Psalm 57

Contemporary English Version

(For the music leader. To the tune “Don't Destroy.”^[a] A special psalm by David when he was in the cave while running from Saul.)

Praise and Trust in Times of Trouble

¹^(A) God Most High, have pity on me!
Have mercy. I run to you
    for safety.
In the shadow of your wings,
I seek protection
    till danger dies down.
²I pray to you, my protector.
³You will send help from heaven
    and save me,
but you will bring trouble
    on my attackers.
You are faithful,
    and you can be trusted.

⁴My enemies are fierce,
    much worse than lions!
They have spears and arrows
    instead of teeth,
and they have sharp swords
    instead of tongues.

⁵May you, my God, be honored
above the heavens;
may your glory be seen
everywhere on earth.

⁶^(B) Enemies set traps for my feet
    and struck me down.
They dug a pit in my path,
    but fell in it themselves.
⁷I am faithful to you,
    and you can trust me.
I will sing and play music
    for you, my God.
⁸I feel wide awake!
I will wake up my harp
    and wake up the sun.
⁹I will praise you, Lord,
    for everyone to hear,
and I will sing hymns to you
    in every nation.
¹⁰Your love reaches higher
    than the heavens;
your loyalty extends
    beyond the clouds.

¹¹May you, my God, be honored
above the heavens;
may your glory be seen
everywhere on earth.

Footnotes

Psalm 57 Don't Destroy: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.

Psalm 142

Contemporary English Version

(A special psalm and a prayer by David when he was in the cave.)

A Prayer for Help

¹^(A) I pray to you, Lord.
    I beg for mercy.
²I tell you all my worries
    and my troubles,
³and whenever I feel low,
    you are there to guide me.

A trap has been hidden
    along my pathway.
⁴Even if you look,
    you won't see anyone
who cares enough
    to walk beside me.
There is no place to hide,
    and no one who really cares.

⁵I pray to you, Lord!
    You are my place of safety,
and you are my choice
    in the land of the living.
Please answer my prayer.
    I am completely helpless.

⁶Help! They are chasing me,
    and they are too strong.
⁷Rescue me from this prison,
    so I can praise your name.
And when your people notice
your wonderful kindness to me,
    they will rush to my side.