USB ~ Psalms 27

Trust in God

1 aOf David.

I The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The LORD is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid?

2 When evildoers come at me to devour my flesh,† b These my enemies and foes themselves stumble and fall.

3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart does not fear; Though war be waged against me, even then do I trust.

4 One thing I ask of the LORD; this I seek: To dwell in the LORD’s house all the days of my life, To gaze on the LORD’s beauty, to visit his temple. c

5 For God will hide me in his shelter in time of trouble, d He will conceal me in the cover of his tent; and set me high upon a rock.

6 Even now my head is held high above my enemies on every side! I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and chant praise to the LORD.

7 Hear my voice, LORD, when I call; have mercy on me and answer me.

8 “Come,” says my heart, “seek his face”;† your face, LORD, do I seek! e

9 Do not hide your face from me; do not repel your servant in anger. You are my salvation; do not cast me off; do not forsake me, God my savior!

10 Even if my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will take me in. f

11 LORD, show me your way; lead me on a level path because of my enemies. g

12 Do not abandon me to the desire of my foes; malicious and lying witnesses have risen against me.

13 I believe I shall see the LORD’s goodness in the land of the living.† h

14 Wait for the LORD, take courage; be stouthearted, wait for the LORD!

Footnotes

†. Psalm 27 Tradition has handed down the two sections of the Psalm (Ps 27:1-6; 7-14) as one Psalm, though each part could be understood as complete in itself. Asserting boundless hope that God will bring rescue (Ps 27:1-3), the psalmist longs for the presence of God in the Temple, protection from all enemies (Ps 27:4-6). In part B there is a clear shift in tone (Ps 27:7-12); the climax of the poem comes with “I believe” (Ps 27:13), echoing “I trust” (Ps 27:3).

†. 27:2 To devour my flesh: the psalmist’s enemies are rapacious beasts (Ps 7:3; 17:12; 22:14, 17).

†. 27:8 Seek his face: to commune with God in the Temple. The idiom is derived from the practice of journeying to sacred places, cf. Hos 5:15; 2 Sm 21:1; Ps 24:6.

†. 27:13 In the land of the living: or “in the land of life,” an epithet of the Jerusalem Temple (Ps 52:7; 116:9; Is 38:11), where the faithful had access to the life-giving presence of God.

27:1 Ps 18:29; 36:10; 43:3; Is 10:17; Mi 7:8.
27:2 Ps 14:4.
27:4 Ps 23:6; 61:5.
27:5 Ps 31:21.
27:8 Ps 24:6; Hos 5:15.
27:10 Is 49:15.
27:11 Ps 25:4; 86:11.
27:13 Ps 116:9; Is 38:11.