Psalm 5

The Refuge of the Righteous

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

1   Listen to my words, LORD;

consider my sighing. a

2   Pay attention to the sound of my cry, b

my King and my God, c

for I pray to you.

3   In the morning, d LORD, you hear my voice;

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

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

evil cannot dwell with you. f

5   The boastful cannot stand in your sight; g

you hate all evildoers. h

6   You destroy those who tell lies; i

the LORD abhors violent and treacherous people. j

7   But 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

8   LORD, lead me in your righteousness m

because of my adversaries;

make your way straight before me. n

9   For 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

10   Punish 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

11   But 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

12   For you, LORD, bless the righteous one;

you surround him with favor like a shield. w