The Safety of the Faithful

To the [a]Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.

Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
You have relieved me in my distress;
[b]Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.

How long, O you sons of men,
Will you turn my glory to shame?
How long will you love worthlessness
And seek falsehood? Selah
But know that (A)the Lord has [c]set apart for Himself him who is godly;
The Lord will hear when I call to Him.

(B)Be[d] angry, and do not sin.
(C)Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah
Offer (D)the sacrifices of righteousness,
And (E)put your trust in the Lord.

There are many who say,
“Who will show us any good?”
(F)Lord, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us.
You have put (G)gladness in my heart,
More than in the season that their grain and wine increased.
(H)I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;
(I)For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

A Prayer for Guidance

To the Chief Musician. With [e]flutes. A Psalm of David.

Give (J)ear to my words, O Lord,
Consider my [f]meditation.
Give heed to the voice of my cry,
My King and my God,
For to You I will pray.
My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord;
(K)In the morning I will direct it to You,
And I will look up.

For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness,
Nor shall evil [g]dwell with You.
The (L)boastful shall not (M)stand in Your sight;
You hate all workers of iniquity.
You shall destroy those who speak falsehood;
The Lord abhors the (N)bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy;
In fear of You I will worship toward [h]Your holy temple.
(O)Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies;
Make Your way straight before my face.

For there is no [i]faithfulness in their mouth;
Their inward part is destruction;
(P)Their throat is an open tomb;
They flatter with their tongue.
10 Pronounce them guilty, O God!
Let them fall by their own counsels;
Cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions,
For they have rebelled against You.

11 But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You;
Let them ever shout for joy, because You [j]defend them;
Let those also who love Your name
Be joyful in You.
12 For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous;
With favor You will surround him as with a shield.

A Prayer of Faith in Time of Distress

To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. (Q)On [k]an eight-stringed harp. A Psalm of David.

O Lord, (R)do not rebuke me in Your anger,
Nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure.
Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak;
O Lord, (S)heal me, for my bones are troubled.
My soul also is greatly (T)troubled;
But You, O Lord—how long?

Return, O Lord, deliver me!
Oh, save me for Your mercies’ sake!
(U)For in death there is no remembrance of You;
In the grave who will give You thanks?

I am weary with my groaning;
[l]All night I make my bed swim;
I drench my couch with my tears.
(V)My eye wastes away because of grief;
It grows old because of all my enemies.

(W)Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity;
For the Lord has (X)heard the voice of my weeping.
The Lord has heard my supplication;
The Lord will receive my prayer.
10 Let all my enemies be ashamed and greatly troubled;
Let them turn back and be ashamed suddenly.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 4:1 Choir Director
  2. Psalm 4:1 Be gracious to me
  3. Psalm 4:3 Many Heb. mss., LXX, Tg., Vg. made wonderful
  4. Psalm 4:4 Lit. Tremble or Be agitated
  5. Psalm 5:1 Heb. nehiloth
  6. Psalm 5:1 Lit. groaning
  7. Psalm 5:4 Lit. sojourn
  8. Psalm 5:7 Lit. the temple of Your holiness
  9. Psalm 5:9 uprightness
  10. Psalm 5:11 protect, lit. cover
  11. Psalm 6:1 Heb. sheminith
  12. Psalm 6:6 Or Every night

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