A Psalm of Solomon.

1 O Lord God, I will praise Thy name with rejoicing, in the midst of them that know Thy righteous judgements;

2 For Thou art gracious and merciful, a refuge for the needy.

3 When I cry unto Thee, keep not Thou silence from me.

4 For no man taketh spoil from a mighty man;

5 And who shall receive aught of all the things that Thou hast made, except Thou give it?

6 Verily as for man, his portion is laid in the balance before Thee; he addeth not thereto nor increaseth contrary to Thy judgement, O God.

7 In our distress we will call upon Thee for help, and Thou wilt not turn away our petition, for Thou art our God.

8 Make not Thy hand heavy upon us, that we sin not by reason of our sore necessity.

9 Even if Thou turn us not again, yet will we not cease from Thee; nay, we will come unto Thee.

10 For if I be an hungered, unto Thee will I cry, O God, and Thou wilt give unto me.

11 The fowls of the air and the fishes dost Thou feed, when Thou givest showers in the desert places that the green grass may grow up, to prepare food in the wilderness for every living thing.

12 And if they be hungry, unto Thee will they lift their face.

13 Kings and rulers and nations dost Thou feed, O God;

and who is the hope of the needy and the poor beside Thee, O Lord?

14 And Thou wilt hearken; for who is gracious and gentle but Thou? Thou makest glad the soul of the humble by opening Thy hand in mercy.

15 The kindness of a man is toward his friend today and tomorrow, and if he should do it a second time without grudging, even so Thou wouldest marvel.

16 But Thy gifts, according to Thy loving-kindness, are bounteous and rich; and he whose hope is in Thee, O Lord, standeth not in need of gifts.

17 Thy mercy, O Lord, is upon all the earth in loving-kindness.

18 Blessed is the man whom God remembereth with sufficiency convenient for him;

19 If a man abound beyond measure, he sinneth.

20 Sufficient is a moderate provision with righteousness, and herein is the blessing of the Lord, that a man be satisfied in righteousness.

21 They that fear the Lord rejoice in prosperity, and Thy loving-kindness is upon Israel in Thy kingdom.

22 Blessed be the glory of the Lord, for He is our King.