Lead Me in Your Righteousness

To the choirmaster: for the flutes. A Psalm of David.

Give ear to my words, O Lord;
    consider my (A)groaning.
Give attention to the sound of my cry,
    my (B)King and my God,
    for (C)to you do I pray.
O Lord, in (D)the morning you hear my voice;
    in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you[a] and (E)watch.

For you are not a God who delights in wickedness;
    evil may not dwell with you.
The (F)boastful shall not (G)stand before your eyes;
    you (H)hate all evildoers.
You destroy those who speak (I)lies;
    the Lord abhors (J)the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love,
    will enter your house.
I will (K)bow down (L)toward your (M)holy temple
    in the fear of you.
(N)Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness
    because of my enemies;
    (O)make your way straight before me.

For there is no truth in their mouth;
    their inmost self is (P)destruction;
(Q)their throat is (R)an open grave;
    they (S)flatter with their tongue.
10 (T)Make them bear their guilt, O God;
    let them (U)fall by their own counsels;
because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out,
    for they have rebelled against you.

11 But let all who (V)take refuge in you (W)rejoice;
    let them ever sing for joy,
and spread your protection over them,
    that those who love your name may (X)exult in you.
12 For you (Y)bless the righteous, O Lord;
    you (Z)cover him with favor as with (AA)a shield.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 5:3 Or I direct my prayer to you

To the Director: For flutes. A Davidic Psalm

A Prayer for God’s Help

Lord, listen to my words,
    consider my groaning.
Pay attention to my cry for help,[a]
    my king and my God,
        for unto you will I pray.
Lord, in the morning you will hear my voice;
    in the morning I will pray[b] to you,
    and I will watch for your answer.[c]

Indeed, you aren’t a God who delights in wickedness;
    evil will never dwell with you.
Boastful ones will not stand before you;
    you hate all those who practice wickedness.
You will destroy those who speak lies.
    The Lord abhors the person of bloodshed and deceit.
But I, because of the abundance of your gracious love,
    may come into your house.
        In awe of you, I will worship in your holy Temple.

Lord, lead me in your righteousness because of my enemies.
    Make your path straight before me.
But as for the wicked,[d]
    they do not speak truth at all.
        Inside them there is only wickedness.
Their throat is an open grave,
    on their tongue is deceitful flattery.

10 Declare them guilty, God!
    Let them fall by their own schemes.
Drive them away because of their many transgressions,
    for they have rebelled against you.

11 Let all those who take refuge in you rejoice!
    Let them shout for joy forever,
and may you protect them.
    Let those who love your name exult in you.
12 Indeed, you will bless the righteous one, Lord,
    like a large shield, you will surround him with favor.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 5:2 Lit. the sound of my cry for help
  2. Psalm 5:3 Lit. arrange my prayer
  3. Psalm 5:3 The Heb. lacks for your answer
  4. Psalm 5:9 The Heb. lacks as for the wicked