Psalm 11-16

New Living Translation

Psalm 11

For the choir director: A psalm of David.

¹I trust in the Lord for protection.
So why do you say to me,
    “Fly like a bird to the mountains for safety!
²The wicked are stringing their bows
    and fitting their arrows on the bowstrings.
They shoot from the shadows
    at those whose hearts are right.
³The foundations of law and order have collapsed.
    What can the righteous do?”

⁴But the Lord is in his holy Temple;
    the Lord still rules from heaven.
He watches everyone closely,
    examining every person on earth.
⁵The Lord examines both the righteous and the wicked.
    He hates those who love violence.
⁶He will rain down blazing coals and burning sulfur on the wicked,
    punishing them with scorching winds.
⁷For the righteous Lord loves justice.
    The virtuous will see his face.

Psalm 12

For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by an eight-stringed instrument.^[a]

¹Help, O Lord, for the godly are fast disappearing!
    The faithful have vanished from the earth!
²Neighbors lie to each other,
    speaking with flattering lips and deceitful hearts.
³May the Lord cut off their flattering lips
    and silence their boastful tongues.
⁴They say, “We will lie to our hearts’ content.
    Our lips are our own—who can stop us?”

⁵The Lord replies, “I have seen violence done to the helpless,
    and I have heard the groans of the poor.
Now I will rise up to rescue them,
    as they have longed for me to do.”
⁶The Lord’s promises are pure,
    like silver refined in a furnace,
    purified seven times over.
⁷Therefore, Lord, we know you will protect the oppressed,
    preserving them forever from this lying generation,
⁸even though the wicked strut about,
    and evil is praised throughout the land.

Psalm 13

For the choir director: A psalm of David.

¹O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever?
    How long will you look the other way?
²How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul,
    with sorrow in my heart every day?
    How long will my enemy have the upper hand?

³Turn and answer me, O Lord my God!
Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.
⁴Don’t let my enemies gloat, saying, “We have defeated him!”
Don’t let them rejoice at my downfall.

⁵But I trust in your unfailing love.
I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
⁶I will sing to the Lord
because he is good to me.

Psalm 14

For the choir director: A psalm of David.

¹Only fools say in their hearts,
“There is no God.”
They are corrupt, and their actions are evil;
not one of them does good!

²The Lord looks down from heaven
    on the entire human race;
he looks to see if anyone is truly wise,
    if anyone seeks God.
³But no, all have turned away;
    all have become corrupt.^[b]
No one does good,
    not a single one!

⁴Will those who do evil never learn?
    They eat up my people like bread
    and wouldn’t think of praying to the Lord.
⁵Terror will grip them,
    for God is with those who obey him.
⁶The wicked frustrate the plans of the oppressed,
    but the Lord will protect his people.

⁷Who will come from Mount Zion to rescue Israel?
When the Lord restores his people,
Jacob will shout with joy, and Israel will rejoice.

Psalm 15

A psalm of David.

¹Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord?
    Who may enter your presence on your holy hill?
²Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right,
    speaking the truth from sincere hearts.
³Those who refuse to gossip
    or harm their neighbors
    or speak evil of their friends.
⁴Those who despise flagrant sinners,
    and honor the faithful followers of the Lord,
    and keep their promises even when it hurts.
⁵Those who lend money without charging interest,
    and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent.
Such people will stand firm forever.

Psalm 16

A psalm^[c] of David.

¹Keep me safe, O God,
for I have come to you for refuge.

²I said to the Lord, “You are my Master!
    Every good thing I have comes from you.”
³The godly people in the land
    are my true heroes!
    I take pleasure in them!
⁴Troubles multiply for those who chase after other gods.
    I will not take part in their sacrifices of blood
    or even speak the names of their gods.

⁵Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing.
You guard all that is mine.
⁶The land you have given me is a pleasant land.
What a wonderful inheritance!

⁷I will bless the Lord who guides me;
even at night my heart instructs me.
⁸I know the Lord is always with me.
I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.

⁹No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice.^[d]
    My body rests in safety.
¹⁰For you will not leave my soul among the dead^[e]
    or allow your holy one^[f] to rot in the grave.
¹¹You will show me the way of life,
    granting me the joy of your presence
    and the pleasures of living with you forever.^[g]

Footnotes

12:Title Hebrew according to the sheminith.
14:3 Greek version reads have become useless. Compare Rom 3:12.
16:Title Hebrew miktam. This may be a literary or musical term.
16:9 Greek version reads and my tongue shouts his praises. Compare Acts 2:26.
16:10a Hebrew in Sheol.
16:10b Or your Holy One.
16:11 Greek version reads You have shown me the way of life, / and you will fill me with the joy of your presence. Compare Acts 2:28.