For the music director: to the tune “Do Not Destroy”, a miktam of David, when Saul sent men to watch David’s house to kill him.

Rescue me from my enemies, my God!

Lift me high up,

far away from those who rise up against me.

Deliver me from those who do evil.

Rescue me from those who thirst for blood.

Look – they lie in wait for me.

Powerful men conspire against me

– not because of any transgression

or sin I committed, Adonai.

I’ve done nothing wrong

yet they run to set up traps for me.

Wake up!

Come to my aid!

Look!

For you are Adonai,

the Ruler of heavenly armies, the God of Israel!

Rise up to punish the nations.

Show no mercy to wicked traitors.

Selah

At evening they return,

snarling like a dog,

and prowl around the city.

See what their mouths spew,

with words like swords in their lips,

saying “After all, who is listening?”

But You, Adonai, laugh at them.

You ridicule all the nations.

I watch for You, O my strength,

because God is my fortress.

God will go before me in lovingkindness.

God will let me gloat over my foes.

But don’t kill them, or my people will forget.

Instead, shake them

and bring them down

with Your power,

O Adonai our shield.

Their mouth’s sin is their lip’s words.

Let them be caught in their pride,

for uttering curses and lies.

Devour them in rage,

gobble them completely up.

Then let it be known

to the ends of the Earth

that God rules over Jacob.

Selah

At evening they return,

snarling like a dog,

and prowl around the city,

scavenging for food.

If they are not satisfied they stay up until dawn.

But as for me, I sing of Your strength!

In the morning, I sing loudly of Your lovingkindness.

For You have been my stronghold,

my refuge in times of trouble.

To You, I sing praises, O my strength,

because God is my fortress

– my God of merciful compassion.

For the music director: to the tune “Do Not Destroy”, a miktam of David.

Do your “gods” really speak of justice?

Do your sons of man judge fairly?

No, you plot injustice in your hearts.

Your hands measure out violence on the world.

From the womb, the wicked are strangers.

From birth they go astray and speak lies.

Their venom is like that of a snake,

like a cobra, deaf to the voice of its charmers,

or those who skillfully weave spells.

God, break their teeth!

Tear out young lion’s fangs, Adonai!

Let them vanish like water flowing away.

When they bend their bow let the arrows break.

Let them melt away like a slug

moving along in slime,

like a woman’s miscarried child

let them never see the light of day.

Even before your pots can feel a thorn

– whether they are green or dry

– Adonai will sweep away the wicked.

The righteous one will rejoice

when they are avenged,

when they wash their feet

in the blood of the wicked.

Then they will say

“Truly there is a reward for the righteous,

truly there is a God who judges on earth!”

For the director of music: according to the tune,

“Do Not Destroy”. A Davidic miktam when he ran away

from Saul and hid in a cave.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy

for my soul takes refuge in You.

I take refuge in the shadow of Your wings

until destruction has passed.

I will cry out to God the Most High,

to the One who accomplishes it for me.

God will reach down from heaven and rescue me.

God rebukes those who trample on me.

Selah

God sends out mercy and truth.

My soul is surrounded by lions.

I lie among those who breathe fire

– people with teeth like spears and arrows,

with tongues like sharp swords.

God, be exalted over the heavens,

 let Your glory cover over all the Earth!

They spread out a net for my feet,

my soul is brought low.

They dug a pit in my path

– but they fell into it instead.

Selah

My heart, O God, is steadfast,

my heart is confident.

I will sing and even make music.

Glory, awaken!

Harp and lyre, awaken!

I will awaken the dawn.

I will praise You, Adonai,

among the nations and the peoples

because Your lovingkindness

reaches up to the heavens,

and Your truth reaches up to the skies.

God, be exalted above everything,

let Your glory cover the entire world!