11 In the Lord put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?

For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.

If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?

The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord's throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.

The Lord trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.

Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.

For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.

12 Help, Lord; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.

They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.

The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:

Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?

For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the Lord; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.

The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.

13 How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?

How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?

Consider and hear me, O Lord my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;

Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.

But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.

I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.

14 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.

They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the Lord.

There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous.

Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the Lord is his refuge.

Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the Lord bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

15 Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?

He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.

He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.

In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.

He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.

16 Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.

O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee;

But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.

Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.

The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.

The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.

I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.

I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.

10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

17 Hear the right, O Lord, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.

Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.

Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.

Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.

Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.

I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.

Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.

Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,

From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.

10 They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.

11 They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;

12 Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.

13 Arise, O Lord, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:

14 From men which are thy hand, O Lord, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.

15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

18 I will love thee, O Lord, my strength.

The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.

The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.

In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.

Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.

There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.

He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet.

10 And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.

11 He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.

12 At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire.

13 The Lord also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire.

14 Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.

15 Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.

16 He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.

17 He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.

18 They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the Lord was my stay.

19 He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

20 The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.

21 For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God.

22 For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me.

23 I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.

24 Therefore hath the Lord recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.

25 With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;

26 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.

27 For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks.

28 For thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.

29 For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.

30 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

31 For who is God save the Lord? or who is a rock save our God?

32 It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.

33 He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places.

34 He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.

35 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.

36 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.

37 I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed.

38 I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet.

39 For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.

40 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me.

41 They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the Lord, but he answered them not.

42 Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets.

43 Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; and thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have not known shall serve me.

44 As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me.

45 The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places.

46 The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.

47 It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me.

48 He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.

49 Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.

50 Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore.

Psalm 11

For the director of music. Of David.

In the Lord I take refuge.(A)
    How then can you say to me:
    “Flee(B) like a bird to your mountain.(C)
For look, the wicked bend their bows;(D)
    they set their arrows(E) against the strings
to shoot from the shadows(F)
    at the upright in heart.(G)
When the foundations(H) are being destroyed,
    what can the righteous do?”

The Lord is in his holy temple;(I)
    the Lord is on his heavenly throne.(J)
He observes everyone on earth;(K)
    his eyes examine(L) them.
The Lord examines the righteous,(M)
    but the wicked, those who love violence,
    he hates with a passion.(N)
On the wicked he will rain
    fiery coals and burning sulfur;(O)
    a scorching wind(P) will be their lot.

For the Lord is righteous,(Q)
    he loves justice;(R)
    the upright(S) will see his face.(T)

Psalm 12[a]

For the director of music. According to sheminith.[b] A psalm of David.

Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore;(U)
    those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.
Everyone lies(V) to their neighbor;
    they flatter with their lips
    but harbor deception in their hearts.(W)

May the Lord silence all flattering lips(X)
    and every boastful tongue—(Y)
those who say,
    “By our tongues we will prevail;(Z)
    our own lips will defend us—who is lord over us?”

“Because the poor are plundered(AA) and the needy groan,(AB)
    I will now arise,(AC)” says the Lord.
    “I will protect them(AD) from those who malign them.”
And the words of the Lord are flawless,(AE)
    like silver purified(AF) in a crucible,(AG)
    like gold[c] refined seven times.

You, Lord, will keep the needy safe(AH)
    and will protect us forever from the wicked,(AI)
who freely strut(AJ) about
    when what is vile is honored by the human race.

Psalm 13[d]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

How long,(AK) Lord? Will you forget me(AL) forever?
    How long will you hide your face(AM) from me?
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts(AN)
    and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
    How long will my enemy triumph over me?(AO)

Look on me(AP) and answer,(AQ) Lord my God.
    Give light to my eyes,(AR) or I will sleep in death,(AS)
and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,(AT)
    and my foes will rejoice when I fall.(AU)

But I trust in your unfailing love;(AV)
    my heart rejoices in your salvation.(AW)
I will sing(AX) the Lord’s praise,
    for he has been good to me.

Psalm 14(AY)

For the director of music. Of David.

The fool[e] says in his heart,
    “There is no God.”(AZ)
They are corrupt, their deeds are vile;
    there is no one who does good.

The Lord looks down from heaven(BA)
    on all mankind
to see if there are any who understand,(BB)
    any who seek God.(BC)
All have turned away,(BD) all have become corrupt;(BE)
    there is no one who does good,(BF)
    not even one.(BG)

Do all these evildoers know nothing?(BH)

They devour my people(BI) as though eating bread;
    they never call on the Lord.(BJ)
But there they are, overwhelmed with dread,
    for God is present in the company of the righteous.
You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor,
    but the Lord is their refuge.(BK)

Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!(BL)
    When the Lord restores(BM) his people,
    let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!

