Psalm 26:1–28:9

^1qVindicate me, O Lord,

for I have ^rwalked in my integrity,

and I have ^strusted in the Lord without wavering.

^2tProve me, O Lord, and try me;

test my heart and ^umy mind.¹

³For your ^vsteadfast love is before my eyes,

and I ^wwalk in your ^vfaithfulness.

⁴I do not ^xsit with men of ^yfalsehood,

nor do I consort with hypocrites.

⁵I ^zhate the assembly of evildoers,

and I will not sit with the wicked.

⁶I ^awash my hands in innocence

and go around your altar, O Lord,

⁷proclaiming thanksgiving aloud,

and telling all your ^bwondrous deeds.

⁸O Lord, I ^clove the habitation of your house

and the place where your glory dwells.

^9dDo not sweep my soul away with sinners,

nor my life with bloodthirsty men,

¹⁰in whose hands are evil devices,

and whose right hands are full of ^ebribes.

¹¹But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity;

redeem me, and be gracious to me.

¹²My foot stands on ^flevel ground;

in ^gthe great assembly I will bless the Lord.

The Lord Is My Light and My Salvation

27Of David.

¹The Lord is my ^hlight and my ⁱsalvation;

^jwhom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold¹ of my life;

of whom shall I be afraid?

²When evildoers assail me

to ^keat up my flesh,

my adversaries and foes,

it is they who stumble and fall.

^3lThough an army encamp against me,

my heart shall not fear;

though war arise against me,

yet² I will be confident.

^4mOne thing have I asked of the Lord,

that will I seek after:

that I may ⁿdwell in the house of the Lord

all the days of my life,

to gaze upon ^othe beauty of the Lord

and to inquire³ in his temple.

⁵For he will ^phide me in his shelter

in the day of trouble;

he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;

he will ^qlift me high upon a rock.

⁶And now my ^rhead shall be lifted up

above my enemies all around me,

and I will offer in his tent

sacrifices with shouts of ^sjoy;

^tI will sing and make melody to the Lord.

^7uHear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;

be gracious to me and answer me!

⁸You have said, ^v“Seek⁴ my face.”

My heart says to you,

“Your face, Lord, do I seek.”⁵

^9wHide not your face from me.

Turn not your servant away in anger,

O you who have been my help.

Cast me not off; forsake me not,

^xO God of my salvation!

¹⁰For ^ymy father and my mother have forsaken me,

but the Lord will ^ztake me in.

^11aTeach me your way, O Lord,

and lead me on ^ba level path

because of my enemies.

^12cGive me not up to the will of my adversaries;

for ^dfalse witnesses have risen against me,

and they ^ebreathe out violence.

¹³I believe that I shall look⁶ upon ^fthe goodness of the Lord

in ^gthe land of the living!

^14hWait for the Lord;

ⁱbe strong, and let your heart take courage;

wait for the Lord!

The Lord Is My Strength and My Shield

28Of David.

¹To you, O Lord, I call;

^jmy rock, be not deaf to me,

lest, if you ^kbe silent to me,

I become like those who ^lgo down to the pit.

^2mHear the voice of my pleas for mercy,

when I cry to you for help,

when I ⁿlift up my hands

^otoward your most holy sanctuary.¹

³Do not ^pdrag me off with the wicked,

with the workers of evil,

^qwho speak peace with their neighbors

while evil is in their hearts.

^4rGive to them according to their work

and according to the evil of their deeds;

give to them according to the work of their hands;

^srender them their due reward.

⁵Because they ^tdo not regard the works of the Lord

or the work of his hands,

he will tear them down and build them up no more.

⁶Blessed be the Lord!

For he has ^uheard the voice of my pleas for mercy.

⁷The Lord is my strength and ^vmy shield;

in him my heart ^wtrusts, and I am helped;

my heart exults,

and with my ^xsong I give thanks to him.

⁸The Lord is the strength of his people;²

he is ^ythe saving refuge of his anointed.

⁹Oh, save your people and bless ^zyour heritage!

^aBe their shepherd and ^bcarry them forever.