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Psalm 3-8
EasyEnglish Bible
Psalm 3-8
EasyEnglish Bible
This is a song that David wrote when he ran away from his son, Absalom.[a]
A morning song
3 Lord, every day I have more enemies.
Many people fight against me.
2 They say about me,
‘God will not save him.’
Selah.
3 But Lord, you are like a shield for me.[b]
You are the one who gives me honour.
You lift my head up high.
4 I called aloud to the Lord.
He answered me from his holy mountain.
Selah.
5 I lie down and I sleep.
Then I wake up, because the Lord takes care of me.
6 Even if 10,000 enemies are all around me to attack me,
I will not be afraid of them.
7 Lord, stand up! My God, save me from my enemies!
Hit all my enemies in the face.
Break the teeth of those bad people.
8 Lord, it is you that saves us.
You bless your people.
Selah.
This is a song that David wrote.
Tell the music leader to use stringed instruments.
An evening song
4 God, please answer me when I call aloud for help.
You are the one who shows that I am right.
Help me in my trouble.
Show me that you are kind.
Listen to me when I pray.
2 Tell me this, you people:
How long will you refuse to respect me?
How long will you love stupid ideas?
How long will you agree with lies?
Selah.
3 The Lord is very kind to those who serve him.
He has chosen them to belong to himself.
So he listens when I pray to him.
4 Shake with fear and stop doing wrong things!
Lie on your bed and think quietly about your life.
Selah.
5 Offer the right sacrifices to the Lord.
Continue to trust in him.
6 Many people say, ‘Will anyone do a good thing for us?’
Lord, let your face smile on us.
7 You have made me very happy.
I am happier than anyone who has lots of food and wine.
8 I will lie down and I will sleep in peace.
You, Lord, are the one who takes care of me,
and you keep me safe.
Tell the music leader to use flutes.
This is a song that David wrote.
Pray about your enemies[c]
5 Lord, listen to what I say to you.
I am upset, so think about what I am saying.
2 My King and my God, listen to my voice.
I am asking you to help me.
I am praying to you!
3 Lord, every morning you listen to my voice.
At sunrise I will turn to you for help,
and I will wait for you to answer.[d]
4 My God, you do not like anything that is bad.
Evil people cannot live near you.
5 Proud people cannot stand in front of you.
God, you hate everyone who does evil things.
6 You destroy those who tell lies.
The Lord hates murderers,
and those who deceive others.[e]
7 But I will come into your house,
because of your faithful love.
I will bend low in your holy temple,
and I will worship you.
8 Lord, help me to follow your right way.
My enemies are waiting to attack me.
Show the right way clearly to me,
so that I do not go the wrong way.
9 My enemies never speak what is true.
They only want to destroy people.
Their mouth has the smell of an open grave.[f]
Their tongues say nice things,
but they are all lies!
10 God, say that they are guilty!
Let their own wicked ideas bring punishment to them.
Send them away because they do so many bad things.
Yes, they have turned against you.
11 Please make people who turn to you happy.
Make them always sing with joy,
because you keep them safe.
Take care of those who are faithful to you.
Then they will be really happy.
12 Lord, you bless those who live in a right way.
Your love is like a shield that keeps them safe.
This is a song that David wrote.
Tell the music leader, ‘Use harps when you sing this song.’
David prays for health[g]
6 Lord, when you are angry,
please do not punish me.
2 I do not feel strong, Lord,
so please be kind to me.
Lord, please make me well again.
Even my bones are shaking.
3 I am very frightened.
Lord, when will you do something to help me?[h]
4 Lord, turn back to me. Give me back my life.
Make me safe because of your faithful love.
5 If I die, I will no longer remember you.
Nobody can praise you in their grave!
6 I am crying so much that I have no more strength.
My bed becomes wet because I weep all night.
My tears run into my pillow.[i]
7 I am so sad that my eyes do not see well any more.
They are becoming weak because of all my enemies.[j]
8 Go away from me, you people who do wicked things!
Now the Lord has heard me when I weep.[k]
9 I asked the Lord to be kind and to help me.
Now he has answered me!
