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Psalm 11-16
Easy-to-Read Version
Psalm 11-16
Easy-to-Read Version
To the director: A song of David.
11 I trust in the Lord, so why did you tell me to run and hide?
Why did you say, “Fly like a bird to your mountain?”
2 Like hunters, the wicked hide in the dark.
They get their bows ready and aim their arrows.
They shoot at good, honest people.
3 What would good people do
if the wicked destroyed all that is good?[a]
4 The Lord is in his holy temple.
The Lord sits on his throne in heaven.
He sees everything that happens.
He watches people closely.
5 The Lord examines those who are good and those who are wicked;
he hates those who enjoy hurting others.
6 He will make hot coals and burning sulfur fall like rain on the wicked.
They will get nothing but a hot, burning wind.
7 The Lord always does what is right, and he loves seeing people do right.
Those who live good lives will be with him.[b]
To the director: With the sheminith. A song of David.
12 Save me, Lord!
We can no longer trust anyone!
All the good, loyal people are gone.
2 People lie to their neighbors.
They say whatever they think people want to hear.
3 The Lord should cut off their lying lips
and cut out their bragging tongues.
4 Those people think they can win any argument.
They say, “We are so good with words,
no one will be our master.”
5 They took advantage of the poor
and stole what little they had.
But the Lord knows what they did, and he says,
“I will rescue those who are poor and helpless,
and I will punish those who hurt them.”[c]
6 The Lord’s words are true and pure,
like silver purified by fire,
like silver melted seven times to make it perfectly pure.
7 Lord, take care of the helpless.
Protect them forever from the wicked people in this world.
8 The wicked are all around us,
and everyone thinks evil is something to be praised!
To the director: A song of David.
13 How long will you forget me, Lord?
Will you forget me forever?
How long will you refuse to accept me?[d]
2 How long must I wonder if you have forgotten me?
How long must I feel this sadness in my heart?
How long will my enemy win against me?
3 Lord my God, look at me and give me an answer.
Make me feel strong again, or I will die.
4 If that happens, my enemy will say, “I beat him!”
He will be so happy that he won.
5 But I trust in your faithful love, Lord.
I will be happy when you save me.
6 Then I will sing to the Lord
because he was so good to me.
To the director: A song of David.
14 Only fools think there is no God.
People like that are evil and do terrible things.
They never do what is right.
2 The Lord looks down from heaven
to see if there is anyone who is wise,
anyone who looks to him for help.
3 But everyone has gone the wrong way.
Everyone has turned bad.
No one does anything good.
No, not one person!
4 Those who are evil treat my people like bread to be eaten.
And they never ask for the Lord’s help.
Don’t they know what they are doing?
5 They will have plenty to fear,
because God is with those who do what is right.
6 You wicked people want to spoil the hopes of the poor,
but the Lord will protect them.
7 I wish the one who lives on Mount Zion
would bring victory to Israel!
When the Lord makes his people successful again,
the people of Jacob will be happy;
the people of Israel will be glad.
A song of David.
15 Lord, who can live in your Holy Tent[e]?
Who can live on your holy mountain?
2 Only those who live pure lives, do what is right,
and speak the truth from their hearts.
3 Such people don’t say bad things about others.
They don’t do things to hurt their neighbors.
They don’t tell shameful things about those close to them.
4 They hate those who fail to please God
and honor those who respect the Lord.
If they make a promise to their neighbor,
they do what they promised.[f]
5 If they loan money to someone,
they do not charge them interest.
And they refuse to testify against an innocent person,
even if someone offers them money to do it.
Whoever lives like this will always stand strong.
A miktam of David.
16 Protect me, God, because I depend on you.
2 Some of you[g] have said to the Lord,
“You are my Lord.
Every good thing I have comes from you.”
3 But you have also said about the gods[h] of this land,
“They are my powerful gods.
They are the ones who make me happy.”
4 But those who worship other gods will have many troubles.
I will not share in the gifts of blood they offer to their idols.
I will not even say their names.
5 Lord, you give me all that I need.
You support me.
You give me my share.
6 My share[i] is wonderful.
My inheritance[j] is very beautiful.
7 I praise the Lord because he taught me well.
Even at night he put his instructions deep inside my mind.[k]
8 I always remember that the Lord is with me.[l]
He is here, close by my side,
so nothing can defeat me.
9 So my heart and soul will be very happy.
Even my body will live in safety,
10 because you will not leave me in the place of death.
You will not let your faithful one rot in the grave.
11 You will teach me the right way to live.
Just being with you will bring complete happiness.
Being at your right side will make me happy forever.
Footnotes
- Psalm 11:3 Or “What if the foundations of society were really destroyed?”
- Psalm 11:7 Those … him Literally, “They will see his face.”
- Psalm 12:5 I will rescue … hurt them Or “I will rescue poor, helpless people who were hurt and asked me for help.”
- Psalm 13:1 refuse to accept me Literally, “hide your face from me.”
- Psalm 15:1 Holy Tent The special tent where the people of Israel worshiped God. Here, it is probably the Temple on the “holy mountain” (see “Zion” in the Word List) in Jerusalem.
- Psalm 15:4 If they … promised Or “They promised not to do bad things, and they do not do bad things.”
- Psalm 16:2 Some of you Literally, “you” (singular). Most translations assume it should be “I,” giving a different meaning to verses 2 and 3, which are very difficult in the Hebrew text.
