Psalm 58–60

Psalm 58

For the director of music. A miktam of David to the tune of “Do Not Destroy.”

¹Are you rulers really fair when you speak?

Do you judge people honestly?

²No, in your hearts you plan to be unfair.

With your hands you do terrible things on the earth.

³Even from birth those who are evil go down the wrong path.

From the day they are born they go the wrong way and speak lies.

⁴Their words are like the poison of a snake.

They are like the poison of a cobra that has covered up its ears.

⁵It won’t listen to any tune of a snake charmer,

even if the charmer really plays well.

⁶God, break the teeth in the mouths of those sinners!

Lord, tear out the sharp teeth of those lions!

⁷Let those people disappear like water that flows away.

When they draw their bows, let their arrows be dull.

⁸Let them be like a slug that melts away as it moves along.

Let them be like a baby that is born dead and never sees the sun.

⁹Evil people will be swept away quicker than a pot can feel the heat of thorns burning under it.

And it doesn’t matter if the thorns are green or dry.

¹⁰Godly people will be glad when those who have hurt them are paid back.

They will wash their feet in the blood of those who do evil.

¹¹Then people will say,

“The godly will get their reward.

There really is a God who judges the earth.”

Psalm 59

For the director of music. A miktam of David when Saul had sent men to watch David’s house in order to kill him. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.”

¹God, save me from my enemies.

Keep me safe from those who rise up against me.

²Save me from those who do evil.

Save me from murderers.

³See how they hide and wait for me!

Lord, angry people plan to harm me,

even though I haven’t hurt them in any way or sinned against them.

⁴I haven’t done anything wrong to them. But they are ready to attack me.

Rise up and help me! Look at what I’m up against!

⁵Lord God who rules over all, rise up. God of Israel,

punish all of the nations.

Don’t show any mercy to those sinful people

who have turned against me. Selah

⁶My enemies are like a pack of barking dogs

that come back to the city in the evening.

They prowl around the city.

⁷Listen to what pours out of their mouths.

The words from their lips are like swords.

They think, “Who can hear us?”

⁸But you laugh at them, Lord.

You make fun of all those nations.

⁹You give me strength. I look to you.

God, you are like a fort to me. ¹⁰You are my loving God.

God will march out in front of me.

He will let me look down on those who tell lies about me.

¹¹Lord, you are like a shield that keeps us safe.

Don’t kill my enemies all at once.

If you do, my people will forget about it.

Use your power to make my enemies wander around.

Destroy them.

¹²They have sinned with their mouths.

Their lips have spoken evil words.

They have called down a curse on me and lied.

Let them be caught in their pride.

¹³Burn them up in your anger.

Burn them up until there isn’t anything left of them.

Then everyone from one end of the earth to the other will know

that God rules over the people of Jacob. Selah

¹⁴My enemies are like a pack of barking dogs

that come back into the city in the evening.

They prowl around the city.

¹⁵They wander around looking for food.

They groan if they don’t find something that will satisfy them.

¹⁶But I will sing about your strength.

In the morning I will sing about your love.

You are like a fort to me.

You keep me safe in times of trouble.

¹⁷You give me strength. I sing praise to you.

God, you are like a fort to me. You are my loving God.

Psalm 60

For the director of music. For teaching. A miktam of David when he fought against Aram Naharaim and Aram Zobah. That was when Joab returned and struck down 12,000 people from Edom in the Valley of Salt. To the tune of “The Lily of the Covenant.”

¹God, you have turned away from us. You have attacked us.

You have been angry. Now turn back to us!

²You have shaken the land and torn it open.

Fix its cracks, because it is falling apart.

³You have shown your people hard times.

You have made us drink the wine of your anger.

Now we can’t even walk straight.

⁴But you lead into battle those who have respect for you.

You give them a flag to wave against the enemy’s weapons. Selah

⁵Save us. Help us with your powerful right hand,

so that those you love may be saved.

⁶God has spoken from his temple.

He has said, “I will win the battle.

Then I will divide up the land around Shechem.

I will divide up the Valley of Succoth.

⁷Gilead belongs to me.

So does the land of Manasseh.

Ephraim is the strongest tribe.

It is like a helmet for my head.

Judah is the royal tribe.

It is like a ruler’s staff.

⁸Moab serves me like one who washes my feet.

I toss my sandal on Edom to show that I own it.

I shout to Philistia that I have won the battle.”

⁹Who will bring me to the city that has high walls around it?

Who will lead me to the land of Edom?

¹⁰God, isn’t it you, even though you have now turned away from us?

Isn’t it you, even though you don’t lead our armies into battle anymore?

¹¹Help us against our enemies.

The help people give doesn’t amount to anything.

¹²With your help we will win the battle.

You will walk all over our enemies.