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A Prayer for Protection[a]

Listen to my words, O Lord,
    and hear my sighs.
Listen to my cry for help,
    my God and king!

I pray to you, O Lord;
    you hear my voice in the morning;
at sunrise I offer my prayer[b]
    and wait for your answer.

You are not a God who is pleased with wrongdoing;
    you allow no evil in your presence.
You cannot stand the sight of the proud;
    you hate all wicked people.
You destroy all liars
    and despise violent, deceitful people.

But because of your great love
    I can come into your house;
I can worship in your holy Temple
    and bow down to you in reverence.
Lord, I have so many enemies!
    Lead me to do your will;
    make your way plain for me to follow.

(A)What my enemies say can never be trusted;
    they only want to destroy.
Their words are flattering and smooth,
    but full of deadly deceit.
10 Condemn and punish them, O God;
    may their own plots cause their ruin.
Drive them out of your presence
    because of their many sins
    and their rebellion against you.

11 But all who find safety in you will rejoice;
    they can always sing for joy.
Protect those who love you;
    because of you they are truly happy.
12 You bless those who obey you, Lord;
    your love protects them like a shield.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 5:1 HEBREW TITLE: A psalm by David.
  2. Psalm 5:3 prayer; or sacrifice.

Psalm 5

Trust in God for Deliverance from Enemies

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

Listen to my words, O Lord;
    attend to my sighing.(A)
Listen to the sound of my cry,
    my King and my God,
    for to you I pray.(B)
O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice;
    in the morning I plead my case to you and watch.(C)

For you are not a God who delights in wickedness;
    evil will not sojourn with you.(D)
The boastful will not stand before your eyes;
    you hate all evildoers.(E)
You destroy those who speak lies;
    the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful.(F)

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

For there is no truth in their mouths;
    their hearts are destruction;
their throats are open graves;
    they flatter with their tongues.(I)
10 Make them bear their guilt, O God;
    let them fall by their own counsels;
because of their many transgressions, cast them out,
    for they have rebelled against you.(J)

11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
    let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them,
    so that those who love your name may exult in you.(K)
12 For you bless the righteous, O Lord;
    you cover them with favor as with a shield.(L)