A Morning Prayer
Study note
David begins each morning by bringing his prayers to God and waiting expectantly for an answer.
1 Please hear what I have to say, Lord. Notice the deep groaning in my heart. Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation.
2 Listen to my desperate cry for help, my King and my God, because you are the one I pray to. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.
3 Every morning, Lord, you hear me speaking to you. Every morning I lay out my needs in front of you and then watch and wait. My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.
God Hates Wickedness
Study note
God takes no pleasure in evil. But David, because of God's great mercy, is welcome to worship in God's house.
4 You are not a God who enjoys wickedness. Nothing evil can exist in your presence. For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.
5 Those who are full of themselves cannot stand before you. You despise everyone who does wrong. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.
6 You put an end to everyone who tells lies. The Lord is disgusted by people who are violent and dishonest. Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.
7 But because of your overflowing love, I get to walk into your house. I bow down toward your holy temple, filled with deep wonder at who you are. But 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.
A Prayer for Guidance and Justice
Study note
David asks God to lead him on a straight path. He asks God to hold the deceitful accountable while blessing those who trust in the Lord.
8 Show me the way forward, Lord, and do what is right by me, especially because of those who are against me. Make the road ahead of me smooth and clear. Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.
9 Nothing that comes from their mouths can be trusted. Deep inside, they want only to destroy. Their throats are like wide-open graves, and they use sweet-sounding words to trick people. For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.
10 Hold them responsible for their guilt, O God. Let their own plots bring them crashing down. Send them away because they have piled up so many sins and have turned against you. Destroy 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.
11 But let everyone who puts their trust in you celebrate! Let them keep singing with joy that never ends, because you stand guard over them. Let everyone who treasures your name be overflowing with happiness because of you. But 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.
12 Lord, you pour out blessings on people who do what is right. Your favor wraps around them like an all-surrounding shield. For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.