Psalms 27

1 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

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 the wicked, even my enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they 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 host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be 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 desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire 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 time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon 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 And now shall my head be lifted above my enemies around me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises to the LORD.

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, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon 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 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said to thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.

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

9 Hide not thy face from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O 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 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.

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

11 Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain 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 Deliver me not over to the will of my enemies: for false witnesses have risen against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.

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 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD 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 on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thy heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

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