Psalm 55[a]

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil[b] of David.

Listen to my prayer, O God,
    do not ignore my plea;(A)
    hear me and answer me.(B)
My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught(C)
    because of what my enemy is saying,
    because of the threats of the wicked;
for they bring down suffering on me(D)
    and assail(E) me in their anger.(F)

My heart is in anguish(G) within me;
    the terrors(H) of death have fallen on me.
Fear and trembling(I) have beset me;
    horror(J) has overwhelmed me.
I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove!
    I would fly away and be at rest.
I would flee far away
    and stay in the desert;[c](K)
I would hurry to my place of shelter,(L)
    far from the tempest and storm.(M)

Lord, confuse the wicked, confound their words,(N)
    for I see violence and strife(O) in the city.(P)
10 Day and night they prowl(Q) about on its walls;
    malice and abuse are within it.
11 Destructive forces(R) are at work in the city;
    threats and lies(S) never leave its streets.

12 If an enemy were insulting me,
    I could endure it;
if a foe were rising against me,
    I could hide.
13 But it is you, a man like myself,
    my companion, my close friend,(T)
14 with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship(U)
    at the house of God,(V)
as we walked about
    among the worshipers.

15 Let death take my enemies by surprise;(W)
    let them go down alive to the realm of the dead,(X)
    for evil finds lodging among them.

16 As for me, I call to God,
    and the Lord saves me.
17 Evening,(Y) morning(Z) and noon(AA)
    I cry out in distress,
    and he hears my voice.
18 He rescues me unharmed
    from the battle waged against me,
    even though many oppose me.
19 God, who is enthroned from of old,(AB)
    who does not change—
he will hear(AC) them and humble them,
    because they have no fear of God.(AD)

20 My companion attacks his friends;(AE)
    he violates his covenant.(AF)
21 His talk is smooth as butter,(AG)
    yet war is in his heart;
his words are more soothing than oil,(AH)
    yet they are drawn swords.(AI)

22 Cast your cares on the Lord
    and he will sustain you;(AJ)
he will never let
    the righteous be shaken.(AK)
23 But you, God, will bring down the wicked
    into the pit(AL) of decay;
the bloodthirsty and deceitful(AM)
    will not live out half their days.(AN)

But as for me, I trust in you.(AO)

Psalm 56[d]

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

Be merciful to me,(AP) my God,
    for my enemies are in hot pursuit;(AQ)
    all day long they press their attack.(AR)
My adversaries pursue me all day long;(AS)
    in their pride many are attacking me.(AT)

When I am afraid,(AU) I put my trust in you.(AV)
    In God, whose word I praise—(AW)
in God I trust and am not afraid.(AX)
    What can mere mortals do to me?(AY)

All day long they twist my words;(AZ)
    all their schemes are for my ruin.
They conspire,(BA) they lurk,
    they watch my steps,(BB)
    hoping to take my life.(BC)
Because of their wickedness do not[f] let them escape;(BD)
    in your anger, God, bring the nations down.(BE)

Record my misery;
    list my tears on your scroll[g](BF)
    are they not in your record?(BG)
Then my enemies will turn back(BH)
    when I call for help.(BI)
    By this I will know that God is for me.(BJ)

10 In God, whose word I praise,
    in the Lord, whose word I praise—
11 in God I trust and am not afraid.
    What can man do to me?

12 I am under vows(BK) to you, my God;
    I will present my thank offerings to you.
13 For you have delivered me from death(BL)
    and my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before God
    in the light of life.(BM)

Psalm 57[h](BN)

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.[i] When he had fled from Saul into the cave.(BO)

Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me,
    for in you I take refuge.(BP)
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings(BQ)
    until the disaster has passed.(BR)

I cry out to God Most High,
    to God, who vindicates me.(BS)
He sends from heaven and saves me,(BT)
    rebuking those who hotly pursue me—[j](BU)
    God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.(BV)

I am in the midst of lions;(BW)
    I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts—
men whose teeth are spears and arrows,
    whose tongues are sharp swords.(BX)

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
    let your glory be over all the earth.(BY)

They spread a net for my feet(BZ)
    I was bowed down(CA) in distress.
They dug a pit(CB) in my path—
    but they have fallen into it themselves.(CC)

My heart, O God, is steadfast,
    my heart is steadfast;(CD)
    I will sing and make music.
Awake, my soul!
    Awake, harp and lyre!(CE)
    I will awaken the dawn.

I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
    I will sing of you among the peoples.
10 For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
    your faithfulness reaches to the skies.(CF)

11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;(CG)
    let your glory be over all the earth.(CH)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 55:1 In Hebrew texts 55:1-23 is numbered 55:2-24.
  2. Psalm 55:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  3. Psalm 55:7 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and in the middle of verse 19.
  4. Psalm 56:1 In Hebrew texts 56:1-13 is numbered 56:2-14.
  5. Psalm 56:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  6. Psalm 56:7 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text does not have do not.
  7. Psalm 56:8 Or misery; / put my tears in your wineskin
  8. Psalm 57:1 In Hebrew texts 57:1-11 is numbered 57:2-12.
  9. Psalm 57:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  10. Psalm 57:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 6.

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