10 My heart panteth; my strength faileth me; The very light of my eyes is gone from me. 11 My friends and acquaintance keep aloof from my woe, And my kinsmen stand afar off: 12 While they who seek my life lay snares for me; They who seek my hurt threaten destruction, And meditate deceit all the day long. 13 But I, like a deaf man, hear not; And, like a dumb man, open not my mouth. 14 I am like one who heareth nothing, And in whose mouth is no reply. 15 For in thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; Thou wilt hear, O Lord, my God! 16 For I have prayed, Let them not rejoice over me; Let them not exult at the slipping of my feet! 17 For I am ready to fall, And my pain doth never leave me; 18 For I confess my iniquity, And am troubled on account of my sin. 19 But my enemies flourish and are strong; They who hate me without cause are multiplied. 20 They who repay good with evil are my enemies, Because I follow that which is good. 21 Forsake me not, O Lord! O my God, be not far from me! 22 Make haste to mine aid, O Lord, my salvation! PSALM XXXIX. Complaints of one in affliction respecting the shortness and vanity of human life, with expressions of submission, and prayer for relief. A psalm of David. For the leader of the music of the Jeduthunites. 1 I SAID, I will take heed to my ways, I will keep my mouth with a bridle, 2 I was dumb with silence; I spake not even what was good; But my pain was increased. 3 My heart was hot within me; 5 Behold, thou hast made my days as a hand-breadth, And my life is as nothing before thee; Yea, every man in his firmest state is altogether vanity. 6 Surely every man walketh in a vain show; Surely he disquieteth himself in vain ; He heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them. 7 What, then, O Lord, is my hope? 8 My hope is in thee! Deliver me from all my transgressions; 10 But remove from me thine infliction ; For I am perishing by the blow of thine hand. 11 When thou with rebukes dost chasten man for iniquity, Thou causest his glory to waste away like a moth! Surely every man is vanity. 12 Hear my prayer, O Lord; Give ear to my cry; Be not silent at my tears! For I am but a stranger with thee, PSALM XL. Thanksgiving for past favors, resolutions of obedience to the divine will, and prayer for continued mercy. For the leader of the music. A psalm of David. 1 I TRUSTED Steadfastly in the Lord, And he listened, and heard my cry. 2 He drew me out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay; He set my feet upon a rock, And made my steps firm. 3 He hath put into my mouth a new song, A song of praise to our God. Many shall see, and fear, And put their trust in the Lord. 4 Happy the man who maketh the Lord his trust, And resorteth not to men of pride and falsehood! 5 Many, O Lord, my God, are the wonderful works which thou hast done; Many have been thy gracious purposes toward us; None can be compared to thee! I would declare and rehearse them, But they are more than can be numbered. 6 In sacrifice and oblation thou hast no pleasure; Mine ears thou hast opened; Burnt-offering and sin-offering thou requirest not. 7 Therefore I said, “Lo, I come; In the scroll of the book it is prescribed to me; 8 O my God, to do thy will is my delight, And thy law dwelleth in my heart!" 9 I have proclaimed thy righteousness in the great assembly; Lo, I have not restrained my lips, O Lord, thou knowest! 10 I hide not thy justice in my heart; 11 I declare thy faithfulness and thy salvation! I conceal not thy mercy and truth from the great assembly. Withdraw not from me thy tender mercies, O Lord! May thy loving-kindness and thy truth continually pre serve me! 12 For evils innumerable have encompassed me; My iniquities have overtaken me; I cannot see the end of them; They are more than the hairs of my head, And my heart dieth within me. 13 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me! O Lord, make haste to mine aid! 14 May they all be confounded and covered with shame Who seek to take away my life! Let them be driven back with disgrace 15 Let them be overwhelmed with confusion Who cry out to me, Aha! aha! 16 But let all who seek thee Be glad and rejoice in thee! Let those who love thy protection Ever say, "The Lord be praised!" 17 I am poor and afflicted, yet the Lord thinketh Thou art my help and my deliverer; upon me; My God, make no delay! PSALM XLI. Prayer of one in affliction, whose enemies desired and plotted his destruc 1 tion. For the leader of the music. A psalm of David. HAPPY is he who hath regard to the poor! The Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. 2 The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive; He shall be happy on the earth; Thou wilt not give him up to the will of his enemies! 3 The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of disease; Thou wilt raise him up from his sickness! I said, O Lord, be merciful to me! Heal me, for I have sinned against thee! 5 My enemies speak evil of me! "When will he die, and his name perish? |