Psalm 55-59

New International Version

Psalm 55^[a]

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil^[b] of David.

¹Listen to my prayer, O God,
    do not ignore my plea;^(A)
²    hear me and answer me.^(B)
My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught^(C)
³    because of what my enemy is saying,
    because of the threats of the wicked;
for they bring down suffering on me^(D)
    and assail^(E) me in their anger.^(F)

⁴My heart is in anguish^(G) within me;
    the terrors^(H) of death have fallen on me.
⁵Fear and trembling^(I) have beset me;
    horror^(J) 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;^[c]^(K)
⁸I would hurry to my place of shelter,^(L)
    far from the tempest and storm.^(M)”

⁹Lord, confuse the wicked, confound their words,^(N)
    for I see violence and strife^(O) in the city.^(P)
¹⁰Day and night they prowl^(Q) about on its walls;
    malice and abuse are within it.
¹¹Destructive forces^(R) are at work in the city;
    threats and lies^(S) never leave its streets.

¹²If an enemy were insulting me,
    I could endure it;
if a foe were rising against me,
    I could hide.
¹³But it is you, a man like myself,
    my companion, my close friend,^(T)
¹⁴with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship^(U)
    at the house of God,^(V)
as we walked about
    among the worshipers.

¹⁵Let death take my enemies by surprise;^(W)
let them go down alive to the realm of the dead,^(X)
for evil finds lodging among them.

¹⁶As for me, I call to God,
    and the Lord saves me.
¹⁷Evening,^(Y) morning^(Z) and noon^(AA)
    I cry out in distress,
    and he hears my voice.
¹⁸He rescues me unharmed
    from the battle waged against me,
    even though many oppose me.
¹⁹God, who is enthroned from of old,^(AB)
    who does not change—
he will hear^(AC) them and humble them,
    because they have no fear of God.^(AD)

²⁰My companion attacks his friends;^(AE)
    he violates his covenant.^(AF)
²¹His talk is smooth as butter,^(AG)
    yet war is in his heart;
his words are more soothing than oil,^(AH)
    yet they are drawn swords.^(AI)

²²Cast your cares on the Lord
    and he will sustain you;^(AJ)
he will never let
    the righteous be shaken.^(AK)
²³But you, God, will bring down the wicked
    into the pit^(AL) of decay;
the bloodthirsty and deceitful^(AM)
    will not live out half their days.^(AN)

But as for me, I trust in you.^(AO)

Psalm 56^[d]

For the director of music. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” Of David. A miktam.^[e] When the Philistines had seized him in Gath.

¹Be merciful to me,^(AP) my God,
    for my enemies are in hot pursuit;^(AQ)
    all day long they press their attack.^(AR)
²My adversaries pursue me all day long;^(AS)
    in their pride many are attacking me.^(AT)

³When I am afraid,^(AU) I put my trust in you.^(AV)
⁴ In God, whose word I praise—^(AW)
in God I trust and am not afraid.^(AX)
What can mere mortals do to me?^(AY)

⁵All day long they twist my words;^(AZ)
    all their schemes are for my ruin.
⁶They conspire,^(BA) they lurk,
    they watch my steps,^(BB)
    hoping to take my life.^(BC)
⁷Because of their wickedness do not^[f] let them escape;^(BD)
    in your anger, God, bring the nations down.^(BE)

⁸Record my misery;
    list my tears on your scroll^[g]^(BF)—
    are they not in your record?^(BG)
⁹Then my enemies will turn back^(BH)
    when I call for help.^(BI)
    By this I will know that God is for me.^(BJ)

¹⁰In God, whose word I praise,
in the Lord, whose word I praise—
¹¹in God I trust and am not afraid.
What can man do to me?

¹²I am under vows^(BK) to you, my God;
    I will present my thank offerings to you.
¹³For you have delivered me from death^(BL)
    and my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before God
    in the light of life.^(BM)

Psalm 57^[h]^(BN)

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.^[i] When he had fled from Saul into the cave.^(BO)

¹Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me,
for in you I take refuge.^(BP)
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings^(BQ)
until the disaster has passed.^(BR)

²I cry out to God Most High,
    to God, who vindicates me.^(BS)
³He sends from heaven and saves me,^(BT)
    rebuking those who hotly pursue me—^[j]^(BU)
    God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.^(BV)

⁴I am in the midst of lions;^(BW)
I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts—
men whose teeth are spears and arrows,
whose tongues are sharp swords.^(BX)

⁵Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
let your glory be over all the earth.^(BY)

⁶They spread a net for my feet^(BZ)—
I was bowed down^(CA) in distress.
They dug a pit^(CB) in my path—
but they have fallen into it themselves.^(CC)

⁷My heart, O God, is steadfast,
    my heart is steadfast;^(CD)
    I will sing and make music.
⁸Awake, my soul!
    Awake, harp and lyre!^(CE)
    I will awaken the dawn.

⁹I will praise you, 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.^(CF)

¹¹Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;^(CG)
let your glory be over all the earth.^(CH)

Psalm 58^[k]

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.^[l]

¹Do you rulers indeed speak justly?^(CI)
Do you judge people with equity?
²No, in your heart you devise injustice,^(CJ)
and your hands mete out violence on the earth.^(CK)

³Even from birth the wicked go astray;
    from the womb they are wayward, spreading lies.
⁴Their venom is like the venom of a snake,^(CL)
    like that of a cobra that has stopped its ears,
⁵that will not heed^(CM) the tune of the charmer,^(CN)
    however skillful the enchanter may be.

