Psalm 51

A Plea for Cleansing from Sin

For the choir director: A psalm of David, regarding the time Nathan the prophet came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.

1Have mercy on me, O God,

because of your unfailing love.

Because of your great compassion,

blot out the stain of my sins.

2Wash me clean from my guilt.

Purify me from my sin.

3For I recognize my rebellion;

it haunts me day and night.

4Against you, and you alone, have I sinned;

I have done what is evil in your sight.

You will be proved right in what you say,

and your judgment against me is just.*51:4 Greek version reads and you will win your case in court. Compare Rom 3:4.

5For I was born a sinner—

yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.

6But you desire honesty from the womb,*51:6 Or from the heart; Hebrew reads in the inward parts.

teaching me wisdom even there.

7Purify me from my sins,*51:7 Hebrew Purify me with the hyssop branch. and I will be clean;

wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

8Oh, give me back my joy again;

you have broken me—

now let me rejoice.

9Don’t keep looking at my sins.

Remove the stain of my guilt.

10Create in me a clean heart, O God.

Renew a loyal spirit within me.

11Do not banish me from your presence,

and don’t take your Holy Spirit*51:11 Or your spirit of holiness. from me.

12Restore to me the joy of your salvation,

and make me willing to obey you.

13Then I will teach your ways to rebels,

and they will return to you.

14Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves;

then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness.

15Unseal my lips, O Lord,

that my mouth may praise you.

16You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one.

You do not want a burnt offering.

17The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit.

You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.

18Look with favor on Zion and help her;

rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

19Then you will be pleased with sacrifices offered in the right spirit—

with burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings.

Then bulls will again be sacrificed on your altar.

Psalm 52

A Taunt against a Lying Enemy

For the choir director: A psalm*52: title Hebrew maskil. This may be a literary or musical term. of David, regarding the time Doeg the Edomite said to Saul, “David has gone to see Ahimelech.”

1Why do you boast about your crimes, great warrior?

Don’t you realize God’s justice continues forever?

2All day long you plot destruction.

Your tongue cuts like a sharp razor;

you’re an expert at telling lies.

3You love evil more than good

and lies more than truth.

Interlude

4You love to destroy others with your words,

you liar!

5But God will strike you down once and for all.

He will pull you from your home

and uproot you from the land of the living.

Interlude

6The righteous will see it and be amazed.

They will laugh and say,

7“Look what happens to mighty warriors

who do not trust in God.

They trust their wealth instead

and grow more and more bold in their wickedness.”

8But I am like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God.

I will always trust in God’s unfailing love.

9I will praise you forever, O God,

for what you have done.

I will trust in your good name

in the presence of your faithful people.

Psalm 53

No One Does Good

For the choir director: A meditation; a psalm*53: title Hebrew According to mahalath; a maskil. These may be literary or musical terms. of David.

1Only fools say in their hearts,

“There is no God.”

They are corrupt, and their actions are evil;

not one of them does good!

2God looks down from heaven

on the entire human race;

he looks to see if anyone is truly wise,

if anyone seeks God.

3But no, all have turned away;

all have become corrupt.*53:3 Greek version reads have become useless. Compare Rom 3:12.

No one does good,

not a single one!

4Will those who do evil never learn?

They eat up my people like bread

and wouldn’t think of praying to God.

5Terror will grip them,

terror like they have never known before.

God will scatter the bones of your enemies.

You will put them to shame, for God has rejected them.

6Who will come from Mount Zion to rescue Israel?

When God restores his people,

Jacob will shout with joy, and Israel will rejoice.

Psalm 54

A Plea for God’s Rescue

For the choir director: A psalm*54: title Hebrew maskil. This may be a literary or musical term. of David, regarding the time the Ziphites came and said to Saul, “We know where David is hiding.” To be accompanied by stringed instruments.

1Come with great power, O God, and rescue me!

Defend me with your might.

2Listen to my prayer, O God.

Pay attention to my plea.

3For strangers are attacking me;

violent people are trying to kill me.

They care nothing for God.

Interlude

4But God is my helper.

The Lord keeps me alive!

5May the evil plans of my enemies be turned against them.

Do as you promised and put an end to them.

6I will sacrifice a voluntary offering to you;

I will praise your name, O Lord,

for it is good.

7For you have rescued me from my troubles

and helped me to triumph over my enemies.

Psalm 55

A Plea for Escape from a Betrayer

For the choir director: A psalm*55: title Hebrew maskil. This may be a literary or musical term. of David, to be accompanied by stringed instruments.

1Listen to my prayer, O God.

Do not ignore my cry for help!

2Please listen and answer me,

for I am overwhelmed by my troubles.

