Psalm 28 | 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.

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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.

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