Psalms 28

1 By David. To you, LORD, I call. My rock, don’t be deaf to me, lest, if you are silent to me, I would become like those who go down into the pit.

Of David. Unto you, O Lord, do I cry; my rock, be not deaf to me: lest, through holding your peace, I become like those who go down to the pit.

2 Hear the voice of my petitions, when I cry to you, when I lift up my hands towards your Most Holy Place.

Hear my loud entreaty, as I cry for help to you, lifting my hands, O Lord, towards your holy chancel.

3 Don’t draw me away with the wicked, with the workers of iniquity who speak peace with their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts.

Take me not off with the wicked, nor with the workers of wrong, whose speech to their neighbours is friendly, while evil is in their heart.

4 Give them according to their work, and according to the wickedness of their doings. Give them according to the operation of their hands. Bring back on them what they deserve.

Give them as they have done, as their wicked deeds deserve. As their hands have wrought, so give to them: requite to them their deserts.

5 Because they don’t respect the works of the LORD, nor the operation of his hands, he will break them down and not build them up.

They are blind to all that the Lord does, to all that his hands have wrought; and so he will tear them down, to build them up no more.

6 Blessed be the LORD, because he has heard the voice of my petitions.

Blest be the Lord, who has heard my voice as I plead for mercy.

7 The LORD is my strength and my shield. My heart has trusted in him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart greatly rejoices. With my song I will thank him.

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him. I was helped: so my heart is exultant, and in my song I will praise him.

8 The LORD is their strength. He is a stronghold of salvation to his anointed.

The Lord is the strength of his people, the fortress who saves his anointed.

9 Save your people, and bless your inheritance. Be their shepherd also, and bear them up forever.

O save your people, and bless your inheritance. Be their shepherd and carry them forever.