Prayer for Protection from the Wicked.

For the music director; for [a]flute accompaniment. A Psalm of David.

(A)Listen to my words, Lord,
Consider my (B)sighing.
Listen to (C)the sound of my cry for help, (D)my King and my God,
For to You I pray.
In the morning, Lord, [b]You will hear my voice;
In the (E)morning I will present my [c]prayer to You and be on the (F)watch.

For You are not a God (G)who takes pleasure in wickedness;
(H)No evil can dwell with You.
The (I)boastful will not (J)stand before Your eyes;
You (K)hate all who do injustice.
You (L)destroy those who speak lies;
The Lord loathes (M)the person of bloodshed and deceit.
But as for me, (N)by Your abundant graciousness I will enter Your house,
[d]At Your holy temple I will (O)bow in (P)reverence for You.

Lord, (Q)lead me (R)in Your righteousness (S)because of my enemies;
Make Your way [e]straight before me.
For there is (T)nothing [f]trustworthy in [g]their mouth;
Their (U)inward part is destruction itself.
Their (V)throat is an open grave;
They [h]flatter with their tongue.
10 Make them pay, God;
(W)Have them fall by their own schemes!
(X)Scatter them in the multitude of their wrongdoings,
For they are (Y)rebellious against You.

11 But (Z)rejoice, all who (AA)take refuge in You,
Sing for joy forever!
And [i]may You (AB)shelter them,
That those who (AC)love Your name may rejoice in You.
12 For You (AD)bless the righteous person, Lord,
You (AE)surround him with favor as with a shield.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 5 Title Heb Nehiloth
  2. Psalm 5:3 Or May You hear
  3. Psalm 5:3 Or sacrifice
  4. Psalm 5:7 Or Toward
  5. Psalm 5:8 Or smooth
  6. Psalm 5:9 Or true
  7. Psalm 5:9 So ancient versions; MT his
  8. Psalm 5:9 Or make their tongue smooth
  9. Psalm 5:11 Or You shelter

To the Director: For flutes. A Davidic Psalm

A Prayer for God’s Help

Lord, listen to my words,
    consider my groaning.
Pay attention to my cry for help,[a]
    my king and my God,
        for unto you will I pray.
Lord, in the morning you will hear my voice;
    in the morning I will pray[b] to you,
    and I will watch for your answer.[c]

Indeed, you aren’t a God who delights in wickedness;
    evil will never dwell with you.
Boastful ones will not stand before you;
    you hate all those who practice wickedness.
You will destroy those who speak lies.
    The Lord abhors the person of bloodshed and deceit.
But I, because of the abundance of your gracious love,
    may come into your house.
        In awe of you, I will worship in your holy Temple.

Lord, lead me in your righteousness because of my enemies.
    Make your path straight before me.
But as for the wicked,[d]
    they do not speak truth at all.
        Inside them there is only wickedness.
Their throat is an open grave,
    on their tongue is deceitful flattery.

10 Declare them guilty, God!
    Let them fall by their own schemes.
Drive them away because of their many transgressions,
    for they have rebelled against you.

11 Let all those who take refuge in you rejoice!
    Let them shout for joy forever,
and may you protect them.
    Let those who love your name exult in you.
12 Indeed, you will bless the righteous one, Lord,
    like a large shield, you will surround him with favor.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 5:2 Lit. the sound of my cry for help
  2. Psalm 5:3 Lit. arrange my prayer
  3. Psalm 5:3 The Heb. lacks for your answer
  4. Psalm 5:9 The Heb. lacks as for the wicked