Psalms 17; Psalms 35; Psalms 54; Psalms 63

1 Listen to what's right, LORD; pay attention to my cry! Listen closely to my prayer; it's spoken by lips that don't lie!

2 My justice comes from you; let your eyes see what is right!

3 You have examined my heart, testing me at night. You've looked me over closely, but haven't found anything wrong. My mouth doesn't sin.

4 But these other people's deeds? I have avoided such violent ways by the command from your lips.

5 My steps are set firmly on your paths; my feet haven't slipped.

6 I cry out to you because you answer me. So tilt your ears toward me now— listen to what I'm saying!

7 Manifest your faithful love in amazing ways because you are the one who saves those who take refuge in you, saving them from their attackers by your strong hand.

8 Watch me with the very pupil of your eye! Hide me in the protection of your wings,

9 away from the wicked who are out to get me, away from my deadly enemies who are all around me!

10 They have no pity; their mouths speak arrogantly.

11 They track me down— suddenly, they surround me! They make their plans to put me in the dirt.

12 They are like a lion eager to rip its prey; they are like a strong young lion lying in wait.

13 Get up, LORD! Confront them! Bring them down! Rescue my life from the wicked— use your sword!

14 Rescue me from these people— use your own hands, LORD! Rescue me from these people whose only possession is their fleeting life. But fill the stomachs of your cherished ones; let their children be filled full so that they have leftovers enough for their babies.

15 But me? I will see your face in righteousness; when I awake, I will be filled full by seeing your image.

1 LORD, argue with those who argue with me; fight with those who fight against me!

2 Grab a shield and armor; stand up and help me!

3 Use your spear and ax against those who are out to get me! Say to me:"I'm your salvation!"

4 Let those who want me dead be humiliated and put to shame. Let those who intend to hurt me be thoroughly frustrated and disgraced.

5 Let them be like dust on the wind— and let the LORD's messenger be the one who does the blowing!

6 Let their path be dark and slippery— and let the LORD's messenger be the one who does the chasing!

7 Because they hid their net for me for no reason, they dug a pit for me for no reason.

8 Let disaster come to them when they don't suspect it. Let the net they hid catch them instead! Let them fall into it—to their disaster!

9 But I will rejoice in the LORD; I will celebrate his salvation.

10 All my bones will say, "LORD, who could compare to you? You rescue the weak from those who overpower them; you rescue the weak and the needy from those who plunder them."

11 Violent witnesses stand up. They question me about things I know nothing about.

12 They pay me back evil for good, leaving me stricken with grief.

13 But when they were sick, I wore clothes for grieving, and I kept a strict fast. When my prayer came back unanswered,

14 I would wander around like I was grieving a friend or a brother. I was weighed down, sad, like I was a mother in mourning.

15 But when I stumbled, they celebrated and gathered together— they gathered together against me! Strangers I didn't know tore me to pieces and wouldn't quit.

16 They ridiculed me over and over again, like godless people would do, grinding their teeth at me.

17 How long, my Lord, will you watch this happen? Rescue me from their attacks; rescue my precious life from these predatory lions!

18 Then I will thank you in the great assembly; I will praise you in a huge crowd of people.

19 Don't let those who are my enemies without cause celebrate over me; don't let those who hate me for no reason wink at my demise.

20 They don't speak the truth; instead, they plot false accusations against innocent people in the land.

21 They speak out against me, saying, "Yes! Oh, yes! We've seen it with our own eyes!"

22 But you've seen it too, LORD. Don't keep quiet about it. Please don't be far from me, my Lord.

23 Wake up! Get up and do justice for me; argue my case, my Lord and my God!

24 Establish justice for me according to your righteousness, LORD, my God. Don't let them celebrate over me.

25 Don't let them say to themselves, Yes! Exactly what we wanted! Don't let them say, "We ate him up!"

26 Let all those who celebrate my misfortune be disgraced and put to shame! Let those who exalt themselves over me be dressed up in shame and dishonor!

27 But let those who want things to be set right for me shout for joy and celebrate! Let them constantly say, "The LORD is great— God wants his servant to be at peace."

28 Then my tongue will talk all about your righteousness; it will talk about your praise all day long.

1 God! Save me by your name; defend me by your might!

2 God! Hear my prayer; listen to the words of my mouth!

3 The proud have come up against me; violent people want me dead. They pay no attention to God. Selah

4 But look here: God is my helper; my Lord sustains my life.

5 He will bring disaster on my opponents. By your faithfulness, God, destroy them!

6 I will sacrifice to you freely; I will give thanks to your name, LORD, because it's so good,

7 and because God has delivered me from every distress. My eyes have seen my enemies' defeat.

1 God! My God! It's you— I search for you! My whole being thirsts for you! My body desires you in a dry and tired land, no water anywhere.

2 Yes, I've seen you in the sanctuary; I've seen your power and glory.

3 My lips praise you because your faithful love is better than life itself!

4 So I will bless you as long as I'm alive; I will lift up my hands in your name.

5 I'm fully satisfied— as with a rich dinner. My mouth speaks praise with joy on my lips—

6 whenever I ponder you on my bed, whenever I meditate on you in the middle of the night—

7 because you've been a help to me and I shout for joy in the protection of your wings.

8 My whole being clings to you; your strong hand upholds me.

9 But what about those people who want to destroy me? Let them go into the bowels of the earth!

10 Let their blood flow by the sword! Let them be food for wild jackals!

11 But the king should rejoice in God; everyone who swears by God should give praise when the mouths of liars are shut for good.