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Prayer for Help

57 Show me loving-kindness, O God, show me loving-kindness. For my soul goes to You to be safe. And I will be safe in the shadow of Your wings until the trouble has passed. I will cry to God Most High, to God Who finishes all things for me. He will send from heaven and save me. He will put to shame him who is breaking me under his feet. God will send His loving-kindness and His truth.

My soul is among lions. I must lie among the sons of men who breathe fire, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and whose tongues are a sharp sword. Be lifted up above the heavens, O God. Let Your shining-greatness be above all the earth. They have set a net for my steps. My soul is brought down. They dug a deep hole in front of me. But they themselves have fallen into it.

My heart will not be moved, O God. My heart cannot be moved. I will sing, yes, I will sing praises! Awake, my shining-greatness. Awake, harps. I will awake early in the morning. O Lord, I will give thanks to You among the people. I will sing praises to You among the nations. 10 For Your loving-kindness is great to the heavens, and Your truth to the clouds. 11 Be lifted up above the heavens, O God. Let Your shining-greatness be above all the earth.

Prayer for God to Punish the Sinful

58 Do you speak what is right and good, O you powerful ones? Are you always right in how you judge, O sons of men? No, in your heart you do what is wrong. You use your hands to hurt and destroy in the land. The sinful go wrong as soon as they are born. Those who speak lies go the wrong way from birth. Their poison is like the poison of a snake. They are like a cobra that cannot or will not listen. It does not hear the voice of the man who has power over it, even if the man is very good in his work.

O God, break the teeth in their mouth. Break out the teeth of the young lions, O Lord. Let them flow away like water that pours. When he uses his arrows, let them have no heads. Let them be like a snail that melts away as it goes. Like a baby born dead, may they never see the sun. Before your pots can feel the fire of thorns, He will blow them away with a storm, both the green and the burning ones.

10 The one who is right and good will be full of joy when he sees the sinful punished. He will wash his feet in their blood. 11 And men will say, “For sure there is pay for those who are right and good. For sure there is a God Who says who is guilty or not on the earth.”

Prayer for a Safe Place

59 O my God, take me away from those who hate me. Put me up high above those who rise up against me. Take me away from those who do wrong. And save me from those who kill. For, look, they lie in wait for my life. Strong men are gathering together to fight me, but not because of my wrong-doing or my sin, O Lord. I have done no wrong, but they get ready to fight against me. Rise up to help me. You, O Lord God of All, God of Israel, rise up to punish all the nations. Show no loving-kindness to those people who cannot be trusted and plan sins. They return at evening. They sound like dogs and go around the city. See, they spit with their mouth. Swords are in their lips. And they say, “Who can hear us?” But You laugh at them, O Lord. You laugh at all the nations.

O my Strength, I will watch for You. For God is my strong place. 10 My God in His loving-kindness will meet me. God will let me look at those who come against me and know that I will win the fight. 11 Do not kill them, or my people may forget. Divide them by Your power and bring them down, O Lord, our safe-covering. 12 Let them be caught in their pride for the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips. For the lies and bad things they say, 13 destroy them in anger. Destroy them so that they will be no more. Let it be known that God rules in Jacob and to the ends of the earth.

14 They return at evening. They make sounds like dogs and go around the city. 15 They go around looking for food and they show their teeth if they are not filled.

16 But as for me, I will sing of Your strength. Yes, I will sing with joy of Your loving-kindness in the morning. For You have been a strong and safe place for me in times of trouble. 17 O my Strength, I will sing praises to You. For God is my strong place and the God Who shows me loving-kindness.

Prayer for Help

60 O God, You have turned away from us. You have broken us. You have been angry. O heal us and turn to us again. You have made the land shake. You have torn it open. Heal it where it is broken, for it shakes. You have made Your people suffer hard things. You have given us wine to drink that makes us not able to walk straight. You have given a flag to those who fear You, so it may be seen because of the truth. Save us with Your right hand, and answer us, so Your loved ones may be set free.

God has said in His holy place: “I will be full of joy. I will divide Shechem and the valley of Succoth. Gilead is Mine. And Manasseh is Mine. Ephraim is the covering for My head. Judah is My Law giver. Moab is where I wash My hands. I will throw My shoe over Edom. Call out, Philistia, because of me.”

Who will bring me into the strong city? Who will lead me into Edom? 10 Have You not turned away from us, O God? And will You not go out with our armies, O God? 11 O give us help against those who hate us. For the help of man is worth nothing. 12 With God’s help we will do well. And He will break under His feet those who fight against us.

