Psalm 26–28

Psalm 26

Plea for Justice and Declaration of Righteousness

Of David.

¹Vindicate me, O Lord,

for I have walked in my integrity,

and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.^*

²Prove me, O Lord, and try me;

test my heart and mind.^*

³For your steadfast love is before my eyes,

and I walk in faithfulness to you.^v*

⁴I do not sit with the worthless,

nor do I consort with hypocrites;^*

⁵I hate the company of evildoers

and will not sit with the wicked.^*

⁶I wash my hands in innocence

and go around your altar, O Lord,^*

⁷singing aloud a song of thanksgiving

and telling all your wondrous deeds.^*

⁸O Lord, I love the house in which you dwell

and the place where your glory abides.^*

⁹Do not sweep me away with sinners

nor my life with the bloodthirsty,^*

¹⁰those in whose hands are evil devices

and whose right hands are full of bribes.^*

¹¹But as for me, I walk in my integrity;

redeem me and be gracious to me.^*

¹²My foot stands on level ground;

in the great congregation I will bless the Lord.^*

Psalm 27

Triumphant Song of Confidence

Of David.

¹The Lord is my light and my salvation;

whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold^w of my life;

of whom shall I be afraid?^*

²When evildoers assail me

to devour my flesh—

my adversaries and foes—

they shall stumble and fall.^*

³Though an army encamp against me,

my heart shall not fear;

though war rise up against me,

yet I will be confident.^*

⁴One thing I asked of the Lord;

this I seek:

to live in the house of the Lord

all the days of my life,

to behold the beauty of the Lord,

and to inquire in his temple.^*

⁵For he will hide me in his shelter

in the day of trouble;

he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;

he will set me high on a rock.^*

⁶Now my head is lifted up

above my enemies all around me,

and I will offer in his tent

sacrifices with shouts of joy;

I will sing and make melody to the Lord.^*

⁷Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;

be gracious to me and answer me!^*

⁸“Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!”

Your face, Lord, do I seek.^*

⁹Do not hide your face from me.

Do not turn your servant away in anger,

you who have been my help.

Do not cast me off; do not forsake me,

O God of my salvation!^*

¹⁰If my father and mother forsake me,

the Lord will take me up.^*

¹¹Teach me your way, O Lord,

and lead me on a level path

because of my enemies.^*

¹²Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries,

for false witnesses have risen against me,

and they are breathing out violence.^*

¹³I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord

in the land of the living.^*

¹⁴Wait for the Lord;

be strong, and let your heart take courage;

wait for the Lord!^*

Psalm 28

Prayer for Help and Thanksgiving for It

Of David.

¹To you, O Lord, I call;

my rock, do not refuse to hear me,

for if you are silent to me,

I shall be like those who go down to the Pit.^*

²Hear the voice of my supplication,

as I cry to you for help,

as I lift up my hands

toward your most holy sanctuary.^x*

³Do not drag me away with the wicked,

with those who are workers of evil,

who speak peace with their neighbors

while mischief is in their hearts.^*

⁴Repay them according to their work

and according to the evil of their deeds;

repay them according to the work of their hands;

render them their due reward.^*

⁵Because they do not regard the works of the Lord

or the work of his hands,

he will break them down and build them up no more.^*

⁶Blessed be the Lord,

for he has heard the sound of my pleadings.^*

⁷The Lord is my strength and my shield;

in him my heart trusts;

so I am helped, and my heart exults,

and with my song I give thanks to him.^*

⁸The Lord is the strength of his people;

he is the saving refuge of his anointed.^*

⁹O save your people and bless your heritage;

be their shepherd and carry them forever.^*