3My enemies shout at me,

making loud and wicked threats.

They bring trouble on me

and angrily hunt me down.

4My heart pounds in my chest.

The terror of death assaults me.

5Fear and trembling overwhelm me,

and I can’t stop shaking.

6Oh, that I had wings like a dove;

then I would fly away and rest!

7I would fly far away

to the quiet of the wilderness.

Interlude

8How quickly I would escape—

far from this wild storm of hatred.

9Confuse them, Lord, and frustrate their plans,

for I see violence and conflict in the city.

10Its walls are patrolled day and night against invaders,

but the real danger is wickedness within the city.

11Everything is falling apart;

threats and cheating are rampant in the streets.

12It is not an enemy who taunts me—

I could bear that.

It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me—

I could have hidden from them.

13Instead, it is you—my equal,

my companion and close friend.

14What good fellowship we once enjoyed

as we walked together to the house of God.

15Let death stalk my enemies;

let the grave*55:15 Hebrew let Sheol. swallow them alive,

for evil makes its home within them.

16But I will call on God,

and the Lord will rescue me.

17Morning, noon, and night

I cry out in my distress,

and the Lord hears my voice.

18He ransoms me and keeps me safe

from the battle waged against me,

though many still oppose me.

19God, who has ruled forever,

will hear me and humble them.

Interlude

For my enemies refuse to change their ways;

they do not fear God.

20As for my companion, he betrayed his friends;

he broke his promises.

21His words are as smooth as butter,

but in his heart is war.

His words are as soothing as lotion,

but underneath are daggers!

22Give your burdens to the Lord,

and he will take care of you.

He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.

23But you, O God, will send the wicked

down to the pit of destruction.

Murderers and liars will die young,

but I am trusting you to save me.

Psalm 56

Trusting God When Afraid

For the choir director: A psalm*56: title Hebrew miktam. This may be a literary or musical term. of David, regarding the time the Philistines seized him in Gath. To be sung to the tune “Dove on Distant Oaks.”

1O God, have mercy on me,

for people are hounding me.

My foes attack me all day long.

2I am constantly hounded by those who slander me,

and many are boldly attacking me.

3But when I am afraid,

I will put my trust in you.

4I praise God for what he has promised.

I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?

What can mere mortals do to me?

5They are always twisting what I say;

they spend their days plotting to harm me.

6They come together to spy on me—

watching my every step, eager to kill me.

7Don’t let them get away with their wickedness;

in your anger, O God, bring them down.

8You keep track of all my sorrows.*56:8 Or my wanderings.

You have collected all my tears in your bottle.

You have recorded each one in your book.

9My enemies will retreat when I call to you for help.

This I know: God is on my side!

10I praise God for what he has promised;

yes, I praise the Lord for what he has promised.

11I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?

What can mere mortals do to me?

12I will fulfill my vows to you, O God,

and will offer a sacrifice of thanks for your help.

13For you have rescued me from death;

you have kept my feet from slipping.

So now I can walk in your presence, O God,

in your life-giving light.

Psalm 57

A Confident Prayer for Protection

For the choir director: A psalm*57: title Hebrew miktam. This may be a literary or musical term. of David, regarding the time he fled from Saul and went into the cave. To be sung to the tune “Do Not Destroy!”

1Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy!

I look to you for protection.

I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings

until the danger passes by.

2I cry out to God Most High,*57:2 Hebrew Elohim-Elyon.

to God who will fulfill his purpose for me.

3He will send help from heaven to rescue me,

disgracing those who hound me.

Interlude

My God will send forth his unfailing love and faithfulness.

4I am surrounded by fierce lions

who greedily devour human prey—

whose teeth pierce like spears and arrows,

and whose tongues cut like swords.

5Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens!

May your glory shine over all the earth.

6My enemies have set a trap for me.

I am weary from distress.

They have dug a deep pit in my path,

but they themselves have fallen into it.

Interlude

7My heart is confident in you, O God;

my heart is confident.

No wonder I can sing your praises!

8Wake up, my heart!

Wake up, O lyre and harp!

I will wake the dawn with my song.

9I will thank you, Lord, among all the people.

I will sing your praises among the nations.

10For your unfailing love is as high as the heavens.

Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

11Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens.

May your glory shine over all the earth.

Psalm 58

A Plea for Vengeance on Unjust Rulers

For the choir director: A psalm*58: title Hebrew miktam. This may be a literary or musical term. of David, to be sung to the tune “Do Not Destroy!”

1Justice—do you rulers*58:1 Or you gods. know the meaning of the word?

Do you judge the people fairly?

2No! You plot injustice in your hearts.

