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Tell the music leader to use flutes.

This is a song that David wrote.

Pray about your enemies[a]

Lord, listen to what I say to you.
    I am upset, so think about what I am saying.
My King and my God, listen to my voice.
    I am asking you to help me.
    I am praying to you!
Lord, every morning you listen to my voice.
At sunrise I will turn to you for help,
    and I will wait for you to answer.[b]
My God, you do not like anything that is bad.
    Evil people cannot live near you.
    Proud people cannot stand in front of you.
God, you hate everyone who does evil things.
    You destroy those who tell lies.
The Lord hates murderers,
    and those who deceive others.[c]
But I will come into your house,
    because of your faithful love.
I will bend low in your holy temple,
    and I will worship you.
Lord, help me to follow your right way.
My enemies are waiting to attack me.
    Show the right way clearly to me,
    so that I do not go the wrong way.
My enemies never speak what is true.
    They only want to destroy people.
Their mouth has the smell of an open grave.[d]
Their tongues say nice things,
    but they are all lies!
10 God, say that they are guilty!
    Let their own wicked ideas bring punishment to them.
Send them away because they do so many bad things.
    Yes, they have turned against you.
11 Please make people who turn to you happy.
Make them always sing with joy,
    because you keep them safe.
Take care of those who are faithful to you.
    Then they will be really happy.
12 Lord, you bless those who live in a right way.
Your love is like a shield that keeps them safe.

Footnotes

  1. 5:1 Psalm 5 is another morning song. We do not know when David wrote it. We do know that David had enemies. So he prayed to God to keep him safe.
  2. 5:3 David told the Lord that he would pray early in the morning. He would wait to see what God would do.
  3. 5:6 David's enemies were really God's enemies.
  4. 5:9 An open grave has dead bodies in it. It has a very bad smell. What these people say with their mouths is very bad. Their words cause people to be upset.

Psalm 5[a]

For the director of music. For pipes. A psalm of David.

Listen(A) to my words, Lord,
    consider my lament.(B)
Hear my cry for help,(C)
    my King and my God,(D)
    for to you I pray.

In the morning,(E) Lord, you hear my voice;
    in the morning I lay my requests before you
    and wait expectantly.(F)
For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness;
    with you, evil people(G) are not welcome.
The arrogant(H) cannot stand(I)
    in your presence.
You hate(J) all who do wrong;
    you destroy those who tell lies.(K)
The bloodthirsty and deceitful
    you, Lord, detest.
But I, by your great love,
    can come into your house;
in reverence(L) I bow down(M)
    toward your holy temple.(N)

Lead me, Lord, in your righteousness(O)
    because of my enemies—
    make your way straight(P) before me.
Not a word from their mouth can be trusted;
    their heart is filled with malice.
Their throat is an open grave;(Q)
    with their tongues they tell lies.(R)
10 Declare them guilty, O God!
    Let their intrigues be their downfall.
Banish them for their many sins,(S)
    for they have rebelled(T) against you.
11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
    let them ever sing for joy.(U)
Spread your protection over them,
    that those who love your name(V) may rejoice in you.(W)

12 Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous;(X)
    you surround them(Y) with your favor as with a shield.(Z)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 5:1 In Hebrew texts 5:1-12 is numbered 5:2-13.