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Psalm 51-57
New Living Translation
Psalm 51-57
New Living Translation
Psalm 51
For the choir director: A psalm of David, regarding the time Nathan the prophet came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.
1 Have mercy on me, O God,
because of your unfailing love.
Because of your great compassion,
blot out the stain of my sins.
2 Wash me clean from my guilt.
Purify me from my sin.
3 For I recognize my rebellion;
it haunts me day and night.
4 Against 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.[a]
5 For I was born a sinner—
yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.
6 But you desire honesty from the womb,[b]
teaching me wisdom even there.
7 Purify me from my sins,[c] and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Oh, give me back my joy again;
you have broken me—
now let me rejoice.
9 Don’t keep looking at my sins.
Remove the stain of my guilt.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God.
Renew a loyal spirit within me.
11 Do not banish me from your presence,
and don’t take your Holy Spirit[d] from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and make me willing to obey you.
13 Then I will teach your ways to rebels,
and they will return to you.
14 Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves;
then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness.
15 Unseal my lips, O Lord,
that my mouth may praise you.
16 You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one.
You do not want a burnt offering.
17 The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit.
You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.
18 Look with favor on Zion and help her;
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then 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
For the choir director: A psalm[e] of David, regarding the time Doeg the Edomite said to Saul, “David has gone to see Ahimelech.”
1 Why do you boast about your crimes, great warrior?
Don’t you realize God’s justice continues forever?
2 All day long you plot destruction.
Your tongue cuts like a sharp razor;
you’re an expert at telling lies.
3 You love evil more than good
and lies more than truth. Interlude
4 You love to destroy others with your words,
you liar!
5 But 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
6 The 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.”
8 But I am like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God.
I will always trust in God’s unfailing love.
9 I 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
For the choir director: A meditation; a psalm[f] of David.
1 Only fools say in their hearts,
“There is no God.”
They are corrupt, and their actions are evil;
not one of them does good!
2 God looks down from heaven
on the entire human race;
he looks to see if anyone is truly wise,
if anyone seeks God.
3 But no, all have turned away;
all have become corrupt.[g]
No one does good,
not a single one!
4 Will those who do evil never learn?
They eat up my people like bread
and wouldn’t think of praying to God.
5 Terror 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.
6 Who will come from Mount Zion to rescue Israel?
When God restores his people,
Jacob will shout with joy, and Israel will rejoice.
Psalm 54
For the choir director: A psalm[h] of David, regarding the time the Ziphites came and said to Saul, “We know where David is hiding.” To be accompanied by stringed instruments.
1 Come with great power, O God, and rescue me!
Defend me with your might.
2 Listen to my prayer, O God.
Pay attention to my plea.
3 For strangers are attacking me;
violent people are trying to kill me.
They care nothing for God. Interlude
4 But God is my helper.
The Lord keeps me alive!
5 May the evil plans of my enemies be turned against them.
Do as you promised and put an end to them.
6 I will sacrifice a voluntary offering to you;
I will praise your name, O Lord,
for it is good.
7 For you have rescued me from my troubles
and helped me to triumph over my enemies.
Psalm 55
For the choir director: A psalm[i] of David, to be accompanied by stringed instruments.
1 Listen to my prayer, O God.
Do not ignore my cry for help!
2 Please listen and answer me,
for I am overwhelmed by my troubles.
3 My enemies shout at me,
making loud and wicked threats.
They bring trouble on me
and angrily hunt me down.
4 My heart pounds in my chest.
The terror of death assaults me.
5 Fear and trembling overwhelm me,
and I can’t stop shaking.
6 Oh, that I had wings like a dove;
then I would fly away and rest!
7 I would fly far away
to the quiet of the wilderness. Interlude
8 How quickly I would escape—
far from this wild storm of hatred.
9 Confuse them, Lord, and frustrate their plans,
for I see violence and conflict in the city.
10 Its walls are patrolled day and night against invaders,
but the real danger is wickedness within the city.
11 Everything is falling apart;
threats and cheating are rampant in the streets.
12 It 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.
13 Instead, it is you—my equal,
my companion and close friend.
14 What good fellowship we once enjoyed
as we walked together to the house of God.
15 Let death stalk my enemies;
let the grave[j] swallow them alive,
for evil makes its home within them.
16 But I will call on God,
and the Lord will rescue me.
17 Morning, noon, and night
I cry out in my distress,
and the Lord hears my voice.
