13Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will return to you.
14Deliver me from bloodshed, O God,
O God of my salvation,
and my tongue will sing aloud of your deliverance.
15O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
16For you have no delight in sacrifice;
if I were to give a burnt offering, you would not be pleased.
17The sacrifice acceptable to Godd is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
18Do good to Zion in your good pleasure;
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem,
19then you will delight in right sacrifices,
in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.
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a Meaning of Heb uncertain
b Or steadfast
c Or generous
d Or My sacrifice, O God,
51.1–19 A prayer for God’s help by an individual who is deeply aware of sin and guilt and needs God’s forgiveness. One of the penitential psalms (see note on 6.1–10). To the leader. See note on 4.1–8. A Psalm of David…Bathsheba is a secondary association of the psalm with that event (2 Sam 12.1–15). Cf. v. 4a; 2 Sam 12.13.
51.1–2 A plea for mercy and God’s cleansing of the guilt of the petitioner.
51.3–6 Confession of sin and acknowledgment of guilt.
51.4 The conviction of the sin against God does not mean that there is no sin against the neighbor involved, as the similar statement in 2 Sam 12.13 indicates. So that you…judgment. Quoted in Rom 3.4.
51.5 An expression of the depth of the sense of sin, not a statement about original sin.
51.7–12 Prayer for forgiveness and restoration.
51.7 Purge me with hyssop probably refers to a cleansing ceremony using the hyssop bush (cf. Lev 14.2–9, 48–53; Num 19.6, 18). The petition here may have a metaphorical sense.
51.8 The bones…crushed, actual sickness or a metaphor for any situation of distress.
51.11 Your holy spirit, i.e., God’s sustaining, powerful presence.
51.13–15 A vow to instruct and to praise.
51.13 Your ways can refer both to the divine commandments and to God’s merciful and forgiving way of dealing with sinners.
51.14 Bloodshed is an enigmatic term that may mean the death that should come either from the illness, if such is to be assumed, or from the guilt acknowledged in the psalm.
51.16–17 A recognition of the need for penitence as the necessary offering to God by the sinner. Cf. 50.7–15, 23.
51.18–19 Probably a later addition relating the prayer to the needs of the larger community and placing sacrifice in the context of proper worship in the temple and a proper spirit.
51.19 Right sacrifices can mean those done according to the appropriate prescriptions of the law or those offered with the right attitude and in the right relationship to God.
PSALM 52
Judgment on the Deceitful
To the leader. A Maskil of David, when Doeg the Edomite came to Saul and said to him, “David has come to the house of Ahimelech.”
1Why do you boast, O mighty one,
of mischief done against the godly?a
All day long 2you are plotting destruction.
Your tongue is like a sharp razor,
you worker of treachery.
3You love evil more than good,
and lying more than speaking the truth.
Selah
4You love all words that devour,
O deceitful tongue.
5But God will break you down forever;
he will snatch and tear you from your tent;
he will uproot you from the land of the living.
Selah
6The righteous will see, and fear,
and will laugh at the evildoer,b saying,
7“See the one who would not take
refuge in God,
but trusted in abundant riches,
and sought refuge in wealth!”c
8But I am like a green olive tree
in the house of God.
I trust in the steadfast love of God
forever and ever.
9I will thank you forever,
because of what you have done.
In the presence of the faithful
I will proclaimd your name, for it is good.
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a Cn Compare Syr: Heb the kindness of God
b Heb him
c Syr Tg: Heb in his destruction
d Cn: Heb wait for
52.1–9 An announcement of judgment against one of the wicked and a song of thanksgiving. To the leader. See note on 4.1–8. Maskil. See note on 32.1–11. The occasion alluded to in the superscription (cf. 1 Sam 21.1–8; 22.6–19) fits only very loosely with the details of the psalm.
52.1–4 The accusation against the wicked one. For a similar use of questions as an indictment, see 50.16; Isa 22.15–19. The accusation is of scheming to oppress members of the community (the godly), who are probably among the poor and less powerful. Vv. 1b–4 suggest that the principal manifestation is lying, i.e., slander or false accusation against others, though acts of fraud and deception to secure the wealth of others may be meant.
52.1 Mighty one, a term of sarcasm that points to the power and wealth (v. 7) as well as the self-image of the one accused.
52.3 Selah. See note on 3.2.
52.5–7 An announcement of judgment against the wicked one who believes security is found in riches rather than God.
