¹ For the choirmaster, to be accompanied by flutes. A Psalm of David. Give ear to my words, O LORD; consider my groaning.

² Attend to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to You I pray.

³ In the morning, O LORD, You hear my voice; at daybreak I lay my plea before You and wait in expectation.

⁴ For You are not a God who delights in wickedness; no evil can dwell with You.

⁵ The boastful cannot stand in Your presence; You hate all workers of iniquity.

⁶ You destroy those who tell lies; the LORD abhors the man of bloodshed and deceit.

⁷ But I will enter Your house by the abundance of Your loving devotion;¹ in reverence I will bow down toward Your holy temple.

1. Forms of the Hebrew chesed are translated here and in most cases throughout the Scriptures as loving devotion; the range of meaning includes love, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, and mercy, as well as loyalty to a covenant.

⁸ Lead me, O LORD, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; make straight Your way before me.

⁹ For not a word they speak can be trusted; destruction lies within them. Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.¹

1. Or flattery; cited in Romans 3:13

¹⁰ Declare them guilty, O God; let them fall by their own devices. Drive them out for their many transgressions, for they have rebelled against You.

¹¹ But let all who take refuge in You rejoice; let them ever shout for joy. May You shelter them, that those who love Your name may rejoice in You.

¹² For surely You, O LORD, bless the righteous; You surround them with the shield of Your favor.