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.