- Psalm 16:3 gods Literally, “holy ones.”
- Psalm 16:6 share Or “section of land.”
- Psalm 16:6 inheritance Here, this probably means the land each Israelite received.
- Psalm 16:7 mind Literally, “my kidneys.”
- Psalm 16:8 Literally, “I set the Lord before me always.”
Psalm 11-16
New International Version
Psalm 11-16
New International Version
Psalm 11
For the director of music. Of David.
1 In the Lord I take refuge.(A)
How then can you say to me:
“Flee(B) like a bird to your mountain.(C)
2 For look, the wicked bend their bows;(D)
they set their arrows(E) against the strings
to shoot from the shadows(F)
at the upright in heart.(G)
3 When the foundations(H) are being destroyed,
what can the righteous do?”
4 The Lord is in his holy temple;(I)
the Lord is on his heavenly throne.(J)
He observes everyone on earth;(K)
his eyes examine(L) them.
5 The Lord examines the righteous,(M)
but the wicked, those who love violence,
he hates with a passion.(N)
6 On the wicked he will rain
fiery coals and burning sulfur;(O)
a scorching wind(P) will be their lot.
Psalm 12[a]
For the director of music. According to sheminith.[b] A psalm of David.
1 Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore;(U)
those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.
2 Everyone lies(V) to their neighbor;
they flatter with their lips
but harbor deception in their hearts.(W)
3 May the Lord silence all flattering lips(X)
and every boastful tongue—(Y)
4 those who say,
“By our tongues we will prevail;(Z)
our own lips will defend us—who is lord over us?”
5 “Because the poor are plundered(AA) and the needy groan,(AB)
I will now arise,(AC)” says the Lord.
“I will protect them(AD) from those who malign them.”
6 And the words of the Lord are flawless,(AE)
like silver purified(AF) in a crucible,(AG)
like gold[c] refined seven times.
7 You, Lord, will keep the needy safe(AH)
and will protect us forever from the wicked,(AI)
8 who freely strut(AJ) about
when what is vile is honored by the human race.
Psalm 13[d]
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 How long,(AK) Lord? Will you forget me(AL) forever?
How long will you hide your face(AM) from me?
2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts(AN)
and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?(AO)
3 Look on me(AP) and answer,(AQ) Lord my God.
Give light to my eyes,(AR) or I will sleep in death,(AS)
4 and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,(AT)”
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.(AU)
5 But I trust in your unfailing love;(AV)
my heart rejoices in your salvation.(AW)
6 I will sing(AX) the Lord’s praise,
for he has been good to me.
Psalm 14(AY)
For the director of music. Of David.
1 The fool[e] says in his heart,
“There is no God.”(AZ)
They are corrupt, their deeds are vile;
there is no one who does good.
2 The Lord looks down from heaven(BA)
on all mankind
to see if there are any who understand,(BB)
any who seek God.(BC)
3 All have turned away,(BD) all have become corrupt;(BE)
there is no one who does good,(BF)
not even one.(BG)
4 Do all these evildoers know nothing?(BH)
They devour my people(BI) as though eating bread;
they never call on the Lord.(BJ)
5 But there they are, overwhelmed with dread,
for God is present in the company of the righteous.
6 You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor,
but the Lord is their refuge.(BK)
7 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!(BL)
When the Lord restores(BM) his people,
let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!
Psalm 15
A psalm of David.
2 The one whose walk is blameless,(BQ)
who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth(BR) from their heart;
3 whose tongue utters no slander,(BS)
who does no wrong to a neighbor,
and casts no slur on others;
4 who despises a vile person
but honors(BT) those who fear the Lord;
who keeps an oath(BU) even when it hurts,
and does not change their mind;
5 who lends money to the poor without interest;(BV)
who does not accept a bribe(BW) against the innocent.
Whoever does these things
will never be shaken.(BX)
Psalm 16
A miktam[f] of David.
2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;(CA)
apart from you I have no good thing.”(CB)
3 I say of the holy people(CC) who are in the land,(CD)
“They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.”
4 Those who run after other gods(CE) will suffer(CF) more and more.
I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods
or take up their names(CG) on my lips.
5 Lord, you alone are my portion(CH) and my cup;(CI)
you make my lot(CJ) secure.
6 The boundary lines(CK) have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.(CL)
7 I will praise the Lord, who counsels me;(CM)
even at night(CN) my heart instructs me.
8 I keep my eyes always on the Lord.
With him at my right hand,(CO) I will not be shaken.(CP)
9 Therefore my heart is glad(CQ) and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure,(CR)
10 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,(CS)
nor will you let your faithful[g] one(CT) see decay.(CU)
11 You make known to me the path of life;(CV)
you will fill me with joy in your presence,(CW)
with eternal pleasures(CX) at your right hand.(CY)
Footnotes
- Psalm 12:1 In Hebrew texts 12:1-8 is numbered 12:2-9.
- Psalm 12:1 Title: Probably a musical term
- Psalm 12:6 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text earth
- Psalm 13:1 In Hebrew texts 13:1-6 is numbered 13:2-6.
- Psalm 14:1 The Hebrew words rendered fool in Psalms denote one who is morally deficient.
- Psalm 16:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 16:10 Or holy
Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
Copyright © 2006 by Bible League International
New International Version (NIV) 
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