Psalms 11–15

For the Chief Musician. By David.

¹In the LORD, I take refuge. How can you say to my soul, “Flee as a bird to your mountain”?

²For, behold, the wicked bend their bows. They set their arrows on the strings, that they may shoot in darkness at the upright in heart.

³If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?

⁴The LORD is in his holy temple. The LORD is on his throne in heaven. His eyes observe. His eyes examine the children of men.

⁵The LORD examines the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and him who loves violence.

⁶On the wicked he will rain blazing coals; fire, sulfur, and scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.

⁷For the LORD is righteous. He loves righteousness. The upright shall see his face.

For the Chief Musician; upon an eight-stringed lyre. A Psalm of David.

¹Help, LORD; for the godly man ceases. For the faithful fail from among the children of men.

²Everyone lies to his neighbor. They speak with flattering lips, and with a double heart.

³May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that boasts,

⁴who have said, “With our tongue we will prevail. Our lips are our own. Who is lord over us?”

⁵“Because of the oppression of the weak and because of the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says the LORD; “I will set him in safety from those who malign him.”

⁶The LORD’s words are flawless words, as silver refined in a clay furnace, purified seven times.

⁷You will keep them, LORD. You will preserve them from this generation forever.

⁸The wicked walk on every side, when what is vile is exalted among the sons of men.

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.

¹How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?

²How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart every day? How long shall my enemy triumph over me?

³Behold, and answer me, LORD, my God. Give light to my eyes, lest I sleep in death;

⁴lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed against him;” lest my adversaries rejoice when I fall.

⁵But I trust in your loving kindness. My heart rejoices in your salvation.

⁶I will sing to the LORD, because he has been good to me.

For the Chief Musician. By David.

¹The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt. They have done abominable deeds. There is no one who does good.

²The LORD looked down from heaven on the children of men, to see if there were any who understood, who sought after God.

³They have all gone aside. They have together become corrupt. There is no one who does good, no, not one.

⁴Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and don’t call on the LORD?

⁵There they were in great fear, for God is in the generation of the righteous.

⁶You frustrate the plan of the poor, because the LORD is his refuge.

⁷Oh that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people, then Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

A Psalm by David.

¹LORD, who shall dwell in your sanctuary? Who shall live on your holy hill?

²He who walks blamelessly and does what is right, and speaks truth in his heart;

³he who doesn’t slander with his tongue, nor does evil to his friend, nor casts slurs against his fellow man;

⁴in whose eyes a vile man is despised, but who honors those who fear the LORD; he who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and doesn’t change;

⁵he who doesn’t lend out his money for usury, nor take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be shaken.