I am surrounded by lions; I lie down among those who want to devour me; men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are a sharp sword.

May those who are trying to take my life be embarrassed and ashamed! May those who want to harm me be turned back and ashamed!

I desperately want to be in the courts of the Lord’s temple. My heart and my entire being shout for joy to the living God.

Those who hate me without cause are more numerous than the hairs of my head. Those who want to destroy me, my enemies for no reason, outnumber me. They make me repay what I did not steal!

O Lord, my God, you have accomplished many things; you have done amazing things and carried out your purposes for us. No one can thwart you! I want to declare them and talk about them, but they are too numerous to recount!

I have asked the Lord for one thing – this is what I desire! I want to live in the Lord’s house all the days of my life, so I can gaze at the splendor of the Lord and contemplate in his temple.

A psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

Remain loyal to the Lord, you chosen people of his, for his loyal followers lack nothing!

Even young lions sometimes lack food and are hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

Present to God a thank-offering! Repay your vows to the sovereign One!

I do not need to take a bull from your household or goats from your sheepfolds.

They ate until they were stuffed; he gave them what they desired.

But my people did not obey me; Israel did not submit to me.

Take away the insults that I dread! Indeed, your regulations are good.

Instead he finds pleasure in obeying the Lord’s commands; he meditates on his commands day and night.

He says to himself, “I will never be upended, because I experience no calamity.”

The sacrifices God desires are a humble spirit – O God, a humble and repentant heart you will not reject.

I seek your favor with all my heart. Have mercy on me as you promised!

I cry out to you, O Lord; I say, “You are my shelter, my security in the land of the living.”

With all my strength I will say, “O Lord, who can compare to you? You rescue the oppressed from those who try to overpower them; the oppressed and needy from those who try to rob them.”