Psalm 25–27

A David Psalm

^1–225My head is high, God, held high;

I’m looking to you, God;

No hangdog skulking for me.

³I’ve thrown in my lot with you;

You won’t embarrass me, will you?

Or let my enemies get the best of me?

Don’t embarrass any of us

Who went out on a limb for you.

It’s the traitors who should be humiliated.

⁴Show me how you work, God;

School me in your ways.

⁵Take me by the hand;

Lead me down the path of truth.

You are my Savior, aren’t you?

⁶Mark the milestones of your mercy and love, God;

Rebuild the ancient landmarks!

⁷Forget that I sowed wild oats;

Mark me with your sign of love.

Plan only the best for me, God!

⁸God is fair and just;

He corrects the misdirected,

Sends them in the right direction.

⁹He gives the rejects his hand,

And leads them step-by-step.

¹⁰From now on every road you travel

Will take you to God.

Follow the Covenant signs;

Read the charted directions.

¹¹Keep up your reputation, God;

Forgive my bad life;

It’s been a very bad life.

¹²My question: What are God-worshipers like?

Your answer: Arrows aimed at God’s bull’s-eye.

¹³They settle down in a promising place;

Their kids inherit a prosperous farm.

¹⁴God-friendship is for God-worshipers;

They are the ones he confides in.

¹⁵If I keep my eyes on God,

I won’t trip over my own feet.

¹⁶Look at me and help me!

I’m all alone and in big trouble.

¹⁷My heart and kidneys are fighting each other;

Call a truce to this civil war.

¹⁸Take a hard look at my life of hard labor,

Then lift this ton of sin.

¹⁹Do you see how many people

Have it in for me?

How viciously they hate me?

²⁰Keep watch over me and keep me out of trouble;

Don’t let me down when I run to you.

²¹Use all your skill to put me together;

I wait to see your finished product.

²²God, give your people a break

From this run of bad luck.

A David Psalm

¹26Clear my name, God;

I’ve kept an honest shop.

I’ve thrown in my lot with you, God, and

I’m not budging.

²Examine me, God, from head to foot,

order your battery of tests.

Make sure I’m fit

inside and out

³So I never lose

sight of your love,

But keep in step with you,

never missing a beat.

^4–5I don’t hang out with tricksters,

I don’t pal around with thugs;

I hate that pack of gangsters,

I don’t deal with double-dealers.

^6–7I scrub my hands with purest soap,

then join hands with the others in the great circle,

dancing around your altar, God,

Singing God-songs at the top of my lungs,

telling God-stories.

^8–10God, I love living with you;

your house glows with your glory.

When it’s time for spring cleaning,

don’t sweep me out with the quacks and crooks,

Men with bags of dirty tricks,

women with purses stuffed with bribe-money.

^11–12You know I’ve been aboveboard with you;

now be aboveboard with me.

I’m on the level with you, God;

I bless you every chance I get.

A David Psalm

¹27Light, space, zest—

that’s God!

So, with him on my side I’m fearless,

afraid of no one and nothing.

²When vandal hordes ride down

ready to eat me alive,

Those bullies and toughs

fall flat on their faces.

³When besieged,

I’m calm as a baby.

When all hell breaks loose,

I’m collected and cool.

⁴I’m asking God for one thing,

only one thing:

To live with him in his house

my whole life long.

I’ll contemplate his beauty;

I’ll study at his feet.

⁵That’s the only quiet, secure place

in a noisy world,

The perfect getaway,

far from the buzz of traffic.

⁶God holds me head and shoulders

above all who try to pull me down.

I’m headed for his place to offer anthems

that will raise the roof!

Already I’m singing God-songs;

I’m making music to God.

^7–9Listen, God, I’m calling at the top of my lungs:

“Be good to me! Answer me!”

When my heart whispered, “Seek God,”

my whole being replied,

“I’m seeking him!”

Don’t hide from me now!

^9–10You’ve always been right there for me;

don’t turn your back on me now.

Don’t throw me out, don’t abandon me;

you’ve always kept the door open.

My father and mother walked out and left me,

but God took me in.

^11–12Point me down your highway, God;

direct me along a well-lighted street;

show my enemies whose side you’re on.

Don’t throw me to the dogs,

those liars who are out to get me,

filling the air with their threats.

^13–14I’m sure now I’ll see God’s goodness

in the exuberant earth.

Stay with God!

Take heart. Don’t quit.

I’ll say it again:

Stay with God.