52.8–9 A song of thanksgiving by the psalmist who, in distinction from the mighty one (v. 1), trusts in God and is delivered (v. 9a).
PSALM 53
Denunciation of Godlessness
To the leader: according to Mahalath. A Maskil of David.
1Fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, they commit abominable acts;
there is no one who does good.
2God looks down from heaven on humankind
to see if there are any who are wise,
who seek after God.
3They have all fallen away, they are all alike perverse;
there is no one who does good,
no, not one.
4Have they no knowledge, those evildoers,
who eat up my people as they eat bread,
and do not call upon God?
5There they shall be in great terror,
in terror such as has not been.
For God will scatter the bones of the ungodly;a
they will be put to shame,b for God has rejected them.
6O that deliverance for Israel would come from Zion!
When God restores the fortunes of his people,
Jacob will rejoice; Israel will be glad.
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a Cn Compare Gk Syr: Heb him who encamps against you
b Gk: Heb you have put (them) to shame
53.1–6 With slight variations, the psalm is the same as Ps 14. See notes on that psalm. Mahalath. See note on 88.1–18. Maskil. See note on 32.1–11.
53.3 There is…not one. Cited in Rom 3.10–12.
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.”
1Save me, O God, by your name,
and vindicate me by your might.
2Hear my prayer, O God;
give ear to the words of my mouth.
3For the insolent have risen against me,
the ruthless seek my life;
they do not set God before them. Selah
4But surely, God is my helper;
the Lord is the upholder ofa my life.
5He will repay my enem
ies for their evil.
In your faithfulness, put an end to them.
6With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you;
I will give thanks to your name, O LORD, for it is good.
7For he has delivered me from every trouble,
and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies.
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a Gk Syr Jerome: Heb is of those who uphold or is with those who uphold
54.1–7 A prayer by an individual for help. To the leader…instruments. See note on 4.1–8. Maskil. See note on 32.1–11. For the incident alluded to in the superscription, see 1 Sam 23.19.
54.1–2 Pleas for God to hear and help.
54.3 Description of the distress of the one praying. See note on 86.14. Selah. See note on 3.2.
54.4–5 The confidence of the psalmist in God’s help and a final plea for help against the persecutors.
54.6–7 A vow of thanksgiving because God has heard and responded to the prayer (cf. 6.9–10; 22.21b–22; 28.6–7; 56.12–13).
PSALM 55
Complaint about a Friend’s Treachery
To the leader: with stringed instruments. A Maskil of David.
1Give ear to my prayer, O God;
do not hide yourself from my supplication.
2Attend to me, and answer me;
I am troubled in my complaint.
I am distraught 3by the noise of the enemy,
because of the clamor of the wicked.
For they bringa trouble upon me,
and in anger they cherish enmity against me.
4My heart is in anguish within me,
the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
5Fear and trembling come upon me,
and horror overwhelms me.
6And I say, “O that I had wings like a dove!
I would fly away and be at rest;
7truly, I would flee far away;
I would lodge in the wilderness;
Selah
8I would hurry to find a shelter for myself
from the raging wind and tempest.”
9Confuse, O Lord, confound their speech;
for I see violence and strife in the city.
10Day and night they go around it
on its walls,
and iniquity and trouble are within it;
11ruin is in its midst;
oppression and fraud
do not depart from its marketplace.
12It is not enemies who taunt me—
I could bear that;
it is not adversaries who deal insolently with me—
I could hide from them.
13But it is you, my equal,
my companion, my familiar friend,
14with whom I kept pleasant company;
we walked in the house of God with the throng.
15Let death come upon them;
let them go down alive to Sheol;
for evil is in their homes and in their hearts.
16But I call upon God,
and the LORD will save me.
17Evening and morning and at noon
I utter my complaint and moan,
and he will hear my voice.
18He will redeem me unharmed
from the battle that I wage,
for many are arrayed against me.
19God, who is enthroned from of old, Selah
will hear, and will humble them—
because they do not change,
and do not fear God.
20My companion laid hands on a friend
and violated a covenant with meb
21with speech smoother than butter,
but with a heart set on war;
with words that were softer than oil,
but in fact were drawn swords.
22Cast your burdenc on the LORD,
and he will sustain you;
he will never permit
the righteous to be moved.
23But you, O God, will cast them down
into the lowest pit;
the bloodthirsty and treacherous
shall not live out half their days.
But I will trust in you.
