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!