Psalm 56–59

Psalm 56^a

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.

¹Be merciful to me,^k my God,

for my enemies are in hot pursuit;^l

all day long they press their attack.^m

²My adversaries pursue me all day long;ⁿ

in their pride many are attacking me.^o

³When I am afraid,^p I put my trust in you.^q

⁴In God, whose word I praise—^r

in God I trust and am not afraid.^s

What can mere mortals do to me?^t

⁵All day long they twist my words;^u

all their schemes are for my ruin.

⁶They conspire,^v they lurk,

they watch my steps,^w

hoping to take my life.^x

⁷Because of their wickedness do not^c let them escape;^y

in your anger, God, bring the nations down.^z

⁸Record my misery;

list my tears on your scroll^da—

are they not in your record?^b

⁹Then my enemies will turn back^c

when I call for help.^d

By this I will know that God is for me.^e

¹⁰In God, whose word I praise,

in the Lord, whose word I praise—

¹¹in God I trust and am not afraid.

What can man do to me?

¹²I am under vows^f to you, my God;

I will present my thank offerings to you.

¹³For you have delivered me from death^g

and my feet from stumbling,

that I may walk before God

in the light of life.^h

Psalm 57^a

57:7–11pp—Ps 108:1–5

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

¹Have 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 wings^k

until the disaster has passed.^l

²I cry out to God Most High,

to God, who vindicates me.^m

³He sends from heaven and saves me,ⁿ

rebuking those who hotly pursue me—^co

God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.^p

⁴I 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

⁵Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;

let your glory be over all the earth.^s

⁶They spread a net for my feet^t—

I was bowed down^u in distress.

They dug a pit^v in my path—

but they have fallen into it themselves.^w

⁷My heart, O God, is steadfast,

my heart is steadfast;^x

I will sing and make music.

⁸Awake, my soul!

Awake, harp and lyre!^y

I will awaken the dawn.

⁹I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;

I will sing of you among the peoples.

¹⁰For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;

your faithfulness reaches to the skies.^z

¹¹Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;^a

let your glory be over all the earth.^b

Psalm 58^a

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.^b

¹Do you rulers indeed speak justly?^c

Do you judge people with equity?

²No, in your heart you devise injustice,^d

and your hands mete out violence on the earth.^e

³Even from birth the wicked go astray;

from the womb they are wayward, spreading lies.

⁴Their venom is like the venom of a snake,^f

like that of a cobra that has stopped its ears,

⁵that will not heed^g the tune of the charmer,^h

however skillful the enchanter may be.

⁶Break the teeth in their mouths, O God;ⁱ

Lord, tear out the fangs of those lions!^j

⁷Let them vanish like water that flows away;^k

when they draw the bow, let their arrows fall short.^l

⁸May they be like a slug that melts away as it moves along,^m

like a stillborn childⁿ that never sees the sun.

⁹Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns^o—

whether they be green or dry—the wicked will be swept away.^cp

¹⁰The righteous will be glad^q when they are avenged,^r

when they dip their feet in the blood of the wicked.^s

¹¹Then people will say,

“Surely the righteous still are rewarded;^t

surely there is a God who judges the earth.”^u

Psalm 59^a

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 house^v in order to kill him.

¹Deliver me from my enemies, O God;^w

be my fortress against those who are attacking me.^x

²Deliver me from evildoers^y

and save me from those who are after my blood.^z

³See how they lie in wait for me!

Fierce men conspire^a against me

for no offense or sin of mine, Lord.

⁴I have done no wrong,^b yet they are ready to attack me.^c

Arise to help me; look on my plight!^d

⁵You, Lord God Almighty,

you who are the God of Israel,^e

rouse yourself^f to punish all the nations;^g

show no mercy to wicked traitors.^ch

⁶They return at evening,

snarling like dogs,ⁱ

and prowl about the city.

⁷See what they spew from their mouths^j—

the words from their lips are sharp as swords,^k

and they think, “Who can hear us?”^l

⁸But you laugh at them, Lord;^m

you scoff at all those nations.ⁿ

⁹You are my strength,^o I watch for you;

you, God, are my fortress,^p

¹⁰my God on whom I can rely.

God will go before me

and will let me gloat over those who slander me.

¹¹But do not kill them, Lord our shield,^dq

or my people will forget.^r

In your might uproot them

and bring them down.^s

¹²For 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,

¹³consume 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

¹⁴They return at evening,

snarling like dogs,

and prowl about the city.

¹⁵They wander about for food^y

and howl if not satisfied.

¹⁶But I will sing^z of your strength,^a

in the morning^b I will sing of your love;^c

for you are my fortress,^d

my refuge in times of trouble.^e

¹⁷You are my strength, I sing praise to you;

you, God, are my fortress,

my God on whom I can rely.^f