Psalm 15

A psalm of David.

Lord, who may dwell(BN) in your sacred tent?(BO)
    Who may live on your holy mountain?(BP)

The one whose walk is blameless,(BQ)
    who does what is righteous,
    who speaks the truth(BR) from their heart;
whose tongue utters no slander,(BS)
    who does no wrong to a neighbor,
    and casts no slur on others;
who despises a vile person
    but honors(BT) those who fear the Lord;
who keeps an oath(BU) even when it hurts,
    and does not change their mind;
who lends money to the poor without interest;(BV)
    who does not accept a bribe(BW) against the innocent.

Whoever does these things
    will never be shaken.(BX)

Psalm 16

A miktam[f] of David.

Keep me safe,(BY) my God,
    for in you I take refuge.(BZ)

I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;(CA)
    apart from you I have no good thing.”(CB)
I say of the holy people(CC) who are in the land,(CD)
    “They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.”
Those who run after other gods(CE) will suffer(CF) more and more.
    I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods
    or take up their names(CG) on my lips.

Lord, you alone are my portion(CH) and my cup;(CI)
    you make my lot(CJ) secure.
The boundary lines(CK) have fallen for me in pleasant places;
    surely I have a delightful inheritance.(CL)
I will praise the Lord, who counsels me;(CM)
    even at night(CN) my heart instructs me.
I keep my eyes always on the Lord.
    With him at my right hand,(CO) I will not be shaken.(CP)

Therefore my heart is glad(CQ) and my tongue rejoices;
    my body also will rest secure,(CR)
10 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,(CS)
    nor will you let your faithful[g] one(CT) see decay.(CU)
11 You make known to me the path of life;(CV)
    you will fill me with joy in your presence,(CW)
    with eternal pleasures(CX) at your right hand.(CY)

Psalm 17

A prayer of David.

Hear me,(CZ) Lord, my plea is just;
    listen to my cry.(DA)
Hear(DB) my prayer—
    it does not rise from deceitful lips.(DC)
Let my vindication(DD) come from you;
    may your eyes see what is right.(DE)

Though you probe my heart,(DF)
    though you examine me at night and test me,(DG)
you will find that I have planned no evil;(DH)
    my mouth has not transgressed.(DI)
Though people tried to bribe me,
    I have kept myself from the ways of the violent
    through what your lips have commanded.
My steps have held to your paths;(DJ)
    my feet have not stumbled.(DK)

I call on you, my God, for you will answer me;(DL)
    turn your ear to me(DM) and hear my prayer.(DN)
Show me the wonders of your great love,(DO)
    you who save by your right hand(DP)
    those who take refuge(DQ) in you from their foes.
Keep me(DR) as the apple of your eye;(DS)
    hide me(DT) in the shadow of your wings(DU)
from the wicked who are out to destroy me,
    from my mortal enemies who surround me.(DV)

10 They close up their callous hearts,(DW)
    and their mouths speak with arrogance.(DX)
11 They have tracked me down, they now surround me,(DY)
    with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground.
12 They are like a lion(DZ) hungry for prey,(EA)
    like a fierce lion crouching in cover.

13 Rise up,(EB) Lord, confront them, bring them down;(EC)
    with your sword rescue me from the wicked.
14 By your hand save me from such people, Lord,
    from those of this world(ED) whose reward is in this life.(EE)
May what you have stored up for the wicked fill their bellies;
    may their children gorge themselves on it,
    and may there be leftovers(EF) for their little ones.

15 As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face;
    when I awake,(EG) I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.(EH)

Psalm 18[h](EI)

For the director of music. Of David the servant of the Lord. He sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said:

I love you, Lord, my strength.(EJ)

The Lord is my rock,(EK) my fortress(EL) and my deliverer;(EM)
    my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,(EN)
    my shield[i](EO) and the horn[j] of my salvation,(EP) my stronghold.

I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise,(EQ)
    and I have been saved from my enemies.(ER)
The cords of death(ES) entangled me;
    the torrents(ET) of destruction overwhelmed me.
The cords of the grave coiled around me;
    the snares of death(EU) confronted me.

