Add parallel Print Page Options

Psalm 26

Plea for Justice and Declaration of Righteousness

Of David.

Vindicate me, O Lord,
    for I have walked in my integrity,
    and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.(A)
Prove me, O Lord, and try me;
    test my heart and mind.(B)
For your steadfast love is before my eyes,
    and I walk in faithfulness to you.[a](C)

I do not sit with the worthless,
    nor do I consort with hypocrites;(D)
I hate the company of evildoers
    and will not sit with the wicked.(E)

I wash my hands in innocence
    and go around your altar, O Lord,(F)
singing aloud a song of thanksgiving
    and telling all your wondrous deeds.(G)

O Lord, I love the house in which you dwell
    and the place where your glory abides.(H)
Do not sweep me away with sinners
    nor my life with the bloodthirsty,(I)
10 those in whose hands are evil devices
    and whose right hands are full of bribes.(J)

11 But as for me, I walk in my integrity;
    redeem me and be gracious to me.(K)
12 My foot stands on level ground;
    in the great congregation I will bless the Lord.(L)

Psalm 27

Triumphant Song of Confidence

Of David.

The Lord is my light and my salvation;
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold[b] of my life;
    of whom shall I be afraid?(M)

When evildoers assail me
    to devour my flesh—
my adversaries and foes—
    they shall stumble and fall.(N)

Though an army encamp against me,
    my heart shall not fear;
though war rise up against me,
    yet I will be confident.(O)

One thing I asked of the Lord;
    this I seek:
to live in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the Lord,
    and to inquire in his temple.(P)

For he will hide me in his shelter
    in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
    he will set me high on a rock.(Q)

Now my head is lifted up
    above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
    sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.(R)

Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;
    be gracious to me and answer me!(S)
“Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!”
    Your face, Lord, do I seek.(T)
    Do not hide your face from me.

Do not turn your servant away in anger,
    you who have been my help.
Do not cast me off; do not forsake me,
    O God of my salvation!(U)
10 If my father and mother forsake me,
    the Lord will take me up.(V)

11 Teach me your way, O Lord,
    and lead me on a level path
    because of my enemies.(W)
12 Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries,
    for false witnesses have risen against me,
    and they are breathing out violence.(X)

13 I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living.(Y)
14 Wait for the Lord;
    be strong, and let your heart take courage;
    wait for the Lord!(Z)

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.(AA)
Hear the voice of my supplication,
    as I cry to you for help,
as I lift up my hands
    toward your most holy sanctuary.[c](AB)

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.(AC)
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.(AD)
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.(AE)

Blessed be the Lord,
    for he has heard the sound of my pleadings.(AF)
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.(AG)

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

Psalm 29

The Voice of God in a Great Storm

A Psalm of David.

Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,[d]
    ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.(AJ)
Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name;
    worship the Lord in holy splendor.(AK)

The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
    the God of glory thunders,
    the Lord, over mighty waters.(AL)
The voice of the Lord is powerful;
    the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.(AM)

The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
    the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.(AN)
He makes Lebanon skip like a calf
    and Sirion like a young wild ox.(AO)

The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.
The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;
    the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.(AP)

The voice of the Lord causes the oaks to whirl[e]
    and strips the forest bare,
    and in his temple all say, “Glory!”(AQ)

10 The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
    the Lord sits enthroned as king forever.(AR)
11 May the Lord give strength to his people!
    May the Lord bless his people with peace!(AS)

Psalm 30

Thanksgiving for Recovery from Grave Illness

A Psalm. A Song at the dedication of the temple. Of David.

I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up
    and did not let my foes rejoice over me.(AT)
O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,
    and you have healed me.(AU)
O Lord, you brought up my soul from Sheol,
    restored me to life from among those gone down to the Pit.[f](AV)

Sing praises to the Lord, O you his faithful ones,
    and give thanks to his holy name.(AW)
For his anger is but for a moment;
    his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may linger for the night,
    but joy comes with the morning.(AX)

As for me, I said in my prosperity,
    “I shall never be moved.”
By your favor, O Lord,
    you had established me as a strong mountain;
you hid your face;
    I was dismayed.(AY)

To you, O Lord, I cried,
    and to the Lord I made supplication:
“What profit is there in my death,
    if I go down to the Pit?
Will the dust praise you?
    Will it tell of your faithfulness?(AZ)
10 Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me!
    O Lord, be my helper!”[g]

11 You have turned my mourning into dancing;
    you have taken off my sackcloth
    and clothed me with joy,(BA)
12 so that my soul[h] may praise you and not be silent.
    O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever.(BB)

Psalm 31

Prayer and Praise for Deliverance from Enemies

To the leader. A Psalm of David.