You spread violence throughout the land.

3These wicked people are born sinners;

even from birth they have lied and gone their own way.

4They spit venom like deadly snakes;

they are like cobras that refuse to listen,

5ignoring the tunes of the snake charmers,

no matter how skillfully they play.

6Break off their fangs, O God!

Smash the jaws of these lions, O Lord!

7May they disappear like water into thirsty ground.

Make their weapons useless in their hands.*58:7 Or Let them be trodden down and wither like grass. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.

8May they be like snails that dissolve into slime,

like a stillborn child who will never see the sun.

9God will sweep them away, both young and old,

faster than a pot heats over burning thorns.

10The godly will rejoice when they see injustice avenged.

They will wash their feet in the blood of the wicked.

11Then at last everyone will say,

“There truly is a reward for those who live for God;

surely there is a God who judges justly here on earth.”

Psalm 59

A Plea for Escape from Ambush

For the choir director: A psalm*59: title Hebrew miktam. This may be a literary or musical term. of David, regarding the time Saul sent soldiers to watch David’s house in order to kill him. To be sung to the tune “Do Not Destroy!”

1Rescue me from my enemies, O God.

Protect me from those who have come to destroy me.

2Rescue me from these criminals;

save me from these murderers.

3They have set an ambush for me.

Fierce enemies are out there waiting, Lord,

though I have not sinned or offended them.

4I have done nothing wrong,

yet they prepare to attack me.

Wake up! See what is happening and help me!

5O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel,

wake up and punish those hostile nations.

Show no mercy to wicked traitors.

Interlude

6They come out at night,

snarling like vicious dogs

as they prowl the streets.

7Listen to the filth that comes from their mouths;

their words cut like swords.

“After all, who can hear us?” they sneer.

8But Lord, you laugh at them.

You scoff at all the hostile nations.

9You are my strength; I wait for you to rescue me,

for you, O God, are my fortress.

10In his unfailing love, my God will stand with me.

He will let me look down in triumph on all my enemies.

11Don’t kill them, for my people soon forget such lessons;

stagger them with your power, and bring them to their knees,

O Lord our shield.

12Because of the sinful things they say,

because of the evil that is on their lips,

let them be captured by their pride,

their curses, and their lies.

13Destroy them in your anger!

Wipe them out completely!

Then the whole world will know

that God reigns in Israel.*59:13 Hebrew in Jacob. See note on 44:4.

Interlude

14My enemies come out at night,

snarling like vicious dogs

as they prowl the streets.

15They scavenge for food

but go to sleep unsatisfied.*59:15 Or and growl if they don’t get enough.

16But as for me, I will sing about your power.

Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love.

For you have been my refuge,

a place of safety when I am in distress.

17O my Strength, to you I sing praises,

for you, O God, are my refuge,

the God who shows me unfailing love.

Psalm 60

A Prayer for Victory over Israel’s Neighbors

For the choir director: A psalm*60: title Hebrew miktam. This may be a literary or musical term. of David useful for teaching, regarding the time David fought Aram-naharaim and Aram-zobah, and Joab returned and killed 12,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. To be sung to the tune “Lily of the Testimony.”

1You have rejected us, O God, and broken our defenses.

You have been angry with us; now restore us to your favor.

2You have shaken our land and split it open.

Seal the cracks, for the land trembles.

3You have been very hard on us,

making us drink wine that sent us reeling.

4But you have raised a banner for those who fear you—

a rallying point in the face of attack.

Interlude

5Now rescue your beloved people.

Answer and save us by your power.

6God has promised this by his holiness*60:6 Or in his sanctuary.:

“I will divide up Shechem with joy.

I will measure out the valley of Succoth.

7Gilead is mine,

and Manasseh, too.

Ephraim, my helmet, will produce my warriors,

and Judah, my scepter, will produce my kings.

8But Moab, my washbasin, will become my servant,

and I will wipe my feet on Edom

and shout in triumph over Philistia.”

9Who will bring me into the fortified city?

Who will bring me victory over Edom?

10Have you rejected us, O God?

Will you no longer march with our armies?

11Oh, please help us against our enemies,

for all human help is useless.

12With God’s help we will do mighty things,

for he will trample down our foes.

Psalm 61

A Prayer for the King’s Safety

For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by stringed instruments.

1O God, listen to my cry!

Hear my prayer!

2From the ends of the earth,

I cry to you for help

when my heart is overwhelmed.

Lead me to the towering rock of safety,

3for you are my safe refuge,

a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me.

4Let me live forever in your sanctuary,

safe beneath the shelter of your wings!

Interlude

5For you have heard my vows, O God.

You have given me an inheritance reserved for those who fear your name.

