Book Order Plan

¹For the choir director: according to “A Silent Dove Far Away.” A of David. When the Philistines seized him in Gath. [1] Be gracious to me, God, for a man is trampling me; he fights and oppresses me all day long.

²My adversaries trample me all day, for many arrogantly fight against me.

³When I am afraid, I will trust in you.

⁴In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?

⁵They twist my words all day long; all their thoughts against me are evil.

⁶They stir up strife, they lurk; they watch my steps while they wait to take my life.

⁷Will they escape in spite of such sin? God, bring down the nations in wrath.

⁸You yourself have recorded my wanderings. Put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?

⁹Then my enemies will retreat on the day when I call. This I know: God is for me.

¹⁰In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise,

¹¹in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mere humans do to me?

¹²I am obligated by vows to you, God; I will make my thank offerings to you.

¹³For you rescued me from death, even my feet from stumbling, to walk before God in the light of life.

¹For the choir director: “Do Not Destroy.” A of David. When he fled before Saul into the cave. [1] 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.

²I call to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.

³He reaches down from heaven and saves me, challenging the one who tramples me. Selah God sends his faithful love and truth.

⁴I am surrounded by lions; I lie down among devouring lions — people whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.

⁵God, be exalted above the heavens; let your glory be over the whole earth.

⁶They prepared a net for my steps; I was despondent. They dug a pit ahead of me, but they fell into it! Selah

⁷My heart is confident, God, my heart is confident. I will sing; I will sing praises.

⁸Wake up, my soul! Wake up, harp and lyre! I will wake up the dawn.

⁹I will praise you, Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations.

¹⁰For your faithful love is as high as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches the clouds.

¹¹God, be exalted above the heavens; let your glory be over the whole earth.

¹For the choir director: “Do Not Destroy.” A of David. [1] Do you really speak righteously, you mighty ones? Do you judge people fairly?

²No, you practice injustice in your hearts; with your hands you weigh out violence in the land.

³The wicked go astray from the womb; liars wander about from birth.

⁴They have venom like the venom of a snake, like the deaf cobra that stops up its ears,

⁵that does not listen to the sound of the charmers who skillfully weave spells.

⁶God, knock the teeth out of their mouths; LORD, tear out the young lions’ fangs.

⁷May they vanish like water that flows by; may they aim their blunted arrows.

⁸Like a slug that moves along in slime, like a woman’s miscarried child, may they not see the sun.

⁹Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns — whether green or burning — he will sweep them away.

¹⁰The righteous one will rejoice when he sees the retribution; he will wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.

¹¹Then people will say, “Yes, there is a reward for the righteous! There is a God who judges on earth!”

¹For the choir director: “Do Not Destroy.” A of David. When Saul sent agents to watch the house and kill him. [1] Rescue me from my enemies, my God; protect me from those who rise up against me.

²Rescue me from those who practice sin, and save me from men of bloodshed.

³Because look, LORD, they set an ambush for me. Powerful men attack me, but not because of any sin or rebellion of mine.

⁴For no fault of mine, they run and take up a position. Awake to help me, and take notice.

⁵LORD God of Armies, you are the God of Israel. Rise up to punish all the nations; do not show favor to any wicked traitors. Selah

⁶They return at evening, snarling like dogs and prowling around the city.

⁷Look, they spew from their mouths — sharp words from their lips. “For who,” they say, “will hear?”

⁸But you laugh at them, LORD; you ridicule all the nations.

⁹I will keep watch for you, my strength, because God is my stronghold.

¹⁰My faithful God will come to meet me; God will let me look down on my adversaries.

¹¹Do not kill them; otherwise, my people will forget. By your power, make them homeless wanderers and bring them down, Lord, our shield.

¹²For the sin of their mouths and the words of their lips, let them be caught in their pride. They utter curses and lies.

¹³Consume them in rage; consume them until they are gone. Then people will know throughout the earth that God rules over Jacob. Selah

¹⁴And they return at evening, snarling like dogs and prowling around the city.

¹⁵They scavenge for food; they growl if they are not satisfied.

¹⁶But I will sing of your strength and will joyfully proclaim your faithful love in the morning. For you have been a stronghold for me, a refuge in my day of trouble.

¹⁷To you, my strength, I sing praises, because God is my stronghold — my faithful God.

¹For the choir director: according to “The Lily of Testimony.” A of David for teaching. When he fought with Aram-naharaim and Aram-zobah, and Joab returned and struck Edom in Salt Valley, killing twelve thousand. [1] God, you have rejected us; you have broken us down; you have been angry. Restore us!

²You have shaken the land and split it open. Heal its fissures, for it shudders.

³You have made your people suffer hardship; you have given us wine to drink that made us stagger.

⁴You have given a signal flag to those who fear you, so that they can flee before the archers. Selah

⁵Save with your right hand, and answer me, so that those you love may be rescued.

⁶God has spoken in his sanctuary: “I will celebrate! I will divide up Shechem. I will apportion the Valley of Succoth.

⁷Gilead is mine, Manasseh is mine, and Ephraim is my helmet; Judah is my scepter.

⁸Moab is my washbasin. I throw my sandal on Edom; I shout in triumph over Philistia.”

⁹Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom?

¹⁰God, haven’t you rejected us? God, you do not march out with our armies.

¹¹Give us aid against the foe, for human help is worthless.

¹²With God we will perform valiantly; he will trample our foes.

¹For the choir director: on stringed instruments. Of David. [1] God, hear my cry; pay attention to my prayer.

²I call to you from the ends of the earth when my heart is without strength. Lead me to a rock that is high above me,

³for you have been a refuge for me, a strong tower in the face of the enemy.

⁴I will dwell in your tent forever and take refuge under the shelter of your wings. Selah

⁵God, you have heard my vows; you have given a heritage to those who fear your name.

⁶Add days to the king’s life; may his years span many generations.

⁷May he sit enthroned before God forever. Appoint faithful love and truth to guard him.

⁸Then I will continually sing of your name, fulfilling my vows day by day.