Psalm 26

Of David.

1 Vindicate me,v Lord,

for I have led a blameless life;w

I have trustedx in the Lord

and have not faltered.y

2 Test me,z Lord, and try me,

examine my heart and my mind;a

3 for I have always been mindful of your unfailing loveb

and have livedc in reliance on your faithfulness.d

4 I do not site with the deceitful,

nor do I associate with hypocrites.f

5 I abhorg the assembly of evildoers

and refuse to sit with the wicked.

6 I wash my hands in innocence,h

and go about your altar, Lord,

7 proclaiming aloud your praisei

and telling of all your wonderful deeds.j

8 Lord, I lovek the house where you live,

the place where your glory dwells.l

9 Do not take away my soul along with sinners,

my life with those who are bloodthirsty,m

10 in whose hands are wicked schemes,n

whose right hands are full of bribes.o

11 I lead a blameless life;

deliver mep and be merciful to me.

12 My feet stand on level ground;q

in the great congregationr I will praise the Lord.

Psalm 27

Of David.

1 The Lord is my lights and my salvationt—

whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the strongholdu of my life—

of whom shall I be afraid?v

2 When the wicked advance against me

to devoura me,

it is my enemies and my foes

who will stumble and fall.w

3 Though an army besiege me,

my heart will not fear;x

though war break out against me,

even then I will be confident.y

4 One thingz I ask from the Lord,

this only do I seek:

that I may dwell in the house of the Lord

all the days of my life,a

to gaze on the beauty of the Lord

and to seek him in his temple.

5 For in the day of troubleb

he will keep me safec in his dwelling;

he will hide med in the shelter of his sacred tent

and set me high upon a rock.e

6 Then my head will be exaltedf

above the enemies who surround me;g

at his sacred tent I will sacrificeh with shouts of joy;i

I will singj and make musick to the Lord.

7 Hear my voicel when I call, Lord;

be merciful to me and answer me.m

8 My heart says of you, “Seek his face!n”

Your face, Lord, I will seek.

9 Do not hide your faceo from me,

do not turn your servant away in anger;p

you have been my helper.q

Do not reject me or forsaker me,

God my Savior.s

10 Though my father and mother forsake me,

the Lord will receive me.

11 Teach me your way,t Lord;

lead me in a straight pathu

because of my oppressors.v

12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,

for false witnessesw rise up against me,

spouting malicious accusations.

13 I remain confident of this:

I will see the goodness of the Lordx

in the land of the living.y

14 Waitz for the Lord;

be stronga and take heart

and wait for the Lord.

Psalm 28

Of David.

1 To you, Lord, I call;

you are my Rock,

do not turn a deaf earb to me.

For if you remain silent,c

I will be like those who go down to the pit.d

2 Hear my cry for mercye

as I call to you for help,

as I lift up my handsf

toward your Most Holy Place.g

3 Do not drag me away with the wicked,

with those who do evil,

who speak cordially with their neighbors

but harbor malice in their hearts.h

4 Repay them for their deeds

and for their evil work;

repay them for what their hands have donei

and bring back on them what they deserve.j

5 Because they have no regard for the deeds of the Lord

and what his hands have done,k

he will tear them down

and never build them up again.

6 Praise be to the Lord,l

for he has heard my cry for mercy.m

7 The Lord is my strengthn and my shield;

my heart trustso in him, and he helps me.

My heart leaps for joy,p

and with my song I praise him.q

8 The Lord is the strengthr of his people,

a fortress of salvations for his anointed one.t

9 Save your peopleu and bless your inheritance;v

be their shepherdw and carry themx forever.