Add parallel Print Page Options

A Prayer for Fairness

A shiggaion of David which he sang to the Lord about Cush, from the tribe of Benjamin.

Lord my God, I trust in you for protection.
    Save me and rescue me
    from those who are chasing me.
Otherwise, like a lion they will tear me apart.
    They will rip me to pieces, and no one can save me.

Lord my God, what have I done?
    Have my hands done something wrong?
Have I done wrong to my friend
    or stolen without reason from my enemy?
If I have, let my enemy chase me and capture me.
    Let him trample me into the dust
    and bury me in the ground. Selah

Lord, rise up in your anger;
    stand up against my enemies’ anger.
    Get up and demand fairness.
Gather the nations around you
    and rule them from above.
Lord, judge the people.
    Lord, defend me because I am right,
    because I have done no wrong, God Most High.
God, you do what is right.
    You know our thoughts and feelings.
Stop those wicked actions done by evil people,
    and help those who do what is right.

10 God protects me like a shield;
    he saves those whose hearts are right.
11 God judges by what is right,
    and God is always ready to punish the wicked.
12 If they do not change their lives,
    God will sharpen his sword;
    he will string his bow and take aim.
13 He has prepared his deadly weapons;
    he has made his flaming arrows.

14 There are people who think up evil
    and plan trouble and tell lies.
15 They dig a hole to trap others,
    but they will fall into it themselves.
16 They will get themselves into trouble;
    the violence they cause will hurt only themselves.

17 I praise the Lord because he does what is right.
    I sing praises to the Lord Most High.

Psalm 7[a]

A shiggaion[b](A) of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning Cush, a Benjamite.

Lord my God, I take refuge(B) in you;
    save and deliver me(C) from all who pursue me,(D)
or they will tear me apart like a lion(E)
    and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue(F) me.

Lord my God, if I have done this
    and there is guilt on my hands(G)
if I have repaid my ally with evil
    or without cause(H) have robbed my foe—
then let my enemy pursue and overtake(I) me;
    let him trample my life to the ground(J)
    and make me sleep in the dust.[c](K)

Arise,(L) Lord, in your anger;
    rise up against the rage of my enemies.(M)
    Awake,(N) my God; decree justice.
Let the assembled peoples gather around you,
    while you sit enthroned over them on high.(O)
    Let the Lord judge(P) the peoples.
Vindicate me, Lord, according to my righteousness,(Q)
    according to my integrity,(R) O Most High.(S)
Bring to an end the violence of the wicked
    and make the righteous secure—(T)
you, the righteous God(U)
    who probes minds and hearts.(V)

10 My shield[d](W) is God Most High,
    who saves the upright in heart.(X)
11 God is a righteous judge,(Y)
    a God who displays his wrath(Z) every day.
12 If he does not relent,(AA)
    he[e] will sharpen his sword;(AB)
    he will bend and string his bow.(AC)
13 He has prepared his deadly weapons;
    he makes ready his flaming arrows.(AD)

14 Whoever is pregnant with evil
    conceives trouble and gives birth(AE) to disillusionment.
15 Whoever digs a hole and scoops it out
    falls into the pit(AF) they have made.(AG)
16 The trouble they cause recoils on them;
    their violence comes down on their own heads.

17 I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness;(AH)
    I will sing the praises(AI) of the name of the Lord Most High.(AJ)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 7:1 In Hebrew texts 7:1-17 is numbered 7:2-18.
  2. Psalm 7:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  3. Psalm 7:5 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
  4. Psalm 7:10 Or sovereign
  5. Psalm 7:12 Or If anyone does not repent, / God

A Song of Trust in God

Of David.

27 The Lord is my light and the one who saves me.
    So why should I fear anyone?
The Lord protects my life.
    So why should I be afraid?
Evil people may try to destroy my body.
    My enemies and those who hate me attack me,
but they are overwhelmed and defeated.
If an army surrounds me,
    I will not be afraid.
If war breaks out,
    I will trust the Lord.

I ask only one thing from the Lord.
    This is what I want:
Let me live in the Lord’s house
    all my life.
Let me see the Lord’s beauty
    and look with my own eyes at his Temple.
During danger he will keep me safe in his shelter.
    He will hide me in his Holy Tent,
    or he will keep me safe on a high mountain.
My head is higher than my enemies around me.
I will offer joyful sacrifices in his Holy Tent.
    I will sing and praise the Lord.

