Psalm 27
God is my light and my salvation;
whom then shall I fear?
God is the strength of my life;
of whom then shall I be afraid?
When evildoers came upon me to eat up my flesh,
it was they, my foes and my adversaries, who stumbled and fell.
Though an army should encamp against me,
yet my heart shall not be afraid;
And though war should rise up against me,
yet will I put my trust in God.
One thing have I asked of you, O God;
one thing I seek:
that I may dwell in your house all the days of my life,
To behold your fair beauty, O God,
and to seek you in your temple.
For in the day of trouble you shall keep me safe in your shelter;
you shall hide me in the secrecy of your dwelling
and set me high upon a rock.
Even now you lift up my head
above my enemies round about me.
Therefore I will offer in your dwelling an oblation
with sounds of great gladness;
I will sing and make music to you.
Hearken to my voice, O Most High, when I call;
have mercy on me and answer me.
You speak in my heart and say, “Seek my face.”
Your face, O God, will I seek.
Hide not your face from me,
nor turn away your servant in displeasure.
You have been my helper;
cast me not away;
do not forsake me, O God of my salvation.
Though my father and my mother forsake me,
you will sustain me.
Show me your way, O God,
lead me on a level path, because of my enemies.
Deliver me not into the hand of my adversaries,
for false witnesses have risen up against me,
and also those who speak malice.
What if I had not believed
that I should see the goodness of my God
in the land of the living!
O tarry and await God’s pleasure;
be strong, and let your heart take comfort;
wait patiently for God.
--from the St. Helena Psalter
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The Lord is my light and my salvation.
Should I fear anyone?
The Lord is a fortress protecting my life.
Should I be frightened of anything?
When evildoers come at me trying to eat me up--
it's they, my foes and my enemies,
who stumble and fall!
If an army camps against me,
my heart won't be afraid.
If war comes up against me,
I will continue to trust in this:
I have asked one thing from the Lord--
it's all I seek:
to live in the Lord's house all the days of my life,
seeing the Lord's beauty
and constantly adorning his temple.
Because he will shelter me in his own dwelling
during troubling times;
he will hide me in a secret place in his own tent;
he will set me up high, safe on a rock.
Now my head is higher than the enemies surrounding me,
and I will offer sacrifices in God's tent--
sacrifices with shouts of joy!
I will sing and praise the Lord.
Lord, listen to my voice when I cry out--
have mercy on me and answer me!
Come, my heart says, seek God's face.
Lord, I do seek your face!
Please don't hide it from me!
Don't push your servant aside angrily--
you have been my help!
God who saves me,
don't neglect me!
Don't leave me all alone!
Even if my father and mother left me all alone,'
the Lord would take me in.
Lord, teach me your way;
because of my opponents, lead me on a good path.
Don't give me over to the desires of my enemies,
because false witnesses and violent accusers
have taken their stand against me.
But I have sure faith
that I will experience the Lord's goodness
in the land of the living!
Hope in the Lord!
Be strong! Let your heart take courage!
Hope in the Lord!
-- from the Common English Bible
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