Psalm 3-5

English Standard Version

Save Me, O My God

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

3 O Lord, ^(B)how many are my foes!
Many are ^(C)rising against me;
²many are saying of my soul,
^(D)“There is no salvation for him in God.” Selah^[a]

³But you, O Lord, are ^(E)a shield ^(F)about me,
my glory, and ^(G)the lifter of my head.
⁴I ^(H)cried aloud to the Lord,
and he ^(I)answered me from his ^(J)holy hill. Selah

⁵I ^(K)lay down and slept;
I woke again, for the Lord sustained me.
⁶I ^(L)will not be afraid of many thousands of people
who have ^(M)set themselves against me all around.

⁷^(N)Arise, O Lord!
Save me, O my God!
For you ^(O)strike all my enemies on the cheek;
you ^(P)break the teeth of the wicked.

⁸^(Q)Salvation belongs to the Lord;
your blessing be on your people! Selah

Answer Me When I Call

To the ^(R)choirmaster: with ^(S)stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.

4 Answer me when I call, O God of my ^(T)righteousness!
You have ^(U)given me relief when I was in distress.
Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!

²O men,^[b] how long shall my honor be turned into shame?
How long will you love vain words and seek after ^(V)lies? Selah
³But know that the Lord has ^(W)set apart ^(X)the godly for himself;
the Lord hears when I call to him.

⁴^(Y)Be angry,^[c] and do not sin;
^(Z)ponder in your own hearts ^(AA)on your beds, and be silent. Selah
⁵Offer ^(AB)right sacrifices,
and put your ^(AC)trust in the Lord.

⁶There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?
^(AD)Lift up ^(AE)the light of your face upon us, O Lord!”
⁷You have put ^(AF)more joy in my heart
than they have when their grain and wine abound.

⁸In peace I will both ^(AG)lie down and sleep;
for you alone, O Lord, make me ^(AH)dwell in safety.

Lead Me in Your Righteousness

To the choirmaster: for the flutes. A Psalm of David.

5 Give ear to my words, O Lord;
    consider my ^(AI)groaning.
²Give attention to the sound of my cry,
    my ^(AJ)King and my God,
    for ^(AK)to you do I pray.
³O Lord, in ^(AL)the morning you hear my voice;
    in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you^[d] and ^(AM)watch.

⁴For you are not a God who delights in wickedness;
    evil may not dwell with you.
⁵The ^(AN)boastful shall not ^(AO)stand before your eyes;
    you ^(AP)hate all evildoers.
⁶You destroy those who speak ^(AQ)lies;
    the Lord abhors ^(AR)the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

⁷But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love,
    will enter your house.
I will ^(AS)bow down ^(AT)toward your ^(AU)holy temple
    in the fear of you.
⁸^(AV)Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness
    because of my enemies;
    ^(AW)make your way straight before me.

⁹For there is no truth in their mouth;
    their inmost self is ^(AX)destruction;
^(AY)their throat is ^(AZ)an open grave;
    they ^(BA)flatter with their tongue.
¹⁰^(BB)Make them bear their guilt, O God;
    let them ^(BC)fall by their own counsels;
because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out,
    for they have rebelled against you.

¹¹But let all who ^(BD)take refuge in you ^(BE)rejoice;
    let them ever sing for joy,
and spread your protection over them,
    that those who love your name may ^(BF)exult in you.
¹²For you ^(BG)bless the righteous, O Lord;
    you ^(BH)cover him with favor as with ^(BI)a shield.

Footnotes

Psalm 3:2 The meaning of the Hebrew word Selah, used frequently in the Psalms, is uncertain. It may be a musical or liturgical direction
Psalm 4:2 Or O men of rank
Psalm 4:4 Or Be agitated
Psalm 5:3 Or I direct my prayer to you

Psalm 3-5

New International Version

Psalm 3^[a]

A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom.^(A)

¹Lord, how many are my foes!
How many rise up against me!
²Many are saying of me,
“God will not deliver him.^(B)”^[b]

³But you, Lord, are a shield^(C) around me,
my glory, the One who lifts my head high.^(D)
⁴I call out to the Lord,^(E)
and he answers me from his holy mountain.^(F)

⁵I lie down and sleep;^(G)
I wake again,^(H) because the Lord sustains me.
⁶I will not fear^(I) though tens of thousands
assail me on every side.^(J)

⁷Arise,^(K) Lord!
Deliver me,^(L) my God!
Strike^(M) all my enemies on the jaw;
break the teeth^(N) of the wicked.

⁸From the Lord comes deliverance.^(O)
May your blessing^(P) be on your people.

Psalm 4^[c]

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of David.

¹Answer 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)

²How long will you people turn my glory^(U) into shame?^(V)
How long will you love delusions and seek false gods^[d]?^[e]^(W)
³Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant^(X) for himself;
the Lord hears^(Y) when I call to him.

⁴Tremble and^[f] do not sin;^(Z)
    when you are on your beds,^(AA)
    search your hearts and be silent.
⁵Offer the sacrifices of the righteous
    and trust in the Lord.^(AB)

⁶Many, Lord, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?”
Let the light of your face shine on us.^(AC)
⁷Fill my heart^(AD) with joy^(AE)
when their grain and new wine^(AF) abound.

⁸In peace^(AG) I will lie down and sleep,^(AH)
for you alone, Lord,
make me dwell in safety.^(AI)

Psalm 5^[g]

For the director of music. For pipes. A psalm of David.

¹Listen^(AJ) to my words, Lord,
    consider my lament.^(AK)
²Hear my cry for help,^(AL)
    my King and my God,^(AM)
    for to you I pray.

³In the morning,^(AN) Lord, you hear my voice;
    in the morning I lay my requests before you
    and wait expectantly.^(AO)
⁴For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness;
    with you, evil people^(AP) are not welcome.
⁵The 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.
⁷But I, by your great love,
    can come into your house;
in reverence^(AU) I bow down^(AV)
    toward your holy temple.^(AW)

⁸Lead me, Lord, in your righteousness^(AX)
    because of my enemies—
    make your way straight^(AY) before me.
⁹Not 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)
¹⁰Declare them guilty, O God!
    Let their intrigues be their downfall.
Banish them for their many sins,^(BB)
    for they have rebelled^(BC) against you.
¹¹But 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)

¹²Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous;^(BG)
you surround them^(BH) with your favor as with a shield.^(BI)

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.

English Standard Version (ESV)

New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 3-5

English Standard Version

Save Me, O My God

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

Answer Me When I Call

To the ^(R)choirmaster: with ^(S)stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.

Lead Me in Your Righteousness

To the choirmaster: for the flutes. A Psalm of David.

Footnotes

Cross references

Psalm 3-5

New International Version

Psalm 3^[a]

A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom.^(A)

Psalm 4^[c]

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of David.

Psalm 5^[g]

For the director of music. For pipes. A psalm of David.

Footnotes

Cross references

More on the NIV

Psalm 3-5 English Standard Version

Save Me, O My God

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

Answer Me When I Call

To the (R)choirmaster: with (S)stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.

Lead Me in Your Righteousness

To the choirmaster: for the flutes. A Psalm of David.

Footnotes

Cross references

Psalm 3-5 New International Version

Psalm 3[a]

A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom.(A)

Psalm 4[c]

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of David.

Psalm 5[g]

For the director of music. For pipes. A psalm of David.

Footnotes

Cross references

More on the NIV

Psalm 3-5

English Standard Version

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

To the ^(R)choirmaster: with ^(S)stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.

Psalm 3-5

New International Version

Psalm 3^[a]

A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom.^(A)

Psalm 4^[c]

Psalm 5^[g]