The Greatness and Goodness of God

1Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous.

Praise befits the upright.

2Praise the LORD with the lyre;

make melody to him with the harp of ten strings.

3Sing to him a new song;

play skilfully on the strings, with loud shouts.

4For the word of the LORD is upright,

and all his work is done in faithfulness.

5He loves righteousness and justice;

the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD.

6By the word of the LORD the heavens were made,

and all their host by the breath of his mouth.

7He gathered the waters of the sea as in a bottle;

he put the deeps in storehouses.

8Let all the earth fear the LORD;

let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.

9For he spoke, and it came to be;

he commanded, and it stood firm.

10The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;

he frustrates the plans of the peoples.

11The counsel of the LORD stands for ever,

the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

12Happy is the nation whose God is the LORD,

the people whom he has chosen as his heritage.

13The LORD looks down from heaven;

he sees all humankind.

14From where he sits enthroned he watches

all the inhabitants of the earth—

15he who fashions the hearts of them all,

and observes all their deeds.

16A king is not saved by his great army;

a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.

17The war horse is a vain hope for victory,

and by its great might it cannot save.

18Truly the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him,

on those who hope in his steadfast love,

19to deliver their soul from death,

and to keep them alive in famine.

20Our soul waits for the LORD;

he is our help and shield.

21Our heart is glad in him,

because we trust in his holy name.

22Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us,

even as we hope in you.