Psalm 5

The Refuge of the Righteous

For the choir director: with the flutes. A Davidic psalm.

Listen to my words, Lord;
consider my sighing.(A)
Pay attention to the sound of my cry,(B)
my King and my God,(C)
for I pray to You.

At daybreak,(D) Lord, You hear my voice;
at daybreak I plead my case to You(E) and watch expectantly.

For You are not a God who delights in wickedness;
evil cannot dwell with You.(F)
The boastful cannot stand in Your presence;(G)
You hate all evildoers.(H)
You destroy those who tell lies;(I)
the Lord abhors a man of bloodshed and treachery.(J)

But I enter Your house
by the abundance of Your faithful love;(K)
I bow down toward Your holy temple
in reverential awe of You.(L)
Lord, lead me in Your righteousness(M)
because of my adversaries;[a]
make Your way straight before me.(N)

For there is nothing reliable in what they say;[b](O)
destruction is within them;
their throat is an open grave;
they flatter with their tongues.(P)
10 Punish them, God;
let them fall by their own schemes.(Q)
Drive them out(R) because of their many crimes,
for they rebel against You.(S)

11 But let all who take refuge in You rejoice;(T)
let them shout for joy forever.
May You shelter them,(U)
and may those who love Your name boast about You.(V)
12 For You, Lord, bless the righteous one;
You surround him with favor like a shield.(W)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 5:8 Or of those who lie in wait for me
  2. Psalm 5:9 Lit in his mouth

(0) For the leader. On wind instruments. A psalm of David:

(1) Give ear to my words, Adonai,
consider my inmost thoughts.
(2) Listen to my cry for help,
my king and my God, for I pray to you.
(3) Adonai, in the morning you will hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my needs before you
and wait expectantly.

(4) For you are not a God
who takes pleasure in wickedness;
evil cannot remain with you.
(5) Those who brag cannot stand before your eyes,
you hate all who do evil,
(6) you destroy those who tell lies,
Adonai detests men of blood and deceivers.

(7) But I can enter your house
because of your great grace and love;
I will bow down toward your holy temple
in reverence for you.
(8) Lead me, Adonai, in your righteousness
because of those lying in wait for me;
make your way straight before me.
10 (9) For in their mouths there is nothing sincere,
within them are calamities,
their throats are open tombs,
they flatter with their tongues.
11 (10) God, declare them guilty!
Let them fall through their own intrigues,
For their many crimes, throw them down;
since they have rebelled against you.

12 (11) But let all who take refuge in you rejoice,
let them forever shout for joy!
Shelter them; and they will be glad,
those who love your name.
13 (12) For you, Adonai, bless the righteous;
you surround them with favor like a shield.