Lord, hear me when I call;
    have mercy and answer me.
My heart said of you, “Go, worship him.”
    So I come to worship you, Lord.
Do not turn away from me.
    Do not turn your servant away in anger;
    you have helped me.
Do not push me away or leave me alone,
    God, my Savior.
10 If my father and mother leave me,
    the Lord will take me in.
11 Lord, teach me your ways,
    and guide me to do what is right
    because I have enemies.
12 Do not hand me over to my enemies,
    because they tell lies about me
    and say they will hurt me.

13 I truly believe
    I will live to see the Lord’s goodness.
14 Wait for the Lord’s help.
    Be strong and brave,
    and wait for the Lord’s help.

Psalm 27

Of David.

The Lord is my light(A) and my salvation(B)
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold(C) of my life—
    of whom shall I be afraid?(D)

When the wicked advance against me
    to devour[a] me,
it is my enemies and my foes
    who will stumble and fall.(E)
Though an army besiege me,
    my heart will not fear;(F)
though war break out against me,
    even then I will be confident.(G)

One thing(H) I ask from the Lord,
    this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,(I)
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
    and to seek him in his temple.
For in the day of trouble(J)
    he will keep me safe(K) in his dwelling;
he will hide me(L) in the shelter of his sacred tent
    and set me high upon a rock.(M)

Then my head will be exalted(N)
    above the enemies who surround me;(O)
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice(P) with shouts of joy;(Q)
    I will sing(R) and make music(S) to the Lord.

Hear my voice(T) when I call, Lord;
    be merciful to me and answer me.(U)
My heart says of you, “Seek his face!(V)
    Your face, Lord, I will seek.
Do not hide your face(W) from me,
    do not turn your servant away in anger;(X)
    you have been my helper.(Y)
Do not reject me or forsake(Z) me,
    God my Savior.(AA)
10 Though my father and mother forsake me,
    the Lord will receive me.
11 Teach me your way,(AB) Lord;
    lead me in a straight path(AC)
    because of my oppressors.(AD)
12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
    for false witnesses(AE) rise up against me,
    spouting malicious accusations.

13 I remain confident of this:
    I will see the goodness of the Lord(AF)
    in the land of the living.(AG)
14 Wait(AH) for the Lord;
    be strong(AI) and take heart
    and wait for the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 27:2 Or slander

A Prayer of Faith in Troubled Times

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

31 Lord, I trust in you;
    let me never be disgraced.
    Save me because you do what is right.
Listen to me
    and save me quickly.
Be my rock of protection,
    a strong city to save me.
You are my rock and my protection.
    For the good of your name, lead me and guide me.
Set me free from the trap they set for me,
    because you are my protection.
I give you my life.
    Save me, Lord, God of truth.

I hate those who worship false gods.
    I trust only in the Lord.
I will be glad and rejoice in your love,
    because you saw my suffering;
    you knew my troubles.
You have not handed me over to my enemies
    but have set me in a safe place.

Lord, have mercy, because I am in misery.
    My eyes are weak from so much crying,
    and my whole being is tired from grief.
10 My life is ending in sadness,
    and my years are spent in crying.
My troubles are using up my strength,
    and my bones are getting weaker.
11 Because of all my troubles, my enemies hate me,
    and even my neighbors look down on me.
When my friends see me,
    they are afraid and run.
12 I am like a piece of a broken pot.
    I am forgotten as if I were dead.
13 I have heard many insults.
    Terror is all around me.
They make plans against me
    and want to kill me.

14 Lord, I trust you.
    I have said, “You are my God.”
15 My life is in your hands.
    Save me from my enemies
    and from those who are chasing me.
16 Show your kindness to me, your servant.
    Save me because of your love.
17 Lord, I called to you,
    so do not let me be disgraced.
Let the wicked be disgraced
    and lie silent in the grave.
18 With pride and hatred
    they speak against those who do right.
So silence their lying lips.

19 How great is your goodness
    that you have stored up for those who fear you,
that you have given to those who trust you.
    You do this for all to see.
20 You protect them by your presence
    from what people plan against them.
    You shelter them from evil words.
21 Praise the Lord.
    His love to me was wonderful
    when my city was attacked.
22 In my distress, I said,
    “God cannot see me!”
But you heard my prayer
    when I cried out to you for help.
23 Love the Lord, all you who belong to him.
    The Lord protects those who truly believe,
    but he punishes the proud as much as they have sinned.
24 All you who put your hope in the Lord
    be strong and brave.

