Study Desk

A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom.^(a)

Lord , how many are my foes! How many rise up against me!

Many are saying of me, "God will not deliver him.^(b)"^[b]

But you, Lord , are a shield^(c) around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.^(d)

I call out to the Lord ,^(e) and he answers me from his holy mountain.^(f)

I lie down and sleep;^(g) I wake again,^(h) because the Lord sustains me.

I will not fear⁽ⁱ⁾ though tens of thousands assail me on every side.^(j)

Arise,^(k) Lord ! Deliver me,^(l) my God! Strike^(m) all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth⁽ⁿ⁾ of the wicked.

From the Lord comes deliverance.^(o) May your blessing^(p) be on your people.

For the director of music. To the tune of "Lilies." Of David.

Save me, O God, for the waters^(a) have come up to my neck.^(b)

I sink in the miry depths,^(c) where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me.

I am worn out calling for help;^(d) my throat is parched. My eyes fail,^(e) looking for my God.

Those who hate me^(f) without reason^(g) outnumber the hairs of my head; many are my enemies without cause,^(h) those who seek to destroy me.⁽ⁱ⁾ I am forced to restore what I did not steal.

You, God, know my folly;^(j) my guilt is not hidden from you.^(k)

Lord, the Lord Almighty, may those who hope in you not be disgraced because of me; God of Israel, may those who seek you not be put to shame because of me.

For I endure scorn^(l) for your sake,^(m) and shame covers my face.⁽ⁿ⁾

I am a foreigner to my own family, a stranger to my own mother's children;^(o)

for zeal for your house consumes me,^(p) and the insults of those who insult you fall on me.^(q)

When I weep and fast,^(r) I must endure scorn;

when I put on sackcloth,^(s) people make sport of me.

Those who sit at the gate^(t) mock me, and I am the song of the drunkards.^(u)

But I pray to you, Lord , in the time of your favor;^(v) in your great love,^(w) O God, answer me with your sure salvation.

Rescue me from the mire, do not let me sink; deliver me from those who hate me, from the deep waters.^(x)

Do not let the floodwaters^(y) engulf me or the depths swallow me up^(z) or the pit close its mouth over me.^(aa)

Answer me, Lord , out of the goodness of your love;^(ab) in your great mercy turn to me.

Do not hide your face^(ac) from your servant; answer me quickly,^(ad) for I am in trouble.^(ae)

Come near and rescue me; deliver^(af) me because of my foes.

You know how I am scorned,^(ag) disgraced and shamed; all my enemies are before you.

Scorn has broken my heart and has left me helpless; I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters,^(ah) but I found none.^(ai)

They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar^(aj) for my thirst.^(ak)

May the table set before them become a snare; may it become retribution and^[b] a trap.^(al)

May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever.^(am)

Pour out your wrath^(an) on them; let your fierce anger overtake them.

May their place be deserted;^(ao) let there be no one to dwell in their tents.^(ap)

For they persecute those you wound and talk about the pain of those you hurt.^(aq)

Charge them with crime upon crime;^(ar) do not let them share in your salvation.^(as)

May they be blotted out of the book of life^(at) and not be listed with the righteous.^(au)

But as for me, afflicted and in pain— may your salvation, God, protect me.^(av)

I will praise God's name in song^(aw) and glorify him^(ax) with thanksgiving.

This will please the Lord more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hooves.^(ay)

The poor will see and be glad^(az)— you who seek God, may your hearts live!^(ba)

The Lord hears the needy^(bb) and does not despise his captive people.

Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and all that move in them,^(bc)

for God will save Zion^(bd) and rebuild the cities of Judah.^(be) Then people will settle there and possess it;

the children of his servants will inherit it,^(bf) and those who love his name will dwell there.^(bg)