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Psalm 51-55
New King James Version
Psalm 51-55
New King James Version
A Prayer of Repentance
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David (A)when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.
51 Have mercy upon me, O God,
According to Your lovingkindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
(B)Blot out my transgressions.
2 (C)Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions,
And my sin is always before me.
4 (D)Against You, You only, have I sinned,
And done this evil (E)in Your sight—
(F)That You may be found just [a]when You speak,
And blameless when You judge.
5 (G)Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived me.
6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts,
And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.
7 (H)Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be (I)whiter than snow.
8 Make me hear joy and gladness,
That the bones You have broken (J)may rejoice.
9 Hide Your face from my sins,
And blot out all my iniquities.
10 (K)Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me away from Your presence,
And do not take Your (L)Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And uphold me by Your (M)generous Spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners shall be converted to You.
14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
The God of my salvation,
And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips,
And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.
16 For (N)You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it;
You do not delight in burnt offering.
17 (O)The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart—
These, O God, You will not despise.
18 Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion;
Build the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then You shall be pleased with (P)the sacrifices of righteousness,
With burnt offering and whole burnt offering;
Then they shall offer bulls on Your altar.
The End of the Wicked and the Peace of the Godly
To the Chief Musician. A [b]Contemplation of David (Q)when Doeg the Edomite went and (R)told Saul, and said to him, “David has gone to the house of Ahimelech.”
52 Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man?
The goodness of God endures continually.
2 Your tongue devises destruction,
Like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
3 You love evil more than good,
Lying rather than speaking righteousness. Selah
4 You love all devouring words,
You deceitful tongue.
5 God shall likewise destroy you forever;
He shall take you away, and pluck you out of your dwelling place,
And uproot you from the land of the living. Selah
6 The righteous also shall see and fear,
And shall laugh at him, saying,
7 “Here is the man who did not make God his strength,
But trusted in the abundance of his riches,
And strengthened himself in his [c]wickedness.”
8 But I am (S)like a green olive tree in the house of God;
I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever.
9 I will praise You forever,
Because You have done it;
And in the presence of Your saints
I will wait on Your name, for it [d]is good.
Folly of the Godless, and the Restoration of Israel(T)
To the Chief Musician. Set to “Mahalath.” A [e]Contemplation of David.
53 The (U)fool has said in his heart,
“There is no God.”
They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity;
(V)There is none who does good.
2 God looks down from heaven upon the children of men,
To see if there are any who understand, who (W)seek God.
3 Every one of them has turned aside;
They have together become corrupt;
There is none who does good,
No, not one.
4 Have the workers of iniquity (X)no knowledge,
Who eat up my people as they eat bread,
And do not call upon God?
5 (Y)There they are in great fear
Where no fear was,
For God has scattered the bones of him who encamps against you;
You have put them to shame,
Because God has despised them.
6 (Z)Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion!
When God brings back [f]the captivity of His people,
Let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad.
Answered Prayer for Deliverance from Adversaries
To the Chief Musician. With [g]stringed instruments. A [h]Contemplation of David (AA)when the Ziphites went and said to Saul, “Is David not hiding with us?”
54 Save me, O God, by Your name,
And vindicate me by Your strength.
2 Hear my prayer, O God;
Give ear to the words of my mouth.
3 For strangers have risen up against me,
And oppressors have sought after my life;
They have not set God before them. Selah
4 Behold, God is my helper;
The Lord is with those who [i]uphold my life.
5 He will repay my enemies for their evil.
[j]Cut them off in Your [k]truth.
6 I will freely sacrifice to You;
I will praise Your name, O Lord, for it is good.
7 For He has delivered me out of all trouble;
(AB)And my eye has seen its desire upon my enemies.
Trust in God Concerning the Treachery of Friends
To the Chief Musician. With [l]stringed instruments. A [m]Contemplation of David.
55 Give ear to my prayer, O God,
And do not hide Yourself from my supplication.
2 Attend to me, and hear me;
I (AC)am[n] restless in my complaint, and moan noisily,
3 Because of the voice of the enemy,
Because of the oppression of the wicked;
(AD)For they bring down trouble upon me,
And in wrath they hate me.
4 (AE)My heart is severely pained within me,
And the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
5 Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me,
And horror has overwhelmed me.
6 So I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove!
I would fly away and be at rest.
7 Indeed, I would wander far off,
And remain in the wilderness. Selah
8 I would hasten my escape
From the windy storm and tempest.”
9 Destroy, O Lord, and divide their [o]tongues,
For I have seen (AF)violence and strife in the city.
10 Day and night they go around it on its walls;
(AG)Iniquity and trouble are also in the midst of it.
11 Destruction is in its midst;
(AH)Oppression and deceit do not depart from its streets.
