Daily Wisdom Plan

¹For the choir director: with stringed instruments. A of David. [1] God, listen to my prayer and do not hide from my plea for help.

²Pay attention to me and answer me. I am restless and in turmoil with my complaint,

³because of the enemy’s words, because of the pressure of the wicked. For they bring down disaster on me and harass me in anger.

⁴My heart shudders within me; terrors of death sweep over me.

⁵Fear and trembling grip me; horror has overwhelmed me.

⁶I said, “If only I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and find rest.

⁷How far away I would flee; I would stay in the wilderness. Selah

⁸I would hurry to my shelter from the raging wind and the storm.”

⁹Lord, confuse and confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city;

¹⁰day and night they make the rounds on its walls. Crime and trouble are within it;

¹¹destruction is inside it; oppression and deceit never leave its marketplace.

¹²Now it is not an enemy who insults me — otherwise I could bear it; it is not a foe who rises up against me — otherwise I could hide from him.

¹³But it is you, a man who is my peer, my companion and good friend!

¹⁴We used to have close fellowship; we walked with the crowd into the house of God.

¹⁵Let death take them by surprise; let them go down to Sheol alive, because evil is in their homes and within them.

¹⁶But I call to God, and the LORD will save me.

¹⁷I complain and groan morning, noon, and night, and he hears my voice.

¹⁸Though many are against me, he will redeem me from my battle unharmed.

¹⁹God, the one enthroned from long ago, will hear and will humiliate them Selah because they do not change and do not fear God.

²⁰My friend acts violently against those at peace with him; he violates his covenant.

²¹His buttery words are smooth, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, but they are drawn swords.

²²Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never allow the righteous to be shaken.

²³God, you will bring them down to the Pit of destruction; men of bloodshed and treachery will not live out half their days. But I will trust in you.

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.