⁶Break the teeth in their mouths, O God;^(CO)
    Lord, tear out the fangs of those lions!^(CP)
⁷Let them vanish like water that flows away;^(CQ)
    when they draw the bow, let their arrows fall short.^(CR)
⁸May they be like a slug that melts away as it moves along,^(CS)
    like a stillborn child^(CT) that never sees the sun.

⁹Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns^(CU)—
    whether they be green or dry—the wicked will be swept away.^[m]^(CV)
¹⁰The righteous will be glad^(CW) when they are avenged,^(CX)
    when they dip their feet in the blood of the wicked.^(CY)
¹¹Then people will say,
    “Surely the righteous still are rewarded;^(CZ)
    surely there is a God who judges the earth.”^(DA)

Psalm 59^[n]

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.^[o] When Saul had sent men to watch David’s house^(DB) in order to kill him.

¹Deliver me from my enemies, O God;^(DC)
be my fortress against those who are attacking me.^(DD)
²Deliver me from evildoers^(DE)
and save me from those who are after my blood.^(DF)

³See how they lie in wait for me!
    Fierce men conspire^(DG) against me
    for no offense or sin of mine, Lord.
⁴I have done no wrong,^(DH) yet they are ready to attack me.^(DI)
    Arise to help me; look on my plight!^(DJ)
⁵You, Lord God Almighty,
    you who are the God of Israel,^(DK)
rouse yourself^(DL) to punish all the nations;^(DM)
    show no mercy to wicked traitors.^[p]^(DN)

⁶They return at evening,
    snarling like dogs,^(DO)
    and prowl about the city.
⁷See what they spew from their mouths^(DP)—
    the words from their lips are sharp as swords,^(DQ)
    and they think, “Who can hear us?”^(DR)
⁸But you laugh at them, Lord;^(DS)
    you scoff at all those nations.^(DT)

⁹You are my strength,^(DU) I watch for you;
you, God, are my fortress,^(DV)
¹⁰ my God on whom I can rely.

God will go before me
    and will let me gloat over those who slander me.
¹¹But do not kill them, Lord our shield,^[q]^(DW)
    or my people will forget.^(DX)
In your might uproot them
    and bring them down.^(DY)
¹²For the sins of their mouths,^(DZ)
    for the words of their lips,^(EA)
    let them be caught in their pride.^(EB)
For the curses and lies they utter,
¹³    consume them in your wrath,
    consume them till they are no more.^(EC)
Then it will be known to the ends of the earth
    that God rules over Jacob.^(ED)

¹⁴They return at evening,
    snarling like dogs,
    and prowl about the city.
¹⁵They wander about for food^(EE)
    and howl if not satisfied.
¹⁶But I will sing^(EF) of your strength,^(EG)
    in the morning^(EH) I will sing of your love;^(EI)
for you are my fortress,^(EJ)
    my refuge in times of trouble.^(EK)

¹⁷You are my strength, I sing praise to you;
you, God, are my fortress,
my God on whom I can rely.^(EL)

Footnotes

Psalm 55:1 In Hebrew texts 55:1-23 is numbered 55:2-24.
Psalm 55:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
Psalm 55:7 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and in the middle of verse 19.
Psalm 56:1 In Hebrew texts 56:1-13 is numbered 56:2-14.
Psalm 56:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
Psalm 56:7 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text does not have do not.
Psalm 56:8 Or misery; / put my tears in your wineskin
Psalm 57:1 In Hebrew texts 57:1-11 is numbered 57:2-12.
Psalm 57:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
Psalm 57:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 6.
Psalm 58:1 In Hebrew texts 58:1-11 is numbered 58:2-12.
Psalm 58:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
Psalm 58:9 The meaning of the Hebrew for this verse is uncertain.
Psalm 59:1 In Hebrew texts 59:1-17 is numbered 59:2-18.
Psalm 59:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
Psalm 59:5 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 13.
Psalm 59:11 Or sovereign

New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 55-59

New International Version

Psalm 55^[a]

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil^[b] of David.

Psalm 56^[d]

For the director of music. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” Of David. A miktam.^[e] When the Philistines had seized him in Gath.

Psalm 57^[h]^(BN)

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.^[i] When he had fled from Saul into the cave.^(BO)

Psalm 58^[k]

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.^[l]

Psalm 59^[n]

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.^[o] When Saul had sent men to watch David’s house^(DB) in order to kill him.

Footnotes

Cross references

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Psalm 55-59 New International Version

Psalm 55[a]

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil[b] of David.

Psalm 56[d]

For the director of music. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” Of David. A miktam.[e] When the Philistines had seized him in Gath.

Psalm 57[h](BN)

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.[i] When he had fled from Saul into the cave.(BO)

Psalm 58[k]

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.[l]

Psalm 59[n]

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.[o] When Saul had sent men to watch David’s house(DB) in order to kill him.

Footnotes

Cross references

More on the NIV

Bible Gateway Recommends

Psalm 55-59

New International Version

Psalm 55^[a]

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil^[b] of David.

Psalm 56^[d]

For the director of music. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” Of David. A miktam.^[e] When the Philistines had seized him in Gath.

Psalm 57^[h]^(BN)

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.^[i] When he had fled from Saul into the cave.^(BO)

Psalm 58^[k]

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.^[l]

Psalm 59^[n]

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.^[o] When Saul had sent men to watch David’s house^(DB) in order to kill him.