In you, O Lord, I seek refuge;
    do not let me ever be put to shame;
    in your righteousness deliver me.(BC)
Incline your ear to me;
    rescue me speedily.
Be a rock of refuge for me,
    a strong fortress to save me.(BD)

You are indeed my rock and my fortress;
    for your name’s sake lead me and guide me;(BE)
take me out of the net that is hidden for me,
    for you are my refuge.(BF)
Into your hand I commit my spirit;
    you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.(BG)

You hate[i] those who pay regard to worthless idols,
    but I trust in the Lord.(BH)
I will exult and rejoice in your steadfast love,
    because you have seen my affliction;
    you have taken notice of my adversities(BI)
and have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy;
    you have set my feet in a broad place.(BJ)

Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress;
    my eye wastes away from grief,
    my soul and body also.
10 For my life is spent with sorrow
    and my years with sighing;
my strength fails because of my misery,[j]
    and my bones waste away.(BK)

11 I am the scorn of all my adversaries,
    a horror[k] to my neighbors,
an object of dread to my acquaintances;
    those who see me in the street flee from me.(BL)
12 I have passed out of mind like one who is dead;
    I have become like a broken vessel.(BM)
13 For I hear the whispering of many—
    terror all around!—
as they scheme together against me,
    as they plot to take my life.(BN)

14 But I trust in you, O Lord;
    I say, “You are my God.”(BO)
15 My times are in your hand;
    deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.(BP)
16 Let your face shine upon your servant;
    save me in your steadfast love.(BQ)
17 Do not let me be put to shame, O Lord,
    for I call on you;
let the wicked be put to shame;
    let them go dumbfounded to Sheol.(BR)
18 Let the lying lips be stilled
    that speak insolently against the righteous
    with pride and contempt.(BS)

19 O how abundant is your goodness
    that you have laid up for those who fear you
and accomplished for those who take refuge in you,
    in the sight of everyone!(BT)
20 In the shelter of your presence you hide them
    from human plots;
you hold them safe under your shelter
    from contentious tongues.(BU)

21 Blessed be the Lord,
    for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me
    when I was beset as a city under siege.(BV)
22 I had said in my alarm,
    “I am driven far[l] from your sight.”
But you heard my supplications
    when I cried out to you for help.(BW)

23 Love the Lord, all you his saints.
    The Lord preserves the faithful
    but abundantly repays the one who acts haughtily.(BX)
24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage,
    all you who wait for the Lord.(BY)

Footnotes

  1. 26.3 Or in your faithfulness
  2. 27.1 Or refuge
  3. 28.2 Heb your innermost sanctuary
  4. 29.1 Heb sons of gods
  5. 29.9 Or causes the deer to calve
  6. 30.3 Or that I should not go down to the Pit
  7. 30.10 Or The Lord heard and was gracious to me; the Lord became my helper
  8. 30.12 Heb that glory
  9. 31.6 Heb ms Gk Syr Jerome: MT I hate
  10. 31.10 Gk Syr: Heb my iniquity
  11. 31.11 Cn: Heb exceedingly
  12. 31.22 Heb mss: MT cut off

Psalm 26

Of David.

Vindicate me,(A) Lord,
    for I have led a blameless life;(B)
I have trusted(C) in the Lord
    and have not faltered.(D)
Test me,(E) Lord, and try me,
    examine my heart and my mind;(F)
for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love(G)
    and have lived(H) in reliance on your faithfulness.(I)

I do not sit(J) with the deceitful,
    nor do I associate with hypocrites.(K)
I abhor(L) the assembly of evildoers
    and refuse to sit with the wicked.
I wash my hands in innocence,(M)
    and go about your altar, Lord,
proclaiming aloud your praise(N)
    and telling of all your wonderful deeds.(O)

Lord, I love(P) the house where you live,
    the place where your glory dwells.(Q)
Do not take away my soul along with sinners,
    my life with those who are bloodthirsty,(R)
10 in whose hands are wicked schemes,(S)
    whose right hands are full of bribes.(T)
11 I lead a blameless life;
    deliver me(U) and be merciful to me.

