The MacArthur Study Bible, NKJV

by John MacArthur

16They have mouths, but they do not speak;

  Eyes they have, but they do not see;

  17They have ears, but they do not hear;

  Nor is there any breath in their mouths.

  18Those who make them are like them;

  So is everyone who trusts in them.

  19uBless the LORD, O house of Israel!

  Bless the LORD, O house of Aaron!

  20Bless the LORD, O house of Levi!

  You who fear the LORD, bless the LORD!

  21Blessed be the LORD vout of Zion,

  Who dwells in Jerusalem!

  Praise the LORD!

  Psalm 136

  Thanksgiving to God for His Enduring Mercy

  1Oh, agive thanks to the LORD, for He is good!

  bFor His mercy endures forever.

  2Oh, give thanks to cthe God of gods!

  For His mercy endures forever.

  3Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords!

  For His mercy endures forever:

  4To Him dwho alone does great wonders,

  For His mercy endures forever;

  5eTo Him who by wisdom made the heavens,

  For His mercy endures forever;

  6fTo Him who laid out the earth above the waters,

  For His mercy endures forever;

  7gTo Him who made great lights,

  For His mercy endures forever—

  8hThe sun to rule by day,

  For His mercy endures forever;

  9The moon and stars to rule by night,

  For His mercy endures forever.

  10iTo Him who struck Egypt in their firstborn,

  For His mercy endures forever;

  11jAnd brought out Israel from among them,

  For His mercy endures forever;

  12kWith a strong hand, and with 1an outstretched arm,

  For His mercy endures forever;

  13lTo Him who divided the Red Sea in two,

  For His mercy endures forever;

  14And made Israel pass through the midst of it,

  For His mercy endures forever;

  15mBut overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea,

  For His mercy endures forever;

  16nTo Him who led His people through the wilderness,

  For His mercy endures forever;

  17oTo Him who struck down great kings,

  For His mercy endures forever;

  18pAnd slew famous kings,

  For His mercy endures forever—

  19qSihon king of the Amorites,

  For His mercy endures forever;

  20rAnd Og king of Bashan,

  For His mercy endures forever—

  21sAnd gave their land as a 2heritage,

  For His mercy endures forever;

  22A heritage to Israel His servant,

  For His mercy endures forever.

  23Who tremembered us in our lowly state,

  For His mercy endures forever;

  24And urescued us from our enemies,

  For His mercy endures forever;

  25vWho gives food to all flesh,

  For His mercy endures forever.

  26Oh, give thanks to the God of heaven!

  For His mercy endures forever.

  Psalm 137

  Longing for Zion in a Foreign Land

  1By the rivers of Babylon,

  There we sat down, yea, we wept

  When we remembered Zion.

  2We hung our harps

  Upon the willows in the midst of it.

  3For there those who carried us away captive asked of us a song,

  And those who aplundered us requested mirth,

  Saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”

  4How shall we sing the LORD’s song

  In a foreign land?

  5If I forget you, O Jerusalem,

  Let my right hand forget its skill!

  6If I do not remember you,

  Let my btongue cling to the roof of my mouth—

  If I do not exalt Jerusalem

  Above my chief joy.

  7Remember, O LORD, against cthe sons of Edom

  The day of Jerusalem,

  Who said, 1“Raze it, raze it,

  To its very foundation!”

  8O daughter of Babylon, dwho are to be destroyed,

  Happy the one ewho repays you as you have served us!

  9Happy the one who takes and fdashes

  Your little ones against the rock!

  Psalm 138

  The LORD’s Goodness to the Faithful

  A Psalm of David.

  1I WILL praise You with my whole heart;

  aBefore the gods I will sing praises to You.

  2bI will worship ctoward Your holy temple,

  And praise Your name

  For Your lovingkindness and Your truth;

  For You have dmagnified Your word above all Your name.

  3In the day when I cried out, You answered me,

  And made me bold with strength in my soul.

  4eAll the kings of the earth shall praise You, O LORD,

  When they hear the words of Your mouth.

  5Yes, they shall sing of the ways of the LORD,

  For great is the glory of the LORD.

  6fThough the LORD is on high,

  Yet gHe regards the lowly;

  But the proud He knows from afar.

  7hThough I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me;

  You will stretch out Your hand

  Against the wrath of my enemies,

  And Your right hand will save me.

  8iThe LORD will 1perfect that which concerns me;

  Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever;

  jDo not forsake the works of Your hands.

  Psalm 139

  God’s Perfect Knowledge of Man

  For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

  1O LORD, aYou have searched me and known me.

  2bYou know my sitting down and my rising up;

  You cunderstand my thought afar off.

