Psalms 5

To the chief musician on nehiloth, a psalm of David

5:Title Nehiloth indicates musical instruments, probably flutes.⚜

Give ear to my words,

O LORD.

Consider my meditation.

2 Listen to the sound of my cry,

my King, and my God;

for to you I will pray.

5:2 King David knew who the true, the eternal King is – Ps 10:16; 24:8; 47:2; 74:12; 149:2; Isa 6:5; Jer 10:10. And he gladly accepted God’s rule in his life, as we all should do.⚜

3 You will hear my voice

in the morning, O LORD;

in the morning I will direct

my prayer to you,

and will look up.

5:3 Morning is the best time to get alone with God, to pray before the work, and burdens of the day begin (Ps 57:8; 88:13; 108:2; 119:147).⚜

4 For you are not a God

who takes pleasure

in wickedness;

nor does evil dwell with you.

5:4 See Ps 92:15; 1 John 1:5-6; Matt 7:23; 25:41. See note at Lev 20:7.⚜

5 The foolish will not stand

in your sight.

You hate all evildoers.

6 You will destroy those

who speak lies.

The LORD abhors the bloodthirsty

and deceitful man.

5:6 God is the God of truth (Ps 31:5). He hates lies and deceit as if they were poison – which in a sense they are (Prov 6:17, 19; 12:22; 19:5, 9, 22; John 8:44; Rev 21:8, 27; 22:15). In this verse deceit is joined with murder in things which are abominable to God.⚜

7 But as for me, I will come

into your house by the

abundance of your mercy,

and in your fear

I will worship toward

your holy temple.

5:7 By God’s grace David is resolved to be different from the wicked. But he knows that when God blesses him it is an act of God’s mercy, not because of his own righteousness and goodness (Ps 51:1; 69:13).⚜

8 Lead me, O LORD,

in your righteousness

because of my enemies.

Make your way straight

before my face.

5:8 He did not want his enemies to have an occasion to accuse him, and so bring dishonor to the God he served.⚜

9 For there is no faithfulness

in their mouth.

Their heart is utter

wickedness.

Their throat is an open grave.

They flatter with their tongue.

5:9 Here is a vivid picture of man’s sinful nature. See Matt 15:18-19; Rom 1:28-32; 3:10-18; Gal 5:19-21.⚜

10 Pronounce them guilty,

O God!

Let them fall by their

own counsels.

Throw them away in the multitude

of their transgressions;

for they have rebelled

against you.

5:10 Is it right for God’s people to pray against the wicked in this way? See note at Ps 35:8⚜

11 But let all those who put

their trust in you rejoice.

Let them always shout

for joy,

because you defend them.

And let those who love your name

be joyful in you.

12 For you, O LORD, will bless

the righteous.

You will surround him with favour

as with a shield.