10 All my enemies will become ashamed!
They will go away from me in fear!
Shame will suddenly come to them!
A song with music that David wrote.
He sang this song to the Lord about Benjamin's descendant, Cush.
God always does what is right[l]
7 Lord, my God, I come to you to keep me safe.
Please save me from all those people who want to catch me.
2 If you do not keep me safe,
my enemies will tear me into pieces.
They will attack me like lions do,
and nobody will be able to save me.
3-5 Lord, my God, if I have done a wrong thing,
then let my enemies chase me and catch me.
If I have done a bad thing against a friend,
let my enemies catch me.
If I have helped a friend's enemy to attack him,
let my enemies catch me!
If I am guilty of any of these things,
let my enemies knock me down to the ground.
They should leave me there,
so that I lie as a dead person in the dirt.
Selah.
6 But Lord, now do something!
Wake up and help me!
Show how angry you are against my enemies.
Punish them in the way that you know is right!
7 Bring together the people of all nations,
to stand in front of you.
Rule over them from high above.
8 You, Lord, judge the people of all nations.
Lord, Most High God, say that I am not guilty.
Truly, I am righteous and honest.
9 Stop wicked people from doing evil things.
Keep your own people safe.
You always do what is right,
and you know how we think and feel.
10 The Most High God is like a shield to keep me safe.
He takes care of good, honest people.
11 God is a judge who is fair.
Every day he is angry against wicked people.
12 If they do not change the way that they live,
God will prepare to punish them.
He will make his sword sharp,
and he will put an arrow in his bow.
13 He will prepare his dangerous weapons.
He is ready to shoot his arrows that burn with fire.
14 Look! Wicked people prepare to do evil things!
They want to cause trouble.
Like a pregnant woman,
what starts inside them comes out into the open!
They give birth to lies that deceive people.
15 Wicked people want to hurt people.
They are digging a deep hole for people to fall into.
But they fall into the hole themselves!
16 The ideas that they have to hurt other people
bring trouble on themselves!
They want to be cruel to other people,
but they themselves receive the pain!
17 So I will thank the Lord
because he does what is right.
The Lord is the Most High God,
so I will sing to praise his name!
The music leader must use special music.
This is a song that David wrote.
The sky at night[m]
8 Lord, our ruler,
your name is famous all over the world.
The sky above shows how great you are.
2 You have taught children and babies to praise you.
You do that to show your enemies how strong you are.
Anyone who turns against you has to be quiet.
Your cruel enemies can do nothing!
3 You made the skies with your own hands.
When I look up, I see the moon and the stars.
You have put them all in their right place.
4 So why do you even think about men and women?
Why do you take care of humans?
5 You have made their place a little below God himself.[n]
You have given them honour, like kings.
6 You have chosen them to rule everything that you have made.
You have put everything under their authority.
7-8 Yes! Humans rule them all:
Farm animals and wild animals,
birds, fish and all the things that swim in the sea.
9 Lord, our ruler,
your name is famous all over the world.
Footnotes
- 3:0 Absalom was a son of King David. Absalom wanted to become king so he attacked David. David ran away to a safe place. But David asked God for help. Later, David became king again and Absalom died. See 2 Samuel 15—19.
- 3:3 David trusted the Lord to keep him safe like a shield over him.
- 5:1 Psalm 5 is another morning song. We do not know when David wrote it. We do know that David had enemies. So he prayed to God to keep him safe.
- 5:3 David told the Lord that he would pray early in the morning. He would wait to see what God would do.
- 5:6 David's enemies were really God's enemies.
- 5:9 An open grave has dead bodies in it. It has a very bad smell. What these people say with their mouths is very bad. Their words cause people to be upset.
- 6:1 David was not happy. He was ill. He thought that God had left him. This made David very sad. Sometimes we feel as David did. We think that God has left us. But God will help us if we continue to pray to him, as David did.
- 6:3 David is praying, ‘How long will my illness continue?’
- 6:6 A pillow is a cushion that you put your head on to sleep.
- 6:7 God does not answer David immediately. David cries until God answers him.
