Psalm 13

How Long, O Lord?

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

13:1 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? ²How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

³Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, ⁴lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,” lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.

⁵But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. ⁶I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Psalm 14

The Fool Says, There Is No God

To the choirmaster. Of David.

14:1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good.

²The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand,[1] who seek after God.

³They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.

⁴Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread and do not call upon the Lord?

⁵There they are in great terror, for God is with the generation of the righteous. ⁶You would shame the plans of the poor, but[2] the Lord is his refuge.

⁷Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.

[1] Or that act wisely [2] Or for

Psalm 15

Who Shall Dwell on Your Holy Hill?

A Psalm of David.

15:1 O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill?

²He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart; ³who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend; ⁴in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the Lord; who swears to his own hurt and does not change; ⁵who does not put out his money at interest and does not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.

Psalm 16

You Will Not Abandon My Soul

A Miktam[3] of David.

16:1 Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. ²I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”

³As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.^[4]

⁴The sorrows of those who run after[5] another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips.

⁵The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. ⁶The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

⁷I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.^[6]⁸I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

⁹Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being[7] rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. ¹⁰For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. [8]

¹¹You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

[3] Probably a musical or liturgical term [4] Or To the saints in the land, the excellent in whom is all my delight, I say: [5] Or who acquire [6] Hebrew my kidneys instruct me [7] Hebrew my glory [8] Or see the pit

Psalm 17

In the Shadow of Your Wings

A Prayer of David.

17:1 Hear a just cause, O Lord; attend to my cry! Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit! ²From your presence let my vindication come! Let your eyes behold the right!

³You have tried my heart, you have visited me by night, you have tested me, and you will find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress. ⁴With regard to the works of man, by the word of your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent. ⁵My steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped.

⁶I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me; hear my words. ⁷Wondrously show[9] your steadfast love, O Savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at your right hand.

⁸Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings, ⁹from the wicked who do me violence, my deadly enemies who surround me.

¹⁰They close their hearts to pity; with their mouths they speak arrogantly. ¹¹They have now surrounded our steps; they set their eyes to cast us to the ground. ¹²He is like a lion eager to tear, as a young lion lurking in ambush.

¹³Arise, O Lord! Confront him, subdue him! Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword, ¹⁴from men by your hand, O Lord, from men of the world whose portion is in this life.^[10]You fill their womb with treasure;[11] they are satisfied with children, and they leave their abundance to their infants.

¹⁵As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.

[9] Or Distinguish me by [10] Or from men whose portion in life is of the world [11] Or As for your treasured ones, you fill their womb