Psalm for the Days of Awe (with sources)

(1) Of David.

Hashem is my light and my salvation -

Whom should I fear?

Hashem is my life's stronghold -

Of whom should I be afraid?

(2) When evildoers draw near me

to eat my flesh --

they, my foes and enemies,

it is they who will stumble and fall.

(3) Though a camp is mobilized against me,

my heart will not fear.

Though battle besets me,

In this do I trust...

(4) One thing I ask of Hashem,

it is this that I seek:

to dwell in the house of Hashem

all the days of my life,

to behold the pleasantness of Hashem,

to seek out His temple.

(5) He will hide me in His sukkah

on an evil day.

He will conceal me in the shelter of His tent,

raise me high on a rock.

(6) Now my head is high

over my enemies surrounding me.

Let me offer sacrifices with shouts of joy (or: offerings of teru'ah) in His tent,

Let me sing and play music to Hashem.

(7) Hear, O Hashem, my voice when I call,

grace me and answer me.

(8) Of You my heart said: “Seek My face!” Your face, O Hashem, do I seek.

(9) Do not hide Your face from me;

do not turn aside Your servant in wrath;

You are my help.

Do not forsake me, do not abandon me, my God, my salvation.

(10) Though my father and mother abandoned me,

Hashem will gather me in.

(11) Teach me, O Hashem, your way

and guide me on a level path

because of my watchful foes.

(12) Do not give me over to the appetite of my foes,

for false witnesses have risen against me

and one who speaks violence.

(13) Had I not trusted that I would see Hashem's goodness in the land of the living...

(14) Hope in Hashem;

let your heart be strong and brave

and hope in Hashem!

...The rabbis explained this verse as referring to Rosh haShannah and Yom Kippur. "My light," on Rosh haShahnah. "And my help," on Yom Kippur. "When evildoers draw near me" - these are the idolatrous nations. "To eat my flesh" - when they come to accuse Israel and say before the Holy Blessed One, "These (we the nations) are idolaters and those (the People of Israel) are idolaters as well! 'my foes and my enemies,' the numerical value of the letters of hasatan (the accuser) is 364. Every day of the year he has the authority to make accusations, except on Yom Kippur (and Rosh Hashanah). For this reason Israel said 'Should an army besiege me,' meaning the idolatrous nations, 'my heart would have no fear.' 'Should war beset me, because of this would I be confident,' R' Levi said: because of the bequest which you wrote in the Torah "Thus only shall Aaron enter the Shrine..." (Vayikra 16:3)

It seems to me that David composed this Psalm at the end of his days, when his men (military offices) made him swear, “You shall not go out to war with us anymore.” (II Samuel 21:17)...