- 6:8 David is brave again when he knows that God has heard his prayer.
- 7:1 Cush was one of David's enemies. He probably told lies about David. So, in this psalm, David asks God to say who is right. He knows that God will decide in a right way.
- 8:1 When he was a young man, David was a shepherd. He was with his sheep on the hills at night. David saw the moon and the stars in the sky. He knew that God made them all.
- 8:5 ‘below God himself’ or ‘below the angels’.
Psalm 3-8
New International Version
Psalm 3-8
New International Version
Psalm 3[a]
A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom.(A)
1 Lord, how many are my foes!
How many rise up against me!
2 Many are saying of me,
“God will not deliver him.(B)”[b]
3 But you, Lord, are a shield(C) around me,
my glory, the One who lifts my head high.(D)
4 I call out to the Lord,(E)
and he answers me from his holy mountain.(F)
5 I lie down and sleep;(G)
I wake again,(H) because the Lord sustains me.
6 I will not fear(I) though tens of thousands
assail me on every side.(J)
7 Arise,(K) Lord!
Deliver me,(L) my God!
Strike(M) all my enemies on the jaw;
break the teeth(N) of the wicked.
Psalm 4[c]
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of David.
1 Answer me(Q) when I call to you,
my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;(R)
have mercy(S) on me and hear my prayer.(T)
2 How long will you people turn my glory(U) into shame?(V)
How long will you love delusions and seek false gods[d]?[e](W)
3 Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant(X) for himself;
the Lord hears(Y) when I call to him.
4 Tremble and[f] do not sin;(Z)
when you are on your beds,(AA)
search your hearts and be silent.
5 Offer the sacrifices of the righteous
and trust in the Lord.(AB)
6 Many, Lord, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?”
Let the light of your face shine on us.(AC)
7 Fill my heart(AD) with joy(AE)
when their grain and new wine(AF) abound.
Psalm 5[g]
For the director of music. For pipes. A psalm of David.
1 Listen(AJ) to my words, Lord,
consider my lament.(AK)
2 Hear my cry for help,(AL)
my King and my God,(AM)
for to you I pray.
3 In the morning,(AN) Lord, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait expectantly.(AO)
4 For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness;
with you, evil people(AP) are not welcome.
5 The arrogant(AQ) cannot stand(AR)
in your presence.
You hate(AS) all who do wrong;
6 you destroy those who tell lies.(AT)
The bloodthirsty and deceitful
you, Lord, detest.
7 But I, by your great love,
can come into your house;
in reverence(AU) I bow down(AV)
toward your holy temple.(AW)
8 Lead me, Lord, in your righteousness(AX)
because of my enemies—
make your way straight(AY) before me.
9 Not a word from their mouth can be trusted;
their heart is filled with malice.
Their throat is an open grave;(AZ)
with their tongues they tell lies.(BA)
10 Declare them guilty, O God!
Let their intrigues be their downfall.
Banish them for their many sins,(BB)
for they have rebelled(BC) against you.
11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
let them ever sing for joy.(BD)
Spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name(BE) may rejoice in you.(BF)
12 Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous;(BG)
you surround them(BH) with your favor as with a shield.(BI)
Psalm 6[h]
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. According to sheminith.[i] A psalm of David.
1 Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger(BJ)
or discipline me in your wrath.
2 Have mercy on me,(BK) Lord, for I am faint;(BL)
heal me,(BM) Lord, for my bones are in agony.(BN)
3 My soul is in deep anguish.(BO)
How long,(BP) Lord, how long?
4 Turn,(BQ) Lord, and deliver me;
save me because of your unfailing love.(BR)
5 Among the dead no one proclaims your name.
Who praises you from the grave?(BS)
All night long I flood my bed with weeping(BV)
and drench my couch with tears.(BW)
7 My eyes grow weak(BX) with sorrow;
they fail because of all my foes.
8 Away from me,(BY) all you who do evil,(BZ)
for the Lord has heard my weeping.
9 The Lord has heard my cry for mercy;(CA)
the Lord accepts my prayer.
