The Lord Is My Strength and My Shield

Of David.

28 To you, O Lord, I call;
    (A)my rock, be not deaf to me,
lest, if you (B)be silent to me,
    I become like those who (C)go down to the pit.
(D)Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy,
    when I cry to you for help,
when I (E)lift up my hands
    (F)toward your most holy sanctuary.[a]

Do not (G)drag me off with the wicked,
    with the workers of evil,
(H)who speak peace with their neighbors
    while evil is in their hearts.
(I)Give to them according to their work
    and according to the evil of their deeds;
give to them according to the work of their hands;
    (J)render them their due reward.
Because they (K)do not regard the works of the Lord
    or the work of his hands,
he will tear them down and build them up no more.

Blessed be the Lord!
    For he has (L)heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.
The Lord is my strength and (M)my shield;
    in him my heart (N)trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults,
    and with my (O)song I give thanks to him.

The Lord is the strength of his people;[b]
    he is (P)the saving refuge of his anointed.
Oh, save your people and bless (Q)your heritage!
    (R)Be their shepherd and (S)carry them forever.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 28:2 Hebrew your innermost sanctuary
  2. Psalm 28:8 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts is their strength

Davidic

A Prayer for Help

28 To you, Lord, I cry out!
    My Rock, do not refuse to answer me.[a]
If you remain silent,
    I will become like those who descend into the Pit.[b]
Hear the sound of my supplications when I cry to you for help,
    as I lift up my hands toward your most holy sanctuary.

Do not drag me away with the wicked,
    with those who practice iniquity,
who speak peace to their neighbors
    while harboring evil in their hearts.
Reward them according to their deeds;
    according to the evil of their actions.
Reward them based on what they do;[c]
    give them what they deserve.
Because they do not understand the deeds of the Lord
    or the work of his hands,
        He will tear them down and never build them up.

Blessed be the Lord!
    For he has heard the sound of my supplications.
The Lord is my strength and my shield;
    my heart trusts in him,
        and I received help.
My heart rejoices,
    and I give thanks to him with my song.

The Lord is the strength of his people;[d]
    he is a refuge of deliverance for his anointed.
Deliver your people
    and bless your inheritance!
Shepherd them
    and lift them up forever!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 28:1 Lit. do not be silent to me
  2. Psalm 28:1 I.e. the place of punishment in the afterlife
  3. Psalm 28:4 Lit. them according to work of their hands
  4. Psalm 28:8 Lit. of them