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Give Ear to My Words
Psalm 5 is a prayer-song that moves from asking Yahweh to hear, to asking for guidance, and then to confidence that he blesses those who take refuge in him.
Understanding the passage
Read these words in context
In this passage, the speaker prays to Yahweh in the morning and waits expectantly. The psalm contrasts Yahweh’s rejection of wickedness, lies, and deceit with the speaker’s reverent approach to God because of his loving kindness, and with the joy of those who take refuge in him.
Psalms 5:1–12Main takeaway
Psalm 5 teaches that prayer to Yahweh includes trust that he hears, leads, and blesses those who take refuge in him.
Explore the poem and its images
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A morning plea to be heardThe psalm opens with direct requests: “Give ear”, “consider”, and “listen”. The speaker calls Yahweh “my King and my God”, showing honour and dependence.
Explanation
The psalm opens with direct requests: “Give ear”, “consider”, and “listen”. The speaker calls Yahweh “my King and my God”, showing honour and dependence. He prays in the morning, lays out his requests before Yahweh, and then watches expectantly instead of speaking as though prayer is empty or unnoticed.
02Yahweh rejects wickednessThe prayer is grounded in Yahweh’s character. He is not pleased with wickedness, and evil cannot live with him.
Explanation
The prayer is grounded in Yahweh’s character. He is not pleased with wickedness, and evil cannot live with him. The psalm then names people and actions Yahweh opposes: the arrogant, workers of iniquity, those who speak lies, and the bloodthirsty and deceitful. This explains why the prayer speaks so seriously about wrongdoing.
03The speaker asks for a straight pathIn contrast to the wicked, the speaker comes into God’s house because of God’s abundant loving kindness and bows in reverence toward God’s holy temple.
Explanation
In contrast to the wicked, the speaker comes into God’s house because of God’s abundant loving kindness and bows in reverence toward God’s holy temple. Then the prayer turns to guidance: “Lead me” and “Make your way straight before my face”. The request is practical, asking Yahweh to direct the path ahead.
04Rebellion and refuge are set apartThe enemies are described as unfaithful, destructive, and flattering with their tongues. The prayer asks God to hold them guilty because they have rebelled against him.
Explanation
The enemies are described as unfaithful, destructive, and flattering with their tongues. The prayer asks God to hold them guilty because they have rebelled against him. By contrast, those who take refuge in Yahweh rejoice. He defends them, blesses the righteous, and surrounds them with favour like a shield.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What words show the speaker expects Yahweh to hear his prayer?
Notice the repeated requests to hear, the words “I pray to you”, and the statement that he will watch expectantly.
02Which actions and attitudes does this psalm say Yahweh opposes?
Use the exact descriptions given in the passage, such as arrogance, iniquity, lies, bloodthirstiness, and deceit.
03How does the ending contrast rebels with those who take refuge in Yahweh?
Compare being held guilty for rebellion with rejoicing, defence, blessing, and favour like a shield.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Psalms 5:1–12
1Give ear to my words, Yahweh. Consider my meditation.
2Listen to the voice of my cry, my King and my God, for I pray to you.
3Yahweh, in the morning you will hear my voice. In the morning I will lay my requests before you, and will watch expectantly.
4For you are not a God who has pleasure in wickedness. Evil can’t live with you.
5The arrogant will not stand in your sight. You hate all workers of iniquity.
6You will destroy those who speak lies. Yahweh abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.
7But as for me, in the abundance of your loving kindness I will come into your house. I will bow toward your holy temple in reverence of you.
8Lead me, Yahweh, in your righteousness because of my enemies. Make your way straight before my face.
9For there is no faithfulness in their mouth. Their heart is destruction. Their throat is an open tomb. They flatter with their tongue.
10Hold them guilty, God. Let them fall by their own counsels. Thrust them out in the multitude of their transgressions, for they have rebelled against you.
11But let all those who take refuge in you rejoice. Let them always shout for joy, because you defend them. Let them also who love your name be joyful in you.
12For you will bless the righteous. Yahweh, you will surround him with favor as with a shield.