18 He ransoms me and keeps me safe
from the battle waged against me,
though many still oppose me.
19 God, who has ruled forever,
will hear me and humble them. Interlude
For my enemies refuse to change their ways;
they do not fear God.
20 As for my companion, he betrayed his friends;
he broke his promises.
21 His words are as smooth as butter,
but in his heart is war.
His words are as soothing as lotion,
but underneath are daggers!
22 Give your burdens to the Lord,
and he will take care of you.
He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.
23 But 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
For the choir director: A psalm[k] of David, regarding the time the Philistines seized him in Gath. To be sung to the tune “Dove on Distant Oaks.”
1 O God, have mercy on me,
for people are hounding me.
My foes attack me all day long.
2 I am constantly hounded by those who slander me,
and many are boldly attacking me.
3 But when I am afraid,
I will put my trust in you.
4 I praise God for what he has promised.
I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?
What can mere mortals do to me?
5 They are always twisting what I say;
they spend their days plotting to harm me.
6 They come together to spy on me—
watching my every step, eager to kill me.
7 Don’t let them get away with their wickedness;
in your anger, O God, bring them down.
8 You keep track of all my sorrows.[l]
You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
You have recorded each one in your book.
9 My enemies will retreat when I call to you for help.
This I know: God is on my side!
10 I praise God for what he has promised;
yes, I praise the Lord for what he has promised.
11 I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?
What can mere mortals do to me?
12 I will fulfill my vows to you, O God,
and will offer a sacrifice of thanks for your help.
13 For 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
For the choir director: A psalm[m] of David, regarding the time he fled from Saul and went into the cave. To be sung to the tune “Do Not Destroy!”
1 Have 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.
2 I cry out to God Most High,[n]
to God who will fulfill his purpose for me.
3 He will send help from heaven to rescue me,
disgracing those who hound me. Interlude
My God will send forth his unfailing love and faithfulness.
4 I am surrounded by fierce lions
who greedily devour human prey—
whose teeth pierce like spears and arrows,
and whose tongues cut like swords.
5 Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens!
May your glory shine over all the earth.
6 My 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
7 My heart is confident in you, O God;
my heart is confident.
No wonder I can sing your praises!
8 Wake up, my heart!
Wake up, O lyre and harp!
I will wake the dawn with my song.
9 I will thank you, Lord, among all the people.
I will sing your praises among the nations.
10 For your unfailing love is as high as the heavens.
Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
11 Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens.
May your glory shine over all the earth.
Footnotes
- 51:4 Greek version reads and you will win your case in court. Compare Rom 3:4.
- 51:6 Or from the heart; Hebrew reads in the inward parts.
- 51:7 Hebrew Purify me with the hyssop branch.
- 51:11 Or your spirit of holiness.
- 52:Title Hebrew maskil. This may be a literary or musical term.
- 53:Title Hebrew According to mahalath; a maskil. These may be literary or musical terms.
- 53:3 Greek version reads have become useless. Compare Rom 3:12.
- 54:Title Hebrew maskil. This may be a literary or musical term.
- 55:Title Hebrew maskil. This may be a literary or musical term.
- 55:15 Hebrew let Sheol.
- 56:Title Hebrew miktam. This may be a literary or musical term.
- 56:8 Or my wanderings.
- 57:Title Hebrew miktam. This may be a literary or musical term.
- 57:2 Hebrew Elohim-Elyon.
Psalm 51-57
New International Version
Psalm 51-57
New International Version
Psalm 51[a]
For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.(A)
1 Have mercy(B) on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;(C)
according to your great compassion(D)
blot out(E) my transgressions.(F)
2 Wash away(G) all my iniquity
and cleanse(H) me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.(I)
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned(J)
and done what is evil in your sight;(K)
so you are right in your verdict
and justified when you judge.(L)
5 Surely I was sinful(M) at birth,(N)
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
you taught me wisdom(O) in that secret place.(P)
7 Cleanse(Q) me with hyssop,(R) and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.(S)
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;(T)
let the bones(U) you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins(V)
and blot out(W) all my iniquity.
10 Create in me a pure heart,(X) O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.(Y)
11 Do not cast me(Z) from your presence(AA)
or take your Holy Spirit(AB) from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation(AC)
and grant me a willing spirit,(AD) to sustain me.(AE)
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,(AF)
so that sinners(AG) will turn back to you.(AH)
14 Deliver me(AI) from the guilt of bloodshed,(AJ) O God,
you who are God my Savior,(AK)
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.(AL)
15 Open my lips, Lord,(AM)
and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 You do not delight in sacrifice,(AN) or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 My sacrifice,(AO) O God, is[b] a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart(AP)
you, God, will not despise.
