Psalms 5

Lead Me in Your Righteousness: Morning Prayer before the Holy King

Morning petition -> holy contrast -> covenant access -> righteous guidance -> judgment of deceit -> refuge joy and shield-like favor

World English Bible, Public Domain

David brings words, groaning, and cries before the LORD in the morning and waits for Him.

Psalm 5:1–3

A heart set in order before the King at dawn is a heart prepared to see God's hand throughout the day.

1 Give ear to my words, Yahweh. Consider my meditation.

2 Listen to the voice of my cry, my King and my God; for I pray to you.

3 Yahweh, in the morning you will hear my voice. In the morning I will lay my requests before you, and will watch expectantly.

God does not delight in evil, and the wicked cannot stand before Him.

Psalm 5:4–7

The holiness of God bars the entrance of the wicked, but His mercy provides a doorway for the faithful.

4 For you are not a God who has pleasure in wickedness. Evil can’t live with you.

5 The arrogant will not stand in your sight. You hate all workers of iniquity.

6 You will destroy those who speak lies. Yahweh abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

David’s access is grounded in the LORD’s covenant love, and his posture is reverent worship.

7 But as for me, in the abundance of your loving kindness I will come into your house. I will bow toward your holy temple in reverence of you.

Enemy pressure makes righteous guidance necessary.

Psalm 5:8–12

The Lord leads His people in a straight path, judging the deceitful and shielding the faithful with His favor.

8 Lead me, Yahweh, in your righteousness because of my enemies. Make your way straight before my face.

The wicked are exposed by corrupt speech and destructive hearts, and David entrusts judgment to God.

9 For there is no faithfulness in their mouth. Their heart is destruction. Their throat is an open tomb. They flatter with their tongue.

10 Hold them guilty, God. Let them fall by their own counsels. Thrust them out in the multitude of their transgressions, for they have rebelled against you.

Those who take refuge in the LORD sing for joy because He blesses and surrounds the righteous.

11 But let all those who take refuge in you rejoice. Let them always shout for joy, because you defend them. Let them also who love your name be joyful in you.

12 For you will bless the righteous. Yahweh, you will surround him with favor as with a shield.

Key Terms

הַאֲזִינָה ha'azinah H238
הֲגִיגִי hagigi H1901
שַׁוְעִי shav'i H7775
מַלְכִּי malki H4428
בֹּקֶר boqer H1242
אֶעֱרָךְ e'erakh H6186
אֲצַפֶּה atsappeh H6822
רֶשַׁע resha H7562
רָע ra H7451
הוֹלְלִים holelim H1984
חַסְדְּךָ chasdekha H2617
בֵּיתֶךָ beitekha H1004

World English Bible (WEB): Public Domain Scripture text · License details