A Prayer for Guidance and Protection
For the music director; with the flutes. A psalm of David.The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm; the English verse number is reduced by one
1 Hear my words, O Yahweh.
Give heed to my sighing.Or "murmuring"
2 Listen to the sound of my pleading,Or "cry for help" my king and my God,
for to you I pray.
3 O Yahweh, in the morning you will hear my voice.
In the morning I will set forthOr "present" my case to you and I will watch.Or "look expectantly"
4 For you are not a God who desiresOr "takes delight in" wickedness.
Evil cannot dwell with you.
5 The boastful do not stand beforeOr "in front of" your eyes.
You hate all evildoers.
6 You destroy speakers of lies.Hebrew "lie"
A man of bloodshedLiterally "a man of bloods" and deceit Yahweh abhors.
7 But as for me,Literally "And I" through the abundance of your steadfast loveOr "covenant love"
I will enter your house.Or "temple"
I will bow downOr "I will worship" toward your holy templeLiterally "the temple of your holiness" in awe of you.
8 O Yahweh, lead me in your righteousness because of my enemies;
make straight before me your way.
9 For there is not anything reliable in his mouth;
their inner part is destruction.Hebrew "destructions"
Their throat is an open grave;
with their tongue they speak deceit.Or "flattery; smooth words"
10 Treat them as guilty, O God;
let them fall because of their plans.
Because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out,
for they have rebelled against you.
11 But let all who take shelter in you rejoice.
Let them everOr "perpetually" sing for joy,
becauseLiterally "and" you spread protection over them;
And let thoseOr "So that those" who love your name exult in you.
12 For you bless the righteous.
O Yahweh, like aHebrew "the" shield you surround him with good favor.