NAS - Psalms 13 to 17

Psalm 13

Prayer for Help in Trouble.

For the choir director. A Psalm of David.

¹How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? ² How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart all the day? How long will my enemy be exalted over me?

³Consider and answer me, O LORD my God; Enlighten my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death, ⁴ And my enemy will say, "I have overcome him," And my adversaries will rejoice when I am shaken.

⁵But I have trusted in Your lovingkindness; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. ⁶ I will sing to the LORD, Because He has dealt bountifully with me.

Psalm 14

Folly and Wickedness of Men.

For the choir director. A Psalm of David.

¹The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds; There is no one who does good. ² The LORD has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men To see if there are any who understand, Who seek after God. ³They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one.

⁴Do all the workers of wickedness not know, Who eat up my people as they eat bread, And do not call upon the Lord? ⁵ There they are in great dread, For God is with the righteous generation. ⁶ You would put to shame the counsel of the afflicted, But the LORD is his refuge.

⁷Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When the LORD restores His captive people, Jacob will rejoice, Israel will be glad.

Psalm 15

Description of a Citizen of Zion.

Psalm of David.

¹O LORD, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy hill? ²He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, And speaks truth in his heart. ³ He does not slander with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor takes up a reproach against his friend; ⁴In whose eyes a reprobate is despised, But who honors those who fear the LORD; He swears to his own hurt and does not change; ⁵He does not put out his money at interest, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.

Psalm 16

The LORD the Psalmist's Portion in Life and Deliverer in Death.

Mikhtam of David.

¹Preserve me, O God, for I take refuge in You. ² I said to the LORD, "You are my Lord; I have no good besides You." ³As for the saints who are in the earth, They are the majestic ones in whom is all my delight. ⁴ The sorrows of those who have bartered for another god will be multiplied; I shall not pour out their drink offerings of blood, Nor will I take their names upon my lips.

⁵The LORD is the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You support my lot. ⁶ The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me.

⁷I will bless the LORD who has counseled me; Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night. ⁸ I have set the LORD continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. ⁹ Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will dwell securely. ¹⁰ For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay. ¹¹ You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

Psalm 17

Prayer for Protection against Oppressors.

Prayer of David.

¹Hear a just cause, O LORD, give heed to my cry; Give ear to my prayer, which is not from deceitful lips. ² Let my judgment come forth from Your presence; Let Your eyes look with equity. ³ You have tried my heart; You have visited me by night; You have tested me and You find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress. ⁴ As for the deeds of men, by the word of Your lips I have kept from the paths of the violent. ⁵ My steps have held fast to Your paths. My feet have not slipped.

⁶I have called upon You, for You will answer me, O God; Incline Your ear to me, hear my speech. ⁷ Wondrously show Your lovingkindness, O Savior of those who take refuge at Your right hand From those who rise up against them. ⁸ Keep me as the apple of the eye; Hide me in the shadow of Your wings ⁹ From the wicked who despoil me, My deadly enemies who surround me. ¹⁰ They have closed their unfeeling heart, With their mouth they speak proudly. ¹¹ They have now surrounded us in our steps; They set their eyes to cast us down to the ground. ¹² He is like a lion that is eager to tear, And as a young lion lurking in hiding places.

¹³Arise, O LORD, confront him, bring him low; Deliver my soul from the wicked with Your sword, ¹⁴ From men with Your hand, O LORD, From men of the world, whose portion is in this life, And whose belly You fill with Your treasure; They are satisfied with children, And leave their abundance to their babes. ¹⁵As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness; I will be satisfied with Your likeness when I awake.