Daily Wisdom Plan

¹For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil of David. Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea;

²hear me and answer me. My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught

³because of what my enemy is saying, because of the threats of the wicked; for they bring down suffering on me and assail me in their anger.

⁴My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen on me.

⁵Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me.

⁶I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.

⁷I would flee far away and stay in the desert;

⁸I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm.”

⁹Lord, confuse the wicked, confound their words, for I see violence and strife in the city.

¹⁰Day and night they prowl about on its walls; malice and abuse are within it.

¹¹Destructive forces are at work in the city; threats and lies never leave its streets.

¹²If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were rising against me, I could hide.

¹³But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend,

¹⁴with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship at the house of God, as we walked about among the worshipers.

¹⁵Let death take my enemies by surprise; let them go down alive to the realm of the dead, for evil finds lodging among them.

¹⁶As for me, I call to God, and the LORD saves me.

¹⁷Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice.

¹⁸He rescues me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me.

¹⁹God, who is enthroned from of old, who does not change— he will hear them and humble them, because they have no fear of God.

²⁰My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant.

²¹His talk is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords.

²²Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.

²³But you, God, will bring down the wicked into the pit of decay; the bloodthirsty and deceitful will not live out half their days. But as for me, I trust in you.

¹For the director of music. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” Of David. A miktam. When the Philistines had seized him in Gath. Be merciful to me, my God, for my enemies are in hot pursuit; all day long they press their attack.

²My adversaries pursue me all day long; in their pride many are attacking me.

³When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.

⁴In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?

⁵All day long they twist my words; all their schemes are for my ruin.

⁶They conspire, they lurk, they watch my steps, hoping to take my life.

⁷Because of their wickedness do not let them escape; in your anger, God, bring the nations down.

⁸Record my misery; list my tears on your scroll— are they not in your record?

⁹Then my enemies will turn back when I call for help. By this I will know that God is for me.

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

¹¹in God I trust and am not afraid. What can man do to me?

¹²I am under vows to you, my God; I will present my thank offerings to you.

¹³For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.

¹For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam. When he had fled from Saul into the cave. Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.

²I cry out to God Most High, to God, who vindicates me.

³He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me— God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.

⁴I am in the midst of lions; I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts— men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.

⁵Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.

⁶They spread a net for my feet— I was bowed down in distress. They dug a pit in my path— but they have fallen into it themselves.

⁷My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music.

⁸Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.

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

¹⁰For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

¹¹Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.