Study Desk

For the choir director. A Davidic Maskil. When Doeg the Edomite went and reported to Saul, telling him, "David went to Ahimelech's house."^(a)

Why brag about evil, you hero!^(b) God's faithful love is constant.^(c)

Like a sharpened razor, your tongue devises destruction, working treachery.^(d)

You love evil instead of good, lying instead of speaking truthfully.^(e) Selah

You love any words that destroy, you treacherous tongue!^(f)

This is why God will bring you down forever. He will take you, ripping you out of your tent; He will uproot you from the land of the living.^(g) Selah

The righteous will look on with awe and will ridicule him:^(h)

"Here is the man who would not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his riches, taking refuge in his destructive behavior."^[a](i)

But I am like a flourishing olive tree in the house of God;^(j) I trust in God's faithful love forever and ever.^(k)

I will praise You forever for what You have done. In the presence of Your faithful people, I will put my hope in Your name, for it is good.^(l)

For the choir director: "Do Not Destroy."^[a] A Davidic Miktam. When he fled before Saul into the cave.^(a)

Be gracious to me, God, be gracious to me, for I take refuge in You. I will seek refuge in the shadow of Your wings until danger passes.^(b)

I call to God Most High, to God who fulfills His purpose for me.^[b](c)

He reaches down from heaven and saves me, challenging the one who tramples me.^(d) Selah God sends His faithful love and truth.^(e)

I am surrounded by lions; I lie down with those who devour men. Their teeth are spears and arrows; their tongues are sharp swords.^(f)

God, be exalted above the heavens; let Your glory be over the whole earth.^(g)

They prepared a net for my steps; I was despondent. They dug a pit ahead of me, but they fell into it!^(h) Selah

My heart is confident, God, my heart is confident. I will sing; I will sing praises.⁽ⁱ⁾

Wake up, my soul!^[c] Wake up, harp and lyre! I will wake up the dawn.^(j)

I will praise You, Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to You among the nations.^(k)

For Your faithful love is as high as the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches the clouds.^(l)

God, be exalted above the heavens;^(m) let Your glory be over the whole earth.⁽ⁿ⁾

A Davidic Maskil. When he was in the cave.^(a) A prayer.

I cry aloud to the Lord ;^(b) I plead aloud to the Lord for mercy.^(c)

I pour out my complaint before Him; I reveal my trouble to Him.^(d)

Although my spirit is weak within me, You know my way.^(e) Along this path I travel they have hidden a trap for me.^(f)

Look to the right and see:^[a] no one stands up for me; there is no refuge for me; no one cares about me.^(g)

I cry to You, Lord ; I say, "You are my shelter, my portion in the land of the living."^(h)

Listen to my cry, for I am very weak.⁽ⁱ⁾ Rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me.^(j)

Free me from prison so that I can praise Your name. The righteous will gather around me because You deal generously with me.^(k)