Psalm 3

Many are my foes, oh Lord. Many are my foes.

They tell me of my woes, oh Lord. They tell me of my woes.

They tell me that no man like me can stand

Under the weight of your just and mighty hand.

“There is no salvation for him,” they say. “No salvation for him.”

Oh Lord, but you – you, oh Lord – are a shield.

Your strength is great, oh Lord. Such power none can wield.

But with that strength, your strength, oh Lord,

You shield me from the evil horde.

“God is my fortress,” I declare. “My strong and mighty fortress.”

You are my glory too, oh Lord, and you raise my head.

Your beauty reaches beyond the sky’s vast spread.

Yet you, yes you, oh Lord, have loved me.

And me, yes me, oh Lord, you see.

“I will lift you up,” you vow. “I will lift your head.”

I cry to you, oh Lord. Aloud to you I cry in fear.

You answer from your dwelling place. You hear, oh Lord, you hear.

I sleep at night and wake at dawn.

It’s because of you I breathe and yawn.

“I will never leave,” you say. “Dear child, I won’t forsake thee.”

But Lord, oh Lord, evil men – my enemies – stand all around.

They surround me, Lord, and I can make no sound.

They set themselves against my life.

But you, yes you, oh Lord, protect me from all strife.

“Salvation belongs to the Lord,” I scream. “I am safe in Him.”

Arise, oh Lord, arise! Save me, oh God, save me!

It is in you and you alone that I am free.

For you, with your mighty hand, strike sin on the cheek,

And you break its teeth. You make the mighty meek.

“God’s blessing on his people,” the Psalmist writes. “Selah.”