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

1 Samuel 17:37-47

New International Version

³⁷The Lord who rescued^(A) me from the paw of the lion^(B) and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”

Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with^(C) you.”

³⁸Then Saul dressed David in his own^(D) tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. ³⁹David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them.

“I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off. ⁴⁰Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.

⁴¹Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer^(E) in front of him, kept coming closer to David. ⁴²He looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome,^(F) and he despised^(G) him. ⁴³He said to David, “Am I a dog,^(H) that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. ⁴⁴“Come here,” he said, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds^(I) and the wild animals!^(J)”

⁴⁵David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin,^(K) but I come against you in the name^(L) of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.^(M) ⁴⁶This day the Lord will deliver^(N) you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses^(O) of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world^(P) will know that there is a God in Israel.^(Q) ⁴⁷All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword^(R) or spear that the Lord saves;^(S) for the battle^(T) is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”