Psalm 19-21New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 19

For the director of music. A psalm of David.



1
The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

2
Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.

3
They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.

4
Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.

5
It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

6
It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is deprived of its warmth.



7
The law of the Lord is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.

8
The precepts of the Lord are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.

9
The fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm,
and all of them are righteous.



10
They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the honeycomb.

11
By them your servant is warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.

12
But who can discern their own errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.

13
Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then I will be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.



14
May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Psalm 20

For the director of music. A psalm of David.



1
May the Lord answer you when you are in distress;
may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.

2
May he send you help from the sanctuary
and grant you support from Zion.

3
May he remember all your sacrifices
and accept your burnt offerings.

4
May he give you the desire of your heart
and make all your plans succeed.

5
May we shout for joy over your victory
and lift up our banners in the name of our God.


May the Lord grant all your requests.



6
Now this I know:
The Lord gives victory to his anointed.
He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary
with the victorious power of his right hand.

7
Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

8
They are brought to their knees and fall,
but we rise up and stand firm.

9
Lord, give victory to the king!
Answer us when we call!

Psalm 21

For the director of music. A psalm of David.



1
The king rejoices in your strength, Lord.
How great is his joy in the victories you give!



2
You have granted him his heart’s desire
and have not withheld the request of his lips.

3
You came to greet him with rich blessings
and placed a crown of pure gold on his head.

4
He asked you for life, and you gave it to him—
length of days, for ever and ever.

5
Through the victories you gave, his glory is great;
you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty.

6
Surely you have granted him unending blessings
and made him glad with the joy of your presence.

7
For the king trusts in the Lord;
through the unfailing love of the Most High
he will not be shaken.



8
Your hand will lay hold on all your enemies;
your right hand will seize your foes.

9
When you appear for battle,
you will burn them up as in a blazing furnace.
The Lord will swallow them up in his wrath,
and his fire will consume them.

10
You will destroy their descendants from the earth,
their posterity from mankind.

11
Though they plot evil against you
and devise wicked schemes, they cannot succeed.

12
You will make them turn their backs
when you aim at them with drawn bow.



13
Be exalted in your strength, Lord;
we will sing and praise your might.