651 Silence is praise to you, Zion-dwelling God, And also obedience. 2 You hear the prayer in it all. We all arrive at your doorstep sooner or later, loaded with guilt, 3 Our sins too much for us - but you get rid of them once and for all. 4 Blessed are the chosen! Blessed the guest at home in your place! We expect our fill of good things in your house, your heavenly manse. 5 All your salvation wonders are on display in your trophy room. Earth-Tamer, Ocean-Pourer,
6 Mountain-Maker, Hill-Dresser, 7 Muzzler of sea storm and wave crash, of mobs in noisy riot - 8 Far and wide they'll come to a stop, they'll stare in awe, in wonder. Dawn and dusk take turns calling, "Come and worship." 9 Oh, visit the earth, ask her to join the dance! Deck her out in spring showers, fill the God-River with living water. Paint the wheat fields golden. Creation was made for this! 10 Drench the plowed fields, soak the dirt clods With rainfall as harrow and rake bring her to blossom and fruit. 11 Snow-crown the peaks with splendor, scatter rose petals down your paths, 12 All through the wild meadows, rose petals. Set the hills to dancing, 13 Dress the canyon walls with live sheep, a drape of flax across the valleys. Let them shout, and shout, and shout! Oh, oh, let them sing!
661 All together now - applause for God! 2 Sing songs to the tune of his glory, set glory to the rhythms of his praise. 3 Say of God, "We've never seen anything like him!" When your enemies see you in action, they slink off like scolded dogs. 4 The whole earth falls to its knees - it worships you, sings to you, can't stop enjoying your name and fame. 5 Take a good look at God's wonders - they'll take your breath away. 6 He converted sea to dry land; travelers crossed the river on foot. Now isn't that cause for a song? 7 Ever sovereign in his high tower, he keeps his eye on the godless nations. Rebels don't dare raise a finger against him.
8 Bless our God, O peoples! Give him a thunderous welcome! 9 Didn't he set us on the road to life? Didn't he keep us out of the ditch? 10 He trained us first, passed us like silver through refining fires, 11 Brought us into hardscrabble country, pushed us to our very limit, 12 Road-tested us inside and out, took us to hell and back; Finally he brought us to this well-watered place.
13 I'm bringing my prizes and presents to your house. I'm doing what I said I'd do, 14 What I solemnly swore I'd do that day when I was in so much trouble: 15 The choicest cuts of meat for the sacrificial meal; Even the fragrance of roasted lamb is like a meal! Or make it an ox garnished with goat meat! 16 All believers, come here and listen, let me tell you what God did for me. 17 I called out to him with my mouth, my tongue shaped the sounds of music. 18 If I had been cozy with evil, the Lord would never have listened. 19 But he most surely did listen, he came on the double when he heard my prayer. 20 Blessed be God: he didn't turn a deaf ear, he stayed with me, loyal in his love.
671 God, mark us with grace and blessing! Smile! 2 The whole country will see how you work, all the godless nations see how you save. 3 God! Let people thank and enjoy you. Let all people thank and enjoy you. 4 Let all far-flung people become happy and shout their happiness because You judge them fair and square, you tend the far-flung peoples. 5 God! Let people thank and enjoy you. Let all people thank and enjoy you. 6 Earth, display your exuberance! You mark us with blessing, O God, our God. 7 You mark us with blessing, O God. Earth's four corners - honor him!
691 God, God, save me! I'm in over my head, 2 Quicksand under me, swamp water over me; I'm going down for the third time. 3 I'm hoarse from calling for help, Bleary-eyed from searching the sky for God. 4 I've got more enemies than hairs on my head; Sneaks and liars are out to knife me in the back. What I never stole Must I now give back? 5 God, you know every sin I've committed; My life's a wide-open book before you. 6 Don't let those who look to you in hope Be discouraged by what happens to me, Dear Lord! God of the armies! Don't let those out looking for you Come to a dead end by following me - Please, dear God of Israel! 7 Because of you I look like an idiot, I walk around ashamed to show my face. 8 My brothers shun me like a bum off the street; My family treats me like an unwanted guest. 9 I love you more than I can say. Because I'm madly in love with you, They blame me for everything they dislike about you. 10 When I poured myself out in prayer and fasting, All it got me was more contempt. 11 When I put on a sad face, They treated me like a clown. 12 Now drunks and gluttons Make up drinking songs about me.
13 And me? I pray. God, it's time for a break! God, answer in love! Answer with your sure salvation! 14 Rescue me from the swamp, Don't let me go under for good, Pull me out of the clutch of the enemy; This whirlpool is sucking me down. 15 Don't let the swamp be my grave, the Black Hole Swallow me, its jaws clenched around me. 16 Now answer me, God, because you love me; Let me see your great mercy full-face. 17 Don't look the other way; your servant can't take it. I'm in trouble. Answer right now! 18 Come close, God; get me out of here. Rescue me from this deathtrap. 19 You know how they kick me around - Pin on me the donkey's ears, the dunce's cap. 20 I'm broken by their taunts, Flat on my face, reduced to a nothing. I looked in vain for one friendly face. Not one. I couldn't find one shoulder to cry on. 21 They put poison in my soup, Vinegar in my drink.
22 Let their supper be bait in a trap that snaps shut; May their best friends be trappers who'll skin them alive. 23 Make them become blind as bats, Give them the shakes from morning to night. 24 Let them know what you think of them, Blast them with your red-hot anger. 25 Burn down their houses, Leave them desolate with nobody at home. 26 They gossiped about the one you disciplined, Made up stories about anyone wounded by God. 27 Pile on the guilt, Don't let them off the hook. 28 Strike their names from the list of the living; No rock-carved honor for them among the righteous. 29 I'm hurt and in pain; Give me space for healing, and mountain air.
30 Let me shout God's name with a praising song, Let me tell his greatness in a prayer of thanks. 31 For God, this is better than oxen on the altar, Far better than blue-ribbon bulls. 32 The poor in spirit see and are glad - Oh, you God-seekers, take heart! 33 For God listens to the poor, He doesn't walk out on the wretched. 34 You heavens, praise him; praise him, earth; Also ocean and all things that swim in it. 35 For God is out to help Zion, Rebuilding the wrecked towns of Judah. Guess who will live there - The proud owners of the land? 36 No, the children of his servants will get it, The lovers of his name will live in it.
701 God! Please hurry to my rescue! God, come quickly to my side! 2 Those who are out to get me - let them fall all over themselves. Those who relish my downfall - send them down a blind alley. 3 Give them a taste of their own medicine, those gossips off clucking their tongues. 4 Let those on the hunt for you sing and celebrate. Let all who love your saving way say over and over, "God is mighty!" 5 But I've lost it. I'm wasted. God - quickly, quickly! Quick to my side, quick to my rescue! God, don't lose a minute.
