Psalm 3–5

Psalm 3

Confidence in Troubled Times

A psalm of David when he fled from his son Absalom. ^w

¹Lord, how my foes increase!

There are many who attack me. ^x

²Many say about me,

“There is no help for him in God.” ^ySelah

³But You, Lord, are a shield around me, ^z

my glory, ^aand the One who lifts up my head. ^b

⁴I cry aloud to the Lord,

and He answers me from His holy mountain. ^cSelah

⁵I lie down and sleep;

I wake again because the Lord sustains me. ^d

⁶I am not afraid of the thousands of people

who have taken their stand against me on every side. ^e

⁷Rise up, Lord! ^f

Save me, my God!

You strike all my enemies on the cheek; ^g

You break the teeth of the wicked. ^h

⁸Salvation belongs to the Lord; ⁱ

may Your blessing be on Your people. ^jSelah

Psalm 4

A Night Prayer

For the choir director: with stringed instruments. ^kA Davidic psalm.

¹Answer me when I call,

God, who vindicates me. ^lm

You freed me from affliction; ⁿ

be gracious to me and hear my prayer.

²How long, exalted men, will my honor be insulted? ^o

How long will you love what is worthless ^p

and pursue a lie? Selah

³Know that the Lord has set apart

the faithful for Himself;

the Lord will hear when I call to Him.

⁴Be angry ^qand do not sin; ^r

on your bed, reflect in your heart and be still. ^sSelah

⁵Offer sacrifices in righteousness ^tu

and trust in the Lord. ^v

⁶Many are saying, “Who can show us anything good?”

Look on us with favor, Lord. ^w

⁷You have put more joy in my heart

than they have when their grain and new wine abound. ^x

⁸I will both lie down and sleep in peace, ^y

for You alone, Lord, make me live in safety. ^z

Psalm 5

The Refuge of the Righteous

For the choir director: with the flutes. A Davidic psalm.

¹Listen to my words, Lord;

consider my sighing. ^a

²Pay attention to the sound of my cry, ^b

my King and my God, ^c

for I pray to You.

³At daybreak, ^dLord, You hear my voice;

at daybreak I plead my case to You ^eand watch expectantly.

⁴For You are not a God who delights in wickedness;

evil cannot dwell with You. ^f

⁵The boastful cannot stand in Your presence; ^g

You hate all evildoers. ^h

⁶You destroy those who tell lies; ⁱ

the Lord abhors a man of bloodshed and treachery. ^j

⁷But I enter Your house

by the abundance of Your faithful love; ^k

I bow down toward Your holy temple

in reverential awe of You. ^l

⁸Lord, lead me in Your righteousness ^m

because of my adversaries; ⁿ

make Your way straight before me. ^o

⁹For there is nothing reliable in what they say; ^pq

destruction is within them;

their throat is an open grave;

they flatter with their tongues. ^r

¹⁰Punish them, God;

let them fall by their own schemes. ^s

Drive them out ^tbecause of their many crimes,

for they rebel against You. ^u

¹¹But let all who take refuge in You rejoice; ^v

let them shout for joy forever.

May You shelter them, ^w

and may those who love Your name boast about You. ^x

¹²For You, Lord, bless the righteous one;

You surround him with favor like a shield. ^y