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A song of David.

27 Lord, you are my Light and my Savior,
    so why should I be afraid of anyone?
The Lord is where my life is safe,
    so I will be afraid of no one!
Evil people might attack me.
    They might try to destroy my body.
Yes, my enemies might attack me and try to destroy me,
    but they will stumble and fall.
Even if an army surrounds me, I will not be afraid.
    Even if people attack me in war, I will trust in the Lord.

I ask only one thing from the Lord.
    This is what I want most:
Let me live in the Lord’s house all my life,
    enjoying the Lord’s beauty
    and spending time in his palace.[a]

He will protect me when I am in danger.
    He will hide me in his tent.[b]
    He will take me up to his place of safety.
If he will help me defeat the enemies around me,
    I will offer sacrifices in his tent with shouts of joy.
    I will sing and play songs to honor the Lord.

Lord, hear my voice.
    Be kind and answer me.
My heart told me to come to you, Lord,
    so I am coming to ask for your help.
Don’t turn away from me.
    Don’t be angry with your servant.
    You are the only one who can help me.
My God, don’t leave me all alone.
    You are my Savior.
10 Even if my mother and father leave me,
    the Lord will take me in.
11 I have enemies, Lord, so teach me your ways.
    Show me the right way to live.
12 My enemies have attacked me.
    They have told lies about me and have tried to hurt me.
13 But I really believe
    that I will see the Lord’s goodness before I die.[c]
14 Wait for the Lord’s help.
    Be strong and brave,
    and wait for the Lord’s help.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 27:4 palace A large house built for a king. Here, it is the Temple. See “Temple” in the Word List.
  2. Psalm 27:5 tent The place where God lives among his people. Here, it is the Temple in Jerusalem. See “Holy Tent” and “Temple” in the Word List.
  3. Psalm 27:13 before I die Literally, “in the land of the living.”

Psalm 27

Of David.

The Lord is my light(A) and my salvation(B)
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold(C) of my life—
    of whom shall I be afraid?(D)

When the wicked advance against me
    to devour[a] me,
it is my enemies and my foes
    who will stumble and fall.(E)
Though an army besiege me,
    my heart will not fear;(F)
though war break out against me,
    even then I will be confident.(G)

One thing(H) I ask from the Lord,
    this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,(I)
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
    and to seek him in his temple.
For in the day of trouble(J)
    he will keep me safe(K) in his dwelling;
he will hide me(L) in the shelter of his sacred tent
    and set me high upon a rock.(M)

Then my head will be exalted(N)
    above the enemies who surround me;(O)
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice(P) with shouts of joy;(Q)
    I will sing(R) and make music(S) to the Lord.

Hear my voice(T) when I call, Lord;
    be merciful to me and answer me.(U)
My heart says of you, “Seek his face!(V)
    Your face, Lord, I will seek.
Do not hide your face(W) from me,
    do not turn your servant away in anger;(X)
    you have been my helper.(Y)
Do not reject me or forsake(Z) me,
    God my Savior.(AA)
10 Though my father and mother forsake me,
    the Lord will receive me.
11 Teach me your way,(AB) Lord;
    lead me in a straight path(AC)
    because of my oppressors.(AD)
12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
    for false witnesses(AE) rise up against me,
    spouting malicious accusations.

13 I remain confident of this:
    I will see the goodness of the Lord(AF)
    in the land of the living.(AG)
14 Wait(AH) for the Lord;
    be strong(AI) and take heart
    and wait for the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 27:2 Or slander