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Psalm 53

Denunciation of Godlessness

To the leader: according to Mahalath. A Maskil of David.
¹ Fools say in their hearts, ‘There is no God.’
   They are corrupt, they commit abominable acts;
   there is no one who does good.

² God looks down from heaven on humankind
   to see if there are any who are wise,
   who seek after God.

³ They have all fallen away, they are all alike perverse;
   there is no one who does good,
   no, not one.

⁴ Have they no knowledge, those evildoers,
   who eat up my people as they eat bread,
   and do not call upon God?

⁵ There they shall be in great terror,
   in terror such as has not been.
For God will scatter the bones of the ungodly;^*
   they will be put to shame,^* for God has rejected them.

⁶ O that deliverance for Israel would come from Zion!
   When God restores the fortunes of his people,
   Jacob will rejoice; Israel will be glad.

Psalm 17

Prayer for Deliverance from Persecutors

A Prayer of David.
¹ Hear a just cause, O Lord; attend to my cry;
   give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit.
² From you let my vindication come;
   let your eyes see the right.

³ If you try my heart, if you visit me by night,
   if you test me, you will find no wickedness in me;
   my mouth does not transgress.
⁴ As for what others do, by the word of your lips
   I have avoided the ways of the violent.
⁵ My steps have held fast to your paths;
   my feet have not slipped.

⁶ I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
   incline your ear to me, hear my words.
⁷ Wondrously show your steadfast love,
   O saviour of those who seek refuge
   from their adversaries at your right hand.

⁸ Guard me as the apple of the eye;
   hide me in the shadow of your wings,
⁹ from the wicked who despoil me,
   my deadly enemies who surround me.
¹⁰ They close their hearts to pity;
   with their mouths they speak arrogantly.
¹¹ They track me down;^* now they surround me;
   they set their eyes to cast me to the ground.
¹² They are like a lion eager to tear,
   like a young lion lurking in ambush.

¹³ Rise up, O Lord, confront them, overthrow them!
   By your sword deliver my life from the wicked,
¹⁴ from mortals—by your hand, O Lord—
   from mortals whose portion in life is in this world.
May their bellies be filled with what you have stored up for them;
   may their children have more than enough;
   may they leave something over to their little ones.

¹⁵ As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness;
   when I awake I shall be satisfied, beholding your likeness.