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

Trust in God for Deliverance from Enemies

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

Give ear to my words, O Lord;
give heed to my groaning.
Hearken to the sound of my cry,
    my King and my God,
    for to thee do I pray.
O Lord, in the morning thou dost hear my voice;
    in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for thee, and watch.

For thou art not a God who delights in wickedness;
    evil may not sojourn with thee.
The boastful may not stand before thy eyes;
    thou hatest all evildoers.
Thou destroyest those who speak lies;
    the Lord abhors bloodthirsty and deceitful men.

But I through the abundance of thy steadfast love
    will enter thy house,
I will worship toward thy holy temple
    in the fear of thee.
Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness
    because of my enemies;
    make thy way straight before me.

For there is no truth in their mouth;
    their heart is destruction,
their throat is an open sepulchre,
    they flatter with their tongue.
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 thee.

11 But let all who take refuge in thee rejoice,
    let them ever sing for joy;
and do thou defend them,
    that those who love thy name may exult in thee.
12 For thou dost bless the righteous, O Lord;
    thou dost cover him with favor as with a shield.