Psalms 57 to 61 : English Standard Version   | SearchSearch | Next Version | Previous Page | Next Page |

Other VersionsPsalm 57

Let Your Glory Be over All the Earth

To the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Miktam[1] of David, when he fled from Saul, in the cave.

57:1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by. 2I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me. 3He will send from heaven and save me; he will put to shame him who tramples on me. Selah God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness!

4My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie down amid fiery beasts— the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.

5Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth!

6They set a net for my steps; my soul was bowed down. They dug a pit in my way, but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah 7My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast! I will sing and make melody! 8  Awake, my glory![2] Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn! 9I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. 10For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.

11Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth!

[1] Probably a musical or liturgical term  [2] Or my whole being


Psalm 58

God Who Judges the Earth

To the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Miktam[3] of David.

58:1 Do you indeed decree what is right, you gods?[4] Do you judge the children of man uprightly? 2No, in your hearts you devise wrongs; your hands deal out violence on earth.

3The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray from birth, speaking lies. 4They have venom like the venom of a serpent, like the deaf adder that stops its ear, 5so that it does not hear the voice of charmers or of the cunning enchanter.

6O God, break the teeth in their mouths; tear out the fangs of the young lions, O Lord! 7Let them vanish like water that runs away; when he aims his arrows, let them be blunted. 8Let them be like the snail that dissolves into slime, like the stillborn child who never sees the sun. 9Sooner than your pots can feel the heat of thorns, whether green or ablaze, may he sweep them away![5]

10The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance; he will bathe his feet in the blood of the wicked. 11Mankind will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely there is a God who judges on earth.”

[3] Probably a musical or liturgical term  [4] Or mighty lords (by revocalization; Hebrew in silence[5] The meaning of the Hebrew verse is uncertain


Psalm 59

Deliver Me from My Enemies

To the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Miktam[6] of David, when Saul sent men to watch his house in order to kill him.

59:1 Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; protect me from those who rise up against me; 2deliver me from those who work evil, and save me from bloodthirsty men.

3For behold, they lie in wait for my life; fierce men stir up strife against me. For no transgression or sin of mine, O Lord, 4  for no fault of mine, they run and make ready. Awake, come to meet me, and see! 5  You, Lord God of hosts, are God of Israel. Rouse yourself to punish all the nations; spare none of those who treacherously plot evil. Selah

6Each evening they come back, howling like dogs and prowling about the city. 7There they are, bellowing with their mouths with swords in their lips— for “Who,” they think,[7] “will hear us?”

8But you, O Lord, laugh at them; you hold all the nations in derision. 9O my Strength, I will watch for you, for you, O God, are my fortress. 10My God in his steadfast love[8] will meet me; God will let me look in triumph on my enemies.

11Kill them not, lest my people forget; make them totter[9] by your power and bring them down, O Lord, our shield! 12For the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips, let them be trapped in their pride. For the cursing and lies that they utter, 13consume them in wrath; consume them till they are no more, that they may know that God rules over Jacob to the ends of the earth. Selah

14Each evening they come back, howling like dogs and prowling about the city. 15They wander about for food and growl if they do not get their fill.

16But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress. 17O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love.

[6] Probably a musical or liturgical term  [7] Hebrew lacks they think  [8] Or The God who shows me steadfast love  [9] Or wander


Psalm 60

He Will Tread Down Our Foes

To the choirmaster: according to Shushan Eduth. A Miktam[10] of David; for instruction; when he strove with Aram-naharaim and with Aram-zobah, and when Joab on his return struck down twelve thousand of Edom in the Valley of Salt.

60:1 O God, you have rejected us, broken our defenses; you have been angry; oh, restore us. 2You have made the land to quake; you have torn it open; repair its breaches, for it totters. 3You have made your people see hard things; you have given us wine to drink that made us stagger.

4You have set up a banner for those who fear you, that they may flee to it from the bow. 11] Selah 5That your beloved ones may be delivered, give salvation by your right hand and answer us!

6God has spoken in his holiness:[12] “With exultation I will divide up Shechem and portion out the Vale of Succoth. 7Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet; Judah is my scepter. 8Moab is my washbasin; upon Edom I cast my shoe; over Philistia I shout in triumph.”[13]

9Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom? 10Have you not rejected us, O God? You do not go forth, O God, with our armies. 11Oh, grant us help against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man! 12With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes.

[10] Probably musical or liturgical terms  [11] Or that it may be displayed because of truth  [12] Or sanctuary  [13] Revocalization (compare Psalm 108:10); Masoretic Text over me, O Philistia, shout in triumph


Psalm 61

Lead Me to the Rock

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. Of David.

61:1 Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; 2from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, 3for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy.

4Let me dwell in your tent forever! Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! Selah 5For you, O God, have heard my vows; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.

6Prolong the life of the king; may his years endure to all generations! 7May he be enthroned forever before God; appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him!

8So will I ever sing praises to your name, as I perform my vows day after day.

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