12 (AI)For it is not an enemy who reproaches me;
Then I could bear it.
Nor is it one who hates me who has (AJ)exalted himself against me;
Then I could hide from him.
13 But it was you, a man my equal,
(AK)My companion and my acquaintance.
14 We took sweet counsel together,
And (AL)walked to the house of God in the throng.
15 Let death seize them;
Let them (AM)go down alive into [p]hell,
For wickedness is in their dwellings and among them.
16 As for me, I will call upon God,
And the Lord shall save me.
17 (AN)Evening and morning and at noon
I will pray, and cry aloud,
And He shall hear my voice.
18 He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me,
For (AO)there were many against me.
19 God will hear, and afflict them,
(AP)Even He who abides from of old. Selah
Because they do not change,
Therefore they do not fear God.
20 He has (AQ)put forth his hands against those who (AR)were at peace with him;
He has broken his [q]covenant.
21 (AS)The words of his mouth were smoother than butter,
But war was in his heart;
His words were softer than oil,
Yet they were drawn swords.
22 (AT)Cast your burden on the Lord,
And (AU)He shall sustain you;
He shall never permit the righteous to be [r]moved.
23 But You, O God, shall bring them down to the pit of destruction;
(AV)Bloodthirsty and deceitful men (AW)shall not live out half their days;
But I will trust in You.
Footnotes
- Psalm 51:4 LXX, Tg., Vg. in Your words
- Psalm 52:1 Heb. Maschil
- Psalm 52:7 Lit. desire, in evil sense
- Psalm 52:9 Or has a good reputation
- Psalm 53:1 Heb. Maschil
- Psalm 53:6 Or His captive people
- Psalm 54:1 Heb. neginoth
- Psalm 54:1 Heb. Maschil
- Psalm 54:4 sustain my soul
- Psalm 54:5 Destroy them
- Psalm 54:5 Or faithfulness
- Psalm 55:1 Heb. neginoth
- Psalm 55:1 Heb. Maschil
- Psalm 55:2 wander
- Psalm 55:9 speech, their counsel
- Psalm 55:15 Or Sheol
- Psalm 55:20 treaty
- Psalm 55:22 shaken
Psalm 51-55
New International Version
Psalm 51-55
New International Version
Psalm 51[a]
For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.(A)
1 Have mercy(B) on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;(C)
according to your great compassion(D)
blot out(E) my transgressions.(F)
2 Wash away(G) all my iniquity
and cleanse(H) me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.(I)
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned(J)
and done what is evil in your sight;(K)
so you are right in your verdict
and justified when you judge.(L)
5 Surely I was sinful(M) at birth,(N)
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
you taught me wisdom(O) in that secret place.(P)
7 Cleanse(Q) me with hyssop,(R) and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.(S)
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;(T)
let the bones(U) you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins(V)
and blot out(W) all my iniquity.
10 Create in me a pure heart,(X) O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.(Y)
11 Do not cast me(Z) from your presence(AA)
or take your Holy Spirit(AB) from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation(AC)
and grant me a willing spirit,(AD) to sustain me.(AE)
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,(AF)
so that sinners(AG) will turn back to you.(AH)
14 Deliver me(AI) from the guilt of bloodshed,(AJ) O God,
you who are God my Savior,(AK)
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.(AL)
15 Open my lips, Lord,(AM)
and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 You do not delight in sacrifice,(AN) or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 My sacrifice,(AO) O God, is[b] a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart(AP)
you, God, will not despise.
18 May it please you to prosper Zion,(AQ)
to build up the walls of Jerusalem.(AR)
19 Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,(AS)
in burnt offerings(AT) offered whole;
then bulls(AU) will be offered on your altar.
Psalm 52[c]
For the director of music. A maskil[d] of David. When Doeg the Edomite(AV) had gone to Saul and told him: “David has gone to the house of Ahimelek.”
1 Why do you boast of evil, you mighty hero?
Why do you boast(AW) all day long,(AX)
you who are a disgrace in the eyes of God?
2 You who practice deceit,(AY)
your tongue plots destruction;(AZ)
it is like a sharpened razor.(BA)
3 You love evil(BB) rather than good,
falsehood(BC) rather than speaking the truth.[e]
4 You love every harmful word,
you deceitful tongue!(BD)
5 Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin:
He will snatch you up and pluck(BE) you from your tent;
he will uproot(BF) you from the land of the living.(BG)
6 The righteous will see and fear;
they will laugh(BH) at you, saying,
7 “Here now is the man
who did not make God his stronghold(BI)
but trusted in his great wealth(BJ)
and grew strong by destroying others!”
