Psalms 56-63

Psalm 56

¹For the choirmaster. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” A Miktam of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath. Be merciful to me, O God, for men are hounding me; all day they press their attack.

²My enemies pursue me all day long, for many proudly assail me.

³When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.

⁴In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

⁵All day long they twist my words; all their thoughts are on my demise.

⁶They conspire, they lurk, they watch my steps while they wait to take my life.

⁷In spite of such sin, will they escape? In Your anger, O God, cast down the nations.

⁸You have taken account of my wanderings. Put my tears in Your bottle— are they not in Your book?

⁹Then my enemies will retreat on the day I cry for help. By this I will know that God is on my side.

¹⁰In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise,

¹¹in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

¹²Your vows are upon me, O God; I will render thank offerings to You.

¹³For You have delivered my soul from death, and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.

Psalm 57

¹For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A Miktam of David, when he fled from Saul into the cave. Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy, for in You my soul takes refuge. In the shadow of Your wings I will take shelter until the danger has passed.

²I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills His purpose for me.

³He reaches down from heaven and saves me; He rebukes those who trample me. Selah God sends forth His loving devotion and His truth.

⁴My soul is among the lions; I lie down with ravenous beasts— with men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.

⁵Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; may Your glory cover all the earth.

⁶They spread a net for my feet; my soul was despondent. They dug a pit before me, but they themselves have fallen into it! Selah

⁷My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast. I will sing and make music.

⁸Awake, my glory! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.

⁹I will praise You, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing Your praises among the peoples.

¹⁰For Your loving devotion reaches to the heavens, and Your faithfulness to the clouds.

¹¹Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; may Your glory cover all the earth.

Psalm 58

¹For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A Miktam of David. Do you indeed speak justly, O rulers? Do you judge uprightly, O sons of men?

²No, in your hearts you devise injustice; with your hands you mete out violence on the earth.

³The wicked are estranged from the womb; the liars go astray from birth.

⁴Their venom is like the venom of a snake, like a cobra that shuts its ears,

⁵refusing to hear the tune of the charmer who skillfully weaves his spell.

⁶O God, shatter their teeth in their mouths; O LORD, tear out the fangs of the lions.

⁷May they vanish like water that runs off; when they draw the bow, may their arrows be blunted.

⁸Like a slug that dissolves in its slime, like a woman’s stillborn child, may they never see the sun.

⁹Before your pots can feel the burning thorns— whether green or dry— He will sweep them away.

¹⁰The righteous will rejoice when they see they are avenged; they will wash their feet in the blood of the wicked.

¹¹Then men will say, “There is surely a reward for the righteous! There is surely a God who judges the earth!”

Psalm 59

¹For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A Miktam of David, when Saul sent men to watch David’s house in order to kill him. Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; protect me from those who rise against me.

²Deliver me from workers of iniquity, and save me from men of bloodshed.

³See how they lie in wait for me. Fierce men conspire against me for no transgression or sin of my own, O LORD.

⁴For no fault of my own, they move swiftly to attack me. Arise to help me, and take notice.

⁵O LORD God of Hosts, the God of Israel, rouse Yourself to punish all the nations; show no mercy to the wicked traitors. Selah

⁶They return in the evening, snarling like dogs and prowling around the city.

⁷See what they spew from their mouths— sharp words from their lips: “For who can hear us?”

⁸But You, O LORD, laugh at them; You scoff at all the nations.

⁹I will keep watch for You, O my strength, because You, O God, are my fortress.

¹⁰My God of loving devotion will come to meet me; God will let me stare down my foes.

¹¹Do not kill them, or my people will forget. Scatter them by Your power, and bring them down, O Lord, our shield.

¹²By the sins of their mouths and the words of their lips, let them be trapped in their pride, in the curses and lies they utter.

¹³Consume them in wrath; consume them till they are no more, so it may be known to the ends of the earth that God rules over Jacob. Selah

¹⁴They return in the evening, snarling like dogs and prowling around the city.

¹⁵They scavenge for food, and growl if they are not satisfied.

¹⁶But I will sing of Your strength and proclaim Your loving devotion in the morning. For You are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.

¹⁷To You, O my strength, I sing praises, for You, O God, are my fortress, my God of loving devotion.

Psalm 60

¹For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Lily of the Covenant.” A Miktam of David for instruction. When he fought Aram-naharaim and Aram-zobah, and Joab returned and struck down 12,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. You have rejected us, O God; You have broken us; You have been angry; restore us!

²You have shaken the land and torn it open. Heal its fractures, for it is quaking.

³You have shown Your people hardship; we are staggered from the wine You made us drink.

⁴You have raised a banner for those who fear You, that they may flee the bow. Selah

⁵Respond and save us with Your right hand, that Your beloved may be delivered.

⁶God has spoken from His sanctuary: “I will triumph! I will parcel out Shechem and apportion the Valley of Succoth.

⁷Gilead is Mine, and Manasseh is Mine; Ephraim is My helmet, Judah is My scepter.

⁸Moab is My washbasin; upon Edom I toss My sandal; over Philistia I shout in triumph.”

⁹Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom?

¹⁰Have You not rejected us, O God? Will You no longer march out, O God, with our armies?

¹¹Give us aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless.

¹²With God we will perform with valor, and He will trample our enemies.

Psalm 61

¹For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. Of David. Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer.

²From the ends of the earth I call out to You whenever my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

³For You have been my refuge, a tower of strength against the enemy.

⁴Let me dwell in Your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of Your wings. Selah

⁵For You have heard my vows, O God; You have given me the inheritance reserved for those who fear Your name.

⁶Increase the days of the king’s life; may his years span many generations.

⁷May he sit enthroned in God’s presence forever; appoint Your loving devotion and Your faithfulness to guard him.

⁸Then I will ever sing praise to Your name and fulfill my vows day by day.

Psalm 62

¹For the choirmaster. According to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. In God alone my soul finds rest; my salvation comes from Him.

²He alone is my rock and my salvation. He is my fortress; I will never be shaken.

³How long will you threaten a man? Will all of you throw him down like a leaning wall or a tottering fence?

⁴They fully intend to cast him down from his lofty perch; they delight in lies; with their mouths they bless, but inwardly they curse. Selah

⁵Rest in God alone, O my soul, for my hope comes from Him.

⁶He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress; I will not be shaken.

⁷My salvation and my honor rest on God, my strong rock; my refuge is in God.

⁸Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is our refuge. Selah

⁹Lowborn men are but a vapor, the exalted but a lie. Weighed on the scale, they go up; together they are but a vapor.

¹⁰Place no trust in extortion, or false hope in stolen goods. If your riches increase, do not set your heart upon them.

¹¹God has spoken once; I have heard this twice: that power belongs to God,

¹²and loving devotion to You, O Lord. For You will repay each man according to his deeds.

Psalm 63

¹A Psalm of David, when he was in the Wilderness of Judah. O God, You are my God. Earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You. My body yearns for You in a dry and weary land without water.

²So I have seen You in the sanctuary and beheld Your power and glory.

³Because Your loving devotion is better than life, my lips will glorify You.

⁴So I will bless You as long as I live; in Your name I will lift my hands.

⁵My soul is satisfied as with the richest of foods; with joyful lips my mouth will praise You.

⁶When I remember You on my bed, I think of You through the watches of the night.

⁷For You are my help; I will sing for joy in the shadow of Your wings.

⁸My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.

⁹But those who seek my life to destroy it will go into the depths of the earth.

¹⁰They will fall to the power of the sword; they will become a portion for foxes.

¹¹But the king will rejoice in God; all who swear by Him will exult, for the mouths of liars will be shut.