Psalm 16

A miktam of David.

[It is interesting to note that after three-odd millennia, it is still unknown exactly what "miktam" means. The general conclusion is that it is some sort of musical term, but that's about it. I guess the real message is that this Psalm, like most others, is meant for chanting or singing. -DRW]

¹ Keep me safe, my God, for in You I find my only refuge.

² I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord, The Lord; apart from you there is nothing good.” ³ I say to the believing and behaving Christians across the earth, “You are the ones in whom I take joy.” ⁴ To those people looking to other gods, I fear for your suffering. I will not lend any credence to those gods, nor will I even mention their names.

⁵ LORD, You are the only source of my food, drink, and my very sustenance; You make my life livable. ⁶ Most of my life, good things have almost fallen in my lap; my delightful life will continue with Your help.
⁷ Praise the LORD, whose guidance I seek; in waking or sleep He touches my heart with instructions. ⁸ I will keep my heart in tune with the LORD. With His support nearby, I can stay on my life's path.

⁹ Therefore my heart is glad and I raise my voice in song; my body remains at peace,¹⁰ because You have rescued me from Hell, and You will not let me fall into decay.

¹¹ Continue to make obvious my path of life; I look forward to the joy of being with You, to spend eternity in Your glory.

Psalm 15

¹Lord, who will come to You in heaven? Who may live in that holy place?

² The list is long: he must live a blameless life and he that always lives the Way of the Lord; he must always speaks Your truth, which resides in his heart ³ and he that does not speak wrong of his fellow man; and he that does right by his neighbor and does not slander; ⁴ and he that gives no honor to evil men, but shows his honor to those who fear the LORD; and he who lives by his oaths even when those oaths are not in his best interest; ⁵ and last: he who supports those in need and does not take bribes.

He who does all these things can not be shaken from You Lord, and will join You in heaven.

Psalm 14

¹ Sometimes I ask in my heart, "Is there a God?" Those who say "no" are corrupt, and their works useless; none of them do any good.

² The LORD looks into my heart to see if I understand, to see if I seek Him. ³ Too often I have turned aside, I also become corrupt; I do no good, not the least bit. ⁴Will I ever learn? I who treat others like things to be consumed, and I who ignore You Lord? ⁵Here I am, overtaken with fear, fear for the God that is present among the righteous ones. ⁶The evil ones do not advance he cause of the poor, but the poor will always have the Lord. He will take care of them.

⁷Bring salvation to all people! When this happens, all will rejoice, in heaven and earth, for all time.

Psalm 13

[Note: This one is not changed much from the NIV version. In keeping with my original premise, I am putting this into words that mean to me what I am reading. Some of these verses are so clear and point directly into my heart already.]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

¹How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You continue to make me look for You? ²How long must I wrestle with myself and every day have more sorrow in my heart? How long will The Enemy triumph over me?

³I need to see Your face, and get an answer, O LORD my God. Show me the Light of Your glory, or this life will continue in slow death; ⁴The Enemy will laugh, saying "This one is mine!" and my earthly foes will celebrate my failure.

⁵But I trust in Your endless love; my heart rejoices in Your saving grace. ⁶I will sing to You O LORD, for You have been so good to me.

Psalm 12

For the director of music. According to sheminith . A psalm of David.
¹ Help me, O LORD, to find the faithful; they are almost invisible among my circle of friends. ² People lie even to those that they should trust; their constant lies speak nothing but good about themselves.

³ LORD, remove the lips and tongues of those liars, the lips ⁴ that say, "We can win over the world with just our false words. Who can stop us? We are our own masters!"

⁵ "In answer to the treatment of the small and needy, I will make my strength known," says the LORD. "I will put forth my power protect the weak from those who assail them." ⁶ Hear these perfect words of The Lord! They are the purest silver, more refined than any works of man. ⁷ O LORD, we are weak, and we know You will protect us for all time. ⁸ Until all men honor You, O Lord, these deceivers will walk the earth in arrogance and pride.

Psalm 11

¹ Jesus covers me and protects me always. How then can you say to me:
"Run to your hiding place.² The wicked are attacking you; from the darkness they come to hurt the righteous. ³ They try to destroy my very purpose. What am I to do?"

⁴ Jesus is the Holy One in His Holy place. He watches us; His eyes never leave.⁵ We who try to be righteous are still under His examination, but those who are in love with violence and hatred will get the same back from God: violence and hatred.⁶ For them the sky will burn and every breath will burn their lungs. ⁷ For Jesus is the most righteous, He loves the righteous, and His acceptance pours over us now and always.

Psalm 10

¹Why, LORD, do You stay far from me? When I need You most You seem to be everywhere but where I am looking.

²The evil conceited ones take advantage of those who do not know You; folks are ensnared but these evil plots. ³The evil ones are proud of their evil doings; they actually bless their evil deeds while they simultaneously hate You, the Lord.⁴They are so proud they do not see the need to seek the Lord; their minds are too cluttered up with the ways of the world. They think there is no room for God. ⁵They think to themselves, "I have lots of money and power, who needs God? Why should I obey His rules? I regularly trample those who follow God beneath my feet. ⁶I don't need God, and I never will. I am getting along fine on my own."

⁷These evil ones never hold back their vile tongues; Nothing but their own deceit and ills come out of their mouths.

⁸They sneak around the earth, surprising and killing whomever they want, whenever they can get away with it. ⁹They are like a lion in the tall grass, and the rest of us are but baby gazelles, helpless to defend ourselves when we are dragged away.¹⁰Under his lion like strength all are crushed.

¹¹This evil fool has convinced himself that God does not know what is going on. That his deeds are hidden from the Lord.¹²Don't let this happen LORD! Bring Your mighty crushing blow down on the evil doers. Your helpless servants need to know You are there to defend us.

¹³How can this wicked man continue to hate You O Lord? What could possibly convince him that You will never hold him accountable for his actions?

¹⁴But we know O God that You do not forget the helpless, and You see all evils done against us and against You. We know that You are there for us; You will be our Father and helper.

¹⁵Cripple the wicked man; bring his actions to light that all might see and hold him accountable. ¹⁶ For You O Lord are and will ever be the King over all; even though nations will perish. ¹⁷You know what we need Lord, even as this evil man takes away what we have; You are there for us, You hear us, You protect us, ¹⁸You defend us, You are a father to us. When You do all these things for us, the evil ones have no more power. We are covered by You and we are well in spite of the evil.