28 1 Being in great fear and heaviness of heart to see God dishonored by the wicked, he desireth to be rid of them. 4 And crieth for vengeance against them: and at length assureth himself, that God hath heard his prayer, 9 Unto whose tuition he commendeth all the faithful.

A Psalm of David.

Unto thee, O Lord, do I cry: O my strength, be not deaf toward me, lest if thou answer me not, I be like [a]them that go down into the pit.

Hear the voice of my petitions, when I cry unto thee, when I hold up my hands toward thine [b]holy Oracle.

[c]Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity: which speak friendly to their neighbors, when malice is in their hearts.

[d]Reward them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their inventions: recompense them after the work of their hands: render them their reward.

For they reward not the works of the Lord, nor the operation of his hands: therefore [e]break them down, and build them not up.

[f]Praised be the Lord, for he hath heard the voice of my petitions.

The Lord is my strength and my shield: mine heart trusted in him, and I was helped: therefore mine heart shall rejoice, and with my song will I praise him.

The Lord is [g]their strength, and he is the strength of the deliverances of his anointed.

Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and exalt them forever.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 28:1 He counteth himself as a dead man, till God show his favor toward him, and grant him his petition.
  2. Psalm 28:2 He used this outward means to help the weakness of his faith: for in that place was the Ark, and there God promised to show the tokens of his favor.
  3. Psalm 28:3 Destroy not the good with the bad.
  4. Psalm 28:4 He thus prayeth in respect to God’s glory and not for his own cause, being assured that God would punish the persecutors of his Church.
  5. Psalm 28:5 Let them be utterly destroyed, as Mal. 1:4.
  6. Psalm 28:6 Because he felt the assurance of God’s help in his heart, his mouth was opened to sing his praises.
  7. Psalm 28:8 Meaning, his soldiers, who were as means, by whom God declared his power.

Psalm 28

Of David.

To you, Lord, I call;
    you are my Rock,
    do not turn a deaf ear(A) to me.
For if you remain silent,(B)
    I will be like those who go down to the pit.(C)
Hear my cry for mercy(D)
    as I call to you for help,
as I lift up my hands(E)
    toward your Most Holy Place.(F)

Do not drag me away with the wicked,
    with those who do evil,
who speak cordially with their neighbors
    but harbor malice in their hearts.(G)
Repay them for their deeds
    and for their evil work;
repay them for what their hands have done(H)
    and bring back on them what they deserve.(I)

Because they have no regard for the deeds of the Lord
    and what his hands have done,(J)
he will tear them down
    and never build them up again.

Praise be to the Lord,(K)
    for he has heard my cry for mercy.(L)
The Lord is my strength(M) and my shield;
    my heart trusts(N) in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,(O)
    and with my song I praise him.(P)

The Lord is the strength(Q) of his people,
    a fortress of salvation(R) for his anointed one.(S)
Save your people(T) and bless your inheritance;(U)
    be their shepherd(V) and carry them(W) forever.