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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.

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.(A)
I cry to God Most High,
    to God who fulfills his purpose for me.(B)
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.(C)

I lie down among lions
    that greedily devour[a] human prey;
their teeth are spears and arrows,
    their tongues sharp swords.(D)

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens.
    Let your glory be over all the earth.(E)

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(F)
My heart is steadfast, O God;
    my heart is steadfast.
I will sing and make melody.(G)
    Awake, my soul!
Awake, O harp and lyre!
    I will awake the dawn.(H)
I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;
    I will sing praises to you among the nations.(I)
10 For your steadfast love is as high as the heavens;
    your faithfulness extends to the clouds.(J)

11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens.
    Let your glory be over all the earth.(K)

Psalm 58

Prayer for Vengeance

To the leader: Do Not Destroy. Of David. A Miktam.

Do you indeed decree what is right, you gods?
    Do you judge people fairly?(L)
No, in your hearts you devise wrongs;
    your hands deal out violence on earth.(M)

The wicked go astray from the womb;
    they err from their birth, speaking lies.(N)
They have venom like the venom of a serpent,
    like the deaf adder that stops its ear,(O)
so that it does not hear the voice of charmers
    or of the cunning enchanter.(P)

O God, break the teeth in their mouths;
    tear out the fangs of the young lions, O Lord!(Q)
Let them vanish like water that runs away;
    like grass let them be trodden down[b] and wither.(R)
Let them be like the snail that dissolves into slime,
    like the untimely birth that never sees the sun.(S)
Sooner than your pots can feel the heat of thorns,
    whether green or ablaze, may he sweep them away!(T)

10 The righteous will rejoice when they see vengeance done;
    they will bathe their feet in the blood of the wicked.(U)
11 People will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous;
    surely there is a God who judges[c] on earth.”(V)

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.

Deliver me from my enemies, O my God;
    protect me from those who rise up against me.(W)
Deliver me from those who work evil;
    from the bloodthirsty, save me.(X)

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,(Y)
    for no fault of mine, they run and make ready.

Rouse yourself, come to my help and see!(Z)
    You, Lord God of hosts, are God of Israel.
Awake to punish all the nations;
    spare none of those who treacherously plot evil. Selah(AA)

Each evening they come back
    howling like dogs
    and prowling about the city.(AB)
There they are, bellowing with their mouths,
    with sharp words[d] on their lips,
    for “Who,” they think,[e] “will hear us?”(AC)

But you laugh at them, O Lord;
    you hold all the nations in derision.(AD)
O my strength, I will watch for you,
    for you, O God, are my fortress.(AE)
10 My God in his steadfast love will meet me;
    my God will let me look in triumph on my enemies.(AF)

11 Do not kill them, or my people may forget;
    make them totter by your power and bring them down,
    O Lord, our shield.(AG)
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,(AH)
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(AI)

14 Each evening they come back
    howling like dogs
    and prowling about the city.(AJ)
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.(AK)
17 O my strength, I will sing praises to you,
    for you, O God, are my fortress,
    the God who shows me steadfast love.(AL)

Footnotes

  1. 57.4 Cn: Heb are aflame for
  2. 58.7 Cn: Meaning of Heb uncertain
  3. 58.11 Or there are gods who judge
  4. 59.7 Heb with swords
  5. 59.7 Heb lacks they think