Psalms 52 to 56 : English Standard Version   | SearchSearch | Next Version | Previous Page | Next Page |

Other VersionsPsalm 52

The Steadfast Love of God Endures

To the choirmaster. A Maskil[1] of David, when Doeg, the Edomite, came and told Saul, “David has come to the house of Ahimelech.”

52:1 Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The steadfast love of God endures all the day. 2Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, you worker of deceit. 3You love evil more than good, and lying more than speaking what is right. Selah 4You love all words that devour, O deceitful tongue.

5But God will break you down forever; he will snatch and tear you from your tent; he will uproot you from the land of the living. Selah 6The righteous shall see and fear, and shall laugh at him, saying, 7“See the man who would not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his riches and sought refuge in his own destruction!”[2]

8But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever. 9I will thank you forever, because you have done it. I will wait for your name, for it is good, in the presence of the godly.

[1] Probably a musical or liturgical term  [2] Or in his work of destruction


Psalm 53

There Is None Who Does Good

To the choirmaster: according to Mahalath. A Maskil[3] of David.

53:1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good.

2God looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand,[4] who seek after God.

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

4Have those who work evil no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call upon God?

5There they are, in great terror, where there is no terror! For God scatters the bones of him who encamps against you; you put them to shame, for God has rejected them.

6Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When God restores the fortunes of his people, Let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.

[3] Probably musical or liturgical terms  [4] Or that act wisely


Psalm 54

The Lord Upholds My Life

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Maskil[5] of David, when the Ziphites went and told Saul, “Is not David hiding among us?”

54:1 O God, save me, by your name, and vindicate me by your might. 2O God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth.

3For strangers[6] have risen against me; ruthless men seek my life; they do not set God before themselves. Selah

4Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life. 5He will return the evil to my enemies; in your faithfulness put an end to them.

6With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you; I will give thanks to your name, O Lord, for it is good. 7For he has delivered me from every trouble, and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies.

[5] Probably a musical or liturgical term  [6] Some Hebrew manuscripts and Targum insolent men (compare Psalm 86:14)


Psalm 55

Cast Your Burden on the Lord

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Maskil[7] of David.

55:1 Give ear to my prayer, O God, and hide not yourself from my plea for mercy! 2Attend to me, and answer me; I am restless in my complaint and I moan, 3because of the noise of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked. For they drop trouble upon me, and in anger they bear a grudge against me.

4My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen upon me. 5Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me. 6And I say, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest; 7yes, I would wander far away; I would lodge in the wilderness; Selah 8I would hurry to find a shelter from the raging wind and tempest.”

9Destroy, O Lord, divide their tongues; for I see violence and strife in the city. 10Day and night they go around it on its walls, and iniquity and trouble are within it; 11  ruin is in its midst; oppression and fraud do not depart from its marketplace.

12For it is not an enemy who taunts me— then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me— then I could hide from him. 13But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. 14We used to take sweet counsel together; within God’s house we walked in the throng. 15Let death steal over them; let them go down to Sheol alive; for evil is in their dwelling place and in their heart.

16But I call to God, and the Lord will save me. 17Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice. 18He redeems my soul in safety from the battle that I wage, for many are arrayed against me. 19God will give ear and humble them, he who is enthroned from of old, Selah because they do not change and do not fear God.

20My companion[8] stretched out his hand against his friends; he violated his covenant. 21His speech was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.

22Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.

23But you, O God, will cast them down into the pit of destruction; men of blood and treachery shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in you.

[7] Probably a musical or liturgical term  [8] Hebrew He


Psalm 56

In God I Trust

To the choirmaster: according to The Dove on Far-off Terebinths. A Miktam[9] of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath.

56:1 Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me; all day long an attacker oppresses me; 2my enemies trample on me all day long, for many attack me proudly. 3When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. 4In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?

5All day long they injure my cause;[10] all their thoughts are against me for evil. 6They stir up strife, they lurk; they watch my steps, as they have waited for my life. 7For their crime will they escape? In wrath cast down the peoples, O God!

8You have kept count of my tossings;[11] put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? 9Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know, that[12] God is for me. 10In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise, 11in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?

12I must perform my vows to you, O God; I will render thank offerings to you. 13For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.

[9] Probably a musical or liturgical term  [10] Or they twist my words  [11] Or wanderings  [12] Or because

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