Psalm 26–28

The Prayer of an Innocent Believer

Of David.

26Lord, defend me because I have lived an innocent life.

I have trusted the Lord and never doubted.

²Lord, try me and test me;

look closely into my heart and mind.

³I see your love,

and I live by your truth.

⁴I do not spend time with liars,

nor do I make friends with those who hide their sin.

⁵I hate the company of evil people,

and I won’t sit with the wicked.

⁶I wash my hands to show I am innocent,

and I come to your altar, Lord.

⁷I raise my voice in praise

and tell of all the miracles you have done.

⁸Lord, I love the Temple where you live,

where your glory is.

⁹Do not kill me with those sinners

or take my life with those murderers.

¹⁰Evil is in their hands,

and they do wrong for money.

¹¹But I have lived an innocent life,

so save me and have mercy on me.

¹²I stand in a safe place.

Lord, I praise you in the great meeting.

A Song of Trust in God

Of David.

27The Lord is my light and the one who saves me.

So why should I fear anyone?

The Lord protects my life.

So why should I be afraid?

²Evil people may try to destroy my body.

My enemies and those who hate me attack me,

but they are overwhelmed and defeated.

³If an army surrounds me,

I will not be afraid.

If war breaks out,

I will trust the Lord.

⁴I ask only one thing from the Lord.

This is what I want:

Let me live in the Lord’s house

all my life.

Let me see the Lord’s beauty

and look with my own eyes at his Temple.

⁵During danger he will keep me safe in his shelter.

He will hide me in his Holy Tent,

or he will keep me safe on a high mountain.

⁶My head is higher than my enemies around me.

I will offer joyful sacrifices in his Holy Tent.

I will sing and praise the Lord.

⁷Lord, hear me when I call;

have mercy and answer me.

⁸My heart said of you, “Go, worship him.”

So I come to worship you, Lord.

⁹Do not turn away from me.

Do not turn your servant away in anger;

you have helped me.

Do not push me away or leave me alone,

God, my Savior.

¹⁰If my father and mother leave me,

the Lord will take me in.

¹¹Lord, teach me your ways,

and guide me to do what is right

because I have enemies.

¹²Do not hand me over to my enemies,

because they tell lies about me

and say they will hurt me.

¹³I truly believe

I will live to see the Lord’s goodness.

¹⁴Wait for the Lord’s help.

Be strong and brave,

and wait for the Lord’s help.

A Prayer in Troubled Times

Of David.

28Lord, my Rock, I call out to you for help.

Do not be deaf to me.

If you are silent,

I will be like those in the grave.

²Hear the sound of my prayer,

when I cry out to you for help.

I raise my hands

toward your Most Holy Place.

³Don’t drag me away with the wicked,

with those who do evil.

They say “Peace” to their neighbors,

but evil is in their hearts.

⁴Pay them back for what they have done,

for their evil deeds.

Pay them back for what they have done;

give them their reward.

⁵They don’t understand what the Lord has done

or what he has made.

So he will knock them down

and not lift them up.

⁶Praise the Lord,

because he heard my prayer for help.

⁷The Lord is my strength and shield.

I trust him, and he helps me.

I am very happy,

and I praise him with my song.

⁸The Lord is powerful;

he gives victory to his chosen one.

⁹Save your people

and bless those who are your own.

Be their shepherd and carry them forever.