For the director of music; for the flutes. A psalm of David.
5 1 Listen to my words, my Father; consider my groaning. 2 Listen to the sound of my cry for help, my King and my Father, for I pray to you.
3 My Father, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I bring my prayer to you and watch in hope. 4 For you are not our Father who delights in wickedness; evil cannot dwell with you. 5 The boastful cannot stand before your eyes; you hate all who do evil. 6 You destroy those who speak lies; my Father detests the bloodthirsty and deceitful.
7 But I, through the abundance of your covenant love, will come into your house; I will bow toward your holy temple in reverence for you. 8 My Father, lead me in your righteousness because of those who watch for my fall; make your way straight before me. 9 For there is nothing trustworthy in their mouth; their inmost being is destruction. Their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue. 10 Declare them guilty, my Father; let them fall by their own schemes. Cast them out for their many rebellions, for they have rebelled against you. a a v10 David brings his raw cry for justice straight to our Father, who receives it rather than turning it away. The longing for evil to be stopped finds its full answer in Jesus, who is both perfectly just and perfectly merciful.
11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them sing for joy forever. Spread your shelter over them, that those who love your name may be filled with joy in you. 12 For you, my Father, will bless the righteous; you surround them with favor as with a shield.