¹ Listen to my words, Lord,
    consider my lament.
² Hear my cry for help,
    my King and my God,
    for to you I pray.

³ In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice;
    in the morning I lay my requests before you
    and wait expectantly.
⁴ For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness;
    with you, evil people are not welcome.
⁵ The arrogant cannot stand
    in your presence.
You hate all who do wrong;
⁶     you destroy those who tell lies.
The bloodthirsty and deceitful
    you, Lord, detest.
⁷ But I, by your great love,
    can come into your house;
in reverence I bow down
    toward your holy temple.

⁸ Lead me, Lord, in your righteousness
    because of my enemies—
    make your way straight before me.
⁹ Not a word from their mouth can be trusted;
    their heart is filled with malice.
Their throat is an open grave;
    with their tongues they tell lies.
¹⁰ Declare them guilty, O God!
    Let their intrigues be their downfall.
Banish them for their many sins,
    for they have rebelled against you.
¹¹ But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
    let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them,
    that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

¹² Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous;
    you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

Vs 1-3: Pray! Pour out your heart to God. Share your pain, your lament, your grief. He knows how you feel – so there’s no need holding up a “brave face” before him. Ask him for help – he is powerful to provide. And after laying your requests before him, wait expectantly. He will answer – even if it’s not the answer we expected.

Vs 4-11: Do you read the list of sins in this section (vs4-6, 9-10) and realise (like I do) that it’s describing you? I am an arrogant wrongdoer. I can be a deceitful liar. I have no right to approach God in all his holiness. Yet vs7 has such great hope for me! By God’s great love I can come into his house! I can’t do this on my own. I need God to lead me in his righteousness.

Vs 11-12: I’m in a storm – all of life has its seasons – but today I feel the tumult of the storm around me. Grief, pain, exhaustion, sickness, the reality of life in this fallen world. What a wonderful refuge is our God! He protects us, surrounds us and shields us!

What are you going to pray as a result of this Psalm?

What are you doing to do today as a result of this Psalm?