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; of whom shall I be afraid? the Lord is the fortress of my life; of whom shall I have dread?

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

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.

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

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, 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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

Hear, O Lord, my voice, [when] I call, and be gracious unto me, and answer me.

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

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

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.

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 will take me up.

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

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

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!

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.

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?

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

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

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