Psalm 11:1–13:6

¹I run to the Lord for safety.

So how can you say to me,

“Fly away like a bird to your mountain.

²Look! Evil people are bending their bows.

They are placing their arrows against the strings.

They are planning to shoot from the shadows

at those who have honest hearts.

³When law and order are being destroyed,

what can godly people do?”

⁴The Lord is in his holy temple.

The Lord is on his throne in heaven.

He watches all people.

His eyes study them.

⁵The Lord watches over those who do what is right.

But he hates sinful people and those who love to hurt others.

⁶He will pour out flaming coals and burning sulfur

on those who do what is wrong.

A hot and dry wind will destroy them.

⁷The Lord always does what is right.

So he loves it when people do what is fair.

Those who are honest will enjoy his blessing.

Psalm 12

For the director of music. For sheminith. A psalm of David.

¹Help, Lord! Those who do what is right are gone.

Those who are faithful have disappeared from the earth.

²Everyone tells lies to his neighbors.

With his lips he praises others, but he doesn’t really mean it.

³May the Lord cut off all lips that don’t mean what they say.

May he cut out every tongue that brags.

⁴They say, “We will win the battle with our tongues.

Our lips belong to us. No one else is in charge of us.”

⁵The Lord says, “The weak are beaten down.

Those who are in need groan.

So I will stand up to help them.

I will keep them safe from those who tell lies about them.”

⁶The words of the Lord are perfect.

They are like silver made pure in a clay furnace.

They are like silver made pure seven times over.

⁷Lord, you will keep us safe.

You will always keep sinners from hurting us.

⁸Proud and sinful people walk around openly

when the evil they do is praised by others.

Psalm 13

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

¹Lord, how long must I wait? Will you forget me forever?

How long will you turn your face away from me?

²How long must I struggle with my thoughts?

How long must my heart be sad day after day?

How long will my enemies keep winning the battle over me?

³Lord my God, look at me and answer me.

Give me new life, or I will die.

⁴Then my enemies will say, “We have beaten him.”

They will be filled with joy when I die.

⁵But I trust in your faithful love.

My heart is filled with joy because you will save me.

⁶I will sing to the Lord.

He has been so good to me.