6Add many years to the life of the king!

May his years span the generations!

7May he reign under God’s protection forever.

May your unfailing love and faithfulness watch over him.

8Then I will sing praises to your name forever

as I fulfill my vows each day.

Psalm 62

God Alone Is My Rock and My Salvation

For Jeduthun, the choir director: A psalm of David.

1I wait quietly before God,

for my victory comes from him.

2He alone is my rock and my salvation,

my fortress where I will never be shaken.

3So many enemies against one man—

all of them trying to kill me.

To them I’m just a broken-down wall

or a tottering fence.

4They plan to topple me from my high position.

They delight in telling lies about me.

They praise me to my face

but curse me in their hearts.

Interlude

5Let all that I am wait quietly before God,

for my hope is in him.

6He alone is my rock and my salvation,

my fortress where I will not be shaken.

7My victory and honor come from God alone.

He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.

8O my people, trust in him at all times.

Pour out your heart to him,

for God is our refuge.

Interlude

9Common people are as worthless as a puff of wind,

and the powerful are not what they appear to be.

If you weigh them on the scales,

together they are lighter than a breath of air.

10Don’t make your living by extortion

or put your hope in stealing.

And if your wealth increases,

don’t make it the center of your life.

11God has spoken plainly,

and I have heard it many times:

Power, O God, belongs to you;

12unfailing love, O Lord, is yours.

Surely you repay all people

according to what they have done.

Psalm 63

Longing for God in the Wilderness

A psalm of David, regarding a time when David was in the wilderness of Judah.

1O God, you are my God;

I earnestly search for you.

My soul thirsts for you;

my whole body longs for you

in this parched and weary land

where there is no water.

2I have seen you in your sanctuary

and gazed upon your power and glory.

3Your unfailing love is better than life itself;

how I praise you!

4I will praise you as long as I live,

lifting up my hands to you in prayer.

5You satisfy me more than the richest feast.

I will praise you with songs of joy.

6I lie awake thinking of you,

meditating on you through the night.

7Because you are my helper,

I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings.

8I cling to you;

your strong right hand holds me securely.

9But those plotting to destroy me will come to ruin.

They will go down into the depths of the earth.

10They will die by the sword

and become the food of jackals.

11But the king will rejoice in God.

All who swear to tell the truth will praise him,

while liars will be silenced.

Psalm 64

A Lament over Violent Words

For the choir director: A psalm of David.

1O God, listen to my complaint.

Protect my life from my enemies’ threats.

2Hide me from the plots of this evil mob,

from this gang of wrongdoers.

3They sharpen their tongues like swords

and aim their bitter words like arrows.

4They shoot from ambush at the innocent,

attacking suddenly and fearlessly.

5They encourage each other to do evil

and plan how to set their traps in secret.

“Who will ever notice?” they ask.

6As they plot their crimes, they say,

“We have devised the perfect plan!”

Yes, the human heart and mind are cunning.

7But God himself will shoot them with his arrows,

suddenly striking them down.

8Their own tongues will ruin them,

and all who see them will shake their heads in scorn.

9Then everyone will be afraid;

they will proclaim the mighty acts of God

and realize all the amazing things he does.

10The godly will rejoice in the Lord

and find shelter in him.

And those who do what is right

will praise him.

Psalm 65

Praise for God’s Care of the Earth

For the choir director: A song. A psalm of David.

1What mighty praise, O God,

belongs to you in Zion.

We will fulfill our vows to you,

2for you answer our prayers.

All of us must come to you.

3Though we are overwhelmed by our sins,

you forgive them all.

4What joy for those you choose to bring near,

those who live in your holy courts.

What festivities await us

inside your holy Temple.

5You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds,

O God our savior.

You are the hope of everyone on earth,

even those who sail on distant seas.

6You formed the mountains by your power

and armed yourself with mighty strength.

7You quieted the raging oceans

with their pounding waves

and silenced the shouting of the nations.

8Those who live at the ends of the earth

stand in awe of your wonders.

From where the sun rises to where it sets,

you inspire shouts of joy.

9You take care of the earth and water it,

making it rich and fertile.

The river of God has plenty of water;

it provides a bountiful harvest of grain,

for you have ordered it so.

10You drench the plowed ground with rain,

melting the clods and leveling the ridges.

You soften the earth with showers

and bless its abundant crops.

11You crown the year with a bountiful harvest;

even the hard pathways overflow with abundance.

12The grasslands of the wilderness become a lush pasture,

and the hillsides blossom with joy.

13The meadows are clothed with flocks of sheep,

and the valleys are carpeted with grain.

They all shout and sing for joy!