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Psalm 11

Song of Trust in God

To the leader. Of David.

In the Lord I take refuge; how can you say to me,
    “Flee like a bird to the mountains,[a](A)
for look, the wicked bend the bow,
    they have fitted their arrow to the string,
    to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart.(B)
If the foundations are destroyed,
    what can the righteous do?”(C)

The Lord is in his holy temple;
    the Lord’s throne is in heaven.
    His eyes behold; his gaze examines humankind.(D)
The Lord tests the righteous and the wicked,
    and his soul hates the lover of violence.(E)
On the wicked he will rain coals of fire and sulfur;
    a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.(F)
For the Lord is righteous;
he loves righteous deeds;
    the upright shall behold his face.(G)

Psalm 12

Plea for Help in Evil Times

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

Help, O Lord, for there is no longer anyone who is godly;
    the faithful have disappeared from humankind.(H)
They utter lies to each other;
    with flattering lips and a deceitful heart they speak.(I)

May the Lord cut off all flattering lips,
    the tongue that makes great boasts,(J)
those who say, “With our tongues we will prevail;
    our lips are our own—who is our master?”

“Because the poor are despoiled, because the needy groan,
    I will now rise up,” says the Lord;
    “I will place them in the safety for which they long.”(K)
The promises of the Lord are promises that are pure,
    silver refined in a furnace on the ground,
    purified seven times.(L)

You, O Lord, will protect us;
    you will guard us from this generation forever.(M)
On every side the wicked prowl,
    as vileness is exalted among humankind.(N)

Psalm 13

Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies

To the leader. A Psalm of David.

How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
    How long will you hide your face from me?(O)
How long must I bear pain[b] in my soul
    and have sorrow in my heart all day long?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?(P)

Consider and answer me, O Lord my God!
    Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death,(Q)
and my enemy will say, “I have prevailed”;
    my foes will rejoice because I am shaken.(R)

But I trusted in your steadfast love;
    my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.(S)
I will sing to the Lord
    because he has dealt bountifully with me.(T)

Psalm 14

Denunciation of Godlessness

To the leader. Of David.

Fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.”
    They are corrupt; they do abominable deeds;
    there is no one who does good.(U)

The Lord looks down from heaven on humankind
    to see if there are any who are wise,
    who seek after God.(V)

They have all gone astray; they are all alike perverse;
    there is no one who does good,
    no, not one.(W)

Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers
    who eat up my people as they eat bread
    and do not call upon the Lord?(X)

There they shall be in great terror,
    for God is with the company of the righteous.(Y)
You would confound the plans of the poor,
    but the Lord is their refuge.(Z)

O that deliverance for Israel would come from Zion!
    When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people,
    Jacob will rejoice; Israel will be glad.(AA)

Psalm 15

Who Shall Abide in God’s Sanctuary?

A Psalm of David.

O Lord, who may abide in your tent?
    Who may dwell on your holy hill?(AB)

Those who walk blamelessly and do what is right
    and speak the truth from their heart;(AC)
who do not slander with their tongue
    and do no evil to their friends
    nor heap shame upon their neighbors;(AD)
in whose eyes the wicked are despised
    but who honor those who fear the Lord;
who stand by their oath even to their hurt;(AE)
who do not lend money at interest
    and do not take a bribe against the innocent.

Those who do these things shall never be moved.(AF)

Psalm 16

Song of Trust and Security in God

A Miktam of David.

Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge.(AG)
I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
    I have no good apart from you.”[c]

As for the holy ones in the land, they are the noble ones
    in whom is all my delight.(AH)

Those who choose another god multiply their sorrows;[d]
    their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
    or take their names upon my lips.(AI)

The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
    you hold my lot.(AJ)
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
    I have a goodly heritage.(AK)

I bless the Lord, who gives me counsel;
    in the night also my heart instructs me.(AL)
I keep the Lord always before me;
    because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.(AM)

Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices;
    my body also rests secure.(AN)
10 For you do not give me up to Sheol
    or let your faithful one see the Pit.(AO)

11 You show me the path of life.
    In your presence there is fullness of joy;
    in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.(AP)

Footnotes

  1. 11.1 Gk Syr Jerome Tg: Heb flee to your mountain, O bird
  2. 13.2 Syr: Heb hold counsels
  3. 16.2 Jerome Tg: Meaning of Heb uncertain
  4. 16.4 Cn: Meaning of Heb uncertain