Psalms 5

King James Version

Full text for Psalms Chapter 5

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

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

3My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct [my prayer] unto thee, and will look up.

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

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

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

7¶ But as for me, I will come [into] thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: [and] in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.

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

9For [there is] no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part [is] very wickedness; their throat [is] an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.

10Destroy 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.

11But 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.

12For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as [with] a shield.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Psalm 5 opens with David's earnest morning prayer for God's attention and guidance. He contrasts God's righteous nature, which abhors wickedness and deceit, with the character of his enemies. The psalmist seeks divine protection and the destruction of the wicked, concluding with an affirmation that God blesses and defends those who trust in Him.

Medium Summary

The psalm begins with David's fervent plea to the LORD to hear his cry and meditation, committing to direct his prayer to God each morning. He asserts that God is a holy being who takes no pleasure in wickedness, hates evildoers, and will destroy the deceitful. In contrast, David declares his intention to worship God in His house, relying on divine mercy and fear. He then requests God's righteous leading against his enemies, whose mouths are faithless and hearts full of wickedness. The psalmist prays for the downfall of these rebels and concludes by declaring that those who trust in the LORD will rejoice, for God defends and blesses the righteous with favour as a shield.

Long Summary

Psalm 5, a psalm of David, commences with an urgent entreaty to the LORD, asking Him to consider the psalmist's words and meditation, and to hear his morning cry. David expresses his commitment to direct his prayer to God at the dawn of each day, looking upward in expectation. He then establishes a foundational theological principle: God is not one who delights in wickedness, nor can evil reside with Him. The foolish and workers of iniquity are abhorrent to God and cannot stand in His presence; indeed, the LORD will destroy those who speak lies and detests the bloody and deceitful. In stark contrast to the wicked, David affirms his own approach, stating that he will enter God's house by the abundance of divine mercy and worship in reverence toward the holy temple. He then petitions the LORD for guidance in righteousness, specifically requesting a straight path due to the presence of his enemies. These adversaries are characterized by their lack of faithfulness, their inward wickedness, their flattering tongues, and their throats likened to open sepulchres. Consequently, David implores God to destroy them, to let them fall by their own schemes, and to cast them out because of their numerous transgressions and rebellion against God. The psalm concludes with a joyful declaration for the righteous: all who trust in the LORD are to rejoice and shout for joy, for God defends them. Those who love God's name will find gladness in Him, as the LORD promises to bless the righteous, encompassing them with favour as with a protective shield.

Core Concepts

  • Morning PrayerDavid expresses his disciplined practice of directing his prayer to God specifically in the morning, indicating a regular and earnest communion with the divine.
  • God's Hatred of WickednessThe psalm asserts that God is inherently righteous and cannot tolerate evil, deceit, or unrighteousness. He actively abhors those who practice iniquity and will not allow them to stand in His sight.
  • Nature of the WickedThe psalmist vividly describes his enemies as lacking faithfulness, possessing inward wickedness, and using flattering, deceitful tongues. Their throats are likened to an open sepulchre, symbolizing their destructive words.
  • Divine Protection and BlessingThe psalm provides assurance that God defends and blesses the righteous. He surrounds them with His favour as with a shield, providing security and a cause for joy.
  • Trust in the LORDThis concept is presented as the fundamental condition for experiencing God's defence, joy, and blessing. Those who put their trust in the LORD are promised rejoicing and divine favour.
  • Imprecatory PrayerDavid directly appeals to God to destroy his enemies and bring about their downfall. This plea is based on their rebellion against God and their manifold transgressions.