Psalm 2723

By David.

27:1 The Lord delivers and vindicates me!1

I fear no one!2

The Lord protects my life!

I am afraid of no one!3

27:2 When evil men attack me4

to devour my flesh,5

when my adversaries and enemies attack me,6

they stumble and fall.7

27:3 Even when an army is deployed against me,

I do not fear.8

Even when war is imminent,9

I remain confident.10

27:4 I have asked the Lord for one thing—

this is what I desire!

I want to live11 in the Lord’s house12 all the days of my life,

so I can gaze at the splendor13 of the Lord

and contemplate in his temple.

27:5 He will surely14 give me shelter15 in the day of danger;16

he will hide me in his home;17

he will place me18 on an inaccessible rocky summit.19

27:6 Now I will triumph

over my enemies who surround me!20

I will offer sacrifices in his dwelling place and shout for joy!21

I will sing praises to the Lord!

27:7 Hear me,22 O Lord, when I cry out!

Have mercy on me and answer me!

27:8 My heart tells me to pray to you,23

and I do pray to you, O Lord.24

27:9 Do not reject me!25

Do not push your servant away in anger!

You are my deliverer!26

Do not forsake or abandon me,

O God who vindicates me!

27:10 Even if my father and mother abandoned me,27

the Lord would take me in.28

27:11 Teach me how you want me to live;29

lead me along a level path30 because of those who wait to ambush me!31

27:12 Do not turn me over to my enemies,32

for false witnesses who want to destroy me testify against me.33

27:13 Where would I be if I did not believe I would experience

the Lord’s favor in the land of the living?34

27:14 Rely35 on the Lord!

Be strong and confident!36

Rely on the Lord!