Psalm 56

1 -2 - For the permanent collection, (to the tune 'The silent dove of far-off places) written by David (was not in the collection for a while) when he was held in Gath, an important Philistine city.

Show favor to me, O God, and make me acceptable to You. People try to walk all over me and daily force me by fighting with me in order to crush me. They keep twisting and turning, making it hard for me to deal with them. 3 - 4 But, when I am tempted to get terrified, I renew my determination to have confidence - feel safe - in You, God, by boasting in You (usuing Your own words) to boldly declare my security in You. I will not dread or even be afraid of what people try to deal out to me. 5 - 6 All the time they twist or stretch what I say. They spend all their time thinking up malignant and even vicious tales against me. They secretly figure out ways they can assissinate my reputation and character. 7 Are they going to be successful? In Your full power, God, cause those people to sink down. 8 You have an accurate record of my aimless wanderings and have legally documented all my pain and tears. 9 When I read that record aloud, then those who hate me will fall backard. The reason I know this is that the Divine Judge is on my side. 10 I will tell how wonderful the Creator God's Words are and how Awesome He is. 11 I have so much confidence in my Divine Judge that I will not be afraid what people can do to me. 12 I am in a covenant of peace with You - my True God - and I am in full agreement with the provisions. 13 You have recovered me - my physical life, my passions and my mind - from dying, that I may come into the Light - the full Life - of Your Presence entirely restored.

Psalm 55

1. A contemplative, minstrel type song written by king David for the permanent collection.
(prayer)
Listen carefully to my earnest petition, Divine Judge and don't hide your mercy and grace from me. 2 Please hear and answer me otherwise I'm aimlessly wandering around as I grumblingly complain to myself. 3 Those angry with me noisily have made accusing me of all sorts of crimes and unjustly opposing me in hostile ways. 4 - 5 The horrible accusations hurt me so bad I feel like I'm dying - my whole body shakes and shudders. 6 - 7 O, if I had wings I would fly away to some far off hideaway, make a nest and quietly rest. (music pause) 8 I'd quickly slip away from this whirling tempest. 9 - 11 Lord, let their own confusing words fall back on them.

(contrasting other previous problems with current challenge)
I have seen what happens when city people get violent, quarrel and fight. Day and night that kind of person looks trouble and then rushes headlong into it. Violence and treachery never ceases in the city streets. 12 - 14 But my problem right now isn't a foreign adversary attacking me (I could take that), or a public enemy twisting things out of proportion against me (I even know how to handle them). My real problem is that you (the one against me right now) used to be a personal, intimate friend of mine. We enjoyed doing things together, accepting each other's counsel and even unitedly worshiping God.
(Response and request for an answer) 15 Let death come to you. But if you still live, let it be in exile because of your inurious, malignant thoughts and enotions. 16 - 17 As for me, I will loudly petition the True Judge every morning and evening as well as throughout the day. He will listen to me and victoriously set me free. 18 - 19 He has already given me His peace in my heart from this conflict - because many others have petitioned the True God for me. With the voice of singing the Mighty God will grant my request, since He is and always has been around.
(underlying problems) It is because people haven't matured that they don't respect the Supreme Judge and reverently submitted to Him. 20 - 21 We were in a covenant of peace between us, but war broke out in your heart. Your words were soft, tender and flattering - but really (but hypocritical), for since you violated our covenant you 'divorced' yourself from it.
(conclusions)
22 Let God carry the burden of what He permits to happen - we can't handle it -but He cares completely for you. He will never allow those who belong to Him to be removed or turned from His right way. 23 But You, Mighty God, will let those who are dumb and stupid concerning Your will for them sink down into deep depression. Those who are crafty and treacherous will often die early. But as far as I am concerned, I choose to be confident in God's love plan for me.

