Psalm 28

The Lord Is My Strength and My Shield

¹To you, O Lord , I call;

my rock, be not deaf to me,

lest, if you be silent to me,

I become like those who go down to the pit.

²Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy,[#Ps. 140:6]

when I cry to you for help,

when I lift up my hands

toward your most holy sanctuary.

³Do not drag me off with the wicked,[#Ps. 26:9; Ezek. 32:20]

with the workers of evil,

who speak peace with their neighbors

while evil is in their hearts.

⁴Give to them according to their work[#Jer. 50:15, 29; Rev. 18:6; 2 Tim. 4:14]

and according to the evil of their deeds;

give to them according to the work of their hands;

render them their due reward.

⁵Because they do not regard the works of the Lord[#Isa. 5:12; Job 34:27]

or the work of his hands,

he will tear them down and build them up no more.

⁶Blessed be the Lord !

For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.

⁷The Lord is my strength and my shield;[#Ps. 3:3]

in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;

my heart exults,

and with my song I give thanks to him.

⁸The Lord is the strength of his people;[#28:8 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts]

he is the saving refuge of his anointed.

⁹Oh, save your people and bless your heritage![#Deut. 9:29; 32:9]

Be their shepherd and carry them forever.