Psalms 59 and 60 from my new book:

A NEW LOOK AT THE OLD PSALMS

Praying the Psalms: a modern interpretation

____________________

I present here a new perspective on the psalms. I have rewritten them from a New 
Testament Christ-centered point of view. I did not try to capture the poetry of the 
psalms – I leave that to more gifted writers – but I attempted to capture their message
with a more modern interpretation.

God bless,

John

____________________

Psalm 59

(Jesus on the cross prays to the Father for sinners whose sins he has taken upon himself.)

" S

ave me, Father, from the evil that has overwhelmed me. It seeks to destroy me, although I am innocent. Let all nations see the awesome power of our saving God. Show no mercy, Father, on pure evil. The minions of the devil openly commit their heinous acts everywhere right in front of you, as if you were not watching. Yet you will have the last laugh, for their evil intentions will amount to nothing. Father, you are my strength. You will keep me safe.

Yet in your mercy, Father, hold back your final judgment until the day of wrath when all will be called before me for their final reward or punishment. Chastise them, but let others see that you hold them accountable for their arrogance and lies. Then, on Judgment Day, those who persisted in defying you will find themselves without defense and deprived of your presence forever. For the time being, let them go their way. They will discover soon enough that their actions will bring no lasting satisfaction.

As for me, on the morning of my resurrection, I will praise you as my God of mercy who rescued me from the grave. Amen.”

Psalm 60

(A prophecy of the Church and its great impact on God’s people. The lesson it teaches must not be forgotten.)

G

od, you have abandoned us. We live in ruins. You became angry, made life difficult for us, and filled us with remorse. But then you gave us a sign of your mercy, Jesus’ cross on Golgotha. The repercussions of his death shook the earth to its core. But his death healed us and united us all, both Jew and Gentile, in one Church. He saved his people from damnation and still protects them from the snares of the devil. Be with us now, Lord, for our situation is perilous. We cannot defeat the enemy without your support. Be our strength as we strive to do your will. The wicked will have no such support. Amen.¹⁹

____________________

Cover image: Christ the Saviour (Pantokrator)." Web. 25 Sept 2016.
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"Creative Commons License." Web. 18 May 2016.
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¹⁹The Orthodox Study Bible. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2008), 720.

This book and other books I have written are posted for your reading pleasure at Booksie.

Scriptural quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 

copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois
60189. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2016 by John P. Gross. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this material must 

be done in its entirety with the copyright notice intact. This book is not for sale, but is 

offered to the public free of charge for the glory of God.

Psalms 57 and 58 from my new book:

A NEW LOOK AT THE OLD PSALMS

Praying the Psalms: a modern interpretation

____________________

I present here a new perspective on the psalms. I have rewritten them from a New 
Testament Christ-centered point of view. I did not try to capture the poetry of the 
psalms – I leave that to more gifted writers – but I attempted to capture their message
with a more modern interpretation.

God bless,

John

____________________

Psalm 57

(A prayer of Jesus after his resurrection. May this prayer be a pillar of strength to support you through difficult times.)

" Y

ou saved me, Father, for I trusted in you. Those who hope for your protection will never be disappointed. You have been so kind to me. My enemies attacked me ferociously like wild animals. Worry kept me awake at night. In your mercy you have freed me from death and disgraced those who tried to destroy me. Your truth defeated their lies. May heaven and earth give you the highest praise, for the wicked were caught in the very trap they set for me.

May my rising from the dead show everyone how merciful you have been to me. My light has shattered the darkness. May my words of thanksgiving exalt you above the heavens and bring glory to your name on earth. Amen.”

Psalm 58

Let everyone heed these words and inscribe them on his heart.

I

f you wicked people are as righteous as you claim to be, then judge your own behavior. Behind your holy exterior is a heart of pure evil; your own unjust acts betray you. Since you were conceived in the womb, you have been sinners who are deaf to the word of God. But your evil intentions will be thwarted by the Lord. He will utterly reject you. Unless you repent, his anger will consume you like a fire among thorns. But the righteous will see that there is a God who judges his people according to their deeds, and they will rejoice. Amen.

____________________

Cover image: Christ the Saviour (Pantokrator)." Web. 25 Sept 2016.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Spas_vsederzhitel_sinay.jpg
"Creative Commons License." Web. 18 May 2016.
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

This book and other books I have written are posted for your reading pleasure at Booksie.

