Psalm 13:1–15:5

¹How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? 

How long will you hide your face from me? 

²How long must I make decisions alone 

with sorrow in my heart day after day? 

How long will my enemy triumph over me? 

³Look at me! Answer me, O Lord my God! 

Light up my eyes, 

or else I will die 

⁴and my enemy will say, “I have overpowered him.” 

My opponents will rejoice because I have been shaken. 

⁵But I trust your mercy. 

My heart finds joy in your salvation. 

⁶I will sing to the Lord because he has been good to me. 

Psalm 14^a

For the choir director; by David. 

¹Godless fools say in their hearts, 

“There is no God.” 

They are corrupt. 

They do disgusting things. 

There is no one who does good things. 

²The Lord looks down from heaven on Adam’s descendants 

to see if there is anyone who acts wisely, 

if there is anyone who seeks help from God. 

³Everyone has turned away. 

Together they have become rotten to the core. 

No one, not even one person, does good things. 

⁴Are all those troublemakers, 

those who devour my people as if they were devouring food, 

so ignorant that they do not call on the Lord? 

⁵There they are—panic-stricken 

because God is with the person who is righteous. 

⁶They put the advice of oppressed people to shame 

because the Lord is their refuge. 

⁷If only salvation for Israel would come from Zion! 

When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people, 

Jacob will rejoice. 

Israel will be glad. 

Psalm 15

A psalm by David. 

¹O Lord, who may stay in your tent? 

Who may live on your holy mountain? 

²The one who walks with integrity, 

does what is righteous, 

and speaks the truth within his heart. 

³The one who does not slander with his tongue, 

do evil to a friend, 

or bring disgrace on his neighbor. 

⁴The one who despises those rejected by God 

but honors those who fear the Lord. 

The one who makes a promise and does not break it, 

even though he is hurt by it. 

⁵The one who does not collect interest on a loan 

or take a bribe against an innocent person. 

Whoever does these things will never be shaken.