BOOK 19 OF 66 · WISDOM & POETRY · KING JAMES BIBLE

Psalms 27

Psalms book home•Chapter 27 of 150•14 verses

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Psalms 27 Overview

David declares the LORD his light and salvation, desires above all to dwell with God, cries for God's face, and ends by waiting courageously on the LORD.

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27Chapter

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Before you read Psalms 27

Coming from

Psalm 26 centered on an appeal for vindication and love for god's house. Psalms is an anthology rather than a continuous chronological story, so the connection here is canonical and thematic.

In this chapter

David declares the LORD his light and salvation, desires above all to dwell with God, cries for God's face, and ends by waiting courageously on the LORD.

Leads into

Psalm 28 turns to a cry not to be swept away with the wicked, continuing the Psalter’s arranged movement without requiring that the two psalms describe consecutive historical events.

Key understandingExplore deeper

Psalm 27 belongs to Book I of the Psalter (Psalms 1–41). The psalm holds confidence and petition together; faith does not erase the reality of enemies or longing.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Central truth

Fearless confidence joined with patient seeking.

Trust truth

In Psalm 27, confidence in God rests on His character and rule, not on the absence of danger.

Lament truth

In Psalm 27, biblical faith brings grief, fear, confusion, and need directly to God rather than hiding them.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Trust connection

1 Peter 5:7 calls believers to cast their care upon God because He cares for them. This connection helps frame Psalm 27.

Lament connection

Lamentations 3 shows the same biblical freedom to bring profound affliction before God while still remembering hope. This connection helps frame Psalm 27.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Keep trust in context

Trust in Psalm 27 is not a promise of immunity from suffering or death; it is confidence in God through the danger.

Keep lament in context

Do not mistake every anguished sentence in Psalm 27 for the psalmist’s settled theological conclusion; lament often voices how the crisis feels before faith answers it.

Read Psalms 27 watching for…

light and salvation.

one thing desired.

hide in pavilion.

seek my face.

wait on LORD.

Chapter outline2 sections

1-6David is confident in the LORD and desires to dwell in his house 7-14David asks God to hear, guide, and strengthen him as he waits on the LORD

[A Psalm] of David.The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.

Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.

For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.

Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.

When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.

Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.

When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.

Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.

Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.

I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

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Psalms 27:1

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