1 For the music director, to be accompanied by stringed instruments; a well-written song by David.

Listen, O God, to my prayer.

Do not ignore my appeal for mercy.

2 Pay attention to me and answer me.

I am so upset and distressed, I am beside myself,

3 because of what the enemy says,

and because of how the wicked pressure me,

for they hurl trouble down upon me

and angrily attack me.

4 My heart beats violently within me;

the horrors of death overcome me.

5 Fear and panic overpower me;

terror overwhelms me.

6 I say, “I wish I had wings like a dove.

I would fly away and settle in a safe place.

7 Look, I will escape to a distant place;

I will stay in the wilderness. (Selah)

8 I will hurry off to a place that is safe

from the strong wind and the gale.”

9 Confuse them, O Lord.

Frustrate their plans.

For I see violence and conflict in the city.

10 Day and night they walk around on its walls,

while wickedness and destruction are within it.

11 Disaster is within it;

violence and deceit do not depart from its public square.

12 Indeed, it is not an enemy who insults me,

or else I could bear it;

it is not one who hates me who arrogantly taunts me,

or else I could hide from him.

13 But it is you, a man like me,

my close friend in whom I confided.

14 We would share personal thoughts with each other;

in God’s temple we would walk together among the crowd.

15 May death destroy them.

May they go down alive into Sheol.

For evil is in their dwelling place and in their midst.

16 As for me, I will call out to God,

and the Lord will deliver me.

17 During the evening, morning, and noontime

I will lament and moan,

and he will hear me.

18 He will rescue me and protect me from those who attack me,

even though they greatly outnumber me.

19 God, the one who has reigned as king from long ago,

will hear and humiliate them. (Selah)

They refuse to change,

and do not fear God.

20 He attacks his friends;

he breaks his solemn promises to them.

21 His words are as smooth as butter,

but he harbors animosity in his heart.

His words seem softer than oil,

but they are really like sharp swords.

22 Throw your burden upon the Lord,

and he will sustain you.

He will never allow the godly to be shaken.

23 But you, O God, will bring them down to the deep Pit.

Violent and deceitful people will not live even half a normal life-span.

But as for me, I trust in you.

56:1 For the music director, according to the yonath-elem-rekhoqim style; a prayer of David, written when the Philistines captured him in Gath.

Have mercy on me, O God, for men are attacking me.

All day long hostile enemies are tormenting me.

2 Those who anticipate my defeat attack me all day long.

Indeed, many are fighting against me, O Exalted One.

3 When I am afraid,

I trust in you.

4 In God—I boast in his promise—

in God I trust; I am not afraid.

What can mere men do to me?

5 All day long they cause me trouble;

they make a habit of plotting my demise.

6 They stalk and lurk;

they watch my every step,

as they prepare to take my life.

7 Because they are bent on violence, do not let them escape.

In your anger bring down the nations, O God.

8 You keep track of my misery.

Put my tears in your leather container.

Are they not recorded in your scroll?

9 My enemies will turn back when I cry out to you for help;

I know that God is on my side.

10 In God—I boast in his promise—

in the Lord—I boast in his promise—

11 in God I trust; I am not afraid.

What can mere men do to me?

12 I am obligated to fulfill the vows I made to you, O God;

I will give you the thank offerings you deserve,

13 when you deliver my life from death.

You keep my feet from stumbling,

so that I might serve God as I enjoy life.

57:1 For the music director, according to the al-tashcheth style; a prayer of David, written when he fled from Saul into the cave.

Have mercy on me, O God. Have mercy on me.

For in you I have taken shelter.

In the shadow of your wings I take shelter

until trouble passes.

2 I cry out for help to God Most High,

to the God who vindicates me.

3 May he send help from heaven and deliver me

from my enemies who hurl insults. (Selah)

May God send his loyal love and faithfulness.

4 I am surrounded by lions;

I lie down among those who want to devour me,

men whose teeth are spears and arrows,

whose tongues are sharp swords.

5 Rise up above the sky, O God.

May your splendor cover the whole earth.

6 They have prepared a net to trap me;

I am discouraged.

They have dug a pit for me.

They will fall into it. (Selah)

7 I am determined, O God. I am determined.

I will sing and praise you.

8 Awake, my soul!

Awake, O stringed instrument and harp!

I will wake up at dawn.

9 I will give you thanks before the nations, O Lord.

I will sing praises to you before foreigners.

10 For your loyal love extends beyond the sky,

and your faithfulness reaches the clouds.

11 Rise up above the sky, O God.

May your splendor cover the whole earth.

58:1 For the music director, according to the al-tashcheth style; a prayer of David.

Do you rulers really pronounce just decisions?

Do you judge people fairly?

2 No! You plan how to do what is unjust;

you deal out violence in the earth.

3 The wicked turn aside from birth;

liars go astray as soon as they are born.

4 Their venom is like that of a snake,

like a deaf serpent that does not hear,

5 that does not respond to the magicians,

or to a skilled snake charmer.

6 O God, break the teeth in their mouths!

Smash the jawbones of the lions, O Lord.

7 Let them disappear like water that flows away.

Let them wither like grass.

8 Let them be like a snail that melts away as it moves along.

Let them be like stillborn babies that never see the sun.

9 Before the kindling is even placed under your pots,

he will sweep it away along with both the raw and cooked meat.

10 The godly will rejoice when they see vengeance carried out;

they will bathe their feet in the blood of the wicked.

11 Then observers will say,

“Yes indeed, the godly are rewarded.

Yes indeed, there is a God who judges in the earth.”

59:1 For the music director, according to the al-tashcheth style; a prayer of David, written when Saul sent men to surround his house and murder him.

Deliver me from my enemies, my God.

Protect me from those who attack me.

2 Deliver me from evildoers.

Rescue me from violent men.

3 For look, they wait to ambush me;

powerful men stalk me,

but not because I have rebelled or sinned, O Lord.

4 Though I have done nothing wrong, they are anxious to attack.

Spring into action and help me. Take notice of me.

5 You, O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel,

rouse yourself and punish all the nations.

Have no mercy on any treacherous evildoers. (Selah)

6 They return in the evening;

they growl like dogs

and prowl around outside the city.

7 Look, they hurl insults at me

and openly threaten to kill me,

for they say,

“Who hears?”

8 But you, O Lord, laugh in disgust at them;

you taunt all the nations.

9 You are my source of strength. I will wait for you.

For God is my refuge.

10 The God who loves me will help me;

God will enable me to triumph over my enemies.

11 Do not strike them dead suddenly,

because then my people might forget the lesson.

Use your power to make them homeless vagabonds and then bring them down,

O Lord who shields us.

12 They speak sinful words.

So let them be trapped by their own pride

and by the curses and lies they speak.

13 Angrily wipe them out. Wipe them out so they vanish.

Let them know that God rules

over Jacob and to the ends of the earth. (Selah)

14 They return in the evening;

they growl like dogs

and prowl around outside the city.

15 They wander around looking for something to eat;

they refuse to sleep until they are full.

16 As for me, I will sing about your strength;

I will praise your loyal love in the morning.

For you are my refuge

and my place of shelter when I face trouble.

17 You are my source of strength. I will sing praises to you.

For God is my refuge, the God who loves me.