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Evening prayer of trust in God.

For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.

Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness;
Thou hast set me at large when I was in distress:
[a]Have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.
O ye sons of men, how long shall my glory be turned into dishonor?
How long will ye love vanity, and seek after falsehood? Selah
But know that Jehovah hath set apart for himself [b]him that is godly:
Jehovah will hear when I call unto him.
[c]Stand in awe, and sin not:
Commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah
Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,
And put your trust in Jehovah.
Many there are that say, Who will show us any good?
Jehovah, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.
Thou hast put gladness in my heart,
More than they have when their grain and their new wine are increased.
In peace will I both lay me down and sleep;
For thou, Jehovah, [d]alone makest me dwell in safety.

Prayer for protection from the wicked.

For the Chief Musician; with the [e]Nehiloth. A Psalm of David.

Give ear to my words, O Jehovah,
Consider my meditation.
Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God;
For unto thee do I pray.
O Jehovah, in the morning shalt thou hear my voice;
In the morning will I order my prayer unto thee, and will keep watch.
For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness:
[f]Evil shall not sojourn with thee.
[g]The arrogant shall not stand in thy sight:
Thou hatest all workers of iniquity.
Thou wilt destroy them that speak lies:
Jehovah abhorreth the blood-thirsty and deceitful man.
But as for me, in the abundance of thy lovingkindness will I come into thy house:
In thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.
Lead me, O Jehovah, in thy righteousness because of [h]mine enemies;
Make thy way [i]straight before my face.
For there is no [j]faithfulness in their mouth;
Their inward part is [k]very wickedness;
Their throat is an open sepulchre;
They [l]flatter with their tongue.
10 Hold them guilty, O God;
Let them fall [m]by their own counsels;
Thrust them out in the multitude of their transgressions;
For they have rebelled against thee.
11 [n]But let all those that take refuge in thee rejoice,
Let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them:
Let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
12 For thou wilt bless the righteous;
O Jehovah, thou wilt compass him with favor as with a shield.

Prayer for mercy in time of trouble.

For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments, set to [o]the Sheminith. A Psalm of David.

O Jehovah, rebuke me not in thine anger,
Neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.
Have mercy upon me, O Jehovah; for I am withered away:
O Jehovah, heal me; for my bones are troubled.
My soul also is sore troubled:
And thou, O Jehovah, how long?
Return, O Jehovah, deliver my soul:
Save me for thy lovingkindness’ sake.
For in death there is no remembrance of thee:
In Sheol who shall give thee thanks?
I am weary with my groaning;
Every night make I my bed to swim;
I water my couch with my tears.
Mine eye wasteth away because of grief;
It waxeth old because of all mine adversaries.
Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity;
For Jehovah hath heard the voice of my weeping.
Jehovah hath heard my supplication;
Jehovah will receive my prayer.
10 All mine enemies shall be put to shame and sore troubled:
They shall turn back, they shall be put to shame suddenly.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 4:1 Or, Be gracious unto me
  2. Psalm 4:3 Or, one that he favoreth
  3. Psalm 4:4 Or, be ye angry
  4. Psalm 4:8 Or, in solitude
  5. Psalm 5:1 Or, wind instruments
  6. Psalm 5:4 Or, The evil man
  7. Psalm 5:5 Or, Fools
  8. Psalm 5:8 Or, them that lie in wait for me
  9. Psalm 5:8 Or, level
  10. Psalm 5:9 Or, stedfastness
  11. Psalm 5:9 Or, a yawning gulf
  12. Psalm 5:9 Hebrew make smooth their tongue.
  13. Psalm 5:10 Or, from their counsels
  14. Psalm 5:11 Or, So shall all those . . . rejoice, They shall ever shout . . . and thou shalt defend them: They also . . . shall be joyful in thee.
  15. Psalm 6:1 Or, the eighth

Psalm 4[a]

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of David.

Answer me(A) when I call to you,
    my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;(B)
    have mercy(C) on me and hear my prayer.(D)

How long will you people turn my glory(E) into shame?(F)
    How long will you love delusions and seek false gods[b]?[c](G)
Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant(H) for himself;
    the Lord hears(I) when I call to him.

Tremble and[d] do not sin;(J)
    when you are on your beds,(K)
    search your hearts and be silent.
Offer the sacrifices of the righteous
    and trust in the Lord.(L)

Many, Lord, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?”
    Let the light of your face shine on us.(M)
Fill my heart(N) with joy(O)
    when their grain and new wine(P) abound.

In peace(Q) I will lie down and sleep,(R)
    for you alone, Lord,
    make me dwell in safety.(S)

Psalm 5[e]

For the director of music. For pipes. A psalm of David.

Listen(T) to my words, Lord,
    consider my lament.(U)
Hear my cry for help,(V)
    my King and my God,(W)
    for to you I pray.

In the morning,(X) Lord, you hear my voice;
    in the morning I lay my requests before you
    and wait expectantly.(Y)
For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness;
    with you, evil people(Z) are not welcome.
The arrogant(AA) cannot stand(AB)
    in your presence.
You hate(AC) all who do wrong;
    you destroy those who tell lies.(AD)
The bloodthirsty and deceitful
    you, Lord, detest.
But I, by your great love,
    can come into your house;
in reverence(AE) I bow down(AF)
    toward your holy temple.(AG)

Lead me, Lord, in your righteousness(AH)
    because of my enemies—
    make your way straight(AI) before me.
Not a word from their mouth can be trusted;
    their heart is filled with malice.
Their throat is an open grave;(AJ)
    with their tongues they tell lies.(AK)
10 Declare them guilty, O God!
    Let their intrigues be their downfall.
Banish them for their many sins,(AL)
    for they have rebelled(AM) against you.
11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
    let them ever sing for joy.(AN)
Spread your protection over them,
    that those who love your name(AO) may rejoice in you.(AP)

12 Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous;(AQ)
    you surround them(AR) with your favor as with a shield.(AS)

Psalm 6[f]

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. According to sheminith.[g] A psalm of David.

Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger(AT)
    or discipline me in your wrath.
Have mercy on me,(AU) Lord, for I am faint;(AV)
    heal me,(AW) Lord, for my bones are in agony.(AX)
My soul is in deep anguish.(AY)
    How long,(AZ) Lord, how long?

Turn,(BA) Lord, and deliver me;
    save me because of your unfailing love.(BB)
Among the dead no one proclaims your name.
    Who praises you from the grave?(BC)

I am worn out(BD) from my groaning.(BE)

All night long I flood my bed with weeping(BF)
    and drench my couch with tears.(BG)
My eyes grow weak(BH) with sorrow;
    they fail because of all my foes.

Away from me,(BI) all you who do evil,(BJ)
    for the Lord has heard my weeping.
The Lord has heard my cry for mercy;(BK)
    the Lord accepts my prayer.
10 All my enemies will be overwhelmed with shame and anguish;(BL)
    they will turn back and suddenly be put to shame.(BM)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 4:1 In Hebrew texts 4:1-8 is numbered 4:2-9.
  2. Psalm 4:2 Or seek lies
  3. Psalm 4:2 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 4.
  4. Psalm 4:4 Or In your anger (see Septuagint)
  5. Psalm 5:1 In Hebrew texts 5:1-12 is numbered 5:2-13.
  6. Psalm 6:1 In Hebrew texts 6:1-10 is numbered 6:2-11.
  7. Psalm 6:1 Title: Probably a musical term