Psalm 5

Amplified Bible

Prayer for Protection from the Wicked.

To the Chief Musician; on wind instruments. A Psalm of David.

5 Listen to my words, O Lord,
Consider my groaning and sighing.
²
Heed the sound of my cry for help, my King and my God,
For to You I pray.
³
In the morning, O Lord, You will hear my voice;
In the morning I will prepare [a prayer and a sacrifice] for You and watch and wait [for You to speak to my heart].

⁴
For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness;
No evil [person] dwells with You.
⁵
The boastful and the arrogant will not stand in Your sight;
You hate all who do evil.
⁶
You destroy those who tell lies;
The Lord detests and rejects the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.
⁷
But as for me, I will enter Your house through the abundance of Your steadfast love and tender mercy;
At Your holy temple I will bow [obediently] in reverence for You.

⁸
O Lord, lead me in Your righteousness because of my enemies;
Make Your way straight (direct, right) before me.
⁹
For there is nothing trustworthy or reliable or truthful in what they say;
Their heart is destruction [just a treacherous chasm, a yawning gulf of lies].
Their throat is an open grave;
They [glibly] flatter with their [silken] tongue.^(A)
¹⁰
Hold them guilty, O God;
Let them fall by their own designs and councils!
Cast them out because of the abundance of their transgressions,
For they are mutinous and have rebelled against You.

¹¹
But let all who take refuge and put their trust in You rejoice,
Let them ever sing for joy;
Because You cover and shelter them,
Let those who love Your name be joyful and exult in You.
¹²
For You, O Lord, bless the righteous man [the one who is in right standing with You];
You surround him with favor as with a shield.