Psalm 56–60
Psalm 56a
For the director of music. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” Of David. A miktam.b When the Philistines had seized him in Gath.
1 Be merciful to me,k my God,
for my enemies are in hot pursuit;l
all day long they press their attack.m
2 My adversaries pursue me all day long;n
in their pride many are attacking me.o
3 When I am afraid,p I put my trust in you.q
4 In God, whose word I praise—r
in God I trust and am not afraid.s
What can mere mortals do to me?t
5 All day long they twist my words;u
all their schemes are for my ruin.
6 They conspire,v they lurk,
they watch my steps,w
hoping to take my life.x
7 Because of their wickedness do notc let them escape;y
in your anger, God, bring the nations down.z
list my tears on your scrolld a—
are they not in your record?b
9 Then my enemies will turn backc
when I call for help.d
By this I will know that God is for me.e
10 In God, whose word I praise,
in the Lord, whose word I praise—
11 in God I trust and am not afraid.
What can man do to me?
12 I am under vowsf to you, my God;
I will present my thank offerings to you.
13 For you have delivered me from deathg
and my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before God
in the light of life.h
Psalm 57a
For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.b When he had fled from Saul into the cave.i
1 Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me,
for in you I take refuge.j
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wingsk
until the disaster has passed.l
to God, who vindicates me.m
3 He sends from heaven and saves me,n
rebuking those who hotly pursue me—c o
God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.p
4 I am in the midst of lions;q
I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts—
men whose teeth are spears and arrows,
whose tongues are sharp swords.r
5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
let your glory be over all the earth.s
6 They spread a net for my feett—
I was bowed downu in distress.
They dug a pitv in my path—
but they have fallen into it themselves.w
7 My heart, O God, is steadfast,
my heart is steadfast;x
I will sing and make music.
Awake, harp and lyre!y
I will awaken the dawn.
9 I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
I will sing of you among the peoples.
10 For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the skies.z
11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;a
let your glory be over all the earth.b
Psalm 58a
For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.b
1 Do you rulers indeed speak justly?c
Do you judge people with equity?
2 No, in your heart you devise injustice,d
and your hands mete out violence on the earth.e
3 Even from birth the wicked go astray;
from the womb they are wayward, spreading lies.
4 Their venom is like the venom of a snake,f
like that of a cobra that has stopped its ears,
5 that will not heedg the tune of the charmer,h
however skillful the enchanter may be.
6 Break the teeth in their mouths, O God;i
Lord, tear out the fangs of those lions!j
7 Let them vanish like water that flows away;k
when they draw the bow, let their arrows fall short.l
8 May they be like a slug that melts away as it moves along,m
like a stillborn childn that never sees the sun.
9 Before your pots can feel the heat of the thornso—
whether they be green or dry—the wicked will be swept away.c p
10 The righteous will be gladq when they are avenged,r
when they dip their feet in the blood of the wicked.s
“Surely the righteous still are rewarded;t
surely there is a God who judges the earth.”u
Psalm 59a
For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.b When Saul had sent men to watch David’s housev in order to kill him.
1 Deliver me from my enemies, O God;w
be my fortress against those who are attacking me.x
2 Deliver me from evildoersy
and save me from those who are after my blood.z
3 See how they lie in wait for me!
Fierce men conspirea against me
for no offense or sin of mine, Lord.
4 I have done no wrong,b yet they are ready to attack me.c
Arise to help me; look on my plight!d
you who are the God of Israel,e
rouse yourselff to punish all the nations;g
show no mercy to wicked traitors.c h
snarling like dogs,i
and prowl about the city.
7 See what they spew from their mouthsj—
the words from their lips are sharp as swords,k
and they think, “Who can hear us?”l
8 But you laugh at them, Lord;m
you scoff at all those nations.n
9 You are my strength,o I watch for you;
you, God, are my fortress,p
God will go before me
and will let me gloat over those who slander me.
11 But do not kill them, Lord our shield,d q
or my people will forget.r
In your might uproot them
and bring them down.s
12 For the sins of their mouths,t
for the words of their lips,u
let them be caught in their pride.v
For the curses and lies they utter,
13 consume them in your wrath,
consume them till they are no more.w
Then it will be known to the ends of the earth
that God rules over Jacob.x
snarling like dogs,
and prowl about the city.
15 They wander about for foody
and howl if not satisfied.
16 But I will singz of your strength,a
in the morningb I will sing of your love;c
for you are my fortress,d
my refuge in times of trouble.e
17 You are my strength, I sing praise to you;
you, God, are my fortress,
my God on whom I can rely.f
Psalm 60a
For the director of music. To the tune of “The Lily of the Covenant.” A miktamb of David. For teaching. When he fought Aram Naharaimc and Aram Zobah,d and when Joab returned and struck down twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.g
1 You have rejected us,h God, and burst upon us;
you have been angryi—now restore us!j
2 You have shaken the landk and torn it open;
mend its fractures,l for it is quaking.
3 You have shown your people desperate times;m
you have given us wine that makes us stagger.n
4 But for those who fear you, you have raised a bannero
to be unfurled against the bow.e
5 Save us and help us with your right hand,p
that those you loveq may be delivered.
6 God has spoken from his sanctuary:
“In triumph I will parcel out Shechemr
and measure off the Valley of Sukkoth.s
7 Gileadt is mine, and Manasseh is mine;
Ephraimu is my helmet,
on Edom I toss my sandal;
over Philistia I shout in triumph.x”
9 Who will bring me to the fortified city?
Who will lead me to Edom?
10 Is it not you, God, you who have now rejected us
and no longer go out with our armies?y
11 Give us aid against the enemy,
for human help is worthless.z
12 With God we will gain the victory,
and he will trample down our enemies.a