Psalm 27

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.