Psalm 3–5

A Call to Yahweh in Distress

3A psalm of David at his fleeing from the presence of Absalom, his son.^a

¹Yahweh, how many are my enemies;

many are rising against me.

²Many are saying about my soul,

“There is no deliverance for him from^b God. Selah^c

³But^c you, Yahweh, are a shield around me,

my glory and the one who lifts up my head.

⁴With my voice I call to Yahweh

and he answers me from his holy hill.^d Selah

⁵I lay down and slept;

I woke up because Yahweh sustains me.

⁶I am not afraid of the ten thousands of people

who all around have set themselves against me.

⁷Rise up, O Yahweh; deliver me, O my God;

for you strike all my enemies on the cheek.

The teeth of the wicked you break.

⁸To Yahweh belongs deliverance;

may your blessing be over your people. Selah

Safety in Yahweh

4For the music director; with stringed instruments. A psalm of David.^a

¹When I call, answer me, O God of my righteousness.^b

In trouble deliver me.^c

Be gracious to me and hear my prayer.

²O sons of man, how long will my honor^d be a disgrace?

How long will you love vanity?

How long will you seek lies?^e Selah

³But know that Yahweh has set apart^f for himself the faithful one.^g

Yahweh hears when I call to him.

⁴Be disturbed but do not sin.

Commune in your heart^h on your bed and be silent. Selah

⁵Offer correct sacrifices,ⁱ

and trust in^j Yahweh.

⁶Many are saying, “Who will show us something good?”

Lift up over^k us the light of your face, O Yahweh.

⁷You have put gladness in my heart

more than when^l their grain and their wine abound.

⁸In peace I will lie down and sleep at once,^m

for you alone, O Yahweh, make me dwell safely.

A Prayer for Guidance and Protection

5For the music director; with the flutes. A psalm of David.^a

¹Hear my words, O Yahweh.

Give heed to my sighing.^b

²Listen to the sound of my pleading,^c my king and my God,

for to you I pray.

³O Yahweh, in the morning you will hear my voice.

In the morning I will set forth^d my case to you and I will watch.^e

⁴For you are not a God who desires^f wickedness.

Evil cannot dwell with you.

⁵The boastful do not stand before^g your eyes.

You hate all evildoers.

⁶You destroy speakers of lies.^h

A man of bloodshedⁱ and deceit Yahweh abhors.

⁷But as for me,^j through the abundance of your steadfast love^k

I will enter your house.^l

I will bow down^m toward your holy templeⁿ in awe of you.

⁸O Yahweh, lead me in your righteousness because of my enemies;

make straight before me your way.

⁹For there is not anything reliable in his mouth;

their inner part is destruction.^o

Their throat is an open grave;

with their tongue they speak deceit.^p

¹⁰Treat them as guilty, O God;

let them fall because of their plans.

Because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out,

for they have rebelled against you.

¹¹But let all who take shelter in you rejoice.

Let them ever^q sing for joy,

because^r you spread protection over them;

And let those^s who love your name exult in you.

¹²For you bless the righteous.

O Yahweh, like a^t shield you surround him with good favor.