12 My feet stand on level ground;(V)
    in the great congregation(W) I will praise the Lord.

Psalm 27

Of David.

The Lord is my light(X) and my salvation(Y)
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold(Z) of my life—
    of whom shall I be afraid?(AA)

When the wicked advance against me
    to devour[a] me,
it is my enemies and my foes
    who will stumble and fall.(AB)
Though an army besiege me,
    my heart will not fear;(AC)
though war break out against me,
    even then I will be confident.(AD)

One thing(AE) I ask from the Lord,
    this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,(AF)
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
    and to seek him in his temple.
For in the day of trouble(AG)
    he will keep me safe(AH) in his dwelling;
he will hide me(AI) in the shelter of his sacred tent
    and set me high upon a rock.(AJ)

Then my head will be exalted(AK)
    above the enemies who surround me;(AL)
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice(AM) with shouts of joy;(AN)
    I will sing(AO) and make music(AP) to the Lord.

Hear my voice(AQ) when I call, Lord;
    be merciful to me and answer me.(AR)
My heart says of you, “Seek his face!(AS)
    Your face, Lord, I will seek.
Do not hide your face(AT) from me,
    do not turn your servant away in anger;(AU)
    you have been my helper.(AV)
Do not reject me or forsake(AW) me,
    God my Savior.(AX)
10 Though my father and mother forsake me,
    the Lord will receive me.
11 Teach me your way,(AY) Lord;
    lead me in a straight path(AZ)
    because of my oppressors.(BA)
12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
    for false witnesses(BB) rise up against me,
    spouting malicious accusations.

13 I remain confident of this:
    I will see the goodness of the Lord(BC)
    in the land of the living.(BD)
14 Wait(BE) for the Lord;
    be strong(BF) and take heart
    and wait for the Lord.

Psalm 28

Of David.

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

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.(BM)
Repay them for their deeds
    and for their evil work;
repay them for what their hands have done(BN)
    and bring back on them what they deserve.(BO)

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

Praise be to the Lord,(BQ)
    for he has heard my cry for mercy.(BR)
The Lord is my strength(BS) and my shield;
    my heart trusts(BT) in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,(BU)
    and with my song I praise him.(BV)

The Lord is the strength(BW) of his people,
    a fortress of salvation(BX) for his anointed one.(BY)
Save your people(BZ) and bless your inheritance;(CA)
    be their shepherd(CB) and carry them(CC) forever.

Psalm 29

A psalm of David.

Ascribe to the Lord,(CD) you heavenly beings,(CE)
    ascribe to the Lord glory(CF) and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
    worship the Lord in the splendor of his[b] holiness.(CG)

The voice(CH) of the Lord is over the waters;
    the God of glory(CI) thunders,(CJ)
    the Lord thunders over the mighty waters.(CK)
The voice of the Lord is powerful;(CL)
    the voice of the Lord is majestic.
The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
    the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.(CM)
He makes Lebanon leap(CN) like a calf,
    Sirion[c](CO) like a young wild ox.(CP)
The voice of the Lord strikes
    with flashes of lightning.(CQ)
The voice of the Lord shakes the desert;
    the Lord shakes the Desert of Kadesh.(CR)
The voice of the Lord twists the oaks[d](CS)
    and strips the forests bare.
And in his temple all cry, “Glory!”(CT)

10 The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;(CU)
    the Lord is enthroned as King forever.(CV)
11 The Lord gives strength to his people;(CW)
    the Lord blesses his people with peace.(CX)

Psalm 30[e]

A psalm. A song. For the dedication of the temple.[f] Of David.

I will exalt(CY) you, Lord,
    for you lifted me out of the depths(CZ)
    and did not let my enemies gloat over me.(DA)
Lord my God, I called to you for help,(DB)
    and you healed me.(DC)
You, Lord, brought me up from the realm of the dead;(DD)
    you spared me from going down to the pit.(DE)

Sing(DF) the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people;(DG)
    praise his holy name.(DH)
For his anger(DI) lasts only a moment,(DJ)
    but his favor lasts a lifetime;(DK)
weeping(DL) may stay for the night,
    but rejoicing comes in the morning.(DM)

When I felt secure, I said,
    “I will never be shaken.”(DN)
Lord, when you favored me,
    you made my royal mountain[g] stand firm;
but when you hid your face,(DO)
    I was dismayed.

