Study Desk

For you hate My instruction and cast My words behind you.

You unleash your mouth for evil and unharness your tongue for deceit.

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. When Nathan the prophet came to him after his adultery with Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your loving devotion; according to Your great compassion, blot out my transgressions.

For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.

For You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; You take no pleasure in burnt offerings.

For the choirmaster. A Maskil of David. After Doeg the Edomite went to Saul and told him, "David has gone to the house of Ahimelech." Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The loving devotion of God endures all day long.

I will praise You forever, because You have done it. I will wait on Your name-for it is good-in the presence of Your saints.

For the choirmaster. According to Mahalath. A Maskil of David. The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt; their ways are vile. There is no one who does good.

There they are, overwhelmed with dread, where there was nothing to fear. For God has scattered the bones of those who besieged you. You will put them to shame, for God has despised them.

For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Maskil of David. When the Ziphites went to Saul and said, "Is David not hiding among us?" Save me, O God, by Your name, and vindicate me by Your might!

For strangers rise up against me, and ruthless men seek my life-men with no regard for God. Selah

Freely I will sacrifice to You; I will praise Your name, O LORD, for it is good.

For He has delivered me from every trouble, and my eyes have stared down my foes.

For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Maskil of David. Listen to my prayer, O God, and do not ignore my plea.

at the voice of the enemy, at the pressure of the wicked. For they release disaster upon me and revile me in their anger.

O Lord, confuse and confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city.

For it is not an enemy who insults me-then I could endure; it is not a foe who rises against me; from him I could hide-

Let death seize them by surprise; let them go down to Sheol alive, for evil is with them in their homes.

God will hear and humiliate them-the One enthroned for the ages-Selah because they do not change and they have no fear of God.

For the choirmaster. To the tune of "A Dove on Distant Oaks." A Miktam of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath. Be merciful to me, O God, for men are hounding me; all day they press their attack.