Psalm 5

The Refuge of the Righteous

For the choir director: with the flutes. A psalm of David.

¹Listen to my words, Lord;

consider my sighing. ^a

²Pay attention to the sound of my cry, ^b

my King and my God, ^c

for I pray to you.

³In the morning, ^d Lord, you hear my voice;

in the morning I plead my case to you ^e and watch expectantly.

⁴For you are not a God who delights in wickedness;

evil cannot dwell with you. ^f

⁵The boastful cannot stand in your sight; ^g

you hate all evildoers. ^h

⁶You destroy those who tell lies; ⁱ

the Lord abhors violent and treacherous people. ^j

⁷But I enter your house

by the abundance of your faithful love; ^k

I bow down toward your holy temple

in reverential awe of you. ^l

⁸Lord, lead me in your righteousness ^m

because of my adversaries;

make your way straight before me. ⁿ

⁹For there is nothing reliable in what they say; ^o

destruction is within them;

their throat is an open grave;

they flatter with their tongues. ^p

¹⁰Punish them, God;

let them fall by their own schemes. ^q

Drive them out ^r because of their many crimes,

for they rebel against you. ^s

¹¹But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; ^t

let them shout for joy forever.

May you shelter them, ^u

and may those who love your name boast about you. ^v

¹²For you, Lord, bless the righteous one;

you surround him with favor like a shield. ^w