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Christian prayer

Psalm 27

Psalm 27 in its original Hebrew and with its meaning, a biblical prayer of trust and longing for God.

  • 14 verses
  • About 1 minute to recite
  • From the Bible

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  1. 1

    לְדָוִ֨ד ׀ יְהוָ֤ה ׀ אוֹרִ֣י וְ֭יִשְׁעִי מִמִּ֣י אִירָ֑א יְהוָ֥ה מָֽעוֹז־חַ֝יַּ֗י מִמִּ֥י אֶפְחָֽד׃

    A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

  2. 2

    בִּקְרֹ֤ב עָלַ֨י ׀ מְרֵעִים֮ לֶאֱכֹ֪ל אֶת־בְּשָׂ֫רִ֥י צָרַ֣י וְאֹיְבַ֣י לִ֑י הֵ֖מָּה כָשְׁל֣וּ וְנָפָֽלוּ׃

    When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.

  3. 3

    אִם־תַּחֲנֶ֬ה עָלַ֨י ׀ מַחֲנֶה֮ לֹֽא־יִירָ֪א לִ֫בִּ֥י אִם־תָּק֣וּם עָ֭לַי מִלְחָמָ֑ה בְּ֝זֹ֗את אֲנִ֣י בוֹטֵֽחַ׃

    Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

  4. 4

    אַחַ֤ת ׀ שָׁאַ֣לְתִּי מֵֽאֵת־יְהוָה֮ אוֹתָ֪הּ אֲבַ֫קֵּ֥שׁ שִׁבְתִּ֣י בְּבֵית־יְ֭הוָה כָּל־יְמֵ֣י חַיַּ֑י לַחֲז֥וֹת בְּנֹֽעַם־יְ֝הוָ֗ה וּלְבַקֵּ֥ר בְּהֵיכָלֽוֹ׃

    One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.

  5. 5

    כִּ֤י יִצְפְּנֵ֨נִי ׀ בְּסֻכֹּה֮ בְּי֪וֹם רָ֫עָ֥ה יַ֭סְתִּרֵנִי בְּסֵ֣תֶר אָהֳל֑וֹ בְּ֝צ֗וּר יְרוֹמְמֵֽנִי׃

    For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

  6. 6

    וְעַתָּ֨ה יָר֪וּם רֹאשִׁ֡י עַ֤ל אֹֽיְבַ֬י סְֽבִיבוֹתַ֗י וְאֶזְבְּחָ֣ה בְ֭אָהֳלוֹ זִבְחֵ֣י תְרוּעָ֑ה אָשִׁ֥ירָה וַ֝אֲזַמְּרָ֗ה לַיהוָֽה׃

    And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.

  7. 7

    שְׁמַע־יְהוָ֖ה קוֹלִ֥י אֶקְרָ֗א וְחָנֵּ֥נִי וַעֲנֵֽנִי׃

    Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.

  8. 8

    לְךָ֤ ׀ אָמַ֣ר לִ֭בִּי בַּקְּשׁ֣וּ פָנָ֑י אֶת־פָּנֶ֖יךָ יְהוָ֣ה אֲבַקֵּֽשׁ׃

    When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.

  9. 9

    אַל־תַּסְתֵּ֬ר פָּנֶ֨יךָ ׀ מִמֶּנִּי֮ אַֽל־תַּט־בְּאַ֗ף עַ֫בְדֶּ֥ךָ עֶזְרָתִ֥י הָיִ֑יתָ אַֽל־תִּטְּשֵׁ֥נִי וְאַל־תַּֽ֝עַזְבֵ֗נִי אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׁעִֽי׃

    Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.

  10. 10

    כִּי־אָבִ֣י וְאִמִּ֣י עֲזָב֑וּנִי וַֽיהוָ֣ה יַֽאַסְפֵֽנִי׃

    When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.

  11. 11

    ה֤וֹרֵ֥נִי יְהוָ֗ה דַּ֫רְכֶּ֥ךָ וּ֭נְחֵנִי בְּאֹ֣רַח מִישׁ֑וֹר לְ֝מַ֗עַן שׁוֹרְרָֽי׃

    Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.

  12. 12

    אַֽל־תִּ֭תְּנֵנִי בְּנֶ֣פֶשׁ צָרָ֑י כִּ֥י קָֽמוּ־בִ֥י עֵֽדֵי־שֶׁ֝֗קֶר וִיפֵ֥חַ חָמָֽס׃

    Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.

  13. 13

    לׅׄוּלֵׅׄ֗אׅׄ הֶ֭אֱמַנְתִּי לִרְא֥וֹת בְּֽטוּב־יְהוָ֗ה בְּאֶ֣רֶץ חַיִּֽים׃

    I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

  14. 14

    קַוֵּ֗ה אֶל־יְה֫וָ֥ה חֲ֭זַק וְיַאֲמֵ֣ץ לִבֶּ֑ךָ וְ֝קַוֵּ֗ה אֶל־יְהוָֽה׃

    Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

Wording: The Holy Bible, King James Version, 1611 (standard text of 1769). Copied word for word from the edition named here

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When it is prayed

Many Christians recite Psalm 27 in personal prayer or communal worship, especially during fear, uncertainty, or hardship. Its words offer a way to express trust while asking for God's presence and guidance. It can also be prayed while waiting for direction or seeking courage.

  • In uncertainty
  • Seeking courage
  • Personal prayer
  • Communal worship

Where it comes from

Psalm 27 comes from the Book of Psalms in the Bible and was originally written in Hebrew. Its heading attributes it to David, though its precise date and authorship are uncertain. It brings together confident trust in God and an urgent plea for help.

In the libraryThe King James Version of the BibleSee the book

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Questions about Psalm 27

How many verses are in Psalm 27?

Psalm 27 has 14 verses.

What is Psalm 27 about?

It expresses trust in God amid danger, a longing to dwell in God's presence, and a plea for guidance. It ends with encouragement to wait for the Lord with courage.

Who wrote Psalm 27?

The psalm's heading attributes it to David. Its precise historical authorship is uncertain.

When do Christians pray Psalm 27?

Many Christians pray it during times of fear, hardship, or waiting. It is also used in worship and ordinary personal devotion.

What language was Psalm 27 written in?

Psalm 27 was originally written in Hebrew.

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