Psalms 7; Psalms 27; Psalms 31; Psalms 34; Psalms 52

Psalms 7

1 LORD my God, I go to you for safety. Help me. Save me from all those who are chasing me.

2 If you don't, they will tear me apart as if they were lions. They will rip me to pieces so that no one can save me.

3 LORD my God, suppose I have done something wrong. Suppose I am guilty.

4 I have done evil to my friend. Or I have robbed my enemy without any reason.

5 If I have done any of those things, let my enemy chase me and catch me. Let him walk all over me. Let him bury me in the dust. "Selah"

6 Lord, rise up in your anger. Rise up against the great anger of my enemies. My God, wake up. Command that the right thing be done.

7 Let all the people of the earth gather around you. Rule over them from your throne in heaven.

8 Lord, judge all people. Lord, judge me. But remember that I have done what is right. Most High God, remember that I am honest.

9 God, you always do what is right. You look deep down inside the hearts and minds of people. Bring to an end the terrible things sinful people do. Make godly people safe.

10 The Most High God is like a shield that keeps me safe. He saves those whose hearts are honest.

11 God judges fairly. He shows his anger every day.

12 If evil people don't change their ways, God will sharpen his sword. He will get his bow ready to use.

13 He has prepared his deadly weapons. He has made his flaming arrows ready.

14 Anyone who is full of evil plans trouble and ends up telling lies.

15 Anyone who digs a hole and shovels it out falls into the pit he has made.

16 The trouble he causes comes back on him. The terrible things he does come down on his own head.

17 I will give thanks to the LORD because he does what is right. I will sing praise to the LORD Most High.

Psalms 27

1 The LORD gives me light and saves me. Why should I fear anyone? The LORD is my place of safety. Why should I be afraid?

2 My enemies are evil. They will trip and fall when they attack me and try to eat me alive.

3 Even if an army attacks me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if war breaks out against me, I will still trust in God.

4 I'm asking the LORD for only one thing. Here is what I want. I want to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life. I want to look at the beauty of the Lord. I want to worship him in his temple.

5 When I'm in trouble, he will keep me safe in his house. He will hide me in the safety of his holy tent. He will put me on a rock that is very high.

6 Then I will win the battle over my enemies who are all around me. At his holy tent I will offer my sacrifice with shouts of joy. I will sing and make music to the Lord.

7 Lord, hear my voice when I call out to you. Show me your favor and answer me.

8 My heart says, "Look to him!" Lord, I will look to you.

9 Don't turn your face away from me. Don't turn me away because you are angry. You have helped me. God my Savior, don't say no to me. Don't desert me.

10 My father and mother may desert me, but the LORD will accept me.

11 Lord, teach me your ways. Lead me along a straight path. There are many people who beat me down.

12 My enemies want to harm me. So don't turn me over to them. Witnesses who tell lies are rising up against me. They are trying to destroy me.

13 Here is something I am still sure of. I will see the Lord's goodness while I'm still alive.

14 Wait for the Lord. Be strong and don't lose hope. Wait for the Lord.

Psalms 31

1 Lord, I have gone to you for safety. Don't let me ever be put to shame. Save me, because you do what is right.

2 Pay attention to me. Come quickly to help me. Be the rock I go to for safety. Be the strong fort that saves me.

3 You are my rock and my fort. Lead me and guide me for the honor of your name.

4 Free me from the trap that is set for me. You are my place of safety.

5 Into your hands I commit my very life. Lord, set me free. You are my faithful God.

6 I hate those who worship worthless statues of gods. I trust in the Lord.

7 I will be glad and full of joy because you love me. You saw that I was hurting. You took note of my great pain.

8 You have not handed me over to the enemy. You have put me in a wide and safe place.

9 Lord, show me your favor. I'm in deep trouble. I'm so sad I can hardly see. My whole body grows weak with sadness.

10 Pain has taken over my life. My years are spent in groaning. I have no strength because I'm hurting so much. My body is getting weaker and weaker.

