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Psalm 57-61
American Standard Version
Psalm 57-61
American Standard Version
Prayer for rescue from persecutors.
For the Chief Musician; set to Al-tashheth. A Psalm of David. Michtam; when he fled from Saul, in the cave.
57 Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me;
For my soul taketh refuge in thee:
Yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I take refuge,
Until these [a]calamities be overpast.
2 I will cry unto God Most High,
Unto God that performeth all things for me.
3 He will send from heaven, and save me,
When he that would swallow me up reproacheth; Selah
God will send forth his lovingkindness and his truth.
4 My soul is among lions;
I [b]lie among them that are set on fire,
Even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows,
And their tongue a sharp sword.
5 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens;
Let thy glory be above all the earth.
6 They have prepared a net for my steps;
My soul is bowed down:
They have digged a pit before me;
They are fallen into the midst thereof themselves. Selah
7 My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed:
I will sing, yea, I will sing praises.
8 Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp:
I myself [c]will awake right early.
9 I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the peoples:
I will sing praises unto thee among the nations.
10 For thy lovingkindness is great unto the heavens,
And thy truth unto the skies.
11 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens;
Let thy glory be above all the earth.
Prayer for the punishment of the wicked.
For the Chief Musician; set to Al-tashheth. A Psalm of David. Michtam.
[d]58 Do ye indeed [e]in silence speak righteousness?
Do ye [f]judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?
2 Nay, in heart ye work wickedness;
Ye weigh out the violence of your hands in the earth.
3 The wicked are estranged from the womb:
They go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies.
4 Their poison is like the poison of a serpent:
They are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear,
5 Which hearkeneth not to the voice of [g]charmers,
Charming never so wisely.
6 Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth:
Break out the great teeth of the young lions, O Jehovah.
7 Let them melt away as water that runneth apace:
When he aimeth his arrows, let them be as though they were cut off.
8 Let them be as a snail which melteth and passeth away,
Like the untimely birth of a woman, [h]that hath not seen the sun.
9 Before your pots can feel the thorns,
[i]He will take them away with a whirlwind, the green and the burning alike.
10 The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance:
He shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked;
11 So that men shall say, Verily there is [j]a reward for the righteous:
Verily there is a God that judgeth in the earth.
Prayer for deliverance from enemies.
For the Chief Musician; set to Al-tashheth. A Psalm of David. Michtam; when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him.
59 Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God:
Set me on high from them that rise up against me.
2 Deliver me from the workers of iniquity,
And save me from the bloodthirsty men.
3 For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul;
The mighty gather themselves together against me:
Not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O Jehovah.
4 They run and prepare themselves without my fault:
Awake thou to [k]help me, and behold.
5 Even thou, O Jehovah God of hosts, the God of Israel,
Arise to visit all the nations:
Be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah
6 They return at evening, they howl like a dog,
And go round about the city.
7 Behold, they belch out with their mouth;
Swords are in their lips:
For who, say they, doth hear?
8 But thou, O Jehovah, wilt laugh at them;
Thou wilt have all the nations in derision.
9 [l]Because of his strength I will give heed unto thee;
For God is my high tower.
10 My God with his lovingkindness will meet me:
God will let me see my desire upon [m]mine enemies.
11 Slay them not, lest my people forget:
[n]Scatter them by thy power, and bring them down,
O Lord our shield.
12 For the sin of their mouth, and the words of their lips,
Let them even be taken in their pride,
And for cursing and lying which they speak.
13 Consume them in wrath, consume them, so that they shall be no more:
And let them know that God ruleth in Jacob,
Unto the ends of the earth. Selah
14 And at evening let them return, let them howl like a dog,
And go round about the city.
15 They shall wander up and down for food,
And tarry all night if they be not satisfied.
16 But I will sing of thy strength;
Yea, I will sing aloud of thy lovingkindness in the morning:
For thou hast been my high tower,
And a refuge in the day of my distress.
17 Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing praises:
For God is my high tower, the God of my mercy.
Lament over defeat in battle, and prayer for help.
For the Chief Musician; set to [o]Shushan Eduth. Michtam of David, to teach; when he strove with Aram-naharaim and with Aram-zobah, and Joab returned, and smote of Edom in the Valley of Salt twelve thousand.
60 O God thou hast cast us off, thou hast broken us down;
Thou hast been angry; oh restore us again.
2 Thou hast made the land to tremble; thou hast rent it:
Heal the breaches thereof; for it shaketh.
3 Thou hast showed thy people hard things:
Thou hast made us to drink the wine of staggering.
4 Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee,
That it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah
5 That thy beloved may be delivered,
Save with thy right hand, and answer [p]us.
6 God hath spoken in his holiness: I will exult;
I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.
7 Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine;
Ephraim also is the defence of my head;
Judah is my [q]sceptre.
