Psalm 56-58
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Psalm 56
Trust in God under Persecution
To the leader: according to The Dove on Far-off Terebinths. Of David. A Miktam, when the Philistines seized him in Gath.
1 Be gracious to me, O God, for people trample on me;
all day long foes oppress me;
2 my enemies trample on me all day long,
for many fight against me.
O Most High,(A) 3 when I am afraid,
I put my trust in you.(B)
4 In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I am not afraid;
what can flesh do to me?(C)
5 All day long they seek to injure my cause;
all their thoughts are against me for evil.(D)
6 They stir up strife; they lurk;
they watch my steps,
as they hoped to take my life.(E)
7 Do not deliver them for any reason;[a]
in wrath cast down the peoples, O God!(F)
8 You have kept count of my tossings;
put my tears in your bottle.
Are they not in your record?(G)
9 Then my enemies will retreat
in the day when I call.
This I know, that[b] God is for me.(H)
10 In God, whose word I praise,
in the Lord, whose word I praise,
11 in God I trust; I am not afraid.
What can a mere mortal do to me?
12 My vows to you I must perform, O God;
I will render thank offerings to you.(I)
13 For you have delivered my soul from death
and my feet from falling,
so that I may walk before God
in the light of life.(J)
Psalm 57
Praise and Assurance under Persecution
To the leader: Do Not Destroy. Of David. A Miktam, when he fled from Saul, in the cave.
1 Be merciful to me, O God; be merciful to me,
for in you my soul takes refuge;
in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,
until the destroying storms pass by.(K)
2 I cry to God Most High,
to God who fulfills his purpose for me.(L)
3 He will send from heaven and save me;
he will put to shame those who trample on me. Selah
God will send forth his steadfast love and his faithfulness.(M)
4 I lie down among lions
that greedily devour[c] human prey;
their teeth are spears and arrows,
their tongues sharp swords.(N)
5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens.
Let your glory be over all the earth.(O)
6 They set a net for my steps;
my soul was bowed down.
They dug a pit in my path,
but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah(P)
7 My heart is steadfast, O God;
my heart is steadfast.
I will sing and make melody.(Q)
8 Awake, my soul!
Awake, O harp and lyre!
I will awake the dawn.(R)
9 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to you among the nations.(S)
10 For your steadfast love is as high as the heavens;
your faithfulness extends to the clouds.(T)
11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens.
Let your glory be over all the earth.(U)
Psalm 58
Prayer for Vengeance
To the leader: Do Not Destroy. Of David. A Miktam.
1 Do you indeed decree what is right, you gods?
Do you judge people fairly?(V)
2 No, in your hearts you devise wrongs;
your hands deal out violence on earth.(W)
3 The wicked go astray from the womb;
they err from their birth, speaking lies.(X)
4 They have venom like the venom of a serpent,
like the deaf adder that stops its ear,(Y)
5 so that it does not hear the voice of charmers
or of the cunning enchanter.(Z)
6 O God, break the teeth in their mouths;
tear out the fangs of the young lions, O Lord!(AA)
7 Let them vanish like water that runs away;
like grass let them be trodden down[d] and wither.(AB)
8 Let them be like the snail that dissolves into slime,
like the untimely birth that never sees the sun.(AC)
9 Sooner than your pots can feel the heat of thorns,
whether green or ablaze, may he sweep them away!(AD)
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.