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This is a song that David wrote.

I trust God to keep me safe

27 The Lord gives me light in my life
    and he makes me safe.
So I am not afraid of anyone!
The Lord takes care of my life.
    Nobody can make me afraid!
Evil men are ready to attack me.
    They want to destroy my body.
But when my enemies attack me,
    they trip and fall to the ground!
Even if a whole army comes to fight against me,
    I will not be afraid.
Even if they attack me in war,
    I will continue to trust God.

There is one thing that I have asked the Lord to do for me.
    This is the one thing that I really want:
I want to live in the Lord's house
    all the days of my life.
Then I will clearly see the Lord's beauty.
    I will pray to him in his temple.
When danger is near,
    the Lord will keep me safe.
He will take care of me in his home.
He will put me in a safe place,
    on the top of a high rock.
My enemies may be all round me,
    but I will win against them.
    They will see how strong I am!
I will offer sacrifices to the Lord in his temple.
I will be so happy that I will shout aloud!
    Yes, I will sing to praise the Lord.

Lord, hear me when I call to you for help.[a]
    Be kind to me and answer me.
I have heard you say to me, ‘Come near to me.’
    So I will come and pray to you, Lord.
Please do not turn away from me.
I am your servant,
    so do not be angry with me.
You have always helped me in the past,
    so do not push me away now.
You are the one who saves me, God,
    so do not turn away from me.
10 Even if my father and my mother leave me,
    the Lord will still take care of me.
11 Lord, please teach me to follow your way.
Lead me along a good, safe path,
    because my enemies are waiting to attack me.
12 Do not give me to my enemies.
They say false things against me,
    so that they can destroy me.
13 But I surely believe
    that I will see how good the Lord is!
I will know his love while I still live in this world.

14 Wait for the Lord to help you!
    Be strong and brave.
Yes, wait for the Lord to help you!

Footnotes

  1. 27:7 Here the psalm changes. In verses 1-6, life was good for David. Now life is difficult. David thinks that God has forgotten him. But David continues to pray. He says, ‘You gave me help in the past, so do not forget me now.’

27 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?

When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.

Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

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.

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.

And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.

Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.

When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.

Hide not thy face far 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.

10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.

11 Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.

12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.

13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

Psalm 27

[A Psalm] of David.

The Lord is my Light and my Salvation—whom shall I fear or dread? The Lord is the Refuge and Stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?

When the wicked, even my enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.

Though a host encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, [even then] in this will I be confident.

One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek, inquire for, and [insistently] require: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life, to behold and gaze upon the beauty [the sweet attractiveness and the delightful loveliness] of the Lord and to meditate, consider, and inquire in His temple.(A)

For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter; in the secret place of His tent will He hide me; He will set me high upon a rock.

And now shall my head be lifted up above my enemies round about me; in His tent I will offer sacrifices and shouting of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.

Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; have mercy and be gracious to me and answer me!

You have said, Seek My face [inquire for and require My presence as your vital need]. My heart says to You, Your face (Your presence), Lord, will I seek, inquire for, and require [of necessity and on the authority of Your Word].

Hide not Your face from me; turn not Your servant away in anger, You Who have been my help! Cast me not off, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation!

10 Although my father and my mother have forsaken me, yet the Lord will take me up [adopt me as His child].(B)

11 Teach me Your way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain and even path because of my enemies [those who lie in wait for me].

12 Give me not up to the will of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen up against me; they breathe out cruelty and violence.

13 [What, what would have become of me] had I not believed that I would see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living!

14 Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord.