Psalm 5
The Voice
Psalm 5
For the worship leader. A song of David accompanied by flutes.[a]
The various psalms reflect nearly every human emotion: unbridled joy, deep-seated jealousy, seething anger, hope, and depression. These are only a few of the emotions behind the poetry we hear expressed in individual psalms. Feelings and emotions are central to what it means to be human. We cannot escape them nor should we. Psalms invites us to take the emotions we feel and bring them before God. This book models how to come before God in times of sadness, brokenness, and joy. Psalm 5 is a cry for help and a plea for guidance by a person who suffered at the hands of an enemy. It talks about the morning as the time to pray and listen for God to answer. Like many laments, it begins with a cry but ends in confidence.
1 Bend Your ear to me and listen to my words, O Eternal One;
hear the deep cry of my heart.
2 Listen to my call for help,
my King, my True God;
to You alone I pray.
3 In the morning, O Eternal One, listen for my voice;
in the day’s first light, I will offer my prayer to You and watch expectantly for Your answer.
4 You’re not a God who smiles at sin;
You cannot abide with evil.
5 The proud wither in Your presence;
You hate all who pervert and destroy what is good.
6 You destroy those with lying lips;
the Eternal detests those who murder and deceive.
7 Yet I, by Your loving grace,
am welcomed into Your house;
I will turn my face toward Your holy place
and fall on my knees in reverence before You.
8 O Eternal One, lead me in the path of Your righteousness
amidst those who wish me harm;
make Your way clear to me.
9 Their words cannot be trusted;
they are destructive to their cores.
What comes out of their mouths is as foul as a rotting corpse;
their words stink of flattery.
10 Find them guilty, O True God;
let their own devices bring them ruin.
Throw them out, and let them drown in the deluge of their sin,
for in revolt they brazenly spit in Your face.
11 But let those who run to You for safety be glad they did;
let them break out in joyful song.
May You keep them safe—
their love for You resounding in their hearts.
12 You, O Eternal, are the One who lays all good things in the laps of the right-hearted.
Your blessings surround them like a shield.
Footnotes
- 5:title Hebrew, nehiloth, meaning is uncertain. Only use of this word in the Old Testament.
Psalm 5
English Standard Version
Lead Me in Your Righteousness
To the choirmaster: for the flutes. A Psalm of David.
5 Give ear to my words, O Lord;
consider my (A)groaning.
2 Give attention to the sound of my cry,
my (B)King and my God,
for (C)to you do I pray.
3 O Lord, in (D)the morning you hear my voice;
in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you[a] and (E)watch.
4 For you are not a God who delights in wickedness;
evil may not dwell with you.
5 The (F)boastful shall not (G)stand before your eyes;
you (H)hate all evildoers.
6 You destroy those who speak (I)lies;
the Lord abhors (J)the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.
7 But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love,
will enter your house.
I will (K)bow down (L)toward your (M)holy temple
in the fear of you.
8 (N)Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness
because of my enemies;
(O)make your way straight before me.
9 For there is no truth in their mouth;
their inmost self is (P)destruction;
(Q)their throat is (R)an open grave;
they (S)flatter with their tongue.
10 (T)Make them bear their guilt, O God;
let them (U)fall by their own counsels;
because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out,
for they have rebelled against you.
11 But let all who (V)take refuge in you (W)rejoice;
let them ever sing for joy,
and spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may (X)exult in you.
12 For you (Y)bless the righteous, O Lord;
you (Z)cover him with favor as with (AA)a shield.
Footnotes
- Psalm 5:3 Or I direct my prayer to you
The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
