A Prayer for Help, and Praise for Its Answer.

A Psalm of David.

28 To You, Lord, I call;
My (A)rock, do not be deaf to me,
For if You (B)are silent to me,
I will become like those who (C)go down to the pit.
Hear the (D)sound of my pleadings when I cry to You for help,
When I (E)raise my hands (F)toward [a]Your holy (G)sanctuary.
(H)Do not drag me away with the wicked
And with those who practice injustice,
Who (I)speak peace with their neighbors,
While evil is in their hearts.
Give back to them (J)according to their work and according to the evil of their practices;
Give back to them according to the work of their hands;
Repay them what is due them.
Because they (K)do not regard the works of the Lord
Nor the deeds of His hands,
He will tear them down and not build them up.

Blessed be the Lord,
Because He (L)has heard the sound of my pleading.
The Lord is my (M)strength and my (N)shield;
My heart (O)trusts in Him, and I am helped;
Therefore (P)my heart triumphs,
And with (Q)my song I shall thank Him.
The Lord is [b]their (R)strength,
And He is a refuge of (S)salvation to His anointed.
(T)Save Your people and bless (U)Your inheritance;
Be their (V)shepherd also, and (W)carry them forever.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 28:2 Lit the innermost place of Your sanctuary
  2. Psalm 28:8 A few mss and ancient versions the strength of His people

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