Psalms 27

The LORD is my light and the one who saves me (so who should I fear? The LORD is the safe place that keeps my life), so who should make me afraid?

1The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Note"The LORD" in small capitals stands for the personal name of God in Hebrew, written with four consonants (YHWH). Jewish readers avoided saying it aloud, substituting a word meaning "my Lord," and English versions follow that custom by printing LORD. "Salvation" here is not a narrowly religious word: it means rescue, being got out of danger, and is often used of escaping enemies in battle. The word behind "strength" / "safe place" means a fortress or stronghold, a fortified height you run to when attacked.

2When evil people came at me to tear me apart (my enemies, the ones who hate me) they tripped and fell.

2When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.

Note"Eat up my flesh" is a stock Hebrew image: enemies pictured as wild animals tearing at prey. It was used of people who destroy someone by violence or by slander. "Stumbled and fell" is battle language for an attack that collapses.

3Even if a whole army set up camp against me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if war breaks out against me, I will still be confident.

3Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

4I have asked the LORD for one thing, and this is what I keep going after: to live in the LORD's house every day of my life, to gaze at the beauty of the LORD, and to seek him in his temple.

4One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.

NoteIn David's time there was no temple building; "house" and "temple" could both mean the tent-sanctuary where God was understood to be present. The word translated "temple" originally meant a palace or great hall, the residence of a king or a god. "Enquire" ("seek him") means to consult God for an answer or a ruling, something people came to the sanctuary to do.

5When trouble comes, he will hide me in his shelter. He will keep me hidden in the private part of his tent. He will set me up high on a rock.

5For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

Note"Pavilion" and "tabernacle" are both words for a tent. The "secret" of the tent is its innermost, screened-off part; in that culture a guest taken inside a host's tent was under the host's personal protection, and harming him was unthinkable. Setting someone "upon a rock" pictures a high crag where attackers cannot reach.

6Then I will hold my head high above the enemies who surround me. At his tent I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy. I will sing, yes, I will sing praise to the LORD.

6And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.

NoteLifting up the head is an idiom for public vindication, the reversal of the bowed head of someone humiliated or defeated. "Sacrifices of joy" is literally "sacrifices of shouting": the Hebrew word means a loud ringing cry or a ram's-horn blast. Sacrifice at the sanctuary was a public event with singing and shared food, not a silent ritual.

7Hear me, LORD, when I cry out loud. Be kind to me, and answer me.

7Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.

8When you said, "Seek my face," my heart said back to you, "LORD, I will seek your face."

8When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.

NoteThe Hebrew of this verse is broken and disputed; translators supply words to make a complete sentence, which is why versions differ over who is speaking. Word for word it runs roughly: "To you my heart has said, 'Seek my face'; your face, LORD, I will seek." "Seeking someone's face" is court language for gaining an audience, being admitted to a ruler's presence rather than turned away at the door.

9Do not hide your face from me. Do not push your servant away in anger. You have been my help. Do not leave me. Do not abandon me, God who saves me.

9Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.

NoteA face turned away or hidden meant refusal, the withholding of favor or of an audience; the opposite image, a face shining on someone, meant acceptance. Calling oneself "thy servant" was the ordinary way of speaking about yourself when addressing a superior, not a claim about status.

10Even if my father and my mother abandon me, the LORD will take me in.

10When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.

NoteIn this society the family was a person's only safety net; there were no institutions to fall back on, so being cast off by both parents meant total loss of protection and standing. The verb translated "take me up" is used of gathering in someone who has nowhere to go.

11Teach me your way, LORD, and lead me along a level path, because of my enemies.

11Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.

Note"Plain" in 1611 English means level or smooth, not obvious. A level path is one you can walk without stumbling, safe going, as against rough ground where you fall or are ambushed. The word behind "mine enemies" means those who watch me, people lying in wait.

12Do not hand me over to my enemies to do whatever they want with me, because liars have stood up to accuse me, and they breathe out violence.

12Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.

Note"The will of mine enemies" is literally their appetite or throat, being handed over to be swallowed. False witnesses belong to a courtroom setting: cases were decided on the word of witnesses, so a coordinated lie could get a person condemned and executed. "Breathe out cruelty" is literally "puffing out violence," the panting of someone eager to do harm.

13I would have lost heart, if I had not been sure that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

13I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

NoteThe Hebrew sentence breaks off unfinished: it reads something like "Unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD…" with nothing following. KJV supplies "I had fainted" (printed in italics in old editions) to complete it. Ancient scribes marked the opening word "unless" with dots, signaling that they too found the reading doubtful. "The land of the living" means among people still alive, in this life, rather than after death.

14Wait for the LORD. Be brave, and he will make your heart strong. Wait, I tell you, for the LORD.

14Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

Note"Wait on" in 1611 English means wait for, expect, not attend or serve. The Hebrew verb carries tense, stretched-out expectation rather than passive delay. The heart was thought of as the seat of will and nerve, so "strengthen thine heart" means steady your courage.