Psalms 57 to 61 : Easy-to-Read Version  | SearchSearch | Next Version | Previous Page | Next Page |

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Psalm 57

To the director.* To the tune “Don’t Destroy.” A miktam of David.* At the time he escaped from Saul in the cave.

1God, be merciful to me. Be kind because my soul trusts you. I have come to you for protection, while the trouble passes. 2I pray to God Most High for help. And God takes care of me completely! 3From heaven he helps me and saves me. He defeats the people who bother me. SELAH* God shows his true love to me. 4My life is in danger. My enemies are all around me. They are like man-eating lions, with teeth as sharp as spears and arrows, and tongues as sharp as a sword. 5God, you are high above the heavens. Your glory covers the earth. 6My enemies set a trap for me. They are trying to trap me. They dug a deep pit for me to fall into. SELAH* 7But God will keep me safe. He will keep me brave. I will sing praises to him. 8Wake up, my soul! Harps and lyres,* begin your music! Let’s wake the Dawn. 9My Master, I praise you to everyone. I sing songs of praise about you to every nation.  10Your true love is higher than the highest clouds in the sky! 11God is more exalted than the heavens. His glory covers the earth.

director Or, “performer.” A miktam of David The exact meaning of “miktam” is not known. It might mean “a well-arranged song.” This song was either written by David or dedicated to him. SELAH This word is for the musicians. It probably means the singers should pause here or the music should be louder here. lyres An instrument with several strings, like a harp.


Psalm 58

To the director.* To the tune “Don’t Destroy.” A miktam of David.*

1You judges are not being fair in your decisions. You are not judging people fairly. 2No, you only think of evil things to do. You do violent crimes in this country. 3Those evil men started doing wrong as soon as they were born. They have been liars from birth. 4Their anger is as dangerous as snake venom.* And, like cobras that can’t hear, they refuse to listen to the truth. 5Cobras can’t hear the music or songs of snake charmers. And those evil people are like that as they make their evil plans.* 6Lord, those people are like lions. So Lord, break their teeth. 7May those people disappear like water down a drain. May they be crushed like weeds on a path.* 8May they be like snails melting away as they move. May they be like a baby that was born dead and never saw the light of day. 9May they be destroyed quickly like thorns that burn too fast to heat the pot. 10A good man will be happy when he sees evil people punished for the bad things they did to him. He will be like a soldier who defeated all his enemies!* 11When that happens, people will say: “Good people really are rewarded. There really is a God judging the world!”*

director Or, “performer.” A miktam of David The exact meaning of “miktam” is not known. It might mean “a well-arranged song.” This song was either written by David or dedicated to him. Their anger … snake venom This is a word play in Hebrew. The word meaning “anger” sounds like the word “poison, venom”. music … evil plans This is a word play in Hebrew. The Hebrew phrase can mean either “…the snake charmers who create crafty magic formulas” or “…snake charmers. {Those evil people} make their sneaky schemes.” May they … path Or, “May He (God) shoot his arrows, {cutting them down} as if they were withering {grass}.” He will be … enemies Literally, “He will wash his feet in the blood of those wicked men.” There really is … world Or, “There really are powerful leaders ruling and judging this land” or possibly, “God really does have {good} judges ruling this land.”


Psalm 59

To the director.* To the tune “Don’t Destroy.” A miktam of David* from the time Saul sent people to watch David’s house to try to kill him.

