Psalms
Chapter 5
David asks God to listen to his morning prayer and to pay attention to his cry. He contrasts God, who takes no pleasure in evil, with people who lie, flatter, and plot harm, and he asks God to judge them. He asks to be led along a straight path, and he ends by asking joy and protection for everyone who trusts in God.
Plain reading written for preteens. Clear and complete, at about a fifth grade reading level.
Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation.
1LORD, listen to my words. Pay attention to the quiet thoughts I bring you.
2Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.
2Hear the sound of my cry, my King and my God, because you are the one I pray to.
3My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.
3In the morning you hear my voice, LORD. In the morning I lay my prayer before you and wait for an answer.
4For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.
4You are not a God who is pleased by wickedness. Evil cannot stay anywhere near you.
5The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.
5Proud, boastful people cannot stand in front of you. You hate everyone who does wrong.
"The foolish" here does not mean people who are slow to learn. It means people who are proud and full of boasting.
6Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.
6You destroy those who tell lies. The LORD cannot stand a man who kills and cheats.
"Leasing" is an old English word that means lying. It has nothing to do with renting.
7But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.
7But I will come into your house, because your love is so great. I will bow toward your holy temple with deep respect.
8Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.
8Lead me in your right way, LORD, because my enemies are watching me. Make your path straight in front of me.
9For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.
9Nothing they say can be trusted. Inside them there is only ruin. Their throats are like open graves. Their tongues are full of smooth lies.
10Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee.
10Declare them guilty, God. Let their own plans be what brings them down. Drive them out for their many sins, because they have turned against you.
11But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
11But let everyone who trusts in you be glad. Let them shout for joy forever, because you keep them safe. Let those who love your name be full of joy in you.
12For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.
12LORD, you surely bless people who do what is right. Your kindness surrounds them like a shield.
"Compass him" means to surround him on every side, the way a shield covers a soldier.
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