Psalms 27

1 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?

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?

2 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.

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

3 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.

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.

4 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.

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.

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

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.

6 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.

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.

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

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

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

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

9 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.

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.

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

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

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

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

12 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.

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

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

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

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

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