Psalm 9-15

Psalm 9Psalms 9 and 10 may originally have been a single acrostic poem in which alternating lines began with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. In the Septuagint they constitute one psalm.,In Hebrew texts 9:1-20 is numbered 9:2-21. 1For the director of music. To the tune of “The Death of the Son.” A psalm of David. I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.

2I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.

3My enemies turn back; they stumble and perish before you.

4For you have upheld my right and my cause, sitting enthroned as the righteous judge.

5You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked; you have blotted out their name for ever and ever.

6Endless ruin has overtaken my enemies, you have uprooted their cities; even the memory of them has perished.

7The LORD reigns forever; he has established his throne for judgment.

8He rules the world in righteousness and judges the peoples with equity.

9The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.

10Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.

11Sing the praises of the LORD, enthroned in Zion; proclaim among the nations what he has done.

12For he who avenges blood remembers; he does not ignore the cries of the afflicted.

13LORD, see how my enemies persecute me! Have mercy and lift me up from the gates of death,

14that I may declare your praises in the gates of Daughter Zion, and there rejoice in your salvation.

15The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug; their feet are caught in the net they have hidden.

16The LORD is known by his acts of justice; the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands. The Hebrew has Higgaion and Selah (words of uncertain meaning) here; Selah occurs also at the end of verse 20.

17The wicked go down to the realm of the dead, all the nations that forget God.

18But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish.

19Arise, LORD, do not let mortals triumph; let the nations be judged in your presence. 20Strike them with terror, LORD ; let the nations know they are only mortal.

Psalm 10Psalms 9 and 10 may originally have been a single acrostic poem in which alternating lines began with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. In the Septuagint they constitute one psalm. 1Why, LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

2In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises.

3He boasts about the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD .

4In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.

5His ways are always prosperous; your laws are rejected by See Septuagint; Hebrew / they are haughty, and your laws are far from him; he sneers at all his enemies.

6He says to himself, “Nothing will ever shake me.” He swears, “No one will ever do me harm.”

7His mouth is full of lies and threats; trouble and evil are under his tongue.

8He lies in wait near the villages; from ambush he murders the innocent. His eyes watch in secret for his victims;

9like a lion in cover he lies in wait. He lies in wait to catch the helpless; he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net.

10His victims are crushed, they collapse; they fall under his strength.

11He says to himself, “God will never notice; he covers his face and never sees.”

12Arise, LORD ! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless.

13Why does the wicked man revile God? Why does he say to himself, “He won’t call me to account”?

14But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to you; you are the helper of the fatherless.

15Break the arm of the wicked man; call the evildoer to account for his wickedness that would not otherwise be found out.

16The LORD is King for ever and ever; the nations will perish from his land.

17You, LORD, hear the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, 18defending the fatherless and the oppressed, so that mere earthly mortals will never again strike terror.

Psalm 11 1For the director of music. Of David. In the LORD I take refuge. How then can you say to me: “Flee like a bird to your mountain.

2For look, the wicked bend their bows; they set their arrows against the strings to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart.

3When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

4The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD is on his heavenly throne. He observes everyone on earth; his eyes examine them.

5The LORD examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, he hates with a passion.

6On the wicked he will rain fiery coals and burning sulfur; a scorching wind will be their lot. 7For the LORD is righteous, he loves justice; the upright will see his face.

Psalm 12In Hebrew texts 12:1-8 is numbered 12:2-9. 1For the director of music. According to sheminith. Title: Probably a musical term A psalm of David. Help, LORD, for no one is faithful anymore; those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.

2Everyone lies to their neighbor; they flatter with their lips but harbor deception in their hearts.

3May the LORD silence all flattering lips and every boastful tongue—

4those who say, “By our tongues we will prevail; our own lips will defend us—who is lord over us?”

5“Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan, I will now arise,” says the LORD . “I will protect them from those who malign them.”

6And the words of the LORD are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text earth refined seven times.

7You, LORD, will keep the needy safe and will protect us forever from the wicked, 8who freely strut about when what is vile is honored by the human race.

Psalm 13In Hebrew texts 13:1-6 is numbered 13:2-6. 1For the director of music. A psalm of David. How long, LORD ? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?

2How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?

3Look on me and answer, LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,

4and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

5But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. 6I will sing the LORD ’s praise, for he has been good to me.

Psalm 14 1For the director of music. Of David. The fool The Hebrew words rendered fool in Psalms denote one who is morally deficient. says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.

2The LORD looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.

3All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.

4Do all these evildoers know nothing? They devour my people as though eating bread; they never call on the LORD .

5But there they are, overwhelmed with dread, for God is present in the company of the righteous.

6You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor, but the LORD is their refuge. 7Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the LORD restores his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!

Psalm 15 1A psalm of David. LORD, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain?

2The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart;

3whose tongue utters no slander, who does no wrong to a neighbor, and casts no slur on others;

4who despises a vile person but honors those who fear the LORD ; who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind; 5who lends money to the poor without interest; who does not accept a bribe against the innocent. Whoever does these things will never be shaken.