Psalm 61-65

New Life Version

A Safe Place in God

61 Hear my cry, O God. Listen to my prayer. ² I call to You from the end of the earth when my heart is weak. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. ³ For You have been a safe place for me, a tower of strength where I am safe from those who fight against me. ⁴ Let me live in Your tent forever. Let me be safe under the covering of Your wings. ⁵ For You have heard my promises, O God. You have given me that which You give to those who fear Your name. ⁶ You will add days to the life of the king. His years will be as long as the lives of many children and grandchildren added together. ⁷ He will stay forever with God. Set apart loving-kindness and truth to keep him safe. ⁸ So I will sing thanks to Your name forever and keep my promises day by day.

Thankful for God’s Care

62 My soul is quiet and waits for God alone. He is the One Who saves me. ² He alone is my rock and the One Who saves me. He is my strong place. I will not be shaken.

³ How long will all of you go against a man to break him down, that you may kill him, like a wall that no longer stands straight, like a fence ready to fall? ⁴ They have talked only about throwing him down from his high place. They find joy in lies. They pray with their mouth that good will come. But inside they hope that bad will come instead.

⁵ My soul is quiet and waits for God alone. My hope comes from Him. ⁶ He alone is my rock and the One Who saves me. He is my strong place. I will not be shaken. ⁷ My being safe and my honor rest with God. My safe place is in God, the rock of my strength. ⁸ Trust in Him at all times, O people. Pour out your heart before Him. God is a safe place for us.

⁹ Men who are not important come to nothing. Men who are important are a lie. When weighed they go up. Together they weigh less than a breath. ¹⁰ Do not get money in a wrong way or be proud in stolen things. If you get more riches, do not set your heart on them.

¹¹ God has spoken once. I have heard this twice: Power belongs to God. ¹² And loving-kindness belongs to You, O Lord. For You pay every man by the work he has done.

Giving Thanks to God

63 O God, You are my God. I will look for You with all my heart and strength. My soul is thirsty for You. My flesh is weak wanting You in a dry and tired land where there is no water. ² So I have seen You in the holy place. And I have seen Your power and Your shining-greatness. ³ My lips will praise You because Your loving-kindness is better than life. ⁴ So I will give honor to You as long as I live. I will lift up my hands in Your name. ⁵ My soul will be filled as with rich foods. And my mouth praises You with lips of joy.

⁶ On my bed I remember You. I think of You through the hours of the night. ⁷ For You have been my help. And I sing for joy in the shadow of Your wings. ⁸ My soul holds on to You. Your right hand holds me up.

⁹ But those who want to take my life and destroy it will go deep into the earth. ¹⁰ They will be given over to the power of the sword. They will become food for foxes. ¹¹ But the king will be full of joy in God. All who are faithful to God will be full of joy. For the mouth of those who speak lies will be stopped.

Prayer for a Safe Place

64 O God, hear my voice when I complain. Keep my life safe from the fear of those who hate me. ² Hide me from the secret plans of the sinful and from the noise of those who do bad things. ³ They have made their tongues sharp like a sword. They use poison words like arrows. ⁴ They shoot at the man without blame from their hiding place. They are quick to shoot at him and are not afraid. ⁵ They talk each other into doing sinful things. They talk about setting hidden traps. They say, “Who will see them?” ⁶ They think of ways to do bad things, and say, “We have made a perfect plan!” For the inside thoughts and the heart of a man are deep.

⁷ But God will shoot at them with an arrow. They will be hurt very soon. ⁸ They will be made to trip and fall. Their own tongue is against them. All who see them will shake their heads. ⁹ Then all men will be afraid. They will tell about the work of God. And they will think about what He has done. ¹⁰ The man who is right and good will be glad in the Lord and go to Him to be safe. All those whose hearts are right will give Him praise.

God’s Favor to Earth and Man

65 All will be quiet before You, and praise belongs to You, O God, in Zion. And our promise to You will be kept. ² O You Who hears prayer, to You all men come. ³ My sins are strong against me. But You forgive our sins. ⁴ Happy is the man You choose and bring near to You to live in Your holy place. We will be filled with the good things of Your house, Your holy house.

⁵ O God Who saves us, You answer us in the way that is right and good by Your great works that make people stand in fear. You are the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas. ⁶ You have built the mountains by Your strength. You are dressed with power. ⁷ You quiet the storm of the seas, the sound of their waves, and the noise of the people. ⁸ Those who live far away are afraid of Your great works. You make morning and evening call out for joy.

⁹ You visit the earth and water it. You make it very rich. The river of God is full of water. You give the people grain when You have made the earth ready. ¹⁰ You water where the plow has been used. You cover the seeds with earth. You make it soft with rain. And You make the plants grow well. ¹¹ You crown the year with Your good gifts. There is more than enough where You have been. ¹² The fields of the desert are filled with water. And the hills dress themselves with joy. ¹³ The grass lands are covered with birds. And the valleys are covered with grain. They call out for joy and sing.