Psalms 28

1 A psalm for David himself. Unto thee will I cry, O Lord: O my God, be not thou silent to me: lest thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit.

Of David. Unto you, O Lord, do I cry; my rock, be not deaf to me: lest, through holding your peace, I become like those who go down to the pit.

2 Hear, O Lord, the voice of my supplication, when I pray to thee; when I lift up my hands to thy holy temple.

Hear my loud entreaty, as I cry for help to you, lifting my hands, O Lord, towards your holy chancel.

3 Draw me not away together with the wicked; and with the workers of iniquity destroy me not: Who speak peace with their neighbour, but evils are in their hearts.

Take me not off with the wicked, nor with the workers of wrong, whose speech to their neighbours is friendly, while evil is in their heart.

4 Give them according to their works, and according to the wickedness of their inventions. According to the works of their hands give thou to them: render to them their reward.

Give them as they have done, as their wicked deeds deserve. As their hands have wrought, so give to them: requite to them their deserts.

5 Because they have not understood the works of the Lord, and the operations of his hands: thou shalt destroy them, and shalt not build them up.

They are blind to all that the Lord does, to all that his hands have wrought; and so he will tear them down, to build them up no more.

6 Blessed be the Lord, for he hath heard the voice of my supplication.

Blest be the Lord, who has heard my voice as I plead for mercy.

7 The Lord is my helper and my protector: in him hath my heart confided, and I have been helped. And my flesh hath flourished again, and with my will I will give praise to him.

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him. I was helped: so my heart is exultant, and in my song I will praise him.

8 The Lord is the strength of his people, and the protector of the salvation of his anointed.

The Lord is the strength of his people, the fortress who saves his anointed.

9 Save, O Lord, thy people, and bless thy inheritance: and rule them and exalt them for ever.

O save your people, and bless your inheritance. Be their shepherd and carry them forever.