Psalm 53

1 To the regular music director, a contemplative song, to be sung with a soothing harp accompaniment. Foolish people think nobody can 'boss them around' or tell them what to do. But they are all messed up, injured and have badly distorted views - which leads to wrong actions and even violence. Actually, no one is doing what really brings joy. 2 From where He resides in heaven, the One True God is watching everyone here on earth, looking to see if anyone has enough insight to claim God's help. 3 Everyone has moved away from God and unitedly become tainted, corrup and sour. Not one person has matured into a joy filled life in full agreement with God. 4 Don't those who do their own way understand? They devour God's family as they would eat bread, and they don't pay any attention to God. 5 But then trembling terror comes - even though there is nothing really to be afraid of - because God steps in and scatters those who turn against God's family. God, You disconcert and disappoint them because You have let them go. 6 O that deliverance by God of His overcomers had already happened. When God sets His family free, even Jacob (the heel catcher and supplanter) will celebrate with joy.

Psalm 52

1. A poem song for the permanent collection. Written after Doeg (Fearful) reported to King Saul (asked for) that David (beloved) was being sheltered by Ahimelech (my brother is king). Why are you making such a fool of yourself and creating such a loud noice because you proudly think you are so strong? God is with US all of the time. 2 You imagine and calculating speak hammered out, sharp words to mislead, deceive and spread lies. 3 -4 What you really want to do is what hurts Jehovah, rather than to know what pleases Him. You would rather break a covenant than keep your promises to the Lord. Your tongue 'loves' to be crafty, treacherous and destructive. 5 The Mighty 'God with us' will destroy you - throw you away - from the land of the living. 6 - 7 His will family will watch and even laugh, saying "this person didn't trust in the Almighty God but felt safe in his riches and secure in his conniving 'plans'. 8 But in the spendor and brilliance of lighted oil in God's house I have confidence in the True God's mercy from now on. 9 I agree with You forever, God, for You put things in order. I will expectantly, joyfully wait for You - along with the rest of Your family who love You.

Psalm 51

1. A song of David for the permanent music collection after Nathan the prophet showed him his sin with Bathsheba. Bend down to me and give me favor that I don't deserve, Supreme Judge. Treat me according to how great Your compassion is toward me by erasing the record of my revolt against You. 2 - 3 Clean me up from all my crimes, for I now recognize how I broke away from You - those thoughts stand out boldly in my mind. 4 You are the One I separated from and chose my 'good for nothing' way instead of Your will for me. I have finally come to agree with Your view about what I did. 5-6 Look, I was born with inherited tendencies to go the wrong way, yet Your goal is to permanently trtansform me from the inside so I can be truly wise. 7 Take away my wrong attitudes (which lead me to wrong actions) and then I will be right, pure and no longer contaminated. Deep clean me so I will no longer be filthy (contaminated like I just got back from battle). 8 Make me to experience Your joy filled welcome so that even what I had perceived as my strength - but which collapsed when in Your Presence - will spin around in a dance of intense JOY. 9 Don't look at my crimes (in other words, delete all my moral evil). 10 God, put into the very center of me (my heart) a clean spirit, right motives, positive attitudes - a new life. 11 -12 Don't throw me to where I can't see You or where Your life is taken away from me, but rather turn me to where I experience Your joyful welcome as Your liberating Spirit voluntarily embraces me. 13 That kind of experience will enable me to strongly encourage those who have broken away from Your just authority to return to You, and even guilty criminals will come back to Your will and way. 14 -15 You rescued me from my guilt of murder, O God of freedom, so I will shout and sin of how right You are - as You give me appropriate words to boldly describe Your real character and ways. 16 You don't want animals killed as a substitute for me, or I would do it. You aren't happy, either, to see their carcasses burn on an altar. 17 What You really want, Supreme God, is for me - bruised, collapsed and crumbing as I am - to come to You (and You won't scorn or despise me when I do come).
18 -19 Do Your beautiful work and express delight in the peace and protection You bring to earth. Then You will be pleased as I rightfully offer my whole mind and passion filled strength to belong to You and to do Your will.