Scriptural quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 

copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois
60189. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2016 by John P. Gross. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this material must 

be done in its entirety with the copyright notice intact. This book is not for sale, but is 

offered to the public free of charge for the glory of God.

Psalms 55 and 56 from my new book:

A NEW LOOK AT THE OLD PSALMS

Praying the Psalms: a modern interpretation

____________________

I present here a new perspective on the psalms. I have rewritten them from a New 
Testament Christ-centered point of view. I did not try to capture the poetry of the 
psalms – I leave that to more gifted writers – but I attempted to capture their message
with a more modern interpretation.

God bless,

John

____________________

Psalm 55

(Jesus prays to his Father about his betrayal by Judas.)

" F

ather, hear my prayer. The attacks by my enemies and the burden of the sins of the world weigh heavily upon me. I feel the full force of the rage of the wicked. As I hang here for the salvation of sinners, I feel how much the thoughts of dying fill them with immense anxiety and dread. As much as I would like you to save me from this horror, I must accept it for their sake. I feel all the sins and hardships of the people. The ungodly deceive them and treat them unjustly. Father, put an end to this evil.

I was betrayed by a friend. I can understand an enemy making false charges against me, but not an acquaintance whom I expected to lead my people, who ate with me, and accompanied me to the Temple. Yet you will rescue me from the grave and humiliate those who betrayed me and broke your commandments. They have condemned themselves through their evil acts which they pursue relentlessly.

My betrayer’s smooth words hid a heart that aimed to hurt me. Give me justice, Father, for you care for all your children who rely on your help. Bring the wicked to repent their sins, for the souls who ceaselessly pursue evil will be condemned to hell for eternity in the afterlife. But I know you will save me. Amen.”

Psalm 56

(Jesus describes his victory over the devil. The idea that good will prevail over evil in the end has become a basic tenet of the Church, much like a pillar that supports the physical structure of the Church.)

" F

ather, I am under constant attack from the devil and his numerous minions. The battle has reached a fever pitch and I am afraid. But I place my trust in you, for your words are true and you have promised me victory in the end.

The ungodly condemn my teachings and plot against me constantly. They wait for just the right moment to strike and take my life. If they persist, they cannot be saved. You will cast them down into the pit. Their defeat is assured since you always respond to my calls for help. Because I hope in you and trust in your promises, I am not afraid of any man. I will keep my vows to you.

Praise be to you, Father, for you have rescued me from the darkness of the tomb and kept my feet on solid ground so that I can spend eternity with you in the light. Amen.”¹⁸

____________________

Cover image: Christ the Saviour (Pantokrator)." Web. 25 Sept 2016.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Spas_vsederzhitel_sinay.jpg
"Creative Commons License." Web. 18 May 2016.
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

¹⁸The Orthodox Study Bible. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2008), 718.

This book and other books I have written are posted for your reading pleasure at Booksie.

Scriptural quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 

copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois
60189. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2016 by John P. Gross. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this material must 

be done in its entirety with the copyright notice intact. This book is not for sale, but is 

offered to the public free of charge for the glory of God.

Psalms 53 and 54 from my new book:

A NEW LOOK AT THE OLD PSALMS

Praying the Psalms: a modern interpretation

____________________

I present here a new perspective on the psalms. I have rewritten them from a New 
Testament Christ-centered point of view. I did not try to capture the poetry of the 
psalms – I leave that to more gifted writers – but I attempted to capture their message
with a more modern interpretation.

God bless,

John

____________________

Psalm 53

W

hen will they ever learn? The fool denies the existence of God. He is corrupt and loathed because of his sins. God looks down from heaven. A good man is hard to find. The wicked just do not understand. They outnumber the godly and threaten to gobble them up. Yet the fearless are now afraid. Because they ignored God, even if they are mourned at their funeral, their souls are denied entry into his kingdom. He has shunned them and abandoned them. So who will God save? The very people whom the wicked tried to enslave: the righteous. And they will leap for joy because he saved them. Amen.

Psalm 54

(Jesus prays to God during his crucifixion. He did not fear death on the cross. He was praying for us because he took our sins and fears upon himself. When he rose from the dead, he conquered death for us. Alleluia!)

