Psalm 56–59

Psalm 56

For the director of music. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” Of David. A miktam. When the Philistines had seized him in Gath.

^*Be merciful to me,^a my God,

for my enemies are in hot pursuit;^b

all day long they press their attack.^c

My adversaries pursue me all day long;^d

in their pride many are attacking me.^e

When I am afraid,^f I put my trust in you.^g

In God, whose word I praise—^h

in God I trust and am not afraid.ⁱ

What can mere mortals do to me?^j

All day long they twist my words;^k

all their schemes are for my ruin.

They conspire,^l they lurk,

they watch my steps,^m

hoping to take my life.ⁿ

Because of their wickedness do not let them escape;^o

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

Record my misery;

list my tears on your scroll^q—

are they not in your record?^r

Then my enemies will turn back^s

when I call for help.^t

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

In God, whose word I praise,

in the Lord, whose word I praise—

in God I trust and am not afraid.

What can mere human beings do to me?

I am under vows^v to you, my God;

I will present my thank offerings to you.

For you have delivered me from death^w

and my feet from stumbling,

that I may walk before God

in the light of life.^x

Psalm 57

57:7-11^pp — Ps 108:1–5

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam. When he had fled from Saul into the cave.^a

^*Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me,

for in you I take refuge.^b

I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings^c

until the disaster has passed.^d

I cry out to God Most High,

to God, who vindicates me.^e

He sends from heaven and saves me,^f

rebuking those who hotly pursue me—^g

God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.^h

I am in the midst of lions;ⁱ

I am forced to dwell among man-eating beasts,

whose teeth are spears and arrows,

whose tongues are sharp swords.^j

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;

let your glory be over all the earth.^k

They spread a net for my feet^l—

I was bowed down^m in distress.

They dug a pitⁿ in my path—

but they have fallen into it themselves.^o

My heart, O God, is steadfast,

my heart is steadfast;^p

I will sing and make music.

Awake, my soul!

Awake, harp and lyre!^q

I will awaken the dawn.

I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;

I will sing of you among the peoples.

For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;

your faithfulness reaches to the skies.^r

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;^s

let your glory be over all the earth.^t

Psalm 58

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

^*Do you rulers indeed speak justly?^a

Do you judge people with equity?

No, in your heart you devise injustice,^b

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

Even from birth the wicked go astray;

from the womb they are wayward, spreading lies.

Their venom is like the venom of a snake,^d

like that of a cobra that has stopped its ears,

that will not heed^e the tune of the charmer,^f

however skillful the enchanter may be.

Break the teeth in their mouths, O God;^g

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

Let them vanish like water that flows away;ⁱ

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

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

like a stillborn child^l that never sees the sun.

Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns^m—

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

The righteous will be glad^o when they are avenged,^p

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

Then people will say,

“Surely the righteous still are rewarded;^r

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

Psalm 59

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

^*Deliver me from my enemies, O God;^b

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

Deliver me from evildoers^d

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

See how they lie in wait for me!

Powerful people conspire^f against me

for no offense or sin of mine, Lord.

I have done no wrong,^g yet they are ready to attack me.^h

Arise to help me; look on my plight!ⁱ

You, Lord God Almighty,

you who are the God of Israel,^j

rouse yourself^k to punish all the nations;^l

show no mercy to wicked traitors.^m

They return at evening,

snarling like dogs,ⁿ

and prowl about the city.

See what they spew from their mouths^o—

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

and they think, “Who can hear us?”^q

But you laugh at them, Lord;^r

you scoff at all those nations.^s

You are my strength,^t I watch for you;

you, God, are my fortress,^u

my God on whom I can rely.

God will go before me

and will let me gloat over those who slander me.

But do not kill them, Lord our shield,^v

or my people will forget.^w

In your might uproot them

and bring them down.^x

For the sins of their mouths,^y

for the words of their lips,^z

let them be caught in their pride.^a

For the curses and lies they utter,

consume them in wrath,

consume them till they are no more.^b

Then it will be known to the ends of the earth

that God rules over Jacob.^c

They return at evening,

snarling like dogs,

and prowl about the city.

They wander about for food^d

and howl if not satisfied.

But I will sing^e of your strength,^f

in the morning^g I will sing of your love;^h

for you are my fortress,ⁱ

my refuge in times of trouble.^j

You are my strength, I sing praise to you;

you, God, are my fortress,

my God on whom I can rely.^k