Psalm 27
1599 Geneva Bible
27 1 David maketh this Psalm being delivered from great perils, as appeareth by the praises and thanksgiving annexed: 6 Wherein we may see the constant faith of David against the assaults of all his enemies. 7 And also the end wherefore he desireth to live and to be delivered, only to worship God in his Congregation.
A Psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my [a]light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
3 Though an host pitched against me, mine heart should not be afraid: though war be raised against me, I will trust in [b]this.
4 [c]One thing have I desired of the Lord, that I will require, even 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 visit his Temple.
5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his Tabernacle: in the secret place of his pavilion shall he hide me, and set me up upon a rock.
6 [d]And now shall he lift up mine head above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his Tabernacle sacrifices of joy: I will sing and praise the Lord.
7 Hearken unto my voice, O Lord, when I cry: have mercy also upon me and hear me.
8 When thou saidest, [e]Seek ye my face, mine heart answered unto thee, O Lord, I will seek thy face.
9 Hide not therefore thy face from me, nor cast thy servant away in displeasure: thou hast been my succor, leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
10 [f]Though my father and my mother should forsake me, yet the Lord will gather me up.
11 Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a right path, because of mine enemies.
12 Give me not unto the [g]lust of mine adversaries: for there are false witnesses risen up against me, and such as speak cruelly.
13 I should have fainted, except I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord [h]in the land of the living.
14 [i]Hope in the Lord: be strong, and he shall comfort thine heart, and trust in the Lord.
Footnotes
- Psalm 27:1 Because he was assured of good success in all his dangers, and that his salvation was surely laid up in God, he feared not the tyranny of his enemies.
- Psalm 27:3 That God will deliver me and give my faith the victory.
- Psalm 27:4 The loss of country, wife, and all worldly commodities grieve me not in respect of this one thing, that I may not praise thy Name in the midst of the congregation.
- Psalm 27:6 David assured himself by the Spirit of prophecy that he should overcome his enemies, and serve God in his Tabernacle.
- Psalm 27:8 He groundeth upon God’s promise, and showeth that he is most willing to obey his commandment.
- Psalm 27:10 He magnifieth God’s love toward his, which far passeth the most tender love of parents towards their children.
- Psalm 27:12 But either pacify their wrath, or bridle their rage.
- Psalm 27:13 In this present life before I die, as Isa. 38:11.
- Psalm 27:14 He exhorteth himself to depend on the Lord, seeing he never failed in his promises.
Psalm 27
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Psalm 27[a]
Trust in God
1 (A)Of David.
A
I
The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The Lord is my life’s refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?
2 When evildoers come at me
to devour my flesh,[b](B)
These my enemies and foes
themselves stumble and fall.
3 Though an army encamp against me,
my heart does not fear;
Though war be waged against me,
even then do I trust.
II
4 One thing I ask of the Lord;
this I seek:
To dwell in the Lord’s house
all the days of my life,
To gaze on the Lord’s beauty,
to visit his temple.(C)
5 For God will hide me in his shelter
in time of trouble,(D)
He will conceal me in the cover of his tent;
and set me high upon a rock.
6 Even now my head is held high
above my enemies on every side!
I will offer in his tent
sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and chant praise to the Lord.
B
I
7 Hear my voice, Lord, when I call;
have mercy on me and answer me.
8 “Come,” says my heart, “seek his face”;[c]
your face, Lord, do I seek!(E)
9 Do not hide your face from me;
do not repel your servant in anger.
You are my salvation; do not cast me off;
do not forsake me, God my savior!
10 Even if my father and mother forsake me,
the Lord will take me in.(F)
II
11 Lord, show me your way;
lead me on a level path
because of my enemies.(G)
12 Do not abandon me to the desire of my foes;
malicious and lying witnesses have risen against me.
13 I believe I shall see the Lord’s goodness
in the land of the living.[d](H)
14 Wait for the Lord, take courage;
be stouthearted, wait for the Lord!
Footnotes
- Psalm 27 Tradition has handed down the two sections of the Psalm (Ps 27:1–6; 7–14) as one Psalm, though each part could be understood as complete in itself. Asserting boundless hope that God will bring rescue (Ps 27:1–3), the psalmist longs for the presence of God in the Temple, protection from all enemies (Ps 27:4–6). In part B there is a clear shift in tone (Ps 27:7–12); the climax of the poem comes with “I believe” (Ps 27:13), echoing “I trust” (Ps 27:3).
- 27:2 To devour my flesh: the psalmist’s enemies are rapacious beasts (Ps 7:3; 17:12; 22:14, 17).
- 27:8 Seek his face: to commune with God in the Temple. The idiom is derived from the practice of journeying to sacred places, cf. Hos 5:15; 2 Sm 21:1; Ps 24:6.
- 27:13 In the land of the living: or “in the land of life,” an epithet of the Jerusalem Temple (Ps 52:7; 116:9; Is 38:11), where the faithful had access to the life-giving presence of God.
Psalm 27
Lexham English Bible
A Declaration of Trust
Of David.[a]
27 Yahweh is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
Yahweh is the refuge of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When evildoers drew near against me to eat my flesh—
my adversaries and my enemies who drew near to me—
they themselves stumbled and fell.
3 Though an army encamp against me,
my heart will not fear.
Though war arise against me,
even in this I will remain confident.
4 One thing I have asked from Yahweh;
it I will seek:
that I may dwell in the house[b] of Yahweh all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of Yahweh,
and to consider[c] his temple.
5 Because he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble.
He will conceal me in the hiding place of his tent.
He will set me high upon a rock.
6 And now my head will be high over my enemies round about me.
And I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy.
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to Yahweh.
7 Hear, O Yahweh, my voice when I call,
and be gracious to me and answer me.
8 On your behalf my heart says, “Seek my face.”
Your face, O Yahweh, I do seek.
9 Do not hide your face from me;
do not turn your servant away in anger.
You have been my help; do not abandon nor forsake me,
O God of my salvation.
10 If my father or my mother forsake me,
then Yahweh will receive me.
11 Teach me, O Yahweh, your way,
and lead me on a level path because of my enemies.
12 Do not give me over to the desire of my enemies,
because false witnesses have arisen against me,
and each breathing out violence.[d]
13 Surely[e] I believe that I will see the goodness of Yahweh
in the land of the living.
14 Wait for Yahweh.
Be strong and let your heart show strength,
and wait for Yahweh.
Footnotes
- Psalm 27:1 The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm
- Psalm 27:4 Or “temple”
- Psalm 27:4 Or “inquire in”
- Psalm 27:12 Or “and each a witness of violence”
- Psalm 27:13 Hebrew text is uncertain
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