" A

lmighty Father, save me. You know I am innocent. Listen to my prayer. Hear my words. Those who would not accept my teachings have overpowered me and seek my utter destruction. They do not fear you, Father. Let them see that you are my helper and protector. Do not abandon me in the tomb. Let the light of your truth overcome the darkness of evil and foil my enemies’ plans. I make this sacrifice of my death on the cross freely, Father, to bring glory to your name. When you raise me from the grave, they will see that it was death that was destroyed, not I! Amen.”

____________________

Cover image: Christ the Saviour (Pantokrator)." Web. 25 Sept 2016.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Spas_vsederzhitel_sinay.jpg
"Creative Commons License." Web. 18 May 2016.
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

This book and other books I have written are posted for your reading pleasure at Booksie.

Scriptural quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 

copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois
60189. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2016 by John P. Gross. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this material must 

be done in its entirety with the copyright notice intact. This book is not for sale, but is 

offered to the public free of charge for the glory of God.

Psalms 51 and 52 from my new book:

A NEW LOOK AT THE OLD PSALMS

Praying the Psalms: a modern interpretation

____________________

I present here a new perspective on the psalms. I have rewritten them from a New 
Testament Christ-centered point of view. I did not try to capture the poetry of the 
psalms – I leave that to more gifted writers – but I attempted to capture their message
with a more modern interpretation.

God bless,

John

____________________

Psalm 51

(King David begs forgiveness for committing adultery with Bathsheba and killing her husband. Since we are all sinners, let his prayer become our prayer as well.)

F

ather, I come before you a sinful man. It is with heartfelt sorrow that I beg for your mercy and unfailing love. Be compassionate, Lord, and cleanse me of my sin and guilt. I am ashamed of what I have done because my sin was a personal affront to you, my God. You have every right to be upset with me. I am filled with guilt. It haunts me even in my dreams. I cannot remember a time when I did not sin. I know it is no excuse, but I can honestly say that I have been a sinner since I was conceived. Not sinning does not come to me easily. But search me, Lord, to see that I have a truly contrite heart. Show me what I must do to make things right again between us.

I beg your total forgiveness. Leave not a spot of sin on my soul. My heart is pierced with sorrow. I will have no peace until you forgive me. Purify me and restore my soul to its pristine state. Do not abandon me, Lord, for my soul is lost without you. Save me from destruction, if not for my own sake, then for the benefit of others, who will see how merciful and forgiving you are, and be drawn back to you. Then I will be able to praise you again.

Lord, I would make a ritual sacrifice in the Temple to restore our friendship, but what you desire from me is not animal sacrifice, but a humble, contrite heart. Do not deprive my people of your help because of my sin. Let them see that you pardon even great sins if the sinner’s heart is truly repentant. Let their sacrificial offerings be acceptable to you again, for they will be making them with humility and true contrition. Amen.

Psalm 52

W

ho will enjoy eternal life? Not those who commit crimes; bring disgrace to others; lie and verbally abuse people; cheat and connive; and prefer evil over good. God will destroy them. The righteous fear God. They will mock the criminal because he did not trust in God, but in his wealth. And that is the way he lived his life until the very end.

The virtuous will enjoy God’s favor on earth and, because of his unfailing mercy, eternal life in the world to come. May God be praised forever because of what he has accomplished and will do for those who are holy in his sight. Amen. 

____________________

Cover image: Christ the Saviour (Pantokrator)." Web. 25 Sept 2016.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Spas_vsederzhitel_sinay.jpg
"Creative Commons License." Web. 18 May 2016.
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

This book and other books I have written are posted for your reading pleasure at Booksie.

Scriptural quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 

copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois
60189. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2016 by John P. Gross. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this material must 

be done in its entirety with the copyright notice intact. This book is not for sale, but is 

offered to the public free of charge for the glory of God.

Psalms 49 and 50 from my new book:

A NEW LOOK AT THE OLD PSALMS

Praying the Psalms: a modern interpretation

____________________

I present here a new perspective on the psalms. I have rewritten them from a New 
Testament Christ-centered point of view. I did not try to capture the poetry of the 
psalms – I leave that to more gifted writers – but I attempted to capture their message
with a more modern interpretation.

God bless,

John

____________________

Psalm 49

A

wise man had a vision and saw that there are two kinds of people in the world: those who deny the existence of God and seek to amass riches and power to overcome their fear of dying; and those who believe in God and trust he will not leave them in the grave.

