LEAD ME, LORD, IN YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS

Passage: Psalms 5:1-12

Key verse: 8a

NIV

Psalm 5[a]
For the director of music. For pipes. A psalm of David.

1 Listen(A) to my words, Lord,
    consider my lament.(B)
2 Hear my cry for help,(C)
    my King and my God,(D)
    for to you I pray.

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

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

12 Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous;(X)
    you surround them(Y) with your favor as with a shield.(Z)

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Footnotes
  1. Psalm 5:1 In Hebrew texts 5:1-12 is numbered 5:2-13.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Lead Me in Your Righteousness

To the choirmaster: for the flutes. A Psalm of David.

5 Give ear to my words, O Lord;
    consider my (A)groaning.
2 Give attention to the sound of my cry,
    my (B)King and my God,
    for (C)to you do I pray.
3 O Lord, in (D)the morning you hear my voice;
    in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you[a] and (E)watch.

4 For you are not a God who delights in wickedness;
    evil may not dwell with you.
5 The (F)boastful shall not (G)stand before your eyes;
    you (H)hate all evildoers.
6 You destroy those who speak (I)lies;
    the Lord abhors (J)the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

7 But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love,
    will enter your house.
I will (K)bow down (L)toward your (M)holy temple
    in the fear of you.
8 (N)Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness
    because of my enemies;
    (O)make your way straight before me.

9 For there is no truth in their mouth;
    their inmost self is (P)destruction;
(Q)their throat is (R)an open grave;
    they (S)flatter with their tongue.
10 (T)Make them bear their guilt, O God;
    let them (U)fall by their own counsels;
because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out,
    for they have rebelled against you.

11 But let all who (V)take refuge in you (W)rejoice;
    let them ever sing for joy,
and spread your protection over them,
    that those who love your name may (X)exult in you.
12 For you (Y)bless the righteous, O Lord;
    you (Z)cover him with favor as with (AA)a shield.

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Footnotes
  1. Psalm 5:3 Or I direct my prayer to you
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Listen to my words, LORD (1-3)

Though David was a king, he humbly submitted himself to God's kingship. Morning by morning he went to God in prayer and poured out his heart, laying his requests before him. After asking for help, he waited expectantly for God's response. Like David, may we draw near God's throne of grace with confidence to receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need! (Heb 4:15).

2. Surely the Lord bless the righteous (4-12)

David knew God and prayed based on God's righteous character. He confessed that God rejects the wicked and hates proud and arrogant people, the liars, deceitful and bloodthirsty. David humbly came to God asking his mercy. He asked God to lead him in righteousness and to deal with rebellious people who are spreading lies and hatching evil schemes. In spite of enemies, David had assurance that the LORD blesses the righteous and that those who take refuge in God find real joy and safety. He asked God to spread protection over him.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for hearing my cry for help. Help me to be led by the Spirit and walk in your righteousness every day.

One Word: Lay your requests before God and wait expectantly