Psalm 51-72

Tree of Life Version

¹ For the music director: a psalm of David, ² when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he went to Bathsheba.
³ Be gracious to me, O God,
according to Your mercy.
According to Your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
⁴ Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
⁵ For I know my transgressions
and my sin is ever before me.
⁶ Against You, You only, have I sinned,
and done what is evil in Your sight,
so that You are just when You speak,
and blameless when You judge.
⁷ Behold, I was born in iniquity and in sin
when my mother conceived me.
⁸ Surely You desire truth in the inner being.
Make me know wisdom inwardly.
⁹ Cleanse me with hyssop and I will be clean.
Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
¹⁰ Let me hear joy and gladness,
so the bones You crushed may rejoice.
¹¹ Hide Your face from my sins,
and blot out all my iniquities.

¹ For the music director: a contemplative song of David, ² when Doeg the Edomite came and reported to Saul telling him, “David went to Ahimelech’s house.”
³ Why do you brag about evil, mighty man?
God’s lovingkindness is every day.
⁴ Your tongue plots destruction,
like a sharp razor, working deceit.
⁵ You love evil instead of good,
lying rather than speaking right. Selah
⁶ You love only devouring words—
treacherous tongue!
⁷ God will pull you down forever,
and snatch you, rip you out of your tent,
and uproot you from the land of the living. Selah
⁸ Then the righteous will see and fear,
and laugh at him:
⁹ “Here is the man who did not make God his stronghold.
Instead he trusted in his great riches—
    and was strong in his evil desire.”
¹⁰ But I—I am like an olive tree flourishing in the House of God.
I trust in God’s lovingkindness forever and ever.
¹¹ I will praise You forever for what You have done.
I will hope in Your Name, for it is good,
in the presence of Your kedoshim.

¹ For the music director: on Mahalath, a contemplative song of David.
² The fool says in his heart:
“There is no God.”
They are corrupt, commit vile injustice.
There is no one who does good.
³ God looks down from the heavens
on the children of men,
    to see if anyone understands,
    who seeks after God.
⁴ All have turned aside—
    together they have become corrupt.
There is no one who does good—
    no, not even one!
⁵ Will the evildoers never learn?
They consume My people as they would eat bread,
and never call upon God.
⁶ There they are in great dread—
where there is nothing to fear.
For God has scattered the bones of those besieging you.
You have put them to shame,
    for God has rejected them.

¹ For the music director, on stringed instruments, a contemplative song of David, ² when the Ziphites came and said to Saul: “Is not David hiding himself among us?”
³ O God, save me by Your Name,
vindicate me by Your might.
⁴ O God, hear my prayer,
listen to the words of my mouth.
⁵ For strangers have risen up against me.
Violent men seek after my soul.
They do not set God before them. Selah

¹ For the music director, on stringed instruments, a contemplative song of David.
² Give ear, O God, to my prayer
and do not ignore my plea for help.
³ Listen to me and answer me.
I am restless in my complaint and moan—
⁴ because of the voice of the enemy,
    because of the pressure of the wicked.
For they thrust trouble on me,
    and in anger bear a grudge against me.
⁵ My heart shudders within me
and the terrors of death sweep over me.
⁶ Fear and trembling come upon me
and horror has overwhelmed me.
⁷ So I said, “Oh that I had wings like a dove!
I would fly away and find rest.
⁸ Surely I would flee far away.
    I would stay in the wilderness. Selah
⁹ I would hurry to my shelter
    from the rushing wind of the storm.”
¹⁰ Lord, confuse and confound their speech,
for I see violence and strife in the city.
¹¹ Day and night they make the rounds on her walls.
Iniquity and mischief are within her.
¹² Ruins are in her midst.
Oppression and deceit never leave her square.
¹³ For if it were an enemy taunting me,
    I could endure it.
If my foe was exalting himself over me,
    I could hide from him.
¹⁴ But it is you, a man like me—
my companion and my close friend!
¹⁵ Together we enjoyed great fellowship.
We used to walk with the throng in the House of God.
¹⁶ Let desolation come upon them,
let them go down alive into Sheol—
for evil is in their dwelling, among them.

