Psalms 5: Directing My Prayer in the Morning

David asks God to hear him each morning and lead him straight.

Psalms 5: Morning Prayer for Guidance

Where Psalms 4 is an evening prayer, this chapter opens the day, with David promising to direct his prayer to the LORD each morning and look up expectantly. He contrasts God's holiness, which cannot tolerate wickedness, with the flattering, deceitful speech of his enemies.


To the chief Musician upon Nehiloth, A Psalm of David. Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation.

\\5:1\\To the chief Musician upon Nehiloth, A Psalm of David. Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation.

\\5:2\\Hearken to the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for to thee will I pray.

\\5:3\\My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer to thee, and will look up.

\\5:4\\For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.

\\5:5\\The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.

\\5:6\\Thou shalt destroy them that speak falsehood: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.

\\5:7\\But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship towards thy holy temple.

\\5:8\\Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness, because of my enemies; make thy way straight before my face.

\\5:9\\For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulcher; they flatter with their tongue.

\\5:10\\Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee.

\\5:11\\But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.

\\5:12\\For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favor wilt thou compass him as with a shield.

David asks to be led in righteousness because of those enemies, then turns to praise, declaring that all who trust in God will rejoice and be covered by His favor as with a shield, a promise <a href="/bible/wbt/romans/chapter-8/28">Romans 8:28</a> later reflects, before moving into <a href="/bible/wbt/psalms/chapter-6">Psalms 6</a>.