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Psalm 55-57
New American Standard Bible

Prayer for the Destruction of the Treacherous.

For the music director; on stringed instruments. A [a]Maskil of David.

55 (A)Listen to my prayer, God;
And (B)do not hide Yourself from my pleading.
2 Give Your (C)attention to me and answer me;
I am restless in my (D)complaint and [b](E)severely distracted,
3 Because of the voice of the enemy,
Because of the (F)pressure of the wicked;
For they (G)bring down [c]trouble upon me
And in anger they (H)hold a grudge against me.

4 My (I)heart is in anguish within me,
And the terrors of (J)death have fallen upon me.
5 Fear and (K)trembling come upon me,
And [d](L)horror has [e]overwhelmed me.
6 I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove!
I would fly away and [f](M)be at rest.
7 Behold, I would flee far away,
I would (N)spend my nights in the wilderness. Selah
8 I would hurry to my place of refuge
From the (O)stormy wind and heavy gale.”

9 Confuse them, Lord, (P)divide their tongues,
For I have seen (Q)violence and strife in the city.
10 Day and night they go around her upon her walls,
And evil and harm are in her midst.
11 (R)Destruction is in her midst;
(S)Oppression and deceit do not depart from her [g]streets.

12 For it is (T)not an enemy who taunts me,
Then I could endure it;
Nor is it one who hates me who (U)has exalted himself against me,
Then I could hide myself from him.
13 But it is you, a man [h]my equal,
My (V)companion and my (W)confidant;
14 We who had sweet [i]fellowship together,
(X)Walked in the house of God among the commotion.
15 May [j]death come (Y)deceitfully upon them;
May they (Z)go down alive to [k]Sheol,
For evil is in their dwelling, in their midst.

16 As for me, I shall (AA)call upon God,
And the Lord will save me.
17 (AB)Evening and (AC)morning and at (AD)noon, I will complain and moan,
And He will hear my voice.
18 He will (AE)redeem my soul in peace [l]from the battle which is against me,
For they are (AF)many who are aggressive toward me.
19 God will (AG)hear and humiliate them—
Even the one (AH)who [m]sits enthroned from ancient times— Selah
With whom there [n]is no change,
And who (AI)do not fear God.
20 He has put forth his hands against (AJ)those who were at peace with him;
He has [o](AK)violated his covenant.
21 His [p]speech was (AL)smoother than butter,
But his heart was war;
His words were (AM)softer than oil,
Yet they were drawn (AN)swords.

22 (AO)Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you;
(AP)He will never allow the righteous to [q](AQ)be shaken.
23 But You, God, will bring them down to the (AR)pit of destruction;
(AS)Men of bloodshed and deceit will (AT)not live out half their days.
But I will (AU)trust in You.

Pleading for Help and Grateful Trust in God.

For the music director; according to [r]Jonath elem rehokim. A [s]Mikhtam of David, [t]when the Philistines seized him in Gath.

56 Be gracious to me, God, for a man has [u](AV)trampled upon me;
[v]Fighting all day long he (AW)oppresses me.
2 My enemies have (AX)trampled upon me all day long,
For [w]they are many who (AY)fight proudly against me.
3 [x]When I am (AZ)afraid,
[y]I will (BA)put my trust in You.
4 (BB)In God, whose word I praise,
In God I have put my trust;
I shall not be afraid.
(BC)What can mere [z]mortals do to me?
5 All day long they (BD)distort my words;
All their [aa](BE)thoughts are against me for evil.
6 They [ab](BF)attack, they lurk,
They (BG)watch my [ac]steps,
As they have (BH)waited to take my [ad]life.
7 Because of their wickedness, will there be an (BI)escape for them?
In anger (BJ)make the peoples fall down, God!

8 You (BK)have taken account of my [ae]miseries;
Put my (BL)tears in Your bottle.
Are they not in (BM)Your book?
9 Then my enemies will (BN)turn back (BO)on the day when I call;
This I know, [af]that (BP)God is for me.
10 In God, whose word I praise,
In the Lord, whose word I praise,
11 In God I have put my [ag]trust, I shall not be afraid.
What can mankind do to me?
12 Your (BQ)vows are binding upon me, God;
I will render thanksgiving offerings to You.
13 For You have (BR)saved my soul from death,
[ah]Indeed (BS)my feet from stumbling,
So that I may (BT)walk before God
In the (BU)light of the [ai]living.

