Protestation of Integrity and Prayer for Protection.

A Psalm of David.

26 [a](A)Vindicate me, Lord, for I have (B)walked in my integrity,
And I have (C)trusted in the Lord [b](D)without wavering.
(E)Examine me, Lord, and put me to the test;
(F)Refine my [c]mind and my heart.
For Your (G)[d]goodness is before my eyes,
And I have (H)walked in Your truth.
I do not (I)sit with [e]deceitful people,
Nor will I go with [f](J)pretenders.
I (K)hate the assembly of evildoers,
And I will not sit with the wicked.
I will (L)wash my hands in innocence,
And I will go around (M)Your altar, Lord,
That I may proclaim with the voice of (N)thanksgiving
And declare all Your [g]wonders.

Lord, I (O)love the dwelling of Your house,
And the place [h]where Your (P)glory remains.
(Q)Do not [i]take my soul away along with sinners,
Nor my life with (R)men of bloodshed,
10 In whose hands is a (S)wicked scheme,
And whose right hand is full of (T)bribes.
11 But as for me, I will (U)walk in my integrity;
(V)Redeem me, and be gracious to me.
12 (W)My foot stands on (X)level ground;
In the (Y)congregations I will bless the Lord.

A Psalm of Fearless Trust in God.

A Psalm of David.

27 The Lord is my (Z)light and my (AA)salvation;
Whom should I fear?
The Lord is the [j](AB)defense of my life;
(AC)Whom should I dread?
When evildoers came upon me to (AD)devour my flesh,
My adversaries and my enemies, they (AE)stumbled and fell.
If an (AF)army encamps against me,
My heart will not fear;
If war arises against me,
In spite of this I am (AG)confident.

(AH)One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek:
That I may (AI)dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
To behold (AJ)the [k]beauty of the Lord
And to [l](AK)meditate in His temple.
For on the (AL)day of trouble He will (AM)conceal me in His [m]tabernacle;
He will (AN)hide me in the secret place of His tent;
He will (AO)lift me up on a rock.
And now (AP)my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me,
And I will offer (AQ)sacrifices in His tent [n]with shouts of joy;
I will (AR)sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.

(AS)Hear, Lord, when I cry with my voice,
And be gracious to me and (AT)answer me.
When You said, “(AU)Seek My face,” my heart said to You,
(AV)I shall seek Your face, Lord.”
(AW)Do not hide Your face from me,
Do not turn Your servant away in (AX)anger;
You have been (AY)my help;
(AZ)Do not abandon me nor (BA)forsake me,
God of my salvation!
10 [o]For my father and (BB)my mother have forsaken me,
But (BC)the Lord will take me up.

11 (BD)Teach me Your way, Lord,
And lead me on a (BE)level path
Because of my enemies.
12 Do not turn me over to the [p](BF)desire of my enemies,
For (BG)false witnesses have risen against me,
And the violent (BH)witness.
13 I certainly believed that I would see the (BI)goodness of the Lord
In the (BJ)land of the living.
14 (BK)Wait for the Lord;
Be (BL)strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 26:1 Lit Judge
  2. Psalm 26:1 Lit I do not slide
  3. Psalm 26:2 Lit kidneys, figurative for inner man
  4. Psalm 26:3 Or faithfulness
  5. Psalm 26:4 Or worthless men; lit men of falsehood
  6. Psalm 26:4 Or dissemblers, hypocrites
  7. Psalm 26:7 Or miracles
  8. Psalm 26:8 Lit of the tabernacle of Your glory
  9. Psalm 26:9 Lit gather
  10. Psalm 27:1 Or refuge
  11. Psalm 27:4 Lit delightfulness
  12. Psalm 27:4 Lit inquire
  13. Psalm 27:5 Or shelter
  14. Psalm 27:6 Lit of shouts
  15. Psalm 27:10 Or If my father...forsake me, Then the Lord
  16. Psalm 27:12 Lit soul

Psalm 26

Of David.

Vindicate me,(A) Lord,
    for I have led a blameless life;(B)
I have trusted(C) in the Lord
    and have not faltered.(D)
Test me,(E) Lord, and try me,
    examine my heart and my mind;(F)
for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love(G)
    and have lived(H) in reliance on your faithfulness.(I)

I do not sit(J) with the deceitful,
    nor do I associate with hypocrites.(K)
I abhor(L) the assembly of evildoers
    and refuse to sit with the wicked.
I wash my hands in innocence,(M)
    and go about your altar, Lord,
proclaiming aloud your praise(N)
    and telling of all your wonderful deeds.(O)

Lord, I love(P) the house where you live,
    the place where your glory dwells.(Q)
Do not take away my soul along with sinners,
    my life with those who are bloodthirsty,(R)
10 in whose hands are wicked schemes,(S)
    whose right hands are full of bribes.(T)
11 I lead a blameless life;
    deliver me(U) and be merciful to me.

12 My feet stand on level ground;(V)
    in the great congregation(W) I will praise the Lord.

Psalm 27

Of David.

The Lord is my light(X) and my salvation(Y)
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold(Z) of my life—
    of whom shall I be afraid?(AA)

When the wicked advance against me
    to devour[a] me,
it is my enemies and my foes
    who will stumble and fall.(AB)
Though an army besiege me,
    my heart will not fear;(AC)
though war break out against me,
    even then I will be confident.(AD)

One thing(AE) I ask from the Lord,
    this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,(AF)
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
    and to seek him in his temple.
For in the day of trouble(AG)
    he will keep me safe(AH) in his dwelling;
he will hide me(AI) in the shelter of his sacred tent
    and set me high upon a rock.(AJ)

Then my head will be exalted(AK)
    above the enemies who surround me;(AL)
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice(AM) with shouts of joy;(AN)
    I will sing(AO) and make music(AP) to the Lord.

Hear my voice(AQ) when I call, Lord;
    be merciful to me and answer me.(AR)
My heart says of you, “Seek his face!(AS)
    Your face, Lord, I will seek.
Do not hide your face(AT) from me,
    do not turn your servant away in anger;(AU)
    you have been my helper.(AV)
Do not reject me or forsake(AW) me,
    God my Savior.(AX)
10 Though my father and mother forsake me,
    the Lord will receive me.
11 Teach me your way,(AY) Lord;
    lead me in a straight path(AZ)
    because of my oppressors.(BA)
12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
    for false witnesses(BB) rise up against me,
    spouting malicious accusations.

13 I remain confident of this:
    I will see the goodness of the Lord(BC)
    in the land of the living.(BD)
14 Wait(BE) for the Lord;
    be strong(BF) and take heart
    and wait for the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 27:2 Or slander

26 Judge me, O Lord; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the Lord; therefore I shall not slide.

Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.

For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.

I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.

I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.

I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O Lord:

That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.

Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.

Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men:

10 In whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes.

11 But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me.

12 My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the Lord.

27 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.

Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

One thing have I desired 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 enquire in his temple.

For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.

Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.

When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.

Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.

10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.

11 Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.

12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.

13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.