Psalm 31[a](A)

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;(B)
    let me never be put to shame;
    deliver me in your righteousness.(C)
Turn your ear to me,(D)
    come quickly to my rescue;(E)
be my rock of refuge,(F)
    a strong fortress to save me.
Since you are my rock and my fortress,(G)
    for the sake of your name(H) lead and guide me.
Keep me free from the trap(I) that is set for me,
    for you are my refuge.(J)
Into your hands I commit my spirit;(K)
    deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.(L)

I hate those who cling to worthless idols;(M)
    as for me, I trust in the Lord.(N)
I will be glad and rejoice in your love,
    for you saw my affliction(O)
    and knew the anguish(P) of my soul.
You have not given me into the hands(Q) of the enemy
    but have set my feet in a spacious place.(R)

Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress;(S)
    my eyes grow weak with sorrow,(T)
    my soul and body(U) with grief.
10 My life is consumed by anguish(V)
    and my years by groaning;(W)
my strength fails(X) because of my affliction,[b](Y)
    and my bones grow weak.(Z)
11 Because of all my enemies,(AA)
    I am the utter contempt(AB) of my neighbors(AC)
and an object of dread to my closest friends—
    those who see me on the street flee from me.
12 I am forgotten as though I were dead;(AD)
    I have become like broken pottery.
13 For I hear many whispering,(AE)
    “Terror on every side!”(AF)
They conspire against me(AG)
    and plot to take my life.(AH)

14 But I trust(AI) in you, Lord;
    I say, “You are my God.”
15 My times(AJ) are in your hands;
    deliver me from the hands of my enemies,
    from those who pursue me.
16 Let your face shine(AK) on your servant;
    save me in your unfailing love.(AL)
17 Let me not be put to shame,(AM) Lord,
    for I have cried out to you;
but let the wicked be put to shame
    and be silent(AN) in the realm of the dead.
18 Let their lying lips(AO) be silenced,
    for with pride and contempt
    they speak arrogantly(AP) against the righteous.

19 How abundant are the good things(AQ)
    that you have stored up for those who fear you,
that you bestow in the sight of all,(AR)
    on those who take refuge(AS) in you.
20 In the shelter(AT) of your presence you hide(AU) them
    from all human intrigues;(AV)
you keep them safe in your dwelling
    from accusing tongues.

21 Praise be to the Lord,(AW)
    for he showed me the wonders of his love(AX)
    when I was in a city under siege.(AY)
22 In my alarm(AZ) I said,
    “I am cut off(BA) from your sight!”
Yet you heard my cry(BB) for mercy
    when I called to you for help.

23 Love the Lord, all his faithful people!(BC)
    The Lord preserves those who are true to him,(BD)
    but the proud he pays back(BE) in full.
24 Be strong and take heart,(BF)
    all you who hope in the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 31:1 In Hebrew texts 31:1-24 is numbered 31:2-25.
  2. Psalm 31:10 Or guilt

Psalm 6[a]

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. According to sheminith.[b] A psalm of David.

Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger(A)
    or discipline me in your wrath.
Have mercy on me,(B) Lord, for I am faint;(C)
    heal me,(D) Lord, for my bones are in agony.(E)
My soul is in deep anguish.(F)
    How long,(G) Lord, how long?

Turn,(H) Lord, and deliver me;
    save me because of your unfailing love.(I)
Among the dead no one proclaims your name.
    Who praises you from the grave?(J)

I am worn out(K) from my groaning.(L)

All night long I flood my bed with weeping(M)
    and drench my couch with tears.(N)
My eyes grow weak(O) with sorrow;
    they fail because of all my foes.

Away from me,(P) all you who do evil,(Q)
    for the Lord has heard my weeping.
The Lord has heard my cry for mercy;(R)
    the Lord accepts my prayer.
10 All my enemies will be overwhelmed with shame and anguish;(S)
    they will turn back and suddenly be put to shame.(T)

Psalm 7[c]

A shiggaion[d](U) of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning Cush, a Benjamite.

Lord my God, I take refuge(V) in you;
    save and deliver me(W) from all who pursue me,(X)
or they will tear me apart like a lion(Y)
    and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue(Z) me.

Lord my God, if I have done this
    and there is guilt on my hands(AA)
if I have repaid my ally with evil
    or without cause(AB) have robbed my foe—
then let my enemy pursue and overtake(AC) me;
    let him trample my life to the ground(AD)
    and make me sleep in the dust.[e](AE)

Arise,(AF) Lord, in your anger;
    rise up against the rage of my enemies.(AG)
    Awake,(AH) my God; decree justice.
Let the assembled peoples gather around you,
    while you sit enthroned over them on high.(AI)
    Let the Lord judge(AJ) the peoples.
Vindicate me, Lord, according to my righteousness,(AK)
    according to my integrity,(AL) O Most High.(AM)
Bring to an end the violence of the wicked
    and make the righteous secure—(AN)
you, the righteous God(AO)
    who probes minds and hearts.(AP)

10 My shield[f](AQ) is God Most High,
    who saves the upright in heart.(AR)
11 God is a righteous judge,(AS)
    a God who displays his wrath(AT) every day.
12 If he does not relent,(AU)
    he[g] will sharpen his sword;(AV)
    he will bend and string his bow.(AW)
13 He has prepared his deadly weapons;
    he makes ready his flaming arrows.(AX)

14 Whoever is pregnant with evil
    conceives trouble and gives birth(AY) to disillusionment.
15 Whoever digs a hole and scoops it out
    falls into the pit(AZ) they have made.(BA)
16 The trouble they cause recoils on them;
    their violence comes down on their own heads.

17 I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness;(BB)
    I will sing the praises(BC) of the name of the Lord Most High.(BD)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 6:1 In Hebrew texts 6:1-10 is numbered 6:2-11.
  2. Psalm 6:1 Title: Probably a musical term
  3. Psalm 7:1 In Hebrew texts 7:1-17 is numbered 7:2-18.
  4. Psalm 7:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  5. Psalm 7:5 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
  6. Psalm 7:10 Or sovereign
  7. Psalm 7:12 Or If anyone does not repent, / God

Bible Gateway Recommends