PSALM 32

A Psalm of David. A Maskil.

1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,

whose sin is covered.

2 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity,

and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

3 When I declared not my sin, my body wasted away

through my groaning all day long.

4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me;

my strength was dried upo as by the heat of summer. [Selah]

5 I acknowledged my sin to thee,

and I did not hide my iniquity;

I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”;

then thou didst forgive the guilt of my sin. [Selah]

6 Therefore let every one who is godly

offer prayer to thee;

at a time of distress,p in the rush of great waters,

they shall not reach him.

7 Thou art a hiding place for me,

thou preservest me from trouble;

thou dost encompass me with deliverance. * [Selah]

8 I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go;

I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

9 Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding,

which must be curbed with bit and bridle,

else it will not keep with you.

10 Many are the pangs of the wicked;

but steadfast love surrounds him who trusts in the Lord.

11 Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous,

and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

PSALM 11

To the choirmaster. Of David.

1 In the Lord I take refuge; how can you say to me,

“Flee like a bird to the mountains;*

2 for lo, the wicked bend the bow,

they have fitted their arrow to the string,

to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart;

3 if the foundations are destroyed,

what can the righteous do”?

4 The Lord is in his holy temple,

the Lord’s throne is in heaven;

his eyes behold, his eyelids test, the children of men.

5 The Lord tests the righteous and the wicked,

and his soul hates him that loves violence.

6 On the wicked he will rain coals of fire and brimstone;

a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.

7 For the Lord is righteous, he loves righteous deeds;

the upright shall behold his face.

PSALM 12

To the choirmaster: according to The Sheminith. A Psalm of David.

1 Help, Lord; for there is no longer any that is godly;

for the faithful have vanished from among the sons of men.

2 Every one utters lies to his neighbor;

with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.

3 May the Lord cut off all flattering lips,

the tongue that makes great boasts,

4 those who say, “With our tongue we will prevail,

our lips are with us; who is our master?”

5 “Because the poor are despoiled, because the needy groan,

I will now arise,” says the Lord;

“I will place him in the safety for which he longs.”

6 The promises of the Lord are promises that are pure,

silver refined in a furnace on the ground,

purified seven times.

7 Do thou, O Lord, protect us,

guard us ever from this generation.

8 On every side the wicked prowl,

as vileness is exalted among the sons of men.