oremus Bible Browser : Psalms 53, 54

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 54

Prayer for Vindication

To the leader: with stringed instruments. A Maskil of David, when the Ziphites went and told Saul, ‘David is in hiding among us.’
¹ Save me, O God, by your name,
and vindicate me by your might.
² Hear my prayer, O God;
give ear to the words of my mouth.

³ For the insolent have risen against me,
   the ruthless seek my life;
   they do not set God before them.
          Selah

⁴ But surely, God is my helper;
the Lord is the upholder of^* my life.
⁵ He will repay my enemies for their evil.
In your faithfulness, put an end to them.

⁶ With a freewill-offering I will sacrifice to you;
I will give thanks to your name, O Lord, for it is good.
⁷ For he has delivered me from every trouble,
and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies.