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Psalm 59-61
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Psalm 59-61
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Psalm 59
Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies
To the leader: Do Not Destroy. Of David. A Miktam, when Saul ordered his house to be watched in order to kill him.
1 Deliver me from my enemies, O my God;
protect me from those who rise up against me.(A)
2 Deliver me from those who work evil;
from the bloodthirsty, save me.(B)
3 Even now they lie in wait for my life;
the mighty stir up strife against me.
For no transgression or sin of mine, O Lord,(C)
4 for no fault of mine, they run and make ready.
Rouse yourself, come to my help and see!(D)
5 You, Lord God of hosts, are God of Israel.
Awake to punish all the nations;
spare none of those who treacherously plot evil. Selah(E)
6 Each evening they come back
howling like dogs
and prowling about the city.(F)
7 There they are, bellowing with their mouths,
with sharp words[a] on their lips,
for “Who,” they think,[b] “will hear us?”(G)
8 But you laugh at them, O Lord;
you hold all the nations in derision.(H)
9 O my strength, I will watch for you,
for you, O God, are my fortress.(I)
10 My God in his steadfast love will meet me;
my God will let me look in triumph on my enemies.(J)
11 Do not kill them, or my people may forget;
make them totter by your power and bring them down,
O Lord, our shield.(K)
12 For the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips,
let them be trapped in their pride.
For the cursing and lies that they utter,(L)
13 consume them in wrath;
consume them until they are no more.
Then it will be known to the ends of the earth
that God rules over Jacob. Selah(M)
14 Each evening they come back
howling like dogs
and prowling about the city.(N)
15 They roam about for food
and growl if they do not get their fill.
16 But I will sing of your might;
I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.
For you have been a fortress for me
and a refuge in the day of my distress.(O)
17 O my strength, I will sing praises to you,
for you, O God, are my fortress,
the God who shows me steadfast love.(P)
Psalm 60
Prayer for National Victory after Defeat
To the leader: according to the Lily of the Covenant. A Miktam of David; for instruction; when he struggled with Aram-naharaim and with Aram-zobah, and when Joab on his return killed twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
1 O God, you have rejected us, broken our defenses;
you have been angry; now restore us!(Q)
2 You have caused the land to quake; you have torn it open;
repair the cracks in it, for it is tottering.(R)
3 You have made your people suffer hard things;
you have given us wine to drink that made us reel.(S)
4 You have set up a banner for those who fear you,
to rally to it out of bowshot.[c] Selah(T)
5 Give victory with your right hand and answer us,[d]
so that those whom you love may be rescued.(U)
6 God has promised in his sanctuary,[e]
“With exultation I will divide up Shechem
and portion out the Vale of Succoth.(V)
7 Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine;
Ephraim is my helmet;
Judah is my scepter.(W)
8 Moab is my washbasin;
on Edom I hurl my shoe;
over Philistia I shout in triumph.”(X)
9 Who will bring me to the fortified city?
Who will lead me to Edom?
10 Have you not rejected us, O God?
You do not go out, O God, with our armies.(Y)
11 O grant us help against the foe,
for human help is worthless.(Z)
12 With God we shall do valiantly;
it is he who will tread down our foes.(AA)
Psalm 61
Assurance of God’s Protection
To the leader: with stringed instruments. Of David.
1 Hear my cry, O God;
listen to my prayer.(AB)
2 From the end of the earth I call to you,
when my heart is faint.
Lead me to the rock
that is higher than I,(AC)
3 for you are my refuge,
a strong tower against the enemy.(AD)
4 Let me abide in your tent forever,
find refuge under the shelter of your wings. Selah(AE)
5 For you, O God, have heard my vows;
you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.(AF)
6 Prolong the life of the king;
may his years endure to all generations!(AG)
7 May he be enthroned forever before God;
appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him!(AH)
8 So I will always sing praises to your name,
as I pay my vows day after day.(AI)
Psalm 59-61
New International Version
Psalm 59-61
New International Version
Psalm 59[a]
For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.[b] When Saul had sent men to watch David’s house(A) in order to kill him.
