Realize that the Lord shows the godly special favor; the Lord responds when I cry out to him.

Tremble with fear and do not sin! Meditate as you lie in bed, and repent of your ways! (Selah)

For the music director, to be accompanied by wind instruments; a psalm of David. Listen to what I say, Lord! Carefully consider my complaint!

Pay attention to my cry for help, my king and my God, for I am praying to you!

Lord, in the morning you will hear me; in the morning I will present my case to you and then wait expectantly for an answer.

Lord, lead me in your righteousness because of those who wait to ambush me, remove the obstacles in the way in which you are guiding me!

For they do not speak the truth; their stomachs are like the place of destruction, their throats like an open grave, their tongues like a steep slope leading into it.

But may all who take shelter in you be happy! May they continually shout for joy! Shelter them so that those who are loyal to you may rejoice!

For the music director, to be accompanied by stringed instruments, according to the sheminith style; a psalm of David. Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger! Do not discipline me in your raging fury!

A musical composition by David, which he sang to the Lord concerning a Benjaminite named Cush. O Lord my God, in you I have taken shelter. Deliver me from all who chase me! Rescue me!

Otherwise they will rip me to shreds like a lion; they will tear me to bits and no one will be able to rescue me.

may an enemy relentlessly chase me and catch me; may he trample me to death and leave me lying dishonored in the dust. (Selah)

May the evil deeds of the wicked come to an end! But make the innocent secure, O righteous God, you who examine inner thoughts and motives!

God is a just judge; he is angry throughout the day.

If a person does not repent, God sharpens his sword and prepares to shoot his bow.

He prepares to use deadly weapons against him; he gets ready to shoot flaming arrows.

See the one who is pregnant with wickedness, who conceives destructive plans, and gives birth to harmful lies --

I will thank the Lord for his justice; I will sing praises to the sovereign Lord!

For the music director, according to the gittith style; a psalm of David. O Lord, our Lord, how magnificent is your reputation throughout the earth! You reveal your majesty in the heavens above!

From the mouths of children and nursing babies you have ordained praise on account of your adversaries, so that you might put an end to the vindictive enemy.

Of what importance is the human race, that you should notice them? Of what importance is mankind, that you should pay attention to them,

you appoint them to rule over your creation; you have placed everything under their authority,

For the music director; according to the alumoth-labben style; a psalm of David. I will thank the Lord with all my heart! I will tell about all your amazing deeds!

I will be happy and rejoice in you! I will sing praises to you, O sovereign One!

The enemy's cities have been reduced to permanent ruins; you destroyed their cities; all memory of the enemies has perished.

Your loyal followers trust in you, for you, Lord, do not abandon those who seek your help.

Sing praises to the Lord, who rules in Zion! Tell the nations what he has done!

The wicked are turned back and sent to Sheol; this is the destiny of all the nations that ignore God,

Rise up, Lord! Don't let men be defiant! May the nations be judged in your presence!

Why, Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you pay no attention during times of trouble?

The wicked man is so arrogant he always thinks, "God won't hold me accountable; he doesn't care."

He says to himself, "I will never be upended, because I experience no calamity."

He lies in ambush in a hidden place, like a lion in a thicket; he lies in ambush, waiting to catch the oppressed; he catches the oppressed by pulling in his net.

He says to himself, "God overlooks it; he does not pay attention; he never notices."

Rise up, Lord! O God, strike him down! Do not forget the oppressed!

Why does the wicked man reject God? He says to himself, "You will not hold me accountable."

You have taken notice, for you always see one who inflicts pain and suffering. The unfortunate victim entrusts his cause to you; you deliver the fatherless.

Lord, you have heard the request of the oppressed; you make them feel secure because you listen to their prayer.

For the music director; by David. In the Lord I have taken shelter. How can you say to me, "Flee to a mountain like a bird!

For look, the wicked prepare their bows, they put their arrows on the strings, to shoot in the darkness at the morally upright.

The Lord approves of the godly, but he hates the wicked and those who love to do violence.

For the music director; according to the sheminith style; a psalm of David. Deliver, Lord! For the godly have disappeared; people of integrity have vanished.

People lie to one another; they flatter and deceive.

They say, "We speak persuasively; we know how to flatter and boast. Who is our master?"

"Because of the violence done to the oppressed, because of the painful cries of the needy, I will spring into action," says the Lord. "I will provide the safety they so desperately desire."

for the wicked seem to be everywhere, when people promote evil.

