Psalms 27

1 [A Psalm] of David, before he was anointed. The Lord is my light and my Saviour; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the defender of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

A Psalm of David, before he was sealed. 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 drew nigh against me to eat up my flesh, my persecutors and mine enemies, they fainted and fell.

Meanwhile, the guilty draw near to me, so as to eat my flesh. Those who trouble me, my enemies, have themselves been weakened and have fallen.

3 Though an army should set itself in array against me, my heart shall not be afraid: though war should rise up against me, in this am I confident.

If entrenched armies were to stand together against me, my heart would not fear. If a battle were to rise up against me, I would have hope in this.

4 One thing have I asked of the Lord, this will I earnestly seek: that I should dwell in the house of the Lord, all the days of my life, that I should behold the fair beauty of the Lord, and survey his temple.

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this I will seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, so that I may behold the delight of the Lord, and may visit his temple.

5 For in the day of mine afflictions he hid me in his tabernacle: he sheltered me in the secret of his tabernacle; he set me up on a rock.

For he has hidden me in his tabernacle. In the day of evils, he has protected me in the hidden place of his tabernacle.

6 And now, behold, he has lifted up mine head over mine enemies: I went round and offered in his tabernacle the sacrifice of joy; I will sing even sing psalms to the Lord.

He has exalted me upon the rock, and now he has exalted my head above my enemies. I have circled around and offered a sacrifice of loud exclamation in his tabernacle. I will sing, and I will compose a psalm, to the Lord.

7 Hear, O Lord, my voice which I have uttered aloud: pity me, and hearken to me.

Hear my voice, O Lord, with which I have cried out to you. Have mercy on me, and hear me.

8 My heart said to thee, I have diligently sought thy face: thy face, O Lord, I will seek.

My heart has spoken to you; my face has sought you. I yearn for your face, O Lord.

9 Turn not thy face away from me, turn not thou away from thy servant in anger: be thou my helper, forsake me not; and, O God my Saviour, overlook me not.

Do not turn your face away from me. In your wrath, do not turn aside from your servant. Be my helper. Do not abandon me, and do not despise me, O God, my Savior.

10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord has taken me to himself.

For my father and my mother have left me behind, but the Lord has taken me up.

11 Teach me, O Lord, in thy way, and guide me in a right path, because of mine enemies.

O Lord, establish a law for me in your way, and direct me in the right path, because of my enemies.

12 Deliver me not over to the desire of them that afflict me; for unjust witnesses have risen up against me, and injustice has lied within herself.

Do not surrender me to the souls of those who trouble me. For unjust witnesses have risen up against me, and iniquity has lied to itself.

13 I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

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

14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and let thy heart be strengthened: yea wait on the Lord.

Wait for the Lord, act manfully; and let your heart be strengthened, and remain with the Lord.