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Prayer for Protection from the Wicked.

To the Chief Musician; on wind instruments. A Psalm of David.

Listen to my words, O Lord,
Consider my groaning and sighing.

Heed the sound of my cry for help, my King and my God,
For to You I pray.

In the morning, O Lord, You will hear my voice;
In the morning I will prepare [a prayer and a sacrifice] for You and watch and wait [for You to speak to my heart].


For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness;
No evil [person] dwells with You.

The boastful and the arrogant will not stand in Your sight;
You hate all who do evil.

You destroy those who tell lies;
The Lord detests and rejects the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

But as for me, I will enter Your house through the abundance of Your steadfast love and tender mercy;
At Your holy temple I will bow [obediently] in reverence for You.


O Lord, lead me in Your righteousness because of my enemies;
Make Your way straight (direct, right) before me.

For there is nothing trustworthy or reliable or truthful in what they say;
Their heart is destruction [just a treacherous chasm, a yawning gulf of lies].
Their throat is an open grave;
They [glibly] flatter with their [silken] tongue.(A)
10 
Hold them guilty, O God;
Let them fall by their own designs and councils!
Cast them out because of the abundance of their transgressions,
For they are mutinous and have rebelled against You.

11 
But let all who take refuge and put their trust in You rejoice,
Let them ever sing for joy;
Because You cover and shelter them,
Let those who love Your name be joyful and exult in You.
12 
For You, O Lord, bless the righteous man [the one who is in right standing with You];
You surround him with favor as with a shield.

Prayer for Mercy in Time of Trouble.

To the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments, set [possibly] an octave below. A Psalm of David.

O Lord, do not rebuke or punish me in Your anger,
Nor discipline me in Your wrath.

Have mercy on me and be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am weak (faint, frail);
Heal me, O Lord, for my bones are dismayed and anguished.

My soul [as well as my body] is greatly dismayed.
But as for You, O Lord—how long [until You act on my behalf]?


Return, O Lord, rescue my soul;
Save me because of Your [unfailing] steadfast love and mercy.

For in death there is no mention of You;
In Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) who will praise You and give You thanks?


I am weary with my groaning;
Every night I soak my bed with tears,
I drench my couch with my weeping.

My eye grows dim with grief;
It grows old because of all my enemies.


Depart from me, all you who do evil,
For the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping.(B)

The Lord has heard my supplication [my plea for grace];
The Lord receives my prayer.
10 
Let all my enemies be ashamed and greatly horrified;
Let them turn back, let them suddenly be ashamed [of what they have done].

Psalm 5[a]

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

Listen(A) to my words, Lord,
    consider my lament.(B)
Hear my cry for help,(C)
    my King and my God,(D)
    for to you I pray.

In the morning,(E) Lord, you hear my voice;
    in the morning I lay my requests before you
    and wait expectantly.(F)
For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness;
    with you, evil people(G) are not welcome.
The arrogant(H) cannot stand(I)
    in your presence.
You hate(J) all who do wrong;
    you destroy those who tell lies.(K)
The bloodthirsty and deceitful
    you, Lord, detest.
But I, by your great love,
    can come into your house;
in reverence(L) I bow down(M)
    toward your holy temple.(N)

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

12 Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous;(X)
    you surround them(Y) with your favor as with a shield.(Z)

Psalm 6[b]

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

Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger(AA)
    or discipline me in your wrath.
Have mercy on me,(AB) Lord, for I am faint;(AC)
    heal me,(AD) Lord, for my bones are in agony.(AE)
My soul is in deep anguish.(AF)
    How long,(AG) Lord, how long?

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

I am worn out(AK) from my groaning.(AL)

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

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

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 5:1 In Hebrew texts 5:1-12 is numbered 5:2-13.
  2. Psalm 6:1 In Hebrew texts 6:1-10 is numbered 6:2-11.
  3. Psalm 6:1 Title: Probably a musical term