Psalm 3-5

New King James Version

The Lord Helps His Troubled People

A Psalm of David ^(A)when he fled from Absalom his son.

3 Lord, how they have increased who trouble me!
Many are they who rise up against me.
²Many are they who say of me,
“There is no help for him in God.” Selah

³But You, O Lord, are ^(B)a shield ^[a]for me,
My glory and ^(C)the One who lifts up my head.
⁴I cried to the Lord with my voice,
And ^(D)He heard me from His ^(E)holy hill. Selah

⁵^(F)I lay down and slept;
I awoke, for the Lord sustained me.
⁶^(G)I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people
Who have set themselves against me all around.

⁷Arise, O Lord;
Save me, O my God!
^(H)For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone;
You have broken the teeth of the ungodly.
⁸^(I)Salvation belongs to the Lord.
Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah

The Safety of the Faithful

To the ^[b]Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.

4 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
You have relieved me in my distress;
^[c]Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.

²How long, O you sons of men,
Will you turn my glory to shame?
How long will you love worthlessness
And seek falsehood? Selah
³But know that ^(J)the Lord has ^[d]set apart for Himself him who is godly;
The Lord will hear when I call to Him.

⁴^(K)Be^[e] angry, and do not sin.
^(L)Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah
⁵Offer ^(M)the sacrifices of righteousness,
And ^(N)put your trust in the Lord.

⁶There are many who say,
“Who will show us any good?”
^(O)Lord, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us.
⁷You have put ^(P)gladness in my heart,
More than in the season that their grain and wine increased.
⁸^(Q)I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;
^(R)For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

A Prayer for Guidance

To the Chief Musician. With ^[f]flutes. A Psalm of David.

5 Give ^(S)ear to my words, O Lord,
Consider my ^[g]meditation.
²Give heed to the voice of my cry,
My King and my God,
For to You I will pray.
³My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord;
^(T)In the morning I will direct it to You,
And I will look up.

⁴For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness,
Nor shall evil ^[h]dwell with You.
⁵The ^(U)boastful shall not ^(V)stand in Your sight;
You hate all workers of iniquity.
⁶You shall destroy those who speak falsehood;
The Lord abhors the ^(W)bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

⁷But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy;
In fear of You I will worship toward ^[i]Your holy temple.
⁸^(X)Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies;
Make Your way straight before my face.

⁹For there is no ^[j]faithfulness in their mouth;
Their inward part is destruction;
^(Y)Their throat is an open tomb;
They flatter with their tongue.
¹⁰Pronounce them guilty, O God!
Let them fall by their own counsels;
Cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions,
For they have rebelled against You.

¹¹But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You;
Let them ever shout for joy, because You ^[k]defend them;
Let those also who love Your name
Be joyful in You.
¹²For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous;
With favor You will surround him as with a shield.