8 Moab is my washpot;
[r]Upon Edom will I cast my shoe:
Philistia, shout thou because of me.
9 Who will bring me into the strong city?
[s]Who hath led me unto Edom?
10 [t]Hast not thou, O God, cast us off?
And thou goest not forth, O God, with our hosts.
11 Give us help against the adversary;
For vain is the [u]help of man.
12 Through God we shall do valiantly;
For he it is that will tread down our adversaries.
Confidence in God’s protection.
For the Chief Musician; on a stringed instrument. A Psalm of David.
61 Hear my cry, O God;
Attend unto my prayer.
2 From the end of the earth will I call unto thee, when my heart [v]is overwhelmed:
Lead me to [w]the rock that is higher than I.
3 For thou hast been a refuge for me,
A strong tower from the enemy.
4 I will dwell in thy [x]tabernacle for ever:
I will take refuge in the covert of thy wings. Selah
5 For thou, O God, hast heard my vows:
Thou hast [y]given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.
6 Thou wilt prolong the king’s life;
His years shall be as many generations.
7 He shall abide before God for ever:
Oh prepare lovingkindness and truth, that they may preserve him.
8 So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever,
That I may daily perform my vows.
Footnotes
- Psalm 57:1 Or, wickednesses
- Psalm 57:4 Or, must lie
- Psalm 57:8 Or, will awake the dawn
- Psalm 58:1 Or, Is the righteousness ye should speak dumb?
- Psalm 58:1 Or, as otherwise read, O ye gods. Or, O ye mighty ones
- Psalm 58:1 Or, judge uprightly the sons of men
- Psalm 58:5 Or, enchanters
- Psalm 58:8 Or, like them that have not seen the sun
- Psalm 58:9 Or, Wrath shall take them away while living as with a whirlwind
- Psalm 58:11 Hebrew fruit.
- Psalm 59:4 Hebrew meet.
- Psalm 59:9 According to Septuagint and Vulgate, My strength.
- Psalm 59:10 Or, them that lie in wait for me
- Psalm 59:11 Or, Make them wander to and fro
- Psalm 60:1 That is, The lily of testimony.
- Psalm 60:5 Another reading is, me.
- Psalm 60:7 Or, lawgiver
- Psalm 60:8 Or, Unto
- Psalm 60:9 Or, Who will lead me etc.
- Psalm 60:10 Or, Wilt not thou, O God, who hast cast us off, And goest . . . hosts?
- Psalm 60:11 Hebrew salvation.
- Psalm 61:2 Or, fainteth
- Psalm 61:2 Or, a rock that is too high for me
- Psalm 61:4 Hebrew tent.
- Psalm 61:5 Or, given a heritage unto those etc.
Psalm 57-61
New International Version
Psalm 57-61
New International Version
Psalm 57[a](A)
For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.[b] When he had fled from Saul into the cave.(B)
1 Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me,
for in you I take refuge.(C)
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings(D)
until the disaster has passed.(E)
2 I cry out to God Most High,
to God, who vindicates me.(F)
3 He sends from heaven and saves me,(G)
rebuking those who hotly pursue me—[c](H)
God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.(I)
4 I am in the midst of lions;(J)
I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts—
men whose teeth are spears and arrows,
whose tongues are sharp swords.(K)
5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
let your glory be over all the earth.(L)
6 They spread a net for my feet(M)—
I was bowed down(N) in distress.
They dug a pit(O) in my path—
but they have fallen into it themselves.(P)
7 My heart, O God, is steadfast,
my heart is steadfast;(Q)
I will sing and make music.
8 Awake, my soul!
Awake, harp and lyre!(R)
I will awaken the dawn.
9 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.(S)
Psalm 58[d]
For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.[e]
1 Do you rulers indeed speak justly?(V)
Do you judge people with equity?
2 No, in your heart you devise injustice,(W)
and your hands mete out violence on the earth.(X)
3 Even from birth the wicked go astray;
from the womb they are wayward, spreading lies.
4 Their venom is like the venom of a snake,(Y)
like that of a cobra that has stopped its ears,
5 that will not heed(Z) the tune of the charmer,(AA)
however skillful the enchanter may be.
6 Break the teeth in their mouths, O God;(AB)
Lord, tear out the fangs of those lions!(AC)
7 Let them vanish like water that flows away;(AD)
when they draw the bow, let their arrows fall short.(AE)
8 May they be like a slug that melts away as it moves along,(AF)
like a stillborn child(AG) that never sees the sun.
9 Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns(AH)—
whether they be green or dry—the wicked will be swept away.[f](AI)
10 The righteous will be glad(AJ) when they are avenged,(AK)
when they dip their feet in the blood of the wicked.(AL)
11 Then people will say,
“Surely the righteous still are rewarded;(AM)
surely there is a God who judges the earth.”(AN)
Psalm 59[g]
For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.[h] When Saul had sent men to watch David’s house(AO) in order to kill him.
