Psalm 27 Text

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Listen & Read: Psalm 27

Read along and listen to our audio recordings for Psalm 27. Choose between simple, unaffected audio recordings (in Hebrew or English), or a dramatized reading that takes into account our emotional, discourse, and poetic analyses. You can also choose between a text-only view, or a view overlaid with our summary At-a-Glance, Expanded Paraphrase, or Participant Analysis tracking.

Simple Reading (Hebrew)
Forthcoming. 		Simple Reading (English)
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Dramatic Reading (Hebrew)
Forthcoming. 		Dramatic Reading (English)
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Text Only (Hebrew and English) The text below is divided according to the psalm's poetic lines. For additional information, see our Poetic Structure layer.

Text (Hebrew) Verse Text (CBC)
לְדָוִ֨ד 1a By David.
יְהוָ֤ה ׀ אוֹרִ֣י וְ֭יִשְׁעִי מִמִּ֣י אִירָ֑א 1b YHWH is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
יְהוָ֥ה מָֽעוֹז־חַ֝יַּ֗י מִמִּ֥י אֶפְחָֽד׃ 1c YHWH is the refuge of my life; on what basis shall I tremble?
בִּקְרֹ֤ב עָלַ֨י ׀ מְרֵעִים֮ לֶאֱכֹ֪ל אֶת־בְּשָׂ֫רִ֥י 2a When evildoers came near against me to devour my flesh,
צָרַ֣י וְאֹיְבַ֣י לִ֑י הֵ֖מָּה כָשְׁל֣וּ וְנָפָֽלוּ׃ 2b [when] my adversaries and my enemies [came near] to me, they stumbled and fell.
אִם־תַּחֲנֶ֬ה עָלַ֨י ׀ מַחֲנֶה֮ לֹֽא־יִירָ֪א לִ֫בִּ֥י 3a If an army should encamp against me, my heart will not fear.
אִם־תָּק֣וּם עָ֭לַי מִלְחָמָ֑ה בְּ֝זֹ֗את אֲנִ֣י בוֹטֵֽחַ׃ 3b If war should rise against me, in this I will keep trusting.
אַחַ֤ת ׀ שָׁאַ֣לְתִּי מֵֽאֵת־יְהוָה֮ אוֹתָ֪הּ אֲבַ֫קֵּ֥שׁ 4a One thing I hereby ask of YHWH; I will seek it:
שִׁבְתִּ֣י בְּבֵית־יְ֭הוָה כָּל־יְמֵ֣י חַיַּ֑י 4b that I may take a seat in the house of YHWH every day of my life,
לַחֲז֥וֹת בְּנֹֽעַם־יְ֝הוָ֗ה וּלְבַקֵּ֥ר בְּהֵיכָלֽוֹ׃ 4c in order to gaze on the beauty of YHWH, and in order to contemplate in his temple.
