Psalm 27

New International Version

Psalm 27

Of David.

¹The 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)

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

⁴One 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.
⁵For 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)

⁶Then 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.

⁷Hear my voice^(T) when I call, Lord;
    be merciful to me and answer me.^(U)
⁸My heart says of you, “Seek his face!^(V)”
    Your face, Lord, I will seek.
⁹Do 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)
¹⁰Though my father and mother forsake me,
    the Lord will receive me.
¹¹Teach me your way,^(AB) Lord;
    lead me in a straight path^(AC)
    because of my oppressors.^(AD)
¹²Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
    for false witnesses^(AE) rise up against me,
    spouting malicious accusations.

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

Footnotes

Psalm 27:2 Or slander

Psalm 34

New International Version

Psalm 34^[a]^[b]

Of David. When he pretended to be insane^(A) before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left.

¹I will extol the Lord at all times;^(B)
    his praise will always be on my lips.
²I will glory^(C) in the Lord;
    let the afflicted hear and rejoice.^(D)
³Glorify the Lord^(E) with me;
    let us exalt^(F) his name together.

⁴I sought the Lord,^(G) and he answered me;
    he delivered^(H) me from all my fears.
⁵Those who look to him are radiant;^(I)
    their faces are never covered with shame.^(J)
⁶This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
    he saved him out of all his troubles.^(K)
⁷The angel of the Lord^(L) encamps around those who fear him,
    and he delivers^(M) them.

⁸Taste and see that the Lord is good;^(N)
    blessed is the one who takes refuge^(O) in him.
⁹Fear the Lord,^(P) you his holy people,
    for those who fear him lack nothing.^(Q)
¹⁰The lions may grow weak and hungry,
    but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.^(R)
¹¹Come, my children, listen^(S) to me;
    I will teach you^(T) the fear of the Lord.^(U)
¹²Whoever of you loves life^(V)
    and desires to see many good days,
¹³keep your tongue^(W) from evil
    and your lips from telling lies.^(X)
¹⁴Turn from evil and do good;^(Y)
    seek peace^(Z) and pursue it.

¹⁵The eyes of the Lord^(AA) are on the righteous,^(AB)
and his ears are attentive^(AC) to their cry;
¹⁶but the face of the Lord is against^(AD) those who do evil,^(AE)
to blot out their name^(AF) from the earth.

¹⁷The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears^(AG) them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
¹⁸The Lord is close^(AH) to the brokenhearted^(AI)
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

¹⁹The righteous person may have many troubles,^(AJ)
but the Lord delivers him from them all;^(AK)
²⁰he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.^(AL)

²¹Evil will slay the wicked;^(AM)
the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
²²The Lord will rescue^(AN) his servants;
no one who takes refuge^(AO) in him will be condemned.

Footnotes

Psalm 34:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
Psalm 34:1 In Hebrew texts 34:1-22 is numbered 34:2-23.

Psalm 56

New International Version

Psalm 56^[a]

For the director of music. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” Of David. A miktam.^[b] When the Philistines had seized him in Gath.

¹Be merciful to me,^(A) my God,
    for my enemies are in hot pursuit;^(B)
    all day long they press their attack.^(C)
²My adversaries pursue me all day long;^(D)
    in their pride many are attacking me.^(E)

³When I am afraid,^(F) I put my trust in you.^(G)
⁴ In God, whose word I praise—^(H)
in God I trust and am not afraid.^(I)
What can mere mortals do to me?^(J)

⁵All day long they twist my words;^(K)
    all their schemes are for my ruin.
⁶They conspire,^(L) they lurk,
    they watch my steps,^(M)
    hoping to take my life.^(N)
⁷Because of their wickedness do not^[c] let them escape;^(O)
    in your anger, God, bring the nations down.^(P)

⁸Record my misery;
    list my tears on your scroll^[d]^(Q)—
    are they not in your record?^(R)
⁹Then my enemies will turn back^(S)
    when I call for help.^(T)
    By this I will know that God is for me.^(U)

¹⁰In God, whose word I praise,
in the Lord, whose word I praise—
¹¹in God I trust and am not afraid.
What can man do to me?

¹²I am under vows^(V) to you, my God;
    I will present my thank offerings to you.
¹³For you have delivered me from death^(W)
    and my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before God
    in the light of life.^(X)

Footnotes

Psalm 56:1 In Hebrew texts 56:1-13 is numbered 56:2-14.
Psalm 56:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
Psalm 56:7 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text does not have do not.
Psalm 56:8 Or misery; / put my tears in your wineskin

Psalm 61

New International Version

Psalm 61^[a]

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. Of David.

¹Hear my cry, O God;^(A)
listen to my prayer.^(B)

²From the ends of the earth I call to you,
    I call as my heart grows faint;^(C)
    lead me to the rock^(D) that is higher than I.
³For you have been my refuge,^(E)
    a strong tower against the foe.^(F)

⁴I long to dwell^(G) in your tent forever
and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.^[b]^(H)
⁵For you, God, have heard my vows;^(I)
you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.^(J)

⁶Increase the days of the king’s life,^(K)
his years for many generations.^(L)
⁷May he be enthroned in God’s presence forever;^(M)
appoint your love and faithfulness to protect him.^(N)

⁸Then I will ever sing in praise of your name^(O)
and fulfill my vows day after day.^(P)

Footnotes

Psalm 61:1 In Hebrew texts 61:1-8 is numbered 61:2-9.
Psalm 61:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.

Psalm 27

New International Version

Psalm 27

Of David.

Footnotes

Cross references

Psalm 34

New International Version

Psalm 34^[a]^[b]

Of David. When he pretended to be insane^(A) before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left.

Footnotes

Cross references

Psalm 56

New International Version

Psalm 56^[a]

For the director of music. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” Of David. A miktam.^[b] When the Philistines had seized him in Gath.

Footnotes

Cross references

Psalm 61

New International Version

Psalm 61^[a]

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. Of David.

Footnotes

Cross references

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Psalm 27 New International Version

Psalm 27

Of David.

Footnotes

Cross references

Psalm 34 New International Version

Psalm 34[a][b]

Of David. When he pretended to be insane(A) before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left.

Footnotes

Cross references

Psalm 56 New International Version

Psalm 56[a]

For the director of music. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” Of David. A miktam.[b] When the Philistines had seized him in Gath.

Footnotes

Cross references

Psalm 61 New International Version

Psalm 61[a]

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. Of David.

Footnotes

Cross references

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Psalm 27

New International Version

Psalm 34

New International Version

Psalm 34^[a]^[b]

Of David. When he pretended to be insane^(A) before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left.

Psalm 56

New International Version

Psalm 56^[a]

For the director of music. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” Of David. A miktam.^[b] When the Philistines had seized him in Gath.

Psalm 61

New International Version

Psalm 61^[a]