  3dYou 1comprehend my path and my lying down,

  And are acquainted with all my ways.

  4For there is not a word on my tongue,

  But behold, O LORD, eYou know it altogether.

  5You have 2hedged me behind and before,

  And laid Your hand upon me.

  6fSuch knowledge is too wonderful for me;

  It is high, I cannot attain it.

  7gWhere can I go from Your Spirit?

  Or where can I flee from Your presence?

  8hIf I ascend into heaven, You are there;

  iIf I make my bed in 3hell, behold, You are there.

  9If I take the wings of the morning,

  And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

  10Even there Your hand shall lead me,

  And Your right hand shall hold me.

  11If I say, “Surely the darkness shall 4fall on me,”

  Even the night shall be light about me;

  12Indeed, jthe darkness 5shall not hide from You,

  But the night shines as the day;

  The darkness and the light are both alike to You.

  13For You formed my inward parts;

  You 6covered me in my mother’s womb.

  14I will praise You, for 7I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

  Marvelous are Your works,

  And that my soul knows very well.

  15kMy 8frame was not hidden from You,

  When I was made in secret,

  And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

  16Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.

  And in Your book they all were written,

  The days fashioned for me,

  When as yet there were none of them.

  17lHow precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!

  How great is the sum of them!

  18If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;

  When I awake, I am still with You.

  19O
h, that You would mslay the wicked, O God!

  nDepart from me, therefore, you 9bloodthirsty men.

  20For they ospeak against You wickedly;

  10Your enemies take Your name in vain.

  21pDo I not hate them, O LORD, who hate You?

  And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?

  22I hate them with 11perfect hatred;

  I count them my enemies.

  23qSearch me, O God, and know my heart;

  Try me, and know my anxieties;

  24And see if there is any wicked way in me,

  And rlead me in the way everlasting.

  Psalm 140

  Prayer for Deliverance from Evil Men

  To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

  1Deliver me, O LORD, from evil men;

  Preserve me from violent men,

  2Who plan evil things in their hearts;

  aThey continually gather together for war.

  3They sharpen their tongues like a serpent;

  The bpoison of asps is under their lips. Selah

  4cKeep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked;

  Preserve me from violent men,

  Who have purposed to make my steps stumble.

  5The proud have hidden a dsnare for me, and cords;

  They have spread a net by the wayside;

  They have set traps for me. Selah

  6I said to the LORD: “You are my God;

  Hear the voice of my supplications, O LORD.

  7O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation,

  You have 1covered my head in the day of battle.

  8Do not grant, O LORD, the desires of the wicked;

  Do not further his wicked scheme,

  eLest they be exalted. Selah

  9“As for the head of those who surround me,

  Let the evil of their lips cover them;

  10fLet burning coals fall upon them;

  Let them be cast into the fire,

  Into deep pits, that they rise not up again.

  11Let not a slanderer be established in the earth;

  Let evil hunt the violent man to overthrow him.”

  12I know that the LORD will gmaintain

  The cause of the afflicted,

  And justice for the poor.

  13Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your name;

  The upright shall dwell in Your presence.

  Psalm 141

  Prayer for Safekeeping from Wickedness

  A Psalm of David.

  1LORD, I cry out to You;

  Make haste to me!

  Give ear to my voice when I cry out to You.

  2Let my prayer be set before You aas incense,

  bThe lifting up of my hands as cthe evening sacrifice.

  3Set a guard, O LORD, over my dmouth;

  Keep watch over the door of my lips.

  4Do not incline my heart to any evil thing,

  To practice wicked works

  With men who work iniquity;

  eAnd do not let me eat of their delicacies.

  5fLet the righteous strike me;

  It shall be a kindness.

  And let him rebuke me;

  It shall be as excellent oil;

  Let my head not refuse it.

  For still my prayer is against the deeds of the wicked.

  6Their judges are overthrown by the sides of the 1cliff,

  And they hear my words, for they are sweet.

  7Our bones are scattered at the mouth of the grave,

  As when one plows and breaks up the earth.

  8But gmy eyes are upon You, O GOD the Lord;

  In You I take refuge;

  2Do not leave my soul destitute.

  9Keep me from hthe snares they have laid for me,

  And from the traps of the workers of iniquity.

  10iLet the wicked fall into their own nets,

  While I escape safely.

  Psalm 142

  A Plea for Relief from Persecutors

  A aContemplation1 of David. A Prayer bwhen he was in the cave.

  1I CRY out to the LORD with my voice;

  With my voice to the LORD I make my supplication.

  2I pour out my complaint before Him;

  I declare before Him my trouble.

  3When my spirit 2was coverwhelmed within me,

  Then You knew my path.

  In the way in which I walk

  They have secretly dset a snare for me.

