1. Look for significant words, phrases, or themes.
2. Look for areas where you identify with the psalmist.
3. Look for God’s attributes and demonstrations of his character.
4. Look for guidance in ways you can reflect God’s likeness.

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Psalm 55

God, listen to my prayer.
    Pay attention to my cry for help.
²     Hear me and answer me.
My thoughts upset me. I’m very troubled.
³     I’m troubled by what my enemies say about me.
    I’m upset because they say they will harm me.
They cause me all kinds of suffering.
    When they are angry, they attack me with their words.

⁴ I feel great pain deep down inside me.
    The terrors of death have fallen on me.
⁵ Fear and trembling have taken hold of me.
    Panic has overpowered me.
⁶ I said, “I wish I had wings like a dove!
    Then I would fly away and be at rest.
⁷ I would escape to a place far away.
    I would stay out in the desert.
⁸ I would hurry to my place of safety.
    It would be far away from the winds and storms I’m facing.”

⁹ Lord, confuse the sinners and keep them from understanding one another.
    I see people destroying things and fighting in the city.
¹⁰ Day and night they prowl around on top of its walls.
    The city is full of crime and trouble.
¹¹ Forces that destroy are at work inside it.
    Its streets are full of people who cheat others and take advantage of them.

¹² If an enemy were making fun of me,
    I could stand it.
If he were getting ready to oppose me,
    I could hide.
¹³ But it’s you, someone like myself.
    It’s my companion, my close friend.
¹⁴ We used to enjoy good friendship at the house of God.
    We used to walk together among those who came to worship.

¹⁵ Let death take my enemies by surprise.
    Let them be buried alive,
    because their hearts and homes are full of evil.

¹⁶ But I call out to God.
    And the Lord saves me.
¹⁷ Evening, morning and noon
    I groan and cry out.
    And he hears my voice.
¹⁸ Even though many enemies are fighting against me,
    he brings me safely back from the battle.
¹⁹ God has been on his throne since ancient times and does not change.
    He will hear my enemies and make them humble.
    That’s because they have no respect for God.

²⁰ My companion attacks his friends.
    He breaks his promise.
²¹ His talk is as smooth as butter.
    But he has war in his heart.
His words flow like olive oil.
    But they are like swords ready for battle.

²² Turn your worries over to the Lord.
    He will keep you going.
    He will never let godly people be shaken.
²³ God, you will bring sinners
    down to the grave.
Murderers and liars
    won’t live out even half of their lives.

But I trust in you.

Psalm 56

Help me, God. Men are chasing me.
    All day long they keep attacking me.
² My enemies chase me all day long.
    Many proud people are attacking me.

³ When I’m afraid,
    I put my trust in you.
⁴ I trust in God. I praise his word.
    I trust in God. I am not afraid.
    What can mere people do to me?

⁵ All day long they twist my words.
    They are always making plans to destroy me.
⁶ They get together and hide.
    They watch my steps.
    They hope to kill me.

⁷ Because they are so evil, make sure you don’t let them escape.
    God, bring down the nations in your anger.
⁸ Make a record of my sadness.
    List my tears in your book.
    Aren’t you making a record of them?

⁹ My enemies will turn back
    when I call out to you for help.
    Then I will know that God is on my side.
¹⁰ I trust in God. I praise his word.
    I trust in the Lord. I praise his word.
¹¹ I trust in God. I am not afraid.
    What can mere people do to me?

¹² God, I have made promises to you.
    I will bring my thank offerings to you.
¹³ You have saved me from the darkness of death.
    You have kept me from tripping and falling.
Now I can live with you
    in the light of life.

Psalm 57

Have mercy on me, God. Have mercy on me.
    I go to you for safety.
I will find safety in the shadow of your wings.
    There I will stay until the danger is gone.

² I cry out to God Most High.
    I cry out to God, and he shows that I am right.
³ He answers from heaven and saves me.
    He puts to shame those who chase me.
    He shows his love and that he is faithful.

⁴ Men who are like lions are all around me.
    I am forced to lie down among people who are like hungry animals.
Their teeth are like spears and arrows.
    Their tongues are like sharp swords.

⁵ God, may you be honored above the heavens.
    Let your glory be over the whole earth.

⁶ My enemies spread a net to catch me by the feet.
    I felt helpless.
They dug a pit in my path.
    But they fell into it themselves.

⁷ God, my heart feels secure.
    My heart feels secure.
    I will sing and make music to you.
⁸ My spirit, wake up!
    Harp and lyre, wake up!
    I want to sing and make music before the sun rises.

⁹ Lord, I will praise you among the nations.
    I will sing about you among the people of the earth.
¹⁰ Great is your love. It reaches to the heavens.
    Your truth reaches to the skies.

¹¹ God, may you be honored above the heavens.
    Let your glory be over the whole earth.

Psalm 58

 Are you rulers really fair when you speak?
    Do you judge people honestly?
² No, in your hearts you plan to be unfair.
    With your hands you do terrible things on the earth.
³ Even from birth those who are evil go down the wrong path.
    From the day they are born they go the wrong way and spread lies.
⁴ Their words are like the poison of a snake.
    They are like the poison of a cobra that has covered up its ears.
⁵ It won’t listen to a snake charmer’s tune,
    even if the charmer plays very well.

⁶ God, break the teeth in the mouths of those sinners!
    Lord, tear out the sharp teeth of those lions!
⁷ Let those people disappear like water that flows away.
    When they draw their bows, let their arrows fall short of the target.
⁸ Let them be like a slug that melts away as it moves along.
    Let them be like a baby that is born dead and never sees the sun.

⁹ Evil people will be swept away before burning thorns can heat a pot.
    And it doesn’t matter if the thorns are green or dry.
¹⁰ Godly people will be glad when those who have hurt them are paid back.
    They will dip their feet in the blood of those who do evil.
¹¹ Then people will say,
    “The godly will get their reward.
    There really is a God who judges the earth.”