1 Deliver me from my enemies, O God;(B)
be my fortress against those who are attacking me.(C)
2 Deliver me from evildoers(D)
and save me from those who are after my blood.(E)
3 See how they lie in wait for me!
Fierce men conspire(F) against me
for no offense or sin of mine, Lord.
4 I have done no wrong,(G) yet they are ready to attack me.(H)
Arise to help me; look on my plight!(I)
5 You, Lord God Almighty,
you who are the God of Israel,(J)
rouse yourself(K) to punish all the nations;(L)
show no mercy to wicked traitors.[c](M)
6 They return at evening,
snarling like dogs,(N)
and prowl about the city.
7 See what they spew from their mouths(O)—
the words from their lips are sharp as swords,(P)
and they think, “Who can hear us?”(Q)
8 But you laugh at them, Lord;(R)
you scoff at all those nations.(S)
9 You are my strength,(T) I watch for you;
you, God, are my fortress,(U)
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,[d](V)
or my people will forget.(W)
In your might uproot them
and bring them down.(X)
12 For the sins of their mouths,(Y)
for the words of their lips,(Z)
let them be caught in their pride.(AA)
For the curses and lies they utter,
13 consume them in your wrath,
consume them till they are no more.(AB)
Then it will be known to the ends of the earth
that God rules over Jacob.(AC)
14 They return at evening,
snarling like dogs,
and prowl about the city.
15 They wander about for food(AD)
and howl if not satisfied.
16 But I will sing(AE) of your strength,(AF)
in the morning(AG) I will sing of your love;(AH)
for you are my fortress,(AI)
my refuge in times of trouble.(AJ)
17 You are my strength, I sing praise to you;
you, God, are my fortress,
my God on whom I can rely.(AK)
Psalm 60[e](AL)
For the director of music. To the tune of “The Lily of the Covenant.” A miktam[f] of David. For teaching. When he fought Aram Naharaim[g] and Aram Zobah,[h] and when Joab returned and struck down twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.(AM)
1 You have rejected us,(AN) God, and burst upon us;
you have been angry(AO)—now restore us!(AP)
2 You have shaken the land(AQ) and torn it open;
mend its fractures,(AR) for it is quaking.
3 You have shown your people desperate times;(AS)
you have given us wine that makes us stagger.(AT)
4 But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner(AU)
to be unfurled against the bow.[i]
5 Save us and help us with your right hand,(AV)
that those you love(AW) may be delivered.
6 God has spoken from his sanctuary:
“In triumph I will parcel out Shechem(AX)
and measure off the Valley of Sukkoth.(AY)
7 Gilead(AZ) is mine, and Manasseh is mine;
Ephraim(BA) is my helmet,
Judah(BB) is my scepter.(BC)
8 Moab is my washbasin,
on Edom I toss my sandal;
over Philistia I shout in triumph.(BD)”
9 Who will bring me to the fortified city?
Who will lead me to Edom?
10 Is it not you, God, you who have now rejected us
and no longer go out with our armies?(BE)
11 Give us aid against the enemy,
for human help is worthless.(BF)
12 With God we will gain the victory,
and he will trample down our enemies.(BG)
Psalm 61[j]
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. Of David.
2 From the ends of the earth I call to you,
I call as my heart grows faint;(BJ)
lead me to the rock(BK) that is higher than I.
3 For you have been my refuge,(BL)
a strong tower against the foe.(BM)
4 I long to dwell(BN) in your tent forever
and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.[k](BO)
5 For you, God, have heard my vows;(BP)
you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.(BQ)
Footnotes
- 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
- Psalm 60:1 In Hebrew texts 60:1-12 is numbered 60:3-14.
- Psalm 60:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 60:1 Title: That is, Arameans of Northwest Mesopotamia
- Psalm 60:1 Title: That is, Arameans of central Syria
- Psalm 60:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
- Psalm 61:1 In Hebrew texts 61:1-8 is numbered 61:2-9.
- Psalm 61:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE)
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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