¹ For the music director: “A Silent Dove Far Away,” a Michtam of David, when the Philistines had seized him in Gath.
² Be gracious to me, O God!
For man has crushed me,
fighting all day he oppresses me.
³ My foes trample me all day.
For many are fighting me arrogantly.
⁴ In a day when I am afraid,
I will put my trust in You.
⁵ In God—I keep praising His word—
in God I trust, I will not fear.
What can mere flesh do to me?

¹ For the music director, “Do Not Destroy,” a Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul, in the cave.
² Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me,
for in You my soul takes refuge.
In the shadow of Your wings I take refuge,
until destruction passes by.
³ I will cry out to El Elyon,
to God who accomplishes it for me.
⁴ He will send from heaven and save me.
He rebukes the one trampling on me. Selah
God is sending His mercy and His truth.
⁵ My soul is in the midst of lions.
I lie among those breathing fire—
    sons of men whose teeth are spears and arrows,
whose tongue is a sharp sword.
⁶ Be exalted, O God, above the heavens.
Let Your glory be over all the earth!

¹ For the music director: “Do Not Destroy,” a Michtam of David.
² Do you really speak of justice, O “gods”?
Do you judge with fairness, sons of man?
³ No, in heart you devise injustice.
Your hands weigh out violence on earth.
⁴ The wicked are strangers from the womb.
Speaking lies, they go astray from birth.
⁵ Their venom is like a serpent’s venom,
like a deaf cobra shutting its ear—
⁶ not hearing the voice of charmers,
    or a cunning spell binder.
⁷ O God, break their teeth in their mouths.
Tear out the fangs of young lions, Adonai.
⁸ Let them flow away like water that runs off.
When he bends his bow, let the arrows be cut off.
⁹ Like a slug melting away as it slithers,
like a woman’s miscarriage,
may they never see the sun.
¹⁰ Even before your pots can feel a thorn
—whether alive or ablaze—
He will sweep the wicked away.
¹¹ The righteous one will rejoice
when he beholds vengeance,
when he washes his feet in the blood of the wicked.
¹² Then men will say:
“There really is a reward for the righteous.
There really is a God who judges on earth!”

¹ For the music director: “Do Not Destroy,” a Michtam of David, when Saul sent men to watch the house to kill him.
² Deliver me from my enemies, my God!
Set me on high,
    away from those who rise up against me.
³ Deliver me from workers of iniquity.
Rescue me from bloodthirsty men.
⁴ For behold, they lie in wait for me.
Defiant men stir up strife against me—
not for my transgression or sin, Adonai.
⁵ For no guilt of mine, they run and set things up.
Awake! Help me! Look!
⁶ For You are Adonai Elohei-Tzva’ot, the God of Israel!
Rouse Yourself to punish all the nations.
Show no mercy to any iniquitous traitors. Selah
⁷ They return at evening, snarling like a dog,
prowling about the city.
⁸ See, they are spewing with their mouth
—swords in their lips—
“After all, who is listening?”

¹ For the music director, on the “Lily of the Covenant,” a Michtam of David, for teaching, ² when he fought with Aram-Naharaim and with Aram-Zobah, and Joab returned and struck down twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
³ O God, You have spurned us.
You have broken out against us.
You have been angry. Turn back to us!
⁴ You made earth shake; You split it open.
Heal its fractures—for it shudders.
⁵ You made Your people see hardship.
You made us drink wine of staggering.
⁶ To those who fear You,
You gave a banner, to be unfurled before the archers. Selah
⁷ Save with Your right hand and answer us,
so that Your beloved may be delivered.

