Jun 21 - Psalms 55-59
Psalms
1Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea;2hear me and answer me. My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught3at the voice of the enemy, at the stares of the wicked; for they bring down suffering upon me and revile me in their anger.4My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death assail me.5Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me.6I said, "Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest-7I would flee far away and stay in the desert; Selah8I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm."9Confuse the wicked, O Lord, confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city.10Day and night they prowl about on its walls; malice and abuse are within it.11Destructive forces are at work in the city; threats and lies never leave its streets.12If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were raising himself against me, I could hide from him.13But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend,14with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship as we walked with the throng at the house of God.15Let death take my enemies by surprise; let them go down alive to the grave, for evil finds lodging among them.16But I call to God, and the LORD saves me.17Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice.18He ransoms me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me.19God, who is enthroned forever, will hear them and afflict them- Selah men who never change their ways and have no fear of God.20My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant.21His speech is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords.22Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.23But you, O God, will bring down the wicked into the pit of corruption; bloodthirsty and deceitful men will not live out half their days. But as for me, I trust in you.
1Be merciful to me, O God, for men hotly pursue me; all day long they press their attack.2My slanderers pursue me all day long; many are attacking me in their pride.3When I am afraid, I will trust in you.4In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?5All day long they twist my words; they are always plotting to harm me.6They conspire, they lurk, they watch my steps, eager to take my life.7On no account let them escape; in your anger, O God, bring down the nations.8Record my lament; list my tears on your scroll - are they not in your record?9Then my enemies will turn back when I call for help. By this I will know that God is for me.10In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise-11in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?12I am under vows to you, O God; I will present my thank offerings to you.13For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.
1Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.2I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills his purpose for me.3He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me; Selah God sends his love and his faithfulness.4I am in the midst of lions; I lie among ravenous beasts- men 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 spread a net for my feet- I was bowed down in distress. They dug a pit in my path- but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah7My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music.8Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.9I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples.10For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.11Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.
1Do you rulers indeed speak justly? Do you judge uprightly among men?2No, in your heart you devise injustice, and your hands mete out violence on the earth.3Even from birth the wicked go astray; from the womb they are wayward and speak lies.4Their venom is like the venom of a snake, like that of a cobra that has stopped its ears,5that will not heed the tune of the charmer, however skillful the enchanter may be.6Break the teeth in their mouths, O God; tear out, O LORD, the fangs of the lions!7Let them vanish like water that flows away; when they draw the bow, let their arrows be blunted.8Like a slug melting away as it moves along, like a stillborn child, may they not see the sun.9Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns- whether they be green or dry-the wicked will be swept away.10The righteous will be glad when they are avenged, when they bathe their feet in the blood of the wicked.11Then men will say, "Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth."
1Deliver me from my enemies, O God; protect me from those who rise up against me.2Deliver me from evildoers and save me from bloodthirsty men.3See how they lie in wait for me! Fierce men conspire against me for no offense or sin of mine, O LORD.4I have done no wrong, yet they are ready to attack me. Arise to help me; look on my plight!5O LORD God Almighty, the God of Israel, rouse yourself to punish all the nations; show no mercy to wicked traitors. Selah6They return at evening, snarling like dogs, and prowl about the city.7See what they spew from their mouths- they spew out swords from their lips, and they say, "Who can hear us?"8But you, O LORD, laugh at them; you scoff at all those nations.9O my Strength, I watch for you; you, O God, are my fortress,10my loving God. God will go before me and will let me gloat over those who slander me.11But do not kill them, O Lord our shield, or my people will forget. In your might make them wander about, and bring them down.12For the sins of their mouths, for the words of their lips, let them be caught in their pride. For the curses and lies they utter,13consume them in wrath, consume them till they are no more. Then it will be known to the ends of the earth that God rules over Jacob. Selah14They return at evening, snarling like dogs, and prowl about the city.15They wander about for food and howl if not satisfied.16But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.17O my Strength, I sing praise to you; you, O God, are my fortress, my loving God.