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Psalm 30:5
A verse from Psalm 30 in which the psalmist sings that God's anger lasts only a moment while His favor lasts a lifetime, and that joy comes in the morning after a night of weeping. It is frequently cited in discussions of comfort and restoration in the midst of suffering.
Psalm 121:1–2
A psalm that opens with the psalmist lifting his eyes to the hills and asking where his help will come from (KJV: "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help"), followed by the answer, "My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth." It celebrates God's protection along the road of travel and pilgrimage, and interpreters differ over what the "hills" signify.
Psalm 42
Psalm 42, a psalm of the sons of Korah that opens Book II of the Psalter, is a lament in which the psalmist, separated from temple worship, longs for God as a deer pants for streams of water and urges his own downcast soul to hope in God.
Psalm 88
Psalm 88 is a lament psalm of the sons of Korah whose superscription identifies it as a "Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite." The psalmist cries out to God from suffering that has brought him near to death. The psalm is known for ending without comfort or praise, closing on the word "darkness."
Psalm 103
Psalm 103 is a twenty-two-verse psalm of praise bearing the superscription "A Psalm of David." The psalmist urges his own soul to bless the LORD, celebrates God's mercy in forgiving sin, and then calls on all creation to join in praise.
Psalm 73:25–26
Psalm 73:25–26 is the passage in which the psalmist, after being shaken by the prosperity of the wicked, confesses that God alone is the one he desires in heaven and on earth and that God is his "portion for ever." Because it confesses God himself as the greatest blessing, it is often cited as a text of comfort and devotion.
Psalm 139:15-16
A passage in Psalm 139 in which the psalmist confesses that God saw him before he was formed in the womb and recorded the days of his life in God's book. It is frequently cited in discussions of providence and predestination and in debates about the life of the unborn.
Psalm 103:5
Psalm 103:5 is the final verse in the psalmist's list of God's benefits in Psalm 103. It declares that God satisfies with good things and renews youth like the eagle's. The verse is often cited in connection with restoration and renewed strength, and discussion centers on how to translate the word rendered "desire" in Korean versions and how to interpret the eagle imagery.
Psalm 119:97–104
The thirteenth stanza of Psalm 119, in which the psalmist meditates on God's word all day long and confesses that it makes him wiser than his enemies, his teachers, and the aged, and that it is sweeter than honey. The passage is often cited to encourage meditation on Scripture and the practice of quiet time.
Psalm 69
Psalm 69 is a lament in which the psalmist cries out to God for deliverance from suffering, as though sinking in deep waters and mire. It moves through imprecations against his enemies to a vow of praise, and the New Testament frequently cites it when speaking of the sufferings of Christ.
Psalm 73
Psalm 73 is a psalm of Asaph that opens Book III of the Psalter. The psalmist, shaken by the prosperity of the wicked, comes to understand their end in the sanctuary of God and confesses that it is good to draw near to God.
Psalm 27:14
The final verse of Psalm 27 places the exhortation to be strong and courageous between two calls to "wait on the LORD." It is often cited as a verse about faith during seasons of waiting for an answer from God.
Psalm 62
Psalm 62 is a psalm of trust in which the psalmist, amid the lies and attacks of others, confesses that his soul waits silently upon God alone. It closes with the declaration that power and mercy belong to God.
Psalm 143
Psalm 143 is a lament of David in which the psalmist, pursued by an enemy and worn down, appeals to God's righteousness and lovingkindness for an answer, for deliverance, and for guidance in the way of doing the Lord's will.
Psalm 51:16–17
A passage from Psalm 51, traditionally known as David's psalm of repentance, in which the psalmist confesses that the sacrifice God desires is not an animal offering but "a broken and a contrite heart." It is frequently cited in discussions of worship and repentance that place the heart before outward form.
Psalm 2:12
The final verse of Psalm 2, which warns the kings of the earth to submit to the king whom the LORD has installed ("the Son") and pronounces a blessing on those who take refuge in the LORD. It is widely read as a prophecy of Christ and is frequently discussed because of the difficulty of translating the Hebrew word rendered "Son."
Book of Life
The Book of Life is the heavenly register in which, according to Scripture, God records the names of those who will be saved. The concept begins with "thy book" in the Old Testament and culminates in "the Lamb's book of life" in Revelation.
Lament Psalms
Lament psalms are a type of psalm in which the psalmist cries out and appeals to God amid suffering, illness, persecution, or national disaster. They are among the most common types in the Book of Psalms.
Psalm 35
Psalm 35 is an individual lament bearing the superscription "A Psalm of David." The psalmist appeals to the LORD for deliverance from enemies who hate him without cause and accuse him falsely, and he vows to give praise once he has been delivered.
Psalm 39
Psalm 39 is a thirteen-verse lament whose superscription attributes it to David. The psalmist, who had resolved to keep silent but finally speaks, confesses the brevity and transience of human life, places his hope in God, and pleads for restoration.