Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.
The matter of Psalms 5:8-12 is parallel to that Psalms 5:3-7. A prayer; the plea whereon it rests; the hope resulting thence. The confident hope expressed in Psalms 5:7, so far from causing remissness, only stimulates him to pray afresh, on the ground of that hope.
Lead me ... in thy righteousness - i:e., in the righteousness which thou requirest, which thou dost impart of thy "mercy" (Psalms 5:7), and which thou rewardest with thy blessing (Psalms 5:12). Hengstenberg explains it-`God's own righteousness, whereby He gives to every one His own, befriends the pious, and destroys the ungodly.' I prefer the former explanation, as confirmed by "thy way" in the parallel clause. Compare Psalms 27:11.
Because of mine enemies - Hebrew, 'those who observe' or "lie in wait for me" (Psalms 27:11, margin; Luke 11:54; cf. Jeremiah 5:26; Hosea 13:7).
Make ... straight - i:e., unimpeded (Isaiah 40:3).