Psalm 11-15

New International Version

Psalm 11

For the director of music. Of David.

¹In the Lord I take refuge.^(A)
    How then can you say to me:
    “Flee^(B) like a bird to your mountain.^(C)
²For look, the wicked bend their bows;^(D)
    they set their arrows^(E) against the strings
to shoot from the shadows^(F)
    at the upright in heart.^(G)
³When the foundations^(H) are being destroyed,
    what can the righteous do?”

⁴The Lord is in his holy temple;^(I)
    the Lord is on his heavenly throne.^(J)
He observes everyone on earth;^(K)
    his eyes examine^(L) them.
⁵The Lord examines the righteous,^(M)
    but the wicked, those who love violence,
    he hates with a passion.^(N)
⁶On the wicked he will rain
    fiery coals and burning sulfur;^(O)
    a scorching wind^(P) will be their lot.

⁷For the Lord is righteous,^(Q)
he loves justice;^(R)
the upright^(S) will see his face.^(T)

Psalm 12^[a]

For the director of music. According to sheminith.^[b] A psalm of David.

¹Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore;^(U)
    those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.
²Everyone lies^(V) to their neighbor;
    they flatter with their lips
    but harbor deception in their hearts.^(W)

³May the Lord silence all flattering lips^(X)
    and every boastful tongue—^(Y)
⁴those who say,
    “By our tongues we will prevail;^(Z)
    our own lips will defend us—who is lord over us?”

⁵“Because the poor are plundered^(AA) and the needy groan,^(AB)
    I will now arise,^(AC)” says the Lord.
    “I will protect them^(AD) from those who malign them.”
⁶And the words of the Lord are flawless,^(AE)
    like silver purified^(AF) in a crucible,^(AG)
    like gold^[c] refined seven times.

⁷You, Lord, will keep the needy safe^(AH)
and will protect us forever from the wicked,^(AI)
⁸who freely strut^(AJ) about
when what is vile is honored by the human race.

Psalm 13^[d]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

¹How long,^(AK) Lord? Will you forget me^(AL) forever?
    How long will you hide your face^(AM) from me?
²How long must I wrestle with my thoughts^(AN)
    and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
    How long will my enemy triumph over me?^(AO)

³Look on me^(AP) and answer,^(AQ) Lord my God.
Give light to my eyes,^(AR) or I will sleep in death,^(AS)
⁴and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,^(AT)”
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.^(AU)

⁵But I trust in your unfailing love;^(AV)
my heart rejoices in your salvation.^(AW)
⁶I will sing^(AX) the Lord’s praise,
for he has been good to me.

Psalm 14^(AY)

For the director of music. Of David.

¹The fool^[e] says in his heart,
“There is no God.”^(AZ)
They are corrupt, their deeds are vile;
there is no one who does good.

²The Lord looks down from heaven^(BA)
    on all mankind
to see if there are any who understand,^(BB)
    any who seek God.^(BC)
³All have turned away,^(BD) all have become corrupt;^(BE)
    there is no one who does good,^(BF)
    not even one.^(BG)

⁴Do all these evildoers know nothing?^(BH)

They devour my people^(BI) as though eating bread;
    they never call on the Lord.^(BJ)
⁵But there they are, overwhelmed with dread,
    for God is present in the company of the righteous.
⁶You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor,
    but the Lord is their refuge.^(BK)

⁷Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!^(BL)
When the Lord restores^(BM) his people,
let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!

Psalm 15

A psalm of David.

¹Lord, who may dwell^(BN) in your sacred tent?^(BO)
Who may live on your holy mountain?^(BP)

²The one whose walk is blameless,^(BQ)
    who does what is righteous,
    who speaks the truth^(BR) from their heart;
³whose tongue utters no slander,^(BS)
    who does no wrong to a neighbor,
    and casts no slur on others;
⁴who despises a vile person
    but honors^(BT) those who fear the Lord;
who keeps an oath^(BU) even when it hurts,
    and does not change their mind;
⁵who lends money to the poor without interest;^(BV)
    who does not accept a bribe^(BW) against the innocent.

Whoever does these things
will never be shaken.^(BX)

Footnotes

Psalm 12:1 In Hebrew texts 12:1-8 is numbered 12:2-9.
Psalm 12:1 Title: Probably a musical term
Psalm 12:6 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text earth
Psalm 13:1 In Hebrew texts 13:1-6 is numbered 13:2-6.
Psalm 14:1 The Hebrew words rendered fool in Psalms denote one who is morally deficient.