By David.
25:1 O Lord, I come before you in prayer.
25:2 My God, I trust in you.
Please do not let me be humiliated;
do not let my enemies triumphantly rejoice over me!
25:3 Certainly none who rely on you will be humiliated.
Those who deal in treachery will be thwarted and humiliated.
25:4 Make me understand your ways, O Lord!
Teach me your paths!
25:5 Guide me into your truth and teach me.
For you are the God who delivers me;
on you I rely all day long.
25:6 Remember your compassionate and faithful deeds, O Lord,
for you have always acted in this manner.
25:7 Do not hold against me the sins of my youth or my rebellious acts!
Because you are faithful to me, extend to me your favor, O Lord!
25:8 The Lord is both kind and fair;
that is why he teaches sinners the right way to live.
25:9 May he show the humble what is right!
May he teach the humble his way!
25:10 The Lord always proves faithful and reliable
to those who follow the demands of his covenant.
25:11 For the sake of your reputation, O Lord,
forgive my sin, because it is great.
25:12 The Lord shows his faithful followers
the way they should live.
25:13 They experience his favor;
their descendants inherit the land.
25:14 The Lord’s loyal followers receive his guidance,
and he reveals his covenantal demands to them.
25:15 I continually look to the Lord for help,
for he will free my feet from the enemy’s net.
25:16 Turn toward me and have mercy on me,
for I am alone and oppressed!
25:17 Deliver me from my distress;
rescue me from my suffering!
25:18 See my pain and suffering!
Forgive all my sins!
25:19 Watch my enemies, for they outnumber me;
they hate me and want to harm me.
25:20 Protect me and deliver me!
Please do not let me be humiliated,
for I have taken shelter in you!
25:21 May integrity and godliness protect me,
for I rely on you!
25:22 O God, rescue Israel
from all their distress!
By David.
26:1 Vindicate me, O Lord,
for I have integrity,
and I trust in the Lord without wavering.
26:2 Examine me, O Lord, and test me!
Evaluate my inner thoughts and motives!
26:3 For I am ever aware of your faithfulness,
and your loyalty continually motivates me.
26:4 I do not associate with deceitful men,
or consort with those who are dishonest.
26:5 I hate the mob of evil men,
and do not associate with the wicked.
26:6 I maintain a pure lifestyle,
so I can appear before your altar, O Lord,
26:7 to give you thanks,
and to tell about all your amazing deeds.
26:8 O Lord, I love the temple where you live,
the place where your splendor is revealed.
26:9 Do not sweep me away with sinners,
or execute me along with violent people,
26:10 who are always ready to do wrong
or offer a bribe.
26:11 But I have integrity!
Rescue me and have mercy on me!
26:12 I am safe,
and among the worshipers I will praise the Lord.
By David.
27:1 The Lord delivers and vindicates me!
I fear no one!
The Lord protects my life!
I am afraid of no one!
27:2 When evil men attack me
to devour my flesh,
when my adversaries and enemies attack me,
they stumble and fall.
27:3 Even when an army is deployed against me,
I do not fear.
Even when war is imminent,
I remain confident.
27:4 I have asked the Lord for one thing –
this is what I desire!
I want to live in the Lord’s house all the days of my life,
so I can gaze at the splendor of the Lord
and contemplate in his temple.
27:5 He will surely give me shelter in the day of danger;
he will hide me in his home;
he will place me on an inaccessible rocky summit.
27:6 Now I will triumph
over my enemies who surround me!
I will offer sacrifices in his dwelling place and shout for joy!
I will sing praises to the Lord!
27:7 Hear me, O Lord, when I cry out!
Have mercy on me and answer me!
27:8 My heart tells me to pray to you,
and I do pray to you, O Lord.
27:9 Do not reject me!
Do not push your servant away in anger!
You are my deliverer!
Do not forsake or abandon me,
O God who vindicates me!
27:10 Even if my father and mother abandoned me,
the Lord would take me in.
27:11 Teach me how you want me to live;
lead me along a level path because of those who wait to ambush me!
27:12 Do not turn me over to my enemies,
for false witnesses who want to destroy me testify against me.
27:13 Where would I be if I did not believe I would experience
the Lord’s favor in the land of the living?
27:14 Rely on the Lord!
Be strong and confident!
Rely on the Lord!