¹ For the music director, on string instrument, of David.
² Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer.
³ 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.
⁴ For You have been a refuge for me,
a tower of strength before the enemy.
⁵ Let me dwell in Your tent forever.
Let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings. Selah

¹ For the music director, on Jeduthun. A psalm of David.
² My soul, wait in stillness, only for God—
from Him comes my salvation.
³ He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress—I will never be moved.
⁴ How long will all of you assault a man,
to crush him, like a leaning wall,
    a fence to be torn down?
⁵ They only plot to topple him from his rank.
Delighting in falsehood, they bless with their mouth,
but inwardly they curse. Selah

¹ A psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.
² O God, You are my God,
earnestly I seek You.
My soul thirsts for You.
My flesh longs for You
in a dry and weary land, where there is no water.
³ So, I looked for You in the Sanctuary,
to see Your power and Your glory.
⁴ Since Your lovingkindness is better than life,
my lips will praise You.
⁵ So I will bless You as long as I live.
In Your name I lift up my hands.^[c]
6 My soul is satisfied as with fat and oil,
so my mouth praises You with joyful lips.

¹ For the music director, a psalm of David.
² Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint.
Protect my life from terror of the enemy.
³ Hide me from the conspiracy of evildoers,
from the tumult of workers of iniquity,
⁴ who sharpened their tongue like a sword,
and aimed their arrow—bitter words,
⁵ to shoot from hiding at the innocent,
shooting suddenly at him, with no fear.
⁶ They are firming up their evil plan.
They talk about setting secret traps.
They asked, “Who would see them?”
⁷ They are plotting injustices:
“We have completed a perfect plot!”
A man’s inward part and heart are deep.

¹ For the music director, a psalm, a song of David.
² Praise is awaiting You in Zion, O God,
and to You the vow will be fulfilled.
³ O You who hear prayer,
to You all flesh will come.
⁴ Records of sins overwhelm me—
You will atone for our transgressions.
⁵ Blessed is the one You choose and bring near to dwell in Your courts!
We will be satisfied with the goodness of Your House—Your holy Temple.
⁶ You respond to us in righteousness with awe-inspiring works
—O God of our salvation—
hope of all ends of the earth and farthest seas,
⁷ who establishes mountains by His power,
being girded with might,
⁸ who stills the roaring of the seas,
    the roaring of their waves,
and the tumult of the peoples.
⁹ Those dwelling in the uttermost parts stand in awe of Your signs.
You make morning and evening shout for joy.
¹⁰ You visit the land and make it abundant,
greatly enriching it—
the stream of God is full of water.
You prepare their grain,
for so You have prepared the earth.
¹¹ You drench her furrows,
    leveling the ridges.
You soften her with showers,
    blessing her growth.
¹² You crown the year with Your goodness.
Your wagon tracks drip with abundance.
¹³ Pastures of the wilderness overflow
and hills are robed with joy.
¹⁴ Meadows are clothed with flocks
and valleys are covered with grain—
they shout for joy, yes, they sing!

¹ For the music director, a song, a psalm.
Shout joyfully to God, all the earth!
² Sing the glory of His Name—
make His praise glorious.
³ Say to God:
“How awesome are Your deeds!
Because of Your great power,
    Your enemies cringe before You.
⁴ All the earth bows down to You,
    and sings praises to You.
All sing praises to Your Name.” Selah

¹ For the music director, with stringed instruments, a psalm, a song.
² May God be gracious to us and bless us.
May He cause His face to shine upon us—Selah
³ so that Your way may be known on earth,
and Your salvation among all nations.
⁴ Let the peoples praise You, O God.
Let all the peoples praise You.
⁵ Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for You will judge the peoples fairly,
and guide the nations on the earth. Selah
⁶ Let the peoples praise You, O God.
Let all the peoples praise You.
⁷ The earth has yielded its harvest—
God, our God will bless us.
⁸ God will bless us,
and all the ends of the earth will fear Him.

