Psalm 7 & 27

Psalm 7

A shiggaion of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning Cush, a Benjamite.

1 Lord my God, I take refuge in you;

save and deliver me from all who pursue me,

2or they will tear me apart like a lion

and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue me.

3 Lord my God, if I have done this

and there is guilt on my hands—

4if I have repaid my ally with evil

or without cause have robbed my foe—

5then let my enemy pursue and overtake me;

let him trample my life to the ground

and make me sleep in the dust.

6Arise, Lord, in your anger;

rise up against the rage of my enemies.

Awake, my God; decree justice.

7Let the assembled peoples gather around you,

while you sit enthroned over them on high.

8Let the Lord judge the peoples.

Vindicate me, Lord, according to my righteousness,

according to my integrity, O Most High.

9Bring to an end the violence of the wicked

and make the righteous secure—

you, the righteous God

who probes minds and hearts.

10My shield is God Most High,

who saves the upright in heart.

11God is a righteous judge,

a God who displays his wrath every day.

12If he does not relent,

he will sharpen his sword;

he will bend and string his bow.

13He has prepared his deadly weapons;

he makes ready his flaming arrows.

14Whoever is pregnant with evil

conceives trouble and gives birth to disillusionment.

15Whoever digs a hole and scoops it out

falls into the pit they have made.

16The trouble they cause recoils on them;

their violence comes down on their own heads.

17I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness;

I will sing the praises of the name of the LordMost High.

Psalm 27

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 the wicked advance against me

to devour me,

it is my enemies and my foes

who will stumble and fall.

3Though an army besiege me,

my heart will not fear;

though war break out against me,

even then I will be confident.

4One thing 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,

to gaze on the beauty of the Lord

and to seek him in his temple.

5For in the day of trouble

he will keep me safe in his dwelling;

he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent

and set me high upon a rock.

6Then my head will be exalted

above the enemies who surround me;

at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;

I will sing and make music to the Lord.

7Hear my voice when I call, Lord;

be merciful to me and answer me.

8My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”

Your face, Lord, I will seek.

9Do not hide your face from me,

do not turn your servant away in anger;

you have been my helper.

Do not reject me or forsake me,

God my Savior.

10Though my father and mother forsake me,

the Lord will receive me.

11Teach me your way, Lord;

lead me in a straight path

because of my oppressors.

12Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,

for false witnesses rise up against me,

spouting malicious accusations.

13I remain confident of this:

I will see the goodness of the Lord

in the land of the living.

14Wait for the Lord;

be strong and take heart

and wait for the Lord.