Psalm 52a

For the director of music. A maskilb of David. When Doeg the Edomitex had gone to Saul and told him: “David has gone to the house of Ahimelek.”

1 Why do you boast of evil, you mighty hero?

Why do you boasty all day long,z

you who are a disgrace in the eyes of God?

2 You who practice deceit,a

your tongue plots destruction;b

it is like a sharpened razor.c

3 You love evild rather than good,

falsehoode rather than speaking the truth.c

4 You love every harmful word,

you deceitful tongue!f

5 Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin:

He will snatch you up and pluckg you from your tent;

he will uprooth you from the land of the living.i

6 The righteous will see and fear;

they will laughj at you, saying,

7 “Here now is the man

who did not make God his strongholdk

but trusted in his great wealthl

and grew strong by destroying others!”

8 But I am like an olive treem

flourishing in the house of God;

I trustn in God’s unfailing love

for ever and ever.

9 For what you have done I will always praise youo

in the presence of your faithful people.p

And I will hope in your name,q

for your name is good.r

Psalm 57a

57:7–11pp—Ps 108:1–5

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.b When he had fled from Saul into the cave.i

1 Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me,

for in you I take refuge.j

I will take refuge in the shadow of your wingsk

until the disaster has passed.l

2 I cry out to God Most High,

to God, who vindicates me.m

3 He sends from heaven and saves me,n

rebuking those who hotly pursue me—c o

God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.p

4 I am in the midst of lions;q

I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts—

men whose teeth are spears and arrows,

whose tongues are sharp swords.r

5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;

let your glory be over all the earth.s

6 They spread a net for my feett—

I was bowed downu in distress.

They dug a pitv in my path—

but they have fallen into it themselves.w

7 My heart, O God, is steadfast,

my heart is steadfast;x

I will sing and make music.

8 Awake, my soul!

Awake, harp and lyre!y

I will awaken the dawn.

9 I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;

I will sing of you among the peoples.

10 For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;

your faithfulness reaches to the skies.z

11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;a

let your glory be over all the earth.b

Psalm 142a

A maskilb of David. When he was in the cave.q A prayer.

1 I cry aloudr to the Lord;

I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy.s

2 I pour out before him my complaint;t

before him I tell my trouble.u

3 When my spirit grows faintv within me,

it is you who watch over my way.

In the path where I walk

people have hidden a snare for me.

4 Look and see, there is no one at my right hand;

no one is concerned for me.

I have no refuge;w

no one caresx for my life.

5 I cry to you, Lord;

I say, “You are my refuge,y

my portionz in the land of the living.”a

6 Listen to my cry,b

for I am in desperate need;c

rescue med from those who pursue me,

for they are too stronge for me.

7 Set me free from my prison,f

that I may praise your name.g

Then the righteous will gather about me

because of your goodness to me.h