For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A poem by David, when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him.
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1Deliver me from my enemies, my God.
- Set me on high from those who rise up against me.
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2Deliver me from the workers of iniquity.
- Save me from the bloodthirsty men.
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3For, behold, they lie in wait for my soul.
- The mighty gather themselves together against me,
- not for my disobedience, nor for my sin, Yahweh.
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4I have done no wrong, yet they are ready to attack me.
- Rise up, behold, and help me!
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5You, Yahweh God of Armies, the God of Israel,
- rouse yourself to punish the nations.
- Show no mercy to the wicked traitors.
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6They return at evening, howling like dogs,
- and prowl around the city.
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7Behold, they spew with their mouth.
- Swords are in their lips,
- “For,” they say, “who hears us?”
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8But you, Yahweh, laugh at them.
- You scoff at all the nations.
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9Oh, my Strength, I watch for you,
- for God is my high tower.
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10My God will go before me with his loving kindness.
- God will let me look at my enemies in triumph.
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11Don’t kill them, or my people may forget.
- Scatter them by your power, and bring them down, Lord our shield.
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12For the sin of their mouth, and the words of their lips,
- let them be caught in their pride,
- for the curses and lies which they utter.
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13Consume them in wrath.
- Consume them, and they will be no more.
- Let them know that God rules in Jacob,
- to the ends of the earth.
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14At evening let them return.
- Let them howl like a dog, and go around the city.
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15They shall wander up and down for food,
- and wait all night if they aren’t satisfied.
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16But I will sing of your strength.
- Yes, I will sing aloud of your loving kindness in the morning.
- For you have been my high tower,
- a refuge in the day of my distress.
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17To you, my strength, I will sing praises.
- For God is my high tower, the God of my mercy.