כִּ֤י יִצְפְּנֵ֨נִי ׀ בְּסֻכֹּה֮ בְּי֪וֹם רָ֫עָ֥ה 5a [I trust] that he will shelter me in his booth in a day of trouble.
יַ֭סְתִּרֵנִי בְּסֵ֣תֶר אָהֳל֑וֹ בְּ֝צ֗וּר יְרוֹמְמֵֽנִי׃ 5b He will hide me in the hiding place of his tent. He will lift me up on a rock.
וְעַתָּ֨ה יָר֪וּם רֹאשִׁ֡י עַ֤ל אֹֽיְבַ֬י סְֽבִיבוֹתַ֗י 6a And now: my head will be exalted over my enemies around me;
וְאֶזְבְּחָ֣ה בְ֭אָהֳלוֹ זִבְחֵ֣י תְרוּעָ֑ה 6b and I will sacrifice in his tent sacrifices accompanied by a shout;
אָשִׁ֥ירָה וַ֝אֲזַמְּרָ֗ה לַיהוָֽה׃ 6c and I will sing and sing praises to YHWH.
שְׁמַע־יְהוָ֖ה קוֹלִ֥י אֶקְרָ֗א 7a Hear my voice, YHWH, with which I cry out,
וְחָנֵּ֥נִי וַעֲנֵֽנִי׃ 7b and be merciful to me and answer me!
לְךָ֤ ׀ אָמַ֣ר לִ֭בִּי בַּקְּשׁ֣וּ פָנָ֑י 8a My heart has said for you: “Seek my face”!
אֶת־פָּנֶ֖יךָ יְהוָ֣ה אֲבַקֵּֽשׁ׃ 8b Your face, YHWH, I will seek.
אַל־תַּסְתֵּ֬ר פָּנֶ֨יךָ ׀ מִמֶּנִּי֮ 9a Do not hide your face from me;
אַֽל־תַּט־בְּאַ֗ף עַ֫בְדֶּ֥ךָ 9b do not turn away your servant in anger!
עֶזְרָתִ֥י הָיִ֑יתָ אַֽל־תִּטְּשֵׁ֥נִי 9c You have been my help. Do not abandon me,
וְאַל־תַּֽ֝עַזְבֵ֗נִי אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׁעִֽי׃ 9d and do not forsake me, God of my salvation!
כִּי־אָבִ֣י וְאִמִּ֣י עֲזָב֑וּנִי 10a Because even if my father and my mother forsook me,
וַֽיהוָ֣ה יַֽאַסְפֵֽנִי׃ 10b nevertheless, YHWH would take me in.
ה֤וֹרֵ֥נִי יְהוָ֗ה דַּ֫רְכֶּ֥ךָ 11a Teach me, YHWH, your way,
וּ֭נְחֵנִי בְּאֹ֣רַח מִישׁ֑וֹר לְ֝מַ֗עַן שׁוֹרְרָֽי׃ 11b and lead me on a level path, because of my foes.
אַֽל־תִּ֭תְּנֵנִי בְּנֶ֣פֶשׁ צָרָ֑י 12a Do not give me to the craving of my adversaries,
כִּ֥י קָֽמוּ־בִ֥י עֵֽדֵי־שֶׁ֝֗קֶר וִיפֵ֥חַ חָמָֽס׃ 12b for false witnesses and those who breathe out violence have risen against me.
לׅׄוּלֵׅׄ֗אׅׄ הֶ֭אֱמַנְתִּי לִרְא֥וֹת בְּֽטוּב־יְהוָ֗ה בְּאֶ֣רֶץ חַיִּֽים׃ 13a Had I not believed I would look upon the goodness of YHWH in the land of the living –
קַוֵּ֗ה אֶל־יְה֫וָ֥ה חֲ֭זַק וְיַאֲמֵ֣ץ לִבֶּ֑ךָ 14a Wait for YHWH! Be courageous, and let your heart become strong!
וְ֝קַוֵּ֗ה אֶל־יְהוָֽה׃ 14b Yes, wait for YHWH!

