David said to the Gibeonites, &#8220;What can I do for you, and how can I make amends so that you will bless<n id="1" /> the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s inheritance?&#8221;p>

and said<n id="1" /> this: &#8216;The <sc>Lordsc> God of Israel is worthy of praise because<n id="2" /> today he has placed a successor on my throne and allowed me to see it.&#8217;&#8221;<n id="3" />p>

Then the king turned around<n id="1" /> and pronounced a blessing over the whole Israelite assembly as they stood there.<n id="2" />

He said, &#8220;The <sc>Lordsc> God of Israel is worthy of praise because he has fulfilled<n id="1" /> what he promised<n id="2" /> my father David.

Also seat two villains opposite him and have them testify, &#8216;You cursed God and the king.&#8217; Then take him out and stone him to death.&#8221;p>

<p class="poetry">May the <sc>Lordsc> God of Israel be praised,p> <p class="poetry">in the future and forevermore.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Then all the people said, &#8220;We agree!<n id="2" /> Praise the <sc>Lordsc>!&#8221;p>

Then the king turned around<n id="1" /> and pronounced a blessing over the whole Israelite assembly as they stood there.<n id="2" />

He said, &#8220;The <sc>Lordsc> God of Israel is worthy of praise because he has fulfilled<n id="1" /> what he promised<n id="2" /> my father David.

The priests and Levites got up and pronounced blessings on the people. The <sc>Lordsc> responded favorably to them<n id="1" /> as their prayers reached his holy dwelling place in heaven.p>

<n id="1" /><p class="bodytext">Blessed be the <sc>Lordsc> God of our fathers, who so moved in the heart of the king to so honor the temple of the <sc>Lordsc> which is in Jerusalem!

Ezra blessed the <sc>LORDsc>, the great God, and all the people replied &#8220;Amen! Amen!&#8221; as they lifted their hands. Then they bowed down and worshiped the <sc>LORDsc> with their faces to the ground.p>

Have you<n id="1" /> not made a hedge<n id="2" /> around him and his household and all that he has on every side? You have blessed<n id="3" /> the work of his hands, and his livestock<n id="4" /> have increased<n id="5" /> in the land.

But<n id="1" /> extend your hand and strike<n id="2" /> everything he has, and he will no doubt<n id="3" /> curse you<n id="4" /> to your face!&#8221;p>

He said, &#8220;Naked<n id="1" /> I came from my mother&#8217;s womb, and naked I will return there.<n id="2" /> The <sc>Lordsc> gives, and the <sc>Lordsc> takes away.<n id="3" /> May the name of the <sc>Lordsc><n id="4" /> be blessed!&#8221;

But extend your hand and strike his bone and his flesh,<n id="1" /> and he will no doubt<n id="2" /> curse you to your face!&#8221;p>

<t /><p class="psasuper">Written by David, when he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, causing the king to send him away.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">I will praise<n id="3" /> the <sc>Lordsc> at all times;p> <p class="poetry">my mouth will continually praise him.<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">You are awe-inspiring, O God, as you emerge from your holy temple!<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">It is the God of Israel<n id="2" /> who gives the people power and strength.p> <p class="poetry">God deserves praise!<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">May sinners disappear<n id="1" /> from the earth,p> <p class="poetry">and the wicked vanish!p> <p class="poetry">Praise the <sc>Lordsc>, O my soul!p> <p class="poetry">Praise the <sc>Lordsc>!p>

<p class="poetry">The <sc>Lordsc> God of Israel deserves praise,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">in the future and forevermore.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">Let all the people say, &#8220;We agree!<n id="3" /> Praise the <sc>Lordsc>!&#8221;<n id="4" />p>

<t /><p class="psasuper">A song of ascents.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">Attention!<n id="3" /> Praise the <sc>Lordsc>,p> <p class="poetry">all you servants of the <sc>Lordsc>,p> <p class="poetry">who serve<n id="4" /> in the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s temple during the night.p>