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Psalm 28[a]

Petition and Thanksgiving

Of David.

I

To you, Lord, I call;
    my Rock, do not be deaf to me,(A)
Do not be silent toward me,
    so that I join those who go down to the pit.(B)
Hear the sound of my pleading when I cry to you for help
    when I lift up my hands toward your holy place.[b](C)
Do not drag me off with the wicked,
    with those who do wrong,(D)
Who speak peace to their neighbors
    though evil is in their hearts.(E)
Repay them for their deeds,
    for the evil that they do.
For the work of their hands repay them;
    give them what they deserve.(F)
Because they do not understand the Lord’s works,
    the work of his hands,(G)
He will tear them down,
    never to rebuild them.

II

[c]Blessed be the Lord,
    who has heard the sound of my pleading.
The Lord is my strength and my shield,
    in whom my heart trusts.
I am helped, so my heart rejoices;
    with my song I praise him.

III

[d]Lord, you are a strength for your people,
    the saving refuge of your anointed.
Save your people, bless your inheritance;
    pasture and carry them forever!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 28 A lament asking that the psalmist, who has taken refuge in the Temple (Ps 28:2), not be punished with the wicked, who are headed inevitably toward destruction (Ps 28:1, 3–5). The statement of praise is exceptionally lengthy and vigorous (Ps 28:6–7). The Psalm ends with a prayer (Ps 28:8–9).
  2. 28:2 Your holy place: the innermost part of the Temple, the holy of holies, containing the ark, cf. 1 Kgs 6:16, 19–23; 8:6–8.
  3. 28:6 The psalmist shifts to fervent thanksgiving, probably responding to a priestly or prophetic oracle in Ps 28:5cd (not usually transmitted) assuring the worshiper that the prayer has been heard.
  4. 28:8 Your people…your anointed: salvation is more than individual, affecting all the people and their God-given leader.

A Prayer for Help[a]

28 O Lord, my defender, I call to you.
    Listen to my cry!
If you do not answer me,
    I will be among those who go down to the world of the dead.
Hear me when I cry to you for help,
    when I lift my hands toward your holy Temple.
Do not condemn me with the wicked,
    with those who do evil—
    those whose words are friendly,
    but who have hatred in their hearts.

(A)Punish them for what they have done,
    for the evil they have committed.
Punish them for all their deeds;
    give them what they deserve!
They take no notice of what the Lord has done
    or of what he has made;
so he will punish them
    and destroy them forever.

Give praise to the Lord;
    he has heard my cry for help.
The Lord protects and defends me;
    I trust in him.
He gives me help and makes me glad;
    I praise him with joyful songs.

The Lord protects his people;
    he defends and saves his chosen king.
Save your people, Lord,
    and bless those who are yours.
Be their shepherd,
    and take care of them forever.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 28:1 HEBREW TITLE: By David.

Psalm 28

Prayer for Help and Thanksgiving for It

Of David.

To you, O Lord, I call;
    my rock, do not refuse to hear me,
for if you are silent to me,
    I shall be like those who go down to the Pit.
Hear the voice of my supplication,
    as I cry to you for help,
as I lift up my hands
    toward your most holy sanctuary.[a]

Do not drag me away with the wicked,
    with those who are workers of evil,
who speak peace with their neighbors,
    while mischief is in their hearts.
Repay them according to their work,
    and according to the evil of their deeds;
repay them according to the work of their hands;
    render them their due reward.
Because they do not regard the works of the Lord,
    or the work of his hands,
he will break them down and build them up no more.

Blessed be the Lord,
    for he has heard the sound of my pleadings.
The Lord is my strength and my shield;
    in him my heart trusts;
so I am helped, and my heart exults,
    and with my song I give thanks to him.

The Lord is the strength of his people;
    he is the saving refuge of his anointed.
O save your people, and bless your heritage;
    be their shepherd, and carry them forever.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 28:2 Heb your innermost sanctuary

A Prayer for Help, and Praise for Its Answer.

A Psalm of David.

28 To You, Lord, I call;
My (A)rock, do not be deaf to me,
For if You (B)are silent to me,
I will become like those who (C)go down to the pit.
Hear the (D)sound of my pleadings when I cry to You for help,
When I (E)raise my hands (F)toward [a]Your holy (G)sanctuary.
(H)Do not drag me away with the wicked
And with those who practice injustice,
Who (I)speak peace with their neighbors,
While evil is in their hearts.
Give back to them (J)according to their work and according to the evil of their practices;
Give back to them according to the work of their hands;
Repay them what is due them.
Because they (K)do not regard the works of the Lord
Nor the deeds of His hands,
He will tear them down and not build them up.

Blessed be the Lord,
Because He (L)has heard the sound of my pleading.
The Lord is my (M)strength and my (N)shield;
My heart (O)trusts in Him, and I am helped;
Therefore (P)my heart triumphs,
And with (Q)my song I shall thank Him.
The Lord is [b]their (R)strength,
And He is a refuge of (S)salvation to His anointed.
(T)Save Your people and bless (U)Your inheritance;
Be their (V)shepherd also, and (W)carry them forever.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 28:2 Lit the innermost place of Your sanctuary
  2. Psalm 28:8 A few mss and ancient versions the strength of His people

Psalm 28

Of David.

To you, Lord, I call;
    you are my Rock,
    do not turn a deaf ear(A) to me.
For if you remain silent,(B)
    I will be like those who go down to the pit.(C)
Hear my cry for mercy(D)
    as I call to you for help,
as I lift up my hands(E)
    toward your Most Holy Place.(F)

Do not drag me away with the wicked,
    with those who do evil,
who speak cordially with their neighbors
    but harbor malice in their hearts.(G)
Repay them for their deeds
    and for their evil work;
repay them for what their hands have done(H)
    and bring back on them what they deserve.(I)

Because they have no regard for the deeds of the Lord
    and what his hands have done,(J)
he will tear them down
    and never build them up again.

Praise be to the Lord,(K)
    for he has heard my cry for mercy.(L)
The Lord is my strength(M) and my shield;
    my heart trusts(N) in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,(O)
    and with my song I praise him.(P)

The Lord is the strength(Q) of his people,
    a fortress of salvation(R) for his anointed one.(S)
Save your people(T) and bless your inheritance;(U)
    be their shepherd(V) and carry them(W) forever.