Structure Overlay Below, the text has been overlaid with our summary structural analysis. For details on the structure, see the Structure At-a-Glance here.

Text (Hebrew) Verse Text (CBC)
לְדָוִ֨ד 1a By David.
יְהוָ֤ה ׀ אוֹרִ֣י וְ֭יִשְׁעִי מִמִּ֣י אִירָ֑א 1b YHWH is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
יְהוָ֥ה מָֽעוֹז־חַ֝יַּ֗י מִמִּ֥י אֶפְחָֽד׃ 1c YHWH is the refuge of my life; on what basis shall I tremble?
בִּקְרֹ֤ב עָלַ֨י ׀ מְרֵעִים֮ לֶאֱכֹ֪ל אֶת־בְּשָׂ֫רִ֥י 2a When evildoers came near against me to devour my flesh,
צָרַ֣י וְאֹיְבַ֣י לִ֑י הֵ֖מָּה כָשְׁל֣וּ וְנָפָֽלוּ׃ 2b [when] my adversaries and my enemies [came near] to me, they stumbled and fell.
אִם־תַּחֲנֶ֬ה עָלַ֨י ׀ מַחֲנֶה֮ לֹֽא־יִירָ֪א לִ֫בִּ֥י 3a If an army should encamp against me, my heart will not fear.
אִם־תָּק֣וּם עָ֭לַי מִלְחָמָ֑ה בְּ֝זֹ֗את אֲנִ֣י בוֹטֵֽחַ׃ 3b If war should rise against me, in this I will keep trusting.
אַחַ֤ת ׀ שָׁאַ֣לְתִּי מֵֽאֵת־יְהוָה֮ אוֹתָ֪הּ אֲבַ֫קֵּ֥שׁ 4a One thing I hereby ask of YHWH; I will seek it:
שִׁבְתִּ֣י בְּבֵית־יְ֭הוָה כָּל־יְמֵ֣י חַיַּ֑י 4b that I may take a seat in the house of YHWH every day of my life,
לַחֲז֥וֹת בְּנֹֽעַם־יְ֝הוָ֗ה וּלְבַקֵּ֥ר בְּהֵיכָלֽוֹ׃ 4c in order to gaze on the beauty of YHWH, and in order to contemplate in his temple.
כִּ֤י יִצְפְּנֵ֨נִי ׀ בְּסֻכֹּה֮ בְּי֪וֹם רָ֫עָ֥ה 5a [I trust] that he will shelter me in his booth in a day of trouble.
יַ֭סְתִּרֵנִי בְּסֵ֣תֶר אָהֳל֑וֹ בְּ֝צ֗וּר יְרוֹמְמֵֽנִי׃ 5b He will hide me in the hiding place of his tent. He will lift me up on a rock.
וְעַתָּ֨ה יָר֪וּם רֹאשִׁ֡י עַ֤ל אֹֽיְבַ֬י סְֽבִיבוֹתַ֗י 6a And now: my head will be exalted over my enemies around me;
וְאֶזְבְּחָ֣ה בְ֭אָהֳלוֹ זִבְחֵ֣י תְרוּעָ֑ה 6b and I will sacrifice in his tent sacrifices accompanied by a shout;
אָשִׁ֥ירָה וַ֝אֲזַמְּרָ֗ה לַיהוָֽה׃ 6c and I will sing and sing praises to YHWH.
שְׁמַע־יְהוָ֖ה קוֹלִ֥י אֶקְרָ֗א 7a Hear my voice, YHWH, with which I cry out,
וְחָנֵּ֥נִי וַעֲנֵֽנִי׃ 7b and be merciful to me and answer me!
לְךָ֤ ׀ אָמַ֣ר לִ֭בִּי בַּקְּשׁ֣וּ פָנָ֑י 8a My heart has said for you: “Seek my face”!
אֶת־פָּנֶ֖יךָ יְהוָ֣ה אֲבַקֵּֽשׁ׃ 8b Your face, YHWH, I will seek.
אַל־תַּסְתֵּ֬ר פָּנֶ֨יךָ ׀ מִמֶּנִּי֮ 9a Do not hide your face from me;
אַֽל־תַּט־בְּאַ֗ף עַ֫בְדֶּ֥ךָ 9b do not turn away your servant in anger!
עֶזְרָתִ֥י הָיִ֑יתָ אַֽל־תִּטְּשֵׁ֥נִי 9c You have been my help. Do not abandon me,
וְאַל־תַּֽ֝עַזְבֵ֗נִי אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׁעִֽי׃ 9d and do not forsake me, God of my salvation!
כִּי־אָבִ֣י וְאִמִּ֣י עֲזָב֑וּנִי 10a Because even if my father and my mother forsook me,
וַֽיהוָ֣ה יַֽאַסְפֵֽנִי׃ 10b nevertheless, YHWH would take me in.
ה֤וֹרֵ֥נִי יְהוָ֗ה דַּ֫רְכֶּ֥ךָ 11a Teach me, YHWH, your way,
וּ֭נְחֵנִי בְּאֹ֣רַח מִישׁ֑וֹר לְ֝מַ֗עַן שׁוֹרְרָֽי׃ 11b and lead me on a level path, because of my foes.
אַֽל־תִּ֭תְּנֵנִי בְּנֶ֣פֶשׁ צָרָ֑י 12a Do not give me to the craving of my adversaries,
כִּ֥י קָֽמוּ־בִ֥י עֵֽדֵי־שֶׁ֝֗קֶר וִיפֵ֥חַ חָמָֽס׃ 12b for false witnesses and those who breathe out violence have risen against me.
לׅׄוּלֵׅׄ֗אׅׄ הֶ֭אֱמַנְתִּי לִרְא֥וֹת בְּֽטוּב־יְהוָ֗ה בְּאֶ֣רֶץ חַיִּֽים׃ 13a Had I not believed I would look upon the goodness of YHWH in the land of the living –
קַוֵּ֗ה אֶל־יְה֫וָ֥ה חֲ֭זַק וְיַאֲמֵ֣ץ לִבֶּ֑ךָ 14a Wait for YHWH! Be courageous, and let your heart become strong!
וְ֝קַוֵּ֗ה אֶל־יְהוָֽה׃ 14b Yes, wait for YHWH!

Expanded paraphrase The expanded paraphrase seeks to capture the implicit information within the text and make it explicit for readers today. It is based on the CBC translation and uses italic text to provide the most salient background information, presuppositions, entailments, and inferences.

Text (Hebrew) Verse Expanded Paraphrase
לְדָוִ֨ד יְהוָ֤ה ׀ אוֹרִ֣י וְ֭יִשְׁעִי מִמִּ֣י אִירָ֑א יְהוָ֥ה מָֽעוֹז־חַ֝יַּ֗י מִמִּ֥י אֶפְחָֽד׃ בִּקְרֹ֤ב עָלַ֨י ׀ מְרֵעִים֮ לֶאֱכֹ֪ל אֶת־בְּשָׂ֫רִ֥י 1 By David. Enemies can be likened to darkness, but even when enemies are many, YHWH is my light which dispels the darkness of danger and my salvation when I need rescue from all enemies; whom shall I fear? No one! There is no one from whom he cannot save me. YHWH is the refuge of my life protecting my life every time it is at risk from my many enemies; on what basis shall I tremble? None! He is a refuge from every imaginable threat, every time my life is in danger.
צָרַ֣י וְאֹיְבַ֣י לִ֑י הֵ֖מָּה כָשְׁל֣וּ וְנָפָֽלוּ׃ אִם־תַּחֲנֶ֬ה עָלַ֨י ׀ מַחֲנֶה֮ לֹֽא־יִירָ֪א לִ֫בִּ֥י 2 History provides evidence of this: When evildoers came near against me to devour my flesh, [when] my adversaries and my enemies [came near] to me, though they were strong and I was vulnerable, it was they who stumbled and fell because YHWH was my refuge.
אִם־תָּק֣וּם עָ֭לַי מִלְחָמָ֑ה בְּ֝זֹ֗את אֲנִ֣י בוֹטֵֽחַ׃ אַחַ֤ת ׀ שָׁאַ֣לְתִּי מֵֽאֵת־יְהוָה֮ אוֹתָ֪הּ אֲבַ֫קֵּ֥שׁ 3 I have equal confidence for the future: If an army should encamp against me, even though my army and life are in danger my heart will not fear. If war should rise against me, even though the nation itself be at stake in this —my seeking YHWH for guidance— I will keep trusting.
שִׁבְתִּ֣י בְּבֵית־יְ֭הוָה כָּל־יְמֵ֣י חַיַּ֑י לַחֲז֥וֹת בְּנֹֽעַם־יְ֝הוָ֗ה וּלְבַקֵּ֥ר בְּהֵיכָלֽוֹ׃ כִּ֤י יִצְפְּנֵ֨נִי ׀ בְּסֻכֹּה֮ בְּי֪וֹם רָ֫עָ֥ה 4 Even now, danger is present, but I have learned that only one thing is necessary. One thing I have asked of YHWH; I will seek it as entirely sufficient to meet my needs: that I may reside in the house of YHWH to seek his audience every day of my life, to gaze on the beauty of YHWH, to be granted an audience before him and to contemplate in his temple to give careful thought to what to do about the current military plight, in light of YHWH as my refuge and salvation.
יַ֭סְתִּרֵנִי בְּסֵ֣תֶר אָהֳל֑וֹ בְּ֝צ֗וּר יְרוֹמְמֵֽנִי׃ וְעַתָּ֨ה יָר֪וּם רֹאשִׁ֡י עַ֤ל אֹֽיְבַ֬י סְֽבִיבוֹתַ֗י 5 I have confidence to move ahead of YHWH Because I know he will shelter me in his booth, a shelter where YHWH's own presence is, in a day of trouble such as right now. He will hide me, that is, protect me, in the hiding place of his tent, the tent which David erected for the Ark in Zion, one more image of where YHWH's presence is and therefore a place of refuge. He will lift me up on a rock high up, firmly grounded, and inaccessible to enemies.