11 My neighbors make fun of me because I have so many enemies. My friends are afraid of me. Those who see me on the street run away from me.

12 They have forgotten me. I might as well be dead. I have become like broken pottery.

13 I hear the lies many people tell about me. There is terror all around me. Many have joined together against me. They plan to kill me.

14 But I trust in you, Lord. I say, "You are my God."

15 My whole life is in your hands. Save me from my enemies. Save me from those who are chasing me.

16 Let your face smile on me with favor. Save me because your love is faithful.

17 Lord, I have cried out to you. Don't let me be put to shame. But let sinners be put to shame. Let them lie silent in the grave.

18 Their lips tell lies. Let them be silenced. They speak with pride against those who do right. They make fun of them.

19 How great your goodness is! You have stored it up for those who have respect for you. While other people watch, you give it to those who run to you for safety.

20 They are safe because you are with them. You hide them from the evil plans of their enemies. In your house you keep them safe from those who bring charges against them.

21 Give praise to the Lord. He showed me his wonderful love when my enemies attacked the city I was in.

22 I was afraid and said, "I've been cut off from you!" But you heard my cry for your favor. You heard me when I called out to you for help.

23 Love the Lord, all of you who are faithful to him! The LORD watches over the faithful. But he completely pays back those who are proud.

24 Be strong, all of you who put your hope in the Lord. Never give up.

Psalms 34

1 I will thank the LORD at all times. My lips will always praise him.

2 I will honor the Lord. Let those who are hurting hear and be joyful.

3 Join me in giving glory to the Lord. Let us honor him together.

4 I looked to the Lord, and he answered me. He saved me from everything I was afraid of.

5 Those who look to him beam with joy. They are never put to shame.

6 This poor man called out, and the LORD heard him. He saved him out of all of his troubles.

7 The angel of the LORD stands guard around those who have respect for him. And he saves them.

8 Taste and see that the LORD is good. Blessed is the man who goes to him for safety.

9 You people of God, have respect for the Lord. Those who respect him have everything they need.

10 The lions may grow weak and hungry. But those who look to the LORD have every good thing they need.

11 My children, come. Listen to me. I will teach you to have respect for the Lord.

12 Do you love life and want to see many good days?

13 Then keep your tongues from speaking evil. Keep your lips from telling lies.

14 Turn away from evil, and do good. Look for peace, and go after it.

15 The LORD looks with favor on those who are godly. His ears are open to their cry.

16 The LORD doesn't look with favor on those who do evil. He removes all memory of them from the earth.

17 Godly people cry out, and the LORD hears them. He saves them from all of their troubles.

18 The LORD is close to those whose hearts have been broken. He saves those whose spirits have been crushed.

19 Anyone who does what is right may have many troubles. But the LORD saves him from all of them.

20 The LORD watches over all of his bones. Not one of them will be broken.

21 Sinners will be killed by their own evil. The enemies of godly people will be judged.

22 The LORD sets those who serve him free. No one who goes to him for safety will be judged.

Psalms 52

1 You think you are such a big, strong man! Why do you brag about the evil things you've done? You are a dishonor to God all the time.

2 You plan ways to destroy others. Your tongue is like a blade that has a sharp edge. You are always telling lies.

3 You love evil instead of good. You would rather lie than tell the truth. "Selah"

4 You love to harm others with your words, you liar!

5 So God will destroy you forever. He will grab hold of you and throw you out of your tent. He will remove you from this life. "Selah"

6 Those who do what is right will see it and learn a lesson from it. They will laugh at you and say,

7 "Just look at this fellow! He didn't depend on God for his safety. He put his trust in all his wealth. He grew strong by destroying others!"

8 But I am like a healthy olive tree. My roots are deep in the house of God. I trust in your faithful love for ever and ever.

9 I will praise you forever for what you have done. I will put my hope in you because you are good. I will praise you when I'm with your faithful people.