Psalm 31[a](A)

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;(B)
    let me never be put to shame;
    deliver me in your righteousness.(C)
Turn your ear to me,(D)
    come quickly to my rescue;(E)
be my rock of refuge,(F)
    a strong fortress to save me.
Since you are my rock and my fortress,(G)
    for the sake of your name(H) lead and guide me.
Keep me free from the trap(I) that is set for me,
    for you are my refuge.(J)
Into your hands I commit my spirit;(K)
    deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.(L)

I hate those who cling to worthless idols;(M)
    as for me, I trust in the Lord.(N)
I will be glad and rejoice in your love,
    for you saw my affliction(O)
    and knew the anguish(P) of my soul.
You have not given me into the hands(Q) of the enemy
    but have set my feet in a spacious place.(R)

Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress;(S)
    my eyes grow weak with sorrow,(T)
    my soul and body(U) with grief.
10 My life is consumed by anguish(V)
    and my years by groaning;(W)
my strength fails(X) because of my affliction,[b](Y)
    and my bones grow weak.(Z)
11 Because of all my enemies,(AA)
    I am the utter contempt(AB) of my neighbors(AC)
and an object of dread to my closest friends—
    those who see me on the street flee from me.
12 I am forgotten as though I were dead;(AD)
    I have become like broken pottery.
13 For I hear many whispering,(AE)
    “Terror on every side!”(AF)
They conspire against me(AG)
    and plot to take my life.(AH)

14 But I trust(AI) in you, Lord;
    I say, “You are my God.”
15 My times(AJ) are in your hands;
    deliver me from the hands of my enemies,
    from those who pursue me.
16 Let your face shine(AK) on your servant;
    save me in your unfailing love.(AL)
17 Let me not be put to shame,(AM) Lord,
    for I have cried out to you;
but let the wicked be put to shame
    and be silent(AN) in the realm of the dead.
18 Let their lying lips(AO) be silenced,
    for with pride and contempt
    they speak arrogantly(AP) against the righteous.

19 How abundant are the good things(AQ)
    that you have stored up for those who fear you,
that you bestow in the sight of all,(AR)
    on those who take refuge(AS) in you.
20 In the shelter(AT) of your presence you hide(AU) them
    from all human intrigues;(AV)
you keep them safe in your dwelling
    from accusing tongues.

21 Praise be to the Lord,(AW)
    for he showed me the wonders of his love(AX)
    when I was in a city under siege.(AY)
22 In my alarm(AZ) I said,
    “I am cut off(BA) from your sight!”
Yet you heard my cry(BB) for mercy
    when I called to you for help.

23 Love the Lord, all his faithful people!(BC)
    The Lord preserves those who are true to him,(BD)
    but the proud he pays back(BE) in full.
24 Be strong and take heart,(BF)
    all you who hope in the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 31:1 In Hebrew texts 31:1-24 is numbered 31:2-25.
  2. Psalm 31:10 Or guilt

Praise God Who Judges and Saves

David’s song from the time he acted crazy so Abimelech would send him away, and David did leave.

34 I will praise the Lord at all times;
    his praise is always on my lips.
My whole being praises the Lord.
    The poor will hear and be glad.
Glorify the Lord with me,
    and let us praise his name together.

I asked the Lord for help, and he answered me.
    He saved me from all that I feared.
Those who go to him for help are happy,
    and they are never disgraced.
This poor man called, and the Lord heard him
    and saved him from all his troubles.
The angel of the Lord camps around those who fear God,
    and he saves them.

Examine and see how good the Lord is.
    Happy is the person who trusts him.
You who belong to the Lord, fear him!
    Those who fear him will have everything they need.
10 Even lions may get weak and hungry,
    but those who look to the Lord will have every good thing.
11 Children, come and listen to me.
    I will teach you to worship the Lord.
12 You must do these things
    to enjoy life and have many happy days.
13 You must not say evil things,
    and you must not tell lies.
14 Stop doing evil and do good.
    Look for peace and work for it.

15 The Lord sees the good people
    and listens to their prayers.
16 But the Lord is against those who do evil;
    he makes the world forget them.
17 The Lord hears good people when they cry out to him,
    and he saves them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted,
    and he saves those whose spirits have been crushed.

