Psalm 27 is David's song of confidence in God when enemies surround him. It opens, "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?" and closes, "Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart" (Psalm 27:14). Between them, David names the one thing he wants most, to dwell in God's house and behold His beauty, and he prays honestly when he feels abandoned.
Psalm 27 has fourteen verses and two moods. The first half (verses 1 to 6) is bold confidence: with God as light and fortress, David fears no army. The second half (verses 7 to 14) turns to urgent prayer: hear me, do not hide Your face, do not leave me. Many readers find this honest swing comforting, because faith often feels like both at once. The psalm's heading says only that it is A Psalm of David; it does not say when he wrote it. Some think of the years when Saul hunted him, others of Absalom's rebellion. Its best-known verse is verse 4, the one thing David desired, and its closing line, wait on the LORD, has been a lifeline for people in long seasons of waiting. Below are twelve of its fourteen verses in the King James Version, in order, with a short explanation of each. Verses 11 and 12, a request for guidance and a plea against false witnesses, are summarized in the notes. For more verses on these themes, see Bible verses about fear and Bible verses about waiting on God.
Psalm 27:1-3: whom shall I fear?
1. Psalms 27:1
"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?"
David begins with three names for God: The LORD is my light and my salvation, and the strength of my life. Light shows the way and drives away darkness. Salvation means rescue. Strength, sometimes translated stronghold, is a fortress you can run into. Then two questions: whom shall I fear? and of whom shall I be afraid? They are not denials that danger is real. They are reminders that God is greater than the danger.
2. Psalms 27:2
"When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell."
David remembers what God has already done: When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Enemies came at him like wild animals, but they were the ones who fell. Looking back at God's past help is one of the best ways to face a new fear. What has God already brought you through? That memory is fuel for today's faith.
3. Psalms 27:3
"Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident."
The confidence grows: Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear. A host is an army. Even if war broke out, David says, in this will I be confident. In this points back to verse 1, to who God is. Confidence in the Bible is not confidence in our own strength or plans, but in God's character. That kind of confidence can stand up even when circumstances do not change.
4. Psalms 27:4
"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 enquire in his temple."
This is the heart of the psalm: One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after. David was a king with many concerns, yet he names one desire: 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 enquire in his temple. He wanted God Himself, to be near Him, to enjoy Him and to learn from Him. If you could ask God for one thing, what would it be?
Psalm 27:5-8: hidden in His pavilion
5. Psalms 27:5
"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."
Here is why David feels safe: in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion. A pavilion is a tent, like a royal tent in a war camp. In the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me. The tabernacle was God's dwelling place. Then the picture changes: he shall set me up upon a rock, high above floodwaters. God is shelter and solid ground at the same time.
6. Psalms 27:6
"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."
Protection leads to praise: now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me. A lifted head is a sign of honor restored after shame. David's response is worship: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD. He repeats I will sing, as if he cannot say it enough. Praise is the natural end of trust.
7. Psalms 27:7
"Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me."
Suddenly the tone shifts: Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me. The confident king is now a man crying out loud. This is not a loss of faith. The same God who is his light is the God he calls to in need. Real faith includes both songs and cries. You never have to pretend with God. See Bible verses about crying out to God.
8. Psalms 27:8
"When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek."
In the middle of the prayer David remembers God's invitation: When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek. God spoke first, and David answered. To seek someone's face is to want their presence, not just their help. Prayer is not only asking for things. It is answering God's invitation to come close.
Psalm 27:9-14: wait on the LORD
9. Psalms 27:9
"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."
David's deepest fear comes out: Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger. He has just said he will seek God's face, and now he asks God not to hide it. Then he holds on to God's past faithfulness: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. Verse 11 continues with a request for guidance: teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path.
10. Psalms 27:10
"When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up."
This verse has comforted many people who feel alone: When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up. Parents are usually the last people to leave a child, yet God's love goes further still. To take up means to gather in and adopt. If family has failed you, God has not. Verse 12 then mentions false witnesses who breathe out cruelty, so David's trouble included lies about him. See Bible verses about loneliness.
11. Psalms 27:13
"I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living."
Near the end David admits how close he came to giving up: I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. The land of the living means this life, not only heaven. What kept him going was the belief that he would see God's goodness here and now. Hope is not only for someday. It holds us up today.
12. Psalms 27:14
"Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD."
The psalm ends with a word of advice, perhaps to himself and to us: Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. Wait appears twice, at the start and the end. Waiting on God is not passive. It takes courage, and God promises to give the strength for it. If you are in a season of waiting, let this be your verse for today.
A short prayer
LORD, You are my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? You are the strength of my life. The one thing I desire is to be near You and behold Your beauty. Hide me in Your shelter in the time of trouble and set me on the rock. Hear me when I cry, and do not hide Your face from me. Even if others leave me, You will take me up. Help me wait on You with courage, and strengthen my heart. Amen.
Go deeper: a SOAP study prompt
Pick one verse above and write: - Scripture: copy the verse by hand. - Observation: what does it say? Who is speaking, to whom? - Application: what does it mean for you today? - Prayer: turn it into a two-line prayer.
New to this method? See our Bible study guide or pick a Bible reading plan.
Print it in large type: the free Large-Print Psalms (KJV) printable · Pray Psalm 27 with the 30-Day Prayer Journal · Study one verse a day with our free SOAP study page · Memorize Psalm 27:1 and 27:14 with the Scripture Memory Cards
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Psalm 27?
Psalm 27 is a psalm of confidence and prayer. David says God is his light, salvation and strength, so he does not need to fear his enemies (verses 1 to 3). His greatest desire is to be near God (verse 4). In the second half he prays honestly for God not to leave him (verses 7 to 12), and he ends by encouraging himself to wait on the LORD with courage (verse 14).
What does Psalm 27:4 mean?
Psalm 27:4 means that David's highest desire was God Himself. Out of everything he could ask, he chose to "dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple." For Christians today it is a call to put time with God first. See Bible verses about putting God first.
Who wrote Psalm 27 and when?
The heading says A Psalm of David. It does not tell us when he wrote it. Some readers link it to the years David fled from King Saul, others to Absalom's revolt, since the psalm mentions enemies, armies and false witnesses. The Greek Old Testament adds a note placing it before David's anointing, but that note is not in the Hebrew text.
Is Psalm 27 a good psalm for fear and anxiety?
Yes. Many people read Psalm 27 when they are afraid, because it starts with "whom shall I fear?" and ends with "be of good courage" (Psalm 27:14). It is honest about trouble and full of trust. Read it slowly, pray verse 1 aloud and memorize verse 14. If anxiety is heavy, see Bible verses about anxiety and consider talking with a pastor or counselor too.
Sources: All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV), public domain in the United States. References were checked against the KJV text from bible-api.com.
Related: Fear · Courage · Waiting on God · Light · Seeking the Lord · Putting God First · Protection · Psalm 121 KJV
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