Psalm 17

The Knowing Jesus Study Bible New International Version

Hear, O LORD my righteous plea;
listen to my cry.
Give ear to my prayer---
it does not rise from deceitful lips.
May my vindication come from you;
may your eyes see what is right.

Though you probe my heart and 
examine me at night,
though you test me, you will
find nothing.
I have resolved that my mouth
will not sin.
As for the deeds of men---
by the word of your lips
I have kept myself from the
ways of the violent.
May steps have held to your paths;
my feet have not slipped.

I call to you, O God, for you will answer me;
give ear to me and hear my prayer.
Show the wonder of your great love,
you who save by your right hand those who 
take refuge from their foes.
Keep me as the apple of your eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings from the
wicked who assail me, from my mortal enemies.

They close up their callous hearts
and their mouths speak with arrogance.
They have tracked me down, they now 
surround me, with eyes alert, to throw me
to the ground.
They are like a lion hungry for prey like a 
great lion crouching in cover.


Rise up, O LORD, confront them,
bring them down;
rescue me from the wicked by your sword.
O LORD, by your hand save me from such men,
from men of this world whose reward is this life.


You still the hunger of those you cherish;
their sons have plenty,
and they store up wealth for their children.
And I---in righteousness I will see your face;
when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing
your likeness.
 

Psalm 16

The New Living Translation

Keep me safe, O God, 
for I have come to you for refuge.

I said to the LORD, "You are my Master!
Every good thing I have comes from you."
The godly people in the land are my true heroes!
I take pleasure in them!
Troubles multiply for those who chase after
other gods.
I will not take part in their sacrifices of blood
or even speak the names of their gods.

LORD, you alone are my inheritance, my cup
of blessing.
You guard all that is mine.
The land you have given me is a pleasant land.
What a wonderful inheritance!

I will bless the LORD who guides me;
even at night my heart instructs me.
I know the LORD is always with me.
I will not be shaken, for he is right
beside me.

No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice.
My body rests in safety.
For you will not leave my soul among the dead
or allow your holy one to rot in the grave.
You will show me the way of life,
granting me the joy of your presence
and the pleasures of living with you forever.

Psalm 15

From the Knowing Jesus Study Bible New International Version

LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary?
Who may live on your holy hill?

He whose walk is blameless
and who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from his heart
and has no slander on his tongue,
who does his neighbor no wrong
and casts no slur on his fellowman,
who despises a vile man
but honors those who fear the LORD,
who keeps his oath even when it hurts,
who lends his money without usuary
and does not accept a bribe 
against the innocent.

He who does these things
will never be shaken. 

Psalm 14

The Knowing Jesus Study Bible New International Version

The fool says in his heart,
"There is no God."
They are corrupt, their deeds vile;
there is no one who does good.

The LORD looks down from heaven
on the sons of men
to see if there is any who understand,
any who seek God.
All have turned aside,
they have together become corrupt;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.

Will evildoers never learn---
those who devour my people
as men eat bread and who do
not call on the LORD?
There they are, overwhelmed with dread,
for God is present in the company
of the righteous.
You evildoers frustrate the plans of 
the poor,
but the LORD is their refuge.

Oh, that salvation for Israel would
come out of Zion!
When the LORD restores the fortunes
of his people,
let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!

Psalm 13

The Knowing Jesus Study Bible New International Version

How long, O LORD?  Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and
every day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?

Look on me and answer, O LORD my God.
Give light to my eyes or I will sleep in death;
my enemy will say, "I have overcome him,"
and my foes will rejoice when I fail.

But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
I will sing to the LORD, for he has been
good to me.

Psalm 12

The New Living Translation  1 For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by an eight-stringed instrument.  Help, O LORD, for the godly are fast disappearing! The faithful have vanished from the earth!  2 Neighbors lie to each other, speaking with flattering lips and insincere hearts.  3 May the LORD bring their flattery to an end and silence their proud tongues.  4 They say, "We will lie to our hearts' content. Our lips are our own -- who can stop us?"  5 The LORD replies, "I have seen violence done to the helpless, and I have heard the groans of the poor. Now I will rise up to rescue them, as they have longed for me to do."  6 The LORD's promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times over.  7 Therefore, LORD, we know you will protect the oppressed, preserving them forever from this lying generation,  8 even though the wicked strut about, and evil is praised throughout the land.

Psalm 11

The Message

I've already run for dear life 
straight to the arms of Yahweh.
So why would I run away now
when you say,

"Run to the mountains; the evil
bows are bent, the wicked arrows
Aimed to shoot under cover of darkness
at every heart open to God.
The bottom's dropped out of the country;
good people don't have a chance"?

But Yahweh hasn't moved to the mountains;
his holy address has not changed.
He's in charge, as always, his eyes
taking everything in, his eyelids
Unblinking, examining Adam's unruly brood
inside and out, not missing a thing.
He tests the good and bad alike;
if anyone cheats God's outraged.
Fail the test and you're out,
out in a hail of firestones,
Drinking from a canteen
filled with hot desert wind.

Yahweh's business is putting things right;
he loves getting the lines straight,
Setting us straight.  Once we're standing tall,
we can look him straight in the eye.