Prayer for Protection from the Wicked.

For the choir director; for [a]flute accompaniment. A Psalm of David.

(A)Give ear to my words, O Lord,
Consider my [b](B)groaning.
Heed (C)the sound of my cry for help, (D)my King and my God,
For to You I pray.
In the morning, O Lord, [c]You will hear my voice;
In the (E)morning I will order my [d]prayer to You and eagerly (F)watch.

For You are not a God (G)who takes pleasure in wickedness;
(H)No evil [e]dwells with You.
The (I)boastful shall not (J)stand before Your eyes;
You (K)hate all who do iniquity.
You (L)destroy those who speak falsehood;
The Lord abhors (M)the man of bloodshed and deceit.
But as for me, (N)by Your abundant lovingkindness I will enter Your house,
[f]At Your holy temple I will (O)bow in (P)reverence for You.

O Lord, (Q)lead me (R)in Your righteousness (S)because of [g]my foes;
Make Your way [h]straight before me.
There is (T)nothing [i]reliable in [j]what they say;
Their (U)inward part is destruction itself.
Their (V)throat is an open grave;
They [k]flatter with their tongue.
10 Hold them guilty, O God;
(W)By their own devices let them fall!
In the multitude of their transgressions (X)thrust them out,
For they are (Y)rebellious against You.

11 But let all who (Z)take refuge in You (AA)be glad,
Let them ever sing for joy;
And [l]may You (AB)shelter them,
That those who (AC)love Your name may exult in You.
12 For it is You who (AD)blesses the righteous man, O Lord,
You (AE)surround him with favor as with a shield.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 5:1 Heb Nehiloth
  2. Psalm 5:1 Or meditation
  3. Psalm 5:3 Or May You hear
  4. Psalm 5:3 Or sacrifice
  5. Psalm 5:4 Lit sojourns
  6. Psalm 5:7 Or Toward
  7. Psalm 5:8 Or those who lie in wait for me
  8. Psalm 5:8 Or smooth
  9. Psalm 5:9 Or true
  10. Psalm 5:9 Lit his mouth
  11. Psalm 5:9 Or make their tongue smooth
  12. Psalm 5:11 Or You shelter

Psalm 5[a]

For the director of music. For pipes. A psalm of David.

Listen(A) to my words, Lord,
    consider my lament.(B)
Hear my cry for help,(C)
    my King and my God,(D)
    for to you I pray.

In the morning,(E) Lord, you hear my voice;
    in the morning I lay my requests before you
    and wait expectantly.(F)
For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness;
    with you, evil people(G) are not welcome.
The arrogant(H) cannot stand(I)
    in your presence.
You hate(J) all who do wrong;
    you destroy those who tell lies.(K)
The bloodthirsty and deceitful
    you, Lord, detest.
But I, by your great love,
    can come into your house;
in reverence(L) I bow down(M)
    toward your holy temple.(N)

Lead me, Lord, in your righteousness(O)
    because of my enemies—
    make your way straight(P) before me.
Not a word from their mouth can be trusted;
    their heart is filled with malice.
Their throat is an open grave;(Q)
    with their tongues they tell lies.(R)
10 Declare them guilty, O God!
    Let their intrigues be their downfall.
Banish them for their many sins,(S)
    for they have rebelled(T) against you.
11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
    let them ever sing for joy.(U)
Spread your protection over them,
    that those who love your name(V) may rejoice in you.(W)

12 Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous;(X)
    you surround them(Y) with your favor as with a shield.(Z)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 5:1 In Hebrew texts 5:1-12 is numbered 5:2-13.