18 May it please you to prosper Zion,(AQ)
to build up the walls of Jerusalem.(AR)
19 Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,(AS)
in burnt offerings(AT) offered whole;
then bulls(AU) will be offered on your altar.
Psalm 52[c]
For the director of music. A maskil[d] of David. When Doeg the Edomite(AV) had gone to Saul and told him: “David has gone to the house of Ahimelek.”
1 Why do you boast of evil, you mighty hero?
Why do you boast(AW) all day long,(AX)
you who are a disgrace in the eyes of God?
2 You who practice deceit,(AY)
your tongue plots destruction;(AZ)
it is like a sharpened razor.(BA)
3 You love evil(BB) rather than good,
falsehood(BC) rather than speaking the truth.[e]
4 You love every harmful word,
you deceitful tongue!(BD)
5 Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin:
He will snatch you up and pluck(BE) you from your tent;
he will uproot(BF) you from the land of the living.(BG)
6 The righteous will see and fear;
they will laugh(BH) at you, saying,
7 “Here now is the man
who did not make God his stronghold(BI)
but trusted in his great wealth(BJ)
and grew strong by destroying others!”
8 But I am like an olive tree(BK)
flourishing in the house of God;
I trust(BL) in God’s unfailing love
for ever and ever.
9 For what you have done I will always praise you(BM)
in the presence of your faithful people.(BN)
And I will hope in your name,(BO)
for your name is good.(BP)
Psalm 53[f](BQ)
For the director of music. According to mahalath.[g] A maskil[h] of David.
1 The fool(BR) says in his heart,
“There is no God.”(BS)
They are corrupt, and their ways are vile;
there is no one who does good.
2 God looks down from heaven(BT)
on all mankind
to see if there are any who understand,(BU)
any who seek God.(BV)
3 Everyone has turned away, all have become corrupt;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.(BW)
4 Do all these evildoers know nothing?
They devour my people as though eating bread;
they never call on God.
5 But there they are, overwhelmed with dread,
where there was nothing to dread.(BX)
God scattered the bones(BY) of those who attacked you;(BZ)
you put them to shame,(CA) for God despised them.(CB)
6 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
When God restores his people,
let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!
Psalm 54[i]
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil[j] of David. When the Ziphites(CC) had gone to Saul and said, “Is not David hiding among us?”
1 Save me(CD), O God, by your name;(CE)
vindicate me by your might.(CF)
2 Hear my prayer, O God;(CG)
listen to the words of my mouth.
3 Arrogant foes are attacking me;(CH)
ruthless people(CI) are trying to kill me(CJ)—
people without regard for God.[k](CK)
6 I will sacrifice a freewill offering(CP) to you;
I will praise(CQ) your name, Lord, for it is good.(CR)
7 You have delivered me(CS) from all my troubles,
and my eyes have looked in triumph on my foes.(CT)
Psalm 55[l]
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil[m] of David.
1 Listen to my prayer, O God,
do not ignore my plea;(CU)
2 hear me and answer me.(CV)
My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught(CW)
3 because of what my enemy is saying,
because of the threats of the wicked;
for they bring down suffering on me(CX)
and assail(CY) me in their anger.(CZ)
4 My heart is in anguish(DA) within me;
the terrors(DB) of death have fallen on me.
5 Fear and trembling(DC) have beset me;
horror(DD) has overwhelmed me.
6 I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove!
I would fly away and be at rest.
7 I would flee far away
and stay in the desert;[n](DE)
8 I would hurry to my place of shelter,(DF)
far from the tempest and storm.(DG)”
9 Lord, confuse the wicked, confound their words,(DH)
for I see violence and strife(DI) in the city.(DJ)
10 Day and night they prowl(DK) about on its walls;
malice and abuse are within it.
11 Destructive forces(DL) are at work in the city;
threats and lies(DM) never leave its streets.
12 If an enemy were insulting me,
I could endure it;
if a foe were rising against me,
I could hide.
13 But it is you, a man like myself,
my companion, my close friend,(DN)
14 with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship(DO)
at the house of God,(DP)
as we walked about
among the worshipers.
