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A Morning Prayer for Protection

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

Lord, listen to my words.
    Understand what I am thinking.
Listen to my cry for help.
    My king and my God, I pray to you.
Lord, every morning you hear my voice.
    Every morning, I tell you what I need.
    And I wait for your answer.

You are not a God who is pleased with what is wicked.
    You do not live with those who do evil.
Those people who make fun of you cannot stand before you.
    You hate all those who do wrong.
You destroy liars.
    The Lord hates those who kill and trick others.

Because of your great love,
    I can come into your Temple.
Because I fear and respect you,
    I can worship in your holy Temple.
Lord, since I have many enemies,
    show me the right thing to do.
    Show me clearly how you want me to live.

With their mouths my enemies do not tell the truth.
    In their hearts they want to destroy people.
Their throats are like open graves.
    They use their tongues for telling lies.
10 God, declare them guilty!
    Let them fall into their own traps.
Send them away because their sins are many.
    They have turned against you.

11 But let everyone who trusts you be happy.
    Let them sing glad songs forever.
Protect those who love you.
    They are happy because of you.
12 Lord, you bless those who do what is right.
    You protect them like a soldier’s shield.

Psalm 5[a]

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

Listen(A) to my words, Lord,
    consider my lament.(B)
Hear my cry for help,(C)
    my King and my God,(D)
    for to you I pray.

In the morning,(E) Lord, you hear my voice;
    in the morning I lay my requests before you
    and wait expectantly.(F)
For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness;
    with you, evil people(G) are not welcome.
The arrogant(H) cannot stand(I)
    in your presence.
You hate(J) all who do wrong;
    you destroy those who tell lies.(K)
The bloodthirsty and deceitful
    you, Lord, detest.
But I, by your great love,
    can come into your house;
in reverence(L) I bow down(M)
    toward your holy temple.(N)

Lead me, Lord, in your righteousness(O)
    because of my enemies—
    make your way straight(P) before me.
Not a word from their mouth can be trusted;
    their heart is filled with malice.
Their throat is an open grave;(Q)
    with their tongues they tell lies.(R)
10 Declare them guilty, O God!
    Let their intrigues be their downfall.
Banish them for their many sins,(S)
    for they have rebelled(T) against you.
11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
    let them ever sing for joy.(U)
Spread your protection over them,
    that those who love your name(V) may rejoice in you.(W)

12 Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous;(X)
    you surround them(Y) with your favor as with a shield.(Z)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 5:1 In Hebrew texts 5:1-12 is numbered 5:2-13.