19 People who do what is right may have many problems,
    but the Lord will solve them all.
20 He will protect their very bones;
    not one of them will be broken.
21 Evil will kill the wicked;
    those who hate good people will be judged guilty.
22 But the Lord saves his servants’ lives;
    no one who trusts him will be judged guilty.

Psalm 34[a][b]

Of David. When he pretended to be insane(A) before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left.

I will extol the Lord at all times;(B)
    his praise will always be on my lips.
I will glory(C) in the Lord;
    let the afflicted hear and rejoice.(D)
Glorify the Lord(E) with me;
    let us exalt(F) his name together.

I sought the Lord,(G) and he answered me;
    he delivered(H) me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant;(I)
    their faces are never covered with shame.(J)
This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
    he saved him out of all his troubles.(K)
The angel of the Lord(L) encamps around those who fear him,
    and he delivers(M) them.

Taste and see that the Lord is good;(N)
    blessed is the one who takes refuge(O) in him.
Fear the Lord,(P) you his holy people,
    for those who fear him lack nothing.(Q)
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
    but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.(R)
11 Come, my children, listen(S) to me;
    I will teach you(T) the fear of the Lord.(U)
12 Whoever of you loves life(V)
    and desires to see many good days,
13 keep your tongue(W) from evil
    and your lips from telling lies.(X)
14 Turn from evil and do good;(Y)
    seek peace(Z) and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the Lord(AA) are on the righteous,(AB)
    and his ears are attentive(AC) to their cry;
16 but the face of the Lord is against(AD) those who do evil,(AE)
    to blot out their name(AF) from the earth.

17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears(AG) them;
    he delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is close(AH) to the brokenhearted(AI)
    and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

19 The righteous person may have many troubles,(AJ)
    but the Lord delivers him from them all;(AK)
20 he protects all his bones,
    not one of them will be broken.(AL)

21 Evil will slay the wicked;(AM)
    the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord will rescue(AN) his servants;
    no one who takes refuge(AO) in him will be condemned.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 34:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
  2. Psalm 34:1 In Hebrew texts 34:1-22 is numbered 34:2-23.

God Will Punish the Proud

For the director of music. A maskil of David. When Doeg the Edomite came to Saul and said to him, “David is in Ahimelech’s house.”

52 Mighty warrior, why do you brag about the evil you do?
    God’s love will continue forever.
You think up evil plans.
    Your tongue is like a sharp razor,
    making up lies.
You love wrong more than right
    and lies more than truth. Selah
You love words that bite
    and tongues that lie.

But God will ruin you forever.
    He will grab you and throw you out of your tent;
    he will tear you away from the land of the living. Selah
Those who do right will see this and fear God.
    They will laugh at you and say,
“Look what happened to the man
    who did not depend on God
but depended on his money.
    He grew strong by his evil plans.”

But I am like an olive tree
    growing in God’s Temple.
I trust God’s love
    forever and ever.
God, I will thank you forever for what you have done.
    With those who worship you, I will trust you because you are good.

Psalm 52[a]

For the director of music. A maskil[b] of David. When Doeg the Edomite(A) had gone to Saul and told him: “David has gone to the house of Ahimelek.”

Why do you boast of evil, you mighty hero?
    Why do you boast(B) all day long,(C)
    you who are a disgrace in the eyes of God?
You who practice deceit,(D)
    your tongue plots destruction;(E)
    it is like a sharpened razor.(F)
You love evil(G) rather than good,
    falsehood(H) rather than speaking the truth.[c]
You love every harmful word,
    you deceitful tongue!(I)

Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin:
    He will snatch you up and pluck(J) you from your tent;
    he will uproot(K) you from the land of the living.(L)
The righteous will see and fear;
    they will laugh(M) at you, saying,
“Here now is the man
    who did not make God his stronghold(N)
but trusted in his great wealth(O)
    and grew strong by destroying others!”

But I am like an olive tree(P)
    flourishing in the house of God;
I trust(Q) in God’s unfailing love
    for ever and ever.
For what you have done I will always praise you(R)
    in the presence of your faithful people.(S)
And I will hope in your name,(T)
    for your name is good.(U)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 52:1 In Hebrew texts 52:1-9 is numbered 52:3-11.
  2. Psalm 52:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  3. Psalm 52:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 5.