Psalm 57-59

New International Version

² I cry out to God Most High,
    to God, who vindicates me.^(F)
3 He sends from heaven and saves me,^(G)
    rebuking those who hotly pursue me—^[c](H)
    God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.^(I)

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

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

⁶ They spread a net for my feet^(M)—
    I was bowed down^(N) in distress.
They dug a pit^(O) in my path—
    but they have fallen into it themselves.^(P)

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

⁹ I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
    I will sing of you among the peoples.
¹⁰ For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
    your faithfulness reaches to the skies.^(S)

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

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

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

⁹ Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns^(AH)—
    whether they be green or dry—the wicked will be swept away.^[f](AI)
10 The righteous will be glad^(AJ) when they are avenged,^(AK)
    when they dip their feet in the blood of the wicked.^(AL)
11 Then people will say,
    “Surely the righteous still are rewarded;^(AM)
    surely there is a God who judges the earth.”^(AN)

³ See how they lie in wait for me!
    Fierce men conspire^(AT) against me
    for no offense or sin of mine, Lord.
⁴ I have done no wrong,^(AU) yet they are ready to attack me.^(AV)
    Arise to help me; look on my plight!^(AW)
5 You, Lord God Almighty,
    you who are the God of Israel,^(AX)
rouse yourself^(AY) to punish all the nations;^(AZ)
    show no mercy to wicked traitors.^[i](BA)

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

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

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

¹⁴ They return at evening,
    snarling like dogs,
    and prowl about the city.
¹⁵ They wander about for food^(BR)
    and howl if not satisfied.
¹⁶ But I will sing^(BS) of your strength,^(BT)
    in the morning^(BU) I will sing of your love;^(BV)
for you are my fortress,^(BW)
    my refuge in times of trouble.^(BX)

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