¹ For the music director, a psalm of David, a song.
² Let God arise!
Let His enemies be scattered!
Let those who hate Him flee before Him.
³ As smoke is blown away,
    may You blow them away.
As wax melts before the fire,
    may the wicked perish before God.
⁴ But let the righteous be glad.
Let them exult before God.
Let them rejoice with gladness.
⁵ Sing to God, sing praises to His Name.
Prepare the road for Him who rides through the deserts,
    whose Name is Adonai—
and rejoice before Him.
⁶ A father of orphans, defender of widows,
is God in His holy dwelling.
⁷ God settles the lonely in a home.
He leads prisoners out to prosperity.
But the rebellious live in a parched land.

¹ For the music director, on “Lilies,” of David.
² Save me, O God,
for the waters
have reached my soul.
³ I have sunk in deep mud,
    and there is no footing,
I have come into deep waters,
    and a flood sweeps over me.
⁴ I am worn out by my crying,
my throat is parched,
my eyes fail, waiting for my God.
⁵ Those who hate me without a cause^[e] outnumber the hairs of my head.
Powerful are my enemies who would destroy me with lies.
What I did not steal, must I restore?
⁶ O God, You know my folly,
nor are my trespasses hidden from You.
⁷ May those who hope in You
    not be ashamed because of me,
    my Lord, Adonai-Tzva’ot.
May those who seek You
    not be disgraced because of me,
    O God of Israel.
⁸ For I have endured scorn for Your sake.
Disgrace has covered my face.
⁹ I have become a stranger to my brothers,
a foreigner to my mother’s children.
¹⁰ For zeal for Your House consumed me—
the insults of those who insulted You have fallen on me.^[f]
11 When I wept and fasted—
that became a reproach to me.
¹² When I put on sackcloth,
I became a joke to them.
¹³ Those who sit at the gate chatter about me,
and I am the song of the drunkards.

¹ For the music director, of David, for a memorial.
² O God, come quickly to deliver me,
Adonai, to help me.
³ May they be put to shame and disgrace
    who seek my life.
May they be turned back in humiliation
    who delight in my hurt.
⁴ May those who say, “Aha! Aha!”
    be turned away because of their shame.
⁵ But may all who seek You
    rejoice and be glad in You.
May those who love Your salvation
    always say, “Let God be magnified.”
⁶ But I am poor and needy—
    God, come quickly to me.
You are my help and my deliverer—
    Adonai, do not delay.

¹ In You, Adonai, have I taken refuge.
Let me never be ashamed.
² Deliver me and rescue me in Your justice.
Turn Your ear to me and save me.
³ Be to me a sheltering rock where I may always go.
Give the command to save me—
    for You are my rock and my fortress.
⁴ My God, rescue me out of the hand of the wicked,
out of the grasp of an evil, ruthless man.
⁵ For You are my hope, Adonai my Lord—
my trust from my youth.
⁶ From my birth I have leaned on You.
You took me out of my mother’s womb.
My praise is always about You.
⁷ I am like an ominous sign to many,
but You are my strong refuge.
⁸ My mouth is filled with Your praise
and with Your glory all day.

¹ Of Solomon.
Give the king Your judgments, O God,
and Your righteousness to the king’s son.
² May he judge Your people with righteousness,
and Your poor ones with justice.
³ Let the mountains bring shalom to the people,
and the hills righteousness.
⁴ May he vindicate the poor of the people,
save the children of the needy,
and crush the oppressor.
⁵ Let them fear You while the sun endures,
and while the moon lasts, throughout all generations.
⁶ May he be like rain falling on a mown field,
like showers watering the ground.
⁷ Let the righteous flourish in his days.
Let shalom abound till the moon is no more.
⁸ May he have dominion from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
⁹ Let desert dwellers bow before him,
and his enemies lick the dust.
¹⁰ May kings of Tarshish and the islands bring tribute,
kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.
¹¹ So let all kings bow down before him,
and all nations serve him.