Prayer for Rescue from Persecutors.

For the music director; set to [aj]Al-tashheth. A [ak]Mikhtam of David, [al]when he fled from Saul in the cave.

57 Be gracious to me, God, be gracious to me,
For my soul (BV)takes refuge in You;
And in the (BW)shadow of Your wings I will take refuge
Until destruction (BX)passes by.
2 I will cry to God Most High,
To God who (BY)accomplishes all things for me.
3 He will (BZ)send from heaven and save me;
He rebukes the one who [am](CA)tramples upon me. Selah
God will send His [an](CB)favor and His truth.

4 My soul is among (CC)lions;
I must lie among those who devour,
Among sons of mankind whose (CD)teeth are spears and arrows,
And their (CE)tongue is a sharp sword.
5 (CF)Be exalted above the heavens, God;
May Your glory be above all the earth.
6 They have prepared a (CG)net for my steps;
My soul is (CH)bowed down;
They (CI)dug a pit before me;
They themselves have (CJ)fallen into the midst of it. Selah

7 (CK)My (CL)heart is steadfast, God, my heart is steadfast;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises!
8 Awake, (CM)my glory!
Awake, (CN)harp and lyre!
I will awaken the dawn.
9 (CO)I will praise You, Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to You among the [ao]nations.
10 For Your (CP)goodness is great to the heavens
And Your [ap]truth to the clouds.
11 (CQ)Be exalted above the heavens, God;
May Your glory be above all the earth.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 55 Title Possibly Contemplative; or Didactic; or Skillful Psalm
  2. Psalm 55:2 Another reading is I must moan
  3. Psalm 55:3 Or wickedness
  4. Psalm 55:5 Lit shuddering
  5. Psalm 55:5 Lit covered
  6. Psalm 55:6 Lit settle down
  7. Psalm 55:11 Or plaza
  8. Psalm 55:13 Lit according to my valuation
  9. Psalm 55:14 Lit counsel; or intimacy
  10. Psalm 55:15 Another reading is devastation be upon them
  11. Psalm 55:15 I.e., the netherworld
  12. Psalm 55:18 Or so that none may approach me
  13. Psalm 55:19 Or remains from
  14. Psalm 55:19 Lit are no changes
  15. Psalm 55:20 Lit profaned
  16. Psalm 55:21 Lit mouth
  17. Psalm 55:22 Or totter
  18. Psalm 56 Title Or The silent dove of those who are far off; or The dove of the distant terebinths
  19. Psalm 56 Title Possibly Epigrammatic Poem; or Atonement Psalm
  20. Psalm 56 Title 1 Sam 21:10, 11
  21. Psalm 56:1 Or snapped at
  22. Psalm 56:1 Or A fighting man
  23. Psalm 56:2 Or many are fighting
  24. Psalm 56:3 Lit The day
  25. Psalm 56:3 Or I am one who puts
  26. Psalm 56:4 Lit flesh
  27. Psalm 56:5 Or purposes
  28. Psalm 56:6 Or stir up strife
  29. Psalm 56:6 Lit heels
  30. Psalm 56:6 Lit soul
  31. Psalm 56:8 Or wanderings
  32. Psalm 56:9 Or because
  33. Psalm 56:11 Or trust without fear
  34. Psalm 56:13 Or Have You not delivered
  35. Psalm 56:13 Or life
  36. Psalm 57 Title Lit Do Not Destroy
  37. Psalm 57 Title Possibly, Epigrammatic Poem; or Atonement Psalm
  38. Psalm 57 Title 1 Sam 22:1; 24:3
  39. Psalm 57:3 Or snaps at
  40. Psalm 57:3 Or faithfulness
  41. Psalm 57:9 Lit peoples
  42. Psalm 57:10 Or faithfulness
Listen to Psalm 55-57
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Psalm 55-57
New International Version

Psalm 55[a]

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil[b] of David.

1 Listen to my prayer, O God,
    do not ignore my plea;(A)
2     hear me and answer me.(B)
My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught(C)
3     because of what my enemy is saying,
    because of the threats of the wicked;
for they bring down suffering on me(D)
    and assail(E) me in their anger.(F)

4 My heart is in anguish(G) within me;
    the terrors(H) of death have fallen on me.
5 Fear and trembling(I) have beset me;
    horror(J) 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;[c](K)
8 I would hurry to my place of shelter,(L)
    far from the tempest and storm.(M)”

9 Lord, confuse the wicked, confound their words,(N)
    for I see violence and strife(O) in the city.(P)
10 Day and night they prowl(Q) about on its walls;
    malice and abuse are within it.
11 Destructive forces(R) are at work in the city;
    threats and lies(S) 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,(T)
14 with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship(U)
    at the house of God,(V)
as we walked about
    among the worshipers.

