Psalm 3

CONFIDENCE IN TROUBLED TIMES

A psalm of David when he fled from his son Absalom.z

1 Lord, how my foes increase!

There are many who attack me.aa

2 Many say about me,

“There is no help for him in God.”ab

Selah

3 But you, Lord, are a shield around me,ac

my glory,ad and the one who lifts up my head.ae

4 I cry aloud to the Lord,

and he answers me from his holy mountain.af

Selah

5 I lie down and sleep;

I wake again because the Lord sustains me.ag

6 I will not be afraid of thousands of people

who have taken their stand against me on every side.a

7 Rise up, Lord!b

Save me, my God!

You strike all my enemies on the cheek;c

you break the teeth of the wicked.d

8 Salvation belongs to the Lord;e

may your blessing be on your people.f

Selah

Psalm 4

A NIGHT PRAYER

For the choir director: with stringed instruments.g A psalm of David.

1 Answer me when I call,

God, who vindicates me.C,h

You freed me from affliction;i

be gracious to me and hear my prayer.

2 How long, exalted ones,D will my honor be insulted?j

How long will you love what is worthlessk

and pursue a lie?

Selah

3 Know that the Lord has set apart

the faithful for himself;

the Lord will hear when I call to him.

4 Be angryE and do not sin;l

reflect in your heart while on your bed and be silent.m

Selah

5 Offer sacrifices in righteousnessF,n

and trust in the Lord.o

6 Many are asking, “Who can show us anything good?”

Let the light of your face shine on us, Lord.p

7 You have put more joy in my heart

than they have when their grain and new wine abound.q

8 I will both lie down and sleep in peace,r

for you alone, Lord, make me live in safety.s

Psalm 5

THE REFUGE OF THE RIGHTEOUS

For the choir director: with the flutes. A psalm of David.

1 Listen to my words, Lord;

consider my sighing.t

2 Pay attention to the sound of my cry,u

my King and my God,v

for I pray to you.

3 In the morning,w Lord, you hear my voice;

in the morning I plead my case to youx and watch expectantly.

4 For you are not a God who delights in wickedness;

evil cannot dwell with you.y

5 The boastful cannot stand in your sight;z

you hate all evildoers.aa

6 You destroy those who tell lies;ab

the Lord abhors violent and treacherous people.ac

7 But I enter your house

by the abundance of your faithful love;ad

I bow down toward your holy temple

in reverential awe of you.ae

8 Lord, lead me in your righteousnessaf

because of my adversaries;

make your way straight before me.ag

9 For there is nothing reliable in what they say;ah

destruction is within them;

their throat is an open grave;

they flatter with their tongues.ai

10 Punish them, God;

let them fall by their own schemes.aj

Drive them outak because of their many crimes,

for they rebel against you.al

11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;am

let them shout for joy forever.

May you shelter them,an

and may those who love your name boast about you.ao

12 For you, Lord, bless the righteous one;

you surround him with favor like a shield.ap