Historical
51 When David was rebuked by the Prophet Nathan for his great offenses, he did not only acknowledge the same to God, with protestation of his natural corruption and iniquity, but also left a memorial thereof to his posterity. 7 Therefore first he desireth God to forgive his sins, 10 And to renew in him his holy Spirit. 13 With promise that he will not be unmindful of those great graces. 18 Finally, fearing lest God would punish the whole Church for his fault, he requireth that he would rather increase his graces toward the same.
To him that excelleth. A Psalm of David, when the Prophet Nathan [a]came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.
1 Have mercy upon me, O God, [b]according to thy loving-kindness: according to the multitude of thy compassions put away mine iniquities.
2 Wash me [c]thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from mine sin.
3 For I [d]know mine iniquities, and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against thee, against thee only have I sinned, and done evil in thy sight, that thou mayest be just when thou [e]speakest, and pure when thou judgest.
5 Behold, I was born in iniquity, and in sin hath my mother conceived me.
6 Behold, thou [f]lovest truth in the inward affections: therefore hast thou taught me wisdom in the secret of mine heart.
7 Purge me with (A)hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me to hear [g]joy and gladness, that the [h]bones, which thou hast broken, may rejoice.
9 Hide thy face from my sins, and put away all mine iniquities.
10 [i]Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thine holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of thy salvation, and establish me with thy [j]free Spirit.
13 Then shall I teach thy [k]ways unto the wicked, and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
14 Deliver me from [l]blood, O God, which art the God of my salvation, and my tongue shall sing joyfully of thy righteousness.
15 [m]Open thou my lips, O Lord, and my mouth shall show forth thy praise.
16 For thou desirest no sacrifice, though I would give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a [n]contrite spirit: a contrite and a broken heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
18 Be favorable unto [o]Zion for thy good pleasure: build the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then shalt thou accept the sacrifices of [p]righteousness, even the burnt offering and oblation: then shall they offer calves upon thine altar.
52 1 David describeth the arrogant tyranny of his adversary Doeg: who by false surmises cause Ahimelech with the rest of the Priests to be slain. 5 David prophesieth his destruction, 6 and encourageth the faithful to put their confidence in God, whose judgments are most sharp against his adversaries. 9 And finally, he rendereth thanks to God for his deliverance. In this Psalm is timely set forth the kingdom of Antichrist.
To him that excelleth. A Psalm of David to give instruction. When Doeg the Edomite came and showed Saul, and said to him, David is come to the house of Ahimelech.
1 Why boastest thou thyself in thy wickedness, O [q]man of power? the loving-kindness of God endureth daily.
2 Thy tongue imagineth [r]mischief, and is like a sharp razor, that cutteth deceitfully.
3 Thou dost love evil more than good, and lies more than to speak the [s]truth. Selah.
4 Thou lovest all words that may destroy: O deceitful tongue!
5 So shall God [t]destroy thee forever: he shall take thee and pluck thee out of thy tabernacle, and [u]root thee out of the land of the living. Selah.
6 The [v]righteous also shall see it, [w]and fear, and shall laugh at him, saying,
7 Behold the man that took not God for his strength, but trusteth unto the multitude of his riches, and put his strength [x]in his malice.
8 But I shall be like a [y]green olive tree in the house of God: for I trusted in the mercy of God forever and ever.
9 I will always praise thee, for that thou hast done [z]this, and I will [aa]hope in thy name, because it is good before thy Saints.
53 1 He describeth the crooked nature. 4 The cruelty, 5 And punishment of the wicked, when they look not for it, 6 And desireth the deliverance of the godly, that they may rejoice together.
To him that excelleth on [ab]Mahalath. A Psalm of David to give instruction.
1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is [ac]no God, they have corrupted and done abominable wickedness, there is none that doeth good.
2 God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that would understand and [ad]seek God.
3 (B)Everyone is gone back: they are altogether corrupt: there is none that doeth good, no not one.
4 Do not the [ae]workers of iniquity know that they eat up my people as they eat bread? they call not upon God.
5 There they were afraid for fear, where no [af]fear was: for God hath scattered the [ag]bones of him that besieged thee: thou hast put them to confusion, because God hath cast them off.
6 Oh give salvation unto Israel out of Zion: when God turneth the captivity of his people, then Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.
54 1 David brought into great danger by reason of the Ziphites, 5 Calleth upon the Name of God to destroy his enemies, 6 Promising sacrifices and free offerings for so great deliverance.
To him that excelleth on Neginoth. A Psalm of David, to give instruction. When the Ziphims came and said unto Saul, (C)Is not David hid among us?
1 Save me, O God, [ah]by thy Name, and by thy power judge me.
2 O God, hear my prayer: hearken unto the words of my mouth.
3 For [ai]strangers are risen up against me, and [aj]tyrants seek my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah.
4 Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with [ak]them that uphold my soul.
5 He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: Oh cut them off in thy [al]truth!
6 Then I will sacrifice [am]freely unto thee: I will praise thy Name, O Lord, because it is good.
7 For he hath delivered me out of all trouble, and mine eye hath [an]seen my desire upon mine enemies.
55 1 David being in great heaviness and distress, complaineth of the cruelty of Saul, 13 and of the falsehood of his familiar acquaintance, 17 Uttering the most ardent affections to move the Lord to pity him. 22 After, being assured of deliverance, he setteth forth the grace of God, as though he had already obtained his request.
To him that excelleth on Neginoth. A Psalm of David to give instruction.
1 Hear [ao]my prayer, O God, and hide not thyself from my supplication.
2 Hearken unto me, and answer me: I mourn in my prayer, and make a noise,
3 For the [ap]voice of the enemy, and for the vexation of the wicked, because [aq]they have brought iniquity upon me, and furiously hate me.
4 Mine heart trembleth within me, and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
5 Fear and trembling are come upon me, and an horrible fear hath [ar]covered me.
6 And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove: then would I [as]fly away and rest.
7 Behold I would take my flight far off, and lodge in the wilderness. Selah.
8 He would make haste for my deliverance [at]from the stormy wind and tempest.
9 Destroy, O Lord, and [au]divide their tongues: for I have seen cruelty and strife in the city.
10 Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof, both [av]iniquity and mischief are in the midst of it.
11 Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.
12 Surely mine [aw]enemy did not defame me, for I could have borne it: neither did mine adversary exalt himself against me: for I would have hid me from him.
13 But it was thou, O man, even my [ax]companion, my guide, and my familiar:
14 Which delighted in consulting together, and went into the house of God as companions.
15 Let death seize upon them: let them [ay]go down quick into the grave: for wickedness is in their dwellings even in the midst of them.
16 But I will call unto God, and the Lord will save me.
17 Evening and morning, and at noon will I pray [az]and make a noise, and he will hear my voice.
18 He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for [ba]many were with me.
19 God shall hear and afflict them, even he that reigneth of old, Selah: because they [bb]have no changes, therefore they fear not God.
20 He [bc]laid his hand upon such as be at peace with him, and he brake his covenant.
21 The words of his mouth were softer than butter, yet war was in his heart, his words were more gentle than oil, yet they were swords.
22 Cast thy [bd]burden upon the Lord, and he shall nourish thee: he will not suffer the righteous to fall [be]forever.
23 And thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of corruption: the bloody, and deceitful men shall not live [bf]half their days: but I will trust in thee.
56 1 David being brought to Achish the king of Gath, 1 Sam. 21:12, complaineth of his enemies, demandeth succor, 3 Putteth his trust in God and in his promises, 12 And promiseth to perform his vows which he had taken upon him, whereof this was the effect, to praise God in his Church.
To him that excelleth. A Psalm of David on Michtam, concerning the [bg]dumb dove in a far country, when the Philistines took him in Gath.
1 Be merciful unto me, O God, for [bh]man would swallow me up: he fighteth continually and vexeth me.
2 Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for many fight against me, O thou most High.
3 When I was afraid, I trusted in thee.
4 I will rejoice in God, because of his [bi]word, I trust in God, and will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
5 Mine own [bj]words grieve me daily: all their thoughts are against me to do me hurt.
6 [bk]They gather together, and keep themselves close: they mark my steps, because they wait for my soul.
7 [bl]They think they shall escape by iniquity: O God, cast these people down in thine anger.
8 Thou hast counted my wanderings; put my [bm]tears into thy bottle; are they not in thy register?
9 When I cry, then mine enemies shall turn back; this I know, for God is with me.
10 I will rejoice in God because of his word; in the Lord will I rejoice because of his word.
11 In God do I trust; I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.
12 [bn]Thy vows are upon me, O God, I will render praises unto thee.
13 For thou hast delivered my soul from death, and also my feet from falling, that I may [bo]walk before God in the [bp]light of the living.
57 1 David being in the desert of Ziph, where the inhabitants did betray him, and at length in the same cave with Saul, 2 Calleth most earnestly unto God, with full confidence that he will perform his promise, and take his cause in hand. 5 Also that he will show his glory in the heavens and the earth against his cruel enemies. 9 Therefore doth he render laud and praise.
To him that excelleth. [bq]Destroy not. A Psalm of David on Michtam. (D)When he fled from Saul in the cave.
1 Have mercy upon me, O God, have mercy upon me; for my soul trusteth in thee, and in the shadow of thy wings will I [br]trust, till these [bs]afflictions overpass.
2 I will call unto the most high God, even the God, that [bt]performeth his promise toward me.
3 He will send from [bu]heaven, and save me from the reproof of him that would swallow me. Selah. God will send his mercy, and his truth.
4 My soul is among lions; I lie among the children of men, that are set on fire; whose teeth are [bv]spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.
5 [bw]Exalt thyself, O God, above the heaven, and let thy glory be upon all the earth.
6 They have laid a net for my steps; [bx]my soul is pressed down, they have dug a pit before me, and are fallen into the midst of it. Selah.
7 Mine heart is [by]prepared, O God, mine heart is prepared; I will sing and give praise.
8 [bz]Awake my tongue, awake viol and harp: I will awake early.
9 I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people, and I will sing unto thee among the nations.
10 For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the [ca]clouds.
11 Exalt thyself, O God, above the heavens, and let thy glory be upon all the earth.
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