The foolish trust in their own wealth to protect them from their enemies, yet when they die they leave all their estate to others. No amount of money can save them from the grave. They perish like beasts in the wild. Others will be impressed with the titles and property the dead accumulated while alive, but they are doomed to the tomb forever.

The wise, however, trust in God, not in people or power, and believe that he will rescue them from the grave and give them eternal life.

Thank you, Father, for giving us the wisdom to understand that you became man to free us from the slavery of sin and our obsession with the wealth and pleasures of the material world. Above all, thank you for the gift of eternal life. Amen.¹⁶

Psalm 50

(A vision of Judgment Day.)

J

esus, in radiant beauty, with the power of the Father and the fire of the Holy Spirit, descends from heaven and summons all the people of the world to come forth and be judged.

He addresses the faithful first. He acknowledges that they, instead of honoring God in word only, followed through and put his word into action. Because they trusted God, he welcomes them into the glory of his kingdom.

Turning next to the wicked, Jesus accuses them of disobeying his laws and associating with all kinds of sinners: thieves, adulterers, liars, and slanderers. Because Jesus watched and did not scold them, they thought they could do as they pleased. But now he holds them accountable for their sin. They are to be destroyed.

Thank you, Jesus, for this warning. Let us all repent, offer you praise and thanksgiving, follow your precepts, and merit salvation while we still have the time. Amen.¹⁷

____________________

Cover image: Christ the Saviour (Pantokrator)." Web. 25 Sept 2016.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Spas_vsederzhitel_sinay.jpg
"Creative Commons License." Web. 18 May 2016.
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

¹⁶The Orthodox Study Bible. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2008), 714.

¹⁷Ibid.

This book and other books I have written are posted for your reading pleasure at Booksie.

Scriptural quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 

copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois
60189. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2016 by John P. Gross. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this material must 

be done in its entirety with the copyright notice intact. This book is not for sale, but is 

offered to the public free of charge for the glory of God.

Psalms 47 and 48 from my new book:

A NEW LOOK AT THE OLD PSALMS

Praying the Psalms: a modern interpretation

____________________

I present here a new perspective on the psalms. I have rewritten them from a New 
Testament Christ-centered point of view. I did not try to capture the poetry of the 
psalms – I leave that to more gifted writers – but I attempted to capture their message
with a more modern interpretation.

God bless,

John

____________________

Psalm 47

L

et us rejoice, for Jesus, our King, has ascended into heaven to a fanfare of trumpets and shouts of joy from the heavenly hosts and his Church on earth. He defeated our enemies and secured for us our promised inheritance: heaven. He is seated at the right hand of the Father from where he rules over all the nations. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. One day the whole world will sing his praises. Amen.

Psalm 48

O

ur Church is magnificent because God lives there and will defend it. Through the centuries nations have sought to destroy it, but they will never breach its defenses. As Jesus said, “All the powers of Hell will not conquer it.” Matt 16:18 (NLT)

The Jewish Temple was a sight to behold in its full splendor. Our churches today are also beautiful with their marvelous stained glass windows and imposing religious statues. They may be the closest we can get to experiencing heaven while in the flesh, but these splendid churches pale in comparison to the glory of God’s kingdom.

There are no words adequate enough to describe heaven, but John paints for us a marvelous portrait: “the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundation stones of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone … And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.” Rev 21:18-22 (NLT) We will not need a temple, for we will feel the presence of God everywhere. And that will be the greatest treasure to possess in heaven: to be with God and Jesus for all eternity.

Let all nations praise you, Father, for you have shown us unfailing love, made us victorious over our enemies, and brought justice to your people. Let us pass on to all generations how magnificent your Church is, for you are magnificent, Lord. You are also our shepherd and you will lead us until you call us home to your heavenly kingdom at the end of our life. Amen.

____________________

Cover image: Christ the Saviour (Pantokrator)." Web. 25 Sept 2016.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Spas_vsederzhitel_sinay.jpg
"Creative Commons License." Web. 18 May 2016.
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

This book and other books I have written are posted for your reading pleasure at Booksie.

Scriptural quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 

copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois
60189. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2016 by John P. Gross. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this material must 

be done in its entirety with the copyright notice intact. This book is not for sale, but is 

offered to the public free of charge for the glory of God.