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 anointed. The Lord is my light and my Saviour; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the defender 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.

When evil-doers drew near against me to eat up my flesh, my persecutors and mine enemies, they fainted and fell.

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

Though an army should set itself in array against me, my heart shall not be afraid: though war should rise up against me, in this am I confident.

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 have I asked of the Lord, this will I earnestly seek: that I should dwell in the house of the Lord, all the days of my life, that I should behold the fair beauty of the Lord, and survey 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 day of mine afflictions he hid me in his tabernacle: he sheltered me in the secret of his tabernacle; he set me up on a rock.

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, behold, he has lifted up mine head over mine enemies: I went round and offered in his tabernacle the sacrifice of joy; I will sing even sing psalms to the Lord.

7 Hear, Yahweh, my voice when I cry out! Have mercy on me, and answer me!

Hear, O Lord, my voice which I have uttered aloud: pity me, and listen to me.

8 My heart says about you, “Seek his face!” I seek your face, Yahweh!

My heart said to you, I have diligently sought your face: your face, O Lord, I will seek.

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!

Turn not your face away from me, turn not you away from your servant in anger: be you my helper, forsake me not; and, O God my Saviour, overlook me not.

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

For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord has taken me to himself.

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

Teach me, O Lord, in your way, and guide me in a right path, because of mine 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!

Deliver me not over to the desire of them that afflict me; for unjust witnesses have risen up against me, and injustice has lied within herself.

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 goodness 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 on the Lord: be of good courage, and let your heart be strengthened: yes wait on the Lord.