וְאֶזְבְּחָ֣ה בְ֭אָהֳלוֹ זִבְחֵ֣י תְרוּעָ֑ה אָשִׁ֥ירָה וַ֝אֲזַמְּרָ֗ה לַיהוָֽה׃ שְׁמַע־יְהוָ֖ה קוֹלִ֥י אֶקְרָ֗א 6 And now I know YHWH has heard my prayer and therefore my head will be exalted over my enemies around me in military victory, so that I can sacrifice in his tent thanksgiving sacrifices accompanied by a shout, the shout of a victorious king, properly celebrating the victory given by YHWH, so that I can sing and sing praises to YHWH publicly giving him the credit for my victory.
וְחָנֵּ֥נִי וַעֲנֵֽנִי׃ לְךָ֤ ׀ אָמַ֣ר לִ֭בִּי בַּקְּשׁ֣וּ פָנָ֑י 7 It is with this confidence that I now cry out: according to your covenant, Hear my voice, YHWH – I cry out – as you have commanded me to cry and be merciful to me and answer me according to your covenant obligations!
אֶת־פָּנֶ֖יךָ יְהוָ֣ה אֲבַקֵּֽשׁ׃ אַל־תַּסְתֵּ֬ר פָּנֶ֨יךָ ׀ מִמֶּנִּי֮ 8 You have often said to seek your face, such that now even My heart has said concerning you: “Seek my face”! In trouble, you alone are the one whom I will seek. Your face, YHWH, I will seek. The light of your face alone brings favour: blessing, protection and peace.
אַֽל־תַּט־בְּאַ֗ף עַ֫בְדֶּ֥ךָ עֶזְרָתִ֥י הָיִ֑יתָ אַֽל־תִּטְּשֵׁ֥נִי וְאַל־תַּֽ֝עַזְבֵ֗נִי אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׁעִֽי׃ כִּי־אָבִ֣י וְאִמִּ֣י עֲזָב֑וּנִי 9 Do not hide your face from me removing your favour, as it was removed from Saul; do not turn away your servant in anger I am your servant! You have been my help. Do not abandon me, and do not forsake me, God of my salvation!
וַֽיהוָ֣ה יַֽאַסְפֵֽנִי׃ ה֤וֹרֵ֥נִי יְהוָ֗ה דַּ֫רְכֶּ֥ךָ 10 For even if my father and my mother forsook me, yet YHWH the defender of widows and orphans will take me in and will protect and guide me as his son.
וּ֭נְחֵנִי בְּאֹ֣רַח מִישׁ֑וֹר לְ֝מַ֗עַן שׁוֹרְרָֽי׃ אַֽל־תִּ֭תְּנֵנִי בְּנֶ֣פֶשׁ צָרָ֑י 11 It is the role of a father to guide and protect his son, and you have adopted me as your son. So, I ask, Teach me, YHWH, my father your perfect way, and lead me in a safe and level path protecting me along the way. I need your protective guidance, because of my foes.
כִּ֥י קָֽמוּ־בִ֥י עֵֽדֵי־שֶׁ֝֗קֶר וִיפֵ֥חַ חָמָֽס׃ לׅׄוּלֵׅׄ֗אׅׄ הֶ֭אֱמַנְתִּי לִרְא֥וֹת בְּֽטוּב־יְהוָ֗ה בְּאֶ֣רֶץ חַיִּֽים׃ 12 Do not give me to the craving of my adversaries, for false witnesses and those who breathe out violence have risen against me.
קַוֵּ֗ה אֶל־יְה֫וָ֥ה חֲ֭זַק וְיַאֲמֵ֣ץ לִבֶּ֑ךָ 13 Had I not believed I would look upon the goodness of YHWH in the land of the living as Moses saw his goodness while seeking his face, I would have been consumed by my enemies –
וְ֝קַוֵּ֗ה אֶל־יְהוָֽה׃ 14 But I have seen that YHWH is our light, salvation and refuge, and believe that he will shelter those who seek him. So I say to my soul, along with all his people, as we seek him even while it is still dark, and deliverance has not yet come, Wait for YHWH! Be courageous, and let your heart become strong! Yes, wait for YHWH!

Participant Tracking Text Participant Analysis focuses on the characters in the psalm and asks, “Who are the main participants (or characters) in this psalm, and what are they saying or doing? Our full analysis can be found in the Participant Analysis layer.

This resource is forthcoming.