20 They lift up their hands against their friend,

And break their covenant with him.

21 Their speech was softer than butter,

22

But war was in their heart;

Their words were smoother than oil,

Yet were they drawn swords.

"Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he will sustain thee; He will never suffer the righteous to fall!

23 Yea, thou, O God, wilt bring them down into the lowest pit! Bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in thee!

PSALM LVI.

A prayer for help by one surrounded by enemies.

For the leader of the music. To be sung to the tune of "The dumb dove among strangers." A psalm of David, when the Philistines took him in Gath.

1

HAVE pity upon me, O God, for man panteth for my life; My adversary daily oppresseth me!

2 Mine enemies daily pant for my life,

And many are they who war proudly against me.

3 When I am in fear,

I will put my trust in thee!

4 I will glory in the promise of God;

In God do I put my trust; I will not fear;
What can flesh do to me?

5 Every day they wrest my words;

All their thoughts are against me for evil.

6 They gather themselves together, they hide themselves,

they watch my steps,

Lying in wait for my life.

7 Shall they escape by their iniquity?

In thine anger cast down the people, O God!

8 Count thou my wanderings;

9

Put my tears into thy bottle!

Are they not recorded in thy book?

When I cry to thee, my enemies shall turn back; This I know, that God is for me.

10 I will glory in the promise of God;

I will glory in the promise of Jehovah.

11 In God do I put my trust; I will not fear; What can man do to me?

12 Thy vows are upon me,

O God!

I will render praises to thee!

13 For thou hast delivered me from death;

Yea, my feet from falling;

That I may walk before God in the light of the living.

PSALM LVII.

For the leader of the music.

1

To be sung to the tune of "Do not destroy." A psalm of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave.

HAVE pity upon me, O God, have pity upon me,
For in thee doth my soul seek refuge!

Yea, in the shadow of thy wings do I take shelter,
Until these calamities be overpast!

2 I call upon God the Most High,

Upon God, who performeth all things for me;

3 He will send from heaven, and save me;

He will put to shame him that panteth for my life;
God will send forth his mercy and his truth.

5

I dwell among them that breathe out fire;

Among men whose teeth are spears and arrows,
And whose tongue is a sharp sword.

Exalt thyself, O God, above the heavens, And thy glory above all the earth!

6 They have prepared a net for my steps; My soul is bowed down;

7

They have digged a pit before me,

But into it they have themselves fallen.

My heart is strengthened, O God, my heart is strength

ened!

I will sing and give thanks.

8 Awake, my soul! awake, psaltery and harp!

I will wake with the early dawn.

9 I will praise thee, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing to thee among the kingdoms !

10 For thy mercy reacheth to the heavens, And thy truth to the clouds !

11

Exalt thyself, O God, above the heavens, And thy glory above all the earth!

12 *

PSALM LVIII.

An invective against wicked rulers. Prayers and hopes for their destruction.

For the leader of the music. To the tune of "Do not destroy." A psalm of David.

1

Do ye, indeed, administer justice faithfully, ye mighty ones?

Do ye judge with uprightness, ye sons of men?

2 Nay, in your hearts ye contrive iniquity;

Your hands weigh out violence in the land! 3 The wicked are estranged, from their very birth; The liars go astray, as soon as they are born. 4 They have poison, like the poison of a serpent; Like the deaf adder's, which stoppeth her ear; 5 Which listeneth not to the voice of the charmer, And of the sorcerer, skilful in incantations.

6 Break their teeth, O God, in their mouths! Break out the great teeth of the lions, O Lord! 7 May they melt away like a stream of water; When they aim their arrows, may they be broken! 8 May they be like the snail, which melts away as it goes; Like the abortion of a woman, that seeth not the sun!

9 Before your pots feel the heat of the thorns,

Whether fresh, or burning, may they be blown away! 10 The righteous shall rejoice, when he seeth such vengeance; He shall bathe his feet in the blood of the wicked.

11 Then shall men say, "Truly there is a reward for the righteous!

Truly there is a God who is judge upon the earth!"

PSALM LIX.

The contents of this psalm seem much better suited to a case of invasion from heathen enemies, than to the case referred to in the Hebrew inscription. See verse 5.

For the leader of the music. To the tune of "Do not destroy." A psalm of David, when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him.

1

DELIVER me from my enemies, O my God! Defend me from them that rise up against me! 2 Deliver me from the doers of iniquity,

And save me from men of blood!

3 For, lo! they lie in wait for my life; The mighty are gathered against me, Without any

offence or fault of mine, O Jehovah!

4 Without any offence of mine they run and prepare them

selves;

Awake to help me, and behold!

5 Do thou, O Jehovah, God of hosts, God of Israel,

Awake to punish all the nations!

Show no mercy to any wicked transgressors!

6 Let them return at evening,

7

Let them howl like dogs,

And go round about the city!

Behold! with their mouths they belch out malice; Swords are upon their lips;

"For who," say they, "will hear ? "

8 Yet thou, O Lord, wilt laugh at them;

Thou wilt hold all the nations in derision!

9 O my Strength, to thee will I look!

For God is my defence;