Psalm 4

A Night Prayer

For the choir director: with stringed instruments.(A) A Davidic psalm.

Answer me when I call,
God, who vindicates me.[a](B)
You freed me from affliction;(C)
be gracious to me and hear my prayer.

How long, exalted men, will my honor be insulted?(D)
How long will you love what is worthless(E)
and pursue a lie?Selah
Know that the Lord has set apart
the faithful for Himself;
the Lord will hear when I call to Him.
Be angry[b] and do not sin;(F)
on your bed, reflect in your heart and be still.(G)Selah
Offer sacrifices in righteousness[c](H)
and trust in the Lord.(I)

Many are saying, “Who can show us anything good?”
Look on us with favor, Lord.(J)

You have put more joy in my heart
than they have when their grain and new wine abound.(K)
I will both lie down and sleep in peace,(L)
for You alone, Lord, make me live in safety.(M)

Psalm 5

The Refuge of the Righteous

For the choir director: with the flutes. A Davidic psalm.

Listen to my words, Lord;
consider my sighing.(N)
Pay attention to the sound of my cry,(O)
my King and my God,(P)
for I pray to You.

At daybreak,(Q) Lord, You hear my voice;
at daybreak I plead my case to You(R) and watch expectantly.

For You are not a God who delights in wickedness;
evil cannot dwell with You.(S)
The boastful cannot stand in Your presence;(T)
You hate all evildoers.(U)
You destroy those who tell lies;(V)
the Lord abhors a man of bloodshed and treachery.(W)

But I enter Your house
by the abundance of Your faithful love;(X)
I bow down toward Your holy temple
in reverential awe of You.(Y)
Lord, lead me in Your righteousness(Z)
because of my adversaries;[d]
make Your way straight before me.(AA)

For there is nothing reliable in what they say;[e](AB)
destruction is within them;
their throat is an open grave;
they flatter with their tongues.(AC)
10 Punish them, God;
let them fall by their own schemes.(AD)
Drive them out(AE) because of their many crimes,
for they rebel against You.(AF)

11 But let all who take refuge in You rejoice;(AG)
let them shout for joy forever.
May You shelter them,(AH)
and may those who love Your name boast about You.(AI)
12 For You, Lord, bless the righteous one;
You surround him with favor like a shield.(AJ)

Psalm 6

A Prayer for Mercy

For the choir director: with stringed instruments, according to Sheminith.(AK) A Davidic psalm.

Lord, do not rebuke me in Your anger;
do not discipline me in Your wrath.(AL)
Be gracious to me, Lord, for I am weak;[f](AM)
heal me,(AN) Lord, for my bones are shaking;(AO)
my whole being is shaken with terror.(AP)
And You, Lord—how long?(AQ)

Turn, Lord! Rescue me;
save me because of Your faithful love.(AR)
For there is no remembrance of You in death;
who can thank You in Sheol?(AS)

I am weary from my groaning;(AT)
with my tears I dampen my pillow[g]
and drench my bed every night.(AU)
My eyes are swollen from grief;(AV)
they[h] grow old because of all my enemies.

Depart from me, all evildoers,
for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping.(AW)
The Lord has heard my plea for help;(AX)
the Lord accepts my prayer.(AY)
10 All my enemies will be ashamed and shake with terror;
they will turn back(AZ) and suddenly be disgraced.(BA)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 4:1 Or God of my righteousness
  2. Psalm 4:4 Or Tremble
  3. Psalm 4:5 Or Offer right sacrifices; lit Sacrifice sacrifices of righteousness
  4. Psalm 5:8 Or of those who lie in wait for me
  5. Psalm 5:9 Lit in his mouth
  6. Psalm 6:2 Or sick
  7. Psalm 6:6 Lit bed
  8. Psalm 6:7 LXX, Aq, Sym, Jer read I

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