Psalm 26–28

PSALM 26

A Psalm 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 my mind.

³For thy steadfast love is before my eyes,

and I walk in faithfulness to thee.

⁴I do not sit with false men,

nor do I consort with dissemblers;

⁵I hate the company of evildoers,

and I will not sit with the wicked.

⁶I wash my hands in innocence,

and go about thy altar, O Lord,

⁷singing aloud a song of thanksgiving,

and telling all thy wondrous deeds.

⁸O Lord, I love the habitation of thy house,

and the place where thy glory dwells.

⁹Sweep me not away with sinners,

nor my life with bloodthirsty men,

¹⁰men 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

A Psalm of David.

¹The Lord is my light and my salvation;

whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life;

of whom shall I be afraid?

²When evildoers assail me,

uttering slanders against me,

my adversaries and foes,

they shall stumble and fall.

³Though a host encamp against me,

my heart shall not fear;

though war arise against me,

yet I will be confident.

⁴One thing have I asked of the Lord,

that will I seek after;

that I may dwell 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 upon a rock.

⁶And now my head shall be lifted up

above my enemies round about 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!

⁸Thou hast said, “Seek ye my face.”

My heart says to thee,

“Thy face, Lord, do I seek.”

⁹Hide not thy face from me.

Turn not thy servant away in anger,

thou who hast been my help.

Cast me not off, forsake me not,

O God of my salvation!

¹⁰For my father and my mother have forsaken me,

but the Lord will take me up.

¹¹Teach me thy way, O Lord;

and lead me on a level path

because of my enemies.

¹²Give me not up to the will of my adversaries;

for false witnesses have risen against me,

and they breathe 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;

yea, wait for the Lord!

PSALM 28

A Psalm of David.

¹To thee, O Lord, I call;

my rock, be not deaf to me,

lest, if thou be silent to me,

I become like those who go down to the Pit.

²Hear the voice of my supplication,

as I cry to thee for help,

as I lift up my hands

toward thy most holy sanctuary.

³Take me not off with the wicked,

with those who are workers of evil,

who speak peace with their neighbors,

while mischief is in their hearts.

⁴Requite them according to their work,

and according to the evil of their deeds;

requite 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 voice of my supplications.

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 thy people, and bless thy heritage;

be thou their shepherd, and carry them for ever.