Psalms 10

1 I Why, LORD, do you stand at a distance and pay no heed to these troubled times?
2 Arrogant scoundrels pursue the poor; they trap them by their cunning schemes.
3 II The wicked even boast of their greed; these robbers curse and scorn the LORD.
4 In their insolence the wicked boast: God doesn't care, doesn't even exist.
5 Yet their affairs always succeed; they ignore your judgment on high; they sneer at all who oppose them.
6 They say in their hearts, We will never fall; never will we see misfortune.
7 Their mouths are full of oaths, violence, and lies; discord and evil are under their tongues.
8 They wait in ambush near towns; their eyes watch for the helpless. to murder the innocent in secret.
9 They lurk in ambush like lions in a thicket, hide there to trap the poor, snare them and close the net.
10 The helpless are crushed, laid low; they fall into the power of the wicked,
11 Who say in their hearts, God pays no attention, shows no concern, never bothers to look.
12 III Rise up, LORD God! Raise your arm! Do not forget the poor!
13 Why should the wicked scorn God, say in their hearts, God doesn't care?
14 But you do see; you do observe this misery and sorrow; you take the matter in hand. To you the helpless can entrust their cause; you are the defender of orphans.
15 Break the arms of the wicked and depraved; make them account for their crimes; let none of them survive.
16 IV The LORD is king forever; the nations have vanished from God's land.
17 You listen, LORD, to the needs of the poor; you encourage them and hear their prayers.
18 You win justice for the orphaned and oppressed; no one on earth will cause terror again.

Psalms 11

1 For the leader. Of David. I In the LORD I take refuge; how can you say to me, Flee like a bird to the mountains!
2 See how the wicked string their bows, fit their arrows to the string to shoot from the shadows at the upright.
3 When foundations are being destroyed, what can the upright do?
4 II The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD'S throne is in heaven. God's eyes keep careful watch; they test all peoples.
5 The LORD tests the good and the bad, hates those who love violence,
6 And rains upon the wicked fiery coals and brimstone, a scorching wind their allotted cup.
7 The LORD is just and loves just deeds; the upright shall see his face.

Psalms 12

1 For the leader; upon the eighth. A psalm of David. I Help, LORD, for no one loyal remains; the faithful have vanished from the human race
2 Those who tell lies to one another speak with deceiving lips and a double heart.
3 II May the LORD cut off all deceiving lips, and every boastful tongue,
4 Those who say, By our tongues we prevail; when our lips speak, who can lord it over us?
5 III Because they rob the weak, and the needy groan, I will now arise, says the LORD; I will grant safety to whoever longs for it.
6 IV The promises of the LORD are sure, silver refined in a crucible, silver purified seven times.
7 LORD, protect us always; preserve us from this generation.
8 On every side the wicked strut; the shameless are extolled by all.

Psalms 13

1 For the leader. A psalm of David.
2 I How long, LORD? Will you utterly forget me? How long will you hide your face from me?
3 How long must I carry sorrow in my soul, grief in my heart day after day? How long will my enemy triumph over me?
4 II Look upon me, answer me, LORD, my God! Give light to my eyes lest I sleep in death,
5 Lest my enemy say, I have prevailed, lest my foes rejoice at my downfall.
6 III I trust in your faithfulness. Grant my heart joy in your help, That I may sing of the LORD, How good our God has been to me!

Psalms 14

1 For the leader. Of David. I Fools say in their hearts, There is no God. Their deeds are loathsome and corrupt; not one does what is right.
2 The LORD looks down from heaven upon the human race, To see if even one is wise, if even one seeks God.
3 All have gone astray; all alike are perverse. Not one does what is right, not even one.
4 II Will these evildoers never learn? They devour my people as they devour bread; they do not call upon the LORD.
5 They have good reason, then, to fear; God is with the company of the just.
6 They would crush the hopes of the poor, but the poor have the LORD as their refuge.
7 III Oh, that from Zion might come the deliverance of Israel, That Jacob may rejoice, and Israel be glad when the LORD restores his people!

Psalms 15

1 A psalm of David. I LORD, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy mountain?
2 II Whoever walks without blame, doing what is right, speaking truth from the heart;
3 Who does not slander a neighbor, does no harm to another, never defames a friend;
4 Who disdains the wicked, but honors those who fear the LORD; Who keeps an oath despite the cost,
5 lends no money at interest, accepts no bribe against the innocent. III Whoever acts like this shall never be shaken.

Psalms 16

1 A miktam of David. I Keep me safe, O God; in you I take refuge
2 I say to the Lord, you are my Lord, you are my only good.
3 Worthless are all the false gods of the land. Accursed are all who delight in them.
4 They multiply their sorrows who court other gods. Blood libations to them I will not pour out, nor will I take their names upon my lips.
5 LORD, my allotted portion and my cup, you have made my destiny secure.
6 Pleasant places were measured out for me; fair to me indeed is my inheritance.
7 II I bless the LORD who counsels me; even at night my heart exhorts me.
8 I keep the LORD always before me; with the Lord at my right, I shall never be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, my soul rejoices; my body also dwells secure,
10 For you will not abandon me to Sheol, nor let your faithful servant see the pit.
11 You will show me the path to life, abounding joy in your presence, the delights at your right hand forever.

Psalms 17

1 A prayer of David. I Hear, LORD, my plea for justice; pay heed to my cry; Listen to my prayer spoken without guile.
2 From you let my vindication come; your eyes see what is right.
3 You have tested my heart, searched it in the night. You have tried me by fire, but find no malice in me. My mouth has not transgressed
4 as humans often do. As your lips have instructed me, I have kept the way of the law.
5 My steps have kept to your paths; my feet have not faltered.
6 II I call upon you; answer me, O God. Turn your ear to me; hear my prayer.
7 Show your wonderful love, you who deliver with your right arm those who seek refuge from their foes.
8 Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings
9 from the violence of the wicked.
10 III My ravenous enemies press upon me; they close their hearts, they fill their mouths with proud roaring.
11 Their steps even now encircle me; they watch closely, keeping low to the ground,
12 Like lions eager for prey, like young lions lurking in ambush.
13 Rise, O LORD, confront and cast them down; rescue me so from the wicked.
14 Slay them with your sword; with your hand, LORD, slay them; snatch them from the world in their prime. Their bellies are being filled with your friends; their children are satisfied too, for they share what is left with their young.
15 I am just--let me see your face; when I awake, let me be filled with your presence.