Note: Words are shown in their original Hebrew order, which differs from English translations. This reflects the emphasis and structure of Scripture as originally written. Click any word to see its full lexicon entry.
1Give ear to my words, O LORD; consider my groaning.
Psalm 5 is a morning prayer of David seeking God's attention, protection, and justice against his enemies. The psalm opens with an urgent plea for God to hear his meditation and cry, then moves into a confession of God's holy nature—that He cannot abide wickedness or evil. David contrasts the character of his deceitful enemies with his own desire to worship God in reverence, asking the Lord to lead him in righteousness and to judge those who have rebelled against Him. Throughout, the psalm balances David's honest struggle with opposition against his confident trust in God's protective care for the righteous.
David opens with an earnest appeal: "Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation" (v. 1). He is not making demands but urgently requesting God's attention to both his spoken prayer and his inner thoughts. In verse 2, he addresses God as both his "King" and his "God," emphasizing both God's authority and his personal relationship with Him. The phrase "for unto thee will I pray" shows that despite his troubles, David's instinct is to direct his anxieties to God rather than to others. Verse 3 reveals David's spiritual discipline: he commits to praying in the morning and "looking up"—a posture of hope and expectation. This teaches us that our first response to difficulty should be prayer, and that morning prayer sets the tone for our entire day. Application: Begin your day by bringing your concerns directly to God, before the pressures of the world demand your attention.
Here David pivots to affirm a fundamental truth about God's character: "For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee" (v. 4). This is crucial doctrine. God is not indifferent to sin; He actively hates it. Verse 5 sharpens this: "The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity." The word "foolish" here refers not to intellectual deficiency but to moral rebellion—those who reject God's authority. Verse 6 extends this, promising that God will "destroy them that speak leasing [lies]" and "abhor the bloody and deceitful man." David is reminding himself—and us—that God's justice is real and active. Our God is not soft on sin; His holiness demands that evil be dealt with. Application: Find comfort knowing that God takes sin seriously and will ultimately judge all wrongdoing; you need not take vengeance into your own hands.
Despite the reality of evil, David expresses his personal position: "But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy" (v. 7). His access to God rests not on his own righteousness but on God's mercy. He commits to worship "in thy fear"—with reverence and awe. In verses 8–10, David asks God to "lead me...in thy righteousness because of mine enemies" and to judge those who have "rebelled against thee." Notice the progression: David requests protection (v. 8), exposes the deceit of his enemies (v. 9), and then appropriately leaves their judgment to God (v. 10). Finally, verses 11–12 pivot to the righteous: "let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice...for thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield." David's confidence is that God shields and blesses those who trust Him. Application: Whatever opposition you face, remember that your security is in God's mercy, and His protection surrounds the trusting believer like a shield.
Application for Today
Psalm 5 invites us to begin each day with prayer, to trust in God's holiness and justice, and to find our security in His protective care rather than in our own strength or vindication. When facing opposition or deception, we can honestly bring our concerns to God, affirm His hatred of evil, and rest confidently in His promise to defend those who love His name.
Study Notes — Psalms 5
4 sectionsPsalm 5 is a morning prayer of David seeking God's attention, protection, and justice against his enemies. The psalm opens with an urgent plea for God to hear his meditation and cry, then moves into a confession of God's holy nature—that He cannot abide wickedness or evil. David contrasts the character of his deceitful enemies with his own desire to worship God in reverence, asking the Lord to lead him in righteousness and to judge those who have rebelled against Him. Throughout, the psalm balances David's honest struggle with opposition against his confident trust in God's protective care for the righteous.
David opens with an earnest appeal: "Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation" (v. 1). He is not making demands but urgently requesting God's attention to both his spoken prayer and his inner thoughts. In verse 2, he addresses God as both his "King" and his "God," emphasizing both God's authority and his personal relationship with Him. The phrase "for unto thee will I pray" shows that despite his troubles, David's instinct is to direct his anxieties to God rather than to others. Verse 3 reveals David's spiritual discipline: he commits to praying in the morning and "looking up"—a posture of hope and expectation. This teaches us that our first response to difficulty should be prayer, and that morning prayer sets the tone for our entire day. Application: Begin your day by bringing your concerns directly to God, before the pressures of the world demand your attention.
Here David pivots to affirm a fundamental truth about God's character: "For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee" (v. 4). This is crucial doctrine. God is not indifferent to sin; He actively hates it. Verse 5 sharpens this: "The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity." The word "foolish" here refers not to intellectual deficiency but to moral rebellion—those who reject God's authority. Verse 6 extends this, promising that God will "destroy them that speak leasing [lies]" and "abhor the bloody and deceitful man." David is reminding himself—and us—that God's justice is real and active. Our God is not soft on sin; His holiness demands that evil be dealt with. Application: Find comfort knowing that God takes sin seriously and will ultimately judge all wrongdoing; you need not take vengeance into your own hands.
Despite the reality of evil, David expresses his personal position: "But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy" (v. 7). His access to God rests not on his own righteousness but on God's mercy. He commits to worship "in thy fear"—with reverence and awe. In verses 8–10, David asks God to "lead me...in thy righteousness because of mine enemies" and to judge those who have "rebelled against thee." Notice the progression: David requests protection (v. 8), exposes the deceit of his enemies (v. 9), and then appropriately leaves their judgment to God (v. 10). Finally, verses 11–12 pivot to the righteous: "let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice...for thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield." David's confidence is that God shields and blesses those who trust Him. Application: Whatever opposition you face, remember that your security is in God's mercy, and His protection surrounds the trusting believer like a shield.
Psalm 5 invites us to begin each day with prayer, to trust in God's holiness and justice, and to find our security in His protective care rather than in our own strength or vindication. When facing opposition or deception, we can honestly bring our concerns to God, affirm His hatred of evil, and rest confidently in His promise to defend those who love His name.