Commentary— Tyndale Open Study Notes (plain English)
27:7-12 The psalmist requests the Lord’s mercy, presence, and instruction. God is the psalmist’s greatest good; enemies and other circumstances are peripheral. 27:7-8 Unlike the wicked (10:4), who only want a temporary advantage (78:34-36), the godly search for the Lord as a thirsty person searches for water in the desert (63:1; 105:4; 119:2, 10; Matt 6:33). They act wisely (Ps 34:10, 14) while waiting for the Lord to resolve their crisis (34:4; 69:6; 77:2; 119:58).
Commentary— Tyndale Open Study Notes (plain English)
27:7-12 The psalmist requests the Lord’s mercy, presence, and instruction. God is the psalmist’s greatest good; enemies and other circumstances are peripheral. 27:7-8 Unlike the wicked (10:4), who only want a temporary advantage (78:34-36), the godly search for the Lord as a thirsty person searches for water in the desert (63:1; 105:4; 119:2, 10; Matt 6:33). They act wisely (Ps 34:10, 14) while waiting for the Lord to resolve their crisis (34:4; 69:6; 77:2; 119:58).
Literal English (Darby)ⓘThe Darby Bible (1890) — a deliberately literal, word-for-word translation used here as the Old Testament comparison text.The Darby Bible (1890) — a deliberately literal, word-for-word translation used here as the Old Testament comparison text.
My heart said for thee, Seek ye my face. Thy face, O Jehovah, will I seek.
Hebrew (Masoretic Text)ⓘThe Masoretic Text — the authoritative Hebrew manuscript tradition behind most Old Testaments, standardized by Jewish scribes (the Masoretes) between roughly the 7th and 10th centuries AD.The Masoretic Text — the authoritative Hebrew manuscript tradition behind most Old Testaments, standardized by Jewish scribes (the Masoretes) between roughly the 7th and 10th centuries AD.
King James VersionⓘKing James Version (1611) — the classic formal, word-for-word English translation. Historic and widely memorized, but uses Early Modern English vocabulary.
King James Version (1611) — the classic formal, word-for-word English translation. Historic and widely memorized, but uses Early Modern English vocabulary.
When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.
American Standard VersionⓘAmerican Standard Version (1901) — a more literal, precision-focused revision in the King James tradition.American Standard Version (1901) — a more literal, precision-focused revision in the King James tradition.
When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Jehovah, will I seek.
World English BibleⓘWorld English Bible — a modern, public-domain update to the KJV/ASV formal style, without archaic language.World English Bible — a modern, public-domain update to the KJV/ASV formal style, without archaic language.
When you said, “Seek my face,” my heart said to you, “I will seek your face, Yahweh.”
Bible in Basic EnglishⓘBible in Basic English (1949) — deliberately written using a limited vocabulary of about 1,000 words.Bible in Basic English (1949) — deliberately written using a limited vocabulary of about 1,000 words.
When you said, Make search for my face, my heart said to you, For your face will I make my search.