Psalm 5

Psalm 5

For the director of music. For pipes. A psalm of David.

 

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. (Psalm 5, NIV)

 

Willem A. VanGemeren proposes the following structure for Psalm 5:¹

 A.  Prayer for God's Justice (vv.1–3)

           B.  Affirmation of God's Hatred of Evil (vv.4–6)

                     C.  Hope in Fellowship With God (v.7)

A'. Prayer for God's Righteousness (v.8)

          B'. Affirmation of Evil (v.9)

                    C'. Hope in God's Righteousness (vv.10–12)

 

[1] Willem A. VanGemeren, “Psalms,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, vol. 5 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1991), 87. Unless otherwise indicated, all commentary is from VanGemeren.