Psalm 26–28

A Prayer for Vindication

26Of David.^a

¹Judge me, O Yahweh, because I have walked in my integrity,

and I have trusted Yahweh and not wavered.

²Prove me, O Yahweh, and test me.

Try my innermost being^b and my mind.^c

³Because your loyal love is before my eyes,

and I walk about in your faithfulness.

⁴I do not sit with deceitful people,

nor will I go about with hypocrites.

⁵I hate the crowd of evildoers,

and with the wicked I will not sit.

⁶I will wash my hands in innocence,

and I will walk about your altar, O Yahweh,

⁷to declare with a voice of thanksgiving,

and tell of all your wondrous deeds.

⁸O Yahweh, I love the dwelling of your house,^d

and the place where your glory abides.^e

⁹Do not destroy me^f with the sinners,

nor my life with men of bloodshed,

¹⁰in whose hands is an evil plan,

and whose right hand is full of bribes.^g

¹¹But as for me, I will walk in my integrity.

Redeem me and be gracious to me.

¹²My foot stands on level ground.

In assemblies I will bless Yahweh.

A Declaration of Trust

27Of David.^a

¹Yahweh is my light and my salvation;

whom shall I fear?

Yahweh is the refuge of my life;

of whom shall I be afraid?

²When evildoers drew near against me to eat my flesh—

my adversaries and my enemies who drew near to me—

they themselves stumbled and fell.

³Though an army encamp against me,

my heart will not fear.

Though war arise against me,

even in this I will remain confident.

⁴One thing I have asked from Yahweh;

it I will seek:

that I may dwell in the house^b of Yahweh all the days of my life,

to behold the beauty of Yahweh,

and to consider^c his temple.

⁵Because he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble.

He will conceal me in the hiding place of his tent.

He will set me high upon a rock.

⁶And now my head will be high over my enemies round about me.

And I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy.

I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to Yahweh.

⁷Hear, O Yahweh, my voice when I call,

and be gracious to me and answer me.

⁸On your behalf my heart says, “Seek my face.”

Your face, O Yahweh, I do seek.

⁹Do not hide your face from me;

do not turn your servant away in anger.

You have been my help; do not abandon nor forsake me,

O God of my salvation.

¹⁰If my father or my mother forsake me,

then Yahweh will receive me.

¹¹Teach me, O Yahweh, your way,

and lead me on a level path because of my enemies.

¹²Do not give me over to the desire of my enemies,

because false witnesses have arisen against me,

and each breathing out violence.^d

¹³Surely^e I believe that I will see the goodness of Yahweh

in the land of the living.

¹⁴Wait for Yahweh.

Be strong and let your heart show strength,

and wait for Yahweh.

A Prayer for Help, and Joy in Its Answer

28A psalm of David.^a

¹To you, O Yahweh, I call.

O my rock, do not be deaf to me.

Or else, if you are silent to me,

then I will become like those descending to the pit.

²Hear the voice of my supplications

when I cry to you for help,

when I lift up my hands

toward your holy inner sanctuary.

³Do not drag me away with the wicked

or with the workers of evil,

who speak of peace with their neighbors,

while evil is in their heart.

⁴Give to them according to their work,

even according to the evil of their deeds.

Give to them according to the work of their hands;

repay them their rightful due.

⁵Because they do not regard the works of Yahweh,

nor the work of his hands,

he will destroy them

and not rebuild them.

⁶Blessed is Yahweh,

because he has heard the voice of my supplications.

⁷Yahweh is my strength and my shield.

My heart trusts him and I am helped.

So my heart rejoices,

and with my song I will give thanks to him.

⁸Yahweh is their strength,

and he is the refuge for the salvation of his anointed one.

⁹Save your people

and bless your heritage.

Shepherd them also and carry them always.