8 But I am like an olive tree(BK)
flourishing in the house of God;
I trust(BL) in God’s unfailing love
for ever and ever.
9 For what you have done I will always praise you(BM)
in the presence of your faithful people.(BN)
And I will hope in your name,(BO)
for your name is good.(BP)
Psalm 53[f](BQ)
For the director of music. According to mahalath.[g] A maskil[h] of David.
1 The fool(BR) says in his heart,
“There is no God.”(BS)
They are corrupt, and their ways are vile;
there is no one who does good.
2 God looks down from heaven(BT)
on all mankind
to see if there are any who understand,(BU)
any who seek God.(BV)
3 Everyone has turned away, all have become corrupt;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.(BW)
4 Do all these evildoers know nothing?
They devour my people as though eating bread;
they never call on God.
5 But there they are, overwhelmed with dread,
where there was nothing to dread.(BX)
God scattered the bones(BY) of those who attacked you;(BZ)
you put them to shame,(CA) for God despised them.(CB)
6 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
When God restores his people,
let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!
Psalm 54[i]
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil[j] of David. When the Ziphites(CC) had gone to Saul and said, “Is not David hiding among us?”
1 Save me(CD), O God, by your name;(CE)
vindicate me by your might.(CF)
2 Hear my prayer, O God;(CG)
listen to the words of my mouth.
3 Arrogant foes are attacking me;(CH)
ruthless people(CI) are trying to kill me(CJ)—
people without regard for God.[k](CK)
6 I will sacrifice a freewill offering(CP) to you;
I will praise(CQ) your name, Lord, for it is good.(CR)
7 You have delivered me(CS) from all my troubles,
and my eyes have looked in triumph on my foes.(CT)
Psalm 55[l]
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil[m] of David.
1 Listen to my prayer, O God,
do not ignore my plea;(CU)
2 hear me and answer me.(CV)
My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught(CW)
3 because of what my enemy is saying,
because of the threats of the wicked;
for they bring down suffering on me(CX)
and assail(CY) me in their anger.(CZ)
4 My heart is in anguish(DA) within me;
the terrors(DB) of death have fallen on me.
5 Fear and trembling(DC) have beset me;
horror(DD) has overwhelmed me.
6 I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove!
I would fly away and be at rest.
7 I would flee far away
and stay in the desert;[n](DE)
8 I would hurry to my place of shelter,(DF)
far from the tempest and storm.(DG)”
9 Lord, confuse the wicked, confound their words,(DH)
for I see violence and strife(DI) in the city.(DJ)
10 Day and night they prowl(DK) about on its walls;
malice and abuse are within it.
11 Destructive forces(DL) are at work in the city;
threats and lies(DM) never leave its streets.
12 If an enemy were insulting me,
I could endure it;
if a foe were rising against me,
I could hide.
13 But it is you, a man like myself,
my companion, my close friend,(DN)
14 with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship(DO)
at the house of God,(DP)
as we walked about
among the worshipers.
15 Let death take my enemies by surprise;(DQ)
let them go down alive to the realm of the dead,(DR)
for evil finds lodging among them.
16 As for me, I call to God,
and the Lord saves me.
17 Evening,(DS) morning(DT) and noon(DU)
I cry out in distress,
and he hears my voice.
18 He rescues me unharmed
from the battle waged against me,
even though many oppose me.
19 God, who is enthroned from of old,(DV)
who does not change—
he will hear(DW) them and humble them,
because they have no fear of God.(DX)
20 My companion attacks his friends;(DY)
he violates his covenant.(DZ)
21 His talk is smooth as butter,(EA)
yet war is in his heart;
his words are more soothing than oil,(EB)
yet they are drawn swords.(EC)
22 Cast your cares on the Lord
and he will sustain you;(ED)
he will never let
the righteous be shaken.(EE)
23 But you, God, will bring down the wicked
into the pit(EF) of decay;
the bloodthirsty and deceitful(EG)
will not live out half their days.(EH)
But as for me, I trust in you.(EI)
Footnotes
- Psalm 51:1 In Hebrew texts 51:1-19 is numbered 51:3-21.
- Psalm 51:17 Or The sacrifices of God are
- Psalm 52:1 In Hebrew texts 52:1-9 is numbered 52:3-11.
- Psalm 52:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 52:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 5.
- Psalm 53:1 In Hebrew texts 53:1-6 is numbered 53:2-7.
- Psalm 53:1 Title: Probably a musical term
- Psalm 53:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 54:1 In Hebrew texts 54:1-7 is numbered 54:3-9.
- Psalm 54:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 54:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
- Psalm 55:1 In Hebrew texts 55:1-23 is numbered 55:2-24.
- Psalm 55:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 55:7 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and in the middle of verse 19.
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.