  4Look on my right hand and see,

  For there is no one who acknowledges me;

  Refuge has failed me;

  No one cares for my soul.

  5I cried out to You, O LORD:

  I said, “You are my refuge,

  My portion in the land of the living.

  63Attend to my cry,

  For I am brought very low;

  Deliver me from my persecutors,

  For they are stronger than I.

  7Bring my soul out of prison,

  That I may epraise Your name;

  The righteous shall surround me,

  For You shall deal bountifully with me.”

  Psalm 143

  An Earnest Appeal for Guidance and Deliverance

  A Psalm of David.

  1Hear my prayer, O LORD,

  Give ear to my supplications!

  In Your faithfulness answer me,

  And in Your righteousness.

  2Do not enter into judgment with Your servant,

  aFor in Your sight no one living is righteous.

  3For the enemy has persecuted my soul;

  He has crushed my life to the ground;

  He has made me dwell in 1darkness,

  Like those who have long been dead.

  4bTherefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me;

  My heart within me is distressed.

  5cI remember the days of old;

  I meditate on all Your works;

  I 2muse on the work of Your hands.

  6I spread out my hands to You;

  dMy soul longs for You like a thirsty land. Selah

  7Answer me speedily, O LORD;

  My spirit fails!

  Do not hide Your face from me,

  eLest I 3be like those who 4go down into the pit.

  8Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness fin the morning,

  For in You do I trust;

  gCause me to know the way in which I should walk,

  For hI lift up my soul to You.

  9Deliver me, O LORD, from my enemies;

  5In You I take shelter.

  10iTeach me to do Your will,

  For You are my God;

  jYour Spirit is good.

  Lead me in kthe land of uprightness.

  11lRevive me, O LORD, for Your name’s sake!

  For Your righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.

  12In Your mercy mcut6 off my enemies,

  And destroy all those who afflict my soul;

  For I am Your servant.

  Psalm 144

  A Song to the LORD Who Preserves and Prospers His People

  A Psalm of David.

  1Blessed be the LORD my Rock,

  aWho trains my hands for war,

  And my fingers for battle—

  2My lovingkindness and my fortress,

  My high tower and my deliverer,

  My shield and the One in whom I take refuge,

  Who subdues 1my people under me.

  3bLORD, what is man, that You take knowledge of him?

  Or the son of man, that You are mindful of him?

  4cMan is like a breath;

  dHis days are like a passing shadow.

  5eBow down Your heavens, O LORD, and come down;

  fTouch the mountains, and they shall smoke.

  6gFlash forth lightning and scatter them;

  Shoot out Your arrows and destroy them.

  7Stretch out Your hand from above;

  Rescue me and deliver me out of great waters,

  From t
he hand of foreigners,

  8Whose mouth hspeaks 2lying words,

  And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

  9I will ising a new song to You, O God;

  On a harp of ten strings I will sing praises to You,

  10The One who gives 3salvation to kings,

  jWho delivers David His servant

  From the deadly sword.

  11Rescue me and deliver me from the hand of foreigners,

  Whose mouth speaks lying words,

  And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood—

  12That our sons may be kas plants grown up in their youth;

  That our daughters may be as 4pillars,

  Sculptured in palace style;

  13That our barns may be full,

  Supplying all kinds of produce;

  That our sheep may bring forth thousands

  And ten thousands in our fields;

  14That our oxen may be well laden;

  That there be no 5breaking in or going out;

  That there be no outcry in our streets.

  15lHappy are the people who are in such a state;

  Happy are the people whose God is the LORD!

  Psalm 145

  A Song of God’s Majesty and Love

  aA Praise of David.

  1I WILL 1extol You, my God, O King;

  And I will bless Your name forever and ever.

  2Every day I will bless You,

  And I will praise Your name forever and ever.

  3bGreat is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;

  And cHis greatness is 2unsearchable.

  4dOne generation shall praise Your works to another,

  And shall declare Your mighty acts.

  53I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty,

  And 4on Your wondrous works.

  6Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts,

  And I will declare Your greatness.

  7They shall 5utter the memory of Your great goodness,

  And shall sing of Your righteousness.

  8eThe LORD is gracious and full of compassion,

  Slow to anger and great in mercy.

  9fThe LORD is good to all,

  And His tender mercies are over all His works.

  10gAll Your works shall praise You, O LORD,

  And Your saints shall bless You.

  11They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom,

  And talk of Your power,

  12To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts,

  And the glorious majesty of His kingdom.

  13hYour kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

  And Your dominion endures throughout all 6generations.

  14The LORD upholds all who fall,

  And iraises up all who are bowed down.

  15jThe eyes of all look expectantly to You,