In my distress(EV) I called to the Lord;(EW)
    I cried to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice;(EX)
    my cry came(EY) before him, into his ears.
The earth trembled(EZ) and quaked,(FA)
    and the foundations of the mountains shook;(FB)
    they trembled because he was angry.(FC)
Smoke rose from his nostrils;(FD)
    consuming fire(FE) came from his mouth,
    burning coals(FF) blazed out of it.
He parted the heavens and came down;(FG)
    dark clouds(FH) were under his feet.
10 He mounted the cherubim(FI) and flew;
    he soared(FJ) on the wings of the wind.(FK)
11 He made darkness his covering,(FL) his canopy(FM) around him—
    the dark rain clouds of the sky.
12 Out of the brightness of his presence(FN) clouds advanced,
    with hailstones(FO) and bolts of lightning.(FP)
13 The Lord thundered(FQ) from heaven;
    the voice of the Most High resounded.[k]
14 He shot his arrows(FR) and scattered the enemy,
    with great bolts of lightning(FS) he routed them.(FT)
15 The valleys of the sea were exposed
    and the foundations(FU) of the earth laid bare
at your rebuke,(FV) Lord,
    at the blast of breath from your nostrils.(FW)

16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
    he drew me out of deep waters.(FX)
17 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,(FY)
    from my foes, who were too strong for me.(FZ)
18 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,(GA)
    but the Lord was my support.(GB)
19 He brought me out into a spacious place;(GC)
    he rescued me because he delighted in me.(GD)

20 The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness;(GE)
    according to the cleanness of my hands(GF) he has rewarded me.(GG)
21 For I have kept the ways of the Lord;(GH)
    I am not guilty of turning(GI) from my God.
22 All his laws are before me;(GJ)
    I have not turned away from his decrees.
23 I have been blameless(GK) before him
    and have kept myself from sin.
24 The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness,(GL)
    according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.

25 To the faithful(GM) you show yourself faithful,(GN)
    to the blameless you show yourself blameless,
26 to the pure(GO) you show yourself pure,
    but to the devious you show yourself shrewd.(GP)
27 You save the humble(GQ)
    but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.(GR)
28 You, Lord, keep my lamp(GS) burning;
    my God turns my darkness into light.(GT)
29 With your help(GU) I can advance against a troop[l];
    with my God I can scale a wall.

30 As for God, his way is perfect:(GV)
    The Lord’s word is flawless;(GW)
    he shields(GX) all who take refuge(GY) in him.
31 For who is God besides the Lord?(GZ)
    And who is the Rock(HA) except our God?
32 It is God who arms me with strength(HB)
    and keeps my way secure.(HC)
33 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;(HD)
    he causes me to stand on the heights.(HE)
34 He trains my hands for battle;(HF)
    my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35 You make your saving help my shield,
    and your right hand sustains(HG) me;
    your help has made me great.
36 You provide a broad path(HH) for my feet,
    so that my ankles do not give way.(HI)

37 I pursued my enemies(HJ) and overtook them;
    I did not turn back till they were destroyed.
38 I crushed them(HK) so that they could not rise;(HL)
    they fell beneath my feet.(HM)
39 You armed me with strength(HN) for battle;
    you humbled my adversaries(HO) before me.
40 You made my enemies turn their backs(HP) in flight,
    and I destroyed(HQ) my foes.
41 They cried for help, but there was no one to save them(HR)
    to the Lord, but he did not answer.(HS)
42 I beat them as fine as windblown dust;(HT)
    I trampled them[m] like mud in the streets.
43 You have delivered me from the attacks of the people;
    you have made me the head of nations.(HU)
People I did not know(HV) now serve me,
44     foreigners(HW) cower before me;
    as soon as they hear of me, they obey me.
45 They all lose heart;(HX)
    they come trembling(HY) from their strongholds.(HZ)

46 The Lord lives!(IA) Praise be to my Rock!(IB)
    Exalted be God(IC) my Savior!(ID)
47 He is the God who avenges(IE) me,
    who subdues nations(IF) under me,
48     who saves(IG) me from my enemies.(IH)
You exalted me above my foes;
    from a violent man(II) you rescued me.
49 Therefore I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;(IJ)
    I will sing(IK) the praises of your name.(IL)

50 He gives his king great victories;
    he shows unfailing love to his anointed,(IM)
    to David(IN) and to his descendants forever.(IO)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 12:1 In Hebrew texts 12:1-8 is numbered 12:2-9.
  2. Psalm 12:1 Title: Probably a musical term
  3. Psalm 12:6 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text earth
  4. Psalm 13:1 In Hebrew texts 13:1-6 is numbered 13:2-6.
  5. Psalm 14:1 The Hebrew words rendered fool in Psalms denote one who is morally deficient.
  6. Psalm 16:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  7. Psalm 16:10 Or holy
  8. Psalm 18:1 In Hebrew texts 18:1-50 is numbered 18:2-51.
  9. Psalm 18:2 Or sovereign
  10. Psalm 18:2 Horn here symbolizes strength.
  11. Psalm 18:13 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint (see also 2 Samuel 22:14); most Hebrew manuscripts resounded, / amid hailstones and bolts of lightning
  12. Psalm 18:29 Or can run through a barricade
  13. Psalm 18:42 Many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac and Targum (see also 2 Samuel 22:43); Masoretic Text I poured them out