Psalm 28 | English Standard Version

The Lord Is My Strength and My Shield

1 Of David. To you, O Lord, I call; my rock, be not deaf to me, lest, if you be silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit.

2 Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy, when I cry to you for help, when I lift up my hands toward your most holy sanctuary.*

3 Do not drag me off with the wicked, with the workers of evil, who speak peace with their neighbors while evil is in their hearts.

4 Give to them according to their work and according to the evil of their deeds; give to them according to the work of their hands; render them their due reward.

5 Because they do not regard the works of the Lord or the work of his hands, he will tear them down and build them up no more.

6 Blessed be the Lord! For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.

7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.

8 The Lord is the strength of his people;* he is the saving refuge of his anointed.

9 Oh, save your people and bless your heritage! Be their shepherd and carry them forever.

The ESV^® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^®) copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV^® Text Edition: 2016. The ESV^® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. The ESV^® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^®) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

New International Reader’s Version

A psalm of David.

1 LORD, my Rock, I call out to you. Pay attention to me. If you remain silent, I shall die. I shall be like those who go down into the grave.

2 Hear my cry for your favour when I call out to you for help. Hear me when I lift up my hands in prayer towards your Most Holy Room.

3 Don’t drag me away with sinners. Don’t drag me away with those who do evil. They speak in a friendly way to their neighbours. But their hearts are full of hate.

4 Pay them back for their evil actions. Pay them back for what their hands have done. Give them exactly what they should get.

5 They don’t care about the LORD’s mighty acts. They don’t care about what his hands have done. So he will tear them down. He will never build them up again.

6 Give praise to the LORD. He has heard my cry for his favour.

7 The LORD gives me strength. He is like a shield that keeps me safe. My heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart jumps for joy. With my song I praise him.

8 The LORD gives strength to his people. He guards and saves his anointed king.

9 Save your people. Bless those who belong to you. Be their shepherd. Take care of them for ever.

Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version®, NIrV® (Anglicised) Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.® Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide. “Biblica”, “International Bible Society” and the Biblica Logo are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission.