Psalms 54–57

1Save me, God, by your name. Vindicate me in your might.

2Hear my prayer, God. Listen to the words of my mouth.

3For strangers have risen up against me. Violent men have sought after my soul. They haven’t set God before them. Selah.

4Behold, God is my helper. The Lord is the one who sustains my soul.

5He will repay the evil to my enemies. Destroy them in your truth.

6With a free will offering, I will sacrifice to you. I will give thanks to your name, Yahweh, for it is good.

7For he has delivered me out of all trouble. My eye has seen triumph over my enemies.

1Listen to my prayer, God. Don’t hide yourself from my supplication.

2Attend to me, and answer me. I am restless in my complaint, and moan

3because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked. For they bring suffering on me. In anger they hold a grudge against me.

4My heart is severely pained within me. The terrors of death have fallen on me.

5Fearfulness and trembling have come on me. Horror has overwhelmed me.

6I said, “Oh that I had wings like a dove! Then I would fly away, and be at rest.

7Behold, then I would wander far off. I would lodge in the wilderness.” Selah.

8“I would hurry to a shelter from the stormy wind and storm.”

9Confuse them, Lord, and confound their language, for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

10Day and night they prowl around on its walls. Malice and abuse are also within her.

11Destructive forces are within her. Threats and lies don’t depart from her streets.

12For it was not an enemy who insulted me, then I could have endured it. Neither was it he who hated me who raised himself up against me, then I would have hidden myself from him.

13But it was you, a man like me, my companion, and my familiar friend.

14We took sweet fellowship together. We walked in God’s house with company.

15Let death come suddenly on them. Let them go down alive into Sheol. For wickedness is among them, in their dwelling.

16As for me, I will call on God. Yahweh will save me.

17Evening, morning, and at noon, I will cry out in distress. He will hear my voice.

18He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me, although there are many who oppose me.

19God, who is enthroned forever, will hear and answer them. Selah. They never change and don’t fear God.

20He raises his hands against his friends. He has violated his covenant.

21His mouth was smooth as butter, but his heart was war. His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.

22Cast your burden on Yahweh and he will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be moved.

23But you, God, will bring them down into the pit of destruction. Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days, but I will trust in you.

1Be merciful to me, God, for man wants to swallow me up. All day long, he attacks and oppresses me.

2My enemies want to swallow me up all day long, for they are many who fight proudly against me.

3When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.

4In God, I praise his word. In God, I put my trust. I will not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?

5All day long they twist my words. All their thoughts are against me for evil.

6They conspire and lurk, watching my steps. They are eager to take my life.

7Shall they escape by iniquity? In anger cast down the peoples, God.

8You count my wanderings. You put my tears into your container. Aren’t they in your book?

9Then my enemies shall turn back in the day that I call. I know this: that God is for me.

10In God, I will praise his word. In Yahweh, I will praise his word.

11I have put my trust in God. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

12Your vows are on me, God. I will give thank offerings to you.

13For you have delivered my soul from death, and prevented my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living.

1Be merciful to me, God, be merciful to me, for my soul takes refuge in you. Yes, in the shadow of your wings, I will take refuge, until disaster has passed.

2I cry out to God Most High, to God who accomplishes my requests for me.

3He will send from heaven, and save me, he rebukes the one who is pursuing me. Selah. God will send out his loving kindness and his truth.

4My soul is among lions. I lie among those who are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.

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

6They have prepared a net for my steps. My soul is bowed down. They dig a pit before me. They fall into the middle of it themselves. Selah.

7My heart is steadfast, God. My heart is steadfast. I will sing, yes, I will sing praises.

8Wake up, my glory! Wake up, lute and harp! I will wake up the dawn.

9I will give thanks to you, Lord, among the peoples. I will sing praises to you among the nations.

10For your great loving kindness reaches to the heavens, and your truth to the skies.

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