Psalm 53

For the end, a Psalm of David upon Maeleth, of instruction.

¹ The fool has said in his heart, There is no God. They have corrupted themselves, and become abominable in iniquities: there is none that does good. ² God looked down from heaven upon the sons of men, to see if there were any that understood, or sought after God. ^{3 1}They have all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that does good, there is not even one.

⁴ Will none of the workers of iniquity know, who devour my people as they would eat bread? they have not called upon God. There were they greatly afraid, where there was no fear: ⁵ or God has scattered the bones of the men-pleasers; they were ashamed, for God despised them. ⁶ Who will bring the salvation of Israel out of Sion? When the Lord turns the captivity of his people, Jacob shall exult, and Israel shall be glad.

Psalm 54

For the end, among Hymns of instruction by David, when the Ziphites came and said to Saul, Lo, is not David hid with us?

¹ Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy might. ² O God, hear my prayer; hearken to the words of my mouth. ³ For strangers have risen up against me, and mighty men have sought my life: they have not set God before them. Pause.

⁴ For lo! God assists me; and the Lord is the helper of my soul. ⁵ He shall return evil to mine enemies; utterly destroy them in thy truth. ⁶ I will willingly sacrifice to thee: I will give thanks to thy name, O Lord; for it is good. ⁷ For thou hast delivered me out of all affliction, and mine eye has seen my desire upon mine enemies.

Psalm 55

For the end, among Hymns of instruction by David.

¹ Hearken, O God, to my prayer; and disregard not my supplication. ² Attend to me, and hearken to me: I was grieved in my meditation, and troubled; ³ because of the voice of the enemy, and because of the oppression of the sinner: for they brought iniquity against me, and were wrathfully angry with me.

⁴ My heart was troubled within me; and the fear of death fell upon me. ⁵ Fear and trembling came upon me, and darkness covered me. ⁶ And I said, O that I had wings as those of a dove! then would I flee away, and be at rest. ⁷ Lo! I have fled afar off, and lodged in the wilderness. Pause. ⁸ I waited for him that should deliver me from distress of spirit and tempest.

⁹ Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen iniquity and gainsaying

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in the city. ¹⁰ Day and night ²he shall go round about it upon its walls: iniquity and sorrow and unrighteousness aree in the midst of it; ¹¹ and usury and craft have not failed from its streets.

¹² For if an enemy had reproached me, I would have endured it; and if one who hated me had spoken vauntingly against me, I would have hid myself from him. ¹³ But thou, O man like minded, my guide, and my acquaintance, ¹⁴ who in companionship with me sweetened our food: we walked in the house of God in concord. ¹⁵ Let death come upon them, and let them go down alive into Hades, for iniquity is in their dwellings, in the midst of them.

¹⁶ I cried to God, and the Lord hearkened to me. ¹⁷ Evening, and morning, and at noon I will declare and make known my wants: and he shall hear my voice. ¹⁸ He shall deliver my soul in peace from them that draw nigh to me: for they were with me in many cases. ¹⁹ God shall hear, and bring them low, even he that has existed from eternity. Pause.

³For they suffer no reverse, and thereforee they have not feared God. ²⁰ He has reached forth his hand for retribution; they have profaned his covenant. ²¹ They were scattered at the anger of his countenance, and his heart drew ⁴nigh them. His words were smoother than oil, yet are they darts.

^{22 5}Cast thy care upon the Lord, and he shall ⁶sustain thee; he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. ²³ But thou, O God, shalt bring them down to the pit of destruction; bloody and crafty men shall not live out half their days; but I will hope in thee, O Lord.