10 All my enemies will be overwhelmed with shame and anguish;(CB)
they will turn back and suddenly be put to shame.(CC)
Psalm 7[j]
A shiggaion[k](CD) of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning Cush, a Benjamite.
1 Lord my God, I take refuge(CE) in you;
save and deliver me(CF) from all who pursue me,(CG)
2 or they will tear me apart like a lion(CH)
and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue(CI) me.
3 Lord my God, if I have done this
and there is guilt on my hands(CJ)—
4 if I have repaid my ally with evil
or without cause(CK) have robbed my foe—
5 then let my enemy pursue and overtake(CL) me;
let him trample my life to the ground(CM)
and make me sleep in the dust.[l](CN)
6 Arise,(CO) Lord, in your anger;
rise up against the rage of my enemies.(CP)
Awake,(CQ) my God; decree justice.
7 Let the assembled peoples gather around you,
while you sit enthroned over them on high.(CR)
8 Let the Lord judge(CS) the peoples.
Vindicate me, Lord, according to my righteousness,(CT)
according to my integrity,(CU) O Most High.(CV)
9 Bring to an end the violence of the wicked
and make the righteous secure—(CW)
you, the righteous God(CX)
who probes minds and hearts.(CY)
10 My shield[m](CZ) is God Most High,
who saves the upright in heart.(DA)
11 God is a righteous judge,(DB)
a God who displays his wrath(DC) every day.
12 If he does not relent,(DD)
he[n] will sharpen his sword;(DE)
he will bend and string his bow.(DF)
13 He has prepared his deadly weapons;
he makes ready his flaming arrows.(DG)
14 Whoever is pregnant with evil
conceives trouble and gives birth(DH) to disillusionment.
15 Whoever digs a hole and scoops it out
falls into the pit(DI) they have made.(DJ)
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;(DK)
I will sing the praises(DL) of the name of the Lord Most High.(DM)
Psalm 8[o]
For the director of music. According to gittith.[p] A psalm of David.
1 Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name(DN) in all the earth!
You have set your glory(DO)
in the heavens.(DP)
2 Through the praise of children and infants
you have established a stronghold(DQ) against your enemies,
to silence the foe(DR) and the avenger.
3 When I consider your heavens,(DS)
the work of your fingers,(DT)
the moon and the stars,(DU)
which you have set in place,
4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
human beings that you care for them?[q](DV)
5 You have made them[r] a little lower than the angels[s](DW)
and crowned them[t] with glory and honor.(DX)
6 You made them rulers(DY) over the works of your hands;(DZ)
you put everything under their[u] feet:(EA)
7 all flocks and herds,(EB)
and the animals of the wild,(EC)
8 the birds in the sky,
and the fish in the sea,(ED)
all that swim the paths of the seas.
9 Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!(EE)
Footnotes
- Psalm 3:1 In Hebrew texts 3:1-8 is numbered 3:2-9.
- Psalm 3:2 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 4 and 8.
- Psalm 4:1 In Hebrew texts 4:1-8 is numbered 4:2-9.
- Psalm 4:2 Or seek lies
- Psalm 4:2 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 4.
- Psalm 4:4 Or In your anger (see Septuagint)
- Psalm 5:1 In Hebrew texts 5:1-12 is numbered 5:2-13.
- Psalm 6:1 In Hebrew texts 6:1-10 is numbered 6:2-11.
- Psalm 6:1 Title: Probably a musical term
- Psalm 7:1 In Hebrew texts 7:1-17 is numbered 7:2-18.
- Psalm 7:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 7:5 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
- Psalm 7:10 Or sovereign
- Psalm 7:12 Or If anyone does not repent, / God
- Psalm 8:1 In Hebrew texts 8:1-9 is numbered 8:2-10.
- Psalm 8:1 Title: Probably a musical term
- Psalm 8:4 Or what is a human being that you are mindful of him, / a son of man that you care for him?
- Psalm 8:5 Or him
- Psalm 8:5 Or than God
- Psalm 8:5 Or him
- Psalm 8:6 Or made him ruler . . . ; / . . . his
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