1 To him that excelleth upon Nehiloth. A Psalme of Dauid. Heare my wordes, O Lord: vnderstande my meditation. 2 Hearken vnto the voyce of my crie, my King and my God: for vnto thee doe I pray. 3 Heare my voyce in the morning, O Lord: for in the morning will I direct me vnto thee, and I will waite. 4 For thou art not a God that loueth wickednes: neither shall euill dwell with thee. 5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: for thou hatest all them that worke iniquitie. 6 Thou shalt destroy them that speake lyes: the Lord will abhorre the bloodie man and deceitfull. 7 But I wil come into thine house in the multitude of thy mercie: and in thy feare will I worship toward thine holy Temple. 8 Leade me, O Lord, in thy righteousnes, because of mine enemies: make thy way plaine before my face. 9 For no constancie is in their mouth: within, they are very corruption: their throte is an open sepulchre, and they flatter with their tongue. 10 Destroy them, O God: let them fall from their counsels: cast them out for the multitude of their iniquities, because they haue rebelled against thee. 11 And let all them that trust in thee, reioyce and triumph for euer, and couer thou them: and let them, that loue thy Name, reioyce in thee. 12 For thou Lord wilt blesse the righteous, and with fauour wilt compasse him, as with a shielde.
A Prayer for Protection
1 Listen to my words, O Lord,
and hear my sighs.
2 Listen to my cry for help,
my God and king!
I pray to you, O Lord;
3 you hear my voice in the morning;
at sunrise I offer my prayer
and wait for your answer.
4 You are not a God who is pleased with wrongdoing;
you allow no evil in your presence.
5 You cannot stand the sight of the proud;
you hate all wicked people.
6 You destroy all liars
and despise violent, deceitful people.
7 But because of your great love
I can come into your house;
I can worship in your holy Temple
and bow down to you in reverence.
8 Lord, I have so many enemies!
Lead me to do your will;
make your way plain for me to follow.
9 What my enemies say can never be trusted;
they only want to destroy.
Their words are flattering and smooth,
but full of deadly deceit.
10 Condemn and punish them, O God;
may their own plots cause their ruin.
Drive them out of your presence
because of their many sins
and their rebellion against you.
11 But all who find safety in you will rejoice;
they can always sing for joy.
Protect those who love you;
because of you they are truly happy.
12 You bless those who obey you, Lord;
your love protects them like a shield.