A Safe Place in God

61 Hear my cry, O God. Listen to my prayer. I call to You from the end of the earth when my heart is weak. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For You have been a safe place for me, a tower of strength where I am safe from those who fight against me. Let me live in Your tent forever. Let me be safe under the covering of Your wings. For You have heard my promises, O God. You have given me that which You give to those who fear Your name. You will add days to the life of the king. His years will be as long as the lives of many children and grandchildren added together. He will stay forever with God. Set apart loving-kindness and truth to keep him safe. So I will sing thanks to Your name forever and keep my promises day by day.

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)

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)

I cry out to God Most High,
    to God, who vindicates me.(F)
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)

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)

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

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)

My heart, O God, is steadfast,
    my heart is steadfast;(Q)
    I will sing and make music.
Awake, my soul!
    Awake, harp and lyre!(R)
    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.(S)

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

Psalm 58[d]

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.[e]

Do you rulers indeed speak justly?(V)
    Do you judge people with equity?
No, in your heart you devise injustice,(W)
    and your hands mete out violence on the earth.(X)

Even from birth the wicked go astray;
    from the womb they are wayward, spreading lies.
Their venom is like the venom of a snake,(Y)
    like that of a cobra that has stopped its ears,
that will not heed(Z) the tune of the charmer,(AA)
    however skillful the enchanter may be.

Break the teeth in their mouths, O God;(AB)
    Lord, tear out the fangs of those lions!(AC)
Let them vanish like water that flows away;(AD)
    when they draw the bow, let their arrows fall short.(AE)
May they be like a slug that melts away as it moves along,(AF)
    like a stillborn child(AG) that never sees the sun.

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.

Deliver me from my enemies, O God;(AP)
    be my fortress against those who are attacking me.(AQ)
Deliver me from evildoers(AR)
    and save me from those who are after my blood.(AS)

See how they lie in wait for me!
    Fierce men conspire(AT) against me
    for no offense or sin of mine, Lord.
I have done no wrong,(AU) yet they are ready to attack me.(AV)
    Arise to help me; look on my plight!(AW)
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)

They return at evening,
    snarling like dogs,(BB)
    and prowl about the city.
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)
But you laugh at them, Lord;(BF)
    you scoff at all those nations.(BG)

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)

You have rejected us,(CB) God, and burst upon us;
    you have been angry(CC)—now restore us!(CD)
You have shaken the land(CE) and torn it open;
    mend its fractures,(CF) for it is quaking.
You have shown your people desperate times;(CG)
    you have given us wine that makes us stagger.(CH)
But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner(CI)
    to be unfurled against the bow.[o]

Save us and help us with your right hand,(CJ)
    that those you love(CK) may be delivered.
God has spoken from his sanctuary:
    “In triumph I will parcel out Shechem(CL)
    and measure off the Valley of Sukkoth.(CM)
Gilead(CN) is mine, and Manasseh is mine;
    Ephraim(CO) is my helmet,
    Judah(CP) is my scepter.(CQ)
Moab is my washbasin,
    on Edom I toss my sandal;
    over Philistia I shout in triumph.(CR)

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.

Hear my cry, O God;(CV)
    listen to my prayer.(CW)

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.
For you have been my refuge,(CZ)
    a strong tower against the foe.(DA)

I long to dwell(DB) in your tent forever
    and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.[q](DC)
For you, God, have heard my vows;(DD)
    you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.(DE)

Increase the days of the king’s life,(DF)
    his years for many generations.(DG)
May he be enthroned in God’s presence forever;(DH)
    appoint your love and faithfulness to protect him.(DI)

Then I will ever sing in praise of your name(DJ)
    and fulfill my vows day after day.(DK)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 57:1 In Hebrew texts 57:1-11 is numbered 57:2-12.
  2. Psalm 57:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  3. Psalm 57:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 6.
  4. Psalm 58:1 In Hebrew texts 58:1-11 is numbered 58:2-12.
  5. Psalm 58:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  6. Psalm 58:9 The meaning of the Hebrew for this verse is uncertain.
  7. Psalm 59:1 In Hebrew texts 59:1-17 is numbered 59:2-18.
  8. Psalm 59:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  9. Psalm 59:5 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 13.
  10. Psalm 59:11 Or sovereign
  11. Psalm 60:1 In Hebrew texts 60:1-12 is numbered 60:3-14.
  12. Psalm 60:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  13. Psalm 60:1 Title: That is, Arameans of Northwest Mesopotamia
  14. Psalm 60:1 Title: That is, Arameans of central Syria
  15. Psalm 60:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
  16. Psalm 61:1 In Hebrew texts 61:1-8 is numbered 61:2-9.
  17. Psalm 61:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.