To you, Lord, I called;
    to the Lord I cried for mercy:
“What is gained if I am silenced,
    if I go down to the pit?(DP)
Will the dust praise you?
    Will it proclaim your faithfulness?(DQ)
10 Hear,(DR) Lord, and be merciful to me;(DS)
    Lord, be my help.(DT)

11 You turned my wailing(DU) into dancing;(DV)
    you removed my sackcloth(DW) and clothed me with joy,(DX)
12 that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.
    Lord my God, I will praise(DY) you forever.(DZ)

Psalm 31[h](EA)

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;(EB)
    let me never be put to shame;
    deliver me in your righteousness.(EC)
Turn your ear to me,(ED)
    come quickly to my rescue;(EE)
be my rock of refuge,(EF)
    a strong fortress to save me.
Since you are my rock and my fortress,(EG)
    for the sake of your name(EH) lead and guide me.
Keep me free from the trap(EI) that is set for me,
    for you are my refuge.(EJ)
Into your hands I commit my spirit;(EK)
    deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.(EL)

I hate those who cling to worthless idols;(EM)
    as for me, I trust in the Lord.(EN)
I will be glad and rejoice in your love,
    for you saw my affliction(EO)
    and knew the anguish(EP) of my soul.
You have not given me into the hands(EQ) of the enemy
    but have set my feet in a spacious place.(ER)

Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress;(ES)
    my eyes grow weak with sorrow,(ET)
    my soul and body(EU) with grief.
10 My life is consumed by anguish(EV)
    and my years by groaning;(EW)
my strength fails(EX) because of my affliction,[i](EY)
    and my bones grow weak.(EZ)
11 Because of all my enemies,(FA)
    I am the utter contempt(FB) of my neighbors(FC)
and an object of dread to my closest friends—
    those who see me on the street flee from me.
12 I am forgotten as though I were dead;(FD)
    I have become like broken pottery.
13 For I hear many whispering,(FE)
    “Terror on every side!”(FF)
They conspire against me(FG)
    and plot to take my life.(FH)

14 But I trust(FI) in you, Lord;
    I say, “You are my God.”
15 My times(FJ) are in your hands;
    deliver me from the hands of my enemies,
    from those who pursue me.
16 Let your face shine(FK) on your servant;
    save me in your unfailing love.(FL)
17 Let me not be put to shame,(FM) Lord,
    for I have cried out to you;
but let the wicked be put to shame
    and be silent(FN) in the realm of the dead.
18 Let their lying lips(FO) be silenced,
    for with pride and contempt
    they speak arrogantly(FP) against the righteous.

19 How abundant are the good things(FQ)
    that you have stored up for those who fear you,
that you bestow in the sight of all,(FR)
    on those who take refuge(FS) in you.
20 In the shelter(FT) of your presence you hide(FU) them
    from all human intrigues;(FV)
you keep them safe in your dwelling
    from accusing tongues.

21 Praise be to the Lord,(FW)
    for he showed me the wonders of his love(FX)
    when I was in a city under siege.(FY)
22 In my alarm(FZ) I said,
    “I am cut off(GA) from your sight!”
Yet you heard my cry(GB) for mercy
    when I called to you for help.

23 Love the Lord, all his faithful people!(GC)
    The Lord preserves those who are true to him,(GD)
    but the proud he pays back(GE) in full.
24 Be strong and take heart,(GF)
    all you who hope in the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 27:2 Or slander
  2. Psalm 29:2 Or Lord with the splendor of
  3. Psalm 29:6 That is, Mount Hermon
  4. Psalm 29:9 Or Lord makes the deer give birth
  5. Psalm 30:1 In Hebrew texts 30:1-12 is numbered 30:2-13.
  6. Psalm 30:1 Title: Or palace
  7. Psalm 30:7 That is, Mount Zion
  8. Psalm 31:1 In Hebrew texts 31:1-24 is numbered 31:2-25.
  9. Psalm 31:10 Or guilt