Psalm 13–15

Psalm 13

A PLEA FOR DELIVERANCE

For the choir director. A psalm of David.

¹How long, Lord? Will you forget me

forever?

How long will you hide your face from me?^q

²How long will I store up anxious concerns^I within me,

agony in my mind every day?

How long will my enemy dominate me?^r

³Consider me and answer, Lord my God.

Restore brightness to my eyes;^s

otherwise, I will sleep in death.

⁴My enemy will say, “I have triumphed over him,”

and my foes will rejoice because I am shaken.^t

⁵But I have trusted in your faithful love;^u

my heart will rejoice in your deliverance.^v

⁶I will sing to the Lord

because he has treated me generously.^w

Psalm 14

A PORTRAIT OF SINNERS

For the choir director. Of David.

¹The fool says in his heart, “There’s no God.”^x

They are corrupt; they do vile deeds.

There is no one who does good.

²The Lord looks down from heaven on the human race^Ay

to see if there is one who is wise,

one who seeks God.

³All have turned away;

all alike have become corrupt.

There is no one who does good,

not even one.^z

⁴Will evildoers never understand?

They consume my people as they consume bread;^a

they do not call on the Lord.^b

⁵Then^B they will be filled with dread,

for God is with those who are^C righteous.^c

⁶You sinners frustrate the plans of the oppressed,^d

but the Lord is his refuge.^e

⁷Oh, that Israel’s deliverance would come from Zion!

When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people,^D

let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.^f

Psalm 15

A DESCRIPTION OF THE GODLY

A psalm of David.

¹Lord, who can dwell in your tent?^g

Who can live on your holy mountain?^h

²The one who lives blamelessly, practices righteousness,

and acknowledges the truth in his heartⁱ—

³who does not slander with his tongue,^j

who does not harm his friend

or discredit his neighbor,^k

⁴who despises the one rejected by the Lord^E

but honors those who fear the Lord,^l

who keeps his word whatever the cost,^m

⁵who does not lend his silver at interestⁿ

or take a bribe against the innocent^o—

the one who does these things will never be shaken.^p