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PSALM XII.

A prayer for protection against calumniating foes.

For the leader of the music; to the octave.

A psalm of David.

HELP, Lord, for the good man ceaseth;

The faithful are failing among men.

2 They speak falsehood one to another;

With flattering lips, with a double heart, do they speak.. 3 May the Lord destroy all flattering lips,

And the tongue which speaketh proud things!

4 Who say,

"With our tongues will we prevail;

Our lips are our reliance;

Who is lord over us? "

For the oppression of the poor and the sighing of the

wretched,

Now will I stand up, saith the Lord;

I will set in safety him whom they puff at.

6 The words of the Lord are pure;

Like silver purified from earth in a furnace,

Seven times refined.

7 Thou, O Lord, wilt watch over them;

Thou wilt preserve them from this generation for ever.

8 The wicked walk on every side,

When the vilest of men are exalted.

PSALM XIII.

Supplication for deliverance from enemies, and confidence of obtaining it.

For the leader of the music. A psalm of David.

1 How long, O Lord, wilt thou utterly forget me? How long wilt thou hide thy face from me?

2 How long shall I have anxiety in my soul, And sorrow in my heart all the day?

How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? 3 Look down and hear me, O Lord, my God! Enlighten my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death! 4 Lest my enemy say, "I have prevailed against him! my adversaries rejoice, when I am fallen.

Lest

5 Yet will I trust in thy goodness;

My heart shall rejoice in thy salvation ;

6 I will sing to the Lord, that he hath dealt kindly with me.

PSALM XIV.

The complaint of a pious man in exile concerning the wickedness of men, and supplication for the restoration of the Israelites from captivity.

For the leader of the music. A psalm of David.

1 THE fool saith in his heart," There is no God." They are corrupt; their doings are abominable; There is none that doeth good.

2 The Lord looketh down from heaven upon the children

of men,

To see if there are any that have understanding,

That have regard to God.

3 They are all gone out of the way; they are every one

corrupt;

There is none that doeth good; no, not one.

4 Shall not the evil-doers be requited, Who devour my people like bread, And call not upon the Lord ?

5 Yea, then shall they be in great fear; .

For the Lord is with the race of the righteous.

6 Ye deride the conduct of the poor;

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But the Lord is their refuge.

O that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the Lord bringeth back the captives of his people, Then shall Jacob rejoice, and Israel be glad.

PSALM XV.

The qualifications of an acceptable worshipper. This psalm may have been composed when David removed the ark to the tabernacle on Mount Zion; 2 Sam. ch. vi.

A psalm of David.

LORD, who shall abide at thy tabernacle, Who shall dwell upon thy holy hill?

2 He that walketh uprightly, and doeth righteousness, And speaketh the truth from his heart;

3 He that slandereth not with his tongue, That doeth no injury to his neighbour,

And uttereth no reproach against his neighbour;

4 In whose eyes a vile person is contemned;
But who honoreth them that fear the Lord;
Who sweareth to his neighbour, and changeth not;
5 He that lendeth not his money for interest,
And taketh not a bribe against the innocent:
He that doeth these things shall never fall.

PSALM XVI.

The person who is the subject of this psalm expresses his entire dependence upon God, his gratitude for divine goodness, his satisfaction with the condition assigned him, and his firm hopes of future protection and favor.

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A psalm of David.

PRESERVE me, O God, for to thee do I look for help! 2 I have said to Jehovah, Thou art my Lord;

I have no happiness beyond thee!

3 The holy that are in the land, and the excellent,

In them is all my delight.

4 They who hasten after other gods shall have multiplied

sorrows;

Their drink-offerings of blood I will not offer,

Nor will I take their names upon my lips.

5 Jehovah is my portion and my cup;

Thou wilt maintain my lot!

6 My portion hath fallen to me in pleasant places; Yea, I have a goodly inheritance.

7 I will bless the Lord, who careth for me;
Yea, in the night my heart admonisheth me.

8 I set the Lord before me at all times;
Since he is at my right hand, I shall not fall.

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my spirit rejoiceth; Yea, my flesh dwelleth in security.

10 For thou wilt not give me up to the underworld;

Nor wilt thou suffer thy holy one to see the pit.

11 Thou wilt show me the path of life;

In thy presence is fulness of joy;

At thy right hand are pleasures for evermore.

PSALM XVII.

A prayer for help against impious enemies; together with expressions of confidence in the favor of God.

A psalm of David.

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HEAR the righteous cause, O Lord,

Attend to my cry;

Give ear to my prayer from lips without deceit ! 2 May my sentence come forth from thy presence; May thine eyes behold uprightness!

3 Prove my heart; visit me in the night;

Try me like gold, and thou shalt find nothing!

4 My thoughts do not vary from my lips.

As to the deeds of men,

Through the word of thy lips I have kept me from the

paths of the destroyer.

5 Support my steps in thy paths,

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That my feet may not slip!

I call upon thee, O God, for thou wilt hear me ! Incline thine ear to me, and listen to my prayer!

7 Show forth thy loving-kindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand

Them that seek refuge in thee from their adversaries!