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A Morning Prayer for Protection

For the director of music. For flutes. A psalm of David.

Lord, ·listen [L give ear] to my words.
    Understand my ·sadness [L moans; sighs].
·Listen [Pay attention] to my cry for help, my King and my God,
    because I pray to you.
Lord, every morning you hear my voice.
    Every morning, I ·tell you what I need [or prepare a sacrifice for you; L stretch out/arrange before you],
and I ·wait for your answer [L watch].

You are not a God who ·is pleased with the wicked [takes delight in evil];
    ·you do not live with those who do evil [L evil does not sojourn with you].
Those people who ·make fun of you [or boast] cannot stand before ·you [L your eyes].
    You hate all those who do evil.
You destroy ·liars [L those who speak lies];
    the Lord ·hates [despises] those ·who kill and trick others [L with bloodguilt and deceit].

Because of your great ·love [loyalty; covenant love],
    I ·can [or will] come into your ·Temple [L house].
Because I ·fear you [hold you in awe],
    I can ·worship [bow down] ·in [or toward] your holy Temple.
Lord, since I have many enemies,
    ·show me the right thing to do [L lead/guide me in your righteousness].
·Show me clearly how you want me to live [L Make your way straight before me].

My enemies’ mouths do not tell the truth;
    ·in their hearts they want to destroy others [L their innards are destruction].
Their throats are like open graves [Rom. 3:13];
    they use their tongues for ·telling lies [flattery].
10 God, ·declare them guilty [L make them bear their iniquity]!
    Let them fall ·into their own traps [or by their own advice].
·Send [Cast] them away because their ·sins [transgressions] are many;
    they have ·turned [rebelled] against you.

11 But let everyone who ·trusts [finds refuge in] you ·be happy [rejoice];
    let them sing glad songs forever.
·Protect [L Spread your protection on] those who love you
    and ·who are happy because of you [L let those who love your name rejoice in you].
12 Lord, you bless those who ·do what is right [are righteous];
    you ·protect them [L surround them with favor] like a shield.

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