Psalms 27

1 A psalm of David. Yahweh is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? Yahweh is my life's refuge; whom should I dread?

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 When evildoers approached me to devour my flesh, my adversaries and my enemies stumbled and fell.

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

3 Though an army encamps against me, my heart will not fear; though war rises up against me, even then I will remain confident.

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 have I asked of Yahweh, and I will seek that: that I may live in the house of Yahweh all the days of my life, to see the beauty of Yahweh and to meditate in 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 in the day of trouble he will hide me in his shelter; in the cover of his tent he will conceal me. He will lift me high on a rock!

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 Then my head will be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer sacrifices of joy in his tent! I will sing and make songs to Yahweh!

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, Yahweh, my voice when I cry out! Have mercy on me, and answer 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 says about you, “Seek his face!” I seek your face, Yahweh!

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

9 Do not hide your face from me; do not turn your servant away in anger! You have been my helper; do not forsake me or abandon me, God of my salvation!

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 Even if my father and my mother forsake me, Yahweh will take me in.

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

11 Teach me your way, Yahweh! Lead me on a level 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 give me up to the desires of my enemies, for false witnesses have risen up against me, and they breathe out violence!

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

13 What would have happened to me if I had not believed that I would see the goodness of Yahweh 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 Yahweh; be strong, and let your heart be courageous! Wait for Yahweh!

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