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a Cn Compare Gk: Heb they cause to totter
b Heb lacks with me
c Or Cast what he has given you
55.1–23 The prayer of an individual for God’s help. The psalm speaks of various enemies but twice indicates that the object of the complaint is a friend. To the leader…instruments. See note on 4.1–8. Maskil. See note on 32.1–11.
55.1–2a Plea to God to hear the prayer. Do not hide yourself. See notes on 10.1; 27.9.
55.2b–5 The distress of the psalmist, who is undone and terrified by the trouble inflicted by an enemy.
55.6–8 The wish to escape the trouble.
55.7 Selah. See note on 3.2.
55.9–11 Further description of the trouble discerned by the petitioner, but this time it is social violence and injustice in the community. For this part and the psalm as a whole, cf. Mic 7.1–8 (cf. Hab 1.2–4).
55.12–15 A lament over being betrayed by a friend.
55.12 Taunt. See notes on 79.4; 79.10.
55.15 A strong petition against all the persecutors tormenting the one praying and the community. Let them…Sheol. Cf. Num 16.33. Sheol. See note on 6.5.
55.16–19 Expression of confidence in God’s attention to the cries and God’s deliverance.
55.19 Fear God. See note on 34.7.
55.20–21 The psalmist returns to the complaint against the friend who has betrayed the relationship.
55.22–23 A word of encouragement that may have been addressed to the petitioner by someone else (v. 22), followed by the psalmist’s own final words of trust in God (v. 23).
PSALM 56
Trust in God under Persecution
To the leader: according to The Dove on Faroff Terebinths. Of David. A Miktam, when the Philistines seized him in Gath.
1Be gracious to me, O God, for people trample on me;
all day long foes oppress me;
2my enemies trample on me all day long,
for many fight against me.
O Most High, 3when I am afraid,
I put my trust in you.
4In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I am not afraid;
what can flesh do to me?
5All day long they seek to injure my cause;
all their thoughts are against me for evil.
6They stir up strife, they lurk,
they watch my steps.
As they hoped to have my life,
7so repaya them for their crime;
in wrath cast down the peoples, O God!
8You have kept count of my tossings;
put my tears in your bottle.
Are they not in your record?
9Then my enemies will retreat
in the day when I call.
This I know, thatb God is for me.
10In God, whose word I praise,
in the LORD, whose word I praise,
11in God I trust; I am not afraid.
What can a mere mortal do to me?
12My vows to you I must perform, O God;
I will render thank offerings to you.
13For you have delivered my soul from death,
and my feet from falling,
so that I may walk before God
in the light of life.
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a Cn: Heb rescue
b Or because
56.1–13 An individual’s prayer for help when persecuted by enemies. To the leader. See note on 4.1–8. According to…Terebinths may be a note about the melody or tune. Miktam. See note on 16.1–11. When the Philistines…Gath. See 1 Sam 21.11–15. Gath was one of the five main cities of the Philistines.
56.1–2 A plea for help and a description of the distress that is the basis for the plea.
56.3�
��4 Expressions of trust and confidence in God’s help. V. 4 is a refrain repeated in vv. 10–11.
56.5–7 A description of the distress culminating in an additional petition for God’s help.
56.8–11 Further assertion of confidence in God.
56.8 Two images show that God cares by keeping track of the afflictions of the sufferer: collecting the tears and writing the afflictions in a book. Record. See 40.7; 69.28; 139.16.
56.10 Word. Probably an oracle of salvation. See note on 22.21b.
56.12–13 A vow of thanksgiving for help received or anticipated. Light, a symbol for the power of life; see 13.3; 27.1; 36.9; 38.10.
PSALM 57
Praise and Assurance under Persecution
To the leader: Do Not Destroy. Of David. A Miktam, when he fled from Saul, in the cave.
1Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,
for in you my soul takes refuge;
in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,
until the destroying storms pass by.
2I cry to God Most High,
to God who fulfills his purpose for me.
3He will send from heaven and save me,
he will put to shame those who trample on me.
Selah
God will send forth his steadfast love and his faithfulness.
4I lie down among lions
that greedily devoura human prey;
their teeth are spears and arrows,
their tongues sharp swords.
5Be exalted, O God, above the heavens.
Let your glory be over all the earth.
6They set a net for my steps;
my soul was bowed down.
They dug a pit in my path,
but they have fallen into it themselves.
Selah
7My heart is steadfast, O God,
my heart is steadfast.
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