Psalm 26-30

New International Version

Psalm 26

Of David.

¹Vindicate me,^(A) Lord,
    for I have led a blameless life;^(B)
I have trusted^(C) in the Lord
    and have not faltered.^(D)
²Test me,^(E) Lord, and try me,
    examine my heart and my mind;^(F)
³for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love^(G)
    and have lived^(H) in reliance on your faithfulness.^(I)

⁴I do not sit^(J) with the deceitful,
    nor do I associate with hypocrites.^(K)
⁵I abhor^(L) the assembly of evildoers
    and refuse to sit with the wicked.
⁶I wash my hands in innocence,^(M)
    and go about your altar, Lord,
⁷proclaiming aloud your praise^(N)
    and telling of all your wonderful deeds.^(O)

⁸Lord, I love^(P) the house where you live,
    the place where your glory dwells.^(Q)
⁹Do not take away my soul along with sinners,
    my life with those who are bloodthirsty,^(R)
¹⁰in whose hands are wicked schemes,^(S)
    whose right hands are full of bribes.^(T)
¹¹I lead a blameless life;
    deliver me^(U) and be merciful to me.

¹²My feet stand on level ground;^(V)
in the great congregation^(W) I will praise the Lord.

Psalm 27

Of David.

¹The Lord is my light^(X) and my salvation^(Y)—
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold^(Z) of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?^(AA)

²When the wicked advance against me
    to devour^[a] me,
it is my enemies and my foes
    who will stumble and fall.^(AB)
³Though an army besiege me,
    my heart will not fear;^(AC)
though war break out against me,
    even then I will be confident.^(AD)

⁴One thing^(AE) 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,^(AF)
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
    and to seek him in his temple.
⁵For in the day of trouble^(AG)
    he will keep me safe^(AH) in his dwelling;
he will hide me^(AI) in the shelter of his sacred tent
    and set me high upon a rock.^(AJ)

⁶Then my head will be exalted^(AK)
above the enemies who surround me;^(AL)
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice^(AM) with shouts of joy;^(AN)
I will sing^(AO) and make music^(AP) to the Lord.

⁷Hear my voice^(AQ) when I call, Lord;
    be merciful to me and answer me.^(AR)
⁸My heart says of you, “Seek his face!^(AS)”
    Your face, Lord, I will seek.
⁹Do not hide your face^(AT) from me,
    do not turn your servant away in anger;^(AU)
    you have been my helper.^(AV)
Do not reject me or forsake^(AW) me,
    God my Savior.^(AX)
¹⁰Though my father and mother forsake me,
    the Lord will receive me.
¹¹Teach me your way,^(AY) Lord;
    lead me in a straight path^(AZ)
    because of my oppressors.^(BA)
¹²Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
    for false witnesses^(BB) rise up against me,
    spouting malicious accusations.

¹³I remain confident of this:
    I will see the goodness of the Lord^(BC)
    in the land of the living.^(BD)
¹⁴Wait^(BE) for the Lord;
    be strong^(BF) and take heart
    and wait for the Lord.

Psalm 28

Of David.

¹To you, Lord, I call;
    you are my Rock,
    do not turn a deaf ear^(BG) to me.
For if you remain silent,^(BH)
    I will be like those who go down to the pit.^(BI)
²Hear my cry for mercy^(BJ)
    as I call to you for help,
as I lift up my hands^(BK)
    toward your Most Holy Place.^(BL)

³Do not drag me away with the wicked,
    with those who do evil,
who speak cordially with their neighbors
    but harbor malice in their hearts.^(BM)
⁴Repay them for their deeds
    and for their evil work;
repay them for what their hands have done^(BN)
    and bring back on them what they deserve.^(BO)

⁵Because they have no regard for the deeds of the Lord
and what his hands have done,^(BP)
he will tear them down
and never build them up again.

⁶Praise be to the Lord,^(BQ)
    for he has heard my cry for mercy.^(BR)
⁷The Lord is my strength^(BS) and my shield;
    my heart trusts^(BT) in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,^(BU)
    and with my song I praise him.^(BV)

⁸The Lord is the strength^(BW) of his people,
a fortress of salvation^(BX) for his anointed one.^(BY)
⁹Save your people^(BZ) and bless your inheritance;^(CA)
be their shepherd^(CB) and carry them^(CC) forever.

Psalm 29

A psalm of David.

¹Ascribe to the Lord,^(CD) you heavenly beings,^(CE)
ascribe to the Lord glory^(CF) and strength.
²Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
worship the Lord in the splendor of his^[b] holiness.^(CG)

³The voice^(CH) of the Lord is over the waters;
    the God of glory^(CI) thunders,^(CJ)
    the Lord thunders over the mighty waters.^(CK)
⁴The voice of the Lord is powerful;^(CL)
    the voice of the Lord is majestic.
⁵The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
    the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.^(CM)
⁶He makes Lebanon leap^(CN) like a calf,
    Sirion^[c]^(CO) like a young wild ox.^(CP)
⁷The voice of the Lord strikes
    with flashes of lightning.^(CQ)
⁸The voice of the Lord shakes the desert;
    the Lord shakes the Desert of Kadesh.^(CR)
⁹The voice of the Lord twists the oaks^[d]^(CS)
    and strips the forests bare.
And in his temple all cry, “Glory!”^(CT)

¹⁰The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;^(CU)
the Lord is enthroned as King forever.^(CV)
¹¹The Lord gives strength to his people;^(CW)
the Lord blesses his people with peace.^(CX)

Psalm 30^[e]

A psalm. A song. For the dedication of the temple.^[f] Of David.

¹I will exalt^(CY) you, Lord,
    for you lifted me out of the depths^(CZ)
    and did not let my enemies gloat over me.^(DA)
²Lord my God, I called to you for help,^(DB)
    and you healed me.^(DC)
³You, Lord, brought me up from the realm of the dead;^(DD)
    you spared me from going down to the pit.^(DE)

⁴Sing^(DF) the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people;^(DG)
    praise his holy name.^(DH)
⁵For his anger^(DI) lasts only a moment,^(DJ)
    but his favor lasts a lifetime;^(DK)
weeping^(DL) may stay for the night,
    but rejoicing comes in the morning.^(DM)

⁶When I felt secure, I said,
    “I will never be shaken.”^(DN)
⁷Lord, when you favored me,
    you made my royal mountain^[g] stand firm;
but when you hid your face,^(DO)
    I was dismayed.

⁸To you, Lord, I called;
    to the Lord I cried for mercy:
⁹“What is gained if I am silenced,
    if I go down to the pit?^(DP)
Will the dust praise you?
    Will it proclaim your faithfulness?^(DQ)
¹⁰Hear,^(DR) Lord, and be merciful to me;^(DS)
    Lord, be my help.^(DT)”

¹¹You turned my wailing^(DU) into dancing;^(DV)
you removed my sackcloth^(DW) and clothed me with joy,^(DX)
¹²that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.
Lord my God, I will praise^(DY) you forever.^(DZ)