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Gustave Doré’s engraving of David standing crowned and bowed as he mourns Absalom

Psalm 27

What St Athanasius said to pray when they gang up on you and look down on you, in a letter from the 300s.

  • 14Verses
  • 1Situation

St Athanasius, Letter to Marcellinus

When to pray it

In the 300s, St Athanasius of Alexandria wrote a letter to his friend Marcellinus about praying the Psalms. In it he matched psalms to what people go through. This is what he gave this one for.

They're ganging up on you, more of them all the time, looking down on you as if you're nobody yet.

If they attack you harder still, and your enemies mass like an army, looking down on you as someone not yet anointed and spoiling for a fight because of it, don't cower. Sing Psalm 27.

Letter to Marcellinus

Psalm 27:13

Where it turns

Still I am certain to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

14 verses, Berean Standard Bible

The whole psalm

Psalm 27

Its own heading Of David.

  1. 1The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— whom shall I dread?
  2. 2When the wicked came upon me to devour my flesh, my enemies and foes stumbled and fell.
  3. 3Though an army encamps around me, my heart will not fear; though a war breaks out against me, I will keep my trust.
  4. 4One thing I have asked of the LORD; this is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and seek Him in His temple.
  5. 5For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter; He will conceal me under the cover of His tent; He will set me high upon a rock.
  6. 6Then my head will be held high above my enemies around me. At His tabernacle I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD.
  7. 7Hear, O LORD, my voice when I call; be merciful and answer me.
  8. 8My heart said, “Seek His face.” Your face, O LORD, I will seek.
  9. 9Hide not Your face from me, nor turn away Your servant in anger. You have been my helper; do not leave me or forsake me, O God of my salvation.
  10. 10Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.
  11. 11Teach me Your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path, because of my oppressors.
  12. 12Do not hand me over to the will of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence.
  13. 13Still I am certain to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
  14. 14Wait patiently for the LORD; be strong and courageous. Wait patiently for the LORD!

Psalm 27 is 26 in the Greek numbering Athanasius used, which Orthodox Bibles and some older Catholic ones still follow.

When people turn against you

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Your turn

Which Psalm are you living right now?

A few honest taps about your life right now, and the psalm an early Church Father gave for exactly that.

  • 3 min
  • 7 questions
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Bible text: Berean Standard Bible, public domain. Athanasius’s advice is paraphrased from his Greek.