15 Let death take my enemies by surprise;(DQ)
let them go down alive to the realm of the dead,(DR)
for evil finds lodging among them.
16 As for me, I call to God,
and the Lord saves me.
17 Evening,(DS) morning(DT) and noon(DU)
I cry out in distress,
and he hears my voice.
18 He rescues me unharmed
from the battle waged against me,
even though many oppose me.
19 God, who is enthroned from of old,(DV)
who does not change—
he will hear(DW) them and humble them,
because they have no fear of God.(DX)
20 My companion attacks his friends;(DY)
he violates his covenant.(DZ)
21 His talk is smooth as butter,(EA)
yet war is in his heart;
his words are more soothing than oil,(EB)
yet they are drawn swords.(EC)
22 Cast your cares on the Lord
and he will sustain you;(ED)
he will never let
the righteous be shaken.(EE)
23 But you, God, will bring down the wicked
into the pit(EF) of decay;
the bloodthirsty and deceitful(EG)
will not live out half their days.(EH)
But as for me, I trust in you.(EI)
Psalm 56[o]
For the director of music. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” Of David. A miktam.[p] When the Philistines had seized him in Gath.
1 Be merciful to me,(EJ) my God,
for my enemies are in hot pursuit;(EK)
all day long they press their attack.(EL)
2 My adversaries pursue me all day long;(EM)
in their pride many are attacking me.(EN)
3 When I am afraid,(EO) I put my trust in you.(EP)
4 In God, whose word I praise—(EQ)
in God I trust and am not afraid.(ER)
What can mere mortals do to me?(ES)
5 All day long they twist my words;(ET)
all their schemes are for my ruin.
6 They conspire,(EU) they lurk,
they watch my steps,(EV)
hoping to take my life.(EW)
7 Because of their wickedness do not[q] let them escape;(EX)
in your anger, God, bring the nations down.(EY)
8 Record my misery;
list my tears on your scroll[r](EZ)—
are they not in your record?(FA)
9 Then my enemies will turn back(FB)
when I call for help.(FC)
By this I will know that God is for me.(FD)
10 In God, whose word I praise,
in the Lord, whose word I praise—
11 in God I trust and am not afraid.
What can man do to me?
12 I am under vows(FE) to you, my God;
I will present my thank offerings to you.
13 For you have delivered me from death(FF)
and my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before God
in the light of life.(FG)
Psalm 57[s](FH)
For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.[t] When he had fled from Saul into the cave.(FI)
1 Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me,
for in you I take refuge.(FJ)
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings(FK)
until the disaster has passed.(FL)
2 I cry out to God Most High,
to God, who vindicates me.(FM)
3 He sends from heaven and saves me,(FN)
rebuking those who hotly pursue me—[u](FO)
God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.(FP)
4 I am in the midst of lions;(FQ)
I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts—
men whose teeth are spears and arrows,
whose tongues are sharp swords.(FR)
5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
let your glory be over all the earth.(FS)
6 They spread a net for my feet(FT)—
I was bowed down(FU) in distress.
They dug a pit(FV) in my path—
but they have fallen into it themselves.(FW)
7 My heart, O God, is steadfast,
my heart is steadfast;(FX)
I will sing and make music.
8 Awake, my soul!
Awake, harp and lyre!(FY)
I will awaken the dawn.
9 I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
I will sing of you among the peoples.
10 For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the skies.(FZ)
Footnotes
- Psalm 51:1 In Hebrew texts 51:1-19 is numbered 51:3-21.
- Psalm 51:17 Or The sacrifices of God are
- Psalm 52:1 In Hebrew texts 52:1-9 is numbered 52:3-11.
- Psalm 52:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 52:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 5.
- Psalm 53:1 In Hebrew texts 53:1-6 is numbered 53:2-7.
- Psalm 53:1 Title: Probably a musical term
- Psalm 53:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 54:1 In Hebrew texts 54:1-7 is numbered 54:3-9.
- Psalm 54:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 54:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
- Psalm 55:1 In Hebrew texts 55:1-23 is numbered 55:2-24.
- Psalm 55:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 55:7 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and in the middle of verse 19.
- Psalm 56:1 In Hebrew texts 56:1-13 is numbered 56:2-14.
- Psalm 56:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 56:7 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text does not have do not.
- Psalm 56:8 Or misery; / put my tears in your wineskin
- Psalm 57:1 In Hebrew texts 57:1-11 is numbered 57:2-12.
- Psalm 57:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 57:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 6.
New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.