To the Director: A special Davidic psalma to the tune ofb “Do Not Destroy,” when Saul sent men to watch the house in order to kill him.

A Prayer for Deliverance and Justice

1Save me from my enemies, my God!

Keep me safe from those who rise up against me.

2Save me from those who practice evil;

deliver me from bloodthirsty men.

3Look, they lie in ambush for my life;

these violent men gather together against me,

but not because of any transgression or sin of mine, LORD.

4Without any fault on my part,

they rush together and prepare themselves.

Get up!

Come help me!

Pay attention!

5You, LORD God of the Heavenly Armies, God of Israel,

stir yourself up to punish all the nations.

Show no mercy to those wicked transgressors.

Interlude

6At night they return like howling dogs;

they prowl around the city.

7Look what pours out of their mouths!

They use their lips like swords,

sayingc “Who will hear us?”

8But you, LORD, will laugh at them;

you will mock all the nations.

9My Strength, I will watch for you,

for God is my fortress.

10My God of Gracious Love will meet me;

God will enable me to see what happensd to my enemies.

11Don’t kill them!

Otherwise, my people may forget.

By your power make them stumble around;

bring them down low,

Lord, our Shield.

12The sin of their mouth is the word on their lips.

They will be caught in their own conceit;

for they speak curses and lies.

13Go ahead and destroy them in anger!

Wipe them out,

and they will know to the ends of the earth

that God rules over Jacob.e

Interlude

14At night they return like howling dogs;

they prowl around the city.

15They scavenge for food.

If they find nothing,

they become hungry and growl.

16But I will sing of your power

and in the morning I will shout for joy about your gracious love.

For you have been a fortress for me;

and a refuge when I am distressed.f

17My Strength, I will sing praises to you,

for you, God of Gracious Love, are my fortress.