The Refuge of the Righteous

For the choir director: with the flutes. A Davidic psalm.

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.

3At daybreak,d LORD, You hear my voice;

at daybreak I plead my case to Youe 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 presence;g

You hate all evildoers.h

6You destroy those who tell lies;i

the LORD abhors a man of bloodshed and treachery.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 righteousnessm

because of my adversaries;n

make Your way straight before me.o

9For there is nothing reliable in what they say;p, q

destruction is within them;

their throat is an open grave;

they flatter with their tongues.r

10Punish them, God;

let them fall by their own schemes.s

Drive them outt because of their many crimes,

for they rebel against You.u

11But let all who take refuge in You rejoice;v

let them shout for joy forever.

May You shelter them,w

and may those who love Your name boast about You.x

12For You, LORD, bless the righteous one;

You surround him with favor like a shield.y