Psalm 56; Psalm 120; Psalm 140; Psalm 141; Psalm 142

1Be merciful to me, O God, for men are hounding me; all day they press their attack.

2My enemies pursue me all day long, for many proudly assail me.

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

4In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

5All day long they twist my words; all their thoughts are on my demise.

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

7In spite of such sin, will they escape? In Your anger, O God, cast down the nations.

8You have taken account of my wanderings. Put my tears in Your bottle— are they not in Your book?

9Then my enemies will retreat on the day I cry for help. By this I will know that God is on my side.

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

11in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

12Your vows are upon me, O God; I will render thank offerings to You.

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

1In my distress I cried to the LORD, and He answered me.

2Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips and a deceitful tongue.

3What will He do to you, and what will be added to you, O deceitful tongue?

4Sharp arrows will come from the warrior, with burning coals of the broom tree!

5Woe to me that I dwell in Meshech, that I live among the tents of Kedar!

6Too long have I dwelt among those who hate peace.

7I am in favor of peace; but when I speak, they want war.

1Rescue me, O LORD, from evil men. Protect me from men of violence,

2who devise evil in their hearts and stir up war all day long.

3They sharpen their tongues like snakes; the venom of vipers is on their lips. Selah

4Guard me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked. Keep me safe from men of violence who scheme to make me stumble.

5The proud hide a snare for me; the cords of their net are spread along the path, and lures are set out for me. Selah

6I say to the LORD, “You are my God.” Hear, O LORD, my cry for help.

7O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, You shield my head in the day of battle.

8Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked; do not promote their evil plans, lest they be exalted. Selah

9May the heads of those who surround me be covered in the trouble their lips have caused.

10May burning coals fall on them; may they be thrown into the fire, into the miry pits, never to rise again.

11May no slanderer be established in the land; may calamity hunt down the man of violence.

12I know that the LORD upholds justice for the poor and defends the cause of the needy.

13Surely the righteous will praise Your name; the upright will dwell in Your presence.

1I call upon You, O LORD; come quickly to me. Hear my voice when I call to You.

2May my prayer be set before You like incense; my uplifted hands, like the evening offering.

3Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips.

4Do not let my heart be drawn to any evil thing or take part in works of wickedness with men who do iniquity; let me not feast on their delicacies.

5Let the righteous man strike me; let his rebuke be an act of loving devotion. It is oil for my head; let me not refuse it. For my prayer is ever against the deeds of the wicked.

6When their rulers are thrown down from the cliffs, the people will listen to my words, for they are pleasant.

7As when one plows and breaks up the soil, so our bones have been scattered at the mouth of Sheol.

8But my eyes are fixed on You, O GOD the Lord. In You I seek refuge; do not leave my soul defenseless.

9Keep me from the snares they have laid for me, and from the lures of evildoers.

10Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by in safety.

1I cry aloud to the LORD; I lift my voice to the LORD for mercy.

2I pour out my complaint before Him; I reveal my trouble to Him.

3Although my spirit grows faint within me, You know my way. Along the path I travel they have hidden a snare for me.

4Look to my right and see; no one attends to me. There is no refuge for me; no one cares for my soul.

5I cry to You, O LORD: “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”

6Listen to my cry, for I am brought quite low. Rescue me from my pursuers, for they are too strong for me.

7Free my soul from prison, that I may praise Your name. The righteous will gather around me because of Your goodness to me.