For the music director; a psalm of David. How long, Lord, will you continue to ignore me? How long will you pay no attention to me?

Look at me! Answer me, O Lord my God! Revive me, or else I will die!

I will sing praises to the Lord when he vindicates me.

For the music director; by David. Fools say to themselves, "There is no God." They sin and commit evil deeds; none of them does what is right.

The Lord looks down from heaven at the human race, to see if there is anyone who is wise and seeks God.

All those who behave wickedly do not understand -- those who devour my people as if they were eating bread, and do not call out to the Lord.

You want to humiliate the oppressed, even though the Lord is their shelter.

He does not slander, or do harm to others, or insult his neighbor.

He does not charge interest when he lends his money. He does not take bribes to testify against the innocent. The one who lives like this will never be upended.

I say to the Lord, "You are the Lord, my only source of well-being."

their troubles multiply, they desire other gods. I will not pour out drink offerings of blood to their gods, nor will I make vows in the name of their gods.

You will not abandon me to Sheol; you will not allow your faithful follower to see the Pit.

A prayer of David. Lord, consider my just cause! Pay attention to my cry for help! Listen to the prayer I sincerely offer!

I carefully obey your commands; I do not deviate from them.

I call to you for you will answer me, O God. Listen to me! Hear what I say!

Accomplish awesome, faithful deeds, you who powerfully deliver those who look to you for protection from their enemies.

They attack me, now they surround me; they intend to throw me to the ground.

He is like a lion that wants to tear its prey to bits, like a young lion crouching in hidden places.

Rise up, Lord! Confront him! Knock him down! Use your sword to rescue me from the wicked man!

Lord, use your power to deliver me from these murderers, from the murderers of this world! They enjoy prosperity; you overwhelm them with the riches they desire. They have many children, and leave their wealth to their offspring.

As for me, because I am innocent I will see your face; when I awake you will reveal yourself to me.

For the music director; by the Lord's servant David, who sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord rescued him from the power of all his enemies, including Saul. He said: "I love you, Lord, my source of strength!

I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I was delivered from my enemies.

In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried out to my God. From his heavenly temple he heard my voice; he listened to my cry for help.

He rescued me from my strong enemy, from those who hate me, for they were too strong for me.

They confronted me in my day of calamity, but the Lord helped me.

For I am aware of all his regulations, and I do not reject his rules.

You prove to be loyal to one who is faithful; you prove to be trustworthy to one who is innocent.

You prove to be reliable to one who is blameless, but you prove to be deceptive to one who is perverse.

The one true God acts in a faithful manner; the Lord's promise is reliable; he is a shield to all who take shelter in him.

He gives me the agility of a deer; he enables me to negotiate the rugged terrain.

You give me your protective shield; your right hand supports me; your willingness to help enables me to prevail.

You widen my path; my feet do not slip.

I chase my enemies and catch them; I do not turn back until I wipe them out.

I beat them to death; they fall at my feet.

They cry out, but there is no one to help them; they cry out to the Lord, but he does not answer them.

When they hear of my exploits, they submit to me. Foreigners are powerless before me;

The one true God completely vindicates me; he makes nations submit to me.

So I will give you thanks before the nations, O Lord! I will sing praises to you!

He gives his chosen king magnificent victories; he is faithful to his chosen ruler, to David and his descendants forever."

Day after day it speaks out; night after night it reveals his greatness.

Yet its voice echoes throughout the earth; its words carry to the distant horizon. In the sky he has pitched a tent for the sun.

It emerges from the distant horizon, and goes from one end of the sky to the other; nothing can escape its heat.

The law of the Lord is perfect and preserves one's life. The rules set down by the Lord are reliable and impart wisdom to the inexperienced.

The commands to fear the Lord are right and endure forever. The judgments given by the Lord are trustworthy and absolutely just.

Who can know all his errors? Please do not punish me for sins I am unaware of.

Moreover, keep me from committing flagrant sins; do not allow such sins to control me. Then I will be blameless, and innocent of blatant rebellion.

May he grant your heart's desire; may he bring all your plans to pass!

Now I am sure that the Lord will deliver his chosen king; he will intervene for him from his holy heavenly temple, and display his mighty ability to deliver.

The Lord will deliver the king; he will answer us when we call to him for help!

You grant him his heart's desire; you do not refuse his request. (Selah)

He asked you to sustain his life, and you have granted him long life and an enduring dynasty.

You prevail over all your enemies; your power is too great for those who hate you.

Yes, they intend to do you harm; they dream up a scheme, but they do not succeed.