Psalms 51-100

Text and commentary

A confession of sin and prayer for forgiveness (51:1-21)

The divine judgment of a mean and powerful person (52:1-11)

Judgment on fools who try to ignore God (53:1-7)

Prayer and assurance in the name of God (54:1-9)

The complaint of a citizen of a vile city betrayed by a friend(55:1-24)

Excursus: Enemies in the Psalms

Trust in God and fear no person (56:1-14)

A prayer for God to rise up in glory (57:1-12)

Judgment speech and prayer (58:1-12)

Enemies who are like hungry prowling dogs (59:1-18)

Human help is futile; God's help would be sufficient (60:1-14)

A prayer from the end of the earth (61:1-9)

Calm faith under attack: a psalm of trust (62:1-13)

That which is better than life itself (63:1-12)

Poisoned arrows and wounds without warning (64:1-11)

Prayer for rain and the bounty of the year (65:1-14)

Praise for the one who keeps those who fear him among the living (66:1-20)

A prayer for blessing and summons to praise (67:1-8)

Blessed be God (68:1-36)

Hide not your face from your servant (39:1-37)

A prayer for God to hurry to the aid of a needy servant (70:1-20)

From theodicy to credo (73:1-28)

God's scorned name and drawn-back hand (73:1-23)

"There is a cup in Yahweh's hand" (75:1-11)

The might God of judgment (76:1-13)

Will God spurn his people forever? (77:1-21)

The riddle of God and Israel from Zoan to Zion (78:1-72)

A communal complaint and prayer for deliverance (79:1-13)

A prayer for the restoration of the ravaged vineyard of the shepherd of Israel (80:1-20)

"Open wide your mouth and I will fill it" (81:1-17)

"Arise, O God, judge the earth" (82:1-8)

A prayer for the punishment of enemies (83:1-19)

A psalm of pilgrimage for those who trust God (84:1-13)

Revive us again (85:1-14)

"Bend your ear, O Yahweh ... teach me your way ... the godless have risen against me" (86:1-17)

Zion: The birthplace of all nations (87:1-7)

A bitter prayer of distress (88:1-19)

Will God keep his promises? (89:1-53)

A prayer: "Teach us to number our days" (90:1-17)

When God is your refuge (91:1-16)

A psalm for the sabbath (92:1-16)

An acclamation of the king who reigns (93:1-5)

Reassurance for the righteous (94:1-23)

Meribah and Massah in the context of jubilant worship (95:1-11)

Yahweh reigns as king (96:1-99:9)

Serve the Lord with gladness (100:1-5)