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Christian prayer

Psalm 28

Psalm 28 in its original text and with its meaning, a prayer for help that turns to thanksgiving and trust.

  • 9 verses
  • Under a minute to recite
  • From the Bible

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  1. 1

    לְדָוִ֡ד אֵ֘לֶ֤יךָ יְהוָ֨ה ׀ אֶקְרָ֗א צוּרִי֮ אַֽל־תֶּחֱרַ֪שׁ מִ֫מֶּ֥נִּי פֶּן־תֶּֽחֱשֶׁ֥ה מִמֶּ֑נִּי וְ֝נִמְשַׁ֗לְתִּי עִם־י֥וֹרְדֵי בֽוֹר׃

    A Psalm of David. Unto thee will I cry, O LORD my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit.

  2. 2

    שְׁמַ֤ע ק֣וֹל תַּ֭חֲנוּנַי בְּשַׁוְּעִ֣י אֵלֶ֑יךָ בְּנָשְׂאִ֥י יָ֝דַ֗י אֶל־דְּבִ֥יר קָדְשֶֽׁךָ׃

    Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle.

  3. 3

    אַל־תִּמְשְׁכֵ֣נִי עִם־רְשָׁעִים֮ וְעִם־פֹּ֪עֲלֵ֫י אָ֥וֶן דֹּבְרֵ֣י שָׁ֭לוֹם עִם־רֵֽעֵיהֶ֑ם וְ֝רָעָ֗ה בִּלְבָבָֽם׃

    Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts.

  4. 4

    תֶּן־לָהֶ֣ם כְּפָעֳלָם֮ וּכְרֹ֪עַ מַֽעַלְלֵ֫יהֶ֥ם כְּמַעֲשֵׂ֣ה יְ֭דֵיהֶם תֵּ֣ן לָהֶ֑ם הָשֵׁ֖ב גְּמוּלָ֣ם לָהֶֽם׃

    Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavours: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert.

  5. 5

    כִּ֤י לֹ֤א יָבִ֡ינוּ אֶל־פְּעֻלֹּ֣ת יְ֭הוָה וְאֶל־מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה יָדָ֑יו יֶ֝הֶרְסֵ֗ם וְלֹ֣א יִבְנֵֽם׃

    Because they regard not the works of the LORD, nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up.

  6. 6

    בָּר֥וּךְ יְהוָ֑ה כִּי־שָׁ֝מַע ק֣וֹל תַּחֲנוּנָֽי׃

    Blessed be the LORD, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications.

  7. 7

    יְהוָ֤ה ׀ עֻזִּ֥י וּמָגִנִּי֮ בּ֤וֹ בָטַ֥ח לִבִּ֗י וְֽנֶ֫עֱזָ֥רְתִּי וַיַּעֲלֹ֥ז לִבִּ֑י וּֽמִשִּׁירִ֥י אֲהוֹדֶֽנּוּ׃

    The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

  8. 8

    יְהוָ֥ה עֹֽז־לָ֑מוֹ וּמָ֘ע֤וֹז יְשׁוּע֖וֹת מְשִׁיח֣וֹ הֽוּא׃

    The LORD is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed.

  9. 9

    הוֹשִׁ֤יעָה ׀ אֶת־עַמֶּ֗ךָ וּבָרֵ֥ךְ אֶת־נַחֲלָתֶ֑ךָ וּֽרְעֵ֥ם וְ֝נַשְּׂאֵ֗ם עַד־הָעוֹלָֽם׃

    Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever.

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 28 in times of distress, when seeking God's guidance or asking for protection from wrongdoing. It is also used in personal devotion and communal worship as a prayer of thanksgiving and trust. Its closing appeal invites prayer for the whole community, not only for oneself.

  • In distress
  • Seeking guidance
  • Thanksgiving
  • Communal worship

Where it comes from

Psalm 28 comes from the Book of Psalms in the Bible and was originally written in Hebrew. Its heading attributes it to David. It moves from an urgent plea for God to hear toward praise and a closing prayer for God's people.

In the libraryThe King James Version of the BibleSee the book

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Questions about Psalm 28

How many verses are in Psalm 28?

Psalm 28 has 9 verses.

What is Psalm 28 about?

It asks God to hear a cry for help and not to count the speaker among those who do evil. It then turns to thanksgiving, describing God as a source of strength and protection.

Who wrote Psalm 28?

The psalm's heading attributes it to David. This traditional attribution does not establish its precise date of composition.

When can Christians pray Psalm 28?

Many Christians pray it when they feel unheard, face trouble or want to give thanks. Its final appeal also makes it suitable for praying for a church or community.

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