1 Deliver me from my enemies, O God;(AP)
be my fortress against those who are attacking me.(AQ)
2 Deliver me from evildoers(AR)
and save me from those who are after my blood.(AS)
3 See how they lie in wait for me!
Fierce men conspire(AT) against me
for no offense or sin of mine, Lord.
4 I have done no wrong,(AU) yet they are ready to attack me.(AV)
Arise to help me; look on my plight!(AW)
5 You, Lord God Almighty,
you who are the God of Israel,(AX)
rouse yourself(AY) to punish all the nations;(AZ)
show no mercy to wicked traitors.[i](BA)
6 They return at evening,
snarling like dogs,(BB)
and prowl about the city.
7 See what they spew from their mouths(BC)—
the words from their lips are sharp as swords,(BD)
and they think, “Who can hear us?”(BE)
8 But you laugh at them, Lord;(BF)
you scoff at all those nations.(BG)
9 You are my strength,(BH) I watch for you;
you, God, are my fortress,(BI)
10 my God on whom I can rely.
God will go before me
and will let me gloat over those who slander me.
11 But do not kill them, Lord our shield,[j](BJ)
or my people will forget.(BK)
In your might uproot them
and bring them down.(BL)
12 For the sins of their mouths,(BM)
for the words of their lips,(BN)
let them be caught in their pride.(BO)
For the curses and lies they utter,
13 consume them in your wrath,
consume them till they are no more.(BP)
Then it will be known to the ends of the earth
that God rules over Jacob.(BQ)
14 They return at evening,
snarling like dogs,
and prowl about the city.
15 They wander about for food(BR)
and howl if not satisfied.
16 But I will sing(BS) of your strength,(BT)
in the morning(BU) I will sing of your love;(BV)
for you are my fortress,(BW)
my refuge in times of trouble.(BX)
17 You are my strength, I sing praise to you;
you, God, are my fortress,
my God on whom I can rely.(BY)
Psalm 60[k](BZ)
For the director of music. To the tune of “The Lily of the Covenant.” A miktam[l] of David. For teaching. When he fought Aram Naharaim[m] and Aram Zobah,[n] and when Joab returned and struck down twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.(CA)
1 You have rejected us,(CB) God, and burst upon us;
you have been angry(CC)—now restore us!(CD)
2 You have shaken the land(CE) and torn it open;
mend its fractures,(CF) for it is quaking.
3 You have shown your people desperate times;(CG)
you have given us wine that makes us stagger.(CH)
4 But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner(CI)
to be unfurled against the bow.[o]
5 Save us and help us with your right hand,(CJ)
that those you love(CK) may be delivered.
6 God has spoken from his sanctuary:
“In triumph I will parcel out Shechem(CL)
and measure off the Valley of Sukkoth.(CM)
7 Gilead(CN) is mine, and Manasseh is mine;
Ephraim(CO) is my helmet,
Judah(CP) is my scepter.(CQ)
8 Moab is my washbasin,
on Edom I toss my sandal;
over Philistia I shout in triumph.(CR)”
9 Who will bring me to the fortified city?
Who will lead me to Edom?
10 Is it not you, God, you who have now rejected us
and no longer go out with our armies?(CS)
11 Give us aid against the enemy,
for human help is worthless.(CT)
12 With God we will gain the victory,
and he will trample down our enemies.(CU)
Psalm 61[p]
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. Of David.
2 From the ends of the earth I call to you,
I call as my heart grows faint;(CX)
lead me to the rock(CY) that is higher than I.
3 For you have been my refuge,(CZ)
a strong tower against the foe.(DA)
4 I long to dwell(DB) in your tent forever
and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.[q](DC)
5 For you, God, have heard my vows;(DD)
you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.(DE)
Footnotes
- Psalm 57:1 In Hebrew texts 57:1-11 is numbered 57:2-12.
- Psalm 57:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 57:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 6.
- Psalm 58:1 In Hebrew texts 58:1-11 is numbered 58:2-12.
- Psalm 58:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 58:9 The meaning of the Hebrew for this verse is uncertain.
- Psalm 59:1 In Hebrew texts 59:1-17 is numbered 59:2-18.
- Psalm 59:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 59:5 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 13.
- Psalm 59:11 Or sovereign
- Psalm 60:1 In Hebrew texts 60:1-12 is numbered 60:3-14.
- Psalm 60:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 60:1 Title: That is, Arameans of Northwest Mesopotamia
- Psalm 60:1 Title: That is, Arameans of central Syria
- Psalm 60:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
- Psalm 61:1 In Hebrew texts 61:1-8 is numbered 61:2-9.
- Psalm 61:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
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