Psalm 59-61
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Psalm 59
Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies
To the leader: Do Not Destroy. Of David. A Miktam, when Saul ordered his house to be watched in order to kill him.
1 Deliver me from my enemies, O my God;
protect me from those who rise up against me.(A)
2 Deliver me from those who work evil;
from the bloodthirsty, save me.(B)
3 Even now they lie in wait for my life;
the mighty stir up strife against me.
For no transgression or sin of mine, O Lord,(C)
4 for no fault of mine, they run and make ready.
Rouse yourself, come to my help and see!(D)
5 You, Lord God of hosts, are God of Israel.
Awake to punish all the nations;
spare none of those who treacherously plot evil. Selah(E)
6 Each evening they come back
howling like dogs
and prowling about the city.(F)
7 There they are, bellowing with their mouths,
with sharp words[a] on their lips,
for “Who,” they think,[b] “will hear us?”(G)
8 But you laugh at them, O Lord;
you hold all the nations in derision.(H)
9 O my strength, I will watch for you,
for you, O God, are my fortress.(I)
10 My God in his steadfast love will meet me;
my God will let me look in triumph on my enemies.(J)
11 Do not kill them, or my people may forget;
make them totter by your power and bring them down,
O Lord, our shield.(K)
12 For the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips,
let them be trapped in their pride.
For the cursing and lies that they utter,(L)
13 consume them in wrath;
consume them until they are no more.
Then it will be known to the ends of the earth
that God rules over Jacob. Selah(M)
14 Each evening they come back
howling like dogs
and prowling about the city.(N)
15 They roam about for food
and growl if they do not get their fill.
16 But I will sing of your might;
I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.
For you have been a fortress for me
and a refuge in the day of my distress.(O)
17 O my strength, I will sing praises to you,
for you, O God, are my fortress,
the God who shows me steadfast love.(P)
Psalm 60
Prayer for National Victory after Defeat
To the leader: according to the Lily of the Covenant. A Miktam of David; for instruction; when he struggled with Aram-naharaim and with Aram-zobah, and when Joab on his return killed twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
1 O God, you have rejected us, broken our defenses;
you have been angry; now restore us!(Q)
2 You have caused the land to quake; you have torn it open;
repair the cracks in it, for it is tottering.(R)
3 You have made your people suffer hard things;
you have given us wine to drink that made us reel.(S)
4 You have set up a banner for those who fear you,
to rally to it out of bowshot.[c] Selah(T)
5 Give victory with your right hand and answer us,[d]
so that those whom you love may be rescued.(U)
6 God has promised in his sanctuary,[e]
“With exultation I will divide up Shechem
and portion out the Vale of Succoth.(V)
7 Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine;
Ephraim is my helmet;
Judah is my scepter.(W)
8 Moab is my washbasin;
on Edom I hurl my shoe;
over Philistia I shout in triumph.”(X)
9 Who will bring me to the fortified city?
Who will lead me to Edom?
10 Have you not rejected us, O God?
You do not go out, O God, with our armies.(Y)
11 O grant us help against the foe,
for human help is worthless.(Z)
12 With God we shall do valiantly;
it is he who will tread down our foes.(AA)
Psalm 61
Assurance of God’s Protection
To the leader: with stringed instruments. Of David.
1 Hear my cry, O God;
listen to my prayer.(AB)
2 From the end of the earth I call to you,
when my heart is faint.
Lead me to the rock
that is higher than I,(AC)
3 for you are my refuge,
a strong tower against the enemy.(AD)
4 Let me abide in your tent forever,
find refuge under the shelter of your wings. Selah(AE)
5 For you, O God, have heard my vows;
you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.(AF)
6 Prolong the life of the king;
may his years endure to all generations!(AG)
7 May he be enthroned forever before God;
appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him!(AH)
8 So I will always sing praises to your name,
as I pay my vows day after day.(AI)
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.