Psalms 3; Psalms 4; Psalms 12; Psalms 13; Psalms 28; Psalms 55

Psalms 3

1 O LORD, look how my enemies have increased! Many are attacking me.

2 Many are saying about me, "Even with God [on his side], he won't be victorious." Selah

3 But you, O LORD, are a shield that surrounds me. You are my glory. You hold my head high.

4 I call aloud to the LORD, and he answers me from his holy mountain. Selah

5 I lie down and sleep. I wake up again because the LORD continues to support me.

6 I am not afraid of the tens of thousands who have taken positions against me on all sides.

7 Arise, O LORD! Save me, O my God! You have slapped all my enemies in the face. You have smashed the teeth of wicked people.

8 Victory belongs to the LORD! May your blessing rest on your people. Selah

Psalms 4

1 Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness. You have freed me from my troubles. Have pity on me, and hear my prayer!

2 You important people, how long are you going to insult my honor? How long are you going to love what is empty and seek what is a lie? Selah

3 Know that the LORD singles out godly people for himself. The LORD hears me when I call to him.

4 Tremble and do not sin. Think about this on your bed and remain quiet. Selah

5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness by trusting the LORD.

6 Many are saying, "Who can show us anything good?" Let the light of your presence shine on us, O LORD.

7 You put more joy in my heart than when their grain and new wine increase.

8 I fall asleep in peace the moment I lie down because you alone, O LORD, enable me to live securely.

Psalms 12

1 Help, O LORD. No godly person is left. Faithful people have vanished from among Adam's descendants!

2 All people speak foolishly. They speak with flattering lips. They say one thing but mean another.

3 May the LORD cut off every flattering lip and every bragging tongue

4 that has said, "We will overcome with our tongues. With lips such as ours, who can be our master?"

5 "Because oppressed people are robbed and needy people groan, I will now arise," says the LORD. "I will provide safety for those who long for it."

6 The promises of the LORD are pure, like silver refined in a furnace and purified seven times.

7 O LORD, you will protect them. You will keep each one safe from those people forever.

8 Wicked people parade around when immorality increases among Adam's descendants.

Psalms 13

1 How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?

2 How long must I make decisions alone with sorrow in my heart day after day? How long will my enemy triumph over me?

3 Look at me! Answer me, O LORD my God! Light up my eyes, or else I will die

4 and my enemy will say, "I have overpowered him." My opponents will rejoice because I have been shaken.

5 But I trust your mercy. My heart finds joy in your salvation.

6 I will sing to the LORD because he has been good to me.

Psalms 28

1 O LORD, I call to you. O my rock, do not turn a deaf ear to me. If you remain silent, I will be like those who go into the pit.

2 Hear my prayer for mercy when I call to you for help, when I lift my hands toward your most holy place.

3 Do not drag me away with wicked people, with troublemakers who speak of peace with their neighbors but have evil in their hearts.

4 Pay them back for what they have done, for their evil deeds. Pay them back for what their hands have done, and give them what they deserve.

5 The LORD will tear them down and never build them up again, because they never consider what he has done or what his hands have made.

6 Thank the LORD! He has heard my prayer for mercy!

7 The LORD is my strength and my shield. My heart trusted him, so I received help. My heart is triumphant; I give thanks to him with my song.

8 The LORD is the strength of his people and a fortress for the victory of his Messiah.

9 Save your people, and bless those who belong to you. Be their shepherd, and carry them forever.

Psalms 55

1 Open your ears to my prayer, O God. Do not hide from my plea for mercy.

2 Pay attention to me, and answer me. My thoughts are restless, and I am confused

3 because my enemy shouts at me and a wicked person persecutes me. They bring misery crashing down on me, and they attack me out of anger.

4 My heart is in turmoil. The terrors of death have seized me.

5 Fear and trembling have overcome me. Horror has overwhelmed me.

6 I said, "If only I had wings like a dove-- I would fly away and find rest.

7 Indeed, I would run far away. I would stay in the desert. Selah

8 I would hurry to find shelter from the raging wind and storm."

9 Completely confuse their language, O Lord, because I see violence and conflict in the city.

10 Day and night they go around on [top of] the city walls. Trouble and misery are everywhere.

11 Destruction is everywhere. Oppression and fraud never leave the streets.

12 If an enemy had insulted me, then I could bear it. If someone who hated me had attacked me, then I could hide from him.

13 But it is you, my equal, my best friend, one I knew so well!

14 We used to talk to each other in complete confidence and walk into God's house with the festival crowds.

15 Let death suddenly take [wicked people]! Let them go into the grave while they are still alive, because evil lives in their homes as well as in their hearts.

16 But I call on God, and the LORD saves me.

17 Morning, noon, and night I complain and groan, and he listens to my voice.

18 With [his] peace, he will rescue my soul from the war waged against me, because there are many [soldiers fighting] against me.

19 God will listen. The one who has sat enthroned from the beginning will deal with them. Selah They never change. They never fear God.

20 [My best friend] has betrayed his friends. He has broken his solemn promise.

21 His speech is smoother than butter, but there is war in his heart. His words are more soothing than oil, but they are like swords ready to attack.

22 Turn your burdens over to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will never let the righteous person stumble.

23 But you, O God, will throw [wicked people] into the deepest pit. Bloodthirsty and deceitful people will not live out half their days. But I will trust you.