15 Let death take my enemies by surprise;(W)
    let them go down alive to the realm of the dead,(X)
    for evil finds lodging among them.

16 As for me, I call to God,
    and the Lord saves me.
17 Evening,(Y) morning(Z) and noon(AA)
    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,(AB)
    who does not change—
he will hear(AC) them and humble them,
    because they have no fear of God.(AD)

20 My companion attacks his friends;(AE)
    he violates his covenant.(AF)
21 His talk is smooth as butter,(AG)
    yet war is in his heart;
his words are more soothing than oil,(AH)
    yet they are drawn swords.(AI)

22 Cast your cares on the Lord
    and he will sustain you;(AJ)
he will never let
    the righteous be shaken.(AK)
23 But you, God, will bring down the wicked
    into the pit(AL) of decay;
the bloodthirsty and deceitful(AM)
    will not live out half their days.(AN)

But as for me, I trust in you.(AO)

Psalm 56[d]

For the director of music. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” Of David. A miktam.[e] When the Philistines had seized him in Gath.

1 Be merciful to me,(AP) my God,
    for my enemies are in hot pursuit;(AQ)
    all day long they press their attack.(AR)
2 My adversaries pursue me all day long;(AS)
    in their pride many are attacking me.(AT)

3 When I am afraid,(AU) I put my trust in you.(AV)
4     In God, whose word I praise—(AW)
in God I trust and am not afraid.(AX)
    What can mere mortals do to me?(AY)

5 All day long they twist my words;(AZ)
    all their schemes are for my ruin.
6 They conspire,(BA) they lurk,
    they watch my steps,(BB)
    hoping to take my life.(BC)
7 Because of their wickedness do not[f] let them escape;(BD)
    in your anger, God, bring the nations down.(BE)

8 Record my misery;
    list my tears on your scroll[g](BF)—
    are they not in your record?(BG)
9 Then my enemies will turn back(BH)
    when I call for help.(BI)
    By this I will know that God is for me.(BJ)

10 In God, whose word I praise,
    in the Lord, whose word I praise—
11 in God I trust and am not afraid.
    What can man do to me?

12 I am under vows(BK) to you, my God;
    I will present my thank offerings to you.
13 For you have delivered me from death(BL)
    and my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before God
    in the light of life.(BM)

Psalm 57[h](BN)

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.[i] When he had fled from Saul into the cave.(BO)

1 Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me,
    for in you I take refuge.(BP)
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings(BQ)
    until the disaster has passed.(BR)

2 I cry out to God Most High,
    to God, who vindicates me.(BS)
3 He sends from heaven and saves me,(BT)
    rebuking those who hotly pursue me—[j](BU)
    God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.(BV)

4 I am in the midst of lions;(BW)
    I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts—
men whose teeth are spears and arrows,
    whose tongues are sharp swords.(BX)

5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
    let your glory be over all the earth.(BY)

6 They spread a net for my feet(BZ)—
    I was bowed down(CA) in distress.
They dug a pit(CB) in my path—
    but they have fallen into it themselves.(CC)

7 My heart, O God, is steadfast,
    my heart is steadfast;(CD)
    I will sing and make music.
8 Awake, my soul!
    Awake, harp and lyre!(CE)
    I will awaken the dawn.

9 I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
    I will sing of you among the peoples.
10 For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
    your faithfulness reaches to the skies.(CF)

11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;(CG)
    let your glory be over all the earth.(CH)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 55:1 In Hebrew texts 55:1-23 is numbered 55:2-24.
  2. Psalm 55:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  3. Psalm 55:7 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and in the middle of verse 19.
  4. Psalm 56:1 In Hebrew texts 56:1-13 is numbered 56:2-14.
  5. Psalm 56:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  6. Psalm 56:7 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text does not have do not.
  7. Psalm 56:8 Or misery; / put my tears in your wineskin
  8. Psalm 57:1 In Hebrew texts 57:1-11 is numbered 57:2-12.
  9. Psalm 57:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  10. Psalm 57:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 6.
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