Psalm 28

"Don't be deaf to me!"

Purpose: To pray that YHWH would deal rightly by delivering David from imminent death and repaying the wicked for their deeds.

Content: Hear my cry for help, lest I die! Bring justice!Blessed be YHWH for he has heard me! He is the one who repays the wicked for their deeds and who protects his people.

Message: YHWH repays the wicked (and the righteous) according to their dealings.

Author: David

Overview

Translation

Click 'Expand' to the right to see our Close-but-Clear translation of Psalm 28.

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1. By David.

To you, YHWH, I cry out;

my rock, do not be deaf to me,

lest you be silent to me,

and I become like those who go down to the Pit.

2. Hear the sound of my supplications

when I cry to you for help,

when I lift up my hands

toward your holy inner sanctuary.

3. Do not drag me away with wicked people,

with evildoers,

those who speak peace with their neighbors

but [speak] evil in their hearts.

4. Give to them that which is according to their deeds

and according to the evil of their practices!

Give to them that which is according to the work of their hands!

Repay them their dealings!

5. Since they do not regard the deeds of YHWH

and the work of his hands,

he will tear them down, and he will not build them up.

6. Blessed be YHWH!

For he has heard the sound of my supplications.

7. YHWH is my strength and my shield.

In him my heart trusted, and I was helped,

and my heart exulted,

and with my song I will praise him.

8. YHWH is the strength of his people,

and he is the saving refuge for his anointed.

9. Save your people

and bless your possession,

and shepherd them and carry them forever!

The Close-but-clear translation (CBC) exists to provide a window into the Hebrew text according to how we understand its syntax and word-to-phrase-level semantics. It is not intended to be used as a stand-alone translation or base text, but as a supplement to Layer-by-Layer materials to help users make full use of these resources.

For links to other translations of Psalm 28, click here.

Verse-by-Verse

Click the link to view all of Psalm 28 Verse-by-Verse, or click on an individual verse below.

• v. 1
• v. 2
• v. 3
• v. 4
• v. 5
• v. 6
• v. 7
• v. 8
• v. 9

Layer-by-Layer

Psalm Overview

• Grammar
• Semantics
• Story behind the Psalm
• Discourse
• Poetics

Exegetical Issues

• The Meaning of וּמִשִּׁירִי in Ps. 28:7b
• The Identity of the "Anointed" in Ps. 28:8b
• The Text of Ps. 28:8a