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?

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 evildoers approached me to devour my flesh, my adversaries and my enemies stumbled 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 encamps against me, my heart will not fear; though war rises up against me, even then I will remain 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 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 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 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 he has hidden me in his tabernacle. In the day of evils, he has protected me in the hidden place of his tabernacle.

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!

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

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

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!

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

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

11 Teach me your way, Yahweh! Lead me on a level path because of my enemies.

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

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

14 Wait for Yahweh; be strong, and let your heart be courageous! Wait for Yahweh!

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