Psalm 27

The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom then shall I fear? *
the LORD 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 him.

One thing have I asked of the LORD;
one thing I seek; *
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days
of my life;

To behold the fair beauty of the LORD *
and to seek him in his temple.

For in the day of trouble he shall keep me safe
in his shelter; *
he shall hide me in the secrecy of his dwelling
and set me high upon a rock.

Even now he lifts up my head *
above my enemies round about me.

Therefore I will offer in his dwelling an oblation
with sounds of great gladness; *
I will sing and make music to the LORD.

Hearken to my voice, O LORD, when I call; *
have mercy on me and answer me.

You speak in my heart and say, "Seek my face." *
Your face, LORD, 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, *
the LORD will sustain me.

Show me your way, O LORD; *
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 the LORD *
in the land of the living!

O tarry and await the LORD'S pleasure;
be strong, and he shall comfort your heart; *
wait patiently for the LORD.

Psalm 31

In you, O LORD, have I taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame; *
deliver me in your righteousness.

Incline your ear to me; *
make haste to deliver me.

Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe,
for you are my crag and my stronghold; *
for the sake of your Name, lead me and guide me.

Take me out of the net that they have secretly set for me, *
for you are my tower of strength.

Into your hands I commend my spirit, *
for you have redeemed me,
O LORD, O God of truth.

I hate those who cling to worthless idols, *
and I put my trust in the LORD.

I will rejoice and be glad because of your mercy; *
for you have seen my affliction;
you know my distress.

You have not shut me up in the power of the enemy; *
you have set my feet in an open place.

Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I am in trouble; *
my eye is consumed with sorrow,
and also my throat and my belly.

For my life is wasted with grief,
and my years with sighing; *
my strength fails me because of affliction,
and my bones are consumed.

I have become a reproach to all my enemies and
even to my neighbors,
a dismay to those of my acquaintance; *
when they see me in the street they avoid me.

I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind; *
I am as useless as a broken pot.

For I have heard the whispering of the crowd;
fear is all around; *
they put their heads together against me;
they plot to take my life.

But as for me, I have trusted in you, O LORD. *
I have said, "You are my God.

My times are in your hand; *
rescue me from the hand of my enemies,
and from those who persecute me.

Make your face to shine upon your servant, *
and in your loving-kindness save me."

LORD, let me not be ashamed for having called upon you; *
rather, let the wicked be put to shame;
let them be silent in the grave.

Let the lying lips be silenced which speak against
the righteous, *
haughtily, disdainfully, and with contempt.

How great is your goodness, O LORD!
which you have laid up for those who fear you; *
which you have done in the sight of all
for those who put their trust in you.

You hide them in the covert of your presence from those
who slander them; *
you keep them in your shelter from the strife of tongues.

Blessed be the LORD! *
for he has shown me the wonders of his love in a
besieged city.

Yet I said in my alarm,
"I have been cut off from the sight of your eyes." *
Nevertheless, you heard the sound of my entreaty
when I cried out to you.

Love the LORD, all you who worship him; *
the LORD protects the faithful,
but repays to the full those who act haughtily.

Be strong and let your heart take courage, *
all you who wait for the LORD.

Psalm 56

Have mercy on me, O God,
for my enemies are hounding me; *
all day long they assault and oppress me.

They hound me all the day long; *
truly there are many who fight against me, O Most High.

Whenever I am afraid, *
I will put my trust in you.

In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust and will not be afraid, *
for what can flesh do to me?

All day long they damage my cause; *
their only thought is to do me evil.

They band together; they lie in wait; *
they spy upon my footsteps;
because they seek my life.

Shall they escape despite their wickedness? *
O God, in your anger, cast down the peoples.

You have noted my lamentation;
put my tears into your bottle; *
are they not recorded in your book?

Whenever I call upon you, my enemies will be put to flight; *
this I know, for God is on my side.

In God the LORD, whose word I praise,
in God I trust and will not be afraid, *
for what can mortals do to me?

I am bound by the vow I made to you, O God; *
I will present to you thank-offerings;

For you have rescued my soul from death and my feet
from stumbling, *
that I may walk before God in the light of the living.

Psalm 62

For God alone my soul in silence waits; *
from him comes my salvation.

He alone is my rock and my salvation, *
my stronghold, so that I shall not be greatly shaken.

How long will you assail me to crush me,
all of you together, *
as if you were a leaning fence, a toppling wall?

They seek only to bring me down from my place of honor;
lies are their chief delight.

They bless with their lips, *
but in their hearts they curse.

For God alone my soul in silence waits; *
truly, my hope is in him.

He alone is my rock and my salvation, *
my stronghold, so that I shall not be shaken.

In God is my safety and my honor; *
God is my strong rock and my refuge.

Put your trust in him always, O people, *
pour out your hearts before him, for God is our refuge.

Those of high degree are but a fleeting breath, *
even those of low estate cannot be trusted.

On the scales they are lighter than a breath, *
all of them together.

Put no trust in extortion;
in robbery take no empty pride; *
though wealth increase, set not your heart upon it.

God has spoken once, twice have I heard it, *
that power belongs to God.

Steadfast love is yours, O Lord, *
for you repay everyone according to his deeds.