 He made known his ways to Moses, His deeds to the sons of Israel.
103.8 Jehovah is merciful and compassionate, Slow to anger and abundant in loyal love.
103.9 He will not always find fault, Nor will he stay resentful forever.
103.10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor has he repaid us what our errors deserve.
103.11 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So great is his loyal love toward those who fear him.
103.12 As far off as the sunrise is from the sunset, So far off from us he has put our transgressions.
103.13 As a father shows mercy to his sons, Jehovah has shown mercy to those who fear him.
103.14 For he well knows how we are formed, Remembering that we are dust.
103.15 As for mortal man, his days are like those of grass; He blooms like a blossom of the field.
103.16 But when a wind blows, it is no more, As though it was never there.
103.17 But the loyal love of Jehovah is for all eternity Toward those who fear him, And his righteousness toward their children’s children,
103.18 Toward those who keep his covenant And those who are careful to observe his orders.
103.19 Jehovah has firmly established his throne in the heavens; And his kingship rules over everything.
103.20 Praise Jehovah, all you his angels, mighty in power, Who carry out his word, obeying his voice.
103.21 Praise Jehovah, all his armies, His ministers who do his will.
103.22 Praise Jehovah, all his works, In all the places where he rules. Let my whole being praise Jehovah.
Psalm 104
104.1 Let me praise Jehovah. O Jehovah my God, you are very great. With majesty and splendor you are clothed.
104.2 You are wrapped in light as with a garment; You stretch out the heavens like a tent cloth.
104.3 He lays beams of his upper rooms in the waters above, Making the clouds his chariot, Moving on the wings of the wind.
104.4 He makes his angels spirits, His ministers a consuming fire.
104.5 He has established the earth on its foundations; It will not be moved from its place forever and ever.
104.6 You covered it with deep waters as with a garment. The waters stood above the mountains.
104.7 At your rebuke they fled; At the sound of your thunder they ran away in panic
104.8 —Mountains ascended and valleys descended— To the place you established for them.
104.9 You set a boundary that they should not pass, That they should never again cover the earth.
104.10 He sends springs into the valleys; Between the mountains they flow.
104.11 They provide water for all the wild beasts of the field; The wild donkeys quench their thirst.
104.12 Above them roost the birds of the sky; They sing among the thick foliage.
104.13 He is watering the mountains from his upper rooms. With the fruitage of your works the earth is satisfied.
104.14 He is making grass grow for the cattle And vegetation for mankind’s use, To grow food from the land
104.15 And wine that makes man’s heart rejoice, Oil that makes the face shine, And bread that sustains the heart of mortal man.
