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 70

An Urgent Plea for Help

For the choir director: A psalm of David, asking God to remember him.

1Please, God, rescue me!

Come quickly, Lord, and help me.

2May those who try to kill me

be humiliated and put to shame.

May those who take delight in my trouble

be turned back in disgrace.

3Let them be horrified by their shame,

for they said, “Aha! We’ve got him now!”

4But may all who search for you

be filled with joy and gladness in you.

May those who love your salvation

repeatedly shout, “God is great!”

5But as for me, I am poor and needy;

please hurry to my aid, O God.

You are my helper and my savior;

O Lord, do not delay.

Psalm 75

God’s Promise to Judge the Wicked

For the choir director: A psalm of Asaph. A song to be sung to the tune “Do Not Destroy!”

1We thank you, O God!

We give thanks because you are near.

People everywhere tell of your wonderful deeds.

2God says, “At the time I have planned,

I will bring justice against the wicked.

3When the earth quakes and its people live in turmoil,

I am the one who keeps its foundations firm.

Interlude

4“I warned the proud, ‘Stop your boasting!’

I told the wicked, ‘Don’t raise your fists!

5Don’t raise your fists in defiance at the heavens

or speak with such arrogance.’”

6For no one on earth—from east or west,

or even from the wilderness—

should raise a defiant fist.*75:6 Hebrew should lift.

7It is God alone who judges;

he decides who will rise and who will fall.

8For the Lord holds a cup in his hand

that is full of foaming wine mixed with spices.

He pours out the wine in judgment,

and all the wicked must drink it,

draining it to the dregs.

9But as for me, I will always proclaim what God has done;

I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.

10For God says, “I will break the strength of the wicked,

but I will increase the power of the godly.”