Psalm 13-16
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Psalm 13
Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies
To the leader. A Psalm of David.
1 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?(A)
2 How long must I bear pain[a] in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all day long?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?(B)
3 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God!
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death,(C)
4 and my enemy will say, “I have prevailed”;
my foes will rejoice because I am shaken.(D)
5 But I trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.(E)
6 I will sing to the Lord
because he has dealt bountifully with me.(F)
Psalm 14
Denunciation of Godlessness
To the leader. Of David.
1 Fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt; they do abominable deeds;
there is no one who does good.(G)
2 The Lord looks down from heaven on humankind
to see if there are any who are wise,
who seek after God.(H)
3 They have all gone astray; they are all alike perverse;
there is no one who does good,
no, not one.(I)
4 Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers
who eat up my people as they eat bread
and do not call upon the Lord?(J)
5 There they shall be in great terror,
for God is with the company of the righteous.(K)
6 You would confound the plans of the poor,
but the Lord is their refuge.(L)
7 O that deliverance for Israel would come from Zion!
When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people,
Jacob will rejoice; Israel will be glad.(M)
Psalm 15
Who Shall Abide in God’s Sanctuary?
A Psalm of David.
1 O Lord, who may abide in your tent?
Who may dwell on your holy hill?(N)
2 Those who walk blamelessly and do what is right
and speak the truth from their heart;(O)
3 who do not slander with their tongue
and do no evil to their friends
nor heap shame upon their neighbors;(P)
4 in whose eyes the wicked are despised
but who honor those who fear the Lord;
who stand by their oath even to their hurt;(Q)
5 who do not lend money at interest
and do not take a bribe against the innocent.
Those who do these things shall never be moved.(R)
Psalm 16
Song of Trust and Security in God
A Miktam of David.
1 Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge.(S)
2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
I have no good apart from you.”[b]
3 As for the holy ones in the land, they are the noble ones
in whom is all my delight.(T)
4 Those who choose another god multiply their sorrows;[c]
their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
or take their names upon my lips.(U)
5 The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold my lot.(V)
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
I have a goodly heritage.(W)
7 I bless the Lord, who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.(X)
8 I keep the Lord always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.(Y)
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices;
my body also rests secure.(Z)
10 For you do not give me up to Sheol
or let your faithful one see the Pit.(AA)
11 You show me the path of life.
In your presence there is fullness of joy;
in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.(AB)
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.