Tehillim 27
Orthodox Jewish Bible
27 (Of Dovid) Hashem is my ohr and Yishi (my Salvation); whom shall I fear? Hashem is the ma’oz (stronghold) of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the resha’im, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to devour my basar, they stumbled and fell.
3 Though an army should encamp against me, my lev shall not fear; though milchamah should break out against me, in this will I be confident.
4 One thing have I asked of Hashem, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the Bais Hashem all the days of my life, to behold the gracefulness of Hashem, and to inquire in His Heikhal.
5 For in the Yom Ra’ah (day of evil) He shall keep me safe in His Sukkah; in the shelter of His Ohel shall He conceal me; He shall set me up upon a Tzur (rock).
6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies around about me; therefore will I offer in His Ohel sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing, yea, I will make music unto Hashem.
7 Shema, Hashem, when I call with my voice; chaneini also upon me, and answer me.
8 When my lev said of Thee, Seek ye My face, my lev said unto Thee, Thy face, Hashem, will I seek.
9 Hide not Thy face far from me; turn not Thy eved away in anger; Thou hast been my ezer; leave me not, neither forsake me, Elohei Yishi (G-d of my Salvation).
10 When avi and immi forsake me, then Hashem will take me up.
11 Teach me Thy Derech, Hashem, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.
12 Deliver me not over unto the desire of mine enemies; for edei sheker are risen up against me, and such as breathe out chamas.
13 Did I not believe to see Hashem’s goodness in the Eretz Chayyim!
14 Wait for Hashem: Chazak! And strengthen thine lev. Wait, I say, for Hashem.
Psalm 27
New King James Version
An Exuberant Declaration of Faith
A Psalm of David.
27 The Lord is my (A)light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The (B)Lord is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked came against me
To (C)eat[a] up my flesh,
My enemies and foes,
They stumbled and fell.
3 (D)Though an army may encamp against me,
My heart shall not fear;
Though war may rise against me,
In this I will be confident.
4 (E)One thing I have desired of the Lord,
That will I seek:
That I may (F)dwell in the house of the Lord
All the days of my life,
To behold the [b]beauty of the Lord,
And to inquire in His temple.
5 For (G)in the time of trouble
He shall hide me in His pavilion;
In the secret place of His tabernacle
He shall hide me;
He shall (H)set me high upon a rock.
6 And now (I)my head shall be [c]lifted up above my enemies all around me;
Therefore I will offer sacrifices of [d]joy in His tabernacle;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.
7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice!
Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
8 When You said, “Seek My face,”
My heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.”
9 (J)Do not hide Your face from me;
Do not turn Your servant away in anger;
You have been my help;
Do not leave me nor forsake me,
O God of my salvation.
10 (K)When my father and my mother forsake me,
Then the Lord will take care of me.
11 (L)Teach me Your way, O Lord,
And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.
12 Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries;
For (M)false witnesses have risen against me,
And such as breathe out violence.
13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed
That I would see the goodness of the Lord
(N)In the land of the living.
14 (O)Wait[e] on the Lord;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the Lord!
Footnotes
- Psalm 27:2 devour
- Psalm 27:4 delightfulness
- Psalm 27:6 Lifted up in honor
- Psalm 27:6 joyous shouts
- Psalm 27:14 Wait in faith
Psalm 27
English Standard Version
The Lord Is My Light and My Salvation
Of David.
27 The Lord is my (A)light and my (B)salvation;
(C)whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold[a] of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When evildoers assail me
to (D)eat up my flesh,
my adversaries and foes,
it is they who stumble and fall.
3 (E)Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me,
yet[b] I will be confident.
4 (F)One thing have I asked of the Lord,
that will I seek after:
that I may (G)dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon (H)the beauty of the Lord
and to inquire[c] in his temple.
5 For he will (I)hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will (J)lift me high upon a rock.
6 And now my (K)head shall be lifted up
above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
sacrifices with shouts of (L)joy;
(M)I will sing and make melody to the Lord.
7 (N)Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;
be gracious to me and answer me!
8 You have said, (O)“Seek[d] my face.”
My heart says to you,
“Your face, Lord, do I seek.”[e]
9 (P)Hide not your face from me.
Turn not your servant away in anger,
O you who have been my help.
Cast me not off; forsake me not,
(Q)O God of my salvation!
10 For (R)my father and my mother have forsaken me,
but the Lord will (S)take me in.
11 (T)Teach me your way, O Lord,
and lead me on (U)a level path
because of my enemies.
12 (V)Give me not up to the will of my adversaries;
for (W)false witnesses have risen against me,
and they (X)breathe out violence.
13 I believe that I shall look[f] upon (Y)the goodness of the Lord
in (Z)the land of the living!
14 (AA)Wait for the Lord;
(AB)be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the Lord!
Footnotes
- Psalm 27:1 Or refuge
- Psalm 27:3 Or in this
- Psalm 27:4 Or meditate
- Psalm 27:8 The command (seek) is addressed to more than one person
- Psalm 27:8 The meaning of the Hebrew verse is uncertain
- Psalm 27:13 Other Hebrew manuscripts Oh! Had I not believed that I would look
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.

