Psalm 27

New International Version

Psalm 27

Of David.

¹The Lord is my light^(A) and my salvation^(B)—
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold^(C) of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?^(D)

²When the wicked advance against me
    to devour^[a] me,
it is my enemies and my foes
    who will stumble and fall.^(E)
³Though an army besiege me,
    my heart will not fear;^(F)
though war break out against me,
    even then I will be confident.^(G)

⁴One thing^(H) I ask from the Lord,
    this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,^(I)
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
    and to seek him in his temple.
⁵For in the day of trouble^(J)
    he will keep me safe^(K) in his dwelling;
he will hide me^(L) in the shelter of his sacred tent
    and set me high upon a rock.^(M)

⁶Then my head will be exalted^(N)
above the enemies who surround me;^(O)
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice^(P) with shouts of joy;^(Q)
I will sing^(R) and make music^(S) to the Lord.

⁷Hear my voice^(T) when I call, Lord;
    be merciful to me and answer me.^(U)
⁸My heart says of you, “Seek his face!^(V)”
    Your face, Lord, I will seek.
⁹Do not hide your face^(W) from me,
    do not turn your servant away in anger;^(X)
    you have been my helper.^(Y)
Do not reject me or forsake^(Z) me,
    God my Savior.^(AA)
¹⁰Though my father and mother forsake me,
    the Lord will receive me.
¹¹Teach me your way,^(AB) Lord;
    lead me in a straight path^(AC)
    because of my oppressors.^(AD)
¹²Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
    for false witnesses^(AE) rise up against me,
    spouting malicious accusations.

¹³I remain confident of this:
    I will see the goodness of the Lord^(AF)
    in the land of the living.^(AG)
¹⁴Wait^(AH) for the Lord;
    be strong^(AI) and take heart
    and wait for the Lord.

Footnotes

Psalm 27:2 Or slander

Psalm 42

New International Version

BOOK II

Psalms 42–72

Psalm 42^[a]^[b]

For the director of music. A maskil^[c] of the Sons of Korah.

¹As the deer^(A) pants for streams of water,^(B)
    so my soul pants^(C) for you, my God.
²My soul thirsts^(D) for God, for the living God.^(E)
    When can I go^(F) and meet with God?
³My tears^(G) have been my food
    day and night,
while people say to me all day long,
    “Where is your God?”^(H)
⁴These things I remember
    as I pour out my soul:^(I)
how I used to go to the house of God^(J)
    under the protection of the Mighty One^[d]
with shouts of joy^(K) and praise^(L)
    among the festive throng.^(M)

⁵Why, my soul, are you downcast?^(N)
    Why so disturbed^(O) within me?
Put your hope in God,^(P)
    for I will yet praise^(Q) him,
    my Savior^(R) and my God.^(S)

⁶My soul is downcast within me;
    therefore I will remember^(T) you
from the land of the Jordan,^(U)
    the heights of Hermon^(V)—from Mount Mizar.
⁷Deep calls to deep^(W)
    in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers
    have swept over me.^(X)

⁸By day the Lord directs his love,^(Y)
at night^(Z) his song^(AA) is with me—
a prayer to the God of my life.^(AB)

⁹I say to God my Rock,^(AC)
    “Why have you forgotten^(AD) me?
Why must I go about mourning,^(AE)
    oppressed^(AF) by the enemy?”^(AG)
¹⁰My bones suffer mortal agony^(AH)
    as my foes taunt^(AI) me,
saying to me all day long,
    “Where is your God?”^(AJ)

¹¹Why, my soul, are you downcast?
    Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
    for I will yet praise him,
    my Savior and my God.^(AK)

Footnotes

Psalm 42:1 In many Hebrew manuscripts Psalms 42 and 43 constitute one psalm.
Psalm 42:1 In Hebrew texts 42:1-11 is numbered 42:2-12.
Psalm 42:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
Psalm 42:4 See Septuagint and Syriac; the meaning of the Hebrew for this line is uncertain.