Psalms 27

1 Of David. The Lord is my light and my salvation; who is then a cause of fear to me? the Lord is the strength of my life; who is a danger to me?

The psalm of David before he was anointed. The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the protector of my life: of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When evil-doers, even my haters, came on me to put an end to me, they were broken and put to shame.

Whilst the wicked draw near against me, to eat my flesh. My enemies that trouble me, have themselves been weakened, and have fallen.

3 Even if an army came against me with its tents, my heart would have no fear: if war was made on me, my faith would not be moved.

If armies in camp should stand together against me, my heart shall not fear. If a battle should rise up against me, in this will I be confident.

4 One prayer have I made to the Lord, and this is my heart's desire; that I may have a place in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, looking on his glory, and getting wisdom in his Temple.

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. That I may see the delight of the Lord, and may visit his temple.

5 For in the time of trouble he will keep me safe in his tent: in the secret place of his tent he will keep me from men's eyes; high on a rock he will put me.

For he hath hidden me in his tabernacle; in the day of evils, he hath protected me in the secret place of his tabernacle.

6 And now my head will be lifted up higher than my haters who are round me: because of this I will make offerings of joy in his tent; I will make a song, truly I will make a song of praise to the Lord.

He hath exalted me upon a rock: and now he hath lifted up my head above my enemies. I have gone round, and have offered up in his tabernacle a sacrifice of jubilation: I will sing, and recite a psalm to the Lord.

7 O Lord, let the voice of my cry come to your ears: have mercy on me, and give me an answer.

Hear, O Lord, my voice, with which I have cried to thee: have mercy on me and hear me.

8 When you said, Make search for my face, my heart said to you, For your face will I make my search.

My heart hath said to thee: My face hath sought thee: thy face, O Lord, will I still seek.

9 Let not your face be covered from me; do not put away your servant in wrath; you have been my help: do not give me up or take your support from me, O God of my salvation.

Turn not away thy face from me; decline not in thy wrath from thy servant. Be thou my helper, forsake me not; do not thou despise me, O God my Saviour.

10 When my father and my mother are turned away from me, then the Lord will be my support.

For my father and my mother have left me: but the Lord hath taken me up.

11 Make your way clear to me, O Lord, guiding me by the right way, because of my haters.

Set me, O Lord, a law in thy way, and guide me in the right path, because of my enemies.

12 Do not give me into their hands, because false witnesses have come out against me, and men breathing destruction.

Deliver me not over to the will of them that trouble me; for unjust witnesses have risen up against me; and iniquity hath lied to itself.

13 I had almost given up my hope of seeing the blessing of the Lord in the land of the living.

I believe to see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.

14 Let your hope be in the Lord: take heart and be strong; yes, let your hope be in the Lord.

Expect the Lord, do manfully, and let thy heart take courage, and wait thou for the Lord.