Psalm 3:1–4:8

Morning Prayer for Help^+c

3 I have so many enemies, Lord,

so many who turn against me!

²They talk about me and say,

“God will not help him.”

³But you, O Lord, are always my shield from danger;

you give me victory

and restore my courage.

⁴I call to the Lord for help,

and from his sacred hill^d he answers me.

⁵I lie down and sleep,

and all night long the Lord protects me.

⁶I am not afraid of the thousands of enemies

who surround me on every side.

⁷Come, Lord! Save me, my God!

You punish all my enemies

and leave them powerless to harm me.

⁸Victory comes from the Lord—

may he bless his people.

Evening Prayer for Help^e

4 Answer me when I pray,

O God, my defender!

When I was in trouble, you helped me.

Be kind to me now and hear my prayer.

²How long will you people insult me?

How long will you love what is worthless

and go after what is false?

³Remember that the Lord has chosen the righteous for his own,

and he hears me when I call to him.

^4*Tremble with fear and stop sinning;

think deeply about this,

when you lie in silence on your beds.

⁵Offer the right sacrifices to the Lord,

and put your trust in him.

⁶There are many who pray:

“Give us more blessings, O Lord.

Look on us with kindness!”

⁷But the joy that you have given me

is more than they will ever have

with all their corn and wine.

⁸When I lie down, I go to sleep in peace;

you alone, O Lord, keep me perfectly safe.