Psalms 27

1 “Of David.” The Lord is my light and my salvation; of whom shall I be afraid? the Lord is the fortress of my life; of whom shall I have dread?

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 come near against me to eat up my flesh, my assailants and my enemies at me: then do they stumble and fall.

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 If an army should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: if war should arise against me, even then will I have trust.

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, that I will seek for: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the loveliness of the Lord, and to be every morning early in 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 he will hide me in his pavilion on the day of evil; he will conceal me in the secret of his tabernacle; upon a rock will he place me high.

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 will my head be lifted up above my enemies all round about me; and I will sacrifice in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy: I will sing, and I will triumphantly play unto 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, [when] I call, and be gracious unto me, and answer me.

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

8 Of thee, said my heart, “Seek ye my presence”: thy presence, Lord, will I seek.

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

9 Hide [then] not thy face from me; reject not in anger thy servant, thou [who] hast been my help: cast me not off, nor forsake me, O God of my salvation.

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 will take me up.

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

11 Point me out thy way, O Lord! and guide me on a level path, because of those that regard me enviously.

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

12 Give me not up to the [revengeful] desire of my assailants; for there are risen up against me false witnesses, and such as utter violence.

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 Unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of life—

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

14 Wait on the Lord; be strong, and let thy heart be of good courage; and only wait on the Lord.

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