104.16 The trees of Jehovah are satisfied, The cedars of Lebanon that he planted,
104.17 Where the birds make nests. The home of the stork is in the juniper trees.
104.18 The high mountains are for the mountain goats; The crags are a refuge for the rock badgers.
104.19 He has made the moon to mark the appointed times; The sun well knows when to set.
104.20 You bring darkness, and night falls, When all the wild animals of the forest roam about.
104.21 The young lions roar for their prey And seek their food from God.
104.22 When the sun rises, They withdraw and lie down in their dens.
104.23 Man goes to his work, And he labors until evening.
104.24 How many your works are, O Jehovah! You have made all of them in wisdom. The earth is full of what you have made.
104.25 There is the sea, so great and wide, Teeming with countless living things, both small and great.
104.26 There the ships travel, And Leviathan, which you formed to play in it.
104.27 All of them wait for you To give them their food in its season.
104.28 What you give them, they gather. When you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things.
104.29 When you hide your face, they are disturbed. If you take away their spirit, they die and return to the dust.
104.30 If you send out your spirit, they are created, And you renew the surface of the ground.
104.31 The glory of Jehovah will last forever. Jehovah will rejoice in his works.
104.32 He looks at the earth, and it trembles; He touches the mountains, and they smoke.
104.33 I will sing to Jehovah throughout my life; I will sing praises to my God as long as I live.
104.34 Let my thoughts be pleasing to him. I will rejoice in Jehovah.
104.35 The sinners will vanish from the earth, And the wicked will no longer exist. Let me praise Jehovah. Praise Jah!
Psalm 105
105.1 Give thanks to Jehovah, call on his name, Make his deeds known among the peoples!
105.2 Sing to him, sing praises to him, Ponder over all his wonderful works.
105.3 Boast about his holy name. Let the hearts of those seeking Jehovah rejoice.
105.4 Search for Jehovah and his strength. Seek his face constantly.
105.5 Remember the wonderful works he has performed, His miracles and the judgments he has pronounced,
105.6 You offspring of Abraham his servant, You sons of Jacob, his chosen ones.
105.7 He is Jehovah our God. His judgments are throughout the earth.
105.8 He remembers his covenant forever, The promise he made, to a thousand generations,
105.9 The covenant he made with Abraham, And the oath he swore to Isaac,
105.10 Which he established as a decree to Jacob And as a lasting covenant to Israel,
105.11 Saying, “I will give you the land of Canaan As your allotted inheritance.”
105.12 This was when they were few in number, Yes, very few, and they were foreigners in the land.
105.13 They walked about from nation to nation, From one kingdom to another people.
105.14 He did not allow any man to oppress them, But on their account he reproved kings,
105.15 Saying, “Do not touch my anointed ones, And to my prophets do nothing bad.”
105.16 He called down a famine on the land; He cut off their supply of bread.
105.17 He sent ahead of them a man Who was sold to be a slave, Joseph.
105.18 With fetters they bound his feet, His neck was put in irons;
105.19 Until the time that his word proved true, The saying of Jehovah is what refined him.
105.20 The king sent to release him, The ruler of the peoples set him free.
105.21 He made him master of his household, Ruler over all his property,
105.22 To have authority over his princes as he pleased And to teach his elders wisdom.
105.23 Then Israel came into Egypt, And Jacob lived as a foreigner in the land of Ham.
105.24 God made his people very fruitful; He made them mightier than their adversaries,
105.25 Whose hearts he let change to hate his people, To plot against his servants.
105.26 He sent his servant Moses, And Aaron, whom he had chosen.
105.27 They performed his signs among them, His miracles in the land of Ham.
105.28 He sent darkness and the land became dark; They did not rebel against his words.
105.29 He changed their waters into blood And killed their fish.
105.30 Their land swarmed with frogs, Even in the royal chambers.
105.31 He ordered the gadflies to invade And gnats in all their territories.
105.32 He turned their rain to hail And sent lightning on their land.
105.33 He struck their vines and their fig trees And shattered the trees of their territory.
105.34 He said that the locusts should invade, Young locusts without number.
105.35 They devoured all the vegetation in the land, And they devoured the produce of the ground.
105.36 Then he struck down every firstborn in their land, The beginning of their procreative power.
105.37 He brought his people out with silver and gold; And no one among his tribes stumbled.
105.38 Egypt rejoiced when they left, For the dread of Israel had fallen on them.
105.39 He spread a cloud to screen them off And fire to give light by night.
105.40 They asked, and he brought quail; He kept satisfying them with bread from heaven.
105.41 He opened a rock, and waters flowed out; These flowed through the desert like a river.
105.42 For he remembered the holy promise he had made to Abraham his servant.
105.43 So he brought out his people with exultation, His chosen ones with a joyful cry.
105.44 He gave them the lands of nations; They inherited what other peoples had worked hard to produce,
105.45 So that they would keep his decrees And observe his laws. Praise Jah!
Psalm 106
106.1 Praise Jah! Give thanks to Jehovah, for he is good; His loyal love endures forever.
106.2 Who can fully declare Jehovah’s mighty acts Or proclaim all his praiseworthy deeds?
106.3 Happy are those who act with justice, Who always do what is right.
106.4 Remember me, O Jehovah, when you show favor toward your people. Take care of me with your acts of salvation,
106.5 So that I may enjoy the goodness you show your chosen ones, That I may rejoice along with your nation, That I may proudly praise you along with your inheritance.
106.6 We have sinned just as our forefathers did; We have done wrong; we have acted wickedly.
106.7 Our forefathers in Egypt did not appreciate your wonderful works. They did not remember your abundant loyal love, But they rebelled at the sea, by the Red Sea.
106.8 But he saved them for the sake of his name, To make his mightiness known.
106.9 He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up; He led them through its depths as through a desert;
106.10 He saved them from the hand of their foe And reclaimed them from the hand of the enemy.
106.11 The waters covered their adversaries; Not one of them survived.
106.12 Then they had faith in his promise; They began to sing his praise.
106.13 But they quickly forgot what he did; They did not wait for his counsel.
106.14 They gave way to their selfish desires in the wilderness; They tested God in the desert.
106.15 He gave them what they requested, But then struck them with disease that made them waste away.
106.16 In the camp they grew jealous of Moses And of Aaron, the holy one of Jehovah.
106.17 The earth then opened up and swallowed Dathan And covered those assembled with Abiram.
106.18 A fire blazed among their group; A flame consumed the wicked.
106.19 They made a calf in Horeb And bowed down to a statue of metal;
106.20 They exchanged my glory For the representation of a grass-eating bull.
106.21 They forgot God their Savior, Who did great things in Egypt,
106.22 Wonderful works in the land of Ham, Awe-inspiring deeds at the Red Sea.
106.23 He was about to order their annihilation, But Moses his chosen one interceded with him To avert his destructive anger.
106.24 Then they despised the desirable land; They had no faith in his promise.
106.25 They kept grumbling in their tents; They did not listen to the voice of Jehovah.
106.26 So he raised his hand in an oath concerning them That he would make them fall in the wilderness;
106.27 He would make their descendants fall among the nations, And he would scatter them throughout the lands.
106.28 Then they joined in worship of Baal of Peor, And they ate sacrifices offered to the dead.
106.29 They provoked Him by their actions, And a scourge broke out among them.
106.30 But when Phinehas stood up and intervened, The scourge was halted.
106.31 And it was counted to him as righteousness Through all generations forever.
106.32 They provoked Him at the waters of Meribah, And it went badly for Moses because of them.
106.33 They embittered his spirit, And he spoke rashly with his lips.
106.34 They did not annihilate the peoples, As Jehovah had commanded them.
106.35 But they mingled with the nations And adopted their ways.
106.36 They kept serving their idols, And these became a snare to them.
106.37 They would sacrifice their sons And their daughters to demons.
106.38 They kept spilling innocent blood, The blood of their own sons and daughters Whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan; And the land was polluted with bloodshed.
106.39 They became unclean by their works; They committed spiritual prostitution by their deeds.
106.40 So the anger of Jehovah blazed against his people, And he grew to detest his inheritance.
106.41 He repeatedly handed them over to the nations, So that those who hated them might rule over them.
106.42 Their enemies oppressed them, And they were subject to their power.
106.43 Many times he rescued them, But they would rebel and disobey, And they would be brought low for their error.
106.44 But he would see their distress And hear their cry for help.
106.45 For their sake he would remember his covenant, And he would feel pity, moved by his great loyal love.
106.46 He would cause them to be pitied By all who held them captive.
106.47 Save us, O Jehovah our God, And gather us from the nations So that we may give thanks to your holy name And exult in praising you.
106.48 May Jehovah, the God of Israel, be praised Throughout all eternity. And let all the people say, “Amen!” Praise Jah!