1God, save me from my enemies. Help me defeat the people who have come to fight me. 2Save me from those people who do bad things. Save me from those murderers. 3Look, strong men are waiting for me. They are waiting to kill me, even though I did not sin or commit any crime. 4I did nothing wrong, but they rushed here to attack me. Lord, come and see for yourself! 5You are the Lord God All-Powerful, the God of Israel! Get up and punish those people. Don’t show any mercy to those evil traitors. SELAH* 6Those evil men are like dogs that come into town in the evening, growling and roaming through town. 7Listen to their threats and insults. They say such cruel things, and they don’t care who hears them.  8Lord, laugh at them. Make fun of all those people. 9I will sing my songs of praise to you.* God, you are my place of safety high in the mountains. 10God loves me, and he will help me win. He will help me defeat my enemies. 11Don’t just kill them, God, or my people might forget. My Master and Protector, scatter them and defeat them with your strength. 12Those evil people curse and tell lies. Punish them for the things they said. Let their pride trap them. 13Destroy them in your anger. Destroy them completely! Then people around the world will know that God rules in Israel!* SELAH* 14Those evil men come into town in the evening like growling dogs roaming through town. 15They will look for something to eat, but they will find no food and no place to sleep. 16But in the morning, I will sing songs of praise to you. I will rejoice in your love. Why? Because you are my place of safety, high in the mountains. And I can run to you when troubles come. 17I will sing my songs of praise to you. Why? Because you are my place of safety high in the mountains. You are the God who loves me!

director Or, “performer.” A miktam of David The exact meaning of “miktam” is not known. It might mean “a well-arranged song.” This song was either written by David or dedicated to him. SELAH This word is for the musicians. It probably means the singers should pause here or the music should be louder here.  I will sing … to you Or, “My Strength, I am waiting for you.” But see Ps. 59:18. Then people … Israel Or, “Then people will know that God rules in Jacob and the whole world!” SELAH This word is for the musicians. It probably means the singers should pause here or the music should be louder here.


Psalm 60

To the director.* To the tune “Lily of the Agreement.” A miktam of David.* For teaching. This was from the time that David fought Aram Naharaim* and Aram Zobah,* and when Joab came back and defeated 12,000 Edomite soldiers at Salt Valley.

1God, you were angry at us. You rejected us and destroyed us. Please make us whole again. 2You shook the earth and split it open. Our world is falling apart. Please fix it. 3You have given your people many troubles. We are like drunk people staggering and falling down. 4You warned the people who worship you. Now they can escape the enemy. SELAH* 5Use your great power and save us! Answer my prayer and save the people you love! 6God spoke in his temple:* It makes me very happy! {God said,} {I will share this land with my people.} I will give them Shechem. I will give them Succoth Valley. 7Gilead and Manasseh will be mine. Ephraim will be my helmet. Judah will be my royal scepter.* 8Moab will be the bowl for washing my feet. Edom will be the slave who carries my sandals. I {will defeat} the Philistine people and shout about the victory!”  9–10But God, you left us! You did not go with our army! So who will lead me into the strong, protected city? Who will lead me to fight against Edom? 11God, help us defeat our enemy! People can’t help us! 12Only God can make us strong. Only God can defeat our enemies!

director Or, “performer.” A miktam of David The exact meaning of “miktam” is not clear. It might mean “a well-arranged song.” This song was either written by David or dedicated to him. Aram Naharaim Or, “the Arameans of Mesopotamia.” Aram Zobah Or, “the Arameans of central Syria.” in his temple Or, “in his holiness.” scepter A special stick. Kings and leaders carried scepters to show they were rulers.


Psalm 61

To the director.* With stringed instruments. One of David’s songs.

1God, hear my prayer song. Listen to my prayer. 2Wherever I am, however weak, I will call to you for help! Carry me to the place of safety far above.* 3You are my place of safety! You are the strong tower protecting me from my enemies. 4I want to live in your Tent* forever. I want to hide where you can protect me. SELAH* 5God, you heard what I promised to give you. But everything your worshipers have comes from you. 6Give the king a long life. Let him live forever! 7Let him live with God forever! Protect him with your true love. 8And I will praise your name forever. Every day, I will do the things I promised.

director Or, “performer.” Carry … above Or, “From your fortress high above me, lead me.” Tent The temple in Jerusalem, or the Holy Tent where the people worshiped God before the temple was built. SELAH This word is for the musicians. It probably means the singers should pause here or the music should be louder here.

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