Psalm 11-15

Complete Jewish Bible

11 ⁽⁰⁾For the leader. By David:

⁽¹⁾In Adonai I find refuge.
So how can you say to me,
“Flee like a bird to the mountains!
²See how the wicked are drawing their bows
and setting their arrows on the string,
to shoot from the shadows at honest men.
³If the foundations are destroyed,
what can the righteous do?”

⁴Adonai is in his holy temple.
Adonai, his throne is in heaven.
His eyes see and test humankind.
⁵Adonai tests the righteous;
but he hates the wicked and the lover of violence.
⁶He will rain hot coals down on the wicked,
fire, sulfur and scorching wind
will be what they get to drink.
⁷For Adonai is righteous;
he loves righteousness;
the upright will see his face.

12 ⁽⁰⁾For the leader. On sh’minit [low-pitched musical instruments?]. A psalm of David:

²⁽¹⁾Help, Adonai! For no one godly is left;
the faithful have vanished from humankind.
³⁽²⁾They all tell lies to each other,
flattering with their lips, but speaking from divided hearts.

⁴⁽³⁾May Adonai cut off all flattering lips
and the tongue that speaks so proudly,
⁵⁽⁴⁾those who say, “By our tongues, we will prevail;
our lips are with us. Who can master us?”
⁶⁽⁵⁾“Because the poor are oppressed,
because the needy are groaning,
I will now rise up,” says Adonai,
“and grant security to those whom they scorn.”
⁷⁽⁶⁾The words of Adonai are pure words,
silver in a melting-pot set in the earth,
refined and purified seven times over.

⁸⁽⁷⁾You, Adonai, protect us;
guard us forever from this generation —
⁹⁽⁸⁾the wicked strut about everywhere
when vileness is held in general esteem.

13 ⁽⁰⁾For the leader. A psalm of David:

²⁽¹⁾How long, Adonai?
Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
³⁽²⁾How long must I keep asking myself what to do,
with sorrow in my heart every day?
How long must my enemy dominate me?

⁴⁽³⁾Look, and answer me, Adonai my God!
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death.
⁵⁽⁴⁾Then my enemy would say, “I was able to beat him”;
and my adversaries would rejoice at my downfall.

⁶⁽⁵⁾But I trust in your grace,
my heart rejoices as you bring me to safety.
⁽⁶⁾I will sing to Adonai, because he gives me
even more than I need.

14 ⁽⁰⁾For the leader. By David:

⁽¹⁾Fools say in their hearts,
“There is no God.”
They deal corruptly, their deeds are vile,
not one does what is right.

²From heaven Adonai observes humankind
to see if anyone has understanding,
if anyone seeks God.
³But all turn aside, all alike are corrupt;
no one does what is right,
not a single one.
⁴Don’t they ever learn,
all those evildoers,
who eat up my people as if eating bread
and never call on Adonai?
⁵There they are, utterly terrified;
for God is with those who are righteous.
⁶You may mock the plans of the poor,
but their refuge is Adonai.

⁷How I wish Isra’el’s salvation
would come out of Tziyon!
When Adonai restores his people’s fortunes,
Ya‘akov will rejoice, Isra’el will be glad!

15 ⁽⁰⁾A psalm of David:

⁽¹⁾Adonai, who can rest in your tent?
Who can live on your holy mountain?

²Those who live a blameless life,
who behave uprightly,
who speak truth from their hearts
³and keep their tongues from slander;
who never do harm to others
or seek to discredit neighbors;
⁴who look with scorn on the vile,
but honor those who fear Adonai;
who hold to an oath, no matter the cost;
⁵who refuse usury when they lend money
and refuse a bribe to damage the innocent.