Psalm 57–58

Psalm 57

PRAISE FOR GOD’S PROTECTION

For the choir director: “Do Not Destroy.” A Miktam of David. When he fled before Saul into the cave.^x

¹Be gracious to me, God, be gracious to me,

for I take refuge in you.

I will seek refuge in the shadow of your wings

until danger passes.^y

²I call to God Most High,

to God who fulfills his purpose for me.^Bz

³He reaches down from heaven and saves me,

challenging the one who tramples me.^aa

Selah

God sends his faithful love and truth.^ab

⁴I am surrounded by lions;

I lie down among devouring lions—

people whose teeth are spears and arrows,

whose tongues are sharp swords.^ac

⁵God, be exalted above the heavens;

let your glory be over the whole earth.^ad

⁶They prepared a net for my steps;

I was despondent.

They dug a pit ahead of me,

but they fell into it!^ae

Selah

⁷My heart is confident, God, my heart is confident.

I will sing; I will sing praises.^af

⁸Wake up, my soul!

Wake up, harp and lyre!

I will wake up the dawn.^ag

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

I will sing praises to you among the nations.^a

¹⁰For your faithful love is as high as the heavens;

your faithfulness reaches the clouds.^b

¹¹God, be exalted above the heavens;^c

let your glory be over the whole earth.^d

Psalm 58

A CRY AGAINST INJUSTICE

For the choir director: “Do Not Destroy.” A Miktam of David.

¹Do you really speak righteously, you mighty ones?^C

Do you judge people fairly?^e

²No, you practice injustice in your hearts;

with your hands you weigh out violence in the land.^f

³The wicked go astray from the womb;

liars wander about from birth.^g

⁴They have venom like the venom of a snake,

like the deaf cobra that stops up its ears,^h

⁵that does not listen to the sound of the charmers

who skillfully weave spells.ⁱ

⁶God, knock the teeth out of their mouths;

Lord, tear out the young lions’ fangs.^j

⁷May they vanish like water that flows by;

may they aim their blunted arrows.^Ak

⁸Like a slug that moves along in slime,

like a woman’s miscarried child,

may they not see the sun.^l

⁹Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns—

whether green or burning—

he will sweep them away.^Bm

¹⁰The righteous one will rejoice

when he sees the retribution;ⁿ

he will wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.^o

¹¹Then people will say,

“Yes, there is a reward for the righteous!

There is a God who judges on earth!”^p